Best days ever!

Posted Nov 16, 2009 by Aboo Thaabit with 3 Comments

So you are not going to Hajj this year and you are stuck in your country like the rest of us, but want to be forgiven like the people that went for hajj? No need to dispair, the best 10 days of the entire year will soon be upon us and there are certain things a person can do to make the most of this blessed time, even if he or she cant go for hajj.

Ibn ‘Abbas reports that the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said, “No good deeds done on other days are superior to those done on these days [meaning the ten days of Dhul-Hijjah].” The companions asked, “O Messenger of Allaah, not even jihad in the way of Allaah?” He said, “Not even jihad, except for the man who puts his life and wealth in danger [for Allaah's sake] and returns with neither of them.”

From amongst the good things a person can do, as mentioned by Haafidh Ibn Rajab in his book al-Lataa-if al-Ma’aarif are:

• Fasting during the day of ‘Arafah [if your not doing hajj] as has been reported in the saheeh of Imaam Muslim ‘Fasting the day of ‘Arafah wipes away the sins of the past and coming year’
• Protecting your limbs from sin on that day [day of 'Arafah] it has been reported in the Musnad of Imaam Ahmad bin Hanbal that the Prophet said ‘This day whoever safeguards his hearing and sight and tongue will be forgiven’
• Increasing in saying the Kalimatu-at-Tawheed [i.e laa ilaaha illalAllah] with sincerity and truth. Because it is the essence of the religion of Islaam which Allah completed on the day of ‘Arafah.

Similarly there has been an on-going dispute between scholars, and that is regarding the question, are the ten first days of Dhul-Hijjah more superior then the ten last nights of Ramadan? And the best opinion regarding this is that, yes the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah are infact better then the last ten nights of Ramadan [except laylatul Qadr]. So as Muslims we should try our best to increase in good deeds, whatever they may be during these blessed ten days, to reap the maximum benefit and reward.

Raising hands during Salah

Posted Nov 13, 2009 by Aboo Thaabit with 3 Comments

Imaam Ibn al-Qayyim al-Jawziyyah writes in his book Kitaab raf’ul yadeyni fi as-Salah describing the prayer of the Prophet:

Whenever he [the Prophet] used to stand up for prayers he used to say ‘Allahu Akbar’ and he never used to say anything before it nor did he ever utter the intention outloud ever. Neither the Prophet did this not even in a single prayer of his nor did anyone from amongst his successors or companions do this, this is their guidance and path and there is no Sunnah except what the Prophet laid down. Read more

Diwaan ash-Shaafi'ee

Posted Nov 11, 2009 by Aboo Thaabit with 3 Comments

This is a poem by the great scholar Imaam Ash-Shaafi’ee. He was very well versed in arabic and has a collection of poems called ‘Diwaan Ash-Shaafi’ee’. It is filled with great wisedom and are very easy to memorise, go on have a try!

إن الفقيه هو الفقيه بفعله — ليس الفقيه بنطقه و مقاله

Verily the scholar is a scholar through his actions — A scholar is not a scholar because of his speech or qoutes

وكذا الرئيس هوالرئيس بخلقه — ليس الرئيس بقومه ورجاله

Similarly, the Leader is a leader due to his character — A leader is not a leader because of his tribe or his men

 وكذا الغني هوالغني بحاله  — ليس الغني بملكه و بماله

Similarly, the wealthy man is wealthy due to his self content — The wealthy man is not wealthy due to his possesions and his wealth

Da'wah

Posted Nov 09, 2009 by Aboo Thaabit with 5 Comments

Something you might notice is the fact that pious people never let an opportunity to call towards Allah pass by. One only has to read the Qur’aan to hear about how Yusuf alayhi salam called towards tawheed and Islaam whilst being in prison.

And similarly as muslims we should make the most of every chance we get and call towards Allah, even if its on the bus or at univeristy etc.

And this is Maalik bin Dinaar from the salaf who sees the opportunity to call towards Allah and he does not hesitate even one second.

It is said that a burgler entered the Imaams house but he didn’t find anything to steal. So Maalik [saw the burgler] and called him towards him and said, you did not find anything with regards to the dunyah, how about something from the aakhirah? So the burgler replied yes [I am interested].

So the Imaam instructed him to make wudhu and pray two units of prayer so he did that. Then he sat down [for awhile] and then he went to the masjid. So the Imaam was asked [when people saw this man with him] Who is this person? He replied, he came to rob but we robbed him!

[Siyaar 'alaam an-Nubalaa volume 5 page: 362 the biography of Maalik bin Dinaar]