Fātimah radhiyallāhu 'anhā is the youngest daughter of our beloved Prophet sallallāhu 'alayhi wasallam. Out of all the children, she was the most beloved to him. He said, 'The queen of the ladies in Jannah is Fātimah.' He also said, 'Fātimah is part of my body. Whoever grieves her, grieves me.'
When Fātimah radhiyallāhu 'anhā reached the age of fifteen, proposals for her marriage began to come from high and responsible families. But the Prophet sallallāhu 'alayhi wasallam remained irresponsive.
'Alī radhiyallāhu 'anhu, who was 21 at the time, says:
“It occurred to me that I should go and make a formal proposal, but then I thought, 'How could this be accomplished, for I possess nothing.' At last, encouraged by the Prophet's kindness, I went to him and expressed my intention to marry Fātimah radhiyallāhu 'anhā. The Prophet sallallāhu 'alayhi wasallam was extremely pleased and asked, 'Alī! Do you possess anything to give her in mahr?' I replied, 'Apart from a horse and an armour I possess nothing.'
The Prophet sallallāhu 'alayhi wasallam said, 'A soldier must, of course, have his horse. Go and sell away your armour.”'
So, 'Alī radhiyallāhu 'anhu went and sold his armour to 'Uthmān radhiyallāhu 'anhu for 480 Dirham and presented it to Rasūlullāh sallallāhu 'alayhi wasallam. Bilāl radhiyallāhu 'anhu was ordered by the Prophet sallallāhu 'alayhi wasallam to bring some perfume and a few other things and Anas radhiyallāhu 'anhu was sent to call Abū Bakr, 'Uthmān, Talhah and Zubayr with some companions from the Ansār radhiyallāhu 'anhum.
When these men arrived and had taken their seats, the Prophet sallallāhu 'alayhi wasallam recited the khutbah (sermon) of nikāh and gave Fātimah radhiyallāhu 'anhā in marriage to 'Alī radhiyallāhu 'anhu. He announced, 'Bear you all witness that I have given my daughter Fātimah in marriage to 'Alī for 400 mithqāl of silver and 'Alī has accepted.' He then raised his head and made du'ā saying, 'O Allāh, create love and harmony between these two. Bless them and bestow upon them good children.' After the nikāh, dates were distributed.
When the time came for Fātimah radhiyallāhu 'anhā to go to 'Alī's radhiyallāhu 'anhu house, she was sent without any clamour, hue and cry, accompanied by Umm Ayman radhiyallāhu 'anhā. After the 'Īshā Salāh, the Prophet sallallāhu 'alayhi wasallam went to their house, took permission and entered. He asked for a basin of water, put his blessed hands into it and sprinkled it on both 'Alī and Fātimah radhiyallāhu 'anhumā and made du'ā for them.
The sovereign of both worlds gave his beloved daughter a silver bracelet, two Yemeni sheets, four mattresses, one blanket, one pillow, one cup, one hand-grinding mill, one bedstead, a small water skin and a leather pitcher.
In this simple fashion, the wedding of the daughter of the leader of both the worlds was solemnized. In following this sunnah method, a wedding becomes very simple and easy to fulfil.
NOTE: In walīmah, whatever is easily available should be fed to the people and care should be taken that there is no extravagance, show and that no debts are incurred in the process.
In following modern day trends, we have adopted many cutoms that are un-Islamic and contrary to the sunnah.
Some examples are:
On the occasion of the death of a person, we are reminded of the Hereafter, and to an extent, we are mindful of ensuring that our actions concerning the deceased are completed according to the Commands of Allāh ta'ālā and the sunnah of the Prophet sallallāhu 'alayhi wasallam. Unfortunately, one area which remains largely unpractised and neglected is that of the correct distribution of inheritance.
