Wednesday, December 31, 2008

The Ruling of Al-Misbahah (Dhikr Beads)

Al-Imaam Al-Albaanee (rahimahullaah) discusses Dhikr beads

Ash-Shaikh Muhammad Naasir ud-Deen Al-Albaanee said in As-Silsilah Adh-Dha’eefah (1/110) with his checking of the hadeeth “What a wonderful reminder the subhah (dhikr beads) are.” (A fabricated hadeeth):

Then, verily the hadeeth, in reference to its meaning, is false according to me for reasons:

The first:

That the subhah (dhikr beads) is an innovation that did not exist in the time of the Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam). It was only introduced after him (sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam), so how could it be thought that he encouraged his companions to do a matter that they did not even know (i.e. dhikr beads were not known to them)?

And the proof regarding what I have mentioned is what Ibn Wadhdhaah reported in “Al-Bida’ wan-Nahy ‘anhaa” (Innovations and the Prohibition of them), on the authority of As-Salt bin Bahraam that he said,

“Ibn Mas’ood passed by a woman who had a tasbeeh (string of beads) with her that she was using to glorify Allaah, so he cut it and threw it away. Then he passed by a man who was glorifying Allaah using pebbles so he kicked them with his foot, then said,

‘Indeed you all have went ahead (of the companions), you have wrongfully engaged in an innovation, and indeed you have overcome the companions of Muhammad (sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) in knowledge.’”

And the chain of narrators of this narration is authentic (Saheeh) back to As-Salt, and he is reliable from the followers of the successors (Atbaa’ ut-Taabi’een, third generation).


The second:

That it opposes his (sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) guidance. ‘Abdullaah bin ‘Amr said, I saw the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) counting the glorification of Allaah with his right hand.”

And Al-Albaanee also said (1/117): And if there was nothing in the dhikr beads other than one evil, and it is that it has overcome the Sunnah of counting with the fingers or it almost has – this is along with their agreement that the fingers are better – then this would be sufficient (as an evil). For verily it is rare that I see an old man counting the glorification of Allaah on his fingers!

Then, verily the people have become specialized in inventing things along with this innovation. So you will see some of those who attribute themselves to one of the Soofee paths hanging thikr beads around his neck! And some of them count (the remembrance of Allaah) while they are speaking to you or listening to you talk!

And the last thing that my eye fell upon from that some days ago was that I saw a man on an ordinary bicycle riding along on it on some roads crowded with people, and in one of his hands was some thikr beads! So they try to show to the people that they are not heedless of the remembrance of Allaah even for the blinking of an eye.

And often times this innovation is the cause of losing the performance of that which is obligatory, for indeed it has happened to me repeatedly – and likewise to others besides me – that I have given the greeting of Salaam (peace) to one of these people, so he responds to the greeting by waving without saying the Salaam. And the harms of this innovation cannot be counted, so how beautiful is the statement of the poet:

“And every good is in following those who went before (salafa),
and every evil is in the innovating of those who came after (khalafa).”


Source: As-Silsilah Adh-Dha’eefah, Vol. 1, no. 110, and no. 117
http://www.alalbany.net/misc/misc002.php

[Translated by Aqeel Walker]

Do not Hesitate(say InshaAllah) when Making Duaa

The Prophet sallallahu alaihi wa salaam said:
“ When o­ne of you makes dua he should not say, ‘O Allah, forgive me if you wish, have mercy o­n me if you wish, give me provision if you wish’, but he should ask with resolve because he does what He likes; no o­ne can force Him.”
(Bukhari)

The Place to Be on New Years Eve! :D


Muslim American SocietyInland Empire Presents:
 
"From Dusk 'Til Dawn"
A Night of Reflection.......Finding the Light Within
A MY Revive Program
 
New Years' Eve
Wednesday December 31st
From 9:00 pm to 6:00 am
 
A night of prayers, lectures, games and activities, and more
 
Guest Speakers:
 
Shaikh Abduljalil Mazghouri
Dr. Imad Bayoun
Br. Munir Qtaish
 
Recitation:
 
Qari Youssef Edgouch
Shaikh Ibrahim
 
Refreshments & Breakfast will be served.
 
