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Showing posts with label Scholars' Viewpoint. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Scholars' Viewpoint. Show all posts

Tuesday 12 March 2024

What is your Do List and Fix List for Ramadan and afterwards


Much is being said about Ramadan these days - an fact immense flow of information is being seen befitting the hoy month of Ramadan: the 30 days long month of fasting and Divine blessings. Ramadan is month in which gates of Heavens are let open for all those who make best of this month by ensuring that their fasts are well protected against all evil and accts that may harm our very act of fasting.

In fact, Ramadan is much more than abstaining from food for the duration of the fasting period. This is a month where every noble act and good deeds are valued much more than the other 11 months. So let us not miss the bus and let this month pass by without us being specially blessed and rewarded. 

We need to get ready for this month with a elaborate Do List for during the month of Ramadan and also make a Fix List for us after we bid farewell to this holy month. If we do not come out cleansed after fasting, we will sure be among the losers.

Let us listen to Dr. Omar Suleiman who explains how to get ready for the Ramadan and how to make best out it:
Omar Suleiman is an American Muslim scholar, civil rights activist, public speaker, and author. He is the founding president of the Yaqeen Institute for Islamic Research and an adjunct professor of Islamic studies and member of the Ethics Center Advisory Board at Southern Methodist University.

May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى‎) help us understand Qur'ān and follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which is embodiment of commandments of Allah contained in the Qur'ān. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door. 

وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ‏ 
(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”
That is our duty to convey only to you the message that Allah has entrusted us with. Then it is for you to accept it or reject it. We have not been made responsible for making you accept it forcibly, and if you do not accept it, we shall not be seized in consequence of your disbelief, you will yourselves be answerable for your actions on Day of Resurrection.

May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى‎) help us understand Qur'ān and help us to act upon the commandments of Allah contained therein. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door. 

May Allah forgive me if my posts ever imply a piety far greater than I possess. I am most in need of guidance.

Disclaimer: The views expressed in the video above are those of the scholar concerned. We have shared this view as added information in better understanding of Islam. The reader may or may not agree with the view owing to their own perception. If anyone differs with the material contained in this post, one may consult the references and their authors.  If someone has more material about the subject, he/she is most welcome to share in the comments box to make the post all encompassing.

For more Scholarly views and videos, please read our reference page: Scholars' Viewpoint on Important Issues Related to Islam.

You may also refer to our Reference Pages for knowing more about Islam and Quran.
If you like Islam: My Ultimate Decision, and to keep yourself updated on all our latest posts to know more about Islam, follow us on FacebookYou may also refer to our Facebook  Group Islam: The Ultimate Truth for more on Islam and Da'wah.

Please share this page to your friends and family members through Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp or any means on social media so that they can also be benefited by it and better understand Islam and the Holy Qur'an - Insha Allah (Allah Willing) you shall be blessed with the best of both worlds.

Ramadan: Whose fasting will not be accepted by Allah (Hadith Prophet Muhammad ﷺ)

Fasting during the month of Ramadan is an act that a believer undertakes to please Allah and none else. It is ant in which a person observing the fast (Saum) makes things Haram (forbidden) on him which are otherwise Halal (Allowed) for him. These may include abstaining from eating and even spousal intimate relations. Since fasting is an act of self discipline, a man must guard his thoughts, tongue and physical actions for this may invalidate fasting and even render his fasting unaccepted by Allah.

In one of his hadiths, Prophet Muhammad ﷺ mentioned two acts of a person which direct towards unacceptability of his fact by Allah. This Hadith is mentioned in Sahi al-Bukhārī  (Book 30 - Fasting /  كتاب االصوم / Chapter 8:  Whoever does not give up lying speech while observing Saum / باب مَنْ لَمْ يَدَعْ قَوْلَ الزُّورِ وَالْعَمَلَ بِهِ فِي الصَّوْمِ) as Hadith 1903, given herein under:

Narrated Abu Huraira: The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Whoever does not give up forged speech and evil actions, Allah is not in need of his leaving his food and drink (i.e. Allah will not accept his fasting.)"

Arabic Text:
حَدَّثَنَا آدَمُ بْنُ أَبِي إِيَاسٍ، حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ أَبِي ذِئْبٍ، حَدَّثَنَا سَعِيدٌ الْمَقْبُرِيُّ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ "‏ مَنْ لَمْ يَدَعْ قَوْلَ الزُّورِ وَالْعَمَلَ بِهِ فَلَيْسَ لِلَّهِ حَاجَةٌ فِي أَنْ يَدَعَ طَعَامَهُ وَشَرَابَهُ ‏"‏

If despite keeping fast, a man does not harness his tongue and continue use abusive language and uttering words that may hurt others, this would mean that that person has not understood the spirit of fasting and Allah does not want fasting of such a violator for one fasts only to please Allah. Likewise indulging into evil acts which are tangent to teachings of Islam will also render his fast unacceptable by Allah.

It must be remembered that one must spiritually clean oneself by fasting. Abstaining from food and drinks is no big deal for it can be done even otherwise as people do intermittent fasting these days. Fasting is an act directly between a man and Allah for a man does fasting for Allah alone. And definitely foul language and evil deeds are acts of Satan, unacceptable to Allah. So why should we render our fasts unacceptable by Allah by going against the Divine Commandments of spiritual cleanliness and guarding against acts that hurt others.

