Sunday, September 24, 2006

Ramadan Mubarak













Salams
Ramadan Mubarak to you all. I hope you're all making the most of it by engaging and increasing in reciting of the Qur'an, performing Salah, Dhikr etc and not merely going round congratulating everyone about the arrival of Ramadan. I won't be posting on the subject of Ramadan on this blog for 2 particular reasons:
  1. lack of time, I want to make best of use of these blessed days and I also have other time consuming commitments
  2. there is already a wealth of information on Ramadan available (listed below are some of them and see the links in my sidebar for more)

Inshallah you will ALL be remembered in my duas during this month and I request for the same also please. May Almighty Allah accept all our good deeds in this month and give us the ability to turn away from sins from now onwards, Ameen.

Ramadan reads:
Ramadan articles by Haq Islam

by Mujahidah an Nafs:
Virtues of Ramadhan
Making the best in Ramadhan
A month of Mercy

by Simply Islam
Merits of Ramadhan
Purpose of Ramadhan
Preparation for Ramadhan
Levels of Worship in Ramadhan
Acts of Worship in Ramadhan

by Umm Zahra
Ramadhan in my own words
Ramadhan Audio
Sunnah of Fasting
Fasting-A Muslim pharmacists view

Thursday, September 21, 2006

Talbina

Volume 7, Book 71, Number 593:
Narrated 'Ursa: Aisha رضى الله عنها used to recommend At-Talbina for the sick and for such a person as grieved over a dead person. She used to say, "I heard Allah's Apostle صلى الله عليه وسلم saying, 'At-Talbina gives rest to the heart of the patient and makes it active and relieves some of his sorrow and grief." [Bukhari]

Volume 7, Book 71, Number 594:
Narrated Hisham's father:
'Aisha رضى الله عنها used to recommend At-Talbina and used to say, "It is disliked (by the patient) although it is beneficial.'' [Bukhari]

'A'isha رضى الله عنها the wife of Allah's Apostle صلى الله عليه وسلم said: When there was any bereavement in her family the women gathered there for condolence and they departed except the members of the family and some selected persons. She asked to prepare talbina in a small couldron and it was cooked and then tharid was prepared and it was poured over talbina, then she said: Eat it, for I heard Allah's Messenger (may peade be upon him) as saying: Talbina gives comfort to the aggrieved heart and it lessens grief. [Muslim]
################################
The barley gruel was especially prepared after boiling barley with milk and sweetened with honey. That preparation was called Talbina.

Monday, September 18, 2006

Imam Nawawi

IMAM NAWAWI [631 - 676 A.H]

Birth and Birth place:

The complete name of Imam Nawawi is Abu Zakaria Mohiuddin Yahya, son of Sharaf An-Nawawi, son of Murry, son of Hassan, son of Hussain, son of Muhammad, son of Juma, son of Hazam. Nawawi refers to Nawa, a place near Damascus, in the suburb of the city of Howran. One of his ancestors named Hazam had settled at this place. Imam Nawawi was born at Nawa in the year 631 A.H. His father, a virtuous and pious man, resolved to arrange for proper and befitting education as he had discovered the symptoms of heavenly intelligence and wisdom in his promising child at an early stage.

Shaikh Yasin bin Yousuf Marakashi, a saintly figure of Nawa says: "I saw Imam Nawawi at Nawa when he was a youth of ten years of age. Other boys of his age used to force him to play with them, but Imam Nawawi would always avoid the play and would remain busy with the recitation of the Noble Qur'an. When they tried to domineer and insisted on his joining their games, he bewailed and expressed his no concern over their foolish action. On observing his sagacity and profundity, a special love and affection developed in my heart for young Nawawi. I approached his teacher and urged him to take exceptional care of this lad as he was to become a great religious scholar and most pious saint of future. His teacher asked whether I was a soothsayer or an astrologer. I told him I am neither soothsayer nor an astrologer but Allah caused me to utter these words." His teacher conveyed this incident to Imam's father and he keeping in view the learning quest of his son, decided to dedicate the life of his son for the service and promotion of the cause of Islamic Faith.

In a short period, Nawawi learnt to read the Holy Qur'an and by that time he nearly had attained puberty. Nawa had no academic or scholarly atmosphere and there were no religious academies or institutes where one could earn excellence in religious learning, so his father took him to Damascus, which was considered the center of learning and scholarship, and the students from far and wide gathered there for schooling. During that period, there were more than three hundred institutes, colleges and universities in Damascus. Imam Nawawi joined Madrasah Rawahiyah which was affiliated with the Ummvi University. The founder and patron of this Madrasah was a trader named Zakiuddin Abul-Qassim who was known as Ibn Rawahah. Madrasah was named after him. Noted and eminent teachers of the period taught in that Madrasah. Imam Nawawi says, "I studied in this institution for two years. During my stay in Madrasah Rawahiyah, I never had complete rest and lived on the limited food supplied by the institution." As a routine he used to sleep very little at night. When it became irresistible as a human being, he would lean and slumber for a while against the support of books. After a short duration he would again be hard at his scholastic pursuits.

