The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) said, “Allah said: ‘Verily, from amongst My slaves is he whose faith cannot be rectified except by being inflicted with poverty, and were I to enrich him, it would surely corrupt him. Verily, from amongst My slaves is he whose faith cannot be rectified except by wealth and affluence, and were I to deprive him, it would surely corrupt him. Verily, from amongst My slaves is he whose faith cannot be rectified except by good health, and were I to make him sick, it would surely corrupt him. Verily, from amongst My slaves is he whose faith cannot be rectified except by disease and illness, and were I to make him healthy, it would surely corrupt him. Verily, from amongst My slaves is he who seeks worship by a certain act but I prevent that from him so that self-amazement does not enter his heart. Certainly, I run the affairs of My slaves by My Knowledge of what is in their hearts. Certainly, I am the All-Knower, All-Aware.‘” [Reported by al-Tabarani.]

Allahu Akbar

The Legacy of Al-Imam Al-A’zam Abu Hanifa (Rahimahullah) – A sign from among the Signs of Allah

A symposium by erudite scholars on the Greatest of the Imams, Nu’man bin Thabit Abu Hanifa (May Allah have Mercy on him).

Speakers include: Shaykh Ahmad Ali (Al Mahad Al Islam), Shaykh Riyadhul Haq (Al Kawthar Academy), Shaykh Zahir Mahmood (As-Suffa Insititute), Mufti Abdur Rahman ibn Yusuf Mangera (Zam Zam Academy), Mufti Ibn Adam Al Kawthari (Darul Iftaa)

DATE: 30th January 2010: TIME: 5.00pm Onwards: VENUE: THE REX CENTRE, 430 Coventry Road, Small Heath, Birmingham, B10 0UG

FREE PARKING: FREE ENTRANCE

Brothers entrance: Coventry Road
Sisters entrance: Watts Road

Sponsored By

As-Suffa Institute; Jami Masjid Small Heath; Jamiat Ulama e Britain; Masjid Uthman (Smethwick); Masjid Hamza (Moseley)

To Muslims, Jerusalem houses one of the holiest Mosques, the Masjid-al-Aqsa and represents a place of greatest religious significance. This needs to be appreciated by the West before a sincere bridge of mutual friendship is built.

Al-Aqsa Mosque

Muslims call to rule over Jerusalem is not driven by colonist, nationalist or material motives. The love of every grain in the Holy City is sacred to Muslims. Muslims respect all the Prophets revered by Judaism and Christianity and their venerated places are also central to the ethos of Islam.

To quote a few Quranic verses and sayings of Prophet Muhammad (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) with regard to Jerusalem will indicate the importance Masjid al Aqsa and therefore Jerusalem has assumed upon the Muslims hearts.

1. The miraculous journey of the holy Prophet Muhammad (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) from Makkah to Masjid al Aqsa (al Isra) and his ascension through the heavens (al Ma’araj) has linked Jerusalem to the Muslims hearts and minds. The Holy Quran states:

Glory to Allah who did take His Servant for a journey by night from the Sacred Mosque (in Makkah) to the Al-Aqsa (in Jerusalem) whose precincts We did bless (al-Isra 17: 1)

The Lord Almighty had it in His power to have taken Prophet Muhammad from Makkah straight up to the heavens. However, to impress the importance of Jerusalem upon Muslims the Prophet Muhammad (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) was first taken to Masjid al Aqsa in Jerusalem.

When the Prophet Muhammad (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) reached al Aqsa (Haram Shareef), he led prayers in congregation that was attended by all the previous Prophets Alayhis salaam. Hence Masjid al Aqsa is unique in that this is the only place on earth where all the Prophets Alayhis salaam performed Salaah in congregation.

2. The Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) Alayhis salaam who is central to all the three faiths, migrated to the land of Canaanite around 1805 BC. The Quran states:

We said, O Fire! Be thou cool and safety for Ibrahim. Then they planned against him, but We made them the greater losers. But We delivered him and (his nephew) Lot (and directed them) to the land which We have blessed for the nations (Al-Anbiyaa 1: 69-71)

3. The sacredness of Jerusalem is emphasized in numerous places in the Holy Quran. The Apostles of Allah , Muhammad (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) and also Prophet Musa (Mosses) [Alayhis salaam] alluded to it. The Holy Quran reports Prophet Musa [Alayhis salaam] telling his people:

O my people! Enter the holy land… (Al-Maida 5: 21)

Further the Holy Quran states:

(It was Our power that made) the violent (unruly) Wind flow (tamely) for Suleiman. To his order, to the land Which We had blessed… (Al-Anbiyaa 21: 81)

