Categories
Poems

Hey Mr?! Don’t step the line…

fine lne

There is a fine line between being nosy and trying to help out,

There is a fine line between being arrogant and being confident.

There is a fine line between being obnoxious and being bold or brave,

There is a fine line between being argumentative and speaking up (haqq).

There is a fine line between being immature and cracking a joke,

There is a fine line between being passive or apathetic and being merciful.

There is a fine line between flirting and being polite,

There is a fine line between being two-faced and trying to compromise between two parties.

There is a fine line between treating your religion as a buffet (pick and choose) and having true spirituality and religiosity,

There is a fine line between acting hypocritical by being sweet with someone (on their face) and offering Salam and a handshake.

There is a fine line between being racist and having banter (racist jokes are just as wrong),

There is a fine line between simply being a coward (afraid to say the truth) and using Hikmah (to avoid a worse situation).

There is a fine line between bribing someone and being generous,

There is a fine line between complaining, moaning or whinging and constructively criticising.

There is a fine line between being negative and being a realist (perhaps the reality is negative),

There is a fine line between free speech and free hate; one encourages debate whilst the other incites hatred and violence.

There is a fine line between showing off (Riyaa) and showing your deeds to encourage or motivate others.

And finally, (lol) …There is a fine line between putting make-up on and looking as though you had a fight with Crayola!

Ismail Ibn Nazir Satia

(One who is in dire need of Allah’s forgiveness, mercy and pleasure).

8 Rabiul Thani 1437

Categories
Shaykh Saleem Dhorat

Spending to Success

by Hadhrat Mawlānā Muhammad Saleem Dhorat hafizahullāh

Rasūlullāh sallallāhu ‘alayhi wasallam said:

Sadaqah does not decrease wealth. (Muslim)

We learn from this hadīth that no one will ever suffer financial loss due to spending in the path of Allāh ta’ālā. This principle is absolute. Financial experts and economists may not agree, but the words of Rasūlullāh sallallāhu ‘alayhi wasallam can never be wrong. The intellect says that spending, whether in sadaqah or for worldly matters, decreases one’s wealth. It calculates that someone with £1,000 who spends £100 on helping an orphan or widow, or on building a masjid, will be left with £900, so spending decreases wealth. However, sadaqah does not decrease wealth, and the thought that it does comes from Shaytān, and is in direct contradiction to the teachings of Rasūlullāh sallallāhu ‘alayhi wasallam.

Shaytān’s Promise

This ploy of Shaytān has been described in the Qur’ān:

 

Shaytān promises you poverty, and commands you to indecency… (2:268)

When dealing with people who are not particularly religious, Shaytān scares them with the threat of poverty and tries to persuade them not to spend in the path of Allāh ta’ālā at all. The approach he takes with religious people is to persuade them to spend only what is obligatory, arguing that anything beyond that would lead to poverty. He asserts that zakāh, which is fard, is already a drain on resources, so giving voluntary sadaqah will only incur a further decrease in wealth. Furthermore, he reminds them of their other religious financial obligations, like spending on their families etc. in an attempt to discourage them from spending voluntarily in the path of Allāh ta’ālā.

Shaytān will exert his energies to stop a person spending a mere £5 towards the construction of a masjid, scaring him with thoughts of poverty, yet he will allow the same individual to happily squander £50 in the marketplace, as he has no interest in preventing him from doing so. He stops believers spending in ways that bring the pleasure of Allāh ta’ālā, and encourages them to indulge in isrāf – being extravagant and wasteful with money – as it brings the displeasure of Allāh ta’ālā.

It is therefore essential that we do muhāsabah (self assessment) at every step in case our approach to spending is actually lowering our value in the eyes of Allāh ta’ālā, curbing our spiritual and religious progress and pleasing Shaytān.

Allāh ta’ālā’s Promise

…And Allāh promises you forgiveness from Himself and Abundance; and Allāh is All-Embracing, All-Knowing. (2:268)

While Shaytān promises only one thing, poverty, Allāh ta’ālā promises two: forgiveness and an increase in wealth. The first of these is a blessing that secures success in the hereafter, and the second brings ease in the world.

If £1 is spent in the path of Allāh ta’ālā, the minimum He will give in return to the giver is £10, a tenfold increase. Thereafter, Allāh ta’ālā increases the return by whatever multiple he wishes, up to seven hundred times and beyond, depending on the level of sincerity with which sadaqah is given and the difficulties borne by the giver. Someone who only has £100 and gives £1 makes a bigger sacrifice than someone who has £1,000 and spends £1; if the latter is rewarded tenfold with £10, the former will be rewarded with even more.

The Return on Sadaqah

In fact, Allāh ta’ālā has appointed an angel who supplicates night and day:

O Allāh, bestow a [good] return on the spender. (Al-Bukhārī)

The manner in which Allāh ta’ālā, through His wisdom, gives this return can take a number of forms:

  1. Allāh ta’ālā rewards the giver with an actual increase in wealth, either straight away or after some time.
  2. When someone who is well-off spends in sadaqah, Allāh ta’ālā may not give the return to him, but instead He may give it to a needy member of his offspring in the future.
  3. By giving sadaqah Allāh ta’ālā protects the giver’s remaining wealth from future loss, and this is a return in itself. For example, a person was going to suffer a loss of £1,000, but by giving £200 sadaqah he is protected from that loss. He has, in effect, been given £800.

Become a Skilled Spender

Moreover, Allāh ta’ālā will reward the person in the hereafter too and will multiply his reward according to the same principles mentioned above, i.e. if a person spends £1 , Allāh ta’ālā will reward him for spending at least £10, and thereafter more according the level of sincerity and sacrifice.

Allāh ta’ālā uses a beautiful example to illustrate how He multiplies the reward for spending in His path:

The example of those who spend in the way of Allāh is just like a grain that produced seven ears, each ear having a hundred grains; and Allāh multiplies [the reward further] for whom He wills. Allāh is All-Embracing, All-Knowing. (2:261)

Allāh ta’ālā compares the reward of spending in His path to planting a single grain, which produces a plant bearing seven hundred grains. Allāh ta’ālā repays a person who spends with sincerity in His path and patiently bears any difficulties involved, by giving a reward in the hereafter equal to having spent seven hundred times the amount that was actually spent. Further, at a time of His choosing He rewards the giver with seven hundred times the original amount in this very world. And that is not all: Allāh ta’ālā gives even more when He wills.