The wealth, possessions, property, etc. that a person leaves behind are the deceased's estate. This needs to be distributed to the rightful inheritors in accordance with the laws of Sharī'ah. The Prophet sallallāhu 'alayhi wasallam, stressing its importance, says,
Learn (the knowledge of) inheritance and teach it (to the people), for it is half of knowledge; and it will eventually be forgotten. It will be the first (knowledge) to be taken away from my Ummah. (Ibn Mājah)
Nowadays, even those considered religious, who are very cautious regarding their wealth and food, ensuring that they are all from halāl sources, are neglectful regarding this part of Sharī'ah. Beware of the fact that not giving someone their due right from the inheritance is just like stealing their wealth. Stated below are a few points which will, inshā'allāh, help us learn some basic principles of inheritance, together with prevailing misconceptions and incorrect practices. Due to the delicate and complex nature of the rules of inheritance, one must consult the 'Ulamā and Muftīs in all circumstances.
When distributing the deceased's estate, the following steps need to be taken in the order mentioned:
For example, if a person makes a wasiyyah for £5,000 to be donated to a particular masjid, as far as the first condition is concerned, the masjid will be eligible as it is not an inheritor of the deceased. However, upon death, if after deducting the funeral expenses and debts, it is calculated that only £9,000 remains, then the masjid will not receive £5,000 as proposed in the wasiyyah. Rather, it will only receive £3,000, as wasiyyah can only apply to a maximum of one third of the estate.
Important note: Females who stand to inherit are often neglected. The Sharī'ah, with its wisdom, has allocated shares for both males and females and it is important that these are abided by.
For men there is a share in what the parents and the nearest of kin have left. And for women there is a share in what the parents and the nearest of kin have left, be it small or large, a determined share. (4:7)
Unfortunately, nowadays in society it is common that women are not given their share; rather, they are contacted by the brothers who inform them of their plans for their share of the wealth and in doing so attempt to coax them into making the same decision. In many cases, due to the position of the brother in the family, the sister, daughter, etc. will find it difficult to actually acquire her share. Therefore, the money should be physically handed over to her so that she can decide as she wishes.
Note: It should be borne in mind that in situations wherein there is a minor (non-bāligh) amongst the inheritors, and the inheritors decide to collectively spend the estate in a certain cause, the consent of the minor will not be valid until he/she reaches maturity. This is because in many cases the consent of a minor is not valid in Sharī'ah. However, if other inheritors besides the minor decide to individually or collectively spend their share of the inheritance in a particular cause then this is their prerogative.
Note: Another very important matter to keep in mind is that of separate and identifiable ownership. Many people nowadays have joint bank accounts. Upon the death of a person, it becomes extremely difficult and sometimes impossible to ascertain exactly how much belonged to each person because each would deposit their money into one account. By keeping separate bank accounts it becomes easy to distribute the inheritance correctly after someone's death. Similarly, every item in the home should have an identifiable owner, so upon the death of someone there are no issues. In order to do this, records should be kept clearly identifying the owners of all items in the home.
Inshā'allāh, if we keep in mind the importance of consulting the 'Ulamā and Muftīs regarding inheritance and start with the few basic principles mentioned above, we will be able to ensure its correct implementation upon someone's death. May Allāh ta'ālā grant us the tawfīq to fulfil His commandments in all facets of our lives.
In the period before the advent of our beloved Messenger sallallāhu 'alayhi wasallam, the whole world was engulfed in the darkness of ignorance. Humans were uncivilised, morally decadent and devoid of good character. When Allāh ta'ālā sent the Leader of all the Ambiyā 'alayhimus salām and the Seal of the Messengers 'alayhimus salām, Muhammad Rasūlullāh sallallāhu 'alayhi wasallam, the entire world was illuminated. By following his example and teachings people of all backgrounds and creeds, Muslim and non-Muslim alike, have achieved great successes throughout the ensuing fourteen centuries.
The underlying reason behind success in following his example is that Allāh ta'ālā created His beloved Rasūl sallallāhu 'alayhi wasallam the best in every way. Whenever the Sahābah radhiyallāhu 'anhum described a particular characteristic of his, they would always qualify it with the superlative it deserved. They described him, for example, as the most generous, the most knowledgeable, the most courageous etc. Their descriptions proclaim quite clearly to all who followed his era that in every praiseworthy trait Rasūlullāh sallallāhu 'alayhi wasallam was 'The Best'.
