The First Caliph, Abu Bakr (632-634 A.C.)

The First Caliph, Abu Bakr (632-634 A.C.)
"If I were to take a friend other than my Lord, I would take Abu Bakr as a friend." (Hadith)

Election to the Caliphate
The Prophet's closest Companion, Abu Bakr, was not present when the Holy Prophet (peace be on him) breathed his last in the apartment of his beloved wife of later years, Aisha, Abu Bakr's daughter. When he came to know of the Prophet's passing, Abu Bakr hurried to the house of sorrow.

"How blessed was your life and how beatific is your death," he whispered as he kissed the cheek of his beloved friend and master who now was no more.

When Abu Bakr came out of the Prophet's apartment and broke the news, disbelief and dismay gripped the community of Muslims in Medina. Muhammad (peace be on him) had been the leader, the guide and the bearer of Divine revelation through whom they had been brought from idolatry and barbarism into the way of God. How could he die? Even Umar, one of the bravest and strongest of the Prophet's Companions, lost his composure and drew his sword and threatened to kill anyone who said that the Prophet was dead. Abu Bakr gently pushed him aside, ascended the steps of the lectern in the mosque and addressed the people, saying

"O people, verily whoever worshipped Muhammad, behold! Muhammad is indeed dead. But whoever worships God, behold! God is alive and will never die."

And then he concluded with a verse from the Qur'an:
"And Muhammad is but a Messenger. Many Messengers have gone before him; if then he dies or is killed, will you turn back upon your heels?" [3:144]

On hearing these words, the people were consoled. Despondency gave place to confidence and tranquility. This critical moment had passed. But the Muslim community was now faced with an extremely serious problem: that of choosing a leader. After some discussion among the Companions of the Prophet who had assembled in order to select a leader, it became apparent that no one was better suited for this responsibility than Abu Bakr. A portion of the speech the First Caliph gave after his election has already been quoted in the introduction.

Abu Bakr's Life
Abu Bakr ('The Owner of Camels') was not his real name. He acquired this name later in life because of his great interest in raising camels. His real name was Abdul Ka'aba ('Slave of Ka'aba'), which Muhammad (peace be on him) later changed to Abdullah ('Slave of God'). The Prophet also gave him the title of 'Siddiq' - 'The Testifier to the Truth.'

Abu Bakr was a fairly wealthy merchant, and before he embraced Islam, was a respected citizen of Mecca. He was three years younger than Muhammad (peace be on him) and some natural affinity drew them together from earliest child hood. He remained the closest Companion of the Prophet all through the Prophet's life. When Muhammad first invited his closest friends and relatives to Islam, Abu Bakr was among the earliest to accept it.

He also persuaded Uthman and Bilal to accept Islam. In the early days of the Prophet's mission, when the handful of Muslims were subjected to relentless persecution and torture, Abu Bakr bore his full share of hardship. Finally when God's permission came to emigrate from Mecca, he was the one chosen by the Prophet to accompany him on the dangerous journey to Medina. In the numerous battles which took place during the life of the Prophet, Abu Bakr was always by his side. Once, he brought all his belongings to the Prophet, who was raising money for the defense of Medina. The Prophet asked "Abu Bakr, what did you leave for your family?" The reply came: "God and His Prophet."

Even before Islam, Abu Bakr was known to be a man of upright character and amiable and compassionate nature. All through his life he was sensitive to human suffering and kind to the poor and helpless. Even though he was wealthy, he lived very simply and spent his money for charity, for freeing slaves and for the cause of Islam. He often spent part of the night in supplication and prayer. He shared with his family a cheerful and affectionate home life.

Abu-Bakr's Caliphate
Such, then, was the man upon whom the burden of leadership fell at the most sensitive period in the history of the Muslims.

As the news of the Prophet's death spread, a number of tribes rebelled and refused to pay Zakat (poor-due), saying that this was due only to the Prophet (peace be on him). At the same time a number of impostors claimed that the prophethood had passed to them after Muhammad and they raised the standard of revolt. To add to all this, two powerful empires, the Eastern Roman and the Persian, also threatened the new-born Islamic state at Medina.

Under these circumstances, many Companions of the Prophet, including Umar, advised Abu Bakr to make concessions to the Zakat evaders, at least for a time. The new Caliph disagreed. He insisted that the Divine Law cannot be divided, that there is no distinction between the obligations of Zakat and Salat (prayer), and that any compromise with the injunctions of God would eventually erode the foundations of Islam. Umar and others were quick to realize their error of judgment. The revolting tribes attacked Medina but the Muslims were prepared. Abu Bakr himself led the charge, forcing them to retreat. He then made a relentless war on the false claimants to prophethood, most of whom submitted and again professed lslam.

The threat from the Roman Empire had actually arisen earlier, during the Prophet's lifetime. The Prophet had organized an army under the command of Usama, the son of a freed slave. The army had not gone far when the Prophet had fallen ill so they stopped. After the death of the Prophet the question was raised whether the army should be sent again or should remain for the defence of Medina. Again Abu Bakr showed a firm determination. He said, "I shall send Usama's army on its way as ordered by the Prophet, even if I am left alone."

