Animal Welfare in Islãm

بـــــــــــــــــــســم الله الرحمن الرحــيــــــــــــــــم

In Islãm, mistreating an animal is considered a sin. The Holy Qur'an and guidance from the Prophet Muhammad(ﷺ), as recorded in hadith, give many examples and directives about how Muslims should treat animals.

◕ Animal Communities ◕

The Qur’an describes that animals form communities, just as humans do: "There is not an animal that lives on the earth, nor a being that flies on its wings, but they form communities like you. Nothing have we omitted from the Book, and they all shall be gathered to their Lord in the end"

[Al Qur'an, 6:38]

The Qur'an further describes animals, and all living things, as muslim - in the sense that they live in the way that Allaah created them to live, and obey Allaah's laws in the natural world. Although animals do not have free will, they follow their natural, God-given instincts - and in that sense they "submit to God's will," which is Islam. “Seest thou not that it is Allaah Whose praise all beings in the heavens and on earth do celebrate, and the birds (of the air) with wings outspread? Each one knows its own (mode of) prayer and praise, and Allaah knows well all that they do.”

[Al Qur'an, 24:41]

These verses remind us that animals are living creatures with feelings and connections to the larger spiritual and physical world. We must consider their lives as worthwhile and cherished. "And the earth, He has assigned it to all living creatures"

[Al Qur'an, 55:10]

◕ Kindness to Animals ◕

It is forbidden in Islam to treat an animal cruelly, or to kill it except as needed for food. The Prophet Muhammad(ﷺ) often chastised his Companions who mistreated animals, and spoke to them about the need for mercy and kindness. Here are several examples of hadith which instruct Muslims about how to treat animals.

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Reward for mercy:

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It is related from Abu Umama that the Messenger of Allaah, may Allaah bless him and grant him peace, said, "Whoever is merciful even to a sparrow, Allaah will be merciful to him on the Day of Judgment."

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Animals are like humans:

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“A good deed done to an animal is like a good deed done to a human being, while an act of cruelty to an animal is as bad as cruelty to a human being."

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Animals cannot speak up for themselves:

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It is related from Sahl ibn Al-Handhaliyya that the Messenger of Allaah, may Allaah bless him and grant him peace, once passed by a camel that was so emaciated that its back had almost reached its stomach. He said, "Fear Allaah in these beasts who cannot speak."

(Abu Dawud)

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Mental cruelty also forbidden:

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It is related from AbdulRahman bin Abdullah that a group of Companions were once on a journey with the Prophet, may Allaah bless him and grant him peace, and he left them for a while. During his absence, they saw a bird with its two young, and they took the young ones from the nest. The mother bird was circling above in the air, beating its wings in grief, when the Prophet came back. He said, "Who has hurt the feelings of this bird by taking its young? Return them to her."

(Muslim)

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Forgiveness of sins:

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It is related from Abu Hurayra, from the Prophet, may Allaah bless him and grant him peace, that a prostitute once saw a dog on a very hot day going round and round a well, lolling its tongue because of its thirst. She drew some water for it using her shoe, and for this action all her sins were forgiven her. (Muslim)

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Mistreatment is a sin:

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It is related from Jabir that the Messenger of Allaah, once saw a donkey which had been branded on its face and he said, "May Allaah curse the one who branded it."

(Muslim)

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Give rest to beasts of burden:

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It is related from Abu Hurayra that the Prophet, may Allaah bless him and grant him peace, said, "Do not use the backs of your animals as chairs. Allaah has made them subject to you, so that by them you can reach places that you would not otherwise be able to reach except with great fatigue."

(Abu Dawud)

◔ Pets ◔

A Muslim who chooses to keep a pet takes on the responsbility of the animal's care and well-being. They must be provided with appropriate food, water, and shelter. The Prophet Muhammad(ﷺ) described the punishment of a person who neglected to care for a pet:

It is related from Abdullah ibn Umar that the Messenger of Allaah, may Allaah bless him and grant him peace, said, "A woman was once punished after death because of a cat which she had kept confined until it died, and because of this she entered the Fire. She had neither given it food or drink while confining it, nor had she let it free to eat the creatures of the earth."

(Muslim)

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Opinions about Prophet Muhammad ﷺ from Non-Muslim Philosophers

 

✬ Praise be to Allaah ✬

 

  Prophet Muhammad ﷺ

"My choice of Muhammad to lead the list of the world's most influential persons may surprise some readers and may be questioned by others, but he was the only man in history who was supremely successful on both the religious and secular level."

(Michael H. Hart, THE 100: A Ranking of the most Influential Person in the History, New York: Hart Publishing Company, Inc., 1978, p. 33).[1]

"Four years after the death of Justinian, A.D. 569, was born at Mecca, in Arabia the man who, of all men exercised the greatest influence upon the human race . . . Mohammed . . "

(John William Draper, M.D., L.L.D., A History of the Intellectual Development of Europe, London 1875, Vol.1, pp.329-330)

"Philosopher, orator, apostle, legislator, warrior, conqueror of ideas, restorer of rational dogmas, of a cult without images; the founder of twenty terrestrial empires and of one spiritual empire, that is Muhammad. As regards all standards by which human greatness may be measured, we may well ask, is there any man greater than he?

