[Audios/Videos] Preparing for Ramadan

Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim

In the name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful

InshaAllah this list of lectures will help you prepare for Ramadan:

• Abdal Hakim Jackson - Meaning of Ramadan (Video)
• Abdal Hakim Murad - Ramadan (Audio)
• Abu Yusuf Riyad-ul-Haq - Ramadan the Blessed (Video)
• Ali al-Tamimi - Benefits of Ramadan (Audio)
• Altaf Husain - How to Make Ramadan Last 11 Months (Audio)
• Altaf Husain - Ramadan Resolution (Audio)
• Bilal Phillips - Ramadan: A Way of Life (Video)
• Feiz Muhammad - Fruits of Ramadan (Audio)
• Hamza Yusuf - Moon Sighting (Audio)
• Hamza Yusuf - Ramadan Advice (Audio)
• Husain Abdul Sattar - Preparing Early for Ramadan (Audio)
• Ibrahim Negm - How the sahabas spent Ramadan (Audio)
• Ibrahim Negm - Ramadan Advice (Video)
• Muhammad Alshareef - Towards An Outstanding Ramadan (Video)
• Muhammad Alshareef - Strategically Plan Your Ramadan (Audio)
• Mohammed Hannini - Determining Ramadan (Audio)
• Mohammed Hannini - Ibadah of Ramadan (Audio)
• Mokhtar Maghraoui - The Heart of Ramadan (Video)
• Nouman Ali Khan - Welcome Ramadan (Video)
• Nuh Ha Meem Keller - What Do We Do In Ramadan? (Audio)
• Riyad Nadwi - Preparing for Ramadan (Audio)
• Siraj Wahhaj - Ramadan: Prepare Yourself (Audio)
• Suhaib Webb - Prescription for Change (Video)
• Suhaib Webb - Ramadan: A Time for Change (Audio)
• Suhaib Webb - Ramadan Resolutions (Audio)
• Waleed Basyouni - How to make this your best Ramadan (Audio)
• Yasir Qadhi - Fiqh of Siyam (Fasting) (Audio)
• Yasir Qadhi - Preparing for Ramadan (Audio)
• Yusuf Estes - Discovering Ramadan (Video)
• Yusuf Estes - Virtues of Ramadan (Video)
• Zaid Shakir - Ramadan and Charity (Video)
• Zaid Shakir - Ramadan Reflections (Audio)

Source: HalalTube

The Prophet sal Allahu alayhi wa'sallam said:

"The Muslim is a unique Ummah among the whole of mankind:
Their Land is ONE, their War is ONE, their Peace is ONE,
Their Honour is ONE and their Trust is ONE."
[Ahmad]

The Gates of Jannah....

Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim

In the name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful

It is related by Ibn 'Abbas, may Allaah be pleased with him, said:

"The Gardens have eight gates of gold inlaid with jewels:

Written on the first gate is La ilaha il'Allaah, Muhammad ar-Rasulu'Allaah – There is no god only Allaah, Muhammad is the Messenger of Allaah. It is the gate of the Prophets, Messengers, Martyrs and the Generous.

The second gate is the gate of those who prayed, who were excellent in wudu and the basic elements of the prayer.

The third gate is that of those who gave Zakat cheerfully.

The fourth gate is that of those who commanded good and forbade the reprehensible.

The fifth gate is the gate of those who rooted out their appetites and prevented passions.

The sixth gate is the gate of those who did Hajj and 'Umra.

The seventh gate is the gate of those who fought Jihad.

The eighth gate is the gate of those who turned their eyes from haram things and did good actions of respect to parents, relatives and others.


There are eight Gardens:

The first is the Abode of Majesty, and it is of white pearl.

The second is the Abode of Peace, and it is of red ruby.

The third is the Abode of Shelter, and it is of green chrysolite.

The fourth is the Garden of Immortality, and it is of red and yellow coral.

The fifth is the Garden of Bliss, and it is of white silver.

The sixth is the Garden of Firdaws, and it is of red gold.

The seventh is the Garden of 'Adn, and it is of white pearl.

The eighth is the Abode of Rest, and it is of red gold, and it is the dome of the Gardens, and it is raised over the Gardens. It has two gates, and the two leaves are of gold and silver. Between each of the two leaves is what is between the heaven and earth. It is built of gold and silver bricks. Its mud is musk and its earth is amber and its straw is saffron. Its castles are of pearl and its rooms are of ruby. Its doors are of jewels, and in it are rivers. There is the River of Mercy which flows in all the Gardens, and its pebbles are pearls, with a white brighter than snow, and it is sweeter than honey. In it is the River of Kawthar (Abundance), and it is the River of our Prophet Muhammad, blessings and peace be upon him. Its trees are pearls and rubies. In it is the River of Kafur (Camphor), and the River of Tasnim (Water Coming From Above), and the River of Salsabil (Easy to Swallow), and the River of ar-Rahiq al-Makhtum (Sealed Nectar). Beyond that are rivers whose number is not known.


[Daqa'iqu'l-akhbar fi Dhikri'l-Jannati wa'n-Nar. By Imam 'Abd ar-Rahim ibn Ahmad al-Qadi, pp. 125-6 ]

The Prophet sal Allahu alayhi wa'sallam said:

"The Muslim is a unique Ummah among the whole of mankind:
Their Land is ONE, their War is ONE, their Peace is ONE,
Their Honour is ONE and their Trust is ONE."
[Ahmad]

An Excellent Article on Ramadan

In the name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful

Ramadhan

Suheil Laher

It is appropriate that every Muslim should receive the blessed month of Ramadan with repentance, sincerity, resoluteness and earnestness. He/she should make the intention to perform extra acts of devotion and worship therein, including the Night Prayer (qiyam), recitation of Qur'an, and abundant charity to the poor and needy.

