Fras bin Nadr R - one of the as-Sabiqun al-Awwalun

Fras bin Nadr R - one of the as-Sabiqun al-Awwalun

(May Allah be pleased with him).


Fras bin Nadr R was from the family of 'Abdud Dar bin Qusayy.Fras bin Nadr R was one of the as-Sabiqun al-Awwalun (Early converts to Muslims).His father Nadr bin Harith was an enemy of Islam.


His ancestor Qusayy bin Kilab was the first Quraysh guardian of Ka'bah.

Abd Manaf bin Qusayy, the younger brother of 'Abdud Dar bin Qusayy was an ancestor of Muhammad S.


'Abdud Dar bin Qusayy and Abd Manaf bin Qusayy were descendents of Isma'il A (Ishmael).Isma'il A (Ishmael) was the elder son of Ibrahim A (Abraham). He helped his father in the construction of Ka'bah. Both Ibrahim A (Abraham) and Isma'il A (Ishmael) were Rusul (Messengers) of Allah (God).


Nadr bin Harith, father of Fras bin Nadr R was a neighbor of Muhammad S in Makkah.


Allah chose Muhammad S as His last Rasul (Messenger) in the year 14BH (Before Hijrah) (608 AD).Islam was practiced secretly for its first three years. In the year 10BH (Before Hijrah) (612 AD), Muhammad S began inviting people to Islam openly. Quraysh did not like it.

Islam challenged their entire system. They felt threatened by the preaching of Muhammad S. They wanted to stop Islam before it could destroy their leadership in Arabia. They began torturing Muhammad S and Muslims. Many Muslims could not tolerate the persecution and torture by their fellow Quraysh.

Muhammad S permitted them to migrate from Makkah to Habash (Ethiopia). More than one hundred Muslims migrated to Habash (Ethiopia) in small groups over a period of almost two years.A Christian king Najjashi (Negus) ruled Habash (Ethiopia) at that time. He welcomed the migrant Muslims and allowed them to stay in his country for as long as they wanted.


Fras bin Nadr R also migrated to Habash (Ethiopia).Muslims of Makkah later migrated to Yathrib (Madinah).When Muhammad S migrated to that city, its name was changed to Madina-tun Nabi. It meant city of the Messenger. Later, it became popular by its shorter version Madinah. Madinah means the city.

Quraysh did not like to see Islam prosper in Madinah. They decided to finish Islam in its infancy. They put together an army and marched towards Madinah. A Muslim army met them, near the well of Badr. Muslims, one third of the numbers of Quraysh, defeated them in the battle of Badr. Muslims and Quraysh fought this battle on the 17th of Ramadan (Ninth month of Islamic calendar) in the year 2H (Hijrah) (623 AD).


Nadr bin Harith, father of Fras bin Nadr R was one of the flag-bearers of the Quraysh army. Muslims defeated the Quraysh decisively. More than seventy Quraysh including many of their chiefs were killed. Muslims also captured an equal number of Quraysh. Fourteen (14) Muslims achieved Shahadah (Martyrdom) in this battle.


Nadr bin Harith was captured in the war. He was later killed at a place called Safra' by 'Ali bin Abu Talib R.

And Allah know best.

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Glory be to Allah with His Own Praise


The first and foremost who accepted Islam-as-saabiqun al-awwalun

The terms sabiqa (for sabq).meaning”precedence” in general and, more specifically, “was a key concept in the early sociopolitical history of Islam ,invoked to “rank” the faithful according to their excellence. In addition to early conversation, proceedence in amigrating for the sake of Islam (both to Abyssina and to Medina) and in participation in the early battles of Islam also conferred great merit. The two concepts of precedences (sawabiq) and “merits” or “excellences” (fada’il) became conjoined to creat a paradigm of the most excellent leadership. Such a paradigm finds scriptural sanction in Quranic verses such as “ God is satisfied with those who preceeded foremost (al-sabiqun al-awwalun) from among the Muhajirun and the Ansar and those who followed them in cherity and they please with Him, and He has prepared for them gardens below which flow rivers where they will dwell forever: that is the great victory;”—


Those who preced(d) are the ones who precede (al-sabiqun al- sabiqun); they are those who will be brought near [to God] in the gardens of bliss” (Surat-Al-Waqi’a, 56:10-12) , and “ Those among you who spent and fought before the victory are not of the same rank [as others] but greater in rank than those who spent and fought afterwards” (Surah-al-Hadad, 57:10).

Sunni sources uniformly assign the highest precedence to the Prophet’s Companions from among the Muhajirun and the Ansar, and even among them recognize a certain order of precedence. Among Sunni exegates-al-Tabari reports that the phrase “al-Muhajirun al-awalun” or “al-sabiqun al-awwalun” in verse 9:100 was understood to refer to those Muslims in particular who took pledge of al-Ridwan (a reference) to the treaty of al-Hudaybiyya in AH 6/628 CE). The munaqib or fada’il al sahabah sections of standard Sunni hadith compilations also emphasize the sabiqa of the Companions as the critation for assigning greater excellent to them in general from the community of the faithful.

It is well known that when the official diwan or register of pensions was first established by’Umar in circa AH 15, the sabiqa of each Muslim became an important critation in determining the amount of stipend he or she would be awarded. Those who were among the Mujahirun, were given larger stipends. Although the diwan was organized according to tribal affiliation, it was the principle of sabiqa that determined its overall function , pointing to the centrality of this concept in the early period.

The companions of the Holy Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, are called "as-saabiqun al-awwalun". As-Sabiqun al-Awwalun are the first and foremost Companions of the beloved Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, who accepted Islam .

First person who accepted Islam Khadijah his wife, Zaid Ibn Haritha his freed slave, Ali Ibn Abi Talib his cousin and Abu Bakr his friend (May Allah be pleased with them).

Who accepted Islam at the instance :Abu Bakr (May Allah be pleased with him)

Uthman Ibn Affan, Zubair Ibn Awwam, Abdur Rahman Ibn Awf, Sad Ibn Abi Waqqaas, Talha Ibn Ubaidullah and Saeed Ibn Zaid (Umar's son-in-law) (May Allah be pleased with them).

The ladies to accept Islam at first:
Abbas's wife Ummaul Fadl, Abu Bakr's wife Asma Bint Umais, his daughter Asma Bint Abi Bakr and Fatimah Bint Al Khattab Umar's sister (May Allah be pleased with them).

The Dawah in the beginning, was done in secret, about forty people embraced Islam in the early stage, the call in secret continue for three years. They would gather secretly in the house of a Muslim called Arqam to learn about Islam and the revelations sent down to the Prophet (p.b.u.h.). The Prophet (p.b.u.h.) start to preach Islam openly after three years when he received the revelation to that effect. The impact of his public preaching was a success that people accepted Islam increasingly. The main miracle of the Prophet (p.b.u.h.) is the Holy Quran. The Prophet (p.b.u.h.) also perform other miracles , the splitting of the moon was one of them.

Abu Jahl is one of the Prophet's (p.b.u.h.) uncles. some of the disbelievers of Makkah who supported the Prophet (p.b.u.h.), but did not embrace Islam until the end : Abu Talib, Mutim Ibn Adi and Abul Bukhtari.

Abu Talib protect the Prophet (p.b.u.h) for 42 years - from the Prophet's childhood until he himself died.

Mutim Ibn Adi is a chief of Makkah. Mutim Ibn Adi give protection to the Prophet (p.b.u.h.) when the Prophet (p.b.u.h.) returned from Taif and wanted to enter Makkah. Mutim Ibn Adi die , he was killed in the Battle of Badr.

Abul Bukhtari was a poet. Abul Bukhtari support the Prophet Muhammad (p.b.u.h.), he spoke out against the social boycott. Abul Bukhtari killed in the battle of Badr.

The Muslims emigrate to Abyssinia over their growing persecution at the hands of Quraish. Surah Az Zumar lead to this emigration. The King of Abyssinia, known as Najjashi (the Negus), during the time of the Prophet (p.b.u.h.) was As'hama.


The first group of Muslims leave for Abyssinia in Rajab, in the fifth year of Prophethood. There were 12 men and 4 women in the group. They were received warmly and hospitably in Abyssinia. The second group of emigrants leave for Abyssinia In the fifth year of Prophethood. There were 83 men and 18 women formed the group. A prominent companion included in this group is Ja'far Ibn Abi Talib (May Allah be pleased with him).

The Quraish despatched two envoys to Abyssinia to demand the extradition of the emigrants. The King refused to extradite the Muslims and assured them of his full protection.

Umar (May Allah be pleased with him) accept Islam At the age of 27.

Bilal Ibn Rabah (May Allah be pleased with him) was a slave of Umayyah Ibn Khalaf. Bilal Ibn Rabah's) origin/ decent from of the Abyssinian. The name of Bilal's mother was Hamama. Yaser (May Allah be pleased with him) was a slave of Abu Jahl.

Sumayyah (May Allah be pleased with her) was Yaser's (a slave of Abu Jahl) wife. Ammar (May Allah be pleased with him) was Yaser and Sumayyah's only son. Summaya (May Allah be pleased) die, Abu Jahl murderded her with a bayonet.