4. Masjid al Aqsa and therefore Jerusalem’s importance was further emphasized by the sayings of Prophet Muhammad (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam):

(a) According to Islamic teachings there are only three places to which it is desirable to undertake a journey for the purpose of Salaah. Abu Huraira [ra] is quoted as saying that Allah ’s Messenger [Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam] said,

’set out deliberately on a journey only to three mosques: this mosque of mine (in Medina), the Sacred Mosque (in Makkah) and the Masjid al Aqsa (in Jerusalem) (Bukhari & Muslim)

(b) The virtues of praying in Masjid al Aqsa are exalted:

Abu Darda [ra] is quoted as saying that the Prophet of Allah Muhammad (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) said,

a prayer in the Sacred Mosque (in Makkah) is worth 100, 000 prayers, a prayer in my mosque (in Medina) is worth 1, 000 and a prayer in Jerusalem is worth 500 prayers more than in an any other mosque. (Bukhari)

(c) The Masjid al Aqsa is the second house of prayer established on earth: Abu Dhar [ra] is quoted as saying,

I asked the beloved Prophet Muhammad (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) which was the first mosque on earth? ‘The Sacred Mosque (in Makkah),’ he said. And then which, I asked? ‘Masjid al Aqsa,’ he said. I further asked, what was the time span between the two? ‘Forty years,’ the Prophet [Alayhis salaam] replied. (Muslim)

5. The Masjid-al-Aqsa was the First Qibla (the direction to which Muslims faced when praying Salaah): The centrality, historical and cultural significance of Masjid al Aqsa is further emphasised by the fact that Muslims used to turn towards Jerusalem when they prayed. This was practiced until 16 to 17 months after hijra, when Allah commanded in His wisdom for the Muslims to face Makkah. The importance of Masjid al Aqsa remained and all the worship performed facing Masjid al Aqsa was good and valid.

6. The resting place of Prophets [Alayhis salaam] and Prophet’s companions [ra]: The land of Palestine has in it some of the noblest souls the earth has seen. The graves of many Prophet’s are in Palestine, including Ibrahim Alayhis salaam, Yakub Alayhis salaam, Ishaq [peace be upon them] and according to some commentators there are over 100 Prophets buried in Palestine.

Palestine also has the bodies of some of the closest companions of the Prophet and thus the first generation of Muslims. Included in these are the graves of Ubada ibn al Samit, Shaddad ibn Aws ibn Thabit al Ansari and Tamim al Dari [ra].

7. Merits of Performing Haj or Umrah from Masjid al Aqsa:

Umm Salamah [ra] narrates that she heard the Prophet [Alayhis salaam] saying,

‘whosoever starts his Umrah or Haj from Masjid al Aqsa his wrong actions will be forgiven, both past and future.’ In another version, he is reported to have said that Paradise would be his reward. (Targheeb)

8. Freedom of the Holy City.

After the battle of Yarmuk the Muslim forces under the command of Abu Ubaydahr lay siege to Jerusalem. The inhabitants consented to surrender on condition that the Khalifa, Umar ibn al Khattab (ra) came in person. Umar [ra] traveled to Palestine and formally received the keys to the city in 637 AD. On his arrival, he concluded the famous peace treaty with the people of Holy City. This opened the doors to the Jews, who were denied access for thousands of years and for the first time Jerusalem under Muslim rule became truly an OPEN CITY to all the three faiths.

Throughout Muslim rule of over one thousand two hundred years of Jerusalem, members of Jewish, Christianity and Islam prospered in Jerusalem. Muslim rule enabled the city to live up to its rightful title of ‘The Holy City’ as it encompassed all the believers in One God to go about their business without any hindrance.

Published by: Friends of Al-Aqsa (Islamic Invitation Centre)

Shaykh Ahmed Ali also reminds us what Al Aqsa means to the Muslims

Following on from brother Alum’s comment in my previous post I felt it right to layout the position of a couple of very respected Ullema

Taken from the Central Mosque websiteЛаптоп Магазин лаптоп

By Mufti Taqi Usmani

Q. I have read the Shabaan issue of your magazine Al-BALAGH certain questions are bothering me with regard to fasting on the 15th of Shabaan. I would like to explain the reason for this question. Several months ago a friend explained to me that there is no special significance of the fast of the 15th of Shabaan. However, he says this Hadith is absolutely weak to such an extent that one of its narrators was a person who was regarded by some scholars of Hadith as a fabricator of Hadith and a liar. Hence, he says that, until another reliable Hadith can be found the fast of the 15th of Shabaan has no special virtue. He also explained to me the following points :

(1) He has not come across any of the Fuqaha having even mentioned fasting specifically on the 15th of Shabaan; where as they have mentioned the fasts of Aashura and the six fasts of Shawwal etc.

