Salat (Prayer)

[Sahih Muslim : Book 1 Kitab Al-Iman, Number 144]

It is narrated on the authority of Abu Huraira (Radi Allah Anhu) that: "When, the son of Adam recites the Ayat of Sajdah (prostration) and then falls down in prostration, the Satan goes into seclusion and weeps and says: Alas, and in the narration of Abu Kuraib the words are: Woe unto me, the son of Adam was commanded to prostrate, and he prostrated and Paradise was entitled to him and I was commanded to prostrate, but I refused and am doomed to Hell."

[Sahih Muslim : Book 1 Kitab Al-Iman, Number 146]

It is narrated on the authority of Jabir (Radi Allah Anhu) that he heard the Apostle (may peace and blessings be upon him) saying "Verily between man and between polytheism and unbelief is the negligence of prayer."

[Sahih Muslim : Book 1 Kitab Al-Iman, Number 147]

It is narrated on the authority of Abu Zubair (Radi Allah Anhu) that he heard Jabir b. 'Abdullah (Radi Allah Anhu) saying. I heard the Messenger of Allah (sal-allahu-alleihi-wasallam) observing this: "Between man and polytheism and unbelief is the abandonment of salat."

[Sahih Muslim : Book 1 Kitab Al-Iman, Number 151]

It is narrated on the authority of 'Abdullah b. Mas'ud (Radi Allah Anhu) that he observed. I asked the Messenger of Allah (sal-allahu-alleihi-wasallam) which deed was the best. He (the Holy Prophet) replied: Prayer at its appointed hour. I (again) said: Then what? He (the Holy Prophet) replied: Kindness to the parents. I (again) said: Then what? He replied: Earnest endeavour (Jihad) in the cause of Allah. And I would have not ceased asking more questions but out of regard (for his feelings).

[Sahih Muslim : Book 1 Kitab Al-Iman, Number 155]

It is reported on the authority of 'Abdullah (Radi Allah Anhu) that the Apostle of Allah (sal-allahu-alleihi-wasallam) observed: "The best of' the deeds or deed is the (observance of) prayer at its proper time and kindness to the parents."

How to get an A Grade final Exam

By Muhammad Alshareef

1. In school, you can often redo your exam if you fail. In the hereafter, if one fails there is no going back.
2. In school, you often do not know what questions will be asked. In the hereafter, there are only 3 questions: Who is your Lord? What is your Deen? And who is this man who was sent to you? But the answers are answers you live by.
3. In school, we stay up at night to prepare for the exam the next day. So too in Allah's exam, we should be staying up in night prayers.
4. In school, we pray and hope and work for an outstanding mark. So too should be our attitude towards Allah's exam.
5. In school, when we get a great mark, we erupt with happiness. So too will the believers erupt in happiness when they get their books in their right hands. Work for it.
6. In school, when we get a bad mark, sadness can be seen on our faces, and we dislike to face others. So too in the hereafter. Protect yourself from that.
7. During a school exam, you cannot ask anyone for help. In the hereafter, you can prepare from now to get assistance from Allah's Messenger, the Quran, and other ways of intercession.
8. In school, when exam time draws near, we banish distractions to focus on what is really important. In Allah's exam, isn't death within 1 heart beat? Banish distractions and focus.
9. In school, until exam results come out, we worry about the result. In Allah's exam, we don't know what our result will be, so we spend our days in hope and worry until the results come out.

 With best wishes to see you succeed at the highest level!
- Muhammad Alshareef

A Sister's Cry for help: A letter from Afia Siddiqui

My dead nation.

My name is Dr. Afia educated from Massachusetts Institute of Technology (USA) with three children and aim of helping my nation with my high class education is very pleased from your help. I was kidnapped from my own country by my brothers and sold to America. I was brutally treated, raped, tortured, again and again given name prisoner 650. I prayed for my Muhammad Bin Qasim for every second of my years in prison in a Muslim country Afghanistan.

I am sister of 1/5 world population Muslim. My nation is historically famous in defending and protecting their citizen right from the beginning. Hazrat Omar (RA) Said, if a dog dies near river Arafat, Omar will be responsible on day of judgment.

At the moment I can't walk on my own, one kidney is removed, bullet wound in my chest, denied any medical and legal aid and not sure whether I will be alive or not. 

I would like to revoke my status of sister. I am a proud muslim, follower of Hazrat Muhammad SAW, daughter of Hazrat Abubakar, Hazrat Umar, Hazrat Usman and Hazrat Ali and Companions and their true followers. I don't want to be your sister.

