ummtaalib

Duaa for Aafiyah and Protection One should Recite the following Duaa in the Morning and Evening: اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّى أَسْأَلُكَ الْعَافِيَةَ فِى الدُّنْيَا وَالآخِرَةِ اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّى أَسْأَلُكَ الْعَفْوَ وَالْعَافِيَةَ فِى دِينِى وَدُنْيَاىَ وَأَهلِى وَمَالِى اللَّهُمَّ اسْتُرْ عَوْرَتِى وَآمِنْ رَوْعَتِى اللَّهُمَّ احْفَظْنِى مِنْ بَيْنِ يَدَىَّ وَمِنْ خَلْفِى وَعَنْ يَمِينِى وَعَنْ شِمَالِى وَمِنْ فَوْقِى وَأَعُوذُ بِعَظَمَتِكَ أَنْ أُغْتَالَ مِنْ تَحْتِى O Allah, I beg You to bless me with Aafiyah (physical and spiritual ease) in this world and the Hereafter. O Allah, I seek Your forgiveness and divine safety in my faith, my worldly conditions, my family and my belongings. O Allah, conceal my faults and protect me from my fears. O Allah, protect me from in front, from the back, from my right, from my left and from above me. And I seek protection through Your greatness that I be destroyed from beneath me (e.g. earthquake, earth sinking etc.) عن ابن عمر رضي الله عنهما قال لم يكن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يدع هؤلاء الدعوات حين يمسى وحين يصبح اللهم إنى أسألك العافية فى الدنيا والآخرة اللهم إنى أسألك العفو والعافية فى دينى ودنياى وأهلى ومالى اللهم استر عورتى وآمن روعتى اللهم احفظنى من بين يدى ومن خلفى وعن يمينى وعن شمالى ومن فوقى وأعوذ بعظمتك أن أغتال من تحتى. قال أبو داود قال وكيع يعنى الخسف (ابو داود رقم 5076) Hadhrat ibn Umar (Radhiallahu Anhuma) reports that Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) would not leave out reciting the following Duaa in the morning and evening. اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّى أَسْأَلُكَ الْعَافِيَةَ فِى الدُّنْيَا وَالآخِرَةِ اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّى أَسْأَلُكَ الْعَفْوَ وَالْعَافِيَةَ فِى دِينِى وَدُنْيَاىَ وَأَهلِى وَمَالِى اللَّهُمَّ اسْتُرْ عَوْرَتِى وَآمِنْ رَوْعَتِى اللَّهُمَّ احْفَظْنِى مِنْ بَيْنِ يَدَىَّ وَمِنْ خَلْفِى وَعَنْ يَمِينِى وَعَنْ شِمَالِى وَمِنْ فَوْقِى وَأَعُوذُ بِعَظَمَتِكَ أَنْ أُغْتَالَ مِنْ تَحْتِى