Zaid Ibn Haritha (May Allah be pleased with him) was a slave. Khadijah's nephew Hakim Ibn Hizam purchased Zaid Ibn Haritha and presented him to her. Khadijah presented Zaid Bin Haritha to the Prophet who set him free. Zaid Bin Haritha doesn’t want to go to his parents, he preferred to live with the Prophet (p.b.u.h.).Zaid Bin Haritha married to Umma Aiman (May Allah be pleased with her).

Ja'far was the elder brother of Ali Ibn Talib (May Allah be pleased with him). Ja'far emigrate to Abyssinia. Ali (May Allah be pleased with him) was the son of Abu Talib and cousin of the Prophet (p.b.u.h.). Ali (May Allah be pleased with him) accept Islam when he was 19. Ali was called for his bravery as The "Lion of Allah". Ali first married the Prophet's (p.b.u.h.) daughter Fatimah (may Allah be pleased with her). Ali have from her two sons: Hasan and Husain (May Allah be pleased with them).

Sa'd bn Abi Waqqas (May Allah be pleased with him) become a Muslim when he was 19. Sa'd (May Allah be pleased with him) die died in Al Madinah. Sa'd's advice to Muslims to stand united.

Abu Bakr's father (May Allah be pleased with him) and he accept Islam he was Uthman (May Allah be pleased with him) (Abu Quhafah) he accepted Islam during the Conquest of Makkah.

And Allah knows bes

The Queen of Jannah - Fatimah az-Zahra

“Fatimah Is a Piece of Me” — Seeing Our Children as a Reflection of Ourselves


When we read about the Prophet’s love and care for his daughter Fatimah (may Allah be pleased with her), about whom he said “Fatimah is a piece of me, whosoever tortures her has tortured me, and whoever pleases her has pleased me,” it is easy to understand the special place that children are meant to have in the lives of parents. In blessing us with children, the All-Merciful has given us each a human mirror. These little mirrors, in their role as learners, reflect back to us what they see, hear, and understand from us. As such, to be in tune with our children and their many ways of communicating, we are more able to understand ourselves and what we are “projecting” onto the world around us. Any parent who takes a minute to observe their child knows this to be true. From the perspective of living Islam, however, we should also understand this to be an opportunity from Allah to examine ourselves. In so doing, our children, in another one of their roles as a mercy to parents, become allies for our own self-growth and purification. We help them as parents and they help us to better understand ourselves. The key to profiting on their gift is to be conscious of our every word and every action when we are around them. Of course this is a tall order for most us; however, when we understand the importance of every moment we share with our children, we can begin to appreciate them in a whole new way.

Passages from the Qur'an on the-Asma al-Husna

Allah is He, other than Whom there is no other god;

Who knows both what is hidden and what can be witnessed;

He is the Most Compassionate and Merciful.

Allah is He, other than Whom there is no other god;

the Sovereign, the One, the Source of Peace,

the Guardian of Faith, the Preserver of Security,

the Exalted, the Compelling, the Supreme.

Glory be to God, beyond any associations.

He is Allah, the Creator, the Evolver, the Bestower of Form.

To Him belong the Most Beautiful Names:

Whatever exists in heaven and earth declares His Praise and Glory.

And He is Exalted in Power, the Wise.

Al Hashr 59:22

Man and Universe

Promise 12: Allah will give you steadfastness

In the name of Allah, the Most-Gracious, the Most-Merciful


Praise be to Allaah, we seek His help and His forgiveness. We seek refuge with Allaah from the evil of our own souls and from our bad deeds. Whomsoever Allaah guides will never be led astray, and whomsoever Allaah leaves astray, no one can guide.I bear witness that there is no god but Allaah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

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Bismillah Walhamdulillah Was Salaatu Was Salaam 'ala Rasulillah

Promise 12: Allah will give you steadfastness

You will need this steadfastness because you will have a short breath. You wouldn’t be able to cope with what’s coming. There’s a lot of trial waiting for you if you are a believer. You should expect that. So, you need to have Thabath (steadfastness) and this issue of Thabath was very concerning even to Rasulullah sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam. Rasulullah sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam said “Surat Hud made my hair grey.” Rasulullah sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam is saying that this surah had concerned him so much that it changed the colour of his hair. What was the ayah (verse) in Surah Hud? It was, “Stay on the straight path as you have been commanded…” [11:112].


It’s very easy to be on the straight path in this moment, but will you have the consistency to remain on it for years and years without diverting one way or the other? So Rasulullah sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam used to make the dua’ (invocation) again and again, “Ya muqallibal qulubi wa al-Absar thabbit quluban ‘ala deenik” (Oh the one who overturns the hearts! Make our hearts steadfast on your religion.) The word ‘qalb’ in Arabic comes from the word ‘taqallab’ (something that turns upside down). If you have water boiling in a container, when the water boils the bottom goes to the top and the top goes to the bottom and the circle continues. So this word taqallab is the name given to the heart. Hearts can flip, it can change. If you want to see a crude manifestation of that, just take a look at your children when they are young- they could be crying but when you tickle them, they suddenly laugh. So, they could go from being sad to being happy in a matter of a moment.



So the heart can change and we need to ask Allah ‘azzawajal to give us thabat and that is something Allah has promised the believers He will provide. Allah says, “Allah will establish in strength (will give steadfastness) to those who believe with the Word that stands firm in this world and in the Hereafter; but Allah will leave to stray those who do wrong: Allah does what He wills.” [14:27].


Transcription of the lecture- 25 promises of Allah to the believers (Imam Anwar Al Awlaki)

French parliament backs veil ban

Muslims must recognize that this bill is not simply about the face covering. It is an attack on Islam, which will set the stage for further restrictions on Muslim men and women. What will be next?

Balancing our time for ibadat as well and striving hard in His path

Video which explains 10 ways how we should protect ourself from shaitan..


A Post Ramadan Reminder lecture by Sheikh Murtaza Khan.
Ramadan Is Done, What Now? Post Ramadan Reminder lecture by Sheikh Murtaza Khan, Below is a beneficial article, insha'Allah both you and I benefit from it and from the lecture:

Maintaining Good Deeds After Ramadan
By Sheikh `Abdullah Ibn Jibreen
08/11/2004



Here are ten means of keeping on doing good deeds after Ramadan:

1. Seek Allah's support, beseeching Him Almighty to guide you to the right path and help you remain steadfast in faith. Allah Almighty has praised the supplication of those who are of sound understanding when they have said: "...Our Lord! Let not our hearts deviate (from the truth) after You have guided us, and grant us mercy from You. Truly, You are the Bestower."
(Aal `Imran: 8)

2. Be keen on being in the company of the righteous and attending dhikr meetings such as religious lectures or visiting a righteous friend to make dhikr (remembrance of Allah) together.

3. Acquire knowledge about the biographies of the Prophet's Companions (may Allah be pleased with them all) and the righteous believers by reading books and listening to tapes. This will stimulate you to keep firm in faith and follow in their footsteps.

4. Listen to tapes that deal with religious admonitions and righteous speeches.

5. Be keen on observing the obligatory acts of worship.

6. Keep on offering supererogatory acts of worship; do what you are most inclined to and can do regularly, even if it is little. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, "the best deeds to Allah are the incessant ones, even though they may be few."

7. Start learning Allah's Book by heart. Recite what you have learned during Prayer and keep reciting the Qur'an as much as you can.

8. Perform dhikr a lot and ask Almighty Allah for forgiveness. This may seem a tiny good act, yet observing it regularly increases faith and strengthens the heart.

9. Keep away from every thing that may cause your heart to divert from the right path such as bad people, indecent television programs, pornographic pictures, and love songs.

10. Last, but not least in importance, truly repent to Almighty Allah and be keen on not deviating from the right path again. Allah Almighty rejoices when His bondman returns to Him Most High in true repentance.

Dear brother, do not be one of those who do not pay heed to Allah Most High except in Ramadan. The righteous predecessors said about them, Woe to those people who do not become mindful of Almighty Allah but in Ramadan!

May Allah help you be steadfast in the right path until you reach the following Ramadan in best health and condition.AMEEN

May Allah protect us from shaitan and the fitnas around us and the evil within us, Ameen..Please keep the ummah in your duas!!

Uhud-Defeat Comes From Disobedience

When the survivors of the defeated Quraysh at Badr to Mecca gathered to speak with Abu Sufyan. They said, 'Muhammad has the best men, so help us to fight him so that we may avenge those we have lost.' In order to do this it was agreed that everyone who had had a share in the caravan should put his profits towards the cost of a new army, which would be three times as big as the one at Badr. Among those who joined the new army was an Abyssinian slave called Wahshi; who was known for his accuracy with the spear. His master, Jubayr ibn al-Mut'im, said to him, 'Go with the army and if you kill Hamzah, the uncle of Muhammad, in revenge for my uncle's death, I will set you free when Hind, Abu Sufyan's wife, heard about this she sent a Wahshi to say that she would clothe him in gold and silk if he would carry out his master's wish, for she, too, wanted Hamzah dead because he had both her father and brother.

