I’tikaf: Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ of retiring to Masjid for remembrance of Allah

The last ten days of the month of Ramadan are loaded with immense rewards and blessings of Muslims fasting all through this month. The ultimate comes in these last ten days when many a Muslim retire to the nearby masjid for remembrance of Allah observing I'tikaf " اعتكاف‎ " - an act of special form of worship exclusive to the month of Ramadan.

Read our exclusive post What is Itikaf and how it is Observed in Ramadan to know more about I'tikaf

The presence in the masjid while observing I'tikaf also allows the believers to be in the home of Allah and in the state of worship when Night of Qadr, A night better than the worship of a thousand months, takes place in the odd nights of the last ten days of the Ramadan.

Prophet Muhammad ﷺ used to enter into state of I'tikaf all along his life and his wives also followed the suit and even continued to observe it even after the death of the revered Prophet of Allah. 

In a Hadith mentioned in Sahi Bukahri, `Aisha, revered wife of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ has narrated:

The Prophet (ﷺ) used to practice I`tikaf in the last ten days of Ramadan till he died and then his wives used to practice I`tikaf after him.

From the  above quoted Hadith, it is known that I'tikaf is not only to be observed by men, but by women as well, for the have the equal right of earning reward and blessings of Allah from this form of worship. While men have to retire to a masjid for I'tikaf, women should observe it at their home in a secluded place which should be used by non-Mehram men of the family.

So let us take advantage of many blessings of the last ten days of the Ramadan and observe I'tikaf as was observed by Prophet Muhammad ﷺ regularly during his 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: Collection of Hadiths of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ about Saum - Fasting in Ramadan for more Hadiths on the subject

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.

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. You may also refer to our Facebook  Group Islam: The Ultimate Truth for more on Islam and Da'wah.

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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.

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The mention of fingerprints in Qur'an led me to Islam (Revert Experiences)

Qur'an, the fourth and last Divine Scripture, is perhaps the easiest Divine religion of all. The six hundred plus pages of Qur'an, as against other books of faith with attached dozens of additional volumes, sums up the guidelines for the mankind to know what Islam is and how to enter into its fold. Putting in the most simple words it is book by our Creator, Allah, addressed to His creations, the mankind. It is this simplistic approach as against of multiple gods, that attracts non-Muslims from around the world to Islam.

I have shared the revert experience of many a non-Muslims, who Alhamdollilah, took their Shahadah previously. And each revert experience has a different start point from which the journey to reversion began. Today, I share an amazing revert experience of a born Catholic who could not come to turns with the notion of many gods and a God with associates. So this Italian sister Federica Tomassi faced with such dilemma, started her inclination towards Islam. Though she had made a mind to embrace Islam, she was still looking for something that could give her the final push into Islam, the most amazing and heartwarming religion, where while reading Qur'an one feels likes if Allah is speaking to its reader in most understandable and simple words. 

Although she read the first few pages of the Qur'an and the second Chapter, Surah 2. Al Baqarah (The Cow), she needed something that could lead her to Islam. While she was already wearing Hijab for it made her felt graceful and holy, she need something that could make her take her ultimate decision to revert to Islam. One day, she randomly opened the Qur'an, a copy of which has been keeping for long, she came to the verses 3-4 of Surah 75. Al Qiyamah (The Doomsday):

"Does man think that We cannot assemble his bones?", "Nay, We are able to put together in perfect order the very tips of his fingers." 

The mention of fingerprints in book that was revealed more than 1400 years ago really surprised her. How could someone know of this scientific fact which has only been recently discovered. Naturally no man could say  this on his own fourteen centuries ago. This revelation could only come the Creator who created the universe and His creations.

Herein under watch the video in which sister in Islam Federica Tomassi explains so eloquently her solo journey to Islam. And amazingly, she mentions Tahajjad (the late night voluntary prayer) as something which is the best of all forms of worship.