By a Muslim Convert in America 1. Practice Islam as much as you can “He who loves my Sunnah has loved me, and he who loves me will be with me in Paradise.” -The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ (Tirmidhi) As a new Muslim, you will have trouble keeping up with prayers every day, fasting during Ramadan, and the many other practices in this religion. The struggle that we face, with such a radical change in lifestyle, is difficult and will take some time. Awkward moments are bound to happen, don’t fret. You are not expected to wake up at 4am every morning to pray tahajjud (extra night prayers). If you have problems with certain practices, then gradually work yourself into the mindset of worship. A counselor once told me when I was young, “How do you eat an elephant? Just One bite at a time.” Think of it as one step at a time. Pray to Allah (swt) and ask for Him to make it easy for you and the rest will come naturally. Keeping up with your devotional practices is something that will strengthen your faith immensely. Read the Qur’an whenever possible. Find a collection of hadith, such as Riyadh us-Saliheen, and read it often. You will start to feel a connection to Allah (swt) and you will become used to Islam as a religion and way of life. 2. Respect your parents “Heaven lies under the feet of your mother.” -The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ (Ahmad, Nasa’i) Keeping up a good relationship with your family is essential. Try to avoid bringing up or taking part in controversial subjects regarding religion. This is almost unavoidable, but your parents will eventually accept that Islam is not going to turn you into a terrorist if you stay calm during these tense moments. Gradually, your parents will gain some respect and understanding of Islam and may start to become genuinely interested. This is a great sign and insha’Allah, God will make a way for them to accept Islam. What you do not want to do is act like you know everything, attempt to debate everything, or overly defend yourself in a way that might make you angry or upset. This will just cause heartache and uneasiness. Your priority now should be to work on yourself. 3. Find a teacher “For him who follows a path for seeking knowledge, Allah will ease for him the path to Paradise.” -The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ (Muslim) Finding a teacher to bounce ideas off of is a great way to learn your deen (religion). I found it is good to find someone with as much knowledge as possible who also has an understanding of the English language and American culture. It is difficult to listen to someone with a thick accent or someone with a back-home mentality. When I first accepted Islam, I would drive every day to visit my teacher and I would ask him what seemed like an endless stream of questions. Sometimes he seemed overwhelmed! This is a great way to clarify things you hear on Sheikh Youtube or Google or any part of the Qur’an you are reading at the time. This will also help you have a real grounding in the Islamic tradition. You will eventually have spent more time learning Islam than most people from Muslim families. Maintain a sense of humility if you do gain a lot of knowledge, as there will always be someone who will be more knowledgeable than you. Learn everything you can in small chunks, no one is asking you to be a scholar! 4. Keep away from debates and arguments “Verily anger spoils faith as aloe spoils honey.” -The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ (Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi) Trying to constantly defend your religion is something that will cause you a lot of stress. I remember when I first accepted Islam, it seemed like the whole world was after me. This may happen to different people at different levels, but it was a very overwhelming experience for me. The best thing to do is avoid these arguments at all costs. If you are mature about your religion and display a desire to explain yourself without refuting others, then many doors will open for you. You are bound to give someone a refreshing view of Islam, which is what so many people are hungry for after seeing Islam in such a negative light in the media. Staying away from these discussions will put you at peace and give you breathing room. A lot of converts are not really comfortable with bringing up their religion because of the backlash they receive. Personally, I recognized that if I just mention it when necessary, I get a more positive reaction. You’ll be surprised to hear “Oh that’s cool dude, what made you pick that religion?” This is always an opportunity for da’wah (inviting to Islam). 5. Gain a connection to the Arabic language “Indeed, We have sent it down as an Arabic Qur’an that you might understand.” -The Holy Qur’an, 12:2 This is one of my favorite parts of becoming a Muslim. To be honest, I’m a language-lover and I realize everyone is not the same in this regard. Just because you failed high school Spanish though doesn’t mean you will have trouble with Arabic. There are many tricks to learning the language that I won’t go into here, but there are ways to make this easier on yourself. These methods can be found online or in books; with a little research you can pave your way to gaining an understanding of Arabic. Start by learning the alphabet and connecting letters together. You can learn this in an afternoon if you know someone that is a native Arabic speaker (but go at your own pace). Sit on that for a while and eventually you will be able to follow along in the Qur’an if you listen to a recitation on your computer or MP3 player. You will start to recognize words, after which you can get into simple grammar rules. I recommend learning common nouns and prepositions first (words like “in”, “on”, “for” and “with”). Arabic can be really enjoyable, and you are bound to gain an Islamic vocabulary after listening to talks or lectures. Eventually you will know meanings of words like “furqaan” and “sajdah” and you’ll be able to use them in conversations with Muslims. Sabr (patience) is essential! 6. Understand Islam’s organic nature “Those who make things hard for themselves will be destroyed. (He said it three times.)” -The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ (Muslim) Coming to Islam will sometimes put you in a situation where you are overwhelmed with opinions that are hard to follow. As an example, one might be told that you have to wash your feet every time you make wudhu (ablution) unless you wipe over leather socks that have been worn from your previous wudhu. For most Americans, the idea of wearing leather socks is something that we find extremely unusual. If we do a little research, we find there are opinions of scholars that mention the permissibility of wiping over cotton socks (even ones with holes in them!). To an American convert, these opinions can cause a huge sigh of relief. 7. Maintain your Identity “O mankind, indeed We have created you from male and female and made you peoples and tribes that you may know one another. Indeed, the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you. Indeed, Allah is Knowing and Acquainted.” -The Holy Qur’an, 49:1 Being a Muslim is a huge part of your identity now. That doesn’t mean you can’t barbeque with your friends or watch football on Sundays. If there are things in your culture that do not directly contradict with basic Islamic creed, then you are welcome to keep those things in your life. You do not need to start wearing Arab or Indian clothing. As long as your clothes cover what they are supposed to cover, you are in the clear. Many converts are also exposed to really weird food that is overly spicy or funny tasting. This might lead us to think that eating curry is sunnah or something righteous. We can still have our own culture and tastes in food: pot roast and beans are still halal! There are many other examples of things that you will be exposed to that are from foreign cultures and do not necessarily have anything to do with Islam. Our goal as new Muslims is to worship Allah (swt), not to add a Pakistani or Arab identity to our persona. It is good to have a teacher who understands the subtleties of different opinion in fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence) and can inform you of differences among the scholars on issues that are of concern. Most people in masajid will have a very limited view of the juristic possibilities inside the Islamic tradition. Islam is a vast tradition and we should not make it small. These diverse opinions are there to help us, not cause strain on ourselves. 8. Force yourself to go to the masjid “The person who receives the greatest reward for the Salah is one who lives the farthest and has the farthest to walk.” -The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ (Bukhari, Muslim) Going on Fridays is a given, but I would also recommend trying to fit a few prayers (at least) per week in the masjid. This will open many doors for you and will insha’Allah grant many good deeds to your account. You will meet people who are connected to Islam; networking opportunities are more readily available; and you are bound to make long-lasting friends. This is one of the things that I really love about Islam, that you can almost always find people in the masjid. Although this may be hard initially, try and go to the masjid. The payoff will be huge, even if you just pray and leave right after. You will eventually warm up to the community and you can feel more comfortable going to the masjid whenever you like. 9. Find Muslim friends and avoid severing ties “On the Day of Resurrection Allah Almighty will proclaim: “Where are those who have mutual love for My Glory’s sake? Today I shall shelter them in My shade where there is no shade but Mine.” -The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ (Muslim) Saying “As-salamu ‘Alaykum” ( “Peace be upon you”) to people you see on campus or at the grocery store is a real blessing in Islam. It immediately lets people know you are Muslim and they usually will be happy to return the greeting and hopefully share a few words with you. Doors of friendship will be opened and you will meet lots of people. Try and spend some time with Muslims when you can. It is beneficial to remind yourself that you are not the only Muslim on the planet and you share your religion with almost 2 billion people around the globe. Also, don’t sever your friendships with your non-Muslim friends unless they are constantly partying or using the list of major sins as their weekend to-do list. You can be a light to your Christian, Agnostic, Jewish, or Atheist friends. You never know who Allah (swt) will guide, and showing that you are living an ethical life can encourage these people to learn a little about Islam or change their mind to having a positive view of the religion. 10. Avoid Loneliness “Islam began as something strange and will revert to being strange as it began, so give glad tidings to the strangers.” -The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ (Muslim) This is a major problem in the convert community. We are lonely. The best thing we can do to fight the feeling of loneliness is to spend as much time as possible with good company. Having dinners with people a few nights a week is a sure way to maintain a good attitude. The practice of becoming a nun or a monk is alien to Islam; we are social creatures and Islam recognizes this. Try not to lock yourself away in your apartment to avoid the world. This will just cause a vicious cycle that will cause deep depression and can lead to searching for solace in haram (unlawful). Make it an obligation on yourself to remain a sociable human being. It takes a lot of work but the result is happiness and contentment in life. 11. Stay away from extremism “And thus we have made you a just community that you will be witnesses over the people.” -The Holy Qur’an, 2:143 Most converts do not enter Islam looking for an extremist point of view. Unfortunately, we have seen some converts do end up overseas working for terrorist organizations. This is something that can happen from a person feeling victimized or ostracized by their own culture and being overcome with anger. I personally have not had a problem with anyone trying to “radicalize” me. It does happen enough though that it should be a concern. It will be best for you to keep your head on your shoulders and not get caught up with extreme points of view. Know that all of the scholars overseas and in America have absolutely refuted terrorism in their fatawa (legal rulings). Extremism is on the very edges of the Islamic thought. Do your best to stay on a middle way. 12. Do not despair “So know that victory is with patience, and relief is with distress and that with hardship comes ease.” -The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ Being a convert to Islam, you will face a lot of tribulations. There is not anything that you cannot overcome though, and never despair in Allah (swt). Allah (swt) guided to you to Islam, you searched for the answer and you found it. Be happy and constantly remind yourself of the blessings in your life. There are a lot of good things that will happen to you and you are on the straight road to Jannah (paradise). Rejoice in being Muslim. Remember the Sahabah (companions) were all converts to Islam and they were human beings that came from Adam and Eve just like you! Be strong and find comfort in your prayers and worship to Allah (swt). The first six months were the hardest for me, and insha’Allah we will all continue to grow as a convert community in America. masjideumer

To improve the Khushoo (concentration) in Salaah, the following should be done as a start: At the beginning of the Salaah, we should make a conscious intention of fulfilling the Command of Allah Ta’ala, seeking His Pleasure. Hadhrat Moulana Abdul Hamid Ishaq Saheb (daamat barakaatuhum)

Khushoo' (English) Sacred learning.org http://www.sacredlearning.org/audio/...ing_khushu.mp3

