Tag: salah

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Assalamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuhu,

Did you know that……..question

  • ‘Abdullah Ibn ‘Abbas RA provided answers to the king of Persia, Khosrau when he posed the following complex queries by way of  letter which he had sent to Mu’awiyah RA:
  1. What are the most beloved phrases to Allah?
  2. What are the 4 living bodies which were not formed in the womb of a mother?
  3. Who is that person who has entered paradise, yet prophet Mohammed SAW was forbidden from following him in his actions?
  4. Who was that messenger sent by Allah which was neither human, angel or Jinn?
  5. What is that thing that will speak on the Day of Jugement which is neither made of flesh nor blood?
  6. What is that thing that that breaths yet it is not of  blood and flesh?
  7. What is that living thing that came back to life when it was struck with an organ of another living thing?
  8. What was that object that strode and swallowed which was neither made of flesh nor blood?
  9. What is that thing which can be forbidden (haram) even if you carry out its performance or even if you don’t carry out its performance?
  10. What is that place which does not have a Qiblah?
  11. Which gravesite journeyed with its occupant?
  12. What is meant by “Majrah” and “Qaws Quzah”? ( تاريخ دمشق لابن عساكر Vol 12 pg. 315-319)
  • The most beloved phrases in the court of Allah are:
  •  لا إله إلا الله ،  سبحان الله ،  الحمد ،  الله أكبر ، لا حول ولا قوة إلا بالله.
  • The 4 living bodies which were not formed in the womb of a mother were:
  1. Adam AS
  2. Hawa RA
  3. The camel of  Prophet Saleh AS which was created from the rock of a mountain
  4. The ram of  Prophet Ibrahim AS which was sent as a ransom from heaven for Prophet Ismail AS.
  • There is a person who has entered paradise however prophet Mohammed SAW was forbidden from following him in his actions. It was prophet Yunus AS. Allah says:
  • “And be not like the Man of the Fish, he cried out while he was in anguish.” وَلا تَكُنْ كَصَاحِبِ الْحُوتِ إِذْ نَادَى وَهُوَ مَكْظُومٌ
  • The grave site of Prophet Yunus Ibn Mattaa AS while he was in the stomach of the fish was the only grave that journeyed with its occupant.
  • “Majrah” is the door of the skies and “Qaws Quzah” is that portion of earth which did not get submerged underwater in the time of Pophet Nuh AS. The inhabitatns of that region did not drown also.
  • The only messenger that Allah sent which was neither a human, angel nor Jinn was the crow that scratched the earth to show the son of Adam AS how he should conceal the corpse of his dead brother.
  • The only thing that will speak on the Day of Jugement which is neither made of flesh nor blood is Jahannam (Hell). Allah says: (Remind them of) the Day when We will say to Jahannam (Hell), “Are you filled up?” and it will say, “Are there some more?”
  • The only thing that breaths yet it is not of  blood and flesh is the morning as Allah says in the Qur’an: “and the morning when it starts breathing”
  • The only living thing that came back to life when it was striked with an organ of another living thing (the cow) was the man who was murdered in the time of Musa AS. As Allah states in the Qur’an: “And when you killed a man, and started putting the blame for it on one another, while Allah was to bring forth what you were holding back.  So, We said, “Strike him with a part of it.” This is how Allah revives the dead; and He shows you His signs, so that you may understand.”
  • The only thing that walked and swallowed which was neither made of flesh nor blood was the staff of Musa AS. As Allah states: We revealed to Mūsā, “Throw your staff.” Then of a sudden, it began to swallow all that they had concocted. [7:117]
  • The only thing which can be forbidden (haram) even if you carry out its performance or don’t carry out its performance is prayer (Salah). If you do not offer salah this is forbidden. And if you perform prayer (Salah) while intoxicated, this is also forbidden.
  • The only place that does not have a Qiblah is the Ka’bah itself. ( تاريخ دمشق لابن عساكر Vol 12 pg. 315-319)

