Saturday, May 30, 2009

Those Able to Marry.....


it is recorded by Ibn Mas'ud (radiallaahu anhu) that the Messenger (sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam) said:
'O gathering of youth, whosoever from amongst you is able then let him marry. Because it is better for the lowering of the gaze. And it is better as a protection of the private parts. And whosoever is not able to do so then let him fast, because then indeed it is a protection for him.' [Sahih al-Bukhari and Muslim]

Friday, May 29, 2009

Time is Running Out.....


Abu Umaamah (radhiyaAllaahu anhu) reported from the Messenger of Allaah (sallahAllaahu alayhi wasallam) said:
إِنَّ صَاحِبَ الشَّمَالِ لَيَرفَعُ الْقَلَمَ سِتَّ سَاعَاتٍ عَنِ الْعَبْدِ الْمُسْلِمِ الْمُخْطِئ - أَوْ الْمُسِيء - ، فَإِنْ نَدِمَ وَاسْتَغْفَرَ اللهَ مِنْهَا أَلْقَاهَا ، وَإِلاَّ كُتِبَتْ وَاحِدَهً 
“The occupier of the left; raises [and holds] his pen for six hours –from the Muslim servant [of Allaah] who has wronged or committed a mistake- ; so if he regrets and seeks Allaah’s forgiveness from it: he returns it back, and if that is not the case; then it is written as one.” [Source: Mu’jam al-Kabeer: 7765, Saheeh Jam’i as-Sagheer: 2097 – Imaam Albaanee said it is hasan.]

Thursday, May 28, 2009

Why is Everyone Single?

Why Is Everyone Single?
June 13, 2009 (8:00 pm - 10:00 pm)
Why Is Everyone Single? A presentation about preparation for marriage by Sh. Mohammed Faqih. Click here to see the flyer.

permissibility of using ruqyah in the form endorsed by the Shari'ah


It is reported on the authority of Husain Ibn `Abdul-Rahmaan that he said: "I was with Sa'eed Ibn Jubair and he asked: "Who among you saw the shooting star last night?" I answered: "I saw it," and I explained to him that I had not been at prayer, because I had been stung (by a scorpion). He asked: "Then what did you do?" "I used a ruqyah," I replied. He said: "What made you do that?" I answered: "A Hadith I heard from Ash-Sh'abi." He asked: "What did he tell you?" I said: "He reported from Buraidah Al-Husayyib, who said that ruqyah is not permitted except in two cases: "Al-'ain and stings." He said: "He who limits himself to what he has heard, has done well; but Ibn `Abbas (ra) reported to us that the Prophet  said: "All the nations were made to pass before me, and I saw a Prophet  with a small group, and a Prophet  with only one or two men, and a Prophet  with none. Then there was shown to me a large number of people which I thought to be my Ummah, but it was said to me: "This is Moosa (as ) and his people." Then I looked and saw a huge crowd at which it was said to me: "These are your people: Among them are seventy thousand who will enter Paradise without a reckoning or punishment." Then he  got up and went to his house, and the people began to discuss who they might be: Some of them said: "Perhaps they are the Companions of the Messenger of Allah ; others said: "Perhaps they are the those who were born in Islam and have never associated any partners with Allah . While they were talking thus, the Messenger of Allah came out and they informed him (about what they had been discussing). He said: "They are those who do not treat themselves with ruqyah, nor practise treatment by cauterization, nor believe in good or bad omens - but depend upon and trust in their Rabb (Alone)." `Ukkashah Ibn Mihsan (ra) stood up and said: "Ask Allah for me that I be one of them." He said: "You are one of them." Then another man stood and said: "Ask Allah that I (also) be one of them." He  said: "`Ukkashah has preceded you." [Narrated by Bukhari and Muslim]
Husain Ibn `Abdul-Rahman (ra) informs us of a discussion which took place between him and the Tabi'i, Sa'eed Ibn Jubair, concerning the use of ruqyah, due to the fact that Husain had been stung by a scorpion, for which he resorted to a ruqyah, in accordance with the Sunnah.
When Sa'eed asked him for a proof for that, he informed him of the Hadith of Ash-Sh'abi which permits the use of ruqyah for the treatment of al-'ain and stings. Sa'eed praised him for his adherence to the Hadith, but related to him a Hadith which advocates rejection of ruqyah - the Hadith of Ibn `Abbas (ra) which also mentions cauterization and belief in omens, and requires us to have complete trust in Allah , and depend upon Him, Alone; and says that when `Ukkashah (ra) requested the Prophet  to ask Allah to make him one of the seventy thousand who would enter Paradise without reckoning and without punishment, He  informed him that he was one of them, but when another man made the same request, the Messenger of Allah gently, but firmly closed the door upon any further requests by saying: "`Ukkashah (ra) has preceded you."

