ummtaalib

Taraweeh: 8 or 20 Shaykh Riyadhul Haqq http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FtAy5FhpTFU

Maulana Rumi RA, narrated that Sultan Mahmood once summoned his sixtyfive ministers and ordered them to crush the most valuable gemstone in his treasury. They all declined on the grounds that they could not bring themselves to destroy the most valuable and celebrated piece of gemstone in the treasury. He then ordered Ayaaz, his closest vizier, to destroy the same gemstone. Ayaaz obeyed and soon the unique gemstone lay crushed into a thousand fragments. The ministers on seeing this expressed shock and anger at Ayaaz for breaking the most priceless gemstone. The Sultan also responded: O Ayaaz, you are indeed audacious and ungrateful! Answer these ministers now and tell them why you broke the gemstone. Ayaaz turned to the ministers and said: Which is more important, The royal decree or the gemstone? From this incident Maulana Rumi RA is advising us that if our heart breaks in obeying the command of Allah Ta'ala then let it break. But the order and command of Allah Ta'ala should not break. These desires of lust that lurk in our hearts can be likened to the gemstones that appear very beautiful and pleasing to look at. Nevertheless, we should boldly crush them and uphold the commands of Allah Ta'ala Who has ordered us to control our gazes. We should not look at beautiful women or handsome young lads, regardless of the compulsion that drives us to look at them. In front of the Divine Command of Allah Ta'ala, the heart has no value. Source

Question If men will be rewarded with a certain number of chaste partners in Jannah, then what will women be rewarded with? Hanafi Fiqh > Askimam.org Answer While a man will get many Hurs in jannah, a women would be made the queen of Jannah. Her beauty will far outshine the beauty of the hurs. Umme Salamah R.A narrates that she said to Rasûlullah SAW “O Rasûlullah, are the women of this world superior or the hûrs?” He replied, “The women of this world will have superiority over the hûrs just as the outer lining of a garment has superiority over the inner lining.” Umme Salamah R.A then asked, “O Rasûlullah, what is the reason for this?” He answered, “Because they performed salâh, fasted, and worshipped [Allah]. Allah will put light on their faces and silk on their bodies. [The human women] will be fair in complexion and will wear green clothing and yellow jewelry. Their incense-burners will be made of pearls and their combs will be of gold. They will say, ‘We are the women who will stay forever and we will never die. We are the women who will always remain in comfort and we will never undergo difficulty. We are the women who will stay and we will never leave. Listen, we are happy women and we will never become sad. Glad tidings to those men for whom we are and who are for us.’” (Tabrânî) Muhammed ibn Ka’b Al-Qurazi t narrates from a person of the Ansâr (people of Madînah) that Rasûlullah SAW said, “I take the oath of that Being who sent me with the truth, you are not more acquainted with your wives and houses than the people of Jannat. A person of Jannat will come to 72 wives which Allah specially created in Jannat (hûrs) and 2 human wives. The human wives will have virtue over the [hûrs] because they worshipped Allah in the world.(Targheeb Vol.4 Pg.534) This will be the high position of the women of the world in Jannah. If a women had more than one husband, she will choose which one of them to stay with, and she will choose the one with the best character. As for those women who never married or their husband were mushriks, they will be allowed to marry whichever worldly man, they so wish, in Jannah. Thus every man in Jannah will have 2 wives from the world. If we have full conviction in Allah’s promise that he will fulfil our every desire in Jannah, then instead of worrying about what they will get in jannah, the women should concentrate their endeavours on pleasing Allah and thus getting to Jannah. As for pleasing us in Jannah, That is Allah responsibility, so he will do His and we should do ours. The greatest pleasure in Jannah for men and women will be the very pleasure of Allah. Everything else will be secondary. and Allah Ta’ala Knows Best Mufti Ebrahim Desai FURTHER QUESTION: In question #8002 you have said.. 1. According to a narration of Tabrani, the wife will be the leader of all the Hoors of the husband in Jannah. (Majmauz-zawaaid vol.10 pg.417). Can you show this full hadith with reference please? Jazak Allah Khair.. Answer Umm-e-Salma (Radhiallaahu Anha) mentions that she asked Nabi (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) to explain the Aayat. "There will be hoorun-een" (56:22). Nabi (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) said, "They will be women with wide eyes having a sharp contrast between the white of the cornea and the black of the iris. They will be fair complexioned and their limbs will be free of hair like the wings of a bird." Umm-e-Salma (Radhiallaahu Anhu) then asked for an explanation of the verse, "They will be like concealed pearls" (56:23) to which Nabi (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) explained that their purity would be like that of a pearl still inside the oyster, untouched by human hands." She then asked for an explanation of the verse, "They will be good and fair" (55:70) to which Nabi (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) replied, "Their character will be good and their faces will be fair." She then asked Nabi (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) to explain the verse, "It will be as if they are preserved eggs." Nabi (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) said, "Their softness and delicacy would be like that of the skin you see inside the egg under the shell." She then asked Nabi (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) to explain the verses, "We made them virgins, loving and equal in age." (56:36, 37). Nabi (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) explained, "They will be those women who left this world old, grey-haired and parch-skinned. Allah will recreate them after this old-age and will make them loving virgins who would be very passionate towards their husband who in turn would be madly in love with them. They would all be of the same age." She then asked, "O Nabi (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam), are the women of this world superior or the hurs?" He replied, "The women of this world will have superiority over the hurs just as the outer lining of a garment has superiority over the inner lining." Umm-e-Salma (Radhiallaahu Anhu) then asked, "O Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam), what is the reason for this?" He answered, "Because they performed Salaat, fasted and worshipped Allah. Allah will put light on their faces and silk on their bodies. (the human women) will be fair in complexion and will wear green clothing and yellow jewellery. Their incense-burners will be made of pearls and their combs will be of gold. They will say, 'We are the women who will stay forever and we will never die. We are the women who will always remain in comfort and we will never die. We are the women who will always remain in comfort and we will never undergo difficulty. We are the women who will stay and we will never leave. Listen, we are happy women and we will never become sad. Glad tidings to those men for whom we are and who are for us." She then asked, "A women of this world married two, three or four husband in this world, then dies and enters Jannah with them, who will be her husband?" Nabi (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) answered, "O Umm-e-Salma (Radhiallaahu Anhu), she will be allowed to choose between them, so she will choose the one with the best character. She will say to Allah, "O Allah, this husband displayed the best character to me in the world, so marry him to me." Nabi (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) further added, "O Umm-e-Salma, good character has gained (for him) the excellence of this world and the hereafter." [narrated by Tabrani vol.23 pg.367; ibn Kathir in his Tafseer under verse22 Surah56] and Allah Ta’ala Knows Best Mufti Ebrahim Desai

