Ilm Fruits » Salaah

Just Two More?!

Mariam 3.36 — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 16:57:25 +0000

In Suratul-Furqaan (Surah 25), ayah 63, Allah begins a description of what is translated as "the slaves of Ar-Rahmaan (Allah)..."

...عِبَادُ الرَّحْمَنِ

In ayah 64, He describes these "slaves" by saying:

َالَّذِينَ يَبِيتُونَ لِرَبِّهِمْ سُجَّداً وَقِيَاماً …

This is translated as: those who spend the night before their Lord, prostrating (in sujood) and standing.

Tafsir ibn Kathir explains this ayah, and compares it to ayahs 17-18 from Suratuth-Thaariyaat (Surah 51):

كَانُوا قَلِيلاً مِّنَ اللَّيْلِ مَا يَهْجَعُونَ وَبِالْأَسْحَارِ هُمْ يَسْتَغْفِرُونَ

Translation: They used to sleep but little by night [invoking their Lord (Allah) and praying, with fear and hope]. And in the hours before dawn, they were (found) asking (Allah) for forgiveness. [Surah Ath-Thaariyaat, verse(s) ] (translated by Muhsin Khan).

Ibn Kathir explains that this is a "good act" that the Muhsinun (good-doers) perform. [1]

According to a footnote in the The Noble Qur'an: English Translation of the meanings and commentary, Tafsir Al-Qurtubi states:

Ibn 'Abbas (رضي الله عنه‏) said: "Whoever prayed two rak'at or more after the 'Isha (night) prayer, will be considered like those mentioned in this verse [i.e. V.25:64]." And Al-Kalbi said: "Whosoever prayed two rak'at after the Maghrib (evening) prayer, and four rak'at after the 'Isha (night) prayer will be considered like those mentioned in this verse."

SubhanAllah, I imagine most people probably already pray at least two ruk'as after Maghrib and three after 'Isha (two ruk'as sunnah and then one for witr), so all that remains is two more ruk'ah! Just two more ruk'ah to qualify under one of the acts performed by the muhsinoon? Under the criteria presented by Ibn 'Abbas and Al-Kalbi (رضي الله عنهما‏) it seems the answer is YES, wallahu ta’aala a’alem (and Allah, exalted is He, knows best)!

Just two more ruk'ah every night—By the permission of Allah, let’s make it a habit for His sake!

May He make us of the Muhsinun and those with whom He is well pleased. Ameen!

References

Ibn Kathir. "Tafsir Ibn Kathir." Quran Tafsir. 28 June 2008 <http://qtafsir.com/>.

Khan, Muhsin, trans. "Qur'an." Islamic Network. 28 June 2008 .

Dr. Al-Hilali and Dr. Muhsin Khan. The Noble Qur’an: English Translation of the meanings and commentary.

Footnotes

[1] The "Muhsinun" are identified in ayahs 15-16 of the same surah (Surah 51). The ayahs are translated as: "Verily, the Muttaqun (pious - see V.2:2) will be in the midst of hardens and springs (in Paradise), taking joy in the things which their Lord has given them. Verily, they were before this Muhsinun (good-doers - see V.2:112)."

Success is For the Believers

Abd al-Ahad — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 18:05:24 +0000

Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) says in the first few verses of Surah Mu'minoon:

قَدْ أَفْلَحَ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ
الَّذِينَ هُمْ فِي صَلَاتِهِمْ خَاشِعُونَ

Translation: Successful are the Believers! Those who establish their salaah with khushoo. [Surah Mu'minoon, verses 1-2]

Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) carries on to mention many other characteristics of the believer in this surah--however, the thing to focus on, the thing to ponder about, is that the FIRST characteristic that Allah chooses to describe a believer by--a person who establishes the salaah.

Establish the salaah? What does this mean? It means to make it the foundation of your life, to make your life revolve around the salaah, to pray on time and with full sincerity and submissiveness to Allah.

In our day-to-day dealings, we come across three categories of people who pray:

People who just refuse to pray or just pray when they are told to.
Individuals who pray, but it's as if they are in a hundred-meter dash to the finish line; and I think you what I'm talking about.
Those who take their time and establish that relationship with Allah within their salaah.

