euraktiva: July 2008

Monday, July 21, 2008

How should muslims handle provocations??

Islamic Kurdish nashied by Shwan Fuad Ahmed

VERY BEAUTIFUL

Iraq; More Photos of Abu Ghraib

THE EVIL EMPIRE AT WORK

Sunday, July 20, 2008

Al-Istighfaar (Asking Forgiveness)

Al-Istighfaar (Asking Forgiveness)
ibn Taymiyyah Rahimahullaah
Majmoo al-Fataawaa 10/88-90

The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said:
{{The master of invocations for forgiveness is that the servant says:

O' my 'ilâh You are my Lord, there is no 'ilâh but You. You created me, and I am your bondservant, and I will stick to my covenant and promise [of faith and sincere obedience] to You, as to my ability. I seek refuge in You from the evil of what I have done, I acknowledge, to You, your bounties upon me, and I acknowledge, to You, my sin. Thus forgive me, for none forgives sins except You.

Whoever says this as he enters upon evening, then, dies that night, he would enter Paradise; and if one says this as he enters upon morning, then, dies that day, he would enter Paradise.}} (Al-Bukhari)

The servant is always in the blessings of Allah, which necessitate thankfulness, and in sinfulness, which requires seeking forgiveness. Both of these matters are required and essential for the servant at all times, as the servant does not cease to alternate between Allah's (various) favours and blessings, and does not cease to be in need of repentance and seeking forgiveness.

This is why the Master of the Children of Adam, and the Leader of the Pious, Muhammad, (s.a.w) sought forgiveness in all circumstances. He said in an authentic Hadith reported by al-Bukhari:

{{O people repent to your Lord, for verily I seek forgiveness from Allah and repent to him more than seventy times in a day.}} (Bukhari)

It is reported in Saheeh Muslim that he said: {{I seek forgiveness one hundred times in a day.}} (Muslim)

`Abdullah ibn `Umar said: We counted in a single sitting the Messenger of Allah, (s.a.w), saying one hundred times:

{{My Lord, forgive me and accept my repentance, verily you are Acceptor of Repentance, Oft-Forgiving.}} (Ahmad, Abu Dawood, Ibn Maajah)

This is why seeking forgiveness was legislated at the end of actions. Allah the Exalted said:

{{Those who seek forgiveness before dawn (at late night).}} (Quran, 3:17)

Some of them said: "Give life to your nights by performing Prayer, and when the time of late night comes, concern yourself with seeking forgiveness."

It is related in the Saheeh that the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w), when he finished his Prayer, he would seek forgiveness three times and say:

{{O' my 'ilãh You are 'As-Salãm [One free from flaws], and from You comes Salãm [peace, or safety], blessed are Thee O' haver of glory and kindness.}} (Muslim)

Allah says: {{And seek forgiveness of Allah. Indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.}} (Quran, 73:20)

(Even) After the Prophet conveyed the Message, fought in the path of Allah with true jihad, and performed what Allah ordered more than anyone else, Allah commanded his Prophet (to perform Istighfaar), as He the Exalted said:

{{When the victory of Allah has come and the conquest, and you see the people entering into the religion of Allah in multitudes, then exalt [Him] with praise of your Lord and ask forgiveness of Him. Indeed, He is ever Accepting of repentance.}} (Quran, 110:1-3)

This is why the religion (Deen) is established with Tawheed and Istighfaar, as Allah the Exalted said:

{{Alif Lam Ra. [This is] a Book whose verses are perfected and then presented in detail from [one who is] Wise and Acquainted. [Through a messenger, saying], "Do not worship except Allah. Indeed, I am to you from Him a warner and a bringer of good tidings," and [saying], "Seek forgiveness of your Lord and repent to Him, [and] He will let you enjoy a good provision.}} (Quran, 11:1-3)

And Allah says: {{So take a straight course to Him and seek His forgiveness.}} (Quran, 41:6)

And He says: {{So know [O Muhammad], that there is no deity except Allah and ask forgiveness for your sin and for the believing men and believing women.}} (Quran, 47:19)

This is why it was it came in a narration: {{The Shaytan said: People are destroyed with sins, and they destroy me with 'Laa ilaha ill Allah' and seeking forgiveness.}} (Reported by Ibn Abi Asim and Abu Ya`la, but its chain is a fabrication).

