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- Post author By Ismail ibn Nazir Satia
- Post date 5 March 2023
- 1 Comment on PDF Books
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Assalamu alaykum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh,
Dear Shaykh,
“I am struggling with intrusive thoughts, doubt and anxiety in worship. Am I sinful? Any advice would he helpful, JzkAllah“
Answer:
First and foremost, I want you to know that you are not alone in this struggle. What you are experiencing, intrusive thoughts, doubts, and anxiety in worship, is something many sincere believers have faced, including some of the sahabah.
1️⃣ You are NOT sinful, these thoughts do not make you a disbeliever.
I know these thoughts make you anxious and distressed, but they do not define you or your Iman. In fact, feeling upset by them is a sign of faith!
📖 The Sahabah once told the Prophet ﷺ:
“We have thoughts that are so terrible we would rather be burned than speak them.” The Prophet ﷺ replied, ‘Allahu Akbar! Praise be to Allah who has reduced shaytan’s influence to mere whispers!'”
(Sahih Muslim 132)
💙 This means shaytan whispers to believers to make them doubt themselves. But these thoughts are not yours, and Allah does not hold you accountable for them.
2️⃣ Creating these thoughts are shaytan’s trick, your job is not to engage with them, just learn to ignore them.
These thoughts only become stronger when you pay attention to them. Shaytan wants you to repeat wudu, repeat shahada, repeat salat until you feel so exhausted that you stop praying. DO NOT LET HIM WIN.
📖 The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Shaytan will come and say: ‘Who created this? Who created that?’ until he says, ‘Who created Allah?’ If this happens, let him seek refuge in Allah and STOP thinking about it.” (Sahih al-Bukhari 3276, Muslim 134)
✅ What to do:
– IGNORE the thoughts completely. Do NOT debate them in your head.
– Say: “A’udhu billahi min ash-shaytan ir-rajim” (I seek refuge in Allah from shaytan).
– Distract yourself immediately, shift your focus to Qur’an, dhikr, or any other task.
➡️ Remember: The less you engage with the thoughts, the weaker they become.
You might be getting these thoughts even in Ramadan despite shaytan being locked away, this is normal as shaytan lays down his traps and gets us used to listening to these thoughts even without him being here.
3️⃣ STOP repeating shahada, wudu and salat
I know it feels like you have to redo everything because of doubt, but repeating wudu and salat is exactly what shaytan wants.
📖 The Prophet ﷺ said:
“If one of you feels doubt in his wudu, let him not leave (his prayer) unless he hears a sound or smells something.” (Sahih Muslim 362)
✅ What to do:
– Do wudu ONCE, even if you have doubts, move on.
– Pray ONCE and do not repeat salat at all.
– If thoughts come, keep praying and ignore them.
➡️ If you fight the urge to repeat, it will get easier, inshaAllah.
4️⃣ Make salat a place of comfort again
I know salat has become a source of anxiety, but it is supposed to be your place of peace. Take small steps to make it easier:
– Keep your prayers simple and try to focus on one posture at a time.
– Listen to soothing Qur’an before salat to get into a peaceful mindset.
– Take deep breaths before praying to relax your mind.
📖 Allah says:
“And seek help through patience and prayer, and indeed, it is difficult except for the humble.” (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:45)
5️⃣ Seek assistance through duas & ruqyah.
📖 Allah says:
“And if an evil whisper from Shaytan reaches you, then seek refuge in Allah. Indeed, He is the All-Hearing, All-Knowing.” (Surah Al-A’raf 7:200)
✅ Duas to Recite:
– A’udhu billahi min ash-shaytan ir-rajim
– Ayatul Kursi (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:255)
– Surah Al-Falaq & Surah An-Nas (morning & evening)
– La ilaha illa Allah, wahdahu la sharika lahu, lahu al-mulku wa lahu al-hamdu, wa huwa ‘ala kulli shay’in qadeer.
➡️ These will help ease your heart and push away these intrusive thoughts.
6️⃣ Sometimes, waswasah(intrusive thoughts) can be linked to anxiety or OCD, which is a condition many people face. If these thoughts are making life extremely difficult, it might help to speak to one of our therapists. There is no shame in seeking help.
💙 You are NOT sinful. You are NOT a bad Muslim.
💙 Allah is Most Merciful, and He knows your struggle.
💙 You will NOT go to Hell for thoughts you didn’t bring into your mind.
📖 Allah says:
“Do not despair of the mercy of Allah. Indeed, Allah forgives all sins…”
(Surah Al-Zumar 39:53)
➡️ Keep going, my dear brother/sister. You are stronger than Shaytan, and Allah sees your effort. 🤍
🌸 May Allah grant you ease, comfort and a heart full of tranquillity. Ameen. 🤲
Categories
Forty Lessons from Forty Years
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
To celebrate growing older, I wrote a few lessons life has taught me, alhumdu lillah.
- When in doubt, just take the next small step.
- Life isn’t fair, but it can still be good.
- Your job won’t take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and family will.
- You don’t have to win every argument, stay true to yourself.
- Cry with someone. It’s more healing than crying alone.
- Make peace with your past so it won’t mess up the present.
- Don’t compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
- Take a deep breath every now and then. It calms the mind.
- Get rid of anything that isn’t useful. Clutter weighs you down in many ways.