Allāh ta’ālā’s use of a similitude in this verse, instead of just saying that He will give a seven-hundred-fold reward, provides us with a number of important lessons related to spending in the path of Allāh ta’ālā:

  1. A seed will only germinate and grow if the ground it is sown in is fertile. Similarly, sadaqah will only produce reward and an increase in wealth if it is spent on a proper and deserving cause.
  2. The seed must not be rotten but must be healthy and sound. Similarly, the wealth given in sadaqah must not be harām, but must have been acquired by halāl means.
  3. The person sowing the seed must be proficient in planting. He must know how to plough the ground, how deep to sow the seed, how to water it etc. Similarly, the person giving sadaqah must be proficient in the masā’il related to spending.

So sadaqah will only produce a seven-hundred-fold harvest when the ‘ground’ and the ‘seed’ are sound and the giver is a competent ‘farmer’. And it is only then that sadaqah will be a true investment for the future.

May Allāh ta’ālā grant us all the ability to spend in His path and earn the vast rewards He has promised in both worlds. Āmīn.

Categories
Personalities

The Black Prince of Islam – X

http://www.biography.com/people/malcolm-x-9396195#synopsis

Early Life

Malcolm X was born Malcolm Little on May 19, 1925, in Omaha, Nebraska. Malcolm was the fourth of eight children born to Louise, a homemaker, and Earl Little, a preacher who was also an active member of the local chapter of the Universal Negro Improvement Association and avid supporter of black nationalist leader Marcus Garvey. Due to Earl Little’s civil rights activism, the family faced frequent harassment from white supremacist groups such as the Ku Klux Klan and one of its splinter factions, the Black Legion. In fact, Malcolm X had his first encounter with racism before he was even born.

“When my mother was pregnant with me, she told me later, ‘a party of hooded Ku Klux Klan riders galloped up to our home,'” Malcolm later remembered. “Brandishing their shotguns and rifles, they shouted for my father to come out.” The harassment continued; when Malcolm X was four years old, local Klan members smashed all of the family’s windows, causing Earl Little to decide to move the family from Omaha to East Lansing, Michigan.

However, the racism the family encountered in East Lansing proved even greater than in Omaha. Shortly after the Littles moved in, in 1929, a racist mob set their house on fire, and the town’s all-white emergency responders refused to do anything. “The white police and firemen came and stood around watching as the house burned to the ground,” Malcolm X later remembered.

Two years later, in 1931, things got much, much worse. Earl Little’s dead body was discovered laid out on the municipal streetcar tracks. Although Malcolm X’s father was very likely murdered by white supremacists, from whom he had received frequent death threats, the police officially ruled his death a suicide, thereby voiding the large life insurance policy he had purchased in order to provide for his family in the event of his death. Malcolm X’s mother never recovered from the shock and grief of her husband’s death. In 1937, she was committed to a mental institution and Malcolm X left home to live with family friends.

 

Troubled Youth
Malcolm X attended West Junior High School, where he was the school’s only black student. He excelled academically and was well liked by his classmates, who elected him class president. However, he later said that he felt that his classmates treated him more like the class pet than a human being. The turning point in Malcolm X’s childhood came in 1939, when his English teacher asked him what he wanted to be when he grew up and he answered that he wanted to be a lawyer. His teacher responded, “One of life’s first needs is for us to be realistic … you need to think of something you can be … why don’t you plan on carpentry?” Having thus been told in no uncertain terms that there was no point in a black child pursuing education, Malcolm X dropped out of school the following year, at the age of 15.After quitting school, Malcolm X moved to Boston to live with his older half-sister, Ella, about whom he later recalled, “She was the first really proud black woman I had ever seen in my life. She was plainly proud of her very dark skin. This was unheard of among Negroes in those days.” Ella landed Malcolm a job shining shoes at the Roseland Ballroom. However, out on his own on the streets of Boston, Malcolm X became acquainted with the city’s criminal underground, soon turning to selling drugs. He got another job as kitchen help on the Yankee Clipper train between New York and Boston and fell further into a life of drugs and crime. Sporting flamboyant pinstriped zoot suits, he frequented nightclubs and dance halls and turned more fully to crime to finance his lavish lifestyle. This phase of Malcolm X’s life came to a screeching halt in 1946, when he was arrested on charges of larceny and sentenced to ten years in jail.To pass the time during his incarceration, Malcolm X read constantly, devouring books from the prison library in an attempt make up for the years of education he had missed by dropping out of high school. Also while in prison, he was visited by several siblings who had joined to the Nation of Islam, a small sect of black Muslims who embraced the ideology of black nationalism—the idea that in order to secure freedom, justice and equality, black Americans needed to establish their own state entirely separate from white Americans. Malcolm X converted to the Nation of Islam while in prison, and upon his release in 1952 he abandoned his surname “Little,” which he considered a relic of slavery, in favor of the surname “X”—a tribute to the unknown name of his African ancestors.
Nation of Islam

Now a free man, Malcolm X traveled to Detroit, Michigan, where he worked with the leader of the Nation of Islam, Elijah Muhammad, to expand the movement’s following among black Americans nationwide. Malcolm X became the minister of Temple No. 7 in Harlem and Temple No. 11 in Boston, while also founding new temples in Harford and Philadelphia. In 1960, he established a national newspaper, Muhammad Speaks, in order to further promote the message of the Nation of Islam.

Articulate, passionate and a naturally gifted and inspirational orator, Malcolm X exhorted blacks to cast off the shackles of racism “by any means necessary,” including violence. “You don’t have a peaceful revolution,” he said. “You don’t have a turn-the-cheek revolution. There’s no such thing as a nonviolent revolution.” Such militant proposals—a violent revolution to establish an independent black nation—won Malcolm X large numbers of followers as well as many fierce critics. Due primarily to the efforts of Malcolm X, the Nation of Islam grew from a mere 400 members at the time he was released from prison in 1952, to 40,000 members by 1960.

By the early 1960s, Malcolm X had emerged as a leading voice of a radicalized wing of the Civil Rights Movement, presenting an alternative to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s vision of a racially integrated society achieved by peaceful means. Dr. King was highly critical of what he viewed as Malcolm X’s destructive demagoguery. “I feel that Malcolm has done himself and our people a great disservice,” King once said.

