Fasting in Shawwal
Posted by: Last Island on: October 8, 2008
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“Say (O Muhammad): ‘If you (really) love Allah then follow me, Allaah will love you and forgive you your sins. And Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.” [surah ali-Imran, 3: 31]
This is a beautiful verse, named by some of the salaf as “the verse of the test”, as it tests how true one’s love of Allaah is. They explained that if one loves Allah, then he must show that in his/her following of the Prophet Muhammad (salAllahu alayhi wasalam). The verse tells us that those who follow the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) if sincere, can insha’Allah expect the following two:
- Allah (ta`ala) loving them
- Allah (ta`ala) forgiving their sins.
Abu Ayyub al-Ansari narrated that Allah’s Messenger (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said:
“He who fasts Ramadan, and six of Shawwal, it will be (in terms of rewards) as if the fasted a whole year.” [Muslim, at-Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud, Ahmad, Ibn Majah]
So this is an established sunnah, which carries a great reward.
In commenting on the above mentioned hadith, As-San’ani said in Subul us-Salam:
“If the thirty days of Ramadan fasting are assimilated with the six days of fasting in Shawwal, it altogether makes 36 days. According to Shari`ah, each virtue is rewarded ten times. Therefore, if we multiply 36 with 10, it makes 360, a number which equals the days of a year. Some scholars are of the opinion that these six days of fasting in Shawwal must be completed in a continuous order right after the end of Ramadan. Others believe that is enough to merely complete six days of fasting in Shawwal (in any order, either successive or with intervals), an opinion which is deemed to be correct.”
We may also fast on Mondays and Thursdays, as in that case we would be following another Sunnah: A’isha (radiAllahu anha) narrated:
“The Messenger of Allah (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) used to fast Mondays and Thursdays”. [an-Nasa'i]
If it is easier for one to fast on weekends, then in that case one would still be following another sunnah at the same time: Umm Salama (radiAllahu anha)narrated that Allah’s Messenger used to fast mostly on Saturday and Sunday, and he used to say:
“They are the festival days for the mushrikeen, and I like to act contrary to them.”
The Meaning of Imamah in Islam
Posted by: Last Island on: October 2, 2008
“The most detrimental and divisive problems the Muslims face today is that so many ignorant, but rich, Muslims are trying to give opinions on Islamic issues for which they are not qualified to do. This is a situation which effects even the non-Muslims, who are generally left to form totally inaccurate concepts which are looked upon as dogma or authentic.”
The conditions of the Imamate are actually based on the Divine Permission from Allah Ta’ala, and commissioned from Sayyidina Rasulullah (Sallallahu ‘alaihi wa Sallam), the Holy Last Messenger. What this means is that with the physical departure of the Holy Last Messenger of Allah, Muhammad bin Abdullah (Sallallahu ‘alaihi wa Sallam) the station or rank of Risalah (Messengership) and also the Divine Revelation sent to Messengers (Wahi) from Almighty Allah are complete, and discontinued. The Creator has promised in His Revelations sent to man through His Messengers that He will not leave man without Guidance (which comes in the form of true dreams and pious beholdings), which we know as Mubashirat and Mushahidat (respectively). Also, the Creator has promised not to leave mankind without leadership, which would come in the form of the Imamate, that had been established by the progenitor of all religions, Nabi Ibrahim (alaihis-Salaam) in the Du’aa (prayer) that he made while building the Holy Ka’bah with his son, Hadrat Isma’il (alaihis-Salaam):
When Ibrahim was tested by his Rabb (Allah) in certain matters and completed it (the test with success), (it was) said (unto him by Allah): “I shall raise ye as Imam of Mankind.” (Ibrahim said): “And from my descendants too?” (Allah) said, “My Promise shall not be for Zalimeen (evil doers).” (Holy Qur’an, Surah al-Baqarah, ayat 124)
Mind it, he was already a Messenger, therefore Imamate is total leadership, unlike Risalah of many Messengers, whose message or mission was restricted to a particular clan, community, social, or religious aspect of life. Imamate is a function in totality, and it is not necessary for every Messenger to be an Imam, or every Imam to be a Messenger.
