KHUTBAATUL

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KHUTBAATUL

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FRIDAY SERONS

Maulana Ashraf Ali hanwy (Rah.)

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Khutbaatul Ahkaam

: Maulana Ashraf A1i Thanwy (Rah.)

First Edition: 2003

ISBN: 81-7101-477-1

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WORD

~ i ~ ~ Hazrat Maulaa AshrafAli hanwy (R.A.)was indeed very i fj. prolificwriter aspectsad topicsofIslam. Among verylarge -% :} sectionofthe Muslimsofthe India subcontinent, is looked ~ as mujaddid-a renovator of the deen, who had tremendous ~ ~ influence the lives ad thoughtsofmillions. % ~ This book hutubaatul Ahkaam is anthologyof col1ected ~ ~ Fridaysns writtenad compiled him ad in verymuchin use {: ~ amongln, Pakistani, Bagladeshi, Mghaniad Burmese Muslims, ~ ~ aswellasMuslimsintheWestem World. his traslation is um 'fi ~ efforttoputoverinEnglish whatHazrathanwy dvs to .~ ~ in veryeloquentad classical of veryhigh quality. ~

~ It is hopedthat hnams ofMosques will to derive .{ti adequate benefit from this humble work Insha Allah. Allah ,~ ~ tin to fillHazrathawy's Qabrwithnoorandblessings. S ~ Yusufaraan i ~ Strad, SouthAfrica Rajab 2001 ,

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TEEXCELLENCEOFACQLIRINGNOWLEDGE ~SAND OBLIGATORY DUTY OF QIRING IT ~ ~ praises to AHah, the Most Noble . Who had ~ f;. created and granted honour to him, and taught him the means of '* ~ expression through speech and taught that which he did not know. ~ ~ G10ry to i, whose favours uncountable, not the tongue {: ~ the . We bear witness that there is worthy ofworship except ~ ~ Allah , Who was no,p~e~ or associate and we bear witness that ~ ~ Sayeduna Muhammad ~ lS servant and messenger, who was ~ ~ granted the ability of comprehensive speech, excellent wisdom and ~ ~ excellent attributes and character. Allah's choicest blessings ~ ~ descend him, his fami1y and his companions, who are as shining ~ ~ stars the path ofhis ummat. After this, mus1ims,know that the ~ ~ acquisition of the necessary know1edge of the laws of Is1am is among ~ -. the major obligations every mus1im. , every muslim is ~O ~ commanded~ t? acquire it and to .teach it to others. In this regard . ~. Rasulullah ~ lS reported to have sa1d: ~ :}. 1. "Convey ( teachings to others) from even if it ~ ~. verse." ( ukh ry) g ~ 2. a1so said: "Whosoever walks in path wherein he seeks ~ 1li: to ac.quireknowledge, .for him will Allah make easy the path ~ ~. ldg towards ." (Muslim) ~ ~ ~ ~r 3. And Rasu1ul1ah ~ also said: 'Whosoever Al1ah wishes to ~ ~l favour with His bount~,' to him grants the deep t } udrstdg ofthe deen. (Bukhary, Muslim)

4. also said: "Verily the l are the heirs of the prophets. ~ ~~ The prophets did not leave behind wea1th to inherited. ~ ~ They l left knowledge to inherited. So whoever takes ~ ;t it has taken major share of goodness." {: ~ (Ahmad, irmithi, Dawood, lbn Majal1, Daarmy) ~

~~ 5. And he said: " seek know1edge is duty encumbent ~ L~f everyMus1im." (lbn Majah) ~

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~6. Rasulullah $ also said: "When to whom knowledge ~ has granted is asked about it and refuses to answer, '' then the day ofqiyamat he shall made to garlanded ~ ~ with garland offire." ~

~ 7. And Rasulullah ~ said: "Whosoever seeks knowledge ~i ~through which he seeks the pleasure of Allah and uses that t knowledge with the aim of acquiring some worldly needs, S " such person :vi11 not ~yen smell the fragrance of paradise ~ ~ the day of qlya~ah. .. (Ahmad, Dawood, Ibl~ ~ajah) {:

:s 8. And Rasulullah ~ ]: "Leam the laws rtg to ~ inheritance and the Quran and teach it to l for verily 1 ~ ~ shall taken away from this world." (irmithi) :5 ~ 1 seek refuge in Al1ah from the accursed Shaytaan. '* ~ Allah says in the Quran: "ls he who worships Allah eamestly ~ ~ during the hours ofthe night, prostrating himselfbefore Him or standing {: ~ in worship, and takes heed ofthe hereafter, while placing his hope in the ~ -- of the Lord. Is this person like him who does not? Say: " ~O ~ those endowed with knowledge the equal ofthose without knowledge? ' It is those endowed with understanding, who receive admonition." i (Surah 34) i i i ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ I i ~ ~ ~ iS g L~,,~~fi lI)~fi:j

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CORRECTING OF BELIEFS ~

praises to Allah, the Al1-Knower, the Aware, Who brougl1t ~ ~ to perfection the Universal system ofnature without helper. Glory :;,fI to Al1ah, Whose wisdom is overwhelming and His knowledge is * ~ great and Whose favours extended to everything, smal1 or big. We ~ ~ bear witness that there is worthy of worship except Al1ah l, 8 ~ without or associate in creation, not to the extent of ~ t; the creation of spot date or the skin covering it. And we bear % :} witness that Sayeduna Muhammad ,~ is Allah's servant and messenger, ~ ~ \vho guided us aright through enlightened book, and who invited us :;,fI towards Al1ahthrough wamings and glad tidings. Al1ah'schoicest % ~ blessings him and his offspring and his companion for as ~ g10ng as the stars shall continue to travel in their orbits. After this, 8 ~ brothers, know that the synopsis ofthe beliefs ofthe Ahlis sunnah wal ~ ~ jamaah is contained in the two kalimahs of Shahaadah and these ~ ~ kalimahs of the fundamental principles ofIslam. "

~ The meaning ofthe first kalimah is that Allah, the Most Exa1ted i ~ is the creator ofthis world. is the , the Unique, the Etemal, the ~ :} Ever living, the Powerful,the Al1-knowing, the , the All-seeing, {t ~ the Thankful, the Intender, the Recorder of fate, Who is ful1yaware ~ ~ ofcverythiog. No oothiog is like Him an oothing outside ~ ~ His knowledge His power. is the Creator and the Granter of ~ ~ sustenance, the Granter of life and of death. Him belongs the most {: ~ beautiful names and is the Mighty and the Wise.&

~ ~ ~ And the meaning of the second part of the kalimah is that ~ ~ Muhammad ~ is his servant and messenger and that he is most truthful ~ ~ in the news and information that he brought and also in the laws. It ~ also means that the Quran, which he brought is the Word ofAl1ah. ~ ~ the books revealed to previous prophets, the previous prophets and -% ~ the angels ofAl1ah the truth and that the ascension ofRasulullah.~ ~

~. to the heavens. is , truth an is the miracles of' OW!iY".. ~

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~o~~~~~~~~o~;;t And l1 the companions of Rasulul1ah ~ are of justice and the r;

5 most excel1entofthem those fourrightly-guided Califs in the sae ~ ~ anner that they succeeded each other to the office of khilafat...And '& '> the questioning in the grave the angels is also true. The rising from ~O

the grave is true and so also is the weighing ofthe deeds ofmen the ~ scales the day ofqiyaamah. The Book ofdeeds is true and calling of ~ '& men to account the day ofqiyamah is true. And so also the ivl of '* f; the successful ones at the howz is true and as wel1 as their having to ~ ~O pass over the sirat. The intercession ofRasulul1ah ~ behalf ofthe 8

sinners ofhis uat is also true. The fact that the righteous ones wil1 ~~ ~ see Al1ah is also true. The existence ofparadise and ofhel1 is also true. * :} These two places wi11 everlasting and wi11 never perish and neither i wil1their inrnates perish. ~ ~ 1 seek refuge in Al1ah from the accursed Shaytaan. g i Allah says: " u who believe, believe in Allah and His ~

Messenger ~ and the Book which revealed upon His prophet and i ~ the Books which revealed before them. And whosoever disbelieves '> in Allah, His angels, His prophets and the day of qiyaamah, he has gverily gone far astray." ~ i ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ! ~ i ~ ~ ~ g ~ L~~cw~", 13 Ii)~~~~

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~ Itbah: 3 S NRNlNGQRINGL ig !RI AND CLEANLINESS ~ 1l praises to Allah, Who acts gracious1y towards His servants i' ~ and has commanded them that they worship Him in state ofcomplete ~ ~ cleanliness, and spreads over their hearts His lights and His grace that ~ ~ it cleanser for their inner selves. And we bear witness that {: ~ there is worthy of worship except Allah , without ~ ~ partner or associate. And we bear witness that Sayeduna Muhammad * ~ ~ is His servant and messenger, who covered the comers ofthis world ~ ~ with the light ofguidance. Allah's choicest blessings descend i' ~ him, his offspring, his righteous companions. Such blessing that ~ {: wi11 the great day of fear save us. And such blessing that wi11 erect ;, ~ shield between us and every clamity. ~

.% 1. Verily Rasulullah.~ said: "Clean1iness is halfofone's Imaan". ~ i ~~i ~ 2. a1sosaid: "Verily followerS wi11 called the day of t Qiyaamat whi1e their faces and feet wi11 shining with the ~o.

signs of the effect of wudoo. So whoever amongst has ~ the ability to increase his shine (and lengthen it), let him do ~ ~ so." (Bukhary, Muslim) :S ~ 3. also said: ''h adomments the body of Muslim wi11 '& ~ reach as far as the water of wudoo reached." also said: ~ ~ "The key to paradise is salaah and the key to the salaah is ~ ~ wudoo." (Ahmad) ~

:} 4. Rasulullah ~ also wamed that whoever leaves spot the . size of single hair 1 without washing it, wi11 suffer ~ such and such afflictions in hell- fire." ~ ~ 5. And while passing two graves Rasulullah ~ ~ informed the companions that the inmates of those graves ~ ~ were in torment "and they were not being punished for :} something very big. On ofthem was not very carefu1 against ! L

the drop1ets ofuri~e he w.as passing and the other used 00 , to go about srdg sts about l." (Muslim)

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r6. And also said: "When u reach the places where u ~ toiletry needs, do not [ the qibJah and do not sit {: ~ there with your back to the qiblah". ~

!~ i~ 1 seek refuge in ll ' accursed Shaytaan. i "As for the (masjid-e-diraar) never stand therein in prayer. 'S ~ masjid whose foundations has laid u the fear of]] f the 8 :J! beginning is more suitabJe that u stand in it. Therin who love ~ ~ to cleanse themselves. And ]] loves those who purify themselves." : :} (Surah Towbah) ~

