“And We have certainly made the Quran easy to remember. So is there anyone who will be mindful?” (Qur’an 54:40)
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Ramadan Day 28: How to form a meaningful relationship with the Qur’an.
*28th of Ramadan* ——————————– *Heart Illness: Obeying satan* Allah says: “Did I not command you, O Children of Adam, not to follow Satan, for he is truly your sworn enemy.” (Qur’an 36:60)
The scholars mention that satan has ways and openings to deceive people like: First the devil tries to drag the person to denying the existence of Allah, by saying: the universe happened by accident, you should take a medium between you and Allah…etc
If the devil couldn’t go through the previous opening he will try to come through innovations, which is by adding things to the religion that are not in the religion.
The third opening is the aspect of major sins, by convincing the Muslim that as long as he believes in Allah it’s fine to commit major sins.
If the person avoids major sins, the devil will try to come through the aspect of minor sins, by telling the person: you are a believer and you avoid major sins, so it’s fine if you do small minor sins like glimpsing at women or insulting others, so when it becomes a habit, it opens the door of major sins, *do not despise minor sins, as mountains are made up of stones*
If the Muslim has strong faith and avoids all sins, the next opening will be through increasing in permissible things, by convincing him for example that his car is old so he should buy a more expensive car…and so on…until this person is used to luxury and forgets to spend his wealth in obedience.
Instead of his thinking to be for the priorities of the Ummah and the might of Islam, you see him thinking about markets, perfumes, clothes and garments, and when these people meet, their speech is basically: “The fabric of your clothes is beautiful, where did you buy it from?” and the talk becomes about cars and clothes, is it Haram? No, but it shouldn’t be at the expense of more important things, until the mind is not busy with important things but busy with recreation, recreation and recreation.
“By men who are not distracted—either by buying or selling—from Allah’s remembrance, or performing prayer, or paying alms-tax. They fear a Day when hearts and eyes will tremble.” (Qur’an 24:37)
Finally if this person is righteous, the last resort for the devil is to try and lower the reward of the Muslim from doing the important to the less important.
*Walayah and Bara’ah of monotheism and worship* We have mentioned some issues related to walayah and bara’ah.
Today will see another classification in walayah and bara’ah based on the reason for walayah:
Walayah for the sake of monotheism: This type is a part of the creed of the Muslim, under this classification is walayat al jumlah and walayat al haqiqah, because these two types are obligated with a certain text so denying this type puts the person out of the circle of Islam because it means denying a certain text Walayah for the sake of obedience: This type is a form of worship which is walayat ad dahir, and it’s to ally with people based on their appearance to you, so it’s a practical demand, but whoever denys this type is on Kufr Ni’ma only unlike the previous type.
*prostration of recitation* Sujud tilawah: is a single prostration performed by a person who recites a verse of prostration in the Qur’an.
Its ruling: obligatory in the opinion of Shaykh Ahmed Al Khalili (h), recommended in the opinion of Shaykh Saeed Al Qannoobi (h), the latter is the opinion of most our scholars.
The verses of prostration: There is a difference of opinion between our scholars on the verses of (Annajm, Al inshiqaq and Al alaq) the opinion of the two shaykhs is that they include prostration, the second prostration in Surat Al hajj isn’t proven so in total there are 14 positions for prostration in:
When performing Sujud tilawah you should be upon Wudu’ and this is the safee opinion.
You should perform sujud tilawah if you recite a prostration verse or listen to it, when repeating the verse to memorize it, it’s enough to prostrate ones, it’s not necessary to perform the prostration when saying the verse with the intention of quoting it, for example in speeches. Allah knows best.
“Indeed, We have made it an Arabic Qur’an that you might understand.”(Qur’an 43:3)
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For many, the last 10 days of Ramadan will be spent doing extra prayers, late night vigils, reading of the Qur’an, finding charitable causes, time with family and iktikaaf (overnight) stay in the masjid.
Yet, for others, the last 10 days of Ramadan presents a sort of moral dilemma.
So here we are. Attacking Shaykh Mufti Menk for breaking Iftar with a Jewish Rabbi. Let’s attack Dr. Jonathan Brown for writing the book “Islam & Blackness” because human beings shouldn’t be writing books about corals in the coral reef! You aren’t a coral!
And now attacking Shaykh Hamza Yusuf for the same beliefs that the attackers in reality themselves hold! Namely, their baseless assertion that the Qur’an is eternal and uncreated!
“and not subsisting in Allah” Notice how he says that like it’s a good thing!
ٱللَّهُ لَآ إِلَهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ٱلْحَىُّ ٱلْقَيُّومُ (Qur’an 3:2) This one verse in the Qur’an absolutely demolishes the theology of Ibrahim Ibn Mahmud and anyone else who comes along and tries to tell you that Allah (swt) is a compound unity of attributes subsisting and not identical to the essence of Allah (swt).
Al Hayyu and Al Qayyum is what Allah (swt) is. He tells you in clear language in the plain text (dhahir) apparent text that He (ALLAH) Is the Ever Living Self Existing!
You cannot have a self-existing “attribute” called “al qayyum” subsisting! Authubillah min dhalik! (May Allah protect us from that)
We don’t need the real proponents of innovation and speculative theology like Ibrahim Ibn Mahmud, the Athari, to come along later and say other than what the clear text of the Qur’an says.
If the Qur’an is not from the time of the Salaaf Us Salih (then nothing is)!
Why would a well-informed Christian who believes in the Athanasian creed leave their faith for Islam? What are you people really calling to?
This is what these people are calling to. It is this reason why they will not admit what Allah (swt) has clearly stated in the Qur’an:
“Indeed, We have made it an Arabic Qur’an that you might understand.” (Qur’an 43:3)
Give us a single text in the Qur’an where it says it is not made!
