Virtues of Friday

Today is Friday, and there are many virtues accompanying this day. Here are some virtues of Friday you can practice for greater reward.

In light of the Prophetic sunnah....

1. It is sunnah to recite of Surat Assajdah and Surat Al Insan in the dawn prayers of Friday. It is wrong to assume that the sajda is required on Friday. Sometime read some other surah to avoid this confusion.

2. Reciting Salah often on the Prophet.
3. The gathering of the Muslims.
4. It is recommended to take a bath on Friday.
5. Wearing perfume - this of course applies to men only. Women should not go out wearing perfume.
6. Using siwak
7. Going early to jumuah prayer. There is a hadith which mentions the rewards:   Abu Hurairah (ra) narrated that the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم said, "On Friday the Angels stand oust the door of the masjid and write down the names of the people in the order in which they enter the mosque for Friday prayer. The first group of people who enter the mosque get the reward equivalent to that of sacrificing a camel, the people who enter the mosque after them get the reward equivalent to that of sacrificing a cow. The people who enter the mosque after them get the reward equivalent to that of sacrificing a ram and the people who follow on likewise get this reward of a Chicken, egg and so on there is a gradation of rewards for the people as they enter. The angels keep writing the names of the people as they enter the mosque until the Imam sits down to give Khutbah. Then the angels collect their registers and sit and listen to the Khutbah."

8. The recitation of Surat Al Kahf.(given light on DOJ and protection from dajjal)

9. The permissibility of performing prayer during Zawal.
10. The recitation of Surat Al Jumu’ah and Surat Al Munafiqoun or Surat Al A’la and Surat Al Ghashiyah.
11. The recommendation of wearing the best of clothes.

12.        The great reward of walking to Jumu’ah

13. It is the day of forgiving sins.

14. Jahannam is kindled everyday but Friday.
15. Friday contains the hour of accepted supplication. (Most likely after ‘Asr)
16. The virtues of performing Salatul Jumu’ah. (Forgiven sins till next Friday)
17. The Khutba for praising and glorifying Alllah (saw)
18. The day of recommended acts of worship.
19. It is day of festival for the week.
20. Giving Sadqa has special value.
21. Allah(swt) reveals Himslef to His believing salves on Friday.
22. Allah (swt) saved this day for Msulim Ummah.
23. Souls of the dead joins them on Friday.
24. It is not recommended to fast on Friday – either do one day before or after. It is like Eid.
25. if you miss 3 consecutive friday prayers, heart is sealed

Umdat al Ahkam- Book of Prayer

Hadith #46

Narrated sa’d ibn Iyas: the owner of this house, and he pointed to the house of Ibn Masoud told me:

I asked the Prophet r: "Which deed is the dearest to Allah?" He replied, "To offer the prayers at their early stated fixed times." I asked, "What is the next (in goodness)?" He replied, "To be good and dutiful to your parents" I again asked, "What is the next (in goodness)?"

He replied, 'To participate in Jihad (religious fighting) in Allah's cause."

'Abdullah added, "I asked only that much and if I had asked more, the Prophet would have told me more."

Lessons learned from the hadith:

 

Praying salaat on time, parents rights and Jihaad are after the existence of Imaan.

It is virtuous to ask regarding knowledge to learn especially for the important things. We should not be afraid to ask usefull questions. We have gained great benefit from this question. How important it is to pray salaat on time.

Hadith #48

Narrated Jabir ibn Abdillah, may Allah be pleased with them:

The Messenger r used to pray Thuhr prayer at mid-day, the ‘Asr when the sun was still hot, and the Maghrib after sunset (at its stated time). The 'Isha was offered early if the people gathered, and used to be delayed if their number was less; and the morning prayer was offered when it was still dark. "

It is a clarification of the preferable times of the performance for the prayers.

Zuhr when sun declining from the zenith.

‘Asr when the sun still white and bright and when shadow is equal to its length.

Maghrib when the setting of the sun, the disc is not visible.

‘Isha would be according to the condition of the people. Quickly or delayed to either a third or a half of the night if it was not a hardship on the people.Shows the mercy of the Prophet (saw) towards the people.

Fajr was at the beginning of its time when the light of dawn mixes with the light of the night.

This Hadith is evidence that praying in congregation is more important than performing alone.

