Ilm Fruits

Charity - Where to Give

"I have already donated enough to masajids. I want to help the needy, poor, orphans and widows. Its so hard to find these people here in the west. Back home, it was so easy." This is the typical problem that many of us face.

So if you are wondering, how and where should I spend my charity, follow these six steps:

1. Niyah Check:

Make sure that you are only doing it for Allah, not to please anyone else or get praised! Remember "The deeds are considered by the intentions, and a person will get the reward according to his intention" [Bhukari and Muslim]

2. Plan plan and plan:

You need to plan how much you are going to spend in charity. How frequent would your contributions be? For example you may decide that you will spend 5% of your income every month. Remember the Prophet(صلي الله عليه وسلم) was asked: "Which deed is most beloved to Allaah?" He said, "The one that is continuous, even if it is little." [Bukhari]

3. Where will you spend:

Write down the categories of organizations that you want to donate to. For example: masajid, educational institutes, orphans, poor and needy etc.

4. Plan out the proportion:

How much are you going to donate for each category. For example, you might decide that I will donate 20% to masajids, 50% to support poor and needy and the rest 30% to support educational institutes.

5. Research:

Its time to research the organizations. To make it easy, I have compiled a list of various charitable organizations. What's great about this website is that you can edit the page and contribute more websites to the list (simply click edit button in bottom right)

6. Automatic Payments:

Look into setting up automatic monthly payments. This way you will not have to worry about donations every now and then. A great way to give Shaytan a black eye!

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A Delayed Response of Du’aa

A Delayed Response of Du'aa

An eye-opener for those who believe ...

While talking to himself, Ibn Al-Jawzi blamed his soul in a gentle way. He said:

I found myself in trouble, and so I made du'aa (supplication) consistently, all the while requesting relief and comfort. The response to my du'aa seemed to be delayed, and so my soul became disturbed and worried.

However, I rebuked it saying, "Woe unto you; look attentively at yourself, are you the one possessed or are you the possessor? Are you the one that is controlled or are you the controller? Are you not aware that this world is the abode of tests for you? If you desire that your goals be fulfilled and become impatient when they are not, then, where is your test? Is it not the ultimate test when you get the opposite of whatever you desired?

"So, (dear restless soul) try to understand the meaning of the word 'Abd (slave), and whatever is dear to you will become worthless, and whatever is difficult will become easy."

After it deliberated over what I said, it became a little appeased.

I informed it that I had a second argument for it, and so I said, "Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) is a necessary requirement in order for any of your aims to be fulfilled; yet you do not exhort yourself to work for His pleasure. This is ignorance, as the matter should have been opposite to what you desire, primarily because you are the one possessed. (You should note) that the mindful 'Abd should make sure that he fulfils the rights due to the Master, and that it is not necessary that He (سبحانه وتعالى) gives to the 'Abd whatever he desires or loves."

It made it quieter yet I then mentioned that I had a third argument for it, and so I said, "You are under the impression that the response to your du'aa has been slow; yet you were responsible for this because you closed the door of response (to your du'aa) because of your constant sinning. If, however, you open the door [by developing taqwa (piety) for Allah (سبحانه وتعالى)], then the response (to your du'aa) would arrive quicker, because having taqwa for Allah is the cause of all comfort."

Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) said:

وَمَن يَتَّقِ اللَّهَ يَجْعَل لَّهُ مَخْرَجاً

Translation:"...And whoever fears Allah and keeps his duty to Him (has taqwa of him), He will make a way for him, to get out (from every difficulty), and will provide for him from sources that he never could imagine…" [Surah At-Talaaq:2-3]

Therefore, understand that if you do not develop this Taqwa for Him (سبحانه وتعالى), the result will be different from what you expect. Woe is me from the drunkenness of mindlessness which became stronger than any other drunkenness in confronting the soul's aims to prevent them from reaching its hopes. It (the soul) knew that this was the truth, and so it became more tranquil still.

