Allah Almighty bestows favours and grants bounties upon His slaves, during all times, to help expiate their sins, elevate their ranks and make up for their shortcomings. Allah Almighty legislated for us a month during which we observe fasting, another which we perform pilgrimage in, and one or two extra days to fast during the remaining months. He also legislated prayer during the night and the Witr prayer, the Ud’hiyah (Eid sacrifice), and the ‘Aqeeqah, (birth sacrifice) and many other virtuous deeds. All of these are ways of opening different channels for righteous deeds and methods to energise us by shifting from one form of worship to another, and therefore, not become weary, but continue to worship Allah Almighty. This is indeed a great favour from Allah upon us.
Moreover, we find that any act of worship which causes the people to come closer to Allah Almighty is mentioned in His Book or in the Sunnah of His Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam (may Allah exalt his mention ). The problem is in those people who try to come close to Allah and gain His reward by looking outside these two sources, and thus, divert from the right path.
The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, said during his farewell pilgrimage, “I have left with you that, which if you adhere to, you will never go astray, the Book of Allah”.
And Allah Says (what means): “… And whatever the Messenger has given you – take; and what he has forbidden you – refrain from. And fear Allah; indeed, Allah is severe in penalty.” [Qur’an: 59:7]
Allah Almighty dispraised the Arabs during the pre-Islamic period because they interfered in that which they had no right to, and started changing what is lawful to unlawful, and what is unlawful to lawful, and recommending that which Allah Almighty did not. They used to shift around the times of the sacred months and change the names of the months because they did not want to wait for this long period to finish.
Ibn Katheer, may Allah have mercy upon him, said: “Dealing with the legislations of Allah with one’s corrupt mind and reasoning, and changing the rulings of Allah according to their desires, and deeming lawful what is unlawful, were some of the things for which Allah dispraised the disbelievers.”
The Arabs had also forbidden upon themselves slaughtering certain animals, by setting some laws which Allah Almighty did not legislate, so Allah Almighty dispraised them for that. Thus we know that worshipping Allah Almighty is something which is not permitted except through that which He The Most High has legislated Himself and through His Messenger, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam. Anyone who wants to draw closer to Allah and gain His reward, love and pleasure through other channels, will get the contrary result, because Allah Almighty does not accept from people except that which He legislated for them.
During the month of Rajab, which is one of the sacred months, some Muslims make some wrong practices through which they intend to come closer to Allah Almighty and gain His forgiveness, love and pleasure. But they seek that through acts of worship which He did not permit nor legislate, and although they are seeking something good, they do not achieve it.
The point is not only in having a sincere and good intention, but the deed itself must be legitimate, or else it will be rejected. Who dare say that a deed is rejected by Allah Almighty? Who told him that the deed is rejected? The one who told us this is the truthful Prophet Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, who said: “He who introduces any deed into our matter (Islam) which is not from it then it is rejected.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
‘Aa’ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, narrated that the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, said: “He who performs any deed which is not according to what we are upon (i.e., the Prophet and his Companions) then it is rejected.” [Muslim] Therefore, any deed which is not in accordance with what Islam has come with is rejected.
One of the practices during the month of Rajab which was done during the pre-Islamic period, is to offer sacrifices and call it ‘Far’a and ‘Ateerah. The Muslims scholars, may Allah have mercy upon them, said Islam voided this practice. Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, said: “No Far’a’. No ‘Ateerah.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
Ar-Raghaa’ib prayer is another thing which people innovated which was never legislated by Allah nor His Messenger, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam. The scholars, may Allah have mercy upon them, said: “There is no authentic Hadith regarding a special prayer during the month of Rajab, and all the narrations concerning Ar-Raghaa’ib prayer are fabricated lies.” They also said: “This prayer was innovated after the fourth century and was never known before that, and no one from the scholars during the first virtuous generations ever mentioned it.”
People fast all the month of Rajab although there is no authentic Hadith in this regard and so this practice should be abandoned. On the other hand, those who are in the habit of fasting regularly, even in during other months, may fast. Moreover, the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, never fasted any month in full other than Ramadan, as narrated by ‘Aa’ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, ‘The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, used to fast so much until we would think that he always fasts, and would stop fasting until we would think that he never fasts. I never saw the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, fast a full month except during Ramadan, and he never fasted more than fasting during the month of Sha’baan.’ [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
It was narrated that ‘Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, used to hit men’s hands until they would start using them to eat during the month of Rajab, and he would say, ‘What is the virtue of Rajab? It is a month which the people during the pre-Islamic period used to honour, but when Islam came, people gave this up.’