Even objective non-Muslims, have had no option but to praise the Messenger of Islām sallallāhu 'alayhi wasallam.
George Bernard Shaw writes:
I have studied him – the wonderful man and in my opinion far from being an anti-Christ, he must be called the Saviour of humanity. (The Genuine Islam, Vol 1 No8, 1936)
Pandit Gyanandra Dev Sharma Shastri, at a meeting in Gurakhpur, India (1928) said:
They (Muhammad's critics) see fire instead of light, ugliness instead of good. They distort and present every good quality as a great vice. It reflects their own depravity… The critics are blind. They cannot see that the only 'sword' Muhammad wielded was the sword of Mercy, Compassion, Friendship, and Forgiveness – the sword that conquers enemies and purifies their hearts. His sword was sharper than the sword of steel.
Lamartine said:
Philosopher, orator, apostle, legislator, warrior, conqueror of ideas, restorer of rational doctrines, of a religion without images; the founder of twenty terrestrial empires and of one spiritual empire, that is Muhammad. As regards all standards by which human greatness may be measured, we may well ask, is there any man greater than he? (Histoire de la Turquie, Vol II, Paris, 1854)
A critic, David Samuel Margoliouth, an Oxford University Professor of the early 20th century, wrote a biography of Rasūlullāh sallallāhu 'alayhi wasallam. He writes in his preface:
The biographers of the Prophet Mohammed form a long series which it is impossible to end, but in which it would be honourable to find a place. (Margoliouth, Mohammed and the Rise of Islam, 1905)
When Gandhi read the sīrah of Rasūlullāh sallallāhu 'alayhi wasallam in two volumes, he commented:
When I closed the second volume I was sorry there was not more for me to read of that great life. (Gandhi, Young India, 1924)
The sīrah (life or biography) of Rasūlullāh sallallāhu 'alayhi wasallam is full of lessons. It is an ocean that has no shore, meaning the sīrah is never-ending when it comes to deriving lessons from it. It is from the miracles of Rasūlullāh sallallāhu 'alayhi wasallam that his life has been recorded and preserved in such detail. All credit goes to his beloved Companions y who recorded this beautiful life with great care and detail to the extent that his humorous statements have also been preserved, and have proven to be an ocean of knowledge. Let us study an example:
Sayyidunā Anas ibn Mālik radhiyallāhu 'anhu narrates how Rasūlullāh sallallāhu 'alayhi wasallam would try cheering up his younger brother by saying a little rhyme:
O Father of 'Umayr! What has happened to the nughayr (a type of bird)? (Al-Bukhārī)
The small child would be delighted at the rhyme and by the fact that Allāh's Messenger would call him, a mere toddler, Father of 'Umayr!
This is one small and seemingly insignificant episode from the life of Rasūlullāh sallallāhu 'alayhi wasallam, but the 'Ulamā having pondered over this statement of Rasūlullāh sallallāhu 'alayhi wasallam were able to deduce over sixty religious precepts from it. Such is the power and depth of a single humorous statement, what can one say about his formal and serious statements!
The blessed sīrah is truly a light and full of guidance for all circumstances and situations we may encounter in life. Allāh ta'ālā says:
Indeed, there is a beautiful example for you in the Messenger of Allāh... (33:21)
The life and teachings of Rasūlullāh sallallāhu 'alayhi wasallam are truly comprehensive that a day will never come when the Muslims will not be able to find a solution through them to any issue they encounter. Guidance can be found in his teachings on every subject matter. And if we follow these beautiful teachings, we will become successful in both worlds.
