Picture Perfect: No Extremism

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The Beautiful Wisdom of Fasting

FASTING—from dawn to dusk—is an act of worship done for Allah. The ‘Abd draws closer to His Lord by staying away from things he loves and desires like food, drink and sex. As a result, he achieves a sense of truthfulness in faith and completeness in his servitude to Allah, thereby increasing his love for Allah and longing for the reward Allah has prepared for His true slaves.

This is because the person who fasts gives up what he likes and desires only for the sake of something that is more beloved to him. When a Muslim knows that Allah’s contentment and pleasure lies in fasting—which includes giving up the desires he naturally loves—, he will give preference to his Lord’s pleasure over his desires. So the Muslim refrains from his desires no matter how much he wants to fulfill them because his soul’s tranquility and delight lies in leaving them for the sake of Allah.

Wisdom of fasting

1. Means of attaining Taqwa

Allah said:

"O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, in order that you gain Taqwaa." [Quran 33:51]

Taqwa is attained because a fasting person has been commanded to do what is obligatory and avoid what is sinful. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, "Whoever does not abandon false speech, acting upon that (false speech) and (acts of) ignorance (i.e. sins), then Allah has no need of him abandoning his food and drink." [Al-Bukhari]

So when one desires to commit a sin, he will withhold himself by remembering that he is fasting. This is why the Prophet (peace be upon him) ordered the fasting person, when he is cursed at or abused, to say, “I am fasting.” It is a word of caution for the reviler that a fasting person is commanded to refrain from cursing and reviling and also a self-reminder that a fasting person cannot react in a similar fashion.

2. Contemplation and Dhikr

Fasting opens the heart to contemplation and remembrance of Allah. Fulfilling desires leads to heedlessness and the heart becoming perhaps hardened and blind to the truth. The Prophet (peace be upon him) therefore advised us to eat less. "The Son of Aadam does not fill a vessel worse than his stomach." [Musnad Ahmad, An-Nasaa’i and Ibn Majah]

In another narration in Sahih Muslim, Handhala Al-Usaidee (r), who was one of the scribes of Allah’s Messenger, said: "Handhala has become a hypocrite." So the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Why is that?" He said: "O Messenger of Allah, when we are with you, you remind us of the Hellfire and Paradise, as if we see them with our own eyes. But when we depart from you, we meet our wives and our children and our homes and we forget much (of what we heard from you)." In the last part of the Hadeeth, the Prophet (peace be upon him) said and repeated to him three times: "But O Handhala, there is a time for this and a time for that." Abu Sulaymaan Ad-Daraanee said: "Indeed, when the soul is hungry and thirsty, the heart becomes soft and pure. And when it is fed, the heart becomes blind."

3. Realizing the blessing of wealth

Fasting makes a wealthy person realize the blessing Allah has bestowed on him. Allah gave him the blessing of food, drink and sex. Many people are deprived of these benefits. So fasting should make the person praise and thank Allah for the blessings; remember his poor and starving brothers; and lead him to be generous and charitable to end their hunger and help them meet their basic needs.

4. Training for the soul

Fasting trains the person to curb the self. It gives us strength to hold the soul by its bridle and lead it to what is good and what will make it prosper. The inner self tempts and commands one to do evil. So when a person let’s go of the bridle, his inner self will land him into trouble and danger. But when he controls it, he is able to reach the highest of levels and achieve the greatest of goals.

Fasting subdues the soul and restricts it from having pride to the point that the soul humbles itself to the truth and becomes soft before the creation.

Eating, drinking and sex foster insolence, arrogance and vanity over the truth and over other people. The inner self is constantly busy pursuing these things because of its need for them. When it achieves them, the soul feels as if it has conquered what it desired and hence falls into a state of pride that is condemned. This is the cause of the soul’s destruction. Only those whom Allah protects are saved from this.

5. Curbing devil’s influence

Fasting narrows down the passageways of blood in the body, which in turn adversely affects the passageways of the devil in the human body. The devil flows through the son of Adam (human being) like the flowing of blood, as authentically reported in the two Saheehs (Al-Bukhari and Muslim). So by fasting, the whispering of the devil is subdued and the strength of one’s desires and anger is subjugated. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, "O young men! Whoever among you can afford it, should get married, for it is the best means for lowering one’s gaze and the best way of keeping (one’s) private parts chaste. But whoever is not able to marry, then let him fast, for it has protection."

6. Health benefits

By eating less food, fasting gives the digestive system some respite. Excess waste and excrements that are harmful to the body are discharged during this period.

So how great and profound is the wisdom of Allah, and how beneficial are His commandments to His creatures!

O Allah, give us comprehension of Your Religion and allow us to understand the inner secrets of Your commandments. Rectify for us the affairs of our Religion and our worldly life. And forgive us and our parents and all the Muslims, by Your mercy, O Most Merciful. And may the peace and blessings of Allah be on Muhammad (saws) and on his family and all his Companions.

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A Checklist For Ramadan

1. Ask Allah to enable you to reach Ramadan and to get the most out of it as the Salaf (early generation of pious people) used to do.

