Intention

As-Salamu Alaykum (peace be upon you),

All Deeds are Based on Intention

Innamal a'malu Binniyath 

"Definitely actions depend upon intention"

A Muslim believes in the great importance of intention and its importance for the reminder of his deeds, both of this world and the Hereafter. This is so because all deeds are based on intention. Due to it, the deed is strengthened or weakened. Depending on the intention, the deed is either valid or void. The belief of the Muslim, concerning the necessity of intention for every deed and the obligation to make the intention proper, is based first of all on Allah's words:

"And they were commanded not but that they should worship Allah and worship none but Him alone (abstaining from ascribing partners to Him)." [Noble Quran 98:5]

Allah has also said:

"Say (O Muhammad): 'Verily, I am commanded to worship Allah (alone) by obeying Him and doing religious deeds sincerely for His sake only." [Noble Quran 39:11]

This belief is also based on Allah's Messenger's words: 

"Verily, all actions are but driven by intention and for everyone is what he intended." [Bukhari and Muslim]

Allah's Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) also said: 

"Certainly, Allah does not look at your shapes or wealth. But He only looks at your heart and deeds." [Bukhari and Muslim]

Looking at the hearts is looking at the intentions, for it is the intention that is driving and motivating force behind the deed.

Allah's Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) also said: 

"He who seriously considered doing a good deed but did not do it, will have one good deed recorded for him." [Muslim]

Just seriously considering for a good deed is a good deed itself by which one earns reward. This is due to the virtuousness of having a proper intention. Allah's Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) also said: 

"There are four types of people: one is a man whom Allah has given knowledge and wealth. He acts with respect to his wealth based on his knowledge. Another person says that if Allah had given him similar to what He gave the first man, he would have acted in the same fashion. The reward for both of them will be the same. A third person is one, whom Allah gives wealth but He does not give knowledge. Therefore, he spends money according to his desire. Another man says that if Allah had given him, what He had given that person, he would have acted in the same manner. These two will have the same burden upon them." [Ibn Majah with a good chain]

The one who has a pious intention is rewarded for a good deed and the one who has an evil intention will bear its burden just like the one who did an impious deed. All of that is due to intention alone.

Non-Combatant receive a reward like that of a Combatant

At the Battle of Tabuk, Allah's Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) said:

"There are people concerning whom you do not travel any distance, nor do you spend anything, nor do you pass any valley but they are with you in that matter." The people said, "How is that?" He said, "They have been restrained due to some excuse, but they are with us because of the good intention." [Bukhari and Abu Dawud]

Good intention is what makes the non-combatant equal in reward to the combatant. It is what makes the non-Mujahid receive a reward like that of a Mujahid.

Murderer and murdered will be in Hell

Allah's Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) also said:

"If two Muslims meet each other with their swords, then both the killer and the killed will be in the Hell-fire." Someone said, "O Allah's Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), that is the case of the killer but why should that be the case for the killed?" He answered, "Because he wanted to kill his companion." [Bukhari and Muslim]

The impious intention and evil desire have made both fighters equal in deserving the Hell-fire. If the killed did not have that evil intention, he would have been from the inhabitants of Paradise.

The intention is the soul of the deed and its value

Allah's Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) states:

"The one who marries based on a dower that he has no intention of paying is, in fact, a fornicator. And one, who takes a loan that he has no intention of repaying is, in fact, a thief." [Ahmad]

Therefore, an evil intention can transform a permissible deed into a forbidden one. It can also change a deed that is free from any harm into a harmful deed.

All of the above emphasize what a Muslim believes concerning the seriousness of intention and its extreme importance. Therefore, he bases all of his deeds upon a pious intention. He also strives his best not to perform any deed without any intention or with an impure intention. The intention is the soul of the deed and its value. The deed is sound if the intention is sound and the deed is wicked if the intention is wicked. The one who performs the deeds without intention is done for show.

Intention is the driving force in the heart towards a deed that is in accord with a sound goal

Furthermore, a Muslim believes that intention is an essential component of deeds and a condition for the validity of the deed. He also knows that the intention is not simply the statement of the tongue, "O Allah, I intend such and such...." Nor is it simply a thought in the mind. Instead, it is the driving force in the heart towards a deed that is in accord with a sound goal of bringing about benefit or repelling harm, presently or in the future. It is also the will that directs a person a deed for the sake of Allah and fulfill His Commands.

A Muslim, therefore, also believes that a permissible act may become an act of obedience, worthy of reward and recompense. At the same time, an act of obedience, if it is void of a pious intention, becomes an act of disobedience worthy of punishment and burden. He also does not believe that an act of disobedience can be changed into an act of obedience simply due to a good intention.

For example, the one who backbites a person just to make another person feel better has disobeyed Allah and has committed a sin. His "good intention" will not benefit him at all in consideration with Allah, the one who builds a mosque, with money from prohibited sources, will not be rewarded. Similarly, anyone who builds a dome over the grave of a pious person, slaughters an animal on his behalf or makes an oath on his behalf, all in the name of having love for the pious people, is disobeying Allah and earning a sin for what he has done. This is done even if, in his eyes, has had a pious intention. A deed is not transformed by a pious intention into an act of obedience unless it was something permissible in the Shari'ah in the first place. As for a forbidden act, it never becomes an act of obedience under any circumstances whatsoever.

The Prophet said,

"He who lets the people hear of his good deeds intentionally, to win their praise, Allah will let the people know his real intention (on the Day of Resurrection), and he who does good things in public to show off and win the praise of the people, Allah will disclose his real intention (and humiliate him). [Bukhari]

Why Should I Study (My Religion)?

By Muhammad al-Shareef

Many years ago in Uzbekistan, a baby boy was born blind. His Mother, the strong Mu'minah that she was, did not lose sight of He who had the Power to cure him. She prayed and prayed for her sons sight. And within a few years the boy regained his eyes.

