The man who succumbed to Temptation...

It is related that a group of people were once seated in the company of Al-Hasan Al-Basri, when some men passed by, dragging along with them a body of a dead man. When Al-Hasan saw the dead man, a glint of instant recognition could be discerned in his eyes, and he fell unconscious from the shock of some memory that had just been rekindled.

When he regained consciousness, his companions asked him what was wrong with him.

He said: This man – referring to the dead man being dragged along on the ground – used to be one of the best worshipers and one of the most renowned ascetics (in the world) (renouncing all the temporary pleasures of this world because he was so busy and devoted to worship).

One day he left his home, intending to go to the Masjid to pray, but on the way, he saw a beautiful young Christian women, who became an immediate temptation to him.

When he proposed to her, she refused, saying; “I will not marry you until you become an adherent of my religion.”

He went on his way, but as time went on, he yearned for her continued to increase. He then succumbed to her wish and exited from the fold of (Islam) the religion of pure, unadulterated Monotheism.

Hukm on the Nusayriyyah !!!

Shaykhul Islam Ibn Taymiyyah (rahimahUllah) was asked about the ruling upon the Nusayriyyah and the druze and answered: 
“The druze and the Nusayriyyah are kuffaar according to the agreement of the Muslimeen. It is not permissible to eat what they slaughter nor marry their women. Rather, they cannot be acknowledged with Jizyah, for they are apostates from the Deen of Islam, not Muslimeen, nor jews, nor christians. They do not recognize the obligation of the Salaah, nor the obligation of the Ramadaan fast, nor the obligation of Hajj, nor the prohibition of what Allah and His Messenger (saws) have prohibited of dead animals, alcohol, and so on. And even if they manifest the shahadatayn alongside these tenets of creed, then they are kuffaar according to the agreement of the Muslimeen. 

As for the druze, then they are the followers of Hashtakin Ad-Darzi who was one of the followers of Al-Hakim (the apostate ‘Ubaydi ruler). Al-Hakim sent him to the people of the valley of Taymullah Ibn Tha’labah and called them to believe in the godhood of Al-Hakim. They call him ‘Al-Bari Al-‘Allaam’ (The Creator, the All-Knowing) and swear by him. They are from the Isma’iliyyah who claim that Muhammad Ibn Ismā’īl abrogated the Shari’ah of Muhammad Ibn ‘Abdillah (saws). They are worse in kuffr than the extreme shi’ah. They claim that the world existed eternally and deny the obligations and prohibitions of Islam. They are from the batini qaramitah (those who claim the religion has secret meanings contradicting its apparent meanings) who are worse in kuffr than the jews, the christians, and the mushrik arabs. They ultimately strive to be philosophers upon the doctrine of Aristotle and his likes or the majoos. Their doctrine is a combination of the doctrines of the philosophers and the majoos. They hypocritically manifest as shi’ah.” [Majmu’ Fatawa]

What Subdues Trials and Tribulations?

A Muslim may be challenged with tribulations with regards to the self, family or wealth. The stronger a Muslim’s faith in Allah is, the more one will control the self, be patient and await rewards from Allah from that hardship. A Muslim’s reward from Allah will be to the extent of one's patience and one's actions in hope for reward. The following addresses some of the aspects that may soften or lessen the pain of hardship or difficulty. 

The foundation of triumph over hardship is patience. Allah has said in the Qur’an: “Give glad tidings to those who are patient, who, when disaster strikes them, say, ‘Indeed, we belong to Allah, and indeed to Him we will return.” Those are the ones upon whom are blessings from their Lord and mercy. And it is those who are the rightly guided.” [2:155-157] 

Rasulullah (saws) also said with regards to patience: “Some people from the Ansar asked Allah's Apostle (to give them something) and he gave to everyone of them, who asked him, until all that he had was finished. When everything was finished and he had spent all that was in his hand, he said to them, '"(Know) that if I have any wealth, I will not withhold it from you (to keep for somebody else); And (know) that he who refrains from begging others (or doing prohibited deeds), Allah will make him contented and not in need of others; and he who remains patient, Allah will bestow patience upon him, and he who is satisfied with what he has, Allah will make him self-sufficient. And there is no gift better and vast (you may be given) than patience.” [Sahih Bukhari: Volume 8, Book 76, Number 477/ Narrated Abu Said] 