Tips on how to Develop Khushoo' (Click on picture to enlarge)

Increase your Khushoo’ by knowing that Allah responds to prayers in Suratul Faatihah The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Allaah, the Blessed and Exalted has said: ‘I have divided the prayer between Myself and My slave, into two halves, and My slave shall have what he has asked for.” When the slave says ‘Praise be to Allaah, Lord of the Worlds,’ Allaah says, ‘My slave has praised Me.’ When the slave says, ‘The Most Merciful, the Bestower of Mercy,’ Allaah says, ‘My slave has extolled me.’ When the slave says, ‘Master of the Day of Judgement,’ Allaah says, ‘My slave has glorified me.’ When the slave says, ‘It is You alone we worship and it is You alone we ask for help,’ Allaah says, ‘This is between Me and My slave, and My slave shall have what he asked for.’ When the slave says, ‘Guide us to the Straight Path, the path of those whom You have favoured, not the path of those who receive Your anger, nor of those who go astray,’ Allaah says, ‘All these are for My slave, and My slave shall have what he asked for.’” (Saheeh Muslim, Kitaab al-Salaah)

The Status Of Salah By Imam Ghazali rahimahullah It should be remembered that in Salãh, one communicates with one's Lord, therefore, one should consider how one offers his/her Salãh. Allah ta'ãlã has commanded us to establish the Salãh. Establishment means to carry out Salãh and all its constituents (including it's pre-requisite wudhoo) very carefully. Although the command will apply to the Salãh in general, however, one should be extremely particular about the following points: To accomplish the wudhoo by fulfilling all the acts of sunnah and mustahab (preferable). To recite the specific du'ãs mentioned in the Hadeeth when washing each part of the body. Also, to ensure that the clothes and the water of wudhoo are pãk (free of any impurity). But do not go out of your way regarding this, letting minor doubts bother you, as these are usually created by Shaytãn, who uses tricks like these to waste the precious time of the obedient Servants of Allah ta'ãlã. AN EXTRAORDINARY WISDOM BEHIND WUDHOO AND THE PURITY OF CLOTHES The clothes of a musalli (person performing Salãh) can be likened to the outer peel of a fruit and the body the inner layer. The heart above all is like the kernel within, and needless to say, that the object of the fruit is the kernel. Now the arrangement of all these is such that the condition of one will affect the other. Hence, the peel has to be protected in order to preserve the kernel. Similar is the case with Salãh. The soul and the heart are sure to be influenced due to the outward condition of the body and clothes. Accordingly, one will experience a unique feeling of purity and cleanliness in the heart after having performed wudhoo that was not present before it. Evidently, this is the effect of wudhoo. In conclusion, what seems to be a mere washing of arms and face isn't only a means of physical cleanliness, but a spiritual one as well. In fact, the act of wudhoo has been designed chiefly to do away with the impurities of the heart and thereby, building within, the capability to face and communicate with the Lord. THE BENEFITS OF SALÃH All the constituents of Salãh should be carried out in the correct manner, regardless of whether they are fardh, wãjib, sunnah or mustahab. One should remember that as the purity of body and clothes affect the heart, the manner in which the Salãh is performed, in general, will also have an effect. A musalli, inspite of his ignorance of the secrets and spiritual effects of Salãh, will nevertheless benefit from it. A musalli, in this context, can be likened to a sick person who, despite not knowing the ingredients and the healing properties of a medicine is cured by it. SALÃH ALSO HAS A SPIRIT AND A BODY In the transcendental world, like the tangible phenomena, the abstract too have been accorded bodies and spirits by Allah. Salãh is no exception. Each of its constituents will go to signify something. Sincerity and concentration form its spirit and the various postures, its body, with the rukoo' and sajdah being the arms and legs and the recitations of different postures will stand for the essential organs, such as the eyes and the ears. Further, to comprehend the meaning of these recitations will give the organs the senses they require, like the sense of hearing and the power of vision etc. Moreover, to offer the Salãh with calmness, humility and fear will constitute its beauty and good complexion. In short, the degree of the beauty and perfection of Salãh will be judged by the manner in which it is performed. In addition to above, there is also the Nearness of Allah that is an objective of Salãh. To make this better understood, it can be said that Salãh in the Court of Allah is like a precious gift that is being presented to a king. In this context, it would be more appropriate if we used the example of a slave maid as the gift. If, suppose, the Salãh lacked rukoo' and sajdah, it will be like presenting a lame and crippled slave maid. Similarly a Salãh performed without any recitation and zikr is like the mutilated body of a slave maid. If the recitation is present, but the musalli can hardly comprehend its meaning or is unmindful towards it, it is as if the slave maid lacks the basic senses of seeing and hearing etc. If, say, the Salãh is devoid of sincerity and concentration, it is like presenting the king with the dead body of a slave maid. The gravity of this crime of insulting the king, is not too difficult to imagine and it will be punishable only by death. What the outcome of a person gifting such a slave maid will be, is quite obvious. Perhaps, one may object by saying that when all the compulsory acts of Salãh are discharged, the 'ulamã render the Salãh valid, regardless of whether the musalli has understood the meaning of any recitation or not. The purpose, therefore, is achieved. This ultimately explains that to comprehend the meanings of the recitations, due to not having any effect on the validity of the Salãh, is not at all necessary. The point to understand here is that the 'ulamã are like physicians and doctors. No matter how frail and disabled a person is, as long as he is breathing and still alive, the doctors will not pronounce him dead. Similarly, if the major constituents of Salãh, like rukoo', sajdah and recitation are present, the 'ulamã will deem the Salãh to be valid. Their rendering it valid is undoubtedly correct, but the point to consider here is that the Salãh stands as a precious gift presented in the Royal Court and, as mentioned, a physically and mentally impaired slave maid will never do as a precious gift. In fact, this would be classed as an outright insult of the king, deserving his anger and severe punishment. Likewise, the presentation of a deficient Salãh will inevitably result in the Salãh being rejected and thrown back at the musalli's face. It should be understood that the above example has been cited only for the sake of understanding the point, otherwise there is no comparison between the Court of Allah and that of a king. In short, since the object of Salãh is to dignify and honour Allah ta'ãlã, the degree of this honour and dignity will be assessed in proportion to the perfectness of Salãh. Any deficiency in Salãh will, therefore, amount to dishonouring the Divine Being. THE SOUL AND LIMBS OF SALÃH One should be extremely particular about the soul of Salãh, i.e. sincerity and concentration. The words uttered by the tongue should penetrate the heart. Upon the utterance of the words "Allahu Akbar" (Allah is the Greatest), for instance, the heart should reflect upon the Greatness of Allah and imagine every other entity to be downright inferior in comparison. When saying the words "Alhamdulillah" (All praises are due to Allah), the heart should fill with gratitude and joyfully sing praises of the Almighty. Similarly, upon reciting the verse "Iyyãka na'budu wa-iyyãka nasta'een" (You Alone we worship, and from You Alone we seek help) the feelings of humility, weakness and inability should prevail and the Omnipotence of Allah should be predominant. The various movements and postures of Salãh should also send an impact on the heart. In the case of rukoo', for example, the heart, in harmony with the body, should also bow with humility. To sum up, it can be said that the outward and inward conditions of the body should be in total consistence, as regards the recitations and other constituents of Salãh. Another point to remember here is that the Salãh which is recorded in the Book of Deeds as creditable is only one performed with due concentration, sincerity and attention. A Salãh devoid of these factors will be unworthy of acceptance. THE METHOD OF ACQUIRING CONCENTRATION In the initial stages, it is not uncommon for anybody to suffer from digression of thoughts and lack of concentration, but one will have to be determined and show diligence, initially, in regulating one's thoughts and regaining concentration. Gradually, however, such diligence will not be required as one will begin to get accustomed and digression will soon diminish. In the meantime, one should never become frustrated due to setbacks, but continue to practice as only practice will make it perfect. Concentration should increase in every subsequent Salãh. If ever, one notices any decrease, it should be compensated, as a penalty, by offering optional (nafl) rak'ats in proportion to the ones performed without concentration. Say, for instance, out of four rak'ats of compulsory Salãh, only two or the amount of two were performed with due concentration, nafl rak'ats should be offered for as long as one acquires enough concentration to make up for the two compulsory ones. Similarly, if one has to even perform ten nafl rak'ats in order to gather sufficient concentration for a few fardh (compulsory) rak'ats, one should not desist from doing so. It may be hoped, then, that Allah, through His Grace, will accept the latter rak'ats as a recompense for the deficiency in the former ones. Source: Article compiled and printed by http://idauk.org/

