Abu Dawud (r.a)

Sulaiman ibn al-Ash'ath (Abu Dawud) (r.a) - [202 - 275 A.H.]

Abu Dawud was born in Sijistan. Little is known about his early life, but that he travelled to many regions and cities to hear and collect ahadith from many different scholars. Abu Dawud is also a distinguished Faqih as well as a Muhaddith. His knowledge of hadith is confirmed by the fact that he had amassed 500,000 ahadith, 5,400 of which he selected for Sunan Abu Dawud. Hakim at-Tirmidhi was of the opinion that Abu Dawud was without doubt the chief muhaddith of his time.

His teachers are estimated to number more than 300. This includes ibn Hanbal, ibn Mu'in, ibn Harab, Abd al-Wahid Tayalasi and ibn Ibrahim, who were also teachers of Imams Bukhari and Muslim.

The number of students in Abu Dawud's classes would sometimes be in the thousands, Tirmidhi and an-Nasa'i being amongst them. Some other distinguished muhaddithun students of his were: Abu Bakr ibn Imam, Abu Ali Muhammad ibn Ahmad Lu'lu'wi, Abu Bakr Muhammad and Abu Sa'id Ahmad ibn Muhammad.

Abu Dawud used to say that for one to recognise the purpose of life and to practise religion properly, out of his sunan, 4 hadith would suffice:

1. The reward of deeds depends only intentions
2. Among you no one will be a true Muslim unless he wishes for his brother or his neighbour exactly that which he wishes for himself
3. The exquisiteness of ones Islam is that he avoids things that do not concern him and leaves what is not valuable to him
4. The lawful and unlawful are made clear, but there are in between them doubtful things which are not known to most of the people. One who keeps himself away from the doubtful things, protects his deen and honour, and he who indulges in doubtful acts commits unlawful deeds.

In the year 275A.H. in Basrah Abu Dawud departed from this world at the age of 73, and was buried next to Sufyan ath-Thawri. May Allah Ta'ala fill his Qabar with Noor.
Aameen.
Source: Scholars of Hadith

Related posts
Imam Bukhari (r.a)
Imam Muslim (r.a)
Imam Tirmizi (r.a)
Imam an-Nasa'i (r.a)
Imam ibn Majah (r.a)
Abdullah ibn Mubarak (r.a)

Laylatul Qadr

LAYLATUL QADR 

THE ORIGIN 

Regarding this night, in a Hadith reported by Anas (R.A.) in Durrul Manthoor, Rasulullah (pbuh) is reported to have said: 

“Laylatul Qadr was granted to this Ummah (of mine) and not to any other Ummah before this.” 

 As regards the reason for the granting of Laylatul Qadr, various views are held. According to some Ahãdith, one reason is given thus: Rasulullah (pbuh) used to ponder over the longer lives of peoples of the past ages and when comparing them with much shorter lives of this Ummah, he became greatly saddened, because if his Ummah wished to compete with the people before them, then because of their shorter lives, it would be impossible for them to either emulate or surpass the previous Ummahs in the doing righteous deeds. Therefore, Allah in His Infinite Mercy granted them this night of great blessings. 

This means that, if any fortunate person of this Ummah during his life-time spends ten such nights in worship of his Maker, he would have gained the reward of (Ibãdah) worship for eight hundred and thirty three years and even more. 

 Another report states that Rasulullah (pbuh) once related to the Sahãbah the story of a very righteous man from among the Bani Isra’il, who spent one thousand months in Jihãd. On hearing this the Sahãbah enviously felt that they could not attain the same reward, whereupon Allah granted them this Night (of power). 

 There are other reports too, explaining the origin of the night of power. But no matter which of these are accepted, the important fact remains that Allah has granted us this night as a great favour and how fortunate are those who have never missed worship in this night. 

THE DUÃ TO BE MADE ON THE NIGHT OF QADR 

It is reported from Ãyesha (R.A.): “I said ; O Rasulullah (pbuh), when I find myself in Laylatul Qadr, what shall I say?” Rasulullah (pbuh) replied; Say: “O Allah, You are the One who grants pardon for sins, You love to forgive, thus forgive me.” 

WHAT TO DO ON THIS NIGHT 

On such occasions, our pious predecessors had three standard practices. 

