Islam

Islam

Monday 31 May 2021

What After Ramadan?

 


Ramadan is a level playing field wherein people compete with each other in good deeds and benevolence. During this blessed month, souls are trained in virtue and accustomed to dignity, they learn to disdain vices, sins and acquire all good attributes.

Whoever witnesses this month without gaining any of its rewards is indeed poor, and nothing cripples him other than negligence, laziness, procrastination, and false hopes.
However, what is appalling is to see some of those who were guided to do good deeds and take provisions from virtues during this month hastily destroying what they had built, and replacing good with evil. This is a gross mistake and shameful act in the true sense of the word and no remorse or apology will revoke it when you stand in front of your One Lord.
Bishr  may  Allah  have  mercy  upon  him was asked about people who only become diligent during the month of Ramadan and he said, “They are abominable people, because they only know Allah The Almighty during the month of Ramadan. The truly righteous people are those who worship Allah The Almighty diligently throughout the whole year.”
Ash-Shibli, may Allaah have mercy upon him, was asked, “Which is better: Sha‘ban or Rajab?” His answer was, “Be a worshipper of Allah The Almighty rather than a worshipper of Sha‘ban.”
‘Aa’ishah  may  Allah  be  pleased  with  her was asked, ‘Did the Messenger of Allah  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) choose some special days (for fasting)?’ She replied, ‘No, but he used to be regular (constant) (in his service of worshipping).’ The Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) also never performed more than eleven Rak‘ahs (units of prayer) whether in Ramadan or at any other time of the year.
We sincerely invite such people out of fear for them to reconsider their lifestyle and to review themselves and think about their condition before it is too late. We advise them not to allow appearances, their strength, health and youth to deceive them. That is because all of this is nothing but a mirage that one may see as water, but once he reaches it, he finds nothing. Health will be followed by sickness, youth will be followed by old age, and strength will eventually turn into weakness.
So, wake up and pay attention! Life is short even if it seems long, and happiness will end no matter how long it lasts.
Such people should know that perseverance and adherence to the right path as well as obedience to Allah The Almighty is one of the greatest signs of acceptance of one’s good deeds. Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {And worship your Lord until there comes to you the certainty (death).} [Quran 15:99]
Consequently, the souls should remain adherent to the right and guided path just as they were during the month of Ramadan. Guidance is not confined to certain times and acts of worship, and obedience to Allah The Almighty is not limited to the month of Ramadan.
Al-Hasan Al-Basri  may  Allah  have  mercy  upon  him said, “Allah has not set an end for the believer’s work other than death.” Then he recited: {And worship your Lord until there comes to you the certainty ‎‎ (death).}[Quran 15:99] ‎
Indeed, Ramadan has ended but you still have several renewed seasons for worship. The five daily prayers are among the highest and best good deeds and prayer is the first thing about which one would be asked on the Day of Judgment when he stands in front of Allah The Almighty.
If the fast of Ramadan has ended, then you have the voluntary fasts and occasions such as the six days of Shawwal, Mondays and Thursdays, the white days, the tenth day of Muharram, the Day of ‘Arafah, and so on.
If the night prayer of Ramadan has ended, you should know that the night prayer can be offered every night: {They used to sleep but little of the night‎}[Quran 51:17]
If the time of Zakat Al-Fitr has ended, then there is the obligatory Zakah in addition to the countless ways of giving voluntary charity.
Dear Muslim brother, you should know that one of the attributes of the slaves of Allah The Almighty is that they perform their good deeds constantly, as Allah The Almighty Says (what means):
  •  {Those who are constant in their prayer}[Quran 70:23]
  • {And they who carefully maintain their prayers -}[Quran 23:9]
If you aspire to know how to save yourself from this trap and how to perform good deeds regularly, you have to do the following:
1-   You must be sincerely and strongly determined to do good deeds constantly under all circumstances and conditions. This requires keeping away from weakness and laziness. That is why the Prophet,  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ), used to seek refuge with Allah The Almighty from inability and laziness, given their dire consequences. Hence, you should seek the help of Allah The Almighty and move ahead.
2-   Moderation is very important, and you should never overburden yourself, as the Prophet,  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ), said: “Do such deeds as you can do easily, as Allah will not get tired (of giving rewards) until you get bored and tired (of performing religious deeds).” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
You should remember that there are blessings in perseverance. For example, whoever reads a Juz’ (portion) of the Quran every day will read the whole Quran in one month, and whoever observes fast for three days every month will be rewarded as if he had observed fast throughout the whole year. Likewise, whoever observes twelve voluntary Rak‘ahs every day, Allah The Almighty will build a house for him in Paradise, and so on.
3-   You should know that it is unacceptable for whoever observes a good deed to abandon it. It was narrated that ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Amr ibn Al-‘Aas  may  Allah  be  pleased  with  him said, “The Messenger of Allah,  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ), said to me: ‘O ‘Abdullah! Do not be like so-and-so; he used to get up at night (for voluntary prayer) but abandoned it later.'' [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
4-   Dear brother, remember what our righteous predecessors used to do. ‘Aa’ishah  may  Allah  be  pleased  with  her said that whenever our beloved Prophet Muhammad,  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ), missed the night prayer because of illness or sleep, he would pray twelve Rak’ahs the next day.[Muslim]
The Prophet,  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ), also once missed ‘Itikaaf (staying in seclusion) and he made up for it in Shawwal. Abu Hurayrah  may  Allah  be  pleased  with  him said that the Messenger of Allah,  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ), said to Bilaal,  may  Allah  be  pleased  with  him"‘O Bilal, tell me about the most hopeful act (i.e., one which you deem the most rewarding with Allah) you have done since you accepted Islam because I heard the sound of the steps of your shoes in front of me in Paradise.' Bilaal  may  Allah  be  pleased  with  him said, ‘I do not consider any act more hopeful than that whenever I make ablution (or take a bath) in any hour of the night or day, I would immediately perform prayer for as long as was destined for me to pray.’'' [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
However, the most amazing thing is what ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib,  may  Allah  be  pleased  with  him, used to do in response to the advice of the Prophet,  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ), when he once visited him and found him sleeping with his wife Fatimah,  may  Allah  be  pleased  with  her, (daughter of the Prophet,  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention )). ‘Ali  may  Allah  be  pleased  with  him said, “The Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) placed his leg between me and Fatimah  may  Allah  be  pleased  with  her and taught us what to say when we go to bed, saying: ‘When you go to your bed recite thirty-three times Subhanallah (Glory be to Allah), thirty-three times Alhamdulillaah (All praise is for Allah), and thirty-four times Allah-u-Akbar (Allah is The Greatest).’ ‘Ali added ‘By Allah, I never left this practice for the rest of my life.’ A man asked him, ‘Even on the night of the Battle of Siffeen?’ He said, ‘Yes, I observed this even on the night of Siffeen.’”[Al-Hakim: Saheeh]
If you contemplate over this narration, you will be amazed at the keenness and persistence on doing good deeds even at times of war and bloodshed. None of these distracted him from implementing the advice of the Prophet,  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ), regarding what he should say upon going to bed. Such stories and narrations should make you persist in doing good deeds and attempting to imitate the righteous predecessors and following their path. - islamweb.net

