The Five Pillars of the Muslim Faith

Islam requires that all adherents perform five central duties, which are believed to strengthen their faith in and service to Allah. These duties are the 5 Pillars of Islam - the basic tenets of the faith, which all Muslims strive to perform, regardless of where they live or what sect they belong to.Shahada (Shahaadah) (testimony of faith). The testimony of faith is the most important pillar of Islam. To perform the testimony of faith, one is required to say with conviction at least once in his or her life: "There is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is the messenger of Allah." In order to convert to Islam, one must utter the shahaadah with complete conviction.


Salat (prayer)

Muslims pray five times daily, at dawn, noon, mid-afternoon, sunset and night. Prayer often occurs in a mosque, but Muslims may pray anywhere: inside or outside, in their office, home, school or elsewhere. While praying, one faces Mecca and strives to recite his or her prayers from memory. Ideally, saalat are recited in Arabic.


Zakat (almsgiving)
Charitable giving, or Zakat, is a requirement of faith for all Muslims. Used to benefit the poor, Zakat represents a fixed portion of one's wealth and assets. Beyond this requirement, one may also perform an act of charity (sadaqah) by donating additional funds to the needy. Historically, the zakat was collected by Muslim caliphate at the end of each year. In modern times, almsgiving is incumbent upon the individual Muslim - except for in Saudi Arabia, where Zakat is strictly enforced by the rule of Islamic law.


Siyam (Sawm) (fasting)

Sawm literally means any ritual fasting, but is generally understood to refer to ritual fasting during the month of Ramadan. From dawn to dusk for the entire month, Muslims must refrain from eating, drinking and engaging in sexual relations. Through this physical abstinence, Muslims are able to focus intently on their spiritual selves, atoning for their sins and recommitting to serving Allah.


Hajj (pilgrimage)

During the last month of the Islamic calendar, Dhu al-Hijjah, some two million Muslims ascend to the holy city of Mecca for the Hajj, or pilgrimage. Every able-bodied Muslim is required - if their finances permit - to make the pilgrimage at least once in their lifetime. If performing the hajj will put an undue burden on one's family, he or she may appoint a proxy to fulfill this duty in his or her place. Once one completes a pilgrimage, he or she is able to add the title Haajj to his or her name. Islamic teachers are careful to warm, however, that the Hajj must be performed as an expression of devout faith - and not as a ploy to gain social status.

Hazrat Muhammad Salla Allahu alayhi wa Sallam, Hazrat Muhammad Salla Allahu alayhi wa Sallam, HAZRAT MUHAMMAD Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam

BISMILLAH HIRRAHMÃ NIRRAHEEM

We have not sent thee except as a mercy to the worlds.” [Surah 21/107]

Muhammad (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) rose like the midday sun from the horizon of Arabia and dissipated the intense darkness around the globe. His personality embodied the boldness of Musa (A.S.), the courteousness of Hãroon (A.S.), the patience of Ayub (A.S.), the grandeur of Sulaimãn (A.S.) and the humility of Isã (A.S.).

His leadership stands unparalleled in the annals of history. He despised the pomp of royalty, dutifully carried out the menial tasks of the family, he kindled the fire, swept the floor, milked the cows and mended his own shoes and garments.





HIS BEAUTIFUL FEATURES

Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) was neither tall nor short but of medium stature. His hair had a slight wave in it (neither straight nor curly). His eye lashes were long and his eyes extremely black. He had a broad chest with a well developed body. His palms were soft and fleshy. He had a thick beard, with a line of hair running from the chest to the navel. His teeth were like a set of pearls, beaming white. He always had a smiling countenance. His perspiration emitted a fragrance sweeter than musk. Ãyesha (R.A.) would frequently say “The women cut their hands off when they were enchanted and captivated by the beauty of Yusuf (A.S.), had they seen my beloved, they would have cut out their hearts.”

SIMPLICITY OF RASULULLAH (SALLALLAHU ALAIHI WASALLAM)

Anas (R.A.) states that Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) frequently visited the sick, followed the Janãza, responded to the invitation of (even) a slave and rode on a mule.” [Ibn Mãjah]

Ãyesha (R.A.) reported that Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) used to mend his shoes, sew his cloth and work in the household just as any of you would do in your households. He was a man among men who patched his clothes, milked his goats and served himself.” [Tirmizi]

HIS CONCERN AND SACRIFICES

Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said: “I have been subjected to harm (and suffering) in the cause of Allah, as no one else had been.” The brutal tortures and relentless persecutions reached such levels that the pathway of Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) was secretly laden with thorns, refuse and the intestines of animals was flung at him. He and his group of devout companions were denied a home, denied food, water and medicine for three years. The cry of infants and children echoed through the valleys of Arabia.

HIS MISSION

The mission of Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) is eloquently portrayed in a speech which Ja’far (R.A.) made to the ruler of Abyssinia in Africa.

He said: “O King! We were a people of ignorance, worshipping idols, eating the flesh of dead animals, committing abominations, neglecting our relations, doing evil to our neighbours and the strong amongst us would oppress the weak. We were in this state when Allah sent to us a messenger from amongst us, whose decent and sincerity, trustworthiness and honesty were known to us. He summoned us to the worship of one true Allah and to divest ourselves of the stones and idols which we and our forefathers had been ascribing to Allah. He ordered us to be truthful in speech, to fulfil all that is entrusted to us to care for relatives, to be kind to our neighbours, to refrain from unlawful food and the consumption of blood. He forbade us from engaging in shameful acts and false speech.”

MUHAMMAD (SALLALLAHU ALAIHI WASALLAM) THE GREATEST OF MANKIND

“Never has a man set for himself, voluntarily or involuntarily, a more sublime aim, since this aim was superhuman: to subvert superstitions which has been interposed between man and his creator, to render God unto man and man unto God, to restore the rational and sacred idea of divinity amidst the chaos of the material and disfigured gods of idolatry, then existing.”

“Never has a man undertaken a work so far beyond human power with so feeble means, for he, Muhammad (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) had in the conception as well as in the execution of such a great design no other instrument than himself, and no other aid, except a handful of men living in a corner of the desert. Finally, never has a man accomplished such a huge and lasting revolution in the world.”

If greatness of purpose, smallness of means, and astounding results are the true criteria of human genius, who could dare to compare any great man in modern history with Muhammad (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam)? The most famous men created arms, laws, and empires only. They founded, if anything at all, no more than material powers which often crumbled away before their own eyes. This man moved not only armies, legislation's, empires, peoples and dynasties, but millions of men in one third of the inhabited world, and more than that, he moved the altars, the gods, the religions, the ideas, the beliefs, and the souls. On the basis of a book, every letter of which has become law, he created a spiritual nationality which blended together peoples of every tongue and of every race. He has left us – as the indelible characteristic of this Muslim nationality – the hatred of false gods and passion of the One and Immaterial god.

The conquest of one third of the earth to his dogma was his miracle; rather it was not the miracle of a man but that of reason.”

His life, his meditations, his heroic reviling against the superstitions of his country, and his boldness in defying the furies of idolatry, his firmness in enduring them for thirteen years at Makkah, his acceptance of the role of public scorn and almost of being a victim of his fellow countrymen: all these and finally his migration, his incessant preaching, his wars against odds, his faith in his success and his superhuman security in misfortune, his forbearance in victory, his ambition, which was entirely devoted to one idea and in no manner striving for an empire, his endless prayers, his mystic conversations with god, his death and his triumph after death – all these.. (served) to affirm conviction which gave him the power to restore a creed.”

“Philosopher, orator, apostle, legislator, warrior, conqueror of ideas, restorer of rational dogmas, of a cult without images; the founder of twenty terrestrial empires and of one spiritual empire, that is Muhammad (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam). As regards all standards by which human greatness may be measured, we may well ask, is there any man greater than he?”

[Lamartine, Histoire de la turquire, Paris, 1854]

CONCLUSION

The Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said: “None of you has perfect faith until I am more beloved to him than his parents, his children and all the people.”

Real love for him will induce us to follow him in all walks of life. The Sunnah is the axle on which the Deen of Islãm rotates. A quality apple has the colour, taste and smell of an apple. If any one of these qualities is missing than the apple will be an imperfect one. Similarly we will only be real Muslims if we have a taste, colour and smell of the Sunnah of Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) in our way of walking, talking, eating, behaving, our social, political and financial dealings.

In short, every aspect of life should be moulded according to his lifestyle. We judge a fruit by looking at its exterior. Likewise the manner in which a person conducts his life is a true reflection of his God consciousness and his love for Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam).

MAY ALLAH GRANT EVERY MUSLIM AN OPPORTUNITY OF DEVELOPING AN INTENSE LOVE FOR RASULULLAH (SALLALLAHU ALAIHI WASALLAM)

ÃMEEN.

Duroob Bheje... Huzoor Muhammad Sallallahu Alaihiwa Alaihiwa Sallam ko

ALLAH by Himself send Salat(Graces,Honours,Blessings,Mercy) to His Habib Hazrat Muhammad (sallalahu alaihi wassallam) and the angels also send (ask ALLAH to bless and forgive him). And ALLAH order us beleivers also to send Salat and Salam to Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihi wasallam).
Al-Quran:-
"Allah sends His Salat(Graces, Honours, Blessings, Mercy) on the Prophet{Muhammad (saw)}, and also His angels (ask Allah to bless and forgive him). O you who believe! Send your Salat* on (ask Allah to bless) him {Muhammad (saw)}, and (you should) greet (salute) him with the Islamic way of greeting (salutation i.e. As-Salamu Alaikum)"
[(33)Surah Al-Ahzab;V:56]

'Salat*' described in Hadith of Sahih Al-Bukhari:-
Narrated 'Abdur-Rahman bin Abu Laila: Ka"b bin Ujrah met me and said, "Shall I not give you a present I got from the Prophet (saw)?"Adur-Rahman said, "Yes, give it to me." He said, "We asked Allah's Messenger (saw)saying,'O Allah's Messenger! How should one (ask Allah to) send As-Salat upon you and the Ahl-al-Bait {the members of the family of the Prophet (saw)}, for Allah has taught us how to greet you?' He said, Say Allahumma salii 'ala Muhammadin wa 'ala ali Muhammadin, kama sallaita 'ala Ibrahima wa 'ala ali Ibrahim, Innaka Hamidun Majid. Allahumma barik 'ala Muhammadin wa 'ala ali Muhammadin kama barikta 'ala Ibrahima wa 'ala ali Ibrahim Innaka Hamidun Majid" '[meaning:- O Allah! Send Your Salat (Graces, Honours and Mercy)on Muhammad and on the family or the followers of Muhammad, as you sent Your Salat(Graces, Honours and Mercy) on Abraham and on the family or the followers of Abraham, for You are the Most Praiseworthy, the Most Glorious. O Allah! Send Your Blessings on Muhammad, and on the family or the followers of Muhammad as You sent Your Blessings on Abraham and on the family or the followers of Abraham, for You are the Most Praiseworthy, the Most Glorious].
[Sahih Al-Bukhari, 4/3375 O.P.589]

Please send Darud Saharif (Darud-e-Ibrahim; mentioned in Hadith) most of the time.
The more you send Salat to Prophet (saw), more you get closer to him.
There is a special group of Angels, whose work is to collect Salat and present it to Prophet (saw) with that person's name and his/her parents name. Then Prophet Muhammad (saw) pray to Allah for that person and his/her ralatives(specially parents).