You may like to listen to Sheikh Assim Al Hakeem explaining the above referred Hadith:
May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى‎) help us understand Qur'ān and follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which is embodiment of commandments of Allah contained in the Qur'ān. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door. 
وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ‏ 
(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”
That is Our duty is only to convey to you the message that Allah has entrusted us with. Then it is for you to accept it or reject it. We have not been made responsible for making you accept it forcibly, and if you do not accept it, we shall not be seized in consequence of your disbelief, you will yourselves be answerable for your actions on Day of Resurrection.

May Allah forgive me if my posts ever imply a piety far greater than I possess. I am most in need of guidance.

Reading the Qur'ān should be a daily obligation of a Muslim - Reading it with translation will make it meaningful. But reading its Exegesis / Tafsir will make you understand it fully. It will also help the Muslims to have grasp over social issues and their answers discussed in the Qur'an and other matter related to inter faith so that they are able to discuss issues with non-Muslims with authority based on refences from Qur'an.

Note: When we mention God in our posts, we mean One True God, we call Allah in Islam, with no associates. Allah is the Sole Creator of all things, and that Allah is all-powerful and all-knowing. Allah has no offspring, no race, no gender, no body, and is unaffected by the characteristics of human life.

Please refer to our reference page: Collection of Hadiths of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ  for more Hadiths on the General Subjects.

Please refer to our reference page: Sunnah and Hadith of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ to know more about Hadiths and Sunnah of Prophet of Allah. You may also refer to our Reference Pages for knowing more about Islam and Qur'ān.

Disclaimer: The material for this post has been collected from the references as given below. If anyone differs with the material contained in this post, one may consult the references and their authors.  If someone has more material about the subject, he/she is most welcome to share in the comments box to make the post all encompassing.

If you like Islam: My Ultimate Decision, and to keep yourself updated on all our latest posts to know more about Islam, follow us on Facebook. You may also refer to our Facebook  Group Islam: The Ultimate Truth for more on Islam and Da'wah.

Please share this page to your friends and family members through Facebook, WhatsApp or any means on social media so that they can also be benefited by it and better understand Islam and the Qur'ān - Insha Allah (Allah Willing) you shall be blessed with the best of both worlds.

Monday 19 February 2024

How to talk to Allah

Today we touch upon an aspect which is generally set aside and more often than not when someone is in distress, he starts to find some holy man to forward his request to Allah, for he thinks it is too holy or forbidden to approach directly to Allah. This happens when our scholars, mentors and imams who discourage someone talking directly to Allah and ask them to find some Wali who could forward their request to Allah, for they are thought to be pure and 'more closer to Allah.'

Well to my reckoning, this mindset is totally misleading. Allah is always close to His servants and is on the lookout for someone turning to him and make a request. In fact we have been told to memorize a few supplications and repeating these time and again to forward our case to Allah. Whereas, Allah wants us to talk to Him, in any words, any language or even in any state or place. He wants us to really talk to  Him as a child makes a request to his mother again and again till his mother gives in.

In this backdrop, we share a very enlightening lecture which is based on the following verse from Qur'an:

وَاِذَا سَاَلَـكَ عِبَادِىۡ عَنِّىۡ فَاِنِّىۡ قَرِيۡبٌؕ اُجِيۡبُ دَعۡوَةَ الدَّاعِ اِذَا دَعَانِ فَلۡيَسۡتَجِيۡبُوۡا لِىۡ وَلۡيُؤۡمِنُوۡا بِىۡ لَعَلَّهُمۡ يَرۡشُدُوۡنَ
“And when My servants ask you (O Muhammad concerning Me, then answer them), I am indeed near (to them by My knowledge). I respond to the invocations of the supplicant when he calls on Me (without any mediator or intercessor). So let them obey Me and believe in Me, so that they may be led aright.“ Surah Al-Baqarah (2:186)

Even though people can neither see God nor subject Him to any other form of sense perception this should not make them feel that God is remote from them. On the contrary, He is so close to each and every person that whenever any person so wishes he can communicate with his Lord. So much so that God hears and responds even to the prayers which remain within the innermost recesses of the heart.

People exhaust themselves by approaching false and powerless beings whom they foolishly fancy to be their deities but who have neither the power to hear nor to grant their prayers. But God, the omnipotent Lord and the absolute Master of this vast universe, Who wields all power and authority, is so close to human beings that they can always approach Him without the intercession of any intermediaries, and can put to Him their prayers and requests.

This announcement of God's closeness to man may open his eyes to the Truth, may turn him to the right way wherein lies his success and well-being.

You may now listen to one of the most eminent scholars of present times, Nouman Ali Khan, explaining how to connect to Allah by really talking to Him:
Nouman Ali Khan, born to a Pakistani family, is an American Muslim speaker and Arabic instructor who founded the Bayyinah Institute for Arabic and Qur’anic Studies, after serving as an instructor of Arabic at Nassau Community College. He has been named one of the 500 most influential Muslims in the world by the Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Centre of Jordan.

