I Want to Worship But I Can't Concentrate...

Follow @AhleDhikr So attaining Taqwa is the goal and it is the advice of Allah, the Most High, for those nations that were sent before and also with the latter nations. So if someone prays and he doesn’t have Taqwa in his heart but only does the actions without having humility in his body, then he misses out on the purpose and sweetness of that action. 

So he may give in Zakaat as a ritual, but in his heart he hasn’t paid it any attention, he doesn’t intend by it to purify himself and his wealth, he doesn’t intend to help others. If this is the case then it is like he just given away his money without benefiting from it at all.

If one intends to fast and doesn’t have a firm sense of Taqwa within himself, meaning he doesn’t stay away from what is Haraam or to do what is Waajib, then he has gained nothing except starvation and thirst.

Likewise, when most people pray, they stand in front of Allaah and despite the status of as-Salaah being so high, they return home just like they left it. They leave their houses intending to a Waajib action and they return to their homes eating Haram. It’s like that they haven’t benefited from their Salaah at all. And in origin, as-Salah prevents us from this:

Verily, As-Salat (the prayer) prevents from Al-Fahsha' (i.e. great sins of every kind, unlawful sexual intercourse, etc.) and Al-Munkar (i.e. disbelief, polytheism, and every kind of evil wicked deed, etc.) [Al-Ankaboot 29:45]

This is divine information, a piece of information that cannot be incorrect or have a lie within it, 

And who is truer in statement than Allah? [an-Nisaa 4:87]

So the person himself is to blame. He prays but doesn’t pray the way the Prophet [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be Upon him] prayed, as he said “Pray as you have seen me pray.” [Narrated by al-Bukhaaree (6705)] (i.e. with humility and submission)

Likewise we see people during Ramadan, they eat, they pray Fajr, sometimes they don’t even do that, then they sleep the length of the day until Maghrib. Is this the fasting that is prescribed?

…that you may become Al-Muttaqun… [al-Baqarah 2:183]

They miss praying their obligatory Salawaat during the day and they think this is what is required from them?

Likewise we some people stay in the masjid in I’tikaaf and instead of benefiting from this time to get close to Allaah, to abandon the Dunyaa, we’ve seen some people enter the Masjid with newspapers to help keep themselves occupied!? What does he gain from I’tikaaf? Has he got closer to Allaah, the Almighty? And as soon as ash-Shawwal has been announced, he’s gone. By Maghrib he’s praying in his home!?

So what’s the cure to all of this? 

Inn al-Qayyim [May Allaah have Mercy on him] has given over twenty ways and causes. He states that the sickness of the heart is like the sickness of a dead person. So what is incumbent upon this person is to seek to bring his heart alive in his Salaah, in his Dua’a, in the time he recites Qur’aan, in his Dhikr and if he misses out on all of this then it is as if his heart is closed, locked away from goodness. 

How many recite the Quraan and they don’t know what they are reciting and when they stop, they don’t know where they have stopped in the Qur’aan? How many people whiz through the pages and have not contemplated even on one Aayah. How many people recite from Yoonus (Surah 10) to Yoosuf (Surah 12) and their hearts have not trembled, despite the Prophet saying, “Hood (Surah 11) and it’s sisters have made my hair turn grey” [al-Silsilat al-Saheehah (2/679)].

So this affair is not something to be taken lightly and it requires a great deal of attention. People are wasteful in their times, in this bodies, in their manners, in their food and in their sleep. If food is placed in front of some people, he eats as if he is about to die. As if it’s his last meal. 

I don’t say that people should be like Imaam an-Nawawee [May Allaah have Mercy on him] - do not sleep on your bed except rarely. Most often than not, he would fall asleep doing some act of worship and when he wakes, he would continue, such as reciting the Quraan or Dhikr or on his desk whilst writing.

The religion of Allaah is easy, we are neither extreme nor negligent, but how many people do you see wasting their time? Two, three hours during the night spent on their social lives. They spend time with others in Istiraahah (rest houses) talking about the whole world, whilst not benefiting from what people have talked about at all. You don’t hear any form of Dhikr from them and this even occurs in the sittings of the students of knowledge. 
And To Allaah I complain.