Benefits Derived From This Hadith
1. That the Salaf used to keep away from riyaa` and anything that might lead to it.
2. The obligation to ask for proof before accepting anything in the religion.
3. The permissibility of using ruqyah for al-'ain and stings, on condition that the ruqyah is of a kind endorsed by the Shari'ah - from the Qur'an or the authentic supplications of the Prophet  in the Arabic language.
4. The profound knowledge of the Salaf.
5. Acting in accordance with the Qur'an and the Sunnah takes precedence over all opinions.
6. The virtue of the Salaf and their good manners and politeness in passing on Islamic knowledge.
7. The disparity in the number of followers of one Prophet and another, and that some Prophets have no followers.
8. The number of followers a person may have is not necessarily an indication of the truth or falseness of the message.
9. The virtue of Moosa (as ) and his people.
10. The excellence of the Ummah of Muhammad  in comparison with other peoples.
11. The love of the Companions for all good deeds.
12. The permissibility of engaging in debate in religious matters.
13. Whoever possesses the four attributes mentioned in the Hadith, has perfected Tawheed and will enter Paradise.
14. The permissibility of asking virtuous persons to supplicate Allah on our behalf.
15. That there is no contradiction between the Hadith of Ash-Sh'abi - which permits ruqyah when the conditions for its acceptance are met - and the Hadith of Ibn `Abbas (ra) - which forbids ruqyah when those conditions are not met.

Relevance of This Hadith to the Subject of Tawheed
That the Hadith proves that whoever possessed the four attributes mentioned therein, has perfected Tawheed and will enter Paradise without reckoning or punishment.

Ruqyah: To recite a part of the Qur'an (e.g. Qur'an Al-Faatihah), or to supplicate Allah (swt), using words prescribed by the Messenger of Allah  in authentic Hadith, in order to obtain relief from illness.
Al-'ain: The evil eye.
Ummah: Community.
Taabi'i: A Muslim who met and reported from one or more of the Companions of the Prophet .
Sunnah: Words and deeds of the Prophet  and those of which he approved.
The Salaf: The pious, early generations of Muslims.
Shari'ah: Islamic Law.

Sunday, May 24, 2009

IIOC Garage Sale on June 6th!


IIOC Garage Sale
Community Events
June 06, 2009 (6:00 am - 12:00 pm)
Garage Sale, IIOC Back Parking Lot. Please donate clean clothes, shoes, books, toys, baby items, electronics, kitchen supplies, household items, etc. Bring them to the office during the office hours.

'Daybreak at the Beach' this Saturday, May 30th!


What: MAS Youth Presents Daybreak at the Beach
When: Saturday May 30th 2009 6am-11am
Speaker: Amir Merteban
Where: Salt Creek Beach, Dana Point CA
Car Pools: IE - MAS Youth Center, OC - Masjid Omar Farouq (Meet for Fajr Prayer)
Contact Info: 909-557-0940, mas.ie.coordinators@gmail.com

Saturday, May 23, 2009

Ayyam-al-Beedh... The Three White Days

Jareer ibn ‘Abdullaah (rAa) narrated that the Prophet (PBUH) said: “Fasting three days of each month is fasting for a lifetime, and ayaam al-beed are the thirteenth, fourteenth and fifteenth.” [Al-Nasaa’i; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Targheeb]

Qatada ibn Milhan said, "The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) used to command us to fast the white days: the thirteenth, fourteenth and fifteenth." [Abu Dawud]

Ibn 'Abbas said, "The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) did not fail to fast the white days either when at home or on a journey." [an-Nasa'i]

*****There is a yahoo group title 'ThreeWhiteDays' that will send email reminders of when these days will be observed for each month. Please click here to join or send an email to ThreeWhiteDays-subscribe@yahoogroups.com to subscribe.