- It’s never too late to be happy. But it’s all up to you and no one else.
- No one oversees your happiness but you.
- Forgive others and forgive yourself.
- What other people think of you is none of your business.
- Time heals almost everything. Give time a little time.
- However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
- Believe in miracles., Allah SWT is listening, Allah SWT is watching.
- Allah SWT loves you because of who Allah is, not because of anything you did or didn’t do.
- Growing old beats the alternative of dying young.
- Your children get only one childhood, give them the best.
- Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
- Envy is a waste of time. Accept what you already have, not what you need.
- The best is yet to come… be optimistic.
- No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
- Life isn’t tied with a bow, but it’s still a gift.”
- Failure is a lesson in disguise.
- You’re not behind — you’re on your own timeline.
- Learn to rest, not quit.
- Growth often feels uncomfortable — that’s how you know it’s working.
- Let go of things not meant for you.
- Gratitude shifts everything.
- Most people are too focused on themselves to judge you.
- Your thoughts aren’t always facts.
- What you focus on expands.
- Confidence comes from action, not waiting.
- You can be a work in progress and still be proud.
- Life is 10% what happens, 90% how you respond.
- Forgiveness frees you, not them.
- Sometimes peace is worth more than being right.
- People show you who they are — believe them.
- Energy is contagious. Be mindful of who you spend time with.
Free five bonus!
- Boundaries are a form of self-respect.
- You won’t always feel motivated — build discipline
- Time is the most valuable currency.
- Sometimes you need to slow down to move forward.
- Not everyone will like you — that’s okay.
Ismail ibn Nazir Satia (one who is in dire need of Allah’s forgiveness, mercy and pleasure)
18th Shaban 1446
16th April 2025
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Dear Qur’an…
Dear Quran,
How do you do this?
Every single time, I open you up, with an issue on my mind, and you answer it, and you blow me away. It’s like I don’t read you, its like you read me.
You shatter each doubt, you break each barrier, you wipe away each tear, and you comfort like no one else. Sometimes I’m terrified to open you up, and set my eyes upon your lines, because I know, I know it’ll be like uncovering my soul, I know it’ll be out of my control, I know my heart will melt, and my eyes overflow, so I fear opening you, until, until I’m completely alone, just you, and I and my Rabb.
It’s like you read me,
You see right through the facade,
You address each subconscious thoughts,
You answer each unanswered questions,
You shatter each doubt, and break each barrier,
You wipe away each tear,
You uncover the soul and heal each wound,
Every single time.
Sometimes it’s too intense to bear,
Sometimes the uncovering of the faults and flaws hurt,
Sometimes you advice with words that I don’t want to hear,
But you’re never wrong.
And although before I open up to you,
Sometimes I feel scared,
It’s always worth it in the end,
Dear Quran, how do you always know what I need to hear?
Dear Quran, how do you console so beautifully? So completely?
You leave me so intrigued.
(Diary excerpt June 2016)
Anonymous
Categories
In Love of The Divine 🌹
Abu Darda RA reported:
The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said,
“Your love of something might render you blind and deaf.”
حُبُّكَ الشَّيْءَ يُعْمِي وَيُصِمُّ
(Source: Sunan Abī Dāwūd 5130)
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Love makes a man both blind and deaf,
Seeking to be with the beloved at every breath.
Real love is to love all things belonging to the beloved,
Regardless of how much one may have suffered.
One even loves the one whom the beloved loves,
The secret to yearning the love of The True Beloved is to love Him and whom He loves,
Gaining the love of Allah from the firm belief and good deeds he does.
The most noble of all creation is our beloved Nabi ﷺ who is the beloved of the Divine and whom we are told to love more than our father, our children and all mankind,
So come choose to be kind and in his love become so blind.
If Majnu searched the walls and dwelling places of Leila in love of the one who used to live there within, though to him she was far gone,
We should long to visit the blessed cities in hope of placing our dirty feet where on Allah’s beloved will have walked upon.
For a lover, nothing can be disliked in his Beloved. The lover will even see people in perfection, and the love will stem,
Because everyone is unique in His creation, seeing complete and special perfection within them.
We should love Allah Almighty, and for His sake love all His creatures,
This deep desire to see The Beloved and to only love The Beloved comes only from The Beloved’s true and sincere seekers.
When true love comes, so does mercy and compassion,
This is not the lust that comes with passion.
Connect to the source of all love, the Lord of all beings Ya Wadud, the Loving One.
Ar Rahmaan, Ar Raheem, the Compasionate One, the Most Merciful One.
Says one passionate lover In love of our beloved Mustafa:
“The passionate gaze sees him as the first and the last, he is the Quran, the Furqan, Yaseen and Taha” (Allamah Iqbal RH).
Categories
The Brightest Star
On the day you were born it was like a new star in the sky, the brightest ever star,
The day we said goodbye, a light went out on earth for me you are now very far.
But your soul went up to the skies and lit up the heavens,
You are always in my memory, your lovely star will forever shine.
Always remember a dad is a hero, a safe place who carries our worries and carries our weight,
Appreciate what dads do before it is too late.
A dad is there when problems need solving,
When dad is around you are constantly changing and evolving.
Always there for support and to give you a pat on the back,
Dads never turn a blind eye, but always keep you on the right track.
Eleven years on… Nazirahmed Daud Satia (Allah elevate his status).
