Islam's Green

Sorry About the Comments!

Sorry about the comments section of my blog not being available on the last few posts, and thanks to those of you who have pointed it out. After much searching and fiddling I have discovered the cause. Type pad up graded their interface and I think some of the option settings changed without my realising it. Comments used to be available automatically, but now I have to select it when I compose the post, or perhaps I always had to select it, but haven't recently because I tend to publish my posts straight from MSWord! Either way problem solved and posts should now be available for comment. Your comments are of course very valuable to me, and an essential part of what makes blogging worth while. Most of the really interesting stuff takes place in these comments. If you wanted to comment on one of those posts please do so.
On a general note in the realm of comments I have decided to moderate them, although I publish most comments unedited and am open for free and frank discussion on any issue. There are however, the occasional stupid insulting comments that no one needs to be exposed to. Sadly, lack of time and apathy have combined to cause me to spend a lot less time on this blog than I should, and comments can in hectic moments in my life, go unanswered for even a week or more. I do get there eventually, alhamdulillah.

The Day my Daughter Died: Iraq, Caliphate, Jihad and Terrorism.

I was her really, the way it happens in dreams sometimes; you jump from body to body. Before I was her I was me and I was trying to get into school, at my age, and my son was there thinking he might get back into education too. If dad can do it so can I, but this was a strange land! They spoke to me in English during the interview, but the signs were in Hindi, or was it Bengali? I wanted to understand what those squiggles meant, and I looked and stared as if looking and staring might make them magically form into something that made sense, like English, but they didn't. I will understand, I thought to myself. And what were those men saying? They were running and talking and I looked and stared. Maybe the rhythm of their run and body language would translate it all for me, but it didn't. It was the beginning of the feeling of loss and confusion. How easy life is when you can understand, how hard when you are in a place where you have to live, by choice or not, where everything is different. How kind a host that provides you with the information you need when you arrive, in a language you can understand.

It was some time after then that I became my daughter. My hair is all a-tatters, my face dirty and my dress torn. My mother had gone to her apartment in town. I was missing her and wanted, needed, to see her., and so I decided I would find her. How simple the minds of little children, how naive, how dangerous for them. So I set off down the street. Not a normal street mind you, although it was once, and not a normal place, although it was once. This was a street of devastation, full of rubble from destroyed and collapsed buildings and wreaked cars. I stopped under a large piece of rubble at a cross roads. It was dark. Dark meant curfew. Curfew meant danger. I knew it. Death came with curfew. I looked back, and the refuge from where I had come was just over the roundabout down the street, but down the street had taken me time of climbing and scrambling and I realised also that I had no idea where my mum's apartment was. I had a bright blue plastic "magic wand" in my hand and looked at the round foam ball at the top and if it might signal me how to get there, but it just looked wet and ripped. I didn't even bring the mobile phone. Then I was scared and worried. I sat on the rubble and looked ahead, and there was a boy with a gun. He must have been twelve or thirteen, twice my age. I froze. Maybe if I didn't move at all he might not notice me, but he was staring right at me. I could see him squint, he was only yards away, maybe it was going to work. Then he pointed his gun right at me and moved towards me. His arm shot forward and stiffened as if he was about to shoot, but then a sort of look of relief came across his face, like "it's only a little girl" and he put down the gun. I mean actually put it down on the rubble next to me. I looked at the gun and he picked it up again, but his arm was hanging down by his side.

"Will you take me home?" I asked

And as he took my hand he was as if he was my brother, and he told me about his father, who had left for Jordon. He left in tears. He could not stay here in Iraq, there was no peace, not even to say his prayers. He could not bear to be away from his prayers, and he needed to be in place where he could go to the mosque and pray. Here you could not even do that. He would be back for them. And as we talked like magic we were soon back at the round about, and I began to feel safe. We stepped out onto the road, and then there was a man beside me in a tattered and dirty white jelabiyya.

It was then they came, a whole convey of them, in a whole collection of cars. Some green jeeps and black and white saloons. It was the police, the government, with the occupiers. We ran the three of us. The man held my hand.

I could see the eyes of police and soldiers. Eyes of evil intent. It was curfew, anyone found out after curfew were like rats, or worse. Death was their fate, or worse. We ran and cars accelerated towards us, tipping as they carved round the roundabout. Men with guns, jumping out of cars before they had even stopped.

Now I became the man in the jelabiyya. I was too slow, too tiered. I was pulling the little girl along. We ran between the cars as men jumped out. I wanted to run faster. We were past them, but only just, and then the firing began. I couldn't hear anything, there was just the fear, the desperation to get away. Then I had the girl in my arms, I had picked her up but she became limp and heavy. Before I had not even felt her weight, but now I knew she was dead. Dead in my arms. My daughter, dead in my arms. I loved her although I never knew her before this instant, but we were family still. Our mother was daily fear and our father nightly curfew. I wanted to put her down and check, see how, where she had been shot, to make sure she was dead, but I knew. It was no use. She was too heavy. I dropped her and was running faster. The soldiers were kneeling down, taking aim. I dived to the ground taking the boy with me. I was in the dirt and dust and we'd be safe here for a moment more.

Now there were others firing at the soldiers, police and Americans. They had forgotten about us now. Their attention was on the attackers. We crawled on our belies towards the shelter of the ruins and rubble. I could see a sniper from the resistance. Normally I would hate them. Not today. His face fixed to the scope. He was aiming for the Americans, for their necks. I knew he would hit his target, and I was glad, glad that the bringers of death and misery to my life would die, yes I was glad.

The phone rang and I wake up to "Sue from the surgery."

I tumble out of bed, reeling from sleep and my mind numb from the dream. I sit on the stairs, my head in my hands. I am still the man in the dusty, dirty torn jelabiya, and as I walk down the stairs, tears begin to well up in my eyes.