Mufti Taqi (Damat Barakutuhum) states in his discourses Men and Women are two different sexes. A great hue and cry is being raised now-a-days that women should also work side by side with men. In the zeal of their ceaseless propaganda, they have failed to reflect that if men and women were created for doing the same kind of work why was it necessary to create them with different physical characteristics and bodily constitutions. Who can deny the fact that men and women have different bodily systems, habits, sentiments, susceptibilities and mental trends. Allah has created each sex with different constitutions. To declare that there is no difference between men and women is self-deception and revolt against nature, because it is disbelieving our eyes and our senses. The difference between the physical constitution and sentimental trends of each cannot be effaced by artificial means, i.e., by putting on the same dress, having the same hair-style. The fact remains that the difference between men and women is too palpable to be denied and too real and true to be ignored. The means to put a question to Allah are His Prophets. As already pointed out it is the Creator Himself who can tell for what purpose He created men and women and one can approach the creator for an answer through His Prophets, the last of them being Prophet Muhammad (Allah bless him and grant him peace). Two branches of Human life It appears, without any shadow of doubt, from the teachings of the Holy Qur'an and the Holy Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) that human life stands divided into two branches, viz., the indoor affairs and the outdoor affairs. Each branch is complimentary to the other. It is not possible to lead a balanced and moderate life without taking into account, and meeting the requirements of both the branches of life. It is equally important and necessary to plan and procure the indoor as well as the outdoor demands of life. Man's life can be stabilized and regulated with the help of these two branches. If one branch is ignored or preferred to the other, life will get shattered, disorganized and unbalanced. Distribution of duties between men and women Allah has distributed the duties between two sexes in such a way that men have been made responsible for outdoor duties, e.g. earning livelihood and looking after political and social affairs and women have been made responsible for all indoor duties. If an intelligent survey is made of the natural peculiarities of man's creation it will have to be admitted that there can be no better arrangement of the distribution of duties between men and women. None can deny that in physical constitution man is stronger than woman. Outdoor work demands more strength and endurance which has been bestowed upon man. Outdoor duties demanding physical and muscular strength can be discharged efficiently only by man power and not by woman power. As regards indoor duties which are easier and which require less physical strength have been rightly entrusted to women. A woman should take charge of household duties The Qur'anic verse which was quoted in the beginning contains a divine command addressed direct to the sacred wives of the Holy Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) and indirectly to the entire community of Muslim women. The command is: “O wives of the Prophet, stay in your houses.” This does not mean to say that women should not go out of their houses, except in emergent conditions. The verse points out to a basic truth to the effect that women should stay in their houses and look after all indoor household affairs... The child needs its mother's care and affection. Allah has created women to take over the duties of bringing up and training the children on the right lines and putting them on the right trend of thought. That is why Allah has put in the heart of the mother more love for the child than in that of the father, although the child belongs to both, when the child feels some discomfort he will at once call its mother and not its. father, wherever she may be. because the child knows well that it is its mother who can remove its discomfort. The child is brought up in the shadow of this affectionate relation. It is not possible for a father to breed and bring up his child without the assistance of the mother. Actual experiment will support this statement. Nowadays people submit their children to nurseries for their upbringing. Remember that no nursery can provide the child with a mother's care and affection. The child does not stand in need of an institution like a poultry farm, but instead, the child needs the mother's care and love to ensure the provision of this care, love and affection, it is imperative that the mother should take charge of the management of the household. If a women is not doing this, she is rebelling against nature. The result of this rebellion against nature is the same which is before our eyes today. The basis of great achievements is the "Home" Allah has said in His Book, the Qur'an, fourteen centuries ago: “Stay in your houses.” The "Home" alone is your world, your Hereafter and your life. O Women! Do not think that as man is doing great deeds outdoors, you too can do the same by going outdoors. You should think that the "home" is the foundation of all great deeds. If you breed and bring up your children in the right way sow the seeds of Iman (faith) in their hearts and generate Taqwa in them, then this achievement of yours will be much greater than the so-called great deeds done by man by going outdoors, because you have brought up and trained a child on the path of Deen. The anti-propaganda and blind following of the West have begun to eradicate gradually the care of the women in our society for the religious training of their children. In such a situation those women who confined within their homes also sometimes begin to think that the people are right in saying that they have been confined within the four walls of their houses and those women who have gone out of these four walls are perhaps more advanced and progressive than they themselves. At any rate, bear in mind that the services which these 'confined' women are rendering within the bounds of their houses have no substitute and those valuable services cannot be rendered by going outdoors to work in market places and shops. Contentment and comfort lie in Purdah. Women should never think that the Purdah is a source of inconvenience to them. To be under Purdah is a part of women's nature. The very meaning of the word 'Aurat’ which is the Arabic equivalent of the word women is something which requires to be kept concealed. This is women's nature and if nature is distorted, then there is no remedy for its reform. The contentment and comfort to be received in living within Purdah cannot be received from a life without Purdah in which women are exposed to public gaze. The protection of the Purdah system is therefore, an essential part of modesty and chastity.