​

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Shaykh Saleem Dhorat

Solar Eclipse 2015


27th Jumādal Ulā 1436 AH ~ Tuesday 17th March 2015 

SOLAR ECLIPSE

by Shaykh Mawlānā Muhammad Saleem Dhorat hafizahullāh

Abū Bakrah radhiyallāhu ‘anhu relates: “We were with Rasūlullāh sallallāhu ‘alayhi wasallam when the sun eclipsed. The Prophet sallallāhu ‘alayhi wasallam stood up dragging his cloak1 till he entered the masjid. We also entered. He sallallāhu ‘alayhi wasallam led us in a two raka’āt salāh till the eclipse cleared. Then the Prophet sallallāhu ‘alayhi wasallam said, ‘The sun and the moon do not eclipse because of anyone’s death.2 So whenever you see these (eclipses), perform salāh and make du’ā until the eclipse is cleared.’” (Al-Bukhārī)

1 This indicated urgency.

2  Prior to the advent of Islām, it was a widely held belief in Arab society that eclipse would occur upon the death of a great personality. The Prophet sallallāhu ‘alayhi wasallam had a son named Ibrāhīm radhiyallāhu ‘anhu who passed away in infancy, on the same day as a solar eclipse. The Prophet sallallāhu ‘alayhi wasallam dispelled this false notion.

WHAT TO DO AT THE TIME OF SOLAR ECLIPSE

…So whenever you see these (eclipses), offer salāh and make du‘ā till the eclipse has cleared. (Al-Bukhārī)

…So when you see the eclipse, make du’ā to Allāh and say takbīr, perform salāh and give sadaqah… (Al-Bukhārī)

…He (the Prophet sallallāhu ‘alayhi wasallam) went to the Masjid (on the occasion of solar eclipse) and offered the salāh with the longest qiyām, rukū‘ and sujūd that I had ever seen him doing. (Al-Bukhārī)

From the ahādīth above we learn that we should engage in:

1) salāh;         

2) du‘ā;           

3) rememberance of Allāh ta‘ālā; and

4) spend in causes that bring the Pleasure of Allāh ta‘ālā.

It is sunnah to perform two raka’āt salāh with congregation which is to be led by the imām of jumu‘ah salāh or any imām of the masjid. It is sunnah to perform this salāh with qiyām, rukū‘ and sujūd that are long.

After the salāh the congregation should engage in du‘ā which should last until the eclipse clears.

Mas’alah: Adhān or iqāmah will not be called for this salāh. Announcements can be made to gather the people.

Mas’alah: If whilst engaged in du‘ā the time for a fard salāh commences, then du‘ā should be concluded and fard salāh should be performed.

During such occasions we must not remain neglectful. Many people are more keen to witness the eclipse, rather than following the teachings of our beloved Prophet sallallāhu ‘alayhi wasallam. 

May Allāh ta‘ālā grant us the tawfīq to turn to Him during such moments in light of the teachings of our Prophet sallallāhu ‘alayhi wasallam.  


© Islāmic Da’wah Academy

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Poems

An Ode to the Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) Part II

Part II – In Defence of Rasul Ullah (Sal Allahu Alayhi Wasallam)

اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلى سَيِّدِنَا وَنَبِيِّنَا وَ شَفِيْعِنَا وَحَبِيْبِنَا وَ سَنَدِنَا وَ مَوْلَانَا  مُحَمَّدٍ وَ بَارِكْ وَ سَلِّم

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

18th Rabiul Awwal 1436

اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلى سَيِّدِنَا وَنَبِيِّنَا وَ شَفِيْعِنَا وَحَبِيْبِنَا وَ سَنَدِنَا وَ مَوْلَانَا  مُحَمَّدٍ وَ بَارِكْ وَ سَلِّم IMG_9150

The eyes weep, the heart bleeds, but our love for you, O Rasool Ullah (SAW) will never die, In Sha Allah.
Muhammad (Sal Allahu Alayhi Wasallam) is always in our hearts and on our mind.
His (Sal Allahu Alayhi Wasallam)’s remembrance keeps our tongues moist.