Categories
10 Ways to Know if You Have Sihr
1. Sihr of Separation
This is very common form of black magic which aims to separate or make discord between two spouses, or stir up hatred between two friends or two partners.
Allah says: (…and they follow what the Shayaateen (devils) recited over Sulaymaan’s Kingdom. Sulaymaan disbelieved not but the Shayaateen disbelieved, teaching the people sorcery, and that which was sent down upon Babylon’s two angels, Haroot and Maroot; they taught not any man, without they said, ‘We are but a temptation; do not disbelieve.’ From them they learned how they might divide a man and his wife, yet they did not hurt any man thereby, save by the leave of Allah (swt), and they learnt what hurt them and did not profit them, knowing well that whosoever buys it shall have no share in the world to come; evil then was that they sold themselves for; if they had but known.) (al-Baqarah/02: v 102)
Jabir (RadiyAllahu ‘anhu) reported that the Prophet (Sallallaahu ‘Alayhi wa Sallam) said: “Iblis would lay his throne on water and would send his brigade of demons. The lowest among them in rank is the one who is most notorious in stirring up fitna. One of the demons would, after a mission, come and say to Iblis, ‘I have done so and so.’ Iblis would reply, ‘You have not done anything.’ Another one would come and say: ‘I have not left such and such person until I separated him from his wife.’ Iblis would come closer to his demon and say, ‘How good you are.’” – (Muslim in An-Nawawi : 17/157)
Symptoms of Sihr of Separation:
1. A sudden change in attitude from love to hate.
2. Exaggerating the causes of disputes between two people, even though they may be trivial.
3. Changing the mental image that a woman may have of her husband, or changing the mental image that a man may have of his wife; so that the man would see his wife in an ugly way, even though she were beautiful. In reality, it is the demon who is entrusted with the task of performing this type of Sihr is the one who would appear to the husband in her person, but in an ugly way. By the same token, the woman would see her husband in a horrible way.
4. The person affected by Sihr hates anything the other party does.
5.The person affected by Sihr hates the place in which the other party stays. For instance, a husband may be in good mood when he is outdoors, but when he returns home, he feels quiete depressed.
According to Al-Hafidh Ibn Kathir, the cause of separation between two spouses through this Sihr is that each of them appears to the other as an ugly or ill-mannered person. – (Tafsir ibn Kathir: 1/144)
2. Sihr Al-Mahabbah / At-Tiwala (Love)
Rasoolullah (Sallallaahu ‘Alayhi wa Sallam) said: “Ar-ruqa, at-tama’im and at-tiwala are acts of shirk (polytheism).” – (Ahmad) (1/381)
According to Ibn Al-Athir, At-Tiwala is a type of Sihr which makes a man love his wife. The reason why this type of Sihr is classed by the Prophet (saw) as an act of polytheism is because those who have it done for them believe that it has an effect and does the opposite of what Allah (swt) has prescribed. – (An-Nihaya: 1/200)
I would like to emphasise that the ruqyah (treatment) referred to in the above hadith is the one which seeks the assistance of Jinn and devils and consists of acts classed as polytheistic. However, the ruqyah which is based on the Qur’an and lawful supplications of Allah is lawful, according to scholars. It is reported in Sahih Muslim that the Prophet (Sallallaahu ‘Alayhi wa Sallam) was quoted as saying: “There is no harm in using ruqyah as a means of treatment provided it does not consist of anything polytheistic.”
3. Sihr At-Takhyil (False Appearance of Objects)
Allah says: They said, “Moses, will you throw something down or shall we be the ones to throw.” He said, “You throw!” So when, they charmed people’s eyes and overawed them. They produced a splendid Sihr. And We revealed to Moses: ‘Cast thy staff.’ And lo, it forthwith swallowed up their lying invention. So the truth came to pass, and false was proved what they were doing. So they were vanquished there, and they turned about, humbled. And the sorcerers were cast down, bowing themselves. They said, ‘We believe in the Lord of al-’Alamin (Jinn and mankind), the Lord of Moses and Harun. (7:117-122) They said, ‘Moses, either you will cast (something) or shall we be the first to cast (a spell)?’. It seemed to him under the effect of their Sihr that their ropes and stuff were sliding. (17:65-66)
Symptoms
1. A fixed object would appear to be mobile, while a mobile object would appear to be fixed for the viewer.
2. A small object would appear large, while a large object would appear small for the viewer.
3. The false appearance of objects: Under the effect of the magic of Pharaoh’s sorcerers, ropes and rods appeared to viewers as real snakes.
4. Sihr Al-Junoon (Becoming Insane)
Kharija Ibn Salat reported that his paternal uncle went to the Prophet (Sallallaahu ‘Alayhi wa Sallam) and declared his conversion to Islam. On his way back, his uncle passed by a people who had fettered a lunatic in chains. They said: “We were told that your companion (the Prophet Sallallaahu ‘Alayhi wa Sallam) has brought good with him. Do you have anything with which to cure our lunatic?” I recited al-Faatihah (the opening chapter of Qur-aan) and he was cured. They gave me one hundred sheep and then approached the Prophet (Sallallaahu ‘Alayhi wa Sallam) to inform him of it. He asked: “Did you say anything other than this?” I replied: “No.” He said: “Take it, for by my life, some would accept in return for a false Ruqyah, but you have done this with a genuine one.” According to another narration, “the man cured him by reciting al-Faatihah for three days, day and night; whenever he finished reciting it, he would gather his saliva and spit.”