(Lamartine, HISTOIRE DE LA TURQUIE, Paris, 1854, Vol. II, pp. 276-277).[1]

"He (Muhammad) must be called the Savior of Humanity. I believe that if a man like him were to assume the dictatorship of the modern world, he would succeed in solving its problems in a way that would bring it much needed peace and happiness."

(George Bernard Shaw, a famous writer , The Genuine Islam, Singapore, Vol. 1, No. 8, 1936).[1]

"The personality of Muhammad, it is most difficult to get into the whole truth of it. Only a glimpse of it I can catch. What a dramatic succession of picturesque scenes. There is Muhammad the Prophet. There is Muhammad the Warrior; Muhammad the Businessman; Muhammad the Statesman; Muhammad the Orator; Muhammad the Reformer; Muhammad the Refuge of Orphans; Muhammad the Protector of Slaves; Muhammad the Emancipator of Women; Muhammad the Judge; Muhammad the Saint. All in all these magnificent roles, in all these departments of human activities, he is alike a hero."[1]

(K. S. Ramakrishna Rao, an Indian (Hindu) professor of Philosophy, in his booklet "Muhammad the Prophet of Islam" calls him the "perfect model for human life.)

"I wanted to know the best of one who holds today undisputed sway over the hearts of millions of mankind... I became more than convinced that it was not the sword that won a place for Islam in those days in the scheme of life. It was the rigid simplicity, the utter self-effacement of the Prophet, the scrupulous regard for his pledges, his intense devotion to his friends and followers, his intrepidity, his fearlessness, his absolute trust in God and in his own mission. These and not the sword carried everything before them and surmounted every obstacle. When I closed the 2nd volume (of the Prophet's biography), I was sorry there was not more for me to read of the great life."[1]

(Mahatma Gandhi, speaking on the character of Muhammad, peace be upon him, says in 'YOUNG INDIA')

"How one man single handedly, could weld warring tribes and wandering Bedouins into a most powerful and civilized nation in less than two decades."[1]

(English author Thomas Carlyle in his 'Heroes and Hero Worship’)

“You have an illiterate person (Prophet Muhammad) making profound statements that are amazingly accurate, of a scientific nature...I personally can't see how this could be mere chance, there are too many accuracies and like Dr. Moore, I have no difficulty in my mind reconciling that this is a divine inspiration or revelation which lead him to these statements.”

(Dr. T.V.N. Persaud, professor of Anatomy)

"Muhammad was the soul of kindness, and his influence was felt and never forgotten by those around him"
“Muhammad, peace be upon him, was nothing more or less than a human being, but he was a man with a noble mission, which was to unite humanity on the worship of ONE and ONLY ONE GOD and to teach them the way to honest and upright living based on the commands of God. He always described himself as, 'A Servant and Messenger of God' and so indeed every action of his proclaimed to be.”[1]

(Diwan Chand Sharma wrote in "The Prophets of the East", Calcutta, 1935, pp. 12)

"It was the first religion that preached and practiced democracy; for, in the mosque, when the call for prayer is sounded and worshippers are gathered together, the democracy of Islam is embodied five times a day when the peasant and king kneel side by side and proclaim: 'God Alone is Great'... I have been struck over and over again by this indivisible unity of Islam that makes man instinctively a brother."

(Sarojini Naidu, Ideals of Islam, vide Speeches & Writings, Madras, 1918, p. 169)[1]

"The league of nations founded by the prophet of Islam put the principle of international unity and human brotherhood on such universal foundations as to show candle to other nations." He continues, "the fact is that no nation of the world can show a parallel to what Islam has done towards the realization of the idea of the League of Nations."[1]

(Dutch scholar Snouck Hurgronje)

"I BELIEVE IN ONE GOD, AND MAHOMET, AN APOSTLE OF GOD' is the simple and invariable profession of Islam. The intellectual image of the Deity has never been degraded by any visible idol; the honour of the Prophet has never transgressed the measure of human virtues; and his living precepts have restrained the gratitude of his disciples within the bounds of reason and religion."

(Edward Gibbon and Simon Ockley, on the profession of ISLAM, write in "History of the Saracen Empires", London, 1870, p. 54)[1]

"He (Muhmmad) is a prophet and not a poet and therefore his Koran is to be seen as Divine Law and not as a book of a human being, made for education or entertainment."