His Teachers and Guides:

During his stay at Damascus, he studied from more than twenty celebrated teachers. These teachers were regarded as masters and authority of their subject field and disciplines they taught. Imam studied Hadith, Islamic Jurisprudence, its principles, syntax and Etymology from great scholars of his time. Abu Ibrahim Ishaq bin Ahmad AI-Maghribi, Abu Muhammad Abdur-Rahman bin Ibrahim Al-Fazari, Radiyuddin Abu Ishaq Ibrahim bin Abu Hafs Umar bin Mudar Al-Mudari, Abu Ishaq Ibrahim bin Isa Al-Muradi, Abul-Baqa Khalid bin Yusuf An-Nablusi, Abul-Abbas Ahmad bin Salim Al-Misri, Abu Abdullah Al-Jiyani, Abul-Fath Umar bin Bandar, Abu Muhammad At-Tanukhi, Sharafuddin Abdul-Aziz bin Muhammad Al-Ansari, Abul-Faraj Abdur-Rahman bin Muhammad bin Ahmad Al-Maqdisi, Abul-Fada'il Sallar bin Al-Hasan Al Arbali etc.

His Students:

There were hundreds of Imam's students, among them some notables are: Alauddin bin Attar, Ibn Abbas Ahmad bin Ibrahim, Abul-Abbas Al-Ja'fari, Abul-Abbas Ahmad bin Farah, Rashid Ismail bin Mu'allim Al-Hanafi, Abu Abdullah Al-Hanbali, AbulAbbas Al-Wasti, Jamaluddin Sulaiman bin Omar Az-Zar'i, AbulFaraj Abdur-Rahman bin Muhammad bin Abdul-Hamid AlMaqdisi, Badr Muhammad bin Ibrahim, Shamsuddin Muhammad bin Abu Bakr, Ash-Shihab Muhammad bin Abdul-Khaliq, Hibatullah Al-Barizi, Abul-Hajjaj Yusuf bin Az-Zaki etc.

His Desire and Crave for Learning:

Imam Nawawi had endless thirst for knowledge, and it can be guessed from his daily practice of studies. He used to read daily twelve lessons and write explanation and commentary of every lesson and also made important additions. Whatever the book he read, he put down the marginal notes and explanations on that book. His intelligence, hard work, love, devotion and absorption in his-studies amazed his teachers and they become fond of him and began to praise and admire him. According to Imam Dhahabi, Imam Nawawi's concentration and absorption in academic love gained proverbial fame. He had devoted all his time for learning and scholarship. Other than reading and writing, he spent his time contemplating on the interacted and complex issues and in finding their solutions. Allah had also conferred upon him the gift of fast memory and depth of thought, and he who makes the right use of this boon, there remains no doubt in his sagacity and discernment. Imam Nawawi made full benefit of his God given qualities and potentialities and earned the highest degree of honor.

Imam's Simplicity and Niceness of Manners:

The learned persons, elite of the society and the public greatly respected the Imam on account of his piety, learning and excellent character. He used simple dress and ate simple food. Devout scholars do not care about worldly chattels, they give preference to religious and academic pursuits, propagation of Faith etc. They experience more heavenly delight and joy in such activities than those who seek satisfaction in luxurious foods, precious clothes and other worldly things. Imam Nawawi had a prominent place among the erudite notables of his age. He was God-fearing person having illustrious and glorious aims regarding propagation of Faith. Celebrated Sheikh Mohiuddin expresses his impression about Imam Nawawi as thus:
"Imam Nawawi had three distinctive commendable qualities in his person. If anybody have only one out of these three, people return to him in abundance for guidance. First, having knowledge and its dissemination. Second, to evade completely from the worldly inclinations, and the third, inviting to all that is good (Islam) enjoining Al-Ma'ruf [i.e., Islamic Monotheism and all that Islam orders one to do] and forbidding Al-Munkar [polytheism and disbelief and all that Islam has forbidden]. Imam Nawawi had all three in him."

His works and his death:

The learned Imam had a very short life but even during this short period, he had written a large number of books on different subjects. Every work of the Imam is a masterwork and a treasure of knowledge. Hundreds and thousands of people benefit from these works.

Some of the Prestigious Works of Imam Nawawi are:

Commentary on Sahih Al-Bukhari, Al-Minhaj fi Sharh Sahih Muslim, Riyad-us-Saliheen, Kitab-ur-Raudah, Commentary on Mohadhdhab, Tahdhib-ul-Asma was-Sifat, Kitab-ul-Adhkar, Arba'een, At-Taqreeb fi Ilmil-Hadith wal-Irshad fihi, Kitab-ulMubhamat, At-Tibyan, Al-Idah fi Manasikil-Hajj, Sharh Sahih AlBukhari (Naqis), Sharh Sunan Abi Dawud (Naqis), Tabaqat Ash Shafi'iyah, Muhimmatul-Ahkam, Manaqib-ush-Shafi'i, Bustan-ulArifeen, Al-Khulasatu fil-Hadith, Mukhtasar At-Tirmidhi, A1Masa'il Al-Manthurah, Al-'Umdah fi Tashihit-Tanbih and others.

