Good Companionship

by Seeker

There is no doubt that company has its effects, good company makes one good and bad company makes one bad. Therefore, one must always adopt the companionship of pious people.

It is stated in the Glorious Qur’an:

And restrain yourself along with those who pray to their Lord in the morning and evening, seeking His pleasure; and let not your sight fall on anything besides them; desiring the adornment of the life of this world? And do not follow him whose heart We have made neglectful of Our remembrance. (18:28)

The noble Prophet sal Allahu `alayhi wa sallam said:

“A good companion is the one that helps you when you are remembering Him (Allah Almighty) and reminds you when you forget.”

~ Transmitted by Suyuti in al-Jami` us-Saghir (pp. 244 #3999).

“A person is on the religion of his companions. Therefore let every one of you carefully consider the company he keeps.”

~ Transmitted by Tirmidhi.

“The parable of a good friend and a bad friend is that of a carrier of musk and a blacksmith. The carrier of musk will give you some, or you will buy some, or you will notice a good smell; but as for the blacksmith, he will burn your clothes or you will notice a bad smell.”

~ Transmitted by Muslim in as-Sahih.

“A good companion is the one whose sight makes you remember Allah Almighty and whose actions make you remember the afterlife.

~ Transmitted by Suyuti in al-Jami` us-Saghir (pp. 247 #4063).

The Commander of the Faithful `Umar al-Faruq radi Allahu `anh said,

“Do not get involved in something that does not benefit you. Stay away from your enemy, and avoid your friend unless he is trustworthy because no one is like a trustworthy man… seek the advice of people who fear Allah Almighty.

~ Transmitted by al-Muttaqi in Kanz al-`Ummal (9:75 #25565).

Forgiveness

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The blessed companion `Uqbah bin `Āmir radi Allahu `anh said that he had the honour to meet the noble Messenger of Allah Prophet Muhammad sal Allahu `alayhi wa sallam and he rushed to hold his sal Allahu `alayhi wa sallam blessed hand. Our Master Prophet Muhammad sal Allahu `alayhi wa sallam also took a hold of the hand of `Uqbah and said,

“`Uqbah, The best manners of the world and the Hereafter are that you associate with those who disassociate with you, and forgive those who do injustices to you and whoever wishes for an extended life and abundance of sustenance should treat his relatives with kindness.”

~ Transmitted by Hakim al-Mustadrak `alal Sahihayn (5:224 #7367).

Our Master Prophet Muhammad sal Allahu `alayhi wa sallam said:

“Charity does not lessen wealth, and if a person forgives someone’s mistake, than Almighty Allah increases his (i.e. the forgiver’s) honour and respect. Whoever adopts humbleness for Allah, Allah elevates his rank.”

~ Transmitted by Muslim as-Sahih (#2588).

The noble Prophet Musa `alayhis salam once said,

“O Allah, the Exalted! Who is the most dignified one before you?” Allah replied, “One who forgives despite having the ability to take revenge.”

~ Transmitted by Bayhaqi in Shu`ab al-Iman (6:319 #8327).

`Ubay bin Ka`ab radī Allahu ‘anh narrates: the Master of Creation Prophet Muhammad sal Allahu `alayhi wa sallam said,

“Whoever prefers that a palace be built for him in Paradise, should forgive the person who is unjust to him, and give to the one who deprives him; and mend relations with the one who tries to sever relations with him.”

~ Transmitted by Hakim al-Mustadrak `alal Sahihayn (3:12 #3215).

Jarīr radī Allahu `anh narrated: the beloved Prophet sal Allahu `alayhi wa sallam said:

“Whoever is not merciful to others, will not receive mercy; whoever does not forgive, will not be forgiven.”

~ Transmitted by Ahmed in Musnad (7:71 #19264).

`Anas bin Malik radi Allahu `anh narrates: the Master of Madinah al-Munawwarah sal Allahu `alayhi wa sallam said,

“It will be announced on the Day of Judgment, ‘Whoever has there reward with Allah’s Mercy let them stand up and enter Paradise.’ It will be asked, ‘Who has this reward?’ The announcer will reply, ‘It is for those who forgave.’ Then thousands of people will stand up and enter Paradise, without any accountability.”

~ Transmitted by Tabarani in al-Mu`jam al-Awsat (1:542 #1998).