Friday, May 22, 2009

The Different Stages of Mankind

Allah says:

"It is Allah Who created you in a state of (helpless) weakness, then gave (you) strength after weakness, then, after strength, gave (you weakness and a hoary head: He creates as He wills, and it is He Who has all knowledge and power." [Surat Ar-Rum(30), Aya 54]

Here Allah(swt) points out how man passes through different stages of creation, one phase after another. He is originally created from dust, then from a Nutfah, then from a clot, then from a lump of flesh. Then he becomes bones, then the bones are clothed with flesh, then the soul is breathed into him. Then he emerges from his mother's womb, weak and thin and powerless. Then he grows up little by little, until he becomes a child, then he reaches the stage of puberty, then he becomes a young man, which is strength after weakness. Then he starts to get older, reaching middle age, then old age and senility, weakness after strength, so he loses his resolve, power of movement and ability to fight, his hair turns grey and his characteristics, both inward and outward, begin to change. [Tafsir Ibn Kathir]

Hijabi Style

Recently, i have started to see this growing trend of modern hijab styles that do not necessarily follow the true dress code of the Islamic Hijab. As your sister in Islam, i feel the responsibility to provide my sisters with resources to find clothing that can best satisfy the islamic requirement while also satisfying their own personal beauty style. below are a few images of the many different jilbab/abaya styles out there that provide comfort, protection, fashion and modesty, all in one. =]

sporty hijabi

professional hijabi

outdoorsy hijabi

formal hijabi

classy hijabi

chill hijabi

casual hijabi


There are a few growing Muslimah Clothing Stores, locally and on the web. In Orange County, we have the famous Al-Anwar and also Al-Farah, both located on brookurst in anaheim. On the web, i personally enjoy using SimplyIslam and Shukr Islamic Clothing, but i know there are many more so please feel free to share!

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

read. listen. search. explore.....

READ. LISTEN. SEARCH.
EXPLORE.

Time to Plant a Tree!


Jabir (radiAllahu anhu) reported: Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, 
"When a Muslim plants a tree, whatever is eaten from it is charity from him and whatever is stolen is charity and whatever is subtracted from it is charity"[Muslim]

Commentary:This Hadith highlights the importance of gardening and agriculture. It is also one of the merits of these two occupations that if someone patiently bears the loss that he suffers due to pilferage or theft of their produce, he is rewarded for it.
[
Riyad-us-Saliheen, Numerous Ways of Doing Good #135]

Monday, May 18, 2009

CPP MSA Banquet this Saturday!


CAL POLY POMONA MSA's 10TH ANNUAL BANQUET.
Al Ghurabaa' ~ Pursuing the Prophetic Path

The Messenger of Allah said: "Islam began as something strange, and it will return as something strange, so give glad tidings to the ghurbaa' (strangers)"
It was asked, "Who are those strangers, O Messenger of Allah?" He replied, "Those that correct the people when they become corrupt." Another narration says, "Those that correct my sunnah which has been corrupted by the people after me."

Check out the Trailer here.

Click here to buy your tickets online.

SHAYKH JUNAID KHARSANY -
Shaykh Junaid began his higher Islamic studies at the famed Madrasah 'Arabiyya Islamiyya in Azaadville, South Africa and completed his formal education there in 1996. 
He began teaching Islamic studies soon after at the Islahul Muslimeen seminary in Sherwood, Durban and taught the higher religious sciences there, such as hadith and tafsir, for five years. 
Shaykh Junaid is currently serving as an Imam of Masjid Jamat Islam in Inglewood, California.

SHAYKH ABOUL HAITEM. Click here for his bio.

Saturday, May 23, 2009
5:30pm - 9:30 pm
Cal Poly Pomona (URSA MAJOR Suite)
3801 W.Temple Ave. Pomona, CA

Friday, May 15, 2009

Cure for Ignorance


The most important cure for ignorance is to inquire and acquire knowledge. Allah(swt) made the Qur’aan and the Sunnah as limits regarding religious matters.
Allah(swt) says: "These are the limits (set by) Allah, and whosoever obeys Allah and His Messenger  will be admitted to gardens under which rivers flow (in Paradise), to abide therein, and that will be the great success. And, whosoever disobeys Allah and His Messenger  and transgresses His limits He will cast him in the Fire, to abide therein; and he shall have a disgraceful torment." [Surat An-Nisa (4): 13-14]

Allah reminds us the main purpose of the creation of mankind saying:

"I have only created Jinns and men, that they may serve Me." [Surat Az-Zariyat (51): 56]

These verses clarify the fact that Allah(swt) wants us to worship Him(swt) alone, and that this worship should be completely based upon what He(swt) revealed to the Prophet(PBUH).Knowledge is the factor that allows us to gain the correct and necessary understanding of the Quran and Sunnah. [Knowledge]

Thursday, May 14, 2009

IIOC Saturday Night Program, May 16th!