(Wolfgang Goethe, perhaps the greatest European poet ever, Noten und Abhandlungen zum Weststlichen Dvan, WA I, 7, 32)[1]

"His readiness to undergo persecution for his beliefs, the high moral character of the men who believed in him and look up to him as a leader, and greatness of his ultimate achievement all argue his fundamental integrity. To suppose Muhammad was an impostor raises more problems than it solves"

(W Montgomery Watt an Emeritus Professor in Arabic and Islamic Studies at the University of Edinburgh. Mohammad At Mecca, Oxford, 1953, p 52).[2]

"He was a Ceaser and a Pope in one; but he was a Pope without Pope's pretensions, Ceaser without legions of Ceasers: without a standing army, without a bodyguard, without a palace, without a fixed revenue. If ever any man had the right to say that he ruled by the right divine, it was Muhammad, for he had all the power without its instrument an d without its supports"

(Reverend Bosworth Smith , Mohammad and Mohammadism, London 1874, p 92).[2]

"... And although in what I put to you I shall say many things which maybe familiar to many, yet I myself feel whenever I re-read them, a new of admiration, a new sense of reverence for that mighty Arabian teacher"

(Annie Besant, a woman's right activist. 'The Life and Teaching of Muhammad', Madras 1932 p 4).[2]

• Sources:[1] Copied from Dr. Dremali Ibrahim-Islamic Resources-Famous Quotes About Muhammad, on 19 March 2008.
  
  [2] Copied from 'What They Say About Muhammad?' by Dar Eshbelia on 19 March 2008.
  
  
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Blood Donation in Islam

✬ Today am sharing a very Important Info which may be useful to you in your Life. As we all studied about blood groups in our schooling period, but posting this info is to remind you again about the importance of Blood Groups. Today we see lots of people are suffered and suffering from the deficiency of blood, because they can't get it at a right time when they are mostly needed. Even in our relatives and friends who are around us are also May be suffered or suffering from Blood deficiency.
My Dear Brothers and Sisters, as you can see the blood chart below... The O negative group is the rarest blood group in the list, these group people are 1 in 1000, and that too they don't know about their group.
So it is my humble request to all Don't Panic I'm Islamic Group members to check their Blood group at any near hospital, to be aware and ready for any future incidents.

✿ Blood donation in Islam ✿
Giving a blood donation is very good and is considered an extremely meritorious and rewarding act of charity in Islam. Since Islam exhorts us to be charitable to all of Allaah's creation, we cannot think of any charity greater than gift of life.
It is a matter of common knowledge that in many cases, persons injured in accidents, etc. can only be saved from imminent death if they are given enough blood to replace what they have lost.
So by giving blood which is in short supply today Muslims are helping people live; by doing this they are indeed carrying out the order of Allaah,

►“Whoever saves the life of a single person, it is as if he has saved the life of all (of humanity).” (Al Qur'an, Al-Ma’idah: 32)

✿ There is no distinction to be made between Muslims and non-Muslims in donating and receiving blood; all of our bodies and faculties are in a way Muslim (obedient to the laws of Allaah).
Just as Islam encourages us to be charitable to all regardless of differences of religion or race, there is no distinction to be made in giving or receiving blood; for there can be no greater gift of charity than blood donation as it amounts to saving life. The Qur'anic mandate for Muslims is to foster life and be engaged in activities that strengthen and maintain it in all forms; the opposite of which is destruction or fasaad, which includes all activities that diminish or destroy life in various forms.

✬ Rules of Donating Blood!
Based on the above and similar considerations, scholars and jurists have agreed that Muslims should have no inhibitions whatsoever in donating blood in the communities they are living. They should consider such activities as a most rewarding act of charity if it satisfies 3 following rules.
► If it's a must for the survival or causing a major benefit to the person or recipient of Blood.
► The Person(donor) who is donating blood should not cause a major loss to his/her life.
► It should not be done for the money.

✿ Medical Science says: If any healthy person donates about 400ml blood approximately, within 3 months the blood will regenerate.

*Those who want to donate their blood to needy at right time can share their info by commenting their BLOOD group below so that our brothers and sisters can contact you in our Emergency!

PLEASE SHARE YOUR BLOOD GROUP DETAILS BY COMMENTING BELOW!

Muslim Unity (Ittihad)

 بـــــــــــــــــــســم الله الرحمن الرحــيــــــــــــــــم

 

✬Muslim Unity (Ittihad) is a term that refers to establishing good and peaceful relations among the various Islamic denominations. The primary objective of Muslim Unity or Islamic Unity is to unite all Muslims around the world. Although some divisions such as Ahle Sunni, Ahle Hadith and Ahle Qur'an exist among Muslims, according to the proponents of Muslim Unity these divisions are negligible and Muslims from different countries should forge closer ties with each other. With all the differences Muslims were united and very faithful to their religion. Muslims were the superpower of the world. Muslims were the leaders in setting up the standards for the rest of the world.
It's become cliché to say that Muslims have reduced the religion Islam to rituals and forgotten other important tenets. While it is crucial to practice the main pillars of Islam, for instance, we cannot ignore other basic aspects of the faith that emphasize brotherhood and sisterhood.
►Understand that Muslim unity is not an option. In other words Muslim unity is a Fard/Wajib (obligatory duty) according to Noble Qur'an and Traditions of Messenger of Allaah,  Prophet Muhammad(صلى الله عليه و سلم). Consider the following references given below from Qur'an & Hadith !