Imam Ahmad reported that Abu Musa Al-Ash`ari said, “We were in the company of Allah’s Messenger during a battle. Whenever we climbed a high place, went up a hill or went down a valley, we used to say, `Allah is the Most Great,’ raising our voices. The Prophet came by us and said: “O people! Be merciful to yourselves (i.e., don’t raise your voices), for you are not calling a deaf or an absent one, but One Who is All-Hearer, All-Seer. The One Whom you call is closer to one of you than the neck of his animal. O `Abdullah bin Qais (Abu Musa’s name) should I teach you a statement that is a treasure of Paradise: `La hawla wa la quwwata illa billah (there is no power or strength except from Allah).” This Hadith was also recorded in the Two Sahihs, and Abu Dawud, An-Nasa’i, At-Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah recorded similar wordings.

Abu Huraira reported Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: The supplication of the servant is granted in case he does not supplicate for sin or for severing the ties of blood, or he does not become impatient. It was said: Allah’s Messenger, what does:” If he does not grow impatient” imply? He said: That he should say like this: I supplicated and I supplicated but I did not find it being responded. and thus he becomes frustrated and abandons supplication. (Muslim :: Book 35 : Hadith 6595) 

So let us talk to Allah, specially when all alone. In fact Tahajjad is the best time when man is all alone, sitting in remote corner of his house and crying his heart out to all. One doesn't have to have any set format to talking to Allah. Say what you wan to say in any language, not necessarily Arabic and take time in doing so. Don't hurry it up. And talk to Allah with a conviction that He will fulfill His promise to listen to you and would grant you something which is best for you, not what you think what is best for you.

May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى‎) help us understand Qur'ān and follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which is embodiment of commandments of Allah contained in the Qur'ān. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door. 

وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ‏ 
(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”
That is our duty to convey only to you the message that Allah has entrusted us with. Then it is for you to accept it or reject it. We have not been made responsible for making you accept it forcibly, and if you do not accept it, we shall not be seized in consequence of your disbelief, you will yourselves be answerable for your actions on Day of Resurrection.

May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى‎) help us understand Qur'ān and help us to act upon the commandments of Allah contained therein. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door. 

May Allah forgive me if my posts ever imply a piety far greater than I possess. I am most in need of guidance.

Disclaimer: The views expressed in the video above are those of the scholar concerned. We have shared this view as added information in better understanding of Islam. The reader may or may not agree with the view owing to their own perception. If anyone differs with the material contained in this post, one may consult the references and their authors.  If someone has more material about the subject, he/she is most welcome to share in the comments box to make the post all encompassing.

For more Scholarly views and videos, please read our reference page: Scholars' Viewpoint on Important Issues Related to Islam.

You may also refer to our Reference Pages for knowing more about Islam and Quran.
If you like Islam: My Ultimate Decision, and to keep yourself updated on all our latest posts to know more about Islam, follow us on Facebook

Please share this page to your friends and family members through Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp or any means on social media so that they can also be benefited by it and better understand Islam and the Holy Qur'an - Insha Allah (Allah Willing) you shall be blessed with the best of both worlds.

Saturday 10 February 2024

Understanding Divorce in Islam

Allah created this world for the peaceful coexistence between man and woman. And thus provided immense means of sustenance so that they could not fell absence of means to live a peaceful life. Going a step further, the concept of marriage was given so that a man and woman could live together to bring peace to each other by mutual love, solace, comfort with a sense of belonging. 

It is stated in Surah 30 Ar Rum, verse 21: And one of His signs is that He created for you spouses from among yourselves so that you may find comfort in them. And He has placed between you compassion and mercy. Surely in this are signs for people who reflect. 

Marriage, therefore in Islam, is much more than physical intimacy between man and wife. It is more to do with satisfaction of emotions which get disturbed in our pursuit for finding means of sustenance. Generally, man is made responsible to make all possible arrangements for a peaceful living for his wife and the offspring. The wife on the other hand has been entrusted to manage the household. Some liberal women take this responsibility as a burden and feel that they are being made a servant rather than a wife. But they fail to understand that it is the man who is running around day  and night to find means that can ensure a peaceful living for his family. And if this fine equation is not understood, the very sacred institution of marriage beings to crumble and may end up in the most disliked world of divorce (Arabic: الطلاق, aṭ-talāq). 

In Islam, giving divorce “for no reason” is NOT encouraged either for males or females. God says to try, as much as possible to reconcile. He said in 4:127, “peace is best”. In fact, divorce is the most hated and unpleasant thing in Islam. The most detestable of lawful thing nears near Allah is divorce. Despite the Islam permits divorce as it becomes inevitable in some extreme situations when it is not possible for the husband and wife to pull on together.

It is reported from Ibn-Umar that the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: “In the sight of Allah subḥānahu wa ta'āla (glorified and exalted be He), the worst of all halal (lawful) acts is talaq (divorce).”

Generally some of the reasons for seeking divorce in Islam include physical, mental, or emotional abuse, incompatibility, infidelity, and failure to fulfill responsibilities.. However, when when a situation has arisen that a  man and wife cannot live with each other, and that the marital harmony is no more possible, efforts must be made both by the man and wife, as well as all members of the family and friend to avert a  divorce should such a situation arise. 

The Qur'an promotes reconciliation, through negotiated settlements between the spouses themselves or the use of arbitrators from their families. However, when “mutual good treatment” is not possible, there should be an amicable parting. Thus, the Qur'an treats divorce as something permitted but not laudable.

