What has been related about Sleeping Past the Salat Time (Hadith Prophet Muhammad ﷺ)

Salat / prayer is one of the most important pillars of Islam and at many a place in the Qur'an believers have been asked to be punctual in offering their obligatory salat. However, there may be times when a man, tired of his hard days' work, may sleep over the salat time and would feel remorse for having skipped the salat.

But for such lapses, Prophet Muhammad ﷺ has said that such lapses should not be taken as negligence and whenever one gets up, he should make it up for the missed salat.

This Hadith is mentioned Jami` at-Tirmidhi  (Book # 2 The Book on Salat (Prayer) كتاب الصلاة / Chapter # 16 What Has Been Related About Sleeping Past the Salat باب مَا جَاءَ فِي النَّوْمِ عَنِ الصَّلاَةِ ) as Hadith number # 177:

حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ، حَدَّثَنَا حَمَّادُ بْنُ زَيْدٍ، عَنْ ثَابِتٍ الْبُنَانِيِّ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ رَبَاحٍ الأَنْصَارِيِّ، عَنْ أَبِي قَتَادَةَ، قَالَ ذَكَرُوا لِلنَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم نَوْمَهُمْ عَنِ الصَّلاَةِ فَقَالَ ‏ "‏ إِنَّهُ لَيْسَ فِي النَّوْمِ تَفْرِيطٌ إِنَّمَا التَّفْرِيطُ فِي الْيَقَظَةِ فَإِذَا نَسِيَ أَحَدُكُمْ صَلاَةً أَوْ نَامَ عَنْهَا فَلْيُصَلِّهَا إِذَا ذَكَرَهَا ‏"‏ ‏.‏ وَفِي الْبَابِ عَنِ ابْنِ مَسْعُودٍ وَأَبِي مَرْيَمَ وَعِمْرَانَ بْنِ حُصَيْنٍ وَجُبَيْرِ بْنِ مُطْعِمٍ وَأَبِي جُحَيْفَةَ وَأَبِي سَعِيدٍ وَعَمْرِو بْنِ أُمَيَّةَ الضَّمْرِيِّ وَذِي مِخْبَرٍ وَيُقَالُ ذِي مِخْمَرٍ وَهُوَ ابْنُ أَخِي النَّجَاشِيِّ ‏.‏ قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى وَحَدِيثُ أَبِي قَتَادَةَ حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ ‏.‏ وَقَدِ اخْتَلَفَ أَهْلُ الْعِلْمِ فِي الرَّجُلِ يَنَامُ عَنِ الصَّلاَةِ أَوْ يَنْسَاهَا فَيَسْتَيْقِظُ أَوْ يَذْكُرُ وَهُوَ فِي غَيْرِ وَقْتِ صَلاَةٍ عِنْدَ طُلُوعِ الشَّمْسِ أَوْ عِنْدَ غُرُوبِهَا ‏.‏ فَقَالَ بَعْضُهُمْ يُصَلِّيهَا إِذَا اسْتَيْقَظَ أَوْ ذَكَرَ وَإِنْ كَانَ عِنْدَ طُلُوعِ الشَّمْسِ أَوْ عِنْدَ غُرُوبِهَا ‏.‏ وَهُوَ قَوْلُ أَحْمَدَ وَإِسْحَاقَ وَالشَّافِعِيِّ وَمَالِكٍ ‏.‏ وَقَالَ بَعْضُهُمْ لاَ يُصَلِّي حَتَّى تَطْلُعَ الشَّمْسُ أَوْ تَغْرُبَ ‏.‏

Abu Qatadah narrated:

"They asked the Prophet about when they sIept past the Salat. He said: 'There is no negligence in sleep, negligence is only while one is awake. So, when one of you forgets a Salat, or sleeps through it, then let him pray it when he remembers it.'"

Grade: Sahih (Darussalam)

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: Sunnah and Hadith of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ to know more about 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.

Photo | Source of Hadith

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

Follow @IslamUltimate

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.