So we need to emulate the Prophet sallallāhu 'alayhi wasallam in all aspects of our lives: 'aqā'id (beliefs), 'ibādāt (acts of worship), mu'āmalāt (dealings and transactions), mu'āsharāt (social conduct) and akhlāq hasanah (good character). It is unfortunate that many of us have confined Dīn to the first two branches, 'aqā'id and 'ibādāt, only. Rasūlullāh sallallāhu 'alayhi wasallam has warned of destruction for such people. Once Rasūlullāh sallallāhu 'alayhi wasallam asked his Sahābah:
'Who is a poor person?' They replied, 'A poor person amongst us is he who has neither dirham nor wealth.' Rasūlullāh sallallāhu 'alayhi wasallam said, 'The poor person in my Ummah will be one who will come on the Day of Judgement with his salāh, sawm and zakāh; however, he swore at someone, accused someone, unlawfully consumed the wealth of someone, killed someone and hurt someone, then his good deeds will be given to his victims. And if his good deeds are exhausted but the compensation of his victims remain, then their sins will be taken and entered in his account and he will be thrown in the hell-fire.' (Muslim)
In addition to protecting our good deeds, the practice of mu'āmalāt, mu'āsharāt and akhlāq hasanah presents the beauty of our Dīn to the whole of humanity, as they predominantly relate to social interaction. The life of Rasūlullāh sallallāhu 'alayhi wasallam and of those who followed him to the highest degree, contain numerous episodes of winning the hearts of people, through practically demonstrating these branches of Dīn.
If we strive to make our lives fully in accordance with the teachings of the Prophet sallallāhu 'alayhi wasallam and emulate him in every way, then we will become the beloved of Allāh ta'ālā.
Say [O Prophet sallallāhu 'alayhi wasallam], 'If you really love Allāh, then follow me, and Allāh will love you and forgive you your sins. Allāh is Most-Forgiving, Very-Merciful.' (3:31)
Once we become His beloved, we will automatically become the beloved of His entire creation. The Prophet sallallāhu 'alayhi wasallam has said:
When Allāh ta'ālā makes a servant His beloved, then Allāh ta'ālā summons Jibra'īl 'alayhis salām and says, 'Indeed, Allāh ta'ālā loves such a person; you too love him.'
When Jibra'īl 'alayhis salām hears this command of Allāh ta'ālā, his heart is infused with love for this person. Such a person is now the beloved of Allāh ta'ālā and Jibra'īl 'alayhis salām. Then, Allāh ta'ālā commands Jibra'īl 'alayhis salām to address the dwellers of the heavens and say;
Indeed, Allāh ta'ālā loves such a person; you too love him.
Upon hearing the command, their hearts too are infused with his love.
Then this person is granted acceptance amongst the people on the earth [resulting in everyone entertaining love for him]. (Al-Bukhārī)
This is a simple solution to the problems that are blighting the entire world at the moment; in fact, this is the only solution. As Muslims, we should endeavour to adopt the way of the Prophet sallallāhu 'alayhi wasallam in every facet of our lives. Our 'aqā'id (beliefs), 'ibādāt (acts of worship), mu'āmalāt (dealings and transactions), mu'āsharat (social conduct) and akhlāq hasanah (good character) should all be like that of the Prophet sallallāhu 'alayhi wasallam.
If we desire that the people of the world look at us with love and respect, then we need to resolve to live our lives according to the way of the Prophet sallallāhu 'alayhi wasallam so that we become the beloved of Allāh ta'ālā and as a result become the beloved of the entire creation.
Let us resolve today, assess/review our lives and rectify any shortcomings. When our actions completely reflect the teachings of the beloved of Allāh ta'ālā, then spiritual blessings will become apparent which will resolve all our issues of this world and the Hereafter. This is a very pertinent matter at the current time and needs our utmost attention. If we make a firm resolution to learn the way of the Prophet sallallāhu 'alayhi wasallam and act upon it accordingly - whether the action is fardh, wājib, sunnah or mustahabb - then success awaits.
