Dirty Wars!

Just watched Dirty Wars, a eyeopening documentary about American terrorism in Iraq, Afghanistan, Somalia and Yemen. SubhanaAllah this hands down has to be one of the best documentaries I have ever watched. Take 80 minutes out of your day and watch this…The sad reality of what is happening in the Muslim countries is heart breaking and shocking. Wake up oh Muslims and realize what is happening to your people day in and day out while you remain headless about what is going on around you. Theres not much else to say because this documentary speaks for itself. For those of you who may have watched it already, any thoughts on it? I’d love to read them. May Allah give these people who have been wronged without a cause justice, and may He grant them sabr.

Watch here: http://ow.ly/s6ZWV 

”Do the people think that they will be left to say, “We believe” and they will not be tried? But We have certainly tried those before them, and Allah will surely make evident those who are truthful, and He will surely make evident the liars.” [29: 2-3] 

Christmas in Islam

Once again we’ve approached that time of year, and once again us, as Muslims, fall into awkward situations with the ”spirit of Christmas” as they call it. We are being invited to there festives whether at work, school, through friends, ect. We need to avoid indulging in there holiday as much as possible. May Allah protect us.

What is the ruling on eating food prepared for a Christian festival? What is the ruling on accepting their invitation to their celebrations of the birth of the Messiah (peace be upon him) [i.e., Christmas celebrations]?

 Praise be to Allaah. It is not permissible to celebrate innovated festivals such as the Christmas of the Christians, or Nowrooz (Persian New Year) or Mahrajaan (Persian festival), or festivals that have been innovated by Muslims such as the Prophet’s birthday in Rabee’ al-Awwal or the Israa’ in Rajab and so on. It is not permissible to eat from that food which the Christians or Mushrikeen prepare on the occasion of their festivals. It is also not permissible to accept their invitations to join them in their celebrations of those festivals, because this encourages them and is tantamount to approving of their bid’ah, which gives the wrong idea to ignorant people and makes them think that there is nothing wrong with that. And Allaah knows best. (From Al-Lu’lu’ al-Makeen min Fataawaa Ibn Jibreen, p. 27.)

Source: http://islamqa.info/en/ref/12666.

Plucking the eyebrows

A lot of sisters tend to fall into one of the major sins, without even knowing it, SubhanAllah may Allah protect us from this…

         Praise be to Allaah.  

We will quote for you the fatwas issued by the scholars concerning the ruling on removing hair from the eyebrows and hair from the rest of the body. 

Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: “If removing hair from the eyebrows is done by plucking, this is namas (plucking the eyebrows) and the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) cursed the naamisah (the woman who plucks eyebrows) and the mutanammisah (the woman who has her eyebrows plucked). This is a major sin, and women are singled out in this ruling because they are the ones who usually do this, for the purpose of beautification, but if a man were to do it he would also be cursed, just as a woman is cursed for doing this, Allaah forbid. 

If hair is removed from the eyebrows by a method other than plucking, such as by cutting or shaving, some of the scholars regard this as being the same as plucking, because it is changing the creation of Allaah, so there is no difference between plucking, cutting or shaving. This is undoubtedly more on the safe side, so a person must avoid that, whether man or woman.” 

(Quoted from Fataawa ‘Ulama’ al-Balad al-Haraam, p. 577) 

 

The following question was mentioned in Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa’imah(5/196): 

A young woman has very thick eyebrows that make her look bad. This girl was forced to shave part of the area between the eyebrows and to reduce the rest so that she will look acceptable to her husband. 

The Committee replied: 

“It is not permissible to shave the eyebrows or reduce then, because that is the namas (plucking) for which the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) cursed the one who does it and the one who asks for it to be done. What you must do is repent and pray for forgiveness for what you have done in the past, and beware of that in the future. 

Another question (5/195) was put to the Committee: 

Namas means removing some of the hair of the eyebrows, and is not permitted, because the Messenger (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) cursed the woman who plucks her eyebrows and the one who has that done, but it is permissible for a woman to remove a beard or moustache, if one grows, or hair from her legs or arms.” 

The hadeeth which says that the woman who plucks the eyebrows or who has that done is cursed was narrated by al-Bukhaari (4886) and Muslim (2125), from the hadeeth of ‘Abd-Allaah ibn Mas’ood (may Allaah be pleased with him). 

The point is that it is haraam to remove any hair from the eyebrows, whether all the hair is removed by shaving, or some of it is removed by cutting. Anything apart from that is permissible, such as removing hair from the arms and legs, and the area between the eyebrows. And Allaah knows best.