I said to it, "I have a forth argument for you, and it is that you seek a particular answer (to your du'aa); yet you are not aware of the consequences that would result (if you were granted what you desire) because what you seek might be to your detriment. In this state you are like a feverish child asking for candy (instead of medicine, because it tastes bad).

"(O soul) be conscious that your Master is more aware about your well-being than you are." As He (سبحانه وتعالى) said:

وَعَسَى أَن تَكْرَهُواْ شَيْئاً وَهُوَ خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ وَعَسَى أَن تُحِبُّواْ شَيْئاً وَهُوَ شَرٌّ لَّكُمْ وَاللّهُ يَعْلَمُ وَأَنتُمْ لاَ تَعْلَمُونَ

Translation: "... And maybe you will dislike something that is good for you…" [Surah Al- Baqarah:216]

When this became clear to the soul, it became more tranquil still. I then said to it, "I have a fifth argument for you, and it is that your demands would lessen your rewards and would reduce your status (with Allah). However, if you would request that which is good for your eternal abode (the hereafter), it would be better for you. (O soul) it is crucial that you understand what I have explained."

It said, "I meandered in the garden of your explanation, and as such I wandered when I understood!"

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The Pen is Lifted From Three

The Messenger of Allah (صلي الله عليه وسلم) said: "The Pen is lifted from three (i.e., their deeds are not recorded):

1. a child until he reaches puberty;
2. an insane man until he comes to his senses;
3. one who is asleep until he wakes up."

[Recorded in Abu Dawud #4403, and Ibn Majah #2041]

This is an important hadith, fundamental to usool-ul-fiqh. This hadith applies in practically every situation and with every issue. It gives us understandings such as that children don't need to pray or fast prior to puberty, that the insane are not criminally liable, and so on. It's fundamental to usool-ul-fiqh, the since of how we derive fiqh.

But what does this hadith REALLY mean? Well, first recall the definition of fard: an action which, if done, entails reward, and if neglected, entails punishment. Recall that haraam means the opposite--an action which, if done, entails punishment, and if neglected, entails reward.

With this in mind, we can re-articulate this hadith to mean: there is no sin upon children, the insane, and the sleeping (some conditions apply to the sleeping--i.e. intentionally sleeping at 4am when Fajr is at 4:30am with the claim of "I'll wake up" is just fooling yourself), though they can still earn the rewards, insha'Allah!

How amazing is that! You should encourage your children to perform more good deeds--not just to get them into the habit, but also for the potential of the reward!

And what's more, think twice before you get angry at your children--remember that the one above the heavens is not angry with them! So why should you be?

May Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) help us all to understand this hadith and implement it wherever possible in our lives, ameen ajma'een!

• Competing to Good Deeds: Abu Dujana and the Prophet’s Sword

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Umm Salamah

Umm Salamah! What an eventful life she had! Her real name was Hind. She was the daughter of one of the notables in the Makhzum clan nicknamed "Zad ar-Rakib," because he was well known for his generosity, particularly to travelers. Umm Salamah's husband was Abdullah ibn Abdul-Asad, and they both were among the first people to accept Islam. Only Abu Bakr and a few others, who could be counted on the fingers of one hand, became Muslims before them.

As soon as the news of their becoming Muslims spread, the Quraish reacted with frenzied anger. They began hounding and persecuting Umm Salamah and her husband. But the couple did not waver or despair and remained steadfast in their new faith.

The persecution became more and more intense. Life in Makkah became unbearable for many of the new Muslims. The Prophet (صلي الله عليه وسلم) then gave permission for them to emigrate to Abyssinia. Umm Salamah and her husband were in the forefront of these muhajirun, seekers of refuge in a strange land. For Umm Salamah, it meant abandoning her spacious home and giving up the traditional ties of lineage and honour for something new hope in the pleasure and reward of Allah.

Despite the protection Umm Salamah and her companions received from the Abyssinian ruler, the desire to return to Makkah, to be near the Prophet and the source of revelation and guidance persisted.