Symptoms
1. Severe absentmindedness and forgetfulness
2. Confused speech
3. Bulging eyes and deviation of sight
4. Restlessness
5. Inability to do a task regularly
6. Disinterest in one’s appearance
7. ln severe cases, one can tell from a lunatic’s face that he does know where he is going, and he would probably sleep in derelict places
5. Sihr Al-Khumul (Lethargy)
How this happens
A saahir (sorcerer/sorceress) would send a Jinn to the targeted person, instructing him to settle in his brain and make him introverted and lonely. The Jinn would do his best to carry out the mission, and the symptoms of this Sihr would appear, according to the strength and weakness of the Jinn entrusted with the task.
Symptoms
1. Love of seclusion
2. Absolute introversion
3. Constant silence
4. Anti-sociability
5. Absentmindedness
6. Frequent headaches
7. Quietness and constant lethargy
6. Sihr Al-Hawatif (Bad Dreams & Hearing Voices)
Symptoms
1. The patient experiences nightmares
2. The patient sees in a dream as if someone were calling him
3. The patient hears voices talking to him when awake, but cannot see where these voices are coming from
4. The patient hears much whispering (Al-Waswas)
5. The patient is very suspicious of his/her friends and relatives
6. The patient dreams of seeing himself/herself falling from a high place
7. The patient dreams of seeing himself/herself being chased by animals
7. Sihr Al-Marad (Illness)
Symptoms
1. Constant pain in one part of the body
2. Epilepsy
3. Paralysis of one area of the patient’s body
4. Total paralysis of the body
5. Disability in of one of the sense organs
8. Sihr An-Nazif (Bleeding Following Menses)
How it is achieved
This type of Sihr affects women only. A saahir sends a Jinn to the targeted woman and instructs him to cause her to bleed. To do so, the Jinn enters the woman’s body and circulates in her veins and arteries with the blood. This notion of circulation has long been warned about by the Prophet (saw) in the following tradition: “Shaytaan circulates in man’s body like blood.” – (Al-Bukhari: Fath Al-Bari: 4/282)
When the Jinn reaches a known vein in the woman’s womb, he stomps it so that the vein bleeds. This fact was also pointed out by the Prophet (Sallallaahu ‘Alayhi wa Sallam) when Hamna bint Jahsh asked his opinion on the issue of bleeding outside the period of menses, and he said: “Such bleeding is but one of Shaytaan’s stomping.” – (At-Tirmidhi)
According to another tradition, the bleeding “is the result of Shaytaan’s stomping on a vein rather than from a normal menses.” – (Ahmad and An-Nasai)
Therefore, according to both traditions, a menstruation that occurs outside its normal period is one of the Shaytaan’s stomps on one of the womb’s veins.
According to scholars of Fiqh (jurisprudence), an-nazif refers to al-istihaadha (continuous menstruation), and according to doctors, it refers to bleeding.
According to Ibn Al-Athir, al-istihadha means bleeding following a normal menses. This bleeding may last for months, and the amount of blood could be little or large.
9. Sihr of Impeding Marriage
The Jinn has two options
1. If he can enter the girl, then he would cause her to feel uncomfortable with any prospective husband and; thus, turn him down.
2. If he cannot enter the girl, then he would use the Sihr of imagination, from outside. As a result, a suitor would see the girl in an ugly image under the effect of the Jinn’s whispering, and so would the girl.
Under the effect of this Sihr and under the Jinn is whispering, a suitor, who would have initially agreed to the marriage, would decline after a few days, without any valid reason.
In cases of a strong Sihr, a suitor would, upon entering the house of his prospective wife, feel very uncomfortable and see darkness before him as if he were in prison, and so would never return. During the period of this Sihr, the Jinn may cause the girl to experience occasional headaches.
Symptoms
1. Occasional headaches, which persist despite medication
2. Severe tightness in the chest, especially between al-’asr and midnight
3. The patient sees the suitor in an ugly image
4. Absentmindedness
5. Anxiety during sleep
6. Occasional constant stomach-aches
7. Pain in the lower part of the back
10. Sihr regarding Sexual Intimacy
Al Sihr Ar-rabt (Penile Erection Problem during intercourse), Al- ‘ajz al-jinsi (impotence) and Adh-dhu’f al-jinsi (sexual weakness)
Ar-Rabt Al-’ajzal-jinsi (sexual inability / impotence):
The man affected by this type of Sihr feels active and energetic about having sexual intercourse with his wife. His penis is even erected as long as he is distant from his wife. Nevertheless, as he approaches her, his penis shrinks and is unable to have sexual intercourse. It means a man’s inability to have sexual intercourse with his wife, whether he is distant from or near her, as his penis cannot erect.
Adh-du’f al-jinsi (sexual weakness):
A man can only have sexual intercourse with his wife after long periods. Sexual intercourse takes place for only a short time; after which the penis looses its rigidity.
Ar-Rabt in Women (sexual frigidity)
Just as a man suffers from ar-rabt (penile erection failure) and is unable to have sexual intercourse with his wife, a woman, too, may suffer from ar-rabt (frigidity).