By Haafidha Rayhaanah Omar (Fee Qalbee blog) It has been said that everything has a beloved & that the month of Ramadan has a beloved, too: The Glorious Qur’an. For the duration of this month, Muslims worldwide honour Ramadan’s beloved and aspire to complete the recitation of the Qur’an. In this article you’ll learn how you too can work towards achieving this noble goal, insha’Allah. STEP 1: ESTABLISHING AN INTENTION Our beloved Messenger of Allah(peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) taught us – through his words & actions – the importance of one’s intent or purpose. Establishing one’s intention is an effective catalyst for implementation. Once your intention has been established, remember to renew it often. Whilst reciting and even upon completion of the Qur’an, recall your intention and renew it, thus ensuring that it is constantly purified & you are seeking His Divine Acceptance, inshaAllah. STEP 2: DON’T BE OVERWHELMED For some, as much as they aspire to complete the recitation of the Qur’an during Ramadan, they are overwhelmed by the number of pages or the length of some Surahs. Remove ‘I can’t’ from your vocabulary and eliminate negative thinking, for the believer puts their trust in Allah, matched by striving with their actions. Remind yourself that you are (if Allah wills) fully capable of achieving your Qur’anic aspirations, whether it be completing Qur’an 1 or 5 times. This second point is key. Put your heart into this accomplishment & reap the rewards throughout, inshaAllah. STEP 3: PLAN AHEAD Prior to commencing with your recitation it’s important to plan around your routine and block out time for your Qur’an goal e.g. your work hours, rest hours & any other commitments which you may have. Structure a realistic plan of how to complete the recitation of Qur’an within the month by dividing each Juz per day. Draw up this personal plan, review it constantly, and put it into action! As you put your plan to paper, consider past Ramadan’s and ask yourself if there have been instances where you were unable to complete Qur’anic recitation. Reflect over why and how this occurred. Is there a different mechanism that you could put into place? How could you enhance your daily Qur’an routine if these distractions were dealt with? Take the first opportunity that comes, to begin your Qur’anic quest. So when the moon is sighted & the announcement has been made for the 1st Salaatul-Taraweeh, begin in earnest, with Surah Al-Fatiha, Surah Al-Baqarah etc. STEP 4: UNDERSTAND THE QUR’AN Read the translation of the Juz you will be reciting daily. Having a basic knowledge of the theme, topic, message & meaning of what you are reciting makes the recitation of the Qur’an an incredibly uplifting experience that you do not want to miss out on! STEP 5: FIND QUR’AN BUDDIES AND COMPETE IN GOOD Develop close bonds with brothers/sisters who are known for their attachment to the Qur’an. They’ll be your spiritual friends. Engage a Qur’an Buddy in your noble Qur’an productivity goals. Request that they remind you to fulfil your goals and spiritual aspirations so they can help you in times of slacking. In life, we compete with many materialistic goals and race one another, but what about following the footsteps of the best of generations that had come before us in a competition this Ramadan? In striving and competing with our friends and colleagues towards our noble goals, in a good-natured way, we can motivate ourselves to finish our Qur’an goal. One of the common aspects which deter a Muslim from completing this task is excessive communication. Often, many of us spend too much unnecessary time surfing the net, chatting, texting, etc… . Reduce this even by a third and you will see, feel and witness the blessings in your time, inshaAllah. STEP 6: SEIZE THE MOMENT A deeply inspiring story in ‘lessons from the waiting room’ – where a mother; who has taken her unwell child to the hospital; waits for the doctor to see to her child. She notices a young Muslim who uses his time in the waiting room, in a most effective & spiritually rewarding way, reciting from a pocket-sized Quran. Lesson to be taken here: Invest in a pocket-sized Qur’an and make it your best friend this Ramadan. Seize every opportunity and moment to be with Allah (glorified and exalted be He) through your recitation. One of the best times at which to recite Qur’an, is after Suhoor(pre- dawn meal). Having partaken from the Sunnah meal, and within an hour or two still to go before work or school, this is the ideal jump start to your day. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) asked Allah (glorified and exalted be He) to bless our Ummah in the early hours, and you will also be more likely to memorise ayahs at this time. Research shows that morning study creates better performance in students so don’t miss the morning recitation! Time Tip: Salah Followed by Qur’an. Consider the following option that has worked well for numerous people in past Ramadan’s. Try reciting 6 – 8 pages of Qur’an (depending on the Mus-haf(copy of the Qur’an) that you are using) after each of your 5 daily salah. Add Qiyaamul-Layl (late night salah) as a 6th addition, and you will reach the end of Ramadan, having completed your Qur’an recitation with ease & perhaps, even before the last 5 days of Ramadan so long as you remain committed. Time Tip: Recite before going to sleep. Allah (glorified and exalted be He) says: “Indeed, the hours of the night are more effective for concurrence and more suitable for words” (Qur’an73:6). Reciting during the day is also beneficial, however the night time recitation is easier as well during Ramadan as there are less distractions and noise. STEP 7: REMAIN STEADFAST AND CONSISTENT The key to any success is consistency. Once you’ve mapped your plan, stick to it. Remind yourself of the greatness of this month, of the opportunities that it provides for your spiritual growth and your relationship with the Qur’an. Don’t be willing to compromise it in this month. STEP 8: MAKE DUA’A TO ALLAH (GLORIFIED AND EXALTED BE HE) Nothing can be achieved without the aid and guidance of Allah (glorified and exalted be He). When making your intention to complete your recitation or memorisation of Qur’an, supplicate to Allah (glorified and exalted be He) to ease this noble pathway and to crown your efforts with success, inshaAllah. These are the 8 ways I wanted to share with you on starting and completing your journey through recitation of the Qur’an this Ramadan. Indeed, Allah (glorified and exalted be He) says in Surah Al-Baqarah: “This is the Book about which there is no doubt, a guidance for those conscious of Allah.’’ In the hours of the days and nights of this sacred month, may the Qur’an be your companion of light and guidance, resonating through your words, actions and life mission. May your relationship with the Qur’an be strengthened, enriched & enlivened with the profound wisdom and divine message from Allah (glorified and exalted be He).