Read More

How can charity save believers from Fire of Hell

The reality of Heaven and Hell cannot be denied for mention of these abounds in all Divine Scriptures. It is understood that all those doing good are promised Paradise, Jannah. But how can one avert his chances of landing and burning in the fire of hell. The answer is very simple: Follow the straight path as has been mentioned in all Divine Scriptures, do good and have faith in God for He loves those who do good and have faith in Him. But as for those who faulter and think their evil and sinful actions will land them in Hell, they must take care of their future life while they are still alive in this earthly life.

One can start from repenting one's sins and asking forgiveness from Allah, and no one else, for it is Allah alone Who can accept someone's repentance and forgive him. Besides, one must give out as much to charity as it can to aid in waiving one's sins and come to his rescue when balance will be created on the Day of Resurrection. Those who can afford to give out as much in charity. But what about those who have nothing to spare or do not even have anything even to feed them and their families? 

Prophet Muhammad ﷺ mentions a way out which is mentioned in Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī  (Book 78 - Good Manners and Form (Al-Adab) كتاب الأدب / Chapter 34: Pleasant friendly speech باب طِيبِ الْكَلاَمِ) as Hadith 6023, given herein under:

حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الْوَلِيدِ، حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنِي عَمْرٌو، عَنْ خَيْثَمَةَ، عَنْ عَدِيِّ بْنِ حَاتِمٍ، قَالَ ذَكَرَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم النَّارَ، فَتَعَوَّذَ مِنْهَا وَأَشَاحَ بِوَجْهِهِ، ثُمَّ ذَكَرَ النَّارَ، فَتَعَوَّذَ مِنْهَا، وَأَشَاحَ بِوَجْهِهِ ـ قَالَ شُعْبَةُ أَمَّا مَرَّتَيْنِ فَلاَ أَشُكُّ ـ ثُمَّ قَالَ ‏ "‏ اتَّقُوا النَّارَ وَلَوْ بِشِقِّ تَمْرَةٍ، فَإِنْ لَمْ تَجِدْ فَبِكَلِمَةٍ طَيِّبَةٍ ‏"‏‏.‏

Narrated `by Adi bin Hatim:

The Prophet (ﷺ) mentioned the (Hell) Fire and sought refuge (with Allah) from it, and turned his face to the other side. He mentioned the (Hell) Fire again and took refuge (with Allah) from it and turned his face to the other side. (Shu`ba, the sub-narrator, said, "I have no doubt that the Prophet (ﷺ) repeated it twice.") The Prophet (ﷺ) then said, "(O people!) Save yourselves from the (Hell) Fire even if with one half of a date fruit (given in charity), and if this is not available, then (save yourselves) by saying a good pleasant friendly word."

You see, how easy it is to please Allah if one sincerely repents and gives out even half of the date fruit he may have in charity. And if he cannot afford this meager amount, he may display a pleasing smile, for a smile too is part of an act of charity. Who knows, his smile lightens up the spirit of someone who is depressed and brings life into him. So do not wait to have much in your hand to give out to charity. Show magnanimity for even a smile is part of your effort to please others.

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.

For more Hadiths on the subject, please refer to our reference page: Collection of Hadiths attributed to Prophet Muhammad ﷺ about Sadaqah صدقة  / Voluntary Charity

Please refer to our reference page: Sunnah and Hadith of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ to know more about 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.

Photo | Source of Hadith

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

Follow @IslamUltimate

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.

Read More

If Allah helps you, none shall prevail over you

Faith in Allah is central to the beliefs of all Muslims around the world. Unless a believer has an unflinching trust in Allah, he can never succeed in his life. Whenever making any vital decision of one's life as an individual or as a sovereign, when one is resolved on a course of action, then one must place complete trust in Allah; surely Allah loves those who put their trust (in Him).

Remember, when Prophet Muhammad ﷺ along with his best friend Abu Bakr were migrating to Medina from Makkah, they were chased by the infidels and almost reached at the mouth of the Cave of Thor where the two were resting/ Fearful of being cornered with no escape route, Abu Bkar looked towards Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, who reassured him that Allah is with them by saying: "لَا تَحۡزَنۡ اِنَّ اللّٰهَ مَعَنَا​ - Do not grieve. Allah is with us." That is to say, if Allah is on your side, no harm can come to you.