Umm al-Mu`minin Sayyidah `Ayesha (in a lengthy narration) said that the noble Prophet sal Allahu `alayhi wa sallam would never return an evil act with an evil act, he sal Allahu `alayhi wa sallam would rather forgive and tolerate.

~ Transmitted by Tirmidhī al-Jami` (3:409 #2023).

A person entered the court of the Merciful Prophet sal Allahu `alayhi wa sallam and said, “O Prophet sal Allahu `alayhi wa sallam, how often should we forgive our servants?” The noble Prophet sal Allahu `alayhi wa sallam remained silent. He iterated again, “O Prophet sal Allahu `alayhi wa sallam how often should we forgive our servants?” “Seventy times a day”, replied the beloved Prophet sal Allahu `alayhi wa sallam.

~ Transmitted by Tirmidhī al-Jami` (3:381 #1956).

The Prophet sal Allahu `alayhi wa sallam would recite the Qur’an and listen to it from others in Ramadan

by Seeker

ʿAbdullah ibn Masʿūd had the honour of listening to the entire Qur’an being recited by the beloved Messenger of Allah sal Allahu ʿalayhi wa sallam every Ramadan, and in the last year he heard it twice.

ʿAbd Allah ibn ʿAbbas was asked as to whose recitation was the finest after the beloved Messenger sal Allahu ʿalayhi wa sallam, he replied,

“The recitation of ʿAbdullah ibn Masʿūd; for the beloved Prophet sal Allahu ʿalayhi wa sallam would recite the Glorious Qur’an to him once every Ramadan, and twice in the year of his passing.” (Narrated by Ibn Saʿad).

ʿAbdullah ibn Masʿūd also has the honour of having the beloved Prophet sal Allahu ʿalayhi wa sallam listen to his recitation of the Glorious Qur’an. It is narrated by al-Bukhari and Muslim on the authority of ʿAbdullah ibn Masʿūd,

“The Prophet sal Allahu ʿalayhi wa sallam asked me to recite the Glorious Qur’an. I pleaded, ‘(how can I) recite to you when the Glorious Qur’an was revealed upon you?’ He sal Allahu ʿalayhi wa sallam replied, “Verily, I love to hear it from others.” I recited Surah an-Nisa, upon reciting the verse, ‘And what time will it be…’, he sal Allahu ʿalayhi wa sallam said, “That is enough.” When I glanced towards his blessed face his sal Allahu ʿalayhi wa sallam blessed eyes were moist with tears.”

Interpretation of Bismi’llāhi ’r-Rahmāni ’r-Rahīmi

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Interpretation of Bismi’llāhi ’r-Rahmāni ’r-Rahīmi
Shaikh `Abd al-Qādir al-Jailānī

Bismi’llāhi – The Solitary [al-Mutawahhid], the Unique [al-Mutafarrid], the Self-Sufficient [al-Mustaghnī bi-Dhāti-hi] who is independent of all the beings involved by means of His Names and His Attributes, the garments of occurrence and possibility.

’r-Rahmāni – For His servants whose external appearances are His Names and His Attributes, He has bestowed His Light upon them and extended His Shade toward them in their ways of life.

’r-Rahīmi – For them in their afterlife, He will deliver them from the darkness of the possibility expressed in the language of the Sacred Law as the Inferno [as-Sa`īr] and Hellfire [al-Jahīm], and He will guide them to the meadow of contentment and the garden of surrender.

 

 

 

Three main Arabic vowels

by Seeker

Main vowels

The three main Arabic vowels are:

fatHah: The first main vowel in Arabic is called a fatHa (feht-hah). A fatHa is the equivalent of the short “a” in “hat” or “cat.” Occasionally, a fatHa also sounds like the short “e” in “bet” or “set.” Much like the other vowels, the way you pronounce a fatHa depends on what consonants come before or after it. In Arabic script, the fatHa is written as a small horizontal line above a consonant. In English transcription, which I use in this book, it’s simply represented by the letter “a,” as in the words kalb (kah-leb; dog) or walad (wah-lahd; boy).

damma: The second main Arabic vowel is the damma (dah-mah). A damma sounds like the “uh” in “foot” or “book.” In Arabic script, it’s written like a tiny backward “e” above a particular consonant. In English transcription, it’s represented by the letter “u,” as in funduq (foon-dook; hotel) or suHub (soo-hoob; clouds).

kasra: The third main vowel in Arabic is the kasra (kahs-rah), which sounds like the long “e” in “feet” or “treat.” The kasra is written the same way as a fatHa — as a small horizontal line — except that it goes underneath the consonant. In English transcription, it’s written as an “i,” as in bint (bee-neht; girl) or ‘islaam (ees-lahm; Islam).