On the authority of Anas (may Allah be pleased with him): The Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace), used to say the following when the month of Rajab began. "Oh Allah! Bless us in Rajab and Sha`ban, and bring us, oh Allah, to Ramadan." [Narrated by Tabarani and Ahmad]

The Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) addressed his companions on the last day of Sha`ban, saying, "Oh people! A great month has come over you; a blessed month; a month in which is a night better than a thousand months; month in which Allah has made it compulsory upon you to fast by day, and voluntary to pray by night. Whoever draws nearer (to Allah) by performing any of the (optional) good deeds in (this month) shall receive the same reward as performing an obligatory deed at any other time, and whoever discharges an obligatory deed in (this month) shall receive the reward of performing seventy obligations at any other time. It is the month of patience, and the reward of patience is Heaven. It is the month of charity, and a month in which a believer's sustenance is increased. Whoever gives food to a fasting person to break his fast, shall have his sins forgiven, and he will be saved from the Fire of Hell, and he shall have the same reward as the fasting person, without his reward being diminished at all." [Narrated by Ibn Khuzaymah]

In another hadith, the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) says, "Ramadan has come to you. (It is) a month of blessing, in which Allah covers you with blessing, for He sends down Mercy, decreases sins and answers prayers. In it, Allah looks at your competition (in good deeds), and boasts about you to His angels. So show Allah goodness from yourselves, for the unfortunate one is he who is deprived in (this month) of the mercy of Allah, the Mighty, the Exalted." [Narrated by Tabarani]

The preceding hadiths bring attention to readiness and preparation for receiving Ramadan. This is achieved by having a clear understanding of this month in one's mind, and greeting Ramadan with love and yearning. Also, one should have the determination and intention to perform good deeds and worship, and one should lay down a program to accomplish this in the days of the blessed month.

It is communally obligatory upon the Muslims to seek the crescent at the time of sunset on the 29th day of Sha`ban, and the 29th day of Ramadan, in order to verify the status of the start and end of their fasting. When seeing the crescent, it is sunnah for the Muslim to supplicate with the following supplication, which has been reported from the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace).

On the authority of Talhah ibn `Ubaydullah (may Allah be pleased with him): when the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) saw the crescent, he used to say, "Oh Allah! Cause it to appear over us with prosperity, faith (Iman), security and Islam. (Then to the moon:) My Lord and your Lord is Allah." [Narrated by Tirmidhi, who said it is a good (hasan) hadith.]

Qatadah said that he was informed that the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) used to say, when seeing the crescent, "A crescent of goodness and orientation, a crescent of goodness and orientation, a crescent of goodness and orientation. (To the moon:) I believe in Allah who created you." (Three times), and then he would say, "Praise be to Allah who has taken away such- and-such month and brought such-and-such month." [Narrated by Abu Dawud]

The month of Ramadan has excellences over the other months, as is testified to by the Qur'an and Sunnah, and out of these we will bring to attention the following virtues:

1. It is the month of the Qur'an, with regards to revelation and study. ("The month of Ramadan is that in which was revealed the Qur'an." [Qur'an, 2:185]). On the authority of Ibn `Abbas: Angel Gabriel used to meet the Prophet every night in Ramadan and used to study Qur'an with him.

2. It is the month of seclusion. Ibn `Umar said, "The Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) used to seclude himself for the last ten days of the month of Ramadan."

3. It is the month of generosity. Ibn `Abbas said, "The Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) used to be at his most generous in Ramadan."

4. It is the month of standing (in voluntary night prayer). On the authority of Abu Hurayrah: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) said, "Whoever stands (in voluntary night prayer) during Ramadan, with faith and in expectancy of reward, his previous sins are forgiven him."

5. It is the month of the compulsory fast, because of Allah's saying, "So, whoever among you witnesses the month should fast." [Qur'an, 2:185] A terrible error prevalent among people is to talk about Ramadan just as they talk about the obligation of fasting, as if Ramadan and fasting are synonymous, each carrying the meaning of the other and not anything more nor less. Yet, fasting is one of many acts of worship in Ramadan.

Many reports have been narrated from the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) explaining the distinction of Ramadan, of which we have selected the following.

"The month of Ramadan has come to you; a month of goodness and blessing." [Ibn Khuzaymah]

"The Master of the Months is Ramadan, and the Master of the days is Friday." [Ibn Khuzaymah]

"Whoever fasted Ramadan with faith and in expectancy of reward, his previous sins are forgiven him." [Bukhari and Muslim]

"When Ramadan comes, the gates of Heaven are opened, the gates of Hell are closed, and the devils are chained." And in a narration from Nasa'i, the following words are added: "and a caller calls out every night: 'Oh seeker of Good, draw near! Oh seeker of Evil, desist!' "

SunniPath.com

The Prophet sal Allahu alayhi wa'sallam said:

"The Muslim is a unique Ummah among the whole of mankind:
Their Land is ONE, their War is ONE, their Peace is ONE,
Their Honour is ONE and their Trust is ONE."
[Ahmad]

The Status of Parents in Islam

Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim

In the name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful

The Status of Parents in Islam

By Syed Hasan Akhtar, M. D. Austin, Texas

"Thy Lord hath decreed that ye worship none but Him, and that ye be kind to parents. Whether one or more attain old age in thy life, say not to them a word of contempt, nor repel them, but address them in terms of honour. And out of kindness, lower to them the wing of humility, and say, "My Lord! bestow on them Thy Mercy, even as they cherished me in childhood."
(Quran 17: 23,24)

All religions and all societies have given parents an honorable status. From a purely material viewpoint, we find ourselves indebted to our parents, particularly our mother. She not only nourished us in her womb, but went through pain and suffering. She loved us even before we were born. She toiled when we were totally helpless infants. She spent sleepless nights caring for us. Our parents as a team provided for all our needs: physical, educational, psychological, and in many instances, religious, moral, and spiritual. Our indebtedness to our parents is so immense that it is not possible to repay it fully. In lieu of this, it becomes obligatory for us to show the utmost kindness, respect, and obedience to our parents. The position of parents, and the mutual obligations and responsibilities, have been addressed in Islam in great detail. The Qur'anic commandments, as well as the sayings of Prophet Muhammad guide us in this matter. The parent-child code of behavior in Islam is unique, since rules were laid down by divine command.