 

Break with Elijah Muhammad
Philosophical differences with King were one thing; a rupture with Elijah Muhammad proved much more traumatic. In 1963, Malcolm X became deeply disillusioned when he learned that his hero and mentor had violated many of his own teachings, most flagrantly by carrying on many extramarital affairs; Muhammad had, in fact, fathered several children out of wedlock. Malcolm’s feelings of betrayal, combined with Muhammad’s anger over Malcolm’s insensitive comments regarding the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, led Malcolm X to leave the Nation of Islam in 1964.That same year, Malcolm X embarked on an extended trip through North Africa and the Middle East. The journey proved to be both a political and spiritual turning point in his life. He learned to place the American Civil Rights Movement within the context of a global anti-colonial struggle, embracing socialism and pan-Africanism. Malcolm X also made the Hajj, the traditional Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, during which he converted to traditional Islam and again changed his name, this time to El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz.After his epiphany at Mecca, Malcolm X returned to the United States less angry and more optimistic about the prospects for peaceful resolution to America’s race problems. “The true brotherhood I had seen had influenced me to recognize that anger can blind human vision,” he said. “America is the first country … that can actually have a bloodless revolution.” Tragically, just as Malcolm X appeared to be embarking on an ideological transformation with the potential to dramatically alter the course of the Civil Rights Movement, he was assassinated. 
Death and Legacy
On the evening of February 21, 1965, at the Audubon Ballroom in Manhattan, where Malcolm X was about to deliver a speech, three gunmen rushed the stage and shot him 15 times at point blank range. Malcolm X was pronounced dead on arrival at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital shortly thereafter. He was 39 years old. The three men convicted of the assassination of Malcolm X were all members of the Nation of Islam: Talmadge Hayer, Norman 3X Butler and Thomas 15X Johnson.In the immediate aftermath of Malcolm X’s death, commentators largely ignored his recent spiritual and political transformation and criticized him as a violent rabble-rouser. However, Malcolm X’s legacy as a civil rights hero was cemented by the posthumous publication in 1965 of The Autobiography of Malcolm X: As Told to Alex Haley. At once a harrowing chronicle of American racism, an unsparing self-criticism and an inspiring spiritual journey, the book, transcribed by the acclaimed author of Roots, instantly recast Malcolm X as one of the great political and spiritual leaders of modern times. Named byTIME magazine one of 10 “required reading” non-fiction books of all-time,The Autobiography of Malcolm X has truly enshrined Malcolm X as a hero to subsequent generations of radicals and activists.Perhaps Malcolm X’s greatest contribution to society was underscoring the value of a truly free populace by demonstrating the great lengths to which human beings will go to secure their freedom. “Power in defense of freedom is greater than power in behalf of tyranny and oppression,” he stated. “Because power, real power, comes from our conviction which produces action, uncompromising action.”
Personal Life

In 1958, Malcolm X married Betty Sanders, a fellow member of the Nation of Islam. The couple had six children together, all daughters: Attallah (b. 1958), Qubilah (b. 1960), Ilyasah (b. 1963), Gamilah (b. 1964) and twins Malaak and Malikah (b. 1965). Sanders later became known as Betty Shabazz, and she became a prominent civil rights and human rights activist in her own right in the aftermath of her husband’s death.

In May 2013, Malcolm X’s grandson, Malcolm Shabazz—son of the civil rights leader’s second daughter with wife Betty Shabazz, Qubilah Shabazz—was beaten to death in Mexico City, near the Plaza Garibaldi. He was 28 years old. According to a report by the Los Angeles Times, police believe Malcolm Shabazz’s death was the result of a “robbery gone wrong.”

QUOTES:
“Power in defense of freedom is greater than power in behalf of tyranny and oppression because power, real power, comes from our conviction which produces action, uncompromising action.”
“Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today.”
“America is the first country … that can actually have a bloodless revolution.”
“You don’t have a peaceful revolution. You don’t have a turn-the-cheek revolution. There’s no such thing as a nonviolent revolution.”
“You don’t have a peaceful revolution. You don’t have a turn-the-cheek revolution. There’s no such thing as a nonviolent revolution.”
“If you are not willing to pay the price for freedom, you don’t deserve freedom.”
“While we did not always see eye to eye on methods to solve the race problem, I always had a deep affection for Malcolm and felt that he had the great ability to put his finger on the existence and root of the problem.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RK80Z11dXO8&feature=youtu.be
Categories
Muslim men Muslim women Spirituality

Do you talk to yourself?

self-reflection
‘Abdullahi Ibn ‘Abdan RH said:

حدثنا عبد الله أن رجلاً كان يتّبع سفيان الثوري فيجده أبداً يُخرج من لبنة – أي: طوب – رقعة ينظر فيها، فأحب أن يعلم ما فيها، فوقعت الرقعة في يده فإذا مكتوب فيها: سفيان ! اذكر وقوفك بين يدي الله عز وجل

“Abdullah told us that there was a man who used to follow Sufyan Ath-Thawri RH. He noticed that time and time again, Sufyan would take out a piece of paper from a small box which he had and gaze into it. This man became curious as per what was on the paper. It so happened that this paper fell into his hand and on it was written:

“Sufyan! Remember that you shall stand before Allah.”

What you just read was in fact common practice of our predecessors.

Many Muslims validate their lack of Islamic commitment by arguing that ‘my environment is full of haram’ or ‘no one is advising me’ This category of people won’t snap out of their sins till a third party comes along and advises them. The earlier generations didn’t wait for other people’s advice, but they would actively speak to themselves.

The companion, Anas Ibn Malik RA says:

سمعت عمر بن الخطاب يومًا، وخرجت معه، حتى دخل حائطًا، فسمعته يقول، وبيني وبينه حائط، وهو في جوف الحائط: “عمر بن الخطاب.. أمير المؤمنين.. بخ بخ، والله لتتقين الله يا ابن الخطاب، أو ليعذبنك!”

“I was once walking with ‘Umar Ibn Khattab till a walk separated us. I heard him saying to himself from the other side of the wall, “Umar Ibn Khattab?! Leader of the believers?! Well, you will either fear Allah, O ‘Umar or He will punish you!!”

It may be something which you hang up in front of your desk, or it may be Islamic lectures which you keep your ears plugged in with on the way to and back from work/school, or righteous friends whom you regularly ask for advice or it may even be a piece of paper which you keep with you, similar to Sufyan Ath-Thawri’s RH piece of paper.

Also, in recent times Muhammad Ali – the famous boxer used to say, “I don’t smoke but I keep a match box in my pocket. When my heart slips towards a sin, I burn a matchstick and heat my palm. Then I say to myself:‘Ali You can’t bear even this heat, how would you bear the unbearable heat of Hell?’

 

Allah grant us his awareness and consciousness. Ameen Ya Rabb!