Eyes that are blind, hearts that are hard will never recognise your beauty.
Your kindness came like rain, that cares not, on whom it falls upon.
With the light of your sincerity, you broke the clouds of tyranny. .

Categories
Spirituality

Khushoo’ – An extinct element of Salah

musalla

All lofty and high praise be to Allah, The Most Honoured and The Majestic. Peace and blessings be upon the leader of the pious, the chief of al-Kha’shioon, Muhammad Ibn Abdullah, the Messenger of Allah, and on all his family and companions.

I begin by thanking Allah (Subhanahu WaTa’aala) for enabling me to shed a bit of light on the given topic. Salah is certainly not something taken lightly in the religion of Islam.

“The first thing of your religion that you will lose is Khushoo’, and the last thing that you will lose of your religion is Salah. There may be a person praying who has no goodness in him, and soon you will enter the masjid and not find anyone who has khushoo’.”

Salah is a pillar out of the five pillars of Islam.

Salah is a conversation with Our Lord.

Salah is a Mi’raaj for the Muslims.

Salah will increase our Iman and lead to Jannah. Discarding it will decrease our Iman and lead to Jahannam.

Allah (Subhanahu WaTa’aala) says, “And stand before Allah with obedience.” (2:238)

Regarding Salah, the Qur’an mentions, “And truly it is extremely heavy and hard except for al-Khashi’oon.” (2:45)

Salah is the greatest of the practical pillars of Islam and Khushoo’ in prayer is required by Shari’ah. When Iblis, the enemy of Allah, vowed to mislead and tempt the sons of Adam (peace be upon him) he said, “Then I will come to them from before them and behind them, from their right and from their left.” (7:17)

One of the most significant plots became to divert people from Salah by all means possible and to whisper to them during their prayer so as to deprive them of the joy of this worship and cause them to lose the reward for it.

“Successful indeed are the believers, those who offer their Salah with all solemnity and full submissiveness.” (23:1-2) Khushoo’ means calmness, serenity, tranquillity, dignity and humility. What makes a person have this Khushoo’ is fear of Allah (Subhanahu WaTa’aala) and the sense that He is always watching.

Hudhayfah (Allah be pleased with him) used to say, “Beware of the khushoo’ of hypocrisy.”  He was asked, “What is the Khushoo’ of Hypocrisy?” He said, “When the body shows Khushoo’ but there is no Khushoo’ in the heart.”

Fudhayl ibn Ayadh (Allah have mercy upon him) said, “It was disliked for a man to show more Khushoo’ than he had in his heart.” One of them saw a man showing Khushoo’ in his shoulders and body, and said, “O so and so, Khushoo’ is here” – and he pointed to his chest, “not here” – and he pointed to his shoulders. (Al-Madarij)

Ibnul Quyyim (Allah have mercy upon him) who is known to be the ‘spiritual’ heart doctor said, explaining the difference between the Khushoo’ of true faith and the Khushoo’ of hypocrisy, “The Khushoo’ of true faith is when the heart feels aware and humble before the greatness and glory of Allah, and is filled with awe, fear and shyness, so that the heart is utterly humbled before Allah and broken, as it were, with fear, shyness, love and the recognition of the blessings of Allah and its own sins. So no doubt the Khushoo’ of the heart is followed by the Khushoo’ of the body. As for the Khushoo’ of hypocrisy, it is something that is put on with a great show, but there is no Khushoo’ in the heart.”