This is the very theme of 160th verse of Surah 3. Al-i'Imran (The Family of Imran), the explanation of which is given below. But we explain the verse, it must be borne in mind that to have Allah by your side, you must not only have faith in Him but also have done your utmost to be successful in any resolve that you have made by mobilizing all your resources to their optimum readiness and employing all your skills, intellect, wisdom to draw out a comprehensive plan. That, without your utmost preparedness, do not think that Allah will help you for He wants His servants to do their best and then leave the outcome to Him. Unfortunately, absence of true faith in Allah and halfhearted approach to every problem, is the reason today that Muslims are facing failures and setbacks all over the world.

Now, let us see the meaning and explanation of the aforesaid verse:

اِنۡ يَّنۡصُرۡكُمُ اللّٰهُ فَلَا غَالِبَ لَـكُمۡ​ۚ وَاِنۡ يَّخۡذُلۡكُمۡ فَمَنۡ ذَا الَّذِىۡ يَنۡصُرُكُمۡ مِّنۡۢ بَعۡدِهٖ ​ؕ وَعَلَى اللّٰهِ فَلۡيَتَوَكَّلِ الۡمُؤۡمِنُوۡنَ‏  

(3:160) If Allah helps you none shall prevail over you; if He forsakes you then who can help you? It is in Allah that the believers should put their trust.

Tafsir Qur'an Wiki:

In order to explain what placing one’s trust in God means, the sūrah clearly states that the power which determines victory or defeat is God’s. It is from Him that support should be sought and through His help defeat is avoided. Once the believers have made their preparations and mobilised all the forces they can muster, they turn to God for help, rely fully on Him and recognise  that  they have no say in determining the consequences. It is God’s will that determines the outcome: “If God helps you, none can overcome you; but if He should forsake you, then who is it that can help you beside Him? It is in God that the believers should place their trust.” 

 

The Islamic concept of life demonstrates the perfect balance between asserting that God’s will is absolute in shaping all events and that it comes into operation through man’s own actions. The Divine law of nature establishes a cause-and-effect relationship in all matters, but causes do not initiate effects. The operative force is that of God, Who determines effects on the basis of causes according to His will. He then requires man to work hard, fulfil his duties, and meet his obligations. It is in relation to how far man discharges his responsibility that God determines the results. This means that results and consequences will always be dependent on God’s will, for it is He alone who brings them into being whenever and however He wills. An equilibrium is thus established between the basic concept of a Muslim and his actions. He works as hard as he can and knows that the results of his actions depend on God’s will. To him, there is no inevitability in the cause-and-effect relationship, because he does not claim that anything which God does is inevitable.

 

In the particular case of a military battle and its two possible results, victory or defeat, the sūrah refers Muslims to God’s will and reminds them of His might. If God helps them, then they cannot be overcome by any force, and if His help is not forthcoming, then they will not be able to find anyone to bring them victory. This is the absolute truth: there is no ability, power or will other than those of God, who determines all events. This basic truth, however, does not exempt Muslims from following God’s method, obeying His directives and fulfilling their obligations, exerting all efforts and relying, after all that, on God alone: “It is in God that the believers should put their trust.” Thus, a Muslim does not seek anything from any source other than God. He has a direct relationship with the operative power in the universe, which means that he is in no need of help or protection from any other source.  He relies totally on God to bring about events and results according to His wisdom. As for him, he accepts what God determines with total reassurance. This is a perfect bliss which no human being can experience except through Islam.

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.

For more Selected Verses, please refer to our reference page: Selected Verses from the Qur'an. You may also refer to our Reference Pages  and Understanding Al Qur'an for knowing more about Islam and Qur'ān.

Photo | Tafsir References: | 1 | 2 | 

An effort has been made to gather explanation / exegesis of the surahs of the Qur'ān from authentic sources and then present a least possible condensed explanation of the surah. In that the exegesis of the chapters of the Quran is mainly based on the "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.  

In order to augment and add more explanation as already provided, additional input has been interjected from the following sources: 

• Tafsir Ibn Khatir
• Muhammad Asad Translation
• Yusuf Ali Translation
• Translation Javed Ahmad Ghamidi / Al Mawrid
• Qur'an Wiki
• Verse by Verse Qur'an Study Circle
• Towards Understanding the Quran

In addition, references of other sources which have been explored have also been given above. Those desirous of detailed explanations and tafsir (exegesis), may refer to these sites.