Anonymous.
Categories
Du'aas

A Great Wadhifah

IMG_20150823_161511
_______________________Hadhrat Mawlana Hakim Mohammad Akhtar (رحمة الله عليه ) explained in his lecture :

If you wish that:

1) Any of your work must not stop

2) Or to be saved from the oppression of the oppressor

3 )Or your mountain of debt be paid

4) Or you win in a court case

5) Or any work which you think is impossible to do.

Then do the following :

Read Durood Shareef 1 x,
Then read these 4 Mubarak names of Allah 7 x:

يا سُبُّوْحُ
يَا قُدُّوْسُ
يَا غَفُوْرُ
يَا وَدُوْدُ
Durood shareef 1 x.
Then make dua.This is such a tried and tested wadhifah that it will amaze you the very first time you pray it, in sha Allah.

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صدقة جارية

Ismail Ibn Nazir Satia (One who is in dire need of Allah’s Mercy, Forgiveness and Pleasure).
1 Rabiul Akhar 1437
Categories
Muslim men Muslim women

Why?

Today’s blog is totally unplanned, unintended and unexpected. I don’t normally do this – I actually never do this. Most of my self-written blogs are topics that have been flying around my head for weeks, sometimes months. I then eventually write something up! And the title doesn’t really help you all?

So, here goes… Bismillah!

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Why, when you heard it, did not the believing men and believing women think good of one another and say, “This is an obvious falsehood”? (24:12)

The verse above is from Surah Noor, which deals with the greatest accusation in the history of Islam. It was against the Mother of the Believers; Aishah Bint Abu Bakr (Allah be pleased with them). I am sure you are all aware of the story from Jumu’ah lectures or Audio CDs or Tafseer Books. The verse is saying in basic terms, when the news was spread and rumours were relayed, why did the Muslims not think good of the situation or give benefit of the doubt. Rather than jump to conclusions and slander each other.

Before I delve into the whole issue of thinking good of the believers, I would deem it most unfair and unjust not mention thinking good of the One who created me, created you, our parents and all those who have passed. Yes, thinking good of Allah SWT is something which is forgotten and rarely talked about; not from the pulpits, nor written in many books. It is certainly neglected in my opinion.

“And they thought wrongly of Allah – the thought of ignorance”
~ Surah Aal ‘Imran, 3:154

Ibn ul-Qayyim RH said: “Most people have ill thoughts of Allah with regard to what pertains to them and what He does with other than them. So whoever despairs of His Mercy, then he has thought ill of Him; and whoever thinks that if he leaves something for His Sake, He will not replace it with better than it – or one who does something for His Sake, that He won’t give him better than it – then he has thought ill of Him; and whoever thinks that if he sincerely hopes in and fears Him, and humbles himself before Him and implores Him, and asks Him and seeks His help and puts his trust in Him, that He will disappoint him, then he has thought ill of Him.”

Allah is Al-Hannan – the Most compassionate, He is Al-Wakeel – the trustee. These names and attributes of Allah illustrate to us the kind, caring and generous nature of Allah, who, when a slave calls upon Him, turns to Him, and thinks good of Him gives them much good back in return. Allah says in a Hadith Qudsi:

The Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said, “Allah the Most High said, ‘I am as My servant thinks (expects) I am. I am with him when he mentions Me. If he mentions Me to himself, I mention him to Myself; and if he mentions Me in an assembly, I mention him in an assembly greater than it. If he draws near to Me a hand’s length, I draw near to him an arm’s length. And if he comes to Me walking, I go to him at speed.’” (Bukhari)

Which means, if he has good thoughts about Allah, ‘that he will be answered’, then he will be answered bi’ithnillaah. But if he says ‘I don’t think I will be answered’ and the like, then he will be deprived of the answer – and refuge is sought in Allah – because he did not have good thoughts of his Lord.

How many of you are going to walk to Allah SWT so He comes at speed to you? How many of you are will draw closer to Allah, so He draws closer to you? How many of you are going to believe and hope that Allah SWT will do well to you, so that He grants you what you anticipate and more than you would ever imagined?

Whatever you’re going through in life, then remember Allah is directing you back in putting your trust in Him. When you totally depend on Allah for your every need, every situation, then not only does your heart fill with the sweetness of Iman, but you see doors opening from all around you. Those, which were locked, those that you never even knew existed. For an individual who relies on Allah is demonstrating his humble status as a slave and is acknowledging that absolutely no person, thing, or creature – whether living or dead, can change the situation, besides the one who is in control over everything… and that is, Allah.

When you trust in Allah SWT, He will surely make ways for you. Never forget that. If you didn’t get the person you wanted for marriage, if you failed your exam even after exerting so much effort in revision, if you lost a loved one, then think good of Allah. Your heart will feel at ease knowing that whatever Allah SWT wills is good. Be positive.

Allah SWT is what His slave expects of Him, and expect good things to happen to you, you won’t be disappointed. Remind yourself that in life, maybe some things are not meant to be because there is something else waiting for you. Something better, more amazing, more valuable to Allah SWT than the other thing you longed for. Allah SWT is as you think of Him. Think good of Allah SWt and He will do good to you, that is the Sunnah of Allah SWT; that is His way.

In addition to that, Imam Ibn al-Qayyim RH has stated, “The more you have good expectations of your Lord and hope in Him, the more you will rely on and trust in Him. This is why some explained true reliance and trust to be having good expectations of Allah. In reality, having good expectations of Him leads to relying on and trusting in Him, as it is unthinkable that one can trust in someone that he has bad expectations of or no hope in, and Allah Knows best” (Tahdhib Madarij as-Salikin).

I would like to end with a clip from one of my favourite Arab Scholars, Shaykh Salih Al Maghamsi (Hafidhahullah). He is the Imam of Masjid Al-Quba in Madeenah, Saudi Arabia. He is one of the most well known scholars of tafseer.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BBrH-cGel-M

This hopeful attitude is a distinguishing quality of a Muslim. Allah says in the Guide for Mankind, “Whosoever puts his trust in Allah, then He will suffice him” (65:3). We should always try to consider the different possibilities and prepare for the future as much as we are able, but we don’t need to be pessimistic to do so. We have to remember that there are certain things that Allah has destined for us which will occur no matter how well we are prepared. And if He has destined disappointment for us at a point and time, we must take it as a reminder and as a lesson to better ourselves. So whatever happens, it can truly only benefit us. That is what Islam teaches us. May Allah enable us to take heed of his reminders and shine a ray of optimism wherever we may be.  Ameen.

The second part is thinking good of each other.

