Sunday, April 19, 2020
Why the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) is Important to All of Mankind
Strength Through Character: Why the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) is Important to All of Mankind
Many of the problems facing people in today’s world can be traced to a lack of adherence to moral values. From murder to embezzlement, the number and size of criminal activities have increased exponentially in the last five decades. One needs only to turn on the local evening news to become aware of the general anxiety and lack of peace in the world. More than 1400 years ago, however, a single man was able to not only cure the Arabian Peninsula of its vices, but also instill in the people a sense of compassion towards their fellow man. Today’s world and that of the Prophet’s could not be more different, yet the problems and solutions are somewhat the same. What causes seemingly content people to disobey the unwritten rules of society? And what are some possible solutions commensurate with the problem? This essay discusses the character of the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him (pbuh), and examines how the values he held and practiced gave him the strength to influence the world around him.
By 600 C.E., the Arabian Peninsula was a hotbed of moral vices. As Sheikh Safiur-Rahman Al Mubarakpuri notes in The Sealed Nectar, a biography of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), regarding Pre-Islamic Arabia, “prostitution and indecency were rampant and in full operation.” Men and women could openly commit acts of fornication and adultery without fear of societal consequences. The only issue at the time that was of perhaps greater concern was the fragility of tribal relationships. These tribes were legendary throughout the Old World for the manner in which they held generations-long grudges. Except during prohibited months, fighting was common and much bloodshed occurred. In less than a century, however, the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) would reform Arabian society and his message transformed entire populations from Damascus to Ethiopia. [Read more: Muslims around the World]
The Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, taught love, kindness and compassion to his people, and was seen to be the most loving, kind, and compassionate of all of them. The Quran mentions his kind and gentle behavior in these words: “O Messenger of Allah! It is a great Mercy of God that you are gentle and kind towards them; for, had you been harsh and hard-hearted, they would all have broken away from you” (Quran 3:159).
Muhammad’s Honesty
The exact characteristics that allowed the Prophet (pbuh) to do this are innumerable. Nonetheless, chief among his traits was his honesty. The range of names attributed to him includes Al-Sadiq (the Truthful) and Al-Amin (the Faithful).
Even his enemies, who were diametrically opposed to everything he preached, still referred to him by these names. In effect, the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was defined through his honesty. The first example of his honesty lies in his conditions of borrowing and lending.
Most significantly, the Prophet (on the orders of God) eliminated charging interest; no longer was the borrower forced to borrow money on outrageous terms that had previously condemned him to a life of servitude to the lender. A testament to the severity of not returning borrowed possessions and trusts lies in the Prophet’s (pbuh) Farewell Address. He reminds the people to be faithful and return whatever has been entrusted to them to its rightful owner.
Muhammad’s Treatment of Women
The character of the Prophet (pbuh) was also seen in his treatment of women. In Pre-Islamic Arabia, women were treated as mere commodities. That is, they held no property rights, divorce rights lay in the hands of men and they were responsible for all household duties. The Prophet (pbuh), however, actively involved himself in household matters. He would help his wife with chores like sweeping the floor. According to author Fazl Ahmad in Muhammad: The Prophet of Islam, when one of his children would fall ill, the Prophet (pbuh) would stay by their bedside and actively take care of them. As ordered by God, the Prophet (pbuh) gave women in Islam the right to initiate divorce and to own their own property, among other liberties.
It is important to note here the critics’ point of view: that Islam, rather than giving women rights, demotes them to a position of subservience to man. Notwithstanding, one needs only to carefully study the Quran, the holy book of Islam, and prophetic sayings to understand Islam’s treatment and emphasis on positive relations with women. [Click here to find out about treatment of women in Islam.]
The directives given were so different from what had been the norm in Pre-Islamic Arabia that even many of the Companions of the Prophet had reservations regarding taking their wives’ counsel for their affairs. Despite this initial reluctance, the belief in God and the example set forth by the Prophet (pbuh) eventually convinced the Companions to integrate this into their lifestyles. In effect, Islam had elevated women to a position on par with men, and the Prophet’s (pbuh) example reinforced Islam’s message of equality.
Muhammad’s Goodwill
The Prophet’s (pbuh) goodwill did not simply extend towards women or fellow Muslims. It was inclusive towards people of other religions as well, including the Jews and Christians of the time. An example of this lies in his treatment of prisoners of war during the battle of Badr. The prisoners were kept in extremely good living conditions and even fed proper food. Furthermore, they were given the option of freeing themselves by either paying a ransom or by teaching ten Muslims how to read and write. This environment stands in direct contrast to the appalling conditions most prisoners of war dealt with in the past and continue to deal with in the present, including physical torture and lack of proper facilities. Even with all the right in the world, the Prophet (pbuh) restrained himself and saw to it that his Companions treated their enemies with hospitality and goodwill.
The situation in today’s world is at once startling and discomforting because of the minimal value placed on human life. At both the individual and nation levels, one group may treat another group as disposable simply because their way of thinking is different. The Prophet (pbuh) transcended all of these perceived differences through his character. From the beginning to the end his honesty, his treatment of women and minorities, and his behavior towards non-Muslims set the standard that would inspire all of his followers.
This is why author Michael H. Hart recognized the Prophet (pbuh) as number one in a ranking of the 100 most influential persons in history. While many people at the time did not agree with the Prophet (pbuh) on his principles or policy, even his bitterest enemy came to respect the strength his infallible character gave him. As global citizens in the 21st century, it is important to see beyond differences and realize that the human denominator among us is what is most important. We must all seek examples like the Prophet’s (pbuh) and work to incorporate them into our lives, in order to increase tranquility and make the world a more peaceful place for future generations.
Saturday, April 18, 2020
Universal Lessons of Hajj
Millions of pilgrims from all over the world will be converging on Mecca in the coming days. They will retrace the footsteps of millions who have made the spiritual journey to the valley of Mecca since the time of Adam.
Hajj literally means, “to continuously strive to reach one’s goal.” It is the last of the five pillars of Islam (the others include a declaration of faith in one God, five daily prayers, offering regular charity, and fasting during the month of Ramadan). Pilgrimage is a once-in-a-lifetime obligation for those who have the physical and financial ability to undertake the journey.