The Decline of the Family: Restoring Social Values. 
A lecture by Sheikh Mohammed Faqih. Program begins right after Maghrib Prayer InshaAllah (7:45 pm) Click here for flyer!
Date: Saturday, May 16, 2009

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Dip it and Drink it


The Prophet(PBUH) said "If a house fly falls in the drink of anyone of you, he should dip it (in the drink), for one of its wings has a disease and the other has the cure for the disease." [related by BukhariVolume 4, Book 54, Number 537]

This Hadeeth, which is related by Al-Bukhari on the authority of Abu Hurairah, may Allaah be pleased with him, is authentic, and Abu Dawud recorded it with the addition: "Indeed what is in its wings contains the antidote." And modern medicine attests to its meaning.Some people may not feel up to drinking the contents after dipping the fly into the glass, and if they do not feel like drinking, they should not be forced, because a person is not ordered to eat or drink that which disgusts him.
In an authentic hadeeth, the Prophet (PBUH) permitted others to eat a lizard, but he didn't eat it himself: he said,"Indeed it is not from the land of my people, so I have a dislike for it." (Al-Bukhari no. 5537 and Muslim no. 1946)

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

NOTD Deeny Reminders

I have created a google group that will send out posts to your email inbox for interested subscribers. This email list serves to update each person with a Deeny Reminder that has been posted on the blog 'Not of This Dunya'. Jazak Allahu Khairan for your support!

Google Groups
NOTD Deeny Reminders
Visit this group

Sunnahs regarding the Miswaak


The Prophet (PBUH) said: "The siwaak purifies the mouth and pleases the Lord." (Bukhari and Nasai)
The Prophet (PBUH) said: "If it were not that it would create hardship for my people, I would have ordered them to use the Miswaak with every ablution and with every prayer." [Al-Bukhaari]

The following du'aa should also be recited at the time of using the miswaak:
Allahuma tah-hir fami wa naw-wir qalbi, wa tah-hir badani, wa har-rim jasadi alan naar
"Oh Allah! Purify my mouth, enlighten my heart, purify my body and make my body unlawful to the Fire (of hell)"

* Whilst making wudhu, to clean the teeth with a miswaak is sunnah (Ahmad)
* Abu Hurairah (ra) said that "Miswaak increases the eloquence of a person." (al-Jaami')

3 Deeds that do not come to an end


Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, "When a man dies, his deeds come to an end except for three things: Sadaqah Jariyah (ceaseless charity); a knowledge which is beneficial, or a virtuous decendant who prays for him (for the deceased).'' [Muslim]

Thunder, Thunder, Thunder


Thunder is the sound made by lightning.....
Ibn Abbas reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Thunder is one of Allah's Angels. He is in charge of the clouds, and he has spears of fire that he uses for driving the clouds wherever Allah wills." (recorded by Ahmad, at-Tirmidhi, and others. verified to be authentic by Al-Albaanee)

Cutting the nails is part of the fitrah


The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “The fitrah is five things: circumcision, removing the pubic hair, trimming the moustache, cutting the nails, and plucking the armpit hairs.” (Reported by al-Bukhaari and Muslim)

Anas (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: “The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) set a time limit for us to cut our moustaches, cut our nails, pluck our armpit hairs and shave our pubic hairs: we were not to leave it any longer than forty days.” (Reported by Ahmad, Muslim and al-Nisaa’i; this version narrated by Ahmad)

Monday, May 11, 2009

Who built the Dome of the Rock?

Ibn Khuldun states: “`Abdul Malik Ibn Marwan is one of the greatest Arab and Muslim Caliphs. He followed in the footsteps of `Umar Ibn Al-Khattab, the Commander of the Believers, in regulating state affairs.”
 