The final instructions he gave to Usama prescribed a code of conduct in war which remains unsurpassed to this day. Part of his instructions to the Muslim army were:

"Do not be deserters, nor be guilty of disobedience. Do not kill an old man, a woman or a child. Do not injure date palms and do not cut down fruit trees. Do not slaughter any sheep or cows or camels except for food. You will encounter persons who spend their lives in monasteries. Leave them alone and do not molest them."

Khalid bin Waleed had been chosen by the Prophet (peace be on him) on several occasions to lead Muslim armies. A man of supreme courage and a born leader, his military genius came to full flower during the Caliphate of Abu Bakr. Throughout Abu Bakr's reign Khalid led his troops from one victory to another against the attacking Romans.

Another contribution of Abu Bakr to the cause of Islam was the collection and compilation of the verses of the Qur'an.

Abu Bakr died on 21 Jamadi-al Akhir, 13 A.H. (23 August 634 A.C.), at the age of sixty-three, and was buried by the side of the Holy Prophet (peace be on him). His caliphate had been of a mere twenty-seven months duration. In this brief span, however, Abu Bakr had managed, by the Grace of God, to strengthen and consolidate his community and the state, and to secure the Muslims against the perils which had threatened their existence.

Courtesy: http://www.usc.edu

Shab-e-Baraat - The Reality of 15th Night of Shabaan

This lecture explains that reality of the 15th Night of Shabaan and it is not on this night when quran was send to Earth but It was on the Layla-tul-Qadr which is in Ramadhan.

The lecture is available in Urdu at the following links, Click to load.
Lecture 1 / Lecture 2
Scholar: Shaikh Meraj Rabbani

If you are blessed enough to listen to the whole lecture please do comment or provide other authentic sources in light to Quran & Sunnah regarding 15th of Shabaan.

Lecture Courtesy: www.quransunnah.com
'Allah Knows Best'

Women Rights in Islam - Husband Role towards his Wife

Islam lays down certain responsibilities on the husbands regarding their wives. Some of them are given below.

A husband is required to love with his wife in proper manner so that family life goes on smoothly without any problem, conflict and bitterness.

"And live with them in a good manner." (Nisa 19)

Hadrat Anas (Allah be pleased with him) reports that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:
" When a man marries, he gets his religion half perfected. Then he should keep fearing for the next half." (Baihaqi)

While seeking the hand of a woman for marriage, one should keep in mind that she has sweet appearance, good manners, sound character and child-bearing capacities. Hence a male is permitted to have a sight of his female partner before marriage.

Hadrat Jabir (Allah be pleased with him) reports that the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:
" When anyone of you wants to seek the hand of a woman for marriage and he is able to have a look at her, let him do so." (Abu Dawud)

The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) addressed a heavily-attended congregation on the occasion of Hujjat-ul-Widah (Last Hajj) and enjoined upon the Muslims:
"O people! Listen! Behave well towards women, for they are like captives with you. You have no right to treat them harshly unless they rise in disobedience against you. In case they show disobedience, keep your had away in the bed-room. But if they obey you they must not be harassed on various pretexts.

Listen carefully! you have some rights over your wives and your wives have rights over you. They guard your beds against being polluted by others and see that the persons disliked by you must not find entrance in your house. And listen they have their rights over that you should feed and clothe them well."

Your wives should have a place of honors in house. Moreover, you should entertain a good opinion about your wife. She deserves your justice, good treatment, patience, endurance, broadmindedness and large-heartedness. You should behave decently and show tolerance even if she proves lacking in domestic skills, household responsibilities, manners, features and appearance. In such a case her virtues should be appreciated and her drawbacks ignored.

In case you dislike your wife you should not decide on separation for your wife in hot haste: You may have dislike for certain things in her but it may be your subjective opinion which can be changed. If you wait and watch her conduct and behavior sympathetically, your may find in her some such excellent and fine qualities as may compensate her failings."

" .... And if you dislike them, it may be that you dislike a thing while Allah as placed therein abundant good." (Nisa 19)

The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) has elucidated this point further:

"A Muslim wife should not be hated by a Muslim husband. If he dislikes some habits of his wife, he may like some others." (Abu Dawud)

The Holy Qur'an says:
" O you who believe! truly, among your wives and your children are (some that are) enemies to yourselves: so beware of them! But if you forgive and overlook, and cover up (their faults), verily Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful." (Taghabun 14)

The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) has given right guidance in the nature and psychology of womankind in his wise and prophetic words:
" Treat the womankind gracefully. She has been created out of the (man's) rib and the upper most part of the rib is crooked. If you try to straighten it forcibly it will break, while, if you leave it as it is, it would remain. crooked. Therefore treat the woman politely." (Bukhari, Muslim)

A Believer is at his best at his home, as the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) happened to be with his wives and relatives.

