Why Is Rajab a Sacred Month?

 

Names of the month of Rajab

The month of Rajab is one of the Arab and Islamic Hijri lunar months. The word rajab is derived from the word tarjib, which, in Arabic, indicates glorification. The reason behind this name may be the high esteem Arabs used to confer upon this month.

The Sacred Rajab

The month of Rajab is also called Rajab Al-Haram (Arabic for: the Sacred Rajab), because it is one of the four Sacred Months, during which fighting is prohibited.

This was a customary and traditional practice that people used to observe for ages. The glorious Quran referred to the Sacred Months in Surat of At-Tawbah, in which Almighty Allah says,

{Verily, the number of months with Allah is twelve months (in a year), so was it ordained by Allah on the Day when He created the heavens and the earth; of them, four are Sacred. That is the right religion, so wrong not yourselves therein.} (At-Tawbah 9:36)

These Sacred Months are Dhul-Qidah, Dhul-Hijjah, Muharram, and Rajab. That is why Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) said, “Time has come back to its original state, which it had when Allah created the heavens and the earth. The year is twelve months, of which four are sacred: Three are in succession, namely, Dhul-Qidah, Dhul-Hijjah, and Muharram, and (the fourth one) Rajab (of the tribe of) Mudar, which is between Jumada (Thani) and Sha`ban.” (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)

Rajab as the Solitary Sacred Month

The month of Rajab is also called Rajab Al-Fard (Arabic for: the Solitary Rajab) because it is separated from the other three successive Sacred months, namely, Dhul-Qidah, Dhul-Hijjah and Muharram; The month of Rajab comes five months after them.

Why Rajab Is Known as Rajab Mudar

The month of Rajab has another name, which is Rajab Mudar, according to a hadith in which the Prophet said, “And (the fourth one) Rajab (of the tribe of) Mudar, which is between Jumada (Thani) and Sha`ban.” (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)

Mudar is an Arab tribe and Rajab is named after it, because that tribe used to give much respect to this month and protect its sanctity.

Rajab and the Night Journey (Al-Israa and Al-Miraj)

Rajab witnessed the occurrence of Al-Israa and Al-Miraj, the miraculous night journey and the Prophet’s ascension to the heavens, with which Almighty Allah honored Prophet Muhammad.

In reference to this journey, Almighty Allah states, {Glorified be He [Allah] Who took His servant [Prophet Muhammad[ for a journey by night from Al-Masjid Al-Haram [at Makkah] to the farthest mosque [Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem], the neighborhood whereof We have blessed, in order that We might show him [Muhammad[ of Our signs. Verily, He [Allah] is the All-Hearer, the All-Seer.} (Al-Israa 17:1)

The Quran refers to Al-Miraj (Prophet’s Muhammad ascension to the heavens), “While he [Angel Gabriel)] was in the highest part of the horizon. He approached and came closer and was at a distance of two bows’ length or (even) nearer. So did [Allah] convey the Inspiration to His servant [Prophet Muhammad]. The (Prophet’s) heart lied not (in seeing) what he (Muhammad) saw. Will you then dispute with him about what he saw [during Al-Mi`raj]. And indeed he (Muhammad) saw him [Angel Gabriel] at a second descent (i.e. another time). Near Sidrat Al-Muntaha [lote-tree of the utmost boundary (beyond which none can pass)]. Near it is the Paradise of Abode. When that covered the lote-tree, which did cover it! The sight (of Prophet Muhammad) turned not aside (right or left), nor it transgressed beyond (the) limit (ordained for it). Indeed he (Muhammad) did see, of the Greatest Signs, of his Lord (Allah)” (An-Najm 53:7-18)

The miracle of Al-Israa was intended to honor the Messenger, strengthen his heart, and to show him the kingdom of heavens and earth. It was also meant to comfort the Prophet after the deaths of his uncle Abu Talib and his wife Khadijah in the Year of Sadness, and after the suffering he had experienced in At-Taif where its people assaulted him.

Significance of al-Israa

The miracle of Al-Israa reminds us of the usurped and occupied land of Palestine, Al-Quds (Jerusalem), and Al-Aqsa Mosque. This event should also remind us of our duty toward liberating this land and its people from tyranny and oppression.

We should always remember the Prophet’s hadith stating, “Do not set out on a journey except for three Mosques: Al-Masjid Al-Haram, this mosque of mine (in Madinah), and Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem.” (Muslim)

It is a duty upon every Muslim, when recalling the memories of the month of Rajab, to exert him or herself for liberating usurped places of Islam.

