What is the Punishment for Picturemakers?

What is the Punishment for Picturemakers? Abu Hurairah (RA) narrated that Allah’s Messenger (SAW) said: "Allah said: "’Who would be more unjust than the one who tries to create the like of my creatures? Let them create an atom, or let them create a grain or let them create a barley corn.’" (Al-Bukhari and Muslim) They also reported from Aisha (RA) that Allah’s Messenger (SAW) said: "The people who will receive the severest punishment on the Day of Resurrection will be those who try to make the like of Allah’s creation." Also reported by them from Ibn Abbas (RA) that I heard Allah’s Messenger (SAW) saying: "All the picture makers would be in the fire of Hell. A soul will be breathed in every picture prepared by him and it shall punish him in the Hell." It is additionally narrated from Ibn Abbas (RA) in a Marfu’ Hadith: "Whoever makes a picture in this world will be charged with putting a soul (life) in it and he will never be able to do it." Muslim reports
from Abu Haiyaj (Al-Asadi) that Ali (RA) said to him: "Should I not despute you on a mission on which I was sent by Allah’s Messenger (SAW)?: Deface all the pictures which you come across and demolish all the high graves to the level of earth."

Ten Useless Assets

1. Knowledge that is not acted upon.

2. Deeds that have no sincerity or is not based on following the righteous examples of others.

3. Money that is hoarded, as the owner neither enjoys it during this life nor obtains any reward for it in the Hereafter.

4. The heart that is empty of love and longing for Allah, and of seeking closeness to Him.

5. A body that does not obey and serve Allah.

6. Love of Allah without following His orders or seeking His pleasure.

7. Time that is not spent in expiating sins or seizing opportunities to do good.

8. A mind that thinks about useless matters.

9. Service to those who do not bring you closer to Allah, nor benefit you in your life.

10. Hope and fear of whoever is under the authority of Allah and in His hand; while he cannot bring any benefit or harm to himself, nor death, nor life; nor can he resurrect himself.

Source:
"Ten Useless Matters" - Ibn ul Qayyim al Jawziyyah

Golden Words 2

Golden Words

Qaza Namaz / Prayers

Practice of Holy Prophet P.B.U.H

Practices of Jumu'ah

On the day of Jumu'ah, if a Muslim performs the following six deeds, he obtains the reward equivalent to one year's Nafl (optional) fasting and one year's Nafl (optional) Salâh on every step (he walks to the Masjid). This Hadeeth has been narrated in Tirmizhi, Abu Dawood, Nasa'i and Ibn Majah. Mulla Ali Qari rahmatullahi alayhi observes in Sharh Mirqat, the commentary on Mishkat, that no other pious deed is more virtuous than performing these actions on the day of Jumu'ah.

1.

To perform ghusl [bath].
2.

To proceed to the Masjid early.
3.

To walk to the Masjid.
4.

To sit closest to the Imâm.
5.

To refrain from useless speech.
6.

To listen to the Khutbah attentively.

Note: One should try to be punctual with the following:

*

Tilawat [recitation] of Surah Kahaf.
*

Performance of Salâtut-tasbih.
* Excessive recitation of Durûd Shareef (a minimum of 300 times).
*

To make Du'â (silently) between the two Khutbas.
*

Engaging in Du'â before the sunset of Friday.

Published by Madrasah Arabia Islamia, Azaadville, South Africa
Courtesy of Majlis-e-Dawatul Haq, Leicester, England.

Ten Days of Dhul Hijja

Even for those not performing the pilgrimage, Hajj, the first ten days of this month are considered very sacred and a time for increased reflection, seeking Allah's forgiveness, doing good and various other forms of worship.

Prophet Mohammed (peace and blessings be upon him) has said about the first ten days of Dhul Hijja: "There are no days in which righteous deeds are more beloved to Allah than these ten days. " The people asked, "Not even Jihad for the sake of Allah?" He said, "Not even Jihad for the sake of Allah, except in the case of a man who went out to fight giving himself and his wealth up for the cause, and came back with nothing (Bukhari).

While any good deed done for the sake of Allah according to the way He approves will be rewarded immensely during the first ten days, Insha Allah, some of the more specific actions mentioned in the Traditions of the Prophet are as follows:

1. Fasting

In terms of fasting, it is particularly encouraged to fast on the ninth day of Dhul-Hijja, known in Arabic as Yawm Arafa. The Prophet used to fast on this day (al Nisai and Abu Dawud). Fasting on this day will expiate a Muslim's sins for two years.