While the Meccans made their plans, the Prophet's uncle, 'Abbas, one the few Muslims still living in Mecca, sent a letter of warning to the Prophet (pbuh) in Medina. He told him that Quraysh were setting out with a huge army for Uhud, a place just outside Medina. On receiving this timely warning the Prophet (pbuh) gathered his companions around him to discuss what they should do. He thought it would be better to wait for the enemy inside city rather than go out to meet them, because it would be easier to defend Medinahfrom inside the city walls. But the young Muslims were go out and face Quraysh. They said, Ɔ Prophet of Allah, lead us out against our enemies, or else they will think we are too cowardly and too weak to fight them.
' One of the rulers of Medina, 'Abd Allah ibn Ubayy, however, agreed with the Prophet (pbuh) and advised him to remain in the city, saying, 'Whenever we have gone out to fight an enemy we have met with disaster, but none has ever come in against us without being defeated.'
But when the Prophet (pbuh) saw that the majority were in favor of going out to meet Quraysh, he decided to do so, and after the Friday prayer he put on his armor.


The Muslims then set out with one thousand men in the direction of Mount Uhud which overlooks Medina. The enemy was camped on the plain below the mountain where they were laying waste the crops of the Muslims.'Abd Allah ibn Ubayy was angry that the Prophet (pbuh) had not followed his advice and after going part of the way, turned back for Medina, taking one third of the entire army with him. This left the Prophet (pbuh) with only seven hundred men to meet the enormous Meccan army, which numbered three thousand.
The remainder of the Muslims went on until they reached the mountain of Uhud.

There the Prophet (pbuh) ordered them to stand in ranks in front of the mountain, so that they would be protected from behind. He then positioned fifty archers on top of the mountain, giving them the following order: 'Keep the Meccan cavalry away from us with your arrows and don't let them come against us from the rear, whether the battle goes in our favor or against us. Whatever happens keep to your places so that we cannot be attacked from your direction, even if you see us being slain or booty being taken.' When the Muslims were in position, the Prophet (pbuh) held up his sword and said, 'Who will use this sword with its right?' This was a great honor and many men rose to claim it, but the Prophet (pbuh) decided to give it to Abu Dujanah, a fearless warrior. Then the battle commenced. The Muslims were well organized and had the advantage, because although Quraysh had more than four times as many men, they were tired from their journey and thus not ready to fight.

As a result, the Muslims were able to make a surprise attack, led by Abu Dujanah, who was wearing a brilliant red turban. As the fighting increased the Quraysh women, led by Hind, began to beat their drums to urge their men on. They called out poems to encourage their men to be brave. 'If you advance, we hug you, spread soft rugs beneath you; if you retreat, we leave you. Leave and no more love you.'


Abu Dujanah said: 'I saw someone urging the enemy on, shouting wildly, and I made for him, but when I lifted my sword against him he screamed and I saw that it was a woman; I respected the Apostle's sword too much to use it on a woman.' That woman was Hind. As usual, Hamzah, the Prophet's uncle, fought with great courage, but while leading the Muslims in a fierce attack, which nearly defeated the Meccans, he was suddenly and cruelly struck down by the slave Wahshi. Later, Wahshi told how it happened: 'I was watching Hamzah while he was killing men with his sword. I aimed my spear until I was sure it would hit the mark and hurled it at him.

He came on towards me but collapsed and fell. I left him there until he died, then I came and took back my spear. Then I went back to the camp because I did not want to kill anyone but him. My only aim in killing him was to gain my freedom.'


The Quraysh warriors were soon scattered and forced to retreat. It looked as though they had been defeated! Seeing this, forty of the fifty Muslims archers on top of the mountain ran down from their position to collect booty, for the Quraysh army had left many of their belongings behind. The archers rushed to take what they could, forgetting the Prophet's orders. Khalid Ibn al-Walid, Commander of the Quraysh cavalry, saw what' happening and quickly turned his men around and ordered them to attack the Muslims from behind. The Muslims were taken completely by surprise. The Quraysh then began attacking from both sides at once. Many Muslims were killed and instead of winning they began to lose the battle.


To add to the confusion, it was rumored that the Prophet (pbuh) had been killed. When the Muslims heard this they were at a loss to know what to do. Then a man named Anas called out, 'Brothers! If Muhammad (pbuh) has been killed what will your lives be worth without him? Don't think about living or dying. Fight for Allah. Get up and die the way Muhammad (pbuh) died!' and on hearing these words the Muslims took courage.



There had been several cavalry attacks on the position held by the Prophet (pbuh) and his companions and the Prophet's cheek had been badly gashed. As the Meccans closed in again he called out, 'Who will sell his life for us?' At this, five Ansar got up and fought until they were killed, one by one.
Their places were soon taken, however, by a number of Muslims who drove off the attackers. Amongst the defending Muslims was Abu Dujanah who put his arms around the Prophet (pbuh) and made himself into a human shield. Throughout the remainder of the battle he held on to the Prophet (pbuh), but as the fighting drew to a close he suddenly let go.

Abu Dujanah was dead, killed by the many arrows in his back that had been aimed at the Prophet (pbuh). With the defeat of the Muslims, Quraysh were at last avenged. As they left the field of battle Abu Sufyan called out to his men, 'You have done well; victory in war goes by turns-today in exchange for Badr!' When he heard this, the Prophet (pbuh) told 'Umar to answer him, saying, 'Allah is Most High and Most Glorious. We are not equal. Our dead are in Paradise and your dead are in Hell!' The Muslim soldiers then followed the departing Quraysh part of the way to make sure they were not going to attack Medinah.


After the enemy had left, the Prophet (pbuh) made his way around the Battle-field to see the extent of the Muslim losses. Many of the most faithful Muslims had been killed. Among the dead, the Prophet (pbuh) found the body of his closest friend and uncle, Hamzah, who had been killed by the slave, Wahshi. At the sight of this, the Prophet (pbuh) said, 'There will never be a moment as sad for me as this.

' Hamzah's sister, Safiyya, came to pray and ask forgiveness for her brother, saying 'We belong to Allah and to Allah we are returning.' After the Prophet (pbuh) had prayed over the many dead, he said, 'I tell you that no one has been wounded in Allah's cause but Allah will remember him and on the Day of Resurrection will raise him from the dead. Look for the one who has learned most of the Koran and put him in front of his companions in the grave.' They were buried where they had fallen as martyrs.
Of them Allah says:
In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
"Do not think that those, who were killed for Allah's sake are dead. Nay, they are alive. With their Lord they have provision. Jubilant (are they) because of that which Allah hath bestowed upon them of His bounty, rejoicing for the sake of those that have not yet joined them because they have nothing to fear or grieve over".(Koran iii.169-170)

It is said that the Prophet (pbuh) swore that no Muslim who had died for his beliefs would want to come back to life for a single hour, even if he could own the whole world, unless he could return and fight for Allah and be killed a second time. The Muslims realised that their defeat had been caused by their disobedience to the Prophet (pbuh). The Koran tells us that the Muslims had been tested by Allah at Uhud and had failed but that Allah forgave them for their weakness.

The Healthy Marriage By Nouman Ali Khan

Br. Nouman Ali Khan talks about The Healthy Marriage . This is the 19th of 30 lectures presented by Br. Nouman after Taraweeh every night during Ramadan 2007.

The rewards that Allah gives to martyrs and good Muslims

When the Prophet (Pbuh) first arrived in Medinah, the Jews who were living there had welcomed him. The Prophet (Pbuh) had returned their greeting, as he wished to be on good terms with them. An agreement was also reached between the Muslims and the Jews, which gave the Jews the freedom to practice their religion and which also set out their rights and their duties. Among these duties was that in the case of war with Quraysh, the Jews would fight on the side of the Muslims.
Despite this agreement, however, some of the Jewish tribes, who resented the Prophet's presence in Medinah, soon began to cause trouble amongst the Muslims.

They tried to set the Muslim Emigrants from Mecca and the Ansar against each other. The troublemakers were given many warnings but they continued to be a nuisance. In the end, the Muslims had no choice but to drive them from Medinah. A new agreement was offered those Jews who remained but the trouble did not end there. One of the Jewish tribes, the Bani Nadir plotted to murder the Prophet (Pbuh) but their plan was discovered and they, too, were exiled from the city. Knowing that they could not defeat the Muslims themselves, some of the leaders of the exiled Jews secretly went to Mecca to enlist the help of Quraysh. Knowing what the Meccans would like to hear, they pretended to believe in the same things. They said that they thought that the old Arab tradition was better than the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad (Pbuh) and that they believed that the Quraysh religion of worshipping many idols was better than the Prophet's with only one God. Then the Jews told them that if all the Arab tribes attacked Medinah, the Jews inside the city would help to defeat the Prophet (Pbuh) and Islam once and for all.

The leaders of Quraysh were pleased to hear all this and seizing on what seemed to them a very good opportunity, agreed to the plan and began to gather together a formidable army. In the meantime in Medinah, only one Jewish tribe, the Bani Quraydhah, refused to betray the Muslims.

Eventually the Muslims learned of the preparations being made for war in Mecca and of the plotting of the Jews within Medinah itself. The betrayal of the Muslims by the Jews did not surprise the Prophet (Pbuh), who said of them: 'The hearts of the Jews have become closed to the truth. They have forgotten what Moses taught them long ago that there is only one God.'
In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
"The likeness of those who are entrusted with the Law of Moses, yet apply it not, is as the likeness of the ass carrying books.