References to parents have been made at least 15 times in the Holy Qur'an. There are numerous traditions of the Prophet Muhammad on this subject. I will first quote some of the Qur'anic verses here:

"And We have enjoined on man (to be good) to his parents. In travail upon travail did his mother bear him, and in two years was his weaning. Show gratitude to Me and to thy parents; to Me is thy final goal." (Chapter31: verse14)

According to the above verse, gratitude to God and to parents go hand in hand. Gratitude to God is incomplete without showing gratitude to one's parents. Since being grateful to God is a form of ibadah (worship) which earns heavenly rewards, it can therefore be said that being grateful to one's parents also earns heavenly rewards.

"Thy Lord hath decreed that ye worship none but Him, and that ye be kind to parents. Whether one or more attain old age in thy life, say not to them a word of contempt, nor repel them, but address them in terms of honor. And out of kindness, lower to them the wing of humility, and say, "my Lord! bestow on them Thy Mercy, even as they cherished me in childhood." (17: 23,24)

"We have enjoined on man kindness to his parents; in pain did his mother bear him, and in pain did she give him birth." (46:15)

Thus, God has enjoined on us to show kindness, respect, and humility to our parents. We are commanded to do this, even though they may have injured us. The only exception to the above command is made in the following verse:

"We have enjoined on man kindness to his parents; but if they strive (to force) thee to join with Me anything of which thou hast no knowledge, obey them not." (29:8)

Some of the traditions of Prophet Muhammad, and of the learned members of his family, about our responsibilities toward our parents are quoted here:

"Paradise lies under the feet of the mother."

"God's pleasure is in the pleasure of the father, and God's displeasure is in the displeasure of the father."

"He who wishes to enter Paradise through its best door must please his parents."

"It is a pity that some people may not attain Paradise, on account of not serving their old parents."

"If a person looks with love at his parents, God writes in his favor the reward equal to the performance of one Hajj."

[Someone asked, "will this promise be good if one looks at his parents one hundred times a day?" The Holy Prophet (pbuh) replied, "even if one does so a hundred thousand times a day, God gives the reward accordingly."]

"A man or woman is bound to be good to his or her parents, even though they may have injured him or her."

Imam Ja'far al-Sadiq (A.S.), the great-great-grandson of the Prophet Muhammad is reported to have quoted Imam 'Ali (A.S.) that, "disobedience to parents is a major sin." He also stated that, "if a person looks at the face of his or her parents with wrathful eyes, despite the fact that injustice was done to him or her by the parents, his or her salah (prayer) will not be accepted by God."

According to one of the Hadith-e-Qudsi, the following is reported about the status of parents:

"God has commanded that if anybody prays equal to the invocations performed by the prophets, such prayers will do no good if that person has been cursed by his or her parents."

It has also been related that the very first words which have been written on the Lauh-e-Mahfuz (The Heavenly Preserved Tablet) are:

"I am God, and there is no deity except Me. I am pleased with those with whom their parents are pleased, and I am displeased with those with whom their parents are displeased."

Prophet Muhammad is reported to have said: "On the Day of Judgment, my person will not be seen by those who drank liquor, those who on hearing my name did not invoke the blessings of God on me, or those who were cursed and disowned by their parents."

'Ali ibn al-Husain (A.S.) is reported to have said: "The right of your mother on you is that you should know that nobody could endure the trouble and the conditions under which she protected you and nourished you with the juice of her life, and tried with her heart and soul to satisfy all your needs in relation to hunger, thirst, dress, etc. She passed sleepless nights, suffering anxieties. She provided you with shelter against heat and cold, and protected you from ailments. It is not possible for you to compensate her, or thank her enough for all the services, except that God may give you guidance for that. The right of your father on you is that you should know that it is he who brought you into existence, and you are a branch of the tree of his life."

According to a reliable tradition, it is related that a man came to Prophet Muhammad and asked him to whom he should render kindness. The prophet told him to be kind to his mother. Three times he put the same question to the prophet, and three times he got the same answer. When he asked the question the fourth time, he was told to be kind to his father, indicating that the mother's right took precedence over that of the father.

Parents' duties: Islam has assigned certain duties to parents that they must fulfill. If they fail in those, they will be questioned about it. Besides providing the basic necessities of life, Islam requires that the parents teach their children about the Oneness of God, the Quranic commandments, values, the Prophets and their teachings, and the moral code of Islam as according to the Quran and the Sunnah (teachings) of Prophet Muhammad.

Let us pray to God that He guide us to be respectful, kind, and obedient to our parents, and that we continue to show them humility regardless of the power, position, wealth, and influence we may possess. Let us also pray that we be patient, kind, thoughtful, and friendly with our children, as we guide them through their lives, and that we discharge our responsibilities towards them as required by our religion, so that God may be pleased with us, and may He Bless and reward us, both in this world and in the Hereafter; Ameen.

