ummtaalib

What a blessed time of year when the glorious month of Allah connects with His sweet summer season. All this heat though, will tire us out quicker in fasting season. So, these are ten fruits of Allah (also in season) known to keep us hydrated and focused on connecting to Him. REMEMBER! The recommended amount of drinking water is 8-10 glasses per day. In Ramadan it will be a digestive challenge to drink vast amounts in short periods, particularly after breaking the fast. Top up your water shortage by eating 2-4 juicy fruits per meal for bursts of energy. Stay hydrated insha-Allah. 1. Watermelon – Hydration rating 92%. As this fruit is mostly water and sugar it's packed with essential rehydration salts magnesium, calcium, sodium and potassium so it can actually hydrate you more effectively than water. EAT IT! Blend watermelon chunks with ice and coconut palm sugar for a light Iftaar dessert. 2. Oranges - Hydration rating 87% water. Oranges are sweet and packed with more than 100% of the daily recommended value for vitamin C. Plus that citrusy perfume...! Wallahi (by Allah) I believe it's a heavenly scent. Love it. EAT IT! Squeeze fresh orange juice into chocolate drinks and cut up segments into fruit salads. 3. Berries - Strawberries rank as the 4th strongest antioxidant fruit and are made up of 92% water. Raspberries and blueberries are also at their peak during the summer. Full of vitamin C, berries are known to clear the arteries, regulate blood sugar and taste awesome. Go for organic, eat a handful each day. EAT THEM! I tend to spoil berries with whipping cream or folding into an Eton mess but you don't do that. Eat berries with cereal for Suhoor (morning meal) or as a parfait with yoghurt and granola. 4. Figs – Known as At-Teen in the Qur'an, these summer beauties are indulgent fudgy fruits with a high-output on the health scale. They're known to lower blood pressure, improve digestion, help with weight loss; even the leaves of the fig tree lower the insulin required by diabetics. As one of the world's healthiest foods, figs provide the fibre energy to keep moving and read Qur'an. EAT IT! Slice fruits with coconut milk ice cream/Kulfi, blend into a fig smoothie or make a fig chutney with some medjool dates for breaking the fast each day. See? Sunnah-approved. 5. Grapes – These hydration gems are known for their extremely high content of Resveratrol, a substance that acts as an antioxidant and is heart-friendly. Bursting water with each bite, take your pick from purple, red, black or green. One of summer’s most delicious fruits. EAT IT! Slice into fruit salads or just eat whole. One my favourite mix-ups is eating a single grape with a morsel of cheese and sprinkling of coffee granules. Sounds weird but tastes gooood! 6. Grapefruit - Hydration rating 90% water. Sweet but zingy, grapefruits contain only 30 calories and the detoxifying limonoids, which according to research, may inhibit cancer tumours. Either way, eating natural is always healthier, happier and a way of recognising Allah. Bismillah! EAT IT! Pan fry segments to caramalise grapefruit and eat with waffles. Cut a fruit in half, sprinkle with fairtrade sugar and scoop to eat with a spoon. *Warning, do not get into eyes. Ow. 7. Coconut water - Hydration rating 95%. Coconut water (not milk) is the liquid found in young green coconuts that gets absorbed as the coconut fruit matures. It has a relatively low sodium and carbohydrate content and tastes dry but refreshing. Avoid the hype around coconut water but drink it as a blessing and nourishing fruit in Ramadan. DRINK IT! Buy fresh and buy from local greengrocers. Avoid the packed cartons which tend to include preservatives for a long shelf-life and dilute the drink. 8. Cantaloupe - Hydration rating of 89%. Cantaloupe is an exceptionally good fruit for supporting energy production and the ability to keep the blood sugar stable. With all that goodness and flavour this is a top munchable fruit. That's not even a word but I stand by the fruit! EAT IT! Blend the flesh into pulp and freeze for instant sorbet, or skin and cut into chunks for a mixed watermelon/sweet melon salad. 9. Pineapple - This exceptionally juicy fruit is packed with bromelain, a mixture of compounds with potent anti-inflammatory powers. In other words, eat pineapple now and you may avoid pain meds in the future. EAT IT! Pan fry pineapple rings (without the skin) to caramalise and eat with yoghurt/ ice cream or create fruit kebabs by piercing bitesize chunks onto wooden skewers with strawberries, grapes and melon. 10. Mango - The king of the fruit jungle, mangoes provide a lot of bang for their 135 calories, and they're a good source of vitamins A, B6, and C, plus fibre. British weather is too cool to produce spectacularly sweet mangoes thus we get them imported! EAT IT! There's no need to mess with this fruit. Slice to eat or cut in a cross-cross fashion to turn out a 'hedgehog' design. Open mouth and consume. Alhamdulillah. theecomuslim

