As We Send 1 Billion Blessings

of Peace to Our Beloved

Prophet on November 4, 2012

اللّهُمّ صَلّ عَلَى مُحَمّدٍ
Allahumma Salli ‘Alaa Muhammad

(O Allah! Bless Muhammad)

Lets try to Act on some of these Actions InshaAllah.
1- Have a Bath

2- Clip your Nails

3- Wear Clean or New Clothes

4- Apply Itr

5- Use the Miswak

6- Try to walk to the Masjid for Salaah

7- Read Surah Kahf

8- Attend the Jummah Salaah

9- Listen to the Jummah Khutbah

O Allah, I seek Your forgiveness for every sin that Your pen recorded and Your knowledge encompassed- every one that I have committed and that I am to commit until the end of my life. I seek Your forgiveness for all of my sins: the first and the last, the intentional and the unintentional, the few and the many, the minor and the major, the subtle and the noticeable, the past and the recent, the secret and the open and public- and all those I am to commit throughout my life.
[Prayers for Forgiveness- Hassan al Basri Rahimahullah]

اســتغفر الله من ذنبي ومن زللي
ما زلت والله من ذنبي على وجلي
اســـتغفر الله من نفس تنازعني
كسب الذنوب وترك صالح العمل

I seek Allah’s forgiveness for my sins and my imperfections
By Allah, I still feel the tremor of my sins
I seek Allah’s forgiveness from a self that fights me
to commit sins and stop doing good deeds

The Prophet (Sallallähu alaihi wa sallam) said,
“The prayer offered in congregation is twenty five times more superior (in reward) to the prayer offered alone in one’s house or in a business center,
because if one performs ablution and does it perfectly, and then proceeds to the mosque with the sole intention of praying, then for each step which he takes towards the mosque, Allah upgrades him a de
gree in reward and (forgives) crosses out one sin till he enters the mosque.

When he enters the mosque he is considered in prayer as long as he is waiting for the prayer and the angels keep on asking for Allah’s forgiveness for him and they keep on saying:
‘O Allah! Be Merciful to him, O Allah! Forgive him, as long as he keeps on sitting at his praying place and does not pass wind.

[Bukhari 0466]

When one thinks of great explorers, they think of the usual names: Marco Polo, Ibn Battuta, Evliya Çelebi, Christopher Columbus, etc. But not many know of one of the most interesting and influential of all time. In China, he is well known, although not always recognized or glorified. He is Zheng He, the Muslim who became China’s greatest admiral, explorer, and diplomat.

Origins

Zheng He was born in 1371 in the southern China region of Yunnan to a Hui (a Muslim Chinese ethnic group) family. His birth name was Ma He. In China, the family name is said first, followed by the given name. “Ma” is known in China as short for “Muhammad”, indicating Zheng He’s Muslim heritage. Both his father and his grandfather were able to travel to Makkah and complete the Hajj, so Zheng He came from a practicing Muslim family.

At a young age, his town was raided by the Ming Dynasty’s army. He was captured and transported to the capital, Nanjing, where he served in the imperial household. Despite the oppressive and difficult circumstances he was in, Zheng He actually befriended one of the princes, Zhu Di, and when he became the emperor, Zheng He rose to the highest positions in government. At this time, he was given the honorific title “Zheng” and was known as Zheng He.

Expeditions

In 1405, when emperor Zhu Di decided to send out a giant fleet of ships to explore and trade with the rest of the world, he chose Zheng He to lead the expedition. This expedition was massive. In all, almost 30,000 sailors were in each voyage, with Zheng He commanding all of them. Between 1405 and 1433, Zheng He led 7 expeditions that sailed to present day Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, India, Sri Lanka, Iran, Oman, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Kenya, and many others. It is probable that during one of his journeys, Zheng He was even able to go to Makkah to complete the Hajj.

Zheng He was not the only Muslim on these expeditions. Many of his advisors and were also Chinese Muslims, such as Ma Huan, a translator who spoke Arabic and was able to converse with the Muslim peoples they encountered on their journeys. He wrote an account of his journeys, titled the Ying-yai Sheng-lan, which is an important source today for understanding 15th century societies around the Indian Ocean.

