Naseehah August 30, 2011
Posted by ummibraheem in Hadith, Islam.Tags: An-Nawawi, Jamal Az-Zarabozo
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Bismillah. This is hadith #7 in An-Nawawi’s collection, and it is the hadith about naseehah. This one should be fun 
Muslims these days love to give each other *cough* “advice” 
On the authority of Abu Ruqayya Tameem ibn Aus (may Allah be pleased with him) the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “The religion is naseehah.” The people said, “To whom?” The Prophet (peace be upon him) replied, “To Allah and to His Book and to His Messenger and to the Leader of the Muslims and to the common folk of the Muslims.” (Recorded by Muslim.)
The Meaning of Naseehah
Naseehah is very difficult to translate into English, so the author intentionally left it in the transliterated form. We often see it translated as “sincerity.” While it is definitely one of the interpretations, naseehah is a much more complex word. If you ever listen to a khateeb talking about words in the Arabic language, you realize how complex and deep the words are and it really makes you appreciate that the Qur’an is in Arabic. subhaanAllah
The word naseehah has two basic linguistic meanings:
1) To clean, purify or improve something of all unwanted elements, as in purifying honey from unwanted materials.
2) to unite or join something together that is scattered or separated, as in sewing a garment.
Naseehah implies that one advise and guide others to what is best for them in this life and the hereafter. This was the job of the Messengers. When fulfilling the obligation of naseehah, we are following the sunnah of the noblest of creation – the Messengers.
Importance Of
This hadith shows just how important the concept of naseehah is in Islam. There are many other hadith as well which demonstrate this as well.
In another very well known hadith, the Prophet sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said: “The rights of a Muslim over another are six.” It was asked, “What are they, O Messenger of Allah?” He replied, “When he meets him, (more…)
Muhajjabah Mistake #3: Heels August 29, 2011
Posted by ummibraheem in Islam, Uncategorized, Women and Islam.Tags: hijab
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If anyone reads my blog, they know I’m very old school Muslimah I proudly say that my husband is the head of house and I try to obey him because I love him and because I love Allah. I wear an abaya because I believe otherwise it’s not hijab (unless you’re wearing a niqab… ) I don’t wear make up and perfume outside; I wear them at home (which, sadly, is an absurdity these days!) And…
I. Hate. High. Heels.
Oh, but they’re so pretty, you say. Let me rephrase then:
I hate it when Muslimahs think high heels are ok and “cute” to wear in public. Wear them at home all you want, until it’s painful, I suppose. But if you are a muhajjabah, or care to be, then PLEASE leave them at the door as you leave the house.
Why? Because of what they do to your posture. I recently went to a get together and the sisters were all talking about how great high heels were because of “what they do for my posture.” WHAT?! Are you kidding me? I was thinking, “Girl, they’re haraam because of what they ‘do for your posture’!” I didn’t say that, though, because I didn’t know how to without offending every high heel wearing girl in the room…which was everyone.
Look at this picture. Do you see the girl on the right? That is what is called unnatural posture. Aside from all of the medical reasons why you shouldn’t wear heels — heel pain, foot pain, calf pain, back pain, bunions….shall I go on? — High heels should not be worn because they accentuate your … God given assets And if I have to explain why those should not be accentuated in public…then this may not be the blog for you 
Allah says:
And tell the believing women to reduce [some] of their vision and guard their private parts and not expose their adornment except that which [necessarily] appears thereof and to wrap [a portion of] their headcovers over their chests and not expose their adornment …. (an Nur, 31)
As I tell my hubby, there are so many women’s issues that the shaykhs have to address lightly because they may “offend” the female Muslim masses. I wish there was a female shaykha that would emerge and lay it all out like it is. We need to hear it like it is.
So my lovely ladies, buy heels to your hearts content, but on your way out, please check them in at the door
Signs of the Day of Judgment August 28, 2011
Posted by ummibraheem in Hadith, Islam, The Hereafter, Uncategorized.Tags: the Hereafter series
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Bismillah. Now that we have discussed death and the journey through it, we will be moving towards the actual day of judgment. And before we discuss that, we will begin our discussion on the signs of the day of judgment.
As we have mentioned many times before, belief in the day of resurrection is one of the basic principles of faith, without which there is no true faith. Allah says: Righteousness is not that you turn your faces toward the east or the west, but [true] righteousness is [in] one who believes in Allah , the Last Day, the angels, the Book, and the prophets… (2:177)
How Close is Close?