Q. How we should treat to Nowruz holyday? In Russia a lot of muslims celebrate this day because people believe that it is an Islamic holiday. A. The holiday of Nowruz originated from the Persian fire worshippers and Zoroastrians and has no significance in Islam. It is not permissible to pay any type of religious significance to the Nowruz Holiday or to celebrate on this occasion. Allamah Zayla’ee (Rahimahulla) states in Tabyinul Haqa’iq with regards to Nowruz: It is Makrooh (severely disliked) to fast on the day of Nowruz and Mahrajan for it leads to paying respect to days that we have been prohibited from paying respect towards. (Tabyinul Haqa’iq, Vol: 1, Pg: 332) The above text makes it clear that the Fuqahaa prohibited paying any religious significance to the day of Nowruz. And Allah Knows Best Mufti Suhail Tarmahomed Jamiatul Ulama (KZN) Council of Muslim Theologians

The body of a deceased person totally submits and surrenders itself to those who are washing it. They move the body to the left, to the right, they tilt it, they pour water over it but there is no resistance or complaint from the body with regards to being moved or the temperature of the water. Thus the body is thoroughly washed and ready to be lowered into the grave. In the same way when a person submits and surrenders his/her heart to Allah Ta’ala, which may have turned dead due to sin and desire, then with the grace and mercy of Allah Ta’ala his/her heart will be spiritually cleansed and ready to be presented in the court of Allah Ta’ala. uswatulmuslimah.co.za

Maria al-Qibtiyya Maria al-Qibtiyya (may Allah be pleased with her) is said to have married the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and certainly everyone gave her the same title of respect as the Prophet's wives, 'Umm al Muminin' 'Mother of the Believers'. Maria was born in upper Egypt of a Coptic father and Greek mother and moved to the court of the Muqawqis when she was still very young. She arrived in Medina to join the Prophet's household just after the Prophet returned from the treaty with Quraish which was contracted at al-Hudaybiyya. Maria gave birth to a healthy son in 9 AH, the same year that his daughter Zaynab died, and the Prophet named his new son Ibrahim, after the ancestor of both the Jews and the Christians, the Prophet from whom all the Prophets who came after him were descended. Unfortunately, when he was only eighteen months old, Ibrahim became seriously ill and died. Even though he knew that his small son would go to the Garden, the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) could not help shedding some tears. When some of his Companions asked him why he was weeping, he replied, "It is my humanness." As Ibrahim's body was being buried, the sun was eclipsed and it grew dark and gloomy. Some people thought this was connected with Ibrahim's death, but the Prophet soon clarified this. "The sun and the moon are two of Allah's signs," he said, "they are not eclipsed because of anyone's birth or death. When you see these signs, make haste to remember Allah in prayer." Although the kafirun used to mock the Prophet Muhammad because he had no sons, and say that he was 'cut off' , Allah made it clear in the following surah that the station of the Prophet Muhammad was far above that of any other man; In the name of Allah, The Merciful, the Compassionate: Surely We have given you AL Khawthar, so pray to your Lord and offer sacrifice. Surely he who mocks you is the one cut off. (Quran 108:1-3) Muhammad is not the father of any man among you, but he is the Messenger of Allah and the Seal of the Prophets, and Allah has knowledge of all things. (Quran 33:40) Maria was honored and respected by the Prophet and his family and Companions. She spent three years of her life with the Prophet, until his death, and died five years later in 16 AH, (may Allah be pleased with her) For the last five years of her life, she remained a recluse and almost never went out except to visit the grave of the Prophet or her son's grave. After her death, Umar ibn al Khattab led the prayer over her and she was buried in al Baqi.