►Allaah says in the Al Qur'an :

✿"And hold fast, all together, by the rope which Allaah (stretches out for you), and be not divided among yourselves." (3:103)
✿"The believers are but a single brotherhood. Make peace and reconciliation between your two (contending) brothers and fear Allaah so that you may receive mercy." (49-10)
✿"As for those who divide their religion and break up into sects, you have no part in them in the least: their affair is with Allaah. He will in the end, tell them the truth of all that they did." (6-159)

►Allaah's Messenger and Our beloved Prophet Muhammad(صلى الله عليه و سلم) said
(Hadith related to Bukhari and Muslim):

✿"The Muslims are like a body, if one part of the body hurts, rest of the body will also suffer." Meaning that the Muslims, whether they are of Chinese, African or Arabian or European origin, are one Ummah and they cannot be separated from each other.
✿ "Believers are brethren, their lives are equal to each other and they are as one hand against their enemy."
✿ "It is not permissible for two Muslims to be annoyed and angry for more that three days."
✿"When Muslims are angry with each other for three days. If they do not compromise then they go away from the limits of Islam and the one who compromise first will enter Jannah (Paradise) earlier."

►The utmost important duty for every Muslim is to preserve and protect the Muslim unity (Ittihad) and not to cause any division in the Muslim rank. O Muslims: Know that union is strength and division is weakness. A building will not be strong except by the cohesion of its bricks. A tower will not arise except on correct foundations and solid principles. So, there are not sects in Islam, we should always call ourselves as Muslims, follower of Islam.

✿Heed the advice found in Surah Hujurat: This 49th chapter of Al Qur'an provides excellent guidance on the kind of behavior that Muslims should avoid to establish Muslim unity. For instance, Allaah, advises us to avoid mockery, defamation, suspicion and backbiting. These are all things which serve to divide us and create hatred, hurt and dissension because one of the famous traditions of Messenger of Allaah, Muhammad(peace and blessings be upon him) says, "A Muslim is the one from whose hands and tongue other Muslims are safe." [Tirmidhi]

►Muslim Ummah is like a Tasbih/Tasbeeh!

A Tasbih/Tasbeeh is used to keep count of Dhikr. It is usually made up of 100 beads which are held together in a necklace form by a thread. As long as the Tasbih/Tasbeeh remains in its original form, it can be used for doing good deeds. However, what happens if the thread rips? The beads fall all over the place and create a mess. Similar is the example of this Muslim Ummah. As long as the Muslims remain united together, good results will come out of them. However, as soon as they are divided, they will create a big mess, which is clearly visible in these days.
We Muslims are busy bickering over whether to fold or unfold our arms during prayer, while the enemy is devising ways of cutting them off.

♥ Make Du'a for Muslim Unity: Ask your Imam to emphasize Muslim Unity as an Islamic duty in his Khutbahs and suggest practical ways it can be achieved in your country or Islamic organizations. Also, suggest to Muslims going for Hajj Pilgrimage to make special Du'a for Muslim unity.

Important Questions on Prayer Rak'ahs

بـــــــــــــــــــســم الله الرحمن الرحــيــــــــــــــــم

  ✬✬Important Questions on Prayer Rak'ahs✬✬

Q 1: How many Rak'ahs(parts) are Fard(obligatory) in prayers five times a day?
A. 17 Rak'ahs are obligatory i.e. Fajr=2, Zuhr=4, Asr=4, Maghrib=3 and 'Ishaa=4.

Q 2: How many Rak'ahs are Sunnat-e-Muakkadah (emphasised Sunnah) in all the five time prayers?
A. 12 Rak'ahs are Sunnat-e-Muakkadah i.e. Fajr=2 (pre-Fard), Zuhr=6 (4 pre-Fard & 2 post-Fard), Maghrib=2 (post Fard) and Isha=2 (post Fard).

Q 3: How many Rak'ahs are Sunnat-e-Ghair Muakkada (non-emphasised Sunnah) or Nafil (optional, voluntary prayer) in all the five time prayers?
A. Following are Sunnat-e-Ghair-Muakkadah and Nafil in all the five time prayers: 2 Nafil after Zuhr, 4 or 2 Rakahs Sunnat-e-Ghair Muakkadah before Asr, 2 Nafil after Maghrib and 2 or 4 Rakahs Sunnat-e-Ghair Muakkadah before Isha's Fard, 2 Sunnat-e-Ghair Muakkadah after Isha's Fard followed by 2 Nafil, 3 Witr (essential prayer) and 2 Nafil. No particular number of Nafil prayers has been reported.