Allah Almighty knows best.

- aboutislam.net

About Sheikh Ahmad Ash-Sharabasi

late Professor of Islamic Creed and Philosophy at Al-Azhar University

Do Confessions Count as Four Witnesses in Zina Cases?

 

Why Islam Sets Strict Conditions to Prove Zina

Islam establishes stringent criteria for proving Zina to safeguard individuals’ honor and prevent false accusations. The Quran mandates four upright witnesses who must have directly observed the act; any fewer witnesses fail to establish guilt and render the accuser liable for Qadhf (slander): “Those who accuse chaste women and do not bring four witnesses—flog them with eighty lashes and never accept their testimony thereafter.” (An-Nur 24:4)

Can a Confession Replace Four Witnesses in Zina Cases?

Alternatively, an individual may opt for a voluntary confession. If a person freely admits to Zina without any pressure, this confession serves as valid proof, even in the absence of witnesses.

The Prophet (peace be upon him) indicated that Hudud are enforced either through four reliable witnesses or a clear confession. If there is any indication of coercion, fear, confusion, or hesitation, the confession is invalidated, and the hadd is not imposed.

In cases of uncertainty, Islamic law suspends the punishment and favors mercy and protection.

To summarize:

• Witnesses: Guilt is established solely by four credible eyewitnesses.
• Confession: Must be explicit, voluntary, and free from coercion.
• Doubt: Any uncertainty prevents the Hadd—Islam prioritizes dignity.

The key principle is that these strict conditions are designed to prevent anyone’s honor from being compromised by rumor or speculation. “Indeed, Allah commands justice, excellence, and compassion.” (An-Nahl 16:90)

Almighty Allah knows best.

- aboutislam.net

About Sheikh Ahmad Kutty

Sheikh Ahmad Kutty is a Senior Lecturer and an Islamic Scholar at the Islamic Institute of Toronto, Ontario, Canada

What Are The 10 Commandments in Islam?

 

In the name of Allah, the Gracious, the Merciful

The Ten Commandments in Islam

The Ten Commandments are the well-known instructions, the essence of the Torah, which Allah revealed to Moses on Mount Sinai, peace and blessings be upon him. The commandments prohibit the major sins of idolatry, impiety, disrespect for parents, murder, theft, adultery, false witness, and envy.

These commandments are among the core teachings of Judaism and Christianity that are taught to children at an early age, and all of them are included within the teachings of Islam. Some believe these commands go back as far as the seven laws of Noah, peace and blessings be upon him.

Basis of Interfaith Dialogue

As such, these commandments can be the basis of interfaith dialogue and mutually-beneficial cooperation between Muslims, Jews, and Christians. They are the “common word” for which we can all come together in agreement.

Allah said:

Say: O people of the Book, let us come to a common word between us, that we will not worship anything but Allah, we will not associate anything with Him, and we will not take one another as lords instead of Allah. But if they turn away, then say: Bear witness that we submit to Allah.

Surat Ali Imran 3:64

Love for Allah and Love for our Neighbors

These common teachings can be distilled into two main principles: love for Allah and love for our neighbors. In other words, we should respect the rights of Allah by holding sound beliefs and performing acts of worship in the best manner, and we should respect the rights of people by treating them in the way we would love to be treated. All of the divine revelations throughout history are founded upon these two principles.

Abdullah Al-Hashimi reported: I came to Tawus, may Allah have mercy on him, and he said to me, “Would you like me to summarize in this sitting all of the Torah, the Gospel, the Psalms, and the Quran?” I said yes. Tawus said:

Fear Allah the Exalted more than anything else, hope in Allah more intensely than you fear him, and love for people what you love for yourself.

Source: Hilyat al-Awliyā 4693

Similar Ten Commandments Passage in the Quran

The closest single passage in similarity to the Ten Commandments occurs in the chapter of the cattle (surat al-an’am). In this passage, many of these biblical commandments are restated, with a heavy emphasis on fulfilling the rights of Allah and the rights of people.

Allah said:

Say: Come and I will recite what your Lord has forbidden for you, that you not associate anything with Him, and be good to parents. Do not kill your children out of poverty, for We will provide for you and them. Do not approach lewdness, whether it is public or private. Do not kill the soul which Allah has made sacred except by right of justice. This He has instructed you that you may reason. Do not approach the property of the orphans, except in a way that is best, until he reaches maturity. Give full measure and weight in justice. We do not charge any soul except within its capability. When you testify, be just even if it concerns a relative, and fulfill the covenant of Allah. This He has instructed you that you may remember. And this is My straight path, so follow it and do not follow other ways, lest you be separated from His way. This He has instructed you that you will be righteous.

