Imam Zaid Shakir

Reflections on the farewell address Part one

Sheikh Faisal Abdurrazak

Ramadan

Sheikh HamzaYusuf

Prayer for rain

Ramadan times in UK

After observing sunrise times for years we have come to the following conclusion. The earliest time fajr enters is 1.45 hours before sunrise. (Its clearly visible at 1.30 hours before sunrise.) This is according to the naked eye as for the problem of twilight in the summer months; if you use this rule of counting down 1.45 from sunrise you will arrive to the approx time of ending time of the pre dawn meal. 

So if sunrise is 4.40 am then closing the fast at 2.55. This is the best option. Some masjids are closing their fasting times at 2am or even 1am. This is not correct and you are putting yourself under undue hardship. This is not about being cautious because being cautious does not put one into needless hardship. 

The opening times, sunset times, are all the same give or take a few minutes. Please note their is usually a difference between sunset and Maghrib prayer. There is also a small buffer (about fifteen minutes) in the morning; please bear that in mind.

The reason for the difference are those following observatory times and not following naked eye. The naked eye was how it was traditional used to calculate times. 

Those who are fasting earlier times are making the fast unnecessarily difficult, for them and other people. People generally go for the easy option not the difficult one. Those who are propagating 1am times are causing undue harm to their communities. People will either leave fasting altogether or use times of other groups. 

So well done for those doing this because you are driving more masses to Wahabism. Also following the opinions of those who do not live or understand the local environment is not valid.

I have covered this subject in greater detail here

If you want to see a short text on fasting click here.

Sheikh Saad Al-Attas

Defeating desires part one to six

Sheikh Saad Al-Attas

Abu Bakr Siddiq - His Love for the Prophet ﷺ

Sheikh Saad Al-Attas

One community

Sheikh Saad al-Attas

Milad 2009

Dr Umar Farooq Abdullah

On Ahl Al-Bayt and the Companions

Returning goodness for evil

The most engaging aspect of the character of the Prophet (may Allah bestow peace and blessings upon him) was the way which he did not return evil with evil. This might be obvious to some but when we look deeply at his (may Allah bestow peace and blessings upon him) character we see someone who is complete control of his being. So that he (may Allah bestow peace and blessings upon him) would not allow himself to be like other human beings, who let their emotions rule their actions.

We have so many people who make mistimed statements and over emotional declarations based purely on misinformed fervor. We see so many speakers jump up and down with zealotry that it is very strange for an audience to sit and listen to. We came to listen to words rather than listen to someone scream. Partly because we are so used to people screaming that we cannot imagine someone speaking and addressing the audience in a calm manner!

Whenever we hear people teach we want to feel that the teacher is being nice to his students. We do not want to imagine a teacher being harsh to his students but this does happen. Especially when teachers base their speeches upon zealotry. Even though we cannot see an end to it. We really hope that they will one day change the record but the mouth opens and the same sound comes out.

The Prophet (may Allah bestow peace and blessings upon him) had many enemies who did evil things to him: like slander, backbite, murder his relatives and so forth but that did not make him climb the minbar and swear at them or offend them. Like what speakers do now in a vain attempt to defend him (may Allah bestow peace and blessings upon him) by the worst manners possible! Manners that he (may Allah bestow peace and blessings upon him) never used himself! It can never be justified to swear on the minbar preaching Islam nor use foul language. Such people do not follow the Sunnah in public and will almost certainly not in private! They themselves have forgotten to follow the Sunnah that they preach other people to follow!

Abu l’Qasim Al-Junaid Al-Baghdadi (may Allah show him mercy) said something that resonates this clearly, “The Sufi is like the earth upon which all manner of ugliness is thrown upon it and not but beauty comes from it.” (p.9 Ibn ‘Ajibah Haqaiq Al-Tasawaf)

The earth is an extremely good example because one of the manners of cultivating soil is by using manure. As it contains part of the goodness that is in plants so this is replacing the nutrients in the soil. The Sufi: meaning the one who practices Islamic spirituality and not the person who has a title without any reality. We mean those who striving the following the character of the Prophet (may Allah bestow peace and blessings upon him) to their utmost. They fulfill this characteristic and how few of them they are in this world.

We live with so many things and people who lack the patience to wait a few minutes behind drivers who have stalled without sounding their horns. We live in a time when being virtueless is a virtuous. When vice is very nice and where conformity is confirmed. In the melee of this time of rebellion we need to learn this vital fact about our religion.