The advent of the month of Shawwāl brings with it the remembrance of Ibrāhīm 'alayhis salām u and his memorable hajj. All over the world, those who are fortunate make preparations for this great spiritual experience. Hajj is from the five pillars of Islām and is farḍ upon every sane and mature believer who possesses the means to perform hajj. Allāh ta'ālā mentions in the Glorious Qur'ān:
…As a right of Allāh, it is obligatory on the people to perform hajj of the House – on everyone who has the ability to manage (his) way to it. (3:97)
The Prophet sallallāhu 'alayhi wasallam has said:
Islām is founded on five (pillars): bearing witness that there is no deity except Allāh and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allāh, establishing salāh, paying zakāh, performing hajj and fasting in the month of Ramadān. (Al-Bukhārī)
In another hadīth, he said: “O people! Indeed Allāh, the Mighty, the Exalted has made hajj obligatory upon you; therefore perform hajj.” (Ahmad)
The Prophet sallallāhu 'alayhi wasallam has mentioned many virtues of hajj, encouraging the believers to fulfil this obligation:
“The performers of hajj and 'umrah are deputations of Allāh. If they call Him, He answers them; and if they seek His forgiveness, He forgives them.” (Ibn Mājah)
There is no reward for an accepted hajj except Jannah. (Al-Bukhārī, Muslim)
Whoever performs hajj for the sake of pleasing Allāh, and therein utters no word of evil, nor commits any evil deed, shall return from it free from sin as the day on which his mother gave birth to him. (Al-Bukhārī, Muslim)
The performer of hajj becomes so pure that even that person is forgiven for whom he seeks forgiveness. The Prophet sallallāhu 'alayhi wasallam said:
When you meet a Hajī (on his way home), then greet him, shake hands with him and ask him to beg forgiveness of Allāh on your behalf before he enters his home, for his prayer for forgiveness is accepted since he is forgiven by Allāh. (Ahmad)
The Prophet sallallāhu 'alayhi wasallam has also warned those who do not fulfil this obligation despite it becoming obligatory upon them:
He who possesses enough provisions which will suffice for him to reach the House of Allāh, and he does not perform hajj, then there is no care whether he dies as a Jew or a Christian. (At-Tirmidhī)
Hajj is fard upon every sane, adult and healthy Muslim, when he has sufficient wealth to enable him to travel to and from the Ka'bah. This will apply when the wealth required to take him is in excess of his needs (such as house, transport, clothing, etc.). He also needs to have sufficient wealth to leave behind for the needs of those who are dependent on him. Furthermore, the journey needs to be a safe one and a woman needs to be travelling with a mahram. As can be understood from the great virtues and stern warnings above, a person upon whom hajj is fard should endeavour to perform hajj at the earliest possible opportunity – this year. The Prophet sallallāhu 'alayhi wasallam has said:
The one who intends to go for hajj should hurry; for sometimes he can get ill, his conveyance can go missing or some other obstacle may arise (which will hinder him from travelling). (Ahmad)
Many people delay the performance of hajj due to misconceptions which become lame excuses for not performing hajj. Inshā'allāh, I wish to clarify a few of these misunderstandings, so that those who find themselves in these situations can repent and make preparations immediately.
No servant leaves hajj for some worldly objective but that he will see the people returning from hajj before his worldly objective is fulfilled. (At-Tabrānī)
Therefore, one should put aside any worldly goals he has in mind and fulfil the obligation of Allāh ta'ālā first. It is also noteworthy to remember that it is from the ploys of Shaytān that he will never say, 'Don't perform hajj', rather, he will make you defer its performance, year after year, until it's too late.
Shaykh Muftī 'Abdur Rahīm Lājpūrī rahimahullāh mentions with regards the permissible reasons for postponing hajj:
The following are reasons for which hajj may be postponed:
Therefore, it is my heartfelt plea to those upon whom hajj is fard, that they embark on this blessed journey this very year. They should have trust in Allāh ta'ālā for all their affairs and fulfil this obligation. May Allāh ta'ālā remove all difficulties and hurdles that anyone may have and make hajj easy for one and all. Āmīn.
© Islāmic Da'wah Academy
Hajj is an invitation from the Lord of all the Worlds to visit His Sacred House and an opportunity for us to correct the shortcomings and faults we find in our lives. All intending pilgrims should be focused on the great journey that awaits them and prepare for it as best as possible. In addition to the essential task of learning the injunctions of Hajj, there are a number of other points that should be given special attention by all those who are about to become the Guests of Allāh ta'ālā.