Bringing Concentration in Salaah by Hazrat Maulana Yunus Patel Saheb (rahmatullah alayh) A common complaint of many who seek reformation, is their lack of concentration in Salaah, and finding themselves wanting in the spirit of Salaah. They write or ask for some prescription to bring in that spirit and that love of Allah Ta’ala through Salaah. The following guidelines will, Insha-Allah, assist in improving the quality of one’s Salaah : Men should try and reach the Musjid before the Azaan, so that they may with etiquette and ease, read the Sunnat Salaah – and this should take them about 5 minutes. In the remaining few minutes before the Fardh, make Istighfaar, Taubah, or Zikrullah, or think of the Aakhirah (the Hereafter) and accountability and presentation of one’s deeds in the Court of Allah Ta’ala. Reflect over one’s life : What if my death has to come now ? …Try and cut off from the business and worldly activities as much as possible through this little meditation and Zikr. Now comes the Fardh Salaah : Insha-Allah, by this time, much of one’s heart will be in that Salaah. Insha-Allah, with a little effort and perseverance, there will be full attention and concentration. Ladies should try and read Salaah in its early time, thus giving themselves the opportunity of making preparation for Salaah, without any haste. They too should make a little zikr before commencing with Salaah, to get into the right frame of mind. Moreover, if we give priority status to fulfilling the Rights of Allah Ta’ala, then He will assist us in fulfilling our tasks. He will grant Barakah in time so that our undertakings are completed, Insha-Allah. Condition the mind; address yourself – I am standing before the King of Kings. SubhanAllah. …I have been chosen, from millions, to converse with ‘Rabbul ‘Aalameen’ and I am being afforded the greatest honour and privilege (above millions of others), to make sujood to Allah Ta’ala… to be nearest to Allah Ta’ala. [ …If we could truly fathom the greatness of the gift, this ultimate honour, this good fortune – we would never want to leave the position of sujood.] And whilst reading the Qur`aan Sharif in Salaah (and even outside Salaah) then think : This is the Kalaam (speech) of my Allah – of my Beloved. By contemplating the meaning of the verses that you are reading, think : I am listening to the speech of Allah Ta’ala. And since you are reading His Speech, He is also listening to you … Therefore learn the meaning of the Surahs we normally recite in Salaah. It will not take long to do so, if a little is learnt every day. And think : In this Salaah, in this Tilawat, in this Zikr, in this Hamd – I have the special attention of Allah Ta’ala. I have exclusive attention because this is my ‘Me`raj’; this is my conversation and communication with the Master of the Worlds. ….What a compounded bounty – SubhanAllah : So many gifts in the gift packaged as Salaah. How can any sane thinking Muslim ever refuse such a gift In contemplating this, we will experience the beauty and sweetness and pleasure of Salaah … we will understand the Hadith in which Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) says that the coolness of his eyes is in Salaah. May Allah Ta’ala grant us the reality.

Humble your Heart Junaid رحمه الله said, "Khushoo' is the humbling of hearts to the One who knows the unseen."

Khushoo' is in the Heart The Gnostics have agreed that the seat of Khushoo' is the heart and that its fruits sprout on the limbs and they display it. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم saw a man playing with his beard while praying and remarked, "If the heart of this person was humble, so too would his limbs be." The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said, "Taqwaa is here," pointing to his breast, and he said this three times. One of the Gnostics said, "Fine conduct on the outer is a clear indication of the inward." One of them saw a person showing Khushoo' on his shoulders and body and said, "O such-and-such, Khushoo' he here," pointing to his breast, "not here," pointing to his shoulder. If the Heart is Corrupt... "The site of khushoo’ is the heart, and its effects are manifested in the physical body. The various faculties follow the heart: if the heart is corrupted by negligence or insinuating whispers from Shaytaan, the worship of the body’s faculties will also be corrupt."

Linguistically, Khushoo' means sinking, subservience, and stillness. Technically, Khushoo' refers to the heart standing before the Lord in submissiveness, subservience, and focusing on Him.

Question What is “Khushoo” and “Khuzoo” in Salaat? Answer Khushoo and Khuzoo are both Arabic words meaning concentration and humility respectively. The above two qualities are the essence and spirit of Salaat. A person performing Salaat should concentrate and show dedication in every posture of Salaat and use express humility in front of Allah. and Allah Ta’ala Knows Best Mufti Ebrahim Desai