Ramadan is a month of tremendous blessings. Today it is also a time of great challenges. The challenges come from a head-on collision between Ramadan and the materialism, consumerism, and hedonism that have unfortunately engulfed Muslim societies. Approached correctly and observed diligently, the former could help us overcome the latter. In our present state of decay, the opposite seems to be happening in many cases. Ramadan’s month long intensive training program begins to teach self-discipline by rearranging our daily life. It changes the time we go to bed, the time we get up, the times we eat. We learn to do without the permissible joys of this life for the long prescribed hours of the day. After a day of fasting, we break the fast only to rush to the maghrib salat, which cannot be delayed beyond a few minutes. An hour or two later we are ready for the special nightly prayer, a unique prayer which can only be performed during Ramadan and which both highlights and cements our special relationship with the Qur’an. We stand and listen to the entire Qur’an being recited from heart in the taraweeh prayer. This is in addition to our own reading of the Qur’an that aims at finishing at least one cycle of the complete reading during the month on our own. With all the extra acts of worship, there is hardly any time left for anything beyond the essential during the day and night. This is special time, when the rewards for voluntary acts of worship equal the rewards of mandatory acts and the rewards for the latter are multiplied up to 700 times. With the scales of rewards so extraordinarily high during this month, it would be folly to waste our time on things that can be done during ordinary time --- throughout the rest of the year. The opportunity cost is just unbelievably high to do otherwise. Yet that is precisely what we manage to do in so many cases. Consider iftar, the breaking of the fast at the end of the day. A Jewish acquaintance once told me about his fast of Yum Kippur. Unlike the Islamic fasts, all Jewish fasts are a one day affair but the day is longer. It starts twenty minutes before sundown on the previous night. At the end of the fast, he said, “I went to a restaurant and ate like a pig.” With the maghrib salat and the taraweeh, the Ramadan fast does not permit that. Neither does the spirit of Ramadan permit indulgence. Yet today one can see fancy restaurants in the Muslim world offering high priced iftar dinner specials that invite you to do just that. An ad from a five star hotel in Karachi sums up the spirit of this venture: “This exquisite setting at our extravagant Marquee is the perfect venue for a genuinely fascinating and lavish buffet iftar dinner, featuring restaurant specialties and culinary delights created especially for the Holy month.” One could substitute Dubai or Jeddah or Kuala Lumpur or any other Muslim city for Karachi; the message will remain the same. Instead of turning your attention to Allah, turn it to the exquisite setting and culinary delights. Indulge. Turn the breaking of the fast into a status symbol. Exquisite (i.e. esoteric), extravagant, lavish. This is how the agents of rampant consumerism counter Ramadan’s message of simplicity, sacrifice, and self discipline. All while advertising their special regard for the holy month. To be sure, the fraction of Muslims going to these fancy restaurants is small, although it is increasing. But their influence on the society goes beyond these numbers. For they set the norms and expectations for the larger society. Lavish iftar parties for which people drive long distances and miss their prayers are an indication of these influences. In the US, the Muslim population has not reached the levels where such iftar extravaganza would be offered by the Hiltons and Marriotts here. But the underlying malaise is there, although it has different manifestations. Here, of necessity, mosques and Islamic centers also work as community centers so the problems that one sees in the bazaars and other institutions outside the mosque in Muslim countries are witnessed in the mosque here. At the larger Islamic centers, bazaars, games and gossip sessions go on during Ramadan nights --- festive social gatherings and other activities that work not to reinforce but counter the purpose and spirit of Ramadan. This, along with the pressures of the pop culture, is posing unprecedented dangers to the very nature of the forms of worship. Consider taraweeh, the special long nightly prayer that is a hallmark of Ramadan. Throughout the Muslim world Muslims stand up in these prayers to listen to the recitation of the Qur’an, leading to khatam or completion of a complete cycle of reading during the month. Everyone, young and old alike, cherishes the opportunity to take part in this very special act of worship. There is a small difference between juristic schools regarding the details of taraweeh. A majority offers twenty rakats to finish the day’s portion of Qur’anic reading. A smaller group finishes the task in eight rakats. But both groups perform the khatam. But not in the US. To be sure, here most mosques still perform the twenty rakats and perform the khatam. But there is a big difference. Here one can see the congregation shrinking considerably after the eight rakats. That is when a large number, including most of the youth, leave. As a result, for all practical purposes we can discern an emerging generational gap in the forms of taraweeh. The twenty rakats with the complete khatam are for the 'uncles'. For the youth, regardless of the fiqhi school they belong to, it is just eight rakats. We can discern an emerging generational gap in the forms of taraweeh. The twenty rakats with the complete khatam are for the 'uncles'. For the youth, regardless of the fiqhi school they belong to, it is just eight rakats. The situation is so bad that at many places officially the "youth taraweeh" (if there is any such thing in the Shariah) ends after eight rakats and the mosque administration plans other youth activities like lectures and even games at that time, even though the taraweeh continues. Having another official activity going on in the mosque at the time of congregational prayer should be unthinkable for it belittles the congregational prayer. You drop all business to attend the congregational prayer, especially when you are inside the mosque. Yet this slighting of the important act of worship of Ramadan goes on without much concern during Ramadan nights. The act is justified on the grounds of the fiqhi difference in the number of rakats of taraweeh. But there is a big difference between offering eight rakats because one is convinced that the proper number of rakats is eight and doing so because this makes for a shorter prayer time and is less tiring. For the former is actually more tiring as you stand up for longer periods for the same portion of the Qur’anic recitation as would be divided into twenty rakats. Choosing eight at a place where they offer twenty means you will be listening to about forty percent of the Qur’anic recitation. And if we are happy--- even adamant--- about this choice, what does that say about our love for and relationship with the Qur’an? The practice could be excused if a person were too old, too weak, or too tired after a long day’s work. But we are talking about young healthy people who would spend the rest of the time gossiping or other youthful activities even as the prayer goes on. Should this disregard be allowed to hide behind a technical legal cover? There are other variations of this distortion in taraweeh that cut across age groups. At some places people sit and listen to the Qur’anic recitation before the taraweeh so as to reduce the amount that would be recited in taraweeh. At other places some people just sit back and listen to the recitation without joining the prayer. With these trends, one wonders whether, if unchecked, this very important part of Ramadan will be distorted beyond recognition in a generation or so. The same observations can be made about Qiyam-ul-Lail. Ramadan nights, especially during the last third of the month, are meant to be spent in personal acts of worship, in salat, dhikr, duas, reading the Qur'an and seeking forgiveness. Instead these are spent in talks, socialization, and bazaars set up on the mosque compounds. The most solemn and demanding act of worship for Ramadan is the I'tikaaf, when a person secludes himself from the world around in a corner of the mosque to devote himself totally to remembering Allah and strengthening his personal relationship with Him. The act could provide spiritual rebirth and carries tremendous rewards. Yet today one can see laptops, cell phones, iPads, and other modern widgets routinely forming a part of the equipment of itikaf. It is an open question how can anyone realize the goals of itikaf with activities like watching videos, Internet surfing, texting, and chatting. One famous hadith states that there are those who get nothing from their fasts but hunger and thirst and nothing from their qiyam-ul-lail but sleep deprivation. While telling us about the great blessings of Ramadan, the Messenger, Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam, also warned about the possibility that it could cement our loss and wretchedness if we are not serious about taking advantage from its blessings. In one famous hadith he said that there are those who get nothing from their fasts but hunger and thirst and nothing from their qiyam-ul-lail but sleep deprivation. In another hadith he said ameen as angel Jibrael cursed the person who finds Ramadan in a state of health and yet does not use it to win freedom from the Fire through acts of devotion and worship. There can be no sterner warnings than these. We have been forewarned to be forearmed. If we pay attention to them and become serious about Ramadan, then it would be a month of tremendous blessings. This requires fasting with our whole body and soul. Our eyes, ears, tongues, and hearts should be totally committed to the fast by not seeing, hearing, or speaking haram things or thinking haram ideas. Honesty, truthfulness and Allah consciousness or taqwa should be our guiding values. We should avoid all frivolities, including the ones that are committed in the name of religion. Only then we will realize the sweetness in the acts of worship like prayers and recitation and utter foolishness of exchanging them for entertainment. This will turn Ramadan into a month of spiritual renewal that would recharge our batteries of iman and taqwa and prepare us to face the world and its temptations with moral uprightness for another year. Otherwise the blessings would have been hijacked from us. albalagh.net

Bismihi Ta’ala By Umme Faatimah (B.Dietetics Univ. of Pretoria) The modern world has swept us off our feet in so many ways… our dressing, our lifestyles and most noticeably our eating habits. We have so casually adapted the western culture of unhealthy eating, moving further and further away from the Noble teachings of the Quraan and Sunnah of The Noble Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him). Yet, the newest nutritional research continues to discover the benefits of certain foods, labelled as “Super Foods”. They have also unravelled the great benefits of certain eating habits, such as washing the hands before and after meals, eating with the hands, not drinking with meals…just to mention a few. However, all of this has already been outlined in the Holy Qur’an and Sunnah more than 1400 years ago. We are certainly the losers if we do not make an effort to practice upon the Sunnah in our homes and kitchens. What better time to bring about these changes than now? Our beautiful Deen offers us the opportunity during the beautiful month of Ramadhaan, to bring about positive changes in our lives- changes that benefit us mentally, physically and spiritually which Insha Allah (Allah Willing) can be sustained for the future. Physically, fasting gives the digestive system a much needed rest. Energy normally used for digestion is now directed to body detoxification, tissue repair and system healing. With that in mind I have chosen to highlight just a few of the favourite foods of our The Noble Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him). With the special month of Ramadhaan fast approaching, we can all ensure we have these foods on our shopping lists. InshaAllah, by us adopting the lifestyle of The Noble Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him) we will be rewarded enormously… Ameen. DATES Dates are the most mentioned fruit in the Quraan. They are high in energy, fibre, iron, vitamins and minerals. The Noble Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him)said: “ The home with no dates is like the home with no food”.(Hadith- Sahih Muslim) The Noble Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him)used to break his fast with fresh dates and a few sips of water. If he did not find fresh dates, he would use dried dates. He (pbuh) said: “When one of you breaks the fast let him do so with dates, for they are a blessing and if he cannot find dates then with water for it is a purification” (Hadith-Tirmidhi) He often consumed dates with cucumber, butter, cream or bread. A dessert called “Haisa” made with ghee (butter), dates, cheese and yoghurt was also prepared. Tips: At iftaar (breaking fast) time, dates can also be used to prepare date milkshakes, date chutney, date desserts as well as sprinkled over salads. For sehri (pre-dawn meal), dates can be used as a softened spread over bread or added into muffins, rusks etc. OLIVE OIL Dieticians and nutritionist the world over have been advocating the use of olive oil for its excellent cardio-protective, anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. Ongoing research is revealing more and more great benefits on the consumption and application of olive oil. The Noble Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him)said: “Eat the olive and use it as an ointment as it comes from a blessed tree”.(Hadith-Tirmidhi) Tips: During Ramadhaan, olive oil is best used raw as a dip for breads or as a salad dressing. The lighter olive oils are well suited for cooking and baking purposes. Whole olives can be added to salads as well as de-pitted and added to breads, muffins, pies and pizzas. BARLEY A recent Readers Digest article highlighted barley as one of the five healthiest foods we tend not to eat. Yet it was barley that was one of the staple foods in the diet of our The Noble Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him). Modern research is discovering that barley has a very high soluble- fibre content. This helps to keep the arteries clear and healthy. It has an extremely low glycaemic index (GI), which means it takes a longer time to digest, keeping one fuller for longer. It is mentioned that The Noble Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him) consumed barley in the following ways: SAWIQ – a coarse broth prepared from ground wheat and barley - very much like a haleem (soup) THARID – Barley bread covered in gravy cooked with meat TALBEENAH – A porridge prepared using barley and milk A Hadith in Mishkaat narrates that The Noble Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him)never used sifted flour in his lifetime. We should take lesson from this, as we are all moving to consuming more refined and processed foods where all the beneficial nutrients have been stripped off. Allah SWT mentions in the Holy Quraan grains with their husks, amongst His many gifts to us. Un-sifted flour as used by The Noble Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him)contains all the valuable nutrients found in the bran and germ layers and has a lower GI. Tips: During Ramadhaan, barley can be added to soups and broths or prepared as a drink by boiling and straining mixture. A hadith in Bukhari mentions that The Noble Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him) consumed “Sawiq” at iftaar. Barley flour can be used for preparing breads and rotis. Substitute 1.5 cups barley flour for every 3 cups regular flour. Cereals containing barley flakes like muesli can be purchased, or barley flakes can be added to biscuits, muffins, breads and other cereals. Barley can be prepared as a filling porridge for sehri -Talbeenah. Soak 1-2 tablespoons whole barley overnight in a flask filled with rapidly boiling water. At sehri time, strain water out and prepare porridge with honey and milk. (Store bought “pearled barley” has been polished with some of the bran layer removed). HONEY Modern research has been abuzz with the myriad of health benefits associated with honey- anti-inflammatory, immune boosting, energising tonic….to name a few.Our beautiful Deen has encouraged the use of honey 1400 years ago. The Holy Quraan mentions“there comes forth from the bee’s belly, a drink of varying colours, wherin is a healing for men”.(Qur’an 16:68-69) The Noble Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him) further said “ Make use of two cures- honey and the Quraan”(Hadith-Ibn Majah) The Noble Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him) loved drinks that were sweet and cold and often consumed honey water. Tips: Honey can be used to sweeten items like tea, fresh juices, milk drinks and cereals etc. Raw honey which is thicker and creamier has a lower GI, and can be mixed with cinnamon and used as a spread on toast for sehri. GRAPES AND RAISINS Grapes have been found to contain resveratrol- a powerful antioxidant that protects the body on a cellular level from damage. The seeds are rich in flavonoids which lower the risk of fatty plaque accumulation on the lining of blood vessels to the heart. The Noble Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him) loved eating grapes. Hadith in Abu Dawood mentions The Noble Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him )often consumed a drink “Nabeez”- prepared from soaked raisins. Nabeez can be prepared by soaking raisins after Esha (evening) prayer in clean water covered with a plate. The following morning the water can be drunk and the soaked fruit eaten or just use the blender to obtain a beautiful cloudy Nabeez. And, if you soak in the morning, drink in the evening. Nabeez should be consumed within twelve hours of soaking to prevent fermentation. Tips: Nabeez or fresh grape juice can be prepared as a drink after Taraweeh (evening prayer in Ramadaan). Grapes can be served as part of salad or dessert. Raisins eaten with nuts can be enjoyed as a healthy munch after taraweeh salaat. The Sunnah way of eating is the healthy way of eating. InshaAllah, let us all strive to revive and bring alive the Sunnahs of The Noble Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him) in our homes this Ramadhaan. I have highlighted just a few. Make an intention to eat on the floor, share eating utensils and to fill a third of your stomach with water, a third with food and a third left for air. Besides the immense health benefits outlined above our greatest rewards really lie in following the Sunnah, as it comes in Hadith mentioned by The Noble Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him): “ The person who follows my Sunnah is the one who truly loves me, and will be with me in Jannah” (Hadith-Tirmidhi) Allah Ta’ala said to His Messenger (pbuh)“Say (to mankind), if you love Allah, follow me – Allah will love you and forgive your sins.” (Qur’an:3: 31) Wishing you all healthy eating, the Sunnah way………………….Ramadhaan Mubarak! eislam