I do not know whether she would ever come across this post, but I really commend her for literally doing the whole thing of reversion on her own. Perhaps it for such truth seekers that in Qur'an Allah says: It is a book of guidance who have the foresight to find the wisdom in it.  Looks like Allah really chosen her, guided her. Subhan Allah. May after watch this video, other non-Muslims still mulling over to revert to Islam, get encouraged and take their Shahadah, which according to our sister really made her proud and honour to accept Allah as the Only God without any associates and assistants.

May Allah (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 have unflinching faith and trust in Divine Wisdom and decisions and should never lament for we do not know that something better has been planned for us by our most caring Lord. 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.

Disclaimer: The data / video for this post has been collected from the references given below or YouTube. 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.

To read personal accounts of many who have reverted to Islam, please visit our page: Embracing Islam: Revert Experiences.

You may also refer to our Reference Pages for knowing more about Islam and Quran.

Photo | 

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.

Follow @IslamUltimate

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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Believers!! Look for the night in last ten odd nights of Ramadan which is better than 1000 months of worship

The month of Ramadan is full of Divine blessings of Allah for those who fast during the entire month only to please Allah. They abstain from all otherwise Halal things and acts during the period of fasting as a testimony of their true faith and belief in the commandments of Allah, for it is Allah who commands His servants to fast for Him alone, and none else, and enforce a strict discipline on self by keeping away from drinking and eating from pre-dawn to dusk.

And when a believer undergoes the rigours of fasting, specially during the peak summer season,  he is promised immense reward by Allah. Although the the first 20 days are also full of blessings and rewards, the last 10 days of the month assume an added reward for those who remain awake throughout the odd nights of the Ramadan in the hope of finding a night which is promised  to be better than 1000 months of worship. This blessed night is called Laylat al-Qadr "لیلة القدر"or the Night of Qadr - the Night of Destiny, Night of Decree, Night of Determination, or the Precious Night. In Qur'an, the 97th Chapter (click here to read the tafsir / exegesis) is exclusively earmarked to unveil the blessings  of this night. It is said:

Indeed, We sent the Qur'an down during the Night of Decree.

And what can make you know what is the Night of Decree?

The Night of Decree is better than a thousand months.

The angels and the Spirit descend therein by permission of their Lord for every matter.

Peace it is until the emergence of dawn.

This is thus the night in which the Qur'an was revealed unto Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and the revered Prophet of Allah has been quoted as saying: "Anyone who finds this night in the odd nights of the last ten days of Ramadan is sure to have been blessed and forgiven of his sins provided he prays as hard as he could to ask forgiveness of his sins."

Please read our earlier post: A night better than thousand months to know more about The Night of Qadr and watch an enlightening video on the subject by eminent Muslim scholar Nouman Ali Khan.

It has been Narrated by Aisha: With the start of the last ten days of Ramadan, the Prophet (ﷺ) used to tighten his waist belt (i.e. work hard) and used to pray all the night, and used to keep his family awake for the prayers. (Sahih al-Bukhari 2024)

It is for this reason, that many a Muslims around the world undertake the special worship of Aitikaf, in which the spend the last ten days/nights in the masjid so as to be in state of worship at all times and to find this blessed night in a state of total worship. During these 10 days, the Aitikaf observing Muslims do not leave the premises of the masjid and their family members supply them daily food for suhoor (the pre-dawn mandatory food for keeping the fast) and iftar (time of breaking the fast in the evening) there in the masjid. 

Read our previous post: What is Itikaf and how it is Observed in Ramadan to know about this form of worship in last ten days of Ramadan

As for the importance of the night of Qadr, let us read a hadith by Abu Huraira who reported Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) as saying: He who observed the fasts of Ramadan with faith and seeking reward (from Allah), all his previous sins would be forgiven, and he who observed prayer on Lailat-ul- Qadr with faith and seeking reward (from Allah), all his previous sins would be forgiven. [Sahih Muslim Book 6, Hadith 209]

So we are all geared up to find this blessed night in the  odd nights of the last ten days of the Ramadan. During these odd nights, we must fully devote ourselves to the worship of Allah to seek His forgiveness and be among the blessed ones.