And it is these people, the people who build that relationship with Allah within their salaah, that Allah refers to as Believers; "Those who establish their salaah with full submissiveness."

Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) says in another verse of the Qur'an:

وَمَا خَلَقْتُ الْجِنَّ وَالْإِنسَ إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُونِ

Translation: I have not created man nor Jinn except that they worship me. [Surah Adh-Dhariyat, verse 56]

Our purpose of creation is very simple: to worship Allah (سبحانه وتعالى). To submit ourselves to the law of Allah and to follow the ways of our beloved Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم). In this, and only this, will hearts find full tranquility.

Insha'Allah take the time now to establish the salaah--because you never know when your time will come.

Worship

Abd al-Ahad — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 18:00:53 +0000

We go through life praying, giving to the poor, fasting, and other forms of worship which are prescribed by Allah. However, when was the last time we sat back and really tried to understand what it means to worship Allah? Why do we worship Him? Listen to the podcast for more details on this crucial aspect of Islam--worship.

500 Years of Worship

Abd al-Ahad — Thu, 01 Nov 2007 18:24:57 +0000

500 Years of Worship

By Shaikh Abul Laith Samarkandi

Angel Jibreel (عليه السلام) told Rasulullah (صلي الله عليه وسلم) the following incident:

A man in the past worshipped Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) continuously for 500 years. He was granted a shelter on top of a mountain that was surrounded by salty water. However, Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) caused a stream of sweet water to flow through the mountain for that individual. The man would drink from this water and use it to make ablution. Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) also raised a pomegranate tree from which the man would eat one fruit every day.

One day, this person supplicated to Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) that, "Oh Allah (سبحانه وتعالى), bring my death while I am in the state of prostration." Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) accepted this dua of his. Whenever Jibreel (عليه السلام) came down to the Earth, he found this man prostrating to Allah (سبحانه وتعالى). Jibreel (عليه السلام) said that on the day of Judgement, Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) will tell the angels to take this individual to Paradise through His mercy. However, this man will insist that he should enter paradise through the good deeds that he had performed.

Then, Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) will tell the angels to compare his good deeds with the blessings that were given to him in the world. It will be seen that 500 years of his worship does not even equal to the gift of eye sight that was given to him by Allah (سبحانه وتعالى). The angels will be asked to take him toward the hell fire. Then the man will plead, "Oh Allah (سبحانه وتعالى)! Enter me into Paradise only through Your mercy." At that point, the following discussion will take place between Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) and that man.

Allah (سبحانه وتعالى): Oh my servant, who created you?

The worshipper: Oh Allah (سبحانه وتعالى), You have created me.

Allah (سبحانه وتعالى): Were you created because of the good deeds you have done or because of My mercy?

The worshipper: Because of Your mercy.

Allah (سبحانه وتعالى): Who granted you the ability to worship for 500 years?

The worshipper: Oh the Almighty! You have granted me that ability.

Allah (سبحانه وتعالى): Who placed you on the mountain surrounded by the ocean? Who caused a stream of sweet water to flow in between the salty water? Who caused a pomegranate tree to grow for you? Who granted you death while in the state of prostration?

The worshipper: Oh the Sustainer of the Worlds! You have done all of these.

Then Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) will say, "All these have happened due to My mercy and you too will enter Paradise only through My Mercy."

We can never thank Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) for the blessings that He has given us. Let us use these blessings to recognize Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) before our death.

رَّبِّ اغْفِرْ وَارْحَمْ وَأَنتَ خَيْرُ الرَّاحِمِينَ

Translation: My Lord! Forgive and have mercy, for You are the best of those who show mercy! [Surah Al-Mu'minoon, verse 118]

Abu Bakr and His Request

abdulmutakkabir — Fri, 05 Oct 2007 08:49:51 +0000

What do you make of the amazing incident when the best of the sahaba (رضالله عنه) came to the best of the Prophets (صلي الله عليه وسلم) to ask for a du'a to make in his prayers?

Narrated Abu Bakr As-Siddiq (رضالله عنه)

I asked Allah's Apostle (صلي الله عليه وسلم) to teach me an invocation so that I may invoke Allah with it in my prayer. He told me to say,

[Sahih Bukhari]

(Hover your mouse over each line to see the translation)

Allahumma innee thhalamtu nafsi thulman katheera
Wa laa yaghfiru thunooba illa anta faghfirlee
Maghfiratam min 'indika war-hamni innaka
Anta Al-Ghafoor, Ar-Raheem

So what's so special about this du'a?

