Nothing Can Depress This Man...

A Man who will never be afflicted with Depression, is a man that Allah has bestowed with a heart that is content (meaning he is happy and grateful with what he has been given by the Al-Mighty Allah)

Do Souls of the Dead Return Back to this World?

A POPULAR THEME OF MANY HORROR AND THRILLER NOVELS, MOVIES AND TELEVISION PROGRAMS CENTERS AROUND THE FALSE BELIEF THAT WHEN SOMEONE IS KILLED UNJUSTLY, HIS SOUL RETURNS IN ORDER TO SEEK JUSTICE, OR IT KEEPS WANDERING UNTIL JUSTICE IS DONE TO IT. REPEATED EXPOSURE TO THIS FALSE CONCEPT FROM EVERY FORM OF MEDIA HAS LEAD MANY TO UNKNOWINGLY BELIEVE IN IT...

Whilst some take this concept very seriously, and make use of un-Islamic measures, like the hanging of amulets and pagan rituals to protect themselves from the revengeful soul, others simply consider these issues to be unimportant and do not bother to seek knowledge about it.

But the fact remains, that not only do many people fear the souls, but entire religions are focused around ancestor and soul worship. Large amount of wealth is spent on making offerings to the souls and many rituals and festivals are held in this regard, for example, many people believe that the deceased visit this world on the 15th of Shabaan (8th month of the Islamic Calendar) and they call it 'Eid of the Dead.' Some even go to the extreme of preparing the foods that the deceased liked!

It is therefore essential that the Muslims be informed about the gravity of this call and be educated about the correct Islamic Aqeedah (belief). This article is specifically aimed to expose the falsity of these beliefs and bring to the reader authentic proofs from the Qur'aan and the Sunnah, which undoubtedly reject the soul's return. We hope that this article will dispel doubts and confusion around the subject. And with Allah lies all success.

Islamic Concept of the Soul:

Soul is from the matters of the unseen and nothing can be said in its explanation without established proofs from the Book and the Sunnah. The knowledge required for our welfare in this world and the Hereafter has been conveyed to us by the Messenger of Allah (saws), and there is no need to seek any goodness beyond that. The Messenger of Allah (saws) said: "There is nothing that will take you closer to Paradise but that I have enjoined it upon you, and there is nothing that will take you closer to Hell but that I have warned you from it." [Musnad ash-Shafi'e and others]

The Jews asked Allah's Messenger (saws) about the soul and in reply the Qur'aan said: "They ask you concerning the soul. Say that the soul is from Allah and you have not been given knowledge of it except a little." [Soorah al-Isra (17): 85]

The Soul is a creation of Allah, whose function is to bring life to the human body. It remains with the human body throughout the life and departs at death. After which the souls are either held in Paradise or punishment. There is no returning back of the souls of the righteous people from Paradise, and no escaping of the souls of evildoers from the punishment of the grave. Therefore, pious or evil, the souls do not return to this world, neither to take revenge nor to assist the living. Neither is there any concept in Islam, which explains that justice is dependant upon the soul's coming back and setting things aright. Islam teaches that Allah is responsible to see that every being gets its due right and injustice does not go unpunished.

Journey of the Soul after Death
 

Doing without the life of this world in preference for the Hereafter

Allah (SWT) says:
"Whatever is with you will be exhausted, and whatever is with Allah [of good deeds] will remain.” [Surah An-Nahl (16), Ayah 96]

"And the life of this world is but amusement and play! Verily, the home in the Hereafter, that is the life indeed, if they but knew." [Surah Al-'Ankabut (29), Ayah 64]

"The life of this world is only the enjoyment of deception.” [Surah Ale-Imran (3), Ayah 185]

"Say: ‘Short is the enjoyment of this world. The Hereafter is [far] better for him who fears Allah, and you shall not be dealt with unjustly in the very least.'"[Surah An-Nisa (4), Ayah 77] 

"Nay, you prefer the life of this world; but the Hereafter is better and more lasting." [Surah Al-A'la (87), Ayat 16-17]

The Qur'an is replete with verses which tell us to do without the life of this world and its fleeting, short-lived pleasures and which encourage us to work for the Hereafter, which is better and more lasting.

Abstaining from the transitory pleasures of this life and preferring the Hereafter are by no means inseparable, for only those who forsake the pleasures of this world long for the Hereafter. Ibn Taymeeyah said, "To eschew [the pleasures of this] life is [in fact] to forsake what is of no benefit to the Hereafter."

The Prophet (saws) said, "By Allah, the  life of this world, compared to that in the Hereafter, is but like someone who puts his finger in the sea, so let him see what it brings out. " (Muslim and Tirmidhi)

He (saws) also said, "The most truthful word ever uttered by a poet is that in which [the poet] Labeed says, ‘Verily, everything apart from Allah is but falsehood'." (Bukhari, Muslim and Tirmidhi)
 

Major Sin - Oppression!!!

The meaning of oppression is to take away other peoples’ property without right; to beat, abuse, and mistreat them; and to take advantage of the weak.