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

Follow @IslamUltimate

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.

Read More

Exclusive Supplication for Reverts for grant of Perseverance to defend their ultimate decision

Taking a bold and big decision of one's life needs steadfastness and perseverance. This is especially true for those who undergo a change of faith, that is from Christianity, Jewism and Hinduism or any other non-Muslim faith to Islam. Those who revert to Islam, suddenly find them in acute isolation for the generally their families and friends abandon them and cast upon them immense pressure to change their ultimate decision of their life. This is the time to supplicate to Allah for grant of perseverance so that they can defend their decision and start a new life. It is amazing to know, after reading many accounts of reverts, that faith in Allah brings about a change in the reverts and they feel an inner strength to face boldly the negativity they face. And it is their perseverance and steadfastness that in many cases results in convincing their families to follow suit and revert to Islam too.

Today, in our series of posts on Selected Invocations (Dua / دُعا) from Qur'ān, we share the 126th verse of Surah 7. Al-A'raf (The Heights), which is part of the narration of confrontation of Prophet Musa (Moses, peace be upon him) with the Pharoah. Those who have read the Torah and the Bible would recall such encounter. This verse comes at the end of the duel between the sorcerers of Pharoah and Prophet Musa and when finally, Prophet Musa prevailed on them, they fell in prostration supplicating this invocation for they knew that Prophet Musa was talking of a Divine Truth and that from then on, they will be persecuted by Pharoah and pleaded to God for grant of perseverance:

وَمَا تَنقِمُ مِنَّآ إِلَّآ أَنْ ءَامَنَّا بِـَٔايَٰتِ رَبِّنَا لَمَّا جَآءَتْنَا ۚ رَبَّنَآ أَفْرِغْ عَلَيْنَا صَبْرًا وَتَوَفَّنَا مُسْلِمِينَ 

(7:126) "But thou dost wreak thy vengeance on us simply because we believed in the signs of our Lord when they reached us! Our Lord! pour out on us patience and constancy and take our souls unto thee as Muslims (who bow to thy will)"!

When Pharaoh saw the tables turning on himself, he thought of another device. He declared that the whole show was the outcome of the plot that Moses and the magicians had devised. Then he threatened the magicians with a severe chastisement and death so that they should confess that his accusation was true. But this move also turned against him. As the magicians remained firm in their new Faith, and were prepared to undergo any torture for its sake, it became evident that their belief in the Truth presented by Moses was a genuine confession of faith and not the pretense of any plot. That is why he had to give up the pretense of truth and justice and resort to open tyranny.

In this connection it should also be noted that in a few moments, their Faith had brought about a wonderful change in the character of the magicians. The same people who had left their homes for the sake of helping the religion of their forefathers and had, a few minutes before, very humbly requested Pharaoh to give them rewards if they came out successful in the conflict with Moses, were now filled with the courage of conviction of the true Faith. They had become so bold and brave that they were now defying the same king, before whom they were meekly bowing, and begging a reward for their encounter. But now they had become so convinced of the truth of their Faith that they were not ready to give it up for the fear of the worst torture with which they were being threatened.

Yusuf Ali Explanation: 

These Egyptians, by their patience and constancy, show that their repentance was true. Thus, in their case the mission of Moses was fulfilled directly, and their number must have amounted to a considerable figure. They were martyrs of their faith, and their martyrdom affected their nation in two ways. In the first place, as they were the pick of those who practiced magic in Egypt, their conversion and disappearance dealt a staggering blow to the whole system. Secondly, the indirect effect of their martyrdom on the commonalty of Egypt must have been far greater than can be measured by numbers. The banner of Allah was planted, and the silent spiritual fight must have gone on ever since, though history, in recording outward events, is silent on the slow and gradual processes of transformation undergone by Egyptian religion. From a chaotic pantheon of animals and animal gods, the worship of the sun and the heavenly bodies, and the worship of the Pharaoh as the embodiment of power, they gradually came to realize the oneness and mercy of the true God. After many glimpses of Monotheism on Egyptian soil itself, the (gospel of Jesus reached them, and eventually Islam.)

