Monday 28 May 2007

Adab al Mufrad Notes (2)


DATE: 04/05/07 and 11/05/07

Hadith/athar: Abu Hurayra said: “When the following verse was revealed: ‘Warn your nearest relatives,’ (26:214), the Prophet (sal Allahu 'alaiyhi wa sallam) rose and called out, ‘Banu Ka’b ibn Lu’ayy! Save yourselves from the Fire! Banu Abd Manaf! Save yourselves from the Fire! Banu Abdul Muttalib! Save yourselves from the Fire! Fatima daughter of Muhammad! Save yourself from the Fire! I cannot alter Allah’s decision about you (if you deserve it). Except for the fact that you have ties of kinship which I shall maintain’”

“Bani” – people Refers to his forefathers and tribes. Wisdom - da’wah more acceptable from man of status & noble lineage. His own lineage reminds people of his background. Calling one’s own people also shows sincerity in the call: wanting to save own family. Success – Prophet‘s (sal Allahu 'alaiyhi wa sallam) closest sahabah linked in his lineage.

Call suggests: “if you continue in your kufr I cannot do anything to save you.”

“I cannot alter Allah’s decision about you”- humility. Despite his status with Allah he affirms he is powerless.

“I shall maintain” not accurate. Literally “add moisture, wet” – moisture basis of life, implies nurturing, sustaining, keeping alive. Connection to rahim (womb) and its connection to a foetus.

Fatima (may Allah be pleased with her) only 29 years old when she died. Went through much difficulties since young age. Mother died at young age, sisters died in her lifetime, lived in poverty and hardshio during married life, aged 5-10 years old when Quraishi persecuted Prophet (sal Allahu 'alaiyhi wa sallam).

Zahra” – title meaning radiant. Prophet (sal Allahu 'alaiyhi wa sallam) sometimes called azhar (masculine) and she was most like him.


Hadith/athar: Abu Ayyub al Ansari said: “A Bedouin came to the Prophet (sal Allahu 'alaiyhi wa sallam) while he was travelling. He asked, ‘tell me what will bring me near to the Garden and keep me away from the Fire.’ He replied, ‘Worship Allah and do not associate anything with Him and perform the prayer and pay the zakah and maintain ties of kinship.’”

Prophet (sal Allahu 'alaiyhi wa sallam) arrived in Madinah with no family, wealth, living accommodation. We often notice the sacrifice and hardship of muhajireen who left everything behind but Ansar also went out of their way & completely changed their lives to accommodate the muhajireen. Abu/Umm Ayyub put themselves under stress just to accommodate the Prophet (sal Allahu 'alaiyhi wa sallam).

Abu Ayyub died during conquest of Constantinople under Yazeed’s rule aged 80. A great mujahid, he insisted he march there with the army so he could hear the footsteps of the armies and horses. Buried near there.

Most simple of person (Bedouin) asking most simple of questions and given most concise and simple answer.

Prophet (sal Allahu 'alaiyhi wa sallam) talks about great fundamental pillars of the religion then about maintaining ties of kinship – seems out of place. Hadith shows maintaining ties of kinship among these is not out of place, it deserves to be mentioned with them.

“Worship Allah” – ‘ibadah includes meaning of humbling oneself, putting oneself down, submit. When one enslaves oneself to other than Allah inevitably they become further from ‘ibadah to Allah and when they do that inevitably they become lower in the eyes of others. ‘Izzah of someone not in need of the dunya, not chasing after its pleasures is higher than one who has become a slave to the dunya. Only in Islam does one become greater in nobility and higher in status when they lower themselves for Allah.

These days da’wah often focuses on social issues but Prophet (sal Allahu 'alaiyhi wa sallam) always began with tawheed and we won't lose out if we do the same.

Qur'an and sunnah often mentions salah and zakah together. Former ‘ibadah of the body and latter of wealth.

Hadith first mentions rights of Allah and then rights of the people. Because they are mentioned together it implies we should devote similar amount of time spent studying tawheed, salah, zakah to studying ties of kinship.

“Bring me near” – not “guarantee me”, implies understanding of the man that effort on his part will be required as well as hoping in Allah.