Surat al-An’am 6:151-153

The Will and Testament of Prophet Muhammad

This passage explicitly and implicitly expresses the moral foundations of the Muslim community. In fact, some of the Prophet’s companions considered this passage to be the will and testament of Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him.

Abdullah ibn Mas’ud, may Allah be pleased with him, said:

Whoever is pleased to look at the will which has upon it the seal of Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, then let him recite these verses, “Say: Come and I will recite to you what your Lord has forbidden…” (6:151) until he reaches the verse, “…that you will be righteous.” (6:153)

Source: Sunan al-Tirmidhī 3070, Grade: Hasan

With this in mind, we find that the parallel sayings to the Ten Commandments are conveyed all throughout the Quran and Sunnah. The following are some prominent instances in which Muslims are instructed to uphold these teachings:

First commandment: You shall have no other gods before Me

Allah said:

Your God is one God. There is no God but him, the Gracious, the Merciful

Surat al-Baqarah 2:163

And Allah said:

Say: I am only a man like you to whom it has been revealed that your God is one God, so take a straight path to him and seek his forgiveness.

Surat Fussilat 41:6

Second commandment: You shall not make idols

Allah said:

Do not call upon another god alongside Allah. There is no God but him. Everything will perish but his countenance. Judgment belongs to him, and to him you will return.

Surat al-Qasas 28:88

And Allah said:

They are nothing but names you have named, you and your forefathers, for which Allah has not revealed any authority. They follow nothing but assumption and what their souls desire, yet there has already come to them guidance from their Lord.

Surat al-Najm 53:23

Abdullah reported: I said, “O Messenger of Allah, what is the greatest sin?” The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

To make a partner with Allah although he alone created you.

Source: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 5655, Grade: Sahih

Third commandment: You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain

Allah said:

Unto Allah belong the best names, so call upon him by them and leave those who violate the sanctity of his names.

Surat al-A’raf 7:180

And Allah said:

When you see those who engage in offensive discourse concerning Our verses, then turn away from them until they engage in another conversion.

Surat al-An’am 6:68

Fourth commandment: Remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy

Allah said:

O you who believe, when the prayer is announced on Friday, then proceed to the remembrance of Allah and leave trade. That is better for you, if you only knew.

Surat al-Jumu’ah 62:9

Salman Al-Farisi reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

No one takes a bath on Friday, purifies himself as much as he can, uses oil or perfume in his house, then proceeds for prayer and does not separate two persons sitting together, then prays as much as is written for him and remains silent while the prayer leader is delivering the sermon, except that his minor sins between this Friday and the previous would be forgiven.

Source: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 843, Grade: Sahih

Fifth commandment: Honor your father and your mother

Allah said:

Worship Allah and associate nothing with him, and be good to parents and relatives.

Surat al-Nisa 4:36

Abu Huraira reported: A man asked the Prophet, “Who is most deserving of my good company?” The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

Your mother.

The man asked, “Then who?” The Prophet said:

Your mother.

The man asked again, “Then who?” The Prophet said:

Your mother.

The man asked again, “Then who?” The Prophet said:

Your father.

Source: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 5626, Grade: Muttafaqun Alayhi

Sixth commandment: You shall not murder

Allah said:

The believers are those who do not call upon another god alongside Allah or kill the soul which Allah has made sacred except by right of justice.

Surat al-Furqan 25:68

Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

The killer is not a believer while he is killing.

Source: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 6809, Grade: Sahih

Seventh commandment: You shall not commit adultery

Allah said:

Do not approach unlawful sexual intercourse. Verily, it is immoral and an evil way.

Surah al-Isra 17:32

Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

The adulterer is not a believer while he is committing adultery.

Source: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 2343, Grade: Muttafaqun Alayhi 

Eighth commandment: You shall not steal

Allah said:

Do not consume the wealth of each other in falsehood.

Surat al-Baqarah 2:188

Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

The thief is not a believer while he is stealing. The plunderer is not a believer while he is plundering and the people are watching him.

Source: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī2343, Grade: Muttafaqun Alayhi 

Ninth commandment: You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor

Allah said:

O you who believe, fear Allah and always speak the truth.