Hadrat A'isha (Allah be pleased with him) reports:
"I used to play with dolls along with my female companions. On the arrival of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) thy would hide themselves. But he used to search and send them to me for playing the game." (Bukhari, Muslim)

Spending on family carries great reward to the expender. The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) observed:
" If one spends a dinar in the way of Allah; he spends another dinar to get a slave freed; he give away one dinar as alms to a beggar, and he spends one dinar on his family. Among all these, the dinar spent on the family will earn the best reward." (Muslim)

" O you who believe! save yourselves and your families from a Fire whose fuel is Men and stones....." ( Tharim 6)

We must, therefore, carefully guard not only own conduct, but the conduct of our families, and of all who are near and dear to us.

Addressing the wives of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) Allah, the Exalted said:
" And recite what is rehearsed to you in you homes" (Al-Ahzab 34)
It means not only 'remember', but recite,' 'teach', 'make known', 'publish' the Message which you learn at home from the Holy Prophet (peace and blessing of Allah be upon him), the fountain of spiritual knowledge.

Hadrat Umar ibn Khattab (Allah be pleased with him) would say prayer at night and wake his wife in the morning to say prayers, and recited the verse:
"And direct your family members to offer prayers and be constant therein." ( Ta-Ha 132)

If needed, a Believer is permitted to have four wives at a time. But the binding condition is maintaining equality among them in all respects.

Hadrat Abu Hurairah (Allah be pleased with him) reports that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:
"If a man fails to treat his two wives on equal footing, he will find his half body paralysed on the Day of Resurrection."

For a wife the first prerequisite is the obedience of husband. Pleasure and satisfaction of husband should be the summum bonum of her life. She has to live for his husband and die for him. This is the command of Allah. And this pleasure and satisfaction should come to the busband with a willing heart of the wife without any pressure, coercion and compulsion, otherwise tension will keep building on resulting in collision and breakage.

The Holy Qur'an affirms:

" So righteous women are obedient, and guard in (the husband's) absence what Allah would have them guard." (Nisa 34)

Explaining the duties of a wife towards her husband, the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) has mentioned:

"A Believer does not derive more benefit (through any other source) after that fear of Allah than from the righteous woman. As he commands her, she submits to his command, as he looks towards her, she pleases him, and if he asks her on oath to do anything, she tries to acquit herself of this responsibility, and when he is away from her, she watches his interests in regard to her own self and his property." (Ibn Majah)

Guarding the husband's rights is really a favour from Allah, as it is Allah that guards them.
And this is the height of obedience when the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) warns:
"No wife should observe any fast without seeking permission from her husband." (Abu Dawud)

Every wife has to guard her honor, modesty and chastity at all costs. She has, therefore, to avoid all such situations or surroundings or environment which has the possibilities of posing threat to her modesty. This is not essential only for keeping the love and confidence of her husband grows suspicious of her modesty and purity, no amount of service, devotion and obedience can win his heart and the marital life is bound to dash against the rock of distrust. Hence every wife has to exercise utmost care and vigilance in this sphere of life.

The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) has said:
"If the wife offers prayers five times a day, protects her modesty, and remains faithful to her husband, she is free to enter Paradise by whichever gate she likes."

The wife has no right to leave the house of her husband without his prior permission. Moreover, she should not go to the houses her husband is not having good relation with.

Hadrat Mu'adh bin Jabal (Allah be pleased with him) reports that the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) has said:
"It is not permitted for a woman who believes in Allah to admit a man into her house whose visit is not approved of by her husband or that she should go out of the house against the will of her husband or she should obey the will of someone else in opposition to her husband's wishes."

The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) has said:
" The woman who dies in a state that her husband was in agreement with her, will certainly go to Paradise." (Tirmidhi)

The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) further observed:
" When a husband calls his wife to fulfill his sexual need and she declines and for this reason the husband passes the whole night in anger, the angles send curses upon such a wife till dawn." (Bukhari, Muslim)

Hadarat As'ma (Allah be pleased with her) reports:
"I was once with my neighbor friends that The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) Passed by after saying 'salam' (Peace be on you) to us he (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) remarked:

"Don't show ingratitude whom you owe a debt of gratitude. Anyone of you, for example, lives with her parents in an unmarried state for a long time. Thereafter she gets a husband by the Grace of Allah and she is granted issues by His Mercy. But in spite of all these favors when she grows angry with her husband she utters: "Never have I received anything good from you."

Hadrat A'isha (Allah be pleased with her) used to serve the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) with utmost love and care. She would wash his cloths and his head, combed it, anointed it with oil and rubbed perfume on his holy person. Other ladies of the Companions (Allah be pleased with them) served their husbands with the same care.

In order to indicate the most reverend, esteemed, honorable and glorious position a husband has in the life of a wife, the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) has observed:
" It is forbidden for a human being to lay in prostration before another human. Had it been permissible, every wife would have been ordained by Allah to prostrate before her husband. The husband enjoys such a supreme status that if his whole body is covered with wounds and the wife licks them all with her tongue, the right of her husband is even then not fulfilled in full measure."

I would suggest to read surah An-Nisa Translation as the rights of the women in islam is layed.

Who is Dajjal/AntiChrist Lecture by Bilal Phillips

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What/Who/Why are Jinn? Do they exist?