In times of difficulties the Muslim must remind the self that in reality he/she, one's family and one's wealth belong ONLY to Allah. The slave is merely borrowing these from Allah. When Allah takes it back, the situation is comparable to the owner taking back one's property from the one who borrowed it from him. The Muslim must also recall that our journey as servants of Allah is to depart from this world, and to remember that we are simply returning to Allah, our Lord and guardian in truth.

From Mission to Immigration...

1- When the Prophet (saws) reached 40 years old, Gabriel came to him with the revelation from his Lord when he was worshipping his lord in Hira' Cave. [Tarikh At-Tabari (1/ 528) Al Bidayah (3/ 7)]

2- The Prophet (saws) continued calling his lord secretly for three years. [Sirat Ibn Hisham (1/ 325) and Sahih Muslim (832)]

3- The formers embraced Islam such as: Khadijah, Ali, Zayd, Abu Bakr, and others. [Al Bidayah (3/ 29)]

4- The Prophet (saws) was commanded to declare his mission to the people, but his people opposed him. [Al Bidayah (3/ 35) As-Siyar Wal-Maghazy (145)]

5- The pagans of Quraysh tortured every person embraced Islam to stop them from embracing Islam, but Muslims observed patience. [Al Bidayah (3/ 36)]

6- The Prophet (saws) held secret meetings with Muslims in the house of Al-Arqam to teach them their religion. [As-Sirah Fi Daw' Al Masadir Al Asliyyah (195)]

7- In year 5th after the mission, a group of the Companions migrated to Abyssinia according to the permission of the Prophet (saws) to preserve their religion, including `Uthman ibn Affan, Az-Zubayr ibn Al `Awwa, `Abdur-Rahaman ibn `Awf, and Ja`far ibn Abu Talib where they spend 10 year. [As-Siyar Wal-Maghazy (123) Al Bidayah (3/ 72)]

8- In year (6 AH) of the mission, Hamazh ibn `Abdur-Rahman and `Umar ibn Al Khattab embraced Islam and added power to Muslims. [As-Sirah Fi Daw' Al Masadir Al Asliyyah (212)]

"If You Didn't Kill Him, He Would Have Died."

The Story of the Grandson of Muhammad Bin AbdelWahab 
By: Sheikh Ahmad Musa Jibril (hafidhUllah) 

It is the sunnah of Allah that those He honored with carrying His message to humanity were and will be the most tested. They are the ones who flee the most from being suspicious, from indulging in doubtful matters, and prevent making accusations. However, since time immemorial they are the ones most accused and suspected. 

Allah says: 
"Do people think that they will be left alone because they say: "We believe," and will not be tested. And We indeed tested those who were before them. And Allah will certainly make (it) known (the truth of) those who are true, and will certainly make (it) known (the falsehood of) those who are liars, (although Allah knows all that before putting them to test)." [29:2-3] 

The Prophet (saws) said: "The most tested are the messengers of Allah and those who follow them, one is tested according to his belief, if his belief is found to be firm he is tested more." 

There are many verses in the Qur'an that stress examples of how the Prophet (saws) and his companions were tested by virtue of carrying Allah's message to all. As a result, when one places upon the self the duty of dawah, one must bear its cost or fail the test - as most do. 
For example, the Prophet (saws) was accused of being a man of fitnah who divided families by separating sons from their fathers and wives from their husbands. He was accused of being one who performs black magic, of being a mentally ill person, a liar and a man who is after wealth and prestige. Likewise, his wife was also accused of committing adultery (ma3ath Allah).