There are some types of rabt in women:
1. Rabt al-man’(obstruction): It occurs when a woman prevents her husband from having sexual intercourse with her by tightly joining her legs together and obstructing his penis from entering into her vagina. This reaction is automatic and beyond her control, but one young man whose wife was affected by this type of Sihr, criticised his wife for her response, so she explained that it was beyond her control. One day, she told him to put iron shackles between her legs to keep them apart before, starting sexual intercourse. He did that, but it was to no avail. Alternatively, she told him to give her a drug injection if he wants to have sexual intercourse with her. It worked, but only one partner benefited.
2. Rabt at-taballud (lack of sexual feeling): The Jinn entrusted with the mission of Sihr settles in the centre of sexual feeling in the woman’s brain and causes her to lose her sexual feeling, at the moment of sexual intercourse with her husband. As a result, she feels no sexual pleasure and does not respond to her husband. Her body becomes numb even if her husband does what he wishes with her. In this type of Sihr, the glands do not release the fluid which lubricates the vagina, and therefore, the sexual act cannot be achieved.
3. Rabt An-nazif (bleeding at the time of sexual intercourse): This is different from Sihr an-nazif in one aspect. While, rabt An-nazif is confined to the time of sexual intercourse, Sihr an-nazif may last for several days. In this type of Sihr, the Jinn causes heavy bleeding to the targeted woman at the time of sexual intercourse with her husband, and thus prevents the man from having sexual intercourse with his wife. One day, one man, who was a soldier, told me that whenever he came home for holidays, his wife would bleed as soon as he arrived home. The bleeding would last for the holiday period which was approximately five days, but would stop as soon as he went back to work.
PLEASE NOTE:
Dear reader, after having read all the above symptoms, it is easy to start saying ‘I have such and such a sympton, I MUST be affected’. We would like to remind you that until you have sought Ruqyah from a trusted and shar’ee raaqi and the presence of Jinn has been confirmed, one should NOT self-diagnose.
Categories
Udhiyah (Qurbani)
Udhiyah (Qurbani)
By Shaykhul-Hadith, Hadrat Mawlana Muhammad Saleem Dhorat damat barakatuhum
Virtues of Udhiyah
• Udhiyah is a practice commanded by Allah ta‘ala:
..So turn in prayer towards your Rabb and sacrifice (animals). (108:2)
• The son of Adam does not carry out on Yawmun-Nahr (10th Dhul- Hijjah) a deed more beloved to Allah than the animal sacrifice. The sacrificed animal shall come on the Day of Judgement with its horns, hair, and hooves (to be weighed). The sacrifice is accepted by Allah ta‘ala before the blood reaches the ground. Therefore, sacrifice with an open and happy heart. (At-Tirmidhi)
On Whom is Udhiyah Wajib?
• Udhiyah is wajib on every Muslim who is of sound mind, mature (who has reached the age of puberty), muqim (i.e. he is not a Shar‘i traveller) and possesses the amount of fifty two and half tolas of silver (612.36 grams) or wealth equivalent to that value which is in excess of one’s asli (basic) needs. It is not necessary that this amount be in one’s possession for a complete lunar year. It’s possession during the three days of udhiyah will make udhiyah obligatory. Udhiyah is not incumbent on a child or an insane person whether they own wealth equivalent to the amount above or not, nor is it wajib upon their guardians to perform it on their behalf. Similarly, it is not wajib on a Shar‘i traveller.
Note: A Shar‘i traveller is he who goes on a journey with an intention of travelling forty eight miles. He will be regarded a Shar‘i traveller as soon as he goes out of his town.
• It is also highly virtuous for one on whom udhiyah is not wajib to offer sacrifice for the Pleasure of Allah ta‘ala. He will be eligible for all the reward mentioned in the Ahadith.
• During the days of udhiyah, sadaqah (charity) cannot compensate for udhiyah nor fulfil the wajib. Udhiyah is a unique ‘ibadah. Just as zakah cannot compensate for hajj, or sawm (fasting) cannot compensate for salah, similarly sadaqah cannot compensate for udhiyah. However, if the days of udhiyah had passed and the udhiyah was not offered due to not knowing, negligence or for some other valid reason, then it becomes wajib to give in sadaqah the price of udhiyah animal or the animal itself to the poor.
• If a traveller returned home or a person acquired the required wealth on the 12th of Dhul-Hijjah before sunset, it will be wajib upon him to perform udhiyah.
• A traveller who makes intention of staying at a certain place for fifteen days or more, no longer remains a traveller. He must offer udhiyah if he possesses the prescribed amount.
Days of Udhiyah
• The days of udhiyah are the tenth, eleventh and twelfth of Dhul-Hijjah. The first day is better than the second, and the second better than the last.
Time for Udhiyah
• In towns and cities where Jumu‘ah and ‘Id are performed, the time for udhiyah is from after the ‘Id salah until before sunset of 12th Dhul Hijjah. If the udhiyah has been offered before the ‘Id salah, it will have to be repeated.
• It is permissible, but not preferable to perform udhiyah at night.
The Udhiyah Animal
• It is permissible to offer in sacrifice a goat or she-goat, sheep of all kinds, cow, bull, buffalo or camel.
• It is necessary that the goat is one (full) year old, whether male or female. A cow, bull or buffalo will have to be two years old, and a camel five years. Animals that are younger are not suitable for udhiyah.