The Jinn: The literal meaning of Jinn is something hidden or which cannot be seen.

The existence of the Jinn is firmly established by the Qur’an and the authentic Sunnah and the consensus of the Scholars (Ijma’). It suffices to say that the word Jinn and its derivatives occur more than 29 times in the Qur’an. A related word "shaytan" and its plural "shaytana" together occur more than 80 times. In fact, there is an entire Surah called Surah Al-Jinn, which speaks in clear explicit terms about the Jinn.

The reality, which we have to affirm, is that the Jinn live in an established world unseen to us. They eat and drink, and procreate. Similar to Humans, some are righteous while others are not.
The Jinn were created before the creation of mankind. Their origin is from fire. The Qur’an verified these facts in Surah Al-Hijr:

"And verily, We created mankind from sounding clay of altered smooth mud and the jinn We created from smokeless fire." - (Qur’an 15:26-27)

The creation was also reported by Ibn Abbas (RA):
"Two thousand years before (mankind) was created, there were Jinn on (the Earth), and they caused corruption on it and shed blood. Then Allah sent against them a troop of Angels who beat them and cast them away to islands in the seas. So, when Allah said: ‘I am placing (mankind) generations after generations on Earth,’ They (the Angels) said, ‘Will You place therein one who will cause corruption and shed blood’ (Al Baqarah, 2:30), That is: Just as how the Jinn did?? Then Allah said: ‘I know that which you do not know.’"- Al-Hakim

We can not ordinarily see the Jinn, unless they take a material form, which is usually in an unpleasant or ugly form such as a snake or a black dog, as opposed to angels who take pleasant and handsome forms. They can also take a human form.

For example: In the battle of Badr, a kind of Jinn known as Iblis, assumed the form of a man named Suraqah Ibn Malik, and urged the disbelievers to move forward to the battle, saying:
"There is none who can overcome you today" - (Qur’an 8:48)

Then Allah sent the Angel Jibreel against him and when Iblis saw him, he cried out to the disbelievers: "I have nothing to do with you ! I see that which you do not see! I fear Allah, and Allah is severe in retribution," and then he fled.

There are 3 types of Jinn as described in the following authentic Hadith:
The Prophet Muhammad (saws) said:
"There are 3 types of Jinn; One type flies through the air, another type consists of snakes and dogs. A third is based in one place but travels about." - Tabarani and Buhaqi

Jinni:Is a term used by the Arabs to refer to one Jinn. The 3 types of Jinn are as follows:

1. Amir: (Resident Jinn) used to mean that he is one of those who lives with people.
2. Shaytan: Used for a Jinni who is malicious and has become wicked.
3. Ifrit: Used for a Jinni who is stronger and more powerful than a Shaytan.

The way of life for the Jinn is just like Human Beings. They are and will be accountable for their actions, just as Human Beings are.

Allah says in the Qur’an:
"I created Jinn and Mankind only in order that they might worship Me." - (Qur’an 51:56)

There are believers amongst them, who will be rewarded, and disbelievers, who will be punished, as they admit in the following verse from the Qur’an:
"And indeed there are amongst us, Muslims and amongst us, wrongdoers. As for those who accept Islam, they have sought out the right path. And, as for the wrongdoers, they will be firewood for Jahannam." - (Qur’an 72:14-15)

Whenever Allah sent a Prophet to mankind, the Jinn of that time could also receive his message. Thus, some Jinn came to Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) one night and he recited Qur’an to them, and taught them about Islam. - Muslim

They eat and drink, and have Fiqh regulations similar to ours. Just as we eat meat of animals slaughtered in the name of Allah, so do the believers among the Jinn. In addition, the Jinn are allowed to eat the bones of such animals.

With regard to this, the Prophet (PBUH) has instructed us not to use animal bones for istinja (i.e. to clean the private parts after relieving one’s self). The Jinn also have conjugal relations; as evident from this verse:

"Therein (in heaven) are (women) of modest gaze, whom neither human being nor Jinn have touched before."(Qur’an 55:56)

Another verse establishes that they beget children:
"Will you then take (Iblis) and his offspring as protectors in preference to Me, although they are an enemy to you?"(Qur’an 18:50)

The Jinn, as any other living creature, will also die. This is mentioned in the Qur’an:
"Allah will say, ‘Enter you in the company of nations who passed away before you, of men and Jinn, into the Fire." - (Qur’an 7:38)

Iblis, however, has been given respite up to the Day of Resurrection.
"Allah said, you are, then, among those given respite up to the day of the time known (and appointed)." - (Qur’an 38:81-82)

Iblis is the Jinn who disobeyed Allah’s command to prostrate to Adam (as), and was consequently expelled from Heaven. Allah had promised him eternal Hell, but he had asked Allah to give him time before going to Hell to win over Adam’s descendants as their followers. Allah had granted him time, and Iblis has worked towards the destruction of mankind ever since. Shaytan is the term used to refer to Iblis and other disbelieving Jinn.