Is Hajj (pilgrimage) obligatory every year?

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hajj: the annual pilgrimage to Makkah al-Mukarramah which is one of the five pillars of Islam. (Glossary of Islamic Terms, pp. 8)

The obligation of Hajj is proven through the following verse of the Glorious Qur’an:

“And Hajj to the House is a duty that mankind owes to Allah, for whoever can bear the way.” (3:97).

The following blessed narrations will simply inform us whether Hajj is obligatory every year or once in a person’s lifetime.

—–

1st Hadith

Narrated ʿAlī bin ʿAbd al-ʿA’la an-Abeeh: from Abu al-Bakhtarī: from ʿAlī bin Abī Tālib radi Allahu ʿanhum:

When the following verse was revealed: “And Hajj to the House is a duty that mankind owes to Allah, for whoever can bear the way.” (3:97).

They asked, “O Messenger of Allah (yā RasūlAllah) sal Allahu ʿalayhi wa sallam, is Hajj (obligatory) every year?” He sal Allahu ʿalayhi wa sallam remained silent. They asked “Is it (obligatory) every year?” He sal Allahu ʿalayhi wa sallam said, “No; if I had said yes, it would have become obligatory.” (laa walao qultu: na`am la’wajabat).

Then the following verse was revealed: “O you who believe! Ask not about things which, if made plain to you, may cause you trouble.” (5:101).

Recorded by Ibn Mājah in as-Sunan (ch. the obligation of Hajj [baab ul-fard’il hajj] #2884), Tirmidhi graded it hasan.

2nd Hadith

Narrated Muhammad ibn Abu ʿUbaydah an-Abeeh: from al-Aʿmash: from Abu Sufyan: from `Anas bin Malik radi Allahu ʿanhum that:

They said, “O Messenger of Allah (yā RasūlAllah) sal Allahu ʿalayhi wa sallam, is Hajj (obligatory) every year?” He sal Allahu `alayhi wa sallam said, “If I were to say yes, it would have become obligatory, and if it were to become obligatory, you would not (be able to) do it, and if you did not do it you would be punished.”

Recorded by Ibn Mājah in as-Sunan (ch. the obligation of Hajj [baab ul-fard’il hajj] #2885), Hafidh al-Busayri graded it sahih.

3rd Hadith

Narrated ʿAbd Allah ibn ʿAbbās that Aqraʿ bin Hābis radi Allahu ʿanhum asked the beloved Prophet sal Allahu ʿalayhi wa sallam:

“O Messenger of Allah (yā RasūlAllah) sal Allahu ʿalayhi wa sallam, is Hajj (obligatory) every year, or just once?” He sal Allahu `alayhi wa sallam replied: “It is just once, and whoever is able to perform Hajj voluntarily, let him do so.”

Recorded by Ibn Mājah in as-Sunan (ch. the obligation of Hajj [baab ul-fard’il hajj] #2886), Abu Dāw’ūd in as-Sunan (ch. the obligation of Hajj [baab ul-fard’il hajj] #1721) grading it sahih.

The miraculous healing of our Master Muhammad sal Allahu `alayhi wa sallam

by Seeker

Muhammad bin Mubārak Harbī has reported: ʿAlī Abul Kabīr was visually impaired. He once had a dream in which he was blessed with the vision of the Prophet Muhammad sal Allahu ʿalayhi wa sallam. The beloved Prophet sal Allahu ʿalayhi wa sallam passed his blessed hand over the eyes of ʿAlī Abul Kabīr. When he awoke the next morning, he had regained sight!’

~ Recorded by an-Nabahānī in Hujjat’ullāhi ʿalal- ʿĀlamīn (2:526).