Allah says in Quran:
Do no suppose that Allah is unmindful of what the unjust do. He only gives them respite until a Day when the eyes will stare in terror as they come hurrying on in fear, their heads upraised, their gaze not returning to them, and their hears blank. And warn mankind of a Day when the punishment will come upon them, and then those who commit oppression will say: “O Lord, give us respite for a little while. We will respond to your call and will follow the messengers.” Thereupon they will be told: “And did you not swear earlier that there would be no ending for you? And you dwelt in the dwellings of those (earlier peoples) who wronged themselves (and were destroyed), and when it was made clear to you how We dealt with them and We set forth examples for you." [14:42-45]

"The way (of blame) is only against those who oppress people." [42:42]

"And those who do wrong will come to know by what a great reversal they will be overturned." [26:227]

Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) said “Allah grants the oppressor respite, but when He finally seizes him, He will not let him escape. He then recited “And such is the grasp of your Lord when He seizes them while they are doing wrong. Truly, His grasp is painful, strong.” [11:102]. [Sahih Bukhari, Volume 6, Book 60, Number 208]
 

Evils that will occur at the End of Times, of which some are taking place in our Age

The Prophet Spoke Of Evils That Were To Occur After His Time...

'Ataa ibn Abee Rabaah related that 'Abdullah ibn 'Umar (ra) said, "The Messenger of Allah (saws) came to us and said, "0 group of Muhaajireen, five practices — if you are afflicted with them...and I seek refuge in Allah from you reaching them:
(1) evil does not spread throughout a people to the extent that they proclaim it openly except that plague and hunger will spread among them, to such a degree that was previously unknown by their predecessors;
(2) people will not reduce in measurement (i.e., by cheating with scales when buying and selling) except that they will be overtaken by drought in the lands, by burdensome obligations, and by the oppression of the ruler upon them;
(3) they will not refuse to pay Zakaat on their wealth except that they will be prevented rain from the sky, and were it not for livestock, they would not receive rain (altogether);
(4) they will not break Allah's covenant and the covenant of His Messenger (saws) except that their external enemies will be given reign to subjugate them, enemies that will take something from what is in their hands;
(5) and as long as their Imams do not rule by Allah's Book and they mock what Allah revealed, Allah will make their strength to be used among themselves — against one another." (Ibn Maajah)
Ibn Maajah was alone in relating the narration and it does have some Gharaabah (strangeness) in it.

'Alee ibn Abee Taalib (ra) related that the Messenger of Allah (saws) said, "When my nation does fifteen practices, calamity befalls it." It was asked, "And what are they, 0 Messenger of Allah (saws) He said,
1) When the spoils of war are hoarded by some members of society only;
2) when people take for themselves things that are left with them as a trust, considering those things to be booty;
3) when Zakaat is taken unwillingly from the people (as if they feel it is a burden or tax);
4 and 5) when a man obeys his wife but disobeys his mother;
6 and 7) when a man treats his friend well but is harsh and distant with his father;
8) when voices are raised in mosques;
9) when the leader of a people is the most base individual among them;
10) when a man is honored because his evil is feared;
11) when alcohol will be imbibed;
12) when silk will be worn (by men);
13) when female singers will be used;
14) when musical instruments will be used;
15) when the last of this nation curses the first of it...at that point wait for a red wind, or the sinking of the earth, or for people to be transformed (into animals). (At-Tirmidhee)
At-Tirmidhee then said, "This Hadeeh is Ghareeb; we do not know it from 'Alee except through this chain...some scholars have made remark upon the memory of one of its narrators, Abu Al-Farj ibn Fudaalah.
 

A few Women and their fear of Allah

Suwaid bin Amr Kaibi (ra) says that three was a devout worshiping lady in the town of Ghuna who hardly used to sleep. When someone criticized her for that she said: "Death and the long rest in the grave will be enough sleep for the believers"  

Aminah (ra) the daughter of Abu Waraa (ra) was among the devout and fearing. Whenever the fire was mentioned to her she would cry and say: "They will be forced into Hell; they will eat fire; they will drink of the fire and live!" She would cry as if she was being fried in the pan.

Hakim ibn Sinan Bahili (ra) says that a woman who served Muadah Al-Adawiyah (ra) said: "she would keep vigil for most of the night in prayers. When sleep would overcome her, she would tell herself: O self! Sleep is in front of you. If you let it overcome you, you will end up regretting that in the grave."

One of her quotations was: " I am amazed at an eye that sleeps while it knows of the long rest in the darkness of the grave."

Ajradah ala Ammiyah (ra) used to stay awake from early in the night until fajr. On fajr, she would announce in a sad voice: "It is for You that the worshippers have spent their time in bringing the darkness of the night. They have stayed up for Your Mercy and Grace. So it is You and not anyone besides You that I ask to make me amongst the leaders of those who rush towards You; to elevate me to the rank's of the close ones and to recruit me among Your pious servants. For You are The Most Noble of The Noble; The Most Merciful of The Merciful and the Greates of The Great, O Generous One." She would then fall down in prostration, pray and weep until fajr.

Sincerity...

Verily every Muslim seeks to go to paradise and every Muslim seeks to please Allah by fulfilling the duties. However, sincerity is a pre-requisite condition for all deeds, that it is for the sake of Allah in order for it to be the access for the Muslims to enter paradise. 

But what is the sincerity and what does it mean? Sincerity in Arabic is Al Ikhlaas and Al Ikhlaas is:
"To purify a thing and to make it unique from others."

So that thing will become Khaalisan – pure from any defection, if it was a drink, purified from any dirt; if it was water, pure from any germs or bacteria and if it was an action, then for it to be pure from any defection and to be purely and sincerely for the sake of Allah.