The Hajj is essentially a re-enactment of the rituals of the great prophets and teachers of faith. Pilgrims symbolically relive the experience of exile and atonement undergone by Adam and Eve after they were expelled from Heaven, wandered the earth, met again and sought forgiveness in the valley of Mecca. They also retrace the frantic footsteps of the wife of Abraham, Hagar, as she ran between the hills of Safa and Marwa searching for water for her thirsty baby (which according to Muslim tradition, God answered with the well of Zam Zam). Lastly, the pilgrims also commemorate the willingness of Abraham to sacrifice his son for the sake of God. God later substituted a ram in place of his son.
Yet, the Hajj is more than these elaborate rituals. The faithful hope that it will bring about a deep spiritual transformation, one that will make him or her a better person. If such a change within does not occur, then the Hajj was merely a physical and material exercise devoid of any spiritual significance.
As all great religions teach, we are more than mere physical creatures in that we possess an essence beyond the material world. Indeed, this is why all great religions have a tradition of pilgrimage. In the Islamic tradition, Hajj encapsulates this spiritual journey toward this essence. The current state of affairs — both within and outside the Muslim world — greatly increases the relevance of some of the spiritual and universal messages inherent in the Hajj.
As Islamic scholar Ebrahim Moosa asks rhetorically: “after paying homage to the two women Eve and Hagar in the rites of pilgrimage, how can some Muslims still violate the rights and dignity of women in the name of Islam? Is this not a contradiction?”
Indeed, the Qur’an teaches: “I shall not lose sight of the labor of any of you who labors in my way, be it man or woman; each of you is equal to the other.” (3:195)
Clearly, the white sea of men and women side by side performing tawaf (circling) around the Ka’aba (the stone building Muslims believe was originally built by Adam and rebuilt by Abraham and his son Ishmael) should lay to rest any claim that Islam — as opposed to some Muslims — degrades women. The fact that millions of Muslims transcending geographical, linguistic, level of practice, cultural, ethnic, color, economic and social barriers converge in unison on Mecca, attests to the universality of the Hajj.
It plants the seed to celebrate the diversity of our common humanity. Pilgrims return home enriched by this more pluralistic and holistic outlook and with a new appreciation for their own origins. One of the most celebrated Western Hajjis (one who has completed the Hajj) is none other than African-Ameican civil rights leader El-Hajj Malik El-Shabbaz, more commonly known as Malcolm X. The man profoundly reassessed his previous views during the Hajj. This transformation, of course, sealed his break with the Black nationalist movement of the Nation of Islam.
Contrary to the teachings of the Nation, he concluded that Islam encompassed all of humanity and transcended race and culture. Malcolm X later said, “In my 39 years on this Earth, the holy city of Mecca had been the first time I had ever stood before the Creator of all and felt like a complete human.”
In Mecca, he discovered himself mixing with, “fellow Muslims, whose eyes were the bluest of blue, whose hair was the blondest of blond, and whose skin was whitest of white.” Malcolm X was so inspired by what he witnessed, that, in letters to friends and relatives, he wrote, “America needs to understand Islam, because this is the one religion that erases from its society the race problem.”
Upon returning to America, he embarked on a mission to enlighten both blacks and whites with his new views. Malcolm X understood that in order to truly learn from the Hajj, its inherent spiritual lessons must extend beyond the fraternal ties of Muslims to forging a common humanity with others.
In fact, as part of the spiritual experience, the pilgrimage links people across religions through a past shared by several Abrahamic traditions. This combined with the Islamic teaching of the common origin of humanity holds out much hope. Indeed, the Qur’an teaches: “We created you from a single pair of a male and female (Adam and Eve), and made you into nations and tribes that ye may know each other and not that you might despise each other. The most honored of you in the sight of God is the most righteous of you” (Al-Hujurat: 13). This is a great celebration of the differences and at the same time unity of all of humanity.
Another essential spiritual message of the Hajj is one of humility to God and His supremacy and control over all that we know. The multitude of people and their inner beliefs and practices are all to be judged by God and God alone in His infinite wisdom and full knowledge. Indeed, as the Qur’an insists, “Let there be no compulsion in matters of faith, truth stands out clear from error.” (2: 256) The result of a successful Hajj is a rich inner peace, which is manifested outwardly in the values of justice, honesty, respect, generosity, kindness, forgiveness, mercy and empathy. And it is these values – all attributes of God almighty — that are indispensable to us all if we are just to get along in this world.
Festival of The Sacrifice
Muslims
from all over the world anticipate the annual three-day celebration of a
historical event that took place thousands of years ago during the time
of Prophet Abraham [pbuh]1. This occasion, known as Eid-ul-Adha or the
Festival of Sacrifice, is a representation of two significant Islamic
events: the culmination of the Hajj (or pilgrimage to the holy city of
Makkah, Saudi Arabia), and the sacrifice that God (Allah) commanded to
Prophet Abraham of his beloved son, Ismail.
Eid-ul-Adha is observed on the 10th of Dhul-Hijjah, the last month of the Islamic lunar calendar. While Muslims all around the world celebrate this day, it has particular significance for the pilgrims performing the hajj.
In
order to understand the context of Eid-ul-Adha, one must describe the
Hajj with which it is associated. Allah had made the Hajj mandatory upon
mankind initially during the time of Prophet Abraham: “And make a
proclamation of Hajj to mankind; they will come to you on foot and on
lean camels from every distant quarter.” (Quran: Ch 22, v27). Over time,
however, the spread of idolatry across Arabia caused the rituals of
hajj to become extremely distorted. With the advent of Islam and Prophet
Muhammad [pbuh], Allah had reinstated Hajj as the fifth pillar of
Islam, and described the correct manner in which it was to be performed.