Abu Bakr, may Allah be pleased with him, saw his household preparing during the month of Rajab, and said to them, ‘Did you make Rajab like Ramadan?’. Then he threw the baskets and broke the cups.
Another innovation is what they call the Rajabiyyah, which is an ‘Umrah during Rajab which has no evidence proving it. As a matter of fact, the only month during which ‘Umrah would have a certain prescribed reward is the month of Ramadan. The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, said: “’Umrah during Ramadan equals performing Haj” , in another narration he said, “Equals Haj with me.”
Therefore, anyone who performs ‘Umrah during Rajab for the sake of Rajab has committed a mistake. Moreover, the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, never performed ‘Umrah during Rajab even though he has performed ‘Umrah four times.
A Muslim should know that if he seeks the pleasure of Allah, and wants to adhere to obedience, he would find many acts to perform, so there is no need to add to what the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, instructed us to do; let us perform what he, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, taught us, and he who does that, is guaranteed to succeed and prosper in this life and the Hereafter.
Ibn Mas’oud, may Allah be pleased with him, said: “Imitate and do not innovate (in religion)’. Therefore, we should not add anything to the religion baselessly, and we should adhere to the Sunnah of the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam. Some of the scholars said, ‘Sunnah is like to Noah’s Ark, anyone who sticks to it would be rescued.”
Article source: http://www.islamweb.net/emainpage/
The vast Mercy of Allah
Mercy is one of the attributes of Allah The Almighty. It is from the mercy of Allah The Almighty that calamities and trials expiate one’s sins, and a believer is rewarded for showing patience through these calamities. Another aspect that manifests the mercy of Allah The Almighty is that He conceals our sins and faults in this life and forgives them in the Hereafter.
One of the Names of Allah is, the Most Merciful and the ever Merciful. Allah The Almighty created mercy in one hundred parts, but only sent down one part amongst mankind and kept the rest for the pious slaves in the Hereafter. Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him, reported that the Messenger of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam (may Allah exalt his mention), said: “Allah has divided mercy into 100 parts; and He retained with Him 99 parts, and sent down to earth one part. Through this one part creatures deal with one another with compassion, so much so that an animal lifts its hoof over its young lest it should hurt it”. [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
In another narration, the Messenger of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, said: “Allah created 100 units of mercy on the Day He created the heavens and the earth. Each one of them can contain all that is between the heaven and the earth. Of them, he put one on earth, through which a mother has compassion for her children and animals and birds have compassion for one another. On the Day of Resurrection, He will perfect and complete His mercy”. (That is He will use all the hundred units of mercy for his slaves on that Day).”
Moreover, Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him, reported that the Messenger of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, said: “Were an infidel to know the mercy Allah has, none would despair of His Paradise.” [Muslim]
The mercy of Allah The Almighty far exceeds that of the mother for her child. `Umar ibn al-Khattaab, may Allah be pleased with him, reported: “Some prisoners were brought to the Messenger of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, amongst whom there was a woman who was running (searching for her child). When she saw a child among the captives, she took hold of it, pressed it against her belly and breastfed it. The Messenger of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, said: ‘Do you think this woman would ever throw her child into fire?’ We said, ‘By Allah, she would never throw the child into fire.’ Thereupon the Messenger of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, said: ‘Allah is more kind to his slave than this woman is to her child’. [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]
Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him, reported: “I heard the Messenger of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, saying: ‘When Allah created the creatures, He wrote in the Book, which is with Him over His Throne: ‘Verily, My Mercy prevailed over My Wrath.’ [Al-Bukhari and Muslim] This is the mercy that the believer’s soul resorts to after death, as the Messenger of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, indicated to the Companions, may Allah be pleased with them.