Thus, Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala chose the house of Hadrat Ibrahim for Imamate, and amongst his descendants a majority of them were either Messengers or Imams, until the manifestation of the one for whom Sayyidina Ibrahim (alaihis-Salaam) had made Du’a, the Holy Last Messenger, Muhammad (Sallallahu ‘alaihi wa Sallam), who Allah Ta’ala raised as Imam of Mursaleen (Messengers) and gave Hikmah (Wisdom), Rahmah (Mercy), and Generosity through his descendants, and made them Imams of all mankind, and thus purified them of all spiritual diseases, such as polytheism, worldly lusts, etc. Allah says in the Holy Qur’an:
“Allah Desires to remove Rijis (spiritual impurities) O’ Ye Ahlul-Bayt, so as to keep you pure (outwardly and inwardly). (Surah al-Ahzab, ayat 33)
Therefore, the Imamate by Divine Right must come from the righteous Imam, a descendant of the family of Hadrat Ibrahim (alaihis-Salaam) and his eldest son, Hadrat Isma’il (alaihis-Salaam), and through the finality of Messengerhood, Sayyidina Muhammad (Sallallahu ‘alaihi wa Sallam) and continuing through his family, namely, by the marriage of his cousin, Hadrat Ali Murtaza to his daughter, the most blessed of ladies, Hadrat Sayyidah Fatimah az-Zahra, the Lady of Paradise (Radiy Allahu ta’ala ‘anhuma). Any person laying claim to the Imamate although such an individual is not of the family of the Holy Last Messenger of Allah (Sallallahu ‘alaihi wa Sallam) through either of his noble grandsons, The Imamain Sayyidain, Hadrat Imam al-Hasan and Hadrat al-Husain [millions of Salaams be upon them], has laid a claim of falsehood.
We find twelve famous A’immah of the Ummah issuing forth for the establishing of Shari’ah, and discipline of Tariqah. Other than Imamian Hasan and Husain (Radhiyallahu ‘anhuma), from amongst them were: Imam Zainul-Abidin Ali ibn al-Husain ibn Ali ibn Abu Talib (i.e., the grandson of Hadrat Ali), who was followed by Imam Muhammad al-Baqir, Imam Ja’far al-Sadiq, Imam Musa al-Kazim, Imam Ali al-Reza, Imam Muhammad al-Taqi, and Imam Ali al-Naqi (radiyallahu ‘anhum). All of the Twelve Imams were highly honored leaders of Muslims who fought against tyrants and oppressors. The majority of them were martyred, and all Muslims revere and honor them.
The Holy Last Messenger (Sallallahu ‘alaihi wa Sallam) has said:
“Verily, I am leaving among you two things to which if you adhere, you will never be misguided after me. One of the two is greater than the other: The Book of Allah, a rope extended from Heaven towards the Earth; and my ‘Itrit (descendants), the people of my house (Itrit; i.e.,Ahlul-Bayt). And they will never become separate till they have come to the Fountain (al-Kauthar). So see how you should differ from me about them.” (Tirmidhi)
Thus, the righteous descendants will always be chosen by Allah Ta’ala as Imam. Now we see that the role of Imamate is very distinctive, and follows a pattern already illustrated by the Holy Last Messenger (Sallallahu ‘alaihi wa Sallam). Mercy, generosity, and tolerance appear as an uppermost and salient feature of their character.
It has been narrated by Hudhaifa bin al-Yaman, who said he asked the Holy Messenger (Sallallahu ‘alaihi wa Sallam):
“Will there be a bad time after good time (era).” He said “Yes.” I said, “How?” whereupon he said: “There will be leaders who will not be led by my Guidance (Holy Qur’an and the Sunnah of Nabi Muhammad, Sallallahu alaihi wa Sallam), and who will not adopt my way. There will be among them (so-called leaders and Imams) men who will have hearts of devils in the bodies of human beings.” I said: “what shall I do, Ya Rasulullah, if I happen to live in that time?” He replied: “You will listen to Amir (Commander) and carry out his order, even if your back is flogged and your wealth is snatched, you should hear and obey.”
The true Imam never interprets the Law according to his own desires, nor does he change the Law to accommodate the people (special interest groups) nor will he endeavor to make the law palatable to them. The main characteristic of the Allah-chosen Imam is that in him rests the epitome of the Mercy of Allah Almighty for all the people, regardless of color, national origin, or Madhhab.
These are the immutable factors that establish the Imamate. With all the factors in place and the individual fulfilling all specifications the station or rank of the individual is that of “Imam,” or “Mujaddid,” and verily it is a station which the enemies of Allah, the Angels, and Jinn obey. They (the enemies of Allah) fear the station because it is divine, and has nothing to do with man’s choice, nor does the Allah-chosen Imam need or seek the approval of man. So this Divinely-arranged support is manifested, and it becomes necessary for the oppressors of men to rise in opposition of the Murshid-e-Kamil (Perfect Guide). Keeping this in mind, one can easily understand why the unjust heathens of the world are struggling so desperately to install and support the ideology of these false Imams.