 

Al-Bukhaari (5931) and Muslim (2125) narrated that ‘Abd-Allaah ibn Mas’ood (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: “May Allaah curse the women who do tattoos and those who have them done, those who have their eyebrows plucked, and those who file their teeth for the purpose of beautification and change the creation of Allaah.” Then ‘Abd-Allaah said: “Why should I not curse those whom the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) cursed.” 

”And whatsoever the Messenger (Muhammad) gives you, take it; and whatsoever he forbids you, abstain (from it)” [al-Hashr 59:7]

Source: http://islamqa.info/en/22393.

 

 

Why is Ibrahim (peace be upon him) singled out for mention in Tashahhud?

Very beneficial to know exactly why you are mentioning Ibrahim (peace be upon him) during Salah, these little details will help us with our khushu in our prayer. This is just a small part of the question I took it from, Ill post the link at the bottom.

If it is said: Why was Ibraaheem (peace be upon him) singled out from among all the other Prophets (peace be upon them) to be mentioned during the prayer? 

I say: That is because on the night of the Mi‘raaj, the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) saw all the Prophets and Messengers, and he greeted each Prophet with salaam, but none of them sent greetings to his ummah apart from Ibraaheem (peace be upon him). Hence the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) instructed us to send blessings upon him at the end of every prayer until the Day of Resurrection, in response to his kindness. 

It was also said that when Ibraaheem (peace be upon him) had finished building the Ka‘bah, he prayed for the ummah of Muhammad (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him), saying: O Allah, whoever performs pilgrimage to this House from the ummah of Muhammad, give him greetings from me; and his family and children also offered this supplication, so we are instructed to remember them in the prayer, in response to their kind deed. End quote. Sharh Sunan Abi Dawood by al-‘Ayni, 4/260 

And Allah knows best.

Allaahumma salli ‘ala Muhammad wa ‘ala aali Muhammad kama sallaita ‘ala Ibraaheem wa ‘ala aali Ibraaheem innaka Hameedun Majeed, wabaarik ‘ala Muhammad wa ‘ala aali Muhamaad kama baarakta ‘ala Ibraaheem wa ‘ala aali Ibraaheem innaka Hameedun Majeed.

O Allaah! Praise Muhammad, and on the family of Muhammad, as You Praised Ibraaheem, and the family of Ibraaheem; You are indeed Worthy of Praise, Full of Glory. And send blessings on Muhammad, and on the family of Muhammad, as you sent blessings on Ibraaheem, and the family of Ibraaheem; You are indeed Worthy of Praise, Full of Glory.

Source: http://www.islamqa.com/en/149310

Fi Amanillah! 

 

Ruling on watching TV

Question:

Is watching TV permitted in Islaam ? If so under what coditions ?

Answer:

Praise be to Allaah.

The issue of watching films is not free from numerous reservations from a shar’i point of view, such as uncovering ‘awraat, listening to music, spreading corrupt beliefs and calling for imitation of the kuffaar. Allaah has commanded us to lower our gaze, as He says (interpretation of the meaning):

“Tell the believing men to lower their gaze (from looking at forbidden things), and protect their private parts (from illegal sexual acts). That is purer for them. Verily, Allâh is All-Aware of what they do. And tell the believing women to lower their gaze (from looking at forbidden things), and protect their private parts (from illegal sexual acts)” [al-Noor 24:30-31].

Since lowering the gaze is the basis of protecting the private parts, it is mentioned first. Allaah has made the eyes the reflection of the heart: if a person lowers his gaze, the desire in his heart will be reduced, but if a person looks and stares, the desire in his heart will be provoked.

In Saheeh Muslim (1218) it is reported that Al-Fadl ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allaah be pleased with him) was riding behind the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) on the Day of Sacrifice (Yawm al-Nahr) from Muzdalifah to Mina, when some women riding on camel-borne sedan chairs passed by. The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) turned his [al-Fadl’s] head away. This was prevention and denunciation through action, for if looking were permissible he would have approved of what he did.

In Saheeh al-Bukhaari (6343) it is reported that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Every son of Adam has his share of zinaa decreed for him, and he will undoubtedly get his share. The eye commits zinaa and its zinaa is looking. The tongue commits zinaa and its zinaa is speaking; the feet commit zinaa and their zinaa is walking; the hands commit zinaa and their zinaa is touching. The heart longs and desires for something and the private parts confirm that or deny it.”