Right now my daughter is dead, my daughter is dying, my daughter is about to die.

As I sit taking in the banality of my life compared to suffering of the world, my head reels with self reproach as I think about my dream. I reflect on myself conceit and lack of compassion and empathy as I recall the trauma of not understanding. How easy to say about those who have come here to England for whatever reason, "You must learn English!" I've been a Muslim for twenty years and I still don't understand Arabic properly!

And I think about the suffering, my dead daughter. She is my daughter. We are connected, the people of iman, connected in a way that is beyond even the ties of blood. They claim this is a fantasy, some sort of fake kinship. Say what you like. Prattle away in your ignorance! Those who live it and taste it know the truth of it, and your words make no difference.

Then I remember Allah. He, the Mighty, Forgiving and Wise. I ask Him to help the helpless, to relieve the suffering of the sufferers, and tears flow for my daughter again. "Could you not stop all of this Allah? Is it not easy for you?" But I know that He has a noble purpose, a plan, that the life is a test, and test means nothing without all this, and that "all this" is our doing, our choice, the cruelty of humans upon humans, who have left the perfect guidance of our Creator to follow our whims and fancies.

I think about my daughter, lost in my dream, a dream, but still so real. I remember her innocence, her sweetness, and I can understand! Allah wants her back. Of course He does, why should He not! She is hers, we all belong to Him. And I smile, a smile that spreads through my body.

I look up and see a book on the table. The gold letters twinkling in the morning sunlight, as if they are smiling at me, inviting me: "Come, take my hand!" So I walk over and pick up the Quran. I look at the pages and see in the mass of them a small oval opening, like some eye to a greater truth, so carefully I put the edge of my finger to that eye, and I open.

"Allah has purchased of the believers their persons and their goods; for theirs is the garden of paradise. They fight in His cause and slay and are slain: A promise binding on Him in truth, through the Tawrah and the Gospel and the Quran, and who is more faithful to his promise than Allah? Then rejoice in the bargain which you have made. That is the supreme achievement.

Those that turn in repentance, that worship Him and praise Him and travel in His path, that bow down and prostrate themselves in prayer; that enjoin good and forbid evil; and observe the limits set by Allah. So proclaim the glad tidings to the believers."

At Tawbah 111-112

How can one who sees and feels this suffering be quiet and still? Yet where is the avenue for action? If we have abandoned jihad, if the kings and presidents and armies and nations who are equipped with the material means to fight a legitimate war do not do so, some of those who feel and care and are tormented by this suffering, who live the reality of my dream every day, will use any means, even the illegitimate ones. This is because the nature of the human being cannot tolerate injustice and oppression for long. Often the response to injustice is itself unjust.

The Prophet and his companions suffered oppression, injustice, torture and deprivation in Mecca, and Allah ordered them with patience. They were prohibited from a violent response. Perhaps part of the reason for that is the response in these circumstances cannot by its nature be a measured one. They could have conceivably taken swords, arrows or daggers and randomly started attacking people in the markets or setting themselves alight and running into people's houses, but this never was the way of Islam. Suicide bombing is just that, suicide, and when it is combined with the murder of civilians it is just that, murder. There is simply no precedent and justification for it, but that does not mean that we can or should ever close our eyes to the why. There are reasons why people do such things, and unless we remove the causes we will never cure the disease. One of the differences between the Muslims in Mecca and our situation today is that in Mecca there was no means for a measured, legitimate response. Today there is. The Muslim nations have armies, weapons, and material recourses. We have the means to respond to those occupying Muslim lands, but then they are not really Muslim lands anymore, they are "sovereign nation states". Thus we are divided, and ruled.

The call for the Muslims to be united under one Caliph, and to be governed by the Shariah is not the invention of Islamists. It is and always has been the position of orthodoxy. It is also common sense, and God's guidance is always the sensible way, even if we don't always seem to see it. When we abandon jihad, we are open to destruction, and legitimate, effective jihad, depends on some degree of unity and cohesion in the Muslim nation. Most of us want to live in peace and get on with lives and let others do the same, but the fact is that there are always those who's hatred, greed or perceived need drives them to deprive others of what they have. Every nation has armies, not necessarily out of desire for war, although for some that might well be the case, but rather because the consistent lessons of human history have taught us that even if we do not desire war there are others who do. If you are militarily too weak, you are always open to the potential of attack from those who are stronger. Jihad is thus the strength of the Muslim ummah, when it is abandoned the ummah is open and exposed.

This is exactly what the Prophet stated when he prophesied that: "Soon the nations will gather together to take from you in the same way you invite others to share in a feast."

"Is this because we are few in numbers?"

"No, you will many like the foam on the sea, but you will be like the rubbish that is carried by the flood. And Allah will take the fear of you from the hearts of your enemies and into your hearts he cast wahn."

"What is wahan oh Messenger of Allah?"

"Love of life and fear of death."

The noble religion of Islam has prevented the killing of women, children, the old, and from desecrating the churches and synagogues. In Islam you fight the fighters, soldier against soldier, armies against armies. But what happens when the soldiers do not fight? When they stand by and watch tyranny, or even worse they are themselves the vehicle of it? Then who will fight jihad? If those who can fight legitimately refuse, those who can only fight illegitimately will rise.

Jihad is not terrorism, but terrorism is a result of abandoning jihad.

Palestinain Film Festival

Not that I'll have time to go, but it looks great.

http://www.palestinefilm.org/2008/

Go, encourage others to go, because if Ken is out and Boris in because we didn't bother to vote I'm not sure we'll be having many more of these!