Allah has ordained that every able-bodied Muslim who can afford it must perform the pilgrimage at least once in their lifetime. Several main rituals constitute the framework of this experience: 1. Tawaf (circumambulating the Kabah2 seven times); 2. Sa’i (walking between the mounds of Safa and Marwah seven times); 3. supplicating to Allah at Arafat (the place where Prophet Muhammad [pbuh] gave his farewell speech, proclaiming the final seal of Islam, and where Muslims believe they will be resurrected on the Day of Judgment); and 4. stoning the pillars that symbolize Satan at Mina (the place where Satan repeatedly challenged Abraham to disobey Allah’s command to sacrifice his son).
Each
of these prescribed acts is a step in the pilgrim’s arduous journey
towards spiritual cleansing. When the pilgrim successfully executes
these acts in the prescribed manner with the utmost sincerity and
humility, all his/her prior sins are forgiven. The final ritual that
pilgrims must perform, signifying the completion of these acts, is the
sacrifice of a domestic animal.
In
addition to denoting the completion of the hajj, Eid-ul-Adha honors the
monumental sacrifice that was to be made by Prophet Abraham. Abraham
was ordered by Allah to sacrifice his dearly-beloved son, Ismail, as a
test of obedience. Abraham willingly submitted to Allah’s command,
wherein Allah, by His Mercy, replaced Ismail at the moment of sacrifice
with a lamb.
Abraham’s
selfless act of obedience is commemorated by the sacrifice of a
domestic animal such as a lamb, sheep, cow, or goat, the meat of which
is then distributed to relatives, neighbors, and the poor. In parts of
the world that preclude Muslims from personally sacrificing an animal,
Muslims donate money to charitable organizations, which then sacrifice
the animal on their behalf and distribute the meat to the poor. In
keeping with the following injunction of the Quran (22:27), “…and
pronounce the name of Allah over the cattle which We have provided for
them on the appointed days, then eat the meat themselves and feed the
indigent and needy,” Eid-ul-Adha exemplifies the charitable instincts of
Muslims in their communal effort to see that no one is left deprived of
the sacrificial meat. It further embodies the values of discipline and
self-denial, and submitting to the will of Allah.
Eid-ul-Adha is a joyous occasion marked with family traditions and celebrations. The festivities begin in the morning after Fajr prayer, where Muslims, dressed in their finest clothes, attend the congregational prayer followed by a sermon. Upon completion of the services, people greet each other with the blessings of Eid: “Eid Mubarak.” Afterwards, Muslims often visit the homes of relatives and friends, partaking in delicious feasts customary to their native cultures and often exchanging gifts, and many eagerly anticipate the return of those friends and relatives who have made the journey for hajj.
Christianity,
Judaism, and Islam all trace their roots back to Prophet Abraham
(Ibrahim in Arabic), who is thus known as the father of the three
monotheistic religions. Islam relates that Abraham had two wives, Sarah
and Hajar, each of whom bore a son, Isaac and Ismail, respectively.
Although Hajar was initially Sarah’s maid, according to Islam, Hajar
later married Prophet Abraham and bore him a son, Ismail. The lineage of
Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) is traced to Ismail, whereas Christianity and
Judaism trace their roots back to prophet Isaac, the son of Sarah. The
sacrifice made by Abraham is of importance in all three monotheistic
religions, although it is not commemorated by Jews and Christians in the
same manner as in Islam. Christianity and Judaism, however, maintain
that Isaac, rather than Ismail, was the promised son whom Allah had
ordered to be sacrificed.
Whether
it is Islam, Christianity, or Judaism, the sacrifice of the son of
Prophet Abraham has historical significance. Muslims celebrate the event
through the festivities of Eid-ul-Adha as customary to their native
cultures. Eid-ul-Adha is a time of remembrance of the trials of Prophet
Abraham, a time to celebrate the end of the hajj, and a time that men,
women, and children of all ages greatly anticipate. Eid Mubarak!
A Muslim View on Respecting Life
Life’s fragility should remind us of the greatness of God, and the goodness of God’s creation should inspire us to respect life.
Adapted from remarks made in the Princeton University Chapel for Respect Life Sunday.
In a world preoccupied with material wealth and convenience, the gift of life is often minimized and sometimes forgotten altogether. Modernity encourages us to view “unwanted” life as a burden that will hold us back. For Muslims, however, just as for many in other faith traditions, life must be acknowledged, always and everywhere, as a true blessing.
In the pre-Islamic period, the practice of female infanticide was widespread in much of Arabia, but it was immediately forbidden through Islamic injunctions. Several verses of the Quran were revealed that prohibited this practice to protect the rights of the unborn and of the newborn child: “When the female infant, buried alive, is questioned for what crime was she killed; when the scrolls are laid open; when the World on High is unveiled; when the Blazing Fire is kindled to fierce heat; and when the Garden is brought near; Then shall each soul know what it has put forward. So verily I call” (81: 8-15). Indeed, there are many verses in the Quran that remind us of the sanctity of life. We are told that “Wealth and children are an adornment of this life” (18:46), and we are commanded to “Kill not your children for fear of want: We shall provide sustenance for them as well as for you. Verily the killing of them is a great sin” (17:31).
877-Why-Islam presents Sh. Omar Suleiman who asks important questions about our goal in life. Is the enjoyment of life the ultimate goal worth living for? Can a blind and homeless individual be more content than a famous actor? Explore why individuals display such varying levels of contentment.
The gift of life
While the religious injunctions reverberate through faith on a spiritual level, the blessings of life touch us daily on a worldly level, as well. As the mother of three beautiful children, I can truly attest to and appreciate the gift of life. But I also understand how heartbreaking it is to lose it.
I want to share with you the story of how I came to realize life’s fragility and the importance of making the most of our spiritual journeys here on earth. Over thirteen years ago, my husband and I were eager to start our family. We were ecstatic when, a few months shy of our first anniversary, we found out that we were expecting. Very early on, we began playing the “new parent” planning game, picking out names and nursery colors even before our first doctor’s appointment.
A few months into the pregnancy, the doctor scheduled a routine ultrasound. Giddy with excitement, we entered the darkened room and waited in great anticipation to see our child. There on the screen—fuzzy, yet discernible—we could see our baby’s outline. We imagined the features and jokingly guessed who the baby might look like. But the ultrasound technician did not laugh with us. As she solemnly stared at the screen, we followed her gaze. As inexperienced as we were, we could tell that something was not right: our baby had no heartbeat.