Allah (swt) clearly told you that it is!
The reason is that to say that the Qur’an is uncreated is to say that Allah (swt) has an attribute called speech, and his attributes are eternal, and yet they are not identical to his essence, nor other than it. Yet subsisting. So that you end up sounding exactly like this…..
Read it and beware!
Point 5.
“There is little in Berkhof’s explanation of the Trinity that should surprise anyone familiar with the Reformed tradition. He affirms that there is in the Divine Being but one indivisible essence, and that in this Being there are three Divine Persons or individual subsistences (87). On this latter point, Berkhof helpfully reminds us that there are not three individuals in the Godhead, alongside of and separate from each other, but rather “personal self-distinctions within the Divine essence” (87). Perhaps this is why theologians in the Reformed tradition tend to talk of order and operations instead of roles and relationships. The first pair of terms suggests self-distinctions, while the second pair suggests separate individuals.”
Taking a look at the video attack upon Shaykh Hamza Yusuf.
Notice the very first thing this video does. Does it go to the Qur’an? No! Does it appeal to the Sunnah? No!
@0:43 minutes they appeal to an Imam. Can you imagine? These people castigate the Shi’a for appealing to the Imams and they do the exact same thing.
After the appeal to their Imam, then the revelation of Allah (swt) states comes next.
“Rather it is an honoured Qur’an in the preserved tablet.”(Qur’an 85:21-22)
Point 1). The Qur’an is in a preserved tablet. Preserved tablet =NOT ALLAH.
Yes, the very preserved tablet that is the revelation of Allah (swt) states:
“Ha-Mim By the Book that makes things clear,-We have made it a Qur’an in Arabic, that you may be able to understand and learn wisdom. And verily, it is in the Mother of the Book, in Our Presence, high in dignity, full of wisdom. Shall We then take away the Message from you and repel (you), for that you are a people transgressing beyond bounds? (Qur’an 43:1-5)
Point 2). The Qur’an has been made in Arabic. ALLAH =NOT MADE.
Point 3). It is in the presence of Allah. It is distinct from Allah (swt). ALLAH = NOT COMPOUND UNITY
Point 4). The Qur’an is in the mother(origin) of the book. ALLAH=HAS NO MOTHER(ORIGIN)
Point 5) The attributes of Allah (swt) are not contained IN a mother book.
“Allah eliminates what He wills or confirms, and with Him is the Mother of the Book.” (Qur’an 13:39)
This Qur’an is in a preserved (maḥfūẓin) tablet.
Point 6) Allah (swt) nor his attributes are in need of preservation, sustenance, upkeep, maintenance, conservation. ALLAH=ETERNAL.
Point 7) The Qur’an is contained in ‘the mother of the book’ (43:4) which is WITH Allah (13:39)
With shows a clear distinction from Allah (swt).
@1:20 we get another verse from the Qur’an.
“And if any one of the ungrateful disbelievers seeks your protection, then grant him protection so that he may hear the words of Allah . Then deliver him to his place of safety. That is because they are a people who do not know.” (Qur’an 9:6)
Let us first deal with some flawed mantiq (logic).
First, it is sufficient to attribute to Allah (swt) the attribute of power without the attribution of speech. Speech is not the opposite of dumbness, such that dumbness is negated by affirming it. The opposite of speech is silence. It does not mean that a non-speaking person is dumb; rather, he is not non-silent.
There also seems to be some confusion from those who call themselves ‘Salafi’, among others, with regard to Allah’s knowledge of it, whereas there is an attempt to equate the attributes of Speaking and Knowledge as being both eternal. Eternal knowledge of a thing does not mean the thing itself is eternal. Otherwise, all of us would be eternal.
We affirm the attribute of “speech” for Allah (swt) as Imam Diya al-Din ‘Abd al-Aziza Thamini (raheemullah), says in his Mu’alim:
“Know that speech is sometimes referred to Allah in the meaning of negating dumbness of Him, and it then is to be understood as an essential attribute in the way of such attributes. And sometimes it is referred to Him in the sense of its being one of His actions, and it is then to be understood as such. So the meaning of His being Speaking, according to the first interpretation, is that He is not dumb; and according to the second that He is a Creator of Speech.”
The Qur’an has never called the speech of Allah (swt) ‘eternal‘. This is pure kalaam!
“The reason why I don’t follow the Ashari creed is because it goes against the clear text of the Qur’an and human nature. People only follow it because they think it makes them look like intellectuals with all those fancy words.” -Abu Humayd
“Indeed, We have made it an Arabic Qur’an that you might understand.”(Qur’an 43:3)
This text is quite clear.
IMAM AHMED AN INNOVATOR ACCORDING TO IBN TAYMIYYAH?
Think about it, dear respected Muslim sisters and brothers. The fact that our great scholars actually mused over this is really sad.
“Then, among them are those who say that the ink is apparent in the mushaf but not incarnating, and some say that it is incarnating. In the sayings of some of them is what implies that for the form—the form of the letter and figure – but not for its material substance, which is its ink. This opinion is also invalid. Just as the saying, that anything from the voices of human beings is eternal, is an invalid opinion. It is an opinion put forward by a group from among the followers of Malik, Shafi’i, and Ahmad, the majority of whom reject it. The saying of Ahmad and the majority of his followers rejecting his opinion is well-known. There is no doubt that whoever says that the voices of servants are eternal, he is an innovator and inventor. In the same way as whoever says that this Qur’an is not the word of Allah, he is an innovator and an inventor”
Source: (Fatawa Ibn Taymiyyah (Matabi al-Riyad, 1st edition, 12:83-873,83-85)
THE REAL REASON FOR THIS DEBATE/DISCSSION: IS THE QUR’AN ETERNAL or CREATED?