When you go to Madina in Roza Sharif then give Salam!

May ALLAH Hedayah all of us
Aameen
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Hazrat Muhammad Salla Allahu alayhi wa Sallam About Durood on Friday

The Abundance of Durood on Friday

Abu Huraira (R.D.) the Shaabi narrattes: The sins of Eighty years of that person will be forgiven who recites the following Durood Eighty times on Friday after Asar Salaah before he gets up from his place. He will also get the Blessings of Eighty years of worship for reciting the Durood.

""Allahumma salli 'alaa muhammadinin nabiyyil ummiyyi wa-ala aalihi wa sallam tasleema"

The pious saint, Shaikh Zakariya (R.A.) used to read the above durood Eighty times every Friday after Asar Salaah punctually and he would emphasise this practice upon his companions.

There are many Ahaadith regarding the virtues of abundantly reciting Durood on the Blessed day of Friday. Abu Darda (R.D.) the Sahaabi narrates that the Holy Prophet (S.A.W) said: Send Blessings (Durood) upon me abundantly on Fridays because the angels visit (me) on this blessed day. And when a person sends Durood upon me, it is presented to me as soon as he completes its recitation. Abu Darda (R.D.) the Sahaabi says, I enquired from the Holy Prophet (S.A.W) "Even after your death?"

The Holy Prophet (S.A.W) replied "Yes, even after my death!". Allah has forbidden the Earth from decaying the Holy bodies of the Prophets of Allah (P.B.U.T) Thus the Prophet of Allah is alive (in His grave) and He is given sustenance.

It has been reported by the Sahabbi, Umar (R.D.) that the holy Prophet (S.A.W) said "Send Durood upon me abundantly in the Bright Night (i.e The night proceeding Friday) and during the Bright Day (i.e Friday) and whenever your Durood is presented before me I pray for you and ask forgiveness for you from Allah".

It has been quoted from Hafiz-Ibn-Qayyim (R.A) "To send Durood upon the Holy Prophet (S.A.W) is more virtuous on Fridays, because Friday is the leader of all the days of the week and the Holy Prophet (S.A.W) is the leader of all creation. Therefore this day (Friday) holds a special particularity of Durood upon the Holy Prophet (S.A.W) which the other days do not hold.

It has been narrated from the Sahaabi Ibn-Abbas (R.D) that the Holy Prophet (S.A.W) said "The person who writes Durood in a book will continuously receive its reward until my name remains in that book."

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The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "The good deeds of any person will not make him enter Paradise (i.e., no one enters paradise only through his good deeds)." The Prophet's companions asked: "Not even you?" The Prophet replied: "Not even myself, unless God bestows his favor and mercy on me. So be moderate in your religious deeds and do what is within your ability. None of you should wish for death, for if he is a doer of good, he may increase his good deeds, and if he is an evil doer, he may repent to God." - Sahih al-Bukhari, Volume 7, Hadith 577

Hazrat Muhammad Salla Allahu alayhi wa Sallam has said

In the book “Key to the Garden of Bliss (Jannat Ki Kunji)” Sahban ul Hind, Hazrat Maulana Ahmed Saeed Dehlwi RA, has quoted the following hadith:

Hazrat Abduallah bin Umar [RA] says, that the Prophet [SAW] has said:Whatever a man asks Allah on reciting the following will be given, one thousand virtues are written in his record and he is advanced one thousand stages, while Allah appoints 70,000 angels for him to pray for his forgiveness till the Day of Judgment. The phrases are :

Alhamdu Lil-la-hil-lazi Tawa-zoa’a Kul-lu-shai-in Bi Az-matihi
Wal Hamdu Lil-la-hil-lazi Zal-la Kul-lo-shai-in Li-Iz-zatihi
Wal Hamdu Lil-la-hil-lazi Kha-zoa’a Kul-lo-shai-il Li Mul-kehee
Wal Hamdu Lil-la-hil-lazi Is-tas-la-ma Kul-lo-shai-il Li-Qud-ra-tihi
[All Praise is due to Allah, before Whose Grandeur every thing is humbled and
All Praise is due to Allah, before Whose Greatness every thing is subdued and
All Praise is due to Allah, before Whose Dominion every thing is abased and
All Praise is due to Allah, before Whose Strength every thing surrenders]

[Hadith Book: Al-Mu’jamul Kabir by Tabrani]

Arabic Version of this hadith:

الحمد لله الذي تواضع كل شيء لعظمته وذل كل شيء لعزته وخضع كل شيء لملكه واستسلم كل شيء لقدرته والحمد لله الذي سكن كل شيء لهيبته وأظهر كل شيء بحكمته وتصاغر كل شيء لكبريائه حديث الحمد لله الذي تواضع كل شيء لعظمته وذل كل شيء لعزته الحديث إلى قوله وتصاغر كل شيء لكبريائه أخرجه الطبراني من حديث ابن عمر بسند ضعيف دون قوله والحمد لله الذي سكن كل شيء لهيبته إلى آخره. (تخريج أحاديث الإحياء)

وعن ابن عمر قال : سمعت رسول الله صلى الله عليه و سلم يقول : من قال : الحمد لله الذي تواضع كل شيء لعظمته والحمد لله الذي ذل كل شيء لعزته والحمد لله الذي خضع كل شيء لملكه والحمد لله الذي استسلم كل شيء لقدرته فقالها يطلب بها ما عند الله كتب الله له بها ألف حسنة ورفع له بها ألف درجة ووكل بها سبعين ألف ملك يستغفرون له إلى يوم القيامة رواه الطبراني وفيه يحيى بن عبد الله البابلتي وهو ضعيف. (مجمع الزوائد)

Forty Very Easy, Quick & Rewarding Good Deeds for all of us to do every day!

Asalaamu Alaikum Wr Wb, Ramadaan is the month of the Qur'an so what better time to recite the noble Qur'an as much as is possible and at the same time get one can get into the habit of reciting the Qur'an for the rest of the year inshallah. In normal times outside of Ramadaan there is 10 rewards for every letter that one recites of the Qur'an: Rasulallah (Pbuh) says:

"Whoever reads a letter from the Book of Allah will receive a hasanah (good deed) from it (i.e. his recitation), and the hasanah is multiplied by ten. I do not say that Alif-Laam-Meem is (considered as) a letter, rather Alif is a letter, Laam is a letter, and Meem is a letter." [At-Tirmidhi, Ad-Darimi]

But in the blessed month of Ramadhan ALL good deeds are multiplied:

The Prophet peace be upon him said: “Whoever draws near to Allaah during it (Ramadaan) with a single characteristic from the characteristics of (voluntary) goodness, he is like whoever performs an obligatory act in other times. And whoever performs an obligatory act during it, he is like whoever performed seventy obligatory acts in other times.” – Sahih Ibn Khuzaymah, no. 1887.

Therefore can you imagine how many rewards one can gain for every letter one recites of the Qur'an in this most blessed of months? COUNTLESS REWARDS!!!

So let us not waste a second for it may be our last! Let us get reciting and gain unimaginable rewards inshallah!

*****

Reward of the Righteous Deed in this Life & in the Hereafter


In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

(Friday speech delivered by Imam Mohamed Baianonie at the Islamic Center or Raleigh, NC on July 7, 2000)

Allah (S.W.T) said in surat An-Nahl, (Verse 97), what can be translated as, "Whoever works righteousness, whether male or female, while he (or she) is a true believer, verily, to him We will give a good life (in this world) with respect, and We shall pay them certainly a reward in proportion to the best of what they used to do."

Imam Ibn Katheer says: "In this great verse, there is a promise from Allah (S.W.T.) – and He does not break his promise - for everyone, man or woman, who does a good deed and whose heart is believing in Allah and His Messenger. Allah (S.W.T.) promises to give good life for such a person in this life as a quick reward for the righteous deed. Allah (S.W.T.) also promises to give more rewards to this person in the Hereafter.

The good life in this life as promised by Allah (S.W.T.) comprises all aspects of comfort including Halal Rizq, self-satisfaction, happiness, and contentment. The prophet (S.A.W.) says: "He Who submitted himself to Allah (S.W.T.), and is provided enough sustenance, and Allah (S.W.T.) made him content with what He gave him, he indeed succeeded." {Authentic Hadith reported by Imams At-Trmithi and Ahmad}.

And also Imam Muslim reported that, the prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.) said :" Allah does not deal unjustly with a believer about a good deed because he is given blessings for it in the Hereafter; but the disbeliever is given in the world the reward for good deeds, he has performed and when he comes to the Hereafter, there is no good deed for which he can be rewarded."

What are the righteous deeds?

"The righteous deeds include every thing that Allah (S.W.T.) loves and accepts from sayings and the physical acts; the hidden (acts by heart) and the openly (acts by limbs).

The acts by heart include the love for Allah and His messenger, fear of Allah, asking Him for forgiveness, Having sincerity to Him alone in deen, being patient, thanking for His blessings, accepting His judgment, depending on Him, hoping for His mercy, fear of His punishment, and all things of this nature are the righteousness."

The acts by limbs include saying "La Elaha Ellalaah Muhamadun Raswolullah", prayers, zakah, fasting, hajj, straight talk, loyalty (returning someone’s possessions to them), kindness with parents, having good accord with relatives, keeping promises and treaties, enjoining what is good and forbidding what is evil, Jihad in the cause of Allah, learning, teaching, kindness with the neighbor, with the orphan, with the poor, with the wayfarer, with the animals, supplication, remembering Allah and reciting Qur’an."

What are the necessary conditions for the righteous deeds to be accepted?

Every righteous deed must meet two conditions to be accepted by Allah (S.W.T.):

The first is sincerity. This is achieved when the righteous is for the sake of Allah (S.W.T.) alone.

The second is following the prophet (S.A.W.). This is achieved when the righteous deeds are done exactly as prescribed by the prophet (S.A.W.). If these two conditions are met, the righteous deed will be accepted by Allah (S.W.T.). In this case, the doer of righteous deeds will deserve the reward in this life and in the Hereafter as promised by Allah (S.W.T.).

The immediate reward in this life can be manifested in the following:

The guidance and coming out of the darkness of (Falsehood) into the light of (Truth). Allah (S.W.T) said in surat Yunus, (Verse 9), what can be translated as, "Verily, those who believe, and do deeds of righteousness, their Lord will guide them by their faith…"

And also Allah (S.W.T) said in surat At-Talaq, (Verse 11), what can be translated as, "…that He may take out, those who believe and do righteous good deed from the darkness to the light…"


Love for them from Allah (S.W.T.) and in the hearts of the believers Allah (S.W.T) said in surat Maryam, (Verse 96), what can be translated as, " Verily, those who believe, and do deeds of righteousness, the Most Beneficent will bestow love for them (in the hearts of the believers)."

And also Imams Bukhari and Muslim reported that, the prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.) said: "If Allah love person, He calls Jibriael (Gabriel) saying: Allah love so and so; O Jibriael love him. Jibriael would love him, and then Jibriael would make an announcement among the resident of the heavens, Allah loves so and so, therefore, you should love him also. So, all the resident of the heavens would love him and he is granted the pleasure of the people of the earth."


