“Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day should say good or remain silent.”[Bukhari and Muslim]

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “Allah will not be merciful to those who are not merciful to mankind.” [Bukhari]

Animation of the Hadith of Aisha with Bariya (R.A), when she is asked to give for the sake of Allah, when she had only a handful of wheat. She had faith in Allah, that Allah will provide. She had certainty that Allah will provide, and Allah provided them. Video Inspired by productive muslim.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CzUz658K81I&feature=related

“Wealth is not determined by the abundance of possessions, but wealth is the richness of the soul.” [al-Bukhari]

وَقَالَ رَبُّڪُمُ ٱدۡعُونِىٓ أَسۡتَجِبۡ لَكُمۡ

“Supplicate to Me, I shall answer you.” [Sûrah Ghâfir: 60]

Narrated Abdullah al-Hawzani: I met Bilal, the Mu’adhdhin of the Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) at Aleppo, and said: Bilal, tell me, what was the financial position of the Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him)? He said: He had nothing. It was I who managed it on his behalf since the day Allah made him Prophet of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) until he died. When a Muslim man came to him and he found him naked, he ordered me (to clothe him). I would go, borrow (some money), and purchase a cloak for him. I would then clothe him and feed him. A man from the polytheists met me and said: I am well off, Bilal. Do not borrow money from anyone except me. So I did accordingly. One day when I performed ablution and stood up to make call to prayer, the same polytheist came along with a body of merchants. When he saw me, he said: O Abyssinian. I said: I am at your service. He met me with unpleasant looks and said harsh words to me. He asked me: Do you know how many days remain in the completion of this month? I replied: The time is near. He said: Only four days remain in the completion of this month. I shall then take that which is due from you (i.e. loan), and then shall return you to tend the sheep as you did before. I began to think in my mind what people think in their minds (on such occasions). When I offered the night prayer, the Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) returned to his family. I sought permission from him and he gave me permission. I said: Apostle of Allah, may my parents be sacrificed for you, the polytheist from whom I used to borrow money said to me such-and-such. Neither you nor I have anything to pay him for me, and he will disgrace me. So give me permission to run away to some of those tribes who have recently embraced Islam until Allah gives His Apostle (peace_be_upon_him) something with which he can pay (the debt) for me. So I came out and reached my house. I placed my sword, waterskin (or sheath), shoes and shield near my head. When dawn broke, I intended to be on my way. All of a sudden I saw a man running towards me and calling: Bilal, return to the Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him). So I went till I reached him. I found four mounts kneeling on the ground with loads on them. I sought permission. The Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) said to me: Be glad, Allah has made arrangements for the payment (of your debt). He then asked: Have you not seen the four mounts kneeling on the ground? I replied: Yes. He said: You may have these mounts and what they have on them. There are clothes and food on them, presented to me by the ruler of Fadak. Take them away and pay off your debt. I did so. He then mentioned the rest of the tradition. I then went to the mosque and found that the Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) was sitting there. I greeted him. He asked: What benefit did you have from your property? I replied: Allah Most High paid everything which was due from the Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him). Nothing remains now. He asked: Did anything remain (from that property)? I said: Yes. He said: Look, if you can give me some comfort from it, for I shall not visit any member of my family until you give me some comfort from it. When the Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) offered the night prayer, he called me and said: What is the position of that which you had with you (i.e. property)? I said: I still have it, no one came to me. The Apostle of Allah (peace_be_upon_him) passed the night in the mosque. He then narrated the rest of the tradition. Next day when he offered the night prayer, he called me and asked: What is the position of that which you had (i.e. the rest of the property)? I replied: Allah has given you comfort from it, Apostle of Allah. He said: Allah is Most Great, and praised Allah, fearing lest he should die while it was with him. I then followed him until he came to his wives and greeted each one of them and finally he came to his place where he had to pass the night. This is all for which you asked me. [Abu Dawud 013:3049]

We shall set up just scales on the Day of Resurrection so that none will be wronged in the least. (We shall bring forth the acts of everyone), even if it be the weight of a grain of mustard seed. We shall suffice as Reckoners. QURAN [21:47]