Iblis has his throne in the sea, and he sends out his dispatchments of shaytan to aggravate people. The dearest of them to him is the one who causes the most fitna (tribulation).
One of his workers comes and tells him "I did not leave (my victim) until I brought about separation between him and his wife." Iblis draws him near and says to him, "Yes, You (are the best)." - Muslim

Because of this evil nature of the shaytan, the term "shayatan" is also used for those disbelieving human beings that are active in corrupting and fighting righteousness. Allah has said:
"Thus, have We made, for every Prophet, an enemy, the shaytan of mankind and Jinn, inspiring one another with, adorned speech by way of deception." - (Qur’an 6:112)

One of the shaytan’s endeavors in their attempt towards human destruction is to go up to the heaven’s and eavesdrop any news to carry on to earth. This news will be passed on to the fortune-tellers.

Hazrat A’isha (RA) said that she asked the Prophet (PBUH) about how it is that the fortune-tellers sometimes foretell something which turns out to be true. He replied, that’s the word of truth that the Jinn manages to catch, and so he comes and whispers in the ear of the fortune-teller, and to one truth he adds one hundred lies. (Bukhari and Muslim)

Man is always accompanied by a Jinn, who tries to incite him to evil, but the Prophet (PBUH) was protected from this harm.

On the authority of Ibn Mus’ud the Messenger of Allah (saws) said:
"There is not any one of you except that he has been assigned his companion from among the Jinn and his companion from among the Angels." They the Companions said, "Even you, O Messenger of Allah," He replied "Even me, except that Allah has helped me against the Jinn, so that I am unharmed, and so he orders me to do nothing but good." - Muslim

Thus terrible thoughts may sometimes occur to us, but we are not responsible for these prompting’s provided, we neither allow them to take root within us, nor act upon them. The fact that we recognise them as evil is itself a sign of faith. It is possible for Jinn to enter human beings and possess them as Allah says:
"Those who consume interest (riba) do not arise except as the one whom Satan has driven to madness by his touch." - (Qur’an 2:275)

Seek protection from the Jinn. In an Authentic hadith related by Bukhari and Muslim, The Prophet (PBUH) has instructed us to recite some supplications to protect ourselves from the harm of Satan. These include:

1. Before having sexual intercourse, we should say:
"Bismillah, Allahumma jannibnash-shaytina wa jannibish-shaytina ma razaqtana."
In the name of Allah. O Allah! Spare us from Satan and repel Satan from what you provide us with.
Then, if a child is conceived, Satan will never harm him.

2. The shaytan like to frequent filthy areas such as toilets. Thus we should ensure that we recite the sunnah supplication (narrated by Al Bukhari and Muslim) before entering the toilet:
"Allahumma inni a’uthu bika minal-khubthi wal-khaba’ith."
O Allah! I seek refuge with you from male and female devils.

3. Reciting Ayat al Kursi (the verse of the throne in Surat Al Baqarah, 2:255) at bedtime ensures that no devil comes close to you until the morning. - Related by Bukhari

4. Saying:
"La ilaha illallahu wah-dahu la sharika lahu; lahul-mulku wa lahul-hamdu wa-hawa’ala kulli shay’in qadir."
There is no God but Allah, alone, without any partner, His kingdom, and His is the praise, and He has power over all things.

100 times in the morning provides protection till the evening. -Bukhari & Muslim

In General, frequent remembrance of Allah and obedience to Him provide immunity from the Shaytan.

Allah Says:
"Whoever withdraws himself from the remembrance of (Allah) most gracious, We assign to him a Shaytan to be his comrade." - (Qur’an 43:36)

In another verse Allah says:
"Satan has no authority over those who believe and place trust in their Lord." - (Qur’an 16:99)

Amongst the things that will keep the believer far away from falling into the snares of Shaytan is to refrain from excess in glances, words, food and socialising with people. By these four doors Shaytan gains power over the son of Adam and obtains what he wants from him.

As for looking, the Messenger of Allah (saws) said:
"Do not follow a glance with a glance. You are allowed the first but not the second."
Narrated in the Musnad (Hadith Book) of Ahmad B. Hanbal (Sahih)

As for excess words, the Prophet (saws) said:
"Part of the excellence of a Man’s Islam is that he leaves what does not concern him." -Ahmad

As for excess food, the Prophet (saws) said:
"A man does not fill a worse vessel than his belly." - Ahmad

Luqman the sage used to say to his son, "My son, when the intestines are full, reflection goes to sleep, wisdom falls silent, and the limbs cease to worship."

As for excessive socializing, it is a chronic disease, which attracts evil. How frequently are socializing and company empty of blessings! How often do the sow enmity! How often they plant rancor in the heart and as long as it remains in the heart it erodes firm mountains of good action! Excessive socializing contains loss for this world and the next world. The slave must only indulge in that amount of socializing which is necessary.

One of the greatest fortresses, which protect the believer against Shaytan, is Knowledge.
The Messenger of Allah (saws) said:
"One Faqih (Someone learned in Religious matters) is stronger against Shaytan than a thousand worshippers." - Tirmidhi

The importance of knowledge for the believer in opposing Shaytan is well illustrated by the following story related by Ibn Abbass:

The Shaytan says to Iblis, "Master we delight in the death of a man of knowledge more than we rejoice in that of a man of worship. We are harmed by the man with knowledge, but not harmed by the man of worship."