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~: REGARDING PERFORINGOF SALAA S

g~ 11 praises to Who showers His servants with His ~ Q; bounties And Who causes the en1ightenment of His deen and its " ~ obligations to sett1e in their hearts. And glory to Him, how great is '* ~ is authority! And powerfu1 is His sovereignty. How perfect His grace ~ ~~ and how all-encompassing His bounties and favours.We bear witness ~ ~ that there is worthy of worship except 1, without ft. ~ partner or associate and we bear witness that Sayeduna Muhammad ~ ) ~ is His servant and messenger.? the choicest blessings of ~ ~ descend u him, and his offspring, and his companions, who are the " ~ key-men towards guidance and the shining 1amps in the depths of '* j darkness. ~ ~ muslims, Veri1y the sa1aahis the very foundation ofdeen. It is {: ~~ strongho1d offaith, and the most important acts ofworship whereby ~ ~ to draw nearer to ll and it is a1so the best among the acts of ~ ~ obedience towards ll. ~

f ~ g ~i 1. Rasu1ullah ~ has said: "Is1amis bui1tu five pillars: i) the ~ o~ bearing of wi:?:ss t~at there is god except ~ll and t~at :S~. ~ Muhammad ~ lS servant and messenger, 11) rfrmg ~ ~ Sa1aah,iii) the paying ofzakaah, iv) performing ofhaj, and v) .{: ~ the fast of Ramadaan." (Bukhary, Musli) & ~~ ~ g ~~ 2. a1so said: "ll has made five sa1aahscompu1sory u ..~O ~ u. Whosoever performs ablution for them and : ~ performs them punctually, proper1yperforming the rukoo' and 'f1 ~S with proper devotion and sincerity, will have covenant ftom 8 ~ that will forgive them. And whosoever does not so ~

'I) so, has such covenant. Ifll so wishes, m forgive ~o f them and ifHe wishes, m punish them." ' ~~ (Ahad, Dawood) ! ~~O~~~(8 19 j}~~~O~~

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~3. also said: "1 swear Him in whose Hand is life: 1 ~ intended to order that wood should brought and to give the ~ ~ order that salaah should performed and that the azaan ~ should given and then order person to lead the people in ~O

salaah. Then 1wanted to proceed to the houses ofthose who ~ remained absent from the salaah and burn down their houses ~ '& upon them." ~

i i ~ ~i 1 seek refuge in AlIah 1Iort,the accursed Shaytaan. ~ ~ ll says: "And perform salaah at the ends of the day and ~ ~. during the approaches of the night. Verily good deeds removes evil ~ ~ deeds. This is admonition for those who Al1ah." ~

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GIVINGFZAAA i

g ll praises is due to Allah, Who grants good fortune and '~ ~ misfortune, Who causes death and gives life, Who causes laughter and " ~ causes to cry, Who originates and creates and destroys, Who grants %' ~ poverty and riches. is the Who causes harm to to ~ ~ and causes gain and benefit to others. And is the Who chooses 8 ~ some of His servants for comfortable conditions and riches And then ~ '!1 has made the institutions ofzakaah ofthe principles ofthe deen 16 :} and of its fundamentals. And has explained that through His ~ Q grace those who desire to purify themselves through giving zakaah. " ~ And those who desire to cleanse their wealth do so giving zakaah. -% ~ 1bear witness that there is . worthy of,,:orship except AHah ~ alone without~~y or and 1bear w1tness that Sayeduna {: ~ Muhammad ~ 1S Allah's and messenger, the chosen , the ~ O leader of mankind, the sun of hidaayah. Allah's choicest ~

~ blessings him, his family and his companions, those who (. . especially blessed with the special qualities ofknowledge and piety. ~

fj, muslims, know that Allah has declared zakaah to ofthe ~ ,' fundamentals ofIslam and has mentioned itjointly with salaah, which :$ ~ is the most important of these fundamentals. And so says: "And ~ ~~ perform the salaah and give zakaah." S ~I i ~: 1. And Rasulullah ~ has ]: "Islam 1S founded u five ~ ~: principles (firstly) the declaration "that there is worthy ~

~ of worship except Allah and that Muhammad ii is His t} -. messenger, (secondly) the establishment ofthe institution of ~ R;f salaah, (thirdly) the giving of zakaah, (fourthly) to perform ~ ~ Haj and (fifth1y) fasting the month of Ramadaan." And !{ ~r Rasulullah ~ has sounded severe waming to who i ~t is negligent in the performance of of these. .% ~ ~

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, said: "Do u know waht is backbiting?" 00 ~ The companions rep1ied: "Allah and His messenger know ~ best" Then h~ said: " is that u mention something about ~ ~ your brother which he des1ikes. "Then it was asked: "What is ~ ~ the position if that which 1mention about brother is really ~ in him?" replied: "In that case u have really backbited ~ '& him, for ifthat which u mentioned is not in him, u have in ~ ~ fact s1andere~ him." . . (U~lim) ~ ~ 6. Rasulullah ~ a1so sa1d: " who observes sI1ence wI11 {: ~ safe." (, , , Bailzaqi) ~

g ~ ~ 7, Rasulullah ~ also said: "The beauty of person's Islam is to ~ f}. discard those things which do not ." * ~ ..~ . . (Malik,':: Ah~ad) ~ ~ 8. Rasu1ullah ~ ]: " who 1S two faced th1S world w111 f;:.% the day of Qiyaamat have tongue of fire." ~ 9. Rasulullah $ also said: The person who degrades person ~ ~ for sin of which he had repented, wi1l not die until he i commits the same sin." (irmithi) ~ i 10. a1so said: "Do display pleasure at your brother's ~ i

mis~ortune or el~e Al.lahwi1l shower His blessings u him ~D and vlv u ." (irmithi)

R ~Ii ~ 1!. Rasulullah iJ1, a!so said: "When faasiq (evildoer) is being ~ praised Allah becomes angry and the throne of Al1ahi itrembles." (Baihaqi) ~ .~~ 1 seek refuge in Allah fo Shaytaan the accursed. ~

~k:0 And Al1ah says: "Never does utter word excep:Jtthat ~ there is guard ready at hand (to record it)."

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CONDEMNATION OF ANGER, S gAREDANDJEALOUSY ~ praises to AHah, Whose pardon and mercy is not hoped " ~ except those having fuH hope. And fears His wrath and His i ~ authority except him who truly fears. And has saddled his servants ~ ~ with and desires and has commanded them. to abstain from {:& these. And has tested them with anger and order them to subdue ~ f}. their anger in cases where anger besets them. * i I witness that there is worthy ofworship except AHah g ~ alone, without partner or associate. And I bear witness that ~ :f: Sayeduna Muhammad ~ is His chosenservant and messenger, the ~ ~ under whose banner the prophets' will march. AHah's choicest ~ ~ blessings descend him, his family, and in suchnumbersof l1 that {: ~ existed in the past and what will exist in future for through his blessings f;. ~ both the former generations and the later generations receive the i ~ bounties ofAl1ah. ,

% After this, muslims, Verily angerwithout due cause and its ~ ~ subsequent results ofhatred andjealousy are things that destroyed ~ ~ peoples. And in condemnation thereof Al1ah has said. in the Quran: :$ ~ "When those who disbelieved had set in their hearts zealotry, the :*zealotry of the age of ignorance, then Al1ah sent down His and ~ ~ tranquility His messenger and the believers and imposed ~ ~ them the testification to piety, for they were most worthy of it. And ~ ~ Al1ahis aware ofll things." ~ :} In another verse Allah says: "And let not hatred of peopleei induce to deal unjus~~y, deal justly. hat is neare~ topiety."p . And AHah says: Say I seek refuge the lord of the ~ " daybreak. ..... from the jealous when he practises his jealousy." ~

~ 1. ~ ce~in Sa~abi asked for some advice and Rasululla~ {: ~ ~ advlsed hlm: "Do not angry." The same Sahabl ~ repeated his question and again RasuluHah ~ told him: "Do ~ ~ not angry." (Bukhary) ~

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~2. Rasulullah ~ also said: "When an becomes angry while ~ he is standing , let him sit down. And if the anger subsides, {: ~ good and well, otherwise let him lie down." ~"*~ (imthi, Ahmad) :; 3. Rasulullah ~ also said: "Do not harbour jealousy for ~ ~ another and do not have hatred for another." ~i i(ukh, Muslim) 4. And Rasulullah ~ said: "Verily the illness of other nations ~ ~ before have into , namely, jealousy and hatred. * :; They are very destroying factors. 1 do not say that they cut ~ ~. off the hair but they in fact destroy your deen." ~ ff (Ahmad, irmithi) :; ~ 5. Rasulullah ~ said: "1 wam against jealousy for verily ~ ~ jealousy eats good deeds like fire eats wood." i ~ 1 ~ 6. And said: "The doors ofjannah opened every Monday ~ ~ and Thursday and then everyone who did not ascribe ~ :, partners unto Allah forgiven except that person between ~ whom and his brother there was enmity and hatred about ~ O them i.s sa~d: "Leave these two alone until they ~D

reconcl1ed. (Muslim)

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~ ~ 1 seek refuge in Allah from Shaytaan the accursed. ~

~ And Allah says the Quran: "Those who spend (ofthat which ~*Allah has given them) in times of ease and times of adversity, those ~ ~ who control their anger and pardon mankind for faults committed. And ~ verily Allah loves those who do good to others." ~

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l1 praise is due to Al1ah, Who causes His friends to know and ~ ~ recognise the dangers of this world and its disasters. And also ~ ~ unveiled to them the faults ofthe world and its defects. And thus they i~ )(} realize that the evils of the world exceed the good things therein. he ~ things in this world which desired and hoped for not void of ~ dangers. And they also realize that the beautiful aspects of this world i ~ are not free from stains ofinpurity and neither are moments ofhappiness :} free ofaspects which are disturbing. This world makes its occupants to ~ hope for happiness but promises them deception. ~

fJ. 1bear witness that there is worthy ofworship except Al1ah ~ ~ alone, without or associa:e ~d 1bear witness that our master ~ ~ and leader Sayeduna Muhammad ~ IS the servant and messenger of {: ~ Al1ah, who has sent to l1 the nations as wamer and bringer of ~ ~ good news as wel1 as shining lamp ofguidance. Al1ah's blessings ~ ~ him, his family and his companions in great abundance. *' hereafter, muslims, verily the verses revealed in . ~ the Qur'an condemning this world and its evils. he Qur'an is ful1of Wi verses condemning this world and ofdiverting from it and inviting g ~ towards the hereafter. That was the major objective of the :s ~ prophets and they were not sent to this world but for this object. The ~ " verses in which this was expounded are indeed and wel1 1}i known. few hadeeth in this regard are mentioned here: ~ ~ 1. Rasulul1ah ~ said: "1 swear Allah this world in comparison f: :} with the hereafter is like of putting his finger into the ~ sea o~ river: Let him see how much of the water of the river ~ ~ rs his fmger when he removes the fger." (Musli) :si 2. An? Rasulul1ah g{t; s~id: "Verily this ~orld is prison for the ~ ~ bel1ever and paradlse for the unbel1ever." (Musli) '=' i 3. Rasulullah ~ also said: "Ifthis world in the sight ofAJlah had ~ :} worth the wing of mosquito, A11ah would never ~L have given unbeliever drop of water to drink:J"00

(Ahad, irithi)

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4. And Rasulullah ~ said: "Whosoever loves this world ~ harm to his hereafter and whosoever loves his hereafter, ~ ~ causes harm to his world therefore give preference to that ~ O which is eternal over that which will perish." ~o

~ (Ahmad, Bai/zaqi)

i ~ 5. Rasulullah ~ said: "What do 1have to do with this world?" ~

Myrelationship with this world is that of rider (in the desert) ~ who comes to seek shelter under the shade of tree, (rests