After losing my first child, I truly began to understand the meaning of life. When the heartbeat we’d heard so clearly on the Doppler suddenly ceased, our baby’s life ended in the womb, before he or she even had a chance to begin in the outside world.
But strong faith and an unshakeable belief in a just God is a great formula for filling any emotional void. As the Quran states in Verse 156 of Surat Al-Baqara, there are great blessings for those “who, when a misfortune overtakes them, say: ‘Surely we belong to God and to Him shall we return.’” Losing our first baby led to a deeper appreciation of God’s magnificence and the miracle of His creation.
Several months later, we found out we were expecting again. This time, the excitement was tempered with worry. Our first ultrasound came much earlier in the pregnancy, and we eagerly scanned the screen for the telltale beating before glancing at fingers and toes or eyes and nose. And there it was, strong and steady! We breathed a sigh of relief. Our baby was alive.
As the months of this second pregnancy progressed and the baby bump grew larger, we began to hope. Each ultrasound revealed a little more of our child and each kick confirmed that this time we were really going to begin our family. As the due date quickly approached, we felt more confident in choosing baby items and room colors. We even chose the name for our baby girl. Her name would be Jennah, which means Heaven in Arabic.
With just a few weeks left before my scheduled delivery date, I went into labor. As we sped to the hospital and I was wheeled into the darkened ultrasound room, out of habit, my eyes went directly to the heart area on the screen that I knew all too well by now. That tiny heart, which I had sought out so many times in the previous ultrasounds, had stopped beating.
That day, so many years ago, I delivered Jennah, my stillborn daughter; and that day we buried Jennah. We hadn’t known how fitting her name would really be. As the infection that had ended the pregnancy sped through my blood in the days that followed, I recognized just how delicate life really is. Nothing can bring life into perspective as much as loss. And nothing can affirm faith as much as life. [Read more: Faith, Belief in the Unseen]
Today, as I look at my three beautiful children, I know that God is good. No, God is great, or in Arabic, Allahu Akbar. And what gives me the greatest solace in times of trial is the verse in the Quran that states: “It may be that you detest something which is good for you; while perhaps you love something even though it is bad for you. God knows, while you do not know” (2:216).
The power of life
As Muslims, we believe in the power of life to change others, and we believe even more in the power of God. In any disaster, in any calamity, and in the face of any death, we are urged to repeat “inna lilah wa inna ilayhee raji’un”—“To God we belong and to Him we return.” In the end, only He knows what is best for us.
I could share with you so many stories from the Hebrew Bible, the New Testament, and the Quran that illustrate the power of God in our lives: the creation of Adam, the patience of Job, the perseverance of Noah, the purity of Joseph, the judiciousness of Solomon, the trials of Jonah, the obedience of Abraham, the wisdom of Moses, the devotion of Jesus, and the inspiration of Mohamed. I could share these stories with you, but they are available to all in the Holy Scriptures.
Instead, I want to share with you the story of an amazing woman whom I met recently at a conference. This woman truly exemplifies the spirit of respecting life. Melinda Weekes had recently returned from a trip to the Sudan, where she was helping to enact a policy of slave redemption. For years and years, a rampant genocide was perpetrated in southern Sudan by the wealthy slave traders of the north. They would pillage and torch the mud huts of the villagers, and then capture the women and children to sell them into slavery.
Heartbroken by what was happening in Sudan, this woman traveled across the world to help free these slaves by buying them back from the traders and returning them to their villages. Upon their return, she helped them rebuild their lives by establishing schools and educating their girls so that they could break free from oppression. Describing the strength of these women in the face of modern-day slavery, Melinda shared story after story of the things she had seen on her trips to Sudan. She spoke of one of the most powerful experiences she had had, when she sat with a woman who had lost her home, her husband, and her children, and had suffered incredible harm at the hands of her slave master. She asked the woman, “How do you survive? How do you manage to continue living?” The woman responded, “When the world pushed me down to my knees, I knew that it was time to pray. I am blessed to still have these old knees that allow me to kneel, blessed to be able to prostrate, blessed to be able to pray. And I am blessed because I have God.”
I ask you today to reflect on women like these, to reflect on their inner strength, and to reflect on your own life as you know it. I ask you to accept life as a gift and to understand that your life belongs to a greater power, to a higher authority that breathed life into your soul at your beginning and decreed that you should live it with good morals, good ethics, and a good heart that can truly make a difference in the lives of those around you.
In the memorable words of Mother Theresa:
Life is an opportunity, benefit from it.
Life is beauty, admire it.
Life is a dream, realize it.
Life is a challenge, meet it.
Life is a duty, complete it.
Life is a game, play it.
Life is a promise, fulfill it.
Life is sorrow, overcome it.
Life is a song, sing it.
Life is a struggle, accept it.
Life is a tragedy, confront it.
Life is an adventure, dare it.
Life is luck, make it.
Life is too precious, do not destroy it.
Life is life, fight for it.
I’d like to end with a prayer, a Muslim ayah (verse 286 from Suratul Baqara) from the Quran:
On no soul doth God place a burden greater than it can bear. It gets every good that it earns, and it suffers every ill that it earns. (Pray:) Our Lord! Condemn us not if we forget or fall into error; Our Lord! Lay not on us a burden like that which Thou didst lay on those before us; Our Lord! Lay not on us a burden greater than we have strength to bear. Blot out our sins, and grant us forgiveness. Have mercy on us. Thou art our Protector; help us against those who stand against faith.
I ask you today once again to respect life, for there is no greater gift. Respect life, yours and the lives around you. For when we lose respect for life, we lose respect for humanity, and when we lose respect for humanity, we lose respect for God’s creation, and when we lose that, we have lost everything.
10 TIPS TO PREPARE FOR RAMADHAN
1. To fast some days in the month of Sha’baan
This
will get you in the system, and then fasting will become easy. The
Prophet Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam used to fast in the month of Sha’baan
perpetually.
