I joined MuslimMatters.org … Alhamdulillah

Assalamu Alaykom,

Alhamdulillah The Lord of all Lords…. I joined one of the greatest blogs of our time, www.muslimmatters.org, to be able to express my views to a larger and much more diverse readers. Read here http://muslimmatters.org/2008/10/18/introducing-new-mm-writers-contributors/

I would like to say that its an honor to blog right next to some of the giants in the “blogging” world like ibnabeeomar, Amad, Sh. Yasir Qadhi, Sh. Yaser Birjas and many many more. I already feel some pressure and I think I am going to actually start using spell check now

I will continue to post here inshaAllah and I will definitely finish my series on Fiqh asSalah so keep up with that inshaAllah, but my main and major articles will be posted on MM inshaAllah.

I expect to hear your feedback and ideas
Make dua for me that Allah accepts and purifies my intention.. Ameen
Haytham

Intro to Fiqh asSalah ~ Lesson Two

The Importance of Congregational Salah

• The Messenger sallah Allahu ‘Alayhi wassallam said: A man’s Salah in congregation equals 27 folds the Salah by oneself (in some other narrations it says… 25 folds the Salah by oneself)

• It strengthens the principle of unity among Muslims. Though we can’t and probably wont see our Ummah as “one” in a lot of its affairs, when it comes to the Salah, you will find them all do the same actions, facing the same directions, at the same times which is rare to find in any nation.

• It fosters the social aspect of the community by helping to build relationships regardless of their race, background, and/or language.

• Praying in congregation makes this act of worship a lot easier. This is very obvious in Ramadan and the Friday prayers.

• It promotes and stresses the concept of equality among people. An Arab is equal to a non-Arab, the rich is equal to the poor, white is next to the black, the youth and the elders, the rulers and those who are being ruled. It is one of my absolute armaments when I walk in to the Masjid for Salah and next to me from one side is a black brother and from the other is a Hispanic brother and in front of me is the Desi brother and next to him is the white brother… a mix of races, languages, colors, backgrounds and yet…. the direction and the purpose of our actions is the same… truly amazing.

• The story of Ibn Umm Maktoom radiya Allahu ‘anho who Allah revield Surat Abasa blaming His Prophet sallah Allahu ‘Alayhi wassalam for frowning in his face. This great sahabi who was blind came to the Prophet and asked him for an excuse to not to come to the salah (at fajr) in the masjid due to the fact that he lives far and he has nobody to guide him in to the masjid so the prophet sallah Allahu Alayhi wassalam said that is fine and then he stopped and asked Ibn Umm Maktoom, “do you hear the the call for the salah (the Adhan)?” he replied, “Yes”.. then the prophet said, “Answer it”

This goes to show the importance of the salah in the masjid.

Etiquette of the Masjid:

Here are a few points that I believe sums up a big

1. Maintain its cleanliness.

2. Enter the Masjid with the right foot

3. Praying two rak’as saluting the Masjid. Here is something to think about: Ibn Hazm who is one of the great scholars of Andalus became religious and learned his deen because of a question about this two raka’s. The question was, if one enters the Masjid after Asr prayer (which is one of the prohibited times of praying nafl prayers) should he/she pray this two rak’ah or not?

4. Coming to the Masjid in the best attire..

5. Strive to smell good and avoid having bad smell. (please dont burp in public in general and specially in the masjid while you are praying… you wont do it in front of your boss at work, why do it in front of Allah?)

6. Avoiding having idols, pictures, or distracting decorations in the masjid. It is known that one of the minor signs of the Day of Judgment is seeing decorations in the masajid. This by the way doesnt mean that decorating the Masajid is Haram (I learned this in an AlMaghrib class, Rays of Faith: Aqeedah 201 by Sh. Waleed Basyouni)

7. Avoiding playing any music. Try to please keep your phone on silent or vibrate if you are in the masjid

8. Avoiding buying and selling in the Masjid. Based on the hadith of prophibiting buying and selling “in” the masjid. Question: What constitutes a masjid? Is it the area inside the fence including the parking lot? is it the building itself? what is considered the “masjid”? Post your answers in the comment section.