We now share a special supplication which Prophet Muhammad ﷺ recommended to be recited during the last ten days of the sacred month. (This supplication is mentioned Jami` at-Tirmidhi  (Book # 48 Chapters on Supplication كتاب الدعوات عن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم / Chapter # 84 Concerning "The Virtue of Asking for Al-Afiyah and Al-Mu’afah")s Hadith number # 3513):

Narrated by Aishah:

“I said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, what is your view if I know when the Night of Al-Qadr is, then what should I say in it?” He said: ‘Say: “O Allah, indeed You are Pardoning, [Generous,] You love pardon, so pardon me (Allāhumma innaka `Afuwwun [Karīmun], tuḥibbul-`afwa fa`fu `annī).’”

Arabic Text:

حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا جَعْفَرُ بْنُ سُلَيْمَانَ الضُّبَعِيُّ، عَنْ كَهْمَسِ بْنِ الْحَسَنِ، عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ بُرَيْدَةَ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، قَالَتْ قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَرَأَيْتَ إِنْ عَلِمْتُ أَىُّ لَيْلَةٍ لَيْلَةُ الْقَدْرِ مَا أَقُولُ فِيهَا قَالَ ‏ "‏ قُولِي اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّكَ عَفُوٌّ كَرِيمٌ تُحِبُّ الْعَفْوَ فَاعْفُ عَنِّي ‏"‏‏.‏ قَالَ هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ ‏.‏

It is a small yet very powerful Dua which can be easily remembered and recited. Let us my brothers and sisters of Islam stay awake during the odd nights of the last days of the Ramadan and recite the above quoted supplication as much as we can, for who know our supplication coincides with the blessed hour on the night of Al Qadr and we are rewarded profusely by our Lord.

An Imam of Haram Makkah once gave some very practical advice  Ideas for the last ten days of Ramadan   (1). Give one Riyal in charity every night of last ten days of Ramadan, so if it falls on Laila tul Qadr it's as if you gave charity everyday for 84 years.  (2). Pray two ra'kaat every night, so if it falls on Laila tul Qadr it's as if u prayed everyday for 84 years.  (3). Read Surah Ikhlaas three times a night, so if it falls on Laylat al-Qadr  it's as if u read the whole Quran everyday for 84 years.  He then says spread this as you may find it on your account of good deeds  Allah make us of the victorious. In sha Allah Ameen

So let us, our brothers and sisters in Islam, try to be awake during the odd nights of the last ten days of Ramadan and worship as much as we can by offering Tahajjad prayers, reciting Qur'an so that we find the night of Qadr while in complete state of worship. Please do not while away this night by watching TV or surfing through mobile phones. Who knows next year we may not get a chance to be alive to find this night and get benefitted from its fathomless blessings!!

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.

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.

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.

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..

To know more about fasting and importance of month of Ramadan, please consult our reference page: Ramadan - A month of fasting and Blessings.  You may also refer to our reference page: Collection of Hadiths of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ about Saum - Fasting in Ramadan for more Hadiths on the subject

You may also refer to our Reference Pages for knowing more about Islam and Qur'ān.

May Allah show us the right path so that we do not go astray due to what man has interpreted verses of religious scriptures to suit their own religions and faith. Aameen.

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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.

Follow @IslamUltimate 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 Holy Qur'an - Insha Allah (Allah Willing) you shall be blessed with the best of both worlds.