Intending pilgrims should examine their intentions and ask themselves why they are going for Hajj. Rasūlullāh sallallāhu 'alayhi wasallam said:
Actions are only according to intentions. (Al-Bukhārī, Muslim)
If one's intention is correct and sincere, the deed is accepted, but if it is incorrect then the deed does not receive acceptance. Regarding the intentions for Hajj, Rasūlullāh sallallāhu 'alayhi wasallam predicted:
Near to Qiyāmah, the affluent of my ummah will perform Hajj merely for leisure whilst the middle-class of my ummah will perform Hajj for the sake of trade, the scholars will perform Hajj for show (and ostentation) and the poor will perform Hajj in order to beg. (Kanz-ul-'Ummāl)
We need to examine our intentions. We should not be going just to appease relatives and friends who keep 'pestering' us to go or because we desire the title of Hājī. Our sole intention should be to please Allāh ta'ālā who created us and who granted us the health, wealth and opportunity to visit Makkah Mukarramah and to fulfil His Command. Moreover, we have to endeavour to maintain this sincerity all the time whilst performing the rites of Hajj and after we return, until our last breath.
As we are to acquire a unique proximity to Allāh ta'ālā and be His guests of honour, it is inappropriate to go as offenders, guilty of disobedience. Therefore the next task for us is to make tawbah (repent) from all sins, major and minor. Perform two rak'āt nafl salāh with the intention of repentance and make sincere tawbah from all past sins. Regardless of whether sins relate to the Rights of Allāh ta'ālā or the rights of His creation, or whether they relate to the realm of akhlāq (moral conduct), 'ibādāt (worship), mu'āmalāt (transactions) or mu'āsharah (social interaction), tawbah is necessary in each case.
There are certain preconditions for tawbah: For those sins which only violate the Rights of Allāh ta'ālā, such as drinking alcohol, fornication, gambling, failure to perform salāh or give zakāh etc., there are three conditions. The first condition is immediate abstention from such sins. Secondly, there must be regret in the heart for having committed these sins; a feeling of remorse about disobeying Allāh ta'ālā who brought us into existence when we were nothing. Thirdly, there must be a firm intention never to engage in those sins again in the future.
If a sin also involves violation of the Rights of Allāh ta'ālā's creation, e.g. defrauding someone, slander or backbiting, then in all such cases a fourth condition will also have to be met. It will be necessary to make amends to the person whose rights were violated, e.g. if someone's wealth was misappropriated, it will have to be returned or forgiveness sought. If the violation was such that it cannot be compensated for materially, forgiveness must be sought from the victim and his displeasure must be abated.
When a servant fulfils all these conditions, then, as appears in a hadīth:
A person who repents from sin is like one who has no sin. (Ibn Mājah, At-Tabarānī)
True tawbah results in a commitment to perform the five daily salāh and to complete any qadhā salāh, to discharge zakāh on time and to settle any past zakāh and to fulfil the obligation of qurbānī and to pay sadaqah for previously missed qurbānīs. If we have oppressed or wronged someone, we must seek their forgiveness; if we have defrauded or usurped somebody's wealth, we must return it; if we are on bad terms with somebody, we must reconcile our differences.
The reason behind meeting people before departing for Hajj is just this; that we ask for forgiveness and reconcile any disputes that may exist between us. Superficially saying, 'Forgive me,' is not enough to secure forgiveness, we have to genuinely make an attempt to please the person whom we have wronged. Nowadays, we go to meet and seek forgiveness from those whom we are on good terms with and where there is no real need to seek forgiveness, yet we do not go to see and make peace with those with whom we have some quarrel.
A further point worth addressing is the anxiety felt by those intending to go for Hajj. There are two reasons for this: firstly, the quite natural apprehension of travelling to a foreign country, and secondly, the negative comments made by those who have been to Hajj before. It should be understood that throughout the whole journey of Hajj, inshā'allāh you will witness 99% comfort and a mere 1% of difficulty. Shaytān however, in order to ruin our ibādah, makes us look only towards the 1% so that upon our return, we complain about the difficulties encountered in the sacred places and spoil our Hajj. The consequence of such disrespectful talk is that other servants of Allāh ta'ālā become discouraged from performing Hajj.