Tired? Energy Booster Once Faatimah (radiyallahu anha) had requested Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) for a slave (servant) to assist her with all the difficult chores of the home. Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said to her and Ali (radiyallah anhu): “Should I not show you something better than what you asked for? When you retire to your bed, recite Subhanallah 33 times, Alhamdulillah 33 times and Allahu-Akbar 34 times. This is better for you than a servant” (Saheeh Bukhari #3705). Faatimah (radiyallahu anha) was the beloved daughter of Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam). She is the leader of all the women of paradise. Despite all her virtue she never took it as below her dignity to carry out the domestic work. She used to grind the grain herself which caused corns on her hand. She carried water for the house in a leather bag which left a mark on her chest. She cleaned the house herself which made her clothes dirty (Sifatus Safwah vol. 1, pg. 310). Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) taught her these tasbeehaat instead of providing her a servant to help her. The Scholars of hadeeth deduce from this that the recitation of these tasbeehaat before going to bed, apart from the spiritual benefit, will be a means of gaining physical strength which will make it easy for one to accomplish one’s daily tasks. From the time that Ali (radiyallah anhu) was given this prescription, he says that he never missed reciting them a single night, even on the night of a severe battle when he was the commander of the army (Saheeh Muslim #6917). Let us also practice on this. Recite these tasbeehaat every night and derive the immense benefits in this world and the hereafter. Uswatulmsulimah.co.za

Hadhrat Shuhra Bin Jausab (RA) says, “I asked Umm-e-Salma (RA), ‘What was Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wassallam)’s most often read/repeated du’a in his house?’” She replied that Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) used to read: يا مقلب القلوب ثبت قلبي علي دينك Transliteration: “Ya muqallibal quloob thabbit qalbi ‘ala deenik.” Translation: “Oh Controller of hearts! Make my heart firm on Your Deen.” (Jawaahir ul Bukhari, pg. 571)

Whilst holding a talk about the love of Rasulullah صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم and the importance of practicing upon his Sunnah, Faqihul Ummah Hadhrat Hajji Farooqi Sahab (rahimullah ta’ala) speaks about the phrase of ‘reviving the Sunnah’: “It gets commonly said ['to revive the Sunnah'], but actually the person practicing upon Sunnah himself becomes alive through the Sunnah, because Sunnah is alive and will always stay alive. Sunnah is not dead, we have because of our misdeeds left the Sunnah and have left no connection to Sunnah with us, we have weakened Ta’aluq bi’Sunnah. That’s why this [phrase] gets uttered, but in reality we are dead and if we practice upon Sunnah then through the blessings of these practices we will become alive Source

Hadhrat Mufti Taqi Usmani مدظلہ relates the following incident: Once Hadhrat Hakeemul-Ummah Ashraf Ali Thanvi رحمۃ اللہ علیہ was compelled by circumstances to take food sitting round a dining table and chairs. Hadhrat Thanvi رحمۃ اللہ علیہ admitted that eating on table and chair was not unlawful, yet it had some similarity to the methode of eating adopted by the English infidels. In order to avoid this similarity Hadhrat Thanvi رحمۃ اللہ علیہ ate his food on the Table placing his legs on the chair. In this way he eliminated the possibility of similarity to the English style of eating. Anyway, it is quite lawful to take food sitting round dining tables and chairs. There is no sin involved in it. It should, however, be noted that the nearer a man’s actions are to the Sunnah, the greater will be the blessing in the actions and the reward for them. It is not good to make it a regular habit to eat sitting round dining tables and chairs unnecessarily. It is better to eat sitting on the ground as far as possible. The dining table and chair may be used for this purpose only in very compelling circumstances. One must take care not to support his back against something while eating. He should stoop the body forward. The Holy Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ و الہ وسلم has declared it a style of the arrogant to take food while supporting the back against something. This style must be avoided. [Jamiah Masjid Baitul Mukarram; 22nd July, 1993] Source

The following answer was given by Faqihul Ummah Hadhrat Mufti Mahmood Gangohi (rahmatullah alayhi) to the question why Surah Taubah has no Bismillah at the beginning. When Hadrat Uthman رضى الله عنه was asked why there was no bismillah at the beginning of Surah al-Tawba like how there is bismillah at the beginning of other surahs, he replied that there was some doubt as to this surah being a separate surah, because Nabi صلى الله عليه و سلم passed away without explicitly mentioning anything regarding it. This is why Bismillah was not written at the beginning of Surah Taubah. However, since its subject-matter is similar to that of Surah Anfal, it was placed after it and a space for Bismillah has been kept because it is possible that this is a separate surah. (Tirmizi, Vol 2, Pg.139) In Bukhari Shareef (Vol 2,Pg 271) it is mentioned that this surah was revealed to cancel the peace treaty. In it appears the command of killing the mushrikeen (polytheists) and the expression of Allah Ta`ala’s anger over them. Therefore, Bismillah was not written at the beginning of the surah since Bismillah signifies peace and mercy. It appears in Shaatbi: لتنزيلها بالسيف لست مبسملا (Bismillah does not appear at the beginning of this surah, because it was revealed in connection to war.) This is not the actual reason though it is a point to consider. The actual reason is that which is narrated from Hadrat Uthman رضى الله عنه (Bayanul Qur’an, Vol 4, Pg 95) Source