2. Sincere tawba & Istighfaar
It cleanses the heart so the NOOR and Barakah of Ramadhan can enter the heart
3. Pray
We should start praying 5 times a day with Jamaat and Takbeere Ulaa
4. Zakat
We should calculate our Zakat and pay in Sha’baan, or you can pay it gradually throughout Ramadhan
We should give up all our bad habits before Ramadhan starts. If we don’t, they will carry on in Ramadhan too.
6. Have Great Terms With Close Ones
Forgive one another, help one another, advise one another. Spring clean the heart
7. Qaza
If
you have missed any fast from last Ramadhan, make up for them before
Ramadhan starts. Also make up for any salah, kafaraa etc..
8. Plan Your Daily Schedule
This will help you throughout Ramadhan to be productive and regular in your ibadaat
9. Dua
The Prophet Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam used to make this Dua:
اللهم سلمني لرمضان وسلم رمضان لي وتسلمو مني متقبلا
10. Social media
Minimize it, only use it for Necessity. This will help you focus to worship Allah more.
FLIGHT JANAZAH
FLIGHT JANAZAH
When we are leaving this world for the next one, it shall be like a trip to another country.Where details of that country won’t be found in glamorous travel brochures but in the Holy Qura’an and the Hadiths.Where our plane won’t be Indian Air Lines, British Airways, Gulf Air or Emirates but Air Janazah.
You don’t pay for excess luggage. They are carried free of charge, with your Creator’s compliment.Where our dress won’t be a Pierre Cardin suit or the like but the white cotton shroud.Where our perfume won’t be Channel, Paco Rabane, but the camphor and attar.Where our passports won’t be Indian, British, French or American but Al Islam.
Where
our visa won’t be the 6 months leave to stay or else but the “La Illaha
Illallah”. Where the airhostess won’t be a gorgeous female but Isra’iil
and its like. Where the in-flight services won’t be 1st class or
economy but a piece of beautifully scented or foul smelling cloth. Where
our place of destination won’t be Heathrow Terminal 1 or Jeddah
International Terminal but the last Terminal Graveyard. Where our
waiting lounge won’t be nice carpeted and air-conditioned rooms but the 6
feet deep gloomy Qabar.
Where
the Immigration Officer won’t be His Majesty’s officers but Munkar and
Nakeer. They only check out whether you deserve the place you yearn to
go. Where there is no need for Customs Officers or detectors. Where the
transit airport will be Al Barzakh. Where our final place of destination
will be either the Garden under which rivers flow or the Hellfire.
This
trip does not come with a price tag. It is free of charge, So your
savings would not come handy. This flight can never be hijacked so do
not worry about terrorists. Food won’t be served on this flight so do
not worry about your allergies or whether the food is Halal. Do not
worry about legroom; you won’t need it, as our legs will become things
of the past. Do not worry about delays. This flight is always punctual.
It arrives and leaves on time. Do not worry about the in-flight
entertainment program because you would have lost all your sense of joy.
Do not worry about booking this trip, it has already been booked
(return) the day you became a foetus in your mother’s womb.
Ah!
At last good news! Do not worry about who will be sitting next to you.
You will have the luxury of being the only passenger. So enjoy it while
you can. If only you can! One small snag though, this trip comes with no
warning. Are you prepared…..you better be ! Please spread the truth and
Insha-Allah our Muslim brothers & sisters will understand and
practice the guiding principles, whatever way they can afford to uphold
our believe of our religion Islam in this world and in the hereafter.
Adhkaar on Friday
Friday
is one of the blessed days on which it is mustahabb (encouraged) to
remember Allah, may He be exalted, a great deal in general terms.
Allah, may He be exalted, says (interpretation of the meaning):
“And when the prayer has been concluded, disperse within the land and seek from the bounty of Allah , and remember Allah often that you may succeed”
[al-Jumu’ah 62:10].
Adhkaar that are mustahabb on other days are even more mustahabb on Friday, because of the virtue of this day.
An-Nawawi (may Allah have mercy on him) said:
You
should understand that every dhikr that may be recited on days other
than Friday may be recited on Friday too, and it is more encouraged to
remember Allah a great deal on this day than on other days.
End quote from al-Adhkaar (p. 71).
With regard to specific adhkaar [on Friday]:
Firstly:
Sending a great deal of blessings upon the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him):
It
was narrated that Aws ibn Aws said: The Messenger of Allah (blessings
and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “One of the best of your days is
Friday. On it Adam was created, on it he died, on it the Trumpet will be
blown and it all creatures will swoon. So send a great deal of
blessings upon me on that day, for your blessings will be shown to me.”
They
said: O Messenger of Allah, how will our blessings be shown to you when
you will have disintegrated? He said, “Allah, has forbidden the earth
to consume the bodies of the Prophets.”
Narrated
by Abu Dawood (1047), an-Nasaa’i (1374) and Ibn Maajah (1085). Classed
as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh Sunan Abi Dawood (4/214); he said: Its
isnaad is saheeh according to the conditions of Muslim. It was also
classed as saheeh by Ibn Hibbaan and an-Nawawi. End quote.
Secondly:
Reciting (or reading) Soorat al-Kahf.
It
was narrated from Abu Sa‘eed al-Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him)
that the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said:
“Whoever recites (or reads) Soorat al-Kahf on Friday, he will be granted
light from one Friday to the next.” Narrated by al-Haakim in
al-Mustadrak (2/368). He said: This is a hadith of which the isnaad is
saheeh, although they [al-Bukhaari and Muslim] did not narrate it. It
was classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Irwa’ al-Ghaleel (3/93).
Thirdly:
One should be keen to constantly call upon Allah [du‘aa’] throughout the day on Friday.
It
was narrated from Abu Hurayrah that the Messenger of Allah (blessings
and peace of Allah be upon him) mentioned Friday, and said: “In it there
is a time when, if a Muslim happens to be standing and praying at that
time, asking Allah, may He be exalted, for something, He will give it to
him” – and he gestured with his hand to indicate how short that time
is. Narrated by al-Bukhaari (935) and Muslim (852).
There
are many views concerning the definition of that time, the strongest of
which are two views, as was explained by Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allah have
mercy on him), who said: The most likely of these views to be correct
are two which are referred to in the proven hadiths; one of them is more
likely to be correct than the other.
