(ISLAM) Four Great Imams Of Islam

 (ISLAM) Four Great Imams Of Islam quran teaching online in usa

The outside view of the Mazar of Hazrat Imam Al-Shafi'i
(May Allah be pleased with him) in the Shafi'i Mosque in Cairo.

IMAM SHAAFEE (150 A.H. - 204 A.H.) :
Mohammed bin Idris Al Shaafa'ee (radi Allahu anhu) famously known as Imam Shaafa'ee was born in 150 A.H. and belonged to the Quraish tribe.

EARLY LIFE

When he was 10 years old, he came to Makkatul Mukarramah from Palestine where he grew up. He was very intelligent and had an excellent memory. He memorized the entire Holy Quran at the age of 7. By the age of 15, he had memorized the entire Muwatta of Imam Maalik (radi Allahu anhu). Before the age of 20, he studied Islamic Jurisprudence under the Mufti of Makkatul Mukarramah, Sayyiduna Muslim bin Khalil al Zanji and also Sayyiduna Sufyaan bin Uyayana (radi Allahu anhuma). Imam Maalik bin Anas (radi Allahu anhu) was also his teacher.

Mazar Hazrat Imam Al Shafi'i (May Allah be pleased with him) in Cairo


IN IRAQ
When the Governor of Iraq visited Madinatul Munawwarah, he was so impressed by Imam Shaafa'ee (radi Allahu anhu) that he persuaded him to become an Administrator. As Imam Shaafa'ee (radi Allahu anhu) was in conflict with the Government officials, he was deported to Iraq and brought in front of Haroun Rasheed who was very impressed with Imam Shaafa'ee (radi Allahu anhu).

He now studied Islamic Jurisprudence under Imam Mohammed Ash Shaybaani (radi Allahu anhu), who was the student of Imam Abu Yusuf (radi Allahu anhu), who was the student of Imam A'zam Abu Hanifa (radi Allahu anhu). Thus, Imam Shaafa'ee (radi Allahu anhu) became a master of both the Hanafi and Shaafa'ee School of Fiqh.


IN EGYPT
On his way to Egypt, he lectured in Makkatul Mukarramah in the Haram Shareef. Imam Ahmed bin Hambal (radi Allahu anhu), who was studying at the time in Makkatul Mukarramah found great benefit from these lectures. Imam Shaafa'ee (radi Allahu anhu) then went to Baghdad where he spent 3 or 4 years and finally went to Egypt. He was now 50 years old.

In Egypt, scholars from all over the world came to study at his feet. His famous pupils were Sayyiduna Rabi bin Sulayman, Sayyiduna Abu Yacoob Al Ruwayta and Sayyiduna Abu Ebraheem bin Yahya Al Muzani (radi Allahu anhumul ajma'in).


HIS WORKS
"Kitaabul Umm" and "Ar Risaalah" are the two famous books on Islamic Fiqh written by him.


PASSES AWAY
Some reports say that he was injured seriously by a person called Fityan, while other reports mention that he passed away through natural illness on the last day of Rajab in the year 204 Egypt. Maalik Al Kaamil, the Ayyubid Sultan, built a Mazaar for him in 608 A.H.

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Imam Maalik (93 A.H. - 179 A.H.) :
Imam Maalik (radi Allahu anhu) was born in 93 A.H. He was born in the period of the Ummayyad Dynasty. His full name is Maalik bin Anas.

EDUCATION

Imam Maalik (radi Allahu anhu's) grandfather and uncle were great scholars of Hadith. Imam Maalik (radi Allahu anhu) learnt Ahadith from his uncle, Sayyiduna Abu Suhail Nafi (radi Allahu anhu). The Imam was a very keen scholar from his childhood days.


TEACHERS
Imam Maalik (radi Allahu anhu) had many illustrious teachers. Most of them were great Taabi'i scholars who learnt under the Sahaba. Some of his teachers used to teach in Masjidun Nabawi. He learnt how to read the Holy Quran from Sayyiduna Abu Radim Nafi Abdur Rahman (radi Allahu anhu).

He also learnt Hadith under Sayyiduna Nafi, Sayyiduna Jafer Saadiq, Sayyiduna Mohammed bin Yahya Ansaari, Sayyiduna Abu Haashim Salmah, Sayyiduna Yahya bin Said and Sayyiduna Hishaam bin Urwah (radi Allahu anhumul ajma'in).


HIS PUPILS
Imam Maalik (radi Allahu anhu's) fame spread far and wide and many great scholars sat in his company learning Ahadith and other Islamic legal issues. Some 1300 scholars sat at his feet. They copied the "MUWATTA" from him. The "Muwatta" is a collection of Ahadith by Imam Maalik (radi Allah anhu). Many of his pupils copied the Muwatta, the famous among them being: Sayyiduna Yahya bin Yahya Al Masmudi, Sayyiduna ibn Wahab Abu Mohammed Abdullah and Sayyiduna Abi Abdullah Abdur Rahman Abdur Rahman (radi Allahu anhumul ajma'in).


AS A TEACHER
Even Imam A'zam Abu Hanifa (radi Allahu anhu), his teacher, held Imam Maalik (radi Allahu anhu) in great regard and respect and should sit in his study circle. Imam Maalik (radi Allahu anhu) liked his students to read aloud while he listened. He used to sit on a high chair with students all around taking notes.


AS A MUHADDITH AND A JURIST
He was a great "Muhaddith" (A Scholar of Hadith). He was very careful in selecting Hadith, and after examining them thoroughly used to record it in his Muwatta.

As a Jurist, he was not afraid of giving a "Fatawa" (Legal Islamic Ruling) even if it was against the Caliph. He was once flogged for doing so.


PASSES AWAY
He passed away on the 11th of Rabi-ul-Awwal in the year 179 A.H. He was 86 years old. Imam Maalik (radi Allahu anhu) is buried in Janatul Baqi in Madinatul Munawwarah.

He never wore shoes whilst in Madinatul Munawwarah. He never sat on a horse or used the toilets in this blessed city. He always went out of the city to relieve himself. He used to kiss the old buildings and the remains of old foundations, saying that Sayyiduna Rasulullah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) may have walked by, touched it or saw it. Such was his adoration for Sayyiduna Rasulullah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam).

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Imam Abu Abdullah Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Hambal :
Imam Abu Abdullah Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Hambal (radi Allahu anhu) was born in Marw on the 20th of Rabi-ul-Awwal 164 A.H.

EARLY LIFE

His father, Sayyiduna Mohammed (radi Allahu anhu) was a warrior (Mujaahid) and lived in Basrah, Iraq. Imam Ahmed bin Hambal (radi Allahu anhu) was a very intelligent child, keenly interested in furthering his Islamic education. At the age of 16, he began studying Hadith literature. It is said that he learnt almost a million Ahadith by heart. He became a famous Jurist.


HIS TEACHERS
Some of his teachers were Imam Shaafa'ee, Sayyiduna Bishar bin Al Mufaddal, Sayyiduna Ismail bin Ulayyah, Sayyiduna Jarir bin Abdul Hamid and Sayyiduna Yahya bin Said (radi Allahu anhumul ajma'in).

The great compilers of Ahadith, Imam Bukhaari and Imam Muslim (radi Allahu anhuma), including his teacher, Imam Shaafa'ee (radi Allahu anhu), have also reported Hadith from him. Imam Shaafa'ee (radi Allahu anhu), in spite of being the most learned in his time, used to refer to Imam Ahmed bin Hambal (radi Allahu anhu) about certain Ahadith.


HIS PUPILS
Amongst his pupils, the most famous were Sayyiduna Abu Bakr Al Alhram, Sayyiduna Hambal bin Ishaaq and Sayyiduna Abul Qasim Al Baghwi (radi Allahu anhumul ajma'in).