For Allah says,
"Verily for you in the cattle are lessons, we make you drink from what is in their tummies from between the blood and the pus we make you drink pure milk free from any defection, with a good taste for it's drinkers." [16: 66]
 
As for sincerity of the deed, Allah says,
"Say: my prayer and my ritual deeds and my life affairs and my death are all for the sake of Allah the lord of all exclusively and he has no partners with him." [6: 162-163]
 
In the Shari'ah, the juristic definition for sincerity is:
"To purify what we seek of reward from Allah from any defections in order to be for his sake exclusively."
 
THE STATUS OF THE SINCERITY

Humor of Shaykh Uthaymeen (raheemUllah)

Good humorous replies from Shaykh...

A man said to Sufyaan ibn ‘Uyaynah (ra), “Joking is not right, it is to be denounced.” He (ra) replied, “Rather it is Sunnah, but only for those who know how to do it and do it at the appropriate time.” 

Things that Benefit the Dead...

"And that the human being can have nothing but what he has earned (good or bad)" (53:39)

Commenting on this ayah, Ibn Kathir rahimahullaah, said: "Imaam ash-Shafi'ee concluded from this ayaah that reciting the Qur'aan does not benefit the dead, because it is not from their doing and earning. For this reason, Allaah's Messenger (saws) did not recommend it to his ummah, encourage them to do it, or guide them to it with a text or a hint. Nor was such a thing reported from any of the sahaabah (ra). Had this been any good, they would have preceeded us in doing it. Matters of worship must be limited to the texts, and are not liable to modifications based on analogies and opinions." (Tafseer Qur'aan il-'Adheem) It is in general true that one cannot benefit from other people's deeds after his death. But this has important exceptions detailed in this chapter.

JANAZAH PRAYER

When the Muslims pray janazah for their deceased brother, they are granted intercession for him. The more the number of Muslims who join in the prayer, the more beneficial it is for the deceased.

This means that Allaah takes their testimony and supplication regarding the deceased's apparent actions as a sufficient reason for forgiveness. Since those Muslims who associated with him did not find any major problem to prevent them from supplicating for him, Allaah the most generous accepts that and agrees to forgive many of his hidden sins that they did not know. Anas and 'Aishah (ra) reported that Allaah's Messenger (saws) said:
"Whenever a (Muslim) person dies, and a group of Muslims numbering one hundred pray janazah for him, all interceding on his behalf, their intercession is granted (by Allaah) and he is forgiven." (Muslim and others)

Ibn 'Abbas (ra) reported that Allaah's Messenger (saws) said, "Whenever a Muslim man dies, and forty men stand for his janazah prayer, all of them not joining anything with Allaah in worship, Allaah grants them intercession for him." (Muslim and others)
 

Endurance...

Any group of people who want to work for Islam must have their share and provision of endurance. Otherwise, they should leave this path to those who are more deserved of it, namely the truthful and patient believers.

In his biography of the Prophet (saws), Ibn Kathir wrote, " Messenger of Allah (saws) spent ten years in Makkah, preaching to the people in their homes and in public gatherings and saying to them,
'Who would shelter me and support me until I convey the Message of Allah, and [such a person] will receive the [reward of) Paradise.' But he did not find anyone to shelter and support him, until the Ansaar (or the helpers) believed him and embraced Islam. Seventy-two of them came to meet him at a place known as Al- ‘Aqabah. The Prophet   promised them Paradise if they accepted his conditions. The youngest of them, As'ad bin Zurarah, stood up and said, ‘Slow down, O people of Yathrib (Yathrib was the name of the city which later came to known as Al-Madeenah). We did not tire our camels [on the way here] for him without knowing that he is the Messenger of Allah  . Supporting him today will be in defiance of all the Arabs, it will result in the killing of your best men and the blow of swords upon you. Either you endure this, in which case take his offer and expect your reward from Allah, or if you are unsure of yourselves and afraid, in which case abandon him to his fate. So tell him your choice now, for either way he will vouch for you before Allah. ' They said, `Stand aside O As'ad! By Allah, we will never leave this allegiance to him, nor will we cancel it.’"

The Muslim Jama'ah that wishes to support this faith and aspires after Paradise by doing so must have sufficient endurance to enable it to fulfil this commitment, assume the responsibility and confront the enemies. If, however, it does not know what endurance is, cannot stand what it entails and has no intention to exercise it, it must admit to its failings and step aside. Doing so might excuse it before Allah and is better for Islam than going forth carrying  the banner and then soon turning on its heels, drooping the banner, only to cause great tumult and oppression in the land.

Fear of Fame: A Lost Characteristic

"The scholars and the righteous of this Ummah always feared fame and becoming well-known amongst the people. They would dislike for their name to be mentioned much and you can see one of them fleeing from the people as if they were a fitnah (trial), whilst at other times you can see one get up and leave the circle of knowledge which he was conducting because the numbers became too many.

Below here are some amazing statements from our predecessors that allude to just how much they held onto sincerity and how much they fled from fame and from being spoken about."

Ibn Mas’ood (ra): ‘(O people!) Be the springs of knowledge and the lamps of guidance! Stick to your homes and be like a light in the night, revivers of hearts, wearing worn-out clothes, you will then be known by the people of the heavens and be hidden among the people of the earth.’

A man said to Bishr: ‘Advice me.’ So he said, ‘Let your mention be unknown…’ And Hushib would be found crying saying, ‘My name has reached the Masjid!’