Javed Ahmad Ghamidi Explanation:

It can be gauged from these words what true faith can do: how it can make a person rise high in the blink of an eye. Imām Amīn Aḥsan Iṣlāḥī writes:

... These are the same magicians whose meanness and faintheartedness was such that just a few minutes before, for displaying their skill, they requested for a handsome reward from the Pharaoh like jesters and mimickers. And now as soon as faith entered their hearts, every portion of their inner self started to dazzle in such a manner that it seems that darkness never enveloped their hearts and that they are not ordinary mortals but are actually paragons of steadfastness and determination and as noble and pure as the angels. One can see how big a threat the Pharaoh sounded; but their answer was that they are not the slightest bothered if the Pharaoh has their hands and feet severed and crucifies them as this will only take them to God. They challenged the Pharaoh to do whatever he likes since his wrath on them is because of their crime of believing in their Lords signs when they have come to them. If this was the punishment of this crime, they welcomed it. (Amīn Aḥsan Iṣlāḥī, Tadabbur-i Qur’ān, vol. 3, 348)

Tafsir Qur'an Wiki:

When anyone realizes what the battle is all about and to whom he should turn for help, he will not ask his enemy to ensure his own safety. He will only pray to his Lord to give him patience and perseverance in times of adversity, and to help him to continue in an attitude of submission to God until he dies: “Our Lord, grant us abundance of patience in adversity, and let us die as people who have surrendered themselves to You.” (Verse 126)

 

Tyranny stands helpless as it finds itself in confrontation with faith based on clear understanding. Tyranny realizes that it can do nothing to human hearts although it used to think that even hearts and consciences were subject to its power as human bodies are. Now it discovers that only God can have power over people’s hearts and consciences. What can human power do to any heart or soul that seeks God’s protection and prefers to wait for God’s reward?

 

As attitudes were shaping up between Pharaoh and his elders on the one side and Moses and those who believed in him on the other, human history was witnessing one of its most decisive moments. It was a moment when faith triumphed over life and when souls became stronger than pain, and man overpowered Satan. It was a moment when true freedom was born. 

What does freedom mean if not defeating tyranny with the power of faith? When a person is free, he thinks very lightly of a brute force that cannot subjugate his heart and soul, although it can inflict physical pain and cause death. When brute force is unable to subjugate hearts, true freedom is actually born.

You may now listen to a short commentary and explanation of the above said verse by eminent Muslim scholar Nouman Ali Khan:

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.

For more Selected Verses, please refer to our reference page: Selected Invocations / Dua " دُعا " from the Qur'an. You may also refer to our Reference Pages for knowing more about Islam and Qur'ān.

Photo | Reference: | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |

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.

An effort has been made to gather explanation / exegesis of the surahs of the Qur'ān from authentic sources and then present a least possible condensed explanation of the surah. In that the exegesis of the chapters of the Quran is mainly based on the "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.  

In order to augment and add more explanation as already provided, additional input has been interjected from following sources: 

• Towards Understanding the Quran
• Tafsir Ibn Khatir
• Muhammad Asad Translation
• Javed Ahmad Ghamidi / Al Mawrid
• Al-Quran, Yusuf Ali Translation
• Verse by Verse Qur'an Study Circle

In addition, references of other sources which have been explored have also been given above. Those desirous of detailed explanations and tafsir (exegesis), may refer to these sites.

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

Follow @IslamUltimate

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.

Read More

Why luxurious life is a bane for a believer (Hadith Prophet Muhammad ﷺ)

Wealth, among many other blessings of Allah, is a gift for the believers as well as a sacred trust. If one has wealth more than one's needs, he is not to squander it or live a life of luxury while many of one's brethren live in utter poverty and miserliness. At the same time, a luxurious life takes a believer away from remembrance of Allah and robs him of caring heart for others. Allah admonishes believers to be parsimonious as have said in the 29th verse of Surah 17. Al Israa (The Night Journey): Do not keep your hand fastened to your neck nor outspread it, altogether outspread, for you will be left sitting rebuked, destitute.