An all night event
 
MAS Youth Center, Inland Empire
8423 Rochester Ave. Suite 101
Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91730
 
 
 
For more information, please log onto www.mas-ie.org or call (951) 440-5270

Sunday, December 28, 2008

Pray Before You Die

Islam 101 Course For Reverts & Youth

ISLAM 101
COURSE

FOR
REVERTS
AND YOUTH

Insha Allah,
  • First Class on Saturday, Jan. 3rd, 2009
  • This Course is for Reverts and Youth
  • It will be held on 1st Saturday of each Month
    from 1:15 pm to 4:00 pm
  • Course is free to attend, but requires RSVP at reverts@whyislam.org or www.WhyIslam.org/islam101
  • Complementary lunch will be served!
  • Handouts and course material will be provided
  • Live Webcasting!

Class Location:
877-Why-Islam Center
1320 Hamilton Street
Somerset, NJ 08873

Registration Fee:
Free (but requires RSVP)
Please see Below...

Where Do I Register?
Reverts@WhyIslam.org
877-WHY-ISLAM
www.WhyIslam.org/Islam101

Organized By:
Revert Follow-up Department
877-Why-Islam Project

Class Format:
- Interactive Discussions with Q&A
- Free Lunch & Socialization
- Special Focus on Basics


Course Agenda
Islam 101 Course Agenda1:15 pm Zuhr Prayer
1:30 pm Lunch and Informal Discussions
2:00 pm Interactive Class
3:05 pm Salah Session (one aspect per class)
3:25 pm Open Q&A Session

Course Outline
Held 1st Saturday of each month from 1:15 pm to 4:00 pm
Course OutlineJanuary 3
TAWHEED - ONENESS OF GOD
February 7
THE BODY AND SOUL
March 7
THE QURAN
April 4
FAMILY LIFE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
May 2
THE LAWFUL AND PROHIBITED
June 6
LIFE OF PROPHET MUHAMMAD (PBUH) MECCA PERIOD
July 4
LIFE OF PROPHET MUHAMMAD (PBUH) MEDINA PERIOD
August 1
RAMADAN
September 5
ZAKAT - OBLIGATORY ALMSGIVING

October 3
CHARACTERISTICS OF THE BELIEVER

November 7
DEALING WITH LIFE'S CHALLENGES AND ADVERSITY
December 5
HAJJ

Sunday, December 21, 2008

Roadmap to Paradise

Take Adam and Eve avenue until you come to the intersection of Habil (Abel) road, and Qabil (Cain) street; merge right on Habil (Abel) and continue for the next twenty miles till you come to Noah's Ferry.

Take the ferry to Safety Land, ignore the majority of other travel agencies’ directions, and arrive at Abraham's Super Highway also known as High way One God Only (1).

Follow Abraham but avoid the exit of Sodom and Gomorrah townships until you get to Moses lane but pass Gold and Greed bridges and take it to Jesus' Mercy road. Here you will encounter a lot of confusion, streets are not well marked, and many peddlers along the road are giving away maps with conflicting directions to travelers. The Romans have renamed Pagans’ path as Jesus' mercy road.

If you are not sure about the authenticity of Jesus' mercy road, review your map. See if Jesus' mercy path is a continuation of Abraham’s Super Highway. If it is a continuation you are fine, but still proceed with caution. If you have diverged, make a U-turn and go back to Abraham’s high way (1) and re-try again.

Continue on True Jesus' road, if you do not see the following signs along the path, you should stop and review your map again. Maps for this path have been tampered with, we recommend the Barnabas edition street map to get to the Unity of God congregation, Immaculate conception corner, and Love thy neighbor community center.

Avoid to show the Roman Traffic police your Barnabas street map, it is banned, they will confiscate it and you will be forced to use the only authorized official map - the Paul street map which was drawn to direct the motorists to Rome. For that reason there is a lot of lost traffic on this road. On the other hand True Jesus road is found on the Barnabas street map, but only few people have access to this map.

Keep on Jesus' Mercy road until you find Muhammad’s sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam Sunnah

Expressway. Stay on this expressway and do not be lured to rest areas along the expressway. Beware of the highway robbers, by insuring your vehicle with Dhikr security systems. All vehicles secured with Dhikr Security Systems will be protected from assaults by robbers (Satan).