~ ~ittle) and then leaves the to depart (further his ~ ~ [)." (Ahmad, imithi, In Majah) ~

'& 6. And Rasulullah.~ said: "The love ofthis world is the root of ~i geveryevil." (Baihaqi) f}. 7. And Rasulullah.~said: " ofthe children ofthe hereafter % ~ and not ofthe children ofthe world." ( Nuaim)

~ ~ 1 seek refuge in ll from Shaytaan the accursed. i ~ And Allah says: "But prefer the life ofthis world while the tghereafter is better and everlasting." i i ~ i ~ I ~

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CONDENATION OF ISERLINESS AND i

g ~FLVEFRSWRLD ~ ll praises is due to Allah Who reserves praise for His extended " fl. sustenance to His servants. And removes harm from them after * ~ they had reached the 1imits of despair. And has created the creation ~ ~ and provides sustenance for them generous1y. And has granted to {: ~ this Universe kinds of wealth and tests the creation with ~ ~ various changing conditions so as to ascertain as to who is the best of * :} them in action and grants respite to those who give over the ~ ; hereafter to this wor1d." ~

t And 1 bear witness that there is deserving of worship ~ ~ except 1, without partner or associate and 1bear witness ~ ~ that Sayeduna Muhammad ~ is His chosen servant and messenger, {:*who through his re1igion has abrogated other religions and has ~

inc1udedin his shariah the truths of re1igionsand creeds. Allah's ~ choicest blessings descend him, his family and his companions, ~ those who trod the path oftheir Lord di1igent1y. Q

hereafter, muslims, ll commands us in the Qur'an: " ~ f: who be1ieve 1et not your wea1th and your chi1dren divert :$ ~ from the remembrance of ll. And whoever does that will of ~ ;; the [." ~

g And ll says: "Those who act miser1y and command others " ~ towards stinginess and 1 that which ll had granted them of i ~ His grace and bounty." ti 1. Rasu1ullah ~ said: "The son ofAdam says: " wea1th, i ~ wea1th!" son of Adam ~ notmng is yours except that :t R: which consumed and finished and which ~ " worn and caused to tatters and what ~ spent in charity and uti1ized." ~

2. a1sosaid: "Beware ofstinginess for veri1ystinginess has ~o destroyed of those before . (Muslim)

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~ 3. Rasulullah ~ also said: " swindler and miser and on~, :~~ i ~ reminds others of.his goodness towards them in charity will {: ! never enter ." (irmithi) ~

~ 4. Rasulullah ~ said: " son ofAdam ~', it is better fo u to ~ :} spend surplus wealth than to hoard it. Hoarding for u ~ ~ is harmful. u condemned for that which is ~

i su.fficient for your needs and whe~ giving in charity begin ~ wlth those who your close ." (Muslim)6 ~ aware of the fact that the applies to when the ~ ~ hoarding and eamings and for something other than for deen. ~ As regards saving for the sake of deen, ll has said in the ~ ~ Qur'an: "And your Lord desired that they should ~ ~ maturity and bring forth their treasure as from their ~ t Lord." This verse proves that wealth should not needlessly ~ ~ squandered and that it will permissible to save for ~

~ economic ne~ess~ties.. .. . ~ O 5. Rasulullah ~ saId: "Venly wl11 over mnkd ~O

when nothing will beneficial to mankind except the dinar (gold coin) and the dirham (silver coin). (Ahmad) ~

~ ii 6. Rasulullah ~ Said: " is harm in being rich for that ~ ~ person who truly fears ll." (Ahmad) t ~ 7. Sufya~n Thowri ~ use~ t.o say: "~reviously ~ealth used to {: ~ dlsllked.. now, I t lS the shleld [ ." i ~ ~i i1 seek refuge in ll from the accursed Shaytaan. ~ And ll says: "Spend your wealth for the cause of ll and i 1f cast not yourselfinto destruction your own hands and do good. ll * :} loves those who do good." ~

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CONDENATIONOFLOVEFORHONOUR ~S iANDFORNAEANDFAE ~ ll praise to Allah, the nower ofthe unseen, the Who is ~ ~ completely aware of the secrets of the heart only those ~

actions which are perfect and complete and pure and clean from ll ~~ 5 blemishes ofshirk and 1bear witness that there is worthy ofworship (:.% except Allah alone, without :n~ partner associate and 1bear witness ~ 'fY that Sayeduna Muhammad ~ IS the chosen servant and messenger of ;: ~ Allah who has cleansed us from ll atains of shirk. Allah's choicest ~ ~ blessings descend him, his family and his companions who were ~ ~ free from ll forms of treachery, deception and falsehood. % " hereafter, muslims, Verilyriya (the doing ofthings for show ~ ~ and for achieving fame among ) is indeed very destructive thing {: ~ in the life of muslim, ifit is practised in his daily forms ofworship. ~

q- 1. Rasulullah ~ has said: "Whosoever dons clothing of show ~ !! and fame in this world, Allah wi1l the day of qiyamah ; O dress him in clothing ofhumiliation. ~o

~ (Ahmad, Dawood, In Majah) ~ 2. And Rasulullah ~ said: "Sufficient is it as evil that fingers ~ ~~ should point at person in worldly affairs as well as deeny ~~

matters, except that person whom Allah protects."(Baihaqi)

~ 3. Rasulullah ~ said: "Verilytwo hungry wolves let loose among (: ~ flock of goats not harmful to than the harm ~ :} caused to man's deen greed for wealth and for honour." ~ ~ (irmithi, Daarmy) 6 ~ 4. RasuluHah ~ said: "Verily Allah loves the righteous ones, ~ ;: who fear Him and remain unknown and hidden from people. 'fY! They are not searched for when they area bsent, nor are ! ~ they called for when they are present and neither are they ~ ~ being befriended. Their hearts are lamps of guidance and ~ :} theyare protected Allah from evils.(In Majah, Baihaqi). ~

L~~'C!W~ 107 j)~~O~~

,~~O~~~~~~~~O~;' : 5. Rasulullah ~ was asked about who does good deed ; as resu1tofWhlCh l , or 10 , repl1ed: ~ .Ir "That is glad tiding hastened towards believer." ~

i ~~i ~ ~i 6. Sayeduna u Hurayrah ~ said to Rasulullah~: Whi1e ~ ~ 1was in house ( salaah) in l of salaah, {::s to and found performing salaah. 1 found ~ f9. pleasure in myself for the in which he found . ~ ~ (indly inform about this fee1ing which 1 felt within ~ ~ myself). Rasulullah ~ replied: " Allah have ~ t , Hurayrah ~.Yo have gained double reward ~ g ~for having performed your deed in secret and secondly for ~ having done your deed l." (irmithi) ~ D ~

~ 1 seek refuge in Allah from Shaytaan the accursed. , ~ And Allah says in the Quran: "hat is the abode ofthe Hereafter, g ~ which We grant to those who do not seek exaltedness in the earth nor ~ ~ corruption. he sequel of good outcome is for those who fear Allah". ~

~ ~ ~ i g ~ i i ~ ~ ~ ig g L~~~(8 109 8}~~~~

O~~~~~~~~O~' r!lutbah: 27

11fi~

~ CONDENATIONOFPRIDEANDVANITY ; . % Al1 praises are due to Al1ah, the Creator, the Producer, the ~ f: Fashioner, the Powerful, the Mighty, the Exalted, the High Whose ~ fi. greatness lessened An who denounces. is the *' )(; Al1-Powerful before Whom al1 tyrants are submissive. His greatness is ~ ~ such that it broke the backs ofthe mighty Persian emperors. And was ~ such that it destroyed the might ofthe Caesers. Greatness is His lower i11 cloth and Majesty is his upper cloth. Whosoever chal1enges Him in ;; :} these two qualities, inflicts with sickness from which there is ~ f: eure. Most great is His Magnificence and Most sanctifies His names. ~ fi. 1 bear witness that there is other being worthy of worship *' ~ except ll alone, without~~y p~rtner or associate and 1bear witness ~ ~ that Sayeduna Muhammad ~ lS servant and messenger whom {: ~ was revealed the great light of ever-spreading brilliance until it ~ ~ illuminated the corners of the earth. Al1ah'schoicest blessings ~ ~ him and his family and his companions who were the beloved , ! ones and friends of, the chosen ones ofthis world and the best of ~

~ mankind. ~ ~ Thereafter, muslims, know that pride and vanity are two most g ~ destructive sicknesses which are very disliked and detested ~ ~ Al1ah. ones fil1ed with pride and haughtiness indeed inflicted ~ ~ with two great sicknesses. Al1ahstates in the Qur'an. " does not love ~ ~ the arrogant and the boastful . also mentions about the battle {:*' ofHunain" (when the Muslims feltpride in themselves overtheir large fi. w. numbers); "And the day ofthe battle ofHunain, when exalted in .wi the numbers ofyour might, which in turn availed naught." ~ ' 1. Rasulul1ah ~ said: "Whosoever .humbles himself before ~ ;; , will elevate him And in the eyes of his own ~ ~ will insignificant but in the eyes of the 1 he will 8 ~ eonsidered great. And whoever acts proudly, Al1ah will ~ ~ humi1iate him so that in the eyes of people will - :} insignificant while in his own eyes will great so ~ O

so tha~ will looked as 00lower than a~ogor sw." (Baihaqi)

o~O,;(;W}~~(8 111 j}~~~O,;(;W}L

~O~~~~~~~~O~;,

~2. Rasulul1ah ~ also said: "As for the two destructive things, ~ the is passions which being followed and the other is {: ~ greed which has and partial and is being obeyed g ofman. ~d the other is person's pride in himselfand gO

this IS the worst." (Baihaqi)

~~ 3. Rasulullah ~ also said: "Never will that person enter paradise ~ %" in whose heart there is pride the size of atom." 'S" Hearing this,. said: How is it if like~ that. his ~ ~ clothes and hlS shoes should good? Rasulullah ~ : {:.% "That is beautiful, Allah is beautiful and loves the beautiful. f;.f9.. However pride is the rejection of truth and 100king down ;: :} l." (Muslim) ~

i 4. Rasulul1ah ~ said: "Until such time when see greed being ~ % fol1owed, passions being obeyed and worldly affairs being 'S~ given and see everyone being fascinated ~ ~ his own opinion, then yourself with own ~ ~ rectification for ahead of are days of great patience, the ~ .. likeness ofwhich is like ho1ding in your liands burning coals .. ~ and whoever remains steadfast in days shal1 ~ ,O rewarded to the extent offifty doing the same deeds." ~O

~ (, Majah) i 1 seek refuge in Al1ah from the accursed Shaytaan. ~ ~ And Al1ah says: "And to Him alone belongs greatness and ~ ~ magnificence in the heavens and the earth and is the Mighty, (:i ~fueWise" i i ~ i g ~ L~;(;W)~oi\PU(i; O}~~;(;W)~113

O~~~~~~~~O~,

I tbah : 28fi~

EVILS OF TREACERY AND DECEPTION i

All praises is due to Allah Who has brought forth his devoted ~ ~ friends from the darkness ofKufr into the light n and allows " fJ. His enemies to enter predicaments of deception. 1 bear witness that '* ~ there is other being worthy of worship except Allah alone, without ~ ~ a~~ par~er or associate and 1bear witness that Sayeduna ~uha~ad 8 ~ ~ lS servant and messenger who has forth to 11ft nkd ~ '!j from the darkness of disbelief and evil. ~ :} Allah's blessings n him and his family and all his ~ ~ illustrious companions who were never led into deception the life of ~

i ~ this world and neither were they led into deception at all with regard to ~ "