Summoning the spirits of the Dead : A Contemporary Experience

A modern day experience

This experiment took place with the author Ahmad Izzuddin al-Bayanuni. He mentioned it in his book Kitab al-Iman bil-Malaaika. I eagerly decided to quote the complete text of what he wrote:

The people of the East and the West have preoccupied themselves with the claim of making the spirits appear. There have been many articles written about it, written in different languages, published in Arabic as well as non-Arabic magazines. Books have been written about it. Much research has been done lately on this topic. Many experiments have been performed. After all of that, the intelligent people have concluded that the raising of the spirits is nothing but falsehood and forgery, a call to disbelief and wickedness.

What they claim to be the appearing of the spirits of people who have passed away is nothing but fakery and forgery. The spirits that appear are nothing but devils that are playing with and duping humans. In reality, there is no one who is capable of making the spirits appear. After the spirit leaves the body it goes to reside in the realm called al-Barzakh which is the interval between this worldly life and the life of the hereafter. Therein the person is either in bounties or punishment. They are preoccupied there with a great affair which would prevent them from appearing before the humans.

I [al-Bayanuni] was called to such an act of these spiritualists. And I experienced my own lengthy experience. This experience made it clear to me that it is nothing but falsehood, forgery and deception. It is just the playing of the devils. They present that to the people to mislead them and to deceive them and to make humans follow them.

The beginning of the experience

I had known for more than ten years of a person who claimed that he was using the jinn to do good deeds in the service of mankind. And that was done through a person who was a medium. He claimed that he achieved that through recitations and lengthy invocations which took up a great deal of time. He was instructed in thorough incantations by someone who claimed he was knowledgeable in that area. The medium came to me one day telling me that so and so of the jinn had called for me to discuss something important and there was a great matter in store for me.

I went to the appointment, trusting in Allah and very happy about it, in order to learn new information through this experience.

Those who abstain from Takfeer and warn from that...

Question: As-salamu ‘alaykum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu our noble Shaykh; What are the guidelines of Takfeer? And who has the right to perform Takfeer upon a specific individual? And do the laymen have the right to make Takfeer upon whoever insults the Messenger or allies with the kuffaar, whether he was ignorant or knowledgeable? And what is your opinion regarding those who abstain from Takfeer and warn from that? And what is your opinion regarding the one who calls for discussion and debate in the way which is best? May Allah give you aid and success, and lead your steps on the straight path, and make Jannah our abode and your abode.

Answer: Wa ‘alaykum salam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu, to proceed: 
The discussion regarding the guidelines of Takfeer has very long details attached to it, however I’ll summarize that for you. 

So from the most important guidelines of Takfeer are three matters: 
1. That there is established proof on the reason behind performing Takfeer. 
2. That the action of the individual for this reason behind performing Takfeer is clear, and doesn’t have any doubtful possibilities in it. 
3. Impediments/Preventions [of Takfeer] are removed, and it is four [things]: Coercion, Ignorance, Interpretation and Mistake. 

And every impediment from these impediments [of Takfeer] have details attached to it. And everyone who has knowledge in an issue has the right to make a judgement in it, even if he was from the laymen, and that is like the one who knows that Tarik As-Salaah [Abandoner of Salaah] is a kaafir, then he sees someone who doesn’t pray, then he has the right to make Takfeer upon him, and also like the one who hears someone mocking the Deen, and similar to that. But as for performing Takfeer upon Specific Individuals: 
Then know, may Allah bless you, that the Madhab of irjaa in this time of ours deeply penetrated into those who affiliate themselves to the Salafiyyah, so they became two types:

Umm Waraqah (ra), the Martyr

The story of Umm Waraqah, the martyr, is certainly one of the prominent landmarks and clear signs on the path of prophethood.

Umm Waraqah was one of the Ansari female Companions. She was of high .and noble lineage and she was wealthy. She embraced Islam and believed in the words of her Lord. She devoted her attention to the Noble Qur'an reading it, memorizing it and following its teachings and rules. The Qur'an became her main concern and all aspects of her private and public life revolved around it. She attained a high and commendable status in this aspect.