He began by mentioning the eye because this is how the zinaa of the hand, foot, heart and private parts begins. By mentioning the zinaa of the tongue, he pointed out that the mouth can commit zinaa by speaking. And he stated that the private parts can confirm that if they make the deed happen, or deny it if that does not happen. This hadeeth gives the clearest indication that the eye can sin by looking and that this is its zinaa. This is a refutation to those who say that looking is allowed in all circumstances.

It was also reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “O ‘Ali, do not follow a look with a second, for the first look is allowable but not the second.”

A look has the same effect on the heart as an arrow has on its victim. If it does not kill him, it will wound him. It is like a spark of fire in dried grass; if it does not burn all of it, it will still burn some of it. May Allaah have mercy on the one who said:

“Everything starts with a look, and big fires start from little sparks. How often has a heart been dealt a fatal blow like that of an arrow, with no need for a bow. As long as a man’s eyes are looking around, looking into the eyes of others, he is in a state of danger. His eye delights in that which could destroy his heart. The joy that may lead to harm is not welcome.”

Hence Shaykh Ibn Baaz (may Allaah have mercy on him) said in al-Fataawa 3/227: With regard to television, it is a dangerous device and its harmful effects are very great, like those of the cinema, or even worse. We know from the research that has been written about it and from the words of experts in Arab countries and elsewhere enough to indicate that it is dangerous and very harmful to Islamic beliefs (‘aqeedah), morals and the state of society. This is because it includes the presentation of bad morals, tempting scenes, immoral pictures, semi-nakedness, destructive speech, and Kufr. It encourages imitation of their conduct and ways of dressing, respect for their leaders, neglect of Islamic conduct and ways of dressing, and looking down on the scholars and heroes of Islam. It damages their image by portraying them in an off-putting manner that makes people despise them and ignore them. It shows people how to cheat, steal, hatch plots and commit acts of violence against others. Undoubtedly anything that produces so many bad results should be stopped and shunned, and we have to close all the doors that could lead to it. If some of our brothers denounce it and speak out against it, we cannot blame them, because this is a part of sincerity towards Allaah and towards other people.

Whoever thinks that this device (TV) can be free of these evils and can be used only for good purposes if it is censored properly is exaggerating and is making a big mistake, because the censor may miss things and most people nowadays want to imitate the foreigners. It is very rare to find censors who are doing their job properly, especially nowadays when most people are only interested in time-wasting entertainment and things that turn people away from true guidance. Reality bears witness to that.

We ask Allaah to keep us safe from all evil for He is the Most Generous. 

Source: http://en.islamway.net/fatwa/53079?ref=w-new-e

What goes up, must come down!

Many Muslims day in and day out have constant battles with there wavering Imaan, as a Muslim it is our duty and responsibility to acknowledge and then do something to try and regain your Imaan. Leaving it alone and not trying to cure it, may sometimes even lead to you abandoning the religion of Allah step by step, with the recitation of the Quran stopping, then other habits all together coming to a halt which you used to do for the sake of Allah.. So dear brothers and sisters, this is some beneficial advice I have found on the topic, enjoy 🙂

”Abu Dhar (radhiAllaahu ‘anhu) said: Whoever does not know that his Imaan increases and decreases is not a person of understanding. Rather it is from understanding in the religion to notice if your Imaan is increasing or decreasing.

If you find yourself devoted to Allah, desiring that which is with Allah, and energetic in acts of worship, loving the righteous people and the gatherings of knowledge, this is an indication and a sign of your strong Imaan and your increase in Imaan.

And if you find yourself turning away and lazy, having no desire to recite the Book of Allah and remember Allah; and you find yourself always lagging behind in some acts worship and not desiring that which is with Allah, this is proof of your deficiency in Imaan. Therefore remedy and rectify yourself.” [1]

 

Question: I begin my question by seeking your advice that I may benefit from you with regards to how I may increase my eemaan (faith?)…

Answer: We advise you to recite the Qur’aan frequently and that you increase in your hearing of it and in your recitation of it. Reflect and consider its meaning to the best of your ability and what you do not understand of it, then ask the people of knowledge of your country about it, or write to those outside of your country from the Scholars of Sunnah (Prophetic guidance).