She was widowed, the boy an orphan. She traveled with him to Makkah so that he could receive an Islamic Education. She arranged that he attend the circles of the scholars, and in those circles, he began excelling in the science of Hadeeth. He traveled to distant villages in search of the most authentic sayings of Rasul Allah (pbuh). He would pray two raka'at before accepting a Hadeeth. His mother named him: Muhammad ibn Isma'il. And many of us know him today by the book he compiled, the book that stands after the Qur'an in authenticity: Saheeh Al-Imam Al-Bukhari!

In another land, in another time, chilly Baghdad winds would wake up another boy. Much before Fajr, his mother would bundle him in warm shawls and escort him through the darkness, making sure he reached the Masjid safely. After Fajr, she would wait for him as he read Hadeeth to the biggest scholars of the land. Then, long after the sun had come up, she would meet him outside and together they would walk home. She was a strong mother indeed, for her son grew up to become an Imam of the Muslim Ummah, an Imam by the name of Ahmad ibn Hanbal. (Manaaqib Ahmad, by Ibn Al-Jowzee)

Imam Suyuti authored his first book, Tafseer Bismillaah Ar-Rahman Ar-Raheeem, when he was in grade 2!

Dear brothers and sisters, why should we try to follow in the footsteps of these many other stars of Islam? The information that we shall in sha' Allah learn is not like anything else. This knowledge is the law of Allah and the inheritance of the Prophets. It is our duty to preserve and protect the estate of Rasul Allah (pbuh), something that cannot happen without there being serious and sincere brothers and sisters spending long days and nights reading, reflecting, and teaching others.

Every Islamic revival that takes place is built on something. Some revivals are built on emotions, others on politics. Do you know which shall remain firm when the wind of woe blows? It shall be the one that was built on sound knowledge of the words of Allah and the Sunnah of Rasul Allah.

sincere man once stood on the beach shore watching, to his dismay, the waves thrashing a fish up and down, left and right. The man concluded that he must save the fish. He thrashed into the water and grabbed the fish by the tail. He then thrashed back to shore and threw the fish on the beach, satisfied that he had saved it from the water!

Dear brothers and sisters, when we work for the sake of Allah without knowledge of what the path of Allah is, many times we do as that young man did.

We are living in an age of information. We have lights in every corner of the house when only yesterday our ancestors read by the light of the moon. We have publishing houses when only yesterday our ancestors wrote the books they owned with their own hands. We have CD's to search the Hadeeth archives when our scholars spent days upon days searching for proof and evidence in their libraries. Shouldn't the knowledge increase with all this ease? It should. But it has not.

Dear brothers and sisters, we know that when a prize is great, the responsibility, and the work required for that prize shall also be great. And because of this, we see the enormous reward promised to those scholars and students of Islam due to the heavy work required.

The Prophet (pbuh) said, "Whoever seeks out a path to acquire knowledge (of the deen), Allah makes easy a path for them to Jannah!" - Muslim

Shaykh Abdur-Rahman As-Sa'dee said, "Thus any path a person takes, whether physical or otherwise, something that will help them in acquiring knowledge of the Deen, they enter in the words of the Prophet, "Whoever seeks out a path to acquire knowledge (of the deen), Allah makes easy a path for them to Jannah." "

Rasul Allah told us that when a person seeks out a path to learn about Islam, this is a sign that Allah loves them and that He wants good for them in this life and the next.

From Mu'aawiyah ibn Abi Sufyan, the Prophet (pbuh) said, "Whoever Allah wishes good for, he grants them Fiqh (understading) of the Deen."

And Rasul Allah told us that the sincere scholars have a place with Allah that no one else can reach, and that they are the inheritors of the Prophet's estate in passing it on to the world.

Rasul Allah said, "The virtue of the scholar to a worshipper (Aabid) is similar to the virtue of the moon when it is full to the rest of the stars. And verily the scholars are the inheritors of the Prophets. Verily the Prophets did not leave behind dirhams and deenars, but rather they left behind knowledge. Thus whoever takes it, takes it as a bountiful share." - Authentic, narrated by Abu Dawood, Tirmidhi, and Ibn Majah.

The position of the people of Islamic knowledge reached such a level that Allah (Jalla Thanaa'uhu wa taqaddasat Asmaa'uhu) and the Angels pray for them!

From Abu Umaamah: Rasul Allah said, "Verily Allah and His angels, even the ant in its hole and the fish in the sea, verily (they all) pray for he who teaches people good." - authentic, narrated by Tabraanee.

Rasul Allah prayed for them also. He said, as narrated by Zayd ibn Thabit, "May Allah grant light (and happiness and beauty in the face) of someone who hears a hadith from us and memorizes it until he passes it on to others!" - authentic, narrated by Tirmidhi.

One of the Hadeeth scholars that Imam Bukhari took from, Hisham ibn Ammar narrates a story that happened to him when he was 8 years old. He says, "My father sold a house of his for 20 Deenaars so that I could go for Hajj (and study Islam). When I arrived in Madinah, I went to the circle of Imam Maalik. He was sitting amongst his students like a king. People would ask him questions and he would answer. When I entered the crowd and my turn came up I said, 'Haddithnee (recite to me)!' He said, 'Rather you read.' I said, 'No, you haddithnee!' Imam Maalik said, 'No you read!' When I talked back and argued, he got angry and said to another student, go with this boy outside and smack him 15 times!' That student took me outside and smacked me 15 times with a stick and then brought me back to Imam Maalik. I said, 'You have Dhulm (wronged) me! My father sold his house so that I could come to you and be honored by listening to your teaching and seek knowledge from you. And you smacked me 15 times without any crime on my part, I shall not forgive you!' Imam Maalik then said, 'What is the expiation for this Dhulm (wronging)?' I said, 'You have to recite 15 Ahadeeth to me, that is the expiation.' So Imam Maalik began reciting the Ahadeeth to me until he completed 15. When he ended I told him, 'Beat me more and read more Hadeeth to me." Imam Maalik laughed and said, 'be off.' - From the book Ma'rifat Al-Qurraa' al-Kibaar by Imam Adh-Dhahabi.