• A sheep (of any kind) not less than six months old, so strong and fat that it appears to be one year old will suffice for udhiyah, otherwise it will have to be one (full) year old.
• A cow, bull, buffalo or camel will suffice for seven persons provided no one’s share is less than one seventh and the niyyah (intention) of all partners is to attain thawab (for udhiyah), and not merely to obtain meat.
• The udhiyah of only one person can be performed from a goat, sheep or ram.
• If an animal seller says that the animal has reached the required age, and outwardly there is no sign to disprove it, then it is permissible to rely on his statement.
• Animals that are castrated can be used for udhiyah. In fact, this type of animal is preferable.
• The following cannot be used for udhiyah:
-Animals that are blind, one-eyed or has lost one-third or more of its eyesight.
-Animals that have lost a third of the ear or the tail. Similarly, the animal which has no ear from its very birth.
-An animal whose horn has been broken off from the root.
-An animal which has one leg lame to the extent that it walks on three legs only and is unable to use the fourth leg.
-An animal so lean and thin that its bones have no marrow.
-An animal so weak that it cannot walk to the place of slaughtering on its own.
-An animal completely toothless or one that has lost most of its teeth.
• It is virtuous to purchase the animal for udhiyah a few days prior to slaughtering and care must be taken in feeding and nursing it.
Method of Sacrifice
• It is more virtuous to slaughter the animal with one’s own hands. If one does not know how to slaughter, it is preferred that he remain present while someone else is sacrificing the animal. It is not necessary to make the niyyah (intention) of udhiyah with the tongue, however it is necessary to say the Name of Allah, preferably Bismillahi Allahu Akbar when slaughtering.
• Use a sharp knife and slaughter the animal quickly so that it does not suffer.
• Do not sharpen the knife in front of the animal.
• After slaughtering, do not skin the animal before it becomes completely cold.
• Do not slaughter one animal in the presence of another.
• It is mustahabb (desirable) for the one intending to offer udhiyah to refrain from cutting hair or clipping nails from 1st Dhul-Hijjah until one’s udhiyah animal is sacrificed.
The Udhiyah Meat and Skin
• It is impermissible to sell the meat or skin of the udhiyah animal. However, they may be given away in charity or as a gift.
• It is permissible to eat the udhiyah meat. It can also be distributed to relatives and friends whether wealthy or poor, muslims or non-muslims. It is better to divide it into three parts. One for the family, one for relatives and friends and one for the poor and needy.
• The skin of the udhiyah animal can be kept for personal use, e.g. using it as a prayer-mat, water bag etc.
• If the meat or skin of the udhiyah animal is sold, then it is wajib to give that amount in sadaqah to the poor (i.e. those who are eligible for zakah).
• It is not permissible to give the meat, skin, fat, etc. of the sacrificed animal to the butcher as his wages.
• The meat of the animal slaughtered by partners should be shared by weight and not by estimation.
• The rope, cover, etc. of the animal should be given away as sadaqah.
Udhiyah on Behalf of the Deceased
If one has been favoured by Allah ta‘ala with wealth, then he should also perform udhiyah on behalf of Rasulullah sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, the Ambiya ‘alayhis salam, the Sahabah radhiyallahu ‘anhum, the Ummah, and for his own living or deceased relatives, friends, mashayikh and teachers who have conveyed to him Dini knowledge.
One should always remember our Beloved Nabi sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam and perform udhiyah on his behalf. Sayyiduna ‘Ali radhiyallahu ‘anhu sacri?ced two rams for udhiyah; one on behalf of Rasulullah sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam and one for himself, and said, ‘Rasulullah sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam ordered me to offer udhiyah on his behalf, therefore I will always do so (for as long as I remain alive).’ (Al-Hakim)
Our Beloved Nabi sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam himself performed udhiyah on behalf of his ummah. Sayyiduna Abu Talhah radhiyallahu ‘anhu has related that Rasulullah sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam sacrificed one ram and while sacrificing the other he said, “This is on behalf of every one of my Ummah who believed in me and testified (to my prophethood).” (At-Tabarani)
It is a matter for deep thought and consideration that Rasulullah sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam kept his Ummah in his mind while offering the sacrifice; hence it would be inappropriate for the Ummah not to remember him and offer udhiyah on his behalf.
© Islamic Da’wah Academy
By Shaykhul-Hadith, Hadrat Mawlana Muhammad Saleem Dhorat damat barakatuhum
On 6th Dhul Hijjah 1426 after the jumu‘ah salah, we arrived at Dhul-Hulayfah, outside Madinah, and made preparations to enter into ihram. Dhul-Hulayfah was chosen because it is where Rasulullah sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam and his Companions radhiyallahu ‘anhum had entered the state of ihram. It was our desire to begin the hajj by observing this sunnah of Rasulullah sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam. The thought persisted in my mind that the Beloved of Allah sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam performed only one hajj during his lifetime, and Allah ta‘ala had chosen this place for him to enter into ihram. Thus, there could not have been a better place for this act.
After making all the preparations, attired in only two sheets, we performed two raka‘at, made the intention for hajj and recited the talbiyah:
Labbayk, allahumma labbayk. Labbayk, la sharika-laka labbayk. Innal-hamda wan-ni‘mata laka wal-mulk. La sharika-lak.