Q 4: How many Rak'ahs are offered in all the five time prayers?
A. Total 48 Rak'ahs are offered in all the five time prayers i.e. Fajr:4 Rak'ahs (2 Sunnat & 2 Fard), Zuhr: 12 Rak'ahs (4 Sunnat, 4 Fard, 2 Sunnat & 2 Nafil), Asr:8 Rak'ahs (4 Sunnat-e-Ghair-Muakkadah & 4 Fard), Maghrib:7 Rak'ahs (3 Fard, 2 Sunnat & 2 Nafil) and Isha:17 Rak'ahs (4 Sunnat Ghair Muakkada, 4 Fard, 2 Sunnat, 2 Nafil, 3 Witr & 2 Nafil).

Q 5: Is Witr prayer Fard or Sunnat?
A. Three Rak'ahs of Witr are neither Fard nor Sunnah but are Waajib (essential) which are offered with Isha prayer.

✬✬Some Frequently Asked Question's✬✬

Q 1: How many Sunnat-e-Muakkadah are there?
A. Following are the Sunnat-e-Muakkadah (emphasised Sunnah):
Two Rak'ahs before Fajr prayer, four Rak'ahs before Zuhr prayer and two after Zuhr, two Rak'ahs after Maghrib prayer, two Rak'ahs after 'Ishaa prayer and four Rak'ahs before Jumu'ah prayer and four after Jumu'ah. It means that one has to offer fourteen Rak'ahs of Sunnat-e-Muakkadah on Friday and twelve Rak'ahs on each of other remaining days. It is desirable that one should offer four Rak'ahs of Sunnat-e-Muakkadah after Jumu'ah prayer and then two Rak'ahs so that both "Ahaadess" (Prophetic sayings) to these effects are acted upon.

Q 2: What are the excellences of Sunnat-e-Muakkadah?
A. The Holy Prophet said: Allah Almighty will build a house for the believer who offers twelve Rak'ahs of "Tataww'o" (Nafl prayer means Sunnat-e-Muakkadah) daily in addition to "Fard" prayer for the sake of Allah.

(Four Rak'ahs before Zuhr prayer and two after Zuhr, two after Maghrib, two after 'Ishaa and two before Fajr prayer).

Q 3: Which Rak'ahs of all these are the most important?
A. Of all these Sunnat-e-Muakkadah, the two Rak'ahs of Fajr are the most important. The importance can be gauged from the fact that some Muslim scholars describe it as "Waajib". These Sunnats can not be offered sitting or while riding or in train in motion without any valid reason like that of Witr prayer. An Hadees in this respect says: do not forgo Fajr Sunnat under any circumstances even if enemy horses (forces) come pounding on you. After Fajr, the most important Sunnat are the four Sunnat of Zuhr prayer which are offered before Fard prayer. About these Sunnat an Hadees stressed: he will not attain my (Prophet's) intercession who abandons these Sunnat. After Zuhr Sunnat, the most important are the Sunnat of Maghrib prayer. An Hadees says: the one who offers two Rak'ahs (Sunnat) after obligatory prayer of Maghrib without talking to anybody, his (this) prayer is lifted up to "Illi-yeen" (a place in the seventh heaven under empyrean where the names of the believers deserving Paradise are entered and sheets of their actions are maintained) and then are the post-Zuhr's two Rak'ahs (Sunnat) and post-'Ishaa's two Rak'ahs (Sunnat).

Q 4: Will one have to offer Sunnat prayer if missed or not?
A. If one whose Fajr prayer was missed offers Fajr prayer before the Sun reaches the zenith should also offer Sunnat and if he has offered obligatory prayer but Sunnat were missed then he does not need to offer them. But it is better to offer the missed Sunnat after the Sun has risen. Offering the prayer before Sun rise is forbidden.
*No other Sunnats than Fajr's are to be offered if missed, omitted.
As for Zuhr and Jumu'ah Sunnats, if one missed pre-Zuhr or pre-Jumu'ah's four Rak'ahs (Sunnat) and offered obligatory prayer then he should offer these Sunnat after the obligatory prayer is over provided the time is there i.e. the stipulated time of the prayer is not running out. It is better to offer them after "Fard" and then the post-Zuhr's or post-Jumu'ah's Sunnat.

Q 5: Can Nafl prayer be offered or not after Jama'at has been established?
A. No Nafl prayer even Sunnat-e-Muakkadah can be offered after Jama'at has been established except the Sunnat of Fajr and that too when one is sure to join Jama'at even Qa'adah after completing Sunnat otherwise not. These Sunnat should neither be offered adjacent to the row of Jama'at nor behind the row but at such a place in mosque that there is a cover between him and the Jama'at. And in case one finds Imaam (Jama'at) in Rukoo and he does not know whether it is the first Rakah's Rukoo or of the second then he should abandon Sunnat and join Jama'at.