The real reason for this debate is that there are those in the Muslim Ummah that believe Allah (swt) has attributes that are not identical to his essence nor other than it.
TAWHID vs TRINITY.
Tawhid: The belief that Allah is one being that has an undefined/undisclosed number of self-distinctions subsisting with in the divine essence.
Trinity: The Belief that God is one being that has three personal self-distinctions within the Divine essence.
In reality, there is no such debate: Tawhid vs Trinity. The real debate is: In what sense is God a Unity?
In the way that the Athari/Ashari/Maturdi proclaim? Or in the way that Athanasian Christians proclaim?
The real debate between the vast majority of Christians and the vast majority of Muslims (Salafi-Athari/Ashari/Maturdi) should be: In what sense is God a Unity?
May Allah (swt) guide us all to what is beloved to him.
May Allah (swt) guide Shaykh Hamza Yusuf and Ibrahim ibn Mahmud.
If you would like to read more articles concerning Shaykh Hamza Yusuf you maybe interested in:
“So compete with one another in doing good.” (Qu’ran 2:148)
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Ramadan Day 27: The more people who compete in goodness the more goodness will spread in this world.
*Heart Illness: Eating Haram* From the things that cause heart toughness is eating Haram, that is why Muslims should search for Halal in his food, drink and clothing.
In a narration that Abu Bakr may Allah -be pleased with him- drank some milk brought to him by a slave of his, he asked him: “where did you get this from?” the slave replied: “I did some fortune telling for some people and they gave me it in return”,
So Abu Bakr put his finger in his throat to throw up out of fear that he ate Haram.
A Lesson in Scrupulousness (Wara’): This incident is a prime example of the extreme piety and scrupulousness of the Prophet’s Companions, especially Abu Bakr as-Siddiq. They were not just concerned with avoiding major sins but were also hyper-vigilant about the source of their sustenance (rizq), ensuring it was 100% pure and lawful (halal).
*Walayah and Bara’ah of Rulers and Their followers* It’s obligatory to ally with the Imam of Muslims who is appointed by Ahl al-ḥall wa-l-ʿaqd (Arabic: أهل الحل والعقد) -which is an Islamic concept referring to “the people who loosen and bind, and took the path of the Qur’an and the Sunnah, his walayah in this case is as obligatory as obeying him as long as he doesn’t do something that would prevent obeying him.
It’s also obligatory to ally with all the people under his authority while they obey the Imam if no bad things comes out of them and they don’t violate the laws of Allah.
Question: Some may wonder: why are we giving the subjects of the Imam a special case when it’s the same as any other person? The answer: when the law of Allah is applied by a legal Imam and the rulings are applied for the strong and the weak, the people are supposed to be upon straitness except those who do what obligate dissociation and as much as you should ally with the just Imam you should also dissociate from the unjust ruler and anyone who helps him and aids him in his injustice.
However, you shouldn’t dissociate from all the subjects of the unjust Imam as there could be some believers who are forced to live under the rule of an oppressor.
If you would like to learn more about this we refer you to our article here:
*Zakat Al Fitr* Zakat Al Fitr also known as Zakat Al Abdan is an obligatory type of worship related to the people (and not wealth) the other type of Zakah which is obligated based on the wealth of the individual to purify his wealth, but Zakat Al Fitr isn’t about the wealth but about the soul so it is made to purify the soul.
Who is it obligated for? Answer: It’s obligated for eveey Muslim, man or woman, old or young, free or slave. The person gives it for himself and whoever he provides for, and if someone wants to give the Zakah instead of someone who he doesn’t legally have to provide for then he should tell him first. and knowing the fact that it’s given based on souls and not wealth, this means that even the poor should give Zakat Al Fitr if he can sustain himself for a month.
When is the time of Zakat Al Fitr? Answer: the opinion of Shaykh Ahmed Al Khalili (h) and Shaykh Saeed Al Qannoobi (h) is that the time of Zakat Al Fitr starts from the sunset of the last day of Ramadan until the Eid prayer.
There are three permitted times for Zakat Al Fitr: – after the sunrise of Eid until the Eid prayer, and this is the best time – after sunset of the last day of Ramadan – three or four days before Eid, as was done by some companions, and this can be due to the nature of place and time, as long as the person who is given the Zakah remains worthy of it (alive, Muslim, poor…etc)
What should be given? Answer: the Hadith mentioned some types of food like dates, barley, raisin…etc, in the prominent opinion: the food given in Zakat Al Fitr shouldn’t necessarily be from the types mentioned in the Hadith but should be based on what the local people use as food, for example here in Malaysia the common food is rice.
How much should be given? Answer: one unit of Sa’ صاع and it’s a measurement of volume approximately equivalent to four hand fulls of an average man.
because Sa’ is a measurement of volume instead of mass we should be careful as this means that each food type can differ in mass.
1 Sa’ ≈ 2.43 Liters 1 Sa’ of rice ≈ 2.048 kg of rice
I hope this overview is clear and Allah knows best
“Every soul will taste death. And you will only receive your full reward on the Day of Judgment. Whoever is spared from the Fire and is admitted into Paradise will triumph, whereas the life of this world is no more than the delusion of enjoyment.” (Qur’an 3:185)
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Ramadan Day 26:Purifyyour intentions and work hard.
*26th of Ramadan* ——————————– *Heart Illness: Loving the Dunya* From the things that destroy the heart is the love of this life and its desires. Loving this life is the start of every sin, the permitted things in this life are reckoning, it’s prohibitions are punishments, its start is crying, its middle is pain and its ending is mortality.