Surat al-Ahzab 33:70

And Allah said:

Follow not your whims, let you be unjust. If you distort your testimony or withhold it, then Allah is aware of what you are doing.

Surat al-Nisa 4:135

Abdullah ibn Mas’ud reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

Verily, truthfulness leads to righteousness and righteousness leads to Paradise. A man may speak the truth until he is recorded with Allah as truthful. Verily, falsehood leads to wickedness and wickedness leads to the Hellfire. A man may tell lies until he is recorded with Allah as a liar.

Source: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 2607, Grade: Sahih

Tenth commandment: You shall not covet

Allah said:

Do they envy people for what Allah has given them of his bounty?

Surat an-Nisa 4:54

Anas ibn Malik reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

Do not hate each other, do not envy each other, do not turn away from each other, but rather be servants of Allah as brothers.

Source: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 2559, Grade: Sahih

Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

Beware of envy, for it consumes good deeds just as fire consumes wood or grass.

Source: Sunan Abī Dāwūd 4903, Grade: Hasan

As we can see, the Ten Commandments are entirely compatible with Islam and they are, in reality, the essence of all divine revelations. They can be the best point of departure for sharing Islam with Jews and Christians, and working together in fulfillment of our ethical obligations.

Success comes from Allah, and Allah knows best.

This answer first appeared at abuaminaelias.com. It is republished with kind permission with slight editorial modifications.

- aboutislam.net

About Abu Amina Elias

Abu Amina Elias (Justin Parrott) is a Muslim writer, teacher, and translator and a research fellow for the Yaqeen Institute for Islamic Research. The postings on these sites are his own and do not necessarily represent the positions, opinions, or strategies of the Institute or its membership.

How to Defeat Greed in Islam

 

In high school we studied a novel on defeating greed by Tolstoy called “How Much Land Does a Man Need?”

According to the peasant Pahom “Our only trouble is that we haven’t land enough. If I had plenty of land, I shouldn’t fear the Devil himself”.

Having overheard Pahom’s remarks, the novel continues, the devil thought and thought how he could help the peasant attain the land and in turn have him in his power.

In a continuous mission to find the ‘more’ that would be land enough, Pahom dies. His servant picked up the spade, dug a grave long enough for Pahom to lie in and buried him in it. Six feet from his head to his toes was all he needed.

This reminded me of the hadith by our Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) in which he narrates:

 “By Allah, it is not poverty that I fear for you, but I fear that this world will be opened up with its wealth for you as it was opened to those before you; and you vie with one another over it as they did and eventually it will ruin you as it ruined them” (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)

Defeating Greed

So what exactly is greed?

What are the losses caused by greed?

What can we do to overcome it?

In an extremely materialistic world, it is easy for us to get consumed in it and turn to greed. While we may feel lost, there is hope.

Greed is a strong and selfish desire to have more of something.

It is significant we understand that greed is never satisfied. More often than not, the more we get, the more we want. Material possessions will not protect us; neither in this life nor eternally.

Greed hints softly that we would be happier if we had more money, more things, and more power. In reality it creates discontent and a growing desire to do whatever it takes to gain position and possessions. Sadly, it is a race behind materialism with no end.

When is it Enough?

It can be difficult to know when enough is enough. At one stage or another in this modern world we are all guilty of running the race and wanting to have more to have better. We want to upgrade whatever we have even if we cannot afford it. This may even be how some live all their lives; with higher purchase.

By failing to calculate the future loss we are unable to harness our greed. This sheds light on Mahatma Gandhi’s words “The world has enough for everyone’s need, but not enough for everyone’s greed.”

We all need to tailor-make our life according to the budget we earn.

In greed we are so busy trying to get what we think we lack that we do not recognize and acknowledge what we already have.

Anas bin Malik reported: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said,

“If the son of Adam had a valley full of gold, he would want to have two valleys. Nothing fills his mouth but the dust (of the grave), yet Allah will accept whoever repents to him.” (Al-Bukhari)

My Silkworm

To defeat greed, we need to stop ourselves from acting the moment an egotistical thought comes to our minds. As soon as the thought to grab a desirable object comes to mind we need to stop right there.

This brings to mind a time long ago when my late mother warned me of greed as I ran to her showing her one of my silkworms. The worm had eaten and eaten till it could no longer stomach the leaves, suffocated  and killed itself. The worm had not shared its leaves and the other worms ate from one.