(2) While it has been narrated in many authentic Ahadith that Rasulullah (S.A.W.) fasted for most of the month of Shabaan, this cannot be used to prove any special significance for the specific fast of the 15th of Shabaan. He told me that those Ahadith must be explained as they are i.e. for the entire month of Shabaan – not the 15th of the month.

(3) The Hadith regarding visiting the graveyard on the 15th of Shabaan is much more authentic and reliable compared to the Hadith regarding fasting on the 15th of Shabaan. However, despite this the Ulema have prohibited the people from making it a habit. Therefore, since a very great number of people observe only the fast of the 15th of Shabaan and regard it as a Sunnah, whereas the Hadith in this regard is absolutely and totally weak, the Ulema should stop the people from this also.

(4) When I suggested that what Harm, can here be if people observed this fast even if in reality it is not Sunnah or even Nafl, he stated: This is the way many Bidat have started (though this practice is not a Bid’ah). Furthermore this is a matter of “Aqeedah” and to regard something as Sunnah which in reality is not Sunnah is a very dangerous and grave matter. Hence it is necessary that either the act be proved Sunnah or else the people should be stopped from this since, if they practice, it they would do so regarding it as a Sunnah.

Hence I now wish to pose my questions.

(1) He has stated that this Hadith is “totally and absolutely weak” whereas Mufti Sahib has stated that “the Scholars of Hadith have some doubts regarding the authenticity of this Hadith.” Has he exaggerated in this claim of “totally and
absolutely weak”?

(2) is it true that one of the narrators was regarded as a fabricator and liar?

(3) Are his arguments in (1),(2),(3) and (4) above correct?

(4) On page 14 Mufti Sahib has written; “Although the scholars of Hadith have some doubts about the authenticity of this report, yet it is mentioned earlier that the fasts of the first half of Shabaan have special merits….” I have not found any narration in the article which explains the special merits of fasting in the first half of Shabaan. All the narrations deal with  the fasts of the FIRST HALF of Shabaan, please quote this for me.

(5) Mufti Sahib also stated the practice of the Salaf (elders). Who is meant by “elders”?

(6) If it is accepted that one of the narrators was accused of being a fabricator and a liar did the “Salaf” regard this Hadith as authentic “as is” i.e. despite the condition of this narrator?

(7) Mufti Sahib has stated; “therefore, it is advisable to fast on the 15th of Shabaan as an optional (nafl) fast” Most people regard this fast as “Sunnah” and not nafl. Is in incorrect to regard this fast as Sunnah?

(8) Is this Nafl fast equal to keeping a nafl fast on any other day for example, the 1st of January; whichever Islamic date that may fall on? (excepting Ramadan, the 10th of Muharram, etc)?

I hope Mufti Sahib will quickly answer these questions and remove my doubts and the doubts of many others here in this regard.

(Yousuf Desai, South Africa)

Answer

A. I am grateful to you for your question which provided me with an opportunity to revise my article and to study the subject in more detail. In fact, the fast of the 15th of Shabaan is based on a tradition reported by Sayiddna Ali. Its text runs as follows :

When the Middle Night of Shabaan arrives, you should stand (Praying) in the night and should fast in the day following it.This Hadith is recorded by Ibn Majah in his Sunan, one of the famous six books of Hadith, and also by Baihaqi in his famous book Shu’ab-al-’iman’. Both of them have reported it without any comment about its authenticity. But after a critical analysis of its chain of narrators it is found that this tradition is mainly based on the report of Abu Bakr Ibn Abi Saburah whose narrations cannot be relied upon. That is why the scholars of Hadith have declared it as a weak (da’if) tradition. However, the allegation that the narrator of this Hadith i.e. Abu Bakr ibn Abi Saburah, is a fabricator who used to coin forged traditions does not seem correct. In fact, he was mufti of Madinah, a well-known jurist and he was appointed as a qadi (Judge) of Iraq in the days of Mansur and was succeeded in this office by Imam Abu Yousuf. He was a colleague of Imam Malik.