News eventually reached the muhajirun that the number of Muslims in Makkah had increased. Among them were Hamzah ibn Abdul-Muttalib and Umar ibn al-Khattab. Their faith had greatly strengthened the community and the Quraish, they heard, had eased the persecution somewhat. Thus a group of the muhajirun, urged on by a deep longing in their hearts, decided to return to Makkah.

The easing of the persecution was but brief, as the returnees soon found out. The dramatic increase in the number of Muslims following the acceptance of Islam by Hamzah and Umar only infuriated the Quraish even more. They intensified their persecution and torture to a pitch and intensity not known before. So the Prophet gave permission to his companions to emigrate to Madinah. Umm Salamah and her husband were among the first to leave.

The hijrah of Umm Salamah and her husband though was not as easy as they had imagined. In fact, it was a bitter and painful experience and a particularly harrowing one for her.

Let us leave the story now for Umm Salamah herself to tell ...

When Abu Salamah (my husband) decided to leave for Madinah, he prepared a camel for me, hoisted me on it and placed our son Salamah on my lap. My husband then took the lead and went on without stopping or waiting for anything. Before we were out of Makkah, some men from my clan stopped us and said to my husband:

"Though you are free to do what you like with yourself, you have no power over your wife. She is our daughter. Do you expect us to allow you to take her away from us?"

"They then pounced on him and snatched me away from him. My husband's clan, Banu Abdul-Asad, saw them taking both me and my child. They became hot with rage.

"No! By Allah," they shouted, "we shall not abandon the boy. He is our son and we have a first claim over him."

They took him by the hand and pulled him away from me. Suddenly, in the space of a few moments, I found myself alone and lonely. My husband headed for Madinah by himself, and his clan had snatched my son away from me. My own clan, Banu Makhzum, overpowered me and forced me to stay with them.

From the day when my husband and my son were separated from me, I went out at noon every day to that valley and sat at the spot where this tragedy occurred. I would recall those terrible moments and weep until night fell on me.

I continued like this for a year or so until one day a man from the Banu Umayyah passed by and saw my condition. He went back to my clan and said:

"Why don't you free this poor woman? You have caused her husband and her son to be taken away from her."

He went on trying to soften their hearts and play on their emotions. At last they said to me, "Go and join your husband if you wish."

But how could I join my husband in Madinah and leave my son, a piece of my own flesh and blood, in Makkah among the Banu Abdul-Asad? How could I be free from anguish and my eyes be free from tears were I to reach the place of hijrah not knowing anything of my little son left behind in Makkah?

Some realized what I was going through and their hearts went out to me. They petitioned the Banu Abdul-Asad on my behalf and moved them to return my son.

I did not now even want to linger in Makkah until I found someone to travel with me, and I was afraid that something might happen that would delay or prevent me from reaching my husband. So I promptly got my camel ready, placed my son on my lap and left in the direction of Madinah.

I had just about reached Tan'im (about three miles from Makkah) when I met Uthman ibn Talhah. (He was a keeper of the Ka'bah in preIslamic times and was not yet a Muslim.)

"Where are you going, Bint Zad Ar-Rakib?" he asked.

"I am going to my husband in Madinah."

"And there isn't anyone with you?"

"No, by Allah. Except Allah and my little boy here."

"By Allah, I shall never abandon you until you reach Madinah," he vowed.

He then took the reins of my camel and led us on. I have, by Allah, never met an Arab more generous and noble than he. When we reached a resting place, he would make my camel kneel down, wait until I dismounted, lead the camel to a tree and tether it. He would then go to the shade of another tree. When we had rested he would get the camel ready and lead us on.

This he did every day until we reached Madinah. When we got to a village near Quba (about two miles from Madinah) belonging to Banu Amr ibn Awf, he said, "Your husband is in this village. Enter it with the blessings of God. "

He turned back and headed for Makkah.

Their roads finally met after the long separation. Umm Salamah was overjoyed to see her husband and he was delighted to see his wife and son.

Great and momentous events followed one after the other. There was the battle of Badr, in which Abu Salamah fought. The Muslims returned victorious and strengthened. Then there was the battle of Uhud, in which the Muslims were sorely tested. Abu Salamah came out of this wounded very badly. He appeared at first to respond well to treatment, but his wounds never healed completely and he remained bedridden.