On Intentions and Actions By Khalid Baig From Islamic perspective our actions can fall in one of three categories and our intentions have different implications for each of them. The hadith about intentions is so important, some scholars have expressed the opinion that it encompasses fully one third of Islamic teachings. Also, it is one of the most remembered and quoted ahadith and one that is frequently quoted in its original Arabic even by non-Arabic speaking Muslims. There is hardly a Muslim who has never heard it. While all this attention to its words is superb, unfortunately we have not done as much to understand its implications and let that understanding inform our actions. From Islamic perspective our actions can fall in one of three categories and our intentions have different implications for each of them. In the first category are the religiously mandatory acts or the voluntary acts of worship (like voluntary salat). In the second category are the permissible acts that include most of the mundane activities in life, like eating, drinking, sleeping, earning a living, and raising a family. The third category consists of prohibited acts. The most direct application of this hadith is to the first category. It tells us that such deeds must be performed for the sole purpose of pleasing Allah for even the slightest corruption of our motives could destroy them. The five pillars are the prime example of such deeds. For example if a person offers salat (ritual prayers) to be recognized as a pious person, he has not only destroyed his salat, he has committed the unforgivable sin of associating partners with Allah. For he was praying for the sake of others. The same is true of Hajj, and Hijra, and Jihad, and charity, etc, etc.. A believer is fully aware that this sincerity and purity of intention are his most important assets, for without them his most generous donation may bring nothing but disaster. The Qur'an explains it further through a beautiful simile. It compares the case of two persons engaged in what would appear to be identical acts of charity. Both spend money to help the needy. One does it purely for the sake of Allah; the other has the goal of getting a good name from it. "You who believe, do not cancel your acts of charity by [making] any reproach or scolding like someone who spends his money simply for people to see it while he does not believe in God and the Last Day. He may be compared to a boulder covered with some soil, which a rainstorm strikes and leaves bare. They cannot do anything with whatever they have earned. God does not guide such disbelieving folk. Those who spend their wealth seeking God's approval and to strengthen their souls may be compared to a garden on a hilltop; should a rainstorm strike it, its produce is doubled, while if a rainstorm does not strike it, then drizzle does. God is Observant of anything you do." [Al-Baqarah 2:264-265 (Translation by Irving)]. Charity is an important example because here the chances of corruption of our motives are especially high due to the very nature of the act. We deal with other people who may thank and recognize us and we may begin to love and seek that appreciation. What is more, we may brush aside any qualms by assuring ourselves that the publicity is only meant to inspire others. If we keep this background in mind, we can begin to see the now nearly routine practice of holding a fundraising dinner --- by the Muslims living in the West ---- very differently. It is obvious that this is not a Muslim institution; they borrowed it from their host countries. And they did so without much thought. For here are its underlying ideas. First, a nice dinner in a nice restaurant is a way of putting people in the mood. Second, advertising each donation is a means of inspiring others as well as rewarding the donors. Third, high-pressure techniques, like putting people on the spot, are quite productive. Each of these elements is poles apart from Islamic teachings. A Muslim gives out of concern for his hereafter, not by being lulled into giving by posh surroundings. He knows that the reward for his donation depends upon the sincerity with which it is given and not its monetary amount. He is fully aware that this sincerity and purity of intention are his most important assets, for without them his most generous donation may bring nothing but disaster. A person with such concerns would be very leery of going to a fundraising dinner with his donations. An entire community of such people would be very reluctant to hold such an event in its present form. That despite remembering, and often repeating, the words "innamal aamalu bin niyyat" (Actions depend upon intentions), the Muslim communities in the West (with the notable exception of Islamic religious schools) have shown little qualms about this borrowed fund raising practice, shows that somehow we have lost sight of its message. We can turn every moment of our life into an act of worship through a change in our intentions. In fact often times this hadith is invoked in a twisted manner; with reference to the third category of deeds (the prohibited acts), for example. When we commit a mistake, we try to assuage our guilt feelings by assuring ourselves that we meant no harm. For our failures or shortcomings, we have the satisfaction that our intentions were good. In the worst case we may interpret the hadith to suggest that the ends justify the means. We need to remember that sheer good intentions do not repair a bad act. If we do not perform our salat or sacrifice or hajj correctly, mere good intentions will not make them right. The extreme case is that of justifying a known prohibited act based on good intentions. "It is like playing games with the religion," says Maulana Manzoor Naumani. He goes on to add that such an act could tremendously add to one's burden of sin. With regard to the second category (permissible mundane acts) our intentions have a potential for turning them into acts of worship. This is also an aspect we ignore to our own loss. For here is the possibility of turning every moment of our life into an act of worship through a change in our intentions. For example, when a believer goes to his place of work with the intention of fulfilling his religious responsibility to provide for his family and earn halal living, he may be engaged in the same physical activity as the next person but his outlook is very different. And so is his reward! Through this small effort we could really be living for a higher purpose. And at a higher level. al-balagh