Maymuna Maymuna bint al-Harith, (may Allah be pleased with her), married the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) in 7 AH, when the Prophet was sixty years old and she was thirty six years old. Maymuna's sister, Umm al-Fadl Lubaba, was the mother of Abdullah ibn Abbas, the son of one of the uncles of the Prophet and the one of the wisest of his Companions. Umm al-Fadl was one of the earliest Companions of the Prophet. Once Abu Lahab, the enemy of Allah and the Messenger of Allah, entered the house of his brother, al-Abbas, and proceeded to attack Abbas client, Abu Rafi, because he had embraced Islam. Abu Lahab knocked him to the ground and knelt on him, continuing to beat him. Umm al Fadl grabbed a post that was there and cracked it across Abu Lahab's head, saying, "Will you victimize him because his master is absent?" He treated in shame and died a week later. Zaynab bint Khuzayma, Umm al Muminin, was also her half-sister. Her other sisters included Asma bint Umays, the wife of Ja'far ibn Abi Talib, who later married Abu Bakr, and Salma bint Umays, the wife of Hamza, the "Lion of Allah". Her full sisters were Lubaba, Asma and Izza. Maymuna was thus one of the 'Ahlul- Bayt' , 'the people of the House', not only by virtue of being a wife of the Prophet, (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) but also because she was related to him. Zayd bin Arqam related that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, "I implore you by Allah! The People of my House!" three times. Zayd was asked who were the People of the House, and he said, "The family of Ali ibn Abi Talib, the family of Jafar ibn Abi Talib, the family Aqil ibn Abi Talib, and the family of Al Abbas ibn Abdal Muttalib." Maymuna or Barra as she was then called, yearned to marry the Prophet. She went to her sister, Umm al Fadl to talk to her about that and she, in turn, spoke to her husband, al-Abbas. Al-Abbas immediately went to the Messenger (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) with Maymuna's offer of marriage to him and her proposal was accepted. When the good news reached her, she was on a camel, and she immediately got off the camel and said, "The camel and what is on it is for the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him)." They were married in the month of Shawwal in 7 AH just after the Muslims of Medina were permitted to visit Mecca under the terms of the treaty of Hudaybiyya to perform umra. Allah Almighty sent the following ayat about this: Any believing woman who dedicates herself to the Prophet if the Prophet wishes to wed her, that is only for thee and not for the believers. (Quran 33:50) The Prophet gave her the name, Maymuna, meaning "blessed", and Maymuna lived with the Prophet for just over three years, until his death. She was obviously very good natured and got on well with everyone, and no quarrel or disagreement with any of the Prophet's other wives has been related about her. 'A'isha said about her, "Among us, she had the most fear of Allah and did the most to maintain ties of kinship." It was in her room that the Prophet first began to feel the effects of what became his final illness and asked the permission of his wives to stay in A'isha's room while it lasted. After the Prophet's death, (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) Maymuna continued to live in Medina for another forty years, dying at the age of eighty, in 51 AH, (may Allah be pleased with her), being the last of the Prophet's wives to die. She asked to be buried where had married the Prophet at Saraf and her request was carried out. It is related that at the funeral of Maymuna, Ibn Abbas said, "This is the wife of Allah's Messenger, (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) so when you lift her bier, do not shake her or disturb her, but be gentle." It is also related by Ibn Abbas that he once stayed the night as a guest of Maymuna, who was his aunt, and the Prophet, (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) They slept on their blanket lengthways and he slept at the end, crossways. After they had all slept for awhile, the Prophet rose in the middle of the night to pray the tahajjud prayer, and Ibn Abbas joined him. They both did wudu, and he prayed eleven rakats with the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). Then they both went back to sleep again until dawn. Bilal called the adhan, and the Prophet did another two short rakats, before going into the mosque to lead the Dawn Prayer. Ibn Abbas said that one of the dua'ahs that the Prophet made during this night was : "O Allah, place light in my heart, light in my tongue, light in my hearing, light on my sight, light behind me, light in front of me, light on my right, light on my left, light above me and light below me; place light in my sinew, in my flesh, in my blood, in my hair and in my skin; place light in my soul and make light abundant for me; make me light and grant me light." It is commonly agreed that it was after the Prophet had married Maymuna, giving him now nine wives (A'isha, Sawda, Hafsa, Umm Salama, Zainab bint Jahsh, Juwayriyya, Umm Habiba, Safiyya and Maymuna), that the following ayat was revealed: It is not lawful for you (O Muhammad, to marry more) women after this, nor to exchange them for other wives, even though their beauty is pleasing to you, except those whom your right hand possesses (as maid servants); and Allah is always watching over everything. (Quran 33:52) After this, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) did not marry again. When however, the Christian ruler, or Muqawqis, of Egypt, sent him two Christian slave girls 0 who were sisters as a gift (in response to the Prophet's letter inviting him to embrace Islam), along with a fine robe and some medicine the Prophet, accepted one of the slave girls, Maria, into his household; he gave her sister Serene, to a man whom he wished to honor, namely Hassan ibn Thabit; he accepted the robe; and he returned the medicine with the message, "My Sunna is my medicine!" This occurred in 7 AH, when the Prophet wassixty years old and Maria was twenty years old. inkofscholars

wa'alaykumus salaam sis, bro CH has posted the Arabic for the quotes in English in the OP

Holidays! Will My Child Survive? “Holidays,” in the life of a child, simply means, “Freedom.” The child is no longer restricted by school and madrasah hours. Thus the child feels absolved of all forms of responsibility. This “freedom” makes the child very vulnerable to the attacks of nafs (the desire) and shaytaan (the devil). However our beautiful deen of Islam comes to our rescue. We are reminded of our daily duties as a Muslim. Our salaah, quraan, zikr and du’aa are the forts for our protection. Every parent’s concern is, “Will my child survive this holiday, in an environment of sin and temptation?” The answer depends on our sincerity and to the extent we turn to Allah Ta’ala. When parent’s try their level best to safeguard their child from the challenges of the time, then Allah Ta’ala will make the arrangement for the protection of the child, even in apparently impossible situations. We need to turn to Allah Ta’ala ourselves and also make our children do the same. For far too long we have looked at the problem and remained despondent. It is time that we adopt the solutions and progress as a family. When the light is switched on, instantly the layers of darkness will disappear. When the light of good actions enters our lives, then the darknesses of sin will leave our lives. It is not possible for the night and the day to coexist at one time and place. Therefore, let us start with at least the following aspects immediately and see the immediate benefits. 1. Ensure that all members of the family regularly perform their five daily salaah. Boys who are seven years of age should accompany the father to the musjid. 2. Everyone must start their day after fajr salaah with the recitation of surah yaseen. Besides this some portion of the quraan majeed must be recited daily. 3. Daily ta’leem of the fazaa-il kitaabs should take place in the home, even if just for 10 minutes. 4. Encourage the children to recite 100 times istighfaar and durood shareef. Also keep advising one’s children with love and affection to refrain from all sinful activities. May Allah Ta’ala protect us all. uswatulmuslimah.co.za

When a child does something wrong, the punishment needs to be meted out in such a way that the child develops an aversion to the misdeed and not to the person meting out the punishment. As adults we value our self-respect and we dislike being embarrassed before others. The child as well, likes to preserve his self-dignity and respect. When we punish the child, we have injured his pride. He realises his wrong and abstains from it. However, if his pride is injured repeatedly and he realizes that he has lost his respect before others, he tends to become shameless and it now becomes difficult to stop his evil habit. At times the child feels that the one punishing him has no mercy and love for him, so why should he display manners and obedience. Thus in such circumstances, punishment is more detrimental and harmful to the child. uswatulmuslimah

My favorite lil spot is the little area on my prayer rug where i place my face and hands before Allah and i can say anything i want to Him I can ask Him for anything And even if it's just a whisper He can hear the screams inside And even if it's just one tear He know there's an ocean deep inside It is my time with Allah when no one can interfere It is my time alone with my Creator and when the rest of the world disappears It doesn't matter how many times i do this a day... I still feel as if it's the last time i could do it that day I want Him to know how much i love Him How much i need Him How much i want to please Him Be with Him And how much i want to be better for Him All it takes is a few minutes on my lil prayer rug to feel close to Allah All it takes is a quick reminder that one day I'll be in front of Allah For me to humble myself before Him and ask Him for forgiveness Ask for guidance and for His sweetness For i can do all things with Him on my side I can overcome all the heartbreak and pain that's inside Just as long as Allah hears my cry And carries me through this life It is on that lil space where my face and hands land on my prayer rug that i feel most at ease It is that lil space that fills me most with peace Where i can just hand it all over to Allah and trust in Him to get me through Where i can cry and cry and know Allah will take care of me when i don't know what to do When i prostrate before Allah it's just me and Him Just my heart talking sincerely to Him No one else knows what i'm saying or what i'm feeling; just Him It is my place to get away from this world even for just a few minutes and turn towards my Creator My Sustainer My Everything....My Rabb, and know that if i just whisper He can hear and see all that's inside And everytime i ask and cry, He takes a lil piece of my heart and mends it back together inside. It's that lil space that gives me all these things My favorite spot is that lil space on my prayer rug where i place my hands and face It is in that lil space...where it's just me and Allah...in my lil space unknown author