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How a Christian historian reverted to Islam (Revert Experiences)

Clinging to one's faith has two dimension: Following the faith as taught by the priests, pastors, monks, pandits and imams, and secondly carrying our personal research to know whether what has been taught has been The Truth or otherwise. Generally the second approach much too often forces the researcher to find that what he knew all along was something that was not the truth or was partly true. 

and it is not only Christians, Hindus and Buddhists who find themselves lost when not being adequately told about religion, but some Muslims as well. Just read the following confession of a Muslim who despite being born Muslims grew up knowing nothing about Islam:

I was born as a Muslim but I was raised in an atheist house hold. We didn’t practice religion. My mom was clueless and never let us her kids ask a questions. Later on I found out that she was illiterate and she was not only uneducated but her whole entire family were atheist. When I went to college I decided to take world religion classes. I began to study religions but I fall in love with Islam. I kept studying Prophet Muhammad’s and his family peace be up them.

As for the Christians, generally, it is the Trinity concept which when read in details with its historical perspective that Christians find it based on fragile foundation. And specially when this concept was enacted more than three hundred years of the Crucifixion of the Prophet Eesa (Jesus, may peace be upon him). Besides, there are so many dichotomies in the large number versions of Bible that are generally written ABOUT JESUS and are not Divine Revelations as has been the case of the remaining three Divine Scriptures, namely Psalms, Torah and Qur'an.

In my quest to know more why followers of other faith revert to Islam, I came across a video, as is being shared herein under, which is about a Christian historian who through his quest to know more about Christianity and other faith, found solace in the fold of Islam and reverted.

Please watch the full video of revert experience of Tomas Lloyd Evans, from Wales UK below:

May Allah (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 have unflinching faith and trust in Divine Wisdom and decisions and should never lament for we do not know that something better has been planned for us by our most caring Lord. 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.

Disclaimer: The data / video for this post has been collected from the references given below or YouTube. 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.

To read personal accounts of many who have reverted to Islam, please visit our page: Embracing Islam: Revert Experiences.  You may also refer to our Reference Pages to know more about Islam and Quran.

Photo | 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.

Follow @IslamUltimate

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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Ramadan: Difference of opinion in the timing of breaking the fast (Scholars' viewpoint)

In one of our previous posts, we shared a Hadith attributed to Prophet Muhammad ﷺ in which the revered Prophet of Allah had advised to "HASTEN" the breaking of the fast at the time of the sunset. However, despite such Hadiths, the interpretation of the time of the breaking fast remains ambiguous and two main branches of Islam, that is Sunni and Shia, widely differ on the issue.

The hadith is mentioned in our post: Ramadan - Hasten to break the fast

Explaining the Hadith to hasten to break the fast, Al-Nawawi said: “This hadith urges us to hasten to break the fast as soon as it is established that the sun has set. What this means is that the ummah will continue to be in a sound state and they will be fine so long as they continue to adhere to this Sunnah.

Based on this interpretation, Sunnis break their fast at sunset, once the sun is no longer visible, but there is still light in the sky. However, for Shias they wait to break after it gets completely dark, which is usually ten minutes later than the sunset time. 

This being the opinion of two main sects, let us listen to the views of Professor Javed Ahmad Ghamidi, a Pakistani Muslim theologian, Quran scholar, Islamic modernist, exegete and educationist, on the subject. The video is in Urdu, but has English subtitles for those who cannot understand Urdu:

Note: The opinion given below is that of mainstream Sunni Muslims. For view point of Shia Muslims, please click on link [2] given below:

May Allah guide us to know Islam and its various injunctions and Hadiths of the Prophet of Allah to avoid any misleading on issues related to some of the important aspects of 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 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 | References: | 1 | 2 |

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. You may also refer to our Facebook  Group Islam: The Ultimate Truth for more on Islam and Da'wah.

Follow @IslamUltimate

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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Resurgence of Islam in Spain

Islam was the dominating religion of Spain and Muslims ruled Spain for almost eight hundred years. The country saw immense development in the architecture and education. It was a tragedy that the Muslim rule came to a sorry and tragic end after the glory it had seen in Al-Andalus, as was Spain called under the Muslim rule. 