Both Ibrahim al-Nakha’i and al-Hasan used to say, ‘It is enough of an evil that a man should be pointed at in matters of Deen or Dunya (i.e. out of fame), except him whom Allah has protected. Righteousness lies here’ and he’d point to his chest three times.

Ibrahim ibn Adham: ‘A slave who loves fame has not been truthful to Allah.’

‘Asim: ‘If more than four people came and sat around Abul-‘Aaliyah, he would get up and leave.’

Dawud al-Ta’i used to say: ‘Flee from people just like you would flee from a lion.’

Imam Ahmad: ‘Glad tidings be to the one whose mention has been hidden by Allah!’ And he would say, ‘I wish for something that will never be… I wish to be in a place devoid of other people.’
 

Friendship – A Guiding Light

Aisha and Nafisah, both reverts to Islām had been friends for four years. Nafisah passed away a few months ago, and Aisha says, “Before when my dear friend was with me, I used to feel what would I do without Nafisah, but now Allāh made me realize after her death that only He would be there for us at all times and I should depend only on Allāh.”

“After I embraced Islām, I found myself bumping into both Muslims and non Muslim who were hostile towards me,” she adds. “Then it so happened that I bumped into this wonderful soul who guided me and encouraged me at all times and she always helped me to realize my flaws. Though she has left this world, her words of counsel are still living in my heart and will continue to live till I die.”

“Fathima has always told me that I act silly when I am with her,” says Sumaya, who is in her twenties. “I can be like this only with her as she is my best friend and I tell her she acts silly when she is with me,” she adds with a grin.

“We have been friends for five years and I truly love her. She has always been a genuine friend. When we are in a lighter mood, we both act silly and when we face problems, we both counsel each other and I think that’s how friends should be. I really thank Allāh for her friendship and thank her for all that she did for me. I really wish Allāh would bless us with a never-ending friendship,” she concludes. They met in a Yahoo e-group and their little chats grew into a strong friendship.

Yameena, 28, says, “Friends are a blessing. I always yearned to have a good friend but I consider myself unfortunate, as I have never had the right friends. The friends who I had were all temporary and misleading. Because of one of the so called friends I had, I always wished to be away from Islām and their shameful activities seemed incredible at that time but to be honest I think Allāh had mercy on me and showed me I was on the wrong path only when they broke my trust.”

When the Reward equals Fifty...

In ‘ad-Durar as-Saniyyah’ (8/91-95), Shaykh Hasan bin Husayn (a grandson of Muhammad bin ‘Abd al-Wahhab) was asked about the hadith:“… the one who does this will have the reward of fifty.” So, he replied:

“First of all, you should know that the hadith in question was reported by Abu Dawud, at-Tirmidhi, and Ibn Majah from ‘Utbah bin Hakim, from ‘Amr bin Harithah, from Abi Umayyah ash-Sha’bani, from Abi Tha’labah al-Khushani who commented on the verse: {“O you who believe! Take care of your ownselves. If you follow the right guidance, no hurt can come to you from those who are in error…”} [al-Ma'idah; 105] He said:
“By Allah, I asked the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) about this, and he said: “Rather, what this means is enjoin the good and prevent the bad until you see people succumb to covetousness, follow their desires, become corrupted by the worldly life, every one impressed with his own opinion, and you see that there is nothing else you can do. At that point, take care of yourself and don’t worry about the affair of the general populace, because there are indeed ahead of you days that require patience. Whoever is patient during those days will be like someone holding to a burning coal. And the one who does this from them will have the reward of fifty men who do what he is doing.” The Companions asked: “Messenger of Allah, the reward of fifty of those with him?” He said: “The reward of fifty of you.”“

…If you know this, you will see that the reason such a person deserves this great reward and his virtue is made equal to fifty of the Companions is that he has no helpers or aides, according to al-Hafidh Sulayman al-Khattabi and Abu al-Faraj ‘Abd ar-Rahman bin Rajab and others.

And the one who clings to the stable and Prophetic path during corrupt times and confusion in beliefs is a stranger, even if he is in the presence of loved ones. Obstacles are everywhere, wrongdoing is rampant, ugliness and corruption have emerged, the Religion has been transformed and changed, desires and misguidance are followed, there is nobody to accompany and assist you, it is rare to find a Muwahhid whose company to enjoy, people have become like withering straw, the winds of war and conflict have blown everywhere, the evil of the hypocrites has spread, the patience of the righteous has worn thin, the paths to good have been cut off, the paths to misguidance and destruction have been made easy, there seems to be no way out, and it all seems inescapable.

Ramlah bint Abee Sufyaan (ra)

Ramlah bint Abee Sufyaan (ra) also known as Umm Habeebah, daughter of Abu Sufyaan ibn Harb, chieftain of Makkah challenged her father’s authority when she rejected the deities of the Quraysh and their idolatrous ways. Together with her husband, 'Ubaydullaah ibn Jahsh, she put her faith in Allah) alone and accepted the message of his Messenger, Muhammad ibn Abdullaah (pbuh).

Abu Sufyaan tried with all his power and force at his disposal to bring back his daughter and her husband to his religion of their forefathers. But he did not succeed. The faith that was embedded in the heard of Ramlah (ra) was too strong to be uprooted by the hurricanes of Abu Sufyaan’s fury. Furthermore, Quraysh unleashed the full fury of their persecution against Ramlah, her husband and the other Muslims also; to such as degree that life in Makkah became unbearable.