Allah. And these blessings continue to descend n them

~ throughout all the hours and days and months that is to . {:

~ Thereafter, muslims, know that the key to happiness lies in ~ tI being awake and ready to receive guidance and the origins of ~ ~ wretchedness lies in being deceived and in unmindfulness and ,*negligence. The intelligent being in this world are those whose breasts ~ ~ have n opened towards following the straight path which is in ;r: ~ accordance with the clear proofs and arguments. And the deceived ~ ~ ones are these whose breasts have narrowed down and unable ~*to accept the guidance through their acting their lusts and desires. '!1 ~ Such ones sight continues to blind and such could not find guidance. ; ~ Such n remains blind and takes his desires as his guide and takes {:'* Shaytaan as his guide: "And whoever is blind in this world will surely ~ blind in the hereafter and he will have lost the way." ~ Allah says: "Let not the life ofthis world deceive and let not :S ~ the deceiver (Shaytaan) deceive regarding the commands ofAllah." .%i And says: "They will cry unto them, saying: "Were we not ~ ~ with ? which the righteous will reply: "Indeed were with us. {: ~ But tempted n another, hesitated, doubted and desires deceived ~ ~ until the decree of Allah (death) overtook . And were left *' :} deceived from Allah the Shaytaan." ~

L~o.it'8}~~ ]]5 i}~~O.it'8}J

O~~~~~~~~O~;, And Allah says: "And among them are those illiterate who do not r;:~

~ know their scriptures except hearsay. They do nothing except guess". ~

~ 1. Rasulullah ~ said: "An intelligent person is he who guards '& ~ himse1fand works for the 1ifeafter death and the unintelligent ~ :} is he who follows his desires and then sits back hoping ~

~ Allah to ~lfil~ his wishes.". . . ~ " 2. Rasulullah ~ sd: "None ofyou IS true ! such ~ ~ time that his desires are subjected to the teachings which 1 ~i ihave brought. " (Sharhus Sunnah) ~ 3. Ra,ulullah l, ,aid: " 5ll arnong i ~ such 1 among whom the following ofvain desires will ; f: very prevalent and this disease will spread among S ~ them like scabies will spread person or dog until there ~ ~ will notbe vein or ajoint that is unaffected." ~ .%' (Ahmad, Dawood) ~ ~ 4. Rasu1ullah ~ a1so said: " who interprets the Quran ~ ~ according to his personal opinion, shou1dtake his seat in the :: fireofJahannam." (irmithi) ~ 5. Rasu1ullah ~ also said: "The worst of acts are those 1ately g ~ invented acts while every innovation in the deen is act of ~ ~ misguidance." .% ~ 1 seek refuge in Allah from 8haytaan the accursed. t i ~ And Allah says: "They follow nothing but conjecture and that f: :} which their base desires demand. And yet has to them guidance ~ ~ from their Lord, or is it so that for shall all that which ~ i. he desires. 80 to Allah belongs the hereafter and to him the life ~ ~ ofthis wor1d." ~

~ s ~ L~O~~(8 117 i)~~~J

o~~~~~~~~o~, r!lutbah : 29 fi~

11I TEVIRTUESANDTECOMPULSORY iS ~NATUREOFREPENANCE ~ praises is due to Al1ah through Whose praises all doors are ~ ~ opened. Every address should started with the mention of "His ~

Name." We repent to '', towbah of who sincerely believes ~i '! " is Lord of Lords", and the " is cause of 1l ." ~ ~ We bear witness that there is being worthy of worship except ~ ~ Allah , without partner or associate. And we bear witness ;: ~ that master and leader Sayeduna Muhammad ~ is Allah's servant g ~ and messenger. Al1ah's salutations descend u him, his family ! %and his companions, such salutation that wi11 protect and save us ~ " the dangers and trs ofthe day ofbeing presented before Al1ah for ~ ~ the reckoning. And that salutations the preparation for us to {: ~ attain nearness to Allah and lead us to the best ending. {;.

~ hereafter, muslims, verily repenting [ sins and retuming i to Allah as the knower ofthe unseen and the who covers the faults

~ of , such repentance is the first step of those desiring to walk the .gpath towards Allah and it is the capital sum ofthose desiring to ~ ~ successful and it is the first step ofthose who initiated the :S ~ path of the saintly ones. It is also the key towards stability for those ~ ~ who are wavering. It is also the means towards selection for all those 1J ~ desiring closeness with Allah. ~

~ Al1ah says: "And those who, when they have committed ~ 's deed or have unjust to their own selves, reember Allah, and then t :} seek forgiveness fto Him. [And who else forgive sins except ~ f: Allah] And they do not persist in what they have done, while knowing ~ i the consequences of their deeds. For these ones their reward wi11 i ~ forgiveness u their Lord and gardens under which rivers flow. '& ~ Therein they will abide eteally. How great is the reward for those 8 ~ who work righteousness." ~

~ 1. Rasulullah J1J}; said: " servant who has committed sin and -%:}L th~n seeks ~orgiveness u Al1ahthrou~h repentance, Allah ~ wI11 grant hlrepentance and forglve hlffi." (Muslim) ~

o~o~-.:w~,"* 119 I}~~~O~~

~O~~~~~~~~O~;,

r:2. Rasulullah ~ a1sosaid: "Every ofthe chi1dren ofAdam ~ ~\ sinners and the best of sinners those who had {: :t! erred and then repented and begged for forgiveness." ~ ~ (irmithi, In Majal1, Daarmy) ~i 3. Rasu1ullah ~ a1so said: "ll accept the repentance of g ~ servant unti1the 1astmoments ofhis 1ife." ~ % (irmithi, Majah) S ~ 4. Ibn Masood ~said: "Remorse and sorrow over sin :} ~ committed is repentance and the person who sincere1y i ~ repents from sins is 1ike n who has done sins at 11." ~O

(Sharhus Sunnah) E~ 5. Rasu1ullah ~ said: "Whosoever has n evi1 deed him ~ ~ against his brother's honour or something e1se like that shou1d ~%

clear his affair with that brother in this before such day~ ~ when there will dirhams and dinars as currencies for ~ ~ compensation. For in the hereafter, ifhe has n good deeds ~ ~ to his credit, of these will taken from him to the extent of 1: ~ his evi1 deed and ifhe has good deeds then from the sins , ~ ofhis brother will taken and loaded n him." ~

~ (Bukhary) ~

: ~i. 1 seek refuge in ll fm Shaytaan the accursed. ~ ij

And Allah says: "And he who after his injustice and i ~

~ rectifies his affair, 11 will sure1y accept his repentance and forgive i him. Surely Allah is Most Forgiving, Most Merciful. ~ i ~ R ;

S g L~~(iIo 12l j}~~O~.J

O~~~~~~~~O~,

I tbah : 30 fi~

~ CONCERNINGPATIENCEANDGRATITUDE ~

~ All praises is due to Allah Who is truly worthy of praise, Who ~ ~ alone is Unique as the Possessor ofMajesty and Who is absolute in His ~ ~ attributes of glory and Highness. And is the Who grants help to '* ~ his chosen servants granting them the special qualities of in ~ ~ times of adversity as well as the attribute of gratitude in times of ~ ~ calamities and in times ofbounties. ~

~ And 1 bear witness that there is being worthy of worship ~ :} except Allah alone, without or associate and 1bear witness ~i that Sayeduna Muhammad ~ is the servant and messenger of Allah, ~ ~ the leader ofthe prophets. Allah's choice blessings and salutations ~ ~ descend him and his family, the chosen ones and his ~ ~ companions, who were the fore-runners and the leaders of the pious ~*' ones and the righteous ones. '5;.'ii Thereafter, muslims, verily Imaam has two aspects; half ~ ~ of it relates to sabr (patience) and the other half relates to gratitude , :: (shukr). This is what Rasulullah ~ taught us. it is ofthe utmost ~ gimportance to have consideration for both these aspects and their virtues ~ (: so as to facilitate our appreciation of them. gi;. Verily Allah says: "Verily the patient ones will granted their * ~ reward ful1y without account." ~ ~ And Al1ah says: "And Al1ah will surely reward those who {: ! express gratitude." ~

~ And Allah says: "And bepatient. Al1ahis with the patient ones." ~

i Al1ah says: And thankful to and do not ungrateful. i! 1. Rasulullah ~ said: "It is indeed surprising from believer ~ ~ that wben good befal1shim, he praises Al1ahand thanks Him {:-% and if calamity strikes him, he praises Al1ah and bears it ~ with patience. And so believer is rewarded for every act of ~

L theO his until e~en ~or the morsel of food which he lifts t:J0

mouth ofhlS wlfe." (Baihaqi)

I>~O~~~{8 123 8)~~~O~O

~O~~~{W~~~~O~;(i

~2. Rasulullah ~ said: "Allah said to Nabi Esa ~': " Esa ~\, 1 shall raise people after who if something. befalls {:~ : them which they like, they will give thanks to Allah and if ~ something strikes which they dislike, they will take stock and ~O

account ofthemselves and bear with . And yet they ~ will people devoid of forbearance and inte1ligence (to ~ fJ. [ understand)." then Esa ~, asked: " Lord how ~ ~ they like that without forbearance and intelligence? "Allah ~ ~ replied: "1 shall grant them of forbearance and ~ ~ knowledge." (Baihaqi) ~

"fj 3. Rasulullah ~ also said: "The person who eats and is grateful ~ ~ is similar in rank to the fasting person who is patient." g ~ () ~

t 4. Rasulullah .~ also said: "lf Allah predetermines for person 'S " specific rank and he is un to reach that rank through his ~ own deeds, Al1ahwill involve him in calamities his body or i O his children. 1fhe exercises patience in these calamities, AlIah ~

causes him to reach the rank which had fixed for ." ~

~ (Alzad, Dawood) t i i:i. 1 seek refuge in Allah from the accursed Shaytaan. :s~ i "Do ! , ! ships sailing in tbe with Allah's bounty, 8 ~ that show His signs and Allah says: Verily in that there ~ gsigns for every deeply patient and every grateful person." ~ i ~ i ~ i

S ~ L~o,;t1i}~(Ir j)~~~125

O~~~~~~~~O~,

I tbah : 31fi~

CONCERNING ANDFEAR i

.

praise is due to Whose grace is hoped for and Whose ~ Q overpowering power and punishment is feared. has filled the hearts ~ fJ. of His pious servants with and has warned those who turn away :2! ~ from obeying Him and turn away from His reward and generous gifts ~! severe admonitions and signs ofwarning. And guided those pious ~ ones towards His paradise through His directions and His favours. -:

i

~ 1bear witness that there is other being worthy except ' ~ alone and 1 bear witness that Sayeduna Muhammad is His servant ~t and messenger, the leader of His prophets and the most noble of ~

His creation. Al1ah's salutations descend n him and his family ~ and his companions and his offspring.