(وَلا تَسْتَوِي الْحَسَنَةُ وَلا السَّيِّئَةُ ادْفَعْ بِالَّتِي هِيَ أَحْسَنُ فَإِذَا الَّذِي بَيْنَكَ وَبَيْنَهُ عَدَاوَةٌ كَأَنَّهُ وَلِيٌّ حَمِيمٌ). (فصلت:34).

“Evil and good actions are not the same; repel with that is better and if there was between you and them enmity then he shall be guiding patron.” (Fusalat 41:34)

This is the source for the action of repelling evil with goodness. Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) said about, “repel with that is better,” he said,

، قال ابن عباس: أمر بالصبر عند الغضب، وبالحلم عند الجهل، وبالعفو عند الإساءة.

“(It means) patience when angered, forbearance with ignorance and pardoning in offense.”

If you do something for the sake of Allah, He will change the situation between you and the other party. All that is needed is a little sincere effort and your enemy can become your friend.

When most of us hear news that we assume it to be true and we do not give those who we know the benefit of the doubt. Instead we are ready to stab them in the back with anything we can get our hands on.

The Prophet (may Allah bestow peace and blessings upon him) never did this and he had the best character. Ponder the fact that one of his greatest opponents in Medinah was Abdullah Ibn Salul. He was earmarked for leadership before the Prophet (may Allah bestow peace and blessings upon him). So Abdullah verbally opposed him in almost any situation that presented itself. He became known as the leader of the hypocrites and when he died his own son came to the Prophet (may Allah bestow peace and blessings upon him) and requested that he lead the funeral prayer. The Prophet (may Allah bestow peace and blessings upon him) did not refuse! This is an astonishing fact!

What would you do with someone who spent years undermining your authority? He who severely weakened the Muslim forces at Uhud? Whenever Abdullah saw miracles, he flatly denied them. Yet look how the Prophet (may Allah bestow peace and blessings upon him) did not return evil for evil. Later did the prohibition come for him not to lead the prayer for hypocrites.

The Prophet (may Allah bestow peace and blessings upon him) was a man of the highest moral conduct so a person with such qualities does not do anything lowly.

Also part of the Prophet’s (may Allah bestow peace and blessings upon him) nature was mercy towards everyone.

The Prophet (may Allah bestow peace and blessings upon him) had such an elevated moral conduct that he could not harm anything. Would you pray for someone who undermined you for years? He (may Allah bestow peace and blessings upon him) did and that’s what makes his have the highest moral character of them all.

 وَإِنَّكَ لَعَلَىٰ خُلُقٍ عَظِيمٍ

“You have the greatest character.” 

Al-Qalam 64:4.

This whole piece of work is dedicated to one facet of the greatest character of our beloved Prophet (may Allah bestow peace and blessings upon him). He (may Allah bestow peace and blessings upon him) never returned the evil that was given to him with evil. How many of us fight fire with fire? When this was not the way of the Prophet (may Allah bestow peace and blessings upon him). He (may Allah bestow peace and blessings upon him) put out fires with water not petrol. If you were to delve deeper than you would find more and more aspects of exemplary conduct.

The Messenger of Allah (may Allah bestow peace and blessings upon him) said, 

إنما بعثت لأتمم مكارم الأخلاق
  أحمد

“I was only sent to complete noble characteristics.” (Imam Ahmed). 

It means that honourable character did exist but it was not complete. Like a great story without an end; the Prophet (may Allah bestow peace and blessings be upon him) came and completed the story. Now it is complete we can now truly understand noble character as it is all summed up in him (may Allah bestow peace and blessings upon him).

The greatest example of showing kindness to the undeserving is how Allah (the Exalted) treats us, despite all our sins. Allah blesses us even though we are totally unworthy of a single blessing. We continually fill our records with bad deeds yet Allah shows goodness to us and does us no wrong yet how we wrong ourselves. Ponder the kindness of a blessed Lord who knows all our sins, all our evil actions, those things people know of and those that no one knows, yet he shows us mercy, kindness and so many things we are truly and utterly unworthy of.

Opening of Mecca

This was another, and perhaps the greatest, act of forgiveness performed by historical figure. To forgive an entire city of people who in twenty years showed you and your followers no mercy. They tortured and killed many Muslims including prisoners and especially the weak. This is a prime example of how the Prophet (may Allah bestow peace and blessings upon him) showed mercy instead of enacting retribution. I am not sure that others would be so forgiving.