Make sure that you have enough fuel. The highest grade fuel for this long and tiring trip is the Taqwa grade fuel. Make sure you demand this brand when you stop for refueling. Lighten the load on your vehicle, carry only the most important items for this trip: two meters of white cloth, good deeds and prayers of your kids is all you need. Excess weight is allowed only if it is more of the above. Other items will only slow you down or cause you to loose sight of where you are heading, and you risk losing the coverage of Dhikr Security systems, thereby becoming an easy target for the Robbers.

You need to check your vehicles safety features periodically by reading your vehicles manual - the Holy Quran. Your steering wheel must be calibrated by the Sunnah Calibration method, batteries must be charged with Iman, the engine needs to be tuned up with Ikhlas and your tires must be properly inflated with Ihsan. Most important of all, you must test the entire vehicle with the tawheed check list.

It does not matter if most parts of your vehicle are performing right, if a single part in your vehicle does not perform according to specifications of Tawheed (its conditions) your vehicle will break down and again the robbers will rob you of what is left. The overall performance of your vehicle depends on the performance of the weakest part in your vehicle, so routinely check these weak points, they may be detrimental to your trip.

There are many milestones on Muhammad’s road, and these milestones will assure you that you are on the right track. Do not worry that there are not any people on this road; just because you are alone on this road do not think that you are driving the wrong way on a one way street. Loving Allah more than anything else, loving the Prophet Muhammad sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam and his companions, who supported him when he was oppressed, following all his teachings, responding with patience and acceptance to lack of worldly goods, hunger, loss of family members are but some of the milestones and glad tidings that you are on the right track.

Also this road will be paved with pain, hard work, struggle with yourself and others and Iblis, the Robber, and all things that are not appealing to the soul. Never lay your guard, this trip is not over until it is over. Keep dhikr your guard, good deeds your luggage and do not lose to focus on where you are going, so you may endure the pain of this trip. When you finally arrive to your destination, Al-Jannah, you will forget all the pain.

[unknown author via Islaam.com]

Friday, December 19, 2008

An Example of High Moral Character

Sheikh Muhammed Saalih Ibn al-Uthaimeen
The shaykh (may Allaah have Mercy on him) would not be pleased when people gave him special privileges due to his status. 
Once, he was late for a charity engagement in Buraydah, and his driver was driving fast on the highway to get him there on time. On the way, their car was stopped at a police checkpoint. When the officer saw the shaykh in the car, he told them to proceed.
As they moved on, the shaykh asked the driver why they were stopped. The driver explained that he had been driving over the speed limit. 
"Go back to the checkpoint," he ordered. When they returned to the checkpoint, the shaykh asked the officer why he had stopped them. 
"For speeding," the officer replied. 
"So then why did you let us go?" the shaykh asked. 
"You were likely in a hurry and had something important to attend to." 
"No!" said the shaykh, "How much is a speeding ticket?" 
"Shaykh, there is no need…" 
"How much is a speeding ticket?" the shaykh insisted. 
"Three hundred." 
The shaykh then handed the officer 150 riyals, and ordered him to take another 150 from the driver, and said, 
"Because he broke the law and I did not advise him," and he insisted that the fine be paid! 
[From an appendix in "UPRIGHT MORAL CHARACTER: A Concise Guide to Attaining Dignified Islaamic Character" (published by troid.org) by Sh. Muhammad bin Saalih Al-'Uthaimeen]

Before you sleep, read 'Ayat al-Kursi'

Abu Hurairah reported that the Messenger (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said,
"When you are about to sleep recite Ayatul Kursi till the end of the Verse for there will remain for you a protection from Allaah and no devil will draw to you until morning." [Saheeh al-Bukhaaree]

Ayat al-Kursi is verse 255 of the second chapter (surah) of the Holy Quran, Surat al-Baqarah (the chapter of the cow)
.