~ Thereafter, muslims, verily and fear two things with ~ ~ which the chosen servants of travel towards every praiseworthy f;.

station of spiritual n and they two ways through which ~ they pass difficult stages towards the hereafter. Numerous are the ~ texts this topic in the Quran, either individually or related with other .

verses. g hus says: "hey (those believers) for Allah's ~

and fear His punishment." ~

1. And .ll says: " (the believers) their Lord in ~ ~ and fear." 8 ~ And Al1ah.says: An pon Ilim in , . ~

:} And says: "Verily they used to towards good and they unto Him in and in fear." 6 ~ And Allah says: "Verily your Lord is most forgiving to people for ~I their injustices and verily your Lord is severe in punishment." ~ ~ 1. Rasulul1ah ~ said: "If the believers but knew the severity of {:*' AHah's punishment, would n of attaining f;. ~ His paradise. And if they unbelievers were aware of Al1ah's ~

L~:} mercy ofthem would despair ofgaining His parad:Jise."

(Bukhary, Muslim)

O~O~~~{8 127 fi}~~~O~o

~O~~~~~~~~O~~

r:2. n. Rasulullah ~ visited ayoung whi1ehe was a~out . ~ to dle. Rasulullah ~ asked [." How are u?" : {: ~ "1have hope in Allah, prophet ofAllah, and 1have fear for '& ~ mysins." ~

~ Then Rasulullah ~ said: "never do these two (hope and fear) i "& together in the heart of servant of Allah such ~ % circumstance (at the point ofdeath), except that Allah grants ~ ~ him that which he hopes for and saves him from that which ~ 0"'1 he fears." (imithi, I Majah) ~

11 3. Rasulullah ~ also said: " person n exclaimed: "Allah ~a EQt will not forgi such and such person." ~

~ Allah then said: "Who is that person who exalts himself ~i ?, saying that 1will not forgive such and such ? ~ ~ Verily 1 have forgiven him and 1 have nullified your deeds ~

~ and actions." -i ~~ 1 seek refuge in Allah from the accursed Shaytaan. ~O ~ -f1- And Allah says: "Inform servants that 1 the Forgiver, the ~ :} Merciful and that punishment is painful chastisement." {t

i i ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ i ~ i s ~ j

s i

L ..~~~ 129 ~-:,,~.~"H~~~

~O~~~~~~~~O~,

"I tbah : 32

Q

i

~ CONCERNING POVERTY ANDASTINENCE

~ ll praises are due to Allah, Who has created from dry and ~ ~ sticky l and adomed him in the best fashion and in the most ~ ~ perfect proportions. Then blessed His sincere servants with insight '* J5 until the secrets of their evil deeds clear to them. Hence they ~ ~ abstain from such deeds with abstinence of those who hate such deeds ~ and they detest having within themselves pride and g and ~ ~ boasting with each other in gathering wealth and riches. But they 100k *8 ~ forward with ll their aspirations to reach such l where there is ~ ~ destruction or ending. ~

~ 1 bear witness that there is other being worthy of worship ~ ~ except Allah alone, without :n~ pa~er or associate and 1bear witness ~ ~ that Sayeduna Muhammad $lsHlS servant and messenger, the most (: ~ noble of ll l of honour and respect. Allah's salutations ~f upon him and upon his companions, who were the best of companions ~ ~ and his family, who were the best offami1ies. . ,'* hereafter, muslims, it has been established without doubt that ~ ~ there any hope ofattaining salvation except cutting oneself ~ ~ off from this world and abstaining from the world. his is attained g ~ either through poverty which is ordained Allah or wi11ingly ~ ;; casting it aside which is called Zuhd-Abstinence. Allah says: "And 1; ~ u devour inheritance greedi1y and u 10 wealth very deeply." ;

~ i ~ So he who 10ves poverty wi11 not 10 excessive food while he ~ :} who is not abstinent wi1110ve wealth. ~

! ~ ! ~ . 1. Rasulullah ~ said:. "he poor will enter paradise five hundred ff yc",s bcfore 1hc ." (i,mithi)

~ 2. Rasulullah ~ said: "Search for (i.e., Allah's pleasure) in ;;L helping the weak amongst u for verily u are granted:JriZiQ~ and u are being helped due to the weak ones among u."

O~O~~~~ 131 8}~~O~(I

~O~~~~~~~~O~;,

~3. Rasulullah ~ who said: "When see person blessed with abstinence from the world and with little speech then {:~ ~ draw near to him and make him your companion for verily he ~S !has granted wisdom." (Baihaqi) ~ 4. Rasulul1ah ~ said: " abstinence in this world and ~ %' Al1ah wi1l love and practise abstinence with regard to S ; that which is in the possession of people and they wil110ve ~

~ .". (irmithi, Ibn Majalz) ~i 5, Rasulul1ah ~ sald: "The first of the Ummat ~ :} towards good was through acquiring conviction in Allah and ~ ~ a~sti~ence. And the first mischief to enter the Ummat was ~ ~ stlllgllless and unfounded hope." (Baihaqi) ~

~ :; ~ 6. Imam Sufyaan Thowry ~ said: "Abstinence in this world is {: O not wearing coarse and thick clothes or eating dried food. ~

True abstinence in this world is through reducing hopes." .,.~ ~ ~ 1 seek refuge in Allah from the accursed Shaytaan. i i And Allah says: "So that do not despair ofthat which ~ ~ missed and not happy over that which Allah granted u. And Allah 't1! !does , love boastful , filled with pride." ~ ~ i ~ ~ ~ ~ S ~ L~o~~(1I A~~'!it:W)~

O~~~~~~~~O~, rrlutbah : 33 . ri~

~ CONCERNING ONENESS OF ALLA iS gANDRELIANINI ~ ll praise is due to ll, the Creator of the world and the ~ fJ. ceiestial regions, the On Who is the l in might and power, Who ~ ~ raised the heavens without supporting pillars and Who distributes ~ ~ to His servants their sustenance. And turns away the attention of {: ~ the of understanding and intelligence from considering the ways ~ ~ and means (that their sustenance reaches them). And when these ;; :} realized that Allah had taken u Himself the guarantee of granting ~ ~ riziq, theyplaced theirtrust in Himand exclaimed: "ll is sufficient ~ fJ. for us and what grand is." ~i We witness that there is worthy of worship except ~ ~ alone, without rtn associate and we witness that {:*' Sayeduna Muhammad $ is is servant and messenger, the who ~

suppressed ll evil and guided towards the straight path. Al1ah's I salutations him and his family and companions in great

J> abundance.~ ~ Thereafter, muslims, verily tawakkuZ (reliance in A11ah) in 11 ~ ~ its various degrees is of the stages of development in the spiritual t$ ~ development ofthis deen. And this has its basis in the oneness ofl1 lt ~ and in the true conviction in A11ah. A11ah says: "Verily those whom u ';j ~ worship besides Allah have not the ability to supply u with sustenance. ~ ~ Therefore seek sustenance from Allah. Worship Him and grateful ~ %' unto Him. to Him sha11 u 11 retumed." ~ And ll says: "And trust (in l1) if truly ~ ~ believers." i' ~ 1. Rasulullah $ said: "When u ask, ask ofAllah. And when .~ ~ seek help, seek help from Allah. Know that if the f) ~ people of this ummat should gather with the intention of '=i ~ causing u benefit they wil1 not to cause u ~ (j an benefit in the least except to the extent that A11ah had * :} ordained for u And if the l of this ummat should ~.3 gather with the intention ofcausing u rm, they wil1 ! ~~O~~~(8 135 8}~~~O~~.

~O~~~~~~~~O~~

not to cause nn at ll except that which ~ ll had ordained . (ofFate) has lifted ~ ~ and the scrolls (ofFate) has dried. ~ ~ (, irmithi) ~

:} 2. Rasulullah ~ said: " strong believer is better and ~ ~ beloved to ll than weak believer. And within every ~ ~ believers there lies some good. eager that which % ~ benefits and seek help [ ll. not disheartened. ~ ~ And when anything befalls do not say: "IfI had done this {: ~ that this would not have happened." But rather say: "ll ~ ~ had ordained (this) and whathe desires, does." Forverily . :} the word "if' opens the way [ the deeds of Shaytaan." ~

I ~~B ~o ~oo ~ 1 seek refuge in ll the accursed Shaytaan. :;

~ ~

~ ll says: " people favours lS there ~

other creator besides ll Who grants riziq [ the heavens and '

the earth? lS other deity besides . Whether tumed ~

Away?" i i ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ i ~ i ~ ~ i

S g L~~~fi' 137 i)~~~

O~~~(W~~~~O~,

I tbah : 34 ifi~

~ CONCERNING LOVE, LONGING AND PLEASURE

praise is due to Allah, Who has cleansed the hearts of His ~ f: devoted servants from being drawn towards the glitter ofthis world and ~ fJ. purified their inner selves from directing their attention to beings other '* ~ than Him. then exposed to them His glories to such extent that ~ 9o me filled with10ve for HimandexposedHis grandeur( ( 8

until they annihilated in the shine ofHis majesty and greatness, ~i until they drowned in recognizing Him and in His love. ~ ~ ~ I 1 witness that there is other being worthy of worship ! }! except Allah alone, without an partner or associate and 1bear witness ~ O that Sayeduna Muhammad ~ is His servant and messenger, the seal of 1

~ the prophets. Allah's salutations u m, his family and his . companions, the leaders of human beings and their spiritua1 guides. ~ These companions were the fore-runners and reins-holders of ll t l} mankind.

0 Thereafter, muslims, Allah says: " loves them and they love ~ " ~ ~. ~

And says with regard to the angels: "They celebrate His ;i praises and glorify Him night and day without laxness." i1This does not happen out ofhabit but with great longing. ~

.. And Allah says: "With the bounty and the of Allah. And . ~ with this should they rejoice." And with regard to the companions of tI

Rasulullah~, Allah says: "Allah is pleased with them and they ~ pleased withHim." ~

~ 1. Rasulullah fdj said: " Allah, 1beg ofYou Your love and the I ~ love ofthose who 10veu and 1beg ofYou, grant to do .' :} the deeds which causes to reach Your love." (irmithi) ~

b~~(8 139 j}~~~~oJ

~O~~~~~~~~O~;,

~2. And Rasulullah ~ said: "And 1 beg of to make ~ pleased with fixed destiny and Ibeg ofYou l abode {: ~ after death and 1 beg of the ecstasy of 100king at ~g gcountenance and longing to meet ." (Nasai) ~ ~ t 3. Rasulullah ~ said: "Whenever group ofpeople sit together in ~3 l to remember ll, the angels surround them and ~ ~ mercy envelopes them, tranquility descends them and ll ~ '!; remembers them in gathering of those who with Him." %' :} Note: the "tranquility" mentioned here is the "peaceful satisfaction and ~

~ contentment." ~i 1 seek refuge in ll from the accursed Shaytaan. ~ And ll says: "And from among mankind those who ~ O taken besides ll, other Gods whom they love (as they should) 1:

love ll And the believers are stronger than that in [ for ll. If , nl those who unjust were to see the punishment, (and realize) that ~ ~ 1j 1l po~er bel.ongs to ll it will best. And surely ll is Most t