The
first view is that this time is from when the imam sits [on the minbar]
until the prayer is over. The evidence for this view is the report
narrated by Muslim in his Saheeh from Abu Burdah ibn Abi Moosa, that Ibn
‘Umar said to him: Did you hear your father narrate anything from the
Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) concerning
the hour (time when du‘aa’s are answered) on Friday? He said: Yes, I
heard him say: I heard the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of
Allah be upon him) say: “It is between the time when the imam sits [on
the minbar] until he finishes the prayer.”
The
second view is that it is after ‘Asr, and this is the view which is
more likely to be correct. It is the view of ‘Abdullah ibn Salaam, Abu
Hurayrah, Imam Ahmad, and others. The evidence for this view is the
report narrated by Ahmad in his Musnad from Abu Sa‘eed and Abu Hurayrah,
that the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “On
Friday there there is a time when, if a Muslim happens to ask Allah, may
He be glorified and exalted, for something good, He will give it to
him. That time is after ‘Asr.”
Abu
Dawood and an-Nasaa’i narrated from Jaabir that the Prophet (blessings
and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “Friday is twelve hours, when no
Muslim asks Allah, may He be glorified and exalted, for anything but
Allah, may He be glorified and exalted, will give it to him. Seek it at
the end of the time after ‘Asr.”
This is the view of most of the early generations (salaf), and it is supported by most of the hadiths.
The next strongest view is that it is the time of prayer.
The other views have no evidence to support them.
In
my view, the time of prayer is also a time when there is strong hope of
du‘aa’s being answered, for both of them are times when du‘aa’s are
answered. Even though the time referred to in the hadith is the last
hour after ‘Asr, because it is a specific time of the day that cannot be
brought forward or put back, as for the time of the prayer, it is
connected to the prayer and may be brought forward or put back, because
the gathering of the Muslims, their prayer and their humble beseeching
of Allah, may He be exalted, have an impact on the supplication being
answered. So the time when they gather is a time when it is hoped that
supplications will be answered. Thus all the hadiths may be reconciled
and we understand that the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon
him) urged his ummah to call upon Allah and beseech Him at these two
times.
End quote from Zaad al-Ma‘aad (1/377-382).
The
scholars of the earlier and later generations differed concerning this
time, and there are many views that are widely known among the Muslims. I
have compiled all the views that mentioned it in Sharh al-Muhadhdhab,
and explained who expressed these views, and that many of the Sahaabah
were of the view that it is after ‘Asr. What is meant by standing
praying is waiting for the prayer, because the one who is waiting for
the prayer is in a state of prayer.
WHAT TO DO UPON A DEATH
The
blessed Companion Aboo Sa’eed Khudri radiyallahu anhu narrates that the
Prophet sallalahu alayhi wasallam said, “Prompt the dying among you to
say (the kalimah): Lã ilãha illallãh (I declare that there is no god but
Allah).” (Muslim)
The
blessed Companion Ma’qil Ibne Yasãr radiyallahu anhu narrates that the
Prophet sallalahu alayhi wasallam said, “You should recite Soorah Yãseen
over the dying among you.” (Musnade-Ahmad, Aboo Dãwood, Ibne Mãjah)
IN THE AGONY OF DEATH
Turn
the face of the dying person towards the Qiblah. Let him or her make
the following prayer, “O Allah, forgive me and have mercy on me and have
me join higher companions.” (Tirmizi)
RULINGS
1.
Soon after the signs of death become obvious, make the dying person lie
on his back with the Qiblah on his right. Turn the face slightly
towards the Qiblah, raise the head a little by placing a pillow or some
other head-rest, in which case also, the dying person will be considered
as facing the Qiblah. But leave the dying person as he is if he feels
uncomfortable while being made to face the Qiblah. One should sit down
close by and say loudly, “Ash’hadu allã ilãha illallãhu wahdahoo lã
shareeka lahoo wa ash’hadu anna Muhammadan ‘abduhoo wa rasooluh.” (I
bear witness that there is no god but Allah. He is One, there is no
partner with Him; and I bear witness that Muhammad sallalahu alayhi
wasallam is His Servant and His Messenger.) Given his condition, do not
ask him to recite the kalimah, for that is a time of great trial – who
knows what he might say under stress.
2.
After the dying person has recited the kalimah once, leave it at that.
Do not try to make him say the kalimah non-stop in an effort to see that
he breathes his last whilst reciting it. For, the purpose is simply to
make sure that the last words he says should be the kalimah. It is not
at all necessary that the recitation of the kalimah continues right
through the last breath. However, should he return to the mundane and
the ordinary concerns of life, start reciting the kalimah again. When
he, taking the cue, recites it, then be silent.
3.
When breath loses its momentum and starts heaving faster and legs sag
down, unable to stay up and the nose-top turns aside and the temples
collapse inwards, take these signs to be the certain knock of death. At
this time, start reciting the kalimah in a raised voice.
4.
Reciting Soorah Yãseen lightens the hardship of death. Recite it
sitting on the side of his head or anywhere else near the body, or ask
someone else to do it.
5.
At a time such as this, say nothing which may divert his attention to
the concerns of worldly life, for this is the time to leave the mortal
world and be present in the majestic Court of Allah Almighty. Do say
that which turns his heart away from the concerns of the mortal world
and diverts it towards the thoughts of his Creator, for it is here that
the well being of the dying lies. At a time like this, bringing his
children and family members before him, or anyone else he loved most, or
to remind him of things or people in a nostalgic manner causing him to
be swamped in the thoughts of loves lost, is a terrible thing to do to
him. It is not nice that he says farewell to his life in the world so
bound by its fond memories.
6.
If, at the time of death, some unfortunate remark bordering on kufr
(the denial of Faith) escapes the lips of the dying person, feel or say
nothing about it. Instead, take it to be a slip of his reason under the
stress of approaching death. When man loses his reason, he stands
forgiven for his sayings and deeds. Keep praying that Allah Almighty
forgives him.
7.