Seeing these expeditions must have been an event that people did not easily forget. The ships Zheng He commanded were up to 400 feet long, many times the size of Columbus’s ships that sailed across the Atlantic. Everywhere they sailed, they commanded the respect (and sometimes fear) of the local people, who offered tributes to the Chinese emperor. Because of this tribute and trade with all the peoples they encountered, Zheng He would sail back to China with exotic goods such as ivory, camels, gold, and even a giraffe from Africa. The expeditions sent one message to the world: China is an economic and political superpower.

Spreading Islam

Economics and politics were not the only effects of this great fleet that was commanded by Zheng He. He and his Muslim advisors regularly promoted Islam wherever they traveled. In the Indonesian islands of Java, Sumatra, Borneo and others, Zheng He found small communities of Muslims already there. Islam had started to spread in Southeast Asia a few hundred years before through trade from Arabia and India. Zheng He actively supported the continued growth of Islam in these areas.

Zheng He established Chinese Muslim communities in Palembang, and along Java, the Malay Peninsula, and the Philippines. These communities preached Islam to the local people and were very important to the spread of Islam in the area. The fleet built masjids and provided other social services the local Muslim community would need.

Even after the death of Zheng He in 1433, other Chinese Muslims continued his work in Southeast Asia, spreading Islam. Chinese Muslim traders in Southeast Asia were encouraged to intermarry and assimilate with the local people on the islands and Malay Peninsula. This brought more people to Islam in Southeast Asia, as well as strengthened and diversified the growing Muslim community.

Legacy

As an admiral, diplomat, soldier, and trader, Zheng He is a giant of Chinese and Muslim history. He is seen as one of the greatest figured in the spread of Islam in Southeast Asia. Numerous masjids in the region are named after him to commemorate his contributions. Islam spread in Southeast Asia through many forms, including trade, travelling preachers, and immigration. Admiral Zheng He was also a major part of its spread in that region. Today, Indonesia has the largest Muslim population of any nation in the world, and much of that could be attributed to the activities of Zheng He in the region.

Sources

Aqsha, D. (2010, July 13). Zheng he and islam in southeast asia. The Brunei Times. Retrieved from http://www.bt.com.bn/art-culture/2010/07/13/zheng-he-and-islam-southeast-asia

He sent down water from the sky, so valleys flowed according to their measure, therefore the water flow brought forth the froth swollen upon it; and upon which they ignite the fire, to make ornaments and tools, from that too rises a similar froth; Allah illustrates that this is the example of the truth and the falsehood; the froth then bursts and disappears; and that which is of use to people, remains in the earth; this is how Allah illustrates the examples. (13:17)

And remember your Lord within your hearts humbly and with fear, and softly with your tongues, morning and evening, and do not be of the neglectful. [Aa`raf 7:205]

by www.BoostMyEman.com

Assaalmamu Alaikum Mariam,

The first 10 days of Dhul Hijjah are fast approaching and will be upon us
soon. Let us ensure that we take advantage of this amazing opportunity
and increase in our ibadaah, du’a and good deeds.

We know that there is a special feeling which connects us in Ramadan,
however, many don’t feel that spiritual connection with these first 10
days. Why is that?  Lack of preparation for starters, but more importantly,
the lack understanding about the multitude of blessings that these first 10
days really entail. These blessed *days* of Dhul Hijjah are in fact more
blessed than the days of Ramadan! [Key word *days*]

This short clip explains the virtues of Dhul Hijjah:

Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allaah be pleased with him and his father) reported that
the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “There are
nodays in which righteous deeds are more beloved to Allaah than these ten
days.” The people asked, “Not even jihaad for the sake of Allaah?” He said,
“Not even jihaad for the sake of Allaah, except in the case of a man who
went out to fight giving himself and his wealth up for the cause, and came
back with nothing.”

There are still time before we start Dhul Hijjah, so please prepare for it
now.  Make your du’a list BEFORE the days arrive, and do your very best
to fast, read Qur’an, repent and increase in good deeds throughout the
days.

by Shaykh Omar Subedar
When walking into a mall or going to school at this time of the year, it’s quite difficult to not notice decorations of ghosts and goblins, vampires and witches displayed on walls and hanging from ceilings in an eye-catching manner. A ghoulish and demonic theme is set everywhere thus influencing society to get in the Halloween mood. In preparation for the night of October 31 adults purchase candies and chocolate, children buy costumes and plans are made for trick or treating and Halloween parties.