The reality is that every journey has its hardships, even travelling to the Airport involves discomfort and inconvenience. Rasūlullāh sallallāhu 'alayhi wasallam commented:
Travel is a portion of suffering. (Al-Bukhāri, Muslim)
The journey of Hajj is long, with approximately two to three million people from all over the world congregating at one specific place. Often they all flock to one place at one time to perform the very same ibādah! Organising for such an event is beyond the capacity of any organisation/government, it is only possible through the Power of Allāh ta'ālā. In such circumstances, the minute amount of inconvenience we may encounter is totally insignificant; the sheer bliss of just casting a single gaze at the House of Allāh ta'ālā outweighs all the difficulties.
Therefore pilgrims returning from Hajj are requested to only relate the positive and complimentary tales of their journey and to forget any negative experiences. Relating negative experiences is a Shaytānic ploy designed to ruin the reward of our Hajj. And if, due to our stories of hardship, someone decides against going for Hajj, we may be held responsible.
So those going for Hajj, and in particular those going for the first time, should pay no attention to the tales of others. The journey of Hajj is a comfortable one, free of any threat, where everything is available. Of course, being a journey, it has some inconveniences, as do all journeys, but we should place our trust in Allāh ta'ālā and remove all anxieties from our minds.
My late respected father, Hāfidh Ibrāhīm Dhorat rahimahullāh, used to say a wonderful thing to those intending to go for Hajj. He would say, 'When we go to visit somebody and become their guest, we do not need to worry about our sleeping arrangements or meals etc. Our host takes full responsibility for us and repeatedly asks us our preferences and if we need anything, we simply request it from our host. Now when this is our state of affairs when our host is a human, is it conceivable that when we go as guests of Allāh ta'ālā, the Creator, He will not fulfil our needs?'
So we need to realise that during Hajj we are the guests of Allāh ta'ālā. And if we do experience any inconvenience, we should think that Allāh ta'ālā is making us go through some minor problems in order to wipe out the mountains of sins we have committed in the past and to save us from the eternal troubles of the Hereafter.
When selecting travelling companions, care should be taken to choose pious and righteous people, possibly people who have performed Hajj before. If it is possible to travel with a pious scholar, then all the better. The group should not be too large and fellow travellers should be like-minded, able to get on with, assist and serve each other without considering it a burden. Experience shows that during Hajj, if people of dissimilar temperaments travel together, some disagreement or other always crops up. Obviously Hajj is a journey in which rancour and bitterness are to be avoided. It has been seen that friendships that develop during Hajj remain lifelong as do hostilities. Accordingly, our companions should be pious people, who will prompt us when we are neglectful and make us incline towards Allāh ta'ālā, the Ākhirah and the successful accomplishment of our goal.
Another point to remember is to avoid taking along unnecessary items. This will make the journey easier, particularly at customs, and whilst travelling to and fro between the airport and hotels. Everything is available at our destination and can be purchased when needed. Essentials to take along are necessary clothing, toiletries, etc. Generally, people take along many superfluous items from home and then end up going through hardship because of them.
During the time leading up to departure, we must refrain from all disobedience to Allāh ta'ālā, including those customs and traditions which displease Him. We do many things just because others do, e.g. inviting lots of people for a meal before going for Hajj. It should be remembered that whatever act is done merely for show incurs the displeasure of Allāh ta'ālā, not His Pleasure.
Should someone give an invitation out of affection, which is accepted out of affection, then it will be a rewarding deed. If however, one feels compelled to offer an invitation because other relatives have done so, then the act of inviting is just for show and devoid of any reward. Furthermore the intending pilgrim, having been invited by so many people, feels obliged to arrange a meal for them too. Thus, just before setting off on his blessed journey, the intending pilgrim hires out a hall and invites lots of people to a function resembling a wedding party in its extravagance. There is no need for such formalities and excesses. We should beware lest the burden of sins we already bear prior to going for Hajj is added to by such behaviour.