Prophet Muhammad ﷺ has always been worried about believers for he feared that when a man is given much more than one's needs, he may become one of those who were earlier destroyed by Allah for extravagance and wastefulness. This Hadith is mentioned in Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī  (Book 58 Jizyah and Mawaada'ah كتاب الجزية والموادعة / Chapter 1: (Al-Jizya taken from the Dhimmi باب الْجِزْيَةِ وَالْمُوَادَعَةِ مَعَ أَهْلِ الْحَرْبِ‏) as Hadith 3158, given herein under:

حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الْيَمَانِ، أَخْبَرَنَا شُعَيْبٌ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي عُرْوَةُ بْنُ الزُّبَيْرِ، عَنِ الْمِسْوَرِ بْنِ مَخْرَمَةَ، أَنَّهُ أَخْبَرَهُ أَنَّ عَمْرَو بْنَ عَوْفٍ الأَنْصَارِيَّ وَهْوَ حَلِيفٌ لِبَنِي عَامِرِ بْنِ لُؤَىٍّ وَكَانَ شَهِدَ بَدْرًا أَخْبَرَهُ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم بَعَثَ أَبَا عُبَيْدَةَ بْنَ الْجَرَّاحِ إِلَى الْبَحْرَيْنِ يَأْتِي بِجِزْيَتِهَا، وَكَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم هُوَ صَالَحَ أَهْلَ الْبَحْرَيْنِ وَأَمَّرَ عَلَيْهِمُ الْعَلاَءَ بْنَ الْحَضْرَمِيِّ، فَقَدِمَ أَبُو عُبَيْدَةَ بِمَالٍ مِنَ الْبَحْرَيْنِ، فَسَمِعَتِ الأَنْصَارُ بِقُدُومِ أَبِي عُبَيْدَةَ فَوَافَتْ صَلاَةَ الصُّبْحِ مَعَ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم، فَلَمَّا صَلَّى بِهِمِ الْفَجْرَ انْصَرَفَ، فَتَعَرَّضُوا لَهُ، فَتَبَسَّمَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم حِينَ رَآهُمْ وَقَالَ ‏"‏ أَظُنُّكُمْ قَدْ سَمِعْتُمْ أَنَّ أَبَا عُبَيْدَةَ قَدْ جَاءَ بِشَىْءٍ ‏"‏‏.‏ قَالُوا أَجَلْ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ‏.‏ قَالَ ‏"‏ فَأَبْشِرُوا وَأَمِّلُوا مَا يَسُرُّكُمْ، فَوَاللَّهِ لاَ الْفَقْرَ أَخْشَى عَلَيْكُمْ، وَلَكِنْ أَخْشَى عَلَيْكُمْ أَنْ تُبْسَطَ عَلَيْكُمُ الدُّنْيَا كَمَا بُسِطَتْ عَلَى مَنْ كَانَ قَبْلَكُمْ، فَتَنَافَسُوهَا كَمَا تَنَافَسُوهَا وَتُهْلِكَكُمْ كَمَا أَهْلَكَتْهُمْ ‏"‏‏.‏

Narrated by `Amr bin `Auf Al-Ansari:

(who was an ally of Bam `Amr bin Lu'ai and one of those who had taken part in (the Ghazwa of) Badr): Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) sent Abu 'Ubaida bin Al-Jarreh to Bahrain to collect the Jizya. Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) had established peace with the people of Bahrain and appointed Al-`Ala' bin Al-Hadrami as their governor. When Abu 'Ubaida came from Bahrain with the money, the Ansar heard of Abu 'Ubaida's arrival which coincided with the time of the morning prayer with the Prophet. When Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) led them in the morning prayer and finished, the Ansar approached him, and he looked at them and smiled on seeing them and said, "I feel that you have heard that Abu. 'Ubaida has brought something?" They said, "Yes, O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)' He said, "Rejoice and hope for what will please you! By Allah, I am not afraid of your poverty but I am afraid that you will lead a life of luxury as past nations did, whereupon you will compete with each other for it, as they competed for it, and it will destroy you as it destroyed them."