Evil is the likeness of the people who deny the revelations of Allah. And Allah guideth not wrongdoing folk". (Koran lxii.5)
The Muslims wondered how they could defend Medinah. They heard that Abu Sufyan was coming to attack them with an enormous army which included many other Arab tribes, as well as Quraysh. What were they to do with only a single week to prepare? The Prophet (Pbuh) and his men knew that it would be impossible for them to fight off all these tribes! The only thing they could do was to stay inside the city and try to defend it as best they could. Now among the people of Medinah was a Persian named Salman, who had to live in the city some time before the Prophet's arrival there. As a convert to Christianity he had traveled to Medinah after Christian sages had told him that a Prophet would be born in Arabia. On arriving at Madinah he was, however, sold into slavery by the merchants with whom he had traveled. Later he became a Muslim, gained his freedom and became a member of the Prophet's household.


When the people gathered to discuss a plan of action against the approaching enemy, Salman was present and it was he who suggested that they should dig a trench around the city. The Prophet (Pbuh) thought this a good idea, so the Muslims set to work, although it was in the middle of winter. They worked day and night, digging the trench as quickly as possible. The Prophet (Pbuh) himself carried rocks and when the men were tired he gave them the will to carry on. Someone later recalled how beautiful he looked, dressed in a red cloak with dust upon his breast and his dark hair nearly reaching his shoulders. There was little food at this time and the men were often hungry as they worked.
On one occasion, however, a little girl gave some dates to the Prophet (Pbuh), which he spread out on a cloth. The men were then called to eat and the dates kept increasing in number until everyone had been fed. Even after everyone had eaten their fill, the dates continued to increase so that there were more than the cloth could hold.

Similarly, there is the story of the lamb, that has come down to us from one who was there: 'We worked with the Apostle at the trench. I had a half-grown lamb and I thought it would be a good thing to cook it for Allah's Messenger. I told my wife to grind barley and make some bread for us. I killed the lamb and we roasted it for the Prophet (Pbuh). When night fell and he was about to leave the trench, I told him we had prepared bread and meat and invited him to our home. I wanted him to come on his own, but when I said this he sent someone to call all the men to come along. Everyone arrived and the food was served. He blessed it and invoked the Name of Allah over it. Then he ate and so did all of the others. As soon as one lot were satisfied, another group came until all the diggers had eaten enough, but still there was food to spare.
On March 24, 627 A.D, Abu Sufyan arrived with more than ten thousand men. The Muslims numbered only three thousand.

Quraysh and their allies surrounded Medinah but between the two armies was the long, wide trench.

The Prophet (pbuh) and his men stayed behind this trench for nearly a month defending the city against their more powerful enemy. Many times warriors tried to cross the trench and enter the city, but each time they were pushed back by the Muslims. The Muslims were afraid that if any did manage to cross over, the Jews inside Medinah would join forces with them and the Muslims would be beaten. The Jewish tribe of Bani Quraydhah, who had stood by the, agreement with the Muslims, were pressed by a Jewish emissary from the enemy, to break their promise. Eventually they agreed to do so and when the news of this reached the Prophet (pbuh) and his companions they were greatly troubled. Sa'd ibn Mu'adh, the leader of the tribe of Aws, was sent by the Prophet (pbuh) with two other men to find out if this were true. When they arrived in the part of Medinah where the Jews lived, they found that it was even worse than they had previously thought.

Sa'd ibn Mu'adh, whose tribe was closely allied with the Bani Quraydhah, tried to persuade their leader not to break the treaty with the Muslims, but he refused to listen. This meant that the Muslims could not relax their guard for one moment, for they were now threatened not only by the enemy beyond the trench, but by the Bani Qurayzah, within the walls of the city.
Things became more difficult for the Muslims day by day. It was extremely cold and food began to run out. To make matters worse, the Bani Qurayzah began openly and actively to join forces with the other Jews and cut off all supplies to the Muslims, including food. The enemies of Islam then planned how to capture Medinah.
The situation looked desperate and the Prophet (pbuh) prayed to Allah to help the Muslims defeat their enemies. That very night a sandstorm blew up which buried the tents of Quraysh. The storm continued for three days and three nights making it impossible for the enemy to light a fire to cook a meal or warm themselves by.


On one of these dark nights the Prophet (pbuh) asked one of his men, Hudhayfah Ibn al-Yaman, to go on a dangerous mission. The Prophet (pbuh) told him to make his way across the trench to the enemy camp where he should find out what they were doing. With much difficulty Hudhayfah crossed the trench and made his way to a circle of Quraysh warriors talking in the darkness. He sat near them, but as there was no fire, no one noticed him. He then heard Abu Sufyan's voice: 'Let us go home!' he said. 'We have had enough. The horses and camels are dying, the tents keep blowing away, most of the equipment has been lost, and we can not cook our food. There is no reason to stay!'
Shortly after hearing this Hudhayfah made his way quickly and quietly back across the trench and the next morning the Muslims rejoiced to find that what he had overheard had come true-Quraysh and their allies had gone away!

The siege of Medinah had ended in a great victory for Islam. But this was not to be the end of the difficulties, for the Archangel Gabriel the Prophet (pbuh) and told him that he should punish the Bani Qurayzah for betraying him and the Muslims.
On hearing this, the Prophet (pbuh) ordered the Muslims to march against the Bani Qurayzah as they hid in their fortress. The Muslims besieged them for twenty-five days until they finally gave in. On surrendering, they asked the Prophet (pbuh) to let someone judge their case, and he agreed. He also allowed them to choose who would give the ruling. The man chosen to judge the Bani Qurayzah was Sa'd ibn Mu'adh, leader of the Aws, a tribe which had always protected the Qurayzah in the past. Sa'd ibn Mu'adh who had himself been wounded in the battle, decided that the Jews should be tried by their own Holy Law, according to which anyone who broke a treaty would be put to death. As a result all the men of the Bani Qurayzah were executed and the women and children made captive.

If the Jews had succeeded in their pact, Islam would have been destroyed. Instead from that day on, Medinah became a city where only Muslims lived.
Very soon after peace had been restored to Medinah, Sa'd ibn Mu'adh died of his wounds. It was said that the Archangel Gabriel came in the middle of that night and said to the Prophet (pbuh) Ɔ Muhammad, who is this dead man? When he arrived, the doors of heaven opened and the Throne of Allah shook.' The Prophet (pbuh) got up as soon as he heard this, but found that Sa'd was already dead. Although he had been a heavy man, the men who carried his body to the grave found it quite light. They were told that the angels were helping them. When he was buried, the Prophet (pbuh) said three times 'Subhan Allah!' (Glory be to Allah!), and 'Allahu Akbar!' (Allah is Most Great!). When asked why he did this, he replied, 'The grave was tight for this good man, until Allah eased it for him.' This is one of the rewards that Allah gives to martyrs and good Muslims.

The difference between punishments and trials

Question: Allah mentions in the Quran that when an evil befalls us it is due to what our own hands have earned. Also our beloved Messenger, Muhammad (sallalahu 'alayhi wassallam) said in a hadith that the most tried are the Prophets, then those in piety after those. So therefore in our day to day life when things go wrong in our lives how do we decide whether it is due to our sinfulness or that Allah loves us . and therefore sends a trial upon us
Jazakallahu khairun

Answer: Praise be to Allaah.

Punishments are what happen to people in return for their evil deeds. Trials are tests which are sent to try people, and people may be tested by good things or by bad.

Concerning punishments, Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): “Whatever of good reaches you, is from Allaah, but whatever of evil befalls you, is from yourself…” [al-Nisa’ 4:79]

Concerning the phrase “is from yourself”, Qutaadah said: “[It means] the punishment is for you, O son of Adam, because of your sin.” Abu Saalih said that “whatever of evil befalls you, is from yourself” means “because of your sin, and I [Allaah] am the One Who decreed it for you.” (Tafseer Ibn Katheer).

Allaah also says (interpretation of the meaning): “And whatever of misfortune befalls you, it is because of what your hands have earned. And He pardons much.” [al-Shoora 42:30]

Ibn Katheer, may Allaah have mercy on him, said: “[It means] whatever misfortune happens to you, O people, is because of evil deeds that you have already done, and ‘He pardons much’ refers to evil deeds – He does not punish you for them but He pardons them. ‘And if Allaah were to punish men for that which they earned, he would not leave a moving (living) creature on the surface of the earth…’ [Faatir 35:45 – interpretation of the meaning].”

Concerning trials, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “If Allaah loves a people, He tries them, and whoever has patience will have patience, and whoever is anxious will be anxious.” (Reported by Imaam Ahmad; Saheeh al-Jaami’, 1706).

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) also said: “The extent of the reward will be in accordance with the extent of the trial. If Allaah loves a people, He tries them, and whoever is content will have contentment, and whoever is angry will have anger.” (Reported by al-Tirmidhi, 2320; Saheeh al-Jaami’, 2210).