2. Intend to fast every day with Iman and pure intention seeking the reward from Allah alone. The Prophet peace be upon him said, “Whoever fasts in Ramadan with Iman and seeking reward (from Allah) his past sins will be forgiven”. (Bukhari)

3. Read the whole Qur’an at least once as the Prophet peace be upon him did.

4. Have Suhoor as the Prophet peace be upon him said, “Have Suhoor because it is blessed”.

5. Make Du’a during the fast because the Prophet peace be upon him said that three people’s supplication is not rejected one of them is the fasting person. Ask for the good of this life and the next for yourself, your family and Muslims in general.

6. Make Dua before opening the fast. The Prophet peace be upon him said, “The fasting person has a supplication that is answered when he opens his fast”.

7. Give Sadaqah and be good to people. The Prophet peace be upon him was the most generous of people and he was most generous in Ramadan.

8. Avoid anything that diminishes the fast such as, lying, backbiting, cheating, getting angry. The Prophet peace be upon him said “Whoever does not give up false statements (i.e. telling lies), and evil deeds, and speaking bad words to others, Allah is not in need of his (fasting) leaving his food and drink.” [Bukhari]

9. Do not eat too much after Iftar.

10. Ask for forgiveness since this is the month Allah frees people from the fire.

11. Pray At-Tarawih with Khushoo. If you pray in the Masjid complete the Salah with the Imam. If you pray at home prolong the Salah as long as you can. The Prophet peace be upon him said, “Whoever prays during Ramadan with Iman and seeking reward (from Allah) his past sins will be forgiven”.

12. Feed the poor and invite others for Iftar. The Prophet peace be upon him said, “Whoever gives Iftar to someone fasting he will have the same reward without decreasing the reward of the person fasting”.

13. Try harder the last ten nights especially the odd nights. The prophet would strive in Ramadan more than he would in any other month and more so in the last ten days.

14. Say this Dua in the nights that Laitul-Qadr is likely to fall on: Allhumma innaka afuwun tuhibbul-afwa fa’fu anni (O Allah you are Forgiving and love forgiveness so forgive me).

15. Ask Allah to accept all your good actions during this month.

"O you who believe, fasting is decreed for you, as it was decreed for those before you, that you may attain salvation." [Quran, 2:183]

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Sources:islamic thinking


Related Posts:

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Ruling on Fasting for one who is Diabetic

Leaving you for Ramadan - A message from Satan

Some Health Guidelines for Ramadhan

Zakat-ul-Fitr (Ramadan obligatory charity)

Ramadan : Fasting in the Hadith

Medical Benefits of Fasting Ramadan

Increasing Our Knowledge in Ramadan

Ten Tips for Ramadhan

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The Signs of Earth and it's Rotation of the Axis

The earth rotates on its axis at one thousand miles an hour; if it turned at one hundred miles an hour, our days and nights would be ten times as long as now, and the hot sun would then burn up our vegetation during each long day, while in the long night any surviving sprout would freeze.

Again, the sun, source of our life, has a surface temperature of 12,000 degrees Fahrenheit, and our earth is, just far enough away so that this 'eternal fire" warms us just enough and not too much! If the sun gave off only one-half its present radiation, we would freeze, and if it gave half as much more, we would roast.

The slant of the earth, tilted at an angle of 23 degrees, gives us our seasons; if it had not been so tilted, vapours from the ocean would move north and south, piling up for us continents of ice. If our moon was, say, only 50 thousand miles away instead of its actual distance, our tides would be so enormous that twice a day all continents would be submerged; even the mountains would soon be eroded away.

If the crust of the earth had been only ten feet thicker, there would be no oxygen without which animal life must die. Had the ocean been a few feet deeper, carbon dioxide and oxygen would have been absorbed and no vegetable life could exist. Or if our atmosphere had been thinner, some of the meteors, now burned in space by the million every day would be striking all parts of the earth, starting fires everywhere.

Because of these, and host of other examples, there is not one chance in millions that life on our planet is an accident.

"Surely, in the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the alteration of night and day, there are signs for those who posses intelligence." [Qu'ran 3:190]

They remember God while standing, sitting, and lying on their sides. And contemplate on the creation of the heavens and the earth: “Our Lord, You did not create all this in vain. Be You glorified. Protect us from the torment of the fire.” [Qu'ran 3:191]

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Do You Possess These Seven Habits ?

This talk was based on the following hadith from Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him):

There are seven whom Allah will shade in His Shade on the Day when there is no shade except His Shade:

1: a just ruler; 

2: a youth who grew up in the worship of Allah, the Mighty and Majestic; 

3: a man whose heart is attached to the mosques; 

4: two men who love each other for Allah’s sake, meeting for that and parting upon that; 

5: a man who is called by a woman of beauty and position [for illegal intercourse], but be says: I fear Allah, 

6: a man who gives in charity and hides it, such that his left hand does not know what his right hand gives in charity; 

7: and a man who remembered Allah in private and so his eyes shed tears.

Related by Bukhari

1. They Remember Their Sins

Some people fall into the habit of judging others by their sins while forgetting their own. They may not even think the sins they have committed are all that bad. This is a sign of weak Muslim.