Fund Raising Dinners & Similar Events In the light of Islamic Shariah NO to fund-raising dinners! The reasons why… “Poor excluded” 1. The poor are excluded. Many cannot afford it. It is an exclusive affair for the rich and wealthy people. The poor are debarred from attending such functions because they may not be in a position to ‘afford the charity’ that would make them ‘eligible’ to entrance at these ‘prestigious’ fund-raising function. This is another (subtle) form of perpetuating class distinction in the Muslim Ummah – perpetuating the distance between the rich on one side and the poor on the other side. Yet Islam strongly encourages rich and poor to be together in all their Islamic activities. 2. Islam has strongly condemned those functions at which the poor are excluded. “The worst Walimah is that Walimah in which the poor are excluded and only the wealthy are present.” – Hadith of Rasullullah (sallallahu- alyhi-wasallam) “Sawaab destroyed” 3. The Sawaab of the person buying the ticket for charity is diminished because charity must be given solely for the pleasure of Allah and not any other motive – not even a for bowl of soup or a plate of food or a cup of tea! A manifest mentality of ‘give something to get something’ is at play here. This destroys the spirit and Sawaab of charity. Have people stooped so low that the only thing that will motivate them to contribute to a good and noble cause of Islam is a plate of food, few morsels and crumbs of bread?? “No sincerity” 4. The Qur’an teaches us that our motive for charity should only be the pleasure of Allah and no other gain; The true Believers say about charity: “We only feed you for the pleasure of Allah, we do not seek from you any returns or any praise” – Al-Qur’an “Way of the Kuffar” 5. Fund-raising dinners is an imitation of the ways of the disbelievers. “He who imitates the way of the disbelievers, shall be with them on the Day of Judgment” – Al-Hadith. The pious predecessors throughout the history of Islam adopted the Sunnah method of fund-raising which is both simple and full of Barakah “Pressure tactics” 6. At times pupils, parents and staff are coerced through various pressure tactics, both open and covert, to buy and sell tickets – often against their will. For fear of victimization, they give in to these pressure tactics. This is both un-Islamic and unethical “No Barakah” 7. Due to these and other factors, there is no Barakah in these functions and the contributions that come from these functions. The help of Allah moves away. This will have very adverse effects on the institution in the future The Sunnah method of fund raising 1. For guidance in this matter, we turn to the Seerah of Nabi (sallallahu-alayhi-wasallam) for answers. We find that fund-raising for a valid Islamic cause is a thing which was practiced in the very era and times of Rasulullah (sallallahu-alayhi-wasallam). On the occasion of the Battle of Tabuk, a general appeal for contributions to the cause of Allah’s mission (Jihad) was undertaken. It is on this occasion that Hazrat Abu Bakr (RA) outstripped Hazrat Umar (RA) by giving away all of his possessions for Islam. 2. On another occasion, some poor persons came to Madinah Shareef in a very poverty stricken condition. Nabi (sallallahu- alayhi-wasallam) was visibly moved by their condition and ordered the Sahabah (RA) to render them assistance by making generous contributions to towards their needs. 3. From the above, it is amply clear that the concept of contribution to the cause of Islam is not something new. It has existed from the very early days of Islam and is established from the Sunnah of Nabi Rasullullah (sallallahu- alyhi-wasallam). As such, we have a beautiful example to follow and emulate in the way of Rasulullah (sallallahu-alayhi-wasallam) even as far as this aspect of our Deen is concerned. “In essence, the Ummah must go back to the original, the traditional or Sunnah way of fund-raising” 4. From the seerah of Nabi (sallallahu-alayhi-wasallam) it is clear that fund-raising for Allah’s work was done in the most practical and sincere manner, and there is nothing to match the Sunnah way! The approach was simple and straight- forward; Nabi (sallallahu-alayhi-wasallam) would gather the Sahabah (RA) in the Masjid, address them, motivate them, recite the verses of the Qur’an to them regarding spending in the path of Allah and exhort them with various virtues. He would also lead by his own blessed example by contributing generously. This would spur the Sahabah on, young and old, men and women, who would vie with each other in contributing to Allah’s cause and reaping the rewards of the Hereafter. In this simple but effective way, Allah Ta’ala would fulfill the needs of all the missions undertaken. This traditional Sunnah method is the way that Muslims ought to follow and emulate when raising funds for a worthy Islamic cause. In essence, the Ummah must go back to the original, the traditional or Sunnah way of fund-raising (as explained earlier). This is the tried and tested method. Other forms of fund-raising contain the dangers of insincerity and being motivated by certain ‘benefits’ rather than for the pleasure of Allah and for the nobility of the cause itself. May Allah Ta’ala grant a clear and true understanding of Islamic ways at all times. Fatwa Jamiat-ul-Ulama KZN In order to raise funds for a Masjid the very activities of such an Organization should portray an Islamic image. The virtues of spending in the path of Allah (Fi Sabilillah) should be discussed urging Muslims to make voluntary financial contributions solely for the pleasure of Allah Taãla thus earning Thawaab-e-Jaariya (recurring charity) for oneself. We suggest the book Fadhaail-e-Sadaqaat by Hadhrat Sheikh-ul-Hadith, Moulana Zakariyya (Rahmatullaahi Álaihi) be consulted for this purpose. Arranging lunches/dinners in order to raise funds is a procedure adopted by the non-Muslims which has become a startling symbol to them. Contributions in lieu of lunch or any other benefit are void of the Blessings of Allah Taãla because it is not donated solely for the pleasure of Allah Taãla. Fatwa Madrasah Arabia Islamia (Darul-Uloom Azaadville) It should be borne in mind that the Sharaiah condems imitating and treading the ways of the non-muslims. In fact has even said: “Whoever imitates a nation is amongst them.” It is an undeniable fact that today the carnivals, fetes and “events” have become a hallmark of the non-muslims. Most if not all of the non-muslims private organisations have been and are using this method of raising money to fund their organisations, without which they embrace the doom of their organisations. If one looks into the annals of Islamic history, it will be noted that this was never the way of, the illustrious companions, pious predecessors and also of the general muslim public. There were many ways in which and his companions used to raise money to fund Jihaad campaigns, etc. but most definitely the fund raising events of today was not amongst them. Besides, it is events of this nature that unlimited laws of Allah Ta’aala are transgressed, of which Zina is the foremost. Merry making, family days, etc. are all in conflict with the Shariah. It is events of this nature that attract the wrath and anger of Allah Ta’aala has said, “The most loved places by Allah are the Masaajid, and the worst places according to Allah are the bazaars.” (Mishkaat P 68) It is very unfortunate that today it is the Muslims who are patronising such events for Islamic purposes and in the name of Islam. Furthermore, the primary draw card in these events is the entertainment. It is this fundamental point that adds to the transgression. One cannot argue that a person’s intention of going to such events is to contribute, donate or boost the sales of the organisation. But, if is sincere in his purpose, he would have and can donate the money without going there or/and in anonymity. In fact, if such people contributed their monies before-hand, it would have saved the Muslim organisations from stooping to such disgraceful ebb. How can such funds, derived through immoral and prohibited avenues contain Barakat? How can monies accumulated with Allah’s wrath be used to please Him? Surely this is a clear act of deception. From the above mentioned facts and explanation, we clearly understand that it is not permissible to hold such events wherein the laws of Allah Ta’aala are transgressed and which was not the way of. And that Muslims should desist from attending such events which attract Allah’s wrath. We have been Prohibited from increasing the numbers of wrongdoers and supporting them in any way. Source

asking for proof for cheating! had to smile at that : ) InshaAllah you get high grades Maryam specially since you didn't help in cheating

Reminder

The sign of pride leaving a person Hazrat Sheikh Moulana Zakariyya (Rahmatullahi Alaihi) mentioned: Once a person wrote a letter to me asking, “What is the sign that pride no longer remains with a person?” I replied that if any person finds fault with you, then you are not overcome by anger. Instead you begin to examine within your heart whether what the person has said is true or not. If after pondering and reflecting over the situation, your heart tells you that the statement the person made was correct and you suffer from that weakness, then you are immediately prepared to accept your mistake and correct yourself. If this is your condition, then this is a sign that pride has left you. However, on the converse, if after hearing the statement of that person, you are overcome by rage and anger without even taking a moment to think whether what was said was correct or not, then this is a clear sign of you having pride. (Malfoozaate Hazrat Shaikh 1/71) Ihyaaud Deen