Ramadhaan and the Tilaa-wah of the Qur’aan & Other Advices for Ramadhaan taken from "Faza'il-e-Ramadhan" by Shaikhul Hadith Maulana Zakariyya Kanadhalvi (Rahimullah Ta'ala)] The reason for mentioning the manner in which these saintly ones spent their Ramadhaan is not that we may just read without deriving any benefit or pass a casual remark. It is written with the object that we in our way may build up courage and to the best of our ability endeavor to copy and follow their noble examples. Every pious elders programme had its particular specialty. How wonderful would it be if those who are not forced by worldly necessities try their utmost to mend their religious life in this one month after having allowed eleven months of the year go by to destroy themselves. As for those who have to be in their offices and be present at eight, nine or ten in the morning, what difficulty will it be for them if they at least in Ramadhaan, spend the time from Fajr until their hours of employment in reciting the Qur’aan. After all our worldly needs we do find time in spite of office hours. For those engaged in farming, who normally are not bound to others nothing prevents them from reciting the Qur’aan on their farm or adjusting their daily routine. Then come the businessmen, shopkeepers and merchants. Nothing prevents them in Ramadhaan from reciting their Qur’aan during their shop hours or cutting short trading time in order to make time for recitation thereof. After all there is very strong link between Ramadhaan and the Tilaa-wah of the Qur’aan. Almost all Allah’s great scriptures were revealed in this month. Similarly, in this month the Qur’aan was brought down from the Lowhul Mahfoozh to the Samaa’ud Dunyaa, from where it was revealed bit by bit to Rasulullah (SAW) in a span of twenty three years. Nabi Ibrahim (A.S.) received his scriptures on the first and third of this sacred month. Nabi Dawood (A.S.) received the Zaboor on the twelfth or eighteenth. Nabi Moosa (A.S.) received his Towrah on the sixth. Nabi Essa (A.S.) received the Injeel on the twelfth or thirteenth. From this we note the great connection between the divine scriptures and the month of Ramadhaan. For this reason, as much ti-laawah of the Qur’aan as possible should be made during this month. Such was the habit of our saints. Jibraeel (A.S.) used to recite the whole Qur’aan to our Nabi Muhammad (SAW) in the month of Ramadhaan. In some reports it is stated that Rasulullah (SAW) used to recite and he (Jibraeel) used to listen. From joining these reports the ‘ulama have said that it is mustahab to read the Qur’aan in such a manner that while one recites the other listens. Thereafter another recites while others listen. So recite the Qur’aan as much as possible. Whatever time remains thereafter should not be wasted. Rasulullah (SAW) drew our attention to four more things and advised that we should practice them as much as possible. They are the recitation of Kalimah ‘Tayyibah, Istighfaar, begging for Jannah and seeking refuge from Ja-hannam. Therefore it must be regarded an honour to spend as much as available in these recitations. This will be the true appreciation of the teachings of Rasulullah (SAW). What is so difficult about keeping the tongue busy with the recitation of Durood (‘salawaat) or Laa ilaaha illallaah while being engaged in our daily tasks? In the same Hadith Rasulullah (SAW) said a few more things, Ramadhaan is the month of patience. Hence even if great difficulty is experienced in fasting one should bear it with patience. One should not complain as people are fond of doing during hot days. If by chance sehri is missed then lamentations begin early in the day. Similarly, should difficulty be experienced at the same time of Taraweeh, it too should be borne with patience. Do not consider it a great calamity or trial, otherwise these deeds may be void of blessings. When we turn our backs on worldly things, forsake our very eating and drinking, then in the face of Allah’s pleasure what are these difficulties? Source

Bi Safiyyah – Mother of Maulana Ilyas Dehlvi Bi Saffiyah was an excellent reciter and memoriser of the Holy Qur’an. She had memorised the Holy Book during her son Yahya’s suckling and she had a command on memory that few could stand to contest. She had the habit of going through the Qur’an Al-Majid once daily during the month of Ramadan and thus would complete 30 repititions of the Noble Book. It was also her practice to perform the household duties and the recitation simultaneously. Her daily practice other than Ramadan was that she would recite: Durood shareef 5000 times Ism Dhat (One of Allahs names chosen on the virtue of its meaning) 5000 times بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم (in the name of Allah, the Gracious, the Merciful) 900 times يا مغنى (O Enricher, Provider to His slaves) 1100 tiimes استغفار (I beg Thine pardon, Mighty Lord) 500 times حسبى الله ونعم الوكيل (Allah sufficeth me! Most excellent is He in whom we trust) 500 times سبحان الله (Glory be to Allah) 200 times الحمد للله (Praise be to Allah) 200 times لااله الا الله (There is no God but Allah) 200 times الله اكبر (Allah is the Greatest) 200 times افوض امر الى الله (I confide my cause unto Allah) 100 times حسبنا الله ونعم الوكيل (Allah is sufficient for us, Most excellent is He in whom we trust) 100 times رب انى مغلوب فانتصر (My Lord, I am vanquished, so give me help) 100 times رب انى مسنى الضر وانت ارحم الراحمين (My Lord, Lo adversity afficeth me, and thou are Most Merciful of all who show mercy) 100 times لااله الا انت سبحنك انى كنت من الظلمين (There is no God save Thee, Be Thou Glorified! Lo! I have been a wrong doer) 100 times and, moreover she would recite some part of the Holy Qur’an. Source: Leading Ladies, who made a difference in the lives of others Subhanallah such an amazing example of a Pious Woman from Modern history, not only did she engage in Dhikr of Allah, but she would also fulfill her household chores and reared her children with an islamic upbringing. May Allah give us the ability to tread in the footsteps of our pious predecessors, generate the love of Allah in our hearts, obtain nearness to our Lord and live our lives in accoradance to the Shariah. Ameen HaqqIslam

Being deprived of the blessings of Ramadhaan An important passage from the Book – Tohfa Mah e Ramzan by Shaikh ul Arab wal Ajam, Arif Billah Hazrat Maulana Shah Hakeem Muhammad Akhtar Saheb (db). There are 2 major spiritual diseases which restrict us from the Blessings of Ramazan 1. Evil Glances (Badnazri) 2. Backbiting (Gheebat) May Allah Ta’ala save whole muslim nation from all such diseases

1. As far as possible, there should be at least two people together when undertaking any journey. Travelling alone should be avoided. However, in extreme necessity there is no harm. ( Fathul-Baari-Vol- 6,pg. 53) 2. When one has placed one’s foot in the stirrup of one’s conveyance and is about to mount it, one should say ( ). (Tirmidhi) 3. After settling down on the conveyance say: () thrice and thereafter recite the following dua: (Muslim , Tirmidhi) Trans: Glory be to the one who has subjugated this for us whereas we were not able to subjugate it on our own. And we will certainly be returning to our Lord. 4. Thereafter recite the following dua: (Muslim , Hisne Haseen) Trans: O Allah make this journey easy for us and shorten the length of the journey as well. O Allah, You are our companion on this journey and the Protector of our household. O Allah, I seek Your protection from the hardship of travel, from witnessing a terrible sight and from finding an evil condition having befallen my family, wealth and children upon my return. 5. When the need arises to stop along the way, the Sunnat is to move to the side of the road. Do not camp in the middle of the road whereby the paths of others are blocked and they experience inconvenience thereby. (Muslim- Vol.2, pg.144) 6. When ascending any high place one should say (Bukhari- pg. 420) 7. When descending to any place, one should say (Bukhari) 8. Note: It is mentioned in Mirqaat that this is a Sunnat of travelling. However, when one is ascending the stairs of his house or Masjid, then he should begin with his right foot and say even though it is only one stair. At the time of descending, begin with the left leg and recite although it is only a small decline. There is hope that one will recieve the reward of practising on a Sunnat. Mulla Ali Qari () has mentioned the wisdom in saying at the time of ascension, that although apperently we are going higher but O Allah ! we are not high. Highness and greatness are only for you. While descending, a person says because we are low and O Allah! You are free from lowness. 9. When the town of one’s destination comes into view, then recite this dua: Trans: O Allah, grant us barakah (blessings) from this town. When entering the town recite this dua. Trans: O Allah, grant us sustenance of this place. Make us beloved to the people of this place and make the pious people of this place beloved to us. 10. Rasullulah () has mentioned that when the purpose for which one had undertaken the journey has been accomplished, one should return home immediately. It is not advisable to remain on a journey for no reason. (Bukhari-pg.421) 11. When returning after many days from a lengthy journey, and one arrives home when a great portion of the night has passed, then he should not immediately enter his home. Rather it is better to go the next morning. (Mishkaat, pg.339) 12. If the family is aware of your late arrival and is expecting you, then there is no harm in going home immediately. (Mirkaat- Vol.7,pg.338 ) 13. By practising these Sunnats one will recieve the benefits in this world and the Hereafter. 14. It is forbidden to take a dog along on the journey or to keep bells, since Shaytaan follows such a person and the blessings of the journey are lost.(Muslim- Vol.1, pg.202) 15. Upon returning from a journey, it is Sunnat to first go to the Masjid, perform two raakats of Salaah and thereafter enter the home. (Mishkaat) 16. When returning from a journey recite this dua: (Muslim,Tirmidhi) Trans: “We are returning (home) with repentence, utmost humility and praising our Lord.” Source: Beautiful Sunnah of Beloved Nabi (saw) | Urdu: Pyare Nabi (saw) ki pyari sunnatain