The Muslim period in Spain is often described as a 'golden age' of learning where libraries, colleges, public baths were established and literature, poetry and architecture flourished. Both Muslims and non-Muslims made major contributions to this flowering of culture. The work of its most important philosophers and scientists, such as Abulcasis and Averroes, had a major influence on the intellectual life of medieval Europe.

Ibn Rushd (Abū l-Walīd Muḥammad Ibn ʾAḥmad Ibn Rušd), often Latinized as Averroes, was an Andalusian polymath and jurist who wrote about many subjects, including philosophy, theology, medicine, astronomy, physics, psychology, mathematics, Islamic jurisprudence and law, and linguistics. [1]

Abū al-Qāsim Khalaf ibn al-'Abbās al-Zahrāwī al-Ansari (936–1013) Latinised as Albucasis or Abulcasis (from Arabic Abū al-Qāsim), was a physician, surgeon and chemist from al-Andalus. He is considered one of the greatest surgeons of the Middle Ages. [2] 

In fact, Spain under Islam was the time of religious and ethnic tolerance and interfaith harmony between Muslims, Christians and Jews. Many Christians in Spain assimilated parts of the Muslim culture. Impressed by the Muslim culture, many learnt Arabic, some even adopted the same clothes as their rulers (some Christian women even started wearing the veil); some took Arabic names. Christians who did this were known as Mozarabs. Although, Muslims did not explicitly hate or persecute the non-Muslims, some writers of the view that the natives lived a like of second class citizens and that the Muslim attitude toward non-Muslims is one not of hate or fear or envy but simply of contempt. 

Despite the notion that Islam spread by sword, Muslims respected people of other faith and respected their places of worship and there never was an effort to subdue the non-Muslims and force them to convert to Islam. And Muslims have to pay dearly for their softer approach and respect for other religions. And the end of Muslim rule over Spain came after a glorious history of rule spread over 800 years came with a tragic end, as Christians regained power. The take over was ruthless and barbaric. 'Edicts of Expulsion' for the expulsion of the Moriscos was finally issued by Philip III in 1609 against the Muslims in Spain. The last mass prosecution against Moriscos for crypto-Islamic practices occurred in Granada in 1727, and the indigenous Islam was finally extinguished from Spanish soil.

Recalling the grim days of expulsion of Muslims from Spain, Matthew Carr, the author of Blood and Faith, explains the harrowing details of the plight of the Moriscos, driven from their home country as detested aliens.:

Poignant and often tragic scenes unfolded as the Moriscos were brought to the waiting ships. One old man arrived in Valencia declaring his wish to be buried on Muslim soil but dropped dead while boarding his ship. Other Moriscos died of hunger and exhaustion before leaving the shore. Muslim babies were snatched and even kidnapped for their spiritual salvation and later were raised as Christians. [3]

The Muslim places of worship were completely destroyed, leaving no trace of Muslim rule of Spain. Only a few landmarks like Alhambra were saved as cultural heritage not to project Islam, but to attract tourism in the country. It is the same way of preserving Taj Mahal in India, built by the Muslim rulers, to  attract tourism, while the Muslims in general are treated worse than third rate citizens at large. 

However, Islam could never be taken out off the hearts of the  few remaining Muslims in Spain and their number continued to grow over time. The Arabic names distorted into Spanish and English can still be felt of their Arabic heritage like Gibraltar from Jabal al Tariq (the present Rock of Gibraltar named after the Muslim commander Tariq bin Zayyad who brought his army on ships which was a cue to Muslim occupation of Hispania), Cordoba from Qurtaba and Grenada from Gharnata. The world famous architecture of Alhambra in Grenada continues till today with its original name.

Today, nearly three million Muslims in Spain make up over 4% of the population. The majority are from Morocco; other sizable Muslim communities include Pakistanis, Algerians, Senegalese and Nigerians. The Autonomous Communities with a higher Muslim population are Catalonia, Andalusia, Madrid and the Valencian Community. 