Every intending pilgrim should acquire a book on Hajj in the language he is most comfortable with. The book should not be too brief nor should it be overloaded with masā'il and it should be written by an authoritative and experienced 'ālim. Repeated study of this book, preferably under the supervision of a reliable 'ālim or mufti, will ensure a firm grounding in the method of Hajj. And whatever is not clear should be clarified again with a qualified authority.
The masā'il of Hajj can be acquired through the above method, but to give life to the rites of Hajj and to endow them with their true spirit, 'Virtues of Hajj' should be studied carefully. It should also be taken along and read during the journey of Hajj.
Islām is always in the news these days. Whilst some people make the effort to try and understand for themselves what Islām is all about, for the majority of people, ignorance and misunderstandings dictate their attitudes to this major world religion. This is a shame, for when one starts to look beyond the headlines and gets acquainted with the real Islām and its Prophet Muhammad sallallāhu 'alayhi wasallam, a truly balanced, compassionate and merciful set of teachings is revealed.
Shaykh Mawlānā Muhammad Saleem Dhorat hafizahullāh has been serving the Muslim community of the UK for almost two decades now, and one of the consistent themes underlying his teachings has been compassion and consideration for others. That Islām teaches tolerance and mercy is beyond doubt; countless verses of the Qur'ān, sayings of the Prophet sallallāhu 'alayhi wasallam and examples of our pious predecessors testify to this fact. The respected Shaykh has lectured at length on this topic and explained, through authentic sources, how Muslims and mercy are inseparable.
It proved difficult to bring together all Shaykh's teachings on this important topic due to the abundance of material available. It was therefore decided that this small, easy to read booklet be prepared to serve as an introduction to the subject and an invitation for all - Muslims and non-Muslims - to increase their understanding of the Message of Mercy.
To find out how to acquire this publication please email us for details.
In recent times, people distressed with ailments - internal and external - have resorted to people who cure through ta'wīdh and, in some cases, through the agency of jinn (or mu'akkal as some call it). I do not intend to go into the depth of the evils that lie within this institution, but would sincerely request readers to take note of the following points with a fair mind and without being biased so that we may be saved from the deceit of Shaytān which is hidden in the form of pious saintly people who claim to have supernatural powers to cure illnesses and solve problems.
As is his usual practice at the beginning of Ramadhān each year, Hadrat Mawlānā Muhammad Saleem Dhorat hafizahullāh talks to his congregation about the blessings, virtues and benefits of the blessed month of Ramadhān, explaining how they should value this blessed month and spend it with utmost care in order to acquire the Nearness and Pleasure of Allāh ta'ālā.
One of these talks was transcribed and published as two separate articles in the monthly journal, Riyādul Jannah, of which Shaykh is also founder and editor.
As Ramadān 1420 approached, it seemed an appropriate time to bring together these articles and publish them in the form of a booklet, thereby making these wise and beneficial advices available to a much wider audience.
We begin the booklet with another article of Shaykh entitled "The Blessed Month of Ramadhān" and, on his instruction, include some important directives given by Hadrat Mawlānā Muhammad Badre 'Ālam rahimahullāh, a great scholar in the field of Hadīth. The booklet finally concludes with rules regarding fasting, compiled by Shaykh himself and previously published and distributed as a leaflet and a colour poster (available free of charge from the IDA).
We ask Allāh ta'ālā to give us the tawfīq to adopt these advices so that we can all Profit from Ramadhān. Āmīn.
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By Shaykh-ul-Hadīth, Hadrat Mawlānā Muhammad Saleem Dhorat hafizahullāh
The nights of both 'Īds are described in the hadīth as amongst the great and sacred nights in the Muslim calendar. To remain awake on the nights of 'Īd and perform 'ibādah is a source of great virtue and reward.
Our children attend madrasahs every evening, yet we as their parents do not attach much significance to them, regarding them merely as places that look after the ummah's infants. We hold them on a par with nurseries, as places of elementary learning. We should realise though, that as long as we fail to attach importance to them, we will remain ignorant of our children's development and progress.
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