A believer sees his sins as if he were sitting under a mountain which he is afraid may fall on him, whereas the wicked person considers his sins as flies passing over his nose and he just drives them away like this.

Related in Bukhari

Of course, if you see someone doing wrong, you should advise him or her to change their behavior. But dont become arrogant or prideful because you are not committing that sin. In fact, you should reflect on the sins you have committed and turn to Allah for repentance.

Who knows? Perhaps that person is doing something else that Allah loves. And perhaps you are doing something else that Allah hates.

By constantly remembering and being mindful of the sins you commit, you will be more inclined to repent, change your behavior, and do good deeds to make up for them, Inshallah.

2. They Mind Their Business

People like to think that only women engage in gossip. I can tell you from experience, that is not true. Muslim men can be some of the worst gossipers and backbiters around. And this is unfortunate given how many warnings there are of such horrible behavior.

How do people fall into gossiping and backbiting? By not minding their own business. These people hear a rumor or a tale, and before the next prayer comes in, they have spread it to a dozen other people. And then those people turn around and do the same thing.

"If only we would remember what Allah says in His book: And do not obey every worthless habitual swearer. (And) scorner going about with malicious gossip. A preventer of good, transgressing and sinful." [Quran 68:10-12]

These are some pretty strong words coming from our Lord condemning this behavior. So, rather than mind other folks business, and spread rumors, tales and gossip, how about we just tend to our own affairs?

Are they not complicated enough to keep us busy for a lifetime ?

3. They Say What is Good

This goes hand in hand with the previous habit. Whereas Habit #2 was just to mind your own business and not say evil, Habit #3 is encouragement to say good.

Anyone who believes in Allah and the last day, should speak good or keep quiet.

Related in Bukhari

There you have it. Advice directly from the Prophet (peace be upon him) telling us to say something good or shut up. I dont mean to put it so bluntly but thats the gist of it.

This advice doesnt just mean speak good of people. It means to speak good about everything. Here are some examples:

• Rather than complain, be grateful and praise Allah for what you have.
• Rather than be boastful, once again, be grateful and praise Allah for what He has given you.
• Rather than criticize, advise and compliment on the good someone does.

Have you ever noticed how a negative person, who always has negative things to say, also seems to always bring a negative feeling with them? It’s like negativity is contagious. They are always complaining, nagging, and criticizing.

Don’t be like that person.

When you think about it, saying something good is really not all that difficult. When you’re about to say something bad or negative, try to think of something good (or at least neutral) to say. And if you cant, just shut up.

4. They Keep Good Company

If you want to fulfill the previous three habits, you should be around people who want the same. You’ll find yourself very ineffective if you are always surrounded by people who think they are better than others, are always minding other people’s business, and cannot say good.

So if you are serious about becoming an effective Muslim, you should take a close look at the people you spend time with. If you can convince them to change their ways, that is best. But if not, maybe it’s time to find new friends.

A good friend and a bad friend are like a perfume-seller and a blacksmith: The perfume-seller might give you some perfume as a gift, or you might buy some from him, or at least you might smell its fragrance. As for the blacksmith, he might singe your clothes, and at the very least you will breathe in the fumes of the furnace.

Related in Bukhari

Once again, the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) is giving it to us in a clear and beautiful manner. If you hang around good people, that goodness will rub off on you. If you hang around negative people, that same negativity will rub off on you, and may eventually lead you astray.

So if you don’t want to get burnt, find some good friends.

5. They Do Not Procrastinate (To postpone or delay needlessly).

• How many people owe days of fasting from the last Ramadan but put them off for months? Some people have to rush to get these days in just weeks or even days before the next Ramadan begins.
• How many people have money and the health to make Hajj but wait years and years to make it? Some people wait until they reach old age and have to to visit the Kaaba with multiple illnesses and difficulties.
• How many people routinely procrastinate in making their daily prayers ? The best of these procrastinators rush to get their prayer in before time is out. The worst completely miss the prayers due solely to procrastination.

Procrastinating in your daily duties is bad enough. Please dont procrastinate with the orders of Allah.

6. They Put Their Trust in Allah

"And (Allah) will provide for him from where he does not expect. And puts their trust in Allah – then He is sufficient for him. Indeed, Allah will accomplish His purpose. Allah has already set for everything a (decreed) measure." [Quran 65:3]

Well, there you got it; straight from The Creator. If you put your trust in Allah, then He is all you need.

We often fall into the trap of putting our trust in the creation. We ask help from people who cannot help us. We complain to people who have no authority. Instead, we should seek help and complain to Allah Almighty.

Of course, if you do need assistance and you know of someone who has the ability to help, it is okay to ask them for help. But understand that whatever help they can provide ultimately comes from Allah. After all, even that person may let you down. But if you put your trust in Allah, He will never let you down.

 7. They Remain Mindful of Allah

This is the most important habit of them all.

• If you do not remember Allah, you will not think of your own sins and seek repentance for them.
• If you do not remember Allah, you will not try to avoid His punishment by minding your own business without falling into backbiting and slander.
• If you do not remember Allah, you will not try to seek His favor by saying what is good.
• If you do not remember Allah, you will not seek out good company who are also focused on remembering Allah.
• If you do not remember Allah, you will never be able to put your trust in Him and will always look for help from those who can do you no good.