In the midst of all this commotion many Muslim children are left debating with one another over the permissibility of becoming involved in Halloween activities. While some deem it impermissible simply because their parents told them so others maintain there is absolutely nothing wrong with it and wholeheartedly embrace the occasion’s mood and events. This makes the religious minded child feel left out and leaves him somewhat confused. As he approaches his parents on this issue he seldom gets the attention and answers he’s looking for, which consequently leads him to eventually accepting what the mainstream is doing.

In order to understand whether getting involved in an event or activity is islamically permissible or not it is important to research its origins and objectives before arriving at a conclusion.

When conducting a bit of research on Halloween we find that this is not an event that was constructed recently in the western world but rather dates back thousands of years. According to the online encyclopedia, Britannica.com, Halloween has its origins in the festival of Samhain among the Celts of ancient Britain and Ireland. Samhain, which in Celtic means ‘end of summer’, was one of the most important and sinister calendar festivals of the Celtic year. This event was held on November 1 and was considered the end of the summer period, the date on which the herds were returned from pasture and land tenures were renewed. Contrary to the fundamental Muslim belief of tawheed the Celts believed that on this day the world of the gods would become visible to mankind, and the gods would play many tricks on their mortal worshipers. It was a time filled with danger, charged with fear, and full of supernatural episodes. Sacrifices of every kind were thought to be vital, for without them the Celts believed they could not prevail over the hazards of the season or counteract the activities of the gods.

As Muslims, it is imperative that we do not become associated with notions that entertain shirk. Our God is one god; Allah, there is no god except He. In this world Allah has made it a policy that He will not make Himself visible to any being simply because they do not have the physical capacity to see Him. He mentions in the Holy Qur’än, “Vision perceives Him not but He perceives all vision.” (6:103). In His Final Testament Allah has related the story of Musa’s A.S. request to view Him which resulted in him falling unconscious. Allah explains, “And when Musa arrived at Our appointed time and his Lord spoke to Him, he said, “My Lord, show me (Yourself) that I may look at You.” (Allah) said, “You will not see Me, but look at the mountain; if it should remain in place then you will see Me.” But when his Lord appeared to the mountain, He rendered it level and Musa fell unconscious. And when he awoke, he said, “Exalted are You! I have repented to You, and I am the first of the believers.” (7:143)

Bear in mind that Allah does not harass his creation in any way nor does He demand that sacrifices be made for Him in order to keep Him calm. Allah says, “Indeed Allah does not wrong the people at all…” (10:44)

The Celts also believed that on this day the souls of those who had died would return to visit their homes. People set bonfires on hilltops for relighting their fireplaces for the winter and to frighten away evil spirits, and they sometimes wore masks and other disguises to avoid being recognized by the ghosts thought to be present. It was in these ways that beings such as witches, hobgoblins, fairies, and demons came to be associated with the day. In Islam there is absolutely no concept of ghosts. A ghost is defined as: the supposed spirit of somebody who has died, believed to appear as a shadowy form or to cause sounds. When a person’s soul is taken away from this world it can never return to it again. Allah states, “…and behind them (i.e. the dead) is a barrier until the day they are resurrected.” (23:100)

From the information provided it becomes clear that the current day costume dressing during Halloween stems from a pagan practice that is founded on a pagan belief. In order to safeguard our tawheed and to protect us from adopting practices that are not approved by Allah or to develop any resemblance with them, the Prophet S.A.W. has emphatically ordered, “Oppose the Polytheists.” (Sahëh Muslim: 602)

In the 7th century A.D., Pope Boniface IV established All Saints’ Day originally on May 13. In the following century, perhaps in an effort to replace the pagan holiday with a Christian observance, it was moved to November 1. The evening before All Saints’ Day became a holy, or hallowed, eve and thus Halloween. By the end of the Middle Ages, the secular and the sacred days had merged. The Reformation essentially put an end to the religious holiday among Protestants, although in Britain especially Halloween continued to be celebrated as a secular holiday. When large numbers of immigrants, including the Irish, went to the United States beginning in the mid 19th century, they took their Halloween customs with them and in the 20th century Halloween became one of the principal U.S. holidays, particularly among children.