Excerpt from: What is the Reality of Tasawwuf By: Shaikh ul Arab wal Ajam Hazrat Maulana Shah Hakeem Muhammad Akhtar Saheb (ra) Just this morning, Allah Ta’ala inspired my heart with an incredible topic that, ‘who is the true mureed?’ The true mureed is the one whose muraad (aim and objective) is Allah Ta’ala. Now, who is the true Shaikh? The true Shaikh is the one who guides his mureed to his desired objective. He supplicates to Allah Ta’ala and cries from the depths of his heart on his behalf. This is true TASAWWUF. Therefore, the true mureed is the one whose muraad (objective) is the Being of Allah Ta’ala. This verse of the Qur’aan Shareef: (They desire Him) declares that the real objective of the true lovers of Allah Ta’ala is the Being of Allah Ta’ala. Thus, every mureed should take stock of himself in the light of this verse whether he is a true mureed or not? If our muraad is truly the Being of Allah Ta’ala then we will never look at ghairullah. As for that mureed who casts evil glances, and looks at ghairullah, then know that his intention is still deficient and he is still not fully matured. The kabab of his Nisbah is still raw. Whomsoever eats raw kabab will be tasteless and others who associate with him will also remain without taste. It is not possible that a true Allah-Wala has the love of the world and ghairullah in his heart. The question now arises as to who is a true Allah-Wala? The true Allah-Wala is the one who makes every possible effort to attain Allah Ta’ala and exerts himself in guiding his mureeds so that they may attain the same. He should not be treading the path alone because the guide who treads the path alone and overlooks his mureeds is not a complete guide. On the other hand, a complete guide is the one who treads the path of Allah Ta’ala himself and is also considerate of those traveling with him. He continuously says to himself, ‘let it not be that they have lost their way.’ Thus, the true guide is the one who travels while keeping his companions also in mind. So have you now understood what true peeri-mureedi is? That peeri-mureedi relationship which has become so commonly misunderstood is due to fake peers who, for the sake of mere worldly gain, teach a few wazifas to their mureeds but do not teach them how to live a life of piety. The mureeds of such peers always remain like raw kababs their whole life. On the other hand, there are other peers who are genuine Auliya. They continue to guide their mureeds on to the path of Allah with sincerity and heart-felt pain. However, it may also be that some of their mureeds do not pay heed to the advice of their Shaikh. Thus they remain raw and deficient their entire life as well. This is their condition because he who flees from undergoing hardships and does not tolerate the pain of safeguarding his eyes and abstaining from sins, and he who does not undergo the grief of fighting his unlawful desires, then he is, in fact, prepared to bear the grief of separation from Allah Ta’ala. Such a person will always remain raw and deficient. Neither will he attain the enjoyment of life nor will anyone else become intoxicated by his fragrance. Understand this properly! He who does not bear the pain of the path of Allah Ta’ala, will never attain Allah Ta’ala! In order for us to be able to tolerate such pain, Allah Ta’ala has revealed La Ilaaha before Illallah . In this way He is indicating that we must bear the grief of abstaining from ghairullah; only then will we attain nothing except Allah. Concerning this I have composed a couplet: La Ilaaha comes first in the Kalimah of Unity, When all besides HAQ vanishes, then only does HAQ come. Ghairullah will destroy you, and you will attain nothing from them. What will these temporary beauties give you? When they do not posses any power over their own safety and well being then how can they guarantee safety and well-being for you? Leaving Allah for ghairullah is the height of foolishness. For how long will you continue with such nonsense? After all, there must be a limit. When beauty fades away, then you choose to flee from it but for how long will you continue to flee in this manner? Why did you not flee from that which you were commanded to flee at the very moment that you were commanded to do so? This is the meaning of ‘’. It is to flee from ghairullah, including all acts of disobedience, towards Allah. Khanqah.org

By Abdur Rahmaan Umar “Am I ready? You really asking me... am I ready!” exclaimed Farida, her boisterous voice filling the kitchen. She hastily dusted her hands on her well-worn apron, scattering little foggy clouds of flour around her and grabbed Aneesa’s wrist, her plump hand going almost twice around the young girls’ wrist. “Come, come! Let me show you how ready I am,” she boomed, half dragging the delicate Aneesa out of the kitchen in to what was once a balcony now converted to accommodate two large freezers. Farida triumphantly opened the doors to a freezer stacked with plastic containers, all neatly labeled. “See, my child, I am so ready. There we go – samoosas… chicken, mutton, vegetable, jalapeno and even tuna samoosas. And then, I have kebabs, spring-rolls and moons….vegetable and potato cutlets…pies of every kind. This time I’m ready!” She ceremoniously closed the doors of the freezers, puzzled by the unimpressed look on Aneesa’s face. “Er…aunty,” began Aneesa feebly, rubbing her wrist, “That’s not what I meant…” “I know,” said Farida, who reached out for Aneesa’s wrists, but they were cautiously tucked away behind her back, “You want to see what else I got…..” “Come, come,” she said, rushing back into the kitchen to the corner where another tall freezer hummed noisily. Whipping open the doors, she announced, “Chicken corn soup, vegetable soup, haleem (soup), pizzas, marinated chicken fillets …..you name it my darling, and I have it all ready” Farida didn’t hear her niece’s protestations about that’s not what she meant, she continued: “You remember that dua you taught me…remember?” Aneesa shook her head in silent defeat. “Allahuma baarik lana fi Rajab, wa Shabaan,wa balligna Ramadaan(Oh Allah bless in Rajab and Sha’baan and allow to reach Ramadaan), see I know it so well. I recited it all the time and Allah Ta'ala gave me sooo much Barakah (Blrssings),” she said, stretching her chubby arms out wide, “and I got all this done.” “Last year was just too terrible,” Farida lamented, tucking a few stray greying strands of hair under her scarf, “In the last ten days of Ramadaan we were out of samoosas and chicken pies, and my poor Yusuf had to do without his favourites. But not this year! This time I’m so ready for Ramadaan.” Exasperated Aneesa held her aunt’s hefty hand in both her palms and said firmly, “No, no aunty….that’s not what I meant!” Farida looked at her baffled and confused. Scratching her head she whispered, “Then what? What else is there to be ready for Ramadaan?” “Yourself!” exclaimed Aneesa. “Yourself? Myself? How do I prepare myself for Ramadaan?” “Have you thought about how much Qur’an would you read each day, or how much time will you spend making dua, or how will you plan your days?” Aneesa asked. Farida looked at her sheepishly and popped a freshly fried Bhajia(chilli bite) into her mouth, “No, not really…I’m so busy with all this that I don’t even have time to think about that.” “This is the real preparation of Ramadaan!” Aneesa explained. “Last week Sheikh Hamaad was explaining that The Messenger of Allah( Peace be upon him) would increase his efforts before Ramadaan. He would fast more. Saayidah Aisha (RA) said she never witnessed him fasting as much as he did in Shabaan in preparation for the month of Ramadaan and Sheikh quoted a hadith of Umme Salamah (RA) : That she did not see The Messenger of Allah( Sallalahu Alaihi wasallam) Fasting two consecutive months except for Sha'ban and Ramadan." Farida diverted her attention only to dip another bhajia into the red chilli sauce and pop it into her mouth. Aneesa looked at the flowery plaque on the wall that read “Never trust a thin cook” and suppressed a smile. “Sheikh explained just how valuable this month is,” continued Aneesa gently pushing away the plate of tantalizingly hot bhajias, “That an obligatory or Fardh act in the month of Ramadaan has the reward of seventy such acts and a Nafl (Voluntary)act to gain closeness to Allah Ta'ala will get the reward of an obligatory, Fardh, act. So there’s no time to waste in this month. He explained we have to make the best of every moment of this precious month” “Eat, child!” said Farida, pushing the plate close to Aneesa, “You’re so thin.” Aneesa eyed the bhajias and continued, “He even told us how the pious people would spend their Ramadaan. He gave us so many examples but I only remember the on about Sheikh Abdur Rahim (rahmatullahi alaihi), who would spend his entire day in the recitation of Quran, he would not even meet anyone and even reduced his meals to the bare minimum to save time in the month of Ramadaan. And about Imaam Shafie(rahmatullahi alaihi) who would complete a Quran every day and every night during this month, plus the one he would read in the Taraweeh salaah completing 61 Qurans for the month.” Farida let out a silent whistle, “That’s a lot. But…what am I to do. I have to see to the boys, and we usually have so many visitors in Ramadaan.” “Just plan yourself,” advised Aneesa, “You have prepared all this foodstuff so you can steal a little time to read a little Quran every morning, and when you get up for Sehri(pre dawn meal), then get up half an hour earlier and read Tahajjud Salaah(late night prayer) – because duas at Tahajjud time are certainly accepted. And while you are busy in the kitchen then read Durood(send blessings) on The Messenger of Allah( Sallalahu Alaihi wasallam). And before Magrib Salaah (prayer after sunset)…” “But that’s the time I’m busy frying all the savouries and warming the food, and…” protested Farida. “Just a few minutes before you break your fast, even five, sit down and make dua (pray) asking Allah Ta'ala for all your needs because Allah Ta'ala does not reject the dua of a fasting person at the time of breaking fast. If you plan yourself, you can achieve so much – you planned, and worked hard, and you managed to pack three freezers full of food – so you can do so much in Ramadaan if you plan your time.” Farida smiled broadly, looking at the freezers that bore testimony to her hard work. “Just think if you read just five pages of Quran after every salaah you will complete the whole Quran in the month.” Farida shook her head in disbelief, “That’s all?” “Yup, that’s all it takes,” replied Aneesa. “You’re a special girl, now eat something, or let me make you some tea?” looking at her niece intently, “You’re so thin and we still have to find you a husband.” Aneesa laughed, “Thanks aunty, but I’m fasting” EISLAM