These are not the only things we can do to become effective Muslims. I am sure you can think of many more habits that will bring you closer to Allah and improve your daily life. But these seven habits of highly effective Muslims is a great place to start.

May Allah make it easy for you and me to implement these habits every day of our lives.

Ameen.

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Poem: Ramadhan is coming

It’s only a few dayss away

I can’t wait

In anticipation

The coming of the new moon

And the best month of the year

I hope I’m alive

Although I’m young

There’s no guarantee

That I’ll be here next month

Been waiting

Anticipating

Hoping

And silently praying

For a chance

To experience

Another Ramadhan

Last year I tried

To improve and change

Leave the bad habits

The drinking, womanising

Drugs and clubbing

Managed it for 30 days

But on Eid I went to a rave

I gave in, wasn’t brave

Went with the flow

And got totally smashed

Its true after Ramadhan Satan is unleashed

Since then it’s been downhill

Month after month

From one sin to many

The good deeds slowly fading away

And now I’m in debit

I just can’t deny it

My intentions are good

My heart is clean

But my actions tell another story.

I can do without food

But I can’t say no

When my mates invite me to a party

Life is a test

And I’ve failed so many

Is there hope for me?

Or am I destined to burn for eternity?

People judge me

Point and make accusations

But at least I’m honest

And not a fake wannabe Believer

I have realised that

No one is perfect

No one is doomed

Plenty of time to learn and improve

That’s what the Quran says

Gives me hope

And I must hold onto the Islamic rope

Mix with the good company

And not those who are misled by society

Say and practice impropriety

Time to make a pact

And correctly act

Obey Allah and his Rasool

And stop behaving and acting like a fool

Ramadhan is coming

Only a few days left

Time to clean up

Mind and soul

Ya Allah!

Just give me one more chance

I promise I will act like how I ought to

And make you proud of me

Your obediant servant and slave

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Ten Tips for Ramadhan

As the blessed month of Ramadhan approaches, we need to prepare for it in such a way that we can gain the maximum benefit of this month. For many, Ramadhan comes and goes. However, very few people actually benefit from this great month. Our teachers advise us to live the whole year as if we are in the month of Ramadhan. This magnanimous achievement can only be attained when the actual month of Ramadhan is spent properly. In order to acquire a droplet of the reality mentioned above, Insha Allah, I hope to mention ten points that were given as form of advice to me and many others.

01-Discipline: Most people already know to abstain from eating, drinking, and sexual relations from one’s spouse during the daytime of Ramadhan. However, a level of discipline must be developed to do righteous acts and abstain from those acts which would earn the displeasure of Allah. That was a basic form of discipline that needs to be developed but along with that, one needs to have discipline in following a particular routine or schedule for Ramadhan. This will be the real life changing factor for an individual. They wake up for suhoor but also pray Tahajjud at that time. Recite some Qur’an. They eat. Make dua’ while waiting for Salah. They pray Fajr. Recite Qur’an and make zikr. Rest if they need to.

The idea is to make a schedule and act accordingly the whole month without sacrificing their schedule. This is the desired discipline that is required.One may ask, “Why did he not just put the first point as a ‘making a schedule’?” Well, the answer is very simple. Anyone can come up with a schedule, but it takes real discipline to abide by it.

02-Devotional life (‘Ibadah): Ramadhan is the month where Allah allows us to really fulfill the purpose of our being, and the purpose of our creation. Allah created us all to worship Him, and Him alone. Here, I will not mention virtues of various acts or worship because those can be found in the many books on the merits of certain deeds. However, since Ramadhan and Qur’an are closely connected, I will say that much of our devotional life should be focused on the Qur’an.

Reciting at least the entire Qur’an once in this month. Understanding it from erudite scholarship of our community or from accepted commentaries and Tafaaseer. I am not asking that a person recites the entire Qur’an and completes one entire commentary of it in one month. Perhaps it may be feasible to recite the entire Qur’an and start off a regimen of a Tafseer and try to finish it on an annual basis.

03-Identifying with the Ummah: It is important that we feel our fast, i.e. feel hunger and thirst. Apart from that, we can use this to our benefit by making other people’s fast count for us as well. This means that if we feed or give to drink something to someone who fasts, we can get the reward of their fast as well.

Another aspect of identifying with the Ummah is to be grateful for whatever Allah has given us and realize that a little of that we need to give to others so that they may have a decent Ramadhan and wonderful ‘Eid. See what the Ummah is going through and see how we can actively participate to help the Ummah in any way possible.

04-Contact with the Qur’an: Ramadhan is the month wherein the Qur’an was revealed. This is the month of the Qur’an. It is extremely essential to establish a relationship with the Qur’an. Without going into much detail, I will just mention something practical with regards to the Qur’an and Ramadhan.