We must determine what our mind is forcing us to do. Once we become aware that we are being greedy, let that thing go. Rather, choose the option that maintains our humility and contentment

The Holy Qur’an reads:

{By no means shall you attain righteousness unless you spend of that which you love} (Aal `Imran 3:92)

While  greed is addictive, we still have free will. We have many choices available for us.

Below are verses from the Qur’an illustrating the extent of greedy behaviour

{Indeed, man is ungrateful to his Lord;

and He is witness to this;

he is truly excessive in his love of wealth. } (Al-`Adiyat 100:6-8)

Ambition and Desire

It is important not to justify our actions by saying that we have no other choice. Realize that we do have further options.

We should not allow the intensity of ‘need’ and the fear underlying it to take over our mind, prevailing over our ability to step back and ask ourselves, what are our options here?

Six Feet of Land

By no means am I against advancement. On the contrary it is significant as Muslims we develop, grow and benefit the Ummah. However there is a thin line between ambition and desire. This must be checked.

Contentment, altruism and generosity are the opposite of greed. As we learn to thank Allah for what we have and freely share it with others, we stop filling the vacuum in our heart with material things.

Remember nobody has ever become poor from giving. By backing off a bit in our appetites we help preserve the rest of Allah’s creation.

So go ahead, renew your intentions, share and reap the rewarding benefits which will clearly outnumber those accumulated through greed.

In the end all we really need is six feet of land.

- aboutislam.net

About Deana Nassar

Deana Nassar is a published writer. As a mother of four, in her home she’s the sole expert on all things related to marriage, children’s psychology, motherhood and creative survival. She loves charity work, reading and writing poetry, and is mostly known for writing articles discussing family and social issues, faith, freedom, and purpose that comes through God. She can be reached at deana_nassar4@hotmail.com

How to Manage Stress

 We live in an unprecedented time with stress reining uppermost in our hearts and minds. From work, health problems, financial crisis, children, and family, our daily stressful lives feel like an endless cycle of worries.

How do we manage all this stress?

To know how to manage stress, we need to be able to recognize its triggers and causes.

There are two crucial things we need to focus on first:

1. Monitoring our inner self, and,

2. Keeping our minds healthy.

Monitoring Our Inner Self

Amid the hustle and bustle of our daily lives, how many times do we stop and ponder over, giving our prayer its due time, or remember Allah the Almighty mindfully?

Our souls need to have oxygen to stay alive, just like the body. The oxygen of the soul is the remembrance of Almighty Allah.

Stress resides in us when we deprive our souls of remembrance of our Creator. And the best form of remembrance is prayer. When we fail to offer our daily prayers properly, we deprive our hearts of spiritual oxygen. Why would we willfully choose to do that?

Keep the Mind Healthy

You are what you think! If you focus on good things, then your mind gets used to thinking about good things. If you focus on negative things, your mind grows accustomed to negativity. Our thoughts forcefully impact our attitudes in life.

Shift the Focus

Shifting the focus is another key to managing stress.

What does shifting the focus mean?

It can be a mental exercise to pinpoint your focal point. Some being able to target your focal point is the missing link, focusing on the dark side, or pain.

This exercise leads to the practice of gratitude. Allah the Almighty says:

If you are grateful, I will increase you. (Quran 14:7)

With the hardship comes ease. (Quran 94:5)

With any hardship you experience, Allah the Almighty gives you ease at the same time. He never gives us difficulty and struggles without relief.

Our past often holds painful elements that affect our ability to move forward.

Instead of trying to numb the pain, try to address the wounds and move on. Part of the healing is to deal with the pain itself. Carry on in a new way despite the challenges.

Healthy Environment

To keep our hearts healthy, we have to be mindful of what we are taking in. When we saturate our minds with matters that cause us to experience spiritual illness, like negative news on social media, it can be equivalent to sipping poison. Remember, your surroundings affect your heart.

Keeping your environment healthy as much as possible will play a significant role in minimizing stress.

Serving Others

Studies have found that to increase happiness and well-being is to be in the service of others.

How do we improve the quality of our lives?

One of the most effective ways to soften our hearts is helping others.

Let Go of the Myth of Perfection

The myth of being perfect is crippling us. Believing that we are supposed to be perfect can lead to a sense of despair, causing us to slip or commit a sin.

Allah the Almighty and His messenger never taught or expected us to be perfect. Islam teaches that the best of us are not those who never commit sins, but those who repent and get back up when they fall.

No one is supposed to be perfect. Allah the Almighty wants does not want us to give up hope but to continue moving forward.

