Ilm Fruits

The Prayer, The Prayer …

Some points to ponder about Salah, Namaz, Prayer...

Our purpose in life is to worship Allah. Prayer (Salah) is the manifestation of that. Without it, we have nothing.

Prayer:

• Is the only commandment in Islam that came from Allah (سبحانه وتعال) to Muhammad (صلي الله عليه وسلم) directly, without any angel in-between, in the journey of Isra Wal Miraj[1]
• Was originally legislated at 50 times per day (That just shows how important it is)[1]
• One of the last concerns of the dying Prophet (صلي الله عليه وسلم)[2]
• Time after time, mentioned in the Quran as the first requirement right after Faith in Allah (سبحانه وتعال) [3]
• Quran described as guidance for the ones who pray (right at the beginning of the book in Surah Baqarah) [4]
• Agreement between us and the Prophet, without prayer, is kufr[5]
• A person's feet will not move on the Day of Judgement until he is questioned about the prayer. If it is in order, everything will be in order, and if it is not in order, nothing else will be in order.
• In an interview of the people of hell, "Not Praying" is the #1 Response why they are in Hellfire[6]

Source: Yasir Qadhi Jumuah Khutba, Friday May 18th, 2007, Khalid bin Walid Masjid

Footnotes

1. The hadith of Isra Wal Miraj - Sahih Bukhari Volume 5, Book 58, Number 227
   
2. 1. (Protect) the prayer, (protect) the prayer, and whom your hands possess (slaves)."
      Reference - no source indicated.
   2. As well, even in his sickly state, he was carried by two men in order so that he could be pray with them.
      "He stepped out (of Aisha's apartment for prayer) supported by two persons. (He was so much weak) that his feet dragged on the ground and he was being supported by 'Abbas and another person" (Sahih Muslim 004.0834)
      
3. There are hundreds of examples of this, for example surah Al-Mu’minoon
   
4. Surah Baqarah, Verse 3
   
5. "The obligation and pact between us and them (the munaafiqeen, the hypocrites) is the prayer, so whoever abandons it has indeed committed kufr (i.e., become a kaafir, a non-believer)." (Tirmidhi, hadeeth #2621, and it is sahih) - source Islam QA
   
6. "What has caused you to enter Hell?"
   They will say: "We were not of those who used to offer their Salat (prayers) (Quran 74:42-43)
   

• Your Last Prayer
• Five Levels of Prayer
• A Home away from Home (Salat 101)
• Manly Awrah
• Salaah: A Springboard of Eman

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Sex in Western Culture

The hypocrisy of Western Modern culture is amazing! We need to realize that Islam began as something strange, and will end as something strange, so we need not worry what people think of us; rather, we need to be people that respect and fear Allah (سبحانه وتعال), and the creation of Allah (the people) come second.

Legal marriage age is 16? 18? but:
It's okay for 14-year-old teens to have sex , and their parents having no idea about it, and it's with someone they may not approve of, and the person may not have their son or daughter's best interest at heart. But when she gets pregnant, or he or she gets HIV and doesn't even realize it, and spreads it, they are condemned for it...

Sex is blatantly promoted in our culture through newspaper, television, movies, music ...
It is illegal to have more than one wife, but:

1. It is acceptable in our culture for a man to spend his evenings in the strip club or in the pub
2. It is acceptable for him to have a side affair with some other strange lady
3. His mistress has no legal rights, and yet he gets to use her
4. This form of cheating causes social and cultural problems
5. This type of relationship spreads diseases, whereas a man with more than one wife will never spread any sexual diseases
6. If his second wife was actually his 'girlfriend', then it is okay
7. homosexuality is considered okay

Therefore, do not look to the people for what is right and what is wrong. Look to Allah (سبحانه وتعال), for the people will confuse you, and they themselves are confused. This also shows us that democracy is also flawed, because people will vote together on misguidance and follow their desires.

• Mujahideen Culture: Khalid bin Walid and Malik ibn An-Nuwayrah
• Contribute
• Who is the Law Maker?
• ‘Ibadah, Natural Actions, Religious Actions
• Talk Ain’t Cheap

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The Evils of Interest

Why is interest evil?

Allah says in the Qur'an:

Translation: Those who devour usury will not stand except as stand one whom the Evil one by his touch Hath driven to madness. That is because they say: "Trade is like usury," but Allah hath permitted trade and forbidden usury. [Surah Baqarah, 2:275]

A few verses later, Allah says:

Translation: O you who believe! Observe your duty to Allah, and give up what remains (due to you) from usury, if you are really believers. And if you do not, then take notice of war from Allah and His Messenger. But if you repent, you shall have your capital (without interest). Deal not unjustly (by asking more than your capital), and you shall not be dealt with unjustly (by receiving less than your capital). [Surah Baqarah, 2:278-279]

Abdullah, who takes a $10,000 loan and then he goes out of business. He now has to pay interest on his loan even though he has lost all the funds. In 5 years he might still be suffering and paying back the loans. At 7% interest, he will end up paying $20,000 in total if he still has the loans in 10 years.