Also check this out and tell me what you think.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PqbQWxHIn4

I found it very emotional. Stragely enough a brother sent it to me as proof of Islamophobia, which we can't deny yet I saw it more as a hope for justice and truth!

Benfits of Muharam and the day of Ashura and warnings against some innovations practiced in it.

I received this email and thought I would post it, may Allah bless the author. Of special benefit to me is a fatwa from Sheikul-Islam ibnul Taymiyya about the Naasibi's who display hatred to Al Husayn and his family by making the day of Ashura like an eid.
Last year I was invited to a certain University during Muharram in order to give a lecture about the Wives of the Prophet, and the purpose was to refute some of the false allegations and wrong ideas the Shia have about Aisha and Ahl Bayt.
Some of the Shia who attended complained to me that on the Day of Ashura the I Soc had been distributing sweets, and this was very offensive to them since it was a day of mourning for them due to the murder of Imam Husayn (raa) on that day. Although I told them that no Muslim could or would celebrate such an event, the sister assured me that in Iraq people did this on purpose just to antagonise the Shia.
When I confronted the I Soc they said that their intention was only to distribute some packets for those where fasting that day! How easy to misunderstand each other and to cause unnecessary offense! May Allah guide us all to path of His good pleasure.

Praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds, and peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, the Seal of the Prophets and Chief of the Messengers, and upon all his family and companions.

 

Allaah’s sacred month of Muharram is a blessed and important month. It is the first month of the Hijri calendar and is one of the four sacred months concerning which Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“Verily, the number of months with Allaah is twelve months (in a year), so it was ordained by Allaah on the Day when He created the heavens and the earth; of them, four are sacred. That is the right religion, so wrong not yourselves therein…” [al-Tawbah 9:36]

Abu Bakrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “The year is twelve months of which four are sacred, the three consecutive months of Dhu’l-Qa’dah, Dhu’l-Hijjah and Muharram, and Rajab Mudar which comes between Jumaada and Sha’baan.” (Reported by al-Bukhaari, 2958).

Muharram is so called because it is a sacred (muharram) month and to confirm its sanctity. Allaah’s words (interpretation of the meaning): “...so wrong not yourselves therein…” mean do not wrong yourselves in these sacred months, because sin in these months is worse than in other months. It was reported that Ibn ‘Abbaas said that this phrase (...so wrong not yourselves therein…) referred to all the months, then these four were singled out and made sacred, so that sin in these months is more serious and good deeds bring a greater reward.

Qutaadah said concerning this phrase (...so wrong not yourselves therein…) that wrongdoing during the sacred months is more serious and more sinful that wrongdoing at any other time. Wrongdoing at any time is a serious matter, but Allaah gives more weight to whichever of His commands He will. Allaah has chosen certain ones of His creation. He has chosen from among the angels Messengers and from among mankind Messengers. He chose from among speech the remembrance of Him (dhikr). He chose from among the earth the mosques, from among the months Ramadaan and the sacred months, from among the days Friday and from among the nights Laylat al-Qadr, so venerate that which Allaah has told us to venerate. People of understanding and wisdom venerate the things that Allaah has told us to venerate. (Summarized from the Tafseer of Ibn Katheer, may Allaah have mercy on him. Tafseer of Surat al-Tawbah, aayah 36).

 

The Virtue of observing more naafil fasts during Muharram

Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: “The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: ‘The best of fasting after Ramadaan is fasting Allaah’s month of Muharram.’ ” (reported by Muslim, 1982).

 

The phrase “Allaah’s month”, connecting the name of the month to the name of Allaah in a genitive grammatical structure, signifies the importance of the month. Al-Qaari said: “The apparent meaning is all of the month of Muharram.” But it was proven that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) never fasted any whole month apart from Ramadan, so this hadeeth is probably meant to encourage increasing one’s fasting during Muharram, without meaning that one should fast for the entire month.

It was reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) used to fast more in Sha’baan. It is likely that the virtue of Muharram was not revealed to him until the end of his life, before he was able to fast during this month. (Sharh al-Nawawi ‘ala Saheeh Muslim).

 

Allaah chooses whatever times and places He wills

Al-‘Izz ibn ‘Abd al-Salaam (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: “Times and places may be given preferred status in two ways, either temporal or religious/spiritual. With regard to the latter, this is because Allaah bestows His generosity on His slaves at those times or in those places, by giving a greater reward for deeds done, such as giving a greater reward for fasting in Ramadaan than for fasting at all other times, and also on the day of ‘Aashooraa’, the virtue of which is due to Allaah’s generosity and kindness towards His slaves on that day…” (Qawaa’id al-Ahkaam, 1/38).

 

‘Aashooraa’ in History

Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: “The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) came to Madeenah and saw the Jews fasting on the day of ‘Aashooraa’. He said, ‘What is this?’ They said, ‘This is a righteous day, it is the day when Allaah saved the Children of Israel from their enemies, so Moosa fasted on this day.’ He said, ‘We have more right to Moosa than you,’ so he fasted on that day and commanded [the Muslims] to fast on that day.” (Reported by al-Bukhaari, 1865). “This is a righteous day” – in a report narrated by Muslim, [the Jews said:] “This is a great day, on which Allaah saved Moosa and his people, and drowned Pharaoh and his people.” “Moosa fasted on this day” – a report narrated by Muslim adds: “… in thanksgiving to Allaah, so we fast on this day.” According to a report narrated by al-Bukhaari: “… so we fast on this day to venerate it.” A version narrated by Imaam Ahmad adds: “This is the day on which the Ark settled on Mount Joodi, so Nooh fasted this day in thanksgiving.” “and commanded [the Muslims] to fast on that day” – according to another report also narrated by al-Bukhaari: “He said to his Companions: ‘You have more right to Moosa than they do, so fast on that day.' ” 

 

The practice of fasting on ‘Aashooraa’ was known even in the days of Jaahiliyyah, before the Prophet’s mission. It was reported that ‘Aa’ishah (may Allaah be pleased with her) said: “The people of Jaahiliyyah used to fast on that day…”

 

Al-Qurtubi said: “Perhaps Quraysh used to fast on that day on the basis of some past law, such as that of Ibraaheem, upon whom be peace.”