From the beginning of time, there has been a race between the doers of good and the doers of evil. Adam and Iblees, Musa and Fir'own, Muhammad and Abu Jahl. Today that race has not ended. Think: How hard are the doers of evil working and how hard are we?

Umar once said, "I seek Allah's protection from Jalad (the strength and enthusiasm) of the sinner, and the laziness of the God-fearer." Subhaan Allah, it is as if he is contemplating the time that we are now living in.

How can one of us be too lazy to pray 2 raka'at at night, when the people of the Dunya spend the entire night watching movies, some of which they have to read the translation on the bottom of the screen? How can we be too lazy to read for 2 hours, when the people of the Dunya - those who just want more money to continue their sin - spend days upon days of all-nighters studying for their exams? Why do we cringe at paying 6 dollars for an Islamic book, when the people of the Dunya spend hundreds, rather thousands in pursuit of their sin?

What's wrong? What has happened to us?

Listen to those who came before us. Some Fuqahaa' said, "For years I desired to eat Hareesah (a sweet dish) and I wasn't able to because it was only sold during class time."

Imam Su'bah said, "If I ever saw someone running in the streets of the village I would only think one of two things: He was either crazy or a student of Hadeeth!"

And Ibn Al-Jowzee said, "I haven't seen a flaw more sad in the community than those who stop working even though they have the ability to continue."

How do we correct the situation dear brothers and sisters? Let us reflect on the following:

Firstly: We must be sincere in our desire to learn Islam. We are learning this Deen to rid ourselves, firstly, of ignorance and then to help others to rid themselves of ignorance.

Do you know the first Hadeeth in Sahih Bukhari, and in many many other Hadith books? It is not a coincidence that the first Hadeeth is: "Verily Actions are (judged) by their intentions." The scholars are reminding us from the very beginning of our path to learning, from page one, that it must be for the sake of Allah.

Allah ordered us to be sincere to Him in what we do: "And they have been commanded no more than this: to worship Allah, offering Him sincere devotion, being true (in faith)." Al Bayyinah, 5
Rasul Allah said, "Whoever studies that which is meant for the sake of Allah, desiring only a piece of the Dunya, he shall not smell the frangrance of Jannah on the Day of Judgement." - authentic, narrated by Ahmad, and Tirmidhi.

Ibn Abbas said, "Verily a man shall be protected (by Allah) in proportion to his niyyah (intention for doing what it is he is doing)."

And this issue of intention is not an easy matter. Sufyan ath-Thowree said, "I have never nursed something more rebellious than my intentions." - from the book, Al-Ja'mi' li akhlaaq al-Raawee, by Al-Khateeb al-Baghdaadi.

Listen to the advice of Imam Ibn Jamaa'ah if you want to know what it takes to correct your intention, "A proper and sincere intention when studying Islam is to intend to win the pleasure of Allah by what you are doing. You should intend to practice what you learn, to resurrect the Shariah, hoping that this knowledge will shine light on your heart, cleanse your soul, and bring you closer to Allah on the day of Judgement. Your intention for studying Islam should not be to win any worldly commodity, like leadership or fame or riches. It should not be learnt so that you can show off to your colleagues or so that people will revere you and sit you in a chief position in their gatherings, and so on." - from Imam Ibn Jamaa'ah's book, Tadhkirat as-Saami' wal Mutakallim.

Secondly: We should understand that we are in a continuous war with Shaytaan, and he does not want us to succeed in this studying.

Allah ta'aala says, "When thou does read the Qur'an, seek Allah's protection from Satan the Rejected One." An-Nahl, 98

The Shaytaan shall sit in the face of every good thing that you try to do. Rasul Allah told us, "The Shaytaan sits in the path (of every goodness) that the son of Aadam (may try to take). He sat in front of him when he took the path to Islam and told him, 'how could you leave the religion of your fathers and your fore-fathers?' But he disobeyed him and became Muslim. Then Shaytaan sat in front of him in his path to Hijrah and said, 'How could you leave your land and your sky?' But he disobeyed him and migrated (from Makkah). Then he sat in front of him in his path of Jihaad and said, 'Why should you do Jihad? It will only exhaust your wealth and body. You'll be killed, your wife will marry someone else, and your wealth will be divided (to others).' But he disobeyed him and went for Jihad." Rasul Allah then said, "Whoever does this, it is a duty upon Allah that He shall enter him into Jannah!"

How will the Shaytaan sit in your face:

He will tell you to study tomorrow, and when tomorrow comes, study tomorrow. Procrastination is from the Shaytaan!

Shaytaan will tell you that you are busy now and that later in your life you shall take the time out to study Islam. After marriage, after graduation, after you get a job. Life shall pass and the 'after' shall live forever.

Shaytaan will tell you that the situation of the Ummah is lost and that you studying will not help anything, so don't waste your time. Combat this with what you've seen from the Jihad of knowledge and teaching that Rasul Allah and those that came before us did.

Shaytaan will tell you that there are enough scholars, they don't need you. Combat this with the fact that scholars shall die, and if the knowledge is not passed on to the next generation, it shall die in the community. There are 1.4 billion Muslims and the problem that always comes up is that there are not enough teachers and scholars. Everyone is a shepherd and everyone shall be responsible for his or her flock!

Thirdly: We should never forget to pray to Allah to bless us with His Mercy in succeeding in our intentions to learn Islam for His sake.

Allah ta'aala says "When My servants ask thee concerning Me, I am indeed close (to them): I listen to the prayer of every suppliant when he calleth on Me." Surah Al-Baqarah, 186

Let us pray to Allah now to make this effort we are doing to learn His Deen, to learn His Shariah, sincere for His sake. And that He blesses us by His Mercy to succeed in what we intend. Verily, he has the Power to do anything.

Ameen.