Q 6: Will talk between the interval of Sunnat and Fard prayer vitiate Sunnat or not?
A. Talk between the interval of Sunnat and Fard prayer does not vitiate Sunnat. However, its reward is curtailed. So is the case with all those things,acts which are forbidden during prayer. It is also Makrooh to delay performance of the post-Fard Sunnat without any valid excuse, though it will be observed if delayed.

Q 7: What is recited in the first Qa'adah of four Rak'ahs Sunnat?
A. Only "Attahiyat (Tashah-hud)" is recited in Qa'dah Ulaa (first sitting posture) of four Rak'ahs Sunnat-e-Muakkadah. If one recites Durood Shareef by mistake in it then he will have to observe Sajdah Sahv in Qa'dah Akheera. Sana and Ta'awuz are also not recited in the third Rak'ah of these Sunnat. As for other four Rak'ahs Sunnat, prayer of "Mannat" (vow) and Nafl prayer one has to recite Durood Shareef in Qa'dah Ula and recite Sana and Ta'awuz in third Rak'ah.

Q 8: Can Nafl prayer be offered sitting or not?
A. Nafl prayer can be offered sitting even though one is able to offer these standing. But it is better to offer Nafl in standing posture as an Hadees says: the prayer offered while sitting is half of that offered while standing that means the reward is halved. However, the reward will not be curtailed if one is compelled to offer Nafl sitting owing to some valid excuse. Likewise, it is better to offer the post-Witr two Nafl prayer standing.

Q 9: How to offer Nafl prayer sitting?
A. The one who wants to offer Nafl prayer sitting should sit in Tashah-hud(sitting posture for observing Qa'dah) and fold the hands below the navel while doing Qiraa-at as is done in Qiyaam. And while observing Rukoo he should bow his head so much that it comes close to the knees.

♥ Source and Contribution:  Muhammad Rafi Ul-Haq(محمد رفیع الحق)

Bid'aa - Innovation in Islam

بـــــــــــــــــــســم الله الرحمن الرحــيــــــــــــــــم

Bid'aa - Innovation in Islam

Any invented act or path in the religion that is made to compete or resemble the Shari'a and that is followed for the same purpose as Shari'a is supposed to be followed.

The Sharee'ah definition of Bid'ah is: 

"A newly invented way [beliefs or action] in the religion, in imitation of the Sharee'ah (prescribed Law), by which nearness to Allaah is sought, [but] not being supported by any authentic proof - neither in its foundations, nor in the manner in which it is performed."
Al-I'tisaam of ash-Shaatibee (1/37).

Allah's Messenger Muhammad(صلى الله عليه وآله و صحبه و سلم) said,

1. "Beware of the newly-invented matters, for every such matter is a bid'ah and every bid'ah leads astray, and everything that leads astray is in the Fire,"[Reported by Aboo Daawood, Tirmidhee and others, no. 2549 in Saheehul-Jaami' without, "... every thing that leads astray is in the Fire ...", and hadith no.28 in an-Nawawees Forty Hadith]. 
2. "Every innovation is misguidance and going astray" Reported by Abu Daawood (no. 4607), at-Tirmidhee (no. 2676) and it is saheeh. Ibn Hajr authenticated it Takhreej Ahaadeeth Ibn ul-Haajib (1/137). 
3. The Messenger(صلى الله عليه و آله و صحبه و سلم) also warned against the People of Innovation, from befriending, supporting or taking from them saying: "Whoever innovates or accommodates an innovator then upon him is the curse of Allaah, His Angels and the whole of mankind." Reported by Bukhaaree (12/41) and Muslim (9/140) 
4. Allah's Messenger(صلى الله عليه و آله و صحبه و سلم) also said, "Whoever enacts a GOOD SUNNAH into Islam, he will get the reward of it and of all those who act upon it up to the Day of Judgment," [Sahih Muslim]

What if someone asks...

Q.) How do you respond to the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و آله و صحبه و سلم)'s two "contradicting" statements? (i.e. point number 4 contradicting the other points)

The reply to this is:
Who is the one who said, "Whoever enacts a good sunnah into Islaam ... ?" He is the same one who also said, "... every bid'ah leads astray." It is not possible for a phrase to eminate from someone who is truthful and proven to be truthful, such that it would deny and negate another phrase of his, and it is absolutely impossible for any speech of Allaah's Messenger sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam to be self-contradictory, nor is it possible to refute any particular meaning by claiming it to be contradictory.

Whoever thinks that the words of Allaah's Messenger (صلى الله عليه و آله و صحبه و سلم) are self-contradictory, then let him look again, for indeed this kind of thought eminates from a person possessing thoughts that are either deficient or limited. Indeed it is completely impossible that one would find a contradiction in the words of Allaah, the Most High, or that of Allah's Messenger(صلى الله عليه و آله و صحبه و سلم).