The following outlines how one may tell whether a given event is a punishment or a trial:

If the misfortune results from doing an act of obedience to Allaah, such as being wounded in jihaad, or losing money when migrating for the sake of Allaah, or losing a job because of becoming Muslim or increasing one’s commitment to Islam, then this is a trial. Whoever bears it with patience will be rewarded, but if one reacts angrily then one will earn the wrath of Allaah. If the misfortune results from sin, such as sexually-transmitted diseases or illnesses caused by drinking alcohol and taking drugs, and so on, then this is the kind of punishment that comes in this world (as opposed to being deferred until the Hereafter). If the misfortune is connected neither to a good deed nor a sin – such as other kinds of disease and sickness, losing a child, or failing in business – then it depends on the person’s situation. If he is good and devout, it is a trial, and if he is sinful, it is a punishment.

The misfortune may be a punishment to atone for sins, or it may be a trial aimed at raising a person’s status and increasing his hasanaat (good deeds/rewards) – this may be determined by whether a person is obedient or disobedient. A person should not praise himself, rather he should criticize himself for his shortcomings and strive to attain perfection. He will benefit from misfortunes in any case, if he has patience and hopes for reward.

And Allaah knows best.

Islam Q&A

Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid

The Special Traits of our beloved Nabi Muhammad Sallallahu alayhi wa sallam.

Bismillaah, Alhamdulillaah, Was salaatu was salaamu ala Rasoolillaah, Wa ba'ad,

As salamu alaykum warahmathullaahi wabarakathuh ya ikhwaan wa akhawaat,

I have appended 22 beautiful special traits of our beloved Nabi Sallallahu alayhi wa sallam from Ibn Mulaqqin's Ghayahtus Sul fee Khasa’is Ar Rasul book.


The Special Traits of our beloved Nabi Muhammad Sallallahu alayhi wa sallam.



1. He (peace blessings be upon him) could offer prayer after sleeping without making Wudu.



2. He ( peace and blessings be upon him) was allowed to have more than four wives at a time.



3. He (peace and blessings be upon him) was given legislations which invalidated all previous laws.



4. He (peace and blessings be upon him) was ordered to line up for prayer the same way as Angels do.



5. He (peace and blessings be upon him) will have the largest amount followers on the Day of Judgement.



6. He (peace and blessings be upon him) is the final Messenger.



7. He (peace and blessings be upon him) was allowed to fast continuously.



8. He (peace and blessings be upon him) has a nation which was selected by Allah as the best ummah.



9. He (peace and blessings be upon him) has been given the right for intercession on the Day of Judgement.



10. He (peace and blessings be upon him) is the first one who will knock on the door of Paradise.



11.He (peace and blessings be upon him) could see those behind him during prayer.



12. He (peace and blessings be upon him) was given the earth as a place for purification and prayer.



13. He (peace and blessings be upon him) was given the Quran, which is safeguarded by Allah.



14. He (peace and blessigs be upon him) can be seen in dream without Shaytaan taking his image.



15. He (peace and blessings be upon him) was given the comprehensive speech thats few in words, but vast in meaning.



16. He (peace and blessings be upon him) is able to receive the salaams from the people after his death.



17. He (peace and blessings be upon him) narrated that lying upon him earns a person Hell. Therefore lying on him is a major sin.



18. He (peace and blessings be upon him) was given the permission to keep the spoils and booty.



19. He (peace and blessings be upon him) and his ummah can offer voluntary prayers sitting without an excuse. These voluntary prayers have the same status as praying while standing.

20. He (peace and blessings be upon him) could take a person’s food and drink, although they might need it.



21. He (peace and blessings be upon him) was allowed to deliver judgment for himself.



22. He (peace and blessings be upon him) was helped with the ability to strike fear in his enemies from a month journey distance.


Taken from [ Ghayahtus Sul fee Khasa’is Ar Rasul by Ibn Mulaqqin 804 H]

Powerful words in Islam [For Reward]

"Engage in the Dhikr of Allah in such abundance that people comment that 'you are insane'."

Eid Mubarak and Stay Safe :)

And indeed it (this Quran) will be an anguish for the disbelievers (on the Day of Resurrection).And Verily, it (this Quran) is an absolute truth with certainty.So glorify the Name of your Lord, the Most Great.(69:50-52)~Surat Al-Ĥāqqah
(The Reality)

Eid Mubarak and Stay Safe :)

Assalamualaikum Dear Brothers and sisters in Islam,

Sending you Eid wishes!

May Allah’s Peace, Mercy, and Blessings be with you all. May Allah let you have a happy Eid ul fitr. May He allow you to live many Eids with your family, friends, and other loved ones with health and happiness. May He give you Eids in this world and hereafter.

Ameen!

EID MUBARAK

The Prophet (s.a.w) said: “Every nation has its festival, and this is your festival.”

Narrated Anas (ra) : “The Messenger of Allah (s) came to Al-Madinah, the people of Madinah used to have two festivals. On those two days they had carnivals and festivity. The Prophet Muhammad (s) asked the Ansar (the Muslims of Madinah) about it. They replied that before Islam they used to have carnivals on those two joyous days. The Prophet Muhammad (s) told them: “Instead of those two days, Allah has appointed two other days which are better, the days of `Eid al-Fitr and `Eid al-Adha.” (Reported by Abu Dawud)

Changing Face Of America - Invitation To Islam

switsilence.blogspot.com

Eid mubarak to the entire Muslim Ummah

Eid mubarak to the entire Muslim Ummah. May Allah have mercy on our brothers and sisters in Pakistan, Afghanistan, Somalia, Chechnya, Kashmir, Iraq, Gaza, and all of Palestine. Ameen, Ameen, Ameen.

May Allah accept our good deeds during this Holy month of Ramadan, and forgive us for any sins we may have fallen into. Ya Allah, answer our dua during this month of Ramadan, and allow us to come out of this blessed month stronger Muslims than before. Ameen, Ameen, Ameen.

Eid mubarak to all my brothers and sisters in Islam.

Early Eid Mubarak to every one!

Early Eid Mubarak to every one!

Taqabala'Allahu Minna wa Minkum (May Allah accept it from us and you)

Zionist Settlers: A Long History of Terrorism

Zionist Settlers: A Long History of Terrorism

What should be done if Eid coincides with Friday

What should be done if Eid coincides with Friday
Praise be to Allah.

If the day of Eid coincides with Friday, then whoever prays Eid with the imaam does not have to attend Jumu'ah (it is not obligatory on him); in his case it becomes Sunnah. If he does not pray Jumu'ah, he has to pray Zuhr. This is in the case of people other than the imaam. As for the imaam, he has to be present for Jumu'ah and lead those Muslims who attend the prayer. The Jumu'ah prayer should not be forsaken completely on this day.


- Answered by Shaykh Saalih ibn Fawzaan al-Fawzaan

Al Widaa, Al Widaa Yaa Shahru Ramadaan

Salaam To All our Dear Families, Friends


As we bid farewell to this auspicious month of the Glorious Quran, we ask Almighty ALLAH to accept all our sacrifices, our siyaam, our ibaadah, our istighfaar during this holy month Insha ALLAH. May Allah bestow on all of us His mercy, forgive all our sins & protect us from the Fire of Jahannam Insha Allah. May ALLAH in His Infinite Mercy, accept this siyaam of ours Insha ALLAH.

Al Widaa, Al Widaa Yaa Shahru Ramadaan, Al Widaa Yaa Shahru Siyaam, Al Widaa Yaa Shahru Maghfirah, Al Widaa Yaa Shahru Taraweeh, Al Widaa Yaa Shahru Suhur, Al Widaa Yaa Shahru Iftaar, Al Widaa Yaa Shahru Layla Tul Qadr, Al Widaa Yaa Shahru I’tikaaf …..

"Whoever believes in ALLAH and the Last Day, let him maintain the bonds of kinship" [Bukhari]

May we all use this day to unite broken family ties and bonds of friendship
If the beginning of Ramadan is Mercy, its middle forgiveness, and it’s ending liberation from the Hellfire; its aftermath should be thankfulness.
Therefore we should be thankful for all we have and always spare a thought for those less fortunate than ourselves whose daily existence could be a continuous fast.

Eid is a day of Joy, day of Celebration. But should we swim in the sea of entertainment leaving our own brothers and sisters in a state of Humiliation? We really don't know the answer. Anyways, wishing Eid Mubarak to all of you. May this Eid bring Happiness and Prosperity for all of us or for none of us.


Messenger of Allaah {Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam} said, "The Muslims are like a body, if one part of the body hurts, rest of the body will also suffer."


Meaning that the Muslims, whether they are of Chinese, African or Arabian or European origin, are one Ummah and they cannot be separated from each other. And whenever one of them is hurt, others should feel the pain. And if they don't feel the grief, they are not part of the body, part of Muslim ummah.

and Allaah knows the Best

May we take this opportunity to wish all of you a Happy, Peaceful and Blessed Eid – ul – Fitr, filled with joyous celebration, Insha ALLAH. Have a joyous day in the company of your families and friends Insha ALLAH.

Zakaah al-Fitr

Zakaah al-Fitr by Dr. Abu Ameenah Bilal Philips
Assalaamu alaykum wr wb ikhwaty fillaahi.
Zakaah al-Fitr
by Dr. Abu Ameenah Bilal Philips

1. MEANING
Zakaah al-Fitr is often referred to as Sadaqah al-Fitr. The word Fitr means the same as Iftaar, breaking a fast and it comes from the same root word as Futoor which means breakfast. Thus, Islamically, Zakaah al-Fitr is the name given to charity which is distributed at the end of the fast of Ramadaan.