7 WAYS TO FIGHT LAZINESS

As-Salamu Alaykum (peace be upon you), THE SEVEN WAYS TO FIGHT  LAZINESS, BOREDOM & WEAKNESS WHEN TRYING TO STUDY By: Sheikh Ahmed Najmi The Questioner says: "I'm weak in my reading the books of benefit and when I begin to read some of the books of `Ilm (knowledge) I feel weakness and boredom; so what is your advice for me, and what is the correct path in reading the books which contain beneficial knowledge; benefit us (those seeking reward)?" Firstly: It is a must for the one who seeks knowledge to purify his intention for Allah the Lord of the worlds, and make his seeking the `Ilm (knowledge) being only for the purpose and goal of obtaining the pleasure of Allah; and in order to know the truth, to act by it, and to know falsehood so as to refrain from it. Secondly: To act by that, which he has learned from knowledge within in himself, and to try and teach what he has learned from knowledge to others. Thirdly: To safeguard what he has learned by memorizing it, and reviewing the `Ilm (knowledge) so it does not escape him. Fourthly: To be steadfast in learning what he does not know, so to add knowledge on top of knowledge. Fifthly: To ask Allah constantly to bestow & grant him with beneficial knowledge and provisions that are vast, and actions that are accepted; and the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) would say if he prayed the Fajr prayer after he would make Taslim (Salam to the right then the left) this Du'a: "O Allah, I ask you for knowledge which is beneficial and sustenance which is good, and deeds which are acceptable." (To be said after making salaam for the Fajr prayer) Sixthly: If he was to feel tired and weak when he is in front of knowledge and ready to study, then he should ask Allah to make for him will power and a desire to gain knowledge and dedicate himself to it. Seventhly: Its obligatory on the student of knowledge to refrain from disobedience, for indeed disobedience kills the heart and weakens the understanding and its narrated about Imam Shafi'i he said: "I complained to my teacher Wa'ki about my weak memory so he directed me to leave of sin and then he said, `know!!!! That knowledge is light; and the light of Allah He does not give it to a disobedient person." And I say the proof for that is found in the Book of Allah when He Glorified be He Says, "O you who believe! If you obey and Fear Allah, He will grant you Furqan a criterion, and will expiate for you your sins, and forgive you, and Allah is the Owner of Great Bounty." [Noble Quran 8:29] "O you who believe Fear Allah, and believe too in His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), he will give you a double portion of His Mercy, and he will give you a light by which you shall walk (straight), and he will forgive you. And Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. So what is important is that the student of knowledge needs consistent striving, striving against himself and against ones passions and lower desires and its greed, and to tire himself out in acquiring knowledge, and to hope that Allah will enable him to achieve that, and the success (Tawfiq) is from Allah." [Noble Quran 57:28]