Sunnats and Aadaab of Safr (Travelling) – Part 5 1. It is preferable for one to begin his journey on a Thursday. Hence if it is possible for one to travel on a Thursday, then one should begin his journey on a Thursday. عن كعب بن مالك رضي الله عنه قال : لقلما كان رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يخرج إذا خرج في سفر إلا يوم الخميس (بخاري رقم 2949) Hadhrat Ka’b bin Maalik (Radhiallahu Anhu) said: “It was the Mubaarak habit of Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) that generally whenever he intended embarking on a journey, he would depart on a Thursday. عن كعب بن مالك رضي الله عنه أن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم خرج يوم الخميس في غزوة تبوك وكان يحب أن يخرج يوم الخميس (بخاري رقم 2950) Hadhrat Ka’b bin Maalik (Radhiallahu Anhu) said: “Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) departed on Thursday for the battle of Tabuk, and he used to like departing on a Thursday. 2. Ensure that you have sufficient provisions for the journey e.g. petrol, spending money etc. عن ابن عباس رضي الله عنهما قال: كان أهل اليمن يَحُجون ولا يتزودون، ويقولون: نحن المتوكلون. فأنزل الله تعالى: وَتَزَوَّدُوا فَإِنَّ خَيْرَ الزَّادِ التَّقْوَى (تفسير ابن كثير) Hadhrat ibn Abbaas (Radhiallahu Anhuma) reports: “The people of Yemen used to perform Hajj without taking along provisions for the journey. They used to say that we are the “Mutawakkiloon” (Those relying solely on Allah Ta’ala and therefore not in need of taking provisions). Thereafter Allah Ta’ala revealed the verses: وَتَزَوَّدُوا فَإِنَّ خَيْرَ الزَّادِ التَّقْوَى And take your provisions (for the journey), and certainly the best provision is taqwa (self restraint). عن ابن عمر رضي الله عنهما قال: إن من كَرَم الرجل طيب زاده في السفر (تفسير ابن كثير) It is reported that Hadhrat ibn Umar (Radhiallahu Anhuma) said: “It is part of the honour and nobility of a man that he takes along sufficient provisions during his journey.

The Harm of Neglecting to Recite Durood عن حسين بن علي رضي الله عنهما قال قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه و سلم من ذكرت عنده فخطىء الصلاة علي خطىء طريق الجنة رواه الطبراني (الترغيب و الترهيب 2/507) (قال الهيثمي في مجمع الزوائد: رواه الطبراني و فيه بشير بن محمد الكندي وهو ضعيف Husain bin Ali (Radhiallahu Anhu) reports that Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said: “The one in whose presence my name is mentioned and he left out reciting durood upon me, he has left out the path leading one to Paradise يَا رَبِّ صَلِّ وَ سَلِّم دَائِمًا أَبَدًا عَلَى حَبِيبِكَ خَيرِ الخَلْقِ كُلِّهِمِ Ihyaaud Deen

Question and Answer: Q. Related to yesterday’s Q&A, I wanted to bring to your attention that there is a person who does tours to historic places and he says that he is a Mahram for those women who do not have Mahrams. Can such a person be a Mahram? (Query published as received) The basic definition of Mahram for a female is a male relative with whom marriage is permanently and perpetually Haraam (prohibited). For example, immediate relatives by blood such as one’s father, brothers, paternal and maternal uncles, nephews etc. There are other requirements for a person to qualify as a Mahram such as adulthood, trustworthiness, sanity and no potential of Fitnah etc. A person with whom marriage is permissible in Shari’ah cannot be a Mahram. A tour guide who is not related to a woman in such a manner whereby Nikah with her is permanently prohibited in the Shari’ah does not qualify as a Mahram. Claiming that he is a Mahram when he is in fact not a qualified Mahram in Shari’ah is deception and tampering with the laws of Shari’ah. Mufti Suhail Tarmahomed Fatwa Department Jamiatul Ulama (KZN) Council of Muslim Theologians 223 Alpine Road, Overport, Durban

Question Is the following hadith authentic? Backbiting is worse than adultery? Answer These words have been reported as a hadith via several very weak chains. It is therefore not suitable to quote this statement as a hadith of Nabi (sallalahu ‘alayhi wa sallam). However Imam Bayhaqi (rahimahullah) has recorded these words in Shu’abul Iman as the statement of Sufyan ibn ‘Uyaynah (rahimahullah). Hafiz Mundhiri (rahimahullah) says that this is more correct. (Targhib, vol. 3 pg. 511) The complete narration is as follows: Sufyan ibn ‘Uyaynah (rahimahullah) says: “In the sight of Allah, backbiting is worse than adultery and consuming alcohol because adultery and consuming alcohol is between you and Allah, if you repent, Allah will forgive you. However backbiting is never forgiven until the person you spoke against forgives you”. (Shu’abul Iman, hadith: 6314) This narration is suitable to be quoted as the statement of Sufyan ibn ‘Uyaynah (rahimahullah) and not as a hadith of Nabi (sallalahu ‘alayhi wa sallam). And Allah Ta’ala Knows best Verified by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomer Source

My Journey to Freedom By Sumayyah Joan It will be three years since I stood before two Muslim sisters and declared openly my belief in God (Allah) and His Messenger, Peace be upon him, and thus freeing and liberating myself from my former self-imposed bondage. Stepping out of the darkness of disbelief into the light of Islam, it’s funny that I found such freedom in the very thing that was keeping me from Islam in the first place - the hijab. Even though I get the wide gamut of strange stares, points and comments, this covering makes me feel honored, safe and cherished. The word hijab comes from the Arabic word “hajaba” meaning to hide from view or to conceal. Women who don’t reveal their beauty in this society and give in to this oppressive system, are looked upon as invisible, without sexuality and backward. Because I’m often mistaken for a nun, or terrorist, I feel the reactions to the hijab for many women, is the truest test of being a Muslim. But in reality, the hijab is easy! In instructing us to wear the hijab, Allah has given Muslim women what they can bear of injunctions and obligations. For Allah says: “And we do not lay on any soul a burden except to the extent of its ability, and with Us (God) is a Book which speaks the truth…”Qur’an 23:62 Unfortunately, Satan and his cohorts are calling the Muslim woman to enslave her to the creation, and to forget about her servitude to her Creator. Chastity, modesty and piety are deceptively marked as shackles on personal freedom. Allah Ta'ala warns the believers that they should not let Satan deceive them, as he deceived their parents, Adam and Eve. Under the guises of fashion, culture, and modernism, Satan has succeeded and is succeeding to lead the Muslim woman –and all women- into immodesty. Since the heyday of the feminist movement, there has been an increasing amount of scrutiny placed on the dress and status of Muslim women. According to these “liberated” women, the hijab not only covers the head, but also covers the mind, will and intellect. They say that our dress code is outdated and oppressive, and it stops us from being productive human beings. They speak out of ignorance when they say that our hijab does not belong in these modern times, when due to the constant decrease in moral values in the world today, circumstances make the hijab even more necessary. From the dawn of civilization, flowing dresses and headscarves have always been associated with “Godliness” or “God consciousness”. Even the Christian pictorial representation of the earlier prophets and their womenfolk bear familiar likeness to the dress ordained for Muslim men and women (e.g. Mary). This tradition of modesty is reflected in the Qur’an (7:26), wherein Allah says: “O Children of Adam! We (God) have bestowed clothing upon you to cover yourselves and as an adornment (for beauty); and the clothing of righteousness – that is best.”Qur’an 7:26 Allah enjoined hijab on the Muslim woman to protect her from harm. He knows His creation, and knows that when women make a dazzling display of themselves, with immodest clothes, perfumed bodies and made-up faces, it serves to increase the sexual deviance of the overall society. Many of those who are misguided however, would have us think that the hijab is a portable prison that restricts our minds, lives and hearts. It is none of these things, and in order not to fall victim to their plots, we must begin to understand what the hijab truly is- a source of liberation, dignity and protection. What the Hijab is... An act of Obedience to The Creator. An Act of Honour & Dignity. An act of Belief & Faith. An act of Modesty. An act of Purity. An act of Bashfulness. An act of Righteousness. A Shield. What the Hijab is NOT... It is NOT something new. Muslim women follow the example of righteous women in the past such as Mary, the mother of Jesus. It is NOT a symbol of oppression. It is NOT required in non-public places where there are only muslim females and close male relatives. It is NOT a means to restrict a woman’s freedom to express her views and opinion, or to have an education and a career. It is NOT an act of defiance, confrontation or protest to non-Muslims. It is NOT a portable prison. “Indeed, the men who submit and the women who submit, the believing men and the believing women, the obedient men and the obedient women, the truthful men and the truthful women, the patient men and the patient women, the humble men and the humble women, the charitable men and the charitable women, the fasting men and the fasting women, the men who guard their private parts and the women who do so, and the men who remember Allah often and the women who remember - Allah has prepared for them forgiveness and a mighty reward.” [Qur’an 33:35] Islaaminfo