When it Rains (or not), What to do and say?

The Prophet (saw) Guidance regarding Salatul Istisqa' (Prayer  For Rain)

It is Autumn, and with it comes rain. Some people are not so blessed to have rain in different parts of the world. Whether or not it rains, here are some dua's one can recite related to rain.

The Prophet performed several types of Istisqa’ at different times:

• During Friday (during the Khutba, if it rained for a week, Next Friday, he asked for rain to stop).
• In the Musalla - He would praise, Glorify Allah and ask for rain, raise his hands high. Than pray 2 rakaat.
• While on the pulpit (not on Friday)
• While sitting inside the masjid he would invoke Allah for rain.
• At Azzawra’ (a place outside Medina)
• During the battle. (to get water as they were thirsty. It rained till it flooded the valley)

   

The guidance of the Prophet to ask for rain:

• To raise the hands.
• To invoke Allah.
• To show the need.
• The guidance of the Prophet once it’s raining (O, Allah! Make it plenty and beneficial)
• To uncover part of the body. (to that the rain touched a part of the body).

 

Dua for Rain:

Allaahumma 'asqinaa ghaythan mugheethan maree'an maree'an, naafi'an ghayradhaarrin, 'aajilan ghayra 'aajilin.

O Allah, shower upon us abundant rain, beneficial not harmful, swiftly and not delayed.

Allaahumma 'aghithnaa, Allaahumma 'aghithnaa, Allaahumma 'aghithnaa.

O Allah , send us rain . O Allah , send us rain . O Allah , send us rain.

Allaahum-masqi 'ibaadaka, wa bahaa'imaka, wanshur rahmataka, wa 'ahyi baladakal-mayyita

O Allah , give water to Your slaves , and Your livestock , and spread Your mercy , and revive Your dead land.

 

When it rains:

Allaahumma sayyiban naafi'an

O Allah , (bring) beneficial rain clouds.

After it rains

Mutirnaa bifadhlillaahi wa rahmatihi.

It has rained by the bounty of Allah and His mercy.

Brief History on the Khawarij (sessionists)

Technically, the definition of a sessionist is one who goes against the selected Imam that the community agreed upon.  This is known as "khurooj".

Khurooj is derived from the root word kharaja خرج ,  which means to go out.  Khawaarij is plural for Khaariji.

• This word was mentioned in the Quran in different places:
  • "He who forsakes his home in the cause of Allah" [4:100]
  • "And if they had intended to go forth, they would have prepared for it" [9:46]
• Some of the khawarij liked their name because it's mentioned positively in these aayaat, referring to those who left their homes for sake of Allah.

Other names for Khawarij:

• Harouriyah: a location near Kufah called Haroura’
  • A woman had asked 'Aaishah why a woman only made up her fasts while menstruating, and not her salah. 'Aaishah replied that "The Prophet (sal Allahu 'alayhi wa sallam told us that we only made up her fasts, and not our Salaah"  She then asked if this woman was from Haroura', meaning, she asked if she was from the town that the Khawaarij are located.
• Shurraa'. Plural of Shaari' which means: buyer.
  • Derived from the ayah: "Verily, Allah has purchased of the believers their lives and their properties; for the price that theirs shall be Paradise" [9:111]

The Khawarij are the first sect formed in Islam after the Prophet's (sal Allahu 'alayhi wa sallam) demise.
The Prophet (saw) predicted their coming in a narration:

• "A people that recite Qur'an will come out of the East, but it will not go past their throats. They will pass through the religion (of Islam) like the arrow passes through its quarry (prey). They will no more come back to the religion than the arrow will come back to its course. Their sign is that they shave (their heads)(tahleeq)."
  They shave their heads because of 'umrah. It is an evidence of their excessive 'ibaadah. However, they are misguided and they don't have understanding.

In another narration,

After Ta'if, in 8AH, "We were with Allah’s messenger while he was distributing some wealth. Dhu al-Khuwayṣirah, a man from the Tamīm tribe, came to him and said, ‘Messenger of Allah, be fair!’ The prophet replied: 'Beware. And who would be fair if I was not? You would be ruined if I were not just.'" 
Umar or Khalid asked to kill this man but the Prophet said:

“Leave him. He will certainly have companions (from his progeny) whom one of you would belittle his own prayer when compared to their prayer and his fasting compared to their fasting. They will recite the Quran but it will not go beyond their throats.  They will pass through the religion as an arrow passes through a game animal. One could then look at the arrowhead and not see a thing remaining on it. He could look at the binding which attaches the arrowhead to the rod and not see a thing. 