Read this post in conjunction with one of earlier posts: Believers!! Do not be Parsimonious

Earning and being wealthy is not a crime or a sin. But becoming engrossed into a life that takes one away from his duties to Allah and his brethren is something least liked by Allah. Certainly, Allah hates extravagance and He hates miserliness. In light of the above quoted Hadith and the post on Parsimonious, if we look around, we will be appalled to see many wealthy Muslims engaged into luxuries of life and living a life of wastefulness rather than living a life of modernity and spending more on the poor than on themselves. Being excessively extravagance indulges one in luxury while being parsimonious robs one's ability to help others. Let us strike a balance so that we neither forget to remember Allah nor forget to help the poor.

Here, it would be pertinent to mention the third Caliph Uthman, who was one of the richest men of his times but was always forthcoming to spend his wealth for the wellbeing of the poor Muslims while himself living a very moderate life.

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: Sunnah and Hadith of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ to know more about 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.

Photo | Source of Hadith

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

Follow @IslamUltimate

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.

Read More

Supplication when any affliction smites a believer

Every good or bad that happens to a believer is from Allah. Obviously when any good happens to us, we feel happy and thank Allah for His blessings. But when something bad happens to us or something very dear to us is taken away from us, sometimes our faith wavers. In doing so, we fail to understand that whatever we have is from Allah and we could not have got these unless it was so decided by our Creator, the Lord of the entire universe. And we should also understand that such afflation may happen to us as a test to gauge our firmness in faith. In fact, the Believer should exhibit Patience under such trying times for which he is rewarded with something better than what was taken from him.

The 156th verse of Surah 2. Al Baqarah (The Cow) shows us that when an affliction smites a believer, he should show his contentment on the Divine decision and say:

الَّذِيۡنَ اِذَآ اَصَابَتۡهُمۡ مُّصِيۡبَةٌ  ۙ قَالُوۡٓا اِنَّا لِلّٰهِ وَاِنَّـآ اِلَيۡهِ رٰجِعُوۡنَؕ‏ 

(2:156) Who, when afflicted with calamity, says: "Truly, to Allah we belong and truly, to Him we shall return.'

These words are to be uttered merely with the tongue, but we would believe sincerely from the core of our hearts that "We belong to Allah and to no one else." Thus, if anything is sacrificed in the way of Allah, if is spent rightly because it has gone to His service to Whom it really belonged."

"We shall certainly return to Him": "We shall not live here forever but shall have to leave this world one day. Thus, sooner or later we must die and go to Allah. It is, therefore, far better to fight in His way and lay down our lives for His sake than to pass our lives self-seeking and self-worship and then die of some disease or accident."

Tafsir Ibn-Kathir: 

Those who recite this statement to comfort themselves in the face of their loss, know that they belong to Allah and that He does what He wills with His servants. They also know that nothing and no deed, even if it was the weight of an atom, will be lost with Allah on the Day of Resurrection. These facts thus compel them to admit that they are Allah's servants and that their return will be to Him in the Hereafter.

This is why Allah said: Upon them will be the blessings and mercy of their Lord, and it is they who are rightly guided. (2:157)

Javed Ahmad Ghamidi Explanation:

This is a statement of submitting and consigning one’s affairs to the Almighty and an expression of the belief of the believers on which depends their determination and perseverance. We belong to God Almighty in this world and after death we are to return to Him. These words signify two constituents of this belief and a little deliberation shows that both are important for a person to adhere fully to the path of truth. It is this belief through which a believer is able to draw strength and fight every evil that comes his way.

Tafsir Qur'an Wiki: 

Underlying all this is the fact that, when subjected to pressure and the severe demands of the struggle, a believer will turn to no one else but God for help and solace, and will seek the support of no other power than God’s. This will be done in full acknowledgement of God’s sovereignty and total control over everything in this world: “Give glad tidings to those who remain patient in adversity’. Who, when a calamity befalls them, say, ‘To God we belong, and to Him we shall return.’” God is the ultimate sovereign and final arbiter. To Him we turn for guidance on every matter. This is the essence of true submission, which comes from full recognition of His control of our destiny and our fate.

Please watch how eminent Muslim scholar Nouman Ali Khan interprets this verse:

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.

For more Selected Verses, please refer to our reference page: Selected Invocations / Dua " دُعا " from the Qur'an. You may also refer to our Reference Pages for knowing more about Islam and Qur'ān.

Exegesis References: | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |

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.