9. Reciting the proper dua’ while going, entering, and leaving the Masjid

Intro to Fiqh

Usọool AlFiqh (Arabic: أصو ل الفقه)

• Is a term which literally translates to the roots of the law.

• It is the science that Fuqahaa used to drive Fiqh

• It is the science that specializes in how to extract Fiqhi ruling from the evidence presented to the faqih, unlike the science of Fiqh, which specialize in the actual rulings.

• The purpose of studying Usool AlFiqh is to be able to :
o Extract the info
o Understand WHY do we have to do a certain act of worship

What is considered a Daleel?
• Quran – Sunnah – The understanding of the companions – The first three generations – Arabic Language…………… Why? (post your answers in the comment section please)

• What is Bid’ah (innovation)?
To answer this question, we have to understand the categories of Fiqh
Fiqh is divided in to two main sections: Fiqh of ‘ibadaat (Worship) and Fiqh of Mu’amaalat (Dealings)

Fiqh of ‘ibadaat is the fiqh that is concerned with the acts of worship.
Fiqh of Mu’amaalat (dealings) is the fiqh that is concerned with every thing other than the fiqh of worship.

The question here is, how can one differentiate between the both of them?
The answer is simple, ask yourself this question: Am I doing this action for the sake of Allah alone? or is it for the sake of Allah and somebody else? For example, Salah is considered an act of worship. That is because its done for the sake of Allah only. While marriage is considered an act of dealings because its done for the sake of Allah as well as yourself. Is this clear?

…………………..
In acts of worship, the default ruling is “EVERYTHING IS HARAM UNTIL PROVEN HALAL ” This means that if somebody comes to you and say its mandatory to pray on a prayer rug, the first thing you should do is to ask yourself is praying an act of worship or not, if it is an act of worship then you ask the next question, what is the evidence that proves that praying on a rug is mandatory? If there is no evidences that proves that, then this is haram to say its mandatory to pray on a rug.

While in acts of dealings,, the default ruling is “EVERYTHING IS HALAL UNTIL PROVEN HARAM” . This means that if somebody comes to you and say TV is haram, the first thing you should do is ask yourself if watching TV is an act of worship, if its not, then ask the next question, what is the evidences that proes that watching TV is haram? If there is no evidences that proves that, then this act is permissible and halal.

Bid’ah means innovation. In our deen, the word bid’ah refers to any act that is considered an act of worship, yet its not part of our deen. So in essence, its an act of innovation in our “worship” to Allah. Which also means that its an act of worship that has no proof from the quran and/or Sunnah.

I hope this above point is clear.. if its not, post your question and I will try to explain it further inshaAllah.

…………………..

What is a Madh-hab (School of thought)?
• Is an Imam’s way of extracting the rulings (i.e. Halal, Haram, Sunnah, Muba’ah (permissible), Mustahab (recommended), Makrooh (disliked)… etc)

• The most famous ones are Abu Hanifah, Malik, ash-Shafe’I and Ahmed.

• There are other scholars who formed a school of thought, but it died down because their students didn’t carry it further down the generations.

• The founders of these madh-habs asked their followers and those who will come after them NOT to blindly follow their schools of thought, but rather to extract the rulings from the same place they extracted their understanding from, which is the Qur’an, the sunnah conditioned by understanding of the companions.

• Although obviously this is not possible in every aspect of life, we should do so (try to extract rulings and understand the evidence behind the rulings we go-by) in as many issues as possible.

Some of the statements of the 4 Imams:
• Abu Haneefah (rahimahullaah) said “It is not permitted for anyone to accept our views if they do not know from where we got them for we are mortals: we say one thing one day, and take it back the next day..”

• Maalik ibn Anas (rahimahullaah) said “Truly I am only a mortal: I make mistakes (sometimes) and I am correct (sometimes). Therefore, look into my opinions: all that agrees with the Book and the Sunnah, accept it; and all that which does not agree with the Book and the Sunnah, ignore it.”