Tips on How to Treat Our Mothers

As-Salamu Alaykum (peace be upon you), Tips on How to Treat Our Mothers And We have enjoined on man (to be dutiful and good) to his parents. His mother bore him in weakness and hardship upon weakness and hardship, and his weaning is in two years give thanks to Me and to your parents, unto Me is the final destination. [Noble Quran 31:14] They carried us in their wombs for nine months, then endured the pain of labor, and then nurtured us and did everything for us when we were helpless babies and children; they bear the teenage years with patience and advice. We hope this compilation of ways on how to treat our mothers will put a smile on the faces of your mothers, and let them know we have not forgotten what they go through. A smile with a warm embrace. Saying thanks often. An offer to wash up the dishes. A cup of tea without her asking. Recite her favorite Surah, Tidy round after she goes to bed, so that when she wakes up the house is tidy. Buy her little ornaments for round the house so when she sees them she remembers you. Rub her feet (after all, that's where Paradise is). Phone your mum just to tell her you love her. Buy her surprise gifts. Go to her when she calls you. Write a poem for her. If you're on the phone, and your mother is asking something tell the person to wait. Cook for her. Let her teach you to cook even if you know, she will enjoy the fact that you're coming to her to ask. Bring your wife to her to learn how to cook, she will enjoy teaching her your favorite recipes, and both of you praise her cooking. Clean the house without your mum having to ask. Tell her how happy you are that she is a part of your life and your own families. Always take your mothers side in front of your wife and mother over differing opinions; you can appease your wife later on out of sight. Give her money to treat herself. Make breakfast for her. Go to get the shopping for her. If your mother likes to get the shopping, in then be patient with her as she goes up and down the aisles. Do your own washing and ironing. Spread the salaam when you leave and return from the home. Comb her hair. Massage her shoulders. Do well in school Pray all your prayers on time Help with your younger siblings so she can put her feet up. Teach your younger siblings to also help around the house, a mother needs time for her Ibadah too; her Ibadah should not have to fit around housework all the time. Look good and smell nice and be polite so that you're a good example of her upbringing. Don't always have your mum waking you up for prayer; try to wake her up instead. Help her with new technology, this stimulates her brain and keeps her mentally fit. Take an interest in her hobbies. If its sewing making sure she has all the things she needs. Ooo and ahhh, at her creations. Listen to lectures together; watch programs together this is what makes the bond stronger between you. Take the bins out and remember to bring them in, once they are emptied, this chore is something Muslim mums don't like as they have to cover them selves all up to take it out. If affordable, try to buy her the best and freshest food at the supermarket Take her out for drives in the car, especially if you live in the city take her to the countryside, go with the whole family and take a picnic. When you drive make sure you remember that there is a fragile vessel beside you, who would like to see what's out of the window rather than a blur because you're speeding. No white knuckle rides please. Ask your mother about her youth, most mothers love recalling their past Be good to her relatives and her friends Name some of your children after her side of the family, as a lot of the time it's the dad who chooses her children's names. Have a good relationship with your brothers and sisters; there is nothing more worrying to a mother than seeing her children at odds with one another. Never raise your voice or speak in a harsh tone to your mother. Tell her regularly what's going on in your life, don't let her hear your news from others. Seek her opinion in all major decisions, she has been there and done that. Always thank and praise her for the good job she has done over the years. Kiss her when you go and come from the house. Make Du'a for her Always ask her to make Du'a for you and your family, this brings her closer to your family. Ring your mother if you're going to be late getting home. Try not to stay out too late, as she will not sleep till you're safely inside. Be patient when she is not feeling well, bring her all she needs, and go with her to the doctors so she has support. Remind your mother to be a good Muslimah , and tell her heart softening stories and about paradise and hell. Read to her Islamic books What ever you learned in a gathering or class, share it with her. Remind her to read Surah al-Kahf on Fridays Take her to the mosque if she wishes to go. Make sure she has contact with other good sisters who will increase her Iman. Take her to her friends yourself or arrange transport. Invite her to your house at the weekend. Take cooked food to her, to give her a rest. Encourage her to do the Sunnah fasts, and then break fast with each other. Know what makes your mother smile and do it often. Be an active and a productive member of society. Mothers are happy when they see this. Buy your mum flowers, the smell and prettiness of flowers do wonders. Lead your mother and family in the Salah. Get married and choose a spouse who your mother approves of. Choose a wife who is soft hearted and will treat your mother well. Don't put off jobs that need done around the house. Remind her always of the traps of the Shaytan, remind her to do her daily Adkhars. Choose your own friends wisely. Pay for her to do Hajj and Umrah and go with her. Don't remind her of how much you spent on her. Look after her health, reminding her of the benefits of a good diet and some exercise. Always ask your mums advice about your own household, this makes her happy and lets her know you value her opinion. If there is any problem with your wife and mother, then never carry tales saying what the other said as most of that is done in anger. Read Ruqya Ayat over water and give her it to drink. Buy her beauty products, and perfumes. Be there when there is any lifting to be done. Let her listen and correct your mistakes, when you're memorizing Quran. Always intervene in any disputes between your parents calmly. Give her some money from your salary every month, so she can save for something she wants to buy, or to give in charity. Lay your head in each others lap, you might be 12 or 40 but in your mothers eyes you're still her child. Give charity on her behalf regularly. Give charity on behalf of her deceased relatives. Buy her gold, women like it and it's an investment. Listen to her complaints with understanding, and give her solutions that she can imply to make her life better. Walk at her pace with her on the inside protected from the road. If she wants to share what's in her glass with you, drink from the same side she drank from. Just like children who need quality time, give this to your mother also. Serve her first with the food. When you give her a drink, wait till she has finished then take away her glass. Use affectionate terms for her and other motherly terms of affection. When you see her doing something wrong, even in that disobedience treat her gently and with the upmost respect. Always open the door for her. Try to always speak in her mother tongue, and if your not then translate word for word, so she does not feel left out. Remind her of the rights Islam has bestowed on the mother, and tell her good stories of how others treat their mothers. Never cut your mother off when she is speaking, and be patient when she cuts you off. Sit at her feet and listen to what she is saying. Make her a large part of your grandchildren's lives; always bring them over to visit. Teach your own children to respect their grandparents as well. If you are in a class and you are unsure as to why mum is calling then leave the class to answer the call.' When you're angry with each other, don't leave the house, and don't refuse her food, or any attempts your mother makes to make amends, try to be the first one to defuse the situation. Always knock on her bedroom door before entering Don't enter into debates that you know will irritate each other, especially in the morning and at night.

Do Muslims Beat Their Wives?