When death comes, all concerned should say, “Innã lillãhi wa innã
ilayhi rãji’oon” (Surely to Allah we belong, and to Him we are to
return) and make the following prayer, “O Allah, help me in my hour of
trial and replace it for me with what is better.” (Tirmizi)
8.
When death becomes obvious and certain, take a strip of cloth, wide
enough to pass under the chin, bring it on to the head, tie a knot, then
close the eyes gently and pray, “I begin with the Name of Allah while
being faithful to the Religion of His Messenger sallalahu alayhi
wasallam. O Allah, make his matter easy on him and that which he is to
face after death, and make him the blessed beholder of Thy Sighting, and
make that to which he has departed better than what he has departed
from.” (Durre-Mukhtãr)
9. Then
straighten hands and feet, bring toes of the feet close together and
tie them with a strip of cloth. Then, throw a sheet over the dead body
and place it on a cot or a flat wooden bunk. Do not leave it lying on
the ground. It is advisable to place some weight on the stomach lest it
inflates. Allow no impure persons (in need of a bath, including women in
conditions that exempt them from offering Salãh etc.) near the dead
body. (Durre-Mukhtãr)
Now inform relatives and friends of the deceased so that they can all participate in his funeral prayers.
10. Some incense (such as oblibanum, lobãn or Frankincense), if available, may be placed near the deceased.
11. Reciting the Qur’ãn near the deceased before the washing of the body is not correct.
12.
All funeral arrangements including the shrouding of the dead body have
to be made very quickly. Start with locating a gravesite and the
preparation of the grave. Collect everything needed for the stages of
washing, shrouding, funeral and burial.
13.
If a person dies on a Friday, it is better to make all arrangements and
bury the deceased before the Jumu’ah congregational Salãh. Holding on
to the prepared body with the thought that there will be a lot of
participants in the Janãzah salãh after Jumu’ah is makrooh (detested).
(Shãmi)
LET THERE BE NO WAILING OVER THE DECEASED
It
has been related in a Hadeeth that once the Prophet sallalahu alayhi
wasallam paid a visit to a Sahãbi who was on his deathbed. Seeing him in
that condition, the Prophet sallalahu alayhi wasallam broke in tears.
When people saw him in that state, they too started weeping. He then
said to them, “Listen to me O people, and listen well. Allah Almighty
certainly does not apprehend the weeping eye and the hurting heart, for a
Servant of Allah has no control over these.” Then, pointing to the
tongue, he added, “But a mistake made by this, that is, on intentional
mourning and wailing, He punishes, and on reciting ‘Innã lillãhi wa innã
ilayhi rãji’oon’ (To Allah we belong and to Him we are to return), and
on raising hands of prayer and on seeking of His Forgiveness, He bestows
His Mercy.” (Bukhãri, Muslim)
KISSING THE DECEASED
After
the deceased has been given the required ghusl (bath), it is
permissible to kiss the deceased under intense desire to express love or
personal devotion as it was with the Prophet sallalahu alayhi wasallam
when he kissed ‘Uthmãn Ibne Maz’oon radiyallahu anhu and wept. Very
similar to this, the noble Companion Aboo Bakr radiyallahu anhu kissed
the forehead of the Prophet sallalahu alayhi wasallam after his
departure from this mortal world. (Zãdul-Ma’ãd)
ALL FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS SHOULD BE SWIFT
It
has been narrated that once the Prophet sallalahu alayhi wasallam came
to visit Talhah Ibne Barã radiyallahu anhu when he was sick. Seeing his
critical condition, he said to the people around him, “I feel that the
time of his death has arrived. If it does come to pass, I should be
informed and funeral arrangements be made with haste, for it is not
appropriate that the dead body of a Muslim be left amidst his family
members for long.” (Aboo Dãwood)
‘Abdullah
Ibne ‘Umar radiyallahu anhuma narrates that he heard the Prophet
sallalahu alayhi wasallam saying, “When one among you dies, do not keep
him in the house for long. Make haste in taking him to the grave and
burying him.” (Bayhaqi, Shu’abul-Imãn)
THE SPIRIT OF RAMADAN
Asad
opened the refrigerator door and peered inside. His eyes fell on a huge
chocolate cake and some sandwiches, the leftovers from yesterday’s tea.
“Oh God! Why am I being punished like this?” He groaned silently.
Just for a second, Asad felt sorely tempted.
“Who
would know if I eat a slice of the cake?” he mused. His parents weren’t
home, his grandparents were resting and his baby sister, Fatima was too
young to tell tales.
“Somebody would know, “a little voice argued inside his heart. “He, who knows everything, since He is our Creator.”
Asad
slammed the fridge door shut in frustration. He was fourteen and felt
ashamed of his momentary weakness. He went to the living room where a
maid was spooning Cerelac into Fatima’s little mouth. Fatima gurgled and
grinned at her older brother who bent down to give her a hug. Asad
looked at the pale yellow concoction that was smeared across her face
and swallowed hard. Even Cerelac smelled good at this hour.
He flopped down on the sofa in disgust and switched on the television.
“Maybe
a nice program will take my mind off food for a while,” he thought,
aggressively pressing down the channel buttons on the remote control.
He
paused at BBC channel where a cute anchorperson was presenting a
report. Asad stared at her for a while without registering the news but
then some live images made his attention snap back at the report. Rachel
Hayward was talking about intense, widespread poverty and famine in
Africa where millions of children perished each year due to hunger and
malnutrition.
Asad
stared at the disturbing pictures of dark brown skeletal children with
distended stomachs. Flies hovered around their faces and their naked
bodies, as mothers listlessly tried to wave them away. Their misery was
writ large on their faces and their empty eyes bore testimony to man’s
inured ways.
Asad
thought with a guilty pang about the uneaten pizza he had thrown away
in a fit of temper last night. He had ordered his favorite Chicken
Supreme but the delivery boy had brought some other pizza and would not
take it back. Asad had paid for it and just to show the impertinent
delivery guy what he thought of his services, had tossed the pizza into
the trash can outside his house. It had felt so good at that time but
now he felt like a total jerk.