• Shaafi’i (rahimahullaah) said “If you find in my writings something different to the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allaah, then speak on the basis of the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allaah, and leave what I have said.”
In one narration: “… then follow it (the Sunnah), and do not look sideways at anyone else’s saying.”

• Ahmad ibn Hanbal (rahimahullaah) said “The opinion of Awzaa’i, the opinion of Maalik, the opinion of Abu Haneefah: all of it is opinion, and it is all equal in my eyes. However, the proof is in the narrations (from the Prophet and his Companions).”

If you are interested in reading more about this topic please make sure you RSS to my blog simple click here —>

Next lesson inshaAllah will cover:
o Tahaara (Cleanliness)
o Wudu’

Intro to Fiqh of Salah~ Lesson One

Importance of Salah

The Salah is the only pillar that was prescribed from above seven heavens Salah is a connection between Man and his Creator. Entering into the state of Salah simply means establishing a one to one communication with Allah.

If the Salah was preformed with the proper way, keeping that you talking to Allah directly, It becomes an irresistible source of tranquility for the true believer.

It is a form of submission to Allah. The heart the limbs, the thoughts, and the words said should be fully surrender to Allah alone.

Allah said in the Qur’an, in Surat Al-Ankaboot about the virtues of Salah:
“Indeed, Salah restrains from Shameful and unjust deeds” 29:45

The prophet sallah Allahu ‘Alayhi wassallam said about the virtues of Salah:
“The closest moment of a servant to be near to his Lord is when he is in Sujuud” Narrated by Muslim

It purifies the soul, heart, and minds from all diseases, Allah said in the Qur’an in Surat Al-A’la: 87: 14-15
Indeed, the winner is the one who purifies (his soul), and glorifies the name of his Lord in Salah

It helps make a person in the company of Rasool Allah sallah Allahu ‘Alayhi wassallam in paradise. It is narrated the that a companion asked the prophet sallah Allahu ‘Alayhi wassallam:
Let me accompany you in paradise, Muhammed sallah Allahu ‘Alayhi wassallam said: “Help me by making a lot of sujood (i.e by making a lot of salah)” Narrated by Muslim

Salah was prescribed in Makkah, while the Muslims were in great torture; however, Allah still prescribed the night prayer, which was obligatory upon the Muslims for some time. If anything, this proves the importance of Salah to any Muslim regardless of what state he/she is in.

Salah naturally incorporates many of the other acts of worship, which makes it superior to those individual acts of worship (i.e. Fasting, not talking, saying the shihada (kalima), dua ..etc)

The ruling of forsaking Salah

It is due to the importance of the Salah in Islam, the ruling on the one who abandons it should be clear to all Muslims. If the person who forsakes the Salah does not repent, it becomes a very serious matter, that can lead to kufr.

Based on the Qur’an and Sunnah, there is a concenses among the scholars that the line between Islam and kufr is the abandonment of Salah.

The Prophet sallah Allahu ‘Alayhi wassallam said:
Verily, what stand between Man and shirk (disbelieve) is the abandonment of the prescribed Salah” Narrated by Muslim

Another hadith of the Prophet sallah Allahu ‘Alayhi wassalam, he said:
The Covenant between us and them is the Salah. Whoever abandons it becomes a kafr (disbeliever)”
Narrated by Ahmed and At-Termidhi

The consequences in this dunya for the one who intentionally abandons Salah:
o Is considered an apostate
o Should be separated from their spouses.
o If one dies, he/she should not be washed.
o Janaaza prayer should not be preformed for him
o No one should make dua’ for them
o He/she should not be buried in Muslim graveyard
o His/her wealth is not inherited, and he/she should not inherit from his/her Muslim family.

• The consequences in the akhira (Hereafter) for the one who intentionally abandons Salah:
o He/She will not enter paradise
o The fire of hell his/her abode.

• One must know that there is no difference of opinion about that who abandon the Salah purposely (i.e. not believing in it), while there is a difference of opinion on the ruling of that who is lazy about performing it. (may Allah protect us..Ameen)

• Our duty towards those Muslims who don’t pray is to advice them until they repent and start praying. Once they repent, the above consequences become inapplicable.