'Allahu la ilaha illa huwa, Al -Haiyul-Qaiyum La ta'khudhuhu sinatun wa la nawm lahu ma fi as-samawati wa ma fil-'ard Man dhal-ladhi yashfa'u 'indahu illa bi-idhnihi Ya'lamu ma bayna aydihim wa ma khalfahum wa la yuhituna bi shai'in min 'ilmihi illa bima sha'a Wasi'a kursiyuhus-samawati wal ard wa la ya'uduhu hifdhuhuma wa Hu wal 'Aliyul-Adheem'
"Allah! There is no god but He - the Living, The Self-subsisting, Eternal. No slumber can seize Him Nor Sleep. His are all things In the heavens and on earth. Who is there can intercede In His presence except As he permitteth? He knoweth What (appeareth to His creatures As) Before or After or Behind them. Nor shall they compass Aught of his knowledge Except as He willeth. His throne doth extend Over the heavens And on earth, and He feeleth No fatigue in guarding And preserving them, For He is the Most High. The Supreme (in glory)." [Surah al-Baqarah 2: 255]

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Dua'a for the Newlyweds


Baarakallaahu laka, wa baaraka 'alayka, wa jama'a baynakumaa fee khayrin.

May Allah bless you, and shower His blessings upon you , and join you together in goodness.
[Reference: Abu Dawud, Ibn Majah and At-Tirmithi. See also Al-Albani, Sahih At-Tirmithi 1/316.]

Monday, December 15, 2008

Tarbiyah & 'Ilm Camp! December 21 - 27

EID @ The Beach! Sunday December 21

Greetings from the Sunnah

* 1) The Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) used to say, when he wanted to leave a gathering:

"Subhaanaka Allaahumma wa bi hamdika, ashhadu an laa ilaaha illa anta, astaghfiruka wa atoobu ilayk."

'Glory and praise be to You, O Allaah, I bear witness that there is no god but You, I seek Your forgiveness and I repent to You'

And he said: It is expiation for whatever happened in that gathering. [Abu Dawood--Saheeh]

*2) Recite Soorat al-Asr, because the Sahaabi Abu Madeenah al-Daarimi said:

"When two men of the companions of the Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) met, they would not part until one of them recited By Al-Asr (the time), Verily, man is in loss [al-Asr] over the other, then one would say salaam to the other." [al-Tabaraani-- saheeh]

* 3) Spread the greetings of Salaam(peace):

The Prophet (SAW) said: "You shall not enter Paradise until you believe, and you have not believed until you love one another. Shall I tell you of something you can do to make you love one another? Spread the greetings of Salam (peace) amongst yourselves (i.e. between each other)." [ Muslim 1/74 and others]

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Be Merciful With One Another

Narrated Jarir bin 'Abdullah: Allah's Apostle said,

"Allah will not be merciful to those who are not merciful to mankind." [Bukhari. Volume 9, Book 93, Number 473]

Monday, December 8, 2008

Eid Mubarak! (Monday, December 8, 2008)

May Allah(swt) bless you and grant you happiness in this dunya and the hereafter. May He(swt) provide you with good health and patience and ease your burdens and dilemmas. Ameen.

Sunday, December 7, 2008

Things to do on the Day of 'Arafaah

* Fasting Day of 'Arafaah:

Abu Qutaadah (may Allaah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) was asked about fasting on the Day of ‘Arafaah. He said, “It expiates for the sins of the previous year and of the coming year.” [Muslim]

* Invocation (duaa'a) to be recited on the Day of 'Arafaah:

The Prophet (SAW) said: The best invocation is that of the Day of Arafat, and the best that anyone can say is what I and the Prophets before me have said:


Laa 'Ilaaha 'Illallaahu Wahdahu Laa Shareeka Lahu, Lahul-Mulku Wa Lahul-Hamdu Wa Huwa 'Alaa Kulli Shay'in Qadeer
'None has the right to be worshipped but Allah alone, Who has no partner. His is the dominion and His is the praise, and He is Able to do all things.'
[Reference: At-Tirmithi. Al-Albani graded it good in Sahih At-Tirmithi 3/184, and also Silsilatul-'Ahadith As-Sahihah 4/6.]

Monday, December 1, 2008

Ten Best Days-Sheikh Yasir Qadhi

Value of the first 10 Days of Dhul Hijjah:
Ibn Abbas (radhi allahu anhu) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) said: "No deeds are more virtuous than deeds on these days." The companions asked: 'Not even Jihad (fighting in Allah's Cause)?' He (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) replied: "Not even Jihad for the sake of Allah, unless a man goes out risking himself and his wealth for the sake of Allah, and does not come back with anything." [Saheeh al-Bukharee vol: 2, no: 457]