"If you divorce women, and they reach their appointed term, hold them back in amity or let them go in amity. Do not hold them back out of malice, to be vindictive. Whoever does this does himself injustice." (Surah 2. al Baqarah:231) 

If despite all efforts, a reconciliation is not reached, the husband pronounces the phrase “I divorce you” (in Arabic, talaq) to his wife. A man may divorce his wife three times. Institutionally, the three divorces should not be pronounced at one time. Rather, after pronouncing each divorce, a one should wait for sometime, normally three months, to pronounce the second divorcee. For this provides a leverage for the husband to still think over his decision and take back her wife after the first two (reconciling). After the third divorce they can't get back together until she marries someone else.

The Quran also sets waiting periods to discourage hasty divorces.[6] For a menstruating woman, the waiting (Iddah) period before the divorce is finalized, as three monthly periods.[9] For non-menstruating women, including post-menopause women and pre-menarche girls, the waiting period is three months.[10] This is to give the husband time to reconsider his decision.[6] Moreover, a man who vows not to have sexual intercourse with his wife, which would lead to automatic divorce, is allowed a four-month period to break his oath.

While a it is the husband who generally pronounces divorce, Islam provides equal opportunity for the wife to seek divorce, called Khula in Arabic. If a husband denies his wife's request for khula, the wife can seek the assistance of an Islamic court or a qualified scholar to help resolve the matter. In some cases, the court or scholar may attempt to mediate between the husband and wife to find a resolution that is acceptable to both parties.

Detailed instructions on divorce are given in Surah 4. An Nisa (The Women) and Surah 65. At Talaq (Divorce).

Please watch an enlightening video below by one of the most eminent scholars of present times, Nouman Ali Khan:
Nouman Ali Khan, born to a Pakistani family, is an American Muslim speaker and Arabic instructor who founded the Bayyinah Institute for Arabic and Qur’anic Studies, after serving as an instructor of Arabic at Nassau Community College. He has been named one of the 500 most influential Muslims in the world by the Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Centre of Jordan.
May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى‎) help us understand Qur'ān and follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which is embodiment of commandments of Allah contained in the Qur'ān. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door. 
وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ‏ 
(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”
That is Our duty is only to convey to you the message that Allah has entrusted us with. Then it is for you to accept it or reject it. We have not been made responsible for making you accept it forcibly, and if you do not accept it, we shall not be seized in consequence of your disbelief, you will yourselves be answerable for your actions on Day of Resurrection.

Reading the Qur'ān should be a daily obligation of a Muslim - Reading it with translation will make it meaningful. But reading its Exegesis / Tafsir will make you understand it fully. It will also help the Muslims to have grasp over social issues and their answers discussed in the Qur'an and other matter related to inter faith so that they are able to discuss issues with non-Muslims with authority based on refences from Qur'an.

May Allah forgive me if my posts ever imply a piety far greater than I possess. I am most in need of guidance.

Note: When we mention God in our posts, we mean One True God, we call Allah in Islam, with no associates. Allah is the Sole Creator of all things, and that Allah is all-powerful and all-knowing. Allah has no offspring, no race, no gender, no body, and is unaffected by the characteristics of human life.

You may refer to our reference page: Scholars' Viewpoint on some of the important issues and explanations related to Islam Qur'an and Sunnah. 

For more Selected Verses, please refer to our reference page: Selected Verses from the Qur'anYou may also refer to our Reference Pages  and Understanding Al Qur'an for knowing more about Islam and Qur'ān.
Photo | References: Divorce in Islam (Wikipedia) | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |

Disclaimer: The material for this post has been collected from the references given above. If anyone differs with the material contained in this post, one may consult the references and their authors.  If someone has more material about the subject, he/she is most welcome to share in the comments box to make the post all encompassing.

If you like Islam: My Ultimate Decision, and to keep yourself updated on all our latest posts to know more about Islam, follow us on Facebook

Please share this page to your friends and family members through Facebook, WhatsApp or any means on social media so that they can also be benefited by it and better understand Islam and the Qur'ān - Insha Allah (Allah Willing) you shall be blessed with the best of both worlds.

Thursday 25 January 2024

Incredible explanation of 5th verse of Surah 1. Al Fatiha (The Opener)

The very first chapter of Qur'an, Surah Al Fatiha (The Opener) is the most important Surah of the Qur'an. This Surah is in fact a prayer which Allah has taught to all those who want to make a study of His book. It has been placed at the very beginning of the Qur'an to teach this lesson to the reader: if you sincerely want to benefit from the Qur'an, you should offer this prayer to the Lord of the Universe.

And it for this importance, it has been made part of the every cycle / rakah of the obligatory and voluntary prayers. By reading this supplication right at the beginning of the prayers, a believer not only acknowledges the supremeness of Allah, but also pledges to be His servant and vows to ask none other than Him for his every need. 

We have already published the Summary and Tafseer / Exegesis of this very important Surah. But today we share the incredible explanation of the 5th verse of the Surah, which in fact is the crus of faith of a believer, in which he not only submits himself completely to his Creator, but aslo pledges in his entire sincerity to ask none but He if in want of something.

Renowned Muslim scholar and exegete Yusuf Ali  while interpreting this verse notes: On realizing in our souls God's love and care, His grace and mercy, and His power and justice (as Ruler of the Day of Judgment), the immediate result is that we bend in the act of worship, and see both our shortcomings and His all-sufficient power. The emphatic form means that not only do we reach the position of worshipping God and asking for His help, but we worship Him alone and ask for His aid only. For there is none other than He worthy of our devotion and able to help us. The plural "we" indicates that we associate ourselves with all who seek God, thus strengthening ourselves and strengthening them in a fellowship of faith.