Sunday 30 May 2021

The Bestowal of Friday upon the Ummah of Muhammad

 


Allah, The Exalted, endowed the Ummah of Muhammad with distinct characteristics – in this worldly life and the Hereafter – that were not conferred upon any of the nations before it. Although it is the last nation to arise in this worldly life, it surpasses all preceding nations in status, for it is a witness over them all. Its divine law (Sharee‘ah) and its divine book (the Quran) will not be abrogated unto the Day of Resurrection, and all previous nations were commanded to follow its religion, in addition to many other special merits. It was narrated on the authority of Bahz ibn Hakeem, narrating from his father, from his grandfather, that the Messenger of Allah  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) said: “On the Day of Resurrection, we will complete seventy nations, of whom we are the last and the best.” [Ibn Maajah, Al-Albaani: Hasan]

He  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) also said: “My nation was made the best of all nations.” [Ahmad, Al-Albaani: Hasan]

Moreover, it was narrated on the authority of Mu‘aawiyah ibn Haydah, may Allah be pleased with him, that he heard the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) say: “You are the completion of seventy nations, and you are the best of them and the most honorable of them in the Sight of Allah.” [Ibn Maajah, Al-Albaani: Hasan]

Despite existing after the past nations, the Muslim Ummah precedes them all in merit, and this is an honor for its Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) the master of mankind. Allah, The Exalted, Says (what means): {You are the best nation produced [as an example] for mankind.} [Quran 3:110]

Ibn Katheer  may  Allah  have  mercy  upon  him said: “The Muslim Ummah attained such unparalleled precedence in all aspects of goodness because of its Prophet, Muhammad  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) for he is the noblest of creation and the most honorable Messenger in the Sight of Allah, who sent him with the perfect and complete Sharee‘ah that was never given to any Prophet or Messenger before him. By following his Sunnah, a few deeds thereof are more rewardable than the many deeds performed by other nations.”

It was narrated on the authority of Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, that he heard the Messenger of Allah  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) say: “We (Muslims) are the last (nation to arise) but (we will be) the foremost on the Day of Resurrection, though the former nations were given the Scriptures before us, and this (Friday) was their day, the celebration of which was made obligatory on them but they differed about it so Allah guided us to it, and the people came after us with regard to it: the Jews tomorrow (Saturday) and the Christians the day after tomorrow (Sunday).” [Muslim]

Ibn Hajar  may  Allah  have  mercy  upon  him said: “It means that this Ummah, even though it was the last nation to emerge, shall surpass all past nations in the Hereafter. Muslims will be the first people to be gathered on the Day of Resurrection, the first to be reckoned, the first to be judged among, and the first to enter Paradise.”

Al-Qaadhi ‘Iyaadh  may  Allah  have  mercy  upon  him said: “As for his saying, ‘We (Muslims) are the last (nation to arise) but (we will be) the foremost on the Day of Resurrection,’ it was said that the Muslim Ummah is the last nation in time but it exceeds all previous nations in merit, and Muslims shall be the first among whom Allah, The Exalted, will judge on the Day of Resurrection, and they will enter Paradise before all nations as well.”

Ibn Al-Jawzi  may  Allah  have  mercy  upon  him said: “We are the last nation in time, but we shall be the first to enter Paradise. It was also said that since the Jews chose Saturday (Sabbath) and the Christians chose Sunday and Allah guided us to Friday, which precedes those two days, then we precede them in this worldly life and shall precede them in the Hereafter as well.”

Ibn Rajab, may Allah have mercy upon, said: “His saying, ‘We (Muslims) are the last (nation to arise),’ means the last chronologically; the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) was the last Prophet of Allah and his Ummah is the last of all the nations. His saying, ‘but (will be) the foremost,’ means that it surpasses all nations in merit and honor in the Sight of Allah. Allah, The Exalted, Says (what means): {You are the best nation produced [as an example] for mankind.} [Quran 3:110]

 

 

The Bestowal of Friday upon the Ummah of Muhammad:

Friday is the master of days and the best day upon which the sun rises. It is a day of celebration for Muslims that recurs every week. It was narrated on the authority of ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Abbaas, may Allah be pleased with him, that the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) said: “This is a day of ‘Eed (a day of celebration) which Allah has chosen for the Muslims. So whoever comes to the Friday prayer, let him perform Ghusl (ritual bath) and if he has perfume then let him apply some; and I urge you to use the Siwaak (tooth stick).” [Ibn Maajah, Al-Albaani: Hasan]