Allah says:
“The enjoyment of desires—women, children, treasures of gold and silver, fine horses, cattle, and fertile land—has been made appealing to people. These are the pleasures of this worldly life, but with Allah is the finest destination.” (Qur’an 3:14)
and
“And give them a parable of this worldly life. like the plants of the earth, thriving when sustained by the rain We send down from the sky. Then they turn into chaff scattered by the wind. And Allah is fully capable of all things.” (Qur’an 18:45)
The companions, may Allah be pleased with them, were filled with a love for the Blessed Prophet (saw) that was deeper than the love for their own families. They wished for every comfort and ease for him, and it pained them to see him in any state of hardship.
On one occasion, they entered upon the Messenger of Allah (saw) and saw that he had been sleeping on a simple, coarse mat made of palm fibers. The harsh weave of the mat had left its clear imprint on his blessed side, marking his skin with its pattern.
Their hearts swelled with compassion and concern. One of them exclaimed, “O Messenger of Allah! Why didn’t you call us so that we could have spread a softer, more comfortable bedding for you?”
They longed to provide him with every comfort, to spare him from the slightest discomfort. But the Blessed Prophet (saw), whose mission was to teach humanity the meaning of life, turned to them with a gaze filled with profound wisdom. He was not concerned with the fleeting comforts of a world he understood to be a mere passage.
He (saw) said:
“What have I to do with this world? My example and the example of this worldly life is but that of a rider who journeyed on a scorching summer’s day. He stopped to rest in the shade of a tree for a short while. Then, he rose and continued on his journey, leaving it behind.”
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Explanation and Meaning:
With this magnificent parable, the Blessed Prophet (saw) distilled the entire Islamic outlook on life:
The Rider: This is the believer, the soul on its journey through existence. Our ultimate destination is not this world, but the Hereafter (al-Ākhirah)—the meeting with our Lord.
The Scorching Summer Day: This represents the toil, trials, heat, and hardships of worldly life. It is a temporary state of difficulty through which one must pass.
The Shade of the Tree: This is the metaphor for the worldly life (ad-Dunyā) itself. It is a temporary respite, a momentary relief from the journey’s heat. It is a blessing from Allah, to be used gratefully but not to be mistaken for a permanent home.
The Short Nap: This signifies the brevity of human life. No matter how long one lives—60, 70, or 100 years—in the grand scale of eternity, it is nothing more than a brief pause, a short nap.
Leaving it Behind: This is the crucial point. The rider does not pack up the tree and take it with him. He does not become attached to the shade. He enjoys its respite, thanks Allah for it, and then moves on toward his real goal without a backward glance. Similarly, a believer uses the comforts and blessings of this world as a means to aid their worship and journey to Allah, never becoming enslaved by them or heartbroken at their loss.
*Walayah and Bara’ah of Dhahir* Last time we mentioned Walayah and Bara’ah of Haqiqah and Jumlah, today we will take a look at the third type which is walayah and bara’ah of Dahir, the word dhahir refers to the appearance, so you judge the people based on their appearance.
Walayat ad-dhahir is based on what is apparent from a person, and his straightness in his sayings and actions, like so, Bara’ah is based on the apparent of the people if they fall in a violation of truth by saying or doing while insisting on it.
There are three ways for walayah: 1. Preview: it is when the person sees the other in what shows his straightness without deviation from the truth by saying or doing, while hastening towards repenting after making a mistake.
2. Reputation: when a person is known for his righteousness and the toungs repeat this around.
3. Testimony: it’s to get this from two witnesses, and there is an opinion regarding if one person can be sufficient.
These ways are the same for bara’ah but it has one more way which is self-endorsement of committing a major sin either by saying, doing or believing.
and if there is some whom is unknown to you, or you can’t fit him in the previous conditions then he should be in Wuquf (to stop) until he can be put in walayah or bara’ah.
If you want to read more on this most important concept in Islam.
*The relationship between the prayer of the Imam and the Followers* The most prominent opinion in this issue is that the the prayer of the followers are linked to the prayer of the Imam, so if the prayer of the Imam is corrupted then the prayer of the followers is corrupted, based on the following pieces of evidence:
The imam carries some actions in the prayer, which the follower should have done if he prayed alone
The follower cannot precede the imam in anything in the prayer or else his prayer will break
If the follower was a traveler he should pray 4 Rak’as behind a resident imam, even though it’s obligatory for him to pray 2
The saying of the Blessed Prophet (saw):
“The imam was made to be followed, so if he prays standing pray standing, and if he prays sitting pray sitting.”
“Tell believing men to lower their gaze and guard their private parts. That is purer for them. God is acquainted with what they do.” (Qur’an 24:30)
“And do not spy, nor backbite one another. Would any of you like to eat the flesh of their dead brother? You would despise that! And fear Allah. Surely Allah is ˹the˺ Accepter of Repentance, Most Merciful.” (Qur’an 49:12)
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Ramadan Day 25:The two that lead to hellfire: The private parts and the tongue.