People of the Ditch: Surah Al-Burooj
Posted by: Last Island on: October 2, 2008
In numerous places in the Qur’aan, Allah speaks about incidents about people who lived in ancient times. One such people are a group commonly known as ‘The People of the Ditch‘. They are referred to in the following aayaat of the Qur’aan, in Sooratul-Burooj:
Cursed were the People Of the Ditch. Fire supplied [abundantly] with fuel, When they sat by it [the Fire]. And they witnessed what they were doing against the Believers [i.e.burning them]. They had nothing against them except that they believed in Allah, the Almighty, Worthy of all praise! The One to Whom belongs the dominion of the Heavens and the earth. And Allah is Witness over everything. Verily those who put to trial the believing men and the believing women [by torturing them and burning them] and then do not turn in Repentance will have the torment of Hell and they will have the Punishment of the Burning Fire. [85:4-10]
Further detail regarding the People of the Ditch and on explanation of these aayahs can be found in the following ahadeeth of the Prophet (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam). He said:
Among the people before you, there was a king and he had a sorcerer. When the sorcerer become old, he said to the king, ‘I have now become an old man; get me a boy so that I may teach him sorcery”. So the king sent him a boy to teach him sorcery. Whenever the boy proceeded to the sorcerer he sat with a monk who was on the way and he listened to his talks and used to admire them. So when he went to the sorcerer he passed by the monk and sat there with him and on visiting the sorcerer the latter thrashed him. So the boy complained about that to the monk. The monk said to him, “Whenever you are afraid of the sorcerer soy to him; My people kept me busy And whenever you are afraid of your people, say to them; The sorcerer kept me busy” So the boy carried on like that (For a period].
(Then one day) there come [on the main road] a huge creature (animal), and the people were unable to pass by. The boy said, “Today I will know whether the sorcerer is better or the monk is better.” So he took a stone and said, “0 Allah! If the deeds and actions of the monk are more liked by You better than those of the sorcerer then kill this creature so that the people can, cross [the road)." Then he hit (it) with the stone and it was killed, and the people passed [the road). The boy come to the monk and informed him about it. The monk said to him, "0 my son! Today you are better than I, you have achieved what I see! And you will be put to trial and in case you are put to trial, do not inform [them) about me." The boy used to treat the people suffering from born-blindness, leprosy leucodermia and other diseases. A blind courtier of the King heard about the boy. He came and brought a number of gifts for the boy and said, "All these gifts are for you on condition that you cure me." The boy said, "I do not cure anybody; it is Allah [alone) who cures people. So if you believe in Allah and invoke Allah, He will cure you." He then believed in Allah and Allah cured him.
Later the courtier come to the king and sat at the place where he used to sit before. The king asked him, "Who has given you back your sight?' The courtier said, "My Lord, Allah!" The king said, "Do you have another Lord besides me?" The courtier sold, "My Lord and your Lord is Allah I" The king got hold of him and kept on tormenting him until he informed him about the boy. So the boy was brought. The king said to the boy, '0 boy! Has your [knowledge of) sorcery reached to the extent that you can cure born-blinds, lepers, leucocdermic patients and do such and such?" The boy replied, "I do not cure anybody it is only Allah who cures." Then the king got hold of him and kept on tormenting him till he informed him about the monk. And the monk was brought and it was said to him, "Give up your Religion" The monk refused to turn apostate. Then the king ordered a sow and it was put in the middle of his (the monk's) scalp and was sawn, till he fell, cut in two pieces. Then that courtier was brought and it was said to him, "Give up your religion I" The courtier refused to turn apostate. So the saw was put in the middle of his scalp and was sawn, till he fell cut in two pieces. Then the boy was brought, and it was said to him, "Give up your religion!" The boy refused to turn apostate. So the King ordered some of his courtiers to take the boy to such and such a mountain, saying, "Then ascend up the mountain with him till you reach its top. Then see if he turns apostate, otherwise throw him down from its top." They took him, ascended up the mountain, and the boy said, "0 Allah Save me from them by anything You wish" So the mountain shook and all of them tell down and the boy came walking to the king. The king asked him, "What did your companions do?" The boy said, 'Allah saved me from them."