Iblis says, "Come on, lets go." So off they go to a man of worship and they come to him while he is worshipping and tell him they want to ask him a question. Iblis says, "Can your lord put this world inside an egg?"

"The worshipper replies, "I don’t know." Iblis says to the Shaytans, "Don’t you see there is disbelief in his answer?"

They then go to a man of knowledge in his circle joking with his companions and say, "We want to ask you a question."

He says, "Ask" so Iblis says to him, "Can your Lord put this world inside an egg?"
He replies, "Yes." Iblis asks, "How?" The man of knowledge says,
"His command when He desires a thing that He says to it ‘Be’ and it is." (Qur’an 36:82)

Iblis says to the Shaytans "Don’t you see that, the man (the worshipper) does not have any effect beyond himself, while this man (the man of knowledge) estranges much of the world from me?"

It is well known that Shaytan is with those who oppose the community. For that reason, the Muslim must keep to the Muslim community because that will keep him far from the errors and snares of Shaytan.

The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said:
"Whoever of you desires the heart of the Garden should cling to the community. Shaytan is with the solitary person and further off from the couple." - Timidhi and Ahmad

The Messenger of Allah (saws) also said:
"The hand of Allah is over the community. Shaytan is with the one who opposes the community." - Ibn Sa’id

References:
The Jinn (In the Qur’an and Sunnah) by Mustafa Ashour
The Article on The Jinn by Abu Al Hasan (Al Jumuah Magazine)

Dua before entering the Mosque

"(I enter) in the name of Allah and peace be upon Messenger of Allah (Hazrat Mohammad), Oh Allah open the gates of blessing for me"

Dua when angry/ when anger strikes

"I seek the refuge of Allah Almighty from the Rejected Shaitaan(Devil)"

Dua while performing Wodoo/Ablution

"Oh Allah! Forgive me and give me abundance and blessing in my house and grant me abundance in my livelihood"

Dua before performing ablution/wodoo

"I begin in the name of Allah, the most affectionate, the merciful"

Dua when looking at a mirror

"Oh Allah Almighty as you made my apperance good make my character good too"

Who are the Ya'jooj and Ma'jooj? (Gog & MaGog)

During the reign of Hadhrat Isa (A.S.) people will live an extremely peaceful life filled with prosperity and abundance. Then the wall which imprisons Ya'jooj and Ma'jooj will break and they will surge forth in large numbers.

"But when Ya'jooj and Ma'jooj are let loose and they rush headlong down every hill"
(Quran 21:97)

Zul Qarnain (A.S.) who was a pious and just Ruler travelled to many lands and conquered them, establishing justice and the Law of Allah therein. Allah Ta'ala provided him with all forms and material strength through which he was able to carry out his conquests and missions.

He once carried out a mission in three directions, the far west, the far east, and then in a northerly direction. It was here that he came across a tribe of people who complained to him about the tribes of Ya'jooj and Majooj which inhabited the land behind two huge mountains and often emerged from behind these mountains to perpetrate acts of anarchy and plunder among them. They requested Zul Qarnain (A.S.) to erect a barrier between themselves and the tribes of Ya'jooj and Ma'jooj so that they could be saved from their atrocities.

With the material strength at his disposal, Zul Qarnain (A.S.) enlisted their physical labor and set about erecting a high wall between the two mountains. The height of the wall or its exact length is unknown. What is known is that the height of this wall reaches that of the summit of both mountains. It is made with blocks or sheets of iron, which is further strengthened by molten lead. In this manner Ya'jooj and Majooj are unable to scale the wall, or cross it, except when it is the will of Allah.

"And when the promise of my Rabb approaces, He will level it to dust" (Quran 18:98)

They are situated in a land of ice which is hidden from our gazes and the exact location of which is unknown. Though many interpretations do exist in this respect, none of these can be said to absolute.

Ya'jooj and Majooj are human beings and according to a narration they are from the progeny of Yafith ibn Nooh (A.S.).

Some Ahadith:
In a lengthy hadith by Hadhrat Nawwas ibn Sam'aan (R.A.) Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) is reported to have said:

"...Allah will send revelation upon Isa/Jesus (A.S.) that 'Such a creation of mine is now going to emerge that no power will be able to stop them. Therefore take my servants and ascend the Mount of Toor.' Then Ya'jooj and Majooj will emerge and surge forth in all their fury. When those from among them who constitute the former part of their army pass the lake of Tiberias (which is in northern Palestine), they will drink up all the water of that lake and by the time those that constitute the latter part of that same army pass the lake, they will say, "There used to be water here (long ago). When they reach the Mount of Khamr in Jerusalem, they will arrogantly proclaim: 'We have conquered the people of the earth, now we will annihilate those in the sky.' So saying they will fire their arrows towards the sky. When the arrows return to the ground they will be blood stained.