They are my protector and I will seek Allah help not yours. I don't want to be Pakistani who has 600,000 troops and special force SSG but fail to protect me, they sworn to protect me but refused when I was looking at them for help.

My so called Muslim Ummah having millions of soldiers, guns, tanks. Automatic weapons, fighter plans, submarines and yet they failed to save me.

Don't worry about day of judgment you won't be answerable as you are not my brothers in Islam. You are Arabic, Persian, Palestinians, African, Malaysian, Indonesian, South Asian but not Muslims.

I am sorry if hurts you but you can't imagine how hurt I am.' Its not just me-look at Palestine, Iraq, Afghanistan and our own army instead of fighting our enemies, killing their brothers, sisters and children in tribal areas of Pakistan in the name of so called America's 'war on terror'.

(The love of this world is like a fist full of water betrayed by the spaces in between your fingers the love slowly slowly slips away)

"AND WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU THAT YOU FIGHT NOT IN THE CAUSE OF ALLAH, AND FOR THOSE WEAK , ILL TREATED AND OPPRESSED AMONG MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN, WHOSE CRY IS: "OUR LORD! RESCUE US FROM THIS TOWN WHOSE PEOPLE ARE OPPRESSORS; AND RAISE FOR US FROM YOU ONE WHO WILL PROTECT, AND RAISE FOR US FROM YOU ONE WHO WILL HELP." SURAH AN-NISA -verse 75

"AND THOSE WHO DISBELIEVE ARE ALLIES OF ONE ANOTHER, (AND) IF YOU (MUSLIMS COLLECTIVELY) DO NOT DO SO (i-e BECOME ALLIES, AS ONE UNITED BLOCK UNDER ONE KHALIF) TO MAKE VICTORIOUS ALLAH'S DEEN, THERE WILL BE FITNAH AND OPPRESSION ON THE EARTH, AND GREAT MISCHIEF AND CORRUPTION". SURAH AL-ANFAL-verse 73

"BEHOLD, THE IMAM IS BUT A SHIELD FROM BEHIND WHOM THE MUSLIMS FIGHT AND BY WHOM THEY PROTECT THEMSELVES" PROPHET MUHAMMAD (PBUH). SAHIH MUSLIM, on the authority of Abu Hurayrah.

"THE ONE WHO WORKS FOR ASABIYA(NATIONALISM), CALLS FOR ASABIYA (NATIONALISM) OR FIGHTS FOR ASABIYA(NATIONALISM) IS NOT ONE OF US....AND HE IS LIKE THE WORM WHO LIVES IN DUNG". PROPHET MUHAMMAD(PBUH)

"MUSLIMS ARE BUT LIKE ONE BODY, WHEN ONE PART OF THE BODY IS IN PAIN THE WHOLE BODY FEELS IT". PROPHET MUHAMMAD(PBUH)

Sahaba

From Anas (raa), he was asked (is there any one among the companions of Muhammad left after u), he (raa) said (some beduins remained who saw him (saaw), but the ones whom accompanied him and invaded with him no).  The hadith is narrated by Ibn Saad, Ibn Al Salah said (its isnad is good), and al sayooti said (bi'isnad hasan). On this meaning, the majority of the scholars of usuls went that the person will not be a sahabi unless he lives with the messenger (saaw) for enough period of time. On the other hand, the opinion of the majority of the scholars of the hadith that the one who saw him (saaw) and believed in him , he is a companion. Then these  differed will a person who saw him, then became a muslim after his death, a sahabi? Then some of them said even if he saw him from a far distance, he is a sahabi. And comes in the definition of the muhaditheen for the sahabi , the jin because the they had filled the requirements. And the basis of the definition is the word (sahabi) in arabic language, since the shairah did not put a special meaning for it, then we have to go with the linguistic meaning for the word. And the arabic language dictates in the urf (use)that enough period of friedship needed for companionship, and there is no consideration in this regard for the later scholars whom tried to revolve around and claim that companionship does not need a period of mulazama (close friendship). 

If u see this, then the haqq is with the scholars of usuls.  and it was narrated from Saaed Ibn Al Mussaiab (the imam of the followers) he said (we used not to consider a person from the companions except if he lived with the messenger for one or two year OR he invaded with him one or two battles). And it was mentioned that some of the tabieen used to narrate from some people who saw the messenger (saaw),  then they they were not from the sahaba. And the goal of the scholars of the hadith is that they want to add the virtue of the companionship to any one who saw the honorable face of the messenger (saaw), so that a group of people whom the messenger (saaw) witnessed for them with the virtue will not go out from companionship like jareer Ibn Abdillah al bujli and others.

