Missed Fasts AND 6 days of Shawwal...

 

Abû Ayyûb al-Ansârî relates that Allah's Messenger (saws) says: "Whoever Fasts the month of Ramadaan and then follows it with six days in Shawwâl, it will be as if he had Fasted the year through." [Sahîh Muslim] 

A Muslim has days of the previous Ramadaan Fast to make up. Maybe he had been sick for a few days or maybe he had to travel. A woman almost always has days to make up, since she cannot Fast when she is on her monthly period. A Muslims who has days like these to make up, is he allowed to observe voluntary Fasts before doing so?
This is a question that scholars have always disagreed about. They have expressed three opinions on this matter: 

1. It is forbidden to observe a voluntary Fast before making up all the days one has missed in Ramadaan. This is the ruling adopted by the Hanbalî school of law. 

2. It is disliked to do so, but not prohibited. This is the ruling adopted by the Mâlikî and Shâfi`î schools of law. 

3. It is permissible to do so. This is the view of the Hanafî school of law. It is also an alternative opinion expressed by Ahmad Ibn Hanbal that was favored by the Hanbalî jurist Ibn Qudâmah. 

What appears to me to be the most correct view is that it is best to make up the Ramadaan Fasts first if possible, but it is not necessary to miss these valuable Sunnah Fasts because one has yet had a chance to make up those missed Ramadaan Fasts, especially if one has many Ramadaab Fasts to make or for the one who is not well – For these as long as they have the intention to make the missed Ramadaan Fasts before the next Ramadaan, they may keep the six Fasts of Shawwâl first. And so in reality the matter is a flexible one, and the following evidence supports this flexibility:

Now What After Ramadaan ?

 

Ramadaan is a level playing field wherein people compete with each other in good deeds and benevolence. During the blessed month, souls are trained in virtue and accustomed to dignity, they learn to disdain vices, sins and acquire all good attributes.

Whoever witnessed the month without gaining any of its rewards is indeed poor, and nothing cripples him other than negligence, laziness, procrastination, and false hopes.
However, what is appalling is to see some of those who were guided to do good deeds and take provisions from virtues during this month hastily destroying what they had built, and replacing good with evil. This is a gross mistake and shameful act in the true sense of the word and no remorse or apology will revoke it when you stand in front of your One Lord.

Bishr was asked about people who only become diligent during the month of Ramadaan and he said, “They are abominable people, because they only know Allah during the month of Ramadaan. The truly righteous people are those who worship Allah diligently throughout the whole year.”

Ash-Shibli was asked, “Which is better: Sha‘ban or Rajab?” His answer was, “Be a worshipper of Allah rather than a worshipper of Sha‘ban.”

We sincerely invite such people out of fear for them to reconsider their lifestyle and to review themselves and think about their condition before it is too late. We advise them not to allow appearances, their strength, health and youth to deceive them. That is because all of this is nothing but a mirage that one may see as water, but once he reaches it, he finds nothing. Health will be followed by sickness, youth will be followed by old age, and strength will eventually turn into weakness.

Ghulāt al-Mukaffîrah (extremists in Takfir) !

Today by the will of Allâh(سبحانه وتعالى) in this night, me and you are going to talk about Ghulāt al-Mukaffîrah or Ghulāt al-Takfīriyīn or as some of our Shaykhs call them between parenthesis "Sūbagh Takfīr", these [Takfīrī's] by the permission of Allâh(جل وعلا), we will place them today in this night upon the Table of Legislation, we will see the words of the Salaf of the Ummâh regarding these people, and what do we mean by these people? Ghulāt al-Mukaffîrah, what do we mean by them? Is everyone who makes Takfīr upon a Kāfir considered from the Ghulāt al-Takfīriyīn? These people are those that rush towards or widely spread Takfīr, as for our saying that they rush towards Takfīr, meaning they hasten towards making Takfīr without applying the Islamic Preserved Guidelines[of Takfīr] according to Ahlâl Sunnâh wal Jamā'ah, you find them rushing towards Takfeer upon an individual without establishing two proofs:

As for the first proof, it is to affirm that this individual has fallen into this [particular] act, and as for the second proof, it is to affirm that this act is from the Mukaffîrāt [acts of Kufr], how do you affirm this? By the Qur'ān and Sunnâh, for example, it's said to you that Fulān is a Sāhir[person who dabbles in black magic], so you do not rush or immediately call him a Kāfir until you affirm two proofs, the first proof: That Fulān(zayd) from among the people has dabbled into black magic, this is the first proof, how is it proven? It’s proven by two just witnesses or by acknowledgement, and acknowledging is Sayyîd al-Adillâh [Master of proof] as they say, the second proof: To prove that al-Sihr is Major kufr [that takes a person] outside the fold of Islām, how do you prove that? From the Qur’ān, Sunnâh, Ijmā’ and Qiyās, so it’s a must to affirm these two proofs.