:} severe ushmnt. {t

i i i. ~

o

~ ! ~ ! ~ ~ ~ i ~ S ~ L~~fi 141 j)~~~~~

O~~~~~~~~O~,

I tbah : 35 fi~

~. CONCERNING SINCERITY, GOOD INENTIONS ~ g ~ANDRUFULNESS ~ ll praise to Allah praise of the grateful ones. And we ~ ~ believe in Him with faith ofthose lruly believing in Him. We sincerely ~ ~ believe in His Oneness as an admission of the truthful ones. We bear ~ ~ witness that there is deserving of worship except Allah alone, {: ~ without partner associate, Who has ordered that jinn and ~ ~ a~d the angels should worship Him i~~c~mpl.ete sincerity. And we bear * ~ wltness that Sayeduna Muhammad ~ servant and messenger, ~ ~ the leader of ll the prophets. Allah's salutations u him and i' I ~ ll the prophets, and u. his family and his pious companions. ~ ~ Thereafter, muslims, it has clear to those blessed with ~ ~ Imaan and the enlightened instructions of tQe Qur'an that there is (:.% way of acquiring true happiness and success, except through the ~

acquisition oflalOwledge and through ibaadah. Every aongst i ~ faces destruction except those endowed with lmowledge. And those endowed with lmowledge face the threat of destruction, except those J ~ rfnig practical deeds of goodness. But even those erfnig ~ :} good deeds face destruction except those who sincere in their ~

intentions. And such sincere ones, if they have sincere intentions, i i~ their deeds are useless. For without sincere intention those deeds '& " for show, which is tantamount to hypocrisy and disobedience. Similarly ; ~ sincerity without trueness and without being for attaining Allah's {: ! pleasure in fnity with His wi1lis also useless like dust. ~

~ Allah says regarding those deeds done for purposes other than His ~ ~ pleasure that such deeds are made into "flying dust, scattered about." :S ~ Allah also says: "Verily to Hi is due sincere deen." also ~ )(; says: "Verily the believers are those who believe in Allah and His f1i messenger and then they harbour doubts and strive with their wealth ~ ~ and their lives in Allah's path. Verily these are the truthful ones." ~

g ~ L~..~~" 143 jj)~~~~

~~~~~ur~~~~~

i 1. Rasu1ullah ~ said to Sayeduna Ma'aaz~: " slllce~~ to ~ ~ Allah in deen and 1itt1e actions will suffice for ." {: ~ (Haakim) ~

2. . person called out inq~irin~: " mess~nger. of Al1ah, ~ ~ what lS Imaan?" Rasu1ul1ah ~ ]: "It lS ." " ~ (irmidhi) ~i 3. Rasu1ul1ah ~ also said: "Verily actions are judged according i

O

~ O ~o their intentions. And for every shall what he i

mtended.". (ukh, Muslim)

'" 4. Rasulul1ah ~ said to Sayeduna Bakr~: (while he was ~ ~ cursing ofhis slaves): "How from among the ~ ~ cursers and at the same time ofthe truthfu1 ones?" the ~i !~Lord ofthe , this never !" Thereupon - ~ that day freed some of his slaves and then to ~ ~ Rasu!ll IJiI, saying: "[ will , deed." ~ I seek refuge in Allah from the accursed Shaytaan. ~

! Al1ahsays: "Say: Ihave commanded to worship Al1ahwith ij sincerity in deen towards Him." ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ! J ~ t ~ ~ s g L~~~fi 145 i)~fiQ\.O~J

O~~~~~~~~O~'

I tbah : 36ii~

CONCERNINGCONEPLATIONAND i

S ~RECKONING WITH ONESELF ~ praises to , Who takes account of that person ~ ~ eams and is the One Who oversees and notices his every sinful deed. .~ ~ And 1bear witn~ss that there is other being worthy ofworship except ~ ~ alone, without any and without any associate and 1 bear {: ~ witness that Sayeduna Muhammad ~ is the servant and messenger of ~ ~ , the leader of the prophets. AHah's blessings and salutations * :} upon him and upon his family, the leaders of the chosen ones and ~i upon his companions the heads of the god-fearing ones. ~ tt; Thereafter, muslims, verily the criterion for salvation is the ~ ~ perforrnance of good deeds, but righteous deeds are not taken into ~ ~ unless person performs it perrnanently and continuously {: ~ and does so in the correct and prescribed rnanner. Linking these factors ~

and doing them continuously wiH not acquired except after first 1: ~ making the soul obligated to doing them habituaHy. This is terrned mushaaratah (2) to take notice of mushaarath diligent1y is terrned t 'f1 muraaqabah. However, thirdly, the soul must at specific times ~ i~ checked to ascertain whether it had fulfiHed these conditions properly ~~

or not. This checking and reckoning is terrned muhaasabah (taking.i5 mutual accounting and reckoning). Fourth1y we the term ';j~ mu'aaqabah (mutual exertion) which refers to the toil and effort ~ ~ required in order to rectify actions if the condition are missing. {: ~ Fifth1y the soul must subjected to various strenuous wazeejas (zikr) ~ ~ ifthere is any hesitation in the doing ofgood deeds. This is the stage of tt; :} mujaahadah. Sixth1y we mu'aatabah (mutual censure) which {t ~ means putting censure upon the soul, causing it to disassociated ~ such places where rebellion against takes l and putting ~:S

burden upon it to compensate for faults. j

~ the exercises are intended so as not to unmindful of {: ~ the soul for single moment whereby it is intended to save the souls ~ from becoming deviated or defiant or rebellious.The sacred texts ~ E(Qur'an and hadeeth)are fiHed with narrations conceming these p:Jints00

and one should consider the details set forth therein.

o~OJt;:W}~~~ 147 8}~~~O~O

L ~O~~~~~~~~O~::, l1 says: " knows the deceiving glances of the eyes and

that which is concea1ed within the breasts." 00i And l1 says: "As for him who fears the p1ace of standing i ~ before His Lord and prohibits his se1ffrom indu1gingin bestia1passions, ~ ~ paradise will surely his u1timate abode." ~

i And ll says: "And who is misguided than him who ~ ~ follows his passions?" ~

~ 1. As1am~ reports that Umar ~ visited Sayeduna i~ ~ Bakr ~ who at that time was pulling his tongue. Umar ~ ~ said: "Stop this. ll forgive ." Bakr ~ rep1ied: ~ :} "Verily this organ is the who causes to reach the places ~

. ofdestruction." () ~

~ 2. Rasu1ul1ah ~ said: " mujaahid is person who strives ~ " against his se1fin the obedience ofl1." (Baihaqi) ~

J ~ O . t

3. Sayeduna Umar ~ said: "Reckon with yourselfbefore , being reckoned with and weigh yourselfbefore ~ being weighed." (Kanzul Ummaal) ~i i1 ~eek refuge in Ailah from the Shaytaan. j l1 says: " who be1ieve, fear l1 and 1et every soul ~ ~ consider that which it sends ahead for the day of tomorrow, and fear {: ! Allah. Veri1y ll is ful1y aware ofwhat do." ~

~ i j

i g L

ri~O~~~~~~~~O~'

I tbah : 37 .

CONCERNING PONDERING OVER i

S !A1ERSANDCONEPLATION ~ praises to AHah, Who has encouraged unto ponder and ~ %" contemplate, to observe and to give deep thought. 1 bear witness that ~ ~ there is other deity worthy of worship except Allah alone, without ~ ~ a~y. associate and 1bear witness that Sayeduna Mu.hammad ~ ~ ~ IS servant and messenger, the master among the chl1dren of ~ ~ Adam ~\ in this world. Al1ah's salutations him and -% :J his family as wel1 as his companions, the chosen and righteous ones. ~ ~ Thereafter, muslims, verily ll has encouraged us to ponder ~ ~ and reflect with deep thought in so verses of the Holy Quran and 1j ~ has praised those who contemplate. In this way, while praising them ~ ~ says: "those who remember l1, while standing, sitting and lying {:.%' their sides and ponder over the creation of heavens and earth. 11 ~ ~ asks: "Do ! ! ponder ! kingdoms ofheavens and j ! earth?" !! ~ also says: "Did We not make the earth as wide expanse? And ~ J} the mountains as pegs. And have We not created u in pairs And made ~ ~ your sleep for rest? And made the night as covering? And made the day ~ ~ as means of subsistence? And We not bui1t over the seven ~ ;g firmaments. And placed therein light ofsplendour? And illdWe not send ~ ~ down the clouds water in abundance? That produce i~

therewith and vegetables And gardens ofvegetation?" E . Q And l1 says: " let look at his food or that We pour f;'~ forth water in abundance. And We sp1it the earth in fragments. And

~ produce therein And grapes and nutritious plants and olives and ; ,' dates and enclosed gardens dense with lofty trees and fruits and fodder ~ ~ for use and convenience for and your ." ~

~ g ~ ( i ~~ 1

l)~o..it'W}~~A 151 ~~~~O~O ~

~o~~~~~~~~

O~~~~~~~~O~,

I tbah : 38 ifi~

~ NRNINGDANDAFRD

ll praise to Allah, Who through death broke the necks ofthe ~ ~ tyrants and has a1sothrough death broken the backs ofthe mighty kings i) ~ of Persia and through death destroyed the hopes of the Caesers. And '* ~ has made death means towards success for the pious ones and ~ 9 through death has made meeting 1 for them with Him. Him ~ ~ be10ngs the highest status for the bounties which bestows, and to i ~ Him be10ngs the right ofretribution means ofpunishment means ;; :} ofHis overpowering might. 1bear witness that there is other being ~ ~ worthy ofworship except Allah , without any~p~rtner or associate. i) ~ And 1 bear witness that Sayeduna Muhammad ~ IS the servant and '* i messenger ofAllah, the who was blessed with c1earmirac1es. ~ ~ Allah's sa1utations and blessings u him and his fami1y and ~ ~ his companions, the possessors of ll and virtue. ~ "ii 1. Veri1y Rasu1ullah ~ said: "Remember abundant1y the 1: ~ destroyer of p1easures (death)." (irmithi, Nasai, In Majah) ~

~ Q :} 2. Rasu1ullah ~ a1so said: "Wh mus1im is near death the ~ ~ ange1s of mercy approach him with white si1k c10th and ~ ~ says to him (his sou1s): " out in happiness, having .%' i' attained, Allah's p1easure. to the comfort and mercy 'f1 ~ ofAllah and proceed to the Lord Who will not angry with 8 ~ u." ~

=S It is further reported: "When kafir nears death the ange1sof ~ :} punishment approach him with coarse c10th and says: ~ ~ :'Proceed i~ unhappiness to the punishment ofAllah for Allah ~ ~ IS angry wlth u." (Ahmad, Nasai) ~ ~ 3. Rasu1u11ah ~ a1sosaid: "Two ange1s to him in the grave ~ i} and makes him sit u and say to him: "Who is your Lord?" {:! wi11rep1y: "Allahismy Lord."hentheyaskhim:"Andwhat ~ :} is your deen?" will [1: " deen is Is1am." hen they ask ~

L "

O ~im: "Who is ~~s man who was sent to u?" willrep1Y:J.

IS Rasu1ul1ah ~."

o~o~~~~ 155 8)~~~O~O

~~~~ur~~~~~

caller from the heavens wil1 then proclaim." servant ~ has spoken the truth. So bed for him in paradise."