25th of Ramadan* ——————————– *Heart Illness: Hypocrisy* Allah and his messenger have described hypocrites for us so that we can avoid being like them, here are some attributes extracted from the Qur’an and the Sunnah:
Disloyalty: and it’s the opposite of trustworthiness, it can be in covenants, wealth, responsibilities and others. Lying: starting from light lies until lying becomes a habit for the hypocrite. Betrayal: the hypocrite will try to find anyway to betray. Immorality: making no difference between a Haram and a Halal due to the lack of faith. Laziness in worship: Allah says about them: (“And when they stand for prayer, they stand lazily, showing [themselves to] the people and not remembering Allah except a little.” (Qur’an 4:142)) Over-caring about looks: Allah said:
“When you see them, their appearance impresses you. And when they speak, you listen to their ˹impressive˺ speech. But they are ˹just˺ like ˹worthless˺ planks of wood leaned ˹against a wall’ (Qur’an 63:4) Deception: Allah said:
“They seek to deceive Allah and the believers, yet they only deceive themselves, but they fail to perceive it.” (Qur’an 2:9) Corruption: Allah says:
“And when it is said to them, Do not cause corruption on the earth, they say, We are but reformers.” (Qur’an 2:11)
*Walayah and Bara’ah of Jumlah and Haqiqah* We spoke about Walayah and Bara’ah previously, now we will know some types of walayah and bara’ah.
Firstly, “Jumlah” meaning “as a whole” and it’s an obligation for every Muslim, it’s to (ally all the allies of Allah from the past and the present until the day of judgment, and to dissociate from all the enemies of Allah in the past, present and until the day of judgment)
The other type we will mention today is Haqiqah, and it’s to ally and dissociate based on certain texts, like to ally the wife of Fir’aun, Maryam the mother of Isa (as), the messengers etc, and dissociate from people like Abu Lahab, the wife of Nuh and Lut because these people are mentioned in the Qur’an for their righteousness or misery
*Things allowed in prayer* from the things that are allowed in the prayer are: To open the next verse for the Imam if he forgets To say SubhanAllah for the Imam if he made a mistake in the prayer To cry for the matters of the hereafter Light movement to fix the prayer To stop people from walking In front of you Killing the snake and the scorpion and other harmful things To save souls or wealth from destruction To carry a child and to quite him To swallow the saliva or spit the saliva.
“The Night of Glory is better than a thousand months.” (Qur’an 97:3)
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Ramadan Day 24:Getting distracted by shopping for Post-Ramadan to pull you from Laylat Ul Qadr
24th of Ramadan ——————————– *Heart Illness: Anger* Anger is from the things that corrupt the heart and the soul, it pushes the person out of the circle of balance and mildness.
Anger in its natural form is good, like the anger when seeing evil, or seeing the sanctities being violated.
When The Blessed Prophet (saw) was asked for advice he said: (do not get angry).
Narrated Abu Huraira:
A man said to the Prophet (saw) , “Advise me! “The Prophet (saw) said, “Do not become angry.” The man asked (the same) again and again, and the Prophet (saw) said in each case, “Do not become angry.”
If someone gets angry, then Islam gave some solutions to this problem, the most important steps are: To think about the rewards of holding back anger, Allah says:
“Be gracious, enjoin what is right, and turn away from those who act ignorantly.” (Qur’an 7:199)
To mention the name of Allah so that no evil comes out of him, which would cause the anger of Allah
To seek refuge from the devil when he gets angry, and it’s preferred to sit if he was standing, and to lay down if he was sitting, after that to perform Wudu’ if that doesn’t help.
*The Amulet of the Religion* The amulet here is the protection or the cause of safety.
It’s by allying with the righteous(walayah), dissociating the sinners(Bara’ah) and to remain ambivalent from those you are unsure of (Wuquf).
This is the protection by strengthening the links between the righteous, by advising each other and helping each other, so Walayah is like a spiritual bond between believers, until the believer dislikes for his brother what his dislikes for himself, and to have his best interest like he wants his best interest, and that is why the prominent feature of believers in Walayah is enjoining good and forbidding evil, as Allah said:
“The believing men and believing women are allies of one another. They enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong and establish prayer and give zakāh and obey Allāh and His Messenger. Those – Allāh will have mercy upon them. Indeed, Allāh is Exalted in Might and Wise.” (Qur’an 9:71)
The way this protection works is: For the believers: They find a safe zone to return to. A place of comfort where they are helped to do good and discouraged from doing evil. They are assisted in the matters of this life and the hereafter. For the sinners: They feel like an outcast in the believers community and that the earth has closed in on them. So they would have to either have some self accountability and return to the truth or they would have to find a more fitting environment for them, and in both cases the community would be safe from their evil.
To learn more about Walayah & Bara’ah (a very important teaching in Islam) kindly see the following:
“Those who believe and whose hearts find comfort in the remembrance of Allah. Surely in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find comfort.” (Qur’an 13:28)
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Ramadan Day 23:There is nothing better than the remembrance of Allah.
23rd day of Ramadan ——————————– *Heart Illness: The Ego* Arrogance is from the characteristics that kills the heart, Allah had vilified it in many verses such as: “I will turn away from My signs those who act unjustly with arrogance in the land.” (Qur’an 7:46).
The Blessed Prophet (saw) said:
“A person doesn’t enter the paradise if he has arrogance the weight of an atom.”
The types of arrogance: 1- Arrogance against Allah: And it is by rejecting to believe in him and to obey him, just like the Pharaoh who claimed to be a god, and Iblis who rejected the command of Allah to prostrate to Adam
2- Arrogance against prophets: By rejecting to believe in them and follow them, just like the people of Quraish who said that “Muhammed is an orphan, how can Allah send him to us?”
3- Arrogance against people: This can be caused by many things: Your knowledge/academic level. The amount of worship you engage in. Your lineage. Your beauty. Your wealth Your social status
Each one of these has a solution, but a good comprehensive solution to All these things is as
Ahnaf ibn Qays would often sit with Mus’ab ibn Zubayr. On one occasion, when he arrived, Mus’ab had extended his legs and didn’t make room. Ahnaf took his seat, feeling somewhat cramped. In response, he remarked, “It’s truly remarkable how a person can be proud and arrogant, considering that he has passed through the urinal passage twice.” [i.e., At the time of conception and birth]
Source: (At-Tawāḍuʿ wal-Khumūl (Humility and Modesty) – p. 201)
*The Sorting of People in the Religion* People are sorted to three: 1. A believer: we spoke about the attributes of a believer before.