Allah, The Exalted, singled out the Muslim Ummah with the distinct bestowal of Friday and misguided the Jews and Christians from this honor, as they favored instead Saturday and Sunday respectively. It was narrated on the authority of Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, that he heard the Messenger of Allah  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) say: “We are the last (nation to emerge) but the foremost on the Day of Resurrection, and are the first to enter Paradise, even though they were given the Book before us and we were given it after them. They disagreed and Allah guided us aright on whatever they disagreed regarding the truth. And it was this day of theirs about which they disagreed, but Allah guided us to it, and that is Friday. So today (Friday) is for us, tomorrow is for the Jews, and the day after tomorrow is for the Christians.” [Muslim]

An-Nawawi  may  Allah  have  mercy  upon  him said: “As for his saying, ‘it was this day of theirs about which they disagreed, but Allah guided us to it,’ Al-Qaadhi said, ‘It seems that the veneration of Friday was deemed obligatory on them without specification, and it was left to be determined by their Ijtihaad (scholarly reasoning) to perform their rituals on it, but they disagreed and Allah did not guide them to it while He ordained it upon this Ummah clearly and did not leave it to be determined by their Ijtihaad; accordingly, they [the Muslims] won the privilege of venerating Friday.”

Ibn Hajar  may  Allah  have  mercy  upon  him said: “The Hadeeth clearly underlines the merits of this Ummah that exceed the merits of the previous nations, may Allah bless it.”

Ibn Al-Qayyim  may  Allah  have  mercy  upon  him said in the course of discussing Friday: “... It is superior to all days of the week because of the obligatory and recommended acts of worship that are especially performed on it ... In comparison to other days, Friday is like the month of Ramadan to other months. The hour in which supplication is answered on Friday is like Laylatul Al-Qadr (Night of Decree) in Ramadan. Therefore, whoever avails himself of Friday as due, will avail himself of his whole week; whoever avails himself of Ramadan as due, will avail himself of his whole year, and whoever avails himself of his Hajj as due, will avail himself of his whole life span. This is because Friday is the standard of the week, Ramadan is the standard of the year, and Hajj is the standard of the lifetime.”

There are many Ahaadeeth (pl. of Hadeeth) that highlighted the virtues and distinct characteristics of Friday, including the following ones:

- It was narrated on the authority of Aws ibn Aws, may Allah be pleased with him, that the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) said: “Among the most excellent of your days is Friday; on it Adam was created, on it he died, on it the Trumpet will be blown (to announce the Hour), and on it all creatures will swoon (sink into a fainting with horror), so invoke more blessings on me that day, for your prayers will be presented to me.” They said: “O Messenger of Allah, how will our prayers be presented to you when your body has decomposed?” He said: ‘Allah, The Exalted, has forbidden the earth from consuming the bodies of the Prophets.” [Abu Daawood, Al-Albaani: authentic]

 

It was narrated on the authority of Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, that the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) said: “The best day the sun rises over is Friday; on it Adam was created; on it he was admitted to Paradise; and on it he was expelled from it.” [Muslim] The author of Riyaadh Al-Afhaam fee Sharh ‘Umdat Al-Ahkaam said: “It seems that these specified events are not mentioned in the context of enumerating the virtues of Friday, because expelling Adam from Paradise and the occurrence of the Last Hour cannot be classified as virtues. Rather, it is a listing of significant events that happened or shall happen on that day (Friday) to urge the slave of Allah to be well-prepared for it by performing righteous deeds qualifying him to receive the mercy of Allah, The Exalted, or to be spared potential adversities.”

- The forgiveness of sins and misdeeds committed between the two Fridays for those who attended the Friday prayer, as evidenced by a Hadeeth cited by Al-Bukhari. It was narrated on the authority of Salmaan Al-Faarisi, may Allah be pleased with him, that the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) said: “Any man who performs Ghusl on Friday, cleans himself as best as he can, oils his hair or applies whatever perfume available in his house, sets forth for the mosque, does not separate two people (to make a seat for himself), and offers the voluntary prayers he wishes to offer then listens attentively while the Imaam delivers the sermon, he will have all his sins between that time and the last Friday forgiven.” [Muslim]

The version cited by Muslim reads: “He who performed ablution well then came to the Friday prayer and listened attentively (to the Khutbah), his sins between that time and (the last) Friday would be forgiven with three days extra; and he who touched pebbles has committed Laghw (engaged in futile activity).”