You may also like to read an exhaustive explanation of the 5th verse by one of the most revered and expert exegete Ibn Kathir from Tafseer / Exegesis of the surah already posted.

Today, we share an incredible explanation of this verse by one of the most eminent scholars of present times, Nouman Ali Khan, which takes the meaning of the 5th verse of the Surah Al Fatiha and explains it in a manner that even a simple believer with least intellect can get to know what is being said in this verse and how it lays the foundation of our faith in Allah. Please watch the video:

About Nouman Ali Khan: Born to a Pakistani family, Nouman Ali Khan is an American Muslim speaker and Arabic instructor who founded the Bayyinah Institute for Arabic and Qur’anic Studies, after serving as an instructor of Arabic at Nassau Community College. He has been named one of the 500 most influential Muslims in the world by the Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Centre of Jordan.

Let us listen to this video again and again and really understand how Allah wants us to be His servants and how we should always be looking towards him, and no one else, for our worldly needs. If we can really Ingrid the meaning of this verse into ourselves, we will never go astray or be misled by worldly desires or following the priests and imams or asking from the dead saints.

May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى‎) help us understand Qur'ān and follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which is embodiment of commandments of Allah contained in the Qur'ān. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door. 

وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ‏ 
(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”
That is our duty to convey only to you the message that Allah has entrusted us with. Then it is for you to accept it or reject it. We have not been made responsible for making you accept it forcibly, and if you do not accept it, we shall not be seized in consequence of your disbelief, you will yourselves be answerable for your actions on Day of Resurrection.

May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى‎) help us understand Qur'ān and help us to act upon the commandments of Allah contained therein. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door. 

May Allah forgive me if my posts ever imply a piety far greater than I possess. I am most in need of guidance.

Disclaimer: The views expressed in the video above are those of the scholar concerned. We have shared this view as added information in better understanding of Islam. The reader may or may not agree with the view owing to their own perception. If anyone differs with the material contained in this post, one may consult the references and their authors.  If someone has more material about the subject, he/she is most welcome to share in the comments box to make the post all encompassing.

Photo | 

For more Scholarly views and videos, please read our reference page: Scholars' Viewpoint on Important Issues Related to IslamYou may also refer to our Reference Pages for knowing more about Islam and Quran.
If you like Islam: My Ultimate Decision, and to keep yourself updated on all our latest posts to know more about Islam, follow us on Facebook

Please share this page to your friends and family members through Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp or any means on social media so that they can also be benefited by it and better understand Islam and the Holy Qur'an - Insha Allah (Allah Willing) you shall be blessed with the best of both worlds.

Thursday 18 January 2024

Who are the blessed FORERUNNERS "السّٰبِقُوۡنَۚ" mentioned in Qur’an

There is a mention of people known as the Forerunners - the As Sabiqoon "السّٰبِقُوۡنَۚ" in the 10th verse of Sürah 56. Al Waqi'ah (The Inevitable Event). These have been described by Allah as the best of the people who ever lived. These people have been explained in our earlier post  as under, as explained in "Tafhim al-Qur'an - The Meaning of the Qur'an" by one of the most enlightened scholars of the Muslim World Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi. :

Sabiqoon (the Foremost) implies the people who excelled others in virtue and love of the truth and in good works and responded to the call of Allah and His Messenger before others. They were also in the forefront in their response to the call for Jihad, for expending their wealth for the sake of the needy and for public services, or for inviting others to virtue and truth, in short, for spreading the good and wiping out evil and making sacrifices and exerting themselves whenever there was need for it. On this very basis, in the Hereafter too, they will be placed in the forefront.

Thus, mankind, so to say, will be ranged in Allah's Court like this: On the right hand, there will be the righteous, on the left the wicked, and in the forefront (nearest in Divine Presence) the Sabiqin (the Foremost in Faith and good deeds). According to a Hadith reported by ,Hadrat `A'ishah the Holy Prophet (upon whom be Allah's peace) asked the people: "Do you know who, on the Day of Resurrection, will he the first to be accommodated under the Divine Shade ?" The people said Allah and His Messenger only had the best knowledge. Thereupon the Holy Prophet replied: "Those who were such that when the Truth was presented before them, they accepted it forthwith; when a right was asked of them, they discharged it gracefully; and their decision in respect of others was the same as in respect of their own selves." (Musnad Ahmad).

Today, we share an enlightening commentary on these blessed people by one of the most eminent scholars of present times, Nouman Ali Khan. In fact this commentary is part of one of the Khutbahs of Jumu'ah prayer. The purpose of sharing this video is two fold:
  • To provide a scholarly explanation of the verse and the blessed people known as Sabiqoon,
  • And secondly to explain that the language of Khutbah of Jumu'ah does not necessarily be Arabic, as as been the viewpoint of scholars in some of the non Arabic Muslim countries, for unless the audiance listening to the khutbah understand what is being said, there is not point in listening to the khutbah. In this connection, please refer to our earliest post: What should be the language of Khutbah in Jumu'ah Congregational prayer
Now let us listen to the Khutbah and explanation of the people called Sabiqoon:
Nouman Ali Khan, born to a Pakistani family, is an American Muslim speaker and Arabic instructor who founded the Bayyinah Institute for Arabic and Qur’anic Studies, after serving as an instructor of Arabic at Nassau Community College. He has been named one of the 500 most influential Muslims in the world by the Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Centre of Jordan.