The Muslim scholar al-Wasiti reports:
When Abd al-Malik intended to construct the Dome of the Rock, he came from Damascus to Jerusalem. He wrote, "Abd al-Malik intends to build a dome (qubba) over the Rock to house the Muslims from cold and heat, and to construct the masjid. But before he starts he wants to know his subjects' opinion." With their approval, the deputies wrote back, "May Allah permit the completion of this enterprise, and may He count the building of the dome and the masjid a good deed for Abd al-Malik and his predecessors." He then gathered craftsmen from all his dominions and asked them to provide him with the description and form of the planned dome before he engaged in its construction. So, it was marked for him in the sahn of the masjid. He then ordered the building of the treasury (bayt al-mal) to the east of the Rock, which is on the edge of the Rock, and filled it with money. He then appointed Raja' ibn Hayweh and Yazid ibn Salam to supervise the construction and ordered them to spend generously on its construction. He then returned to Damascus. When the two men satisfactorily completed the house, they wrote to Abd al-Malik to inform him that they had completed the construction of the dome and al-Masjid al-Aqsa. They said to him "There is nothing in the building that leaves room for criticism." They wrote him that a hundred thousand dinars was left from the budget he allocated. He offered the money to them as a reward, but they declined, indicating that they had already been generously compensated. Abd al-Malik orders the gold coins to be melted and cast on the Dome's exterior, which at the time had a strong glitter that no eye could look straight at it. [Abu-Bakr al-Wasiti, Fada'il Bayt al-Maqdis, pp. 80-81, vol 136]

Inland Empire Muslim Business Fair 2009



Please plan to attend, spread the word, bring your family and come to see the variety of booths at the business fair from real estate agent to Islamic Banking, Islamic Investments, Islamic fashion, Halal food and more.
The annual symposium provides five sessions of comtemporary Islamic Issues covered by the most prominent speakers in southern california such as Dr. Maher Hathout, Dr. Yahya Abderrahman, Dr. Ahmed Sakr and more.
Baby sitting sevices will be provided, and food vendors will be there during both events.

Ilm Summit Sadaqa Jariya Opportunity


Assalam `alaykum,

Al Hamdu lilLah, seven students from Qabeelat Haqq in Southern California have been accepted into `Ilm Summit, an intensive two-week conference from July 24th to August 9th, 2009. `Ilm Summit is an annual program especially designed to further excel the most active students in their communities and within AlMaghrib Institute. Their level of commitment to the Qur'aan and their past Almaghrib seminar exam grades also contributed to their acceptance into `Ilm Summit.  

Below you will find information on how you can help these students as Sadaqah Jariya! 


 
How Can I Help?
  
Al Hamdu lilLah, the students accepted into `Ilm Summit 2009 have come together to collectively raise funds to help cover tuition costs. Our goal in sha' Allah is to raise $8,000 or more by June 15th, and we are asking for our communities' support so we can better serve our communities in the future in sha' Allah.

Any amount would be greatly appreciated. 

Please check out our website for more information about Ilm Summit and Donation information: http://sites.google.com/site/
qabeelathaqqilmsummit/Home

If you would like to write a check, please contact: haqq.almaghrib@gmail.com for more information. 
 

What Exactly Is Ilm Summit?


`Ilm Summit is an opportunity to study with many qualified Instructors and guest speakers in intense morning-to-evening sessions covering many aspects of the Islamic sciences. This year, the topics to be covered will include: Names and Attributes of Allah (subhanahu wa ta'ala), Fiqh, `Aqeedah, Eloquence of the Qur'aan, and extra curricular activities such as Tahajjud and Tajweed classes.  
 
Past `Ilm Summit attendees have vouched for this program's success. Even the shuyookh themselves said it was by far one of the best experiences after Hajj and studying in Madina.

Please visit the specially designed website for Qabeelat Haqq Ilm Summit by clicking 
HERE.   

We ask that you keep them in your du`aa's, and help spread the word in any way you can in sha' Allah! 

If you have any questions please email haqq.almaghrib@gmail.com
 
May Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala reward you for your time with reading this email and assisting to benefit the students of knowledge! 

Jazakum Allahu khayran


wassalam `alaykum wa rahmatulahi wa barakatuh,
 
Qabeelat Haqq
AlMaghrib Institute

Friday, May 8, 2009

Surat An-Nasr informs of the Completion of the Life of Allah's Messenger

Al-Bukhari recorded from Ibn `Abbas that he said, "Umar used to bring me into the gatherings with the old men of (the battle of) Badr. However, it was as if one of them felt something in himself (against my attending). So he said, `Why do you (`Umar) bring this (youth) to sit with us when we have children like him (i.e., his age)' So `Umar replied, `Verily, he is among those whom you know. Then one day he called them and invited me to sit with them, and I do not think that he invited me to be among them that day except to show them. So he said, `What do you say about Allah's statement,