Wiping away their bad deeds. Allah (S.W.T) said in surat Al-Ankabut, (Verse 7), what can be translated as, " Those who believe, and do deeds of righteousness, surly, We shall remit from them their evil deeds and shall reward them according to the best of that which they used to do."


Allah’s protection and good care. In the Qudsi (Holy) Hadith, reported by Imams Bukhari and Muslim that, the prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.) said: "Allah (S.W.T.) said:…My servant countess to draw near to Me with supererogatory works so that I shall love him. When I love him I am his hearing with which he sees, his hand with which he strikes and his foot with he walks…"

And Also, Allah (S.W.T.) will protect the children of the good doers. The Qur’an has told us how Allah (S.W.T.) protected the treasure that was under the destroyed wall of two orphan villagers in the city because of their righteous parents. The renovation was from the duties of Al-Khudr and Mousa (S.A.W.). {Story in surat Al-Kahf}


Finding good ways and sustenance where they are not expected. Allah (S.W.T) said in surat At-Talaq, (Verses 2&3), what can be translated as, "…And whosoever fears Allah and keeps his duty to Him, He will make a way for him to get out (from every difficulty). And He will provide him from sources he never could imagine."

And also Allah (S.W.T) said in surat At-Talaq, (Verse 4), what can be translated as, "… And whosoever fears Allah and keeps his duty to Him, He will make his matter easy for him."


Empowering them on earth and making them feel secure and at peace after fright and fear. Allah (S.W.T) said in surat An-Noor, (Verse 55), what can be translated as, "Allah has promised those among you who believe, and do deeds of righteousness, that He will certainly grant them succession to in the earth, as He granted it to those before them, and He will grant them the authority to practice their deen, that which He has chosen for them. And He will surly give them in exchange a safe security after their fear…"

The reward of righteous deed is also given in the Hereafter.

It is a great reward that no one knows its limit except Allah (S.W.T.). Many Qra'nic verses and authentic Ahadith declared that. The great reward is eternal bliss and happiness in Paradise: Allah (S.W.T) said in surat Al-Baqarh, (Verse 25), what can be translated as, "And give glad tidings to those who believe, and do deeds of righteousness, that for them will be Paradises under which rivers flow…and they shall have therein purified wives, and they will abide therein forever."

And also Allah (S.W.T) said in surat Taha, (Verses 75 &76), what can be translated as, "But whoever come to Him as believer, and has done righteous good deeds, for such are the high ranks (in the Hereafter), and Paradise under which rivers flow, wherein they will abide forever…"

So, we should all do good deeds and make sure that our good deeds meet all the necessary conditions to gain the acceptance of Allah (S.W.T.). This way, we get the reward in this life and in the Hereafter. We ask Allah (S.W.T.) to help us do what he loves and pleased with and that he accepts our good deeds and rewards us with his mercy and blessings.

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10 steps to increase our imaan(faith)

How Does the Iman Increase and Decrease?

Every child is born knowing that his or her Lord is Only One, Allah, regardless of what faith his or her parents may practice. But just because a child is born with this fitra, or natural belief, does not necessarily mean that the child will grow up to be what truly makes a person Muslim, which is ones iman. A Muslim must have belief and iman in the following:

1) One must belief in Allah as One God without any partners and without denying His Names and Attributes and without directing any form of worship to any other than Allah.

2) One must believe in all of Allahs noble angels without doubt and without associating any non-Islamic belief regarding them, such as them being females or human-like.

3) To be considered a believer, one must have faith in all of Allahs chosen messengers and prophets, named and unnamed without attributing to them any falsehoods or flaws.

4) One must have faith in the Divine Scriptures, but taking only the Quran as the one true guidance, preserved by Allah for all of eternity and for all of mankind.

5) One of the most important beliefs, which illustrates the purpose of life, is the belief in the Hereafter without denying any of the events told in the Quran or by the Prophet (sallallahu alaiyhi wa sallam).

6) Finally, one must believe in Divine Preordainment, more commonly known as fate or destiny. One must believe that Allah has knowledge of the future and that everything has been preordained with its due measure.

When a person accepts the above beliefs with his heart and affirms it with his tongue, he is considered as one who has iman. Iman requires acknowledgement of these beliefs through action. The Quran constantly connects ones iman with ones deeds in the phrase, Innalladhina amanu wa amilussaalihaat, which translates to those who believe and do good deeds. It is the actions a person chooses to do that both increase the iman and act as evidence of ones iman or decreases it and proves the weakness of the iman.
The Holy Prophet (sallallahu alaiyhi wa sallam) said, Iman wears out in ones heart just as the clothes (one wears) wears out. Therefore, ask Allah to renew iman in your hearts. Unfortunately, iman will not increase by only making dua and asking Allah to increase it, but it also takes effort from the believer. Allah states:

Lo! Allah does not change the condition of a people until they (first) change that which is in their hearts. (Surat ar-Rad 13:11)

There are three main causes for the decrease in ones iman. A persons iman is sure to take a fall when he loses certainty in the above six beliefs. These beliefs when properly settled into the heart play an important role in a believers life. When a person says, performs, or believes something, which is Islamically known as kufr (disbelief), their iman will be effected in a very negative way. And the final reason for the downfall of iman is performing any type of shirk. These three things all lead to sin, which is what prevents the iman from increasing.

It is a duty of every Muslim to keep his or her iman in check. This means one must constantly guard his or her iman and observe whether it has increased or decreased and for what causes. If it has decreased, one must work to increase it before it falls low enough to destroy the heart. There are many ways to increases ones iman and it involves increasing in righteous deeds and refraining from sins, as well as staying away from sinful activities and people who encourage such activities.

The first thing one should do is renew his or her faith by reciting La ilaha illallah, the meaning of which is: There is no deity except Allah, as the Prophet (sallallahu alaiyhi wa sallam) advised. A person must also believe in all the aspects of La ilaha illallah and this is done through gaining knowledge. Knowledge is one of the most essential key factors in increasing ones iman. It leads to certainty in the heart, assurance in the mind, and peace felt by the soul. Allah has said in His Holy Revelation:

It is only those who have knowledge among His slaves that fear Allah. (Surat al-Malaaikah 35:28)

An increase in knowledge leads to acknowledging Allah in every moment of ones life through taqwa, which leads to a firm iman. The type of knowledge we are discussing is knowing that Allah is One and has no partners, wives, children, or equals. It is knowing Allah through His beautiful Names and Attributes; that Allah is the Creator of the heavens and the earth and all that it contains. He is the Preserver, as well as the One Who destroys. He gives life and takes it whenever He wills. His knowledge encompasses all things and nothing can ever be hidden from Him.

And with Him are the keys of the invisible. None but He knows them. And He knows what is in the land and the sea. Not a leaf falls but He knows it, not a grain amid the darkness of the earth, nor anything wet or dry but (it is noted) in a Clear Record. (Surat al-Anaam 6:59)

He hears the cries of His servants all at once and is not confused by the countless different number of voices and languages and He is Ever Responding. He is the Compassionate, the Merciful, the Giver of Bounties. He forgives whomever He wills and punishes whomever He wills. He is the Just, the Merciful, and does no wrong to His creation. He sees all things. Not a black ant on a black stone on a black moonless night is hidden from His sight. To Him belongs all praise and glory! He is the Most Great, the Incomparable!

A person who has knowledge of Allah is no way like a person who simply states La ilaha illallah and knows nothing else about its meaning and its impact in the life of a true believer.

Likewise, a person who has knowledge about Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu alaiyhi wa sallam) and his life, noble characteristics, truthful teachings, and exemplary actions and has faith in what he informed his Ummah concerning the torment and bliss in the grave, the Last Day, the Reckoning, the questioning of ones deeds, the scale, the bridge, the rewards of Paradise, and the torments of Hellfire is unlike the person who has no such knowledge or belief. A person with this knowledge will have a purpose and goal in life, which is to obey Allah to the best of his ability and remind himself of the rewards and punishments he may earn depending upon his iman and his deeds.

There is no doubt that knowledge plays a big role in increasing the iman of a weak heart and Allah says it beautifully:

Are those who know, equal to those who know not? (Surat az-Zumar 39:9)

The second key factor, which affects the iman are ones deeds. They can either decrease the iman and weaken the heart and soul or increase it, as well as strengthening the heart and soul. Once a person gains knowledge about something, he should accept it and put it into practice. If a person accepts the forbidden as forbidden and the permissible as permissible, but refuses to act upon it, thereby disobeying Allah and committing sin, not to mention hurting his own soul, he has suppressed his iman. The basis of iman is to accept and practice.

By increasing good deeds and obedience, one nears himself to Allah, increases his iman, and purifies himself. He is less likely to fall into his base desires and worldly pleasures, keeping himself safe from the evils of society by strengthening his soul and weakening his nafs.

A person with low iman should begin by performing the obligatory duties imposed on him, such as performing the five daily prayers at their fixed times and fasting. He should stop committing major sins and eventually begin performing more voluntary and permissible acts of worship and obedience and refrain from minor sins and disliked acts to the best of his ability. When a person refrains from as many sins as possible and does as many good deeds as he can, most importantly his obligatory duties, he weakens Satan against him, which gives him a bigger chance of success. Allah says:

O you who believe! Obey Allah and obey the Messenger and do not make your deeds vain. (Surah Muhammad 47:33)

One should make sure that everything he does will only benefit him both in this world and in the hereafter. There is no point in doing something that will cause hurt to ones soul and add more weight to ones evil deeds. It is very important and beneficial to follow the Sunnah. The Prophet (sallallahu alaiyhi wa sallam) was the best of mankind and Allah chose him to show us our ways. If we follow him, we are sure to succeed in both worlds, Insha Allah. But if we reject his way and follow our own lusts or the way of the kuffar, we will only destroy ourselves. To be sure that ones deeds will increase the iman, one should do only that which Allah and His Messenger (sallallahu alaiyhi wa sallam) have taught and in that way, one can be safe from bidah and misguidance.

The third key factor to increasing ones iman is remembrance and contemplation. Remembrance refers to the remembrance of Allah, His Names and Attributes, His Greatness, Power, and Majesty, and the fact that He is the Most High. He is the Only One Who deserves to be worshipped, thanked, and depended upon. Allah is the Lord of Kindness and the Most Generous. He should be praised and glorified constantly as a part of remembrance. The Prophet (sallallahu alaiyhi wa sallam) said that the most beloved and weighty phrases of dhikr (remembrance) are La ilaha illallah Subhannallah, Alhumdulillah, and Allahu Akbar. There are many others like these, which should also be recited. The Prophet (sallallahu alaiyhi wa sallam) said, The difference between a person who glorifies his Lord and the one who does not remember his Lord is like that between the living and the dead. The remembrance of Allah increases iman and brings peace into the heart. There is none more truthful than Allah in speech and so Allah confirms:

Who have believed and whose hearts have rest in the remembrance of Allah. Verily in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find rest! (Surat ar-Rad 13:28)

Along with praising and glorifying Allah, one should be regular in reciting His
Holy Speech, the Quran, and ponder upon their meanings and use them as a guide and a healing in ones life.