2. CLASSIFICATION
Sadaqah al-Fitr is a duty which is Waajib on every Muslim, whether male or female, minor or adult as long as he/she has the means to do so.

The proof that this form of charity is compulsory can be found in the Sunnah whereby Ibn `Umar reported that the Prophet (sallallaahu `alaihi wa sallam) made Zakaah al-Fitr compulsory on every slave, freeman, male, female, young and old among the Muslims; one Saa` of dried dates or one Saa` of barely. [collected by Bukhaaree - Arabic/English, vol. 2, p. 339, no. 579]

The head of the household may pay the required amount for the other members. Abu Sa'eed al-Khudree said, "On behalf of our young and old, free men and slaves, we used to take out during Allaah's Messenger's (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) lifetime one Saa` of grain, cheese or raisins". [collected by Muslim - English transl. vol. 2, p. 469, no. 2155]

3. SIGNIFICANCE
The significant role played by Zakaah in the circulation of wealth within the Islamic society is also played by the Sadaqah al-Fitr. However, in the case of Sadaqah al-Fitr, each individual is required to calculate how much charity is due from himself and his dependents and go into the community in order to find those who deserve such charity. Thus, Sadaqah al-Fitr plays a very important role in the development of the bonds of community. The rich are obliged to come in direct contact with the poor, and the poor are put in contact with the extremely poor. This contact between the various levels of society helps to build real bonds of brotherhood and love within the Islamic community and trains those who have, to be generous to those who do not have.

4. PURPOSE
The main purpose of Zakaah al-Fitr is to provide those who fasted with the means of making up for their errors during the month of fasting. Zakaah al-Fitr also provides the poor with a means with which they can celebrate the festival of breaking the fast (`Eed al-Fitr) along with the rest of the Muslims.

Ibn Abbaas reported, "The Prophet (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) made Zakaah al-Fitr compulsory so that those who fasted may be purified of their idle deeds and shameful talk (committed during Ramadaan) and so that the poor may be fed. Whoever gives it before Salaah will have it accepted as Zakaah, while he who gives it after the Salaah has given Sadaqah." [collected by Abu Dawood - Eng. transl. vol. 2, p. 421, no. 1605 - rated Saheeh by Shaikh Naser Al-Albanee]

Hence, the goal of Sadaqah al-Fitr is the spiritual development of the Believers. By making them give up some of their wealth, the believers are taught the higher moral characteristics of generosity, compassion (sympathy for the unfortunate), gratitude to God and the righteousness. But, since Islaam does not neglect man's material need, part of the goal of Zakaah al-Fitr is the economic well-being of the poorer members of society.



5. CONDITIONS
Zakaah al-Fitr is only Waajib for a particular period of time. If one misses the time period without a good reason, he has sinned and can not make it up. This form of charity becomes obligatory from sunset on the last day of fasting and remains obligatory until the beginning of Salaah al-'Eed' (i.e. shortly after sunrise on the following day). However, it can be paid prior to the above mentioned period, as many of the Sahaabah (companions of the Prophet(sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) ) used to pay Sadaqah al-Fitr a couple days before the `Eed.

Naafi reported that the Prophet's companion Ibn `Umar used to give it to those who would accept it and the people used to give it a day or two before the `Eed. [collected by al-Bukhaaree - Arabic/English, Vol. 2, p.339, no. 579]

Ibn `Umar reported that the Prophet (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) order that it (Zakaah al-Fitr) be given before people go to make the Salaah (al-'Eed).

And Ibn `Abbaas reported that the Prophet (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) said, "Whoever gives it before the Salaah will have it accepted as Zakaah, while he who gives it after the Salaah (will not, for it will only be considered as) ordinary charity. Therefore, one who forgets to pay this Zakaah al-Fitr on time should do so as soon as possible even though it will not be counted as Zakaah al-Fitr.

6. RATE
The amount of Zakaah is the same for everyone regardless of their different income brackets. The minimum amount is one Saa` (two handfuls ) of food, grain or dried fruit for each member of the family. This calculation is based on Ibn `Umar's report that the Prophet(sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) made Zakaah al-Fitr compulsory and payable by a Saa` of dried dates or a Saa` of barley.

The Sahaabee, Abu Sa`eed al-Khudree said, "In the Prophet's time, we used to give it (Zakaah al-Fitr) as a Saa` of food, dried dates, barley, raisins or dried cheese". [collected by al-Bukhaaree - Arabic/English vol. 2, p. 340, no. 582]

Wabillaahi Tawfiq.

Ramadhan: A Beautiful Reminder

Here we are; yet another Ramadan has past us by, yet another Ramadan we find ourselves bidding farewell to. Farewell to the month of good manners, farewell to the month of kindness, farewell to the month of generosity, farewell to the month of mercy, farewell to the month of discipline.

Ramadan to us was nothing but a school and a teacher. We all attended this school whether we wanted to or not. Some of us achieved great marks during it, some accomplished average marks, and some, and Allah is the source of all strength and mercy, attained failing marks.

Unfortunately, I am finding myself realizing a disturbing trend amongst us Muslims that we take astonishing steps forward during Ramadan. Our manners improve without borders; our worship is both increased in amount and in sincerity and our generosity is unsurpassed. But as we takes these great steps forward during Ramadan, we seem to end up taking far more steps backwards as the year progresses. For every step forward during Ramadan, we’ll take two steps backwards during the rest of the year, and that is undoubtedly a major problem from the problems plaguing our honorable nation.

So I can’t help but take it as a personal obligation to remind my fellow Muslims, just like Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) reminded them when he said:


O People! If anyone among you worshipped Muhammad (peace be upon him), let him know that Muhammad is dead. But those who worshipped Allah let them know that He lives and will never die.


So O Muslims! If anyone among you worshipped Ramadan, then know that Ramadan is dead. But those of you who worshipped Allah, then know that Allah lives and will never die. Indeed Allah created Ramadan and He also, in truth, created Shawaal, Dhul Qidah, Dhul Hijjah, and all the rest of the Months.

Rise in the last third of the night and pray like you prayed in Ramadan. Fast with the same strong-willed conscious effort as you did during Ramadan (eg, 6 fasts of Shawwal; fast of every Monday and Thursday; the 13th,14th and 15th of each lunar month; or that of 9th and 10th Muharram, as per the Sunnah). Fill the Masjids like you did during Ramadan. Let the Ummah boast huge numbers during Salatul Fajr as we do during Salatul Jum’ah. And always, always, remember that you may not see the next Ramadan.

Ramadan came to us as a school, one to renew and recharge our Eman. Now that it has completed its objective and given us a graceful and beautiful uplifting of Eman, it is now upon is to remain constant upon what it has given us.

{And verily, I am indeed Forgiving to him who repents, believes (in My Oneness, and associates none in worship with Me) and does righteous good deeds, and then remains constant in doing them , (till his death).} (Taha, 82)

by Ibn El-Sheikh El-Misri

DEAR BROTHERS & SISTERS IN ISLAM JUST DONT LET GO! MAKE SURE U ALWAYS REMAIN IN A STATE OF FASTING EVEN AFTER RAMADAN!!

How can you Disobey Allah

Chastising Those Who disobey Allah and stop giving Charity

Allah the Exalted chastises those who turn away from His obedience,

[فَلاَ صَدَّقَ وَلاَ صَلَّى - وَلَـكِن كَذَّبَ وَتَوَلَّى ]

(So he (the disbeliever) neither believed nor prayed! But on the contrary, he belied and turned away!)(75:31-32),

[وَأَعْطَى قَلِيلاً وَأَكْدَى ]

(And gave a little, then stopped) Ibn `Abbas said, "Gave a little, then stopped giving.'' Similar was said by Mujahid, Sa`id bin Jubayr, `Ikrimah, Qatadah and several others. `Ikrimah and Sa`id said: "Like the case of a people who dig a well, during the course of which they find a rock preventing them from completing their work. So they say, `We are finished' and they abandon the work.''

Allah's statement,

[فأَعِندَهُ عِلْمُ الْغَيْبِ فَهُوَ يَرَى ]

(Is with him the knowledge of the Unseen so that he sees) means, does this person, who stopped giving for fear of poverty and ended his acts of charity have knowledge of the Unseen and thus knows that if he does not stop giving, his wealth will go away No. Such a person has stopped giving in charity for righteous causes and did not keep relations with kith and kin because of his miserliness, being stingy and out of fear of poverty.

Stinginess
Jabir reported that the Prophet said: Avoid doing injustice to others, for on the Day of Judgment, it will turn into manifold darkness, and safeguard yourself against miserliness, for it ruined those who were before you. It incited them to murder and treating the unlawful as lawful. (Muslim)

The Last Ten Nights and Days of Ramadan

In this blessed month of Ramadan, we have now come to the grand finale – the last ten days of Ramadan that are even more blessed than the rest of Ramadan. In it is a night that Quran tells us is better than 1000 months (yes, months – not days).