1. Zikr 

2. Tilãwat (recitation) of the Qur’ãn 

3. Nafl Salãh 

[Malfoozãt Page 513. Ifãzãtul-Yaumiyah] 

 Muslims must ask for their various permissible needs and also remember the Muslim Ummah. We request each reader to remember Islãmic Tarbiyah Academy too on this night. 

Rasulullah (pbuh) said: “Whosoever was deprived of this night was indeed deprived of good in totality. None is deprived of its blessings except a totally wretched souls.” [Ibn Mãjah] 

Source: Attarbiyyah Magazine 

Recommended reads: When is Laylatul Qadr 

Night of Power Tafsir of Surah 97- Al Qadr

Imam Tirmizi (r.a)

IMAM TIRMIZI (R.A) 209 A.H. - 279 A.H.

Imaam Tirmizi (R.A.) was born during the reign of the Abbasid Khalifa Mamoon al Rasheed. The Abbasid Caliphate, despite its brilliant contributions to Islaam, brought along with it many thorny problems. Greek Philosophy had a free flow into the Islamic world. This was fully sanctioned by the government until eventually it declared the Mu'tazila school of thought as the state religion. Anyone who opposed the Mu'tazila school of thought would be opposing the state. With the influence of Greek philosophy infiltrating within the people, many Muslims began attempting to reconcile between reason and revelation. As a result they deviated themselves and misled many innocent weak Muslims away from Allah and His Rasul [sallallahu alyhi wasallam]. Many scholars of Islaam had come to the fore in order to defend the Shariah. Forgeries and interpolations in Hadith by rulers who wished to fulfil their personal motives was common. In the first century Umar bin Abdul Aziz(R.A.) initiated a movement for the compilation of the Mubarak Hadeeth of Nabi [sallallahu alayhi wasallam] as there was a fear of it being lost. Eventually this gigantic task was undertaken by six towering scholars of Islaam. One of them was ........ Imaam Abu Isa Muhammed ibn Isa Tirmizi (R.A.)

Having grown up in an environment of learning, together with possessing many great qualities naturally drove Imaam Tirmizi (R.A.) to dedicate his life totally towards the field of Hadith. He obtained his basic knowledge at home and later travelled to far off lands in search of this great science. He studied Hadith under great personalities such as Imaam Bukhari (R.A.), Imaam Muslim (R.A.) and Imaam Abu Dawood (R.A.). In some narrations Imaam Bukhari and Imaam Muslim (R.A.) are his students as well. Once Imaam Bukhari (R.A.) mentioned to him "I have benefited more from you than you have benefitted from me." Moosa ibn Alaq (R.A.) once said : "When Imaam Bukhari passed away, he left no one in Khurasaan who compared with Abu Isa Tirmizi (R.A.) in Ilm, memory, piety and abstinence." According to Abdullah ibn Muhammed Al-Ansaari (R.A.), Imaam Tirmizi's Al-Jami is more beneficial than the works of Bukhari and Muslim (R.A.) since their compilations can only be understood by a very deep sighted scholar whereas Al Jami can be understood by both the scholar and the lay man. Imaam Tirmizi (R.A.) said that he compiled this book and presented it to the learned of Hejaaz, Iraaq and Khuraasaan and they were pleased with it. Who ever has this book in his home, it is as though he has the Prophet [sallallahu alyhi wasallam] speaking to him there.

His remarkable memory:
Imaam Tirmizi (R.A.) had an exceptionally remarkable memory. If he heard something once he never forgot it. Once on his way to Makkah, Imaam Tirmizi(R.A.) met a Muhadith from whom he had previously copied two chapters of hadith. Thinking that he had the notes with him he asked the Muhadith if he would allow him to read out these two chapters so that he may correct any errors. After realizing that he did not have those notes with him he took a blank piece of paper and read out the entire two parts from memory. When the Muhadith realized what he was doing he rebuked Imam Tirmizi (R.A.) saying: "Have you no shame, Why are you wasting my time." Imaam Tirmizi (R.A.) assured him that he had committed all the ahadith to memory. The Muhadith was not convinced, even though he recited all the Ahadith from memory. Imaam Tirmizi (R.A.) requested him to recite to him some other Ahadith. The Muhaddith recited 40 ahadith which Imaam Tirmizi (R.A.) repeated without making a single error, thus showing his remarkable power of committing Ahadith to memory.