References:

- Holy Qur'an, Abdullah Yusuf 'Ali's Translation

- Bedtime Stories, by Peermohammed Ebrahim Trust

Source: http://www.islamfortoday.com/akhtar01.htm

The Prophet sal Allahu alayhi wa'sallam said:

"The Muslim is a unique Ummah among the whole of mankind:
Their Land is ONE, their War is ONE, their Peace is ONE,
Their Honour is ONE and their Trust is ONE."
[Ahmad]

Impartial Search For Truth, Avoiding Bias And Observing The Accepted Ethics Of Debate

Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim

In the name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful

Impartial Search For Truth, Avoiding Bias And Observing The Accepted Ethics Of Debate

Shaykh Saleh Abdullah bin Humaid

Islamic Principles and Rules of Debate
© Al-Manara 1994

What ensures a straightforward and fruitful debate is a resolute search for truth, not allowing one's own desires or the public's to take control. A sensible person, Muslim or non-Muslim, is expected to seek truth and to avoid error sincerely.

Most of the well-known Muslim scholars were very careful in this regard. Al-Imam al-Shafi`i, for instance, used to say: "I never talked with someone but sincerely wished that Allah keep him, protect him from sin and misdeed and guide him; and I never debated with someone but sincerely wished that we would come upon truth, regardless of whether he or I should be the one to think of it first."

Abu Hamed al-Ghazali says also in this connection: "Cooperation in seeking truth is inherent to religion, but sincerity in the pursuit of truth can be distinguished by certain conditions and signs. A diligent seeker of truth may be compared to one who is looking for his lost camel. It would be immaterial for him if he or another person should be the one to find it. Likewise, a sincere truth-seeker would perceive his partner as a helper rather than an adversary, and would be grateful to him if he should guide him to truth."

In another place of Volume 1 of Al-Ihya al-Ghazali says: "Over-enthusiasm is a mark of corrupted scholars, even when the case they are defending is true. By showing excessive enthusiasm for truth and their contempt of their oppontents, the latter would be stimulated to retaliate and react in the same manner. They would be driven to stand for falsehood and to be true to the label attributed to them. If the champions of truth had spoken kindly to them avoiding publicity and humiliation they would have succeeded in winning them over. But as it is, a person who enjoys a place of prestige is strongly inclined to preserve his position by attracting followers, and the only way to that is to boast and to attack or curse adversaries."

To conclude, a debate must be conducted fairly and calmly, without showing any excitement or roughness, and without compromising the chances of arriving at the truth. Debaters should avoid spiteful argumentation and word play, as such behaviour poisons the atmosphere, arouses hostile attitudes and may well end in deadlock.

Islaam.com

The Prophet sal Allahu alayhi wa'sallam said:

"The Muslim is a unique Ummah among the whole of mankind:
Their Land is ONE, their War is ONE, their Peace is ONE,
Their Honour is ONE and their Trust is ONE."
[Ahmad]

Ramadhan Articles

Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim

In the name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful

Ramadhan start 2008 - 31st August - 2nd September, inshaa'Allah, subject to moon sightability

"O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you, as it was prescribed upon those before you in order that you may attain taqwaa."
[Soorah al-Baqarah (2):183]

	Advice to Muslims in Ramadhan Shaykh Abdullah al-Jarullah
	Concerns of the Islamic Scholar During Month of Ramadan Shaykh `Aa'id Abdullah al-Qarnee
	Fasting Imam Ibn ul Qayyim al Jawziyyah
	Fasting Ramadan, Its Virtues & Rulings
	Gifts to those who fast Shaykh `Aa'id Abdullah al-Qarnee
	How to Seek Laylatul-Qadr Shaykh Muhammad Nasir-ud-Deen al-Albani
	Important Lessons From Ramadaan
	Peace Until Fajr
	Preparation of the Winners in Ramadan
	Ramadan - Month of the Qur'an
	Ramadan Calls For The Preservation Of Time Shaykh `Aa'id Abdullah al-Qarnee
	Ramadan in History Dr. Abdullah Hakim Quick
	Ramadan: The Month of Mercy to Muslims Shaykh `Aa'id Abdullah al-Qarnee
	Reality and Obligation in Ramadan
	Reaping the benefits of Ramadan Dr. Ali Al-Timimi
	Remaining Steadfast After Ramadhaan Shaykh Saleh al-Fouzan
	The Fast Dr. Ja`far Sheikh Idris
	The Goals of Fasting
	The Inner Secrets of Fasting Imam Ibn Qudaamah al-Maqdisee
	What After Ramadan?

The Prophet sal Allahu alayhi wa'sallam said:

"The Muslim is a unique Ummah among the whole of mankind:
Their Land is ONE, their War is ONE, their Peace is ONE,
Their Honour is ONE and their Trust is ONE."
[Ahmad]

[Course] Dear Beloved Son, Aug 10th & 17th '08

Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim

In the name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful

A spiritual discourse, a timely reminder before ramadhan

'To counsel others is an easy matter, the difficulty is accepting advice since it is bitter for those who follow their own inclination and desire. They love the forbidden from the depth of their hearts. This is more applicable to seekers of knowledge and students of learning, those of them who are busy with the benefits of the world They believe that mere abstract knowledge, without proper action, will rescue them. This is the belief of the philosophers'

[Extract from Dear Beloved Son]

Weekend course on the monumental book by Imam Abu Hamid Al-Ghazali which offers twenty four pieces of valuable advice to seekers of knowledge. It touches on all aspects of life, from material wealth and the love of this life, to Islamic etiquette and acquiring knowledge.



Imam Al-Ghazali illustrates his ideas throughout with relevant quotations from the Qur'an and Hadith, as well as poetry and logical examples and clear analogies which demonstrates the need to cleanse ourselves of bad manners so that we can develop good characteristics. This is certainly a powerful reminder of the importance of constantly identifying ourselves with the next life.