And we reveal of the Quran that which is a healing and a mercy to those who believe (Surat al-Isra 17:82)

The Quran contains the Truth about monotheism, Allahs promises of success to the true believers and warnings of punishment to the hypocrites and disbelievers. It contains commandments and prohibitions, inspiring stories of the previous prophets and their nations, and codes of the best conduct and behavior. The words of the Quran bring hope into a persons life. They enlighten the heart and open up a path of righteousness for those searching for the truth.

Will they not then ponder on the Qur'an? If it had been from other than Allah they would have found therein much incongruity. (Surat an-Nisaa 4:82)

The iman will increase when one connects with Allah through His Holy Revelation and this should lead one to acting upon his Lords Word.

They only are the (true) believers whose hearts feel fear when Allah is mentioned, and when the revelations of Allah are recited unto them they increase their faith, and who trust in their Lord. (Surat Al-Anfaal 8:2)

Remembering the Hereafter is also a cure for weak iman. When one is one hundred percent certain of the Last Day, Paradise, and Hellfire and feels fear of the mere thought of standing before the All-Powerful Creator and be questioned and judged for each of his thoughts, sayings and deeds, he is bound to think twice before committing an act of disobedience. One should remember the Day of Judgement often, which is repeatedly mentioned in the Quran to remind mankind that he will surely be returned to his Lord.

When we look at the night, full of bright glittery stars, the shining moon and the sunset, as well as the mountains standing firm and the flowers blooming, we should feel Allahs Power and Majesty and contemplate over His creation. It is absolutely amazing and unimaginable as to how Allah created every single thing in existence and how the universe runs so smoothly by the will and control of its Creator. Contemplating over the creation is another way a person can increase his iman and grow closer to Allah.

Such as remember Allah, standing, sitting, and reclining, and consider the creation of the heavens and the earth, (and say): Our Lord! You created not this in vain. Glory be to You! Preserve us from the doom of Fire. (Surah Ali Imran 3:191)

Abu Hurairah (radiyallahu anhu) reported that the Prophet (sallallahu alaiyhi wa sallam) said, Allah, the All-Mighty says, I treat my slave according to his expectations from Me and I am with him when he remembers Me. If he remembers Me in his heart, I remember him in My heart. If he remembers Me in a gathering, I remember him in a better and more noble gathering (i.e. of the angels). If he comes close to Me by one span, I go towards him a cubits length. If he comes toward Me a cubits length, I go towards him an arms length. And if he walks toward Me, I run toward him.

One of the most important things a person should be aware of when trying to increase his iman and at all times, is the vastness of Allahs mercy, compassion, and love. One should put hope and trust in Him. Remembrance of Allah is a key factor in increasing the iman, as are increasing ones Islamic knowledge and good deeds. Allah says:

Then, as for those who have faith and do good deeds, He will pay them fully their rewards and give them more out of His grace and as for those who disdain and are proud, He will punish them with a painful doom. And they shall not find for themselves besides Allah any guardian or helper. (Surat an-Nisaa 4:173)

In the following verse, Allah emphasizes the importance of iman and doing good deeds along with ones belief:

There shall be no sin unto those who believe and do good deeds for what they may have eaten (in the past); so be mindful of your duty (to Allah) and do good deeds and again be mindful of your duty and believe and once again, be mindful of your duty and do good deeds. Allah loves the good! (Surat al-Maidah 5:93)

The life of the dunya is only a test for the creation and one day this test will end. It is the responsibility of each human and jinn to prepare oneself for the final scoring of the test by being mindful of ones duty towards Allah by following the guidance of the Quran and the Sunnah and keeping ones iman high. A weak iman will lead one to the Hellfire, while a strong one will lead one to the Gardens of Delight. The reason is because it is the iman that determines the actions of a person. A person with weak or even no iman will commit sin and cause Allah to be displeased, causing him to be thrown into the Hellfire to be punished. But a person with a strong faith will refrain from sins and perform good deeds, which will be the cause of Allahs pleasure and his entrance into Paradise.
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Quran in Twenty Seven Nights of Tarawîh

Day Twenty Seven
The recitation of the Qur’ân is completed in this which commences from Sûrah Bayyinah, the 98th Sûrah of the Qur’ân, ending with Sûrah Nâs, the 114th and final Sûrah of the Qur’ân.

Allâh is pleased with the righteous and they are pleased with Him because they are the best of Allâh’s creation. As for the evildoers, they are the worst of Allâh’s creation. On the Day of Qiyâmah, Allâh will be so just that even a good act the size of an atom will be rewarded and a sin just as small will also not pass unnoticed.

Allâh says that man acknowledges that he has an ungrateful nature, but his intense love for wealth does not permit him to mend his ways. Allâh reminds mankind to be mindful of the Day of Qiyâmah because they can never fathom the flaming inferno of Jahannam. Man is reminded that he will have to answer for the wealth that he possesses, which makes him negligent of his duties in this world. Besides the righteous Mu’minîn, the rest of mankind is at a loss.

Allâh warns man that every tale‑carrier and miser is destined for Jahannam. In Sûrah Fîl, Allâh illustrates how He used little birds with pebbles to destroy the army of elephants that Abraham brought to demolish the Ka‘bah. In the next Sûrah, Allâh tells the Quraysh that they should worship He only because it was Him who made their city a sanctuary of peace.

In Sûrah Ma’ûn, Allâh condemns those who rebuke orphans and the poor and who are vain and miserly. These are the ones who remain negligent of the Salâh. Allâh consoles Rasulullâh Sallallâhu ‘alayhi wasallam by telling him not to let the taunts of a certain Kâfir affect him because it will be the very same wretch who will be without progeny and will be nameless in history. Allâh urges Rasulullâh ft to continue performing Salâh and offering sacrifices because Allâh shall soon award him with the pond of Kawthar as a gift in the Âkhirâh.

In Sûrah Kâfirûn, Allâh clearly distinguishes between the Mu’minîn and the Kuffâr so that the one is not confused for the other. Allâh makes mention of the culmination of Rasulullâh’s Sallallâhu ‘alayhi wasallam duty in Sûrah Nasr and commands Rasulullâh Sallallâhu ‘alayhi wasallam to engage in excessive glorification and praise of Allâh. Sûrah Lahab curses Abu Lahab and his wife because the couple harmed Rasulullâh Sallallâhu ‘alayhi wasallam, immensely. Sûrah Ikhlâs declares, “Say, ‘He is Allâh, the One. Allâh is Independent. He is neither the child of anyone nor has He any children. There is none comparable to Him.

Sûrah Falaq is an invocation to Allâh for His protection and makes reference to the witchcraft that was intended to harm Rasulullâh Sallallâhu ‘alayhi wasallam. Finally, Sûrah Nâs invokes Allâh’s protection against Shaytân’s instigation and traps.
ان استطعت ان لا يسبقك الى الله احد فافعل
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Day Twenty Six
More than half of the 30th Juz is be recited in this (i.e. from Sûrah Naba until Sûrah Qadr, the 97th Sûrah of the Qur’ân).

In Sûrah Naba (Sûrah Amma), Allâh says that the punishment of Jahannam has been prepared for those people who deny the truth of Islâm. When the trumpet is sounded for the Day of Qiyâmah, the skies will be divided into many roads through which people will pass in droves towards the Plain of Resurrection. The acts of every person will be disclosed and Allâh will decide the punishment or reward that every person will receive.

Sûrah Nâzi’ât follows Sûrah Naba with the message that people will regard their lives in this world to be a mere morning or evening when they face the torturously long Day of Qiyâmah. The severity of the bay of Qiyâmah will cause people’s heart to tremble. They will recall their acts in this world and will regret whatever they did because Jahannam will be shown to them.

In the subsequent Sûrahs, Allâh tells Rasulullâh Sallallâhu ‘alayhi wasallam that people with wealth and authority are often beguiled by what they have and therefore do not accept good counsel. On the other hand, poor people tend to accept more readily. Therefore, devote more attention to those who have greater fear for Allâh so that they may attain spiritual purity.

When Qiyâmah will take place, no one can be of any assistance to another, even though they may be brothers, parents, children or spouses. Every person will be too concerned about his own predicament to be worried about another. The faces of the Mu’minîn and the pious will be resplendent on that day, while the faces of the Kuffâr and sinners will be gloomy.

Allâh points out to people that they will have to tread the straight path to be saved from the anguish and suffering of the Day of Qiyâmah. On the Day of Qiyâmah, the sky will be rent asunder, bodies will rise from their graves, the stars will plummet down and the oceans will be ablaze. Every person will be confronted by his acts on the Plain of Resurrection when none will want to know another.

In Sûrah Mutaffifîn, Allâh condemns those who cheat when weighing and measuring, and warns them of a terrible punishment. Allâh cautions mankind to beware of the day when they will all rise from their graves and stand before Allâh to account for every act. On that day, it will be the Mu’minîn who will laugh at the Kuffâr who scoffed at them in this world.

The sky will be cleaved open when the trumpet is sounded and corpses will be flung from their graves. Whereas the pious shall be quickly relieved of the formalities of the Day of Qiyâmah, the sinful ones will be flung into the fire of Jahannam. These were the people who thought that they will never be returned to Allâh.

Allâh says further that those who harass believing men and women without repenting afterwards shall suffer a terrible torment in the Âkhirâh. Allâh also mentions that the Qur’ân is a lofty book that is preserved in the Lawhul Mahfûdh. The Qur’ân distinguishes between right and wrong and those who still adamantly adhere to the wrong shall be granted only a little respite.

Allâh commands Rasulullâh Sallallâhu ‘alayhi wasallam to glorify His praises and assures him that he will never forget the Qur’ân. Allâh further instructs Rasulullâh Sallallâhu ‘alayhi wasallam to continue propagating the Dîn for Allâh shall open up avenues of ease for him. Allâh urges people to ponder over Allâh’s creation so that they may recognise Him. Allâh says, “Have they not looked how the camel is created? And how the sky has been elevated? And how the mountains have been rooted? And how the earth has been levelled?” (Sûrah Ghâshiya, verses 17 to 20)

All these signs are for people to take heed before they are taken to task on the Day of Qiyâmah. Allâh admonishes man for his excessive preoccupation with material wealth because it leads him to abuse inheritance and to refuse help to the poor and orphans. However, Allâh has granted man the capacity to do good and to refrain from evil. Therefore, whoever purifies his soul will be successful, while those who are negligent of this will suffer permanent loss.

Allâh advises people to spend their wealth only for His pleasure and with no other motives. None should be proud about being able to do good because only Allâh grants people the ability to lend a helping hand to the needy. Allâh assures Rasulullâh Sallallâhu ‘alayhi wasallam that Allâh will soon confer on him a bounty that will please him and that he should never feel that Allâh has forsaken him because Allâh has always been there for him. Allâh has illuminated his heart, alleviated his worries and elevated his name. Allâh consoles Rasulullâh Sallallâhu ‘alayhi wasallam (as well as all Muslims at large) that ease always follows hardship. Therefore, a person’s attention should always focus on Allâh.
ان استطعت ان لا يسبقك الى الله احد فافعل
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Day Twenty Five
The 29th Juz is recited in this Tarawîh. This Juz includes Sûrahs Mulk, Qalam, Haqqah, Ma’ârij, Nûh, Jinn, Muzzammil, Muddathir, Qiyâmah, Insân and Mursalâh.

Allâh says in Sûrah Mulk that there is none to replace His innumerable bounties if He should ever snatch them away from people. People should therefore trust only in Allâh because He has created both life and death and only He controls them.