2. A hypocrite: Is someone who shows outside the opposite of what is in his inside, and it’s of two types:
Doctrinal hypocrisy: It’s when someone shows belief in Islam and hides his Shirk as a way to protect them from being treated as such, and this type was described a lot in the Qur’an like: “When the hypocrites come to you ˹O Prophet˺, they say, “We bear witness that you are certainly the Messenger of Allah”—and surely Allah knows that you are His Messenger—but Allah bears witness that the hypocrites are truly liars.” (Qur’an 63:1)
Practical hypocrisy: It’s better than the previous type but it’s still a grave matter, and it’s when someone claims to be a Muslim but does not commit to the obligations of Islam by doing commands nor leaving prohibitions, and there are many evidences for this type. The Blessed Prophet (saw) said:
“Four things whoever has them is a pure hypocrite, and whoever has one of them he has an attribute of hypocrisy until he leaves it, if he was trusted he betrays, if he spoke he lies, if he made a covenant he breaks it, and if he quarrels he deviates from the truth.”
3. A Mushrik: Someone who rejects Islam outwardly and inwardly, this includes idol worshippers, atheists or the people of the book, and from the rulings of Mushriks: no inheritance between them, they are not buried in the Muslim cemeteries, we don’t pray for their dead, they aren’t greeted with the greeting of Islam. If they die between Muslims and there is no one from their faith the Muslims should bury them somewhere else without praying for them nor washing them, but their body should be covered to save the human sanctity.
We will discuss this later in the topic of the six doctrines/faiths -Allah Willing.
*Disliked Things in Prayer* Here are some disliked things that should be avoided when praying: Praying while holding back urine and faeces, in one opinion it doesn’t break the prayer until you raise a leg. Praying while fighting back sleepiness. Praying when the food is present. Praying in front of a distraction like a mirror or a picture. Adhering to a specific position in the mosque. Slightly looking around without a reason, some say the prayer doesn’t break until he looks at the sky or looks behind, and if the person looks around too much then his prayer is corrupted. Smiling slightly by accident. Performing Sahu prostration without having to. Yawning.
“so vie with one another in good works. Wheresoever you may be, Allah will bring you all together. Lo! Allah is Able to do all things.” (Qur’an 2: 148)
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Ramadan Day 22:See you at the finish line. Allah-willing.
Heart Illness: Envy
Envy is the most dangerous characteristic, which leads to heart illness, and it’s to wish that some blessing is striped from others and given to you.
Allah says: “and from the evil of an envier when they envy.” (Qur’an 113:5), in another verse: “Or do they envy the people for Allah’s bounties? Indeed, We have given the descendants of Abraham the Book and wisdom, along with great authority.” (Qur’an 4:54)
Envy coupled with pride of one’s origin is the first sin ever committed, when Iblis envied Adam -(as)- and objected to perform Sujud for him, and it’s also the first sin on earth, when Qabil envied Habil so he killed him.
And an important note: There is a difference between Hasad (envy) and “ghibtah غبطة” Hasad is a bad attribute as we said, but ghibtah is to hope to get the blessing of others while not wishing for that blessing to be taken from them, the Blessed Prophet (saw) said: “No envy except in two: a man who was given knowledge by Allah and he teaches it in the morning and night, and a man who is given wealth by Allah and he spends it on those who deserve it.”
*The stages of the religion* The ways that Muslims take based on the surrounding conditions are called Masalik (ways/paths/stages) so that they do what they can to raise the flag of truth, and to establish the system of the religion.
Imam of concealment (Kitman): It’s the opposite of the manifest Imamate in meaning and in rulings, and it’s taken when the Muslims are weak and dispersed, and they can’t take any other path, and this was the way of the Blessed Prophet (saw) when he was in Mecca, and this was the way of Imam Jaber Bin Zaid when he realized that the Muslims cannot organize an Islamic system. He was followed by the great scholar, the pious, the leader, Imam Abu Ubaida Muslim Bin Abi Karima who was in concealment in Basra, but four of his students were able to establish manifest Imamates later on, and they are mentioned above, just like how the concealment of the Blessed Prophet (saw) produced a strong Islamic nation.
Then comes the Shira’ way: Shira’ linguistically means to sell, and it comes from many verses in the Qur’an like: “Allah has indeed purchased from the believers their lives and wealth in exchange for Paradise. They fight in the cause of Allah and kill or are killed. This is a true promise binding on Him in the Torah, the Gospel, and the Quran. And whose promise is truer than Allah’s? So rejoice in the exchange you have made with Him. That is ˹truly˺ the ultimate triumph.” (Qur’an 9:111). The Shira’ stage is taken when Muslims are oppressed and unable to raise the flag of truth, when there is an unjust ruler over them, an example of this is in the time of the Ummayads when Ziad Bin Abih was locating the people of truth to kill them and punish them, and the situation was unbearable, forty from the Shurah pledged allegiance to Imam Abu Bilaal Mirdas Bin Hudair Al Tamimi to repel by not fighting anyone except those who fight them, and these forty were able to defeat 1000 in the battle of ‘Asik. Shira’ can only be done with a minimum of forty people, and non of them can go back except if he dies, and in an opinion if there are only three left alive.