2. Dhikr

The verbal remembrance of Allah is another meritorious act during these first ten days of Zul Hijjah. The Prophet upon him) encouraged Muslims to recite a lot of Tasbeeh ("Subhan-Allaah"), Tahmeed ("Al-hamdu Lillaah") and Takbeer ("Allahu akbar") during this time.

The Takbeer may include the words "Allahu akbar, Allahu akbar, la ilaha ill-Allah; wa Allahu akbar wa Lillahi'l-hamd (Allah is Most Great, Allah is Most Great, there is no god but Allah; Allah is Most Great and to Allah be praise)," as well as other phrases.

Men are encouraged to recite these phrases out loud and women quietly.

3. Sacrifice

One of the good deeds that will bring a person closer to Allah during these ten days is offering a sacrifice, by choosing a high-quality animal and fattening it, spending money for the sake of Allah.

4. Sincere repentance

One of the most important things to do during these ten days is to repent sincerely to Allah and to give up all kinds of disobedience and sin. This means more than just a verbal expression of sorrow for past misdeeds. It also requires a firm resolution to avoid making the same mistakes in the future by giving up bad habits and behavior while sincerely turning to Allah.

Generally, all good deeds are rewarded highly at this blessed time. These actions include praying, reading Quran, making Dua (supplication), giving in charity and being good to our families.

Source:
" The first 10 days of Zul Hijjah: why they matter" - SoundVision.com
" Virtues of the Ten Days of Dhul Hijjah" - Salih Al Munajjid

Meaning of Animal Sacrifice

Sacrificing certain types of animals during Hajj and Eid-ul-Adha are part of Islamic rites. Islam is not the only religion which prescribes animal sacrifice. In recent times, due to influence of the animal rights movement, the sacrifice of animals has come under attack. Below is Muslim American Michel Jansen's experience of apprehension towards Islamic animal sacrifice during Hajj and how she reconciled herself to the rite.

Before I had embarked on the Pilgrimage, its rituals seemed to me just so many curious exercises. But as I participated in the event of the Pilgrimage, the meaning of these rites unfolded, my understanding of Islam was deepened and I learned more fully what it meant to be a Muslim. Indeed, this is why God had commanded Muhammad to issue the call for the pilgrimage: "That they (the pilgrims) may witness things that are of benefit to them..." (Quran 22:28).

(For example, towards the end of the Hajj when the time of making the [animal] Sacrifice came), I began to feel uneasy. Since I have not completely outgrown the tender-heartedness I had known as a child, I had balked at the idea of the Sacrifice long before being confronted with it and now the time had come to do it. What was I to do? As a girl I had cared for lost dogs or stray cats, adopting any fledgling that had fallen from its nest, splitting a bird's broken leg with match stick and feeding injured butterflies on sugar syrup. But a companion had been adamant. "You must do the Sacrifice."

Back at our building in Mina I turned to the Quran. I found that the Sacrifice has many meanings: it commemorates Abraham's (peace be upon him) offering of his son's life and God's rejection of this sacrifice in exchange for Abraham's submission to God's will ; it marks the end of idolatry among Arabs; it is an offering of thanksgiving to the God of Creation Who has been so benevolent to mankind ; and it teaches the well-to-do to share their blessings to "eat thereof (the Sacrifice) and feed the beggar and the suppliant" (Quran 22:36).

As I pondered what I had read, a great weight was lifted from my conscience. I suddenly saw that the Sacrifice upholds the sacredness of life, that it, in fact, constitutes a pledge by the pilgrim that he will slay for sustenance only. And where I had felt reluctance before, I now felt eagerness to fulfill all the requirements of my pilgrimage.