Ibn Abbas (radi Allahu anhu) narrated that the Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: “The pious offspring who casts a single look of affection at his parents receives a reward from Allah equal to the reward of an accepted Hajj.” The people enquired: “O Prophet of Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam), if someone casts a hundred such glances of love and affection at his parents, what then?” The Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: “Yes, indeed, even if one does so a hundred times a day, he will get a hundred fold reward. Allah is far greater than you imagine and is completely free from petty narrow mindedness.” (Sahih Muslim) Love your parents and consider this act as a privilege and a source of reward in the eternal world. How much parents love their children, how much they happily sacrifice for them, and how much they want their child to be more privileged than they are, can only be understood when a person becomes a parent themself. Nobody likes to see others get ahead of him/her in this world except parents, who love to see their children better off than them in every way and for this they willingly sacrifice whatever they have. Allah Ta'ala is the only one who really knows what is inside a parent’s heart. In order to help us to acknowledge and be grateful for their love Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) gives us mountains of reward from Himself for loving our parents. Truly, no-one is as appreciative as Allah Ta'ala of the love that parents shower on their children. Should a person look at his/her parents lovingly even a hundred times a day, Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) will give them the reward of a hundred accepted Hajjs. There is no scarcity with Him. He needs to set no quotas on how much reward a person may earn in a day. It is humans who are petty and stingy towards each other. islaaminfo.co.za

Q. Please comment about the use of clothing with eyes (moorath) for children or adults during the day or night? Are there any Hadith indicating that such clothing should not be worn by Muslims and what are the dangers of doing so or how are we depriving ourselves and children by wearing such garments? A. Images of animate objects printed or embroided on clothing are not permissible. The prohibition of such images have been explicitly mentioned in the Hadith. Sayyiduna Abu Talhah (Radiyallahu Anhu) reports that the Prophet of Allah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said: "The Malaaikah (angels of mercy) do not enter a house wherein there are pictures (of animate objects)". (Sahih Muslim, Hadith #: 5485) Unfortunately, such clothing has become increasingly common in Muslim homes especially in children's and infant's clothing. Parents should exercize caution and keep in mind the above mentioned Hadith when purchasing clothing for children. It should not be such that the home is deprived of the blessings of the Mala'ikah due to negligence of this aspect of Shari'ah. And Allah Knows Best Mufti Suhail Tarmahomed Jamiatul Ulama (KZN) Council of Muslim Theologians 223 Alpine Road, Overport, Durban

The Ideal Woman The ideal woman is the balance in society. She is the pivot of humanity. Her uprightness and soundness causes the society to be upright and sound. She is a treasure for the husband, a fortune for the children, a jewel for the parents and a blessing for humanity. Great men have been nurtured in the lap of such women. As the famous saying states, “Behind every successful man there is a woman.”

Allah, The Most Exalted says: "Verily, those who say: 'Our Lord is (only) Allah,' and thereafter stand firm and straight (on the Islamic Faith of Monotheism), on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve. Such shall be the dwellers of Jannah, abiding therein (forever), - a reward for what they used to do." (Qur’aan - 46:13, 14) The Noble Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) is reported to have said: "Follow the Right Path of Faith strictly, and be steadfast; and keep in mind that none of you can achieve salvation through his (good) actions." Someone asked, "Not even you, O Messenger of Allah?" He (pbuh) said, "Not even me, unless Allah grants me His Mercy and Grace". (Hadith: Muslim) EISLAM

The 15th night of Sha’baan is known as Laylatul Baraa’ah or the Night of Emancipation. Rasulullah Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam has stated: “Allah Ta'ala looks upon all His creation on the middle Night of Sha'baan and forgives them all, except the one who associates partners with Him or the one who has hatred in his heart (against a Muslim).” (Authenticated as Saheeh in Saheeh ibn Hibban) There are those who cast doubts about the significance of this night. They would be wise to consider the words of Ibn Taymiya and Albaani, whom they consider as Imaams. Ibn Taymiya writes in his Al-Fataawal Kubra, “As for the middle night of Sha’baan, indeed it holds virtue.” Albaani when discussing the Ahadith regarding the 15th night of Sha’baan writes, “In essence, the Hadith, considering the different narrations, is Saheeh (rigorously authenticated) without any doubt.” He further says that those who deny the virtue of this night, then it is due to their haste in passing rulings and the absence of effort in researching the Ahadith. (Silsilatul Ahadithis Sahihah) The 15th night of Sha’baan is indeed an auspicious night. It is a night of forgiveness and mercy. Let us be of those fortunate ones who maximise the benefits of this night and thereby welcome Ramadhan spiritually rejuvenated. Jamiatul Ulama (KZN) Council of Muslim Theologians 223 Alpine Road, Overport, Durban

Words of Inspiration Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; but remember what you have now was once among the things you only hoped for. All the water in the ocean could never sink a ship unless the water gets inside. Likewise, all the pressures of life can never hurt you unless you let it in. (idealwoman.org)

Allah, The Most Exalted says: "And in Allah (Alone) let the believers, put their trust." (Qur’aan-14:11) The Noble Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) is reported to have said: "If you all depend on Allah with due reliance, He would certainly give you provision as He gives it to birds who go forth hungry in the morning and return with full belly in the evening". (Hadith: Tirmidhi) EISLAM