Allah The Almighty extends His mercy to his disobedient slaves whenever they repent and turn to Him for forgiveness. Allah The Almighty bestows on him His mercy and forgives their sins and conceals them for him. Ibn ‘Abbaas, may Allah be pleased with him, reported: “Once a group of the disbelievers came to Messenger of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, who had killed many people and committed adultery excessively. They came to him, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, and said, ‘What you are saying and calling people to is a good thing, but is there a way to expiate for what we have committed in the past?’ Then the following verse was revealed (which means): {And those who do not invoke with Allah another deity or kill the soul which Allah has forbidden [to be killed], except by right, and do not commit unlawful sexual intercourse. And whoever should do that will meet a penalty. Multiplied for him is the punishment on the Day of Resurrection, and he will abide therein humiliated. Except for those who repent, believe and do righteous work. For them Allah will replace their evil deeds with good. And ever is Allah Forgiving and Merciful} [Qur’an, 25: 68-70]
No one can limit this vast mercy of Allah The Almighty nor prevent it from reaching the people. With His mercy, Allah The Almighty guides people, forgives their sins, accepts their good deeds and overlooks their wrongdoings.
Article source: http://www.islamweb.net/emainpage/
Words of wisdom
*The best knowledge is that which benefits, and Allah only causes knowledge to benefit a person when he acts upon it once having learnt it and He does not cause it to benefit the person that leaves it after having learnt it.
*Knowledge without action is like a tree without fruit.
*You are now in the preliminary world, in front of you are two places of abode, out of which you must live in one of. You have not been given assurance of protection, causing you to feel safe. Nor have you been granted acquittal, causing you to slacken.
*If I were to know with full certainty that all of my life was but an hour, Why should I not renounce it And dedicate it to righteousness and obedience.
*You are submerged in careless hope, the time or death you do not Know of Do not be fooled by good health, for it is from the most painful of illnesses. Every soul is by its day, In the morning all hope will be removed. So act with good deeds and work hard Before you are prevented from acting.
*Ibn Mas’ood, radiallahu ‘anhu, said: “Learn, learn, and once you have learned, act.” [isnaad hasan]
*Abu Hurairah, radiallahu ‘anhu, said: “The example of knowledge not acted upon is that of a treasure none of which is spent in the way of Allah the Mighty and Majestic.”
*Az-Zuhree said: “The people will never be pleased with the statement of a scholar who does not act, nor of a person who acts but has no knowledge.” [hasan]
*Whoever sought knowledge, intending the knowledge alone (i.e. without action) would not benefit by it. Yet whoever sought knowledge intending to act upon it, would benefit, even by a little knowledge.
*Knowledge rests upon action, action rests upon sincerity, and sincerity to Allah brings about understanding of Allah the Mighty and Majestic.
*Whoever seeks knowledge in order to act upon it will be humbled by his knowledge but whoever seeks it for other than that, will be increased by it in arrogance.
*The time will soon come, if you live long, that knowledge will become a source of beautification, just as a person beautifies himself with a garment.”
*If Allah grants you knowledge, in return worship Him and do not make your goal merely narrating to the people.
*The scholar remains ignorant with regard to what he has learned until he acts according to it, and only then does he become a true scholar.
*The knowledge of the hypocrite is in his speech, yet the knowledge of the believer is in his actions.
*Act upon your knowledge O man, and you will profit, for knowledge does not benefit unless one is proficient in action. Knowledge is a beauty, the taqwaa of Allah being its ornation, and the pious are busy with the knowledge they possess. Learn, and then act, as much as you are able to, and do not let amusement nor arguing distract you. Teach the people and always intend to benefit them, and beware! Beware of weariness befalling you.
*Whoever speaks good things yet acts unrighteously, Allah does not accept his good speech. Whereas he who speaks good things and works righteous acts, his speech is raised by his good deeds. That is because Allah says: To Him ascend the goodly word, and the righteous action raises it. [Al-Faatir 35:10]
*Knowledge is the tool of action. So if a person spends his whole life gaining knowledge, when will he act?!
[From the book Iqtidaa-ul-’Ilmil-’Amal (The Need Knowledge Has of Action) by al-Khateeb al-Baghdaadee]
Warning against despair of Allah’s Mercy
One should never despair of the Mercy of Allah because this is a grave major sin. We can see so many verses in the Qur’an that Allah the Almighty remind us about this grave sin. Here, let’s see some of it.