Yonus, (a.s), said: {{There is no deity except You; exalted are You. Indeed, I have been of the wrongdoers.}} (Quran, 21:87)

The Prophet (s.a.w), when he would ride his mount, he would praise Allah, then say Allahu Akbar three times, then say:

{{I testify that there is no 'ilah except You, Glorified are You, I have transgressed upon myself, so forgive me}} (Abu Dawood and at-Tirmidhi, who said it is Hasan Sahih)

Expiation of a gathering with which the gathering is completed is (the supplication):

{{Glorified are You O' my 'ilãh and I am in Your praise, I testify that there is no 'ilah except You, I ask Your forgiveness and repent unto You.}} (Abu Dawood and At-Tirmidhi, who said it is Hasan Sahih)

Care in Building Characteristics of the Believers

Islamweb) By: Shaykh Ahmed Fareed

From the morals and manners of the Salaf (ancestors) was that they would constantly search their souls to breed in them the characteristics of the believers, and to discard the characteristics of the hypocrites.

One is the opposite of the other. A summary of the believers characteristics is mentioned in the Holy Qur'an, "…those who turn (to Allah) in repentance, who worship Him, who praise Him, who fast (or go out in Allah's Cause), who bow down, who prostrate themselves (in prayer), who enjoin good and forbid evil, and who observe the limits set by Allah. And give glad tidings to the believers." [9:112]

"Successful indeed are the believers. Those who humble themselves in their prayers, and those who avoid vain talk, and those who pay the Zakat (alms tax), and those who guard their chastity except from their wives or (the slaves) that their right hands possess - for then, they are free from blame. But whoever seeks beyond that, then those are the transgressors. Those who are faithfully true to their Amanat ( all the duties which Allah has ordained, honesty, moral responsibility and trusts) and to their covenants; and those who (strictly) guard their prayers. These are indeed the inheritors, who shall inherit the Firdaus (Paradise). They shall dwell therein forever." [Holy Qur'an, 23:1-11]

The Prophet (SAWS) said, "None of you truly believes until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself." [Bukhari]

The Prophet (SAWS) also said, "By Allah! He does not believe. By Allah! He does not believe. By Allah! He does not believe." He was asked, "Who, O Messenger of Allah?" He (SAWS) said: "Whoever does not safeguard his neighbour from his harms." [Bukhari & Muslim]

Yahya ibn Muadh gathered the characteristics of the believers in one of his essays as follows, "It is to be full of modesty, and to be harmless too. To be full of goodness and not to be corrupt. For the tongue to be truthful, for the words to be little and to be plentiful in good action. To have little slip-ups and not to be excessive. To be good to one's relatives, building closeness between them. To be dignified and grateful.

To be full of contentment if Allah restricted some provision. To be forbearing and friendly to his brothers. To be compassionate and chaste. Not to curse, swear, insult, backbite, nor to gossip. Not to be hasty, envious, hateful, arrogant nor vain. Not to lean towards worldliness, nor to extend long hopes and wishes. Neither to sleep too much nor to be absent-minded, nor to show-off nor to be hypocritical.

Not to be selfish, but to be soft and cheerful, not servile. Loving for the sake of Allah, being pleased for His sake and being angry only for His sake. His provision is taqwa (reverential fear of Allah). His worries are what will happen to him in the Afterlife. His friends remind him. His beloved is His Protector and Master. His struggle is for the Afterlife."

Fudayl ibn 'Iyad said, "A believer plants a palm tree and fears that thorns will grow. The hypocrites plant thorns expecting ripe dates to grow!"