On the other hand, the usuli scholar he is the one who establishes rules and fundemantals of the deen, since the sahaba are the ones who gave us the shariah, and transmitted the quraan and alone their ijmaa is definite. The imam said, the messenger (saaw( said (allah had chosen my companions over all people except the           prophets). Allah swt said (the early ones of muhajiroun and ansar...allah is pleased with them and they are pleased with allah) and this exclusive purification does not apply excxept to the sahaba. The imam said (and his words are taken from abu zarah) "and the sahaba are better than all others, and they are better than all the ones will come. This is because the deen is haqq and allah is haqq, and those who gave us this deen are the sahaba. And those who slander the sahaba, they are slandering our witnesses). (may be i misused the words).

THE STORY OF THE THREE PERSONS OF THE CAVE AND THEIR MAKING GOOD DEEDS OF THEIRS AS THE MEANS OF RIDDANCE

Book 036, Number 6606: Abu Sa'id Khudri reported that Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: The world is sweet and green (alluring) and verily Allah is going to install you as vicegerent in it in order to see how you act. So avoid the allurement of women: verily, the first trial for the people of Isri'll was caused by women. And in the hadith transmitted on the authority of Ibn Bashshar the words are:" So that He should see how you act." 

Chapter 2: THE STORY OF THE THREE PERSONS OF THE CAVE AND THEIR MAKING GOOD DEEDS OF THEIRS AS THE MEANS OF RIDDANCE Book 036, Number 6607: 'Abdullah b. 'Umar reported that Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: Three persons set out on a journey. They were overtaken by rain and they had to find protection in a mountain cave where at its mouth there fell a rock of that mountain and thus blocked them altogether. One of them said to the others: Look to your good deeds that you performed for the sake of Allah and then supplicate Allah, the Exalted, that He might rescue you (from this trouble). One of them said: 0 Allah, I had my parents who were old and my wife and my small children also. I tended the flock and when I came back to them in the evening, I milked them (the sheep, goats, cows, etc.) and first served that milk to my parents. One day I was obliged to go out to a distant place in search of fodder and I could not come back before evening and found them (the parents) asleep. I milked the animals as I used to milk and brought milk to them and stood by their heads avoiding to disturb them from sleep and I did not deem it advisable to serve milk to my children before serving them. My children wept near my feet. I remained there in that very state and my parents too until it was morning. And (0 Allah) if Thou art aware that I did this in order to seek Thine pleasure, grant us riddance from this trouble. (The rock slipped a bit) that they could see the sky. The second one said: 0 Allah, I had a female cousin whom I loved more than the men love the women. I wanted to have sexual intercourse with her; she refused but on the condition of getting one hundred dinirs. It was with very great difficulty that I could collect one hundred dinirs and then paid them to her and when I was going to have a sexual intercourse with her, that she said: Servant of Allah, fear Allah and do not break the seal (of chastity) but by lawful means. I got up. 0 Allah, if Thou art aware that I did this in order to seek Thine pleasure, rid us from this trouble. The situation was somewhat eased for them. The third one said: Allah, I employed a workman for a measure of rice. After he had finished his work I gave him his dues (in the form of) a measure of rice, but he did not accept them. I used these rice as seeds, and that gave a bumper crop and I became rich enough to have cows and flocks (in my possession). He came to me and said: Fear Allah, and commit no crueltv upon me in regard to my dues. I said to him: Takeaway this flock of cows and sheep. He said: Fear Allah and do not make a fun of me. I said: I am not making a fun of you. You take the cows and the flocks. So he took them. 0 Allah, if Thou art aware that I did it for Thine pleasure, case the situation for us. And Allah relieved them from the rest of the trouble.

Nations Progress because of Science

Another widely held concept by the public and constantly drummed into their heads is that Nations prosper because of Scientific Research 

The other day while sitting and watching TV I heard a talkshow in which they were discussing that why is such and such country backward, and why is America a super-power. And the most prevalent opinion among some others was that US is a super power because of its scientific progress, the other being that its progress is due to democracy and equal rights.

Anyways this got me into thinking that is this really so, I mean this is what even the US is always telling the other nations that if you give equal rights you will progress and by heavily investing in science you will be like us. This idea is even exported to those countries who have been the enemies of America.