It was also reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) used to fast on ‘Aashooraa’ in Makkah, before he migrated to Madeenah. When he migrated to Madeenah, he found the Jews celebrating this day, so he asked them why, and they replied as described in the hadeeth quoted above. He commanded the Muslims to be different from the Jews, who took it as a festival, as was reported in the hadeeth of Abu Moosa (may Allaah be pleased with him), who said: “The Jews used to take the day of ‘Aashooraa’ as a festival [according to a report narrated by Muslim: the day of ‘Aashooraa’ was venerated by the Jews, who took it as a festival. According to another report also narrated by Muslim: the people of Khaybar (the Jews) used to take it as a festival and their women would wear their jewellery and symbols on that day]. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: ‘So you [Muslims] should fast on that day.’ ” (Reported by al-Bukhaari). Apparently the motive for commanding the Muslims to fast on this day was the desire to be different from the Jews, so that the Muslims would fast when the Jews did not, because people do not fast on a day of celebration. (Summarized from the words of al-Haafiz Ibn Hajar – may Allaah have mercy on him – in Fath al-Baari Sharh ‘ala Saheeh al-Bukhaari).

 

Fasting on ‘Aashooraa’ was a gradual step in the process of introducing fasting as a prescribed obligation in Islam. Fasting appeared in three forms. When the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) came to Madeenah, he told the Muslims to fast on three days of every month and on the day of ‘Aashooraa’, then Allaah made fasting obligatory when He said (interpretation of the meaning): “… observing the fasting is prescribed for you…” [al-Baqarah 2:183] (Ahkaam al-Qur’aan by al-Jassas, part 1).

 

The obligation was transferred from the fast of ‘Aashooraa’ to the fast of Ramadaan, and this one of the proofs in the field of Usool al-Fiqh that it is possible to abrogate a lighter duty in favour of a heavier duty.

Before the obligation of fasting ‘Aashooraa’ was abrogated, fasting on this day was obligatory, as can be seen from the clear command to observe this fast. Then it was further confirmed later on, then reaffirmed by making it a general command addressed to everybody, and once again by instructing mothers not to breastfeed their infants during this fast. It was reported from Ibn Mas’ood that when fasting Ramadaan was made obligatory, the obligation to fast ‘Aashooraa’ was lifted, i.e., it was no longer obligatory to fast on this day, but it is still desirable (mustahabb).

 

The virtues of fasting ‘Aashooraa’

Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allaah be pleased with them both) said: “I never saw the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) so keen to fast any day and give it priority over any other than this day, the day of ‘Aashooraa’, and this month, meaning Ramadaan.” (Reported by al-Bukhaari, 1867).

 

The meaning of his being keen was that he intended to fast on that day in the hope of earning the reward for doing so. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “For fasting the day of ‘Aashooraa’, I hope that Allaah will accept it as expiation for the year that went before.” (Reported by Muslim, 1976). This is from the bounty of Allaah towards us: for fasting one day He gives us expiation for the sins of a whole year. And Allaah is the Owner of Great Bounty.

 

Which day is ‘Aashooraa’?

Al-Nawawi (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: “ ‘Aashooraa’ and Taasoo’aa’ are two elongated names [the vowels are elongated] as is stated in books on the Arabic language. Our companions said: ‘Aashooraa’ is the tenth day of Muharram and Taasoo’aa’ is the ninth day. This is our opinion, and that of the majority of scholars. This is the apparent meaning of the ahaadeeth and is what we understand from the general wording. It is also what is usually understood by scholars of the language.” (al-Majmoo’)

‘Aashooraa’ is an Islamic name that was not known at the time of Jaahiliyyah. (Kashshaaf al-Qinaa’, part 2, Sawm Muharram).

Ibn Qudaamah (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: “ ‘Aashooraa’ is the tenth day of Muharram. This is the opinion of Sa’eed ibn al-Musayyib and al-Hasan. It was what was reported by Ibn ‘Abbaas, who said: ‘The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) commanded us to fast ‘Aashooraa’, the tenth day of Muharram.’” (Reported by al-Tirmidhi, who said, a saheeh hasan hadeeth). It was reported that Ibn ‘Abbaas said: ‘The ninth,’ and reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) used to fast the ninth. (Reported by Muslim). ‘Ataa’ reported that he said, ‘Fast the ninth and the tenth, and do not be like the Jews.’ If this is understood, we can say on this basis that it is mustahabb (encouraged) to fast on the ninth and the tenth, for that reason. This is what Ahmad said, and it is the opinion of Ishaaq.”

 

It is mustahabb (encouraged) to fast Taasoo’aa’ with ‘Aashooraa’

‘Abd-Allaah ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allaah be pleased with them both) said: “When the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) fasted on ‘Aashooraa’ and commanded the Muslims to fast as well, they said, ‘O Messenger of Allaah, it is a day that is venerated by the Jews and Christians.’ The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said, ‘If I live to see the next year, in sha Allaah, we will fast on the ninth day too.’ But it so happened that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) passed away before the next year came.” (Reported by Muslim, 1916).

 

Al-Shaafa'i and his companions, Ahmad, Ishaaq and others said: “It is mustahabb to fast on both the ninth and tenth days, because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) fasted on the tenth, and intended to fast on the ninth.”

 

On this basis it may be said that there are varying degrees of fasting ‘Aashooraa’, the least of which is to fast only on the tenth and the best of which is to fast the ninth as well. The more one fasts in Muharram, the better it is.