I am going to give everyday life examples; simple and basic! I may call somebody and he didn’t answer the first time, to jump to conclusions straight away – “He is ignoring me!” “He is avoiding me!” “He is not talking to me!” All of this is incorrect, he/she may simply be in the bathroom? They may be in Salah? They may be talking to someone else (not all phones tell you ‘call waiting’), or their phone may be on silent for some reason or other. And we need to think this way. Personally, I have never rang anyone expecting them to answer right away. They will either call me back when it is convenient or text me ‘busy call later’. You see these things sound so simple and ARE simple! We complicate matters by over thinking. If for example, somebody texts you or emails something which you are unsure about, what they meant and the tone used sounds different or unusual, then simply ask them. Asking, who, what, when, can clarify so many things and alleviate doubts. Considering in this day and age, people write more than they speak. Writing can often be misunderstood.

That was a simple example, other times it may involve news we hear of people; rumours or gossip. This is very common nowadays, if it occurred to A’ishah RA in the time of the Prophet SAW, it can certainly occur today.

“O you who have believed, if there comes to you a disobedient one with information, investigate, lest you harm a people out of ignorance and become, over what you have done, regretful.” (49:6)

The path of every Muslim is hiding others’ faults and having a good opinion of others. This is why Allah ‘Azza wa jall ordered the believers to have a good opinion of people when they hear slanders of their Muslim brothers.

So to have Husnu Al-Dhann is the practice of the righteous, people of understanding and wise men from among Muslims, the ones who fear their Lord and desire victory and predominance for Allah’s Deen.

A few incidents to relate to:

It was said about Abu Ishaq Rahimahullah, that once he took off his upper-garment (‘amamah) (which was worth 20 dinaar) so to make ablution – when suddenly a thief came and stole Abu Ishaaq’s garment and left an old garment instead of it. So when the Shaykh Rahimahullah finished his ablution he just took the old garment and wore it. He didn’t even notice it, until he was asked about it while he was teaching.

So he replied: “It might be that the one who took it, was in need of it.”

This is the highest degree of Husne Dhann, in my opinion.

From Zayd ibn Aslam RH who said: Someone entered upon Aba Dujanah Al-Ansary (Radiyallahu ‘Anhu) while he was sick. His face was glowing like the light of the Moon, so he was asked: “Why is your face shining?”
He replied: It is because of no other deeds but two I used to hold on to:
– I would never speak of that which does not concern me, and the second is that the Muslims would be unharmed and secure in my heart.
[Siyar A’lam Annubalaa]

Imām al-Nawawī (may Allāh have mercy on him) was deprived of the Night Prayer for six months because he thought negatively of one of his companions. After that, whenever he saw a person, he would tell himself that this person is the Qutb. Later, a man saw al-Nawawī in his dream in a beautiful state. He asked, ‘Who is this?’ He was told, ‘It is the Qutb!’

The man approached him in one of his lesson, but when Imām Nawawī saw him he said to him, ‘Keep what you know to yourself.’ He became a Qutb because of Husn al-Dhann (having a good opinion of others). No person should look down at any of the Muslims, because a small Muslim is big in the sight of Allāh, Exalted be He.

[Paraphrased from one of the Friday Lessons of Shaykh Ṣāliḥ al-Jaʾfarī (d. 1979), Imām of the Azhar, may Allāh Sanctify his secret]

At one point, Imam Shafi’ee (may Allaah have mercy on him) became sick, and one of his students – his most famous student al-Muzanee – made du’aa: “may Allah make your weakness stronger.”
Imam Shafi’ee RH said: “If my weakness became stronger, I would die.”
The student said: Wallahi, I didn’t intend anything except good.
{Shaikh as-Sindee commented: “And look how the Imam Ash-Shafi’ee dealt with his students”}
Imam Shafi’ee RH said: If you had cursed me explicitly, I (still) would have known that you really didn’t mean it.

[Source later supplied by Shaikh as-Sindee: In Shaikh ul-Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah’s refutation upon al-Bakri, and Ibn Taymiyyah (may Allaah have mercy on him) called it “a well-known story.”]

If we do not have good thoughts of others and give them the benefit of the doubt, this will result in the opposite, which is suspicion.

“O you who have believed, avoid much [negative] assumption. Indeed, some assumption is sin. And do not spy or backbite each other. Would one of you like to eat the flesh of his brother when dead? You would detest it. And fear Allah ; indeed, Allah is Accepting of repentance and Merciful.” (49:12)

From Abu Hurayrah (Radiyallahu ‘Anhu) who narrated: The Messenger of Allah  said: “Beware of suspicion, for suspicion is the worst of false tales, and do not look for the others’ faults, and do not do spying on each other, and do not practice Najash, nor be jealous of one another, and do not desert (stop talking to) one another. And O! Allah’s servants – Be Brothers!” [Saheeh Al-Bukhari]

We must excuse each other’s mistakes and defend each other’s honor, never speaking ill of, or deriding each other. We should keep each other’s secrets, advise each other sincerely, and never abuse each other. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “It is not permissible for one Muslim to distress another” (Abu Dawud).

Ismail Ibn Nazir Satia (One who is in dire need of Allah’s Forgiveness, Mercy and Pleasure).

30 Rabiul Awwal 1437

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Shaykh Saleem Dhorat

The Path to Purification

The Sharī‘ah is divided into two parts: external and internal. The department of Sharī‘ah relating to external deeds like salāh and zakāh is called ‘fiqh’, while the one dealing with internal feelings and states of the heart is called ‘tasawwuf’. Both are commands in the Qur’ān. Thus, while commanding salāh and zakāh, the Qur’ān also commands gratefulness and love of Allāh ta‘ālā, and condemns the evil of pride and vanity.

Similarly, in the books of hadīth, along with the chapters on ‘ibādāt, trade and commerce, and marriage and divorce, are to be found the chapters on riyā (showing off), takabbur, hasad, sabr, shukr etc. These commands are as much a mandatory requirement as the ones dealing with external deeds.

On reflection, it will be realised that all the external deeds are designed for the reformation of the heart. That is the basis of success in the hereafter, while the despoiling of the heart is the cause of total destruction. This is precisely what is known in technical terms as tasawwuf. Its focus is tahzīb-al-akhlāq (the adornment of character); its motive is the attainment of Divine Pleasure; its method is total obedience to the commands of the Sharī‘ah.

Tasawwuf is the soul of Islām. Its function is to purify the heart from the lowly, bestial attributes of lust, evils of the tongue, anger, malice, jealousy, love of the world, love of fame, niggardliness, greed, ostentation, vanity, deception etc. At the same time, it aims to adorn the heart with the lofty attributes of repentance, perseverance, gratefulness, fear of Allāh ta‘ālā, hope, abstinence, tawhīd, trust, love, sincerity, truth, contemplation etc.