They had murdered and mutilated members of his own family yet he forgave them. Then they became Muslims and were accepted! So through forgiveness and goodness he showed to them they came into the faith that they had previously rejected. It’s a wonderful event and one needs to pondered over it. So study it and read through this event thoroughly.

Qureysh

Also ponder how Qureysh harmed him and maligned him (may Allah bestow peace and blessings upon him) yet he did not resort to similar tactics. He (may Allah bestow peace and blessings upon him) kept calling them to Islam and did not retaliate when he could have so easily done. 

Look at the event of Ta’if whilst the Prophet (may Allah bestow peace and blessings upon him) lay bleeding, the angels of the mountains came who wanted the instruction to destroy the people he was called to. But the Prophet (may Allah bestow peace and blessings upon him) refused and instead choose mercy instead of returning their evil with evil. Purely because his nature was so good that he (may Allah bestow peace and blessings upon him) had nothing but goodness in him. So his (may Allah bestow peace and blessings upon him) reaction is goodness. 

Then ponder the events of Uhud when the Prophet (may Allah bestow peace and blessings upon him) was hurt and Fatimah (may Allah be pleased with her) was tending to his wounds, she would criticize the pagan Qureysh, "the Prophet (may Allah bestow peace and blessings upon him) would say, “Allah forgive my people for they know not.” (Imam Al-Bayhaqi Dalail Al-Nabuwwah).

Despite their harm and shedding of his (may Allah bestow peace and blessings upon him) blood, he (may Allah bestow peace and blessings upon him) did not return their evil with evil. 

Where do we stand with this?

How many times have we got road rage and not given the driver the benefit of the doubt? Maybe their car is on the way to the garage and needs repair. We love to talk about Sunnah but are we ready to live by it? We love to give great lectures but are we ready to stand by and give to those who harmed us? We do face slander and harm but if we complain all the time, where does that leave us? So how does this benefit us? Or do we merely narrate and not practice? Where does that leave us but astray.

Well look at the narration of the Jewish man who came to the Prophet (may Allah bestow peace and blessings upon him) to inquire about a debt. The Jewish man was rude but the Prophet (may Allah bestow peace and blessings upon him) dealt with him in a gentle manner; Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) was ready to kill him! So the Prophet (may Allah bestow peace and blessings upon him) told Umar to pay back the debt and give him more because Umar scared him. Then the Jewish man became Muslim because he had seen all the characteristics of the Prophet (may Allah bestow peace and blessings upon him) in the Torah except forbearance and he witnessed that now! So ponder the fact had he (may Allah bestow peace and blessings upon him) saw something in the Jew and wanted it to be manifest so took a loan. So what was manifest could come out, his faith. But without his (may Allah bestow peace and blessings upon him) kindness that faith of the Jewish man would never have manifested.

You never know the effect of showing good character will do to a person especially in a time in which traditional values have but disappeared. If someone shows a non Muslim good character then this will change hearts. There are many Non-Muslim with excellent moral conduct and many Muslims who still have a lot to learn. 

It was the adherents to tasawwaf/Islamic spiritually that spread Islam in those early centuries. As the political power was spread within one hundred years from France to China. But the actual population acceptance of Islam took hundreds of years. The catalyst was the hearts that were with Allah (the Exalted). They changed those who they came into contact and spread Islam. So next time you want to vent that self righteous anger, think again the Prophet (may Allah bestow peace and blessings upon him) did not that.

He (may Allah bestow peace and blessings upon him) extinguished evil with goodness. Those who want to practice the Sunnah should start with this; if they are true to their own words. Instead of screaming out of misguided and unwanted fervor that belies the law and the character of who they claim to follow!!!

Sheikh Jihad Brown

Sacred

Sheikh Atabek Shukurov

Fasting times

Sheikh Abdullah ibn Bayyah and Sheikh Hamza Yusuf

Zaytuna Speech 2014

Sheikh Hamza Yusuf

Following a Madhab

Sheikh Yahya Rhodus

Lessons from the lote tree

Sheikh Jamal Uddeen Hysaw

Where is the love?

Sheikh Samir Al-Nass

Implementing Quran

What's in a name? Giving your child a Muslim name?