 

The reason why it is mustahabb to fast on Taasoo’aa’

Al-Nawawi (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: “The scholars – our companions and others – mentioned several reasons why it is mustahabb to fast on Taasoo’aa’:

1. the intention behind it is to be different from the Jews, who only venerate the tenth day. This opinion was reported from Ibn ‘Abbaas… 
2. the intention is to add another day’s fast to ‘Aashooraa’. This is akin to the prohibition on fasting a Friday by itself, as was mentioned by al-Khattaabi and others.
3. To be on the safe side and make sure that one fasts on the tenth, in case there is some error in sighting the crescent moon at the beginning of Muharram and the ninth is in fact the tenth.” 

The strongest of these reasons is being different from the People of the Book. Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: “The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) forbade imitating the People of the Book in many ahaadeeth, for example, his words concerning ‘Aashooraa’: ‘If I live until the next year, I will certainly fast on the ninth day.’” (al-Fataawa al-Kubra, part 6, Sadd al-Dharaa’i’ al-Mufdiyah ila’l-Mahaarim )

 

Ibn Hajar (may Allaah be pleased with him) said in his commentary on the hadeeth “If I live until the next year, I will certainly fast on the ninth day” and “What he meant by fasting on the ninth day was probably not that he would limit himself to that day, but would add it to the tenth, either to be on the safe side or to be different from the Jews and Christians, which is more likely. This is also what we can understand from some of the reports narrated by Muslim.” (Fath, 4/245).

 

Ruling on fasting only on the day of ‘Aashooraa’

Shaykh al-Islam said: “Fasting on the day of ‘Aashoraa’ is an expiation for a year, and it is not makrooh to fast only that day…” (al-Fataawa al-Kubra, part 5). In Tuhfat al-Muhtaaj by Ibn Hajar al-Haytami, it says: “There is nothing wrong with fasting only on ‘Aashooraa’.” (part 3, Baab Sawm al-Tatawwu’).

 

Fasting on ‘Aashooraa’ even if it is a Saturday or a Friday

Al-Tahhaawi (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: “The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) allowed us to fast on ‘Aashooraa’ and urged us to do so. He did not say that if it falls on a Saturday we should not fast. This is evidence that all days of the week are included in this. In our view – and Allaah knows best – it could be the case that even if this is true (that it is not allowed to fast on Saturdays), it is so that we do not venerate this day and refrain from food, drink and intercourse, as the Jews do. As for the one who fasts on a Saturday without intending to venerate it, and does not do so because the Jews regard it as blessed, then this is not makrooh…” (Mushkil al-Aathaar, part 2, Baab Sawm Yawm al-Sabt).

 

The author of al-Minhaaj said: “ ‘It is disliked (makrooh) to fast on a Friday alone…’ But it is no longer makrooh if you add another day to it, as mentioned in the saheeh report to that effect. A person may fast on a Friday if it coincides with his habitual fast, or he is fasting in fulfilment of a vow, or he is making up an obligatory fast that he has missed, as was stated in a saheeh report.”

 

Al-Shaarih said in Tuhfat al-Muhtaaj: “ ‘If it coincides with his habitual fast’ – i.e., such as if he fasts alternate days, and a day that he fasts happens to be a Friday. ‘ if he is fasting in fulfilment of a vow, etc.” – this also applies to fasting on days prescribed in sharee’ah, such as ‘Aashooraa’ or ‘Arafaah. (Tuhfat al-Muhtaaj, part 3, Baab Sawm al-Tatawwu’)

Al-Bahooti (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: “It is makrooh to deliberately single out a Saturday for fasting, because of the hadeeth of ‘Abd-Allaah ibn Bishr, who reported from his sister: ‘Do not fast on Saturdays except in the case of obligatory fasts’ (reported by Ahmad with a jayyid isnaad and by al-Haakim, who said: according to the conditions of al-Bukhaari), and because it is a day that is venerated by the Jews, so singling it out for fasting means being like them… except when a Friday or Saturday coincides with a day when Muslims habitually fast, such as when it coincides with the day of ‘Arafaah or the day of ‘Aashooraa’, and a person has the habit of fasting on these days, in which case it is not makrooh, because a person’s habit carries some weight.” (Kashshaaf al-Qinaa’, part 2, Baab Sawm al-Tatawwu’).

 

What should be done if there is confusion about the beginning of the month?

Ahmad said: “If there is confusion about the beginning of the month, one should fast for three days, to be sure of fasting on the ninth and tenth days.” (al-Mughni by Ibn Qudaamah, part 3 – al-Siyaam – Siyaam ‘Aashooraa’).

 

If a person does not know when Muharram began, and he wants to be sure of fasting on the tenth, he should assume that Dhoo’l-Hijjah was thirty days – as is the usual rule – and should fast on the ninth and tenth. Whoever wants to be sure of fasting the ninth as well should fast the eight, ninth and tenth (then if Dhoo’l-Hijjah was twenty-nine days, he can be sure of having fasted Taasoo’aa’ and ‘Aashooraa’).

But given that fasting on ‘Aashooraa’ is mustahabb rather than waajib, people are not commanded to look for the crescent of the new moon of Muharram as they are to do in the case of Ramadaan and Shawwaal.

 

Fasting ‘Aashooraa’ – for what does it offer expiation?

