"He brought out his arm and the hand was cut off.."

 "He brought out his arm and the hand was cut off.."

Some fighters came from Syria, heading for Yemen, and ‘Umar had dishes of food that he would set out after Fajr. One of those men came and sat down, and started to eat, using his left. ‘Umar – who used to watch the people whilest they were eating – said to him: “Eat with your right hand,” but he did not respond ‘Umar repeated it, and he said, “O’ Ameer al-Mu’mineen, it is busy.” When he had finished eating, ‘Umar called him and said, “What kept your right hand busy?” He brought out his arm and the hand was cut off. ‘Umar said, “What is this?” He said, “I lost my hand on the day of al-Yarmook.” He said, “Who does wudoo’ for you?” He said, “I do wudoo’ with my left hand, and Allah helps me.” He said, “Where are you going?” He said, “Yemen, to my mother whom I have not seen for many years.” He said, “And you honour your mother too.” And he ordered that he be given a servant and five camels from the camels given in charity, and he loaded them up for him.”

‘Umar ibn Al-Khattab his life and times by Dr. ‘Ali Muhammad as-Sallabi. 

Fasting on Ashura

Fasting on Ashura

It is reported in the Sahih of Imam Al-Bukhari and other authentic collections of hadith that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and his Companions used to fast on the 10th day of Muharram (Ashura) while they were in Makkah (before the hijrah). It was a day on which people of Makkah used to change the covering (kiswah) of the Kabah. Quraysh also used to fast on this day. (Al-Bukhari, hadith 1489 and 1760)

After the hijrah when the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) came to Madinah, he found that the Jews of Madinah also used to observe this day with fasting. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) asked them the reason of their fasting on this day. They said, “This is a blessed day. On this day Allah saved the Children of Israel from their enemy (in Egypt) and so Prophet Musa fasted on this day giving thanks to Allah.” The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “We have more claim to Musa than you.” He fasted on that day and commanded Muslims to fast on this day. (Al-Bukhari, hadith 1865)

Ibn Abbas quoted the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) as saying, “If I live next year, I shall also fast on the 9th day.” (Musnad Ahmad ibn Hanbal, hadith 2002)

There is a great reward in fasting the day of Ashura. There are many hadiths that mention its blessings and virtues. It is good to fast on this day, although it is not obligatory.

Compiled From:
"Significance of Fasting the day of Ashura" - Muzammil Siddiqi

The Grave

The Grave

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said:

When the servant is put into his grave and all his fellows turn away to leave him, he will hear the sound of their footsteps. Two angels will approach him and ask him: "Who is your Lord, what is your religion, who is your prophet?"

The believer will answer: "My Lord is Allah, my religion is Islam and my Prophet is Muhammad."

Then they will ask him: "How did you know that?"

He will reply: "I have read Allah’s book and believed in it."

A caller from the heavens will say: "My servant is correct. Lay him a bed from Paradise and cover him with it and open for him a door to Paradise."

He will feel and smell the scent of Paradise and will see into it as far as his eyes can see.

The soul of the unbeliever will come back to his body in his grave. The two angels will come to him and ask him: "Who is your Lord?"

He will reply: "Oh, I do not know."

They will ask him: "What is your religion?"

He will reply: "Oh, I do not know."

They will ask him: "Who is that man who was sent to you?"

He will reply: "Oh, I do not know."

A caller from the heavens will say: "My servant did not answer correctly. Lay him a mat of Hell, cover him with it and open for him a door to Hell."

He will feel the heat of Hell. His grave will be narrowed for him until his ribs converge on each other. A blind and deaf man will be assigned to hit him with a steel bar that could turn a mountain into dust. He will hit him with it once then the unbeliever will shout with a loud voice that could be heard by everything save for humans and Jinn. He will turn into dust. Then his soul will return back to him again.

[Sunan Abî Dawûd (4738)]

Fasting is not accepted if one doesn’t pray

Fasting is not accepted if one doesn’t pray

Is it permissible to fast without praying?.