As-Salamu Alaykum (peace be upon you), "Do Muslims Beat Their Wives?" Answer - "NO" Special Update: Islam Forbids All Oppression Compiled by Yusuf Estes Women Treatment in Islam We receive many questions about the treatment of women in Islam in general and what Muslim men do with their wives in particular. The following should help to shed some light on this most important subject. Question: I have a question about the treatment of the women in Islam. Could you please tell us why the Quran tells men to "Beat them" meaning their wives?" [Noble Quran 4:34] Answer: Let us consider a very basic understanding of the advent of Islam and the reason for it to be revealed in the time and place where it came. Here is a brief, yet clear statement of purpose with the coming of Islam: Treatment in Relationships - in Islam, it is all about treatment; how you treat your Lord; how you treat His messenger; how you treat yourself; how you treat your family; how you treat others; how you treat your enviornment - it is always about treatement. We must keep in mind the condition of the people who were without the guidance of Almighty God and how they had strayed far away from the message that came with Adam, Abraham, Moses and other great prophets, peace be upon them all. The ignorant and selfish mentality the prevailed throughout the Arab lands did not allow women even the most basic of rights and the treatment of women was abhorent. Women were being treated as property, even less than the status of livestock. They were offered in trade or taken in marriage without consent or consideration for their feelings at all. The customs of the people at the time were far away from anything we might imagine today. Statements in the Quran pertaining to the treatment of the women came to improve their condition and to raise their status to a level of balance alongside of men. Islam came to change the hearts of the people and show them the proper way to worship Allah and to interact with each other. Now let us review the proper method of providing answers for Islam in general. First we would say, "Thank you for asking about Islam. It is our committment to try our best to provide answers to questions to the best of our ability. However, sometimes we come across questions for which we do not have answers. In this case we will refer you to others who may be able to provide you with proper answers." Second, we remind ourselves and the one questioning Islam to be aware, we as Muslims, must never lie about anything, especially our religion. Third, we do have the original text of the Quran and the preserved teachings of Muhammad, peace be upon him. This enables us to verify exactly what was said, intended and taught by Muhammad, peace be upon him, as being the religion of Islam. Fourth, I would like to remind myself and all who read this in the future that not all questions are purely questions. Some contain statements and implications, that may or may not be true. Finally, it is important to keep in mind anytime we discover something in the answers to actually be better than what we already have, we should be committed to change our position and accept that which is true over that which is false and take that which is better for that which is inferior. After taking all of the above into consideration, if we find that the answer to this question provides us with a better approach to understanding what Almighty God has provided us with as a way of life on this earth and in the Next Life, we should then make the logical decsion to begin to worship Him on His terms. Having said that, let us now look to the particular verse in question in the original text (Arabic), followed by the phonetic sounds in Latin letters and then finally, followed by a translation of the meaning to the English language by experts in both Arabic and in Quranic meanings. Transliteration Ar-rejalu qawwa muna 'alan-nisa'a bima fadhdhallahu ba'dhahum 'ala bi'dhi wa bima anfaqu min amwalihim. Fas-saliHatu qaintat HafaTHatul-lilghaybi bimaa HafiTHal-lahu, wal-lati takhafuna nushuza hunna fa'iTHuu hunna wa hjuruu hunna fiil-lmadha ji'i wadhribu hunna. Fa'in aTa'nakum flaa tabghuu 'alayhinna sabiilan. Innal-laha kaana 'aliyaan kabiira(n). One Explanation (tafsir) given of this surahc (chapter 4:34) according to some scholars is: "Men are the support of women as God gives some more means than others, and because they spend of their wealth (to provide for them). So women who are virtuous are obedient to God and guard the hidden as God has guarded it. As for women who are averse in behavior, talk to them suasively, leave them alone in bed and tap them (like a doctor would tap a patient - lightly), if they open out to you, do not seek an excuse for blaming them. Surely God is sublime and great." Meaning of the Words For the three words fa'izu, wahjaru, and wadribu in the original, translated here 'talk to them suasively,' 'leave them alone (in bed - fi'l-madage'),' and tap lightly (percuss them), respectively, Fa'izu (to use persuasive speech or admonishment) Fa'izu, implies the first step should be to make clear to them using straight talk, the position they are in and what is required to comply with the teaching of Islam. This approach may be repeated until it is established she has understood and is willing to comply and come back into line with the proper expected of a Muslim woman. Hajara - Wahjaru (do not touch or molest them) Hajara, he says, means to separate body from body, and points out that the expression wahjaru hunna metaphorically means to refrain from touching or molesting them. Zamakhshari is more explicit in his Kshshaf when he says, 'do not get inside their blankets.' Daraba (tap lightly as 'percuss', not to beat) Daraba (lightly tap them (women).' This view is strengthened by the Prophet's authentic hadith found in a number of authorities, including Bukhari and Muslim: "Could any of you beat your wife as he would a slave, and then lie with her in the evening?" There are other traditions in Abu Da'ud, Nasa'i, Ibn Majah, Ahmad bin Hanbal and others, to the effect that he forbade the beating of any woman, saying: "Never beat God's handmaidens." Source: Al-Quran: a contemporary translation by Ahmed Ali, Princeton University Press, 1988; pp78-79 In the past, some translators of this verse have mistakeningly used the word "beat" to represent the word "dhaaraba" in Arabic. This is not the opinion of all scholars and those who are well grounded in both Islam understanding and the English language. Men are the protectors and maintainers of women, because Allah has made one of them to excel the other, and because they spend from their means (to support the women). Therefore the righteous women are devout and guard in the husband's absence what Allah orders them to guard (e.g. their chastity, their husband's property, etc.). As to those women on whose part you see ill-conduct, admonish them (first), (next), refuse to share their beds, go back to them (in intimacy), if they return to obedience and do not seek any means of annoyance against them. Certainly, Allah is Most High, Most Great. [Noble Quran 4:34] Other translators have offered words such as, "tap" and "pat" to represent a physical type of admonisment. While definitely coming closer to what might be acceptable in many circles than such expressions as "hit" or "beat", this still does not properly demonstrate the position and usage of such terms in relation to the first of the verse and the connection to the following passage, wherein the clear instructions deal with the women who do not come into compliance. Therefore, it likely be considered to mean: "tap lightly as a doctor would examine a patient". We understand from this some of the translations are not properly representing the spirit of the meaning. Therefore, they cannot be considered to be the representation of what has been intended by Almighty God. Now we can properly understand that Almighty God has commanded the men to provide for the women and allow them to keep all of their wealth, inheritance and income without demanding anything from them for support and maintenance. Additionally, if she should be guilty of lewd or indecent conduct, the husband is told to first, admonish her and then she should cease this lewdness. However, if she should continue in this indecency, then he should no longer share the bed with her, and this would continue for a period of time. Finally, if she would repent then he would take up sharing the bed with her again. Dr. Jamal Badawi (St. Mary's University, Nova Scotia) is of the opinion these (three stages) are necessary steps prior to divorce. Instead of a man saying, "I divorce you" three times in a row, he should follow this procedure before acting hastily and thereby doing something unwise and displeasing to Allah. The first step would be as mentioned above, to give her a "good talking to" and then if she continued in such unpleasing behavior, to leave the bed (not have intercourse with her) for a period of time and then finally, the last straw would be to "pat" her on the arm (as you would stroke a sheep or animal) to signify to her this is the final straw and then if she still persisted in her bad way, he could divorce her. Regardless of the various positions and opinions, there is no permission established through the teachings of the Quran or the Sunnah (way) of Muhammad, peace be upon him, wherein one person could "beat" another person at their own discretion. Any translations of the Quran indicating women can be beaten or abused by men is totally out of touch with the message of Islam from the rest of the Quran and the teachings of Muhammad, peace be upon him. And Allah is All Knowing of the meanings of His ayahs (verses in Quran)