In the fifth year of his mission, the Messenger Muhammad (pbuh) gave permission to the Muslims to migrate to Abyssinia. Ramlah (ra) her young daughter Habeebah and her husband were among those who left. Abu Sufyaan and the Quraysh leaders found it difficult to accept that a group of Muslims were enjoying the freedom to hold their beliefs and practice their religion in the land of the Negus. They therefore sent messengers to the Negus to seek their extradition. The messengers tried to poison the mind of the Negus against the Muslims but after examining the Muslims’ beliefs and listening to the Qur’aan being recited, the Negus concluded that the recitation that he had heard and what had been brought by Jesus (as) emanated from the same source. Therefore the Muslims were free to practice their belief.

The long journey on the road of hardship and tribulation had finally led to the oasis of serenity. This was what Ramlah Umm Habeebah (ra) felt. However, she did not know that the new found freedom and sense of peace was later to be shattered. She (ra) was to be put through a test of the most severe and harrowing kind.
 

Strangeness & the Strangers...

 

Based on a booklet by Imam Ibn ul Qayyim al Jawziyyah entitled al-Ghurbathu wa al-Ghuraba

"Islam began as something strange, and it shall return to being something strange, so give glad tidings to the strangers." (Sahih Muslim)

The Meaning of "Strangeness"

Many times in many situations the people that follow the religion of Allah feel a sense of not belonging, of being out of place, of not fitting in, and, in other words, of being strange. This feeling could occur in a gathering of non-Muslims, but, unfortunately, this feeling sometimes also occurs when one is with his fellow Muslims.

A person sees his brothers and sisters doing acts that are contrary to Islam, or taking part in innovations that sometimes even border on kufr (apostasy), yet he feels that he does not have enough power or courage to stop them in these acts. Some brothers and sisters, especially if they do not have enough taqwa or Islamic knowledge, sometimes buckle under the pressure of their peers and join in these acts, knowing that this is not what Allah wants them to do. However, feeling helpless, since it seems that they are alone in their ideas and without any support to help them do what is right, they succumb to such pressures.

These brothers and sisters, may Allah have mercy on them, should take consolation in the verses of the Qur’an and the many statements of the Prophet (peace be upon him) describing this very situation of strangeness that they feel.

Why Have They Been Called "Strangers"?

Are YOU on the CORRECT AQEEDAH..?!?

Our 'Aqeedah which is more precious to us than our own lives. It has stood the test of time and remained firm for fourteen centuries. It will continue to remain so in the face of all the onslaughts of the disbelievers, the spreading of doubt by the hypocrites and the innovations of the heretics. It has also been steadfast despite the remiss and negligence of many Muslims. 

The survival and endurance of our ‘Aqeedah is in itself proof that is from Allah. All creeds have become extinct and all religions have been altered, but Islam alone remained pure and true because it is the only Truth which cannot be affected by falsehood or shaken by doubt. Allah, Exalted is He, says (which means):
“Verily We: it is We Who have sent down adh-Dhikr [the Qur’an] and surely We will guard it [from corruption].” [Surah Al-Hijr (15), Ayah 9]

It is a creed which provides us with a strong, correct base from which we can go forth towards our objective; confident that Allah Alone is the true God worthy of worship. This is so because He is the Owner who rules with authority in what He owns and because He has all the Attributes of perfection. Behind or above Him there are no objectives for us, nor is there any objective greater than this, for He is the Greatest.

It is a creed which gives total authority to Allah, makes attesting and submitting to this authority one of the conditions of Iman, and makes adhering to one of its prerequisites and a sign of its sincerity: 

“It is not befitting for a believing man or a believing woman, when Allah and His messenger have decreed a matter that they should have an option in their decision.” [Surah Al-Ahzaab (33), Ayah 36]

‘Aqeedah instils in the heart of the believer that which prevents him from disobeying the commands of Allah and His laws and judgement. It also helps him return to the right path if he wanders away from it or oversteps the limits. It also drives him to continual and sustained striving in the way of Allah and endeavour to attain His pleasure.

This is the great difference between our ‘Aqeedah and all the other ideologies and philosophies, and this is what makes it rise above them all. Islam raises this ‘Aqeedah up to a high position which all the other doctrines and ideologies eagerly wish to attain. And due to the huge gulf between their creeds and our ‘Aqeedah, they do not even cherish the hope of approaching its pinnacle, let alone reach it.
 

A Muslim Woman...

A believing women, virtuous, sincere, pure, on the Right path, a mother, a sister, a wife, a protector, an educator,

a keeper of purity of the hearts, a Mujahidah - a Muslim woman!!

About the position and the role of a Muslim women within the Islamic Society, the Qur’anic text is speaking a lot of, in various contexts and numerous verses and chapters.

The word ‘women’ in Qur’an is mentioned on 56 places, in 50 various verses and 15 various chapters. The word ‘woman’ we find on 26 places, 25 various verses and 8 various chapters.

The third largest Qur’anic chapter is entitled as ‘An-Nisa’ which means ‘Women’.

This alone is speaking much about the venerable position Allah gave a women in Islam, about her glorious place in it, and the blessed loftiness. With lots of  attention and clear reasons the Qur’anic text is speaking about women who had an emphasized place and role in the process of building the humanity, such as mother of Musaa (as), or Balqis, the Queen of Sabah, or Maryam, the mother of Isaa (as), or Asya, a pharaoh’s wife…

They are those who will remain as symbols in the long Pleiades of righteous, chosen, virtuous, intelligent and educated women, who used their various potentials and implemented them into the history of mankind and the Islamic Ummah as well.