Consider this, You believe that you are a self-made man (in a world where might is right) having worked through the problems in your life, defeated your enemies and now are looked at as the leader. Would you give out your secrets to anyone if you knew that you are never going to die, rather you will try your utmost to mis-guide others because if you were to give out your secrets you would have competition and would be replaced. Same is the case with America, she considers herself to be supreme having the most superior ideology would America be so naive as to reveal all her secrets why she is great ... DEFINITELY NOT

However, if you were to look closely you will realize that America is a super power because she has a world view, she considers herself as the leader of nations, so she plans for all the possible threats that can come her way. In short she has a global vision and that global vision demands a global foreign policy. So you see that America has experts in all fields of life, for all the different nations it sees as threats.

Consider this ... USA's DoD (department of defense) realized that if it was to dominate the world into accepting its rule it needed to have weapons that could coerce them into submission, so it developed the ICBMs and the GPS, the F-16s and the Space Shuttles, it needed Computers to perform the calculations so it developed computers. Now consider this, Ethiopia a small nation never even thought of dominating world so without that vision could it even begin to think it needs a GPS system !!!

Moral: What you cannot think, you can plan for, what you cannot plan for you cannot do ... so basically its the foreign policy that makes the nations what they are

We are Bad, therefore We have Bad Rulers

We are bad, therefore we have bad rulers... Some say this all the time, but nearly everyone makes this statement some of the time. Upon seeing what's happening around is wrong, one takes this stance to absolve oneself of any responsibility. This kind of fatalism has become the norm nowadays. But is it really like this !!

Consider this, Two guys flunk an examination, one of them says O! i am so dumb i can never really pass this test and gives up, the other guy goes home does an analysis, finds out his mistakes, chalks out a plan to counter them and then gets down to work, You be the judge !!!  OR consider your ownself, how many times has it happened that you slept very late at night and had an exam or a meeting with your boss, you had to get up otherwise it was your neck on the line, what did you do, didn't you ask someone to wake you up, or set an alarm ... but when it was time to offer prayer in the morning you made an excuse that you come very late from work so cannot offer fajr prayers !! Ever wondered why did you do that. OR consider the scenario where someone started beating your son, did you make an excuse that you are a coward or did you rush an save your son.

So why do we have different set of principles for problems that involve us to remain in our comfort zone or those whose result effect us immediately while for others that demand a great amount of effort and sacrifice and whose results do not seem to affect our immediate future ... we have another set.

The problem lies in the fact that we Love this life so much we cling to it rather than thinking about Akhira, we are fatalists when its Akhirah but when its our daily lives we behave as if its what we do which only makes a difference.

So the next time you say O! we are bad so we deserve whats happening to us, we deserve bad rulers and bad governance think why is it that I am bad, what is the thing i am not doing and the answer is "You are not raising your voice you are not thinking what to do rather you are making an excuse to be inactive and pathetic. " You are leaving Amr Bil Maroof and Nahi An-il-munkar (Enjoining good and forbidding evil). And among many consequences of leaving this duty is that your feelings gradually die down, the fire inside you stops burning and then the sins and evils do not move you to take action rather you start accepting them. This is the time when Islam to you is only a set of theoretical principles, Qur'an a book to read for reward and its verses a talisman.

Qadr (Pre-destination)

Someone asked an old man, " what is pre-destination? and if whatever we do is pre-destined then why should be do any action, why would we be punished or rewarded. "

The old man replied, Pre-destination has two aspects, i.e Does Allah Almighty know what we will do next ? this doesn't directly concern us, the other aspect is what is Qadr?

For the first part, Everyone knows that the Creator/Rub/Allah SWT is unlike His creation, therefore He (Subhanahu Wa T'allah) is beyond the limitations of time and space. which simply means he is not bound by time or space, therefore for him past, present or future are all the same because he is beyond time. So He SWT knows what you will do next. There is nothing hidden from him.

The second part is what really concerns us. Qadr means in one meaning as property or Sift. So you see the blade has the property that it cuts, the pen has the property that it writes, the lamp has the property that it gives light so on and so forth. However, does the property of the blade i.e cutting force you to Kill someone. or the property of the pen force you to slander someone. Similarly if someone abuses you, threatens you or beats you doesnot force you to abandon whatever you were doing, or a naked woman doesnot force you to commit Zina. It is YOU who decide what to do, SO IT IS YOU WHO IS RESPONSIBLE. Hence the inaction and action is what you decide and this is what is the reality of predestination.

My First Blog

Salam, have been resisting this urge to post for the last 5-6 years. Anyhow here it goes. By the way choosing a blog name is way too difficult, first i thought lets make it ali, then my rantings, then randomrantings ...

Atlast settled on this one ...