Free Mixing in Islam

As-Salamu Alaykum (peace be upon you), Free Mixing in Islam What is Considered Free Mixing? Men and women are permitted to be in the same place. (i.e. shops, streets etc) Men and women should avoid situations where they are crowded together or seated together. Repetitive acquaintance should be avoided to prevent familiarity. Business like discussion between man and woman is permissible when necessary. Why is it Like This? Prevention of intimate relationships developing outside of marriage. Prevention of gossip and slander that can destroy relationships and families. Prevention of one party "falling in love" and being hurt. Prevention of children being born outside of marriage. Prevention of families being broken up. The Evidence Allah says: "Nor come nigh to adultery". Allah says: "Say to the believing men that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty: that will make for greater purity for them." and says: "And say to the believing women that they should lower their gaze and guard their modesty." [Noble Quran 24:30-31] Allah says: "And when you ask the ladies for anything, ask them from behind a screen. That makes for greater purity for your hearts and for theirs." [Noble Quran 33:53] The Prophet (Peace and blessings be upon him) forbade men and women from being alone together. He said: "Never is a man alone with a woman except that Satan is the third party with them." The Prophet (Peace and blessings be upon him) also said: "Do not enter into the company of women." A man then asked him: "What about her male in-laws?" The Prophet (Peace and blessings be upon him) replied: "The in-law is the most dangerous" The Prophet (Peace and blessings be upon him) also said: "It is better for one of you to be pierced by a steel pin in his head than to touch the hand of a strange woman." Allah says: "Be not too complaisant of speech, lest one in whose heart is a disease should be moved with desire: but speak with a speech (that is) proper." [Noble Quran 33:32] The Prophet (Peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Any woman who puts on perfume then goes and passes by some men to let them find her scent is a type of adulteress." [Musnad Ahmad, Tirmidhi] Umm Salamah said: "When the Prophet (Peace and blessings be upon him) completed the prayer, the women would get up to leave. He would then wait awhile before standing." Ibn Shahab said: "I believe that he waited for a while to give the women an opportunity to depart before the men." [Sahih al-Bukhari] It was related in al-Bukhari that women at the time of the Prophet (Peace and blessings be upon him) did not circumambulate the Ka'bah along with the men. 'A'ishah used to go around the Ka'bah at a good distance from the men and avoided mixing with them. Once another woman bade to her to go forward with her so they could touch the corner of the Ka'bah. 'A'ishah refused to do so. [Sahih al-Bukhari] One of 'Ayshah's handmaidens came to her and said: "O Mother of believers, I went around the Ka'bah seven times and touched the corner twice or trice". 'Ayshah replied: "May Allah not reward you for pushing your way through men. It would have been sufficient for you to you to say "Allah Akbar" as you passed by". [Musnad al-Shafi'i] Punishment For Zina In This Life Fornication is 100 Lashes "The male and female who commit fornication - flog each of them with one hundred lashes, and let not compassion for the two of them keep you from complying with Allah's religion, if you believe in Allah and the Last Day. And let a group of believers witness their punishment." [Noble Quran 24:2] Adultery is Death The Prophet (Peace and blessings be upon him) said: "It is not permitted to shed the blood of any Muslim .... Except in three cases: a soul for a soul, the married person who commits adultery, and the one who forsakes his religion..." [Bukhari and Muslim] The Prophet (Peace and blessings be upon him) said: "When someone commits Zina or drinks wine, Allah removes his faith from him, just as a person takes his shirt off over his head" In The Hereafter The Prophet (Peace and blessings be upon him) said: "On the Day of Resurrection, Allah will not speak to nor look at nor purify three types of people: an old man who commits Zina, a lying king and a vainglorious poor person...." The Prophet (Peace and blessings be upon him) said: "We went on and arrived near a pit which was like and oven, out of which we could hear cries. We glanced into it and naked men and women, who cried out when the flames reached them from below. I asked: 'Who are these, O Gabriel?' He replied, 'Males and females who have committed fornication.'" [Bukhari] The Prophet (Peace and blessings be upon him) said: "If someone commits Zina with a married women, in the grave there will be a punishment on him and on her equal to half the punishment of this Ummah...."  The Prophet (Peace and blessings be upon him) said: "The man who has laid his hand with lust on a woman who is not permissible to him will come on the Day of Judgment with his hand tied to his neck. If he kissed her, his lips will be cut in the Fire, and if he had sexual intercourse with her, his private parts will speak against him in the Day of Judgment saying: 'I did what was forbidden.' Allah Most High will look at him with anger, and the flesh on his face will sag and he will look haggard and old. He will say: 'What did I do?' His tongue will witness against him saying, 'I said what was forbidden'; his hands will speak and say, 'We reached for what was forbidden'; each of his feet will say. 'I went to a forbidden place.'; and his private parts will say, 'I did it.' An one of the guardian angels will say, 'I heard it.' and the other guardian angel will say, 'I wrote it,' and Allah Most High will say, 'I knew it but I concealed it.' Then He will say 'My angels, take him and give him a taste of My punishment. Great is My anger against the man who had so little shame towards Me!'"

Bid'ah

As-Salamu Alaykum (peace be upon you),

Bid'ah - Innovation in the religion of Islam

What is Bid'ah?

Innovation in Islam is the invention, creation or addition of any religious matter which was not originally found in Islam. It is not innovation in general life....like the invention of cars, planes, electricity etc. For aspects of worship or ritualistic behaviors in Islam there must be something in the Quran or the Hadith to explain and confirm its practice.

Prophet (peace be upon him) said, "...and the best speech is the Speech of Allah, and the best guidance is the guidance of Muhammad (peace be upon him), and the worst of all affairs are the newly invented matters (in the religion)" [Sahih Muslim]


Evidence against Bid'ah

Prophet Mohammad, (peace be upon him) says in this respect: "He who innovates something that is not in agreement with our matter (religion), will have it rejected." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

Allah says in the interpretation of the meaning of the Quran that "This day I have perfected your religion for you, completed my favor upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion" [Noble Quran 5:3]

Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: "...Verily he among you who lives [long] will see great controversy, so you must keep to my Sunnah and to the Sunnah of the rightly-guided Khalifahs - cling to them stubbornly. Beware of newly invented matters, for every invented matter is an innovation and every innovation is a going astray, and every going astray is in Hell-fire." [Abu Dawud and At-Tirmidhi]


How to identify Bid'ah

It is something that specifies doing something in a specific time, place or manner which does not have evidence to support it. For example fasting on the 15th of Sha'ban and the other rituals that go along with it. Where is the evidence?