wa'alauykumus salaam ww You mean its the law? if so, its sad to hear: an un islamic law in an Islamic country

The Dead Need Support…Not Those Who Are Alive – A Conversation between Maulana Umar Palanpuri and a Christian priest in South Africa. Paraphrasing an anecdote from the life of a great scholar of the past century connected with the work of the Prophets, Maulana Umar Palanpuri (may Allah be pleased with him). This incident was related to us by Maulana Zain ul Aabideen (damath baraka tuhum) of Shah Waliullah Madrasah, India. The first jama’t that went to South Africa landed at the airport and offered their Salah (prayers) in congregation right in the airport, this was something amazing, a view the locals and the travelers hadn’t seen before, just seeing this manzar (view) made several hundred people present there accept Islam. But not all were happy. A Christian priest present there and witness to all the happenings came over to meet the jama’t and spoke to Maulana Umar Palanpuri (may Allah be pleased with him) who was present in that jama’t and asked: “How is it that we (referring to the Christian missionaries) offer people jobs, wealth, women etc to convert to Christianity while you don’t do anything of that sort and yet people flock to you…??” Maulana Umar Palanpuri (may Allah rabbul izzat grant him jannat ul Firdaus) replied: “The dead need support not those who are alive!” “Your religion, Christianity, is a dead religion and so you need those things to carry it, to sustain it, to spread it, but not Islam, because Islam is alive and it DOES NOT need such things for it to spread, for people to see its beauty, for people to see the truth in it and for people to revert to Islam!” theijtema.com

The 1400 Year History of Taraweeh Salaah Amongst the special Ibaadah of the month of Ramadhaan are the fasts and the Taraweeh salaah. The information below will be dedicated to the history of the number of Rakaahs of Taraweeh that have always been performed in the two holy Harams. The Taraweeh Salaah During the Time of Rasulullah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) Saheeh Muslim reports a hadith from Hadhrat Aaisha (رضى الله عنها) that when (during Ramadhaan) Rasulullah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) once performed the Taraweeh salaah in the Masjidun Nabawi, the Sahabah رضى الله تعالى عنهم followed him in the salaah. When Rasulullah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) again performed the salaah the following night, an even larger congregation followed him. It was then either on the third or fourth night that Rasulullah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) did not come to the Masjid for the Taraweeh salaah. Explaining his reason the following morning, Rasulullah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said to the Sahabah رضى الله تعالى عنهم, “I noticed your fervour and did not come to the Masjid to perform the Salaah fearing that this Taraweeh salaah should become compulsory for you.” 1 It is therefore evident that Rasulullah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) performed the Taraweeh salaah in congregation at least twice or thrice in his lifetime. Imaam Ibn Taymiyyah رحمة الله and Allaama Showkaani رحمة الله have both mentioned that a study of Ahadeeth regarding Taraweeh reveals that Rasulullah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) never specified the number of rakaahs for Taraweeh. During the Period of Hadhrat Abu Bakr (رضى الله تعالى عنه) During this period, the Sahabah رضى الله تعالى عنهم meticulously performed the Taraweeh salaah individually or in small congregations. During the Period of Hadhrat Umar (رضى الله تعالى عنه) During his Khilaafah, the second Khalifah Hadhrat Umar Faarooq (رضى الله تعالى عنه) combined all the small congregations into one because of the possibility of the Taraweeh salaah becoming Fardh no longer existed. With the approval of all the Sahabah رضى الله تعالى عنهم, twenty rakaahs Taraweeh salaah was performed every night of Ramadhaan after the Isha salaah, followed by three Rakaahs Witr salaah. 2 There are many people nowadays who perform the Taraweeh salaah with Jamaah throughout Ramadhaan because it was carried out during the time of hadrat Umar (رضى الله تعالى عنه) with the consent of all the Sahabah رضى الله تعالى عنهم. However, these people object to the number of Rakaahs. If they keep the following Hadith in mind, their objection will Inshaa Allah be removed. Rasulullah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said, “I advise you fear Allah, to listen and to obey (your leaders) even though your leader be an Abyssinian slave because those of you who live after me shall see great disputes. It is therefore compulsory for you to adhere to my practices and to the practice of the righteous and rightly guided successors (Khulafaa Raashideen). Hold fast to these practices and bite on them with your molars.” 3 In this Hadith Rasulullah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) has emphasised to his Ummah that it is imperative for them to emulate his practices as well as the practices of the Khulafaa Raashideen. When Rasulullah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) has instructed the following of the practices of his Khulafaa, how can their practices be labelled as Bidah? How can one promote forsaking something that Rasulullah (صلى الله عليه وسلم) empathetically wanted done? How can there be scope to oppose something that the Sahabah رضى الله تعالى عنهم unanimously agreed upon? This practice of the righteous Khalifah Hadhrat Umar (رضى الله تعالى عنه) falls perfectly within the purport of this Hadith. Therefore one should perform twenty Rakaahs Taraweeh salaah in congregation every night of Ramadhaan after the Isha salaah. This is then followed by three Rakaahs of Witr salaah. During the period of Hadhrat Uthmaan (رضى الله تعالى عنه) The third righteous khalifah Hadhrat Uthmaan (رضى الله تعالى عنه) also continued the practice of twenty Rakaahs Taraweeh salaah in congregation, followed by the three Rakaahs of Witr salaah. 4 During the period of Hadhrat Ali (رضى الله تعالى عنه) The fourth righteous khalifah Hadhrat Ali (رضى الله تعالى عنه) also continued the practice of twenty Rakaahs Taraweeh salaah in congregation, followed by the three Rakaahs of Witr salaah. 5 The Taraweeh salaah in the Masjid Haraam in Makkah The famous book of Ahadeeth Jaami Tirmidhi states that according to the majority of scholars, the number of Rakaahs in the Taraweeh salaah is twenty, as reported from Hadhrat Umar رضى الله تعالى عنه, Hadhrat Ali رضى الله تعالى عنه and other Sahabah رضى الله تعالى عنهم. This is also the opinion of Hadhrat Sufyan Thowri رحمة الله and Hadhrat Abdullah ibn Mubaarak رحمة الله. Hadhrat Imaam Shafiee رحمة الله says, “I have seen the learned scholars of Makkah perform twenty Rakaahs of Taraweeh salaah.” 6 In his famous book Kitaabul Umm (vol 1 page 142), Imaam Shaafiee رحمة الله says that twenty Rakaahs Taraweeh salaah is reported from Hadhrat Umar رضى الله تعالى عنه and the learned scholars of Makkah also perform twenty Rakaahs Taraweeh with three Rakaahs Witr. In the third century A.H., the famous historian of Makkah Muhammad bin Ishaaq Faakihi documented that during the month of Ramadhaan it was the practice of the people of Makkah to sit five periods of Taraweeh (rest periods between every four Rakaahs of the Taraweeh salaah. This denotes that they performed twenty Rakaahs of salaah.) 7 It is therefore evident twenty Rakaahs of Taraweeh salaah has been performed in the Masjid Haraam of Makkah for the past fourteen hundred years. Throughout, this period, there has never been a single night when only Rakaahs have been performed. Taraweeh salaah in the Masjidun Nabawi صلى الله عليه وسلم The renowned Saudi scholar and Mufassir Sheikh Atiyya Saalim رحمة الله who was a Sheikhul Hadeeth, judge and lecturer in the Masjidun Nabawi صلى الله عليه وسلم wrote a book in Arabic entitled “The history of the Taraweeh salaah in the Masjidun Nabawi صلى الله عليه وسلم for more than a thousand years.” In this book[8], he conclusively proves from historical evidence that twenty Rakaahs Taraweeh salaah has been performed in the Masjidun Nabawi صلى الله عليه وسلم for the past fourteen centuries. He adds further that even after the establishment of the Saudi rule, both the Harams in Makkah and Madinah have twenty Rakaahs of Taraweeh salaah with three witr. 9 The heart-rending and beautiful Taraweeh salaah in both the Harams is broadcast live throughout both on radio and television. A fourteen century old practiceTwenty Rakaahs Taraweeh salaah is being performed from the first century of Islaam up to this fifteenth century. Source: The Historyof Makkah Mukarramah by Dr Muhammad Ilyas Abdul Ghani References 1 – Muslim – The Chapter concerning encouragement for performing the Taraweeh salaah. 2 – Mu’atta Maalik, as quoted in Nasbur Ra’yah 3 – Tirmidhi – Hadith 6272. The hadith is classified Hasan Saheeh and even Albaani has verified its authenticity [see Mishkaat annotated by him (Vol. 1 pg. 28)] 4 – Sunan Kubra of Bayhaqi – Chapter concerning the number of Rakaahs during the nights of Ramadhaan. 5 – Sunan Kubra of Bayhaqi – Chapter concerning the number of Rakaahs during the nights of Ramadhaan. 6 – Tirmidhi 7 – Akhbaar Makkah by Faakihi (Vol.2 Pg. 156,157) 8 – Pgs. 41-58 9 – Pg 65 haqislam.org