Because of her obedience and submission, the honor to be mentioned in Allahs Holy Book, was given to the mother of Musaa (as):

“And We revealed to Musa's mothers, saying: Give him suck, then when you fear for him, cast him into the river and do not fear nor grieve; surely We will bring him back to you and make him one of the messengers.” (Al Qasas, 7)

Asiya, the wife of pharaoh – the tyrannical ruler of the World, was given the same honor because she succeeded to keep her faith:

“And Allah sets forth an example to those who believe the wife of pharaoh when she said: My Lord! build for me a house with Thee in the garden and deliver me from pharaoh and his doing, and deliver me from the unjust people” (Al Tahrim, 11)

Patience at the time of bereavement

Patience and Gratitude. By Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyyah. An abridgement of his original work entitled, “Uddat as-Sabireen wa Dhakirat by TaHa Publications

The loss of a loved one is a time when a person may be overwhelmed with grief, and many customs surrounding bereavement reflect the depth of the feeling of loss. Wailing, eulogizing (i.e. praising the deceased excessively) and tearing one’s garments are all customs which were well known at the time of Jahiliyyah, and are still common among some Muslims. Such conduct is not permitted in Islâm, as the believer is required to face bereavement, like all the other trials of life, with patience. 

It is permitted to cry or weep, softy, before death, at the time of death, and after the person has died. According to ash-Shafi, however, it is makrûh to cry after the person has died, but permissible before the soul has departed.

The correct opinion is that crying is permitted both before and after death. The evidence for this is the hadîth narrated by Jabir ibn Abdullah (ra) in which he said: “My father died at the battle of Uhud, and I began to weep. The people told me to stop, but the Messenger (pbuh) never asked me to stop. Then my aunt Fatimah began to weep too, and the Prophet (pbuh) said: 
‘It does not matter whether you cry or not, the angels kept shading him until they ascended with his soul’ ” (agreed upon).

Ibn Abbas (ra) reported that when Ruqayyah (ra), the daughter of the Prophet (pbuh), died, the women started to cry, and Umar (ra) began to whip them to make them stop. The Prophet (pbuh) told him: “O ‘Umar, leave them alone and let them cry.” To the women he said: “Go ahead and cry, but avoid the crying of the shaytan…Whatever comes from the eye and heart is from Allah and is a sign of mercy, and whatever comes from your hand and your tongue is from the shaytân.” (Ahmad)

In the Darkness of a Saudi Dungeon...

Eye Witness Account of Torture in a Saudi Prison (shareeah.org)

In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Most Kind...

I don't know what to say in the beginning and how to start the story, but I find myself forced to speak the truth and to let the world know about the biggest hypocrite regime on the face of the Earth. Words are not sufficient for me to describe what happened.

I returned from Afghanistan, where I had gone to help the oppressed Muslims and fulfil my duty to Allah (Subhannah wa Ta'aala). One night I was sleeping with my family at my home in Al-Khobar, in the Eastern Province of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. My family heard a loud knocking on the front door which frightened them. My brother went to open the door, and as soon as he tried to open the door, the visitors forced their way into the house and put him up against the wall. They also got my other family members up against the wall. They forcefully woke me up from my sleep, dragged me by my clothes and put me against the wall as well. They started to swear at me: "You son of an adulteress! You dog! Where are the weapons in your house ?" I told them that I did not have any weapons in my house. Then they started to beat me, in front of my family. They began searching my house and went through my things. Then they handcuffed me and took me in a car to the headquarters of the intelligence services.

When we reached the headquarters, they forced me out of the car and took me to one of the rooms. In that room, they removed all of my clothes and started to laugh whilst commenting on my 'awrah (private parts). When I asked them why they were doing that, they said that it was part of the search procedures. They gave me back my clothes, took me to another room and told me to wait there. The room was very cold and I waited for eleven hours before anyone came.

Two Women who stood up to Fir’awn

Ibn Kathir commented on the verse:

{“And Allah has set forth an example for those who believe: the wife of Fir’awn, when she said: “My Lord! Build for me a home with You in Paradise, and save me from Fir’awn and his work, and save me from the wrong-doers.”"} [at-Tahrim; 11]

Qatadah said:

“Fir’awn was the most tyrannical and disbelieving person on Earth, and by Allah, his disbelief did not affect his wife when she decided to obey her Lord.”

Abu ‘Uthman an-Nahdi reported that Sulayman said:

“Fir’awn’s wife was tortured in the heat of the Sun. When her torturers would take a break and walk away, the Angels would shade her with their wings, and she would see her home in Paradise.”

al-Qasim bin Abi Bazzah said:

“Fir’awn’s wife asked who won, and it was said to her: “Musa and Harun won.” So, she would say: “I believe in the Lord of Musa and Harun.” Fir’awn said to those around him: “Look for the largest rock you can find. If she sticks to what she said, throw it on her. If she retracts what she said, she will remain my wife.” When they came to her, she looked towards the sky and saw her home in Paradise. So, she stuck to what she said and her soul was taken, and the rock was thrown on her lifeless body after her soul had been taken.”

The scholars say regarding her statement: “My Lord! Build for me a home with You in Paradise” that she chose her neighbor (Allah) before mentioning where she wanted to live (a home in Paradise).