When the Messenger of Allah (saws) called upon the Muslims to go to Badr to intercept a caravan of Quraysh led by Abu Sufiyan, Sakhr ibn Harb, on its way back from Syria and that was carrying commercial commodities, that Allah might transfer it to them, especially the emigrants from whom the Quraysh seized their houses, properties and monies, Umm Waraqah wanted to go out with the Prophet (saws). She explained her wish and her intention.

She came to him and said: "O' Messenger of Allah (saws) allow me to go out with you so that I could nurse the sick ones among your Companions, and perhaps, Allah will bless me with martyrdom."
The Messenger of Allah (saws) replied her, "Stay in your house, Allah will bless you with martyrdom."
From that day onward, she was called 'the martyr'.
 
Umm Waraqah was in fact influenced by the concept of martyrdom, and that it is a contract of allegiance between the Creator and His believing servants. Allah says:
“Verily, Allah has purchased of the believers their lives and their properties for [the price] that theirs shall be the Paradise. They fight in Allah's Cause, so they kill [others] and are killed. It is a promise in truth which is binding on Him in the Tawrat and the Injeel and the Qur'an. And who is truer to his covenant than Allah? Then rejoice in the bargain which you have concluded. That is the supreme success.” [9:111]

"The Mug Shot that Spoke His Legacy" !

We go back in history to 1862 where a young boy of a poor household was born in a town controlled by the Uthmany Khilafa. This young man was brought under the care and tutelage of one of the Shuyookh in his home town when he was at the ripe age of 16 after the death of his father. 

He eventually developed a lifestyle of not sleeping more than 3 hours every night in order to get up to pray to Allah at the last third of the night and recite Qur'an until fajr. He memorized the Qur'an (as all knowledgeable people begin their lives) eventually, and was known to have finished his revisions in its entirety every seven days, regardless of the sufferings he encountered in his life. 

His courage and wisdom was pronounced, and was an example for people to follow. This was evident on one of his caravan trails to Sudan as a young man. A lion had deterred the people from entering a particular path. Caravans were veered else where for fear of this lion. To distract this lion, people would resort giving it one of their camels, a most prized possession, so they could pass safely. He learned of this lion during the journey, where upon he consequently took it upon himself to face this crisis head on. Unlike other men in the caravan who were dumbstruck by the situation, he carried his shot gun, rode his horse and went after the lion. He came back with the lion's head much to everyone's surprise and due gratitude. This earned him the name "Lion of Cyrenaica." 

An upbringing of courage and upright religiosity had a massive effect on him. His character would not only change the course of his tribe, country and people, but also the world of Muslims in the Post Colonial Era.

10 ways to avoid Marrying the wrong Person

This is long... but worth a read and a wonderful resource for working out what questions to ask at a level that really helps you know the person you are marrying... I think the real question to ask is:
Would you want to be married to this man or this woman for all eternity..? because Marriage is indeed a reality.

There is a right way and a wrong way to get to know someone for marriage. The wrong way is to get caught up in the excitement and nuance of a budding relationship and in the process completely forget to ask the critical questions that help determine compatibility. One of the biggest mistakes that many young Muslims make is rushing into marriage without properly and thoroughly getting to know someone.

A common myth is that the duration of a courtship is an accurate enough measure of how compatible two people are. The logic follows that the longer you speak with someone, the better you will know them. The problem with that premise is that no consideration is given to how that time is spent.

Increasingly, young Muslim couples are engaging in “halal dating,” which is basically socializing with each other in the company of friends and/or family. This includes going out to dinner, watching a movie, playing some sport or other leisure activity, etc. Depending on the family or culture, conversations are either minimal & chaperoned or worse, unrestricted and unsupervised. When you consider these limitations it makes one wonder when exactly, if ever at all, would the critical conversations take place? Unfortunately, for many, the answer is never and they live to suffer the consequences. If you or someone you know is in the “getting to know someone” phase, the following guide offers advice on exactly what to look for and avoid:

Seeking Truth !