Another incident has been recorded by Hakeemul Ummat (R.A.) in his Al-Misk-us-Zaki, depicting the profound memory of Imaam Tirmizi (R.A.). He writes:"Imaam Tirmizi (R.A.) had lost his sight towards the latter portion of his life. Once whilst on a journey, at a certain point he bowed his head. When asked as to why he did this, he replied: "Is there not a tree here whose branches hang over in such a manner that it harms those who are passing by." They answered in the negative. He was quite shocked when he heard this as he distinctly remembered there being a tree and was worried as to whether his memory was failing him or not. He stopped the caravan immediately and asked his companions to enquire from the locals whether a tree had existed there or not. "If it is established that no tree existed then I will stop narrating the Hadith of Nabi [sallallahu alyhi wasallam] due to my weak memory." On inquiry it was shown to them that a tree had previously existed over there but due to it being a hindrance to travelers it was removed."

Imaam Tirmizi (R.A.) had a large number of students from all over the world. The most famous amongst them were Haysam ibn Kulaib (R.A.), Abul Abbaas (R.A.) and Muhammed ibn Ahmed (R.A.) Shah Abdul Aziz (R.A.) describes Imaam Tirmizi (R.A.) in the following words: "His memory was unique and his piety and fear of Allah Ta'la was of a very high caliber. He would cry so much out of the fear of Allah, that towards the end of his life he lost his sight."

According to Ibn Taimiya (R.A.) and Shah Waliullah (R.A.), Imaam Timizi (R.A.) was an independent Jurist (Mujtahid). Hazrat Moulana Anwar Shah Kashmiri (R.A.) is of the opinion that he was a Shafi.

In the year 279 A.H. in a village called Bawag at the ripe age of 70 , Imaam Tirmizi (R.A.) left this temporary abode for the ever lasting life of the hereafter. May Allah Ta'ala fill his Qabar with Noor. Aameen. The enormity of his sacrifices and the extent to which he served Deen can never be fully comprehended.

Many books of hadith were compiled before Imaam Tirmizi (R.A.) decided to compile His Al-Jami. Dawood Tayalisi (R.A.) and Ahmed ibn Hambal (R.A.) had compiled books consisting of both authentic and weak Ahadith. Later Imaam Bukhari (R.A.) compiled his Sahih Bukhari and omitted all weak narrations from it. His main objective was to derive masail / laws from the relevant Ahadith. Later Muslim (R.A.) compiled his book concentrating mainly on the Isnaad (different chain of narrators). Hazrat Imaam Nasai's aim was to mention the discrepancies of the hadith whilst Abu Dawood (R.A.) prepared such a book which became the basis for the Fuqaha. Imaam Tirmizi (R.A.) had combined the styles of Bukhari, Muslim, Abu Dawood and Nasai (R.A.) by mentioning the discrepancies regarding the narrators and also making his compilation a basis for the Jurists.
Extract from Life and works of Imam Tirmizi (RA) from Central-Mosque.com

Read Shamaa-il Tirmidhi online

Related Posts:
Imam Bukhari (r.a)
Imam Muslim (r.a)
Abu Dawud (r.a)
Imam an-Nasa'i (r.a)
Imam ibn Majah (r.a)
Abdullah ibn Mubarak (r.a)

Effects of worship in Ramadhan

EFFECTS OF WORSHIP IN RAMADHAN
Experience has shown that effects of ibaadat (worship) in the blessed month of Ramadhan remain upon the remainder of the year. Whomsoever practises any virtue informally therein, ease of performing A’amale Salihah overtakes them thereafter.

Similarly, whoever prevents them self from sinning therein, for the remaining eleven months abstentation will become easy. In reality, prevention from sins in Ramadhan is not too difficult because, it is established that the Shayateen are imprisoned. Consequently, less sinning occurs generally because of removal of this stimulant.

However, sins do not totally disappear because the other orchestrator: one’s nafs (self) is present. Even in this month it will instigate sins but, yes, its schemes will lesson because only one stimulant is now active.