The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:

There has come to you Ramadan, a blessed month which Allah has enjoined you to fast, during which the gates of heaven are opened and the gates of Hell are closed, and the rebellious devils are chained up. In it there is a night which is better than a thousand months, and whoever is deprived of its goodness is indeed deprived.” Narrated by al-Nasa’i, 2106; Ahmad, 8769. classed as saheeh by al-Albani in Saheeh al-Targheeb, 999.

So, in preparation for the grand finale, here is a checklist of some of the things that we can all do to make the remaining days of Ramadan work to our advantage –

1) Get in high gear for the next 10 nights and days –

Time is of the essence. Every moment counts. Whatever you need to do for the next ten days to make the most in Ibada, good deeds, reciting Quran, dhikr, making dua, etc., rewards are going to be multiplied. No one knew about the importance of these days more than the prophet (saws). Al-Bukhari and Muslim narrated from ‘Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) that when the last ten days of Ramadan began, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) would stay up at night, wake his family and tie his lower garment tight. According to Ahmad and Muslim: he would strive hard in worship during the last ten nights of Ramadan as he did not do at other times.

Imam Ahmad recorded that Abu Hurayrah said “When Ramadan would come, the Messenger of Allah would say,

Verily, the month of Ramadan has come to you all. It is a blessed month, which Allah has obligated you all to fast. During it the gates of Paradise are opened, the gates of Hell are closed and the devils are shackled. In it there is a night that is better than one thousand months. Whoever is deprived of its good, then he has truly been deprived.)” An-Nasa’i recorded this same Hadith.


If we lose this opportunity, we get our next opportunity next year – assuming we are still around and are in good health and shape to make use of it. Even if we are – we have the past years’ sins on our shoulders and life’s normal trials and tribulations to face the coming year. So, there is no better time to ask Allah to make all that easier than NOW.


2) Get a Quran and recite as often as you can –

A few lines on this post can’t even come close to explaining the benefits and virtues of Quran. It is proven in the saheeh Sunnah that the Quran will intercede for those who read it at night, as Ahmad (6626) narrated from ‘Abd-Allah ibn ‘Amr that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:

Fasting and the Quran will intercede for a person on the Day of Resurrection. Fasting will say, ‘O Lord, I deprived him of his food and his desires during the day, so let me intercede for him.’ And the Quran will say: ‘I deprived him of his sleep at night so let me intercede for him.’ Then they will intercede.” Narrated by Ahmad; classed as saheeh by al-Albani in Saheeh al-Jami’, no. 3882.

Narrated Abu Musa: The Prophet said,

The example of a believer who recites the Qur’an is that of a citron (a citrus fruit) which is good in taste and good in smell. And the believer who does not recite the quran is like a date which has a good taste but no smell. And the example of an impious person who recites the Qur’an is that of Ar-Rihana (an aromatic plant) which smells good but is bitter in taste. And the example of an impious person who does not recite the quran is that of a colocynth which is bitter in taste and has no smell.” (Book #93, Hadith # 649)

As is stated in the hadeeth narrated by ‘Abd-Allah ibn ‘Amr ibn al-‘Aas (may Allah be pleased with them both), in which the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:

Whoever recites ten aayaat (verses) in qiyaam will not be recorded as one of the forgetful. Whoever recites a hundred aayaat (verses) in qiyaam will be recorded as one of the devout, and whoever prays a thousand aayaat (verses) in qiyaam will be recorded as one of the muqantareen (those who pile up good deeds).” (Reported by Abu Dawood and Ibn Hibbaan. It is a hasan report. Saheeh al-Targheeb, 635).


3) If your sins are holding you to move forward, this is the time to get them forgiven –

First the bad news – In Musnad Ahmad it is narrated that Thawbaan said: The Messenger of Allah (SAWS) said:

A man is deprived of provision (Rizq) because of the sins that he commits.’” (Narrated by Ibn Maajah, 4022, classed as hasan by al-Albaani in Saheeh Ibn Maajah).

And now for the good news –

It was narrated from Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:

Whoever spends the night of Laylat al-Qadr in prayer out of faith and in the hope of reward, will be forgiven his previous sins.”


4) What to say on Laylat al-Qadr –

One of the best dua’s that can be recited on Laylat al-Qadr is that which the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) taught ‘A’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her). It was narrated by al-Tirmidhi, who classed it as saheeh, that ‘A’ishah said: I said: “O Messenger of Allah, If I know which night is Laylat al-Qadr, what should I say?” He said: “Say: Allahumma innaka ‘afuwwun tuhibb al-‘afwa fa’fu ‘anni (O Allah, You are All-Forgiving and You love forgiveness so forgive me).”


5) Get in the class of the Pious People –

Allah has described the pious as follows (interpretation of the meaning):

They used to sleep but little by night (invoking their Lord (Allah) and praying, with fear and hope). [Quran: Surah Adh-Dhariyat (17)]

And in the hours before dawn, they were (found) asking (Allah) for forgiveness, [Quran: Surah Adh-Dhariyat (18)]


6) Finally……

Think of all that you need to ask Allah for and ask Him now. If you haven’t before, this is the time to connect with Him and feel closer to Him. And when you do during these last ten nights and days of this Ramadan, you would want to do this again and again – even after the month is over.

And finally, when you are in a state of prayers and worship, please open your heart for others as well and please do remember your brothers and sisters in your prayers. Remember what the Prophet said:

“The supplication that gets the quickest answer is the one made by one Muslim for another in his absence.” Reported by Abu Daw’ud and Tirmidhi

May we all make the most of the last ten nights and days of Ramadan…

The night of Al-Qadr is better than a thousand months

By Muhammad Alshareef

It was narrated that in the days that Musa (Alahi salaam) wandered with Bani Israel in the desert an intense drought befell them. Together, they raised their hands towards the heavens praying for the blessed rain to come. Then, to the astonishment of Musa (Alahi salaam) and all those watching, the few scattered clouds that were in the sky vanished, the heat poured down, and the drought intensified.

It was revealed to Musa that there was a sinner amongst the tribe of Bani Israel whom had disobeyed Allah (Subhanahu wa ta’ala) for more than forty years of his life. "Let him separate himself from the congregation," Allah (Subhanahu wa ta’ala) told Musa (Alahi salaam). "Only then shall I shower you all with rain."

Musa (Alahi salaam) then called out to the throngs of humanity, "There is a person amongst us who has disobeyed Allah for forty years. Let him separate himself from the congregation and only then shall we be rescued from the drought." That man, waited, looking left and right, hoping that someone else would step forward, but no one did. Sweat poured forth from his brow and he knew that he was the one.

The man knew that if he stayed amongst the congregation all would die of thirst and that if he stepped forward he would be humiliated for all eternity.

He raised his hands with a sincerity he had never known before, with a humility he had never tasted, and as tears poured down on both cheeks he said: "O Allah, have mercy on me! O Allah, hide my sins! O Allah, forgive me!"

As Musa (Alahi salaam) and the people of Bani Israel awaited for the sinner to step forward, the clouds hugged the sky and the rain poured. Musa (Alahi salaam) asked Allah (Subhanahu wa ta’ala), "O Allah, you blessed us with rain even though the sinner did not come forward." And Allah (Subhanahu wa ta’ala) replied, "O Musa, it is for the repentance of that very person that I blessed all of Bani Israel with water."

Musa (Alahi salaam), wanting to know who this blessed man was, asked, "Show him to me O Allah!" Allah (Subhanahu wa ta’ala) replied, "O Musa, I hid his sins for forty years, do you think that after his repentance I shall expose him?"

Allah (Subhanahu wa ta’ala) revealed the Qur’an in the most blessed month; the month of Ramadan, the month in which the Qur’an was sent down.


On the most blessed night, the Grand night: Laylatul Qadr; "Verily, we revealed the Qur’an on the night of Qadr."

Ibn Jareer narrates, on the authority of Mujaahid that there was a man from Bani Israel who used to spend the night in prayer. Then in the morning he would fight the enemy in the Way of Allah during the day, until the evening and he did this for a thousand months.

And so Allah revealed the Surah: "Verily, We sent it down in the night of Al-Qadr" until the verse "The night of Al-Qadr is better than a thousand months" That is, standing in prayer on that night is better than the actions of that man.

Sufyaan ath-Thawree reports, on the authority of Mujaahid (also), that the night of Al-Qadr being better than a thousand months means that the good deeds performed on it, fasting on it, and standing in prayer on it are better than a thousand months’ good deeds, prayers and fasting. (Narrated by Ibn Jareer)

It is reported from Abu Hurairah that he said: "When the month of Ramadan came, the Messenger of Allah said: ‘The month of Ramadan has come, a blessed month in which Allah has made it obligatory for you to fast; in it the gates of Paradise are opened and the gates of Hell are closed and the devils are chained. In it is a night better than a thousand months, whoever loses the benefit of it has lost something irreplaceable.’" (Narrated by Imam Ahmad and An-Nasaa'i).

It is reported on the authority of Abu Hurairah, that Allah’s Messenger (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said: "Whoever stood in prayer on the night of Al-Qadr, in faith and hoping for a reward from Allah, he will have all of his previous sins forgiven." (Narrated by Al-Bukhari and Muslim).