As for Ghulāt al-Mukaffîrah, they rush towards Takfīr without taking heed to these conditions, then they spread in their Takfīr, how do they spread in Takfir? They make Takfīr generally, they make Takfīr upon societies, they do chain Takfīr by the Fundamental principle “Whoever doesn’t call a disbeliever a Kāfir, then he’s a Kāfir” until no one is free from it(Takfīr) except themselves or their own group, that’s why they call their group as “Jamā’at al-Muslimīn” and other than them are from the people of disbelief.

Some easy guidelines on Takfeer...

Question:
Sheikh, may Allah reward you with the best, today Takfeer al-Mu’ayyan (declaring an individual/person to be a disbeliever) is widespread, by some people, and some of them are from amongst the students of Knowledge. There are also people who concern themselves with Takfeer, while they are at a low level of steadfastness in the Deen... So what is you Ruling on this (issue)?

Answer:
Without a doubt Takfeer is a massive issue. It’s part of the important matters, but i will give you some important principles/fundamentals about this issue:

The First Principle is: The people whom busy themselves with Takfeer, are the people of knowledge and those who have understanding of Fiqh (Jurisprudence). Is that clear?

The second Principle is: The one who enters Islam with Yaqeen (certainty), only leaves it with Yaqeen.

The third Principle is: The actions, which nullify your Islam, are different from each other. Some of the nullifiers can only be recognized by the scholars, who understand the issue in detail. At the other hand some of the Nullifiers are clear, like for example; Shirk (associating partners to Allah) and slandering Allah and His Messenger (saws). So the majority of the people know these issues. And there are others that are not known by the Majority. So there is a difference between the one and the other. Anyway, it’s obligatory to be careful in this issue, the best way he can.

Makkan & Madeenan Quraan.

As part of studying the revelation of the Quraan, the Muslim scholars may Allah have mercy upon them have categorized the Surahs of the Quraan and their verses according to the time or era of their revelation. This is the subject that came to be known as the Makkan and Madeenan division, or revelation, of the Quraan. This division is logical since the Prophet, Muhammad (saws) received revelation over twenty-three (23) years: thirteen (13) of them he (saws) spent in Makkah and ten (10) in Madeenah.

The correct and well-established definition of Makkan and Madeenan Quraan is the one in which the Chapters and verses that were revealed prior to the Hijrah or immigration of Prophet Muhammad (saws) from the city of Makkah to the city of Madeenah are known as 'Makkan'. All other Chapters and verses that were revealed after this time are termed 'Madeenan'.

The location of their revelation is not necessarily relevant to this classification, such that there may be certain revelations that were revealed in Makkah, but are classified as Madeenan because of the period of their revelation. A good example of this is the Chapter of An-Nasr which was revealed in Minaa (outskirts of Makkah) yet it is classified as a Madeenan Chapter because it was revealed while the Prophet (saws) was living in Madeenah  just a few months before he (saws) passed away.

Proofs the people of Bida’h bring are against them and not for them!

The root that the ghulat stem out from is their bida’ belief that Takfeer on the Mushrikeen is asl ad-Deen, just as the root the Murjiah stem out from is their bida’ statement that actions do not affect iman (whether this applies theoretically or in application), so it is important for the Muslim that he knows how to respond to their shubuhat, bi'ithnillah. 

One of the most commonly brought shubhah (doubt) by the Khawarij, Mu’tazilah and those who follow them in saying Takfeer on the Mushrikeen is asl ad-Deen which is known by the ‘aql (intellect) and fitrah (innate disposition) before the khabar (information) and the risalah (message) is the story of Zayd ibn ‘Amr Ibn Nufayl. Zayd ibn ‘Amr ibn Nufayl was from amongst the Hunafa of Makkah that rejected the widespread idol worship and thought it disgusting. Imam al-Bukhari narrated on the authority of ibn ‘Umar that, “The Prophet (saws) met Zayd ibn ‘Amr ibn Nufayl in the bottom of (the valley of) Baldah before any Wahy (Divine Inspiration) came to the Prophet (saws). A meal was presented to the Prophet but he refused to eat from it. (Then it was presented to Zayd) who said, ‘I do not eat anything which you slaughter in the name of your stone idols. I eat none but those things on which Allah’s Name has been mentioned at the time of slaughtering.’ Zayd ibn ‘Amr used to criticise the way Quraysh used to slaughter their animals, he used to say, ‘Allah has created the sheep and He has sent the water for it from the sky, and He has grown the grass for it from the earth; yet you slaughter it in other than the Name of Allah.’ He used to say so, for he rejected that practice and considered it as something abominable.” Thus, he knew that idol worshipping, shirk committed with Allah, is something that is to be rejected. 