Therefore, the impositions of this one month should be accepted. All parts (of one’s body) should be saved from sin.
Source: Ashrafs Blessings of Ramadhan

Prescription for Spiritual Ills

PRESCRIPTION FOR SPIRITUAL ILLS
Hazrat Shibli (r.a.) went to a Hakim (Indigenous doctor) and asked if he could cure a patient who commits sins regularly.

Nearby a saintly person was sitting and collecting the straws and was murmuring: "Those who adore You (Allah) collect straws."
He called Hazrat Shibli (r.a.) and gave him the prescription.

"Take the flowers of shyness, the fruits of contentment, root of submissiveness, young shoots of grief, leaves from the tree of truth, the bark of civility and the seeds of politeness. Start grinding them in the grinder of devotion. Add daily the tears of shame. Put this mixture into the pan of your heart and bake it in the oven of fondness. When ready strain it in the strainer of the purity of the heart, mix the sugar of sweet words, cook it on the high flame of love. When the mixture is ready cool it with the air of fear of Allah. Then use it."

source: 20 Lessons for Muslim Women by Maulana Aashiq Elahi
related posts:
Strengthening Ones Iman
Renunciation

Check out Ramadhan Poem post as well.
Duas requested please.
Wasalam

24 Hour Ramadhan Programme

Twenty-four Hour Programme for Ramadhan
Hereunder we suggest a 24- hour programme for the month of Ramadhân. It is an example of spending our time correctly. The programme starts from Maghrib till Maghrib the following day.

• Read: "O You who are Great in Bounties, forgive me", as many times as possible before Iftâr.
  


• Make du’â 5 to 10 minutes before Iftâr. The du’â of a fasting person is readily accepted at this time.
  


• Make Iftâr quickly. Thereafter perform Maghrib (for men with Jamât and for women at home).
  


• After Maghrib perform 6 to 20 Rakâts Awwâbîn Namâz.
  


• Read Surah Tabarak after Maghrib. The benefit of it is that it will save us from the punishment of the grave.
  


• Read Surah Waqiyah. The virtue of it is that it will save one from poverty.
  


• Have supper quickly. Our suggestion is that due to the long days, have a rest for 15 - 20 minutes before Esha, so that one may be fresh for Tarawîh and Esha salâh.
  


• Prepare for Esha before the Esha Azân and proceed for Esha and Tarawîh Salât. Return home immediately after Tarawîh or after any Deeni programme in the Masjid. Do not waste time talking and discussing political and business issues.
  


• On returning home, read Surah Sajdah. Thereafter spend a few minutes with the family and try to sleep as early as possible allowing one to arise, 45-60 minutes before Sehri, for Tahajjud salâh.
  


• Read Tasbeeh-e-Fatimi before sleeping.
  


• Perform at least 4,8, or 12 rakâts Tahajjud salâh, thereafter read the first kalima 100 times and then make du’â before partaking of Suhoor.
  


• Immediately after Sehri proceed to the Masjid for Fajr Salâh. After Fajr recite the Qurân till Ishrâq time.
  


• Perform 2 or 4 Rakâts Ishrâq. The benefit is that your daily work will become easy and you will attain the reward of an accepted Haj. After Ishrâq rest before going to work. People who are self employed should take advantage of this rest and also give their employees this opportunity.
  


• At work or at one's business, one should keep one's tongue moist with Zikr eg. Kalimah Tayyibah, Istighfâr and Durood Shareef. Those who are bay't to a Sheikh should complete their prescribed Zikr.
  


• Try to be early for Zohar Namâz so that one could read the Qurân immediately after one has read the 4 Sunnat-e-Muakkadah before the Jamât Namâz. If possible try to read Qurân after Zohar Namâz as well, depending on how long one's lunch break is.
  


• After completing Asar Namâz, read Durood Shareef at least 100 times and Istighfâr 100 times.
  


• Thereafter spend the balance of the time reciting Qurân till Iftâr time, not forgetting the du’â before Iftâr.
  
  Published by Villa Liza Madrassah, Benoni

Ramadan Fever!