HIS PIETY
Imam Ahmed bin Hambal (radi Allahu anhu) was a very pious scholar who devoted all his life in the Science of Ahadith and Fiqh. He refused to eat in anyone's house who held a Governmental post. Being extremely poor with no food to eat at times, he used to still refuse to accept charity saying that he had full faith in Almighty Allah.


HIS WORKS
The most famous among his books are: Kitaabul A'maal, Kitaabut Tafseer, Kitaabul Naasikh wal Mansookh, Kitaabul Zahid, Kitaabul Masaa'il, Kitaabul Fadaa'il and Kitaabul Mansiq.

His most famous book is his "MUSNAD", a kitab in which he collected about 50 000 to 70 000 Ahadith.


IMPRISONMENT
Imam Ahmed bin Hambal (radi Allahu anhu), in the later years of his life, was imprisoned and tortured by the ruthless rulers who went against him due to their un-Islamic beliefs and practises. Caliph Mutasim billah forced the Imam to accept the beliefs of the "Mu'tazalis" (a corrupt sect), but he refused, and was beaten to such a degree that his joints were dislocated. He was kept in heavy chains for 30 months in a prison in Baghdad. He still refused to accept the beliefs of the corrupt Mu'tazali Sect and was again beaten till he fell unconscious.


PASSES AWAY
On the 25th of Ramadaan in the year 221 A.H., Caliph Mutasim, in fear of the sin he committed, repented and set the Imam free. Imam Ahmed bin Hambal (radi Allahu anhu) forgave all the people except the Mutazalis. He passed away in the year 241 A.H.

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Imam A'zam Abu Hanifa (80 A.H. - 150 A.H.)

Imam A'zam Abu Hanifa (radi Allahu anhu's) full name was Numan bin Thaabit bin Zuta bin Mah. He was born in Kufa in Iraq in 80 A.H. He belonged to the pious period of the Taabi'ins (Successors of the Sahabas).

DIVINE MISSION

It is stated in a Hadith Shareef which Imam al-Harizmi reported from Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah (radi Allahu anhumA) that Sayyiduna Rasulullah (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam) said: "Among my Ummah, there will come a man called Abu Hanifa. On the Day of Resurrection, he will be the light of my Ummah." Another Hadith Shareef states: "In every century, a number of my Ummah will attain to high grades. Abu Hanifa will be the highest of his time." These two Ahadith are recorded in "Durr al-Mukhtar."


EARLY LIFE
While still in his youth, he met great Sahaba like Sayyiduna Anas bin Maalik, Sayyiduna Sahl bin Saad and Sayyiduna Abul Tufail Amir bin Wathilah (radi Allahu anhumul ajma'in). Imam A'zam Abu Hanifa (radi Allahu anhu) was first brought up as a trader, but soon started taking deep interest in Islamic learning.


EDUCATION
He attended the lectures of Sayyiduna Hammad Basri (radi Allah anhu) in Fiqh and then began to study the Hadith. He learnt under great scholars in Kufa. In Basrah he studied under two great Taabi'ie scholars who had learnt Hadith under the Sahaba.

In Makkatul Mukarammah and Madinatul Munawwarah, he learnt under Sayyiduna Ata bin Abi Rabah and Sayyiduna Ikramah (radi Allahu anhuma). In fact, Imam A'zam Abu Hanifa (radi Allahu anhu) had numerous teachers. Some historians say that he learnt Hadith from about 4 000 scholars.

Some of his famous teachers were: Sayyiduna Imam Baaqir, Sayyiduna Imam Jafer Saadiq, Sayyiduna Ali, Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah, Sayyiduna Abdullah ibn Umar, Sayyiduna Aqabah bin Umar, Sayyiduna Safwaan, Sayyiduna Jabir and Sayyiduna Abu Qatadah (radi Allahu anhumul ajma'in).

AS A TEACHER
When his teacher, Sayyiduna Hammad Basri (radi Allahu anhu) passed away, Imam A'zam Abu Hanifa (radi Allahu anhu) was 40 years old and he began teaching. He became very famous and travelled many places. Students from all over the Muslim world came to him to listen to his lectures, interviews and debates. Imam Maalik (radi Allahu anhu) also learnt under him.

When he was 56 years old, Caliph Mansur came to power after the Ummayad dynasty was overthrown by the Abbasids in 132 A.H. Since Imam Abu Hanifa (radi Allahu anhu) opposed the Caliph's ruthless killing of the Ahle Bait, he was arrested. The Caliph offered the Imam the post of a Qaadi (Judge), but he refused. The Caliph Mansur had him beaten with a stick 30 strokes. His feet bled. Caliph Mansur repented and offered Imam A'zam Abu Hanifa (radi Allahu anhu) 30 000 pieces of silver. The great Imam refused once more. He was imprisoned again and thrashed 10 more strokes every day.


PASSES AWAY
In the Month of Rajab 150 A.H., Imam A'zam Abu Hanifa (radi Allahu anhu) passed away while in Salaah. He had been poisoned by the orders of Caliph Mansur. His Janaza Salaah was performed six times and each time 50 000 people took part. People continued to come and pray for him for 20 days after he was buried. He was 70 years old.

In 459 A.H. a Mazaar (Tomb) was built for him by the Seljuki ruler Alp Arsalan. He lies buried in a Tomb situated near Baghdad in Iraq.


STUDENTS
Imam A'zam Abu Hanifa (radi Allahu anhu) left behind about 980 students. The most famous among them being:

a. Sayyiduna Qadi Abu Yusuf (radi Allahu anhu)

b. Sayyiduna Imam Muhammed (radi Allahu anhu)

c. Sayyiduna Imam Zufur (radi Allahu anhu)


PERSONALITY
Imam A'zam Abu Hanifa (radi Allahu anhu) earned his living by trading. Every Friday, he distributed 20 gold coins to the poor for his parents soul. For 40 years Imam A'zam Abu Hanifa (radi Allahu anhu) performed the Fajr Salaah with the Wudu that he made for the Esha Salaah (ie. he did not sleep after the night prayer). He performed Hajj 55 times. He used to recite the entire Holy Quran once every day and once every night. Imam A'zam Abu Hanifa (radi Allahu anhu) had so much of Taqwa (Piety) that for 30 years he fasted every day (except for the 5 forbidden days). He often read the Holy Quran in one rakaah or two. He did not accept any presents from anyone. He wore clothes like those of the poor. Imam A'zam Abu Hanifa (radi Allahu anhu) once said: "I laughed once in my life and I regret it." He talked little and thought much. It is said that at the place where his soul was taken, he read the Holy Quran 7 000 times.

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A Small House

 

How many of us, long before even getting married start planning on what kind of house we want to live in?

We all have an idea of the perfect little cottage that we'll insha'Allah own one day. We mentally design and decorate our house .. Once that dream is achieve, don't we take care of it? 



Of course! We clean it, rearrange it, rebuild it so that it is comfortable and solid. Would 

anyone think of buying a house to later destroy it little by little? 



Sounds like a crazy idea, well let us analyze what we do with our houses.. Allah (swt) in His extreme bounty gave each and everyone a house to cultivate: our body. The Messenger of Allah (saw) said:
He who does not have within himself anything of the Qu'ran is like a house in
ruins.( reported by al-Tirmithi ) 



Indeed without the Qu'ran our houses are empty and cold for the Qu'ran is what makes your blood travel furiously and keep your heart
pumping. Therefore we most thrive to have to learn and read as much as possible the We need to realize the illusion of this world. 

Realize how we get trap in routine. Most of us go to school and work , chillout with our friends (12 hours gone in a day). Once we
get home we watch t.v talk on the phone and sleep (another 8-9 hours gone!). 