We share today a beautiful video of resurgence of Islam in Spain as more and more Spaniards are reverting to Islam for Islam is in their blood and Allah SWT is calling them back to return.. And after some 500 years of silence, Adhan is heard and masjids being flocked by the Muslims:

Let us continue to watch over the growth of Muslims in Spain and a day will come, God Willing / In sha Allah, when Muslim presence will be overwhelming in all parts of once Mighty Al-Andalus.

Disclaimer: The data for this post has been collected from the references 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.

You may also read our previous post "Muslims in Non Muslim Countries: Spain - Once the Mighty Al-Andalus" which we published sometime back on the life of Muslims in Spain. To know more about life of Muslims in other non-Muslim countries, please visit our Reference Page: Islam and Life of Muslims in Non Muslim Countries. You may also refer to our Reference Pages for knowing more about Islam and Quran.

Photo | References: | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |

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Ramadan: Hasten to break the fast (Hadith Prophet Muhammad ﷺ)

Fasting during the month of Ramadan specially during the hotter part of the year adds another test to the fasting believers as during the summers not only the time duration of the fasting period increases, it also completely dehydrates the believers due to lack of water in the body. Therefore, it is advisable, as stated in Hadith attributed to Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, that one must hasten to break the fast, though some people delay in breaking the fast.

This Hadith is mentioned Jami` at-Tirmidhi  (8 - The Book on Fasting / كتاب الصوم عن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم / Chapter # 13 What Has Been Related About Hastening To Break The Fast / باب مَا جَاءَ فِي تَعْجِيلِ الإِفْطَارِ  ) as Hadith number # 702:

Abu Atiyyah said:

"Masruq and I entered upon Aishah and we said: 'O Mother of the Believers! There are two men from the Companions of Muhammad, one of them hastens to break the fasts and he hastens to perform Salat. The other delays breaking the fast and he delays the Salat.' She said: 'Which of them hastens to break the fast and hastens to perform the Salat?' We said that it was Abdullah bin Mas'ud. She said: 'This is how the Messenger of Allah did it.' And the other was Abu Musa."

Grade: Sahih (Darussalam)

Arabic Text:

حَدَّثَنَا هَنَّادٌ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو مُعَاوِيَةَ، عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ، عَنْ عُمَارَةَ بْنِ عُمَيْرٍ، عَنْ أَبِي عَطِيَّةَ، قَالَ دَخَلْتُ أَنَا وَمَسْرُوقٌ، عَلَى عَائِشَةَ فَقُلْنَا يَا أُمَّ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ رَجُلاَنِ مِنْ أَصْحَابِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَحَدُهُمَا يُعَجِّلُ الإِفْطَارَ وَيُعَجِّلُ الصَّلاَةَ وَالآخَرُ يُؤَخِّرُ الإِفْطَارَ وَيُؤَخِّرُ الصَّلاَةَ ‏.‏ قَالَتْ أَيُّهُمَا يُعَجِّلُ الإِفْطَارَ وَيُعَجِّلُ الصَّلاَةَ قُلْنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مَسْعُودٍ ‏.‏ قَالَتْ هَكَذَا صَنَعَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏.‏ وَالآخَرُ أَبُو مُوسَى ‏.‏ قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ وَأَبُو عَطِيَّةَ اسْمُهُ مَالِكُ بْنُ أَبِي عَامِرٍ الْهَمْدَانِيُّ وَيُقَالُ مَالِكُ بْنُ عَامِرٍ الْهَمْدَانِيُّ وَابْنُ عَامِرٍ أَصَحُّ ‏.‏

We should follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and should  not unnecessarily delay our breaking of the fast and then offer the salat / prayer of Maghrib (the sunset time prayer).

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 about Saum - Fasting in Ramadan for more Hadiths on the subject

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.

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. You may also refer to our Facebook  Group Islam: The Ultimate Truth for more on Islam and Da'wah.

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.

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