In the meantime, Isa/Jesus (A.S.) will be on the Mount of Toor with his followers. At that time the head of and ox will be as valuable as is a hundred dinars to you in this day. [This indicates the scarcity of provisions].

Faced with these hardships, Isa/Jesus (A.S.) and his followers will make dua unto Allah (to remove this calamity). As a result, Allah will cause sores to appear on the necks of each and every individual of these people which will cause their death suddenly. When Isa/Jesus (A.S.) and his followers descend from the Mount of Toor there will not be a single space on the land where the dead rotting bodies of these people is not littered, giving off a horrendous odour.

Isa/Jesus (A.S.) and his followers will once more supplicate unto Allah as a result of which Allah will send down huge birds whose necks will be as thick as that of the necks of camels, and they will dump these bodies in a place where Allah wills. (According to a narration by Tirmidhi, they will be dumped at a place called Nahbal).

Allah Ta'ala will then send down a heavy rain, the waters of which will flow in every part of the earth cleansing it thoroughly. It will rain for a period of forty days. The Muslims will then burn the bows and arrows of the Ya'jooj and Ma'jooj for a period of seven years.

Allah will order the earth to yield forth its crops in abundance and there will be such blessing and prosperity that one pomegranate will be sufficient for a whole group while the peel thereof will suffice to cast a shadow over them. The milk of one camel will be sufficient for many groups while one milk giving cow will be sufficient for a whole tribe. One milk giving goat will be sufficent for a whole family..."(Muslim)

Hadhrat Abu Saeed Khudri (R.A.) narrates that Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) said:

"On the day of Qiyamah Allah will say to Adam (A.S.) to pick out the Jahannamis from his entire progeny. Adam (A.S.) will ask: 'O Rabb, who are they?' Allah will say: 'Nine hundred and ninety nine of a thousand are Jahannami while the one is a Jannati.' On hearing this the Sahaba were overtaken by fear and they asked "O Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam), who will that one Janniti be?' Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) said: 'Do not grieve, the nine hundred and ninety nine will be Ya'jooj and Ma'jooj while you will be the Jannati."' (i.e. your numbers in relation to them will be one in a thousand).(Bukhari and Muslim)

Hadhrat Abdullah ibn Umar (R.A.) says that Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) said:

"Allah Ta'ala divided mankind into ten parts. Nine tenths constitute Ya'jooj and Ma'jooj while the remaining tenths constitutues the rest of mankind."

Hadhrat Zainab bint Jahsh (R.A.) says: "...once Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wassallam) awoke from such a sleep that his face was red and these words were on his tongue: '

"There is none worthy of worship except Allah. Destruction is upon the Arabs on account of the evil which has come close to them. Today a hole as big as this has opened up in the wall of Ya'jooj and Ma'jooj.' ..and Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wasallam) indicated the size of the hole forming a ring with his index finger and thumb."(Bukhari and Muslim)

Hadhrat Abu Hurairah (R.A.) narrates that every day Ya'jooj and Ma'jooj break (dig) through the wall erected by Zul Qarnain (A.S.) until they reach the end of it to that extent that they can actually see the light on the other side. They then return (home) saying that 'We will break through tomorrow.' But Allah Ta'ala causes the wall to revert to its original thickness and the next day they start digging through the wall all over again, and this process continues each day until as long as Allah wills them to remain imprisoned. When Allah wishes them to be released, then at the end of the day they will say, "If Allah wills, tomorrow we will break through."

The following day they will find the wall as they had left it the previous day (i.e. it will not have returned to its orginal state) and after breaking the remaining part of it they will emerge." (Ahmad, Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah)

Commenting on the above hadith, Allamah Ibn Arabi says, Three miracles are evident in this Hadith:

1.) It never occurs to these tribes that they must continue work during the night. After all, they are in such large numbers that they can easily delegate the work among themselves and work in shifts. But Allah does not allow this thought to occur to them.

2.) It never occurs to them that they can merely cross the mountains or scale the wall, which they can do through the aid of equipment and implements wich they possess in large numbers. According to a narration by Wahab ibn Munabbah it is known that these tribes are agriculturists and artisians possessing various types of equipment.

3.) The thought of saying "If Allah wills" never enters their minds and it will only occur to them to say it when Allah wills that they be released.

This articles is from: "Signs of Qiyamah" by Mohammed Ali Ibn Zubair Ali

Dua before entering home

"Oh Allah Almighty, I seek from you goodness of going in and going out (of my house), I enter in the name of Allah and exit in the name of Allah, And in Allah who is my Lord, I trust"

Dua when exiting house/home

"Bismillahi tawakkal tu alal laahi la howla wala quwwata illa billah(i)"

"In the name of Allah Almighty (I come out of my house) I trust Allah, there is no capability of saving oneself from sins and neither is there capability to do good deeds except by the will of Allah"

Dua when exiting the toilet

"Alhamdulilla hil lazi azhab annil azaa wa aafaani"
"Thanks to Allah Almighty who removed pains from me and granted me relief"

Dua before entering the toilet

"Allah humma inni aaozo bika min-al khubsi wal khabaais"
"O Allah Almighty I seek your refuge from impure jinnaat (male & female)"

Dua before you Sleep

"Allah Humma Bismika Amootoo wa ahyaaa"
"Oh Mighty Allah I live and die in your name"

O Womenfolk! give Charity and ask much Forgiveness

[Sahih Muslim: Book 1 Kitab Al-Iman , Number 142]

It is narrated on the authority of 'Abdullah b. Umar (Radi Allah Anhu) that the Messenger of Allah (sal-allahu-alleihi-wasallam) observed: O womenfolk, you should give charity and ask much forgiveness for I saw you in bulk amongst the dwellers of Hell.