May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى‎) help us understand Qur'ān and follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which is embodiment of commandments of Allah contained in the Qur'ān. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door. 

وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ‏ 
(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”
That is our duty to convey only to you the message that Allah has entrusted us with. Then it is for you to accept it or reject it. We have not been made responsible for making you accept it forcibly, and if you do not accept it, we shall not be seized in consequence of your disbelief, you will yourselves be answerable for your actions on Day of Resurrection.

May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى‎) help us understand Qur'ān and help us to act upon the commandments of Allah contained therein. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door. 

May Allah forgive me if my posts ever imply a piety far greater than I possess. I am most in need of guidance.

Disclaimer: The views expressed in the video above are those of the scholar concerned. We have shared this view as added information in better understanding of Islam. The reader may or may not agree with the view owing to their own perception. If anyone differs with the material contained in this post, one may consult the references and their authors.  If someone has more material about the subject, he/she is most welcome to share in the comments box to make the post all encompassing.

For more Scholarly views and videos, please read our reference page: Scholars' Viewpoint on Important Issues Related to Islam. You may also refer to our Reference Pages for knowing more about Islam and Quran.

If you like Islam: My Ultimate Decision, and to keep yourself updated on all our latest posts to know more about Islam, follow us on Facebook

Please share this page to your friends and family members through Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp or any means on social media so that they can also be benefited by it and better understand Islam and the Holy Qur'an - Insha Allah (Allah Willing) you shall be blessed with the best of both worlds.

Monday 15 January 2024

What should be the language of Khutbah in Jumu'ah Congregational prayer (Scholars of Islam answer)

Today, through this post, I touch upon a subject that has been boggling my mind since my childhood. Since I live in a country where Arabic is neither the mother tongue, nor generally spoken either. However, despite this, the Khutbah (The Friday Sermon) in the Jumu'ah congregational prayer, is given in Arabic by the imam leading the prayer. And since he himself is not Arabic speaking, the Khutbah is mostly read out from a collection of many khutbahs given in a small booklet. And the entire audience sits in awe with heads down, understanding nothing what is being said. And I have always wondered the logic of the Khutbah being in Arabic. Therefore, I am venturing into this most important subject and will try to give out what I have known so far from many a ruling given by scholars from around the world.

Before get into details of the language, let us first know what is the purpose of Khutbah, for it will decide its language.

The Friday sermon (khutbah), like all Islamic rituals, has a purpose. It aims to remind the Muslims of their responsibilities, enjoin good and warn against evil. That is it has an educational vale for what is being said in the Khutbah actually aims at educating the Muslims to know their religion better and thus they could implement it easily during their practical life.

 For this purpose the Khutbah should be in the language of the people to whom it is delivered, otherwise it will be a mere formality and fail to achieve its purpose.

Going back to its origin, the Khutbah of Jumu'ah prayer was started by Prophet Muhammad ﷺ in Medinah after the establishment of the Islamic State. 

The Khutbah was delivered by the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ to apprise, and remind, the Muslims of their responsibilities, to enjoin good and warn against evil. This was the reason that  the Friday was chosen to offer the otherwise Dhur (noon) prayer in the form a congregation so that all able bodied and healthy Muslims could get to gather at one place. Since Prophet Muhammad ﷺ used to be otherwise busy in receiving people all through the week, the Friday congregation was the best time for him to deliver a sermon mainly intended to explain the commandments of Allah contained in the verses of Qur'an. The Prophet ﷺ used to deliver words of exhortation, instruction, or command at gatherings for worship in the mosque, which consisted of the courtyard of his house in Medina.

Since at that time, the language of Arabs was Arabic, obviously the Khutbah by Prophet Muhammad ﷺ too was delivered in Arabic. 

Now the question arises, should Jumu'ah khutbah only be Arabic, or it can be given in the local language of Muslims on non Arabic speaking countries?

The view of the Maalikis and it is the well-known view of the Hanbalis, is that it is essential that the Khutbah to be in Arabic for the one who is able to do that, even if the listeners do not know Arabic. (See: al-Fawaakih al-Diwaani (1/306) and Kashshaaf al-Qinaa’ (2/34).)  

The second view point is that it is essential for it to be in Arabic for the one who is able to do that, unless none of the listeners know Arabic, in which case he should give the khutbah in their language. This is the correct view according to the Shaafa’is, and it is the view of some of the Hanbalis. (See: al-Majmoo’ by al-Nawawi (4/522).)  

However, the simple answer is that it is mustahabb for the khutbah to be in Arabic but it is not essential, and the imam may deliver the khutbah in his own language instead of Arabic. This is the view of Abu Haneefah and some of the Shaafa’is. (See: Radd al-Muhtaar (1/543) and al-Mawsoo’ah al-Fiqhiyyah (19/180).)  

Comparing the the three view points stated above, the third view seems logical, and for this reason this interpretation is favoured by a number of contemporary scholars, because there is no clear evidence to say that the khutbah must be in Arabic, and because the purpose of the khutbah is to exhort, benefit and teach, which can only be done by using the language of the people present.  

The Late Sheikh Jad Al-Haqq Ali Jad Al-Haqq, the former Grand Sheikh of Al-Azhar, states:

The Hanifi school of fiqh (jurisprudence) state that it is permissible to deliver the khutbah in a language other than Arabic whether the audience are Arabs or not.