Shaykh ‘Abdul-Kareem bin ‘Abdullah al-Khudayr [May Allaah Preserve him]
Member of Permenant Committee of Senior Scholars and Member of Council of Senior Scholars
Jaami’ Shaykh ‘Abdur-Rahmaan ar-Raajihi, Shibrah, ar-Riyadh
17/11/1433 – 3/10/2012

The Ambitions of Those Who Program Themselves to Worship

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Ibn Rajab said in Lataa’if (Pg. 551):

The righteous before us used to find great pleasure in pushing their bodies to fast extremely hot days. When they were asked why, they would say, “This is the price and it’s a bargain. If people only knew, they would all want to buy it.” This is proof that righteous deeds was highly valued by them and none truly appreciate this and acted upon it except a small party. It is too hard and difficulty for them and this typifies their (lacking of) ambitions. End quote. 

The Jumu'ah Prayer and Righteous Programming

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Shaykh al-Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah (may Allaah have Mercy on him) said when talking about the benefits of as-Salaat:

In it is a repulsion from doing bad deeds because if a person remembers Allaah in it (attentively) and supplicates to Him during it (whole-heatedly), then they will reap the benefits for the purpose of its ordainment – to prevent against lewdness (فحشاء) and all acts of immorality (منكر). This person, if the above is established properly, will sense this in their character, hence Allaah, the Most High, Said:

“Seek (His) Assistance and patience in as-Salaat.” [al-Baqarah 2:45]

The heart will rejoice, gain pleasure and have complete solace in what prevents it from being attached to shameful desires. Through this process of righteous-programming, the heart will gain awe and reverence for Allaah and it will eradicate any obstacle to self-development.

Therefore, the remembrance of Allaah in Salaat (and outside of it) brings about a great deal of goodness, as it is the primary source of deterrence against lewdness and immoralities, and this is the very reason why Salaat is described as being Dhikr in its totality, as He Said:

“Come to the remembrance of Allah [the Jumu'ah Khutbah and prayer] and leave off business (and every other thing), that is better for you if you did but know!” [al-Jumu’ah 62:9]

[al-Fataawaa 12/192-193]

Removing Impurities: Impurities from Dogs and Swine (Part 3)

Follow @AhleDhikr -When washing impurities from dogs and pigs, they must be washed seven times and once with earth. 

Al-‘Uthaymeen says the evidence for this includes:

-The Hadeeth of Aboo Huryrah, “If a dog licks one of your utensils, then wash it seven times, once with earth.” [al-Bukhaari (172) and Muslim (279)]

In another narration, “The first time with earth.” [al-Bazzaar and classed as Saheeh by al-Haythami in al-Majma’ (1/278), and Ibn Hajar as Hasan in at-Talkhees (35)]

Al-Uthaymeen says the second narration is more specific than the first one.

-For this reason, starting with earth is preferable.

-Also making earth the first substance then washing with water after it lessens the impurity

-if earth is left to the end, then an additional eight washing would need to be added. If earth is delayed then there will be washing of water without any earth touching it.  

A - Dog refers to all kinds of dogs, whether they be impermissible ones or permissible ones such as guard and hunting dogs.

B - The impurities of the dog and the ruling above applies to everything that comes from it, such as saliva, urine, defecation, sweat etc., because of the generality of the wording (ولغ).

The Dhahirees say that the ruling is connected to saliva alone, even if something effect is Najis from the dog.

The majority stated that the ruling is famously connected to saliva, however, if something is even more impure then the ruling is even more appropriately binding upon it.

Also, the Prophet referred to saliva as this is what is commonly inserted into vessels from dogs, however the understanding is that it’s not specific to saliva alone.

PRINCIPLE: Al-‘Uthaymeen states, if there is a difference of opinion and by following what is safer will take him out of the difference, then he should do so.

An example is this, no one will rebuke a person for washing other than saliva seven times, once with earth. However, if the fails to do this, there will be a party of scholars (the majority in this case) that will fault him.

C – the Hanbalees applied the rulings connected to dogs to pigs.

Al-Uthaymeen states that Qiyaas incorrect, as there is no evidence to make this analogy.

So the correct opinion is to remove impurities from pig as one would do normally with other impurities. 

ash-Sharh al-Mumti' 1/415-418

And Allaah Knows Best

Posts from this tag will continue after Ramadhaan, إن شاء الله

Chapter: Encouragement to Honour the Guest

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It is reported on the authority of Abu Huraira that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) observed:

He who believes in Allah and the Last Day should either utter good words or better keep silence; and he who believes in Allah and the Last Day should treat his neighbour with kindness and he who believes in Allah and the Last Day should show hospitality to his guest.