Throughout the years Halloween has come to be associated with a number of activities. Among the most famous of them is that celebrants wear masks and costumes for parties and for trick-or-treating, thought to have derived from the British practice of allowing the poor to beg for food, called “soul cakes.” Today trick-or-treaters go from house to house with the threat that they will pull a trick if they do not receive a treat, usually candy.

Halloween parties often include games such as bobbing for apples perhaps derived from the Roman celebration of Pomona. In Roman mythology, Pomona was the goddess of fruit trees, gardens, and orchards. She was particularly associated with the blossoming of trees versus the harvest.

Another symbol is the jack-o’-lantern, a hollowed-out pumpkin, originally a turnip, carved into a demonic face and lit with a candle inside. This practice is associated with an old Irish folktale of a person named Jack, a lazy yet shrewd farmer who used a cross to trap the Devil. Legend has it that Jack tricked the Devil into climbing an apple tree, and once he was up there Jack quickly placed crosses around the trunk or carved a cross into the bark, so that the Devil couldn’t get down. He only agreed to let the Devil go if the Devil agreed to never to take his soul, which he consented to. After a while Jack died. Unfortunately his life had been too sinful for him to go to heaven; however, the Devil had promised not to take his soul, and so he was barred from hell as well. He now had nowhere to go. He asked how he would see where to go, as he had no light, and the Devil mockingly tossed him an ember that would never burn out from the flames of hell. Jack carved out one of his turnips (which were his favourite food), put the ember inside it, and began endlessly wandering the Earth for a resting place. He became known as “Jack of the Lantern”, or Jack-o’-Lantern.

With a variety of shirk and false notions being the foundation of this event it becomes quite difficult for a Muslim to not see the impermissibility of becoming involved in it. The Prophet p.b.u.h. always distanced himself from all pagan practices and diverted his followers attention to Islamically acceptable observances.

A classical example is when the Prophet p.b.u.h. first arrived at Madinah and witnessed the locals holding a day of celebration. Upon being informed of it’s origin he dissuaded them from continuing this practice by introducing them to an Islamically acceptable one. Anas r.a. reported, “Allah’s Messenger p.b.u.h. came to Madinah while the (locals) had two (fixed) days in which they would have fun. He inquired, “What are these two days (about)?” The locals replied, “We used to have fun on these days in the pre-islamic era.” Allah’s Messenger p.b.u.h. explained, “Allah has substituted those two days for you with something better; the day of Adha and the day of Fitr.” (Abu Dawud: 1134)
According to Sh. Khalil Ahmad Saharanpuri these two days were Nowruz (the Persian New Year which is held annually on the vernal equinox, as the beginning of spring) and Mehregān (an Iranian festival celebrated in honor of Mithra, a mythical deity, which is held on the autumnal equinox every year). (Buth’lul Majhud vol. 2 p.200)

Although it hurts to feel left out when everyone is having a good time, a Muslim should take solace in the fact that the enjoyment of this world is temporary while the enjoyment of Paradise is everlasting. However earning Paradise requires sacrifice and abstaining from activities that are founded on shirk and false beliefs is just one of those sacrifices we are required to make. May Allah make it easy for us all. Ameen

READ FULL ARTICLE – MATHABAH.ORG

Saudi Arabia has announced that Tuesday will be the first day of Dhu Al Hijja, and hence Wednesday will be Arafat Day, and Thursday, October 25, will be the first day of Eid Al Adha.

Source: Gulf News (20 min ago)
http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/uae/general/thursday-the-first-day-of-eid-al-adha-1.1089840

What to do in the Ten Days of Dhu’l-Hijjah:

Make as much Dhikr as you can; this includes reading the Qur’ān of course, sending salawāt upon our beloved Messenger (‘alayhi’l-salātu w’l-salām) and as  much Takbīr, Alhamdulillāh, Subhānallāh and Lā ilāha Illallāh as possible.

Hadith from Al-Bukhari and Muslim:
Abdullah bin `Umar (May Allah be pleased with them) reported: I performed along with the Prophet (Peace be upon him) two Rak`ah (Sunnah prayer) after the Jumu’ah prayer.
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

Hadith from Muslim:
Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him)reported: The Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him) said, “If anyone of you performs the Friday prayer, he should perform four Rak`ah (Sunnah) after it.”
[Muslim].