On the authority of Asma bint Abi Bakr she said, “I saw Zayd ibn ‘Amr ibn Nafayl standing with his back to the Ka’bah and saying: ‘O people of Quraysh! By Allah, none amongst you is on the Deen of Ibrahim except me'” [al-Bukhari]. And Muhammah Ibn Ishaq narrates from Hisham ibn ‘Urwah from his father on the authority of his mother Asma bint Abi Bakr that she said she saw Zayd as a very old man leaning his back on the Ka’bah and saying, “O Quraysh, by Him in whose Hand the soul of Zayd is, not one of you follows the Deen of Ibrahim but I.” So they say that Zayd with this speech declared the Kuffr of the Mushrikeen based on his fitrah before the coming of a message or an order from Allah and His Messengers, because he died before the prophet-hood of Muhammad (saws). Thus, according to them, Takfeer on the Mushrikeen is known by the ‘aql and fitrah; just as the Tawhid of Allah and leaving the worship of others is.

IRAQ, RAMADAAN 2018 DONATION (ONE NATION)

Eid - a Mercy of Allah

Anas (ra) said: “The Prophet (saws) came to Madeenah and the people of Madeenah had in Jahiliyah two days of play and amusement (they are the day of Niarooz (New Years Day) and the day of Maharajaan (Final Day of the Year). So, the Prophet (saws) said: “I came to you and you had in Jahiliyah two days of play and amusement. Indeed, Allah has replaced them for you by that which is better than them: The day of Nahr (slaughtering) and the day of Fitr (breaking fast).” [(saheeh) Musnad Ahmad (3/103, 178, 235 and others)] 

Shaikh Ahmad Abdur-Rahmaan al-Banaa said: “This is because the two days, the day of Fitr and of Nahr are from the legislation of Allah, the Most High, His choice for His creation and because they succeed the performance of two great pillars of Islam, which are Hajj and Fasting. In them, Allah forgives the pilgrims and those who fast, and spreads His Mercy over all His obedient creation. As for the days of Nairooz and Mahrajaan, then they were chosen by the wise men of that era, either because of the mildness of the climate and season or because of other transitory virtues. Thus, the difference between them is clear for those who contemplate.” [Fath ur-Rabaanee (6/119)]

Eid - a day of gathering:
Eid (pl. 'Ayad') is any day of gathering. It is derived from 'ada' (meaning returned), because people return to it periodically. Ibn ul-Arabi says: “It is called Eid because it returns every year with renewed happiness. Some scholars say it is derived from ‘adah’ (custom or practice) because people are accustomed to celebrating it.

Ibn Abidayn said: “The Eid days are thus named because Allah renews His Bounties in them; and He distributes His blessings to His worshipers. From these are Fitr (eating), after food had been prohibited and Sadaqaat al-Fitr (the charity of breaking the fast) to the needy. And on Eid al-Adha, the completion of Hajj with the final Tawaaf of visiting; the meat from sacrifices and many other acts. Also because the custom in Eid is joy, happiness, cheerfulness and gladness.” [Hashiyah Ibn Abidayn (2/165)]

13 Q&A about Zakaatul Fitr

BELOW IS A GATHERED QUESTION AND ANSWER SESSION IN REGARDS TO ZAKAAT AL-FITR BY SHAYKH AHMAD MUSA JIBRIL (HAFIDHULLAH)

1. What is Zakaat al-Fitr? 
Zakaat al-Fitr is a charity given at the end of Ramadaan or the morning of the Eid Al-Fitr. 
It was named Zakaat al-Fitr because it's to be given when Muslims break their Fast at the end of Ramadaan. 

2. When was Zakaat al-Fitr ordained? 
It seems that it was ordained the same time Ramadaan was ordained in the 2nd year of the Hijrah, because it's part of Ramadaan, and we know not of any Ramadaan the Sahabah fasted in which they did not give Zakaat al-Fitr in. 