Source:
"ISLAM- The Natural Way", by Adbul Wahid Hamid, pg. 127-128

Living the Quran, Luman, Chapter 31: Verse 32,

Honourable Nature

"Whenever the waves, like giant shadows, engulf them, they pray to God in all sincerity and devotion. But no sooner does He bring them safe to land, some of them hold back their belief. None will deny our revelations except the treacherous and the ungrateful."
Human beings are overwhelmed by God's grace and generosity. We live off the earth He has created; we breathe the air He has made available; we eat the nutritious food He has provided. Many, of course, forget all this and behave towards God as if He does not exist at all. Nevertheless, these very people would run to God in times of hardship, but as soon as they are out of danger, they revert to their disgraceful attitudes.
Gratitude is a sign of common sense and an honourable nature. When God praised Noah, He described him as "a thankful servant" (al-Isra: 3), and He praised Abraham as "grateful for his Lord's favours." (al-Naml: 121).
When Prophet Muhammad was asked why he devoted so much time to prayer and dedication to God, he replied: "Should I not be grateful servant of my Lord?" We must be made aware of these facts and exhorted not to abuse the favours God has bestowed upon us.

Source:
"Thematic Commentary on The Quran" - Muhammad Al-Ghazali, pp. 504, 505

Mental Preparation before the Prayer

The planning of your daily activities should revolve around the five daily Salah. Do not plan everything else and then try to fit Prayer into your busy schedule. Allah deserves a greater place in our lives than that!

Ensure that you are conversant with all the rules and regulations governing your Prayer. Research in depth the Quranic verses and ahadith relating to the virtues of Salah. Uncertainty in how to perform one's prayer perfectly is a major cause of distraction.

Be punctual with your Prayer. Get into the habit of praying at the earliest hour. Do not procrastinate. The Prophet said, "The deed most loved by Allah is Prayer performed on time." (Muslim) and "only the hypocrites intentionally delay their prayers"!

Pray as much of your obligatory Salah in congregation as is possible. This is not 'just a good thing' but an obligation on every Muslim male. According to the Prophet, if we knew the good in praying in jama'ah we would not miss it even if we had to crawl to the masjid!

Avoid praying in a state in which you are mentally and physically fatigued.

Keep your mind free of worldly worries, evil thoughts, and ideas.

Plan what verses/duas you are going to recite.

If you do not understand Arabic learn the meaning of what you recite in your Prayer.

Remind yourself that engaging in Prayer offers you an opportunity to release yourself from the tensions of this world. The Prophet has said that in Prayer was placed the comfort of his eyes. Therefore cherish the opportunity to remove the burdens of this world from your shoulders.

Use your Prayer to remain focused on your mission in life, which is to bring your entire being to serve only Allah.

Use your Prayer as a source of strength, inspiration and enthusiasm for your life and activities.

Source:
"Salah - The State of Mind" - Young Muslims Publications.

Living the Quran, Al-Naziat (The Setting Stars), Chapter 79: Verses 40-41

True Remembrance

"But unto him who shall have stood in fear of his Lord's presence, and held back his inner self from base desires, paradise will truly be the goal."
How numerous the tongues that move with the name of Allah! But how meagre the benefit! An how rare the hearts that become genuinely humble at the mention of Allah! Yet how desperate the need of the world for those rare hearts!
Undoubtedly, the ruin of religion comes about when it digresses into empty words and forms. And the mission of religion will not have been accomplished until the day it creates in all men living conscience, pure mind and hearts that aim in awe at countenancing the divine. That is what true dhikr is!
Accounted among the influences of this kind of dhikr is that it curbs man's appetite for wealth. Thus, those who remember Allah are never obsessed by greed for more and more, and are certainly never demeaned by greedy or covetous constitutions. Rather, they earn their money honorably, and spend it on their legitimate needs without ever thinking to hoard or accumulate it.

Source:
"Remembrance And Prayer" - Muhammad Al-Ghazali, p. 159

Hadith

[Hadith]
Rasul Allah, sal Allah alayhi wa sallam, said, "There was once
a merchant who would lend money to people. Whenever the person
he lent money to was in difficult circumstances, he would say to
his employees, 'Forgive him so that Allah may forgive us.' So,
Allah forgave him."
- Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 3, Hadith 292

[Lessons from this Hadith]
When you and I forgive people, who are we actually setting
free? OURSELVES!

Because of the outstanding way this man dealt with
people, Allah forgave him, and blessed him with profit in this
life and the next.

Is there someone in your life that you are making things
difficult for? What can you do to make it easy for them?