Center of Gravity

Sometimes we take people or things and make them the center of our lives.

When we allow the wrong things to take priority in our lives and our existence to revolve around those people or things, the result is suffering.

Taking status, wealth, children, or power as the center of our existence – that place is intended only for God – causes pain and suffering.

Sometimes the stress we feel demands making changes in our life circumstances. We have to look at our lives and see what is going wrong and try to correct our course.

Managing stress is hard for many, but we hope these tips can at least help minimize whatever is wreaking havoc in your life today.

Reflections based on the following video.

- aboutislam.net

About Yasmin Mogahed

Yasmin Mogahed received her B.S. Degree in Psychology and her Masters in Journalism and Mass Communications from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. After completing her graduate work, she taught Islamic Studies and served as a youth coordinator. She also worked as a writing instructor at Cardinal Stritch University and a staff columnist for the Islam section of InFocus News. Currently she’s an instructor for  AlMaghrib Institute, a writer for the Huffington Post, an international speaker, and author, where she focuses most of her work on spiritual and personal development. Yasmin recently released her new book, Reclaim Your Heart, which is now available worldwide. Visit her website, yasminmogahed.com , where you can find a collection of her articles, poetry, and lectures. 

Allah Does Not Look at Your Appearance

 

Abu Hurairah reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said:

“Allah does not look at your appearances or your financial status, but He looks at your hearts and your actions.”  (Al-Bukhari)

In any community, there must be a means to measure and evaluate each other. The lack of evaluation and feedback on how we are doing and where we stand creates an environment of carelessness and a lack of accountability.

The question is: On what basis should we evaluate one another and ourselves?

We can evaluate each other by measuring how much money we make, what car we drive, the size of our house, our savings and assets, and so on.

Another measure could be our physical appearance and ethnic characteristics: our height, weight, age, origin, language, skin color or culture. But we have little control, if any, over the color of our skin, our birthplace and even our wealth. It is not fair or wise to evaluate people based on characteristics they have no choice or power over.

We do have control over the decisions we make, however. Choice and decisions are a much better standard by which evaluate progress and achievement in life. We control what we believe in, what we accept and what we reject. We select a purpose for our life and a code of ethics to follow.

Our actions are the result of decisions we make. We decide what to do with our time, where to spend our wealth, whether to study or not, and whether to work hard or not. We decide if we want to be honest and truthful, or not.

When we see someone in need, we decide whether to help or not. When we enter a business dealing, we decide whether to cheat or remain honest. When we are in school, we decide to spend effort to learn or to waste our talent. When we are provoked, we decide whether to respond in anger or restrain our temper. All our actions are results of our decisions.

As such, we ought to refrain from judging people, individually or collectively, on the basis of their circumstances, appearance or class. Rather, we need to hold the judgment until we educate ourselves about them, their values, their beliefs and the actions they take. We also should not feel privileged due to our own favorable circumstances, but realize that our true measure is the decisions we make and the actions we perform.

In front of Allah, it is what lies in our hearts and the actions that result from our decisions that differentiate between us.

References

Taken, with kind permission, from the authors’ Seeking Peace.

- aboutislam.net

About Hazem Said and Maha Ezzeddine

Dr. Hazem Said has been active in the Muslim community in America for over 10 years and held many different leadership posts. Most notably, he was the president of MAS Youth, a national youth organization from 2004 to 2008. He helped establish Ihsan, a non-profit organization based in Milford, OH and is currently the chair of its board. In his professional life, Hazem is an associate professor of Information Technology at the University of Cincinnati. Maha Ezzeddine has a bachelor degree in Journalism and History from the University of Maryland - College Park and a Master degree in History from Stanford University. She edited several publications for MAS Youth between 2006 and 2008, when she was a member of the national executive team.

Who Is Mary In Islam?

Mary, or Maryam, is revered in Islam. Muslims believe in the virgin birth and the piety of Mary. She has a whole Surah named after her. Click the video for more details about her.

- aboutislam.net

Can We Ask Prophet Muhammad for Help?

 

The Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) himself told us in a very authentic hadith that is reported by `Abdullah ibn `Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him), “When you ask something, you ask in the name of Allah and when you seek help, you seek help of Allah. Know that if the people were to gather together to benefit you with anything it would benefit you only with something that Allah had already prescribed for you and that if they gathered together to harm you with something, they would harm you only with something Allah had already prescribed for you.”

So the Sunnah is that we pray to Allah (Mighty and Exalted be He).