[إِذَا جَآءَ نَصْرُ اللَّهِ وَالْفَتْحُ ]

(When there comes the help of Allah and the Conquest.)' Some of them said, `We were commanded to praise Allah and seek His forgiveness when He helps us and gives us victory.' Some of them remained silent and did not say anything. Then he (`Umar) said to me, `Is this what you say, O Ibn `Abbas' I said, `No.' He then said, `What do you say' I said, `It was the end of the life of Allah's Messenger that Allah was informing him of. Allah said,

[إِذَا جَآءَ نَصْرُ اللَّهِ وَالْفَتْحُ ]

(When there comes the help of Allah and the Conquest.) which means, that is a sign of the end of your life.

[فَسَبِّحْ بِحَمْدِ رَبِّكَ وَاسْتَغْفِرْهُ إِنَّهُ كَانَ تَوِبَا ]

(So, glorify the praises of your Lord, and ask His forgiveness. Verily, He is the One Who accepts the repentance and Who forgives.)' So, `Umar bin Al-Khattab said, `I do not know anything about it other than what you have said.''' Al-Bukhari was alone in recording this Hadith. Imam Ahmad recorded from Ibn `Abbas that he said, "When

[إِذَا جَآءَ نَصْرُ اللَّهِ وَالْفَتْحُ ]

(When there comes the help of Allah and the Conquest.) was revealed, the Messenger of Allah said,

«نُعِيَتْ إِلَيَّ نَفْسِي»

(My death has been announced to me.) And indeed he died during that year.'' Ahmad was alone in recording this Hadith. Al-Bukhari recorded that `A'ishah said, "The Messenger of Allah used to say often in his bowing and prostrating,

«سُبْحَانَكَ اللَّهُمَّ رَبَّنَا وَبِحَمْدِكَ اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِي»

(Glory to You, O Allah, our Lord, and praise be to You. O Allah, forgive me.) He did this as his interpretation of the Qur'an (i.e., showing its implementation).'' The rest of the group has also recorded this Hadith except for At-Tirmidhi. Imam Ahmad recorded from Masruq that `A'ishah said, "The Messenger of Allah used to often say towards the end of his life,

«سُبْحَانَ اللهِ وَبِحَمْدِهِ، أَسْتَغْفِرُ اللهَ وَأَتُوبُ إِلَيْه»

(Glory to Allah, and praise be unto Him. I seek Allah's forgiveness and I repent to Him.) And he said,

«إِنَّ رَبِّي كَانَ أَخْبَرَنِي أَنِّي سَأَرَى عَلَامَةً فِي أُمَّتِي، وَأَمَرَنِي إِذَا رَأَيْتُهَا أَنْ أُسَبِّحَ بِحَمْدِهِ وَأَسْتَغْفِرَهُ، إِنَّهُ كَانَ تَوَّابًا، فَقَدْ رَأَيْتُهَا:

[إِذَا جَآءَ نَصْرُ اللَّهِ وَالْفَتْحُ - وَرَأَيْتَ النَّاسَ يَدْخُلُونَ فِى دِينِ اللَّهِ أَفْوَجاً - فَسَبِّحْ بِحَمْدِ رَبِّكَ وَاسْتَغْفِرْهُ إِنَّهُ كَانَ تَوِبَا ]»

(Verily, my Lord has informed me that I will see a sign in my Ummah and He has commanded me that when I see it, I should glorify His praises and seek His forgiveness, for He is the One Who accepts repentance. And indeed I have seen it (i.e., the sign). (When there comes the help of Allah and the Conquest (Al-Fath). And you see that the people enter Allah's religion in crowds. So glorify the praises of your Lord, and ask His forgiveness. Verily, He is the One Who accepts the repentance and Who forgives.))'' Muslim also recorded this Hadith. The meaning of Al-Fath here is the conquest of Makkah, and there is only one view concerning it. For indeed the different areas of the Arabs were waiting for the conquest of Makkah before they would accept Islam. They said, "If he (Muhammad is victorious over his people, then he is a (true) Prophet.'' So when Allah gave him victory over Makkah, they entered into the religion of Allah (Islam) in crowds. Thus, two years did not pass (after the conquest of Makkah) before the peninsula of the Arabs was laden with faith. And there did not remain any of the tribes of the Arabs except that they professed (their acceptance) of Islam. And all praise and blessings are due to Allah. Al-Bukhari recorded in his Sahih that `Amr bin Salamah said, "When Makkah was conquered, all of the people rushed to the Messenger of Allah to profess their Islam. The various regions were delaying their acceptance of Islam until Makkah was conquered. The people used to say, `Leave him and his people alone. If he is victorious over them he is a (true) Prophet.''' We have researched the war expedition for conquest of Makkah in our book As-Surah. Therefore, whoever wishes he may review it there. And all praise and blessings are due to Allah.Imam Ahmad recorded from Abu `Ammar that a neighbor of Jabir bin `Abdullah told him, "I returned from a journey and Jabir bin `Abdullah came and greeted me. So I began to talk with him about the divisions among the people and what they had started doing. Thus, Jabir began to cry and he said, `I heard the Messenger of Allah saying,