The six points of Tabligh are:

1. Emaan : Our belief should be firm that “ There is no other to be praised except Allah, and Mohammed (s.a.s) is His rasool ”
-Its means that we should not do shirk (associating anyone else with Allah) and follow Islam according to sunnah of Rasulullah (s.a.s)

2. Namaz : We should establish salah which is a real one as Rasulullah (s.a.s) and sahaba had established.

3.Ilm and Dhikr : We should gain knowledge. We should know Faza’il (virtues) of good deeds and also Masa’il (how to do deed). We should remember that just gaining knowledge is not enough.
According to hadees which means Allah will ask 5 questions on the day of judgment. One of the question in that will be “ How much did you implement on the knowledge you had ? ”.(Tirmidi)
Therefore we should do Dhikr (remembrance) of Allah. So that Allah comes to our mind before every act. And we can judge what is halaal and what is haram. Are we doing good or bad.

4. Ekraam al-muslim : It means honoring our muslim brothers and sisters. It means we should benefit others by sacrificing ourselves. We should never think bad about them nor we should keep jealousy about our ummah. (Jealousy of Muslims is haram).

5. Ekhlas : It is our Sincerity towards Allah. What ever we do we should do only for the cause of Allah. According to hadees “one who offers salat, fasts, or gives sadaqa to show off has committed shirk”(Musnad Ahmed). So, what ever deed we do we should remember that Allah (swt) is watching us and we are doing the deed for Allah(swt). Its very important point or quality which is to be brought into our lives.

6. Dawah & Tabligh : Its our duty to invite and convey Islam to people of this world as our prophet Mohammed (s.a.s) is the last prophet, and no other prophet is going to come now. And prophet Mohammed (s.a.s) has been declared as prophet till the Day of Judgment. Then every muslim should think then who is going to call people towards Islam. We should spend all our wealth and health to spread Islam.

`Umar ibn Khattab (Allah be well pleased with him) said:
“As we were sitting one day before the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), a man suddenly appeared. He wore pure white clothes and his hair was dark black—yet there were no signs of travel on him, and none of us knew him.
He came and sat down in front of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), placing his knees against his, and his hands on his thighs. He said, “O Muhammad! Tell me about Islam.”
The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) replied, “Islam is to bear witness that there is no god but God and that Muhammad is the Messenger of God; and to perform the prayer; pay zakat; fast Ramadan; and to perform Hajj to the House if you are able.”
The man said, “You have spoken the truth,” and we were surprised that he asked and then confirmed the answer.
Then, he asked, “Tell me about belief (iman).”
The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) replied, “It is to believe in Allah; His Angels; His Books; His Messengers; the Last Day; and in destiny—its good and bad.”
The man said, “You have spoken the truth. Now, tell me about spiritual excellence (ihsan).”
The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) replied, “It is to serve Allah as though you behold Him; and if you don’t behold him, (know that) He surely sees you.”
“Now, tell me of the Last Hour,” asked the man.
The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) replied, “The one asked knows no more of it than the one asking.”
“Then tell me about its signs,” said the man.
The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) replied, “That slave women give birth to their mistresses; and that you see barefoot, unclothed, beginning shepherds competing in the construction of tall buildings.”
Then the visitor left, and I waited a long time. Then the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) asked me, “Do you know, Umar, who the questioner was?”
I replied, “Allah and His Messenger know best.”He said (Allah bless him and give him peace), “It was Jibril. He came to you to teach you your religion.” [Sahih Muslim]

“And indeed they have led many astray. And (O Allâh): ‘Grant no increase to the Zâlimûn (polytheists, wrong-doers, and disbelievers, etc.) save error.’ ”

What is Sunnah?

Sunnah according to AL-Mawrid Institute of Islamic Sciences

Literally means well trodden path(Tariqah) in Arabic.

Are those Abrahamic practices and rituals that were adopted and revived (Hajj) by the Prophet Mohammad (pbuh), in some cases after modifications (Fatiha in salaah) and additions (Eidayaan), and instituted among his followers as integral part of God’s religion.

