A Letter to My Brother

Imam Sufyaan once wrote to one of his Muslim brothers

May Allaah, with His Mercy, protect both me and you from the Hellfire.

I advise both you and myself to fear Allaah.

And I warn you not to turn to ignorance after you have learned, not to turn to destruction after you have seen and recognized the truth, and not to leave the (Straight) Path after it has been made clear to you.

Do not become deceived by worldly people, and do not become unduly impressed by the way they strive for and greedily gather worldly things, for the terror (that will envelop them on the Day of Resurrection) is indeed SEVERE.

The danger (of the Day of Resurrection) is grave indeed, but what is more, is that it is near at hand.

So occupy yourself exclusively with the Hereafter, and empty your heart of all other thoughts; once you have done that, work hard! Do not waste time! And flee from the world and its temptations! Travel to the Hereafter (with your worship) before you are taken there… I have indeed given you the same advice that I gave myself.

And understand that success comes from Allaah (subhaanahu wa ta’aala). The key to gaining His help is supplication, prayer, feeling remorse for past negligence, and complete submission to Him.

Your days and nights are numbered, so use the time you have left wisely, and do not be negligent in fulfilling the rights of your Lord.

I ask Allaah, Who has blessed us to know Him, not to entrust us and you to our ownselves; and I ask Allaah to be our Guardian and Helper, just as He is the Guardian and Helper of His beloved, righteous slaves.

Beware of doing that which will spoil your deeds, and know that it is showing off that spoils a person’s deeds; and if it is not showing off, then it is conceitedness – for you to imagine that you are better than one of your Muslim brothers, when in reality he performs more good deeds than you do; or perhaps he performs his deeds with a purer intention than you do.

And even if you are not conceited, beware of developing a love for praise.

Be ever so careful not to come to love other people’s praise of your good deeds, or the respect they feel for you and bestow upon you because of your good deeds.

And beware of desiring that others should help you in your personal affairs just because they have become impressed with your good deeds.

You surely claim (as does everyone else), after all, that you are doing good deeds only for the sake of Allaah (subhaanahu wa ta’aala); well, then turn that claim into a reality.

If you want to be less desirous of this world – its things, wealth, and pleasures – and more desirous of the Hereafter — Paradise and its bliss – then remember death frequently.

And know that you have long term hopes for this world – which one should not have — if you fear Allaah only a little or if you recklessly perpetrate sins.

And one will be sufficiently regretful and wretched on the Day of Resurrection if he has knowledge but does not apply it.

* Transcribed from: The Biography of Sufyaan Ath-Thauree, rahimahullaah, page 181-182

-Samiha

Pary Salatul Khusoof on 20th-21st (Monday-Tuesday)

Assalaamualaikum Wa RahmatuAllah:
 

This coming Monday night there will be a full eclipse of the moon, which should be easily visible from North America. Start should be around 10:30pm pst Monday night and end should be around 2:00am pst Tuesday morning; although, at least the start should be confirmed by visually sighting.

  

These days it has become a custom to look at the eclipse (whether sun or moon), marvel about these events, talk about the scientific explanation etc. However, most people have forgotten that these are "signs through which Allah makes His slaves afraid"as explained by the Prophet (sallaAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam). Also, as per the confirmed sunnah of the Prophet (sallaAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam), he prayed salaatul kusoof/khusoof during eclipse, reminded all of the great power of Allah SWT, reminded all for doing a lot of rememberence, dua', istighfaar etc.

  

Let us revive this less practiced great sunnah by praying in our masaajids, homes, gatherings. In our local masjid, we are planning to make an announcement after Juma' tomorrow, and ask everyone to gather on Monday night with their families and children (kids should be off from school next week). Every community can take this type of an action easily by discussing with masjid committees, and there is reward for every good action with sincerity.

  

Yes, its a little late at night, but these are rare events, and thereby, rare opportunities to practice a great sunnah.... inshaAllah by the will of Allah, the reward will also be great.

  

Below, I have summarized in bullets some useful details so that it is easy to follow. I have also attached a description from Shaikh Albany (r), a helpful picture of the eclipse and time table.

  

Please pass this on the friends and family, and we expect that Allah SWT will multiply our rewards inshaAllah.