Sheikh Ahmed Sa'ad


Sheikh Ahmed Mohamed Sa'ad, born into a family of scholars and Huffaz from Egypt. His late father and grandfather graduated from Al-Azhar and were scholars in north Egypt. He finished the memorization of the whole Qur'an at the age of ten and studied traditional Islamic sciences at the hands of his father and then started the studies at Al-Azhar until he graduated from Al-Azhar University with BA in Islamic studies. Alongside with this, Sheikh Saad studied at the hands of many scholars and got Ijazahs in the Qur'an in various Qira'atincluding Hafs, Shu`bah, Warsh, Qalun, Khalaf and Khallad. He also got Ijazahs in Islamic texts including Al-Jazariyyah, At-Tuhfah, As-Salsabeel and Shamail of Imam At-Tirmidhi. Imam Sa'ad also hasIjazahs in the Six books of Hadith and many other books of Tafsir in addition to an Ijazah in Muwatta Malik. He has started giving Khutbahs at the age of 15 and been involved in Da'wah as an Imam for the last 15years. He has toured many countries as an Imam and lecturer, including Canada, USA, Malaysia, Germany, Saudi Arabia and the UK.



Dr. Kemal El-Helbawy

Translator of 'Dear Beloved Son', Dr. Kamal Helbawy was born in Egyptin 1939 and joined the Muslim Brotherhood at the age of twelve, largelyreceiving his education in Islam from them. After working in Nigeria, he traveled to Saudi Arabiawhere he was among the founders of the World Assembly of Muslim Youth (WAMY)and became their first executive director. After six years at the Institute of Policy Studies in Pakistan, Dr. Helbawy movedto London and helpedcreate the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB) and the Muslim Association ofBritain (MAB). He was the MAB's first president and currently serves as anadvisor to the organization. Dr. Helbawy is also a researcher in Islamic andstrategic affairs. He has a history of working in the relief sector and iscurrently the owner and supervisor of a care home for the elderly in northwest London.



Sidi Abu Aaliya

Sidi Abu Aaliya is the director of Jawziyyah Institute in London. He has been engaged in delivering dawah and community work for over 20years holding talks, circles and seminars in universities, Mosques and Islamic centres across the UK and abroad. He has studied with various scholars in particular Sheikh Abdullah Al Farsi and Sheikh 'Abd Al-Rahman Al-Luwayhiq. He is well versed in the Arabic language and hasbeen a prolific writer for many years having translated numerousscholarly works and books from Arabic to English such as Tenets ofFaith, The Ideological Attack, Etiquettes of Differing, The ExquisitePearl, Fadl 'Ilm al-Salaf (Virtue of Knowledge of the Predecessors) of Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali, and Bidâyat al-Sul fî Tafdîl ar-Rasul (Virtues and Status of the Prophet [pbuh]) of al-'Izz ibn 'Abd as-Salâm. Also currently Abu Aaliyah teaches and serves as one of the Jummah Khateeb's in Masjid al Tawhid in East London"



Details

Cost: £30 includes course materials & light refreshments

Date: Sunday 10th August & Sunday 17th August

Time: 9:30am – 6.00pm



Venue: The Centre, Farnham Road, Slough, SL1 4UT

Nearest station from London: Paddington Station (10mins from Paddington)

Tickets:



Brothers: 07983590489 / 07921311907

Sisters: 07843258125 / 07508412070

Email: alburujpress@gmail.com

Course Pre-requisites: None

The Prophet sal Allahu alayhi wa'sallam said:

"The Muslim is a unique Ummah among the whole of mankind:
Their Land is ONE, their War is ONE, their Peace is ONE,
Their Honour is ONE and their Trust is ONE."
[Ahmad]

ALLAH COMMANDS IN THE QUR'AN THAT HE BE FEARED

Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim

In the name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful

Fear of Allah
ALLAH COMMANDS IN THE QUR'AN THAT HE BE FEARED

Fearing Allah is not, as assumed by some people, an exclusive trait of prophets and those who are especially near to Him but rather it is a feeling carried within the hearts of all believers, and a feeling that should be held by all humanity. Allah's command in the Qur'an is clear:

You who believe! Fear Allah and let each self look to what it has sent forward for tomorrow. Fear Allah. Allah is aware of what you do. (Surat al-Hashr: 18)

Our Prophet (saws) also called attention to this issue in many of his sayings, reminding the believers always to fear Allah:

"Fear Allah wherever you are; if you follow an evil deed with a good one you will obliterate it; and deal with people with a good disposition." (Tirmidhi)

Allah has created all humanity and is extremely well acquainted with them and knows them better than they know themselves. He knows what everybody keeps secret even within the most secret of secret recesses of their beings. He is very well aware of the types of misgivings the soul experiences and types of games that will be played out by the self because He is the creator of every soul and has given it boundless ability to do evil, and inspiration to avoid such evil so that it may be justly tried. Allah has also created Satan as part of this test and has granted him a set of specific qualities to be used in the pursuit of his objective.

It is for this reason that a believer's greatest support in life's trial is fear of Allah because this will enable a person to behave as Allah requires, to work towards pleasing Allah, to protect oneself from the temptations of Satan and the lower self with awareness of and resistance to their stratagems and games. Such a disposition does not suit Satan's attempts to manipulate the limitless desires of a person's lower self.