Sunnan have been transferred and established by the Prophet Mohammad (pbuh), through practical demonstration to his Companions.

From the companions, these practices have been transmitted uninterrupted through successive generations of Muslims with consensus and practical perpetuation to date.

They have reached us through the same mechanism of history. The Qur’an has reached us by verbal (documentary) transmission whilst the Sunnah by practical transmission.

What is Hadith?

Hadith literally means a saying or something new. In Islamic terminology, it is defined as the individual-to-individual narratives ascribed to the Prophet (pbuh) regarding his sayings, actions, expressed or tacit approvals, his life history and personal description.

It includes

Life history of Prophet Mohammad (pbuh), including his meetings with people, important events in his time e.g. Holy wars as narrated by his followers.

Record of the Prophet Mohammad’s (pbuh) everyday life, rituals and routines, these are those things that he liked but did not authorise their initiation as essential part of religion. These records reveal the Prophet’s (pbuh) excellent example (Uswa Al Hasana) in carrying out the directives of Islam.

Record of answers to questions and explanations given by the Prophet (pbuh) to his followers.

Record of any explanations about commandments in the Qur’an and the Sunnah by the Prophet (pbuh) to his followers

WHO WAS JESUS

Islam honors all the prophets who were sent to mankind. Muslims respect all prophets in general, but Jesus in particular, because he was one of the prophets who foretold the coming of Muhammad. Muslims, too, await the second coming of Jesus. They consider him one of the greatest of Allah’s prophets to mankind. A Muslim does not refer to him simply as “Jesus,” but normally adds the phrase “peace be upon him” as a sign of respect.

No other religion in the world respects and dignifies Jesus as Islam does. The Quran confirms his virgin birth (a chapter of the Quran is entitled “Mary”), and Mary is considered to have been one of the purest women in all creation. The Quran describes Jesus’ birth as follows:

“Behold!’ the Angel said, God has chosen you, and purified you, and chosen you above the women of all nations.”
[Noble Quran 3:42]

“Mary, God gives you good news of a word from Him, whose name shall be the Messiah, Jesus son of Mary, honored in this world and in the Hereafter, and one of those brought near to God. He shall speak to the people from his cradle and in maturity, and he shall be of the righteous. She said: “My Lord! How shall I have a son when no man has touched me?’ He said: “Even so; God creates what He will. When He decrees a thing, He says to it, ‘Be!’ and it is.” [Noble Quran 3:45-47]

Muslims believe that Jesus was born immaculately, and through the same power which had brought Eve to life and Adam into being without a father or a mother.

“Truly, the likeness of Jesus with God is as the likeness of Adam. He created him of dust, and then said to him, ‘Be!’ and he was.” [Noble Quran 3:59]

During his prophetic mission, Jesus performed many miracles. The Quran tells us that he said:

“I have come to you with a sign from your Lord: I make for you out of clay, as it were, the figure of a bird, and breathe into it and it becomes a bird by God’s leave. And I heal the blind, and the lepers, and I raise the dead by God’s leave.” [Noble Quran 3:49]

Muhammad and Jesus, as well as the other prophets, were sent to confirm the belief in one God. This is referred to in the Quran where Jesus is reported as saying that he came:

“To attest the law which was before me, and to make lawful to you part of what was forbidden you; I have come to you with a sign from your Lord, so fear God and obey me.”
[Noble Quran 3:50]

Prophet Muhammad emphasized the importance of Jesus by saying: “Whoever believes there is no god but Allah, alone without partner, that Muhammad is His messenger, that Jesus is a servant and messenger of God, His word breathed into Mary and a spirit emanating from Him, and that Paradise and Hell are true, shall be received by God into Heaven. [Bukhari]

The Islamic lunar calendar begins with the holy month of Muharram. Muharram is amongst the months which are classified under the term Ashhur-ul-Horom “sanctified months.” Allah has stated in the Glorious Qur’an “The number of months, according to Allah is twelve months (which is mentioned) in the book of Allah on the day in which We created the heavens and the earth. Amongst these twelve months, four are sanctified; that is the right religion. So do not wrong yourselves’ therein,” (9:3).