We also advise you to increase in the dhikr (remembrance) of Allaah with such remembrances and supplications that are authentically related, such as saying laa ilaaha illallaah (that none has the right to be worshipped except Allaah), or saying subhaanallaah wal-hamdulillaah wa laa ilaha illallaahu wallaahu akbar (declaring Allaah free from all imperfections, praising Him and declaring that none has the right to be worshipped except Him and that He is greater), and their like. For this purpose, we urge you to refer to books such as al-Kalimut-Tayyib of Ibn Taymiyyah, al-Waabilus-Sayyib of Ibn al-Qayyim, Riyaadhus-Saaliheen andal-Adhkaar both by Imaam an-Nawawee, and their like. This is because the remembrance of Allaah increaseseemaan (faith) and causes hearts to attain tranquility, as Allaah – the Most High – said: “Indeed in the remembrance of Allaah do hearts find tranquility.” [Soorah ar-Ra`d 13:28].

Also preserve your five daily Prayers, your Fasting and the rest of your obligations – along with hoping in Allaah’s mercy and forgiveness and relying upon Him in all your affairs. Allaah – the Most High – said: “The Believers are only those who, when Allaah is mentioned, feel a fear in the hearts, and when His Verses are recited to them, it increases their eemaan (faith), and they put their trust and rely upon Allaah alone. They are those who perform the Prayer and spend out of that which We have given them, they are Believers in truth. For them are grades of dignity and nobility with their Lord, and also forgiveness and generous provisions.” [Soorah al-Anfaal 8:2-4] [2]

May Allah help us all in regards to our religion, know that your Imaan is like a car, once you take your foot off the gas, the car will eventually stop, so my dear brothers and sisters, I sincerely advise you to keep up the acts of worship in which you do, to worship Allah with a pure and sincere heart, to take part in Giyamul Layl, to have hidden acts of good which will draw you closer to Allah. If you read Quran, only increase in the number of pages you recite a day, never decrease, if you fast continue to fast, if you pray continue to pray, whatever it is continue it, fi amanillah!

“Our Lord! Let not our hearts deviate (from the truth) after You have guided us, and grant us mercy from You. Truly, You are the Bestower.”

Source:[1] http://mtws.posthaven.com/recognize-if-your-imaan-is-increasing-or-decr [2] Abdurrahman.org.

Guidelines for performing tayammum

Shaikh ‘Abdullaah bin Saalih Al-‘Ubaylaan

His book as-Salaat (The Prayer), which is a transcription of a lecture he gave (pg. 26-28)
Al-Ibaanah.com

Tayammum is done as a substitution for water. The proof for this is Allaah’s saying: “…and you find no water, then perform Tayammum with good earth, wiping your faces and hands with it.” [Surah Al-Maa’idah: 6] And also the Prophet’s (sallAllaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) saying: “The earth was made a masjid (place of prayer) and purity for me.” [Reported by Al-Bukhaaree and Muslim]

Tayammum is permitted in two situations:

1. When there is no water to be found
2. When one is not able to use it due to sickness and so on.

Tayammum can be performed for both types of ritual impurities (hadath):

1. Minor Impurity such as urine and feces, and
2. Major Impurity such as sexual relations or semen excretion.

It is permissible to perform Tayammum with everything that is found on the earth from its various types, such as sand, dirt and other types of earth. This is even if the earth is smooth land and there is no sand or dirt found on it, it is permissible to perform Tayammum on it.

The evidence for this is what has been reported by Jaabir (radyAllaahu ‘anhu) that the Prophet (sallAllaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “The earth was made a masjid (place of prayer) and a purity for me. So any man from my ummah (nation) who has the time for prayer come upon him, then let him pray, for he has his place of prayer and his purifier with him. So if the prayer time comes upon him and he is in a land in which there is sand or the prayer time comes upon him and he is in a smooth surfaced land, then in this situation, he is ordered to perform Tayammum with this earth.” [Reported by Al-Bukhaaree and Muslim]

Such a person can pray what he wishes from the prayers with this Tayammum, whether the prayer be obligatory or supererogatory. This is because the ruling that Tayammum takes is the same ruling as water. So whatever nullifies one’s wudoo (ablution), then it also nullifies and renders void one’s Tayammum. However, if water is found (and one has Tayammum), something extra is required. So if water becomes available it becomes obligatory for this person to make wudoo (ablution) with it even if his Tayammum hasn’t gotten nullified by one of the factors that cancel out wudoo.

This is based on the hadeeth of Abu Hurairah (radyAllaahu ‘anhu) who said: “Allaah’s Messenger (sallAllaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: ‘The earth serves as the wudoo (ablution) of the Muslim even if he doesn’t find water for ten years. But if he finds water, then he should fear Allaah and let his skin touch it.”This hadeeth was reported by Al-Bazaar and it has a supporting witness from a similar narration of Abu Dharr (radyAllaahu ‘anhu). However, he does not have to repeat the prayers he performed while using that Tayammum.