We know that the Hour is very close. One may say, however, that how can it be considered close if we were given news of it over 1,000 years ago? The answer to that question is that it is close in the knowledge and estimation of Allah, even if it may seem far off by human standards. “Verily, they see it [the torment] afar off. but We see it [quite] near.” (70:6-7)
Also to be noted is that what is left of the world is very little to what has already passed. For example, if someone owed another man money and they set a time limit of 50 years, after 45 years pass, the due date will seem quite soon. It’s all about perspective and relativity, I suppose
In Bukhaari and Muslim, it is narrated from ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) that the Messenger of Allah sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said:
“The lifespan of this ummah, in comparison with the past nations, is like the time from ‘asr prayer until the sun sets.”
In another hadith, ‘Utbah ibn Ghazwaan said that the Messenger of Allah (S) said:
This world is nearly finished… and there is nothing left of it but a little, like the little bit of water at the bottom of a vessel which will soon be drunk. You are moving from this world to a world that has no end, so go it with the best that you can.” (Muslim)
Nobody Knows
As we mentioned in the hadith of Jibreel, when Jibreel asked the Prophet (S) about the time of hour, he replied that he did not know any more than the questioner. Allah subhaana wa ta’aala says in the Qur’an: “They ask you, [O Muhammad], about the Hour: when is its arrival? Say, “Its knowledge is only with my Lord. None will reveal its time except Him. It lays heavily upon the heavens and the earth. It will not come upon you except unexpectedly.” They ask you as if you are familiar with it. Say, “Its knowledge is only with Allah , but most of the people do not know.” (7:187)
And what is the wisdom behind keeping the time of the Hour concealed? (more…)
Who Ate the Third Loaf? August 27, 2011
Posted by ummibraheem in Awesome Lectures, The Prophets.Tags: Eesa, isa, Jesus
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Bismillah. This is an awesome video. I’d never heard this story (I can’t believe it!) about ‘Eesa (Jesus).
Sheeth and Idris August 25, 2011
Posted by ummibraheem in Uncategorized.1 comment so far
Bismillah. This is a continuation of our Prophet’s series. There is very little known about these two Prophets – Sheeth (Seth) and Idris (Enoch), so we will be mentioning them both in one post.
Sheeth
Sheeth, or Seth, is actually not mentioned in the Qur’an. This Prophet of Allah is mentioned in the hadith of the Prophet sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam.
The Prophet sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said, “Fifty Scriptures were sent down upon him.” (Ibn Hibbaan)
It is mentioned by some of the scholars that he is the son of Adam, and that Adam gave him the responsibility of leading when he was passing away. So Adam gave wasiyya to Sheeth to take care of the affairs of mankind. Sheeth assumed responsibility after his father, Adam.
That is almost all of what we know about Sheeth ‘alayhis salaam.
Idris
Most of the scholars say that Idrees is a nabiy that came between Sheeth and Nuh ‘alayhis salaam. There is an opinion of Ibn Mas’ood that Idrees is the same nabiy as Ilyaas, but that is a lonely opinion; the rest say that he was a nabiy between Sheeth and Nuh.
Ibn Ishaaq said that he was the first man to write with a pen. He was born when Adam still had 308 years of his life to live.
Allah did mention of Idrees in the Qur’aan: “And mention in the Book (the Quran) Idris (Enoch).Verily! He was a man of truth, (and) a Prophet. And We raised him to a high station.” (19:56-57)
During the Night Journey, the Prophet sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam passed by him in fourth heaven. In a hadith, Ibn ‘Abbaas asked Ka’b what was meant by the part of the verse which says, ”And We raised him to a high station.” Ka’b explained:
Allah revealed to Idris: ‘I would raise for you every day the same amount of the deeds of all Adam’s children’ – perhaps meaning of his time only. So Idris wanted to increase his deeds and devotion. A friend of his from the angels visited and Idris said to him: ‘Allah has revealed to me such and such, o could you please speak to the angel of death, so I could increase my deeds.’ The angel carried him on his wings and went up into the heaven. When it was the fourth heaven, they met the angel of death, who was descending down towards earth. The angel spoke to him, about what Idris had spoken to him before. The angel of death said: ‘But where is Idris?’ He replied, ‘He is upon my back.’ The angel of death said: ‘How astonishing! I was sent and told to seize his soul in the fourth heaven. I kept thinking how I could seize it in the fourth heaven when he was on the earth?’ Then he took his soul out of his body, and that is what is meant by the verse: ‘And We raised him to a high station.’
SubhaanAllah. You can’t run from destiny. This is the extent of the sure knowledge we have of Idrees ‘alayhis salaam.
next we will begin the story of Nuh, or Noah.
A Safety Net & Matters of the Heart August 23, 2011
Posted by ummibraheem in Hadith, Islam.Tags: An-Nawawi, Jamal Az-Zarabozo
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Bismillah. This is a continuation our an-Nawawi series. We are on the discussion of hadith #6. I really loved this section. My husband is always telling me about sadd ad-dharaai (blocking the means), but it’s just not the same as coming from a scholar As my in laws say: ghar ki gosht aur daal baraabar. (Something like that.) Which basically means that something cooked fancy at home is just like something plainly cooked at a restaurant…because there’s nothing exotic/special about home
This is some beautiful advice that, sadly, many people (including myself) simply think they are too strong to need to follow… And since I loved this section so much, I will just be quoting it out of the book
“But he who falls into the doubtful matter fall into that which is unlawful.”