When will Zakaat be Obligatory? Q: When will zakaat be obligatory and how should one work out one's zakaat date? A: The first day a person acquires wealth (upon which zakaat is compulsory) which equals the nisaab and the wealth remains with him for an entire lunar year, zakaat will be waajib on that wealth. E.g. Zaid acquired R3, 000 (which for example is the nisaab amount) on the first day of the lunar year (1st of Muharram 1434). This wealth remained with him for an entire lunar year. On the 1st of Muharram 1435 zakaat will be waajib upon the wealth. It should be noted that if the amount decreased during the course of the year e.g. R3, 000 decreased to R1, 000 but at the end of the zakaat year (1st of Muharram 1435) the amount returned to R3, 000 or more, zakaat will be waajib. However, if during the year all the money was spent, then despite the full amount (R3, 000) being possessed at the end of the lunar year, zakaat will not be waajib. Instead one year will be calculated from the date that he once again acquired the nisaab amount. (وشرط كمال النصاب) ولو سائمة (في طرفي الحول) في الابتداء للانعقاد وفي الانتهاء للوجوب (فلا يضر نقصانه بينهما) فلو هلك كله بطل الحول قوله: (وشرط كمال النصاب إلخ) أي ولو حكما، لما في البحر والنهر، لو كان له غنم للتجارة تساوي نصابا فماتت قبل الحول فدبغ جلودها وتم الحول عليها كان عليه الزكاة إن بلغت نصابا، ولو تخمر عصيره الذي للتجارة قبل الحول ثم صار خلا وتم الحول عليه وهو كذلك لا زكاة عليه؛ لأن النصاب في الأول باق لبقاء الجلد لتقومه بخلافه في الثاني. وروى ابن سماعة أنه عليه الزكاة في الثاني أيضا قوله: (للانعقاد) أي انعقاد السبب أي تحققه بتملك النصاب ط قوله: (للوجوب) أي لتحقق الوجوب عليه ط قوله: (فلو هلك كله) أي في أثناء الحول بطل الحول، حتى لو استفاد فيه غيره استأنف له حولا جديدا وتقدم حكم هلاكه بعد تمام الحول في زكاة الغنم. قال في النهر: ومنه أي من الهلاك ما لو جعل السائمة علوفة؛ لأن زوال الوصف كزوال العين (شامي 2/302) Answered by: Mufti Zakaria Makada Checked & Approved: Mufti Ebrahim Salejee (Isipingo Beach)

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Adab of Ramadhan As for Ramadhan, do extreme adab of Ramadhan Mubarak. Nabi صلي الله عليه و سلم said [narrated in Bukhari]: ‏ « من لم يدع قول الزور والعمل به والجهل فليس لله حاجة أن يدع طعامه وشرابه » The Prophet sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam said, whoever does not leave qawl az zoor and working in accordance to it Allah is not in need of his leaving his food and his drink. What is haraam in other days is more haraam in Ramadhan. Do not trouble or offend anyone. Be like someone in a Kanqha. Go about your work and daily activities but remain alag salag [separate]. Be like someone in search of something. [This type of person is too preoccupied about his worry to look at other’s faults.] What is this thing you are searching for? Allah Ta’alah’s pleasure. In a Hadith Nabi صلي الله عليه و سلم tells us to give the labourer his wage before his perspiration dies. What then, do you think of Allah, the best of those who recompense? He will forgive you even before you finish your fast! This is as long you show adab towards the month of Ramadhan. In Ramadhan, do as much dua as you can. If you cannot lift your hands due to extreme hunger, then make dua whilst sitting or lying. Do not leave dua. May Allah grant us Taufeeq. باتیں کم کرو اور کام زيادہ کرو Spend less time talking and more time doing good deeds. وقت نکالوگے تو وقت ملے گا If you take time out [to do worship], you will be given [blessings in] time. Hadhrat Maulana Adam Lunat Saahib darsdays.blogspot.com

Beautiful is She.... Beautiful, is she, who loves for the sake of Allah. Beautiful, is she, who walks in humility. Beautiful, is she, who strives for piety. Beautiful, is she, who aims for the stars. Beautiful, is she, who loves to learn. True beauty comes not from her appearance but rather comes from within. Beautiful, is her mind, heart, and soul……. idealwoman.org