He
remembered how his grandmother always chided him when he left rice
uneaten on his plate that was later scrapped off by the servant and
dumped in trashcan. He remembered the lavish meals he and his friends
ordered in college canteen and then discarded because they could not eat
a bite more. If excess, extravagance and waste were crimes, then he was
guilty of each one of them.
He
changed the channels once again and put on MTV. He had a huge crush on
Beyonce but after witnessing the BBC report, the music seemed too loud,
too cheerful and even obscene. He switched the television off.
“What
is wrong with me today?” He thought uneasily. “It must be the lack of
food that is making me so restless.” He glanced at the stately golden
clock adorning the living room wall. Only twenty minutes had passed and
he still had more than three and a half hours to kill.
“I’ll
go to Bilal’s house.” He decided, thinking about his friend’s house
across the street. “Maybe a few rounds of computer games will improve my
mood.”
When
he stepped out of his house, he saw was a couple of dirty, bedraggled
children foraging through the trash can. The older kid, who seemed about
5 yrs old, dragged a piece of dried chapatti out of the refuse heap and
brushed away blackened mango peels from it. He broke it in two and
offered the other half to his younger sister. Asad stood rooted to the
spot in horror.
“Hey.
Don’t eat that. It’s terribly dirty and probably mouldy too,” he
shouted but the duo quickly crammed the hard chapatti into their hungry
mouths and scampered off.
“Why had I never noticed such things before?” he wondered.
Asad
had never been hungry in his entire life so poverty, deprivation, and
hunger were concepts that he had never thought about.If the home cooked
meal was not to his liking, he always ordered his favorite foods from
upscale restaurants and had them delivered home. He had a credit card, a
gift from his father on his fourteenth birthday and he used it for
lavish meals whenever he wished.
Now
hunger due to the obligatory fast was forcing him to look at the plight
of the less fortunate and the more he saw, the more disturbed he felt.
He
crossed the street and saw a construction crew at work. Bilals’ father
was having a wing added to his already imposing residence. Asad paused
to admire the skill of an old carpenter who was busy smoothing a
rectangular block of wood. Wood shavings littered the floor around him.
“Are you fasting, babaji?” He asked respectfully.
The old man looked up and wiped the perspiration from his brow.
“Aye, son. Work is no excuse for not fasting,” he replied.
Asad
could not imagine fasting and then working in the relentless summer
afternoon heat. He looked around at the laborers, mason, and brick
layers working in a rhythmic method.
“What
do you eat for iftaar?” he asked out of curiosity, referring to the
evening meal. He imagined the lavish food that got prepared in their
kitchen everyday. It took their chef at least two hours to put together
an afternoon tea.
The old man smiled,” Whatever Allah provides for us, son. He is Merciful and Most Gracious.”
“Does
Mr. Haroon provide you with meals?” Asad persisted. He knew Bilal’s
father was rather tight fisted. He would have insisted that the men put
in whole shifts instead of cutting down their working hours in deference
to Ramadan.
“What
do rich men know about empty stomachs, my son,” the old carpenter
replied, moving his plane over the wood in a smooth, fluid motion.
With
bile rising in his throat, Asad turned back towards his house. His mind
was in turmoil and his heart ached. In the living room he paced
restlessly and then saw some CDs that his grandfather was fond of
listening. He put on one in the magnificent stereo system that his
father had recently purchased. It was recitation of the Holy Quran. As
the soul stirring voice of Qari Saad Al Ghamdi reciting Surah al Baqarah
filled the room, Asad felt waves of serenity hitting him. He felt
engulfed in peace and tears shimmered in his eyes.
“Those
who spend their wealth in the way of Allah and do not follow up their
spending by stressing their benevolence and causing hurt, will find
their reward secure with their Lord. They have no cause for fear and
grief. ”
Asad
spent some time listening and absorbing the message from Allah. Then he
took a bath and said his prayers. His parents came home and the smell
of iftaar being prepared filled the house.
As
the entire family gathered for breaking the fast, Asad looked at the
dining table laden with a variety of food ___ sandwiches, cake, fruit
cocktail, tempura, triangular samosay, fried chicken pieces, dates and a
variety of other dishes.
“Mom, do we need to cook so much food for one meal that no one can possibly finish?”
“What’s on your mind, son?” his father asked, surprised by his son’s unusual question.
“Dad,
Mom’s on a diet, grandparents can’t eat fried and salty food as per
doctor’s orders and Fatima can’t eat solid food. That leaves you and me
to finish at least eight dishes. It’s pure waste.”
“Asad, what is wrong, son?” His mother asked concerned about her son’s state of mind.
“Mom
there are people out there dying of hunger. There are people who have a
handful of dried dates to eat and yet work all day on rich people’s
mansions and then thank God for His blessings.”
“Asad,
we do pay zakat and charity to help those in need. I am very happy that
you are being so thoughtful and caring, but we cannot eradicate poverty
on our own,” his father reasoned.
“Yes,
but maybe this Ramadan we can share our food with those whose needs are
greater than ours, father. May I?” Asad asked with a tilt of his head
towards the food.
The
grown ups looked bemused but Asad felt a gleam of pride in their eyes.
He went outside and invited the laborers for iftaar. At first hesitantly
and then with joy and gratitude they accepted his offer.
Asad’s
servants laid out linen on the green grass of their beautifully
manicured lawn and the men took off their shoes and sat cross legged
waiting for the Maghrib azaan which would signal the time to break the
fast.
As
Asad passed out fresh dates and fruit to about two dozen men in the
garden, the old carpenter said smilingly, “Didn’t I tell you that Allah
is the best Provider and we eat out of His provisions.”
For the first time in the day, Asad laughed aloud in joy.
“Thank
you for teaching me the true spirit of Ramadan, babaji . It is not
about mindlessly abstaining from food and drink all day but
understanding the needs of others and pleasing Allah to gain His
blessings that Ramadan is all about. Sharing and caring, that’s the true
spirit of this holy month.”
“Aye, and praying too. Now help this old man get up so that I can say my prayers, young man.”
Happy and satiated, they all went to the local mosque to offer their prayers and thank Allah for all His blessings.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)