Here I am (at Your service), O Allah, here I am. Here I am, no partner do You have, here I am. Truly, the Praise and the Favour is Yours, and the Sovereignty. No partner do You have. (Al-Bukhari)
It is impossible to express how I felt at that moment. Tears trickled down my cheeks wetting my beard. In my mind echoed the thought: ‘You are so careless regarding the Din of Allah ta‘ala. You are not worthy of being invited by Allah ta‘ala to His Blessed House. How Merciful and Kind is your Creator that despite all your negligence and shortcomings, He has listed you amongst the hujjaj of 1426.’
We were now in the state of ihram and many things had now become prohibited, including the use of ‘itr (perfume) and covering the head, both of which are sunnah at other times.
On 8th Dhul Hijjah, we arrived in Mina. According to the sunnah practice, we were to spend the whole day and perform all our salah there. On this day, being present in the Haram for us pilgrims was less rewarding than remaining in Mina.
On the next day, 9th Dhul Hijjah, we moved to ‘Arafah. Those who performed the Zuhr salah in Masjid Namirah behind the Imam of hajj combined the ‘Asr salah with it before its prescribed time. We remained in ‘Arafah until sunset, after which we left, delaying the Maghrib salah until we combined it with the ‘Isha salah in Muzdalifah, as this is the sunnah of Nabi sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam.
I came across hundreds of hujjaj from all walks of life, young and old, men and women, and masha’allah, not a single person questioned any of the above. Each individual carried out what had been commanded without raising any objection whatsoever. No one was concerned that covering the head and applying perfume, both prophetic practices, were forbidden. No remarks were to be heard regarding the reward of salah in the Haram during the stay in Mina. The performance of ‘Asr salah in ‘Arafah before its appointed time did not raise any questions, nor did delaying the Maghrib salah. Every single haji was an embodiment of Islam, submitting his/her will to the Will of the Creator, unquestioningly carrying out all the Commands of Allah ta‘ala.
Alhamdulillah, throughout my journey, amidst the thousands of hujjaj who had come from all corners of the world, I witnessed nothing but Islam i.e. submission to the Will and Command of Allah ta‘ala. This made me think that the greatest lesson of hajj is that Allah ta‘ala is telling His bondsmen: ‘If you are able to submit totally to my commands without any hesitation during these five days, surely you have the ability to do the same after hajj. Islam is not difficult, as long as you resolve to follow it.’
Once this lesson has been learnt, the haji resolves to submit himself to his Creator. By pelting the Jamarat and sacrificing an animal he practically begins his battle against those two things that prevent a person from fully submitting to Allah ta‘ala: Shaytan and the nafs. The act of pelting is an open declaration of enmity towards Shaytan, whilst sacrificing an animal is a vow to sacrifice the desires of the nafs. Once these two, Shaytan and the nafs, are under control, submission is no longer difficult. Allah ta‘ala and His Rasul sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam have warned us against both these obstacles:
O believers, enter into Islam completely and do not follow the footsteps of Shaytan; surely, he is your open enemy. (2:208)
As for the one who feared to stand before his Rabb and restrained his nafs from (evil) desire, Jannah will be his abode. (79:40-41)
The clever one is he who subjugates his nafs and works for what is to come after death… (At-Tirmidhi)
If the haji returns with a resolution to submit wholeheartedly to his Creator, then definitely his life will change. And this change is a sign that he has performed al-hajjul-mabrur (accepted hajj) and the reward for al-hajjul-mabrur is nothing other than Jannah.
Taken from ‘Inspirations’ (Volume 1) published by Islamic Da’wah Academy
© Islamic Da’wah Academy
Categories
Al-Aqsa Reflections II
Hafidh Farhaan Jamadar, Ramadhan 1445/2024
Al Aqsa Reflections 4
Today, we had the opportunity to visit Aqbad Jabal refugee camp, which houses a large collection of families that were displaced in 1948. These people are essentially refugees in their own country. Although they are living in formal dwellings, they remain in a condition of need for food aid and have limited opportunities to earn a livelihood. We distributed food packs including non-perishable items such as oil, flour, rice, beans etc. Some of the young boys also received football shirts which they were overjoyed with.
We also went to a hospital on Mount Olive which is primarily funded by the Kuwaiti government. We met cancer patients from Gaza who have been relocated here to receive chemotherapy treatment, before the war. They are currently in a situation along with their caregivers, where they cannot return home and they remain in temporary accommodation in a nearby hotel. They told us about how their homes have been destroyed, which has meant that their families have been relocated multiple times from place to place. Now they have no homes to return to, making up a small fraction of the over 2 million people that have been displaced.
Finally, we travelled towards the Dead Sea which has significance due to the story of the Prophet Lut (AS). It was also close to the place where Musa (AS) ended up on his way back from Egypt towards Al-Quds, as he did not make it to Al-Aqsa. Musa (AS) is the prophet whose name is mentioned the most by Allah in the Qur’an. Another place we were most fortunate to visit was the place of ascension of Isa (AS). Both of these noble and great Prophets of Allah were sent to Bani Isra’il, but unfortunately they are either not held in high regard or disregarded completely by their tribe.
Reflections:
1. Give charity with your own hands. Many of us in the developed world are so blessed that even our obligatory charity, zakah, is simply given to charities who take on the responsibility of distribution. There is a special feeling of doing it yourself. Aside from the aspect of reward, it is a humbling experience. It gives you a chance to connect with those that are less fortunate and realise the importance of giving sadqah for the sake of Allah.