For the average person, i.e. one who is not scholar or is not a Hafiz, they should read at least one juz per day so that they finish at a minimum one entire Qur’an for the month of Ramadhan. If one can do more, than Alhamdulillah, no one is stopping anyone. The next thing is to understand the Qur’an. So take the first volume of Ma’ariful Qur’an (for example) and read one section of the Arabic part (if one can) and then read the translation, then read the commentary. Do this every day without fail. Obviously the whole commentary will not be completed in one month, but at least a schedule to read a portion regularly will be developed and hopefully within a year it could be completed.

Also, one should try to memorize those chapters/surahs which are read often like Mulk, Kahf, Ya Seen, Waqi’ah, and Sajdah. Also memorize Surahs from the last juz at least and more if possible.

05-Mujahadah: Ramadhan is a month of sacrifice and struggle. It is a month where Allah wants our time, our health, our wealth, and our whole being. We literally live the whole year for everything and anything. It is just one month…can we not live one month solely for our Creator?! So what if we have to sacrifice our sleep, and random other luxuries that we can do without anyway. As the saying goes, “No pain, no gain.” The amount of sacrifice and struggle we put into this month, Allah will reward us in this world and the next accordingly. Give yourself to Allah, and see what Allah has in store for you.

06-Dua’: The essence of worship is supplication to Allah. This whole month, Allah is willing and readily open to accept all that we ask of Him. It is only to our own loss and detriment that we lack in begging Allah for the things we need. Prioritize your supplications. Ask firstly for yourself, then your family, community, then the Ummah at large. Within that, prioritize and ask for things pertaining to the hereafter, then ask for things pertaining to this world. Just remember one thing when it comes to dua’, the point of dua’ is not that we need something or we need protection or refuge from some other thing, the point is that Allah told us to supplicate to Him, and that is why one should make dua’ abundantly. There are certain things Allah loves to do, and one of them is to answer the supplications of His servants who call unto Him.

One final aspect regarding dua’ is crying or pretending to cry. Tears are something foreign to Allah and therefore He has immense value for tears. The whole year we become filthy and impure spiritually by sinning, Ramadhan is the month where we purify our spirits by bathing our spirits in our tears.

07-Good Company: Ramadhan is a month to maximize on good deeds and keep bad deeds at zero. Being in the company of the righteous will allow one to attain this goal. I will keep this point short. The minimum benefit one gets by being in good company is that one will not sin which in turn will cause one to become the greatest worshiper based off the hadith of Tirmidhiwherein Nabi (Sallallahu ‘Alayhi Wa Sallam) took Abu Hurayrah (Radhiyallahu ‘anhu)’s hand and said, “O Abu Hurayrah, abstain from all prohibitions and you will become the best worshiper.”

The maximum benefit is that being with the people of Allah, Insha Allah; a person may just Attain Allah. What can be greater?!

08-Gratitude: The secret to an increase in anything is to be thankful for it. To make sure that we see this month the next year, appreciate it this year. Be thankful for all that we have in every aspect, even the basic things we neglect and take for granted. We have Iman, we have Islam. Alhamdulillah, we are the best Ummah. We have been given the best book, i.e. the Qur’an. The best way to appreciate a bounty is to use it for its purpose.

Allah has blessed with infinite blessing and bounties. Ramadhan is one of those bounties, so to fully appreciate Ramadhan, we must spend it the way Allah would like us to spend it and attain out goal which is Taqwa.

09-Following the Sunnah: Anything of the beloved is also beloved. That is a principle of love. Allah has proclaimed the Prophet (Sallallahu ‘Alayhi Wa Sallam) as His beloved. If we follow the Sunnah and show a resemblance, then we can also gain the focus of Allah. Particularly follow the Sunnah acts which the Prophet (Sallallahu ‘Alayhi Wa Sallam) performed in Ramadhan.

If we have to do something, might as well do it the best way possible. The best way for anything to be done is the way of the Sunnah. If by any chance it was some other way, Allah would have had His Prophet (Sallallahu ‘Alayhi Wa Sallam) do it that way then.

10-Istiqamah: Imam Junayd Al-Baghdadi (RA) said, “Steadfastness is greater than a thousand miracles.” Please do not tire one’s self out in the initial stages of Ramadhan, rather figure out a routine that works and stick to it regularly. The most beloved of actions to Allah are those that are done consistently even though they may seem minor. We all need to be thankful for the good that we have done and also for the evil we are able to abstain from. We also need to be thankful for whatever level of steadfastness that we have. We want to make Ramadhan last beyond Ramadhan as well. I’ll end with a quote from one of our mashaaikh, Shaykh In’aam-ul-Hasan Kandehlawi (RA) said, “Whoever lives their life as they do in Ramadhan, then death will come to that person just as the moon of ‘Eid comes for the fasting person.”

To conclude, we pray to Allah that He accepts all of our efforts and overlooks and forgives all of our shortcomings. Aameen.

--

Related posts:

• Ruling on Fasting for one who is with Asthma Medication
• Ruling on Fasting for one who is Diabetic
• Leaving you for Ramadan - A message from Satan
• Some Health Guidelines for Ramadhan
• Zakat-ul-Fitr (Ramadan obligatory charity)
• Ramadan : Fasting in the Hadith
• Medical Benefits of Fasting Ramadan
• Increasing Our Knowledge in Ramadan

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Why the tawaf (circumambulate) is performed anti clockwise

TAWAF is performed anti clockwise.