Humbleness is to know the value of oneself, to avoid pride, or disregarding the truth and underestimating people. As the Prophet [sallallahu `alaihi wa sallam] said,

“Al-Kibr (pride, haughtiness) is rejecting the truth and looking down upon people.” [Muslim, Tirmidhi and Abu Dawud].

Humbleness is for one who is important and significant and he fears to gain notoriety or to become too great among people. As it was said,

“Humble yourself, you will be as a glimmering star to the viewer on the surface of the water even if it is lofty.”

We don’t say to an ordinary person, “Humble yourself.” But it is said to him,

“Know the value of yourself, and do not place it in the wrong place!”

It was narrated by al-Khattabi in al-Uzlah that Imaam Abdullah bin al-Mubaarak came to Khuraassaan [in Persia] and went to a person who was known for his zuhd and wara’ (asceticism and cautiousness in piety), so when he entered where the man was, he (the man) did not turn around nor give him any consideration at all. When ‘Abdullah bin al-Mubaarak left, some of the people who were inside with the man said to him,

“Don’t you know who that was?!” He said, “No,” He was told, “This is the ‘Ameer (leader) of the believers…this is… this is… this is… `Abdullah bin al-Mubaarak.” So the man was astonished and came out to Ibn al-Mubaarak in a hurry apologizing and absolving himself from what happened, saying, “O Abu ‘Abd al-Rahmaan! Forgive me and advise me!”

Ibn al-Mubaarak said,

“Yes… whenever you come out of your house and see someone, assume that he is better than you!”

He knew that the man was conceited. When Ibn al-Mubaarak inquired as to what the man’s profession was, he found out that he was a weaver!!1 Therefore, this educated Imaam noticed that this mutazahhid (devoted pious person) possessed a kind of arrogance, conceitedness and feeling of superiority over others.

This disease sometimes envelops pious people; this is why he offered advice that was easy for him. Many times we find this characteristic in some of the pious people, as well as some of the du ‘aat (the caller to Islaam). But when it reaches the small students who misbehave with their shaykhs, scholars and teachers this really hurts inside! There is no objection if you differ in opinion or judgement with a scholar or a daai’y (caller to Islaam) as long as you are qualified to do so The problem occurs when this difference of opinion becomes a destructive element to the scholar’s dignity, diminishes his value, disregards and disrespects him. This may be accepted from the common people, or from the people of innovation and misguidance, but it is not allowed in any circumstance for Ahl-As SunnahWay/method/saying or deed of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). (the people who follow the Prophetic Guidance) and from the students of `Ilm al-Shariyyah (knowledge of Islamic Law).

Humbleness is to humble oneself to one who is below you. If you find someone who is younger than you, or of less importance than you, you should not despise him, because he might have a better heart than you, or be less sinful, or closer to Allah than you. Even if you see a sinful person and you are righteous, do not act in arrogance towards him, and thank Allah that He saved you from the tribulation that He put him through. Remember that there might be some riyaa’ or vanity in your righteous deeds that may cause them to be of no avail, and that this sinful person may be regretful and fearful concerning his bad deeds, and this may be the cause of forgiveness of his sins.

According to Jundub, may Allah be pleased with him, the Messenger of Allah a mentioned that a man said,

“By Allah, Allah will not forgive so-and-so,”

and that Allah Ta`ala said, “Who is swearing by Me that I will not forgive so-and-so? I surely have forgiven so-and-so and nullified your deed.” [Muslim]. Therefore, do not act in arrogance towards anyone. Even when you see a sinner, do not act superior towards him, nor treat him with arrogance and domination. If you feel that the sinner may perform some acts of obedience which you do not, and that you may also posses some defects which the sinner may not, then deal kindly with him, and gently give da’wah which will hopefully be the cause of his acceptance and remembrance.

Humbleness is that your deed should not become too great in your eyes. If you do a good deed, or attempt to get closer to Allah (ta`ala) through an act of obedience, your deed still may not be accepted, {Allah only accepts from those who have taqwa (fear of Allah and consciousness of Him).} (Surat al-Maida: 27)