Praise be to Allaah.  

No good deeds will be accepted from one who does not pray – no zakaah, no fasting, no Hajj or anything else. 

Al-Bukhaari (520) narrated that Buraydah said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Whoever does not pray ‘Asr, his good deeds will be annulled.” 

What is meant by “his good deeds will be annulled” is that they will be rendered invalid and will be of no benefit to him. This hadeeth indicates that Allaah will not accept any good deed from one who does not pray, so the one who does not pray will not benefit at all from his good deeds and no good deed of his will be taken up to Allaah. 

It seems from the hadeeth that there are two types of those who do not pray: those who do not pray at all, which annuls all their good deeds, and those who do not offer a particular prayer on a particular day, which annuls the good deeds of that day. So annulment of all good deeds happens to those who forsake all the prayers, and annulment of the good deeds of a particular day happens to the one who omits a particular prayer. 

Virtues of Fasting in Ramadhaan

Virtues of Fasting in Ramadhaan

 All praise is due to Allaah alone; may He exalt the mention of Prophet Muhammad, his family and all his companions.

It is narrated that the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam used to give glad tidings to his companions regarding the arrival of the month of Ramadhaan. He sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam has informed us that in this month the gates of Paradise are opened, the gates of Hell are closed, and the devils are chained. He sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said, “When the first night of Ramadhaan comes, the doors of Paradise will be opened and the doors of Hell will be closed, and the devils will be chained, and it will be said, 'O you who desires virtue! Come forth and O you who desires evil! Stay behind', and Allaah has people whom He frees from Hell every night (in that month).” (Al-Bukhaari & Muslim).

The More Humble You Are Before Allah, The More Honorable You Are Before the Creation

The More Humble You Are Before Allah, The More Honorable You Are Before the Creation

"...And the slave - the more humble, needy, and subdued he is before Allah - the closer he will be to Him, and the dearer he will be to Him, and the greater in status he will be to Him. So, the happiest of the Creation is the one who is greatest in servitude to Allah.

As for the Creation, as it is said: be in need of whoever you wish, and you will be his prisoner; be sufficient from whoever you wish, and you will be his adversary; be kind to whoever you wish, and you will be his authority...

kind treatment and respect towards one’s mother

kind treatment and respect towards one’s mother

A man came to Ibn Abbas (ra) and said, “I asked for a women’s hand in marriage, and she refused me. Someone else asked for her hand and she accepted and married him. I felt jealous so I killed her. Will my repentance be accepted?”

Ibn Abbas (ra) asked, “Is your mother still alive?”

He said, “No.”

So Ibn Abbas (ra) told him, “Repent to Allah and do your best to draw close to Him.”

Then Ataa’ ibn Yasaar (ra) who over heard their conversation asked, “why did you ask him if his mother was still alive?”

Ibn Abbas (ra) said, “Because I know of no other deed that brings people closer to Allah than kind treatment and respect towards one’s mother.”

[ Bukhari, Al-Adab al-Mufrad, 1/45 baab birr al-umm [kindness to the mother].] 

The Best Deeds

Narrated Al-Walid bin ‘Aizar (raa): I heard Abi Amr ‘Ash-Shaibani (raa) saying, "The owner of this house." he pointed to ‘Abdullah’s house, said, "I asked the Prophet (saws) Which deed is loved most by Allah?"

He (saws) replied, "To offer prayers at their early (very first) stated times."

‘Abdullah (raa) asked, "What is the next (in goodness)?"

The Prophet (saws) said, "To be good and dutiful to one’s parents."

‘Abdullah (raa) asked, "What is the next (in goodness)?"

The Prophet (saws) said, To participate in Jihad for Allah’s Cause."

‘Abdullah (raa) added, "The Prophet (saws) narrated to me these three things, and if I had asked more, he would have told me more."

Good Manners and Form (Al-Adab) – Sahih Bukhari: Volume 8, Book 73, Number 1