To diagnose and treat the diseases of the heart normally requires the help of an expert mentor or shaykh. Here are the qualities of a good shaykh:

1. He possesses necessary religious knowledge.

2. His beliefs, habits and practices are in accordance with the Sharī‘ah.

3. He does not harbour greed for worldly wealth.

4. He has himself spent time learning from a good shaykh.

5. The scholars and good mashā’ikh of his time hold a good opinion about him.

6. His admirers are mostly from among the people who have good understanding of the religion.

7. Most of his followers follow the Sharī‘ah and are not seekers after this world.

8.  He sincerely tries to educate and morally train his followers. If he sees anything wrong in them, he corrects it.

9. In his company, one can feel a decrease in the love of the world and an increase in the love for Allāh ta‘ālā.

10. He himself regularly performs dhikr and spiritual exercises.

In searching for a shaykh, do not look for his ability to perform miracles (karāmāt) or to foretell the future. A very good shaykh may not be able to show any miracles. On the other hand, a person showing supernatural feats does not have to be a pious person, or even a Muslim. The prominent Shaykh Bayazid Bustami says: ‘Do not be deceived if you see a performer of supernatural feats flying in the air. Measure him on the standards of the Sharī‘ah.’

When you find the right shaykh, and you are satisfied with his ability to provide spiritual guidance, you perform bay‘ah or pledge. This is a two-way commitment; the shaykh pledges to guide you in the light of Sharī‘ah and you pledge to follow him.

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Shaykh Saleem Dhorat

Spiritual Illnesses

A human has two aspects to his life: physical and spiritual. The physical aspect is related to the body and the spiritual aspect is related to the soul. Both aspects are vulnerable to illnesses. Just as the body can suffer from physical ailments such as cancer, TB, fever, headache, etc., the soul can also suffer from spiritual illnesses, such as riyā (ostentation), takabbur (pride and arrogance), hasad (jealousy), lack of sabr (patience), lack of shukr (gratitude), love for fame and wealth, etc. Both aspects are very important for us because just as physical health is important in order to ensure an enjoyable life, similarly, spiritual health is also vital to secure a peaceful mind and a heart full of contentment. In fact, spiritual health is far more important because the everlasting success in the Hereafter depends solely upon it. However, the concern shown towards the two is very different.

When we are afflicted with a physical illness, we will have great concern. However, when it comes to spiritual illnesses, no concern whatsoever is shown. Whereas, in reality, more concern should be shown for our spiritual health for the following reasons:

1.   To treat a physical illness is sunnah; whereas, to treat a spiritual illness is necessary.

2.   If a person bears a physical illness with patience it is a means of expiation for his sins; whereas, spiritual illnesses lead to good deeds being washed away.

3.   The detrimental consequences of a physical illness will come to an end upon death; whereas, the evil result of a spiritual illness will begin upon death for eternity.

4.   If a person dies with a physical illness, he will be granted shāhādah; whereas, spiritual illnesses will jeopardise the Hereafter altogether.

Despite this, we do not see the necessary and required concern. This is in stark contrast to physical illnesses, when we will not even tolerate a slight headache or cold without resorting to medication!

Now that we have understood the severity of spiritual illnesses, let us exert every effort to keep ourselves spiritually healthy. In order to do this, the following guidelines will be of immense benefit inshā’allāh:

1.   Find a qualified Shaykh and associate yourself to him. Continually inform him of your spiritual condition, referring to him regarding spiritual illnesses and their cures, and follow his instruction to the best of your ability.

2.   Make constant du‘ā to Allāh ta‘ālā that he eradicates spiritual illnesses from the heart, for in reality He is the real healer of the illnesses. The Prophet sallallāhu ‘alayhi wasallam would recite this du’ā:

“O my Rabb, grant taqwā to my nafs and purify it; You are the Best Purifier and You are its Guardian and Master.” (Ahmad)

3.   Keep a close eye on yourself, constantly assessing the condition of the heart, throughout the day. If time is set aside for a daily assessment of the full day, it will go a long way to help recognise spiritual illnesses.

4.   Once a particular spiritual illness is recognised, read up on the evil consequences and punishments of the illness, so that concern is created which will then serve as a barrier from continuing with it. It will also encourage contacting the Shaykh and following his guidance.

5.   Adopt pious company, especially that of your Shaykh; and refrain from wrong company.

6.   Stay in a pious environment, refraining from an evil one.

7.   Perform excessive dhikr. This can be in the form of:

•     Adhkār prescribed by your Shaykh.

•     Recitation of the Glorious Qur’ān, preferably one juz per day.

•     Supplications of the Prophet sallallāhu ‘alayhi wasallam for prescribed actions and situations. For example, the du‘ās before entering and at the time of leaving the masjid, before and after eating, etc.

•     Adhkār encouraged by the Prophet sallallāhu ‘alayhi wasallam. For example, the Prophet sallallāhu ‘alayhi wasallam says in a ḥadīth:

“Two words which are loved by Ar-Raḥmān, light on the tongue and weighty on the scales are:

Subhānallāhi wa bi hamdihī Subhānallāhil ‘Azīm.” (Bukhārī)

Similarly, in a another ḥadīth, the Prophet sallallāhu ‘alayhi wasallam says, “Whoever recites (the following) a hundred times in  a day, will get the reward for emancipating a hundred slaves, a hundred virtues will be written in his account, a hundred sins will be forgiven, and it shall be protection for him from Shayṭān for that day until evening. None shall surpass him in virtue on that day other than he who recites this more than him:

Lā ilāha illa llāhu wahdahū lā sharīka lahū lahul mulku wa lahul hamdu wa huwa ‘alā kulli shay’in qadīr.” (Bukhārī)

If we understand the severity of spiritual illnesses, make a concerted effort to cure ourselves from them, and follow the guidelines above, we will inshā’allāh see ourselves spiritually healthy. May Allāh grant us the tawfīq.

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Shaykh Saleem Dhorat

What to do at the Time of Natural Catastrophes

by Shaykh Mawlānā Muhammad Saleem Dhorat hafizahullāh

Everyone is aware of the devastation that natural disasters bring with them. Many lose their lives, hundreds of thousands lose relatives, entire communities are wiped out and countless buildings and properties are destroyed. Thousands, even millions are left homeless, having lost everything they once owned, living under open skies with nothing to eat and cover themselves with. Even after the calamity has subsided, the death toll continues to increase with the spread of disease.