What time have we left to work on ourselves and on our deen ?
Close to none. 

We would go out of our way to have the perfect job, the perfect
house .. while the perfect deen is at our fingertips and we just ignore it! AstafirUllah! The Qu'ran is the word of Allah. It
is throught the Qu'ran and the sunnah of the prophet (saw) that we may beautify our homes, our lives, our hearts in the sight of Allah! 

The messenger of Allah (saw) said: Allah (swt) does not look at your
images and your wealth, but looks at your hearts and deeds. (Reported by Muslim). 

If you see that your day does not allow you anytime for
your deen then it's time to reschedule. Islam is the balance way of life; so let's make time for our Rabb otherwise our life is lacking
it's primal essence. 



Once we start reading the Qu'ran we must understand that it's not enough to learn it by heart. Rather we have to comprehend the wisdom
behind the words and live by it. Because knowing something and not putting it in practice is a great waste. " When the Quran is read,
listen to it with attention, and hold your peace: that ye may receive Mercy. "(7:204). And truly is is an immense blessing to be from the
guided ones! This is say from experience, for I have no more wisdom then anyone, we must be men and women of understanding. This is the
best way to live. Otherwise it is easy to stray. Once we stray away from the right path, it's difficult to go back. 



{Thy Lord doth know that thou standest forth (to prayer) nigh two-
thirds of the night, or half the night, or a third of the night, and so doth a party of those with thee. But Allah doth appoint night and
day in due measure He knoweth that ye are unable to keep count 

thereof. So He hath turned to you (in mercy): read ye, therefore, of the Qur'an as much as may be easy for you. He knoweth that there may
be (some) among you in ill-health; others travelling through the land, seeking of Allah.s bounty; yet others fighting in Allah.s 

Cause, read ye, therefore, as much of the Qur'an as may be easy (for you); and establish regular Prayer and give regular Charity; and loan
to Allah a Beautiful Loan. And whatever good ye send forth for your souls ye shall find it in Allah.s Presence,- yea, better and
greater, in Reward and seek ye the Grace of Allah. for Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most
Merciful} (73:20)

Being Good to your Parents

 

In today’s rapid-paced life, we often tend to get so busy that we forget our parents’ rights.  Family values have significantly dropped in our lives, and our friends often become more important to us than our own relatives. What better can emphasize the good treatment of our parents than the following verse from the Qur’an (interpretation of the meaning) {And your Lord has commanded that you shall not serve (any) but Him, and goodness to your parents. If either or both of them reach old age with you, say not to them (so much as) "Ugh" nor rebuke them, and speak to them in honorable terms} [Qur'an Al-Israa 17:23]. There are two noteworthy conclusions that may be noticed from this verse.  First, Allah the Exalted has called for good treatment of parents immediately after ordering us to worship Him.  This proves the importance of being kind to our parents and the elevated status in which Allah (SWT) has placed parents in our lives.  Second, He has ordered us not to utter even the least of inappropriate comments to them; thus it is very surprising that some people yell at their parents or even tell them to shut up. Furthermore, when Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) was asked which deed was the best, he replied: “The prayer at its appointed hour”. He was asked: “Then what?”, to which he replied: “Kindness to the parents”. Again he was asked: “Then what?”.  He replied: “Earnest struggle (Jihad) in the cause of Allah [Muslim].” Whether or not you live with your parents, or if both of them are still alive, here are some tips to a good relationship with them: If you live with your parents Bring something home every now and then.  For example, buy them a gift or a cake whenever you receive your paycheck. Make sure to spend time with them every day, whether it be for reciting Qur’an or reading hadiths together, conducting household chores, or just plain friendly talk. Take them out.  My mother is extremely happy when I go out for a walk with her. Obeying whatever they ask you to do, as long as it complies with Islam. If you don’t live with your parents Visit them regularly -- say once a week or every two weeks.  If you are unable to visit them often because you live far away for example, then do the next best thing and call them frequently.  Also, you may send them letters, and don’t forget greeting cards on Islamic occasions (Ramadan, Eid, etc.) If one or both of your parents have passed away In the authentic hadith, a man came to the Prophet (may peace be upon him) and asked him whether he can do any good for his parents after they passed away.  The Prophet (may peace be upon him) told him to do the following: ·        Supplication and istighfar for them, ·        Executing their will, ·        Connecting with relatives that are likely to be cut with the parents’ death, and ·      Honoring their friends    In another hadith, the Prophet (may peace be upon him) also taught us that among the good deeds that benefit one who has passed away is a ‘righteous son that supplicates for him/her.’ Difficulties with parents Reverts to Islam often tend to face difficulties with their non-Muslim parents.  Likewise, Muslims who take up new acts of worship (such as growing a beard or wearing niqab) might get into unpleasant situations with them.  Although one should not abandon such acts of worship in order to obey one’s parents, one should still retain a good relationship with both parents and treat them kindly.  Allah the Exalted has ordered us to obey our parents even if they are non-Muslims – but, once again, as long as what they ask complies with Islam.  Conditions such as this require a good deal of patience and can be considered opportunities to show your parents that your newly-found beliefs have actually made you better and closer to them.   Finally, I would like to close with the supplication of prophet Ibrahim (may peace be upon him) as in the Qur’an (interpretation of the meaning) {My Lord! Make me keep up prayer and from my offspring (too), O our Lord, and accept my prayer: O our Lord! grant me protection and my parents and the believers on the day when the reckoning shall come to pass} [Ibrahim 14:40-41]

Who is Valentine's Day for?

 

People naturally like occasions
of happiness and pleasure, whether private or public, including eids (feasts
or days of celebration). For the sake of this inclination, the Shari'a
came with the legitimacy of the Fitr and Adha Eids: Two valid eids in the
year, and Allah has legislated in them (reasonable) spending and the showing
of happiness which people need, in addition to a weekly eid which is Friday.
And this is part of the mercy of Allah upon this nation of Mohammad (peace
be upon him).

If we look at the celebrations
that other nations have, we will find that they have quite a number of
them: one for each national occasion and season, Mother’s Day, Labor Day,
a day for agriculture and so on, to the extent that there is barely a month
without a specific eid.  All this is from their innovation.

Allah the Exalted has said (interpretation
of the meaning)

{But the monasticism which they
invented for themselves We did not prescribe for them} (Al-Hadid 57:27)
and for this reason the dates of the occasions have changed through the
years according to political and social desires, and they are accompanied
with more rituals, habits and types of amusement than can be listed, according
to the details in specialized books. 

Among the strange eids in the world
today are those of the pagans and the People of the Book (Jews and Christians),
connected to their gods, rabbis and monks, such as the days of St. Michael,
St. Andrew, St. Valentine, etc.  These eids are accompanied with several
acts including decorating homes, lighting candles, going to the church,
buying certain types of candy, specific songs and so on.

After that it has become the habit
of non-Muslim nations to celebrate birthdays in which people invite their
friends, prepare special food, light candles according to the age of the
person etc.. and some Muslims have imitated them in this innovation!

After this introduction to the
eids of the nations, it is worth mentioning that a Muslim should be confident
that the most complete guidance and the best legislation is that which
the Seal of the Prophets and Messengers (peace be upon him) came with.

Allah the Exalted has said (interpretation
of the meaning)

{This day have I perfected your
religion for you, completed my favor upon you and have chosen for you Islam
as your religion} (Al-Maida 5:3).