3. Is this an ordain or a Sunnah? 
It is an "ordain" and a "must" without any doubt. 
The Prophet (saws) said in a Hadith under the chain of Ibn Umar in both Bukhari and Muslim: "The Prophet ordained Zakaat al-Fitr Saa' of dates or Saa'of wheat." 
The Hadith is clear in stating the Prophet (saws) "ordained." 
-Imam Ibn Al-Munther and others reported Ijma (meaning consensus) and no dispute among Scholars on this matter except by the Hanafi Madhab which believe its a Waajib and not Fard, just a dispute in terms used but the end result is that all Scholars believe its an ordain. 
-It’s also said that the verse "He is successful who groweth" 87:14 means Zakaat al-Fitr.

The Company we Choose to Keep !

Allah has blessed me with many wonderful friendships throughout my life. Most have served as a comforting, healing balm that has pulled me through some of the more difficult times of my life. Others have created so much drama and turmoil that I couldn't cut them loose fast enough! I have friendships that have followed me from childhood until now, as I attempt to raise my own children, and I have encountered fresh, new relationships in the process of carving their own deep, meaningful connections. The Prophet (saws) was known to have said, "When souls recognize one another, they will become friends, if not, they will simply part ways." [Muslim]

The Prophet (saws) also stated, “A true believer is a mirror to his brother. He prevents him from any harm.” [Abu Dawood] We are in fact mirrors in some way of those we decide to take on as companions. I have been guilty of associating with individuals whose behavior is not worth mentioning, let alone imitating. I have suffered the consequences of those alliances. When left alone for a while after having departed their company, I would suddenly see the light and recognize them for the lying/undependable/deviant person they really were all along. But then also came the sobering realization that I might not be so different, as I had found something attractive enough in them to pursue an acquaintance, regardless of all the glaring, warning signs.

As believers, we are instructed to be careful of the companions we choose for friendship. Our friendships can draw us closer to our Creator or cause us to sever all ties of faith we have established. As with most relationships in this lifetime, we will experience blessings in some friendships, and trials through others. Just who are your friends? How do they affect the person you are or hope to become? What kind of friend are you?

Who are the Mahrams of a Woman?

When people distance themselves from the instructions of Islam and the rulings of religion - especially those which guard chastity and the ‘Awrah, prevent mixing of progeny and other immoral acts - they fall into the pit of vice and immorality. This is encouraged by the enemies of Islam who try to control women with all the possible means until they lead them astray and strip them of their modesty, under the pretext of "liberating" them. In reality, they wanted to liberate women from their religion, modesty, and chastity.

As a ruling of Shari‘ah, a woman has to know who her Mahrams (non-marriageable men) are, so as to guard herself and her religion.

The following question was raised to An-Nawawi: “Who is the woman whom a man is permitted to look at and meet her in seclusion?”
An-Nawawi replied, “It is every woman whom he is permanently forbidden to marry due to a permissible reason because of her unlawfulness.”
“Permanently” is said to exclude the wife’s sister and her like, namely her paternal aunt, maternal aunt, and her daughter if the marital contract is concluded with the mother yet the marriage has not been consummated with her.
“Due to a permissible reason” excludes the mother and her daughter with whom a man had sexual intercourse mistakenly believing that it was lawful. The mother and her daughter are permanently forbidden, not because of a permissible reason, but because doubtful intercourse which is neither described as permissible nor unlawful, because the man was oblivious and thus, incompetent to receive religious commitment at that time.
“Because of her unlawfulness” excludes the woman who is involved in Li‘aan (oath of condemnation). This woman is permanently forbidden to remarry (her ex-husband) as an act of punishment, not because she is unlawful for him. Allah knows best.”

[The Fatawa that is known as Al-Manthooraat by An-Nawawi, question no. 223]

Islamization of knowledge

It is necessary to reform methods of thinking and build a genuine clear vision of its different stages. There is no field of science that cannot be regulated by the comprehensive Quranic perspective, which extends over all its core issues: goals, methods, facts and application.

With knowledge being directed towards the consolidation of power, hegemony, egoism and transforming scientific accomplishments into weapons against mankind, rather than in his favor, giving an Islamic character to knowledge becomes even more important. It abides by the Quranic vision of the universe, life and the adoption of the framework set by Islam to regulate the scientific movement.

The focal points of the Islamization of knowledge

The Islamization of knowledge is based on the following focal points:

1- To practice knowledge-based activity (discovery, collection, composition and publication) from an Islamic point of view.
2- To contain all various theoretical and applied human activities and sciences so as to be formed within an Islamic framework.
3- To assure that the capability of the Islamic mind, thought and method keeps up with the needs and challenges of the Ummah.

The necessities for the Islamization of knowledge