Safiyya Safiyya bint Huyayy, (may Allah be pleased with her) married the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) in 7 AH, when the Prophet was sixty years old and she was seventeen years old. As in the case of juwayriyya bint Harith, this marriage occurred after one of the Muslims' decisive battles, in this case, the battle of Khaybar. After the battle of Khaybar in which the Muslims defeated the Jews, two women were brought before the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) by Bilal, the black mu'adhdhin of Medina whose beautifully piercing voice constantly called the Muslims to prayer right up until the Prophet's death- after which he could not bring himself to call the adhan anymore, until he was present at the surrender of Jerusalem to the khalif Umar in 17 AH. They had passed by those who had been killed in the fighting. One of the two women was shrieking and screaming, and rubbing dust in her hair, while the other was mute with shock. The silent one was Safiyya, the daughter of Huyayy ibn Akhtab, the chief of the Banu Nadir who had all been expelled from Medina in 4 AH after plotting to kill the Messenger of Allah by dropping a stone on his head as he sat talking with their leaders. The noisy one was Safiyya's cousin. Safiyya could trace her lineage directly back to Harun, the brother of the Prophet Moses (peace be upon them). The Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) asked someone to look after the woman who was screaming and then took off his cloak and placed it over the shoulders of Safiyya, whose husband had been killed in the battle. It was a gesture of pity, but from that moment she was to be honored and given great respect in the Muslim community. Then the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) turned to Bilal and said, "Bilal, has Allah plucked mercy from your heart that you let these two women pass by those of their menfolk who have been killed?" This was considered a severe reprimand, for the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) rarely criticized the behavior of those who served him. Anas ibn Malik, for example once said, "I served the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) for eight years. He never once scolded me for something that I had done or for something that I had not done." Like Umm Habiba, Safiyya was the daughter of a great chief. The only person who could save her from becoming a slave after having enjoyed such a high position was the Prophet. Although her father had planned to assassinate Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) after the battle of Uhud, and had conspired with the Banu Qurayza to exterminate all the Muslims during the battle of al-Khandaq, it was characteristic of the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) that he did not bear any grudges. For those who did wrong, he felt pity rather than anger, and for those who had done no wrong, he had even greater compassion. The Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) invited Safiyya to embrace Islam, which she did, and having given her, her freedom, he then married her. Some people may have wondered how it was that Safiyya could accept Islam and marry the Prophet when her father had been his bitter enemy, and when bloody battles had taken place between the Jews and the Muslims. The answer may be found in what she has related of her early life as the daughter of the chief of the Banu Nadir. She said, (may Allah be pleased with her): "I was my father's favorite and also a favorite with my uncle Yasir. They could never see me with one of their children without picking me up. When the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) came to Medina, my father and my uncle went to see him. It was very early in the morning and between dawn and sunrise. They did not return until the sun was setting. They came back worn out and depressed, walking with slow, heavy steps. I smiled to them as I always did, but neither of them took any notice of me because they were so miserable. I head Abu Yasir ask my father, 'Is it him?' 'Yes, it is.' 'Can you recognize him? Can you verify it?' 'Yes, I can recognize him too well.' 'What do you feel towards him?' 'Enmity, enmity as long as I live.' The significance of this conversation is evident when we recall that in the Torah of the Jews, it was written that a Prophet would come who would lead those who followed him to victory. Indeed before the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) came to Medina, the Jews used to threaten the idol worshippers of Yathrib, as it was then called, that when the next Prophet came to the believers were going to exterminate them, just as the Jews had exterminated other tribes who refused to worship God in the past. As in any case, of the Prophet Jesus, (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) who had been clearly described in the Torah - but rejected by many of the Jews when he actually came - the next and last Prophet was accurately described in the Torah, which also contained signs by which the Jews could easily recognize him. Thus Ka'b al-Ahbar, one of the Jews of that time who embraced Islam, relates that this Prophet is described in the Torah as follows: 'My slave, Ahmad, the Chosen, born in Mecca, who will emigrate to Medina (or he said Tayyiba - another name given to Yathrib); his community will be those who praise Allah in every state.' And 'Amr ibn al-'As said that it also says in the Torah: 'O Prophet, We have sent you as a witness, a bringer of good news and a warner and a refuge for the illiterate. You are My slave and My messenger. I have called you the one on whom people rely, one who is neither coarse nor vulgar, and who neither shouts in the markets nor repays evil with evil, but rather pardons and forgives. Allah will not take him back to Himself until the crooked community has been straightened out by him and they say, "There is no god but Allah." Through him, blind eyes, deaf ears and covered hearts will be opened.' It was thanks to these descriptions in the Torah, that the most learned rabbi of the Jews, 'Abdullah ibn Salam, had embraced Islam on seeing Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and it was because of these descriptions that Huyayy ibn Akhtab was also able to recognize him. However Huyayy, like most of the other Jews, was deeply disappointed that the last Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) was a descendant of Isma'il and not of Ishaq, (the two sons of the Prophet Ibrahim, peace be upon them), since the Jews of that time claimed exclusive descent from Ishaq, through the twelve sons of his son Ya'qub (who was also known as Israel), from whom the twelve tribes of Israel had originated. Not only did Huyayy resent the fact that the last Prophet had appeared amongst the Arabs, but also he did not want to lose his position of power and leadership over his people. It was for these reasons that Huyayy secretly decided to oppose and fight the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) while in public he and the other leaders of the Jews made peace treaties with the Muslims and the Jews broke as soon as it seemed a favorable time to do so. Although Safiyya was Huyayy's daughter, she had a pure heart and had always wanted to worship her Creator and Lord, the One who had sent Moses, to whom she was related, and Jesus, and finally Muhammad, may Allah be pleased with all of them. Thus as soon as the opportunity arose, not only to follow the last Prophet, but also to be married to him, she took it. Although Safiyya had in Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) a most kind and considerate husband, she was not always favorably accepted by some of his other wives, especially when she had first joined the Prophet's household. It is related by Anas that on one occasion, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) found Safiyya weeping. When he asked her what the matter was, she replied that she heard thHafsa had disparagingly described her as 'the daughter of a Jew'. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) responded by saying, "You are certainly the daughter of a Prophet (Harun), and certainly your uncle was a Prophet (Moses), and you are certainly the wife of a Prophet (Muhammad), so what is there in that to be scornful towards you?" Then he said to Hafsa, "O Hafsa, fear Allah!" Once the Prophet was accompanied on a journey by Safiyya and Zaynab bint Jahsh when Safiyya' s camel went lame. Zaynab had an extra camel and the Prophet asked her if she would give it to Safiyya. Zaynab retorted, "Should I give to that Jewess!" The Prophet turned away from her in anger and would not have anything to do with her for two or three months not to show his disapproval of what she had said. Some three years later, when Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) was in his final illness, Safiyya felt for him deeply and sincerely. "O Messenger of Allah," she said, "I wish it was I who was suffering instead of you." Some of the wives winked at each other which made the Prophet cross and he exclaimed, "By Allah, she spoke the truth!" She still underwent difficulties after the death of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). Once a slavegirl she owned went to the Amir al Muminin Umar and said, "Amir al Muminin! Safiyya loves the Sabbath and maintains ties with the Jews!" Umar asked Safiyya about that and she said, "I have not loved the Sabbath since Allah replaced it with Friday for me, and I only maintain ties with those Jews to whom I am related by kinship." She asked her slavegirl what had possessed her to carries lie to Umar and the girl replied, "Shaytan!" Safiyya said, "Go, you are free." Safiyya was with the Prophet for nearly four years, She was only twenty-one when the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) died, and lived as a widow for the next thirty-nine years, dying in 50 AH, at the age of sixty (may Allah be pleased with her). inkofscholars