This is true for two reasons. First, whoever does not fear Allah and delves into the doubtful matters will eventually fall into the forbidden matters. Actually, it will make it very easy for him to fall into the forbidden matters. Abul Qaasim Qabari once said,
The detestable is a check-post between a person and unlawful matters. Whoever indulges frequently in detestable things will become victim to unlawful matters also. Similarly, allowable acts are a check-point between a person and detestable matters. Whoever crosses the check-post often will commit detestable acts as well.
Second, if someone often delives in the doubtful matters, his heart will be affected and he will lose the light of guidance and piety. He will then be involved in forbidden acts without even know it and he will be blamed for this because he was not cautious in the first place. (more…)
SOS August 21, 2011
Posted by ummibraheem in 'Umar Al-Ashqar: Paradise and Hell, du'aa`, The Hereafter.add a comment
Save our souls, O Allah, from the punishment of the grave.
In our last post we talked about the grave, which included some of the very disturbing things that can happen to a person in the grave were they an evil soul. This post will inshaAllah discuss some things that can save from that horrible punishment. The majority of this is from my ‘Umar al Ashqar book. Love the series.
What Saves from the Punishment of the Grave?
The Good Deeds
The best cure is prevention If someone regularly commits righteous deeds, then inshaAllah they will be prepared for death, even if it comes suddenly.
In a hadith in Abu Haatim, the Prophet sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said
The deceased can hear their footsteps as they depart from him. If he was a believer, prayer stands by his head, fasting stands to his right, zakaah stands to his left and good deeds such as honesty, upholding ties of kinship and treating people kindly stands at his feet. He is approached from the direction of his head, and prayer says, “You cannot get past me.” Then he is approached from the right, and fasting says, “You cannot get past me.” Then he is approached from the left, and zakaah says, “You cannot get past me.” Then he is approached from the direction of his feet, and his good deeds such as honesty, upholding ties of kinship and treating people kindly says, “You cannot get past me.”
Then it is said to him, “Sit up,” and he sits up. Then the sun is made to appear to him as if it is about to set, and it is said to him, “Who is this man man who was among you? What do you say about him?” (more…)
Cain and Abel August 10, 2011
Posted by ummibraheem in Islam, The Prophets.add a comment
Bismillah. Now that we’ve finished the story of our father Adam, we will tell the story of his two sons – Cain and Abel or Qabil and Habil.
I always have a hard time remembering what the name of the good and evil one are It’s just so easy to mix them up. So my husband gave me a really easy way to remember. What is the Arabic word for murder? Qatl. So, Qatl – Qaabil No more forgetting! (inshaAllah)
Allah describes the evil end and consequence of transgression, envy and injustice in the story of the two sons of Adam, Habil and Qabil. One of them fought against the other and killed him out of envy and transgression, because of the bounty that Allah gave his brother and because the sacrifice that he sincerely offered to Allah was accepted. The murdered brother earned forgiveness for his sins and was admitted into Paradise, while the murdered failed and earned a losing deal in both lives.
Beautiful Woman
Allah says in Surah al-Ma’idah:
And recite to them the story of Adam’s two sons, in truth, when they both offered a sacrifice [to Allah ], and it was accepted from one of them but was not accepted from the other. Said [the latter], “I will surely kill you.” Said [the former], “Indeed, Allah only accepts from the righteous [who fear Him]. If you should raise your hand against me to kill me – I shall not raise my hand against you to kill you. Indeed, I fear Allah , Lord of the worlds. Indeed I want you to obtain [thereby] my sin and your sin so you will be among the companions of the Fire. And that is the recompense of wrongdoers.” And his soul permitted to him the murder of his brother, so he killed him and became among the losers. Then Allah sent a crow searching in the ground to show him how to hide the disgrace of his brother. He said, “O woe to me! Have I failed to be like this crow and hide the body of my brother?” And he became of the regretful.” (27-31)
The scholars of the Salaf and later generations have said that in every one of Adam and Eve’s pregnancies, they were given twins - one boy and one girl. Adam was commanded to marry the female twin of one set to the male of another. That is, they were not to marry their own twin. Habil’s sister was not beautiful, whereas Qabil’s sister was beautiful. Qabil wanted his twin to himself, but Adam refused. He ordered both brothers to make a sacrifice and then left for Hajj.