Khushoo’ is obligatory in prayer, and this includes calmness, meaning submission and humility. Whoever pecks like a crow in his Sujood (prostration) does not have Khushoo’, and whoever does not raise his head fully from Ruku (bowing) and pause for a while before going down into Sujood is not calm, because calmness implies doing things at a measured pace, so the person who does not do things at a measured pace is not calm. Whoever is not calm does not have Khushoo’ in his Ruku or Sujood, and whoever does not have Khushoo’ is a sinner…

Shaykhul Islam ibn Taymiyyah (Allah have mercy upon him) explained the things that help us to have Khushoo’, “Two things help us to develop Khushoo’, a strong desire to do what is obligatory, and weakness of distractions. With regards to the first, the strong desire to do what is obligatory; (this means that) a person strives hard to focus on what he is saying and doing, pondering upon the meaning of the Qur’an recitation, dhikr, duas, and keeping in mind the fact that he is speaking to Allah as if he sees Him SWT, for when he is standing in prayer, he is talking to his Lord. Ihsan means that you worship Allah as if you see Him, and if you cannot see Him, surely He can see you.”

The more the slave tastes the sweetness of Salah, the more attracted he will be to it, and this has to do with the strength of his Iman. The means of strengthening Iman are many, and this is why the Prophet (peace be upon him) used to say, “In your world, women and perfume have been made dear to me, and my joy is in prayer.”

According to another Hadith he (peace be upon him said), “Let us find comfort in prayer, O Bilal.” He (peace be upon him said), did not say, “Let us get it over and done with.”

With regard to the second, weakness of distractions, this means striving to push away all distractions that make you think of something other than the prayer itself, and warding off thoughts that keep your mind off the purpose of the prayer. This is something which differs from one person to another, because the extent of waswasah (evil thoughts) has to do with the extent of one’s doubts and desires and the heart’s focus and dependence on what it loves, and its efforts to avoid what it dislikes.

After having read thus far, I hear some of you say, “well how does one go about acquiring this Khushoo?” One of the most important things one needs to remember is preparing oneself ‘properly’ for Salah. A lack of this or preparing inadequately is the greatest cause for deficiency in Khushoo’. We should be preparing from the moment we hear the Adhan, repeat the words the Muaddhin says, then recite Durood and the dua after the Adhan. We normally perform our Wudhu at this stage, again, this must be done thoroughly. One must ensure each part is rubbed correctly and fully not leaving a single area dry nor any hair left out (where applicable). Start Wudhu with Bismillah and Alhumdu Lillah, and ending it with the prescribed dua in the Sunnah. A forgotten Sunnah in Wudhu is using the Siwak/Miswak, it is actually Sunnah Muakkadah (emphasised sunnah) to utilise the Miswak whilst performing Wudhu, i.e. it should not be left out.

When one starts Salah it should not be rushed and he/she should move from one position to another slowly and calmly. Abu Qatadah (Allah be pleased with him) said, “The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “The worst type of thief is the one who steals from prayer.’ He asked. ‘O Messenger of Allah, how can a person steal from his prayer?’ He (peace be upon him) said, ‘By not doing rukoo and sujood properly.’ (Ahmad and alHakim)

Hammad ibn Salamah (Allah have mercy upon him) said, “I have never stood up for prayer once without imagining that the fire of Hell is before my eyes.”

Just like in worldly affairs we think of different strategies and techniques to boost our business, to make our lives easier and comfortable, similarly we must plan ways to rectify our Salah. Here is one prescribed in the Sunnah:

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “Remember death in your prayer, for the man who remembers death during his prayer will surely pray properly, and (also) pray the prayer of a man, who does not think that he will pray any other prayer (after this).”

Lastly, Abu Ayyub (Allah be pleased with him) was advised by the Prophet (peace be upon him);

“When you stand up to pray, pray a farewell prayer.”

O Allah! Grant us all the ability to pray Salah daily with Khushoo’ and devotion. And make Salah the coolness of our eyes. Ameen.

Ismail Ibn Nazir Satia (In dire need of Allah’s forgiveness, mercy and pleasure).

1st Muharram 1436