The King then ordered some of his courtiers to take the boy on board a boat into the middle of the sea, saying, "Then if he turns apostate (all well and good], otherwise toss him into the sea.” So they took him and he said, “0 Allah! Save me from them by anything You wish.” So the boat capsized and all the courtiers) were drowned. The boy then came walking to the king. The King said, “What did your companions do?” The boy replied, ‘Allah saved me ham them.” And he further said to the king, “You cannot kill me till you do what I command” The King said, “What is that (command)?” The boy said, “Gather all the people in an upland place, and fasten me over the trunk of a tree. Then take an arrow from my quiver and fix it in the bow and say: ‘In the Name of Allah, the Lord of the boy’ and shoot (at me). If you do that, you will kill me.” So the king gathered the people in an upland place and fastened the boy over a tree-trunk, took on arrow from his quiver, fixed it in the bow and said, “‘In the Name of Allah, the Lord of the boy’, and shot the arrow. The arrow hit over the temple of the boy, and the boy put his hand over the temple at the point where the arrow hit and then died. The people proclaimed, “We have believed in the Lord of the boy! We have believed in the Lord of the boy! We have believed in the Lord of the boy!” The king came and it was said to him, “That is the thing which you were afraid of, by Allah! The thing which you were afraid of has befallen you: the people have believed [in Allah]!”
So he ordered for deep ditches to be dug at the entrances of the roads and it was done. Then fire was kindled in those ditches, and the king ordered that whoever did not turn apostate be cast into the ditches, and it was done. Then there came a woman with her baby. She nearly retreated back from the ditch [i.e. turned apostate] but the baby [spoke and] said, “0 mother! Be patient, you are on the Truth!” (So she threw herself in the ditch of the fire along with her child, to be with the martyrs in Al-Jannah).” [Saheeh Muslim]
This is the inspiring story of a boy who believed in Allah, remained steadfast against the unbelieving king and gave up his life for the sake of conveying the message of Tawheed to his people. Appropriately, this story was revealed in Makkah at a time when the Makkah pagans were doing their best to annihilate the Muslims and make them return to disbelief. This Soorah, and the explanatory hadeeth along with it, gave them a timely reminder that the persecutors are not beyond the watch of Allah, and in the end, victory will always be theirs.
There are many beneficial points which we too can pick up from this story. It tells us for example, that if someone sincerely seeks the Guidance, then Allah will bestow it upon him, just as Allah guided the boy when he sought Allah’s help in deciding between the sorcerer and the monk. Even though the boy used to admire the teachings of the monk, he did not simply rely on his own personal judgment to decide the important matter of who to take Ilm (knowledge) from. Instead, he beseeched Allah just as we too have been commanded to beseech Allah’s Aid:
“You alone we worship end You alone we ask for help.” [Al-Faatihah 5]
So seeking Allah’s help is not only for worldly matters (eg. passing exams, removing debts etc.], but we should also ask Allah to help us in matters of worship to increase our eemaan, to purify our intentions, to guide us to the best teachers and the best books etc).
PATIENCE AND SUCCESS
Clearly therefore, real success and true victory is achieving strong eemaan; that unshakable faith and conviction which can withstand all pressures and all obstacles. One who achieves this unwavering eernaan – such a person – even if he fails to witness Allah’s Law being established on earth; even if he does not get a single opportunity to fight in jihad.and liberate the Muslim lands from tyranny and oppression; even if he himself is slain at the hands of the disbelievers – then he has still succeeded, since no one and no thing was able to sway him from the Truth. And indeed the disbelievers wish for nothing more than to turn us back from our religion.
Thus we should never lose sight of the real goal and the ultimate triumph. We may never get to the battlefields and be slain for the sake of Allah, even though we ardently desire that. We may never be able to guide a single person to the Straight Path, even though we sincerely seek that. We may feel that we haven’t made the slightest contribution to achieving victory for Allah’s Deen, though we have done our best to obtain that. Yet this does not mean that we have failed. Remember that there were Prophets before us who were not able to guide a single person to Tawheed by Allah’s Permission, but in the Hereafter they will be on thrones raised high, in gardens of bliss. The most important thing is that we have safeguarded our eeman and striven hard.
“Verily those who believe and do good deeds,
For them will be Gardens under which rivers flow.
That is the Great Success.” [Al-Burooj (85):11]
May Allah give victory, eeman and patience to the Muslims, Aameen.
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Last Island's Weblog
- Having Hope in the Mercy of Allah
- Conversation
- Story of Hazrat Nuh Nooh (PBUH)
- Fasting in Shawwal
- The Meaning of Imamah in Islam
- People of the Ditch: Surah Al-Burooj
- Fasting and Health Care
- Exerting Oneself During The Last Ten Days Of Ramadhaan
- Making the Quran your reference point
- Punishment for what has been earned
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