Allah the Almighty Says (what means):
{And who despairs of the Mercy of his Lord except for those astray?} [Qur’an 15: 56]
{Indeed, no one despairs of relief from Allah except the disbelieving people.} [Qur’an 12:87]
{And do not throw [yourselves] with your [own] hands into destruction.} [Qur’an 2: 195]
Commenting on the verse, some scholars said that when the slave of Allah commits a sin and then thinks that his sin will not be forgiven and, therefore, he abandons seeking forgiveness and repentance to Allah, this is the destruction meant in the verse. We seek refuge in Allah form that.
In a Qudsi Hadith (sacred narration), the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam (may Allah exalt his mention), narrated that Allah the Almighty Said: “A slave committed a sin and he said, ‘O Allah, Forgive me my sin.’ Allah The Almighty Said, ‘My slave committed a sin and came to realise that he has a Lord Who Forgives sins and Calls to account (the sinner) for the sin.’ He then again committed a sin and said, ‘My Lord, Forgive me my sin.’ Allah, The Exalted, Said, ‘My slave committed a sin and came to realise that he has a Lord Who Forgives sins and Calls to account for the sin.’ He again committed a sin and said, ‘My Lord, Forgive me for my sin.’ Allah, The Exalted, Said, ‘My slave committed a sin and came to realise that he has a Lord Who Forgives sins and Calls to account for the sin. O slave, do what you like. I Have Granted you forgiveness.’” [Muslim]
There is also the example of that man who used to drink alcohol and was brought to the Messenger of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam. ‘Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated: “During the lifetime of the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, there was a man called ‘Abdullah whose nickname was Himar (donkey), and he used to make the Messenger of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, laugh. The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, lashed him because of drinking (alcohol). One day, he was brought to the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, for the same charge and was lashed. On that, a man among the people said, ‘O Allah, Curse him! How frequently he is brought (to the Prophet for such a charge)!’ The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, said, ‘Do not curse him, for by Allah, I know that he loves Allah and His Messenger.’” [Al-Bukhari]
The wording of another narration reads: A man said: “‘Why does he do so? May Allah Fail him.’ The Messenger of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, said, ‘Do not support the devil against your brother.’” [Al-Bukhari]
Hence, a slave should never despair of the Mercy of Allah, The Almighty. Rather, whenever he commits a sin, he should ask for forgiveness and repent to Allah. None is infallible. Regarding the righteous people who are promised Paradise, Allah the Almighty Says (what means): {And hasten to forgiveness from your Lord and a garden as wide as the heavens and earth, prepared for the righteous.} [Qur’an 3: 133]
Indicating the characteristics of the righteous people, Allah Says (what means): {And those who, when they commit an immorality or wrong themselves [by transgression], remember Allah and seek forgiveness for their sins - and who can forgive sins except Allah? - And [who] do not persist in what they have done while they know. Those - their reward is forgiveness from their Lord and gardens beneath which rivers flow [in Paradise], wherein they will abide eternally; and excellent is the reward of the [righteous] workers.} [Qur’an 3: 135-136]
Even a righteous person may commit a grave major sin or do an immorality. Nevertheless, he immediately gives up the sin and returns to his Lord, seeking forgiveness and repentance.
Here is also the example of the Messengers, may Allah exalt their mention. Allah the Almighty Says (what means): {Indeed, in My presence the messengers do not fear. Otherwise, he who wrongs, then substitutes good after evil - indeed, I Am Forgiving and Merciful.} [Qur’an 27: 10-11]
Moosa (Moses), may Allah exalt his mention, who was directly addressed by Allah, killed a person and then said as Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {My Lord, indeed I have wronged myself, so Forgive me,” and He Forgave him. Indeed, He is the Forgiving, the Merciful.} [Qur’an 28: 16]
Allah the Almighty tells us about the righteous people who made mistakes, Allah Says (what means): {And the one who has brought the truth and [they who] believed in it - those are the righteous. They will have whatever they desire with their Lord. That is the reward of the doers of good. That Allah May Remove from them the worst of what they did and Reward them their due for the best of what they used to do.} [Qur’an 39: 33-35]
The verses stand as evidence that they did bad actions.
Article source: http://www.islamweb.net/emainpage/
The Heart of Chechnya mosque in the capital Grozny.