A more fair deal would be that the business person who makes a deal that he will lend brother Ahmed $10,000 loan and he will be a partial owner of the business. If Ahmed makes a huge profit, the business person will also get 25% of it, which will be much more than the measly 7% he could have got as interest, and Allah will bless it as well, whereas Allah has cursed the one who takes interest and pays it.

The international monetary fund (IMF) and World Bank, which gives interest loans to countries - for example Bangladesh might receive an interest loan, and the interest will be so much that they will never be able to pay back the loan. In fact, they may eventually forgive the interest on the loan, or they may not. If they do not, the country sometimes has to sell "cash crops" (goods which cannot be used by the country itself, but can only be sold for money, such as coffee for example - say rather than rice, which can be eaten by the local population) in order to simply maintain the loan. When I say maintain, I mean to keep it at the same amount, and just pay the interest.

Families where the father loses his job and resort to riba, may end up maxing out their credit cards, and may end up paying hundreds of dollars in interest every month. This is equivalent to burning that cash, because, literally, it is wasted. Why do you think the banks are so rich, anyway? Because suckers like me and you fall for the it and upon us as well is the anger of Allah! This large loans at a 18% interest rate become very difficult to pay back. In fact, at the credit card rate, you will end up paying double the amount if you paid the minimum balance and paid it all in 4 years. An example of this is if you bought a laptop for $2000, and you paid off your full credit card in 4 years, you will have spent $4000 on this laptop.

Place your trust in Allah, and ask him to help you find a way out.

If you have student loans, get rid of the entire amount before you graduate, by asking around for interest free loans from your friends and family members (you can do the same thing even if you're working). Even if you feel bad/embarrassed to ask for money, remember that the interest you took is extremely sinful and that its better for you to ask so that you can get out of it. Also consider part time, summer jobs, or internships.

Often, riba will be translated as usury, no interest. Some times people will claim that interest is halal, but only in excessive amounts does it become usury. This is only their vain desires. Bring your proof if you are truthful. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, "The gold for the gold, the silver for the silver, wheat for wheat, barley for barley, date for date, salt for salt, similar for the like, and hand in hand. So whoever adds or seeks to add, then he has used riba. The recipient and the giver of the transaction are the same." (Reported by Muslim, #1584)

Once Bilal (رضالله عنه) brought Barni (i.e. a kind of dates) to the Prophet (صلي الله عليه وسلم) and the Prophet (صلي الله عليه وسلم) asked him, "From where have you brought these?" Bilal (رضالله عنه) replied, "I had some inferior type of dates and exchanged two Sas of it for one Sa of Barni dates in order to give it to the Prophet; to eat." Thereupon the Prophet (صلي الله عليه وسلم) said, "Beware! Beware! This is definitely Riba (usury)! This is definitely Riba (Usury)! Don't do so, but if you want to buy (a superior kind of dates) sell the inferior dates for money and then buy the superior kind of dates with that money."

Islam QA on interest:

• http://www.islam-qa.com/index.php?ref=824&ln=eng&txt=interest%20riba
• http://www.islam-qa.com/index.php?ref=1507&ln=eng&txt=interest%20riba

Sources and More Information

• ISNA has interest free loans. (now known as Ansar Housing)
• UM Financial has interest-free loans

• Sincerity and Conformity
• Sex in Western Culture
• Knowledge, Practice, Da’wah
• The Call of Jahiliyyah
• Forgiveness for Shirk?

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Human Nature is Insatiable

Human nature is insatiable. No matter how much you get, you will never be happy with it. That is the way we have been created. The key to happiness is not to get it all, but rather, to be content with little.

"O Allah, I seek refuge in Thee from incapacity, from sloth, from cowardice, from miserliness, from decrepitude, and from the torment of the grave. O Allah, grant to my soul the sense of righteousness and purify it, for Thou art the Best Purifier thereof. Thou art the Protecting Friend thereof, and Guardian thereof. O Allah, I seek refuge in Thee from the knowledge which does not benefit, from the heart that does not entertain the fear (of Allah), from the soul that does not feel contented, and the supplication that is not responded to." [Muslim Book 035, Number 6568]

Psychological studies indicate that those who win the lottery, after they get this money, report an increased amount of happiness--but this happiness is short lived! Soon, even with their extra money, they return to the same level of happiness as before they had this money. But how can this be? Wouldn't they be happier? You would be surprised that the answer is no.

Even when it comes to the desire for the opposite sex, superstars like Napoleon (who later accepted Islam and shared his story) who had all the money, could have had all the women he wanted, do you think they had happiness without Islam? No. Napoleon said that all the money he had was not even a tiny bit of happiness compared to the happiness he has now that he found Deen ul-Islam. In fact, his life, and many others, lived a life of misery. The more you have, the more you will want.

Narrated Anas bin Malik: Allah's Apostle said, "If Adam's son had a valley full of gold, he would like to have two valleys, for nothing fills his mouth except dust. And Allah forgives him who repents to Him." [Bukhari, Volume 8, Book 76, Number 447]

And also, Abu Huraira narrated that the Prophet said, "Riches does not mean having a great amount of property, but riches are self-contentment." [Bukhari, Volume 8, Book 76, Number 453]

Money is a reflection or a multiplier of what is inside your heart. If what is inside your heart is good, then the money can multiply that good, but if what is in your heart is bad, the money will multiply that evil. The key is not to be attached to it and not to desire it.