Sunday 27 May 2007

Adab al Mufrad Notes (1)


My friend http://hema.blogspot.com/ took these notes for me at the adab class as I was doing the Price of Salvation.


DATE: 27/04/07

Continuing with hadith/athar: Kulayb ibn Manfa’a said: “My grandfather said, ‘Messenger of Allah, towards whom should I be dutiful?’ He said, ‘Towards your mother, your father, your sister and your brother. Then towards your relative, the nearest to them. This is an obligatory duty and those ties of kinship must be maintained.’”

Our rights are first and foremost to our parents, due to their high status and importance.

After that, we have a duty to be in contact with, and in the service of, all of our extended family, whether they are practising or not, whether they are Muslim or not.

Maintaining ties of kinship is important as we are promoting key characteristics of the believers, such as love and mercy and confidence in one another. It also eradicates hatred and anger. All this ensures that a standard family unit functions in the best way possible.

We should think of the people we are in contact with in our families and ask ourselves why they are part of our lives. It should only ever be for the sake of Allah, and not for our own benefit.

The Ulema have stated that there are three potential scenarios which may lead to attaining paradise through our ties of kinship. Firstly, by maintaining ties even when the person you are maintaining ties with breaks away. This is the highest level. Secondly, by “getting even”. E.g., if someone calls you, you call them next time. If they buy you a present you buy one for them etc. Finally, where the other person does more than you do to maintain the tie of kinship. You will not enter paradise through this method.

This is an important lesson we can learn. Allah states that He is not swifter in punishment to anyone than those who break ties of kinship. For this purpose, we should endeavour to learn our lineage and family history so we aware of even the most distant of our relatives.


The title name “the obligation of maintaining ties of kinship” is revealing, as it shows that Imam Bukhari wished to make it clear from the start that maintaining ties IS an obligation. The details can be filled in later.

The hadith states we are obligated to be dutiful to our mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters and then our relatives and those nearest to us.

Although this hadith is weak, it can be used for this purpose as it is not very weak and as long as we say it may not be directly from the prophet, peace be upon him.

The rights of our brothers and sisters, in particular are often neglected.

There are two types of brothers and sisters. The first is our brothers and sisters in deen, and we have a general sense of loving and wanting to fulfil our rights to other muslims.
But our highest priority should always be our direct family. In particular, when advising or teaching others, we should always start with out nearest relatives.

The prophet, peace and blessing be upon him, maintained ties of kinship even with the non-Muslim family members who tried to harm him. So, imagine the rights and obligations our Muslim family members have.

Monday 21 May 2007

How NOT to be a good Muslim wife

Naomi: He bought them for you?!

Charlotte: Yeah but he bought the wrong ones.

Naomi: A lot of men would never buy female essentials. Masha'Allah I hope you're grateful you've got such a good husband. The other day he went out specially to buy you painkillers instead of saying "You know you get cramps, you go out every other day, couldn't you be prepared and buy some from the shop to keep at home?" And he fills you a hot water bottle when you need it... Not every man would do that for their wife. I hope you don't take that for granted.

Charlotte: Hmm....

[Later on at home.]

Charlotte: Naomi said I should be grateful cos you do that stuff for me. So jazakAllah khair.

Jack: Hmm....

Charlotte: ...Are you happy with me then?!

Jack: Er, why? Didn't you just say it was Naomi's idea..?

* Names have been changed to pretect identity. But the story is true.

Sunday 13 May 2007

The only thing worse than getting married for the wrong reason is ending a marriage for the wrong reason.

Wednesday 9 May 2007

I so miss my phone!!! It's not here yet. Of all things to leave behind!

Monday 7 May 2007

Don't be indecisive - people don't take your decisions seriously.

Is being indecisive and fickle the same thing...?

Friday 4 May 2007

Family relationships are awe-inspiring.