2. We will probably never know a time where we lose everything we have, it is a reality for the people of Gaza right now. Do whatever you can to support them from your homes in the Western world. But more than anything, come here and speak to the people of Palestine and Al-Quds. Many people outside of Gaza have family there. Alhamdulillah some of them even have avenues of supplying aid, so come and play your part.
3. Despite what you may do for your people, whether it be family, friends or colleagues, you may not always be appreciated. What you do is nothing compared to what the noble prophets Isa and Musa (AS) did for the Bani Isra’il. The lesson is to do everything for the sake of Allah and expect nothing from anyone else, it is Allah who will elevate your status in the hereafter.
Al Aqsa Reflections 5
Sister Abeer is a Palestinian sister who lives in the Old City, working as an archaeologist but also leading a charity supporting poor families in the old city. She gave us a tour of the old city, sharing with us intimate stories relating to the brutal occupation and providing us with an insight that can only be attained by connecting with the locals.
We heard countless stories which underline the cruel nature of the occupation and the strategy of the settlers to destroy the morale and societal fabric of the Palestinians living in Jerusalem, particularly the old city. It is common for settlers to barge into peoples’ homes in an attempt to force them out of their houses. This highlights how colonialism is happening on both a micro level as well as a state wide macro level. Settlers and the Israeli police physically assault Palestinians with zero repercussions. In the streets, I have seen with my own eyes regular civilians carrying automatic assault rifles designed to kill multiple targets within a matter of seconds. Is this normal? Is this what the West stands by? Is this really done in the name of Bani Isra’il?
The most shocking story we heard was of a woman who returned to her home after a few days away to find that settlers had invaded her home. They refused to leave and she had no intention of giving up the house to them. As a result, up until her death she lived 30 years of her life alongside settlers in her own home, sharing her kitchen and bathroom. They argued every single day, but this was the sacrifice she made for her land, her people and her religion. Another story which almost brought me to tears… a Palestinian family had their water, electricity and all supplies cut off. In the middle of the night the entry to their house was blocked using rocks and cement. They were literally buried alive in their own home. Fortunately, the neighbour realised and was able to help them. Otherwise, what a tragedy that would have been. Is this humanity?
Despite the struggles that they face, the Palestinian people Muslim and Christians alike, are the most generous people that I have ever met in my life. I have lost count now of how many times vendors have refused to take money from me after purchasing something. I’ve had the same experience with Christian business owners. The same experience with children under the age of 10 years old. Their generosity and sense of giving is not something that is taught, it is in their blood. When they say they don’t want anything of this world, they mean it with all of their being. How can you defeat such a people?
Reflections
1. To put it simply, I have never witnessed first hand a community such as the settlers who have come to Palestine. The lengths that they go to just to harm the Palestinians are beyond belief. This level of oppression has to be challenged by all of us, in every capacity that we can.
2. Keep smiling. The Palestinians are always smiling, even though they live in such a situation. It is their way of showing their oppressors that they will never be broken, and showing their Lord that they are grateful for whatever they have.
3. Give to your family, your community, your colleagues, strangers, everyone. Giving does not decrease from one’s own wealth. By giving one can achieve true fulfilment and endless bounty from their Lord.
Al Aqsa Reflections 6
The 27th night of Ramadhan is a special occasion in Masjid Al-Aqsa. People travel far and wide from all over Palestine, flocking to the third holiest site in Islam. For many of these people, it is the only opportunity that they have during the year to visit Al-Aqsa. Estimates suggest that around 250,000 people visited Al-Aqsa during Laylatul Qadr, but it is difficult to know how accurate these estimates are. Those who have been present in previous years suggest that the number is lower this year, though you would not have thought it when seeing that every available space in the entire compound was being prayed upon.
In terms of the time period that people remained in the compound, it was essentially from Fajr on the 26th day of Ramadhan (which was also the day of Jumu’ah) until Fajr on the 27th day of Ramadhan. What is interesting is that the crowd after each of these fajr salaahs was bigger than any other I had seen during my time in Al-Aqsa. After fajr salaah had finished, the area between Masjid Qibli and Dome of the Rock was so packed that there was not a single space where the ground could be seen from overhead. The energy was electric and infectious. The crowd chantedبروح بدم نفيدك يا اقصىThis translates to: We will sacrifice our soul and our blood for you O Aqsa. Note, there was no violence or aggression and no Israeli soldiers were present within the confines of the compound, as they remained on the perimeters at the entry gates. Unsurprisingly, they had to display some element of force. On both nights, a drone was sent to the area between Al-Aqsa and Dome of the Rock. The drone was used to drop tear gas onto the crowd. It was my first experience of this, and it really does sting the eyes and nose, makes you cough and burns your skin. One can only imagine what is dropped from the skies in combat zones.
Reflections:
1. You have to experience 27th night in Al-Aqsa. Though I am against the idea of visiting Al-Aqsa in general as a ‘bucket list trip’, being here on the 27th night should definitely be on that list.
2. Tear gas may not kill, but it is nasty.
3. Regardless of the threat, every Palestinian is ready to lay down their life for Al-Aqsa. This explains why their country may be occupied, but Al-Aqsa still firmly belongs to the Muslims.