Sheikh Taqi ud-Dīn Abū Muhammad ʿAbd us-Salām has stated:

My brother Ibrāhīm had lumps in his throat and was in severe agony. He once had a dream in which he beheld the beloved Prophet sal Allahu ʿalayhi wa sallam. (In his dream) He requested, “O beloved Prophet sal Allahu ʿalayhi wa sallam! I have suffered from unbearable pain due to this illness.” The beloved Prophet sal Allahu ʿalayhi wa sallam replied, “Your plea has been listened to.” By the blessings of the Noble Prophet sal Allahu ʿalayhi wa sallam, my brother was cured.’

~ Recorded by an-Nabahānī in Hujjat’ullāhi ʿalal- ʿĀlamīn (2:526).

Sheikh Abū Ishāq has stated, “I had a spot of leprosy on my shoulder. I was blessed with the vision of the beloved Prophet sal Allahu ʿalayhi wa sallam in my dream. I mentioned this illness to the beloved Prophet sal Allahu ʿalayhi wa sallam; the noble Messenger sal Allahu ʿalayhi wa sallam passed his blessed hand over my shoulder. When I awoke in the morning, I had been cured of leprosy, al’hamdu lillah.”

~ Recorded by an-Nabahānī in Hujjat’ullāhi ʿalal- ʿĀlamīn (2:531).

A noble saint has stated that Sheikh Hammād had blisters on his hand. The painful blisters had burst. The physicians unanimously gave their opinion that the hand should be amputated. Sheikh Hammād stated, “I spent the entire night in severe pain and restlessness on the roof of my home. I pleaded and made Duʿā (supplication) in the court of Allah for shifā’ (cure).

I fell asleep, and was blessed with the blessed vision of our Master Muhammad sal Allahu ʿalayhi wa sallam. I pleaded, “Yā RasūlAllāh sal Allahu ʿalayhi wa sallam, heal my hand of blisters.” He sal Allahu ʿalayhi wa sallam said, “Stretch out your hand.” I did as advised. The beloved Messenger sal Allahu ʿalayhi wa sallam passed his blessed hand over it and said to me, “Rise.” As I stood , al’hamdu lillah my hand had been cured of blisters through the blessings of the beloved Prophet sal Allahu ʿalayhi wa sallam.

~ Recorded by an-Nabahānī in Hujjat’ullāhi ʿalal- ʿĀlamīn (2:528).

 

 

 

Sayyid Sabih Rehmani and Owais Qadri – khusha woh din

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Owais Qadri reciting on Layl al-Qadr

by Seeker

poems recited:

`arsh e haq hai

maiN Madīnay chala

woh kamāl e husn

meerāN waliyoN ke imām

tera naam Khwaja

alwada alwada mah e Ramazan

du`a

The respect of the Prophet sal Allahu `alayhi wa sallam

by Seeker

Qādī ʿIyad radīyAllahu ʿanh states in al-Shifāʿ (2:44): It is part of the respect of the beloved Messenger sal Allahu ʿalayhi wa sallam that one must respect all things around him. This includes those things that are linked or attached (directly or indirectly) to the beloved Prophet, the places he visited, the places he resided in, all those things that our Messenger sal Allahu ʿalayhi wa sallam touched, everything that was mentioned in praise by him, all of these must be regarded as sacred and respected.” Al’hamdu lillah!

It was this love an obligation that all the blessed Companions, both the Salaf and Khalaf and the entire Ummah of the beloved Prophet sal Allahu ʿalayhi wa sallam respect everything single thing associated to our Master sal Allahu ʿalayhi wa sallam.

Ibn al-Sirrīn radīyAllahu ʿanh states: I informed ʿUbayda radīyAllahu ʿanh that I had some of the blessed hairs of the noble Messenger sal Allahu ʿalayhi wa sallam which were gifted to me by ʿAnas radīyAllahu ʿanh. Having heard this ʿUbayda radīyAllahu ʿanh said, “If I were to receive a single hair of the beloved Messenger sal Allahu ʿalayhi wa sallam this is more beloved to me than everything in the world.”

Umm al-Muʿminīn Sayyidah Saffiyah radīyAllahu ʿanha states: The hair of Abu Mahzura radīyAllahu ʿanh was always tied. Untying his hair would result in it touching the ground. Someone questioned him, “Why do you not cut you hair?” He replied, “I cannot cut my hair, as the Prophet sal Allahu ʿalayhi wa sallam has touched them.” (Al-Shifāʿ (2:44).