«إِنَّ النَّاسَ دَخَلُوا فِي دِينِ اللهِ أَفْوَاجًا، وَسَيَخْرُجُونَ مِنْهُ أَفْوَاجًا»

(Verily, the people have entered into the religion of Allah in crowds and they will also leave it in crowds.)'' This is the end of the Tafsir of Surat An-Nasr, and all praise and blessings are due to Allah.

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

gelatin.....to eat or not to eat?


Question:
What is the ruling on gelatin whether derived from cows or pigs?

The Answer:

In the Name of God, the Gracious, the Merciful. All praises are due to Him and we ask Him to bestow His Peace and Blessings upon the Prophet Muhammad.

We read in the authentic texts that we are taught that Islam is easy and not difficult and/or rigid. Therefore, one should not go out of ones way to find haram. It has been authentically narrated that the Prophet forbade at-takalluf from the Sahabah (meaning that one is determined to find something to be Haram). Although in any given circumstances, if we find (for sure) something to be haram or there is a heavy suspicion that something is prohibited, then and only then we should stay away from that thing. The scholars of Juristic Principles say that the basic ruling for everything is permissibility except that which has been expressly forbidden by either the Qur’an, Sunnah, or consensus of Muslim scholars.

As regards to your question, believe it or not, there is a difference of opinion about the permissibility of gelatin.

The average Muslim and most scholars will tell you that without a doubt anything with gelatin made from animals is Haram especially if it is from Pork. It might be startling to hear this new ijtihad which is based in science. Of course there is no doubt that it is categorically forbidden to eat any type of pig meat or that of a dead animal. So of course before the issue of the chemical molecular process of making gelatin was brought up, there was a consensus that gelatin was forbidden if derived from pork. The new opinion which is held by many scholars on the major Fiqh councils is based in the reality that gelatin is taken from the collagen molecules from the bones or skin usually from pigs and sometimes cows. Through a process called “Istihaalah” in Arabic the chemical structure and molecular class of protein in the collagen is changed to form a new gel-like substance known as gelatin.

Similarly grapes are permissible, but when they are transformed into alcohol then they become forbidden, but then when alcohol becomes vinegar then it becomes permissible.

Regarding this process in general, the scholars are split about the purity of something that changed through istihaalah in which it has transformed due to a chemical reconfiguration to the point that the new substance could not be called by the name of the old. So naturally, the scholars are split on the permissibility of gelatin. Some of those who hold that through istihaalah [seeking to make something impure pure] something becomes pure are not convinced that the process of changing collagen (substance in cow and pig bones) to gelatin is enough to call it different molecular structure than its origin. But many scientists would disagree with them, thus supporting the new opinion. The role in making a fatwa on an issue like this is not to allow the fact that it came from pork to influence the final ruling, instead it should be to establish scientifically if the process of istihaalah took place or not.

I support the first opinion that there is a clear change in chemical structure thus becoming a different substance altogether which does not carry the ruling of cow or pig bone. This opinion is based on thorough scientific research from Muslim and non-Muslim resources. But I am still wary of eating things with gelatin because of the original disagreement of the process of istihaalah.

Some scholars who support the purity of gelatin are Dr. Yusuf Al-Qaradawi (Member many Fiqh councils), Dr. Abdul-Ghaffar Ash-Sharif (Former Dean/Professor of Shari’ah Kuwait college), Tahir al-Mahdi al-Baleeli (European Fiqh Council), Muhammad Al-Hawaari (European Council for Fatwa Research).

And Allah knows best,

Abu Majeed

[Question- What is the Ruling on Gelatin Whether Derived from Cows or Pigs? Answered By Abu Majeed. posted on Suhaib Webb's blog]