  

Summary of things to know about this salah:

• Scholars have categorized this salah as sunnah mu'akkadah (well established sunnah)
• Call to salat should be given by saying "Assalaatu Jaami'ah" (no specific number of times)
• Based on the hadith of the prophet (sallaAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam), the eclipse should be "SEEN" first, and then the salah should start, the start time should not be based on only astronomical calculations; details here http://www.islamqa.com/en/ref/20368/eclipse )
• Praying in jama' is sunnah, however, if there is no jama' then praying individually is allowed (since this is an optional salah)
• Women should also join the jama'
• Pray two raka' reading Quran aloud
• Difference from regular nafl salah - Two ruku' and two recitations (recite Fatiha and a surah at the beginning and then recite Fatiha and another surah again after the first ruku', then do second ruku', then the two sijdah)
• Another difference - The prophet (sallaAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam) prayed this with very long recitation, very long ruku' and very long sujood. However, if it becomes difficult, then making the length of recitation, ruku', and sujood like regular salah should be done, which is much better than finding an excuse to leave this salah.
• If prayer ends before eclipse is over, then make dhikr, dua', istighfar etc. until eclipse ends (or as much one can).
• Sunnah is to give a speech of admonition after the salah.

MD Shaheed




-Samiha

Ten Oppressors

Imam Sufyaan ath-Thawri (rahimahullah) said that ten people are regarded as oppressors:


1. The person who prays for himself, but forgets his parents and other believers.

2. The person who does not recite at least a hundred verses of the Qur’an daily.

3. The person who leaves the Masjid without performing at least two raka’ahs of salah.

4. The person who passes a graveyard without greeting the deceased or praying for them.

5. The person who enters a city on a Friday and leaves without performing the Friday prayer.

6. That man or woman in whose vicinity a learned person comes and none acquires any religious knowledge from him.

7. Those two people who love each other for the pleasure of Allah but are unaware of each others names.

8. That person who is invited by another but does not accept his invitation (when acceptance does not contradict the Shari`ah).

9. That youngster that has no commitments yet does not acquire any religious knowledge or manners.

10. That person who has eaten to his fill while his neighbor goes hungry.


[Imam as-Samarqandi's Tanbeeh al-Ghafileen









-Samiha

The Importance of Good Companionship

 Choosing and having good companions is extremely important for many reasons and from many aspects.

1. Mankind cannot live alone; every individual must live and interact with others, and when interacting with others one either influences or is himself influenced.

2. Those people whom you sit with and make your friends are inevitably going to fall into one of two categories. They will either be good individuals - who guide and encourage you towards what is good and help you to accomplish that which Allaah has ordered, or they are going to be bad - encouraging you to do what is pleasing to Satan, that which misleads you, and leads you to the Hell-Fire.

3. When the Prophet, salla Allahu alihi wa sallam, was sent with the mission to establish Islam, he did not do it on his own. Rather, Allaah chose for him companions who accompanied him and who carried the Message until it was complete.

These three aspects show the importance of having good companions, companions who are righteous. Such a companion will help you to do what is good and remind you of Allaah, subhanahu wa ta'ala, he will enjoin what is good and forbid what is evil. These aspects also show the importance of avoiding befriending bad companions, because such a companion will have a bad effect upon you, they help you to do those deeds which are displeasing to Allaah and which lead to the Hell-Fire.

The Prophet, salla Allahu alihi wa sallam, gave a good similitude regarding this. He, salla Allahu alihi wa sallam, said:

 "The case of the good companion and the bad companion is like that of the seller of musk and the blower of the bellows (iron-smith). As for the seller of musk, he will either give you some of the musk, or you will purchase some from him, or at least you will come away having experienced its good smell. Whereas the blower of the bellows will either burn your clothing, or at least you will come away having experienced its repugnant smell." [Al-Bukhaari and Muslim]

The Prophet salla Allahu alihi wa sallam explained the matter of good companionship, so that no room is left for doubt or confusion, when he  salla Allahu alihi wa sallam said:

 "A person is upon the religion of his close friend, so beware whom you befriend." [Abu Daawood and At-Tirmithi]

This means that a person will be upon the same methodology as his friend, the same path as his friend, the same nature, manner and behavior as his friend. So we must be careful whom we befriend. There is an Arabic saying:

 'Your companion is what pulls you to something.' 

So if your companion is good, he will pull you towards that which is good. He will order us with what is good and forbid us from what is evil. If he observes us committing sins he would warn us, if he becomes aware of our shortcomings he would advise us, and if he finds a fault in us he would cover it and not disclose it to others. About this, the Prophet, salla Allahu alihi wa sallam, said:

  "…Whoever conceals (the fault of) a Muslim, Allaah will conceal his fault on the Day of Judgment."  [Abu Daawood]

So should you see a fault in your brother, you should wish to remove that fault from him and not expose it to the people. This is what is required by brotherhood and again stresses the importance of choosing friends who are upon the correct way, who are loyal, and who hide your faults whilst ordering you with good and forbidding you from evil, who stand beside you and support you, and co-operate with you upon all that is good.