This one night surpasses the value of 30,000 nights. The sincere believer who worries day and night about his sins and phases of neglect in his life patiently awaits the onset of Ramadan. During it he hopes to be forgiven by Allah (Subhanahu wa ta’ala) for past sins, knowing that the Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) promised that all who bear down during the last ten days shall have all their sins forgiven. To achieve this, the believer remembers the Prophet’s (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) advice in different sayings wherein he used words like "seek", "pursue", "search" and "look hard" for Laylatul Qadr.

Laylatul Qadr is the most blessed night. A person who misses it has indeed missed a great amount of good. The Mu’min should search for it in the last ten nights of Ramadan, passing the nights in worship and obedience.

For those who catch the opportunity, their gift is that of past sins wiped away.

The Messenger of Allah (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) illustrated for us some of the things we should be doing on this Grand Night. From his blessed Sunnah we find the following:


Praying Qiyaam (night prayer)

It is recommended to make a long qiyaam prayer during the nights on which Laylatul Qadr could fall. This is indicated in many ahadeeth, such as "Whoever stands (in qiyaam) in Laylatul Qadr [and it is facilitated for him] out of faith and expectation (of Allah’s reward), will have all of his previous sins forgiven." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim; the addition "and it is facilitated for him" is recorded by Ahmad from the report of ‘Ubaadah Bin as-Samit; it means that he is permitted to be among the sincere worshippers during that blessed night.]


Making SupplicationsIt is also recommended to make extensive supplication on this night. ‘A'ishah reported that she asked Allah’s Messenger (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) "O Messenger of Allah! If I knew which night is Laylatul Qadr, what should I say during it?" And he instructed her to say: "Allahumma innaka `afuwwun tuhibbul `afwa fa`fu `annee - O Allah! You are forgiving, and you love forgiveness. So forgive me." [An authentic Hadith recorded by Ahmad, Ibn Majah and at-Tirmidhi.]

Abandoning Worldly Pleasures for the Sake of Worship: It is further recommended to spend more time in worship during the nights on which Laylatul Qadr is likely to fall. This calls for abandoning many worldly pleasures in order to secure the time and thoughts solely for worshipping Allah (Subhanahu wa ta’ala).‘A'ishah reported: "When the (last) ten started, the Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) would tighten his izaar (i.e. he stayed away from his wives in order to have more time for worship), spend the whole night awake (in prayer) and wake up his family." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

And she said: "Allah’s Messenger (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) used to exert more (in worship) on the last ten than on other nights." [Muslim]

Have we estimated Allah (Subhanahu wa ta’ala) correctly?

The opportunity of Laylatul Qadr is coming in the next few days. Life is about people that take advantage of their opportunities to win the love of Allah (Subhanahu wa ta’ala), and this is indeed one of those chances. Abu Dah Daah was one of those who found an opportunity and won that which is greater than the heavens and the earth. An adult companion of the Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) cultivated his garden next to the property of an orphan. The orphan claimed that a specific palm tree was on his property and thus belonged to him. The companion rejected the claim and off to the Messenger of Allah (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) went the orphan boy to complain. With his justness, the Messenger of Allah (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) measured the two gardens and found that the palm tree did indeed belong to the companion. The orphan erupted crying. Seeing this, the Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) offered the companion, "would you give him the palm tree and to you is a palm tree in Jannah?" However, the companion in his disbelief that an orphan would complain to the Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) missed the opportunity and went away angry.

But someone else saw the opportunity, Abu Dah Daah - radi Allahu ‘anhu. He went to the Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) and asked, "Ya Rasul Allah, if I buy the tree from him and give it to the orphan shall I have that tree in Jannah?" The Messenger of Allah (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) replied, "Yes."

Abu Dah Daah chased after the companion and asked, "Would you sell that tree to me for my entire garden?" The companion answered, "Take it for there is no good in a tree that I was complained to the Prophet about."

Immediately, Abu Dah Daah went home and found his wife and children playing in the garden. "Leave the garden!" shouted Abu Dah Daah, "we’ve sold it to Allah! We’ve sold it to Allah!" Some of his children had dates in their hand and he snached the dates from them and threw them back into the garden. "We’ve sold it to Allah!"

When Abu Dah Daah was later martyred in the battle of Uhud, Rasul Allah (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) stood over his slain body and remarked, "How many shady palm trees does Abu Dah Daah now have in paradise?"

What did Abu Dah Daah lose? Dates? Bushes? Dirt? What did he gain? He gained a Jannah whose expanse is the heavens and the earth Abu Dah Daah did not miss his opportunity, and I pray to Allah (Subhanahu wa ta’ala) that we do not miss our opportunity of standing to Allah (Subhanahu wa ta’ala) on Laylatul Qadr.

Dear brothers and sisters, we do not obey, worship and revere Allah (Subhanahu wa ta’ala) in a way befitting of His Majesty.Allah (Subhanahu wa ta’ala) revealed: "No just estimate have they made of Allah, such as is due to Him. On the Day of Resurrection the whole of the earth will be but His handful, and the heavens will be rolled up in His right hand: Glory to Him! High is He above the partners they attribute to Him" (Surat al-An’aam, Ayat 91).

Everything that we have belongs to Allah (Subhanahu wa ta’ala). When someone dies we say, Inna lillaahi wa inna ilayhi raaji’oon, Indeed to Allah we belong and indeed to Him we shall return. This is not a supplication just for when a soul is lost. It is a supplication for every calamity that befalls a believer, even if his sandal were to tear. Why? Because everything belongs to Allah (Subhanahu wa ta’ala) and everything shall come back to him. Sit and try to count the blessings Allah (Subhanahu wa ta’ala) has bestowed upon you. Have you ever tried to count stars?

"And He giveth you of all that ye ask for. But if ye count the favors of Allah, never will ye be able to number them. Verily, man is given up to injustice and ingratitude" (Surat Ibrahim, Ayat 34).

We have not understood the weight of this Qur’an that we rest on our high shelves, this Noble book that was sent to give life to the dead. For even if our hearts were as solid as rock they would have crumbled to the ground in fear and hope of Allah’s (Subhanahu wa ta’ala) punishment and Mercy. Could it be that our hearts are harder than that mountain?

"Had We sent down this Qur’an on a mountain, verily, thou wouldst have seen it humble itself and split asunder in fear of Allah (Surat al-Hashr, Ayat 21).

Dear brothers and sisters, as you fill the Masajid for Qiyamul Layl in the last ten nights of Ramadan, remember what Allah (Subhanahu wa ta’ala) wants you to know:

"Know ye that Allah is strict in punishment and that Allah is Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful."

There shall be a night, some night in your life that you shall awaken in Jannah or Hell fire. Anas ibn Malik, on his deathbed, prayed to Allah, (Subhanahu wa ta’ala), "O Allah, protect from a night whose morning brings a journey to hell fire." Think about that morning.

Peace shall descend on Laylatul Qadr until the dawn. It may be that you shall leave the Masjid after Fajr one day soon forgiven by Allah, Glorious and Most High.


--
Allah, The most high says:

"And those who came after them say: ‘Our Lord! Forgive us and our brethren who have preceded us in Faith and put not in our hearts any hatred against those who have believed. Our Lord! You are indeed full of kindness, Most Merciful.”
[Qur’an 59:10]

This is a dua that we should recite often, that Allah does not place into our hearts any hatred towards any of the believers, those who have passed and those who are amongst us, as Allah favours some more than others, but this should not lead us to hate those who are more favoured.

- Explanation from tafsir ibn Kathir

'I am observing fast.'

Abu Hurairah (Radi-Allahu Anhu) reported:

The Messenger of Allah (Sall-Allahu Alaihi Wasallam) said,

"When any one of you is observing fast on a day, he should neither indulge in obscene language nor should he raise the voice; and if anyone reviles him or tries to quarrel with him he should say,'I am observing fast.'"



- Al-Bukhari and Muslim


___Commentary___

This Hadith has already been mentioned and is repeated here for its being relevant to this chapter. We learn from it that during the fasting not only food, drink and sex are prohibited but the improper use of the tongue and the other organs of the body as well. When one is observing fast, he should neither use abusive language nor talk foolishly nor tell lies nor make obscene conversation nor indulge in backbiting nor quarrel with anyone. If someone provokes him, he should keep himself quiet and remember that he is observing fast and he has to abstain from such things. As far as possible, he should keep his tongue engaged in the remembrance of Allah and recitation of the Qur'an.

Laylatul-Qadr-the most blessed night

The meaning of "Qadr" is veneration or honour, i.e. it is a night that is venerated because of its special characteristics, and because the one who stays up during this night becomes a man of honour

Laylat ul-Qadr is the most blessed night. A person who misses it has indeed missed a great amount of good. If a believing person is zealous to obey his Lord and increase the good deeds in his record, he should strive to encounter this night and to pass it in worship and obedience. If this is facilitated for him, all of his previous sins will be forgiven.


Abu Hurayrah (radhiallahu 'anhu) narrated that the Messenger (sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam) said:

"Whoever stands (in qiyaam) in Laylat ul-Qadr [and it is facilitated for him] out of faith and expectation (of Allah's reward), will have all of his previous sins forgiven." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim; the addition "and it is facilitated for him" is recorded by Ahmad from the report of 'Ubaadah Bin as-Samit; it means that he is permitted to be among the sincere worshippers during that blessed night.]