All the eids that the other nations
have are innovation and misguidance, in addition to their disbelief in
Allah. Allah the Exalted has said (interpretation of the meaning)

{If anyone desires a religion
other than Islam never will it be accepted of him; and in the Hereafter
he will be in the ranks of those who have lost (all spiritual good) } (Al-Imran
3:85)

Due to the importance of this subject
and the attention it should be given - I mean what has come to Muslims
from the eids of disbelievers and the occasions they relate to their religion
- Islam has given the matter eloquent and specific care.  Allah has
described His believing servants as avoiding disbelievers in their eids:
{Those who witness no falsehood} (Al-Furqan 25:72). Falsehood in this verse
refers to the eids of the disbelievers.  Allah has legislated for
His believing servants eids that suffice them from copying those of others:

Abu Dawood, Nasa'i and others
have authentically reported that Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) said:
the Prophet (peace be upon him) came to Madinah at a time in which 
people had two days in which they played.  He told them: "Allah has
replaced these two with what is better: the days of Fitr and Adha."

Hafiz Ibn Hajjar (may Allah have
mercy on him) said: "From this it is deduced that it is disliked to be
happy during the pagans' eids and to imitate them."

In what follows we will consider
an eid that some Muslims have imitated and taken from the disbelievers,
namely Valentine's Day, which Christians have specified as the 14th of
February, according to a certain creed that they have and which we will
not go into the details of.

Normally we would not have considered
this eid nor given it any attention, as it is one of the tens of eids that
they have, but because some Muslims and Muslimahs have become affected
by this, it has become necessary to inform our brothers and sisters who
attempt to participate in this occasion with its specific 'rituals' and
do not know that Valentine's Day is deeply rooted in the Christian creed. 
The latter - i.e., the Christians - differ on whether this is something
they inherited or something inherited from the Romans, who had gods according
to their desires: they appointed gods for love as they do with other gods
for light, darkness, crops, rain, seas, rivers, and so on.

Some of the things observed by
disbelievers during Valentine's Day include their clothes, gifts, greeting
cards, red roses (they use red as a symbol for a certain obscene behavior). 
They also celebrate by writing phrases of love and passion on the cards
that are exchanged between young men and women, purchasing red teddy bears
with hearts and words of love on them which are sold at high prices as
presents that symbolize love!

One of the things that has increased
the spreading of these issues in some Muslim countries is what many forms
of media (whether read or viewed) - and particularly satellite channels
- do by advertising this behavior using various methods, to the extent
that the matter is no longer evident to simple people who do not have sufficient
educational sense to protect them from these twisted behaviors, and particularly
male and female students in public and higher education.

According to what has been presented,
we would like to confront our brothers and sisters - fellow Muslims - who
participate in any of the types of celebrations mentioned, and we say:

Today those of you who celebrate
Valentine's Day and similar do this for something within yourselves. But
I think that with your instinct of the oneness of Allah, that if you knew
the religious background of this celebration and what it bears of symbols
of innovation, paganism, and demonstrating that there are other gods than
Allah - may Allah be exalted from that - you would realize how grave your
mistake is and the awfulness of the direction you have taken and how you
have been effected.

Scholars have said that a Muslim
should not accept any gift or food prepared for the sake of the disbelievers'
eids.  For this reason, it is incumbent upon fathers and mothers to
pay attention of this in their children, and particularly if they see their
daughters wearing red blouses, jackets or the like specifically on that
day.  Likewise, if children ask them to buy roses or greeting cards
that are specific for that day, they should tell them the truth about this
issue in a religious, educational and convincing manner.

We also greatly admonish those
Muslims who sell symbols of disbelievers' celebrations, whether by importing
or producing them.  For example, those who sell and provide flowers
specifically on that day, and owners of stores that sell toys and wrap
gifts.  These people are helping in the celebration of disbelievers'
eids, and undoubtedly they are cooperating in vice and aggression and participating
in the spreading of the beliefs of the disbelievers.  However, may
Allah be praised, they have a lot of other things to sell that are not
used in the celebration of the disbelievers' eids.

Another thing we should mention
here is that Muslims who carry the knowledge or work for the media should
play their role in protecting Islamic thoughts from their media counterparts
who contempt Islam and Muslims.

We would like to conclude our topic
with the fatwa of the great scholar Sh. Mohammad ibn Saleh Al-Othaymeen
(may Allah have mercy upon him).  He was asked about celebrating and
participating in Valentine's Day.  His answer was:

"Celebrating Valentine's Day is
not permitted because:

1. it is an innovated eid that
has no basis in shari'a

2. it invites people to love and
passion

3. it invites people's hearts
to be busy with these insignificant issues that are against the path of
the previous righteous people, may Allah be pleased with them.

So it is forbidden to perform any
'eid rituals' on this day - whether food, drinks, clothes, gifts, etc.

A Muslim should be proud of his/her
religion, and should not by an imitator who follows every caller.

I ask Allah to protect Muslims
from all temptations, both visible or hidden." [End of the shaikh's fatwa]

Thus it is evident "who Valentine's
Day is for", as this day is not of the practices of Islam nor its guidance,
but rather the result of the social and educational pitfalls of the disbelievers. 
Any Muslim who participates in celebrating this day does so because of
whims within him/herself and because of personal defeat, inadequate educational
sense, and weakness of Islamic protection in those whose own selves deceived
them into imitating disbelievers and mimicking them in their unworthiness
and misguidance.

May peace be upon our prophet
Mohammad and his family and companions.

 

When Does a Woman Become More Beautiful?

 

One day, Myself - forever forbidding me from good, and
enticing me into evil - asked me, “When does a woman become more beautiful
in your eyes?”

I asked, “Why do you want to know?”

Myself said, “If I tell you, will you answer my
question? ”

I said, “Yes!”

Myself said, “Satan - our grand teacher - is making
a survey of what makes the woman more beautiful in the eyes of men”

I asked, “What's this survey for?”

 

Myself said, “He wants to make an encyclopedia that
will be distributed among the Satans of mankind and Jinn. He wants our approach
to be more scientific! Now tell me, when does the woman become more beautiful
in your eyes?”

I asked, “Do you have ways of making a woman more
beautiful in the eyes of men?”

Myself said, “Yes, there are many ways, mannerisms
and looks. Each man has his own inclinations”

I said, “Perhaps you could mention to me some of
these and I will choose!”

“OK! Do you prefer a fair or dark woman?” “Neither!”

“Do you like the one with long or short
hair?” “Neither!”

“The thin or fat one?” “Neither!”

“Do you like the one who uncovers her hair?”
“NO!”

“Do you like the one who wears tight and short clothes”
“NO!”

“What about the one who uncovers her shoulders and
thighs?” “No way!”

“What about the one who sways from side-to-side
while walking, strikes the floor with her high heels and speaks softly to men??”
“NO!”

“You didn't like any of the ones I mentioned to
you? I can't think of anything else?” “Really? Try to remember!”

....(silence)... then Myself smiled slyly, “YOU
WICKED!! You like a woman when she is wearing a bikini?!!”

“Yuck! No!!”

....(silence)... then Myself smiled again, “You
evil man!” “What?”

“You like the woman who shuts the door and says
come?” “NO!”

“I've run out of suggestions; you tell me what makes
a woman more attractive to you?”

“OK! When the woman blushes and goes all red”

“Goes all red? I don't understand?”

“She becomes more beautiful when she lowers her
gaze”

“Lowers her gaze?!! What's wrong with you? Speak
clearly!”

“The woman becomes more attractive, when she becomes
more modest and shy. Modesty is the thing that attracts me and many other men.
The more a woman is modest the more attractive she becomes....Do
you understand??”

 

This article is loosly adapted from the Arabic original
- written by Ibn Muhammad - found at

Ten ways to increase happiness in marriage!

 

The young and excited bride-and-groom-to-be; ecstatic about the upcoming wedding and marriage and the joy that it will bring. Three to six months later, reality has set in and both spouses realize that marriage is no easy task, but one that takes a great deal of effort and patience. The following are tips for both wives and husbands, to help make the task a little less daunting, and to increase the many rewards that are possible in such a marvelous and complex relationship.