This principle is important from the standpoint of how the religion is to be established, and from the standpoint of what brotherhood is and what it does. In deed, the reason that one takes a companion is to help him establish Islam, and to help him worship Allaah. We find a good example in the Prophet Moosaa alayhis Salam the one whom Allaah chose and spoke to. When Allaah, subhanahu wa ta'ala, sent him to Pharaoh, he (Moosaa) alayhis salam said as Allaah informs us saying (what means):

 "And appoint for me a helper from my family, Haaroon - my brother; increase my strength with him, and let him share my task (of conveying Allaah's Message and Prophethood), that we may glorify You much and remember You much." [Quran; 20: 29-34]

Moosa alayhis salam wanted his brother to support him and help him, protect him and accompany him. This is exactly what the believers do for one another. For the thing that binds the believers together and makes them brothers is the bond of faith.

The Prophet salla Allahu alihi wa sallam said:

 "There are three characteristics; whoever has them will taste the sweetness of faith: That Allaah and His Messenger are more beloved to him than all else, that he loves a person and does not love him except for the sake of Allaah, and that he would hate to revert to unbelief just as he would hate to be thrown into the Fire." [Al-Bukhaari and Muslim]

Thus the connection between the believers is based upon faith and sincere brotherhood. Beware against taking any companion if such companionship is based upon other than this, for if you were to do that you would then bite your hands in grief. Just as the unjust ones will bite their hands in grief.

Allaah, subhanahu wa ta'ala, Says (what means):

"And (remember) the Day when the wrong-doer (oppressor, polytheist etc.) will bite at his hand, he will say:  `Oh! Would that I had taken a path with the Messenger. Ah! Woe to me! Would that I had never taken so-and-so as a friend! He indeed led me astray from the Reminder (the Quran) after it had come to me….'" [Quran; 25:27] 

And Allaah Says (what means):

"And whosoever turns away from the remembrance of the Most Beneficent (Allaah), We appoint for him Satan to be a Qareen (intimate companion) to him." [Quran; 43:36]

So all of the physical togetherness that you see around you, which is based upon other than faith will be wiped away on that Day, and it will be a source of misery and torture for them.

Allaah, subhanahu wa ta'ala, Says (what means):

"Friends on that Day will be foes one to another except the pious." [Quran; 43:67]

Courtesy: www.islamweb.net

Our Lord! Accept (this little service) from us; surely Thou art the Hearing, the Knowing.(Ameen)

_.___  Compiled, edited and adapted by Khalid Latif, e-tabligue>

-Samiha

The Daily Hadith

Volume 1, Book 8, Number 362:

Narrated by Ibn Umar

A person asked Allah's Apostle, "What should a Muhrim wear?"
He replied, "He should not wear shirts, trousers, a burnus (hooded cloak),
or clothes which are stained with saffron or Wars (a kind of perfume).
 Whoever does not find a sandal to wear, he can wear Khuffs,
 but these should be cutshort as not to cover the ankles."





-Samiha

The Six Matters to Acquire Knowledge

The Six Matters to Acquire Knowledge

 by Imaam Ash-Shaafi'ee rahimahullaah, 

Yaa Akhee....laa tanaalul ilma illaa be sittatin             

 Sa-unabbe-uka be ta-weelihaa wa                                                                                 bayaanin.

Thakaaun, wa Hirsun, waj tihaadun, wa bulghatun,

Wa suhbatul ustaadhi wa tooli zamaanin.

"Oh My Brother! You will not attain knowledge except with six(things):

Intelligence, Zeal, Striving, Subsistence,

And the Companionship of a Teacher

And a Long Time."

-Samiha

The Daily Hadith

The Prophet passed a date fallen on the way and said, "Were I not afraid that it may be from a Sadaqa (charitable gifts), I would have eaten it." Narrated Abu Huraira: The Prophet said, "Sometimes when I return home and find a date fallen on my bed, I pick it up in order to eat it, but I fear that it might be from a Sadaqa, so I throw it."