Sûrah Qalam makes it clear that the character of Rasulullâh Sallallâhu ‘alayhi wasallam is the highest in calibre. Allâh also instructs Rasulullâh is to exercise patience and not to supplicate to Allâh in anger, as Hadhrat Yunus did. The Sûrah also warns the Kuffâr about the punishment they stand to face in this world as well as in the Âkhirâh.

A startling description of Qiyâmah is given in Sûrah Hâqa, where Allâh also speaks of the punishment that the Kuffâr will receive and the rewards that will accrue to the pious. Allâh concludes the Sûrah by stating that the Qur’ân is definitely a revelation from Allâh and neither a composition of a poet nor the ramblings of a fortune‑teller.

In Sûrah Ma’ârij, Allâh says that man is a weak creature who becomes perplexed when facing any adversity and miserly when enjoying good fortune. Allâh warns all miserly people who hoard their wealth that they should beware of the terrible fire of Jahannam which will strip off their skins.

Sûrah Nûh recounts the story of Hadhrat Nûh who tirelessly preached to his people for a long time. However, the wretched people refused to accept his message and relentlessly opposed him. Frustrated by their stubborn * attitude, Hadhrat Nûh eventually prayed to Allâh to destroy them. As a result of this, they were drowned in a deluge which spared only the Mu’minîn with Hadhrat Nûh in the ark.

Sûrah Jinn speaks of the praises that some Jinn expressed about the Qur’ân when they heard Rasulullâh Sallallâhu ‘alayhi wasallam reciting it. They believed in the Qur’ân and attested to Allâh’s oneness. The Sûrah also makes it clear that only Allâh possesses knowledge of the unseen. of course, Allâh does impart a bit of this knowledge to His Ambiyâ by means of divine revelation.

In Sûrah Muzzammil Allâh addresses Rasulullâh it as the one who is shrouded in a blanket. Allâh commands Rasulullâh it to‑stand in Salâh for half the night or less, and to recite the Qur’ân in slow measured tones. Worshipping Allâh during the night is an effective means of purifying the soul and readily accepted by Allâh. Allâh also encourages zakâh and spending in charity because any good act will be of tremendous benefit in the Âkhirâh.

With a different word Muddathir, Allâh again addresses Rasulullâh Sallallâhu ‘alayhi wasallam one shrouded in a blanket. Allâh commands Rasulullâh to propagate Islâm and to hymn the praises of Allâh’s glory and grandeur. Allâh also commands Rasulullâh Sallallâhu ‘alayhi wasallam to abstain from ail impurities and to behave kindly towards people without expecting anything in return. As in many previous Sûrahs, Allâh urges Rasulullâh Sallallâhu ‘alayhi wasallam to patiently endure the harassment of the Kuffâr without retaliation. The Sûrah also stresses that the Qur’ân is a book of guidance that will benefit those people whom Allâh leads aright.

In Sûrah Qiyâmah, Allâh instructs Rasulullâh it that he should not exert himself to repeat immediately the words of revelation when it is revealed to him. He was to listen attentively, after which Allâh would ensure that he remembered everything.

Allâh says in Sûrah Dahar that He instilled the capacity to discern between right and wrong in every person. Man therefore has the choice either to be grateful to Allâh or to be ungrateful. However, the ungrateful will have to suffer punishment for their ingratitude while the grateful will be immensely rewarded with the eternal bliss of Jannah. Allâh lauds the Mu’minîn who, despite their own need, assist the needy without expecting remuneration or even a word of thanks in reto rn.

The Juz concludes with Sûrah Mursalâh, which confirms that Qiyâmah will definitely take place. It will be a day when Allâh’s judgement will be decisive and binding. Whoever wishes to be obedient shall be such. On the other hand, those people whose evil acts have surrounded them shall remain rebellious and will have to face the punishment for their acts.
ان استطعت ان لا يسبقك الى الله احد فافعل
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Day Twenty Four
The 28th Juz is recited in this Tarawîh. It includes Sûrahs Mujâdalah, Hashar, Mumtahina, Saff, Jumu‘ah, Munâfiqûn, Taghâbun, Talâq and Tahrîm.

Mujâdalah begins this Juz. Allâh states that it is foolish for any person to refer to his wife as his mother (as a method of separating from her). If a man does this, it will be Harâm for him to cohabit with his wife until he pays the required Kafâra. The Kafâra is that he frees a slave (male or female), fasts for two consecutive months or feeds sixty poor people.

Thereafter, Allâh teaches the etiquette of gatherings and warns people against hosting secret meetings to plot against Rasulullâh Sallallâhu ‘alayhi wasallam or to commit other sins. Allâh says that such meetings are among the acts of Shaytân.

In Sûrah Hashar thereafter, Allâh states that the true Mu’minîn are those people who assist the Muslims who migrate for Allâh and Rasulullâh Sallallâhu ‘alayhi wasallam. They are people who do not close their hearts despite living in difficult circumstances. Rather, they give preference to others above themselves. The Munâfiqîn are completely different because they display the traits of Shaytân. They encourage people to commit evil acts and then excuse themselves saying that they have nothing to do with these people. Allâh urges people to heed the advice of the Qur’ân, which is so mighty that it can crush mountains under its weight.

Sûrah Mumtahina begins after Sûrah Hashar. Allâh tells the Mu’minîn in this Sûrah that they should terminate all secretive contact with the Kuffâr after migrating to Madinah. The Kuffâr are enemies to the Muslims and will never be their allies. A Muslim can never trust a kâfir because the ambition of the kâfir is to convert the Muslim into a kâfir like himself/ herself. Allâh also states that the faith of a woman should be tested when she migrates to the Muslims. She must be allowed to remain among the Muslims if she is found to be sincere.

Addressing the Mu’minîn in Sûrah Saff, Allâh admonishes them for claiming to do things that they have not done. This is an extremely serious crime in Allâh’s sight. Allâh loves those Mu’minîn who stand together like a fortified wall when facing the enemy in Jihâd. Allâh then quotes Hadhrat Îsa who prophesised the advent of Rasulullâh to the Bani Isrâ’îl, referring to Rasulullâh Sallallâhu ‘alayhi wasallam as “Ahmed”. Allâh ends the Sûrah by assuring the Mu’minîn that the Kuffâr will never be able to extinguish Allâh’s light and that Allâh will definitely grant them victory over their enemies.

In Sûrah Jumu’ah, Allâh explicitly states, “0 you who believe! When you are called for Salâh on the day of Jumu’ah (Friday), then hasten towards Allâh’s remembrance and leave all trade. This is best for you if you only knew. Thereafter, when the Salâh has been completed, then spread out on earth and seek from Allâh’s bounty (sustenance) and remember Allâh in abundance so that you may succeed” (verses 9 and 10). The concluding verse of the Sûrah states: “Allâh is the Best Sustainer”.

Allâh addresses Rasulullâh Sallallâhu ‘alayhi wasallam in Sûrah Munafiqûn, warning him to beware of them. Allâh says that the words and acts of the Munâfiqîn contradict their thoughts and feelings. They falsely take solemn oaths in Allâh’s name whereas they are devoid of Imân.

In Sûrah Taghâbun, Allâh states that only He created everyone. Allâh made some people Kuffâr and made others Mu’minîn with wealth and children as tests for them. Allâh will forgive those people who are rightly guided.

Allâh mentions in Sûrah Talâq that husbands should divorce their wives only when the wives are not menstruating. The Iddah should be meticulously observed and it will be regarded as an act of immorality if a woman has to emerge from her home during the Iddah. The Iddah of a non‑menstruating divorcee is three months, while the Iddah of a pregnant divorcee will terminate as soon as she delivers. The husband will have to maintain his pregnant wife after the divorce until she delivers his child.

Addressing Rasulullâh Sallallâhu ‘alayhi wasallam in Sûrah Tahrîm, Allâh tells him not to forsake Allâh’s bounties for the sake of his ‘wives. Allâh also tells Rasulullâh Sallallâhu ‘alayhi wasallam that he should pay the Kafâra to be absolved from his vow. Allâh cautions that any person who wishes to oppose Rasulullâh .b, will have to face the resistance of Allâh, Hadhrat Jibra’îl and all the pious Muslims at large.

Highlighting the fact that Imân is a gift from Allâh that a person does not attain by simply associating with pious people, Allâh speaks about the wives of Hadhrat Nûh and Hadhrat Lût both of whom died as Kuffâr. On the other hand, the wife of Fir’aun passed away as a Mu’mina.
ان استطعت ان لا يسبقك الى الله احد فافعل
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Day Twenty Three
The 27th Juz is recited in this Tarawîh. This Juz begins with verse 31 of Sûrah Dhâriyât and includes Sûrahs Tûr, Najm, Qamar, Rahmân, Wâqi’ah and Hadîd.

The Juz opens with the incident of Hadhrat Ibrahîm Alayhis Salâm when some angels visited him in the guise of humans and informed him of the imminent birth of his son Hadhrat Is’hâq Alayhis Salâm When he asked them what their duty was, they replied that they were out to rain a shower of stones upon the nation of Hadhrat Lût Alayhis Salâm They had been sent to punish these people.

Allâh then relates the incidents of Hadhrat Mûsa the Âd, the Thamud and the nation of Hadhrat Nûh The Sûrah expounds Allâh’s greatness, establishes Tauhîd and Risâlah and then describes the purpose of man’s creation in the following words: “I have created man and Jinn only to worship Me” (verse 56). Allâh stresses that He sustains all and does not require sustenance from anyone.

Sûrah Tûr commences next. In this Sûrah, Allâh warns the rejecters of the Day of Qiyâmah that the day will be so severe that the heavens and the earth will tremble and mountains will fly about like cotton‑wool. The Kuffâr will be thrown into Jahannam and the punishment will be severe for those who reject the truth. It is only foolish people who will harass a Nabî who only wishes well for them. Those who reject the truth are really evil in nature. Allâh urges Rasulullâh Sallallâhu ‘alayhi wasallam to be patient and assures him that he will certainly be assisted.

Sûrah Najm thereafter makes mention of the miraculous journey of Mi’râj. Allâh says that Rasulullâh Sallallâhu ‘alayhi wasallam had neither gone astray nor erred and that he drew so close to Allâh that there scarcely remained the distance between two ends of a bow between them. Allâh makes it clear that Rasulullâh’s Sallallâhu ‘alayhi wasallam eyes did not deceive him and that he saw everything clearly. Allâh then spoke certain things to Rasulullâh about which no third being has any knowledge.

Allâh tells people that that they should never doubt the words of Rasulullâh Sallallâhu ‘alayhi wasallam especially concerning the Mi’râj because “he does not speak of his own will. Everything he says is revelation that descends on him.” (verse 41)

In Sûrah Qamar thereafter, Allâh speaks about Rasulullâh’s Sallallâhu ‘alayhi wasallam miracle of splitting the moon; a miracle that foretold the eventual defeat of the Kuffâr. Allâh says that the Kuffâr are unlikely to mend their ways because they refer to the miracles of Rasulullâh Sallallâhu ‘alayhi wasallam as magic. However, the time is near when they will hang their heads in remorse and flee from the truth.