The final way is Manifestation (Dhuhur): it’s built on strength and unity of the Ummah, where the people can sail the ship of the Ummah, and this was the way of the Abu Bakr and Umar may Allah be pleased with them, and because this is the purest way, Ahl Alhaqq Wal Istiqamah never hesitated to establish it, some examples would be: in Hadhramout Imam Talib Al Haqq Al Kindi, in Oman Imam Al Julanda Bin Mas’ood Al Ma’wali and the righteous Imams after him, and in the west Imam Abu Al Khattab Al Ma’afiri and in the Rustumi state Imam Abdulrahman Bin Rustum may Allah be pleased with them all.
Difa’ (defence): It’s to make a temporary Imam in the situation of defense, when the state is invaded by an enemy.
To explain how the above takes place on a practical and pragmatic level in western nations like the former United States and the United Kingdom.
A) What the establishment thinks are progressive, liberal and reformist Muslims. These are perhaps the most important component of the plan. Their task is to ingratiate themselves to the left leaning thinkers and academia.
Related to them are fake apostates to Christianity or Agnosticism. This allows the Muslims to understand the networking and strategies of various Christian organizations.
Also related to them are people who have language speaking skills in Arabic, Farsi, Urdu etc. They are often tapped by intelligence apparatus in the above communities to act as informants. Some times these intelligence communities catch on that these people are double agents. Likewise and more often than not information via various channels is passed down to the relevant people.
The task of what the naïve think are ‘progressive’ , ‘liberal’ or ‘reformist’ Muslims are to form an echo chamber for anxious liberals or left leaning academic types. To give them the illusion that Islam can be molded and shaped according to the desires of these interest groups.
Among them are two sub groups:
Those who placate anxious left leaning and liberal leaning politicians all the while Islam grows in the country.
Those who may even call for the banning and vetting of Muslims from certain nations. While to the untrained eye this looks promising; it puts Western nations in a moral dilemma of hypocrisy. a) It makes the Western nations look as if they are compromising on plurality, and multiculturalism. b) It gives a strong hand to those Imams who teach the masses that the two world views are incompatible hence their restrictions.
B) What the establishment thinks are the moderate Muslims. The task of these Muslims is to be fluid between the political left and the political right. It also allows Western nations to save face by saying: “See we allow practicing Muslims in our societies and we welcome it!”
These Muslims are more often than not the activist types. Building Masjids, and Madrasah and grass roots organizations. One of the objectives of these ‘moderate’ Muslims is to create the illusion of conflict with the ‘progressive’ , ‘reformist’ or ‘liberal’ Muslims. So elaborate and orchestrated is this performance that by the time the policy makers know is happening it is already too late. So elaborate and orchestrated is this performance that the common Muslim actually perceives their is some kind of ideological battle between the two.
It is one of the reasons I am so confident to write this information. We are already beyond the threshold. We as Muslims just need to continue to have strong families, resilient communities, and keep winning hearts and minds. May Allah guide them to the truth!
Islam is salvation for the whole of mankind.
The west will try. They will do their best. Atheist will become cultural Christians as the realization sets in that perhaps pervasive hedonism wasn’t a great idea.
The moral relativism of the left is no match for Islam. The political right as they abandon Christianity will lean more into nativism, white nationalism.
All of this helps the Muslim communities and objectives.
In the end when the violence comes and it is coming (Allah knows best) -it will be from the political right. The violence will not be from the Muslims.
We just have to be patient. Act in accordance with the principles of justice and remember that none of those people truly are our enemies. They are people upon misguidance.
For those who want to read more about the four conditions of Islam.
*The Disliked in Wudu’* You should know dear believer that there are some actions that are disliked in Wudu’: 1. to perform it while standing 2. to talk in something other than mentioning Allah 3. to waste water 4. to increased the times of washing more than three times, and one in wiping 5. to perform it in a filthy place (to avoid the filth) 6. nudity in isolation, and it’s haram if people can see 7. to leave a Sunna of Wudu’
“Say, ˹O Prophet, that Allah says,˺ “O My servants who have exceeded the limits against their souls! Do not lose hope in Allah’s mercy, for Allah certainly forgives all sins. He is indeed the All-Forgiving, Most Merciful.” (Qur’an 39:53)
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Ramadan Day 21: So many loved ones who have departed us who wished they could be in the last 10 days of Ramadan.
*21th of Ramadan* ——————————– *Heart Illness: Human Interaction*
Often we as human beings need to be in our own bodies with the silence of our own thoughts. We need to tune out the world around us and reach out to the heart with in. The Blessed Prophet (saw) would spend extended periods in the mountains alone. So, if that is the case you can say it is a Sunnah.
Often we need periods of isolation to protect ourselves from the chaos and instability of others and to protect others from periods of chaos and instability from ourselves.
The benefits of periods of isolation: Leisure time to contemplate, supplicate and to reorient. To get rid of sins To avoid trials and disorders
The benefits of contacting people: To learn and teach To benefit the people Fellowship Reward from Allah for doing obligatory things like congregation prayers To invite people to good deeds
So the Muslim should balance between isolation and mixing with people to maximise their rewards in this life and the hereafter.
*The pillars of the religion* The pillars are the strongest element of a building.
And in this metaphor the religion is like a building, and the pillars of this building are:
To Accept. To Delegate. To Submit and to Trust. These four things are the strong parts of the religion. These four pillars do not assemble in a soul except for one that’s sincere to Allah.
Acceptance: To accept the decree of Allah: It’s to accept everything from Allah, from command and prohibition, ease and hardship, so that the soul doesn’t find any problems in following the rule of Allah.
Delegation: It’s to be satisfied with the choice of Allah, as Allah knows best for his servants.
Submission: It’s to have complete obedience and submission for Allah without objection.