Enter the Marriage with the Right Intention and Renew this Often



Both spouses should enter the marriage with the pure intention of pleasing Allah, subhanahu wa ta'ala, in order to receive His grace and blessings. The marriage itself then becomes an act of worship and one for which both spouses will be rewarded. Allah will be pleased with them and this will be the most critical element in ensuring peace, stability and happiness throughout the marital life. It is also important to realize that when an act of worship is continued over a long period of time, it becomes necessary to renew one's intention often to remain on the correct path and to obtain the most benefit.



Remember that Your Spouse is also Your Brother or Sister in Islam



Too often Muslims treat other people outside the home with kindness and sincerity, but then behave in a very different manner when it comes to their own spouses. Muslims should always remember that one's spouse is also another brother or sister in Islam and that the rights and duties that apply to the general brotherhood (sisterhood) of Islam, should also form the basis of the marital relationship. Obviously, a spouse has rights beyond these, but there should be a clear understanding of the rights of brotherhood (sisterhood) and adherence to these principles.



Do Not Hold Unrealistic Expectations



Before marriage, people often have unrealistic ideas about their spouse-to-be, expecting perfection in all aspects. This rarely, if ever, plays out in reality and can lead to unnecessary problems and concerns. We should recall that Allah, subhanahu wa ta'ala, created humans as imperfect beings, which means that many mistakes will be made throughout a lifetime. By turning the table and expecting imperfection, we will be pleasantly surprised and pleased when our spouse is much more than we ever hoped for. This, in turn, will lead to contentment within the marriage.



Emphasize the Best in Your Spouse



Since no one is endowed with all of the best qualities, emphasis should be placed on the positive qualities that a spouse possesses. Encouragement, praise, and gratitude should be expressed on a regular basis, which will strengthen these qualities and be beneficial in developing others. An attempt should be made to overlook or ignore negative characteristics, as the Prophet, sallallahu alayhe wa sallam, said, "A believing man should not have any malice against a believing woman. He may dislike one characteristic in her, but may find another in her which is pleasing." (Muslim)



Be Your Mate's Best Friend



Try to think of what a best friend means and be one to your spouse. This may mean sharing interests, experiences, dreams, failures and upsets. It may involve understanding a spouse's likes and dislikes and attempting to please him or her in any way possible. A best friend is also usually someone that can be confided to trusted, and relied upon. A spouse should be the kind of friend that one would want to keep throughout life.



Spend Quality Time Together



It is not enough to share meals, chores and small talk together. Spouses should also find time to focus on strengthening the relationship. Often couples get busy with their own separate tasks and forget about working on one of the most important elements in life. Quality time may be anything from having a quiet, profound conversation to going for a nice long nature walk, to sharing a special hobby or project. Both spouses should enjoy the particular option chosen and distractions should be kept to a minimum.



Express Feelings Often



This is probably a very "Western" concept and one that some people may have difficulty fulfilling, but it is important to be open and honest about one's feelings, both positive and negative. The lines of communication should always be open and any concerns should be brought to the attention of the other spouse as soon as they arise. The rationale of this is that what begins as a simple concern may grow into a major problem if it is not addressed quickly and properly. The "silent treatment" has never been the remedy for anything.



Admit to Mistakes and ask for Forgiveness



Just as we ask Allah to forgive us when we make mistakes, we should also do the same with our spouses. The stronger person is the one who can admit when he or she is wrong, request pardon from the other, and work hard to improve his/her aspects that are in need of change. When a person is unwilling to do this, there will be little growth and development in the marriage.



Never Bring up Mistakes of the Past



It can be very hurting for another person to be reminded of past mistakes. In Islam, it is generally not recommended to dwell on the past. One may remember errors that were made so that they are not repeated, but this should not be done excessively. Certainly, as humans, we are not in the position to judge another person. Advice may be given, but not in a harmful manner.



Surprise Each Other at Times



This may entail bringing home a small gift or flowers, preparing a special meal, dressing up and beautifying oneself (this is not only for women), or sending a secret note in a lunchbox. A little imagination will go a long way here. The idea is to spice up the marriage and avoid getting into a dull routine that may negatively affect the marriage.



Have a Sense of Humour



This particular aspect can go a long way in preventing arguments and brightening the atmosphere of the home. Life is a constant stream of challenges and tests, and to approach it in a light-hearted manner will help to make the journey smoother and more enjoyable. You may also find that your spouse enjoys this characteristic and looks forward to spending time with you because of it.



Quick Tips for Discussions and Disagreements:



Begin with the intention to resolve the issue. If both spouses have this intention and plan to consult together, it is more likely that there will be a successful resolution.



Remember that it takes two to quarrel. If only one person chooses not to argue, there will be no argument. Generally, the one who is wrong does most of the talking.



Both spouses should not be angry at the same time. If one of the spouses becomes upset, it is best if the other tries to remain calm and collected.



Never yell at each other unless the house is on fire. Of course, house fires do not occur very frequently; yelling should occur at about the same rate.



Never go to sleep with an argument unsettled. This is one of the worst things that can happen in a marriage and should be avoided as much as possible. This allows hurt feelings and thoughts to linger and generally exacerbates the problem.



If one spouse needs to win, let it be your mate. Do not focus on winning yourself; this is the main reason that discussions tend to become heated.

Reviving our sense of Gheerah

 

 

Reviving our sense of Gheerah



by Sister Fatima Barakatullah

 

We live in societies in which most men and women have lost their sense of modesty, women are obsessed with their appearances and wear clothes to be seen by others and to attract the attention of other men even if they are married! They have lost their sense of shame. Marriage is often looked upon as old-fashioned and short term affairs and frivolous relationships are the norm, everyone waiting to attract a better partner and feeling totally justified to dump one partner for another at the drop of a hat. Feminism too has reached its peak and men and women are told to suppress their natural emotions. Men are not even embarrassed when their wives are dressed up and attract the attention of other men, they don’t mind if another man sees, chats, laughs and even dances with their womenfolk and if they do mind, they are told not to be so possessive!

In Islam we have a concept of Gheerah. Gheerah is an Arabic word which means protectiveness or jealousy. It is a good type of jealousy, like when a man feels jealous or protective over his wife or sisters and other-womenfolk and doesn’t like other men to look at them. It is a natural inbuilt feeling Allah has given men and women. The Prophet sallallahu ‘alaihi wassalam had the most Gheerah for his wives and all of the companions were known for their Gheerah. All Muslim men should have a collective sense of protectiveness for Muslim women as Allah says in the Qur’an, the meaning of which is:

“The Men are the protectors and maintainers of women…” (Surah An-Nisaa, Ayah 34).

Men who do not care about how their women behave and appear in front of other men and don’t enforce hijaab upon their wives or women-folk are called Dayyooth. Being a Dayyooth is a major sin and a detailed description of this evil characteristic can be found in adh-Dhahabee’s book of Major Sins (Kitaab ul-Kabaa’ir).