Tawassul means that in our duaa, we mention also the salat and salam (seek peace and blessings) for the Prophet Muhammad, or we show our love and our faith in Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him).

So in this way, our prayer becomes more acceptable to Allah, but we must always pray to Allah, not to any creature, including the Prophets and Messengers of Allah.

There is no authentic hadith which teaches that Muslims should pray with the words, “Ya Muhammad“, and the Companions of the Prophet also did not do that and we should follow the way of our Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and his Companions in our prayers.

Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) was the last and the final Messenger of Allah. He is the beloved of Allah (Habibullah).

We believe in him, honor him, respect him and love him, but we do not worship him or come to Allah through him.

Allah Almighty knows best.

- aboutislam.net

About Dr. Muzammil H. Siddiqi

Dr. Muzammil H. Siddiqi is the Chairman of the Fiqh Council of North America

Is a Woman’s Voice Awrah?

 

Women’s Voice in Islam

While addressing the wives of the Prophet (peace be upon him) who are the mothers of the faithful, Allah says, {O wives of the Prophet! You are not like other women. If you are reverent, then be not overly soft in speech, lest one in whose heart is a disease be moved to desire, and speak in an honorable way.} (Al-Azhab 33:33)

One may safely infer from the above verse that women’s voice is not an awrah or that men cannot hear it.  Otherwise, Allah would have ordered the Prophet’s wives not to speak to men at all.

Interaction between men and women

Instead, Allah orders them to observe proper etiquettes and abide by the Islamic manners of interaction between males and females and thus avoid tones or style that may arouse lustful thoughts in men, especially who are sick at heart.  

Hence no wonder we learn from the sources that during the Prophet’s time men and women used to interact everywhere and converse. They were present even in the mosques, often asking questions. They would go as far asking the Prophet questions regarding spousal intimacy in the presence of his companions.

Let’s not forget the story of a woman standing up questioning Umar during his sermon on the minbar when the latter proposed a radical reform policy on mahr (dowry). Umar was forced to retract his position, after hearing her explanation!

Furthermore, the Prophet’s wife Aishah used to lecture to men and women. Hundreds of males and females have transmitted hadith from her. We have testimonials of companions and successors praising Aishah as one of the best speakers after the Prophet (peace be upon him).

Thanks to the legacy of Aishah, Islamic history has witnessed thousands of women scholars of hadith and jurisprudence, many of them teaching females as well as males. Even the great imams such as Ash-Shafi`i, Ibn Taymiyyah, Ibn Hajar, and others had learned from eminent women teachers.

So, there is no basis either scripture or jurisprudence – for the view that women’ voice is awrah in Islam.

Can women sing in Islam?

Now coming to the question of women singing, there are those who give a blanket ruling it is haram. This view also does not stand to scrutiny in the sources. We have reports that the Prophet (peace be upon him) was present in a wedding ceremony where the girls were singing. On noticing the Prophet (PBUH), they added the following lines: “Among us is a Prophet who knows what happens tomorrow!” The Prophet immediately interjected and told them to cut out those words and continue singing as before.

If women were not allowed to sing in the presence of men, the Prophet (PBUH) would not have heard them; and he would have categorically forbidden them, and they would have stopped immediately. 

Therefore, if anyone still insists on the view that women cannot sing in the presence of men would amount to questioning the Prophet’s credentials as a trustworthy messenger. No Muslim can ever even think of entertaining such a thought!

Allah Almighty knows best.

Source: www.askthescholar.com

About Sheikh Ahmad Kutty

Sheikh Ahmad Kutty is a Senior Lecturer and an Islamic Scholar at the Islamic Institute of Toronto, Ontario, Canada

What Makes Sincere Forgiveness?

 

The Quran and Sunnah as Guidelines

First of all, any question about Islam, particularly a question on what Allah Almighty will do to His servants in the Hereafter, can be answered only in the light of the Book of Allah (i.e the Noble Quran), and the teachings of His Prophet Muhammad. Those two are the foundations of the edifice of Islam.

Secondly, we should recognize the fact that Islam is a comprehensive way of life meant for humanity. Thus, any specific injunction or teaching in Islam should be understood in the whole context of Islam, and not in isolation.