Al-Baqara (The Cow)

Al-Baqara (The Cow)
Chapter 2: Verses 78-82

Engrossed in sin
"Then there are among them some un-lettered people who have no knowledge of the Book but depend upon empty hopes and are guided by mere conjecture and guesswork. So woe to their learned people, who write the law with their own hands and then say to the people, "This is from Allah," so that they might gain some paltry worldly end. This writing of their hands will bring woe to them and what they gain thereby will lead to their ruin. They also say, "The fire of Hell is not going to touch us, and even if it does at all, it will be only for a few days".

Say, "Have you obtained a promise from Allah which He would not break? Or, do you attribute to Allah things you do not know? Why will not the fire of Hell touch you? Whoever earns evil and becomes engrossed in sin shall be doomed to Hell and abide therein for ever. Only those people who believe and do good deeds, will be the dwellers of the Garden and live there for ever."

The ayahs above were revealed to the Prophet (peace be upon him) in Medina in support of his mission to aid him in his dealing with the Jews of Medina. But the sad reality is that these Ayahs reflect the condition of the Muslims today. As many commentators of the Quran have mentioned in the past, these stories of the Children of Israel are for us to reflect on and to improve our own situation.

The Average Joe

Among the Jews of Medina there were some who were ignorant of the Scriptures, unaware of the principles of faith as enunciated by God in His Book, unaware of the rules of conduct that He had laid down, and of the teachings which are of fundamental importance for man's salvation. Because they lacked this knowledge, they fabricated a whole religion out of their desires and fancies, living in a paradise built on false hopes and illusions.

Is not this the situation of the Muslims today? Most of us do not access the scriptures with understanding, nor do we refer to the Islamic guidelines in our day-to-day activities. We attribute our success to our own abilities, and blame our failure on others. God seldom plays a role in our lives. On top of that we have decided what Islam should be all about and concentrate on propagating our beliefs as that of Islam's.

The Scholars

The next set of ayah refers to what their learned people did. They were not content with misinterpreting the Word of God. They also interjected into it their readings of the Scriptures and their explanatory comments thereof, stories from their national history, superstitious ideas and fancies, philosophical doctrines and legal rules. The result was that the Divine and the human became inextricably mixed. They claimed, nevertheless, that the entire thing was divine! Every historical anecdote, the interpretation of every commentator, the doctrine of every theologian, and the legal deduction of every jurist that managed to find its way into the Bible became the 'Word of God'. It was thus obligatory to believe in all that, and every deviation from it became tantamount to deviation from the true faith.

Is this not also a reflection of a large section of our "religious" men? Truly, we are blessed in that throughout the ages we have had scholars who have stayed true to Islam and preserved it for us. But there are still many innovated practices, false beliefs, and likes which have crept into our religion because of "so-called" scholars who have taken advantage of our naivety to exploit us.

Few Days in Hell

There was a general belief among some Jews and their religious leaders that they felt sure that no matter what they did, they would remain immune from hell-fire just by virtue of being Jews! The worst they could conceive of was the possibility of a transient punishment before they were transported to heaven.

Is this not exactly how most Muslims view Hellfire? It is common to meet people who are happy to rely on their belief that ultimately they are going to Jannah since they were born-Muslims. As such, many refuse to change their sinful ways since to them the punishment of hell-fire will only be temporary. Yet, they choose not to remember the description of the hell-fire and incredible punishment that the resident of the Hell-fire will go through. It is delusional belief that Shaitan wants us to perpetuate so that we do not correct our wrongs in this life.

Source:
"Towards Understanding the Quran" - Syed Abul Ala Mawdudi

The Sunnah Way: How to cut the nails?

The Sunnah Way: How to cut the nails?

Sunnah's to Follow in Ramadan

Sunnah's to Follow in Ramadan

1. Waking up to have suhūr, even if it is something little. The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said: "Eat suhūr for in suhūr there is blessing." [Narrated by al-Bukhārī and by Muslim]

2. Not delaying the iftār. The Messenger of Allah, upon whom be peace, said: "The people will remain upon goodness as long as they hasten in breaking their fasts" [Narrated by al-Bukhārī and by Muslim]

3. Supplicating throughout the day and night, especially during iftār time. The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said: "Three prayers are not rejected: the prayer of a father, the prayer of a fasting person, and the prayer of a traveller." [Narrated by al-Bayhaqi 3/345]

4. Spending the nights in prayer, as well as encouraging the family to do so. The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said: "Whoever establishes prayers during the nights of Ramadhān out of sincere faith and hoping to attain Allah's rewards, all his past sins will be forgiven." [Narrated by al-Bukhārī]