For starters, the one who requested the du'a is the best of all the companions of the Prophet (صلي الله عليه وسلم) - Abu Bakr (رضالله عنه). The one who entertained the request is the seal of the Prophets and the leader of mankind (صلي الله عليه وسلم). So this du'a was given to the best, by the best…and what is the content of the du'a?

"Oh Allah! I have wronged myself greatly!"

Subhan Allah! If Muhammad (صلي الله عليه وسلم) and Abu Bakr (رضالله عنه) have wronged themselves greatly, where do we stand? If the two of the finest of Allah’s creation: the first being the leader of mankind (صلي الله عليه وسلم), the other whose eman is heavier than the eman of the entire ummah combined (رضالله عنه). If they have wronged themselves and they were so adamant in seeking the forgiveness of Allah and begging for the mercy of Allah then really, where do we stand?

How much more have we wronged ourselves in comparison to Rasoolullah (صلي الله عليه وسلم) and Abu Bakr (رضالله عنه), yet we don’t have the same drive to ask Allah’s forgiveness and Allah’s mercy!

We should make it a habit of making this du'a in our prayers after tashahhud (i.e. when sitting at the end of the prayer), and at other times too. May Allah forgive us our sins and bestow upon us His Mercy, ameen.
Comments»

“As-Salaah! As-Salaah!”

Abd al-Ahad — Sun, 23 Sep 2007 08:23:32 +0000

The importance of salaah can be seen in the seerah of our beloved Prophet (صلي الله عليه وسلم). Allah raised our beloved Prophet to His heights to give him the command of salaah directly, rather than sending it through Angel Jibreel. Also, the importance of salaah is seen in the seerah, when the Prophet (صلي الله عليه وسلم) was on his death bed, when he had the chance to give one last message that he could give his ummah until the Day of Judgment. He cried out, As-Salaah! As-Salaah!

Listen to the podcast to learn more about salaah, and the importance of salaah; all the signs should make us understand how great and magnimonious this deed in the sight of Allah.

Have you Established the Salaah?

Abd al-Ahad — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 06:20:32 +0000

The greatest command after that of tawheed is of salaah. Allah lays out a list for whom this Qur'an is a guidance, and amongst the first things He says are about those who establish the salaah; those who guard them strictly and stand in front of Allah with obedience. The example of Prophet Ibrahim (عليه السلام) is amongst the best, and as he builds the ka'ba, he makes du'a to Allah to make him amongst those who establish salaah.

Listen to the podcast to learn MORE about why Prophet Ibrahim, the khalil of Allah, made this du'a, and what that means for you and me.

Relax! Who are you Racing?

Abd al-Ahad — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 06:18:39 +0000

We at times find ourself in a race with salaah. One of the primary ways to gain khushoo in our salaah is to take our time in it, so much so that our Prophet (صلي الله عليه وسلم) told us to be slow and articulate with each movement--we should let all our bones rest and then continue on, not before that. No need to race, because this will come back on the Day of Judgment! Truly, the poorest on that Day will be the one who stole from his salaah by racing through it!

Listen to the podcast for more 'ilm about salaah.

“If it is sound then the rest of his deeds will be sound…”

Abd al-Ahad — Sat, 15 Sep 2007 07:15:50 +0000

Going on about the importance of salaah, salaah is the first matter that a slave/abd/person will be brought account for on the Day of Judgment. So important is salaah, that Prophet (صلي الله عليه وسلم) said that if this one matter is good then everything else will also be good.

Listen to the podcast to gain more understanding on how to make your salaah sound.

Limitless: Ramadan Planning

Abd al-Ahad — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 05:00:51 +0000

My brothers and sisters a blessed month is fast approaching us, a month in which the opportunities are limitless and the reward is ready for taking in abundance. This blessed month, known as Ramadan is approaching us and we will soon say good-bye to it as well.

Inshallah, join me on this journey as we go through some self-planning for this blessed month, and inshallah learn about the one action which is most noble in the sight of Allah...that action being du'a.