A story of Gheerah

To further understand the quality of Gheerah, we can look at an incident that Asmaa’ radi allahu anha the daughter of Abu Bakr As-Siddeeq radi allahu anhu and sister of Aisha radi allahu anha relates about herself. Abu Bakr was a wealthy merchant and he married his daughter Asmaa’ to the great companion Az-Zubayr ibn al-‘Awwam radi allahu anhu who was a very poor man but a man of great piety and one of the companions who were promised Paradise. Asmaa’ relates:




“When az-Zubayr married me, he had neither land nor wealth nor slave…”, so Asmaa’ had to work very hard kneading dough, going far off to get water. “And I used to carry on my head,” she continues, “the date stones from the land of az-Zubair which Allah’s Messenger sallallahu ‘alaihi wassalam had endowed him and it was a distance of two miles from Madeenah. One day, as I was carrying the date-stones upon my head, I happened to meet Allah’s Messenger sallallahu ‘alaihi wassalam, along with a group of his Companions. He called me and told the camel to sit down so that he could make me ride behind him. I felt shy to go with men and I remembered az-Zubair and his Gheerah and he was a man having the most Gheerah . The Messenger of Allah sallallahu ‘alaihi wassalam understood my shyness and left. I came to az-Zubair and said: “The Messenger of Allah sallallahu ‘alaihi wassalam met me as I was carrying date-stones upon my head and there was with him a group of his Companions. He told the camel to kneel so that I could mount it, but I felt shy and I remembered your Gheerah.” So Asmaa’ declined the offer made by the Prophet sallallahu ‘alaihi wassalam. Upon this az-Zubair said: “By Allah, the thought of you carrying date-stones upon your head is more severe a burden on me than you riding with him.” (related in Sahih Bukhari)



Look at the sense of dignity and modesty of Asmaa’! See how she felt shy in front of men? See how careful she was about her husband’s feelings? She knew that her husband had a lot of Gheerah so she didn’t want to upset him by accepting the Prophet’s sallallahu ‘alaihi wassalam help even though the Prophet was the purest of men and even though it meant bringing hardship on herself! And look at az-Zubair radi allahu anhu, even though he had a lot of Gheerah, he didn’t want to inconvenience his wife. What a beautiful relationship they had!

Nurturing our sense of Gheerah

Sometimes Muslim women don’t understand if their men folk want them to cover their faces or if they ask them to change something about the way they dress or speak in public, thinking that the men are being over-protective. But my dear sisters! If your husband asks you not to wear a certain colour of khimaar because it brings out the beauty of your eyes, or if he wants you to cover your face – by Allah, be thankful! Be proud of the fact that your husband has a sense of Gheerah for you and that he values you and cares for your hereafter. He knows what men can be like more than you do and so never try and suppress his Gheerah in these types of matters. And his concern for you should incite your own sense of honour! Why should any man be able to see your beauty and think indecent thoughts about you? We must nurture our own and our menfolk’s sense of Gheerah by behaving and dressing modestly ourselves and paying attention to their valid opinions. We expect certain behaviour from them and they expect it of us. And besides, if our husband asks us to do something that it not Haraam, we must do it.

And Brothers! How can you allow your wife or sister to walk around attracting the attentions and evil-thoughts of other men? How can you not mind if she smiles as she talks to other men. Nobody has the right to enjoy her and her company but you and her Maharim men. You are not being overbearing if you first encourage and then enforce the hijaab on your womenfolk because YOU will be asked about it on the Day of Judgement and it is also a major sin upon YOU! It is upon the men to enforce these things in their homes and you cannot use the excuse that your wife didn’t want to. Women need a firm, balanced, guiding hand from their men, so with wisdom you must enforce hijaab in your home. You are a shepard and are responsible for your flock!

Allah reminds us all in the Qur’an, the meaning of which is:

“Oh you who believe, Protect yourselves and your families from a fire whose fuel is men and stones.” (At-Tahreem, Aayah 6)

There is a big difference between how Islam values and protects women and how cheaply women are treated outside of Islam! As Muslims we have to be careful that our Hayaa’ (sense of modesty and shame) and Gheerah don’t wear out in a society in which people have lost it.

Women's Position in Islam

 

By Ayman Samy 

Praise be to God and may
God bless Mohammad His messenger (peace be upon him).

God created both females
and males from one origin, and one soul. {It is He Who created you from a single person and made his mate of like
nature in order that he might dwell with her (in love)} (A’raf 189)

Adam appreciated Eve’s
worth and they lived together practicing all the meanings of love, kindness,
respect, and appreciation. Then as years passed new generations were brought up
away from God’s Law, not guided by Him and their lives not brightened by His
message, which led to recurring disasters.

For a long time, women
have suffered disrespect to the extent that in some religions, parents have
prayed to be blessed with male children.

Then if a girl was born,
this meant shame, misery and bitterness for the parents which could only be
taken away by burying the daughter alive. If she survived, then the misery
survived with her and she lived as a negligible object which could be owned and
never own, with no freedom in her actions, hopeless and dispirited. Some religions even allowed her to be sold
like a cow is sold, or if they were kind to her, they rented her for a limited
period.

In societies where statues
were worshipped, if many girls had been borne to a family and they couldn’t
support them, they would leave them in fields to be killed by wild animals or
die from the night frost without feeling any regret or remorse.

With all of that in mind,
what would you expect about educating and culturing them?

Even when it was time for
her to be married, she was married to someone she didn’t want, and by the form
of Shughar Marriage (which is a form of marriage
without a dowry) or exchanged or traded (where a husband may send his wife to
another man for the purpose of having a male child) or sold. Then what would the price of the woman be in
these societies? It would be the number
of bulls being given to her dad.

Then how can she live with
the man who bought her for the price of bulls?!

She has to work as a
servant, fetching water from the rivers, carrying out the house keeping and
with no objections to also helping her husband in his trade. Then if he gets
angry for any reason and leaves her, she becomes suspended, neither a wife nor
able to remarry. What a bitter life she’s living, away from God’s Law following
human decreed laws such as the one written by one of those who had gone astray
“The man is the lord, he has to order. The woman is the follower, she has to
obey”.

What an unfair judgment.

And if this is the
situation of married women, then what about those who are forced into
prostitution?

Your
forgiveness God, for those who have no respect for God.

And you can imagine a
woman from one of the societies sitting and waiting to be burned alive and the
crime that she committed is nothing but that her husband has died and she has
to follow him with dutiful acceptance, until they buried around 6000 women in
10 years.

All these wrongdoings were
asked to be stopped by God’s messengers whenever they were sent because God
doesn’t like wrongdoers. And those
wicked people who changed God’s Law, did not stop sullying the women with their
dirty tricks but also changed the first testimony, adding in that
women were something to be ashamed of, all of which God’s Law is totally
innocent of. The same thing also
happened in changing the bible and even in the 5^th Century when the Makony Group, whom Christians believe are holy, gathered to
discuss the origin of the Woman. They
discussed whether she is a body with no soul, or whether she has a soul just
like men, and the decision was that she does have a soul.

Thank God for that, but
the matter hadn’t finished yet! They decided that she had a wicked soul which
will not escape punishment with the exception of Jesus’ mother for she is the
only woman whom they believed would escape Hell-fire.

O how much suffering have
women had to bear?! Until God permitted
Islam’s light to brighten the earth by God’s Law and His light and His
guidance.

Look and you will see
believers (both men and women), and Muslims ( both men
and women), near Al Kaaba facing it and prostrating
towards it, all together. {And their Lord hath
accepted of them, and answered them: “Never will I suffer to be lost the work
of any of you, be he male or female: ye are members, one of another”}(Al-i-‘Imran 195)

Yes, duties to God are for
both men and women, with the reward of Heaven, and so men and women are equal. {The Believers, men and women, are protectors, one of another:
they enjoin what is just, and forbid what is evil:
they observe regular prayers, practice regular charity, and obey God and his
Apostle. On them will God pour his
mercy: for God is exalted in power, Wise. * God hath
promised to his Believers, men and women, Gardens under which rivers flow, to
dwell therein, and beautiful mansions in Gardens of everlasting bliss. But the greatest bliss is the Good Pleasure
of God: that is the supreme felicity.} (Tauba
71/72)

God is great, His Law
which he layed down to people is all light and all
goodness. {Should He not know, -He that created? And
He is the One that understands the finest mysteries (and) is well acquainted
(with them)} (Mulk 14)

God’s Law made man and his
sister, the woman, equal in many duties and responsibilities for you are all carers and you are all responsible for those in your care.