Imaam al-Nawawi (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: “It expiates for all minor sins, i.e., it brings forgiveness of all sins except major sins.” Then he said (may Allaah have mercy on him): “Fasting the day of ‘Arafaah expiates for two years, and the day of ‘Aashooraa’ expiates for one year. If when a person says ‘Aameen’ it coincides with the ‘Aameen’ of the angels, he will be forgiven all his previous sins… Each one of the things that we have mentioned will bring expiation. If there are minor sins for which expiation is needed, expiation for them will be accepted; if there are no minor sins or major sins, good deeds will be added to his account and he will be raised in status… If he had committed major sins but no minor sins, we hope that his major sins will be reduced.” (al-Majmoo’ Sharh al-Muhadhdhab, part 6, Sawm Yawm ‘Arafaah).

Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: “Tahaarah, salaah, and fasting in Ramadaan, on the day of ‘Arafaah and on ‘Aashooraa’ expiate for minor sins only.” (al-Fataawa al-Kubra, part 5).

 

Not relying too much on the reward for fasting

Some people who are deceived rely too much on things like fasting on ‘Aashooraa’ or the day of ‘Arafaah, to the extent that some of them say, “Fasting on ‘Aashooraa’ will expiate for the sins of the whole year, and fasting on the day of ‘Arafaah will bring extra rewards.” Ibn al-Qayyim said: “This misguided person does not know that fasting in Ramadaan and praying five times a day are much more important than fasting on the day of ‘Arafaah and ‘Aashooraa’, and that they expiate for the sins between one Ramadaan and the next, or between one Friday and the next, so long as one avoids major sins. But they cannot expiate for minor sins unless one also avoids major sins; when the two things are put together, they have the strength to expiate for minor sins. Among those deceived people may be one who thinks that his good deeds are more than his sins, because he does not pay attention to his bad deeds or check on his sins, but if he does a good deed he remembers it and relies on it. This is like the one who seeks Allaah’s forgiveness with his tongue (i.e., by words only), and glorifies Allaah by saying “Subhaan Allaah” one hundred times a day, then he backbites about the Muslims and slanders their honour, and speaks all day long about things that are not pleasing to Allaah. This person is always thinking about the virtues of his tasbeehaat (saying “Subhaan Allaah”) and tahleelaat (saying “Laa ilaaha ill-Allaah”) but he pays no attention to what has been reported concerning those who backbite, tell lies and slander others, or commit other sins of the tongue. They are completely deceived.” (al-Mawsoo’ah al-Fiqhiyyah, part 31, Ghuroor).

 

Fasting ‘Aashooraa’ when one still has days to make up from Ramadaan

The fuqahaa’ differed concerning the ruling on observing voluntary fasts before a person has made up days that he or she did not fast in Ramadaan. The Hanafis said that it is permissible to observe voluntary fasts before making up days from Ramadaan, and it is not makrooh to do so, because the missed days do not have to be made up straight away. The Maalikis and Shaafa’is said that it is permissible but is makrooh, because it means that one is delaying something obligatory. Al-Dusooqi said: “It is makrooh to observe a voluntary fast when one still has to make up an obligatory fast, such as a fast in fulfilment of a vow, or a missed obligatory fast, or a fast done as an act of expiation (kafaarah), whether the voluntary fast which is being given priority over an obligatory fast is something confirmed in sharee’ah or not, such as ‘Aashooraa’ and the ninth of Dhoo’l-Hijjah, according to the most correct opinion.” The Hanbalis said that it is haraam to observe a voluntary fast before making up any fasts missed in Ramadaan, and that a voluntary fast in such cases does not count, even if there is plenty of time to make up the obligatory fast. So a person must give priority to the obligatory fasts until he has made them up.. (al-Mawsoo’ah al-Fiqhiyyah, part 28, Sawm al-tatawwu’).

Muslims must hasten to make up any missed fasts after Ramadaan, so that they will be able to fast ‘Arafaah and ‘Aashooraa’ without any problem. If a person fasts ‘Arafaah and ‘Aashooraa’ with the intention from the night before of making up for a missed fast, this will be good enough to make up what he has missed, for the bounty of Allaah is great.

 

Bid’ahs common on ‘Aashooraa’

Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah (may Allaah have mercy on him) was asked about the things that people do on ‘Aashooraa’, such as wearing kohl, taking a bath (ghusl), wearing henna, shaking hands with one another, cooking grains (huboob), showing happiness and so on. Was any of this reported from the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) in a saheeh hadeeth, or not? If nothing to that effect was reported in a saheeh hadeeth, is doing these things bid’ah, or not? Is there any basis for what the other group do, such as grieving and mourning, going without anything to drink, eulogizing and wailing, reciting in a crazy manner, and rending their garments?

His reply was: ‘Praise be to Allaah, the Lord of the Worlds. Nothing to that effect has been reported in any saheeh hadeeth from the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) or from his Companions. None of the imaams of the Muslims encouraged or recommended such things, neither the four imaams, nor any others. No reliable scholars have narrated anything like this, neither from the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), nor from the Sahaabah, nor from the Taabi’een; neither in any saheeh report or in a da’eef (weak) report; neither in the books of Saheeh, nor in al-Sunan, nor in the Musnads. No hadeeth of this nature was known during the best centuries, but some of the later narrators reported ahaadeeth like the one which says, “Whoever puts kohl in his eyes on the day of ‘Aashooraa’ will not suffer from eye disease in that year, and whoever takes a bath (does ghusl) on the day of ‘Aashooraa’ will not get sick in that year,” and so on. They also reported a fabricated hadeeth that is falsely attributed to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), which says, “Whoever is generous to his family on the day of ‘Aashooraa’, Allaah will be generous to him for the rest of the year.” Reporting all of this from the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) is tantamount to lying.’