Once Mansur, the Abbasi Caliph, asked Imam Malik referred to three names, and one of them was that of Ibn Abi Saburah. Had he been a fabricator, Imam Malik would have never referred to his name in this context. But despite his high position among the jurists, his memory was not of the standard required for the uthenticity of a tradition. That is why most of the critics of Hadith like Imam Bukhari etc. Have held him as weak, but did not declare him a fabricator. Only Imam Ahmed is reported to have remarked about him that he fabricates Hadith. But this remark alone is not sufficient to hold him as a fabricator, for two reasons: Firstly Imam Ahmed was born long after him, and his contemporary scholars never held him as such, secondly the Arabic words used by Imam Ahmed are some times used for confusing one tradition with another, and not for deliberate fabrication.

This is the reason why the majority of the scholars of Hadith have held Abu Bakr ibn Abi Saburah as a weak reporter of Hadith, but they did not declare him as a forger or fabricator. Now, coming to his tradition about the fast of the 15th Ramadan it is held by the scholars to be weak but i have not come across an authentic scholar who has treated it as a fabricated (Mawdu) Hadith. There are a number of books indicating the fabricated Ahadith, but this tradition is not included in these books as fabricated.

It is well-known that Ibn Majah consists of about twenty Ahadith held to be fabricated. The list of these fabricated AHadith is available, but the tradition in question is not included therein.

Therefore, the correct position is that this Hadith is not fabricated. However, being reported by a weak narrator, it cannot be relied upon in the matter of the injunctions of Shariah. Thus, the fast of the 15th of Shabaan cannot be termed as Sunnah or Mustahab in the strict sense of the term. Nevertheless, it may be advisable to fast in the 15th of Shabaan without taking it as Sunnah for several reasons:

Firstly it is fully established through a large number of Ahadith that the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.) has emphasized on the merits of fasting in Shabaan, and particularly in the first half of the month. The 15th day of Shabaan, being the last day of the first half, is included in the preferable days for fasting.

Secondly, the merits of the 15th night of Shabaan is established by more than a dozen Ahadith. It means that this night should be spent in prayers and other forms of worship. On the other hand, all the blessed nights which the Muslims are advised to spend in worship are generally followed by fasting on the coming day like in the Laylatul-Qadr, where fasting on the following day is obligatory, or like the first night Zilhijjah where fasting on the following days is optional, rather advisable. on this analogy, too, the 15th night of Shabaan may be followed by an optional fasting on the following day.

Thirdly, the tradition relating to the merits of fasting on 15th of Shabaan is, no doubt, a weak tradition, not competent to prove this practice to be a Sunnah or a formal Mustahabb, but it can be acted upon as a measure of precaution, provided that the practice is not taken as Sunnah or a formal Mustahabb. It is for these reasons that some Ulama and elders have been fasting on the 15th of Shabaan and have been taking it an advisable practice. It is in this context that I had mentioned this fast as advisable in my previous article. But when I revised the article after receiving your question, I now feel that the relevant paragraph may create misunderstanding and it needs clarification. I now armend it in accordance with what is stated above in this article.

Again, I am thankful to you for your letter which enabled me to revise and correct my previous article. May Allah give you the best reward for it.

Thanks to brother Alum for pointing out the issues with the Hadiths quoted in earlier post

The fast of the 15th Sha’ban, on the day immediately following the Night of Bara’ah, the 15th of Sha’ban, (tonight) it is mustahabb (advisable) to keep fast.

Tonight is a big night too inshallah, Abu Huraira (ra) reported the Prophet Muhammad as saying: Gabriel (as) came to me on the night of mid-Sha’ban and said to me: “O Muhammad, raise your head heavenwards!” I asked him: “What night is this?” and he replied: ” This is the night when Allah opens three hundred of the gates of mercy, forgiving all who do not make anything His partner . The only exceptions are those who practice sorcery or divination, are addicted to wine, or persist in usury and illicit sex; these He does not forgive until they repent.”

At a quarter of the night, Gabriel (as) came down and said: “0 Muhammad, raise your head!” So I looked up, to behold the gates of Paradise wide open. At the first gate an angel was calling: “Good news for those who bow in worship this night!” At the second gate an angel was calling: “Good news for those who prostrate themselves in worship this night!” At the third gate an angel was calling: “Good news for those who offer supplication this night!” At the fourth gate an angel was calling: “Good news for those who make remembrance this night!” At the fifth gate an angel was calling: “Good news for those who weep this night from fear of Allah !” At the sixth gate an angel was calling: “Good news for those who submit this night!” At the seventh gate an angel was calling: “Will anyone ask, that his request may be granted?” At the eighth gate an angel was calling: “Will anyone seek forgiveness, that he may be forgiven?”