{: ~ And it wil1 opened. ~

~ Rasulullah ~ then said: "When the doors will the winds -% ~ ofjannat and the sweet fragrance ofjannat wil1 to him ~ ~ and his grave wil1 widen need to the extent of the ~ ~ reaching ofhis sight." However the kaafir's situation wi11 ~*

~ the opposite of that." (Musnad Ahmad, Dmvood) ~ 4. Rasulullah ~ also said: "Allah says: "1have prepared formy {: ~ righteous servants that has seen, ear has heard ~ ~ and what was not even perceived the minds of ." ~ ~ (Bukhary, Muslim) ~

f1. 5. Rasulullah ,~ says: "The person who wi11 have the least :; ~ punishment ofthe inmates ofhell wi11 the who wi11 ';J ~ given sandals with straps offire as result ofwhich his brains & :! wi11 boillike kettle. wi11 think that he receiving the worst ~ ~ ofp~nishment:vhere as in actual fact he wi11 the with 1 ~ the 11ghtestpull1shment." (Bukhary, Muslim) ~

i~ :} 6. Rasulullah ~ says: "Verily wi11 see your Lord just as ~ thi5, having obstruc1ionin 5eeingi1." ~ ~ ~ ~ 1 seek refuge in Allah from the accursed Shaytaan. - i i And Allah says: "Every soul shall taste ofdeath. Then shall ~i retumed to ." i i I ~ S . L~..~~~~ 157 t}~~~~..

O~~~~~~~~O~,

I tbah : 39fi~

CONCERNING DEEDSFOR i

s DAYOFAASURA ~ ~ ll praise is due to ll Who has created for the sun and the :;, ~ to follow fixed courses, while the stars and the trees bow down to ~! Him and has given preference for certain periods oftime over others ~ ~ just as gives preference for specific places over others, and for (::t some beings other humans. ~ We bear witness that there is worthy of worship except ~ ~ ll a~one, without partner and without~an~ associate and We 6 ~ bear w1tness that Sayeduna Muhammad ~ lS the servant and ~ ~ messenger ofAllah:the who guided us towards righteous deeds, of ~ " which is the fasting of the day of Aashura, day of good actions. And ~ ~ l prohibited as from bad deeds, among which ll those {: ;: innovated deeds. Allah's salutations him and his family ~

and his companions who upheld the deen, both the compulsory ~

~ thereofand the nissibl and destroyed the prohibited customs ofthe D days ofignorance, both the prohibited and the abominable thereof. . ~ these salutations descend them ll abundantly. ~

01 Thereafter, muslims, the day of Aashura is at hand. It is t$ time when people commit some very good deeds as well as various : rejected innovations of the first mentioned is the commendable act of 'fj

fasting this day. ~

i ~ 1. Rasulullah ~ said: "Verily the best fasting after the month of ~i Ramadaan is the fasting ofthe month fuhaam." i ~ (Musli) :s i ~ ~ 2. And Rasulullah ~ said: "Regarding the fast of the day of i ~ Aas~ura, it is ~y ~hat ll ",,:i1l through it compensate ;;i for ss comm1tteddunngthe prevlOusyear." (Musli) .i ~~O~~~{8 159 8}~~O~~

~~O~~~~~~~~O~~

i 3. And Rasulullah ~ said; "Fast the day ofAashura. ~~~~ ~ ~ contr~ry to the Jews fasting day before it and day {:

~ after . ~ I 4. In 'he. beginning'he Dayof Aashuraused fastedbefore ~ the fast of Ramadaan was made compulsory. And when it ~ % revealed the Ramadaan should fasted, those who 'S ~ wished to do , fasted this day while others who did not ~ ~ wish to do so, did not fast. Those who voluntarily fasted {:i Aashura sought to acquire blessings ofabundant sustenance ~ ~ for their families." (Six books / Hadeeth except Nasai) ~ ~ 5. Rasulullah ~ said: "Whoever spends freely his family ~ ~ the day ofAashura, ll will grant him blessings in his riziq :S ~ throughout the year." (Razeen, Baihaqi) ~

~ ~

~ Some people have taken the day to day ofrejoicing, and for ~ ~ the reading of elegies, mourning, the expression of grief and for , f:I> remembering the tragedies which befall the Ahlul Bayt. also use ~ git for visiting grave-sites and for other acts. And they busy themselves i t; with ~ucb acts ofentertainment, amusement and what amount to shirk ~ ~ ds. :sj 1 seek refuge in ll from the accursed Shaytaan. ~. i AlIah says; "s for who does ' weigh' of good, he i :} will see it and whosoever does atom's weight of evil will see it."

I . ~ ~ ~ i ~ S ! L~..~~"" i)~~~161

O~~~~~~~~O~,

I tbah : 40 ri~

~ CONCERNINGTEDEEDSOFTHE ~ g ~MONTH OF SAFAR ~ praise is due to Allah in whose Hands lie the control of " ~ affairs. is the creator of things and is the ControHer of ~%

affairs, the good as weH as the bad. ~ ~ We bear witness that there is worthy of worship except {: ~ Allah alone, without associate and we bear witness that .~ ~ Sayeduna Muhammad ~ is the servant and messenger of AHah Who ~i has taken us out of darkness and brought us into the light and who 1 ~ through his teachings has eliminated ignorance and evil. Allah's*salutations u and his family and his companions, through ". ~ whom this deen manifest in the best form. Through them faith ~ firmly established in the breasts throughout the days and ~ %months. Abundant salutations u them. ~ :i Thereafter, muslims, the month ofSafar has drawn near to us. ~ ~ And this is the month which is taken as bad some people ~ ~ while others take it to the herald of goodness, as was done the %' :} people ofthe days ofignorance who used to resort to the detested habit {t ~ of shifting the months around because of this wrong be1ief. ~

~ Allah rejected this custom and stated that this shifting of the ~ ~ months was cause for further kufr.Similarly Rasulullah ~ condemned 'fSi. ~ the practice of taking Safar to time for good or bad luck and he 8 ! rejected the habit ofassociating sorrows and grief with it. -& ~ 1. Rasulullah ~ said: "There is spreading of disease from t ~ person to another (except with Allah's permission) i~ ~ neither is there taking ofomens from the f1ightofbirds, R: nor evi1 in the sounding ofthe owl and neither is there ~ ~ (ill-fortune in the month Safar. ~

2. On, Muhammad Raashid told Rasulul1ah ~ that 1 ~ ~ were taking ill from the entrance of the month of .' :} Safar. RasuluHah ~ said: "There is ill- in Safar." ~

L~o~(io 163 ~~~~~

i ~O~~~~~~~~O~~

3. Ra~ulullah said: "~akin~ omens the flight ofbirds is ~ 'shlrk'. repeated thls th." ( Dawood, zrmithi)

~ 4. Ibn Masood ~ said: "Al1 ofus sometimes have such baseless ~ (: thoughts except that Allah removes them through tawakkul :$ ~ (trustin Him)." .& ~ From this statement ofIbn Masood, we l that tawakkul is in ~ ~ believing in the heart the whisperings (coming into the mind) with ~ ~ regard to the flight ofbirds, neither in acting u its results through the {: ~ limbs, expressing belief of the same through the tongue. We wil1 ~ :} then not taken to task for such wrong beliefs. ~

~ ~.. ~ The statement ofRasulul1ah ~: "If i1l is found, it would 'S ~ in woman, property and horse." Should interpreted to that ~ ~ if.bY ~~y there was -0, it would in these three {:

~ things. Ikh, ) ~

O :} 1 seek refuge in Allah [ the accursed Shaytaan. W ~o~ o

~ ll says: " messenger replied: "he il1 (bad luck) is i ~ with you (as result of your deeds). 1s this because u ~ ~ admonished to return to ll. But u extravagant !." ~

~ ! ! ! ~ ~ ~ ~ g g L~~~~ 165 j)~~~~

O~~~~~~~~O~,

I tbah : 41 ri~

CONCERNING WAT ISBEINGDONE ii !INRAEE-UL-AWWAL f: praise is due to Who is sufficient for and everything. ~ f; is the who through is perfect attributes manifest and % ~ in is Being is concealed. We bear witness that there is being worthy ~ ~ ofwors~ip except alone, without p~e~ associate and we ~ ~ bear wltness that Sayeduna Muhammad ~ servant and ~ ~ messenger, the chosen . Allah's salutations and blessings * :} him, and his family and his mpis, whose uttering were ~

~ indeed pure. ~

i Thereafter, muslims, the month ofRabee-ul-wwl has drawn i ~ and dawned, during which people accustomed t;:.% to celebrate the birthday ofthe Holy Prophet in various gatherings. And ~ 'ii now it is our intention to clarify the Positio.n (as to the permissibility or i ~ prohibited nature of this act). we state that in the books of ! Bukhary and Muslim it is mentioned that Rasulullah ~ said: "here ~ two raka'ahs salaah before Maghrib salaah." (This was repeated thrice ~ J}i and the third occasion added: "For those who so desire." This last i

phrase indicated that RasuluHah ~ wanted to point out that this was not ~ ; to established practice and certainly not compulsory. make it ~ ~ obligatory would thus wrong). ~

~ There are other proofs and arguments in this regard: {: ~ eminent scholars of Islam consensus the point that if - ~ :} rewardable acts are considered to rewardable acts, it would amount ~ ~ to making change in the deen. Similarly it amounts to changing the 6 ~ deen ifthe optional deeds are considered to compulsory. Ifthis :i ~ remembrance ofthe Rasul (in the form ofthe Mowlood Shareef) takes ~ ~ place without special conditions attached to it, there is still way ~ ~ that such celebrations considered to within the limits of the {:. ~ Shariah. And ifthese celebrations such special conditions attached i :} to then and person considers them to compulsory tocelebrate, ~ 0l:SUChcelebrations are innovations. And if does not look uPon::Juch

celebrations as being rewardable acts, but still entertains the act, this too

o~o;t:1i}~~~ 167 fi)~~~O~o

~O~~~~~~~~O~~ is near to being innovation. As such both these acts are prohibited as r;

non-perrnissible deeds shou1d prohibited to various degrees of ~ prohibition according to the be1iefsheld. Thus those who ho1dthe be1ief ~ of these ce1ebrations being compu1sory or those in whom there is fear ~o

of corruption, shou1d compu1sori1y prohibited while those free from ~ such e1ements wi11 100ked as occasion that has part of ~ -. the process of time. ~

t We notice the habit among 1 that they more to 'S ~ attack and condemn those who abstain from these ce1ebrations with ~ ~ greater vehemence than they would condemn those who abstain from ~ '!} the compu1sory commandments. Such 1 prefer to see the .% ~ prohibited acts increase without expressing objection. ~

~ The difference of opinion between the 1atter day scho1ars is ~ %simi1arto the difference ofthe earlier scho1ars,for 1, conceming ~ ~ practising the hadeeth about keeping fast Friday's 1. ~

Rasu1uHah~ said: "Do not fix Friday night for optiona1prayers ~ ~ from amidst the other nights, nor fix the day ofFriday for fasting amidst .:.. the other days, except if it within the sequence set of tt ~ you(forfasting)." (Muslim) ~ ~ Simi1ar is the difference among the scholars tlle issue ofthe ~8hajis stopping at Muhassab. Ibn Umar ~ considered it sunnah, whi1e ~i Ibn Abbaas considered it as mere stopJor ." (Muslim) ~ .% he Shariah has regu1ations. However ifthese ce1ebrations ~ ~ are accompanied various manifest evi1sor prohibited acts, then the ~ verdict then is ofbeing nor perrnissible and prohibited. ~ 'S- This is a1so the verdict the ce1ebration knwn as Haadi t :} Ashar i.e., it the 11th day which occurs in Rabi-u1-thaani, the festiva1of ~i SheikhAbdu1 Qadir Jailani. ~ ~ 1 seek refuge in Allah from the accursed Shaytaan. ~ ~ "!1 AHah says: "'/eri1y, Muhammad~, We have e1evated for -%' ~ your mention." ~

L~o~~(iI 169 f}~~"~~

O~~~~~~~~O~,

I tbah : 42fi~

CONCERNINGTHEMONTHOFRAJA i

praise to Al1ahWho took His servant Muhammad ~ g ~ nightjourney night ftom the Holy Mosque in Makkah to the Masjid- ~ ~ ul-Aqsa in Jerusalem. And from there through the seven heavens. 1 '* ~ witness that there is deserving worship except Al1ah alone, ~ 5 without rtn associate and 1 witness that Sayeduna (: ~ Muhammad ~ is His servant and messenger, the best of mankind. ~ f;. Al1ay's salutations in abundance u and his family and )(; ~ his companions, who dispel1ed the darkness. ~

I . J ~ Thereafter, muslims, the munth ofRajab has downed u us g ~ Rajab, the deaf . During this month there some special {:*' regulations conceming this month, some were important than others. f;.