 

Then he [Ibn Taymiyah (may Allaah have mercy on him)] discussed in brief the tribulations that had occurred in the early days of this ummah and the killing of al-Husayn (may Allaah be pleased with him), and what the various sects had done because of this. Then he said:

‘An ignorant, wrongful group – who were either heretics and hypocrites, or misguided and misled – made a show of allegiance to him and the members of his household, so they took the day of ‘Aashooraa’ as a day of mourning and wailing, in which they openly displayed the rituals of jaahiliyyah such as slapping their cheeks and rending their garments, grieving in the manner of the jaahiliyyah…

The Shaytaan made this attractive to those who are misled, so they took the day of ‘Aashooraa’ as an occasion of mourning, when they grieve and wail, recite poems of grief and tell stories filled with lies. Whatever truth there may be in these stories serves no purpose other than the renewal of their grief and sectarian feeling, and the stirring up of hatred and hostility among the Muslims, which they do by cursing those who came before them…

The evil and harm that they do to the Muslims cannot be enumerated by any man, no matter how eloquent he is. Some others – either Naasibis who oppose and have enmity towards al-Husayn and his family or ignorant people who try to fight evil with evil, corruption with corruption, lies with lies and bid’ah with bid’ah – opposed them by fabricating reports in favour of making the day of ‘Aashooraa’ a day of celebration, by wearing kohl and henna, spending money on one's children, cooking special dishes and other things that are done on Eids and special occasions. These people took the day of ‘Aashooraa’ as a festival like Eid, whereas the others took it as a day of mourning. Both are wrong, and both go against the Sunnah, even though the other group (those who take it as a day of mourning) are worse in intention and more ignorant and more plainly wrong…

Neither the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) nor his successors (the khulafa’ al-raashidoon) did any of these things on the day of ‘Aashooraa’, they neither made it a day of mourning nor a day of celebration…

As for the other things, such as cooking special dishes with or without grains, or wearing new clothes, or spending money on one’s family, or buying the year’s supplies on that day, or doing special acts of worship such as special prayers or deliberately slaughtering an animal on that day, or saving some of the meat of the sacrifice to cook with grains, or wearing kohl and henna, or taking a bath (ghusl), or shaking hands with one another, or visiting one another, or visiting the mosques and mashhads (shrines) and so on… all of this is reprehensible bid’ah and is wrong. None of it has anything to do with the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) or the way of the Khulafa’ al-Raashidoon. It was not approved of by any of the imaams of the Muslims, not Maalik, not al-Thawri, not al-Layth ibn Sa’d, not Abu Haneefah, not al-Oozaa’i, not al-Shaafa'i, not Ahmad ibn Hanbal, not Ishaaq ibn Raahwayh, not any of the imaams and scholars of the Muslims.’ (al-Fataawa al-Kubra by Ibn Taymiyah)

 

Ibn al-Haaj (may Allaah have mercy on him) mentioned that one of the bid’ahs on ‘Aashooraa’ was deliberately paying zakaat on this day, late or early, or slaughtering a chicken just for this occasion, or – in the case of women – using henna. (al-Madkhal, part 1, Yawm ‘Aashooraa’)

We ask Allaah to make us followers of the Sunnah of His Noble Prophet, to make us live in Islam and die in a state of faith. May He help us to do that which He loves and which pleases Him. We ask Him to help us to remember Him and be thankful to Him, to worship Him properly and to accept our good deeds. May He make us of those who are pious and fear Him. May Allaah bless our Prophet Muhammad and all his family and companions.

TV is NOT the truth!

excuse a few swearwords in this excellent clip:

http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article18318.htm

Television is not the truth. Television's a goddamned amusement park! Television is a circus, a carnival, a traveling troupe of acrobats storytellers, dancers, singers, jugglers, sideshow freaks, lion tamers and football players. We're in the boredom-killing business. So if you want the truth, go to God. Go to your gurus. Go to yourselves! Because that's the only place you're ever gonna find any real truth. But, man, you're never gonna get any truth from us. We'll tell you anything you wanna hear. We lie like hell. We'll tell you that Kojak always gets the killer and that nobody ever gets cancer in Archie Bunker's house. And no matter how much trouble the hero is in, don't worry. Just look at your watch. At the end of the hour he is going to win! We'll tell you any shit you want to hear! We deal in illusions, man. None of it is true! But you people sit there, day after day, night after night. All ages, colors, creeds. We're all you know. You're beginning to believe the illusions we're spinning here. You're beginning to think the tube is reality and your own lives are unreal. You do whatever the tube tells you! You dress like the tube, you eat like the tube, you raise your children like the tube, you even think like the tube. This is mass madness, you maniacs! In God's name, you people are the real thing! We are the illusion!

Out sourcing in India

Following on from the India theme I was sent a link to this excellent article about out sourcing in India. I remember when I first went there some years ago the talk was already about India becoming the next super-power. There are some reasons why I suspect this might not happen. Firstly there is the issue of language. India has so many of them! Each state has its own official language.Then there are social issues and religious ones that serve to keep India divided. The Vedic religion, with its caste system seems just too divisive, and lacks the clear moral authority that is found in monotheistic religions that seems essential for constructing a long lasting civilization. Perhaps, these can be overcome with sheer energy and hard work. Certainly the Romans and Greeks had no such moral force, well until Christianity came and re-energized those failing societies. 

Anyway, these are just random thoughts being throw out whilst on my PC after fajr, with no intent of a coherent argument. Anyway, we're not in the business of fortune telling, alhamdulillah, and certainly every nation has their time decreed. What will come to pass, will come to pass:

"Verily my Lord understands best the mysteries of all that He plans to do, for certainly He is full of knowledge and wisdom!" Surah Yusuf 100

Still, I was very impressed with what India has managed to achieve in such a short time, at least economically. Some of my friends from India seem a bit sceptical themselves, and commented that there is something in the India character that only lets you achieve so much before they feel they have to pull you down. Hasad, I guess. Envy, burns good deeds like fire consumes wood.