The Importance of Good Intentions عن أبي هريرة قال قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه و سلم إنما يبعث الناس على نياتهم رواه ابن ماجه بإسناد حسن ورواه أيضا من حديث جابر إلا أنه قال يحشر الناس (الترغيب و الترهيب 1/65 Hadhrat Abu Hurayrah (Radhiallahu Anhu) reports that Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said: “People will be resurrected on the Day of Qiyaamah according to their intentions (i.e. the types of intentions and feelings of good or evil they used to entertain, they will be dealt with accordingly).

You could give her a river, & she would give you back an ocean March 27th, 2014: We prayed over my dear mother today and buried her. Tonight will be the first night in her grave. Subhan'Allah, I always wondered about this day, which will come for us all. My sister and I were talking this morning about how serene and peaceful we feel despite the chaos and cries of people around us. Perhaps it's because we saw her struggle through her illness and took care of her throughout that time, or perhaps it's because she looked so tranquil after her death, or perhaps we are at peace because she is finally at peace. But ultimately, we know it's because Allah is truly Merciful. He literally removed the sharp grief and sorrow associated with the death of a beloved mum, and kindly replaced it with calm, composure and serenity in all of us. I remember my friend talking of this when her own mother passed away, and I didn't understand it back then because I couldn't imagine losing my mother. But today I understand it very well. Allah saves a person when their world crumbles. He gives you strength at difficult times - the kind of strength that you just know is not from you but can only be from Him. And He allows your soul to soar when it is pushed over the cliff by the calamities of life. Alhamdulillah, the funeral turnout was incredibly huge. The masjid had to open up another whole building to accommodate for the large number of attendees, and there wasn't a single person who didn't have something good to say about her. When news of her death went around, you could see how it affected the community both here and abroad. She used to do a lot of good deeds in secret, and it's only now that it's all coming out because people are coming forward to speak of it. Two women couldn't stop sobbing because she was the one who brought them into the community after they felt outcasted. A grown man was crying in town saying that she helped him set up his own business and get on his two feet. Numerous couples say they are indebted to her for her great ability to reconcile between quarreling couples and rebuild broken families. Countless people back home who are in poverty weep today because she always gave to them, and made sure they had something to eat and live on. I personally remember the day I found out she had been sponsoring at least two hafidh students of knowledge (for a few years) who were too poor to continue with their Shari'ah degrees - she had tried to keep it a secret but I pushed her until she told me and wow, was I surprised seeing as though she is always giving sadaqah masha'Allah. She didn't just help people. She rebuilt lives and slowly changed communities. She did so much for others, but what she did for us is beyond my ability to tell. She was the one who facilitated all my learning. After Allah, if it wasn't for her I would never have learnt any Arabic or Qur'an or anything, let alone teach any of it. One day I decided to surprise her by calling her after I completed my hifdh of Qur'an. Wallahi, just as I stepped into class for my khatmah, I received a call on my phone. It was my mother calling to surprise *me* with a gift to go on 'Umrah for my efforts with Qur'an. She had no idea that I was finishing my khatmah and that I was planning on calling her in just an hour. But that was my mum; always a step ahead in charity, gifts, and goodwill. You could give her a river and she would give you back the ocean. I can never do justice to you dear mummy, because you will always be a million times better than anything I could ever say about you. You were my best friend and confidante, my key adviser and helper. You were our mother and so much more. You were loved by the people of this earth and I'm sure this is a sign of Allah's Love for you. May the Lord of the Worlds accept you into His Mercy this night, shower His forgiveness upon you, and prepare your grave tonight as the best of earthly abodes; spacious and filled with light. I ask Him to open the window of Paradise to you, and fill you with peace and happiness. May the Angels greet you as they greet the Prophets, truthful ones, martyrs, and righteous, and may you be accepted as one of them. "Gardens of everlasting residence; they will enter with whoever were righteous among their fathers, their spouses and their descendants. And the angels will enter upon them from every gate saying, "Salamun 'Alaikum (peace be upon you) for what you patiently endured. And excellent is the final home." [al-Ra'd: 23-24] May Allah be pleased with you, ameen. For those who asked, my mother died at the young age of 56. Source : IdealMuslimah.com

Question and Answer: Q. Russian girl recently converted to Islam. She hasn’t learned surah al –Fatihah yet and doesn’t know how to pronounce the Arabic letters correctly. How should such person perform Salah? She knows the basic movements, provisions of Salah (Ruqu, Sajdah ) , but she isn’t able recite the Surah and Dua needed for prayer. How should such people pray? (Query published as received) A. A new Muslim who does not know the Surahs and Duas should make an effort to learn the basic Surahs and Duas required in Salaah. Nevertheless, not knowing these Surahs and Duas should not prevent her from praying Salaah. Islam is easy and makes provisions for all types of people. So whilst she does not know these Surahs and Duas, she should merely perform the actions of Salaah and recite the Takbir (Allahu Akbar) when commencing the Salaah and when moving from posture to posture. In the positions where she is required to read Surahs, she should recite SubhanAllah, AlhamduliLlah, Allahu Akbar or La’ilaha illaLlah (Whichever is easier for her). Her Salaah will be valid in this manner. The Prophet of Allah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) advised his Sahabi (companion) in a similar situation: “If you know anything from the Qur’an, recite it. If not (if you have not memorized anything from the Qur’an), say Alhamdulillah, Allahu Akbar and La ilaha illaLlah” (Tirmizi, Hadith #: 302, Narrated by Rifa’ah bin Rafi’) As she learns the basic Surahs and Duas, she should implement it in her Salaah. And Allah Knows Best Mufti Suhail Tarmahomed Fatwa Department Jamiatul Ulama (KZN) Council of Muslim Theologians