It is fitrah (innately natural) for the human beings who live on the surface of this God's earth, be it male or female, the noble or the lower class, the rulers or the ruled, the rich or the poor, to like to find truth. The truth is something good and honorable, which has to be possessed and fought for, so that with that truth mankind will live honorably on this earth, and be safe where ever they are, especially in the Akhira.

The truth is not two, not three, not ten, etc. The truth is only one. Truth is the one that comes from Allah, conveyed to the Rasuls (Messengers) especially the last Rasul i.e. Rasulullah Muhammad (pbuh). Allah has told us in the Qur'an,Al-Baqarah, verse 147:
"The Truth is from thy Lord; so be not at all in doubt."
Whatever is not from Allah is not truth even though some people claim that it is truth. What does not come from Allah is falsehood, even though it looks beautiful in the sight of the eyes. It is the truth that is from Allah carried by the Rasuls that we must find, obtain and practice. Then, we must strive for the truth, because it is the truth from Allah that makes mankind honorable on this earth and honorable in the Akhirah.

However, we have been left by Rasulullah (pbuh) since more or less 14 centuries ago. That is such a very long time, which had gone through many different issues, conditions and events. It had gone through the highs and lows, the ups and downs, the rise and the decline. So, for the ummah in these end times, which include ourselves, it is difficult to find truth. Let alone to possess and struggle for the truth. Although the truth is already in Al-Qur'anul Kareem and interpreted through the hadiths of the Prophet, those are only in the forms of knowledge and theories, not in the forms of actions or attitudes.

ARTICLE: From the US army to al-Shabaab !

Craig Baxam was lost. He thought he was in a town in northern Kenya called Marareme, though really he didn’t have a clue. He then got on a bus headed to Garissa, towards the Somali border, but was puzzled by the way the other passengers referred to it as “Arara”. 
Baxam was far from home, spoke no local language and knew little about the region he was traveling through. If he were successful in reaching southern Somalia, his destination, things would almost certainly get worse for him: the war-torn country, where he planned to live according to his faith, remains one of the most inhospitable and perilous on Earth. 
Yet none of that flustered him. All he wanted was to keep on moving towards the border. Find it, cross it and begin a new, better, devout life. 

Baxam, 24 at the time, had thrown to the winds his comfortable existence in Laurel, Maryland, where he worked for a TV services company. In December 2011 he cashed in his thrift savings plan account (all $3,613.38 of it), gave $1,000 of that to an acquaintance in need, and with the rest bought himself a ticket to Nairobi. He had decided to set out on a hijrah, a migration to a true Islamic land, as he was instructed to do in the Qu’ran. 
To say that this was all new to Baxam would be an understatement. A black American raised Catholic who had recently discharged himself from the US army after four years of service, he grew up with no connection to the Muslim faith. But five months before his trip, he went through a dramatic and sudden conversion after stumbling on a religious website. 
Barely half a year later, he was making his way north through Kenya into the vast unknown. 

As he travelled, Baxam kept his head down, stopping merely to eat and pray at mosques. He had good reason to be careful: he was heading towards one of the world’s most anarchic conflict zones in a country that had been in the throes of an extreme Islamist insurgency for several years. 

Once inside Somalia, he planned to live under al-Shabaab – a group designated by Washington as a terrorist organisation which practices a very strict form of Islam under the religious law of sharia. 
The stakes were high. US and Kenyan authorities worked closely together to intercept any movement across the border from al-Shabaab members, and Baxam had a taste of those security efforts as he sat on the bus going north. He later told the FBI there were posters all along the route telling people to contact police should they see anyone acting strangely. He must have looked suspicious himself, he said, given what was about to happen. 
Soon after the bus pulled out, a man boarded and gently began asking Baxam questions. Where was he going? Did he speak the local dialect? Was there family nearby? 
Baxam thought to himself: I’m in luck, here’s someone who wants to help me. It didn’t quite turn out like that. Not long after, the bus was surrounded by Kenyan police who swarmed onboard and took him away on suspicion of terrorism.