Sûrah Rahmân follows Sûrah Qamar as the 55th Sûrah of the Qur’ân. In this Sûrah, Allâh enumerates a large number of bounties that He has bestowed on man. Throughout the Sûrah Allâh repeatedly asks, “Which bounty of your Rabb will you two (man and Jinn) deny?” Among the other bounties, Allâh speaks of man’s creation, the knowledge Allâh granted man, and the creation of everything else that is of use to man. By identifying all these bounties, man is introduced to Allâh. The Sûrah also describes the Âkhirâh and highlights the fact that everything besides Allâh is perishable. Allâh asserts, “Everything on earth shall perish but the countenance of your Majestic and Benevolent Rabb shall remain.” (verse 27)

Sûrah Wâqi’ah describes the advent of Qiyâmah when the records of righteous people’s acts will be given in their right hands, while those of the Kuffâr and sinners will be given in their left hands from behind their backs. The Sûrah States that the diet of the people of Jahannam shall be the fruit of a poisonous tree and scalding water. Allâh ends the Sûrah by drawing man’s attention to the fact that the Qur’ân is a great blessing from Allâh, which has an elevated position in the Lawhul Mahfûdh [The Protected Tablet] in the heavens.

Sûrah Hadîd follows Sûrah Wâqi’ah by stating that every creation glorifies Allâh. Allâh exhorts Muslims to spend in His way; this is regarded as a loan yielding a minimum of ten times the reward. Pious people neither become despondent when afflicted with adversities nor do they behave boastfully and arrogantly when enjoying prosperity. According to their acts, these are the ones who will attain the status of Siddîq and Shahîd. Allâh also tells the Ahlul Kitâb that Allâh bestows His grace and favour upon whomsoever He wills.
ان استطعت ان لا يسبقك الى الله احد فافعل
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Day Twenty Two

The 26th Juz is recited in this Tarawîh. This Juz includes the entire Surahs Ahqâf, Muhammad, Fatah, Hujurât, Qâf and Dhâriyât.

This Juz commences with Sûrah Ahqâf, in which Allâh states that He has created the universe only for a stipulated period of time. The system of the universe functions according to Allâh’s perfect plan, yet the Kuffâr still adamantly oppose the truth. Allâh commands man to treat his parents kindly, reminding him that his mother bore him with hardship and delivered him with hardship. When this man grows up to be righteous, he will express gratitude to Allâh, whereupon Allâh will accept his acts and forgive him for his shortcomings. However, Allâh will punish those Who oppose their parents and disobey them.

Thereafter, Allâh makes mention of the time when a group of the Jinn listened to Rasulullâh Sallallâhu ‘alayhi wasallam reciting the Qur’ân and then conveyed the message of Islâm to their people.

Sûrah Muhammad follows Sûrah Ahqâf. Allâh says that the acts of people will be destroyed when, apart from adhering to kufr, they also enjoin others to do the same. Allâh will also forgive the sins of those who possess imân and practise the guidance given to them. In addition to this, Allâh will also correct their acts.

Allâh also commands the Muslims to wage Jihâd until the enemy surrenders. Those people who are averse to Jihâd after imân and guidance have come to them have definitely fallen prey to Shaytân because Shaytân makes evil acts seem appealing and makes people entertain hopes of long lives. Eventually, the acts of such people are destroyed. Allâh also tells people to ponder about the verses of the, Qur’ân because this will illuminate their hearts and their minds.

Sûrah Fatah follows Sûrah Muhammad. In this Sûrah, Allâh speaks about the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah which turned out to be a tremendous victory for the Muslims. Allâh says in verse 10, “Verity those who pledge allegiance to you (O Rasulullâh) have actually pledged allegiance to Allâh. Allâh’s hand is above theirs.”

Allâh adds that those who violate their pledge and turn away from Jihâd become deserving of a terrible punishment.

Allâh declares in the final verse of this Sûrah, “Muhammad Sallallâhu ‘alayhi wasallam is Allâh’s Nabî and those with him are hard on the disbelievers, yet compassionate towards each other.” (verse 29)

Sûrah Hujurât, which follows Sûrah Fatah, contains teachings that are pertinent to good character. The Sûrah teaches Muslims the etiquette of social interaction and good manners. The Sûrah especially emphasises the refinement of manners te be displayed when in the presence of Rasulullâh Sallallâhu ‘alayhi wasallam and near his rooms. In fact, failure to observe etiquette in Rasulullâh’s Sallallâhu ‘alayhi wasallam presence may lead to one’s acts being rejected. The Sûrah highlights the importance of cordial and amicable behaviour towards each other and equates backbiting to eating the flesh of a brother’s corpse.

The next Sûrah is Sûrah Qâf, in which man is told that Allâh is closer to him than his own jugular vein. Allâh also reminds man that two angels have been appointed to record the acts of every person. These records will be closely examined on the Day of Qiyâmah.

Sûrah Dhâriyât begins thereafter Allâh tells man that Qiyâmah is inevitable and that every person will receive the recompense due to him/her for every good and evil act committed. The evil ones will suffer punishment while the righteous Mu’minîn will enjoy the bounties of Jannah.

Allâh describes the people of imân as those who sleep very little, who awaken during the early hours of the morning to beseech Allâh for forgiveness, and who spend their wealth to assist those who ask of them as well as those who do not ask. The incidents of certain Ambiyâ are then mentioned briefly.

Play Allâh bless us all with the realisation of what is to come in the Âkhirâh. Âmîn.
ان استطعت ان لا يسبقك الى الله احد فافعل
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The Fiqh of Fasting

The Fiqh of Fasting - sunnipath.com

Answered by Sidi Mujib

The Fiqh of Fasting


Ta`limu’l-Haq chapter on Fasting (Sawm) taught by Shaykh Abdur-Rahman ibn Yusuf on Sunday, October 20th, 2002 and Sunday November 3rd, 2002. Notes in brackets [such as (F: )] are from Faraz Rabbani.

Fasting in the month of Ramadan is one of the five pillars of Islam.

Fasting in the month of Ramadan is fard upon every Muslim, male and female, who is sane and mature.

Almighty Allah has promised great reward for those that fast, whilst severe punishment is in store for those who do not fast in the month of Ramadan.

Fasting has many physical, moral and social benefits. However, Allah has made fasting compulsory so that we become pious, God-fearing and God-conscious.

Fasting in Islam means to stay away from eating, drinking and cohabitation from true dawn (subh sadiq, beginning of fajr time) to sunset with an intention of fasting.

TYPES OF FAST

There are eight types of fasting. They are as follows:

Specific obligatory (fard) fast: Fasting for the whole month of Ramadan once a year.

Non-specific obligatory (fard) fast: The duty upon one to make up a fast missed in the month of Ramadan with or without a valid reason.

Specific necessary (wajib) fast: To vow to keep a fast on a specific day or date for the sake of Allah, upon the fulfillment of a wish or desire (nadhr)

Non-specific necessary (wajib) fast: To vow or pledge to keep a fast without fixing any day or date, upon the fulfillment of a wish (nadhr). Those fasts which are kept for breaking one’s qasm (oath) also fall under this category.

Confirmed sunna fast: Those fasts which the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) kept and encouraged others to keep. E.g., fasting on the 9th and 10th of Muharram, and the 9th of Dhul Hijja, etc.

Recommended fast: All fasts besides fard, wajib, and sunna are mustahabb. E.g., fasting on Mondays and Thursdays.

Disliked fast: Fasting only on the 9th or 10th of Muharram or fasting only on Fridays. Some scholars hold it permissible to fast on the 9th and 10th of Muharram since distinguishing our fast from that of the Jews no longer applies, as the Jews no longer fast on those days.

Impermissible fast: It is haram to fast on five days during the year. They are: `Eid al-Fitr, `Eid al-Adha, and three days after `Eid al-Adha.

THE INTENTION (Intention)

The intention of fasting is necessary. If a person stays away from all those things that break one’s fast without an intention, the fast will not be valid.

It is not necessary to express the intention verbally as intention simply means to intend. Thus, the firm determination of the heart will suffice. However, it is better to express the intention verbally also: Bi sawmi ghadin nawaytu (‘And I intend to fast tomorrow’)

The time for intention lasts up to midday for specifically obligatory, specifically necessary, sunna and recommended fasts. This is mid-way between the beginning of fajr time to sunset (the beginning of maghrib time).

The intention for non-specifically obligatory and non-specifically necessary fasts must be made before the beginning of fajr time.

[F: The time for intention starts from Maghrib time of the night before.]

DU`A AT THE TIME OF BREAKING FAST

Allahumma inni laka sumtu wa bika amantu wa `ala rizqika aftartu or

Allahumma laka sumtu wa bika amantu wa `alayka tawakkaltu wa `ala rizqika aftartu

(‘O Allah, I have fasted for You, believed in You, placed my trust in You, and broken my fast on your provision’)

MUSTAHABBS IN FASTING To partake of the pre-dawn meal (suhur) before fajr time enters.

To delay this meal to a little before fajr time.

To break the fast immediately after sunset.

To break one’s fast with dry or fresh dates if available. If dates are not available, then with water.

To make the intention at night.

THINGS DISLIKED WHILE FASTING

To chew gum, rubber, plastic items or other such things (F: which are chewed, but not swallowed, and nothing reaches the stomach, for otherwise the fast would be broken).

To taste any article of food or drink and spit it out (F: without anything being swallowed). If a woman has a very ill tempered husband, it is permissible for her to taste the food, provided it does not go down her throat.

To collect one’s saliva in the mouth and then to swallow it, trying to quench thirst.

To delay a bath that has become obligatory intentionally until after fajr time.

To use paste or tooth powder to clean one’s teeth. It is permitted to use a miswak of any permissible fresh branch or root (tooth stick). [If one wishes to use toothpaste, one should brush one’s teeth before the fast begins.]

To complain of hunger and thirst.

To take the water too much up the nostrils when cleaning the nose.

To gargle more than necessary (f: because if any water goes down the throat, even accidentally, the fast is invalidated).

To quarrel, argue, use filthy or indecent words.

To backbite, tell a lie and swear are sinful acts even when one is not fasting. Therefore they become even worse when fasting.

THINGS THAT BREAK ONE’S FAST

Things that break one’s fast are of two kinds. Some make only a makeup necessary, whilst others make both a makeup and expiation (kaffara) compulsory.

(A) Makeup: To keep one fast in place of one that breaks, or is broken intentionally.

( Expiation: To fast for sixty consecutive days.

However, if a person is genuinely unable to keep these 60 fasts, for a truly valid reason, such as continuous sickness (F: based on reasonable surety, which requires either clear signs, relevant past experience, or the reporting of a qualified and upright Muslim doctor), then one has the option of choosing from one of the following four:

Feed sixty poor people to their fill for two meals, or

Feed one poor person two meals a day, for sixty days; or

Give sixty poor persons 3½ lbs. (approx. 1.6 kg.) of wheat or its value in cash or food grains;

Give to one poor person not less than 3.5 lbs. of wheat, rice or food grains, etc. or its value in cash for sixty days.

THINGS THAT BREAK ONE’S FAST BUT REQUIRE ONLY A MAKEUP

Anything put by force into the mouth of a fasting person.

Water going down the throat whilst gargling, (whilst being conscious of one’s fast).

To vomit mouthful intentionally or to return vomit down the throat.