You called your child what? Are you joking? You know, it never ceases to make me cringe when I hear the names that some parents give their children. I am not joking about this but it is something horrific. If only the child knew the meaning of the name; what would they say? Would they not cringe as I do? Well anyway as ever is granddad is going to give advice. Well that's what someone called it when my mouth opens and words come  out!

Where did you get it from?

Yes, where did you that from? I have never heard of it before and you have picked it out of fresh air and placed it before me! If it was a dagger I would quote Shakespeare! Now due to the Indo Pak slang of Arabic words good names are given a totally different meanings. The famous example is Thamina which in Arabic means priceless. This is what daughters are like to their fathers but when you read that Tha as sa the meaning changes totally. So Thamina becomes Samina which means fat. This name corruption would make those who understand Arabic howl with laughter when they hear it!

Iqra is another common girls name. It's the first word revealed of the Quran but what does it mean? It's a common verb in the imperative form meaning read. It's not a name! Okay? It's not a name! Also giving children names that are not names is not proper at all! Read, come over here!

Lists and personalities

The list of incorrect name is very long and it makes me shudder to even think of them! Names that are titles can be okay, as long as you do not tell people to use the entire title when calling them! Like Zayn Al-Abideen etc. Other names that should not be given like Yasrab/He drinks, dhahan/brain, siham/arrows, Nadeem/regret and the list goes on.

Also avoid name of personalities that have bad names in Islamic history; like Yazid, Hajaj, Pervez, Ummayyah/ the name of the tribe against Ahl Al-Bayt and it also means illiterate etc. And all their ilk should be avoided at all costs. If you  have a name that has a bad connotation then change your name by deed poll for goodness sake!

99 names

Now this is a very contentious issue that many do not understand. The Prophet (may Allah bestow peace and blessings upon him) advised to give names with praise or servitude linked in them. Like his blessed name or a name that means slave of Allah or one of the 99 names.

The only problem is when people use the second part of the word omitting Abd/slave. The common example is Haseeb; his name should be Abdulhasseb but now it's just Haseeb. This is permissible but should be avoided because of potential harm in it. Why? Because Allah has attributes/siffat and creation has characteristics/khuluq. These are two different things, look in the Quran how Allah describes the Prophet (may Allah bestow peace and blessings upon him) as Rauf/compassionate and raheem/merciful. These are not attributes/safat like Allah rather these are characteristics which makes them permissible and different. Because most people misunderstand them, in particular, our petrol fueled friends; they should be avoided. (In terms of usage). So someone can name their child any of the names of the 99 names except Al-Rahman and of course the name Allah. The last two are not to be used under any circumstances. Even though the other terms are permissible it does not mean that they should be used it's better not to. Names in common usage are Majid and Ali etc.

The word Abd Al-Nabi or Ghulam Nabi have much controversy because it's not understood what abd means. Abd has two meanings one is servant and other is slave. (Abdul is not a name it means slave of - that's not a name!) The common misunderstanding of the word Abd is that is means slave and there is no other possible meaning. When Abdulmustafa is used its a servant but not in terms of worship. Servant meaning khadim not anything other. Slavehood is solely for Allah and not for anything or anyone else. So someone can have the name Abdulmustafa meaning the servant of Mustafa. This is not shirk because it means servant not slave. Similar is the name Ghulam Mustafa and so on. Do not forget the name that is not possible to give is Sami ullah which means the hearing of Allah. This is something that's highly disliked or even unlawful. No one can be the hearing of Allah (the Exalted). Do not allow someone to give this name to their children.

The Prophet (may Allah bestow peace and blessings upon him) had servants himself. Zayd ibn Al-Harith (may Allah be pleased with him) was a gift to him by our lady Khadijah (may Allah be pleased with her); for their wedding.

Does Al/the matter and Raab

We look at Surah Yusuf for the best story of a family separated and reunited. That's why it's so important. Yusuf (upon him peace) helps a man with a dream and he says 'mention me to your lord' (verse 42); this is used in term of king and not in terms of lordship of God. Here, the word is not used like Raab Al-'Alameen/Lord of universe or otherwise. Normally Raab is used with another noun and not on its own. But most of all look at the context before becoming the judge, jury and executioner.

Also latter we that the Pharaoh is called Al-'Aziz and this title is given to Yusuf (upon him peace). Had it been shirk/polytheism Yusuf would not have allowed it. Also ال does not make a difference because it just means the.