It is for this reason that a person's lower self, with Satan's encouragement, will before all else try to distance him from fearing Allah. They will want to introduce distractions which turn people away from fearing Allah and caution with respect to Him by suggesting that this is unnecessary or even incorrect and that love of Allah and possessing a pure heart is what really matters. However, a conscientious reciter of the Qur'an will see with ease that suggestions such as these have no realistic basis, and that they contain a totally deviant and deceptive objective, because Allah has commanded believers to fear him in the Qur'an in the clearest form possible. This command is found in numerous Qur'anic verses:

... Fear Allah and know that Allah is fierce in retribution. (Surat al-Baqara: 196)

... So fear Allah. And know that you will be gathered back to Him. (Surat al-Baqara: 203)

... Fear Allah and know that Allah has knowledge of all things. (Surat al-Baqara: 231)

... Fear Allah and know that Allah sees what you do. (Surat al-Baqara: 233)

You who believe! Fear Allah and seek the means of drawing near to Him, and strive in His Way, so that hopefully you will be successful. (Surat al-Ma'ida: 35)

As in the case regarding every other subject a believer will unreservedly and unconditionally strive to fulfil this command of Allah. Unlike those who are unaware of the Qur'an and who question the necessity or relevance of fearing Allah, they are not misled by the suggestions and promptings of Satan which give rise to confusing anxieties as to why a person who loves Allah should fear him. While the daily prayers and fasting are obligatory practices to be fulfilled in the best possible manner, fear of Allah is an essential spiritual state which the believer must strive with sincerity to engender within himself. Together with this, Allah has revealed in detail in the Qur'an the divine wisdom as to why man should fear Him. We will examine this subject in detail in the following chapters.

||Source||

The Prophet sal Allahu alayhi wa'sallam said:

"The Muslim is a unique Ummah among the whole of mankind:
Their Land is ONE, their War is ONE, their Peace is ONE,
Their Honour is ONE and their Trust is ONE."
[Ahmad]

Overcoming Anxiety

Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim

In the name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful

Overcoming Anxiety| Sheikh Salman al-Oadah | IslamToday.com

Anxiety is an unavoidable part of life. Everyone in this world will have his or her share of worries. However, there are limits to how much worry there should be. Worry should not lead us to despair.

Some people try so hard to avoid anxiety that they are unable to cope with the real world. By fleeing from reality, they merely increase their worries.

We need to cope with our anxiety in a rational, methodical way.

First of all, we need to stop making unrealistic demands upon ourselves and upon the society in which we live. Many people worry over problems that are far beyond their scope to deal with. These problems are often so great that society as a whole cannot hope to solve them at the present time. Worrying about these matters does nothing but cause anxiety.

There is an old Arabic parable that goes: Once there was a desert dweller who owned a servant girl. Someone asked him: “Wouldn’t you dream that instead of possessing this servant girl you could be Caliph?”

He replied: “God no!” When the other asked him why, he said: “I am afraid that then both the servant girl and the nation would be lost!”

Now there is a man who knew what he should not be bothered with.

The second thing that we must do to get anxiety under control is to find contentment with the situation in which we find ourselves. This does not mean that we always have to accept things the way they are. We should definitely have dreams and ambitions. `Umar b. `Abd al-`Azîz said: “I am an ambitious man. First, I desired governorship. When I attained it, I desired to be Caliph. When I became caliph, I renounced its pleasures, for then my ambitions had turned to attaining Paradise.”

We should have ambitions, but we should also see the good in what we already have.

The third thing that we must do is to enjoy our successes. All of us have some achievements to our credit. We need to take satisfaction and pride in them, as this helps to prevent us from making light of Allah’s blessings.

Finally, we must refrain from envying others. Whatever someone else has is purely from Allah’s grace. Allah gives whatever He wills to whomever He pleases. A single woman should not get upset when she sees her sister getting married. A married woman should not fret when she sees another woman married to a man of far greater wealth and prestige. A divorcee should not cry whenever she sees someone else living in marital bliss. Instead, she should take a deep breath and say: “Praise be to Allah who has placed me in my good circumstances.”

We should appreciate that today is better than many days in the past, and with Allah’s blessings, tomorrow can be even better than today. Those who prefer to dwell in the past keep themselves in permanent sorrow thinking about missed opportunities and what might have been.

Once a professor entered his classroom and asked his students: “Has any of you ever sawed up some wood?” When some students replied that they all had done so at one time or another, he asked: “Have any of you ever sawed up a saw?” This time no one answered. The professor then said: “A person who always looks to the past is like a person who saws up a saw.”

We must not look to the lost opportunities of the past. We must instead look forward to the promise of a better future.

Fears and Worries

Ibn Hazm mentions that he took a good look at people, all people – Muslims and non-Muslims, righteous and ignoble, Arabs and non-Arabs – and made the following observation: “I found that they all had one thing in common; they all sought to rid themselves of their problems and worries.”

He then said: “So I decided to unlock the secret to this matter and discover the best way to overcome our worries. I found that there was nothing better for this than to worship Allah, adore Him, and to submit ourselves to Him fully. From this I realized that the guidance of the Prophets and Messengers (peace be upon them) is comprehensive of what dispels the concerns of both this world and the next.”

There are many things in this world that inspire fear. However, we can find security in true reliance upon Allah and in reconciling ourselves to His decree.

Our fear is often worse that the things we are afraid of. Sometimes we fear some crisis occurring and that fear becomes a crisis in itself. Our fear of sickness may actually be the worst sickness to afflict us.

Do not grieve and do not be afraid. Allah says : “Verily, those who say ‘Our Lord is Allah’ then keep themselves upright, the angels descend upon them saying: ‘Do not fear and do not grieve. Hearken to glad tidings of the Paradise that you have been promised’.” [Sûrah Fussilat: 30]

Ibn Jawzî said: “I was plagued by a problem that compelled me to continuously suffer from worry and anxiety. I began to go to great lengths trying to figure out any ruse or strategy to rid myself of that problem, but to absolutely no avail. Then I remembered the verse: “And whoever fears Allah, Allah will provide for him a way out.” Then I realized that fear of Allah is a way out of every worry. No sooner did I resolve to strengthen my fear of Allah than I found a way to solve my problems.”

It does not behoove a created being to pin his trust, his hopes, and his thoughts on anything besides his obedience to Allah and his fulfillment of Allah’s command. Obedience to Allah is the reason for opportunities to open up for us. A person who fears Allah should always keep in mind that Allah is sufficient for him.