If this is so, then it should be clear that the hadith, "... every innovation leads astray ..." does not contradict the hadith "Whoever enacts a good sunnah into Islaam ..." for the Prophet(صلى الله عليه و آله و صحبه و سلم) said, "Whoever enacts a good sunnah into Islaam...," while innovations are not from Islaam. And he (صلى الله عليه و آله و صحبه و سلم) said "... a good sunnah ..." while innovation is not good. So he sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam made a distinction between enacting a Sunnah on the one hand and enacting an innovation on the other.

In any case, there is a reply that no one should have a problem with - that the meaning of, "Whoever enacts a sunnah ..." is, 'Whoever revives a sunnah that was present and then was lost.' Therefore it means that a matter has been revived, and thus in this way "... enacting a sunnah ..."is relative and secondary just as (in the case of 'Umar(Razi'Allahu Anhu), where his use of) the word bid'ah (innovation) was relative and secondary in the sense that it involved the revival of a sunnah that had been abandoned.

There is even a second reply that can be given: That is the background of the whole hadith, for it is a story concerning the tribe that came to see the Prophet(صلى الله عليه و آله و صحبه و سلم) while being in exceptionally difficult circumstances. So the Prophet(صلى الله عليه و آله و صحبه و سلم)urged that donations be given to them, and hence one man form the Ansaar came forward with a bag of silver in his hand which was almost too heavy for him to carry. He placed it down before the Messenger(صلى الله عليه و آله و صحبه و سلم) This made the face of the Prophet(صلى الله عليه و آله و صحبه و سلم) glow with joy and happiness and so he said, "Whoever enacts a good sunnnah into Islaam will have the reward of it and the reward of oil those who act upon it until the Day of Resurrection." So we have here that the meaning of " ... enacting a sunnah ..." means to enact an action in the sense of implementing it and not in the sense of setting up a new thing into the sharee'ah. Hence the meaning of his(صلى الله عليه و آله و صحبه و سلم) saying, "Whoever enacts a good sunnah into Islaam ..." turns out to be, 'Whoever acts upon a good sunnah in the sense of implementing it as opposed to introducing a new thing in the sharee'ah,' for that would be prohibited as he(صلى الله عليه و آله و صحبه و سلم) said, "... every bid'ah leads astray."

This matter has also been indicated by Imaam Maalik (rahimahullaah) in a reported saying of his that ought to be recorded in golden ink. And it is his saying:

"Whosoever introduces into Islaam an innovation, which he deems is good, then he has claimed that Muhammad has betrayed (the trust of conveying) the Message. Read the saying of Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic: 'This day I have completed your Religion for you, and I have perfected My favour upon you, and I am pleased with Islaam as a Religion for you.'
[Surat-ul-Maa'idah: 3]

So whatever was not (part of) the Religion on that day, is not (part of) the Religion on this day. And the last part of this ummah (nation) will not be rectified, except by that which its first part was rectified by."

Indeed, Allaah Subhaanu wa ta'ala has said:

• "So let those who oppose his (Muhammad's sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam) command beware that they will be afflicted with a trial or a painful punishment."
  (An Nûr 24:63)

• “This day have I perfected your religion for you, completed my favour upon you, and have chosen for you Islaam as your religion”
  (Surah Al-Ma’idah 5:4)

• “And We have revealed to you a Book explaining everything” (Surah An-Nahl 16:89),

• “We have neglected nothing in the Book” (Surah Al-An’am 6:37)

• "So if you obey him (i.e. Muhammad (صلى الله عليه و آله و صحبه و سلم)), then you will be guided” (Surah Al-Furqan 25:54)

• "And who is more astray then the one who follows his own whims and desires devoid of revelation” (Surah Al-Qasas 28:50)

Al-'Irbaad ibn Saariyah, , reports that the Prophet(صلى الله عليه و آله و صحبه و سلم) said, "....

I have left you upon clear guidance. Its night is like its day. No one deviates from it after me except that he is destroyed."
Reported by Ahmad, Ibn Maajah (no. 43) and al-Haakim. It is declared saheeh by Shaikh al-Albaanee in as-Saheehah (no. 937). 

It is reported that Al-Musayyib Bin Rafi’ Al-Asadi said,

► “We only follow, we do not innovate; we follow behind and do not start anything (in the religion), and we will never stray as long as we adhere to the narrations.”
– [Al-Harawi, Dhamm Al-Kalam wa Ahlihi, vol. 2, pg. 265.]

*****

• "Practice Sunnah with patience, Stop where the companions had stopped, Say as they had said and Abstain from what they had abstained from. What was sufficient for them, can be sufficient for you." ~Imam Awzaa'ee (Rahimahullah)

► Lastly, I am also a learner just like you, so please forgive me if i am wrong somewhere. May Allah save us all from a Bid'dah which leads us to hell.
Astagfirullah.
Aameen.