Worshipping Allah in one direction. Praising Allah in one direction.

When we revolve around the Ka’aba we are orbiting in the same direction as the whole universe

And all the creations of Allah from the tiniest particles, to the largest galaxies, along with the human race unite in praise of Allah.
...
When we go around the Ka’aba, we are travelling in the land traveled by all the prophets of Allah

from the prophet Adam (alaihis salaam) to the Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam)

The Ka’aba in Makkah is never free from circumbulators.

The Blood inside the human body begins its circulation “Anticlockwise”

The electrons of an atom revolve around its nucleus in the same manner as making Tawaf, in an anti-clockwise direction.

the moon revolves around the earth anti-clockwise.

The earth rotates around its own axis in an anti-clockwise direction

The planets of the Solar system revolve around the sun in an anti-clockwise direction

The Sun along with its whole Solar system orbit in the galaxy in an anti-clockwise direction.

All the galaxies orbit in the space in an anti-clockwise direction

Tawaf around the Ka’aba is “Anticlockwise"

Truly Islam is from Allah

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How does Islam encourage unity?

Mankind was one nation, believing in Tawheed (Monotheism) , then they differed. Some of them believed and some disbelieved. So Allah sent the Prophets with glad tidings and warnings, so whoever believes will enter Paradise and whoever disbelieves will enter Hell. The conflict is still going on between belief and disbelief, truth and falsehood, and will continue until Allah inherits the earth and everyone on it. 

Islam is the religion for all of mankind, and Allah has commanded us to convey it to all people. This can only be achieved if we are strong, and strength is based on faith and unity. Hence Allah has commanded all the believers to adhere to His religion and to be united, and not to be divided. Allah says (interpretation of the meaning): 

“And hold fast, all of you together, to the Rope of Allah (i.e. this Qur’aan), and be not divided among yourselves" [Aal ‘Imraan 3:103] 

Division, differences and disputes are the cause of the ummah’s defeat, as Allah says (interpretation of the meaning): 

“And obey Allah and His Messenger, and do not dispute (with one another) lest you lose courage and your strength departs, and be patient. Surely, Allah is with those who are As-Saabiroon (the patient)” [al-Anfaal 8:46] 

Unity and coming together are among the basic principles of Islam, and there are many aspects of unity in Islam, such as One Lord, one Book, one Prophet, one religion, one qiblah, one ummah. 

In order to achieve the unity of the ummah, Islam urges us to adhere to the jamaa’ah (the group which follows the Qur’aan and Sunnah). The Messenger (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) explained that the hand of Allah is with the jamaa’ah, and that whoever deviates from that will be in Hell. Allah has enjoined coming together for all acts of worship in order to achieve this unity. Allah addresses the ummah as one group in all rulings to indicate that they are one ummah, like one body. There is no difference between them; the commands and prohibitions are addressed to all. 

In the context of worship, Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):  

“Worship Allah and join none with Him (in worship) ”  [al-Nisaa’ 4:36] 

And He enjoins them all to establish regular prayer: 

“Guard strictly (five obligatory) As-Salawaat (the prayers) especially the middle Salaah (i.e. the best prayer - ‘Asr). And stand before Allah with obedience” [al-Baqarah 2:238] 

Concerning zakaah, Allah commands them all, as He says (interpretation of the meaning): 

“And perform As-Salaah (Iqaamat-as-Salaah), and give Zakaah” [al-Baqarah 2:43] 

Concerning fasting, He says (interpretation of the meaning): 

“O you who believe! Observing As-Sawm (the fasting) is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may become Al-Muttaqoon (the pious)” [al-Baqarah 2:183] 

Concerning Hajj, Allah says (interpretation of the meaning): 

“And Hajj (pilgrimage to Makkah) to the House (Ka‘bah) is a duty that mankind owes to Allah, those who can afford the expenses (for one’s conveyance, provision and residence)” [Aal ‘Imraan 3:97] 

Concerning jihaad, Allah says (interpretation of the meaning): 

“And strive hard in Allah’s Cause as you ought to strive (with sincerity and with all your efforts that His Name should be superior)” [al-Hajj 22:78] 

Islam regards all people as equal before the laws of Allah. Black and white, Arab and non-Arab, male and female, rich and poor – Islam brings them all together and addresses its commands and prohibitions to them all. So whoever obeys Allah and His Messenger will enter Paradise and whoever disobeys Allah and His Messenger will enter Hell, as He says (interpretation of the meaning): 

“Whosoever does righteous good deed, it is for (the benefit of) his ownself; and whosoever does evil, it is against his ownself. And your Lord is not at all unjust to (His) slaves” [Fussilat 41:46] 

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From Usool al-Deen al-Islami by Shaykh Muhammad ibn Ibraaheem al-Tuwayjri

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The Excellence of Salam

Two people related by Faith should use the expression of peace and security to address each other. Thus Islam taught Muslims to say Assalamu ‘alaykum (meaning ‘Peace be upon you’) and replaced all other forms of greeting.