ʿĀsim Ahwāl radīyAllahu `anh states: I once saw a blessed bowl of the beloved Prophet sal Allahu ʿalayhi wa sallam, it was kept by ʿAnas radīyAllahu ʿanh. It was very beautiful and was made of the Shamshad wood. It broke, so ʿAnas radīyAllahu ʿanh fixed it using a silver wire. ʿAnas radīyAllahu ʿanh stated, “I presented water to the Prophet sal Allahu `alayhi wa sallam many times in this bowl.”

Ibn al-Sirrīn radīyAllahu ʿanh states that there was iron piece in the middle of the bowl. ʿAnas wanted to change this round iron into gold or silver. However, Talha radīyAllahu ʿanh disagreed, and said, “Never attempt to change that which was made by the beloved Messenger sal Allahu ʿalayhi wa sallam.” After hearing this ʿAnas left it as it was.

This bowl was so valuable, and Nazr bin ʿAnas radīyAllahu ʿanh bought it for eight hundred thousand dirhams.

Once the beloved Prophet visited a place, Saqifa Bani Sawdah with his blessed companions. He asked Sahl bin Saʿad radīyAllahu ʿanh to give him some water to drink. Sahl radīyAllahu ʿanh presented a bowl of water, the beloved Prophet sal Allahu ʿalayhi wa sallam and his blessed companions drank the water. Abu Hazim narrates, “Sahl radīyAllahu ʿanh brought that bowl to us, and we also drank from it. Later ʿUmar bin ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz radīyAllahu ʿanh was gifted the bowl by Sahl bin Saʿad radīyAllahu ʿanh.”

Abu Bakr bin Anbarī radīyAllahu ʿanh states: Amīr al-Muʿāviya radīyAllahu ʿanh wanted the blessed cloak that was given to Kaʿab ibn Zuhayr radīyAllahu ʿanh by the beloved Messenger sal Allahu ʿalayhi wa sallam, after he recited the poem (Qasida Banat Suʿad), but Kaʿab radīyAllahu ʿanh refused saying, “How can I give away this blessed cloak, that was given to be my the noble Prophet sal Allahu ʿalayhi wa sallam?” Later, after the passing of Kaʿab radīyAllahu ʿanh; Amīr al-Muʿāviya radīyAllahu ʿanh purchased the blessed cloak from the family of Kaʿab radīyAllahu ʿanh for twenty-thousand dinars.” (Ibn Hishām, Sharh Qasīda Banat Suʿad)

Qādī ʿIyad radīyAllahu ʿanh states: ʿAbd Allah ibn ʿUmar radīyAllahu ʿanh would approach the mimbar of the Messenger sal Allahu ʿalayhi wa sallam and kiss that blessed place where the Messenger of Allah sal Allahu ʿalayhi wa sallam sat and wipe his hands over his face (for blessings).” (al-Shifāʿ (2:44))

Qādī ʿIyad radīyAllahu ʿanh further states: Imam al-Malik radīyAllahu ʿanh would never ride on any form of transportation in the blessed city of Madinah al-Munawwarah. He would say, “I feel ashamed in front of the Lord Almighty that I take transport on animals on that blessed ground where my Beloved sal Allahu ʿalayhi wa sallam is resting.” (al-Shifāʿ (2:44))

Imam al-Samhudi radīyAllahu ʿanh writes about the teacher of Imam al-Malik radīyAllahu ʿanh, Yahya bin Saeed radīyAllahu ʿanh: Whenever he intended to travel to Iraq he would first approach the mimbar of the beloved Messenger sal Allahu ʿalayhi wa sallam, and after kissing it perform duʿa for a safe journey. (Wafa ul-Wafa (2:442))

Imam Ismaʿil al-Haqqi al-Baghdadi radīyAllahu ʿanh writes: The name of Iyad’s son was Muhammad. Once the king ordered, “Ask the son of Iyad to prepare water (of ablution) for me.” Iyad asked him, “What has my son done that you are not addressing him by his first name?” The king replied, “I am not in a state of ablution, thus I feel ashamed proclaiming his name (Muhammad), without being in the state of ablution.” (Tafsir Ruh al-Bayan (7:185))

Extracted from ‘Respect of the Prophet sal Allahu ʿalayhi wa sallam’.