I said: ” O Gabriel, how long will these gates remain open?” He replied: “From the beginning of the night until the break of dawn.” Then he said: “0 Muhammad, tonight Allah has as many slaves emancipated from the Fire as the number of woolly hairs on the flocks and herds of Kalb.”

May Allah allow us to gain the full reward for the night and day of the 15th Shabaan, amin

Abu Dhar al-Ghafari said: “The Messenger of Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wasallam) said:

‘Sadaqah is prescribed for every person every day the sun rises.’ I said: ‘O Messenger of Allah , from what do we give sadaqah if we do not possess property?’ He said: ‘The doors of sadaqah are takbir (Allahu Akbar), Subhan Allah , Alhamdulillah, La-ilaha-ilAllah, Astaghfirullah, enjoining good, forbidding evil, removing thorns, bones and stones from the paths of people, guiding the blind, listening to the deaf and dumb until you understand them, guiding a person to his object of need if you know where it is, hurrying with the strength of your legs to one in sorrow who is appealing for help, and supporting the weak with the strength of your arms. These are all the doors of sadaqah.” [Ahmad]

In other words one does not need to have financial resources to earn the reward of sadaqah. There are many deeds that qualify as sadaqah with Allah . In addition to those listed above the following ordinary courtesies are also sadaqah if we do them with the intention of pleasing Allah with them.

1. To administer justice between two people is sadaqah.
2. To assist a man upon his mount so that he may ride it is sadaqah.
3. To place his luggage on the animal is sadaqah.
4. A good word is sadaqah.
5. Every step taken toward prayer is sadaqah.
6. Your smile for your brother is sadaqah.
7. Planting anything from which a person, an animal or anything eats is sadaqah.

The words of Jesus, son of Mary (pbuh) are always filled with wisdom and deep spiritual insight

It is related that Jesus, the son of Mary (pbuh) said,

“It is of no use to know something if one does not act upon it. In truth, an abundance of knowledge only increases one
in pride if one does not act accordingly.”

On the authority of Abu Huraira (Ra) who said the Messenger of Allah (saw) prayed the morning prayer, then he faced the people and said: ‘While a man was leading a cow,he began to ride it and beat it. So the cow said to him: ‘we were not created for this, rather we were created for ploughing.’ So the people said: ‘Subhana Allaah a cow spoke!’ The Messenger of Allah (saw) said: ‘Indeed I believe this, me and Abu Bakr and Umar.’ Even though they were not present.

Prohpet Muhammad continued: ‘While a man was with some sheep, suddenly a wolf attacked them and took away one sheep from amongst them. The shepherd called the sheep as if trying to rescue it from the wolf. The wolf said to him: ‘You want to rescue it from me, so who will protect it on the day when the predatory animal comes, the day when it has no shepherd other than me.’ So the people said: ‘Subhanallah, a wolf spoke. The Messenger of Allah (saw) said: ‘Indeed I believe this, me and Abu Bakr and Umar.’ Even though they were not present.

Hafidh Ibn Hajr said: ‘It is possible that the Prophet (saw) said that due to what he knew of their overwhelming Iman and the strength of their certainty.

On the authority of Abu Huraira -(Ra)- who said the Messenger of Allah (saw) said: There was a man walking wearing a garment whose appearance impressed his own self. Allah made the ground swallow him up and he kept tumbling down into it until the Day of Judgement.’ Abu Bakr and Umar testified to it, while Abu Bakr and Umar were not present.

On the authority of Ayyoob who said: that AbdurRahmaan bin Abu Bakr said to his father (Abu Bakr): I saw you on the day of Uhud but I avoided you. So Abu Bakr said: ‘if I had seen you I would not have avoided you.’

On the authority of Umar: ‘If the Iman of Abu Bakr was weighed against the Iman of the people of the earth, the Iman of Abu Bakr would outweigh the others.’

On the authority of Aa’ishah who said: ‘I swear by Allah that Abu Bakr left drinking alcohol in pre-Islaamic times and he did not doubt in Allah after having accepted Islam.’

On the authority of Ibn Shihaab who said: ‘From the excellence of Abu Bakr is that he never ever doubted in Allah – even for an hour.’

On the authority of Bakr bin Abdullah who said: ‘Indeed the people did not prefer Abu Bakr because he would pray and fast more than them, rather they preferred him due to something his heart

I love this.  It is a very powerful animation about The Gaza Strip and how the people are trapped by Israel on all sides.  The amazing thing about animation is that it can explain complex issues easily.

Interestingly, the animator is an Israeli Jew!  He is part of an organisation that supports the Palestinians and he has his own website if you want to take a peek at his work