Once while Umm Salamah was nursing him, he said to her:

"I heard the Messenger of God (صلي الله عليه وسلم) saying. Whenever a calamity afflicts anyone he should say, "Surely from Allah we are and to Him we shall certainly return," (inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi rajioon). And he would pray, "O Lord, give me in return something good from it which only You, Exalted and Mig hty, can give.'"

Abu Salamah remained sick in bed for several days. One morning the Prophet came to see him. The visit was longer than usual. While the Prophet was still at his bed-side, Abu Salamah passed away. With his blessed hands, the Prophet closed the eyes of his dead companion. He then raised these hands to the heavens and prayed:

"O Lord, grant forgiveness to Abu Salamah. Elevate him among those who are near to You. Take charge of his family at all times. Forgive us and him, O Lord of the Worlds. Widen his grave and make it light for him."

Umm Salamah remembered the prayer her husband had quoted on his deathbed from the Prophet and began repeating it, "O Lord, with you I leave this my plight for consideration . . ." But she could not bring herself to continue ... "O Lord give me something good from it", because she kept asking herself, "Who could be better than Abu Salamah?" But it did not take long before she completed the supplication.

The Muslims were greatly saddened by the plight of Umm Salamah. She became known as "Ayyin al-Arab"--the one who had lost her husband. She had no one in Madinah of her own except her small children, like a hen without feathers.

Both the Muhajirun and Ansar felt they had a duty to Umm Salamah. When she had completed the Iddah (three months and ten days), Abu Bakr proposed marriage to her, but she refused. Then Umar asked to marry her, but she also declined the proposal. The Prophet then approached her and she replied:

"O Messenger of Allah, I have three characteristics. I am a woman who is extremely jealous and I am afraid that you will see in me something that will anger you and cause Allah to punish me. I am a woman who is already advanced in age and I am a woman wh o has a young family."

The Prophet replied:

"Regarding the jealousy you mentioned, I pray to Allah the Almighty to let it go away from you. Regarding the question of age you have mentioned. I am afflicted with the same problem as you. Regarding the dependent family you have mentioned, your family is my family."

They were married and so it was that Allah answered the prayer of Umm Salamah and gave her better than Abu Salamah. From that day on Hind al Makhzumiyah was no longer the mother of Salamah alone but became the mother of all believers, Umm al-Mu'mineen.

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Is not Allah Alone Worthy of our Worship?

My brothers and sisters in Islam, As-salamu 'alaikum!

To testify that there is One Creator who sustains, nourishes, and controls is not enough for the Muslim. The Muslim is one who believes and testifies that indeed Allah is the Creator, the Nourisher, the Sustainer, and also affirms that ONLY He is worthy of worship.

Our testimony of faith is not, 'La Rabba ill Allah' (There is no Lord except Allah), because if this was the case then even the mushrikeen of the time of our beloved Prophet (صلي الله عليه وسلم) believed and testified that Allah was the sole Creator. And so truly the differentiating part of our creed is that we believe that Allah is unique in His Lordship which in fact necessitates that He Alone be worshiped. Challenge yourself to learn more, click the play button and listen to the podcast!

• Worship
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• Do you remember?
• Mushrikeen Believed in Allah
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Eid Mubarak!

So, another Ramadan has come and gone! 30 days of reading Qur'an and feeding the poor, 30 nights of Qiyaam-ul-Layl and Taraweeh and Tahajjud. And so, 'Eid comes again.

Congratulations! You have been one of those lucky few who lived to receive this great blessing from Allah (سبحانه وتعالى), this chance to get all your sins forgiven! Because the Messenger of Allah (صلي الله عليه وسلم) said: "Whoever fasts during Ramadan out of sincere faith and hoping to attain Allah's rewards, then all his past sins will be forgiven." [Saheeh Al-Bukhari]

So rejoice! Spend today with your family! And remember, Ramadan is the excuse killer. All of those things you started doing--praying in the masjid every day, fasting every now and then, reading Qur'an often, praying extra (nafl) prayers--that's taqwa. Keep doing those things. And all those things you stopped doing--lying, cheating, backbiting, arguing, listening to music, wearing immodest clothes, boycotting your boyfriend or girlfriend--that's taqwa. Keep avoiding those things. Forget about Shaytaan being on the loose, that's just an excuse--be strong, and ask Allah to help you.