RAMADAN FEVER!
The heat is on! Once a year a dramatic change occurs in the Muslim community. Once a year Icky baby and the Sams becomes Iqbal and Sameera. Off come the baggy jeans, the Nike 180's and the Raiders cap. On come the yellow Shalwar Kameez (clothes most Pakistanis wear), the brylcreamed hairstyle which glues on that terribly uncool Towpee(cap) and in comes the miswak in the top pocket, making you look like something like "Karachi cops".

It's during this HOLY month of Ramadan that we ditch the daytime raves and the frequent visit to the library (and we don't mean for the reference section) and begin to act it out. Icky baby becomes temporarily religious.

It's a sort of spooky feeling. The Mosques are full and you feel good. Good cos' you've done your bit for the year. One by one you scratch the days from your Ramadan timetable that your dad brought back from the Mosque-and then-thank crunchie it's Eid.

Eid Mubarak!

The Mosques again becomes museums for the old and for those deprived "ACHA BACHA"- a good baby. The crease-free shalwar kameez comes off and comes the baggy jeans, whilst the libraries reopen for "business as usual". Just 11 more months of "freedom" to go before the smelly breath season come back with vengeance.

Year after year it goes on, almost as a ritual. You know it's rough. Yet Allah(swt) is Al-Rahman and Al-Raheem as we are told by our parents (who probably also have gone through this). And anyway religion is for the old men in the mosques- with smelly breaths, and beards that sweep the floor everytime they walk from one end of the mosque to the other.

Religion is for those "fundies"(fundamentalists) at school/college, the "weirdoes" who only talk to the opposite sex about the benefits of the Khilafah ruling system or the fallacies of Western ideology such as Capitalism and Marxist Philosophy.(i.e.try saying that in one breath!).

The game
So you go around playing this game. It's like an endless spiral. You think you're a rebel or tough-yet you're just one of the pack- a zombie, conforming to master-plan, when you turn 40s you grow your beard and take your seat in front row of the mosque, invest in a miswak, pack your bags for Hajj, and then everything is gonna be safe!- well no! It doesn't quite work like that. The million dollar question is will you ever turn 40? Game Over.

Suppose you die. Just suppose you snuff it before you turn 40? What then? It could severely damage that master-plan of yours. Alright, the chances may look slim yet the stakes are high. Nobody knows when he or she is going to die. Just suppose you're locked up in a room and there's no way out. Just suppose there's a time bomb-ticket away in this room. Now if this bomb has "6 days" on it you would probably turn "fundy" and spend all six days reading namaz(salah).
Just suppose the bomb had a "?" on it? What then? That's exactly how life is!!! A ticking-bomb with a "?" on it, you never know when it's gonna blow-up. Whereever you are, death will find you. Even if you are in tower built up strong and high!" (Translation of the meaning of the Qu'ran)

30 days or a lifetime? And anyway, even if you do go along with this "dodgy" game, don't you think your Creator will know your intention? Many people have sussed out Islam as a blind faith or and emotional/spiritual/spooky belief which leaves you a contemplating rationally about the meanings of life. Where did you come from? Why are we here? Or the question that puts a dampner on all raves, " what's going to happen to us when we die?"

Islam asks us to answer these vital questions and come to a conclusion, the correct one. Islam doesn't rely on the dodgy culture we are brought up with either from our parents or from the Molvi-Saab(imam). Islam is far from being a "religion" as it is often coined in the media. Islam is a complete system of life- with solutions to all our problems be it for Muslims or non-Muslims.

Check out Islam for yourself and free yourself from this shallow zombie-like culture. Before your credits run out!

Word out!
Remember there is no Life or Dignity without Islam. "O you who believe answer the call of Allah(swt) and His Messenger to that which gives you Life." (8:24)

Rememberance of the people is the disease, and rememberance of Allaah is the cure. Yet how strange is it that we hasten to the disease and not the cure?

Source: Ramadan Fever from Haq Islam.org

Salams
An old email message I thought I'd share with you all.
Comments have been disabled for Ramadan and I have linked the Audio stream to Channel Islam to autoplay on the site, please have a listen, they got some brill programs on it, Mashallah.
Check out:
A suggested timetable for Ramadan by Mujahidah
Preparation for Ramadhan by Simplyislam
Please remember me in your duas in this blessed month.
Wasalam