An example of evidence for other days of fasting ...Messenger of Allah said: "Fasting on the day of 'Arafah is an expiation for two years, the year preceding it and the year following it. Fasting the day of 'Ashura is an expiation for the year preceding it." [Related by "the group," except for al-Bukhari and at-Tirmidhi]

Reasons Bid'ah exists:

1) Ignorance - The Prophet (peace be upon him) said:

"Allah does not erase knowledge (from earth) by erasing knowledge from slaves (hearts). Rather, He erases knowledge through the death of scholars. When He leaves (earth) without scholars, people will take the ignorant as leaders (and scholars). They (the ignorant) will be asked and then give Fatawa without knowledge. Then, they will be lead, and will lead astray." [Ahmad]

2) Following desires - Allah says: "But if they answer you not O Muhammad, then know that they only follow their own lusts. And who is more astray then one who follows his own lust (desires) without the guidance from Allah" [Noble Quran 28:50]

"Have you seen him who takes his own desires as his god, and Allah knowing (him as such) left him astray, sealed his hearing and his heart, and put a cover on his sight. Who then will guide him after Allah." [Noble Quran 45:23]

3) Blind Following - Allah said what translated means:

"Follow what Allah has sent down." They say: "Nay! We shall follow what we found our fathers following. Even though their fathers did not understand anything, nor were they guided." [Noble Quran 2:170]

4) Imitating the disbelievers - Adopting their celebrations and practices. An example in the time of the Prophet (peace be upon him) when the companions asked him to give them an "Anwar Tree" and Prophet (peace be upon him) said:

"Allahu Akbar! It is the Sunan (traditions of the Mushrikun). You said by He Who has my soul in His Hand, what the children of Israel said to Moses: "Make for us gods as they have gods. He said: 'Verily! You are a people who know not." [7:138] and he (peace be upon him) said: You will follow the traditions of those before you (Jews and Christians)" [at-Tirmidhi]


Dangers of Bid'ah:

1) Thinking you are getting closer to Allah - Allah accepts the actions of those who make their intentions for Him alone and according to His ways.
Shaytan loves Bid'ah because people rarely repent from it thinking they are on the right path getting closer to Allah.

2) Dividing the Ummah - Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) said:

"...my Ummah will be fragmented into seventy-three sects. All of them will be in Hell Fire except one sect. They (the Companions) said: Allah's Messenger, which is that? Whereupon he said: It is one to which I and my companions belong." [At- Tirmidhi]

A Muslim of the Sunnah will be forced to stay away from the practice of Bid'ah and will therefore be separated from other Muslims

3) Destruction of the Sunnah - Ibn Abbas said, "When Bid'ah is created then the Sunnah dies and this continues until that Bid'ah is living and the Sunnah is dead."

And also, the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Islam began as something strange, and it shall return as something strange as it began. So give glad tidings to the strangers." It was asked, "Who are the strangers?" He replied, "Those that purify and correct what the people have corrupted of my Sunnah" [at-Tabarani]

This corruption is Bid'ah, where people have changed the religion of Allah until the Sunnah has become corrupted.

4) Committing Shirk - An example from one Muslim country when they lay the foundation of a new house they put up a flag pole and raise a piece of cloth like a scarf or something to protect the house from the evil eye during the time it is being built. Some even place a tire (yes a car tire) on the pole to protect them. They also dip their hand in henna and make a hand print with the henna on the new walls of the house to protect it from the evil eye. This is Shirk!!

5) Damaging the image of Islam - For the Ummah as a whole, Bid'ah hurts the spreading of Islam and Dawah for the sake of Allah. Honour killings (the killing of a daughter for committing fornication) is an example. There is nothing in Islam that allows a family to execute the Islamic Shari'ah their own way. There is a process for dealing with adultery, and for the unmarried person it is in fact 100 lashings, not death. People, ignorant of Islam believe that this is how our religion is and those guilty of this form of Bid'ah, in fact guilty of one of the worst of major sins, taking the life of a Muslim, are harming the way the non Muslims view Islam.

6) Bid'ah is the cause of Fitnah or severe punishment for this Ummah - As Allah says: "For those people who are differing from the commands of Prophet, there will come to them either a Fitnah (test or trial from Allah) or a severe punishment." [Noble Quran 24:63]

And you can look in the Muslim countries where Bid'ah is rampant.

- Celebrating the Prophet's Birthday
- Reading Quran for the dead e.g. Chapter Yasin or celebrate 40 days after a person's died
- Putting head stones or monuments over the grave
- Asking the dead to make Du'a for them or relay the message to Allah

7) Bid'ah is a stepping stone to disbelief - Allah says:

"The way of those on whom Thou hast bestowed Thy Grace, those whose (portion) is not wrath, and who go not astray." [Noble Quran 1:7]

This verse refers to the Christians and the Jews. They introduced new laws into the religion and this took them away from the true message of the Prophets Musa and Issa (peace be upon them). They took to rulings of their priests and rabbis over the words of Allah and his Messengers.

8) Individually, Bid'ah destroys the Hereafter of the person - Narrated Ayshah: Allah's Apostle said, "If somebody innovates something which is not in harmony with the principles of our religion, that thing is rejected."

9) May lead to lying on Allah and His messenger - The Prophet said:

"Whoever knowingly lie upon me, then let him occupy his seat in the Fire (of Hell)". [Bukhari, Muslim & others]

People will twist or fabricate Hadiths or references from the Quran in order to justify their actions. This is known to be one of the things that can take you out of Islam!!


Conclusion

- Allah says in the Quran: "This day I have perfected your religion for you, completed my favor upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion" [Noble Quran 5:4]

- Prophet (peace be upon him) said:

"I have left behind me two things, if you cling to them you will never go astray. They are the Book of Allah and my Sunnah" [al-Hakim]

and

"...so cling to my Sunnah and the Sunnah of the rightly guided caliphs after me, even if it be with your teeth" [Bukhari]