Picked from the Quran

We all love the Quran but let's detach our emotions from it. Picking a name out of the Quran without understanding and out of context; its irrational and dangerous. Why? Because you do not understand what the name means or what the context is. You pick out a name like Rauwada which sounds good but it means flowing; it's not a child's name! Neither is naming your child after an item like a sword or an arrow. So do not pick a name from the Quran without knowing what it means exactly. Or else you want to call your child a silly name that does not mean what you think it means! Change the name!

Do not forget that the Prophet (may Allah bestow peace and blessings upon him) changed names of companions that had bad meanings. Abu Hurayrah's name before Islam was AbdusShams/Slave of the sun. The Prophet (may Allah bestow peace and blessings upon him) changed it to Abdurrahman/Slave of the All-Merciful.

One of his wives had an incorrect name and he changed it into Zaynab. why is it important to change names? The Arabs have a saying that everyone has a share of their name. So if you call your daughter Samina do not be surprised if she is fat! Or if you call your son saghir/small and his growth is stunted!

Culture and language

This does play a part too because a meaning of one name in Hindi might not mean that same thing in Arabic. So I would recommend looking for the meaning of a name generally in Arabic before considering names. Although  it does not mean you have to name your children with Arabic only names rather the meaning must be good. Naheem means praise of God in the language of Hindi but in Arabic it could mean clearing ones throat or avarice. It could also be a corruption of Naeem.

Also there are lot of badly spelt names, so please spell them correctly.

How should I choose a name?

Simple start by names of any Prophet, their wives or family then companions. Find out the meaning of the names. Check the meaning of the name with a book of Muslim names. Email me if you have to! Then feel free to give it and relax. Please do not let me hear daft names that are not names.

Also please spell them in Arabic not your local tongue! Usman/Osman should be Uthman etc. You have not a clue how tired I am from hearing names that not names! Peace!

Sheikh Jihad Brown

To love a Muslim

Commentary on the Quranic verse, “Remember me; I shall remember you.”

Commentary on the Quranic verse, “Remember me; I shall remember you.”

From Tafsir Al-Khateeb Al-Sharbini also known Al-Siraj Al-Munir fi Al-‘Ianat ‘ala Ma’rifah ba’d Ma’ani kalam Rubbuna Al-Hakim Al-Khabir

By Sheikh Muhammad ibn Ahmed Al-Khateeb Al-Sharbini Al-Misri (977 h) p.119/120.

Commentary on the Quranic verse, “Remember me; I shall remember you.”

Surah Al-Baqarah 2:152.

“Remember me,” by acts of obedience like prayer and magnification, “I shall remember you,” Ibn ‘Abbas said by his support and Sa’id ibn Jubair said by his forgiveness. It was stated, “Remember me in blessing and affluence and I shall remember in difficult and tribulation.” As is stated by the Exalted, “And had he not been one of those who glorifiers; He would have tarried in its belly till the day when they are raised.” (Surah As-Safah 37:143-144.) 

In a divine hadith Allah, the Exalted, states, “Allah (The Exalted) said I am affirm my servants opinion of me; therefore I am with him when he remembers me; if he mentions me to himself; I mention him to myself; if he mentions me to a gathering; I mention him in a better gathering. If he approaches to the extent of a hand span; I approach him to the extent of a cubit; if he approaches me the extent of a cubit; I approach him walking and he comes to me walking, I approaching him rapidly.” (Bukhari 7405 and Muslim 2675) 

In another narration the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bestow peace and blessings upon him) said, “Allah, the Exalted, said, “O son of Adam if you mention me in yourself and I shall mention you to myself. If you mention me in a gathering I mention you in gathering better than it. If you approach me a hand span I approach him a cubit. If you approach me by a cubit then I approach him walking. If he walks to me then I approach him rapidly. If he asks me I give. If he does not ask me then I am angry with him.” (‘Abdurrazak in Al-Musanaf 20575).  

In a narration the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bestow peace and blessings upon him) said, “Allah, Mighty and Majestic, said, “I am with my servant when he mentions me and when he moves his lips.” (Al-Bukhari and Ibn Majah 3792). 

In a narration a bedouin came to the Prophet (may Allah bestow peace and blessings upon him) and asked, ‘O Messenger of Allah which is the most virtuous action?’ He replied, “To leave the world whilst your tongue is moist with the remembrance of Allah.” (At-Tirmidhi 3375 and Ibn Majah 3793).