What was interesting about the conference, "Peace, the solution for humanity" is that in a way something like this could only have been done in India. Anywhere else the cost would have been prohibitively expensive.

Anyway enjoy the article. It really is funny and informative. I apologize in advance for a few swear words contained in the article if you find it offensive.

http://www.smartmoney.com/esquire/index.cfm?Story=20050909-outsource&hpadref=1

Our pathetic State

There I was following links from blog to blog as I do sometimes, very occasionally, and then I came upon this absolute gem of a poem. Simply excellent!
by Mariam from the blog "The Seventeen"

Cute Hijabs, matching tight pants, perfectly manicured hands drumming restlessly to the beat of the latest Nasheed pop;
Nice rides, sipping café lattes, halaqas embraced in the depths of cozy rooms, speaking of distant dreams and privileged existences.
Do we know the real struggle?
ISNA club, throngs of fans milling air conditioned convention halls, pop star speakers glimmer in the spot light, beckoning distant hearts to spirituality and deeper lives; chastising in that “oh so mesmerizing voice”; as the crowd yells a deep bass “Takbir” followed by shrills of “Allahu Akbar”…
Do we really comprehend the Greatness of our Creator?
Trekking the globe in search of meaning, disenchanted existences within treasure filled homes, dreams of substance blocked by trivial minds; apathy radiates in different colors; squeezing potential out of our beings like deep soaked sponges inflated by muddy waters;
Can meaning seep into a suffocated heart?
Following zigzag paths of nothingness; in search of “Deen” or “the other half of my Deen” whatever comes first. So we step in style, mouthfuls of “Subhana Allah”; gleeful “Mashaallah”; echoing from empty hearts frenzied by empty lives.
Scratching the surface of submission; echoing lines from distant lives; dreams of greatness shelved away; as we pander our “Proud to Be Muslim” shirts; cheap prices for cheaper wares.
Pardon my jaded writing…perhaps I forgot the subtle depths of this struggle; as I begin to still the meaningless symbols clanging in my heart;
Please remind me:
Do rays of the Divine
ever
illuminate
these
darkened
c o r n e r s ?

Filling the Void

Truly in the heart there is a void that can not be removed except with the company of Allah.

And in it there is a sadness that can not be removed except with the happiness of knowing Allah and being true to Him.

And in it there is an emptiness that can not be filled except with love for Him and by turning to Him and always remembering Him.

And if a person were given all of the world and what is in it, it would not fill this emptiness.

 

Ibn Qayyim al Jawziyya.

Justice!

Don't hold you breath for any courts in those Muslim countries to indict anyone for torturing Muslims, let alone hold trails for CIA operatives or for any other Western practitioner of terror!
No, let's watch and see that happen right here in Europe! Italy in fact.
I look with amazement at the picture of imam Abu Omar released from an Egyptian jail where he was tortured on the behest of the CIA, who's chief in Italy has had to flee, his life savings invested in a nice Italian villa, but I'm sure he'll be compensated by his government! Now in general Italians don't have any big time love for Muslims, yet here they are defending this big bearded Imam! Why? This is question. Is it all some vast propaganda exercise/conspiracy, or is it simply the fact that this man was a guest/citizen of their country and they cannot and will not tolerate such things being done by anyone. Even the US.
The UK however is busy passing laws that allows its citizens to extradited to the US without their even being able to see the evidence against them!
The US of Arrogance is of course refusing to co-operate. I don't expect the Italian government will declare a war on US terror and say hand them over of we'll invade, any more than than UK made any such threats while the US was (still is) harboring IRA terrorists!
We Muslims will never rise above these people and attain what they have attained until justice flows in our veins and families, villages, towns and governments. Justice is the life blood of a nation and the essence of civilized society. When it leaves civilized society withers and dies.
As a contrast read about every day life in Bangladesh.
All those involved in our discussion over hijra take note!

".......Dhaka is buzzing with energy and commerce. The clatter and grind of new construction resonates on every corner.

Bribes and bureaucrats

But its organs of state are fundamentally sick, suffering from inefficiency, corruption and politicisation. The tension between the two is becoming unbearable - and causing growing pressure for reform.

Anecdotal evidence of the ill-health is everywhere. I met Rashidul, a driver of one of the hundreds of auto-rickshaws that weave dangerously through Dhaka's traffic.

Every week, he said, he is stopped by the local police. They find a pretext, he said, from the state of his paperwork to the colour of his lunghi (wrap), to ask for a bribe. To get any work done in this country, he told me, you have to pay out at every turn, to the bureaucrats and to the police.

It was a familiar story. In one of Dhaka's slums, Rupnagar, I met a family who live in a corrugated iron and wood semi-permanent shack, built on government land.

They had recently managed to get their gas, water and electricity supply connected, they told me - but only after months of endless waiting in government offices and plenty of smoothing the way with bribes.

Corruption, I was told by everyone I met, is endemic in public life.

I gave a talk for the Imperial College I.Soc a while back about the concept and importance of justice in Islam.

You can find it here.

I beg Allah to make us individuals and a nation that lives by this again.

Box

We live in Boxes!
I wake up in my bed -box
entombed in duvet
In my bedroom -box
And head for kitchen -box
I eat cereal
poured from cereal box
or eggs fried in a pan
taken from an egg box
laid by hen
in pen -box
put in egg box
to lorry -box
to supermarket big box
to trolley box
to car boot box
to fridge box
to fry boil poach scramble
to my stomach box,
which all ends in the end in bog box!
So we're off in the car box
train box
to work box
boxed in by our lifestyle workstyle
boss box
take pills for stress box
and drink coffee to keep us awake
from the coffee jar in mug box box
file our work in file box
in / out box
back on car/train box
to home box
and shattered sit on front of
THE box.