The Prophet (saw) is telling the companions that even they exceed in worship.  But the Qur'an doesn't pass through their throat, meaning "in one ear out the other".  They didn't benefit from it. There was no group Khawaarij at the time.  But the thought was there, it started from there.

• "Pass through the religion"  - They are considered sinful muslims.

• He could look at the rod and not see a thing. He could look at the feathers and not see a thing. It would go straight through the bowels and blood. Their sign is that of a black man. One of his limbs will appear like a woman’s breast or a disfigured lump of flesh. They will emerge when the people are disunited.” 

 When 'Ali (ra) fought them, he found this man described here.

Their Beginning

They separated from ‘Ali during his Caliphate after ‘Ali accepted the arbitration between himself and Mu’awiyah, because they did not like the result of the arbitration.

• ‘Ali was given the pledge of allegiance after the killing of ‘Uthman.

• Mu’awiyah asked ‘Ali to turn in the killers of ‘Uthman. Otherwise, he won’t give ‘Ali the pledge.

• That dispute led to a bitter battle “Al-Jamal” (the camel) and then another one “Siffeen”.
  • Camel of 'Aisha, because they targeted it.  She was on 'Ali's side.
  • Talha and az-Zubayr were killed in this battle.
• In the battle of Siffeen, the army of Mu’awiyah was losing so he consulted with ‘Amr ibn Al ‘As and he told him to raise the qurans over the spears. 500 qurans were raised asking for arbitration.
  • "Do you not consider, [O Muhammad], those who were given a portion of the Scripture? They are invited to the Scripture of Allah that it should arbitrate between them; then a party of them turns away, and they are refusing." [3:23]
• ‘Ali knew that this is only a trick and wanted to continue fighting but many in his army refused and threatened if they didn’t stop fighting so he had no choice but to stop the fighting.

The Arbitration

• Ali and Muawiah chose one representing them and send with him a group of people. Whatever the arbitrators agree on is binding.
• Ali chose Abu Musa Al-Ash’ari and Muawiyah chose ‘Amr ibn Al ‘Aas.
• There was 400 people with Abu Musa and 400 people with ‘Amr.
• The document was signed on Safar 13th, 37 AH.
  
  • The agreement was that both groups that both leaders are not leaders. And Mu'awiah would be the Khaleefah.   This upset the people.  The shia tried to say 'Amr tricked Abu Musa.

The opinion of Khawarij

• When the news came that the two arbitrators agreed on dethroning both ‘Ali and Mu’awiah a group of people began opposing the result and saying "The decision rests with Allah only"[6:57]
• They accused 'Ali of Kufr

The separation of Khawarij

• Then the Khawarij went to Haroura’ and stayed there separating themselves from ‘Ali, saying that he wasn't muslim. 
• Are their extremists in our communities?  Yes, there are, if there were in ‘Ali’s community, then we should expect them to be in our own.

The Debate

• ‘Ali sent Ibn ‘Abbas to debate with them.
  • Debating is the best way to deal with extremists.
• Ibn 'Abbas was wearing a beautiful cloak. They said, "This isn't the cloak of muslims"
  • "I saw the Prophet wearing a similar cloak"

• The main points were:
  • The rejection of arbitration.  The proofs against this rejection are:
    •  "And if you fear dissension between the two, send an arbitrator from his people and an arbitrator from her people. If they both desire reconciliation, Allah will cause it between them. Indeed, Allah is ever Knowing and Acquainted (with all things)" [4:35]
    •  "O you who have believed, do not kill game while you are in the state of ihram. And whoever of you kills it intentionally - the penalty is an equivalent from sacrificial animals to what he killed, as judged by two just men among you as an offering..." [5:95]
  • The enslavement.
    • After the Battle of the Camel and Siffeen, there was a lot of killing, and the army of ‘Ali was winning, but he didn’t allow them to take any women as slaves, and the khawaarij didn’t like that.  Fight the wrongdoers (See Al-Hujuraat 49:9), so this is why it was allowed to fight each other, but Ibn 'Abbas asked them, who wants to take the mother of the believers as their slave woman?  And they realized that was wrong.
  • ‘Ali removed himself from Caliphate without authorization so he cannot be khalifah anymore. Amr disallowed Abu Musa from writing ‘Ali’s name as the Caliph.
    