5. Being generous and feeding the people iftār. The Messenger of Allah said: "Whoever gives iftār to one who is fasting will have a reward like his, without detracting from the reward of the person fasting." [Narrated by al-Bukhārī and by Muslim]

6. Staying away from all immoral acts, especially those of the tongue. The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said: "Fasting is not abstaining from eating and drinking alone, but it is also abstaining from vain speech and foul language. If one of you is being cursed or annoyed, he should say: I am fasting, I am fasting." [Narrated by al-Bukhārī and by Muslim]

7. Performing 'umrah. The Messenger of Allah, upon whom be peace, said: "Perform 'umrah when Ramadhān comes, for 'umrah in Ramadhān is equal to hajj (in reward)." [Narrated by al-Bukhārī]

Source:
"Ramadhān: The Month of Love" - Abu 'Abdir-Rahman Mohammad Navaid Aziz

Unnecessary Exposure of Body.

Hadith:
For man [the part of body] from navel to knees is satr .i.e it must be covered.

Hadith:
"says that Conceal your satr, but from your wife or slave girl." Hearing this, the companions Razi Allah Anho asked what to do when one is alone in the house? Our blessed Prophet Sallalaho Alaihi Wasallam replied "Allah deserves it more than others that you be shy of Him.

Hadith
Has also prohibited us to look at others satr.

Note: Nowadays, fashion has dictated semi nudity for both men and women; shorts are commonly worn at home and in public without any regard or fear from Allah (S.W.T).

May Allah Give us Hidaya and forgive us. (Aameen)

A Beautiful Hadith

Rasulullah (Sallalloho alaihe Wa-aalay wasallam) said:

"When a man dies and his relatives are busy in funeral, there
stands
an extremely handsome man by his head. When the dead body is
shrouded, that man gets in between the shroud and the chest of the
deceased. When after the burial, the people return home, 2 angels,
Munkar and
Nakeer (names of two special Angels), come in the grave and try to
separate
this handsome man so that they may be able to interrogate the dead
man in privacy about his faith"

But the handsome man says, "He is my companion, he is my friend. I
will not leave him alone in any case. If you are appointed for
interrogation,
do your job. I cannot leave him until I get him admitted into
Paradise".

Thereafter he turns to his dead companion and says,
"I am the
Qura'an, which you used to read, sometimes in a loud
voice
and sometimes in a low voice."

Do not worry. After the interrogation of Munkar and Naker, you will
have no grief. When the interrogation is over, the handsome man
arranges
for him from Al-Mala'ul A'laa (the angels in Heaven) a silk bedding
filled with musk.

Rasulullah (Sallalloho alaihe Wa-aalay wasallam)
said: "On the Day of Judgement,
before Allah, no other intercessor will have a greater status than
the Qura'an, neither a Prophet nor an angel."

Please keep forwarding this "Hadith" to all ....because
Rasulullah (Sallalloho alaihe Wa-aalay wasallam) said:
"Pass on knowledge from me, even if
it is only one verse".

Hadith

When a man spends to support his family hoping (for Allahs reward) it is counted for him as Sadaqah.

Bukhari, Muslim

Hadith

The vow neither hastens anything nor defers anything, but is the means whereby (something) is extracted from the miserly person.

Muslim

Hadith

The rider should first greet the pedestrian, and the pedestrian the one who is seated and a small group should greet a larger group.

Muslim

Hadith

The prayer in congregation is twenty seven times superior to the prayer offered by person alone.

Bukhari

Hadith

By him in whose hand is my soul, a servant (of Allah) does not believe (truly) until he likes for his brother what he likes for himself.

Bukhari, Muslim

Hadith 5

Visit the sick, feed the hungry and free the captives.

Bukhari

Hadith 4

Whoever has land should cultivate it himself or give it to his (Muslim) brother gratis; otherwise he should keep it uncultivated.

Bukhari

Hadith 3

The Strong man is not the one who is strong in wrestling, but the one who controls himself in anger.

Bukhari, Muslim

Hadith 2

The Prophet (P.B.U.H) said, "The two months of íd i.e. Ramadan and Dhul-Hijja, do not decrease (in superiority).

Hadith 1

Abusing a muslim is sinful, and fighting (making war, qital) with him is (tantamount to) kufr .
Bukhari, Muslim