I see that since the aim of the Friday sermon is to admonish people, then the opinion of Abu Hanifah should take priority. It goes more with the nature and aim of the congregation.

If one likes to follow the opinion of the majority of the jurists, another alternative can be suggested. The imam can give the two parts of the Friday khutbah, followed by a translation for each in the language of the audience.

To sum up, let us read the statement of the Fiqh Council of the Muslim World League:  

The fairest opinion is that using Arabic when giving the khutbah on Friday and at Eid in countries where it is not spoken is not a condition of it being valid, but it is better to say the preliminaries of the khutbah and any Qur’aanic verses quoted in Arabic, so as to get non-Arabs used to hearing Arabic and the Qur’aan, which will make it easier to learn it and read the Qur’aan in the language in which it was revealed. Then the khateeb can follow that with exhortation in their language which they understand. (Qiraaraat al-Majma’ al-Fiqhi (p. 99) (fifth session, fifth statement). )

Now you may watch a video in which eminent Muslim scholar Sheikh Assim Al Hakeem on the subject of language of the khutbah:

Disclaimer
The post is written from education point of view to know how scholars think / recommend and what is being practiced. We must know what is correct or close to logic, for sitting in the masjid and listening to the Khutbah without understanding a word of it is useless and uneducated. The substance of the post doe not in any manner meant to undermine the views of followers of different schools of thought. It is also not intended to to set into motion a debate about who is right or otherwise.

The views expressed in the video above are those of the scholar concerned. We have shared this view as added information in better understanding of Islam. The reader may or may not agree with the view owing to their own perception. If anyone differs with the material contained in this post, one may consult the references and their authors.  If someone has more material about the subject, he/she is most welcome to share in the comments box to make the post all encompassing.

May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى‎) help us understand Qur'ān and follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which is embodiment of commandments of Allah contained in the Qur'ān. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door. 

وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ‏ 
(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”
That is our duty to convey only to you the message that Allah has entrusted us with. Then it is for you to accept it or reject it. We have not been made responsible for making you accept it forcibly, and if you do not accept it, we shall not be seized in consequence of your disbelief, you will yourselves be answerable for your actions on Day of Resurrection.

May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى‎) help us understand Qur'ān and help us to act upon the commandments of Allah contained therein. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door. 

May Allah forgive me if my posts ever imply a piety far greater than I possess. I am most in need of guidance.

Reference References: | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |

For more Scholarly views and videos, please read our reference page: Scholars' Viewpoint on Important Issues Related to Islam.

You may also refer to our Reference Pages for knowing more about Islam and Quran.
If you like Islam: My Ultimate Decision, and to keep yourself updated on all our latest posts to know more about Islam, follow us on Facebook

Please share this page to your friends and family members through Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp or any means on social media so that they can also be benefited by it and better understand Islam and the Holy Qur'an - Insha Allah (Allah Willing) you shall be blessed with the best of both worlds.

Tuesday 30 May 2023

How to be Grateful

Today, we share a beautiful scholarly lecture on how to be grateful. But before we share the video, let us take a self-appraisal: Are we grateful or ungrateful? While the reasons of being in either of the two states, as we shall enumerate in the post, a simple litmus test shows us in which boat do we sail and that is how many times we say: Alhamdulillah (ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّٰهِ, al-Ḥamdu lillāh - an Arabic phrase meaning "praise be to God", or simple "thank God").

Well, in most cases, we would find that whether we confess or not, we are generally ungrateful. Instead of acknowledging what we have, we are mostly worried about what we do not have. We are always comparing our state with others and lamenting look how rich, affluent, well dressed a particular man is. How the other person has a big car and a house that I don't have. In fact, it is the greed that resides in ourselves, something that develops over a period of time since our childhood when we did not have much. Or even if we had much, we still envied others in our schools or neighborhood who had better cellphones, better glittering cars and expensive watches etc.
People who are ungrateful tend to be characterized by an excessive sense of self-importance, arrogance, vanity, and an unquenchable need for admiration and approval. Narcissists reject the ties that bind people into relationships of reciprocity. They expect special favors and feel no need to pay back or pay forward.
And while being self-possessive, we seldom compare others with us. That is the mood point. There are billions of people around the world who do not have what we have. We see people suffer from hunger, shattered by wars and natural calamities, living in make shift shelters in ghettos. This all happens and we see it while we are better placed than them. But instead of feeling the pain and suffering of others and thanking what we have, we still long for more to be better than those who are better than us.

This is the state of ungratefulness and ingratitude, which is known as (Arabic) کُفر النّعمة, kufr al-niʿma), that is not acknowledging the Divine blessings. This is among great sins in Islam. It refers to abusing the blessings and is against being grateful for the blessings. In the Qur'an and hadiths, ingratitude is criticized and considered as a type of disbelief.

And when we are ungrateful, we fail to concentrate on the good aspects of our life, leaving us resentful and even angry. We tend to find what is amiss in our lives. And this state of ingratitude and ungratefulness tend to give us heartburn and cause us to be explosive in our attitudes.

We never care what God has given us. We instead care what God has not given us. Allah says in Qur'an:
“And He has given you whatever you have asked Him; and if you count Allah's blessings, you are unable to number them. Verily, man is very unjust, very ungrateful.” “And if you count Allah's blessings, you are unable to number them.