The four months according to authentic traditions are Muharram, Rajab, Zul Qadah, and Zul Hijjah. It has been reported that Rasulullah (saw), on the occasion of the last sermon (hajjat-ul-wada), addressed the Sahabah (ra) saying, “One year consists of twelve months, out of which four are sanctified. Three of them are in sequence: Zul Qadah, Zul Hijjah, Muharram, and the fourth is Rajab. (Bukhari)

The eminent commentator (mufassir) Ibn Katheer has written in his commentary (tafseer), “Allah has declared these four months sanctified and has increased their sanctity. He declared a sin therein more severe and has increased the virtue and reward of good deeds as well” (Ibn Katheer, Vol.2): The scholars of Islam have stated that the actions performed in these months have a great effect on the person as to what they will do, throughout the remainder of the year.

FASTING DURING THE MONTH OF MUHARRAM:

It has been reported by Ali (ra) that a man came to Rasulullah (saw) and asked, “0 Prophet of Allah! During which month should I fast after the month of Ramadan?” Rasulullah (saw) replied, “If you are to fast in any month other than the month of Ramadan, fast during the month of Muharram, because it is the month of Allah. There is a day in this month in which a whole nation was forgiven and wherein Allah will forgive another nation,” (Tirmidhi H. 683).

THE ORIGIN OF THE FAST OF A’ASHURA: (10th MUHARRAM).

The word A’ashura is derived from the Arabic word which means ten in the English language. It has been named A’ashura because it is observed on the 10th of Muhharram. According to numerous authentic traditions, fasting on the day of A’ashura was initially obligatory upon the Muslims. However, it was made optional when Allah commanded the Muslims to fast throughout the month of Ramadan.

It has been reported by A’isha (ra) that when the Rasulullah (saw) came to Madinah, he fasted on the day of A’ashura and directed the people to fast on that day as well. However, when the fast of Ramadan was made obligatory, the obligation of fasting was confined to Ramadan, and the fast of A’ashura was made optional (Abu Dawood).

Nevertheless, Ibn Abbas (ra) relates, when the Prophet of Allah (saw) was informed that the Jews fast on the 10th of Muharram, Rasulullah (saw) asked them, “Why do you fast on this day?” They said, “This is the day when Sayyidna Musa (as) and his followers miraculously crossed the Sea, while Pharaoh was drowned in its water.” Upon hearing this Rasulullah (S.A.W) stated, “We are more closer to Musa than you.” He then directed the Muslims to fast on the day of A’ashura(Abu Dawood).

In addition to fasting on the 10th of Muharram, we should also fast on either the 9th or the llth. As Rasulullah (S.A.W) was informed that the Jews also fast on the 10th of Muharram, he said, “If I will be alive next year, I will also fast on the 9th of this month” (Muslim H. 1917).

VIRTUES OF FASTING ON THE 10th OF MUHURRAM:

Abdullah ibn Mas’ud (ra) relates that Rasulullah (saw) preferred the fast of A’ashura to the fast of other days and preferred the fast of Ramadan to the fast of A’ashura (Bukhari, Muslim).

Abu Qatadah (R.A) relates that Rasulullah (saw) said, “The fasting of the tenth of Muharram grants the forgiveness of one whole year,” (Tirmidhi H.683).

BEING GENEROUS TO ONES FAMILY ON THE DAY OF A’ASHURA:

Abdullah Ibn Mas’ud relates that Rasulullah (saw) stated, “Whosoever is generous to one’s family on the day of A’ashura, Allah will be generous (provide barakah) towards that person throughout the entire year,”(Razeen).

According to these types of traditions, one should be more generous to his/her family by providing more for them on the day of A’ashura as compared to other days. Although these traditions (above-mentioned tradition) are not very authentic according to the scholars of hadith, many other eminent scholars like Imams Ibn Hibban and Bahiqi have accepted them as reliable.

by Shaykh Fayaz Tilly

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