    • Prophet also didn't write "Messenger of Allah" in the treaty of Hudaybiyyah.
  • The disbelief of ‘Ali.
    
    • They wanted Ali to confess disbelief and repent.  A man cannot testify that he has disbelieved.

The Pledge of Khawarij

• Most of the khawarij repented with Ibn ‘Abbas (2000) and the rest of them came to Kufah.
  • They tried to keep the fitnah up, and spread that 'Ali confessed disbelief and repented.
• When the news came that ‘Ali agreed with them that he disbelieved and then repented, he stood on the pulpit and denied that and also blamed the khawarij for their opinion on the arbitration.
• Then a group of the khawarij (who had repented) left again and decided to establish a group

They gave the pledge to ‘Abdillah ibn Wahb Al-Raasibi on the 20th of Shawwal 37H.

Virtues of recitation of surah baqarah and surah Al Imran

• Imam Ahmad recorded that Abu Umamah Al-Bahili said that he heard the Messenger of Allah say,"Read the Qur'an, because it will intercede on behalf of its people on the Day of Resurrection. Read the two lights, Al-Baqarah and Al `Imran, because they will come in the shape of two clouds, two shades or two lines of birds on the Day of Resurrection and will argue on behalf of their people on that Day"
  
  The Prophet then said, "Read Al-Baqarah, because in having it there is blessing, and in ignoring there is a sorrow and the sorceresses cannot memorize it."

• So what is implied in this hadith: reading or memorizing? The arabic word (iqra) means to read but in the Prophet (SAW) time, people would actually memorize the verses and not just read. So both meanings are possible. To memorize is better but to read is virtuous too Inshallah.

• "On the Day of Resurrection the Qur'an and its people who used to implement it will be brought forth, preceded by Surat Al-Baqarah and Al `Imran."

Fiqh ul Hadeeth

During first year Arees we studied hadith terminology, meanings of various words related to science of hadith like the meaning of sahih, and hasan sahih, sahih li ghayri etc.
This year we are studying fiqh of Hadith. The book we are currently studying is Umdat ul Ahkam. Umda which means foundation or cornerstone of the ruling, so the name matches the book. All of the narrations in this book are sahih (authentic). There are about 425 ahadith in the book, most of which are taken from sahih al bukhari and sahih muslim.


The first book is Book of purification. Like Sahih bukhari, the first hadith is hadith on intention.


Hadith Number 1:

Narrated by U'mar Bin Al-Khattab ( May Allah be please with him): I heard Allah's Apostle saying, "The reward of deeds depends upon the intentions and every person will get the reward according to what he has intended. So whoever emigrated for worldly benefits or for a woman to marry, his emigration was for what he emigrated for."


Actions are judged upon intentions, which determine whether the actions are correct or not and whether the actions are perfect or incomplete and whether the actions are act of obedience to Allah or disobedience.


Some examples:


If someone does a deed intending to show off with (Riyaa) then he commits a sin even if the deed is a good deed. Like prayer.


If someone intended with Jihad to raise the word of Allah only then he perfected his deed and reward but if he intends to raise the word of Allah but hoping to win something of the bounties, as well then his reward decreases accordingly. However, if he intends to get the bounty only then he does not commit a sin but he will not be given the reward as well. Therefore, as can be seen, the Hadith puts every act in different panel based on the intention of each deed whether it was a good deed or a bad deed.

• Intention is very important necessary condition that needs to be found in actions. Yet, there should be no exaggeration in intention that ruins and distract whoever worships from performing his worshiping properly because just intending to do something is an intention itself.

• The place of the intention is in the heart and uttering it loudly is an innovation.

• The necessity of avoiding showing off, Riyaa (the intention to enhance one's dignity in the eyes of the people by means of acts of obedience to Allah Ta'ala) and performing deeds for Dunya purposes that ruin your act of worshiping.

• The necessity of observing, maintaining and taking care of the hearts’ deeds

• Emigrating from the land of Shirk to the land of Islam is amongst the best great deeds to do, if it is done for Allah sake.