-Samiha

New Year

Assalamualaikum,


The new Islamic year starts today, 12-7-10 InshaAllah



-Samiha

Fours Eyes

It is reported that Khâlid b. Ma’dân – Allâh have mercy on him – said:

There is not a person except he has four eyes: two in his head with which he sees the matters of this worldly life, and two in his heart with which he looks to the matters of the hereafter. So if Allâh wants good for his servant, He opens his heart’s eyes, and so he perceives what he has been promised in the unseen world. Thus he is saved from the unseen [punishment] through the unseen [reward for the obedient].

Al-Dhahabî, Siyar A’lâm Al-Nubalâ` 4: 543

-Samiha

The Daily Hadith

Volume 3
Book 49
Number 857

Narrated by Umm Kulthum bint Uqba

I heard Allah's Apostle saying, "He who makes peace between the people by
inventing good information or saying good things, is not a liar."




-Samiha

How Often (Us Muslims)

How often do we ask of Allah?

How often do we thank Allah when

 He gives us what we requested?

How often do we speak about the mercy of Allah when

 everything is going good and everything we do He bless it?

How often do we speak about the mercy of Allah when

 things are rough and tough and we are being tested?

How often do we ask from are brothers and sisters 

mercy and compassion?

How often when are brothers and sister come

 with heart in hand wanting mercy and compassion

 we let them know in or statements or actions

 that's somehing that isn't about to happen?

How often do we curse the shaytan?

How often after we finish cursing the shaytan 

we turn around and do the works of shaytan?

How often do we claim we know that shaytan is our enemy?

How often do we prepare ourselves so the enemy can

 stop getting the victory?

How often do we complain about the state of the
 muslim community?
How often do we actually strive to change the state
 of the muslim community?

How often do we say we hate the kuffar?
How often do we still do many things done by the kuffar?

How often do we hear the people say 
ya akhi,ya ukhti my Aqeedah and Minhaj is Salafi?
How often do we see people say and do things that
 wouldn't be done by someone claiming to have
 the Aqeeedah and Minhaj of a true salafi?

How often do we claim we love the truth 
but when are brothers and sisters tell us the
 truth we treat them like a enemy?
How often do we ask for the people to speak
 to us gently?How often do we speak to the people harshly?

How often do we say the muslim community is

 lacking generosity?

How often is it when it's time to give we 

become tight handed and stingy?

How often do we commit many major and minor
 sins that we pray Allah keeps secret?
How often do we talk about the sins of each other 
openly knowing it's permissable if the intentions is to
 protect the community but in actuality many of us
 just want to expose are brothers and sisters openly?

How often do we say we know we all fall into error?
How often are you not expected not to fall into
 error because you grow your beard and wear your pants
 and thobe short?
How often are you not expected to fall into error
 because you wear all black and you a niqaabi?

How often do we say we love the Sahaba?
How often do we reject the methodology of the
 salfi saalih?

How often do we hear people say they love Allah
 and His messenger sallahu alahi wa sallam?
How often do we hear and see these same people
 oppose the Quran and the Sunnah openly?

Abu Shaybah

-Samiha

Leave The Veil Alone

Leave The Veil Alone




You attack her because she stands alone in a sea of immodest immorality
You attack her because she chooses not to use her sexuality 
leave this glass vessel to her life style and her beauty will remain untouched
She chooses not to compete in your race for equality with men
She chooses not to falsely use her sexuality to entice 
Nor does She choose to take on the dress of her opposite
Not for attraction nor vice
Leave alone her veil and her choice to voice 
it's her Right to Worship her Lord as He Subhanna wa ta'Ala decided 
Don't hate accommodate
Don't annoy this servant of Allah not the servant of males nor her desires
When you past her by in the streets, Past her by 
Allah has promised protection for His believing slaves
For He Does Not lie
Thus she guards her Modesty throughout her days
This dunyah is a test to see who's best in behavior
So don't test her dress, I'll save her Bi'ithnillah
Leave the veil alone O disbelieving women
For it is this symbol you're threatened by, Why?
Is it because you recognize righteousness, that which your fitrah can't deny
deep within your hearts you bear witness to her goodness
but your Qareen entices towards shamefulness and a lie
Rather many lies have your devils tricked you into believing
and O Muslim let the strangers go about their way
don't hinder your brothers from the One path.
The night is like it's day
Don't hate the Sunnah, or you'll become gray
She desires to cover in front of the non-relative
free from mixing with them
Be happy for her, for she is a shining example
Leave the veil alone
Restrict your hatred to the evil she shuns




By Wali Paul










-Samiha