And also, God’s Law makes
the woman and her brother, the man, completely equal in both rewards and
punishments {whoever works evil will be requited
accordingly. Nor will he find, besides
God, any protector or helper* If any do deeds of righteousness, - be they male
or female - and have faith, they will enter Heaven and not the least injustice
will be done to them.}(Nisaa 123/124)

Islam gave
women rights in this life: human; social; economic and legal rights.

1. From her human rights:

The
right to live; from before she arrives in this world, a baby in her mother’s
womb, Islam took care of her rights and banned killing her for God has banned
the killing of souls, both of men and women {Nor
take life – which God Has made sacred – except for just cause}(Al Isra 33)

And
once she is born, Islam banned killing her or burying her alive. {When the female (infant) buried alive, is questioned – for
what crime she was killed} (Takwir 8/9)

And ordered for he
to be brought up well and promised a great reward for this, such as avoiding
the punishment of Hell and the reward of entry to Heaven and being closer to
the Apostle (peace be upon him) in there.

The
prophet (peace be upon him) said in the hadeeth which
has been agreed as truth, from the Hadeeth of Aisha (mother of Muslims) “Whomever
is blessed with girls and then does well by them in bringing them up, it will
be a protector for him from Hell-fire”
(Saheeh Al Targheeb
1968)

And so Muslim says
in his recording of the Hadeeth by Anas that God’s prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him) said “Whoever looks after 2 girls until they are mature, on the Day
of Judgment he and I will be. Then he brought his 2 fingers together” (Saheeh Al Targheeb 1970)

Says
Jaaber that the Prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him)
said “Whoever has three girls, and gives them a
refuge, clothes them, and is kind to them, he will surely be rewarded by
Heaven. So one of the men from the land
asked him ‘What
about 2 girls?’ and he replied “And the same for 2 girls” ( Saheeh Al Adab 58)

And so God made
men and women equal in their human pride and so God Almighty says {We
have honoured the sons of Adam} (Al Isra 70)

And
so He made men and women equal in rewards, both in life and in the after-life,
as we have illustrated previously. {Whoever works
righteousness, man or woman and has faith, verily, to him We will give a new
Life, a life that is good and pure, and We will bestow on such their reward
according to the best of their actions} (Nahl
97)

{If any do deeds of righteousness – be they male or female –
and have faith, they will enter Heaven, and not the least injustice will be
done to them} (Nisaa 124)

As also He gave
her the right to express her opinions and to be consulted.

And
the day she complained, God heard her complaint from the top of the seven
skies, and sent part of the Quran concerning her situation, which is recited
until the Day of Judgment. {God has indeed heard
(and accepted) the statement of the woman who pleads with thee concerning her
husband and carries her complaint (in prayer) to God: and God (always) hears
the arguments between both sides among you: for God hears and sees (all things)}
(Mujadila 1)

1. And as for her social rights:

GOD
gave her the right to be educated and to be taught how to behave, exactly like
her brother, the man {O ye who believe! Save
yourselves and your families from a Fire whose fuel is Men (i.e. mankind) and
stones}(Tahrim 6)

And
the Prophet Mohammad had advised of the importance of education, as in the Hadeeth by Anas, recorded by Al Tarmathy that the Prophet (peace be
upon him) said “Education is compulsory for every
Muslim” (Al Targheeb 72)

And so this Hadeeth
shows that there is no difference between a man and woman in this religion when
it comes to learning.

So
was it confirmed in the true Sunnah that the Prophet
(peace be upon him) had advised for a woman (Hafsa)
to be educated and insisted on her being taught to write.

And
it is the woman’s right over her brother and her father of claiming alimony
{But he (the father of the baby following a
separation) shall bear the cost of their food and
clothing}(Baqara 233)

And
when Hind, the wife of Abu Sufyan, complained to the
Prophet (peace be upon him) that her husband was mean and tightfisted and
didn’t give her enough money for her and her children, the Prophet (peace be
upon him) said to her “ Take what you need for you and your children” (Al Nisaa’y 5010)

And
also it is the woman’s right to pick her own husband who is suitable for her
and as the Prophet (peace be upon him) said “ The woman who has
been married before has the right to make the decision on her future marriages,
and for an unmarried girl, her father must seek her approval and if she is
silent then that is a sign of her approval” (The True Series 1807)

And
if a father marries one of his daughters without her approval, the Prophet
(peace be upon him) nullifies the marriage and this is
recorded in Saheeh Al Bukhary.

Islam
made the dowry a woman’s right and Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala says {And give the women (on marriage) the dower as a free gift}
( Nisaa 4)

And
He gave her the right to enjoy her husband and decreed that the maximum length
of time a husband can be separated from his wife is 4 months. If he comes back
after the 4 months then it is fine, but if he doesn’t then she can take her
case to court, and says Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala {For those who take an oath for abstention from their wives, a
waiting for four months is ordained; if then they return, God is Oft-forgiving,
Most Merciful* But if their intention is firm for divorce, God heareth and knoweth all things}
(Al Bakara 226/227)

And
she has the right to live well whether she is a mother {We have enjoined on man kindness to his parents} (Ahqaf 15) or a wife {live with
them on a footing of kindness and equity} (Nisaa
19) or even other than that, for she is not forced after marriage to live with
a man she doesn’t love, and she has the right to choose to separate from him
for a legal reason.

If
a married couple are going to separate, then here is shown the woman’s rights
over her ex-husband, for she is entitled to alimony during the period of 3
months after the divorce during which she cannot remarry. And it is her right to breastfeed her baby
and so Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala says {The mother shall
give suck to their offspring for two whole years, if the father decides to
complete the term} (Bakara 233)

And
this right to breastfeed her own babies is definite
whether she is married or separated from her husband.

And
so it is her right, whether she is married or separated from her husband, the
custody of her children.

Islam
also gave women her own rights in inheritance {From what is left by
parents and those nearest related there is a share for men and a share for
women, whether the property be small or large, - a determinate share}
(Nisaa 7)

1. And gave her social rights:

For she owns and sells, buys and gives. In short,
women in Islam have their own financial independence.

1. As for her legal rights:

She
is a fully capable human being, who has got rights to appeal or to be a
witness.

In
the end, we have only touched on this huge topic here, but have you truly ever
seen a Law so kind to women as this, or even half of this? But as Allah subhanahu wa
ta’ala says {Truly it is
not their eyes that are blind, but their hearts which are in their breasts}
(Hajj 46)

All quotes used from
the Quran where taken from the The Holy Qur’an translation and commentary by A. Yusuf
Ali, (published by Islamic Propagation Centre International, Durban)

Respect For Our Daughters

 

Sheikh Salman al-Oadah



A person's need to feel import is something perfectly natural, something
instilled in human nature. It may well be that this feeling is behind many of
humanity's greatest inventions, achievements, and noble acts.



This is why Allah mentions to us that Abraham (peace be upon him) said:
“And ordain for me a goodly mention among posterity.” [ Sûrah
al-Shu`arā' : 84]



Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: “If a son of Adam dies, his good
works come to an end except for three: charity that keeps providing benefit,
knowledge that people still benefit from, and a pious child who supplicates for
him.”



This is an indication that people like to feel that they are important, and feel
that they will be valued and that their works will endure even after they die.
This is why the Prophet (peace be upon him) guided us to continuous charity,
enduring beneficial knowledge, and a pious son or daughter who prays on our
behalf.