For instance the Prophet has said:

“Anyone who said there is no god but Allah will enter Paradise.” (Tabarani narrated it from Abu Dharr in his Mu’jam al Kabir)

If we take this saying in isolation and understand it literally at the face value, the whole edifice of Islam would tumble down. Because, it would mean simply that it is unnecessary for us to do Salah, pay Zakah, fast during Ramadan, perform Hajj and do jihad in Allah Almighty’s way to enter Paradise. Rather we need just to say: “There is no god but Allah”!

There are several other ahadith of the Prophet that point to the conditions to be fulfilled along with a mere outward declaration: “There is no god but Allah”.

Besides,  while studying the manner in which the sayings of the Prophet are collected and recorded by the well-known hadith collectors, we understand that the same statement of the Prophet has been reported by several of his companions. Some giving a short narration, others with more details.

The Importance of Context

It is a well acknowledged norm in Hadith interpretation that the Sayings of the Prophet should be understood in context. Hence, where needed any particular saying should be supported and supplemented by other sayings, and most importantly by the Quran.

We should understand that the Quran and the Hadith complement each other. Therefore, to arrive at a correct understanding of a particular problem we need to consider other related verses and hadiths. One may note what the Quran says about the true believers:

{Only those are Believers who have believed in Allah and His Messenger, and have never since doubted, but have striven with their belongings and their persons in the Cause of Allah: Such are the sincere ones.} (Quran 49:15)

And Allah Almighty admonishes:

{Do you believe in part of the book and reject part of it? And what is the reward of those who do so save ignominy in the life of the world, and on the Day of Resurrection they will be consigned to the most grievous doom.} (Quran 2:85)

We should understand the saying of the Prophet in the whole context of the Quran. This, as well as the Prophet’s own Sunnah which in effect is a practical demonstration of the commandments of Allah in space and time.

Thus the above saying effectively means that anyone who says, “there is no god but Allah” will have necessarily understood its full implication and consequently will surrender his own will to the Will of Allah as expressed in the Quran and the Sunnah.

The Virtues of the Friday Prayer

Summarizing the virtues of the Friday Prayer, the Prophet is reported to have said the following:

“The five daily prayers, and from one Jumu’ah to the next, are an expiation for whatever sins come in between, so long as one does not commit any major sin.” (Muslim)

“The five daily (prescribed) Salah, and Friday (prayer) to the next Friday (prayer), and the fasting of Ramadan to the next Ramadan, is expiation of the sins committed in between them, so long as major sins are avoided.” (Muslim)

Our scholars have very clearly explained the meaning of the above sayings of the Prophet as follows: The expiation of sins from one Friday to the next is subject to all the conditions mentioned above being met, namely, cleaning oneself, putting on perfume, wearing one’s best clothes, walking in a calm and dignified manner, not stepping over people, not offending others, doing optional prayers, listening attentively and quietly to the khutbah and above all bringing a sincere heart committed to follow the commandments of Allah as well as the Example of the Prophet.

Sincere Faith and Intentions

You have asked for an honest answer and any consideration other than clarifying the Islamic position on any question on the basis of the Holy Quran and the Prophet’s teachings as we have understood them as sincere Muslims.

About the intention of the person concerned to pray the coming Friday prayer. Because he is a Muslim; is that right? Surely we do not expect a Non-believer to have such an intention.

But from your question we presume that his intention is not that of a sincere Muslim; because he doesn’t pray five times a day and breaks Allah’s commandment to eschew drinking. And obviously, for a person who does not do the five daily prayers there cannot be a valid Friday Prayer. Because, you know Friday Prayer is meant for Muslims and anyone who doesn’t pray five times a day cannot be considered a Muslim.  

Beware of Hypocrisy

And remember what Allah Almighty warns us about hypocrites:

{And there are people who say, “We do believe in God and the Last Day,” the while they do not [really] believe. They would deceive God and those who believe – the while they deceive none but themselves, and perceive it not. In their hearts is disease, and so God lets their disease increase; and grievous suffering awaits them because of their persistent lying.} (Quran 2:8-10)

The above verses clearly show that there is a vast difference between what we outwardly proclaim and what we sincerely mean. The Prophet has also said:

“Allah does not look at your outward appearance and your wealth, rather He looks at your hearts and deeds.” (Muslim)

Hence, Allah’s forgiveness and reward depends on our sincerity and faith as well as the right intention.

And Allah knows best.

- aboutislam.net

About Professor Shahul Hameed

Professor Shahul Hameed is an Islamic consultant. He also held the position of the President of the Kerala Islamic Mission, Calicut, India. He is the author of three books on Islam published in the Malayalam language. His books are on comparative religion, the status of women, and science and human values.