An effort has been made to gather explanation / exegesis of the surahs of the Qur'ān from authentic sources and then present a least possible condensed explanation of the surah. In that the exegesis of the chapters of the Quran is mainly based on the "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.  

In order to augment and add more explanation as already provided, additional input has been interjected from following sources: 

• Towards Understanding the Quran
• Tafsir Ibn Khatir
• Muhammad Asad Translation
• Javed Ahmad Ghamidi / Al Mawrid
• Al-Quran, Yusuf Ali Translation
• Verse by Verse Qur'an Study Circle

In addition, references of other sources which have been explored have also been given above. Those desirous of detailed explanations and tafsir (exegesis), may refer to these sites.

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

Follow @IslamUltimate

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.

Read More

Who will be the seven people provided shade by Allah when shade will otherwise be nonexistent

On the Day of Resurrection, everyone will be looking for good deeds that he may have done in their earthly life, for on that day even an iota of good will change balance in someone's favour. But there will be some blessed people who will be aided by none other than Allah Himself and they will find a cloud hovering over them and providing shade as a special blessing by Allah for them.

Who will be these fortunate and blessed ones? Prophet Muhammad ﷺ once listed seven people who would be the most blessed on the day when no one will be able to help others. This has been mentioned in Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī  (Book 10 Call to Prayers (Adhaan) كتاب الأذان/ Chapter 36: (The reward of a person) who waits for As-Salat (the prayer) in the mosque and the superiority of mosques باب مَنْ جَلَسَ فِي الْمَسْجِدِ يَنْتَظِرُ الصَّلاَةَ، وَفَضْلِ الْمَسَاجِدِ‏) as Hadith 660, given herein under:

Narrated by Abu Huraira:

حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ بَشَّارٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى، عَنْ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي خُبَيْبُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، عَنْ حَفْصِ بْنِ عَاصِمٍ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏ "‏ سَبْعَةٌ يُظِلُّهُمُ اللَّهُ فِي ظِلِّهِ يَوْمَ لاَ ظِلَّ إِلاَّ ظِلُّهُ الإِمَامُ الْعَادِلُ، وَشَابٌّ نَشَأَ فِي عِبَادَةِ رَبِّهِ، وَرَجُلٌ قَلْبُهُ مُعَلَّقٌ فِي الْمَسَاجِدِ، وَرَجُلاَنِ تَحَابَّا فِي اللَّهِ اجْتَمَعَا عَلَيْهِ وَتَفَرَّقَا عَلَيْهِ، وَرَجُلٌ طَلَبَتْهُ امْرَأَةٌ ذَاتُ مَنْصِبٍ وَجَمَالٍ فَقَالَ إِنِّي أَخَافُ اللَّهَ‏.‏ وَرَجُلٌ تَصَدَّقَ أَخْفَى حَتَّى لاَ تَعْلَمَ شِمَالُهُ مَا تُنْفِقُ يَمِينُهُ، وَرَجُلٌ ذَكَرَ اللَّهَ خَالِيًا فَفَاضَتْ عَيْنَاهُ ‏"‏‏.‏

The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Allah will give shade, to seven, on the Day when there will be no shade but His.

(These seven people are):

• A just ruler, 
• A youth who has been brought up in the worship of Allah (i.e. worships Allah sincerely from childhood), 
• A man, whose heart is attached to the mosques (i.e. to pray the compulsory prayers in the mosque in congregation), 
• Two persons who love each other only for Allah's sake and they meet and part in Allah's cause only, 
• A man who refuses the call of a charming woman of noble birth for illicit intercourse with her and says: I am afraid of Allah, 
• A man who gives charitable gifts so secretly that his left hand does not know what his right hand has given (i.e. nobody knows how much he has given to charity), 
• And a person who remembers Allah in seclusion and his eyes are then flooded with tears."

Now if we analyze each person and his deed, we will be amazed to know as to how our good deeds, character, behaviour, our inter personal relations and love for others only for sake of Allah will come to our rescue and provided the Divine shade when the shade would be otherwise nonexistent for others. Let us make an endeavour as we are still alive to be among at least one of the categories listed above to be blessed.

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: Sunnah and Hadith of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ to know more about 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.

Photo | Source of Hadith

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

Follow @IslamUltimate

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.

Read More