When calamities strike, we often think about our roles and responsibilities, as human beings and as Muslims. It is unfortunate that for most of us, it takes such calamities to make us reflect on the Power and lofty Attributes of Allāh ta‘ālā. Rather than expressing shallow sorrow and a momentary shock, there are a few points that we need to reflect and act upon, so that events like these can cause us to become better Muslims for the rest of our lives:


1. Allāh ta‘ālā is the Hākim (The Supreme Ruler) and the Hakīm (The Most Wise)
First of all, one has to reaffirm in one’s mind and heart that whatever happens, whether good or bad in appearance, is according to the Wish of Allāh ta‘ālā. Allāh ta‘ālā is Hākim i.e. He has Power over everything. Every single particle in the whole universe is under His Control. The turning of the leaf in the air while it is falling from the tree, to the up turning and shaking of the earth itself, as in the case of an earthquake, everything is in His Absolute Control. The commands, wishes and controls of everyone else are subjugated to His Command and Governance. The varied circumstances that one observes or experiences in one’s life are also in His total Control.

There are many incidents and events in a person’s life, during which one hopes for a positive outcome through worldly means e.g. when a relative is seriously ill we can hope for recovery by consulting a specialist, along with our belief that only that will happen which Allāh ta‘ālā has ordained. Nevertheless we take the help of worldly means to satisfy ourselves and try to rectify the situation to the best of our ability.

However, when faced with natural disasters like storms, earthquakes and floods, there is no hope of any worldly means which we can employ to circumvent, overcome or prevent re-occurrence of such situations. Such natural disasters are entirely in the Control of Almighty Allāh and we are forced to acknowledge that. Indeed as Muslims we should never have disregarded and ignored the Absolute Power of Allāh ta‘ālā and it should have been reflected upon in our day to day actions and deeds.

However, it is comforting to know that Allāh ta‘ālā is not only the Hākim (The Supreme Ruler) but He is also the Hakīm (The Most Wise). Allāh’s ta‘ālā Governance of the universe is unlike that of worldly rulers. His Control and Governance is full of Supreme Wisdom and Divine Justice. Hence even in natural disasters, there is the hidden Wisdom of the Almighty, which may not be apparent to our physical eyes.


2. Turn Towards Allāh ta‘ālā in Repentance
Every person, during such times should turn towards Allāh ta‘ālā with humbleness, faith and genuine repentance. According to the Sharī‘ah, common and open disobedience of Allāh ta‘ālā is one of the many reasons for the cause of calamities like earthquakes. When the land is overloaded with the disobedience of Allāh ta‘ālā, earthquakes from beneath and violent storms from above are commonplace. There are various scientific explanations as to why natural disasters occur, however the underlying facts point towards ‘how’ they happen and not ‘why’ they happen. The answer to ‘why’ and ‘when’ and even to ‘how’, in reality, remains with Allāh ta‘ālā. An answer to ‘why’ has been revealed in the Qur’ān:

(Corruption and) Mischief has appeared on land and sea because of what the hands of men have earned, that He (Allāh) may give them a taste of some of their deeds in order that they may turn back (from evil).  (30:41)

Incidents like these are, as it were, ‘wakeup’ alarm calls from Allāh ta‘ālā. Allāh ta‘ālā in His Infinite Mercy is jolting us through such incidents, so that we may mend our ways and reflect on our transgressions and as a result rectify ourselves before it is too late. Allāh ta‘ālā has revealed to his beloved Prophet sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam, that as long as this Ummah continues to repent for their wrong-doings, He will not punish them through calamities. Incidents like these should not be viewed with some momentary sympathy or investigated out of curiosity, but treated strictly as a reminder to wake up and reflect on our lives of disobedience. The way Allāh has the Power to cause calamities in any part of the world, He also has the Power to cause a catastrophe here, in this very city, in the very vicinity of our homes.

Hence it is absolutely essential for Muslims, not just from the affected regions, but from all over the world, to turn towards Allāhta‘ālā. They must direct all their attention towards Him and reflect on their lives to find out where the Commands of Allāh ta‘ālā are being violated, then sincerely repent and resolve to adorn their future lives with taqwā, abstain from the disobedience of Allāhta‘ālā, and observe His Commands.


3. Pray for the Afflicted
Our beloved Prophet sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam has commanded us to support and help the victims of calamities, whether they be Muslims or otherwise. The best and the most valuable support and help is to make du‘ā i.e. sincere prayers for the wellbeing of the victims. Du‘ā is a very powerful and potent means, which is available to each and every one of us, the one with worldly resources as well as the one without. Hence one should sincerely pray for the well being of the victims. One should pray that Allāh ta‘ālāgives them strength, patience and comfort and that He protects and guides them through these critical times and provides rapid recovery from their physical, mental and spiritual wounds. Only Allāh ta‘ālā has the ability to provide the things asked for in the above prayers. No amount of worldly means will provide for the loss that has been suffered by the victims.

It is difficult to comprehend or empathise with the situation of the victims. Scores of them have death hovering over their heads while their dead family members lie beside them. Thousands of dead bodies are piled up like logs unable to receive a proper burial. Thousands of people have lost their sons and daughters and thousands of young children have become orphans. Only prayers will help those people. So take out some time from listening to the news, reading newspaper reports and chatting about the events and bow down to Allāh ta‘ālā, and pray sincerely and earnestly (after making repentance) for the victims of the calamity. The victims certainly deserve our prayers, to say the least. It is their right over the entire Muslim community.

It is also worth mentioning that it will be a gross transgression for anyone to forget their own deeds and start judging the victims, claiming their misdeeds to be the reason for the calamity. We are in no position to do that. Besides, this will be tantamount to trying to guess the ‘Hikmah’ (Wisdom) of Allāh! Therefore we should refrain from uttering such words.


4. Donate Generously
For people far from the afflicted region, the next best thing that they can do to help and support is to provide financial and material help. The victims have lost everything, their homes and the shelter above their heads, their entire belongings and their livelihoods. There is an immediate need to provide shelter (as a protection from the cold nights), food and clothing. There is also a dire need to provide them with medication and other medical accessories and supply them with clean water and sanitation.