Brothers and sisters, remember, you start with a clean slate after Ramadan! Don't let the future be like the past! Take a moment, right now, and decide on some changes that will, insha'allah, be for your akhira, your eternal life. Decide NOW to:

• Be a better son or daughter to your parents
• Be a better husband or wife to your spouse (if you're married)
• Cut out at least three haraam activities from your life, permanently, starting today
• Block, delete, and break contact with non-mahrams of the opposite gender you have communication with--whether your boyfriend or girlfriend, that sister on facebook, or someone else.
• Ask Allah, As-Sittiyr, to cover your sins and help you overcome them.

O Allah, make us among those people who benefit from every Ramadan, who have our sins forgiven and become better people for all time after that! Ameen ajma'een!

'Eid Mubarak to you and your families, from Ilm Fruits!

(P.S. If you're interested, check out this excellent Flash presentation on 'Eid--what to do and not do, and what it's all about.)

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Have You TRULY Testified?

What does it mean to say 'La Illaha Ill Allah'? Has one every truly sat back and wondered what makes this one testimony so special? What makes this the differentiation point between one who believes and one who doesn't? Truly, it is every Muslims responsibility to comprehend fully what this Kalimah entails, because without it, one has not fulfilled the conditions of this testimony.

Someone asked a scholar of the past, "is not the Shahada the key to Jannah?" He replied, "Yes, but every key has ridges, so if you come with the a key with the right ridges, the door will open, otherwise it will not."

So the question to ask is ... do you have the key to Jannah? Listen to the podcast and find out!

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So Why Are You Fasting?

Why are you fasting? The answer to this questions determines your reward on Judgment Day. Monks fast. Some poeple fast to lose weight. Is it a cultural thing?

Or is it because Allah is worthy of worship, and only He deserves your fast? That you are seeking His reward? This is what the Prophet (صلي الله عليه وسلم) said--"Whoever fasted Ramadan with belief, hoping for the reward from Allah, all his previous sins will be forgiven." [Bukhari/Muslim]

Listen to the podcast below and remind yourself of THE best reason to fast! Props out to Living Halal for this amazing ilm-tastic podcast!

• The Purpose of Fasting
• Ramadan Mubarak!
• Fasting in Muharram
• Worship
• Five Sunnahs of Fasting

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Your Amazing Ramadan: Planning

Ramadan is here, you're all excited, praying in the masjid ... but how can you make the MOST of Ramadan? Do you have what it takes to keep your heart in touch, regardless of the distractions around you? To be one of those who look back and realize they've had an AMAZING Ramadan?

Listen to the podcast below to figure out how to plan your Ramadan! Props out to Living Halal for this amazing ilm-tastic podcast!

• So Why Are You Fasting?
• Six Days of Shawwal
• Ramadan Mubarak!
• THE Purpose of Creation
• The Purpose of Fasting

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“Do they seek other than the Religion of Allah…”

Of the categories of tawheed, the most common one is that of making Allah One and Unique in His Lordship i.e Tawheed ar-Ruboobiyyah. The meaning of this is believe that only Allah creates, sustains, and nourishes the entire creation. Of the manifestations of this are:

1. every object must have a creator
2. no object can escape that which is decreed
3. when in distress all of mankind calls out to his Creator. The proofs of this, the proofs of Allah's existence is many fold, of them are:
   1. fitrah - innate nature that we are all created with
   2. the creation itself - the mountains, the sun, the moon, etc.

Listen and learn more from the podcast, more about Allah, our Rabb.

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• Seek Knowledge from the Best Sources
• The Love of Your Life
• Al-Qahhar - The Subduer
• Rejected!

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