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The Most Important Sunnah

السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته

 

Invitation to Islam

 

بـــــــــــــــــــســم الله الرحمن الرحــيــــــــــــــــم

 

•     لَقَدۡ كَانَ لَكُمۡ فِىۡ رَسُوۡلِ اللّٰهِ اُسۡوَةٌ حَسَنَةٌ لِّمَنۡ كَانَ يَرۡجُوا اللّٰهَ وَالۡيَوۡمَ الۡاٰخِرَ وَذَكَرَ اللّٰهَ كَثِيۡرًا ؕ‏
  Verily in the messenger of Allah you have a good example for him who looketh unto Allah and the last Day, and remembereth Allah much.
  Holy Qur’an (33:21)

•     اِنَّ اللّٰهَ وَمَلٰٓٮِٕكَتَهٗ يُصَلُّوۡنَ عَلَى النَّبِىِّ ؕ يٰۤـاَيُّهَا الَّذِيۡنَ اٰمَنُوۡا صَلُّوۡا عَلَيۡهِ وَسَلِّمُوۡا تَسۡلِيۡمًا
  Lo! Allah and His angels shower blessings on the Prophet. O you who believe! Ask blessings on him and salute him with a worthy salutation.
  Holy Qur’an (33:56)

Here is an Important question for a Muslim who loves his/her Creator...

The Prophet of Islam Muhammad[صلى الله عليه وسلم], did many things during his life that are indeed worth remembering and undeniably worth following by the Believers. But, what was the foremost mission of the Prophet[صلى الله عليه وسلم] that none could or should ever overlook…

There are number of individuals and also large and small “Groups of Brothers”, who traveled long distances from their homes, to inform and repeatedly remind our Muslim Brothers and Sisters at great length, the minuscule details of how the Prophet[صلى الله عليه وسلم] dressed himself, behaved and lived his simple and honest life. I wish and pray that these individuals and Groups would also propagate the primary purpose and the foremost mission of the Prophet[صلى الله عليه وسلم]’s life with the equal prominence, if not more.

One may ask what was the most important mission that the prophet accomplished against all the odds and earned Allah’s Choicest pleasure? OR; What was the mission which Allah (S.W.T.) did not want the Prophet[صلى الله عليه وسلم] to fail into or to overlook? The answer is found in the following verse of the Holy Qur’an.

•     يٰۤـاَيُّهَا الرَّسُوۡلُ بَلِّغۡ مَاۤ اُنۡزِلَ اِلَيۡكَ مِنۡ رَّبِّكَ‌ ؕ وَاِنۡ لَّمۡ تَفۡعَلۡ فَمَا بَلَّغۡتَ رِسٰلَـتَهٗ‌ ؕ وَاللّٰهُ يَعۡصِمُكَ مِنَ النَّاسِ‌ ؕ اِنَّ اللّٰهَ لَا يَهۡدِى الۡقَوۡمَ الۡـكٰفِرِيۡنَ‏
  O Messenger! Make known that which hath been revealed unto thee from thy Lord, for if thou do it not, thou will not have conveyed His message. Allah will protect thee from mankind. Lo! Allah guideth not the disbelieving folk.
  Holy Qur’an (5:67)

Going back to the subject of the primary purpose and the foremost mission of the Prophet[صلى الله عليه وسلم]’s life, we discover from the Qur’an and the history that it was of INVITING those who were “outside”, to enter the Deen of Allah. Besides inviting the Pagan Arabs to Islam, the Prophet[صلى الله عليه وسلم] also conveyed the Revealed Message of Allah to the “People of the Book”. History records that prophet did send several missions to various places and did convey the Message of Allah to the Leaders of the “People of the Book”. He also entertained dialogues with them.

Doing Daw’ah to non Muslims and in particular to the “People of the Book” should be the Mission of those who regard the prophet to be “a good example for him”. Since large number of Christians are entering Islam in our times, it is worth devoting more time and effort in that direction. Our duty is to convey the Message of Allah which appears in the Torah, the Injeel and the Furqan with a suggestion of observing these True Messages that have been over shadowed by the non revealed guidance. If any who fails to judge by what Allah has Revealed therein, they are those who rebel.

My Dear Brothers and Sisters, this is no undue criticism of any particular group or any individual, but an eye opener for all the Believers who wish to preacher put into practice – the life style of Our Beloved Prophet Muhammad[صلى الله عليه وسلم].

• وَيَقُوۡلُ الَّذِيۡنَ كَفَرُوۡا لَوۡلَاۤ اُنۡزِلَ عَلَيۡهِ اٰيَةٌ مِّنۡ رَّبِّهٖؕ اِنَّمَاۤ اَنۡتَ مُنۡذِرٌ‌ وَّ لِكُلِّ قَوۡمٍ هَادٍ
  …But thou (O, Muhammad) art truly a Warner, and to /every people a Guide.
  Holy Qur’an (13:7)
  

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