After spending 28 years of age, Imam Nawawi returned to his hometown. Soon after his arrival at Nawa, he felt ill and died. Imam Nawawi is still living in the hearts of Muslims. His works are of everlasting value. May Allah bless him.
Source: Central Mosque

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

Wednesday, September 13, 2006

Avoidance of Sins

Religion consists of two parts, the leaving undone of what is forbidden and the performance of duties. Of these the setting aside of what is forbidden is the weightier, for the duties or acts of obedience are within the power of everyone, but only the upright are able to set aside their appetites. For that reason Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
'The true flight or Hijrah is the flight from evil, and the real Holy War or jihad is the warfare against one's passions.'

You disobey or sin against Allah only through the parts of your body. Yet these are a gift to you from Allah and a trust committed to you. To employ Allah's gift in order to sin against Him is the height of ingratitude; to betray the trust which Allah committed to you is the height of presumption. The parts of your body are your subjects; see to it, then, how you rule over them. 'Each of you is a ruler, and each of you is responsible for those he rules over.'

All the parts of your body will bear witness against you in the courts of resurrection, with voluble and sharp, that is, eloquent, tongue, declaring your faults before the chief of the creatures. Allah most high says:
'On a day when their tongues and hands and feet will bear witness against them for what they have been doing.'[Qur'an 24,24]

'Today we shall set a seal upon their mouths and their hands will speak to Us, and their feet will testify what they have been piling up.' [Qur'an 36,65]

extract from The Faith and Practice of Al-Ghazali by W Montgomery Watt

Please visit the Ramadan articles site.
May Allah give us the ability to make use of the upcoming blessed month of Ramadan to avoid sins, distance ourselves from Hellfire and draw closer to attaining jannah for the hereafter, ameen.
Wasalam

Wednesday, September 06, 2006

Keeping Appointments

In Surah Al-Maidah, Allah reminds us:
يَا أَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ أَوْفُواْ بِٱلْعُقُودِ
"O you who believe! Fulfill your Promises!" [5:1]

In Surah Al-Maryam, Allah praises Prophet Ismail,
َ إِنَّهُ كَانَ صَادِقَ ٱلْوَعْدِ وَكَانَ رَسُولاً نَّبِيّا
"He was true to his promise, He was a Messenger and a Prophet." [19:54]

By being punctual, you will be responding to the call of Allah in Surah Al-Israa,
وَأَوْفُواْ بِالْعَهْدِ إِنَّ ٱلْعَهْدَ كَانَ مَسْؤُولاً
"And keep the promise; the promise is a responsibility!" [17:34]

Keeping appointments is vital to our lives. Time is the most precious commodity; once wasted, it can never be recovered.

If we make an appointment, we should do our utmost to keep this appointment. This is the right of the other persons who, despite other commitments, favored you with a part of their valuable time.

If you do not come on time, not only have you disrupted their schedule but you have also marred your image and reputation. If your punctuality becomes poor, you will lose people's respect.

Our kind Prophet (sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam) once gave an appointment to one of his companions. The companion came three days later. The Prophet (sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam) gently told him, "You have caused me some trouble. I have been waiting for you for three days."

Today, fast and reliable means of communication are available everywhere. Therefore, as soon as one realizes one will be unable to make it to an appointment, one should inform the other parties to enable them to utilize their time elsewhere.

Do not be careless or irresponsible assuming that since the appointment is relatively unimportant, it does not merit a notice or an apology! Cancel it in advance, if required.

Never make a promise intending not to keep it.

Often you invite a person to a gathering and hear the following in response, "Yes, In-sha-Allah (God willing) I will be there, "(knowing full well he has no intention of being there) and he or she never shows up! This is forbidden in Islam, as it falls within lying and hypocrisy.

The Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam) said,"Three traits single out a hypocrite, even if he prays of fasts and claims to be a Muslim:
(1) If he speaks, he lies;
(2) if he makes a promise, he does not keep it;
(3) if he is entrusted, he betrays the trust."
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

Imam Al-Ghazali (Rahmatullah alayh) in Al-Ihya explains that this Hadith is applicable to those who promise while intending not to fulfill it, or those who, without excuse, decide later not to fulfill the promise.

Therefore, we should be careful not to present a false excuse, as Allah knows our thoughts and intentions.

[Compiled from "Islamic Manners" by Sheikh Abdul Fattah]
Source: Al-Islaah publications