Allah Accepts from Those With Taqwa
After Adam ‘alayhis salaam left, they offered their sacrifices. Abel (Habil) offered a fat lamb, and he was a shepherd. While Cain offered (more…)
Hadith #6: Crystal Clear August 5, 2011
Posted by ummibraheem in Hadith, Islam.Tags: An-Nawawi, Jamal Az-Zarabozo
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Bismillah. This is a continuation of hadith #6 in our An-Nawawi series. The hadith begins with this:
“That which is lawful is clear and that which is unlawful is clear and between the two of them are doubtful [or ambiguous] matters about which not many people are knowledgeable.”
The Prophet sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam begins by dividing all acts into three categories: the permissible, the forbidden and those acts between the first two.
For scholars and knowledgeable people, most acts fall into the clearly cut categories of permissible or haraam. The minority of acts are doubtful matters. To add to that, the more important a matter is, the more the evidences for that and the clearer the evidences are.
Clearly Permissible and Clearly Forbidden
There are countless acts which are clearly permissible in Islam. Sometimes they are explicitly mentioned as being permissble, other times they just fall under the general guidelines of the Qur’an and Sunnah.
Clearly forbidden acts are stated similarly. For example, Allah says in the beginning of Surah Al-Ma’idah: “Prohibited to you are dead animals, blood, the flesh of swine, and that which has been dedicated to other than Allah , and [those animals] killed by strangling or by a violent blow or by a head-long fall or by the goring of horns, and those from which a wild animal has eaten, except what you [are able to] slaughter [before its death], and those which are sacrificed on stone altars, and [prohibited is] that you seek decision through divining arrows. That is grave disobedience. This day those who disbelieve have despaired of [defeating] your religion; so fear them not, but fear Me. This day I have perfected for you your religion and completed My favor upon you and have approved for you Islam as religion. But whoever is forced by severe hunger with no inclination to sin - then indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.”
Clearly forbidden acts also include those for which Allah prescribed a punishment or made thread of a punishment.
So Which One is Doubtful?
How do we consider an act to be “doubtful”? (more…)
Death: the Grave August 3, 2011
Posted by ummibraheem in Islam, The Hereafter.add a comment
Bismillah. We’re continuining in our journey through death. Now we’re going to discuss what the soul experiences after death - the angels coming, the punishments of the grave and so forth.
Results Time
The scary thing about the grave it that once you’re there, you know whether you’re destined for hell or whether you’re destined for heaven. We ask Allah to make us amongst those who are destined for Jannah. It’s results time in the grave. Our whole test of life, we gave, and now we are going to see either the benefits of it….or the sad consequences.
Haani’, the freed slave of ‘Uthmaan ibn ‘Affaan, narrated that whenever ‘Uthmaan (may Allah be pleased with him) stood over a grave, he would weep until his beard was wet. It was said to him, “You remember Paradise and Hell and you do not weep, but when you remember the grave you weep?” He said: “I heard the Messenger of Allah say:
‘The grave is the first stage of the Hereafter. Whoever passes through it safely, whatever comes after that will be easier for him, but if he does not pass through it safely, whatever comes after that will be harder for him.’
And the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah on him) said: ‘I have never seen any (disturbing) scene, more terrifying than the grave.’” [Tirmidhi]
Come Forth
Ibn Maajah narrated from Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace be upon him) said:
The deceased is attended by the angels. If he was a righteous man, they say, ‘Come forth, O good soul which was in a good body. Come forth praiseworthy, and receive the glad tidings of rest and provision, and a Lord Who is not angry.’ They continue to say this until it comes out, then they take it up to heaven. They ask for it to be opened, and it is asked, ‘Who is this?’ They say, ‘So and so.’ Then it is said, ‘Welcome to the good soul which was in a good body. Enter praiseworthy and receive the glad tidings of rest and provision, and a Lord Who is not angry.’ They continue to say this until they take him up to the heaven in which is Allah, may He be blessed and exalted. But if he was an evil man, they say, ‘Come forth, O evil soul which was in an evil body. Come forth blameworthy and receive the tidings of a boiling fluid and dirty wound discharges and other torments of similar kind, all together! (cf. 38:57-8).’ They continue to say this until it comes forth, then they take it up to heaven. They ask for the heaven to be opened for it, and it is asked, ‘Who is this?’ They say, ‘So and so.’ It is said, ‘There is no welcome for the evil soul which was in an evil body. Go back blameworthy.’ So the gates are not opened for it, and it is sent down from heaven and goes back to the grave…’
The Squeezing
Every person will be squeezed in the grave: man, woman, righteous, immoral, adult or child. The Prophet (peace and blessings upon him) said, “There is squeezing in the grave; if anyone were to have been saved from it, it would have been Sa’d ibn Muaadh.” [Musnad Ahmad]
The grave squeezed even Sa’d ibn Muaadh – the one for whom (more…)