Those who belittle and deride others, and who defame their characters, do not
profit themselves anything but pain and bitterness. It makes no difference
whether they are officials, educators, parents, or anyone else.



Our society is in need of programs to teach people this basic truth. All too
many people have inherited from their cultures – and this is a fact for many
societies throughout the world of which some are Islamic societies – contempt
for women, looking upon the woman her as if she is a creation of a lesser
degree, a second class citizen – and in some cases it seems that they treat her
more as if the phrase “tenth class” would be more appropriate.



Up to today, some of us are prisoners to this base mindset, as if they had never
heard the guidance of the Prophet (peace be upon him) or benefited from the
revelation sent down to us by Allah. Such people are still toiling under the
legacy of the pre-Islamic times of ignorance, in spite of the fact that in our
present age, many banners are being raised, like those of human rights, women's
rights, social justice, and equality. It is so bad that some of us look upon
these terms and concepts with bewilderment and suspicion.



This is in spite of the fact that the guarantee of human rights that is at the
core of our faith is loftier and nobler than anything set down in any
declaration of human rights anywhere in the world. This is as true today as it
has been in the past.



The problem here with respect to the issue of women – and to that of the young
woman in particular – is the result of the coming together with the ideas of the
new ignorance with those of the days of ignorance of old.



First of all, people come with all sorts of biases against women, like the
notion that women are inherently treacherous. Then you have the fact that in
some cultures, the birth of a daughter is received with ignominy and considered
a bad omen.



Thirdly, women are still viewed in some circles as not being entitled to have
their own opinions or to make their own decisions. There is a saying: “Consult
with them but do not heed what they say.” Some people might even have gotten the
notion in their heads that this blatant lie is a saying of our Prophet (peace be
upon him)!



Then there is the idea that a woman's place is in the kitchen. Here we have
another dubious saying: “Were a woman to reach Mars, she would still wind up in
the kitchen.”



These concepts, though prevalent, are from the pagan Arab culture of the times
of ignorance. These notions are alien to Islam. They are not from the teachings
of our Prophet (peace be upon him).



Allah says: “So their Lord accepted their prayer: That
I will not waste the work of a worker among you, whether male or female, the one
of you being from the other.” [ Sûrah Âl `Imrân : 195]



Allah also says: “Lo! men who surrender unto Allah,
and women who surrender, and men who believe and women who believe, and men who
obey and women who obey, and men who speak the truth and women who speak the
truth, and men who persevere (in righteousness) and women who persevere, and men
who are humble and women who are humble, and men who give alms and women who
give alms, and men who fast and women who fast, and men who guard their modesty
and women who guard (their modesty), and men who remember Allah much and women
who remember - Allah has prepared for them forgiveness and a vast reward.”
[ Sûrah al-Ahzâb : 35]



We can see in these verses how Allah mentions women alongside men, on parity
with one another.



Many of our daughters feel cheated and resentful on account of the unequal
treatment given to them in comparison with their brothers. When a girl's brother
brings home passing marks from school, everyone gets happy he is congratulated,
and rewarded with gifts, even if his grades were not all that good. When she
comes home with her diploma after having attained the highest academic
distinctions, she is told: “That is not important…what good is it to you?”
Things like this are commonplace.



Because of such things, the climate becomes conducive to the call of
westernization, which is seen by many young women as a source of salvation from
the oppression of the societies in which they live. I listened to a speech given
in Egypt by an activist for women's liberation. She spoke of such things. Her
stance was a reaction to customs and circumstances that exist in her society
which have nothing to do with Islam, but which were really the legacy of the
former times of ignorance.



A woman, just like a man, needs to have her importance acknowledged, her
grievances heard, and her aspirations fulfilled. If these needs are not met for
her with her family and at school, she is going to find ways to fulfill them
elsewhere. The media today is giving her all sorts of lessons in this area.



Psychology teaches us that, though you are not necessary going to convince
others or change their minds by listening to them, you are going to endear them
to you and make them more sympathetic. One of the most notable qualities of
great and influential people is their ability to listen to others and to show
them proper regard.



A delegation of Mecca 's polytheists once came to the Prophet (peace be upon
him) to object to him. They spoke at length until they had nothing more to say.
Only then did the Prophet (peace be upon him) spoke up and ask: “Are you done?”
When they told him that they were, he began reciting to them some words from the
Qur'ân.



The person who speaks to you may feel in his heart that he has been wronged or
that he has been disenfranchised. He may have a point of view that he is
passionate about and that he wishes to communicate to you. You have to afford
him a proper outlet to air his grievances. If you do not give him a proper
hearing, his grievances will transform into a deluge or bring about within him
destructive psychological problems.



Experience shows us that major problems that face us as individuals, families,
and nations, started off as small problems that were not properly acknowledged
and addressed. They grew and until they reached critical mass and exploded.
Affording due recognition is a safety valve for both the individual and society.
When some problem arises that starts to exert pressure, many people forget that
it is possible to contain it, and instead toss more fuel upon the fire.



Listening to others effectively demands mastery of a number of skills, which we
can enumerate as follows:



The first of these skills is to be able to summarize the ideas that were brought
up in the course of the conversation. After hearing what the other party had to
say and speaking your own mind, you are able to summarize the matter, accurately
stating the other person's point of view and discussing its implications as well
as your arguments. This shows the other person that you hold what he says to be
important and that you properly understood what he had to say. In this way, you
assure him, that you are not putting words into his mouth or misunderstanding
his ideas. He knows that you were paying attention to him.



Too often, we do not give others the chance to speak. When they do speak, we are
either incapable of understanding their point of view or of convincing them that
we have indeed understood them.



The second skill that we need to master is to be able to enter into the
world-view of those to whom we listen and with whom we speak. When we listen to
two people having a discussion, we can tell whether their relationship is
strained or whether there is friendship and cordiality between them. This comes
through to us in their body language, how they face each other, make eye
contact, and in their hand gestures.



A mother is able to establish a good relationship with her daughter by placing
herself on her daughter's level and by expressing herself with heart and with
her body language so that the daughter feels safe and trusting. The mother is
able to respond to her daughter's feelings, sensitivities, and appreciate her
circumstances. In this way, it is possible for the daughter to become confident
and overcome her shyness so that she can speak openly and frankly and divulge
her concerns. This, however, will only be if she sees that what she has to say
is taken seriously.



Many people do not seek a solution to their problems as much as they are seeking
a sympathetic heart that feels their pain and in which they can find solace.



Imagine that you are speaking to someone and that person keeps looking at his
watch or answering his cell phone or leafing through the newspaper. Or imagine
that he suddenly brings up a totally unrelated topic. Would it really matter to
you that for all this time he has been looking at you while you speak?



If we are to place ourselves in the world-view of our daughters, this means that
we must be able to abide in our young girl's spirit, her heart, her feelings,
and her sensitivities. It means for her to know that we are with her, not
against her.



The third good listening skill that we need to master is to be able to guide the
conversation in the direction that we want it to go. A girl may not be able to
speak openly about everything that concerns her, or she may not know how to
express herself about some things. She may become confused or say something by
mistake. We must not hold her to her mistake or judge her on account of it.
Instead, we must help her to communicate to us what she is trying to say. We
need to make her feel that the atmosphere is relaxed and normal.



A mother might find it advantageous to talk about her own experiences when she
was young and how she went through a lot of the same things.



The girl might need to speak about something that is troubling her but not be
able to bring herself to say everything. For this reason, a mother might take
the matter too lightly or accuse the girl of not being able to speak, or call
her stupid or simple.



I have heard girls say things like: “No one ever understands what I say.”



She might mean that there is no one in her family who agrees with what she
wants. In this, her family could well be in the right. However, she might also
mean that no one pays any serious attention to what she has to say, and this is
a serious problem.