Family relationships are awe-inspiring. It's amazing how a mother feels instant love, affection and protection for her child as soon as it's born, even before it is born. To everyone else it's a shrivelled up slimy shreiking creature with no personality, nothing to give or offer. It's amazing how a man and woman who have had completely separate upbringings, separate lives, separate set of ideals and dreams and aspirations - fundamentally strangers - can come together and experience feelings and emotions never felt before until he cannot imagine life without her in it and vice versa, until they think how was it possible this man/woman was not in their life all these years.

The mother/child and husband/wife relationship is more profound to me than others. It's natural; God made a mother so - if you wanna be scientific about it, I suppose maternal proptection is necessary for the continuation of the species. And God put mercy and affection between a husband and wife. Despite it being the "norm" it doesn't fail to make one wonder. I remember when I was studying philosophy of religion in college we discussed what a miracle means. Many philosophers defined anything that happens out of the ordinary (ie defying natural law) thus indicating God's intervention as a miracle. Of course I didn't agree with that as God doesn't "defy" natural law; natural law is His law and He does as He wills, not bound by anything. His actions can be witnessed in everything in the universe, including natural law, hence the most "normal" things can be viewed as miracles, like a baby being born. Or the love between a husband and wife.

I was flicking through some womens' magazines a few weeks ago and noticed the stories that most struck me were "imbalances" in these natural yet miraculous aspects of human relationships. For example parents dumping and disowning non-adult children, cheating on spouses etc. Things like that don't make sense to me, I conclude that these people are seriously disturbed and abnormal. They don't have what Allah puts in humans - and even animals - naturally. Closer to my own observations and experience, it saddens and even depresses me when I see children treating their parents like crap, thus completely disregarding the huuuge burden on us as children to do birr towards them. I hold my hands up and admit I'm far from an exemplary daughter and I don't excuse that when I say there's a difference between failing due to weakness and failing due to absolute disregard. Likewise when I see parents mess up their kids' marriage and thus their life for their own selfish reasons - aren't parents the one people who should love and sacrifice unconditionally? Similarly when I see husbands having very little or no mercy and love for the woman who has sacrificed and undergone hardship for him... It doesn't make sense to me. Love, care, consideration, compassion towards at least our children, spouses, parents is it not?

Tuesday 1 May 2007

2.5%.

Given to the poor by the rich.

That's all you need to know about zakah right? Anything more than that and it's too complex -and it's a pillar of Islam, it's not meant to be complicated right? WRONG! One thing this course made me feel was guilt. Yes it's one of the five pillars of Islam and percisely because a fifth of the deen is based on it is why there is so much to it. After all how vast is the study of tawheed? And fiqh of salah - need I say more?

In fact the first two statements are two of the biggest misconceptions about zakah that were refuted in the course i.e. not only 2.5% and not only given to the poor, and even if a portion is given to the poor it's not always the definition of "poor" that we commonly perceive. Alhamdulillah I'm so glad I did this course but I came out with deep concern that a vast majority of Muslims just don't know about zakah. And that's extremely worrying for so many reasons.

It was a good weekend alhamdulillah, albeit tiring. What is an AlKauthar course without tiredness and lack of sleep though. It felt good being at an AlKauthar course AND actually doing it after just babysitting for Umm Maymo at the last two. It was very interesting being at an AlKauthar course with my good friend whom I pretty much picked on her all the way through. But come on, she practically danced up and down when she saw the planes taking off and landing on the runway opposite the river just outside the uni lecture theatre, she mumbled and laughed in her sleep (she says she was awake but yeah right), and she put up her hand when she didn't understand something and said, "I'm lost!" (her Manc accent sounded very sharp against all the Londoners) and giggled! Oh my goodness. The brothers were chuckling and the Sheikh was grinning.

Anyway please check out the POW (Pearls of Wisdom) on the AlKauthar forums and don't worry - POWs tend to be non-technical so you don't have to worry about your head hurting. It was a challenging course but it would be boring if it was too easy. And it was anything but boring. I hope everyone who reads this and hasn't done the course definitely makes it a priority to do it if it is repeated in the future. It definitely makes sense why the sheikh said it is fard 'ain knowledge, thus the regulations of travelling with a mahram not being so stringent.

Insha'Allah I'm going to put some notes up in the future. Watch out for them.