When this month used to iv, Rasulul1ah ~ used to : " Allah ~ great us the blessings ofthe months ofRajab and Sha'baan and guide

us towards Ramaadaan." Secondly there is the fasting of certain of its 'f1. days according to some reports. Some ofthese reports with chairs ~i oftransmission reaching Rasulul1ah ~ yet unauthentic and mostly g ~ weak in nature (due to defects conceming the ts). of ~ R; these reports total1y weak and even fabricated then also there is f;. ~ report Khara-shah who says: "1saw Umar bin Khattab ~ hitting the ~ ~ pal~s ,?f people for fasting in Rajab, until they stopped fasting {:

~ ~

i . ~ i . ~ J Thirdly there is Mowqoofreport (which means saying not ~ ~ tl attributedto Rasulul1ah ~ but to ofhis companions). u ~ ~ Hurayrah ~ reports: " person who fasts the 27th ofRajab, wil1 -% ~ rewarded Allah for fast of sixty months." ~

L~~~fio 171 ~~~~

~~O~~~~~~~~O~~

~ ~e:~~rd report states that fasting is pennissible, but it should ~~~1~~ S ~ p~erfonned with the beliefthat it is sunn~h, d.erived from Rasulullah ~ ~. But rather as means of , Just case should so. -& ~ However the other reports make it clear that certain specific days of ~ ~ Raj should not fasted so as to protect oneselffrom misinterpreting ~ f: the rules of Shariah. Mention must also made of the 27th night of ~ ~ Rajab which has fixed as time of celebration during which .% ~ lectures are delivered the Mee'raj, which is innovation the ~I genera! public their !eaders. ~ g g ~ ~ ,g, The verdict this issue is similar the verdict delivered in the ~ %0 ~oP~~ sennon relating to the blessed birth ofRasulullah~.

~ ~ 1 seek refuge in Allah from the accursed Shaytaan. ~

~ And Allah says: "And u, messenger of Allah, will travel J ~ through various stages ofthe skies." g i ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ j i ~ ~ ~ ~ s g L~~~"" 173 ~~~~~

O~~~{J.:){~~~~O~'

I tbah : 43 ri~

~ CONCERNINGTEDEEDSOFTE ~ g ~MONTHOFSA'BAAN ~ praise to Al1ah Who has fixed the sustenance (rizq) of ~ ~ His servants as well as their life-spans. And has comanded that ~ ;; remembered and obeyed in the moming and the night. And 1 ~ gbear witness that there is worthy ofworship except Al1ahln, ~ ~ without n partner or associate and 1 bear witness that Sayeduna ~ ' Muhamad ~ is His servant and messenger, the leader of the n of 1(; :} virtue and perfection. Allah's blessings n him and his farnily ~i and co~panions who were the best of families and the best of ~*, ~ ~ Thereafter, muslims, verily the month ofShan has dawned ~ ~ over us as the fore-runner of the month of Ramadaan. This month has {: ~ great blessings and virtues and attached to it are certain regulations. ~ 'ii Listen to them and remember them. ~ ~ 1. Rasulul1ah ~ has said: "Kee~ .taking notice of the crescent ~ ~ n fShn, whl1eaWaltmg Ramadaan." (irmithi) ~

:} 2. Rasulullah ~ used to give considerable consideration to the {ti month fSh~ more than n other month.(Abu Dawood) i ~ 3. And Rasulul1ah ~ said: "Do not precede Ramadaan with ~ ~ voluntary fast or two days before Ramadaan except if it ~

i was who had acquired the habit offasting specific {: day of the week, (then if that day comes n or two days ~i before Ramadaan), let him fast." (uklr) . . ~ 4. Rasulullah ~ said: "On this night (the twenty seventh night of ~ ~ Shan)it is decreed every soul that wi1l m during this :S ~ year and so also wi1l decreed every soul that will pass 'f1 ~ away and so also their deeds are being lifted upto Allah and 8 ~ this night their sustenance is decreed. ~

I i ~~~(8 175 jj)~~uJ

~O~~~{W~~~~O~~

r5. Rasulullah ~ also said: "When it is the fifteenth night of Sh then keep the night awake perfonning voluntary . ~ prayers and fast during the day for verily Allah deseend with i ~ His down to the lowest heaven at the time of sunset ~ :} and proelaims: "Is there anyone begging for forgiveness that ~ ~ 1 grant forgiveness? Is there anyone begging for '& sustenanee that 1 grant him sustenanee? Is there any ~ %' one in diffieulties and ealamities that 1 him?" and so ~! ~Allah eontinues to shower His blessings until the moment ~ dawn eomes along." ~

fY The author of"Maa thabata bihis sunnah" says: "Ofthe most ~ :} detestable innovations is the eustom whieh had ~ widespread in most parts of India of lighting lamps and ~ t plaeing these the houses and the walls. Similarly there is -s. ~ the habit of other fonns of amusement and the buming of ~ ~ fireworks. Perhaps its true that this has been taken the {: ~ eustoms ofthe indus oflighting lamps at the time ofDivali. ~

~ t~ ~ 1 seek refuge in Allah from the aecursed Shaytaan. ~i: ll '" "We revealed it blessed night, which J

every Wlseeommand lSmade as eommand from . Verily, ! We are eontinuously sending prophets for rnan's guidanee." i ~ ~ i ~ i ~ i g i L~o;(;,j)~ ~~~OJ177

o~~~~~~~~o~,

I tbah : 44 ifi~

~. NRNINGVIRSFRAADAAN

1l praise to Allah Who is most gracious to His servant in His ~ Q favours, with which remove from them the cunning plans of the " fJ. Shaytaan and towards his hopes and efforts as made fasting ~ Wprotective covering and shield for His true friends and through it has ~ ~ opened [ them the doors ofparadise. And 1bear witness that there is ~ ~ being worthy ofworship except Allah alone, without or ~ ~ associate and 1 bear witness that Sayeduna Muhammad .$ is His ~ :} servant and messenger, the leader of1l creation and the who placed ~ Q before us the sunnah. . Allah's choicest salutation descend ~ ~~ him and his family as well as his companions, those oftremendous %

insight and minds to discem the distinction between right and wrong. ~ ~ ~ Thereafter, muslims, verily the month ofRamadaan has drawn ~ ~ , the month wherein the Holy Qur'an was revealed as guidance to ~ O 1l mankind and with clear distinction between what is right and what is 1:

wrong. So approach this month with longing and eagemess. And listen ,~ carefully to what Sayeduna Salmaan ~ has reported: narrates: ~ "Rasulullah ~ addressed us the last day of Shabaan, saying: " ~ ~ people, great month has dawned over , blessed month wherein is :$ ~ found night better and more virtuous than thousand months. It is ~ ;; month wherein Allah has made it obligatory that the days fasted and ~ ~ that the night spent in prayers was made optional act. who ~ ~ draws near to Allah performing good act in this month shall {: ~ as ifhe had done obligatory act in other time. And whosoever ~ ~ performs obligatory act there in shall like him who had performed ~ seventy similar acts in another time.

s. This is month of patience and the reward for patience us ~ ;; paradise. It is the month of sympathy with one's fellow and it is ~! month wherein the sustenance of believer is increased. who gives ~ ~ fasting person something with which to break the fast, for that ~ ~ wi11 forgiveness for his sins and freedom for from the fire of ~ ~ hell and for wi11 the reward equal to that person's fasting without ~! that person's rewards being lessened at ll." ~ ~~o,;t:;i}~~" 179 .a)~~~O~~

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Salmaan ~, continues: "We then said: " ~essenger of Alla~, S ~ notall ofus possess the means Whereby we glve another to break {: ~ his fast." f!:

sa ~ ~ i Rasulullah ~ replied: "Allah gives the same reward to who ~ ~ gives fasting person sip of mi1k or date or mouthful of water." {: ~ The person who gives fasting person to eat to his satisfaction, Allah ~ ~ wi11 cause to drink from fountain the day ofQiyaamah where ~ ~ after he wi11 not thirsty until he enters paradise." And this is ~ ~ month, the first part of which brings the decent of from Allah. ~ %' The second part brings forgiveness and the third part brings immunity ~ ~ from the fire ofhell. And whosoever lightens the burden ofhis slave in ~ ~ this month Allah will pardon him and set him free from the fire ofhell." i ~ ~ ~ 1 seek refuge in Allah from the accursed Shaytaan. ~

~ ~ f.; And Allah says: " who believe fasting has prescribed :} -. as it was prescribed those before that .%jd ~god-fearing."

~ ii ~ g L~~~~("io 181

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~ Itbab : . i45 ~ CONCERNINGrnEFASTINGOFRAADAAN ~

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~ lI praise to lI Who has blessed us guiding us to the ~ ~ straight path and blessed us with true realisation. And is the ~ ~ Who made us of the people of IsIam and of the people of faith. We ~ ~ thank II and gIorif) His Name and had caused great month to ~ ~ dawn over us caIIed Ramadaan, during which sins being burnt ~ ~ and where difficulties being dispelIed. We witness with the {: ~ and the tongue that there is other being worthy of worship ~ :1 AIIah alone, without partner associate and we witness that ~SSayeduna Muhammad ~ our master and Ieader is the servant and the ~

i'. messenger ofII, the who has"indicated to us the things that wilI :; cause us to enter paradise. ~

~ AIIah's salutations him and his family as weII as his I O COlmp~ions, the most exceIIent among the people abundant ~

sa , ~

Thereafter, muslims, the month ofRamadaan has begun over , ~ us. So, make use ofthe opportunity to take hold of its blessings being ~ ~ obedient to AIIah and abstaining from sins in the in which W ~ RasuluIIah ~ has admonished us to do tiII the end oftime. i ~ 1. RasuluIIah ~ said: "When the first night of the month of ~ JD Ramadaan enters, the Shaytaan and the rebeIliousjinns are 'f1i ~being imprisoned, the doors ofheII ar