Intentionally swallowing a pebble, piece of paper or any item that is not used as food or medicine.

Swallowing something edible, equal to or bigger than a grain of gram which was stuck between the teeth. However if it is first taken out of the mouth and swallowed, it will break the fast whether it is smaller or bigger than the size of a gram.

Dripping oil into the ear canal (F: such that it goes beyond the ear drum).

Inhaling snuff into the nostrils.

Swallowing the blood from the gums if the color of the blood is more than the saliva with which it is mixed.

To eat and drink forgetting that one is fasting and thereafter thinking that the fast is broken, to eat and drink again. [F: There are three ways something can enter your body cavity while fasting:

Deliberately. This breaks the fast;

Forgetfully. This does not, because of the Prophetic (Allah bless him & give him peace) guidance that it does not. (Otherwise, legal reasoning (qiyas) alone would have indicated that it does.)

Mistakenly/Accidentally. This breaks the fast. An example: what you mentioned; or if one ate thinking that fajr time had not come in or maghrib time come in, when the contrary was true.]

10. To eat and drink after subha sadiq or to break the fast before sunset due to a cloudy sky or a faulty watch, etc., and then realizing one’s fault.

and.B. Any fast other than a Ramadan one, whether broken intentionally or with a good and valid reason, makes only a makeup necessary [F: this is true even for non-obligatory fasts, because of the legal principle in the Hanafi school that, ‘. There is no kaffara for breaking any fast besides that of Ramadan.

THINGS THAT MAKE BOTH MAKEUP AND EXPIATION NECESSARY (WAJIB)

(Note that this applies only to a current Ramadan fast only)

Intentionally eating, drinking or breaking the fast in any other manner, such as smoking, without a valid reason (f: that is, deliberately, while aware) will make both qada and kaffara necessary (F: unless there is a legal excuse that wards off the necessity of expiation, such as it not being a complete offense, such as in the case of ejaculation through any means other than actual intercourse).

Applying kohl (antimony or surma) into the eye or rubbing oil on the head and then, thinking that the fast is broken, to eat and drink intentionally.

To drink any kind of medicine intentionally (when one is not seriously sick).

THINGS THAT DO NOT BREAK THE FAST

To eat and drink something unintentionally.

A mosquito, fly or any other object going down the throat unintentionally.

Water entering the ears.

Dust or dirt going down the throat.

Swallowing one’s own saliva.

Taking an injection.

Applying of surma (kuhl: antimony) into the eyes.

Taking a bath to keep cool.

Rubbing oil onto the body or hair.

To vomit unintentionally.

Applying itr or perfume. It is not permitted to inhale the smoke of loban or agar batti whilst fasting. It is also not permitted to smoke cigarettes or inhale its smoke.

Brushing the teeth without tooth paste or powder, e.g., using a miswak, etc.

A dream which makes ghusl wajib (necessary) does not break the fast.

PEOPLE EXEMPTED FROM FASTING IN RAMADAN

Sick people when their health is likely to be badly affected by fasting. (F: This needs to be established by reasonable surety of one’s actual or effective inability through manifest signs, relevant past experience, or the medical advice of a qualified and upright Muslim doctor.) They should make up the loss, a day for a day, when they recover after Ramadan.

A traveller (one who is undertaking a journey of more than 77 kms (48 miles) and does not intend staying more than 14 days at his destination). However, it is better for him to fast in Ramadan than to fast later, provided the journey is not a demanding one.

If it is feared that hunger or thirst will lead (F: during the fast) to death (F: or harm, by reasonable surety, as described above), it is permitted to break one’s fast.

It is necessary (wajib) to makeup of a nafl fast that was broken before completing it.

THE EXPIATORY PAYMENT (FIDYA) FOR FASTING

A very old person who does not have the strength to fast or a very sickly or diseased person who has no hope of recovering after Ramadan must make an expiatory payment for each fast missed in Ramadan.

The expiatory payment for a fast is similar to that of a missed obligatory or necessary prayer:

To give 3½ lbs (approx. 1.6 kg) of wheat or 7 lbs (approx. 3.2 kg) of barley.

Or the equivalent of the above in cash or kind.

If, however, an old or sick person gains strength or recovers after Ramadan, he must keep the missed number of fasts and whatever was given as fidya will be a reward for him from Allah Most High.

No one is allowed to fast for another (sick or fit) person. [Hajj can be made for another person (F: under certain conditions), but one it is not valid to pray or fast for another person.]

NB: Children should be encouraged to fast, but should not be forced to complete the fast up to sunset if they are unable to bear the hunger or thirst.

I`TIKAF (retreat)

I`tikaf means to enter the masjid with the intention of remaining therein (f: in worship).

Mu`takif: One who makes i`tikaf.

TYPES OF I`TIKAF: WAJIB, SUNNA & MUSTAHABB

WAJIB: To vow or pledge to make i`tikaf (on a fixed day) for the sake of Allah upon the fulfillment of some wish or desire. The least duration of a wajib i`tikaf is one day and night and it must be accompanied by a fast.

SUNNA MU’AKKADA: To reside the last ten nights and days of Ramadan in the masjid is sunna mu’akkada `ala kifaya, i.e. If a person from the community fulfils the obligation of i`tikaf the entire community will be absolved of this sacred duty. Otherwise all the residents will be sinful of neglecting this sunna of our Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace).

MUSTAHABB OR NAFL: This i`tikaf can be for any amount of time, even for a few minutes.

No fast is conditional for mustahabb or nafl i`tikaf.

CONDITIONS OF I`TIKAF:

Islam.

Sanity i.e. a person should not be mad.

Tahara – to be free from hadath akbar (major impurity).

Intention – intention.

It is makruh to remain silent intending it to be a form of worship.

A woman’s i`tikaf is in her area of prayer and `ibada (musalla) in her home. The middle of the house is better than the front part, and the back is better than the middle.

Hazrat Muhammad(Sallahu Alaihi Wasallam)- biography (The Holy Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu ‘Alaihi wa Sallam)

The people of ancient Arabia were misguided and misled. They disobeyed Allah and worshipped idols. Then Allah Ta’ala favoured mankind by sending them the best creation of Allah; the Master of humankind and jinns; the greatest personality on earth; the beloved of Allah, Prophet Muhammad Mustafa Sallallahu ‘Alaihi wa Sallam.

Our beloved Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu ‘Alaihi wa Sallam) was born in the month of Rabi’ Awwal in the year 571 C.E. He was a descendant of Prophet Ismail ‘Alayhissalam. His father, Abdullah, died several weeks before his birth. His mother, Amina died during the return journey from Madinah, at a place called Abwa. He was raised by his grandfather, Abdul Muttalib, until the age of eight. After his grandfather’s death, his uncle, Abu Talib, took care of him. Abu Talib treated Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu ‘Alaihi wa Sallam) very kindly. Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu ‘Alaihi wa Sallam) would sleep in his uncle’s bed and eat with him.

Under the guidance of Abu Talib, Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu ‘Alaihi wa Sallam) began to earn his living as a businessman and a trader. At the age of twelve, he accompanied Abu Talib with a caravan as far as Syria. Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu ‘Alaihi wa Sallam) was popularly known as ‘al-Ameen’ (the trustworthy) and ‘al-Sadiq’ (the truthful) for his good deeds. His name, Muhammad means “the praised one”.

After hearing about Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu ‘Alaihi wa Sallam)’s impressive character, Sayyidatna Khadijah (Rady Allahu Anha), a rich business woman, offered Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu ‘Alaihi wa Sallam) money to take some goods for trade to Syria. Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu ‘Alaihi wa Sallam) set out for Syria along with Maisarah, a slave of Sayyidatina Khadijah (Rady Allahu Anha). After the trip, Maisarah told Sayyidatina Khadijah (Rady Allahu Anha) all about the Prophet (Sallallahu ‘Alaihi wa Sallam). Sayyidatina Khadijah (Rady Allahu Anha) was fascinated by Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu ‘Alaihi wa Sallam). Therefore, she married him (Sallallahu ‘Alaihi wa Sallam). Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu ‘Alaihi wa Sallam) and Sayyidatina Khadijah (Rady Allahu Anha) were blessed with two sons and four daughters. Their first son, Qasim died at the age of two while their second son, Abdullah, died during his infancy. Prophet Muhammad’s (Sallallahu ‘Alaihi wa Sallam) four daughters were Zainab, Ruqayyah, Umm Kulthum and Fatima (Rady Allahu ‘Anhunna).

Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu ‘Alaihi wa Sallam) usually went to a cave in Mount Hira for meditation. Sometimes, he would remain in the cave for a month. Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu ‘Alaihi wa Sallam) was forty years old when Jibril (peace be upon him) appeared before him and revealed the first five verses of Surah Al-Alaq of the Qur’an. After the revelation, Sayyidatina Khadija (Rady Allahu Anha) became the first woman to accept Islam.

Jibreel (peace be upon him) visited Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu ‘Alaihi wa Sallam) and revealed verses of the Qur’an over a period of twenty-three years. Sometimes, Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu ‘Alaihi wa Sallam) would receive some parts of a chapter or a whole chapter. They were memorized as soon as they were revealed. These verses were collected in a book, known as the Qur’an.

The first few people to accept Islam were his cousin Hadrat Ali, his servant Hadrat Zayd ibn Harithah, his friend Hadrat Abu Bakr Siddiq (Rady Allahu Anhum) and his daughters. They accepted Islam by testifying that ” There is no deity except Allah. Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu ‘Alaihi wa Sallam) is Allah’s Messenger”.

In the first three years of Prophet Muhammad’s (Sallallahu ‘Alaihi wa Sallam) mission, forty people accepted Islam. He then began to preach Islam in public. The leaders of the Quraish did not accept the new religion. Some of them tried to bribe Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu ‘Alaihi wa Sallam) with money and power, including an offer to make him a king. But our beloved Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu ‘Alaihi wa Sallam) refused to abandon Allah’s message. When this did not work, they tried to convince his uncle, Abu Talib, to allow them to kill Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu ‘Alaihi wa Sallam). Therefore, his uncle tried to dissuade him from preaching. But Holy Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu ‘Alaihi wa Sallam) said ” O uncle, if they were to put the sun in my right hand and the moon in my left hand to stop me from preaching Islam, I would never stop. I will keep on preaching until Allah makes Islam prevail or I die. ”

The tribe of Quraish began to persecute Muslims by beating and torturing them. The first person to die by this means was a Muslim woman called Umm Ammar. Our beloved Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu ‘Alaihi wa Sallam) was publicly humiliated. They threw dirt on him while he was walking on a street and while he was praying in the Kabah. Despite all these hardships, Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu ‘Alaihi wa Sallam) was told by Allah Ta’ala to be patient and preach the message of the Qur’an. When the punishment became unbearable for Muslims, the Prophet (Sallallahu ‘Alaihi wa Sallam), advised them to go to Abyssinia (Ethiopia).

The Quraish made life miserable for Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu ‘Alaihi wa Sallam). They made a ban on contact with the Prophet’s (Sallallahu ‘Alaihi wa Sallam) family. The ban lasted for three years. After the ban was lifted, Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu ‘Alaihi wa Sallam) lost his wife, Sayyidatina Khadijah (Rady Allahu Anha) and his uncle, Abu Talib.