In this small greeting is hidden an excellent and comprehensive prayer, kindness and affection for the young, and respect and attention for the elders.

Almighty Allah employs the same greeting in the Glorious Qur’an to address His beloved Prophets as a mark of His favour and esteem on them. 

‘Peace be on Nuh among the people’ (37:79)

‘Peace be on Ibrahim’ (37:109)

‘Peace be on Musa and Harun’ (37:120)

‘Peace be on Ilyas’ (37:130)

‘Peace be on those sent (to warn)’(37:59)

‘Peace be on His slaves whom He has chosen’ (27:59). 

Believers will also be welcomed into Paradise with the same expression: 

‘Enter here in peace, free of fear’ (15:46) 

and ‘Peace on you for the patience you observed. 

So, how excellent is the ultimate abode’ (13:24).

Salam is a distinctive practice of Islam and Muslims have been encouraged to spread this greeting. The Messenger of Allah sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam said: “Oh people! Worship Allah, The Beneficent, feed His servants, and spread salam much, and you will reach Heaven in peace [and safety].” (al-Tirmidhi)

Divine reward for the blessed act of practising Salam is explained in a Hadith. Once a person came to the Prophet sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam and said, “Assalamu alaykum”. The Prophet sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam returned the greeting and when the man had sat down, he said, “Ten rewards have been written for him due to this salam”. Thereafter another person came and said, “Assalamu ‘alaykum wa rahmatullahi” (‘Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah’). The Prophetsallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam returned the greeting and when the man had sat down, he said, “Twenty rewards have been written for him”. Then another man came and said, “Assalamu ‘alaykum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh” (‘Peace be upon you; and the mercy of Allah; and His blessings’). The Prophet sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam  returned the greeting and when the man had sat down, he said, “Thirty rewards have been written for him”(al-Tirmidhi and Abu Dawud). Such was the value of salam with the early Muslims that it is related Abdullah Ibn ‘Umarradhiyallahu ‘anhuma  would go to the marketplace solely for the purpose of saying salam to whomsoever he met.

Apart from signifying the sentiments of joy, regard and well-wishing salam also has a deep spiritual aspect. The Messenger of Allah sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam said, “The one who is the first to greet is free from pride” (al-Bayhaqi). Thus, to precede in greeting another is a sign of freedom from vanity. It can also be a cure for the grave [and deadly] sin of pride [and haughtiness].

The importance of salam is further emphasized by the Prophet sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam who advised that salam be exchanged a second time if after the meeting of two Muslims, even if it be for a brief moment, they are separated by a tree, wall, or rock, and meet again.

Salam should be said when entering or leaving one’s home. A Hadith tells us that this is a source of blessing to the person saying it as well to the family members. Similarly, the person arriving at a gathering should be the first to greet those who are present; the young are instructed to take the lead in greeting the elders; those passing should greet those sitting; and men of a smaller group should greet men of the larger group.

To shake the hands in simultaneity with salam marks the fulfillment of the objective of salam. The Messenger of Allah sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam said, “Shaking hands denotes the completion of greeting”. (al-Tirmidhi and Abu Dawud)

Salam is in essence a really beautiful teaching of Islam. It not only increases love and affection between Muslims but is also a cause of their forgiveness. The Prophet of Allah sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam said, “When two Muslims meet and shake hands, and at the same time glorify Allah, and beg forgiveness for themselves, they shall be forgiven.” (Abu Dawud)

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(Adapted from the chapter ‘Rules and Proprieties of Meeting’ in the book ‘Meaning and Message of the Traditions’ (Ma’arif al-Hadith) by Maulana Muhammad Manzur Numani)  

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The Power of Prophecy

It is narrated by Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Umar that the Holy Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) said:
"When the belly of Makkah will be cleft open and through it will be dug out river-like passages (i.e. tunnels) and the buildings of the Holy City of Makkah will rise higher than its mountains, when you observe these signs, then understand that the time of trial is near at hand.”

The ahadith (narrations of the Prophet, sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) are pearls of guidance and advice that are timeless in their wisdom. There are some ahadith, however, that cause the hairs on the back of your neck to stand up as you slowly peel away the onion-like layers of meaning in them. One such hadith is that quoted above; one of the many prophecies of our Prophet (sallallahu alayhi was sallam).

If one compares this hadith to a “prophecy” emanating from someone like, for example, the medieval “seer” Nostradamus, whose books of prophecies are so beloved that they have only rarely been out of print since their original publication in the 1500s, there is a stark difference. The quatrains of Nostradamus are so woolly, vague and nonspecific they can be twisted to suit any and every time – so the same prophecy has been seized upon as an example of him “predicting” everything from the French Revolution, to both world wars, to the moon landing and even the death of Princess Diana.