The Prophet sal Allahu alayhi wa'sallam said:

"The Muslim is a unique Ummah among the whole of mankind:
Their Land is ONE, their War is ONE, their Peace is ONE,
Their Honour is ONE and their Trust is ONE."
[Ahmad]

Virtues of the Quraan

Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim

In the name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful

Virtues of the Quraan
Shaykh `Abdul Qadir al-Arna'oot
Islaam.com

"The best of you is he who learns the Qur'an and teaches it." [al-Bukhari]

"Will not any of you go to the masjid and learn or read two verses from the Book of Allah `azza wa jall? (For) that is better for him than two she-camels, and three (verses) are better for him than three (she-camels), and four (verses) are better for him than four (she-camels). And the number (of verses read in total) are better than the same number of camels." [Muslim]

"There is no envy (acceptable) except in two (cases): a person whom Allah has given the Qur'an and recites it throughout the night and throughout the day. And a person whom Allah has given wealth, that he gives out throughout the night and throghout the day." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

"Whoever reads a letter from the Book of Allah will receive a hasanah (good deed) from it (i.e. his recitation), and the hasanah is multiplied by ten. I do not say that Alif-Laam-Meem is (considered as) a letter, rather Alif is a letter, Laam is a letter, and Meem is a letter." [At-Tirmidhi, Ad-Darimi]

"He who is skillful in reciting the Qur'an is with the unveiled, honorable, and pious (i.e. Hur al `Ain). And he who stutters when reading the Qur'an, (and its recitation) is difficult upon him, will receive two rewards." [Al-Bukhari]

"Verily he who has nothing of the Qur'an in his heart, is like a house (which has been) destroyed." [At-Tirmidhi]

"Read the Qur'an. For verily it will come forth on the Day of Resurrection as an intercessor for its readers." [Muslim]

"The Qur'an is an intercessor (which by Allah's permission) intercedes, and an opponent (which is) truthful. He who appoints it as his leader, (then it) will lead him to Paradise. And he who puts it behind him, (then it) will lead him to the Fire." [Ibn Hibban, Al-Bayhaqi, At-Tabarani, Sahih]

"Fasting and the Qur'an will intercede for the slave on the Day of Resurrection. Fasting will say: 'O My Rabb! I prevented him from food and desires, so accept my intercession for him.' And the Qur'an will say: 'I prevented him from sleep during the night, so accept my intercession for him.' He (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) said: 'And they will (be allowed to) intercede.'" [Ahmad, at-Tabarani, Al-Hakim, Sahih]

"Maintain learning the Qur'an, by heart for verily it is greater in escaping from the chests of men than camels from their reins." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

"Verily Allah raises nations by this book (the Qur'an) and puts down (i.e. destroys) others by it." [Muslim]

"The likeness of the believer who reads the Qur'an is like that of citron; its taste is delicious and its scent is pleasant. And the likeness of the believer who does not read the Qur'an is like that of a date; its taste is delicious, yet it has no scent. And the likeness of a hypocrite who reads the Qur'an is like that of a basil; its scent is pleasant, yet its taste is bitter. And the likeness of a hypocrite that does not read the Qur'an is like that of a colocynth; its taste is bitter and it has no scent." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

"It will be said to the beholder of the Qur'an: 'Recite, ascent and rattil (recite slowly and distinctly) as you used to rattil in the life of this world, for verily your level (in Paradise) is at the last verse you read." [Abu Dawud, at-Tirmidhi, Sahih]

"Read the Qur'an, put it into practice, do not abandon it, do not put grudges (upon others) through it, and do not eat and gain wealth through it." [Ahmad, At-Tabarani, Sahih]

"Read the Qur'an and through it seek the Face of Allah, Exalted be He, before there comes a nation that implements it like an arrow. They read it fast and they do not recite it slowly (to implement)." [Ahmad, Abu Dawud, Hasan]

"Verily, the best of people with regards to voices, is he whom you feel fears Allah when he recites." [Ad-Darimi, Sahih]

From Anas ibn Malik, radhiallahu `anhu, (who said) that the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu `alaihi wa sallam, said to Ubay ibn Ka`b (radiallahu `anhu):
'Verily Allah has ordered me to read upon you.'
He [Ubay] said: 'Has Allah named me for you?!'
He [sallallahu `alaihi wa sallam] said: 'Allah has named you for me.'
He [Anas] said: 'So Ubay began to weep.'
[Muslim]

"There is not a group which has gathered in a house from the houses of Allah, reciting the Book of Allah, and studying it between them, except that tranquility will descend upon them, mercy will befall them, the Angels will encircle them, and Allah will mention them to those who are with Him (i.e. the Angels). And he who falls short (in gaining knowledge and memorizing the Qur'an) should (be prompt in) action, (in) that which lineage (*) will not hasten him (to do)." [Muslim]

(*) For example, if someone is the son of a scholar and falls short in gaining knowledge and memorizing the Qur'an, then it is upon him to hasten in redeeming himself through studying and hard work, not by relying upon his lineage, i.e. him being the son of a scholar, king, or even being from the descendants of the family of the Messenger, sallallahu `alaihi wa sallam, etc. This meaning is taken from An-Nawawi's explanation of Sahih Muslim. [Transl.]

The Prophet sal Allahu alayhi wa'sallam said:

"The Muslim is a unique Ummah among the whole of mankind:
Their Land is ONE, their War is ONE, their Peace is ONE,
Their Honour is ONE and their Trust is ONE."
[Ahmad]

Islamic Manners: Keeping Appointments, Delays and Cancellation

Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim

In the name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful

Islamic Manners: Keeping Appointments, Delays and Cancellation
Shaykh Abdul Fattah Abu Ghudda

Islamic Manners
© 2001 Awakening Publications

In the first verse of Surah al-Ma'idah, Allah called upon the believers: "O you who believe! Fulfill your promises." [5:1] In Surah Maryam, Allah also praised Prophet Ismail: "He was true to his promise, He was a Messenger and a Prophet." [19:54]

Keeping appointments is vital to our lives. Time is the most precious commodity; once wasted, it can never be recovered. If you made an appointment, whether with a friend, colleague or for business, you should do your utmost to keep this appointment.