After Sayyidatina Khadijah’s death, Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu ‘Alaihi wa Sallam) married Sayyidatina Sawdah (Rady Allahu Anha). She was fifty years old. Later, Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu ‘Alaihi wa Sallam) married Sayyidatina Aisha (Rady Allahu Anha). Sayyidatina Aisha (Rady Allahu Anha) was the daughter of Hadrat Abu Bakr Siddiq (Rady Allahu Anhu), a close companion of Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu ‘Alaihi wa Sallam).

Since his uncle, Abu Talib died; Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu ‘Alaihi wa Sallam) went to Taif, a city south of Makkah, to preach there. But the people of Taif laughed at him. Their children threw stones at our beloved Prophet (Sallallahu ‘Alaihi wa Sallam). Jibreel (peace be upon him) visited Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu ‘Alaihi wa Sallam) and suggested that the angels were ready to destroy the town. But Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu ‘Alaihi wa Sallam) refused and prayed for the future generations of Taif to accept Islam.

After the incident at Taif, Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu ‘Alaihi wa Sallam) experienced the events of Isra and Mi’raaj. During the event of Isra, Jibreel (peace be upon him) took Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu ‘Alaihi wa Sallam) to Masjid Al-Aqsa, a mosque in Jerusalem, at night. Here, Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu ‘Alaihi wa Sallam) lead the other Prophets in prayer. After this, the event of Mi’raaj took place. Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu ‘Alaihi wa Sallam) was taken to the heavens. It was on this journey that he received the gift of the five daily prayers. He was then taken back to Makkah. When Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu ‘Alaihi wa Sallam) mentioned these events to the people of Makkah, they laughed at him. However, Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu ‘Alaihi wa Sallam) described the Masjid al-Aqsa to them and told them that a caravan will be arriving soon. The non-believers were later astonished when this turned out to be true.

The leaders of Quraish were getting angry at Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu ‘Alaihi wa Sallam). They decided to kill him. The leaders chose a young man from each clan of Quraish. These men were responsible for attacking Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu ‘Alaihi wa Sallam). Jibreel (may peace be upon him) informed Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu ‘Alaihi wa Sallam) about the plan and instructed him to leave immediately. Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu ‘Alaihi wa Sallam) advised Hadrat Ali (Rady Allahu ‘Anhu) to sleep in his bed. He then met with Hadrat Abu Bakr Siddiq (Rady Allahu Anhu) and both of them went into hiding in a cave in Mount Thawr.

The next morning, the men raided the house of Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu ‘Alaihi wa Sallam). After finding out that he had left, they set out for the mountains in search of Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu ‘Alaihi wa Sallam). Abu Karz, a man known for his skills in tracking footprints, followed the tracks of Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu ‘Alaihi wa Sallam) to the cave. They examined the cave and noticed that a web had covered it’s mouth. They thought that it was impossible for Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu ‘Alaihi wa Sallam) to hide in the cave. So, they departed.

Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu ‘Alaihi wa Sallam) spent three nights in the cave. When he was sure that the Quraish had ended their search, he travelled to Madinah. This journey is known as “Hijra”. The Islamic calendar begins with this event. Upon the arrival of Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu ‘Alaihi wa Sallam), the people of Madinah greeted him with great respect and treated him with hospitality.

After the migration to Madinah, the enemies of Islam increased their attack on Muslims. The Battles of Badr, Uhud and the Allies took place and were fought near Madinah. Many men gave their life for Islam. This resulted in many widowed women and lots of orphaned children. Therefore, Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu ‘Alaihi wa Sallam) married several widows like Sayyidatina Zainab bint Khuzaimah, Umm Habibah and Umm Salamah, may Allah be pleased with them.. All his wives, especially Sayyidatina Aisha (Rady Allahu Anha), reported many ahadith (sayings of Prophet Muhammad).

A year after the Battle of the Allies, Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu ‘Alaihi wa Sallam) and fifteen hundred Muslims left for Makkah to perform Hajj. On their journey, they were stopped from entering Hudaybiyah. In this city, some negotiations took place that allowed them to come next year. This treaty attracted many people from Arabia. Many people came from different parts of Arabia and accepted Islam.

Two years later, the Quraish violated the Treaty of Hudaybiyah. So, Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu ‘Alaihi wa Sallam) marched to Makkah with an army of 10,000 Muslims. Before entering the city, he told the citizens of Makkah that anyone who remained in his home or in the Kabah, would be safe. The army entered Makkah without fighting and Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu ‘Alaihi wa Sallam) went directly to the Kabah. He thanked Allah, the Almighty for allowing the entry to Makkah. He then pointed at each idol and recited this verse from the Qur’an, “Truth has come and falsehood will neither start nor will it reappear.” One by one the idols fell down. Thus, the Kabah was cleaned. Next, he forgave the leaders of Quraish and the people of Makkah. The people of Makkah then accepted Islam, including the enemies of Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu ‘Alaihi wa Sallam). Within a year, almost the whole of Arabia had accepted Islam.

Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu ‘Alaihi wa Sallam) performed his first and last pilgrimage during the tenth year after Hijra. 120,000 men and women performed pilgrimage with him. He received the last revelation during this pilgrimage.Two months later, Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu ‘Alaihi wa Sallam) fell sick and after several days left his earthly existence on Monday, 12th Rabi Awwal in Madinah. He was 63 years old.

Our beloved Nabi (Sallallahu ‘Alaihi wa Sallam) lived a very simple and modest life, even though he could have lived like a king. He (Sallallahu ‘Alaihi wa Sallam) and his family used to go without cooked meals for several days at a time, eating dates and dried bread. During the day, Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu ‘Alaihi wa Sallam) was the busiest man, he performed his duties as the head of state and a family man. He was the most devoted man during the night. He (Sallallahu ‘Alaihi wa Sallam) used to spend one to two- thirds of every night in prayer and meditation. Prophet Muhammad’s (Sallallahu ‘Alaihi wa Sallam) possessions consisted of mats, jugs and other simple things.

At the end of his mission, Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu ‘Alaihi wa Sallam) was blessed with several followers. Thousands prayed with him and listened to his sermon. Hundreds of sahaba (companions) would find time to be with him during the five daily prayers. They used to seek his advice for their everyday problems. Among them were Hadrat Abu Bakr Siddiq, Hadrat Umar, Hadrat Uthman, Hadrat Ali, Imam Hassan, Imam Hussain and many others, Rady Allahu Anhum.

Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu ‘Alaihi wa Sallam) had a beautiful appearance. His sweat was more fragrant than musk and his perspiration shone like pearls. He (Sallallahu ‘Alaihi wa Sallam) talked so clearly that someone could count the number of words he spoke. Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu ‘Alaihi wa Sallam) never struck anybody with his hand, but he did fight for Islam. He (Sallallahu ‘Alaihi wa Sallam) used to forgive his enemies and release prisoners of war.

Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu ‘Alaihi wa Sallam) was the last Prophet of Allah. All sincere Muslims try to follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu ‘Alaihi wa Sallam). Many Muslim scholars have composed qasidas in praise of Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu ‘Alaihi wa Sallam). Rasulullah’s (Sallallahu ‘Alaihi wa Sallam) favours upon his Ummah are unlimited. Our Nabi (Sallallahu ‘Alaihi wa Sallam) said, ” You do not have (complete) Imaan (faith) until I am more beloved to you than your father, children and the rest of mankind.”

Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu ‘Alaihi wa Sallam) is the connection between Muslims and Allah. We can never get close to Allah unless our hearts are filled with the love of our beloved Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu ‘Alaihi wa Sallam).

Hazrat Mohammad Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam Biography ( Hazrat Muhammad(Sallahu Alaihi Wasallam)- biography)

The people of ancient Arabia were misguided and misled. They disobeyed Allah and worshipped idols. Then Allah Ta�ala favoured mankind by sending them the best creation of Allah; the Master of humankind and jinns; the greatest personality on earth; the beloved of Allah, Prophet Muhammad Mustafa Sallallahu �Alaihi wa Sallam.

Our beloved Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu �Alaihi wa Sallam) was born in the month of Rabi� Awwal in the year 571 C.E. He was a descendant of Prophet Ismail �Alayhissalam. His father, Abdullah, died several weeks before his birth. His mother, Amina died during the return journey from Madinah, at a place called Abwa. He was raised by his grandfather, Abdul Muttalib, until the age of eight. After his grandfather�s death, his uncle, Abu Talib, took care of him. Abu Talib treated Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu �Alaihi wa Sallam) very kindly. Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu �Alaihi wa Sallam) would sleep in his uncle�s bed and eat with him.

Under the guidance of Abu Talib, Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu �Alaihi wa Sallam) began to earn his living as a businessman and a trader. At the age of twelve, he accompanied Abu Talib with a caravan as far as Syria. Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu �Alaihi wa Sallam) was popularly known as �al-Ameen� (the trustworthy) and �al-Sadiq� (the truthful) for his good deeds. His name, Muhammad means �the praised one�.

After hearing about Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu �Alaihi wa Sallam)�s impressive character, Sayyidatna Khadijah (Rady Allahu Anha), a rich business woman, offered Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu �Alaihi wa Sallam) money to take some goods for trade to Syria. Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu �Alaihi wa Sallam) set out for Syria along with Maisarah, a slave of Sayyidatina Khadijah (Rady Allahu Anha). After the trip, Maisarah told Sayyidatina Khadijah (Rady Allahu Anha) all about the Prophet (Sallallahu �Alaihi wa Sallam). Sayyidatina Khadijah (Rady Allahu Anha) was fascinated by Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu �Alaihi wa Sallam). Therefore, she married him (Sallallahu �Alaihi wa Sallam). Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu �Alaihi wa Sallam) and Sayyidatina Khadijah (Rady Allahu Anha) were blessed with two sons and four daughters. Their first son, Qasim died at the age of two while their second son, Abdullah, died during his infancy. Prophet Muhammad�s (Sallallahu �Alaihi wa Sallam) four daughters were Zainab, Ruqayyah, Umm Kulthum and Fatima (Rady Allahu �Anhunna).

Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu �Alaihi wa Sallam) usually went to a cave in Mount Hira for meditation. Sometimes, he would remain in the cave for a month. Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu �Alaihi wa Sallam) was forty years old when Jibril (peace be upon him) appeared before him and revealed the first five verses of Surah Al-Alaq of the Qur�an. After the revelation, Sayyidatina Khadija (Rady Allahu Anha) became the first woman to accept Islam.

Jibreel (peace be upon him) visited Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu �Alaihi wa Sallam) and revealed verses of the Qur�an over a period of twenty-three years. Sometimes, Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu �Alaihi wa Sallam) would receive some parts of a chapter or a whole chapter. They were memorized as soon as they were revealed. These verses were collected in a book, known as the Qur�an.

The first few people to accept Islam were his cousin Hadrat Ali, his servant Hadrat Zayd ibn Harithah, his friend Hadrat Abu Bakr Siddiq (Rady Allahu Anhum) and his daughters. They accepted Islam by testifying that � There is no deity except Allah. Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu �Alaihi wa Sallam) is Allah�s Messenger�.

In the first three years of Prophet Muhammad�s (Sallallahu �Alaihi wa Sallam) mission, forty people accepted Islam. He then began to preach Islam in public. The leaders of the Quraish did not accept the new religion. Some of them tried to bribe Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu �Alaihi wa Sallam) with money and power, including an offer to make him a king. But our beloved Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu �Alaihi wa Sallam) refused to abandon Allah�s message