Pakistani takes four wives for Haj to fulfil dowry pledge Quite inspiring I thought..... Al-Twairiqi Okaz/Saudi Gazette MINA – “Half of their dowries was memorizing the Holy Qur’an and the other half was taking them to the holy land,” said Mir Hussein, a Pakistani national, about his four wives who performed Haj with him. Hussein is known among his folk for his beautiful Qur’an recitation to the extent that many of the town’s residents wish to marry their daughters to him. Hussein, who hails from a remote Pakistani town, married his first wife Zainab, who is also his cousin, when he memorized the Holy Qur’an at the age of 15. She was his uncle’s gift to him. He married Hafsa, his second wife, for a dowry of several rupees and a promise to take her for Haj. He gave the same promise to the brother of his third wife, Zulaikha, when he married her. As to Sajidah, his fourth wife, he married her after he led Isha prayers in one of the mosques while visiting another Pakistani town for some personal work. Hussein was reciting some verses of the Holy Qur’an. When he completed his recitation an old man came close to him and sat down. He praised Hussein’s melodious recitation. The old man was so impressed that he held Hussein’s hands and offered him his daughter in marriage provided he taught her the Qur’an, even after learning from their conversation that Hussein already had three wives and 15 sons and daughters from them. While marrying Sajidah, who is 12 years younger than him, Hussein promised her that her dowry would be a copy of the Holy Qur’an from “the land of the two holy mosques”, apart from a pilgrimage. They have been blessed with five sons. Hussein said he came to Haj accompanied by his four wives to fulfill his promise and pay off his dowry commitments.

The Queen Islam has considered and appreciated the differences between men and women and has therefore honoured women with a role that is suitable to them. The West has insulted women in trying to transform them into men. How can a butter knife do the job of a chain saw? Women have been deceived with slogans of freedom and equality. In reality they have been forced into slavery and oppression. The world offers slogans of lies whereas Islam delivers goods in reality.

Allah, The Most Exalted says: "So hasten towards all that is good". (Qur’aan- 2:148) Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) said: There came a man to the Prophet (peace be upon Him) and said, "O Messenger of Allah, which charity is the most rewardable?" He (pbuh) said, "That you should give charity (in a state when you are) healthy and stingy and fear poverty, hoping to become rich (charity in such a state of health and mind is the best). And you must not defer (charity to such a length) that you are about to die and would be saying: 'This is for so-and-so, and this for so-and-so.' Lo! It has already come into (the possession of) so-and-so". (Hadith: Bukhari and Muslim)

Shaykh Abdul Hamid Ishaq (Damat Barakatuhum) states in his pamphlet 'Status of Women': FREEDOM OR SLAVERY? Let us just scratch the surface and peep to analyse these claims. With regard to the freedom of women a non-Muslim white Australian woman was employed in a Muslim School of necessity but with the condition of wearing a cloak and even veiling her face. She complied and when asked after some time how she felt in this garb, since their lifestyle is one of semi-nudity, her spontaneous reply is an eye opener to reality. She said Islamic life-style has given me freedom from western slavery. In their culture a person is enslaved to wearing a certain colour of shoes to match the dress. Then the nail polish, lipstick, blush etc. all have to match as well. In Islam simplicity is the rule and by donning the cloak there is no need for this matching culture. HYGIENE On the other hand Islam has taught basic hygiene and cleanliness, A medical doctor writes in a medical journal that the west is 1400 years behind the east in basic toilet hygiene. He says in the west toilet paper is used to polish oneself with the excreta while in the east clean water is used to cleanse oneself. Moulana Thanwi said that with that filth they get into a tub to ‘bath.’ However they pollute all that water with that filth, some of it even enters the mouth in the process. In many cases a number of people use the same tub of water - all adding to the pollution and delighting in its drinking, however little. A famous resort’s swimming pool was tested for urine which showed it contained 60% urine just kept sparkling with chemicals! What filth! O Muslims, are we going to opt for such a lifestyle? FINANCIAL INDEPENDENCE? With regard to financial independence, if it is worked out what a woman earns and in order to go out and work what her wardrobe costs her, her travelling and keeping a maid to do her house duties amongst other things, in most cases there will be no gain but rather a deficit! Of course there can be no monetary figures that can be put on the moral social, religious and feminine losses when a woman leaves her natural precincts and opts to work in an alien place to her exclusive biological, moral, social and religious build-up. From a psychological point of view a woman is not meant to go out and work. When she does, she has to impress her bosses/superiors with her job. To achieve this she has to give off more than she has for which she has to draw on her reserves. Consequently when she returns home she is totally exhausted and dehydrated, her children run up to her seeking love from “mummy” but what can a tired working woman offer them. She gets irritated, pushes the one out of the room, slaps the other into silence and sprawls onto the bed. The husband returns, also tired and hungry and a hungry man is an angry man. Two negatives meet and the natural result is a dispute. An Islamic lifestyle is a balanced one, the husband returns to a ready meal and a fresh family awaiting him. When a woman has drawn on all her resources and is totally exhausted, she takes some panados to release her tension. When this does not work, she has to get medication from a doctor which is nothing else but ‘legal drugs.’ This in turn takes its full toll on her with all its side-effects and now the last resort and the best scape-goat - Jadu (magic), the Aamils now come into action with their roaring fraudulent business robbing us of our Imaan, money and our women’s sanctity. They solve no ‘problems’ but create bitter hatred, enmity, suspicion, false accusations, etc. in closely knitted family circles. Our biggest Jadu is the Shaytaan box. its grandmother: the video and the western life style, With these Haraam weeds in our lives we can never expect the roses of Islam to grow. Even if we send our most pious person to the Ka’aba to make Dua that we have planted weeds and that Allah must let roses grow, it is against the Sunnat of Allah! It does not happen! A person came to Marhoom Hafiz Salloo Saheb of Germiston and said, “I am sending my daughter to university and you know of the evil environment there. So please make Dua that Allah must safeguard her from all that evil.” Hafiz Saheb remarked,“What you are telling me is that you want to send your daughter in the rain and I must make Dua that she must not get wet!” INTERMINGLING OF SEXES As far as the intermingling of sexes is concerned, let some statistics of the USA suffice to show what results this produced: 54 million abortions a year of which they say 20 million were illegal meaning thereby that 34 million were legal! When Islam commands the taking of a life for a crime committed, it is barbaric. When millions of innocent infants are killed in the most savage way, it is medical advancement, culture and civilisation. (O Allah, in which world are we living?) Islam’s law of justice guarantees every citizen safety and protection. For practical results look at Makkah and Madina. Their western universities teach filthy lies in law, psychology etc. which forces innocent people to live in the prisons of their homes with burglar bars while the crooks roam the streets freely. Even our Masjids have to have burglar bars and be locked. Little girls are gang-raped and the beasts are let loose on petty bail, which they skip also. Furthermore, look at the statistics! One million young girls become pregnant in one year of which one third go for abortions - thirteen thousand under the age of fifteen. The single major factor which causes girls to drop out of schools is pregnancies. A woman confesses that 90% of girls are first ‘used’ by their own fathers, the majority of them before reaching the age of 6. She herself was ‘used’ by her father at the age of 5. M.H. Jamaluddin writes that the only reason for bringing out women into the male dominated modem merry-go-round (the commercial world) is to satisfy the lust of men. A Muslim woman writes in the Lenasia Times how her Muslim boss “trapped” her and broke up her marriage. An air hostess of PIA confesses that their supervisors demand sex favours for promotions. The unwritten law of this evil merry go-round is: no sex no employment, no sex no promotion. He further states that women are mere flower pots and door mats of this merry-go-round. Modern women are humiliated, enslaved, dehydrated & dehumanised. When this princess or queen leaves the palace of the father or husband and goes into the vicious outside world, she is like a sheep that enters the den of the wolves who pounce on her naivety and unawareness. It is narrated in a Hadith that when a woman steps out of her fort, Shaytaan is waiting in ambush for her. It is also narrated that when she emerges, shaytaan beautifies her in the eyes of other men and she becomes the cause of driving a wedge between husband and wife. The open result of this western, liberated way of life is rape, divorce (leaving in its wake heartache and pain) and consequently delinquents, drugs, alcohol, incest and child abuse. Their parliaments have legalised homosexuality where Mr. John marries Mr Jack, announces it in newspapers and celebrates it. The animal kingdom of the west! When a woman leaves her natural precincts she loses her greatest physical capital, her feminineness. A working woman loses her motherhood and her wifehood. BACKWARD OR PROGRESSIVE Mufti Taqi Usmani, analysing the modem woman says that when a woman works in her own house she is backwards but when she works for someone else she is progressive. When she feeds her family, she is backwards but when she feeds people in a restaurant or an aircraft, she is progressive. When she beautifies herself for her husband, she is backward but when she beautifies herself for other men she is progressive. Amrandir Bajaj, a gold medallist gynaecologist after doing thousands of abortions makes a confession. He says that it has been ultrasonically proven that the body feels pain when being aborted. When the mother feels life in her womb she feels such a sense of joy and honour that Allah has used her for this great miracle of bringing a human-being into the world. The child has just gained life, it starts kicking, playing in its mother’s protection. It is about to put its first step into the world. The mother will grant it protection at the risk of her own life. The worst sculptor does not destroy his own creation but marvels at it. But when the mother or rather the murderer wants to take the life of her own child because of some petty excuse like an examination, wedding function or holiday, she realises she cannot commit the gruesome and cruel murder of an innocent life so she hires an assassin - a gynaecologist. The poor child has no inkling of its impending doom. It is enjoying itself when suddenly metallic instruments come one after another, then the one-eyed monster comes with its open greedy mouth, grabs a part of a limb, wrenches it off and the comfortable protective womb is transformed into a sea of blood. The child sends signals of fear to the mother? (murderer!) The stupid fool is crying for help from its murderers ? ? ?! Like a fish out of water it is opening and closing its mouth, screaming in silence, gasping for life - everything fights for life - why not this little wonderful being? But it is condemned to die by its own mother. The one eyed monster strikes again and again taking limb after limb. Finally the head is grabbed by a bigger sinister monster which crushes it and the brains ooze out and finally those beautiful little eyes follow like pearls. The gynaecologist wipes his hands on his white coat, money changes hands and the most gruesome, cruel and brutal murder, worse than burying alive or neck-lacing has taken place which goes down in the flowery medical terminology as an MTP (medical termination of pregnancy). Is this any culture or civilisation? Is this medical advancement??!! Is this what the Cairo Conference of the U.N wants to push down the throats of the people? The Qur’aan asks (to highlight the innocence of the child) “For what sin were you killed?” If we follow in their footsteps, we must expect their evils to follow. A poet says: O Haji, you will not reach the Kaaba, for you are walking in the direction of Turkistan. This is just the tip of the iceberg of the corrupt evil life of the western women and their culture.