This is the right of the other persons who, despite other commitments, favored you with a part of their valuable time. If you do not come on time, not only have you disrupted their schedule but you have also marred your image and reputation. If your punctuality becomes poor you will lose people's respect.You should keep all your appointments whether they are with an important person, a close friend or a business colleague.You will then be responding to the call of Allah in Surah al-Isra: "And keep the promise; the promise is a responsibility." [17:34]

It is enough to know that our kind Prophet, sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam, gave an appointment to one of his companions. The companion came three days later. The Prophet, sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam, gently reprimanded him saying: "You have caused me some trouble. I have been waiting for you for three days." The companion probably had an excuse for this delay; however, he had no means by which to inform the Prophet, sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam, about his inability to keep the appointment.

Today, fast and reliable communication means are available everywhere. Therefore, as soon as you realize you will be unable to keep an appointment, you should inform the other parties to enable them to utilize their time elsewhere. Do not be careless or irresponsible assuming that since the appointment is relatively unimportant, it does not merit a notice or an apology.This is totally irrelevant. Regardless of its importance, an appointment is a commitment that should be kept or properly cancelled in advance.

Never make a promise while intending not to keep it. This is forbidden as it falls within lying and hypocrisy. Al-Bukhari and Muslim narrated that the Prophet said: "Three traits single out a hypocrite, even if he prays or fasts and claims to be Muslim: If he speaks, he lies. If he makes a promise, he does not keep it. If he is entrusted, he betrays the trust." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

Imam Al-Ghazali in al-Ihya explains that this hadith is applicable to those who promise while intending not to fulfil it, or those who, without an excuse, decide later not to fulfill the promise. Those who promise but could not fulfill their promise due to a proper excuse are not hypocrites. But we should be careful not to present a false excuse, as Allah knows our inner thoughts and intentions.


||Islaam.com||

The Prophet sal Allahu alayhi wa'sallam said:

"The Muslim is a unique Ummah among the whole of mankind:
Their Land is ONE, their War is ONE, their Peace is ONE,
Their Honour is ONE and their Trust is ONE."
[Ahmad]

Islamic Manners: Discussions and Debates

Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim

In the name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful

Islamic Manners: Discussions and Debates
Shaykh Abdul Fattah Abu Ghudda

Islamic Manners
© 2001 Awakening Publications

If you have trouble understanding some of what has been said in meeting, hold your questions until the speaker has finished. Gently, politely, and with proper introduction, ask for clarification. Do not interrupt a person's speech. Never raise your voice with the question, or be blunt to draw attention to yourself. This is contrary to the proper manner of listening, and stirs up contempt. However, this is not the rule if the meeting is for studying and learning. In such a case, asking questions and initiating a discussion is desirable if conducted respectfully and tactfully and only after the speaker finishes. The Khalifah Al-Ma'mun said: "Discussion entrenches knowledge much more than mere agreement."

Al-Haitham ibn Adi, a known scholar, historian, and a member of the court of four Khalifahs: Abu Ja`far al-Mansur, Al-Mahdi, Al-Hadi and Al-Rashid, said: "It is an ill manner to overwhelm someone while speaking and to interrupt them before they end their talk."

If a colleague did not understand an issue and asked a scholar or an elder to explain, you should listen to what is being said. The repeated explanation may give you additional insights to what you already know. Never utter any word belittling your colleague, nor allow your face to betray such an attitude.

When an elder or a scholar speaks, listen attentively. Never busy yourself with a talk or discussion with other colleagues. Do not let your mind wander elsewhere; keep it focused on what is being said.

Never interrupt a speaker. Never rush to answer if you are not very confident of your answer. Never argue about something you do not know. Never argue for the sake of argument. Never show arrogance with your counterparts especially if they hold a different opinion. Do not switch the argument to belittle your opponent's views. If their misunderstanding becomes evident, do not rebuke or scold them. Be modest and kind. A poet once said:

Who could get me a friend
Who if I offend will remain calm
Who would listen intently to what I have to say
When he knows it better than I do


||Islaam.com||

The Prophet sal Allahu alayhi wa'sallam said:

"The Muslim is a unique Ummah among the whole of mankind:
Their Land is ONE, their War is ONE, their Peace is ONE,
Their Honour is ONE and their Trust is ONE."
[Ahmad]

[Nasheed Vid] Tabalagho bil Qaleel

Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim

In the name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful

The Prophet sal Allahu alayhi wa'sallam said:

"The Muslim is a unique Ummah among the whole of mankind:
Their Land is ONE, their War is ONE, their Peace is ONE,
Their Honour is ONE and their Trust is ONE."
[Ahmad]

Faith wears out in the heart

Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim

In the name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful

Al-Haakim reported in al-Mustadrak, and al-Tabaraani reported in al-Mu’jam, that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said:

‘Faith wears out in the heart of any one of you just as clothes wear out, so ask Allaah to renew the faith in your hearts.’

(Reported by al-Haakim in al-Mustadrak. It was reported by al-Tabaraani in al-Kabeer and its isnaad is saheeh.)

The Prophet sal Allahu alayhi wa'sallam said:

"The Muslim is a unique Ummah among the whole of mankind:
Their Land is ONE, their War is ONE, their Peace is ONE,
Their Honour is ONE and their Trust is ONE."
[Ahmad]