Alhamdulillāh, Allāh ta‘ālā has given us abundantly, more than we need. We do not have to sacrifice our daily food or clothing in order to donate towards the cause. I request all my brothers and sisters to reflect upon the material blessings that Allāh ta‘ālā has bestowed upon us, despite our not being deserving of them, and donate generously for the victims of this calamity. There are people out there, among the victims, who, until yesterday, were the patrons of or contributors towards charities themselves, and had donated profusely. Now, having lost everything, they are in need of charity themselves. Allāh ta‘ālā will inshā’allāh look favourably upon our generosity and remove future calamities awaiting to befall us. The Prophet sallallahu ‘alayhi wasallam has mentioned:

Truly sadaqah extinguishes the Wrath of Allāh and saves from an evil death. (Tirmidhī)

So, as human beings, and more so as Muslims, we should not let this suffering continue without providing help and support according to our individual capabilities. Do not wait for your zakāh to become due to make a donation. The need of the situation demands that we donate everything that is in our possession, even if that means undergoing hardships ourselves. However, since Allāh ta‘ālā has blessed us with adequate wealth we know that we can donate sufficiently without having to undergo such troubles. We should spend abundantly and generously, as generously as Allāh ta‘ālā has provided for us. Remember, whatever we will spend, we will do so from that which Allāh ta‘ālā has given us. It is His Money we will be spending to relieve His Creation. The Prophet s said:

All creatures are the dependants of Allāh. The most beloved to Allāh from all Creation is he who treats His dependants the best.  (Bayhaqī)

Therefore give as much as you can. This is not a time to wait for someone to come and knock at your door. Go out looking for reliable organizations and charities with correct channels, so that your money reaches the genuine victims and fulfills their needs.

May Allāh ta‘ālā give us the guidance to learn a lesson from such calamities and grant us the resolve to change our lives for the better. May Allāh ta‘ālā also give us the tawfīq to pray for the victims and to donate generously. Āmīn.

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Shaykh Saleem Dhorat

Etiquettes of the Mobile Phone

by Shaykh MawlānāMuhammad Saleem Dhorat hafizahullāh

Islam has never been opposed to advancement. However, certain advancements are such that together with their benefits come much harm. Whilst mobile technology and the mobile phone in particular has revolutionised the way we live, it is important that we utilise such technology appropriately.

Crude Manners
It is important to realise that there are certain etiquettes of speaking on the phone. For example when calling someone, many people do not first ask the person they are calling whether it is convenient for them to speak at that very moment. They simply begin a long conversation without any regard for the inconvenience they cause the person they have called. There are yet others who, whilst in the company of others, answer phone calls and begin to casually converse with whoever has called them. Doing this is akin to turning your face away from those in your company whilst in the middle of a conversation and engaging in conversation with someone else without any explanation or apology to the first. Such behaviour is indeed inappropriate and a reflection of crude manners.

Robber of Time
The mobile phone, whilst being a very useful item, can prove to be a robber of time too. People feel obliged to utilise the free minutes and texts they have within their contract. If one has an allowance of 500 minutes or 500 texts within his talk plan, it is not necessary to utilise all these minutes or texts. By calling people or texting them only to use up the allowance, we are wasting valuable time which could have been utilised in productive activities.

Text Messages
Nowadays, many people send ‘Jumu‘ah Mubarak’ texts every week to friends and associates. The contents of many of these texts are not authentic and sometimes not in line with Islamic teachings. One needs to be cautious before forwarding any message of this nature. Many people forward these messages just because they apparently sound good irrespective of the message being incorrect. Do not forward any message until you are sure of its authenticity.

If you are keen to propagate the beau­tiful teachings of Islam by using the text facility then make sure it is something beneficial, correct and authentic. Moreover, the day of Jumu‘ah should not be fixed for this; any day and every day should be made mubarak by conveying a piece from the teachings of our beautiful dīn.

Name at the End of Text
Whenever you send a text message, it is important to write your name at the end of the text, because it is possible that the person you are texting has not saved your number on his mobile. As a result, he will be confused and inconvenienced when he receives the text due to not knowing who the sender is.

In The Masjid
When attending the masjid one should switch off his mobile. Failure to do so will result in one being disrespectful to the house of Allāh as well as being a means of disturbance to others if the phone were to ring. It is prudent not to even leave the phone in vibration mode. In this situation if the phone were to receive a call during salāh, not only will it divert the phone owner’s attention it will also disturb the person next to him. Many people immediately after the completion of salāh check their phones for possible missed calls or messages. This shows that although one was physically standing in the court of Allāh, mentally he was elsewhere. Thus we should switch our phones off before entering the masjid and not pay attention towards them until we leave.

Haram Sharīf
Many people would not even dream of answering a phone call whilst in the masjid when they are in their localities. However we observe the very same people freely using the mobile phone in the Haram Sharīf in Makkah and Madīnah. One should make a firm resolution and refrain from this for this leads to neglect and many other wrongs whilst in blessed places.

Musical Ring Tones
We should make sure that we have an appropriate simple ring tone on our mobile phone. To keep a musical ring tone is harāmas the playing of music, or being a means of it being played is a sin. It is quite unfortunate that even when in Haramayn Sharīfayn whilst performing tawāf or presenting salām to the Prophet sallallāhu ‘alayhi wasallam, the musical tones of mobile phones are heard. This is harām and a major sin. Safeguard yourself from such things that distance you from the Creator.

‘Islamic’ Ring Tones
The adhān, salām, tilāwah of the Glorious Qur’ān, nāt and nashīd are used as ring tones by many on mobile phones. The adhān has a set time and a purpose and should only be announced at the time for the stipulated purpose. Salām also has a specific purpose which is to greet one another. The Glorious Qur’ ān is the word of Allāh and has been sent for guidance of mankind. The Shari’ah has stipulated many rulings in regard to this great book. Nāt and nashīd are recited to inculcate and increase the love for our beloved Prophet sallallāhu ‘alayhi wasallam in our hearts. None of these should be used to inform us that someone is calling us. This is disrespectful. One should merely keep a simple ring tone for this purpose.

How Many Rings?
If when ringing someone one finds that the phone cuts off after a few rings or diverts to an answering machine, then the caller may try again. One should retry a maximum of three times for it may be that the person was busy and as he approached the phone it stopped ringing and thus he was unable to answer. However, there are some phones that do not divert or cut-off and keep ringing. In such cases the caller should let it continue ringing for that duration which would be considered normal,approximately ten rings. If the call is not answered then put the phone down because not answering indicates that the person is either occupied or does not wish to speak. Do not cause inconvenience by compelling.

Mobile and Teachers
It is not permissible for teachers at madrasah or school to use the mobile during their working hours, for the madrasah and the school has purchased that time from them. This time does not belong to them; it has become the property of the employing establishment.