• One cannot (and must not) tell his/her Muslim brother/sister that they became kafr due to the fact that they dont pray. That is not up to the us (laymen) to decide, it is up to the scholars.

The Prophet of Allah, Sallah Allahu Alayhi Wassalam said:
حَدَّثَنَا ‏ ‏وَكِيعٌ ‏ ‏عَنْ ‏ ‏فُضَيْلِ بْنِ غَزْوَانَ ‏ ‏عَنْ ‏ ‏نَافِعٍ ‏ ‏عَنِ ‏ ‏ابْنِ عُمَرَ ‏ ‏قَالَ ‏
‏قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ‏ ‏صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ ‏ ‏أَيُّمَا رَجُلٍ كَفَّرَ رَجُلًا فَأَحَدُهُمَا كَافِرٌ ‏

Waki’ told us, narrated from Fudayl, narrated from Nafe’, narrated from Abdullah Ibn Umar:
The prophet Salla Allahu Alayhi wassalam said: any person (who is Muslim) claims that another person (who is Muslim) has became a kafr, one of the two became kafr.

This means if person A said that person B is Kafr, then either person A is truthful and person B is truly a kafr… or else person A become a kafr for calling another Muslim such a thing.

Next lesson inshaAllah will cover:
o Importance of Congregational Salah
o Etiquette of the Masjid
o Intro to Fiqh

Hadith of Destroyers, Saviours, Expiating acts, and Elevators

Bismillah,

In Texas Dawah Convention (www.texasdawah.org) 2006, Shaykh Mamdoh stood up after one of the prayers for a very short Khatira (short talk) and explained this hadith… I call it ..The Three Hadith…. and its as following:

قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم : ثلاث مهلكات ، وثلاث منجيات ، وثلاث كفارات ، وثلاث درجات
فأما المهلكات : فشح مطاع ، وهوى متبع ، وإعجاب المرءبنفسه .
وأما المنجيات : فالعدل في الغضب والرضا ، والقصد في الفقر والغنى ، وخشية الله تعالى في السر والعلانية .
وأما الكفارات : فانتظار الصلاة بعد الصلاة ، وإسباغ الوضوء في السبرات ، ونقل الأقدام إلى الجماعات .
وأما الدرجات : فإطعام الطعام ، وإفشاء السلام ، والصلاة بالليل والناس نيام

The Prophet :saw: said:
Three acts are destroyers, three acts are saving acts, three acts are expiating acts, and three acts elevate in ranks..

As for the three destroying acts they are,
1- obeying your stinginess,
2- following one’s desire,
3- and self admiration.

As for the three saving acts they are,
1- being just when one becomes angry (or) happy (content)
2- being moderate in spending and holding back (money wise),
3- and the fear of Allah in public and private.

As for the three expiating acts they are,
1- waiting for the salah after the salah,
2- making wudu in the cold with a cold water,
3- going to the masajid to pray in Jamaa’ah (congregation)

As for the three elevating acts they are,
1- feeding food,
2- spreading salam,
3- and praying at night while people are a sleep.

|End of Hadith|

Disclaimer: I looked for this hadith online for an English translation but I couldn’t find any so I translated myself. If you are an Arabic speaking person and think there is a mistake in translation please say so in the comment section and i will edit the post.

PS. This is a beautiful hadith… please send this link to other http://haytham.wordpress.com/2008/10/11/hadith-of-destroyers-saviours-expiating-acts-and-elevators/

Tazkiya Part II (Step 3 and 4)

Bismilllah,

A while back I wrote Tazkiya Part I which covered Step I: Belief in Allah and Step 2: Physical purity. In this post, I will cover the next step, Step 3: Self Realization and Step 4: Realizing who is Allah.