- Friday includes an hour during which the supplications of a Muslim are definitely answered. Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that the Messenger of Allah  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) said: “There is an hour on Friday during which if a Muslim is standing in prayer asking Allah for something good, Allah will give it to Him.” [Muslim]

- Whoever attends the Friday prayer from its start (the first hour) earns abundant rewards, as evidenced by the Hadeeth narrated on the authority of Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, that the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) said: “The one who performs Ghusl (similar to the Ghusl) of Janaabah on Friday and then goes (to the mosque to perform the Friday prayer) is like one who offers a camel as a sacrifice, and the one who comes at the second hour is like one who offers a cow, and the one who comes at the third hour is like one who offers a horned ram, and the one who comes at the fourth hour is like one who offers a hen, and the one who comes at the fifth hour is like one who offers an egg. And when the Imaam comes out, the angels come and listen to the mention of Allah (the Khutbah).” [Al-Bukhari]

Since Allah, The Exalted, singled out the Muslim Ummah with Friday, the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) used to venerate it and perform special acts of worship and good deeds on that day in particular. One of the special acts of worship prescribed for that day is invoking peace and blessings on the Messenger of Allah  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) abundantly (more than on other days of the week). It was narrated on the authority of Aws ibn Aws, may Allah be pleased with him, that the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) said: “Among the most excellent of your days is Friday, so invoke more blessings on me that day for your prayers will be presented to me.” [Abu Daawood, Al-Albaani: authentic] Moreover, it was narrated on the authority of Abu Ad-Dardaa’, may Allah be pleased with him that the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) said: “Invoke blessings upon me abundantly on Friday, for it is a witnessed day; the angels witness it.” [Ibn Maajah and At-Tabaraani, Al-Albaani: Hasan]

Ibn Al-Qayyim  may  Allah  have  mercy  upon  him said: “The Messenger of Allah  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allah exalt his mention ) is the master of all people, and Friday is the master of days, and therefore invoking peace and blessings on him on that day in particular is superior to invoking them on him on any other day. Another wisdom is that all the good bestowed on his Ummah in the worldly life and what will be conferred upon them in the Hereafter they received it at his hands. Allah, The Exalted, combined for his Ummah all good in this worldly life and the Hereafter, and the greatest honors bestowed upon them take place on Friday. On Friday, they will be resurrected and sent to their homes and palaces in Paradise, and it is the day when the believers will see their Lord after they enter Paradise. Moreover, it is an ‘Eed for them in this worldly life, a day on which Allah, The Exalted, grants them their requests, fulfills their needs, and does not turn down whoever invokes Him. All these virtues have been conferred upon them because of him and through his agency and the knowledge of which was conveyed to them by him, and therefore we should invoke peace and blessings upon him on Thursday night and throughout Friday to express our gratitude to him and fulfill some of his due rights over us. Allah, The Exalted, Says (what means): {Indeed, Allah confers blessing upon the Prophet, and His angels [ask Him to do so]. O you who have believed, ask [Allah to confer] blessing upon him and ask [Allah to grant him] peace.} [Quran 33:56]

Allah, The Exalted, favored Friday with many virtues and Ibn Al-Qayyim  may  Allah  have  mercy  upon  him brilliantly listed and enumerated them in his book Zaad Al-Ma‘aad. Allah singled out the Muslim Ummah with this blessed day, and it is known that He favored some days over others, some months over others, some places over others, just as He favored some of His Prophets and Messengers over others. Allah, The Exalted, Says (what means): {Those messengers - some of them We caused to exceed others.} [Quran 2:253] Undoubtedly, there is a great wisdom behind it; He Says (what means): {He is not questioned about what He does, but they will be questioned.} [Quran 21:23] - islamweb.net