The above hadith prophesying the state of Makkah towards the end of time reads more like an eyewitness account from an alien-like future. No concerted attempt has ever been made in Islamic history to claim that this hadith speaks for that time… until now when, much like a camera suddenly coming into focus, we can suddenly see what our beloved Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) was warning us about. When taken together with several other ahadith, including the famous Hadith of Jibril which speaks of the coming of the Day of Judgment being when “you see poor, naked, barefoot shepherds of sheep and goats competing in constructing tall buildings”, one sees a distinct pattern. This is especially so when combined with the current list of vainglorious monuments to the hubris of the ruling classes over much of the Arab world:

• World’s tallest skyscraper: Burj Al Khalifa, Dubai, UAE
• World’s tallest clock tower: Abraj Al Bait Towers, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
• World’s tallest lighthouse: Jeddah Light, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
• World’s tallest minaret: Hassan II Mosque, Casablanca, Morocco.

When reading this one wonders whether those in power in those countries (or their advisors) have ever heard these ahadith and, if so, why have they gone ahead to build these follies, in most cases dedicated to their own pride?

This, however, begs the following wider question. If they are so willing to ignore the ahadith of our beloved Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam), what does that make those of us who, labouring under the collective “British Muslim” moniker, have abandoned so many ahadith. The hadith above describes the characteristics of those who build these towers; nowhere does it curse them. That is starkly contrasted to the many sound hadith regarding, for example, music:

Ali Bin Abi Taalib (radhiyallahu anhu) narrates that Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) said: “When my Ummah indulges in fifteen misdeeds, calamities will settle o­n them. Among these are singing girls and musical instruments.” (Tirmidhi)

Abu Hurairah (radhiyallahu anhu) narrates that Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) said:“Listening to music and singing is sinful. Sitting at such gatherings is fisq (immoral transgression). Deriving pleasure from it is kufr.” (Nailul Autaar)

Ibn Mas’ud (radhiyallahu anhu) narrated that Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) said:“Beware of listening to musical instruments and singing, for verily, both these acts germinate nifaaq (hypocrisy) in the heart just as water causes vegetables to grow.”(Kaf-fur Ru’aa’)

Abu Musa Ash’ari (radhiyallahu anhu) narrated that Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) said:“Whoever listens to the sound of singing, he will not be given permission to listen to the (beautiful) voices of the Ruhaaniyyeen in Jannat.” When it was asked: “Who are the Ruhaaniyyeen?” Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) said: “The Qaaris of Jannah.”(Kanzul Ummaal)

Abu Maalik Ash’ari (radhiyallahu anhu) says that he heard Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) say: “Most certainly, there will be in my Ummah people who will make lawful fornication, silk, liquor and musical instruments.” (Bukhaari)

Or indeed those ahadith regarding the hijab:

Ayesha (radhiyallahu anha) reported that Asma’ the daughter of Abu Bakr (radhiyallahu anhu) came to the Messenger of Allah while wearing thin clothing. He approached her and said: “O Asma’! When a girl reaches the menstrual age, it is not proper that anything should remain exposed except this and this. He pointed to the face and hands.” (Abu Dawud)

“All of a woman’s body is considered her awrah (i.e. nakedness to those outside the mahram relationship or her husband).” (al-Mar’atu `Awra)

“Women who are clothed but (at the same time) naked, turning their heads sideways this way and that like the humps of the camel, shall never enter Paradise nor even smell its fragrance.” (Muslim)

It is easy to condemn an Arab ruler who makes himself look ridiculous in his humiliating aping of western culture. We are all very vocal, laughing at their folly and their ignorance of well-known ahadith. Where, however, is the same condemnation when our own “leading lights” cast around for any sort of odd and tenuous opinion that would allow them to wiggle out of rulings on issues that the majority of scholars have deemed haram?

Indeed, whenever a hadith strongly suggests the impermissibility of something (e.g. the impermissibility for a woman to uncover her hair in public), the average reformist of Islam will cock his head at a certain angle and speak in a low, calm voice as if addressing a particularly dim-witted child as he explains that either (i) the hadith is da’eef (weak), or (ii) there are “many”ahadith supporting the opposite view, or (iii) the scholar (and I have seen them include greatshuyukh of Islam up to and including Imams Malik, Shafi, Ibn Hanbal and Abu Hanifa) who came to that particular conclusion was not in receipt of all the facts and so his ruling is deficient.

We recognise the power of ahadith when we come across those like the one set out at the the top of the page. These words are from the tongue of the Prophet himself, sallallahu alayhi wasallam, and they have crossed the oceans of time awaiting their moment in order that they can describe a people so distant from ninth century Makkah and yet so desperately in need of the guidance of their beloved Rasool, sallallahu alayhi wasallam.

As we recover from the momentous idea that our beloved Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) loved us so much that he scattered his advice like pearls, throughout the ages to help us along our way, we then reflect on the reason we have this hadith – it is both a description and a warning to us:

“…when you observe these signs, then understand that the time of trial is near at hand.”

We may well be the generation that face the trials that so many of the ahadith speak of. We have the strongest armour as our protection: the Quran and the Sunnah, but they can only help us if we don them in their entirety.

“O you who have believed, enter into Islam whole heartedly and do not follow the footsteps of Satan. Indeed, he is to you a clear enemy.” (Quran, 2:208).

May Allah make our imaan strong enough to bear these trials and guide us to His straight way. Ameen.

by Karima Hamdan


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