Question I am a muslimah from the city of Mumbai, India. I have completed my masters two years back. Earlier, I was this super career oriented kind of a lady, hence the over-education (over-education because I feel I have just wasted my time pursuing worldy education). But as I started learning more about Islam (not that m a newbie to Islam)...I started implementing the same in my day to day life, Alhumdullillah. I understood the concept of why women can't work in a free environment (intermingling). Hence I gave up upon many lucrative job offers as working for a good organisation meant intermingling. I was home doing nothing on the job front for a period of 2 years. Many suggested I take up teaching as it was a very noble profession and does not involve much of intermingling as compared to when working for some other organisation would. I thought, I will just have to teach college students who are younger to me, so not much of a problem. Yes, there were guys (3 in a class of 30 students)...I thought, I would be teaching...no mingling would take place (And I observed my hijab, was always clad in my burqa). But later I realised, what is wrong is wrong. One should not justify or make excuses. Hence I decided to quit. But I could not just go and tell them that I am quitting the job. The students portion was at stake and it seemed unprofessional. I had given them a commitment, because of me they had let go of other teachers. So I completed my term and have quit, Alhumdullillah Yaa Sheikh, so much of a story because now I am wondering whether the income that I have earned out of the job of a teacher is halaal or haraam upon me. Because it is prohibited for a muslimah to work in a free environment, so how can the income be halaal?? And secondly, by showing my commitment towards the students, did I fail towards my commitment towards Allah swt?? Answer Muhtaram / Muhtaramah In the Name of Allāh, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāh wa-barakātuh. We commend you on your decision to leave working outside the home environment for the sake of upholding the teachings of Shar’ah. May Allah Ta'aala accept your sacrifice and bless you with istiqaamat. Aameen! The income that you’ve earned will not be considered haraam. However, if you wish you may voluntarily give your earnings or a portion of it in charity as part of your taubah. A Sahaabi Radiyallahu Anhu was performing salaat in his garden when the beauty of the garden distracted him thus causing him to forget the number of rak’aat he had performed. He was greatly saddened and gave the entire garden as sadaqah. Allah Ta'aala is our Creator, Master, Controller, Nourisher and Sustainer. Our greatest commitment and obligation is to Allah Ta'aala. Thus, by showing commitment to the students you had not fulfilled the right of Allah Ta'aala upon yourself. Masha’Allah you have now left and made taubah so you have now given preference to your commitment with Allah Ta'aala which will be a means of earning His pleasure and true success in this world and in the next. And Allah knows best Darul Iftaa Madrasah Inaa’miyyah

Words from a christian sister: Joanna Francis. A woman’s sexuality should be guarded from unworthy eyes, since it should be your gift to the man who will marry you. Your most valuable assets are your inner beauty, your innocence, and everything that makes you who you are. But I notice that some Muslim women push the limit and try to be as Western as possible, even while wearing a veil (with some of their hair showing). Why imitate women who already regret, or will soon regret, their lost virtue? There is no compensation for that loss. You are flawless diamonds. We Western women have been brainwashed into thinking that you Muslim women are oppressed. But truly, we are the ones who are oppressed; slaves to fashions that degrade us, obsessed with our weight, begging for love from men who do not want to grow up. Deep down inside, we know that we have been cheated. We secretly admire and envy you, although some of us will not admit it. Please do not look down on us or think that we like things the way they are. It’s not our fault. Most of us did not have fathers to protect us when we were young because our families have been destroyed. You know who is behind this plot. Don’t be fooled, my sisters! Don’t let them get you too. Stay innocent and pure. We Christian women need to see what life is really supposed to be like for women. We need you to set the example for us, because we are lost. Hold onto your purity. Remember: you can’t put the toothpaste back in the tube. So guard your “toothpaste” carefully! I hope you receive this advice in the spirit in which it is intended: the spirit of friendship, respect, and admiration. From your Christian sister, Journalist : Joanna Francis.

Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: Messenger of Allah () said, "On the Day of Resurrection, Allah will not look at him who trails his lower garment out of pride." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

'Ali bin Abu Talib (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: I heard the Messenger of Allah () saying, "When a Muslim visits a sick Muslim at dawn, seventy thousand angels keep on praying for him till dusk. If he visits him in the evening, seventy thousand angels keep on praying for him till the morning; and he will have (his share of) reaped fruits in Jannah." [At- Tirmidhi]. Thauban (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet () said, "He who visits his brother in Faith, will remain engaged in picking the fresh fruits from the garden of Jannah till he returns." [Muslim].