Abu al-’Aliyah said:

“Fir’awn’s wife believed because of the wife of Fir’awn’s treasurer. What happened was that this woman was sitting and combing the hair of Fir’awn’s daughter one day, and the comb fell from her hand. So, she said: “May whoever disbelieves in Allah be destroyed!” Fir’awn’s daughter said to her: “You have a lord besides my father?” She replied: “The Lord of me, your father, and everything is Allah.” So, Fir’awn’s daughter hit her and went to tell her father.

Rights of the Prophet Muhammad (saws) !

Praise be to Allah. And may His peace and blessings be upon the Prophet Muhammad, his family and Companions. 

Speaking about the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) strengthens people of faith and sets the righteous more firmly on the Straight Path. How could it be any other way? Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) is the most noble of Adam's descendants and the final Prophet sent to humanity. He is closer to the believers than they are to themselves. Allah blessed him with the most noble of qualities, many of which were not shared by any other Prophet. He will be the first to cross the Bridge on the day of Resurrection. He will be the first to knock upon the gates of Paradise and the first to enter therein. He will have the place of honor and the banner of praise. He will be the first to intercede and the first whose intercession will be granted.

In these email, I wish to present a few of the duties that we have towards our Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) There should be no doubt that he has many rights over us. We must make sure that these rights are respected and our duties towards the Prophet (pbuh) are carried out.

A general statement about these rights is given by Sheikh Muhammad Abd al-Wahhab when he says:
"Our testimony that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah means obeying him in what he commands us, believing him in what he tells us, shunning what he has prohibited, and worshipping Allah only in accordance with the way he has instructed us." 

The most important of these rights are as follows:
 
1. It is the Right of the Prophet (pbuh) that We Love him
One of the greatest rights the Prophet (pbuh) has over us is that we should love him. This love must be part of what we believe and it must be expressed in our words and our deeds. He should be dearer to us than ourselves and our families. Allah says:
"Say: If it be that your fathers, your sons, your brothers, your spouses, or your kindred; the wealth that you have gained; the commerce in which you fear a decline: or the dwellings in which you delight - are dearer to you than Allah, or His Messenger, or the striving in His cause, then wait until Allah brings about His decision; and Allah guides not the rebellious sinners." [Surah al-Tawbah: 24]

35 Statements from the Salaf regarding Sincerity...

1 - Bishr al-Haafi said: "That I seek the world with a wind instrument is more beloved to me than that I seek it with my Deen." 

2 - Ibraaheem an-Nakha'i said: "When Shaytaan comes to you while you are in prayer and says: 'You are showing off,' make it longer."

3 - One of the Salaf said: "Direct me to an action by which I will never cease to be performing for Allaah the Exalted." It was said to him: "Always intend good, because you will never cease to be performing even if you do not perform any actions. The intention is made even in the absence of any actions. Whoever intended to pray at night and then slept, the reward for what he intended will be written for him."

4 - One of them said: "I love that I have an intention for every single thing; even my eat, drink and sleep." 

5 - It was said to Sahl: "What is the hardest thing for the soul (to achieve)?" He said: "Sincerity, when there is no other desire in it."

6 - Ya'qoob al-Makfoof said: "The sincere person is the one who hides his good deeds just like he hides his evil deeds." 

7 - One of them wrote to his brother: "Make your intention sincere in all of your actions, and little action will suffice you." 

8 - Ayyoob as-Sakhtiyaani said: "Purifying the intention is harder than all other actions for those who act." 

9 - Yahyaa bin Mu'aadh said: "Sincerity separates good actions from faults like the separation of milk from dung and blood."

10 - as-Soosi said: "What Allaah desires from the actions of His creation is sincerity and nothing else."

Our Women: The Essence of the Ummah

...the woman is the focal point of our conflict with our opponents, and the outcome of either victory or defeat will come through her...

By Abu Qatadah

“...It is not a coincidence that the Qur’an tells us in ‘al-Qasas’ about the conflict between Musa and Fir’awn (Moses and Pharaoh), and the Qur’an’s focus on this conflict is the verse: {“And We wished to do a favor to those who were oppressed in the land, and to make them rulers and to make them the inheritors.”} [al-Qasas; 5] So, this transferal of power began with a woman, as Allah Said: {“And We inspired to the mother of Musa: "Suckle him. But, when you fear for him, cast him into the river and do not fear or grieve...””} [al-Qasas; 7]

So, the woman is the focal point of our conflict with our opponents, and the outcome of either victory or defeat will come through her. These are not words for a speech or poetry. Rather, it is the reality that we must all pay attention to.

So, you see today the best of this Ummah – where are its men? They are either in prisons, kicked out of their countries, or occupied with this struggle. So, who will protect the family and raise the children and see to the daily affairs of life? It is none other than the woman. And thanks to Allah, the Islamic Da’wah has won the battle until now when it comes to the woman despite the presence of some shortcomings in her being violated, corrupted, and turned into a source of corruption.

The conflict has begun in that the situation of the woman in our Ummah is not purely Islamic, as many social restrictions placed around the woman contradict the Shari’ah of Allah. For example, preventing her from education, preventing her from her right of ownership, looking down on her, and the spread of jahili practices against her – this reality gave a chance for the modern liberal jahiliyyah to gain acceptance with some of these poor women. With the help of their filthy devils, their goal is to transform the woman into a product to be displayed. Because of this, those of us involved in this da’wah have to free ourselves from these two forms of jahiliyyah – the first jahiliyyah and the second jahiliyyah; the corrupt jahiliyyah of the people and the jahiliyyah of liberalism. The correct path is with Islam, which is to respect the woman and appreciate her and to protect her rights to education and work that is within the guidelines of the Shari’ah, in addition to her rights of ownership, inheritance, etc.