The description of Tayammum, is that one must first make his intention based on the hadeeth: “Verily, actions are only by intentions.” And then he must mention the name of Allaah (saying Bismillaah). Then he is to strike the earth with his two hands one time and then wipe the palms together along with the back of each hand and his face. This is based on the hadeeth of ‘Ammaar bin Yaasir in which occurs: “He (i.e. Allaah’s Messenger) struck the earth one time and then wiped his left palm on his right palm, the back of his hands and his face.” [Reported by Al-Bukhaaree and Muslim]

As found on: AbdurRahman.org.

‘Allahumma inni a’udhu bika min ‘ilmin la yanfa’ wa min qalbin ya yakhsha’ wa min du’a’in la yusma’ wa min nafsin la tashba’
“O Allah! I seek refuge with You from knowledge that does not benefit, and from a heart that is not subdued and humble, and from a supplication that is not heard, and from a self that is not satisfied.”

My first love

My first love..

Love is an incredibly powerful word. When you’re in love, you always want to be together, and when you’re not, you’re thinking about being together because you need that person and without them your life is incomplete. This love is unconditional affection with no limits or conditions: completely loving someone. It’s when they’re the last thing you think about before you go to sleep and when they’re the first thing you think of when you wake up, the feeling that warms your heart and leaves you overcome by a feeling of serenity. Love involves wanting to show your affection and/or devotion to each other. It’s the smile on your face you get when you’re thinking about them and miss them. Everything seems brighter, happier and more wonderful when you’re in love. If you find it, don’t let it go. 

That is love by definition. Love is one of the most beautifulest things in life to be able to experience. I fell in love at a very young age, before I even knew what love was, I was longing to be with Him, all alone with no barriers between us. I was longing for Him to love me, to be happy with me..to be worthy of Him being happy of me. Now the question is why? Why was I in love with Him? Obsessed with Him? Why did He take up every inch of my mind? The answers simple, when I needed something I would ask him for it, and until today He has never ever withheld what I had asked Him for. When I needed protection, it is He alone who would come to my rescue. When I wasn’t happy, it is He who would change my mood. I loved everyone whom He loved, and I hated everyone whom He hated. He was, is, and will always be my rock. When I had none I had Him. 

One day as a child, I remember my mom sitting me down, and giving me a lecture. She informed me that a time would come, that I would be held accountable for everything I did against Him, everything that displeased Him, a time would come where I would stand in front of Him, and answer for all that I did. Once she told me this I burst into tears, and cried and cried, for a period of time I went into depression, because I believed I would never be able to justify all the time I have wasted, all the times I had upset Him, I believed I was doomed. I could not wrap my head around the fact that some people were okay with making my One true love upset, and did not shake at the thought and tremble in fear of disobeying Him. 

Then the other day I came across this Hadith in which completely renewed my love for Allah:

Ibn Abbas (radi Allahu anhu) narrated that the Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: “When Allah drowned Firaun, he said (while drowning), ‘I believe that there is no God but He in whom the Children of Israil believe.’ Jibreel said to me, ‘O Muhammad! If you could have seen me when I took the mud from the sea and shoved it into his mouth, fearing that the mercy of Allah might save him.’” [Tirmidhi]

Jibreel may Allah be pleased with him when he heard from the heavens Firaun on his death bed calling to Allah and making Toubah he rushed from the Heaven he was at which is a walking distance of about 70 years with mud and shoved it in Firauns (Allahs curse be on him) mouth so that he couldnt repent because Jibreel was worried that if Firaun cried out to Allah in repentence Allah would be merciful and accept his repentance… How could one not love a Creator and Maker as merciful as this? How does your body not fill with goosebumps, and your heart not skip a beat? Shirk is one of the greatest sins in Islam which is associating partners with Allah, so imagine calling yourself Allah? Claiming you are God? But still Jibreel (Allah be pleased with him) was worried Allah would forgive him, because he knows how merciful Allah is. This hadith alone should be enough for someone to be filled with love for Allah. For Him to be there One and Only love. There beginning and end. I am at a loss for words to even explain this hadith in depth I feel as if it would do no justice and until today I am still wrapping my head around this. I am in love, and His name is Allah!!

Ya Allah let this be a witness of my Love for you, allow us all to be worthy of Your love, bestow upon us your Mercy, forgive us and all the believing Muslims, and make us sincere in our Love towards You.

One word frees us of all the weight and pain of life: That word is love.