If we start to take stock of what we have as compared to what people do not have, we will become grateful to God for having made us better than others. And we must make an endeavour to make the lives of others better by giving out whatever is extra to our needs. That is how Islam teaches us to be humble and grateful rather than arrogant and proud for being better than others.

This is just the premise to the very informative lecture by renowned Muslim scholar Nauman Ali Khan which is being shared as under:
Nouman Ali Khan, born to a Pakistani family, is an American Muslim speaker and Arabic instructor who founded the Bayyinah Institute for Arabic and Qur’anic Studies, after serving as an instructor of Arabic at Nassau Community College. He has been named one of the 500 most influential Muslims in the world by the Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Centre of Jordan.

وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ‏ 
(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”
That is our duty to convey only to you the message that Allah has entrusted us with. Then it is for you to accept it or reject it. We have not been made responsible for making you accept it forcibly, and if you do not accept it, we shall not be seized in consequence of your disbelief, you will yourselves be answerable for your actions on Day of Resurrection.

May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى‎) help us understand Qur'ān and help us to act upon the commandments of Allah contained therein. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door. 

May Allah forgive me if my posts ever imply a piety far greater than I possess. I am most in need of guidance.

Disclaimer: The views expressed in the video above are those of the scholar concerned. We have shared this view as added information in better understanding of Islam. The reader may or may not agree with the view owing to their own perception. If anyone differs with the material contained in this post, one may consult the references and their authors.  If someone has more material about the subject, he/she is most welcome to share in the comments box to make the post all encompassing.

Photo | 
For more Scholarly views and videos, please read our reference page: Scholars' Viewpoint on Important Issues Related to Islam.

You may also refer to our Reference Pages for knowing more about Islam and Quran.
If you like Islam: My Ultimate Decision, and to keep yourself updated on all our latest posts to know more about Islam, follow us on Facebook

Please share this page to your friends and family members through Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp or any means on social media so that they can also be benefited by it and better understand Islam and the Holy Qur'an - Insha Allah (Allah Willing) you shall be blessed with the best of both worlds.

Tuesday 2 May 2023

Lift yourself by sincere repentance if you fall

Man has been created very fragile and weak by Allah so that he is tested and observed whether he recovers if he falls by being lured by Satan or not. Even Prophet Adam (علي السلام) could not resist the temptation of Satan when he was enticed to eat the fruit of the forbidden tree.
“Then they both ate of that tree, and so their private parts appeared to them, and they began to stick on themselves the leaves from Paradise for their covering.  Thus did Adam disobey his Lord, so he went astray.  Then his Lord chose him, and turned to him with forgiveness and gave him guidance.” (Quran 20:121-122)
But should it mean that once a believer falls, he has no means to recover and stand again? Well Allah forgave Adam when he sincerely repented. And so, He would accept true repentance of every believer should they sincerely do so and seek forgiveness of Allah, for Allah is Al-Ghafur (الغفور) - The Forgiving, The Pardoner and Ar-Rahim (الرحيم)-The Most Merciful. Allah promises His servants that so long they keep seeking Allah's forgiveness, He will continue to forgive them till they finally see the angel of death knocking at their door.
(3:133) And hasten to the forgiveness of your Lord and to a Paradise as vast as the heavens and the earth, prepared for the God-fearing.

So, we must always repent and ask forgiveness when we sin or do something against the Divine commandments, and must not delay in doing so for Devil within may prompt us to delay it for better times and may lure us into more sinful activities. 

* Please read more on forgiveness/Repentance in our post on Selected Verses from Qur'an.

You may now watch an enlightening video below on the subject by one of the most eminent scholars of present times, Mufti Menk:
Ismail ibn Musa Menk (إسماعيل إبن موسى منك), generally known as Mufti Menk (born 27 June 1975), is a Zimbabwean Islamic Scholar. He is widely known internationally. Menk has been named one of The 500 Most Influential Muslims in the world by the Royal Aal al-Bayt Institute for Islamic Thought in Jordan in 2013, 2014 and 2017.

وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ‏ 
(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”
That is our duty to convey only to you the message that Allah has entrusted us with. Then it is for you to accept it or reject it. We have not been made responsible for making you accept it forcibly, and if you do not accept it, we shall not be seized in consequence of your disbelief, you will yourselves be answerable for your actions on Day of Resurrection.

May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى‎) help us understand Qur'ān and help us to act upon the commandments of Allah contained therein. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door. 

May Allah forgive me if my posts ever imply a piety far greater than I possess. I am most in need of guidance.

Disclaimer: The views expressed in the video above are those of the scholar concerned. We have shared this view as added information in better understanding of Islam. The reader may or may not agree with the view owing to their own perception. If anyone differs with the material contained in this post, one may consult the references and their authors.  If someone has more material about the subject, he/she is most welcome to share in the comments box to make the post all encompassing.

For more Scholarly views and videos, please read our reference page: Scholars' Viewpoint on Important Issues Related to Islam. You may also refer to our Reference Pages for knowing more about Islam and Quran.
If you like Islam: My Ultimate Decision, and to keep yourself updated on all our latest posts to know more about Islam, follow us on Facebook

Please share this page to your friends and family members through Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp or any means on social media so that they can also be benefited by it and better understand Islam and the Holy Qur'an - Insha Allah (Allah Willing) you shall be blessed with the best of both worlds.

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