A wise lady among them said: Why is it, Messenger of Allah (sal-allahu-alleihi-wasallam), that our folk is in bulk in Hell? Upon this the Holy Prophet (sal-allahu-alleihi-wasallam) observed: You curse too much and are ungrateful to your spouses. I have seen none lacking in common sense and failing in religion but (at the same time) robbing the wisdom of the wise, besides you.

Upon this the woman remarked: What is wrong with our common sense and with religion? He (the Holy Prophet (sal-allahu-alleihi-wasallam)) observed: Your lack of common sense (can be well judged from the fact) that the evidence of two women is equal to one man, that is a proof of the lack of common sense, and you spend some nights (and days) in which you do not offer prayer and in the month of Ramadan (during the days) you do not observe fast, that is a failing in religion.

How can you have it all!

In this day of age I see no one happy. We always find something to be unthankful about. Allah gives us everything we wish for in good will it's WE who spoil those blessing for ourselves through our deeds and bad decisions.

Here's a hadith how you can have it all. Faith is the recipe to all happiness.

Khalid ibn al Wald (Radi Allahu Ta'ala anhu) narrated the following hadith:
A Bedouin came one day to the Holy Prophet (sallallahu 'alahi wasallam) and said to him, 'O, Messenger of Allah! I've come to ask you a few questions about the affairs of this Life and the Hereafter.'
- 'Ask what you wish' said Rasulullah (sallallahu 'alahi wasallam).

Q: I'd like to be the most learned of men.
A: Fear Allah, and you will be the most learned of men.

Q: I wish to be the richest man in the world.
A: Be contented, and you will be the richest man in the world.

Q: I'd like to be the most just man.
A: Desire for others what you desire for yourself, and you will be the most just of men.

Q: I want to be the best of men.
A: Do good to others and you will be the best of men.

Q: I wish to be the most favored by Allah.
A: Engage much in Allah's praise, and you will be most favored by Him.

Q: I'd like to complete my faith.
A: If you have good manners you will complete your faith

Q: I wish to be among those who do good.
A: Adore Allah as if you see Him. If you don 't see Him, He seeth you. In this way you will be among those who do good.

Q: I wish to be obedient to Allah.
A: If you observe Allah's commands you will be obedient.

Q: I'd like to be free from all sins.
A: Bathe yourself from impurities and you will be free from all sins.

Q: I'd like to be raised on the Day of Judgement in the light.
A: Don't wrong yourself or any other creature, and you will be raised on the Day of Judgement in the light.

Q: I'd like Allah to bestow His mercy on me.
A: If you have mercy on yourself and others, Allah will grant you mercy on the Day of Judgement.

Q: I'd like my sins to be very few.
A: If you seek the forgiveness Allah as much as you can, your sins will be very few.

Q: I'd like to be the most honorable man.
A: If you do not complain to any fellow creature, you will be the most honorable of men.

Q: I'd like to be the strongest of men.
A: If you put your trust in Allah, you will be the strongest of men.

Q: I'd like to enlarge my provision.
A: If you keep yourself pure, Allah will enlarge your provision.

Q: I'd like to be loved by Allah and His messenger.
A: If you love what Allah and His messenger love, you will be among their beloved ones.

Q: I wish to be safe from Allah's wrath on the Day of Judgement.
A: If you do not loose your temper with any of your fellow creatures, you will be safe from the wrath of Allah on the Day of Judgement.

Q: I'd like my prayers to be responded.
A: If you avoid forbidden actions, your prayers will he responded.

Q: I'd like Allah not to disgrace me on the Day of Judgement.
A: If you guard your chastity, Allah will not disgrace you on the Day of Judgement.

Q: I'd like Allah to provide me with a protective covering on the Day of Judgement.
A: Do not uncover your fellow creatures faults, and Allah will provide you with a covering protection on the Day of Judgement.

Q: What will save me from sins?
A: Tears, humility and illness.

Q: What are the best deeds in the eyes of Allah?
A: Gentle manners, modesty and patience.

Q: What are the worst evils in the eyes of Allah?
A: Hot temper and miserliness.

Q: What assuages the wrath of Allah in this life and in the Hereafter?
A: Concealed charity and kindness to relatives.

Q: What extinguishes hell's fires on the Day of Judgement?
A: Patience in adversity and misfortunes.

* Related by Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal (Rahmatullah Ta'ala 'alaih)

Similarities between Islam & Hinduism - By Zakir Nayak