Trust: It’s to to have full trust in your creator and in what he has, and to not trust what is with the people, Allah says: “And whoever puts their trust in Allah, then He ˹alone˺ is sufficient for them.” (Qur’an 65:3), and this doesn’t mean that the person doesn’t need reasons, as that’s not trust, but it’s laziness and ignorance, as Allah has obligated linked matters with their reasons.
Some may ask: What is the difference between the fundamentals of the religion and the pillars of the religion?
The fundamentals are the base which the religion is built on, and the pillars are what strengthen the building to stand, so the pillars are built over the fundamentals.
*Janaza prayer (mourning)* The Janaza prayer is a prayer with no Ruku’ or Sujud, it starts with the Takbir of Ihram (Allahu Akbar) to start the prayer, then we say Isti’atha (Authu Billahi Minash shaitan Ar-ragim) and recite Al Fatiha، Then the Imam says the Allahu Akbar, and we send blessings upon the Noble Prophet Muhammed (saw) by saying (Allahuma Sali Ala Muhammed Wa’ali Muhammed Kama Sallaita Ala Ibrahim, Wabarik Ala Muhammed Wa’ali Muhammed Kama Barakta Ala Ibrahim Wa’ala ‘ali Ibrahim Fil Alamin Inaka Hamidun Majeed).
The above Arabic transliteration in English would be:
“O Allah, send your grace, honour and mercy upon Muhammed and the people of Muhammed, as You sent Your grace, honour and mercy upon Ibrahim. O Allah, bless Muhammed and the people of Muhammed, as you blessed Ibrahim and the people of Ibrahim. You are indeed Praiseworthy, Most Glorious.”
After this the the Imam says Allahu Akbar, then we pray for the dead person if he was from the people of Walayah. If he was not from the people of Walayah w pray for the Muslims in general, then after the final Takbir we do Taslim to the right and to the left.
“We have indeed revealed this in the ‘Night of Power’. And what will explain to you what the Night of Power is? The Night of Power is better than a thousand months. Therein come down the angels and the Spirit by Allah’s permission, on every errand. Peace!…This until the rise of dawn!” (Qur’an 97:1-5)
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Ramadan Day 20:Prepare for Laylat-Ul-Qadr
*20th of Ramadan* ——————————– *Heart Illness: Food & Eating* “Eat and drink, but do not waste. Surely He does not like the wasteful.” (Qur’an 7:31)
The Blessed Prophet (saw): “Son of Adam didn’t fill a container worse than his stomach, it’s enough for the son of Adam to eat a few bites that strengthen him, if it’s inevitable then a third for his food, a third for his drink and a third for his breathing.”
Some say, whoever over eats may: Lose the sweetness in supplication. Have an inability to memorize the wisdom. Lose tenderness towards others. Think that others are also full. Find acts of worship heavy. Increase in his desires.
Our mother Aisha (ra) said: “The first test for the Ummah after their prophet is fullness, when the people filled their bellies, their bodies grew, their hearts weakened, and their desires became wild.”
And this doesn’t mean that Muslims should not eat the good things that were permitted by Allah; However, the Muslim should be careful with his desires, as desires are many, and the nafs doesn’t get satisfied.
A good medicine for this is to follow the Sunnah of the Blessed Prophet (saw) and fasting, and to to remember that the value of the food is not in the quantity but in the quality.
*The fundamentals of the religion* The fundamentals of the religion are knowledge followed by action, intention and devotion.
KNOWLEDGE:
Knowledge Is the first of the four fundamentals as everything else is based on it, and knowledge here refers to knowledge in the religion as Allah said:
“Say, ˹O Prophet,˺ “Are those who know equal to those who do not know?” None will be mindful ˹of this˺ except people of reason.” (Qur’an 39:9) and the Blessed Prophet (saw) said: “Whoever Allah wants good for, will give him knowledge in the religion.”
How can someone worship Allah in a correct way without knowing how to worship him?
ACTION:
Action here refers to the good deeds that aligns with the Shari’a, and it’s considered a fundamental of the religion because Islam didn’t come with a theoretical approach, rather Islam is theory and application, and we can see this in many verses where faith and deeds are connected, and it’s the only to safety, Allah says:
“By the ˹passage of˺ time!, Surely humanity is in ˹grave˺ loss, except those who have faith, do good, and urge each other to the truth, and urge each other to perseverance.” (Qur’an 103:1-3)
INTENTION:
Intention is the soul of deeds, we aren’t commanded to do anything but to worship Allah with sincerity to his religion, The Blessed Prophet (saw) said:
“Deeds are with intention, and everyone will receive n accordance with his intention.”
This means that there are no deeds that can be achieved without intentions, and intention is in the heart not on the tounge- as many people think.
DEVOTION:
Devotion (Wara’ ورع) is to avoid all that displeases Allah, devotion in reality is righteousness, and not all people are equal in it: 1- The first level is the level of fairness: and it’s to avoid all sins and do all obligations. 2- The second level is the level of the righteous: it’s to avoid what is allowed out of fear of doing what is not allowed, while also doing obligations and Nafilas. 3- The third level is the level of the people of truth: it’s to avoid what is allowed even if you don’t fear doing what is not allowed, while also trying to hasten toward any good deeds, and this is the best of levels
*I’tikaf* I’tikaf is the worship of staying in the mosque to worship Allah in a specific way.
The Blessed Prophet (saw) used to stay in the mosque for the last days of Ramadan.
The location of I’tikaf: Any mosque where the five prayers are established, and it’s better if the Jum’a prayer is also established in that mosque
The conditions of I’tikaf: Intention Fasting Leaving intimacy even at night Staying in the mosque Succession
The least amount of time for I’tikaf: from before Fajr or Maghrib until Maghrib
Prima Quran 