Narrated Hakim bin Hizam: I asked the Prophet (for some money) and he gave me some, and then again I asked him and he gave me some, and then again I asked him and he gave me some, and he then said, "This wealth is (like) green and sweet (fruit), and whoever takes it without greed, Allah will bless it for him, but whoever takes it with greed, Allah will not bless it for him, and he will be like the one who eats but is never satisfied. And the upper (giving) hand is better than the lower (taking) hand." [Bukhari, Volume 8, Book 76, Number 448]

And Allah knows best.

• Where do you Stand with Allah?
• “Do they seek other than the Religion of Allah…”
• ArabicGems
• The Parable of Grass
• Tajweed Review Website

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Being Grateful to Your Lord

Truly, Allah is most gracious and merciful to us, but most of us are not thankful. Try the alhamdulillah game - come up with a list of everything we should say alhamdulillah for. Try it with your brother and sister and mother and father and son and daughter.

To start,-

1. Alhamdulillah for the fact that Allah gave us the ability to thank and praise Him, yet we could never thank Him enough for what He gave us.
2. Alhamdulillah for our eyes, legs, hands (which many people don't have)
3. Alhamdulillah for ...

For Allah is full of bounty to mankind, but most of them are ungrateful. (end of 2:243, end of 10:60)

"And I follow the ways of my fathers,- Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; and never could we attribute any partners whatever to Allah. that (comes) of the grace of Allah to us and to mankind: yet most men are not grateful. (12:38)

It is He Who gave you life, will cause you to die, and will again give you life: Truly man is a most ungrateful creature! (22:66)

But verily thy Lord is full of grace to mankind: Yet most of them are ungrateful. (27:73)

And Satan (Ar-Rajeem) said to Allah,

Then I will certainly come to them from before them and from behind them, and from the right-hand side and from the left-hand side, and You (Allah) shall not find most of them thankful. (7:17)

May Allah make us of the minority who is thankful, ameen!

External links: Being Thankful to Allah

• The People of the Ditch (10): Kings Suck
• Du’a for Travelling
• Five Levels of Prayer
• The People of the Ditch (14): Belief
• Three Aspects of Tawhid

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Jafar ibn Abu Talib’s Speech to the Negus

The Muslims were forced out of their land because of the persecution of the polytheist Arabs, who tortured them because they said, "our Lord is one". The Prophet Muhammad (صلي الله عليه وسلم) commanded the Muslims to migrate to Abysynnia, to live under the Negus, a just ruler. The Polytheists refused to let them leave peacefully, and confronted the king to demand the return of the Muslims. Jafar was chosen as the spokesperson for the Muslims to the king.

He said:

O King, we were a people in a state of ignorance and immorality, worshipping idols and eating the flesh of dead animals, committing all sorts of abomination and shameful deeds, breaking the ties of kinship, treating guests badly, and the strong among us exploited the weak. We remained in this state until Allah sent us a Prophet, one of our own people, whose lineage, truthfulness, trustworthiness, and integrity were well-known to us.

He called us to worship Allah alone, and to renounce the stones and the idols which we and our ancestors used to worship besides Allah.

He commanded us to speak the truth, to honor our promises, to be kind to our relations, to be helpful to our neighbors, to cease all forbidden acts, to abstain from bloodshed, to avoid obscenities and false witness, and not to appropriate an orphan's property nor slander chaste women.

He ordered us to worship Allah alone and not to associate anything with him, to uphold Salat, to give Zakaah, and fast in the month of Ramadan.

We believed in him and what he brought to us from Allah, and we follow him in what he has asked us to do and we keep away from what he forbade us from.

Thereupon, O King, our people attacked us, visited the severest punishment on us, to make us renounce our religion and take us back to the old immorality and the worship of idols.

They oppressed us, made life intolerable for us, and obstructed us from observing our religion. So we left for your country, choosing you before anyone else, desiring your protection and hoping to live in Justice and in peace in your midst.

The Negus was impressed and was eager to hear more. He asked Jafar, "Do you have with you something of what your Prophet brought concerning God?" "Yes," replied Jafar.

"Then read it to me," requested the Negus. Jafar, in his rich, melodious voice, recited for him the first portion of Surah Maryam, which deals with the story of Jesus and his mother Mary.

On hearing the words of the Quran, the Negus was moved to tears. To the Muslims, he said: "The message of your Prophet and that of Jesus came from the same source..." To Amr and his companion (the men who were trying to convince the Negus to hand over the Muslims), he said: "Go. For, by God, I will never surrender them to you."

[1] "Biography of Jafar Ibn Abi Talib." USC-MSA Compendium of Muslim Texts. 25 Aug. 2006 <http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/history/biographies/sahaabah/bio.JAFAR_IBN_ABI_TALIB.html>.

• The Definition of The Qur’an
• Five Minute Dawa Speech
• Genesis
• Wear Islam Responsibly
• No Fear Nor Grief

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