Benefits taken from an-Nawawi:

-Looking after the guest is for a day and a night is Wajib with Ahmad, after that it's Mustahab, because there is a narration to that effect. 

Nawawi opines that it's always Mustahab as is the opinion of the majority. 

[TN: al-Uthaymeen states that the correct opinion is that a traveller that is described as passing by (المجتاز به), is only for a day and a night, otherwise there is no further obligation but it is Mustahab if they stay longer than a day a night to host/support them]

-Malik and Ahmad stated that it's only for those who travel and pass by a rural village. They argued that a travelling through another city usually doesn't need any support. 

Ash-Shafi stated that it's general for all travellers/guests and that the correct view.

[TN: al-Uthaymeen states that its an obligation if the person needs a place to stay, as the Hadeeth is general]

-One must think before speaking and it's implications, as speaking takes the ruling of being wajib, or mustahab, or mubah, or makrooh or haraam.

-Ibn Abbaas stated that one will only be held to account for which is not Mubaah. 

-The best of manners can be found in four Ahadeeth and all of them involve talking: don't get angry, be quiet, leave what doesn't concern you, and to love for your brother.

-Al-Qushayree said silence is a sign of manhood and speaking with wisdom is the highest of states. Being quiet with the truth is like that of a mute Shaytaan. Therefore, one's silence must have a cause just like one's talking.

-Fudayl said if one compared how much he talked to his level of knowledge, he would find himself refraining from speaking quite often.

[Sharh Muslim 2/23-27]

And Allaah Knows Best

Posts from this tag to continue after Ramadhaan, إن شاء الله

Fitnah al-Maal: His Sole Purpose Was to Use His Wealth to Destroy al-Islaam (Part 31)

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In another incident, the Muslims and the Kuffaar of Quraysh during their battles, Umayyah bin Khalaf was killed. His son, Safwaan, swore vengeance. He amassed wealth and weapons to wage war against Muhammad and his people. He spent a long time gathering these weapons and spent a lot of effort in rallying the people to support him. His sole purpose was to use all of his wealth and the weapons that he had accrued, to kill the Prophet [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be upon him].

What actually happened was the complete opposite of Safwaan’s plan. When the Prophet liberated Makkah he asked Safwaan to lend the Muslims his weapons in order for the Muslims to fight the Kuffaar of Taif. The very same weapons that had been gathered to kill the Prophet, was used by the Muslims in killing their enemy, for the sake of promoting the Religion of Allaah.

We firmly believe that the universe belongs to Allaah, and He is the One Who Decrees within it. He Decrees what happens to our wealth and provisions – He Gives to Whom He Pleases and Witholds from Whom He Chooses.

To be continued and completed after Ramadhaan, إن شاء الله. 

And Allaah Knows best.

Many People are Dead due their Ignorance

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“And Allah has extracted you from the wombs of your mothers not knowing a thing, and He made for you hearing and vision and intellect that perhaps you would be grateful.”

[an-Nahl 16: 78]

Ibn Jawzee [May Allaah have mercy on him] said about this Ayah:

It is impossible for you to become knowledgeable between the time of morning and evening and it’s impossible for you to become a scholar overnight. Rather, seeking knowledge requires patience, striving and partaking in a long journey. The best type of transport for this journey is the circles of knowledge, to be constant in memorizing and revising. Striving in this is a huge struggle and being patient upon this requires a great deal of endurance. As the saying goes ‘the one who is desperate for water will strive to obtain it throughout the whole day’.

Because of this, the scholars say that many people are dead due their ignorance and lack of knowledge. Bashr ibn Haarith [d. 272 AH] once wanted to enter a graveyard and then said, “The deceased that are inside the wall are more than those outside the wall.”

Sifah as-Safwah, 2/332

Shaykh Abdul-Malik ibn Muhammad ibn Abdur-Rahmaan al-Qaasim [May Allaah have Mercy on him] said commenting on this;

“Many people are dead because they are ignorant and have abandoning seeking knowledge and because of this, Shaytaan has attached himself to them and has misled and deceived them. Innovations have spread, the lack of good deeds has increased and people have become trialed with evil scholars.”

The Scholars are the Inheritors of the Prophets, Pg. 20