Step III: Self Realization.
You have to really identify who you are. Whats your relationship like with your family, your friends, you society, your education, yourself, and over all with Allah. The question though, is how? How can one do that… and the answer is as following:

One should have to have some more alone time
a– Sit alone:
—-in a closed room without distractions (tv, computer, etc)
—-in a Masjid alone after everybody leave
—-out in the open,
—-go the beach at sunset,
—-or just close your eyes, rest your back to the wall.

b–Think and ponder:
Think about who you are, what do I stand for, how is your ethics, what does your family mean to you what do you expect of yourself, hows your relationship with Allah, when was the last time you prayed…..with khshooo’, hows your “hidden” life….etc

Think and ponder about what have you achieved until today, will you be remembered if you die? are you worthy of Allah’s mercy?

This step will take longer than just one time, you have to understand your weaknesses and figure a way to overcome them, you have to understand your strengths and utilize them. Once you feel like now you know yourself a little more, then your next step is improving it. (Hold on to this thought, we will revisit it one more time)

A good CD Set to listen to is Self Image Psychology by Sh. Yasser Fazaqah you can listen to it here http://www.hoor-al-ayn.com/lectures.html

Step 4: Realizing who is Allah.

I touched up on this a little in Step 1 but I guess now is a good time to talk about it a little more.

Realizing who is Allah will help you a lot in recognizing who you are. How, you might ask? and to answer this question is in the following:

My mother always said, “a man without a clear direction is lost”. Realizing who is Allah is a vital part of knowing how to worship Him.

In one of my talks to a highschool crowd about leading a successful life, I asked the question: Who is Allah? I didn’t get any response, I then asked them… How can you claim to worship Allah without knowing who He is?

But how do we get to know Allah? Its simple really… Ask yourself, who is Allah? An answer might come to your mind, He is the Creator, He is the Most Merciful… wait…. do you know what you just did? You just mentioned 2 of the Names and Attributes of Allah…. So to answer your question, in order for us to worship Allah we must know who He is, and in order for us to know who He is, we must learn His names and attributes.

Lets get a closer look at arRahman and arRaheem.. both of which talk about the mercy of Allah.
Their linguistic origin coming from the word Rahm which means tenderness and mercy. In Arabic, they are called “si3′at mubala3′a” meaning they are in the form of exaggeration.

Just to give you an idea as to whom are we dealing with here… Allah said in Hadith Qudsi:
عن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم:
( إن رحمتي سبقت غضبي )
رواه البخاري ومسلم.
My mercy precedes (overcomes) my Wrath. Narrated by Bukhari and Muslim

And here I ask, how can one be depressed? how can one be insecure? how… just think… we are dealing with “The” Most merciful… Allah the Exalted.

Once you have realized who is Allah, you will feel a better, much stronger connection between you and Him. This well lead you to some sort of an inner peace that comes in to your life. We call that Tranquility. If you have never experiences this feeling, then you are missing out a lot.

Allah Al-’Azeez, The all Mighty. Its linguistic origin is Quwwa (strength~ referenced in surat Yasin), Shidda (enforcement~), Ghalaba (overpowering~ referenced surat Albaqarah in the story of Dawoud (AS)), and Honor (referenced in Surat Yousuf)

Simply learning this name, one would know Allah’s might in strength and retribution, one would know that He, Allah, overpowers everything and no one can control him, one can know that nothing and no one can reduce His honor, and finally one would know that Nothing is like Him.

Understanding and realizing this attribute one would know and believe that true dignity and respect is from Allah not from the level of education you have, not from the amount of money in your bank account, not from your status within your community……….only based on your level of Imaan.

This is just a small taste of how it feels to know and understand the names and attributes of Allah… imagine understanding, learning and implementing the rest of them ……… what a feeling.

And Allah over all knows best.
Tazkiya Part III will cover Step 5 and Step 6 inshaAllah

PS. In contrary to the belief of most Muslims, Allah has more then 99 names… yet, there are 99 of them that whoever collect them, understand them, and implement them…. will enter paradise (based on the hadith of the 99 Names of Allah)

PSS. I would direct you to Eman Rush newest release, Light o Guidance by Shaykh Yasir Qadhi. InshaAllah you should get an idea of Who is Allah.

This and Allah over all knows best.
If I made a mistake then its from me and from the Shaytan .. and if I said anything that is correct then its from Allah the Most Merciful