Merits of the Sahabah

Sahabi (Companion) is anyone that met the Prophet (pbuh) while believing in him, and dying upon that condition.

The Companions (Sahabah) of the Prophet (pbuh) are the best from all those that accompanied the prophets, due to the statement of Allah's Messenger (pbuh): "The best of people are my Companions." [Sahih Al-Bukhari: Book of the Virtues of the Companions of the Prophet (no.3651 ) and Sahîh Muslim: Book of the Virtues of the Companions (no. 2533) from the hadith of Ibn Masud (ra). It is also reported on the authority of Imran bin Husayn (ra) in Al-Bukhari (no.2561 ,3650 , 6438 &6695 ) and Muslim (no.2535 ). Abu Hurairah (ra) also reported it in Muslim (no.534 ) as well as others. Furthermore, this is a mutawatir hadith. Al-Hafidh Ibn Hajr stated the correctness of it being mutawâtir in the introduction to his Al-Isabah]

The best among the Sahabah are the Muhajirun (those who performed the migration from Makkah to Madinah), due to their combining between migrating and giving support (in Allah's Cause). Then after them, are the Ansar.

The best among the Muhajirun are the four righteous Khalifahs: Abu Bakr, Umar, Uthman and Ali. 
 
Abu Bakr - He is "As-Siddiq" 'Abdullah bin Uthman bin Amir from the Tribe of Taym bin Marrah bin Kaab. He was the first male to believe in the Messenger of Allah (pbuh). He was his companion in the migration (Hijrah) and his deputy during times of prayer and Hajj. He was his Khalifah (designated successor) for his nation. Five of those who were given the glad tidings of Paradise accepted Islam through his hands.
 

Letter from Prison - Shaykh Omar Abdur-Rahman

Sheikh Omar Abdur Rahman (may Allah hasten his release-Ameen ya Rab), the blind Alim, incarcerated in the Springfield Centre (Missouri), sent out the following letter from Prison. Its contents are shocking and humiliating. We reproduce most of it below so that the world would know what the Americans are doing to a respected Muslim Alim.

'In the name of Allah most Gracious most Merciful'

'All praise be to Allah Ta'ala, the Lord of the worlds, and peace and blessings be upon the master of the messengers, prophet Muhammad (SAW). Blessings and peace be upon his family, his companions and those who follow him faithfully until the day of  Judgement.

'The conditions in the prison (where I am kept) are very bad and extremely poor.

This can be seen from the following:

• What they claim about freedom of religion and freedom of worship is all false. I have not been allowed to pray the Jumuah prayers, or even pray in congregation since I arrived at the prison in October, 1995.

• There is prejudice and discrimination in their treatment in prison. When other prisoners call for the guards, they hurry to respond. I keep knocking on my Cell door for hours but nobody responds to my needs

• I go for months without my hair and nails cut.

• I am kept in solitary confinement, in my situation (Sheikh is blind and suffers from diabetes and is advanced in age) without anyone to help me arrange my belongings. I have no one to converse with day or night, nor am I allowed to socialize with others since there is no one close to my cell, neither Muslim nor anyone else who can speak Arabic. I stay like that day and night. What loneliness, what cruelty? By doing this they want to make me terminally ill to exact revenge because I am a Muslim. Are these the human rights they boasts about so much and fill the air waves and news media, while persecuting us so that we are unable to speak or raise our voice? 

Rulings on Women in Society

The Family

The family in Islam is a unit in which a man and woman unite to share life together according to the rules and regulations laid down by the Shari'ah. They become as close to each other as a garment is to the body. The husband's honor becomes an integral part of his wife's honor, and vice versa. They share each other's prosperity and adversity. Thus in Islam the bridal couple are united as husband and wife in the presence of witnesses seeking Allah's blessings to increase in mutual love and compassion and agreeing to care for each other in sickness and adversity. This fundamental principle of Islamic marriage, understood and observed by the spouses, is the basis of the institution of Muslim marriage. In the family, the man is charged with the duty of being the leader of the family and the woman is assigned the duty of looking after the household. Even if the man has more responsibility than the woman and thereby has a degree over her, it does not make a husband inherently better than his wife. The Quran contains a verse which says: 
"And in no wise covet those things in which Allah has bestowed His gifts more freely on some of you than others: to men is allotted what they earn, and to women what they earn..." [Noble Quran 4:32] 
Commenting on this verse Sheikh Muhammad 'Abduh says that it does not imply that every man is better than every woman or vice versa, but it emphasizes that: "each sex, in general, has some preferential advantage over the other, though men have a degree over women." What is this "degree"? There are different views about it. One view is that it means the qualities of leadership, surveillance and maintenance which are bestowed on men. Another view is that it signifies the tolerance with which men must treat their wives even when in extremely bad moods. Yet another view is that it is man's natural gift from Allah for judging matters pertaining to his family and managing the problems affecting it. However, the consensus of the scholars is that the "degree" comprises the principle of guardianship and nothing more.

Muhammad 'Abduh feels that guardianship has four elements: protection, surveillance, custody, and maintenance. 'Abd al-'Ati considers that over and above these four elements is the element of obedience. According to 'Abd al-'Ati obedience consists of the following aspects: