Skip to main content

Author: Salafi Dawah Manchester

Fiqh of Prayer: Concentrating in the Prayer and Blocking Other Thoughts

Written by Salafi Dawah Manchester on . Posted in Islamic Jurisprudence - 'Fiqh', Salaah - Prayer, Worship - 'Ibaadah'.

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

Q: “How can we obtain concentration, reverence and humility in the prayer, and when reading the Qur’an in the prayer and outside of it?”

A: “Concentration, reverence and humility is the core of the prayer, and the meaning of it [i.e. khushoo’] is to have a heart that is present and concentrating, and that the heart of the one praying does not wander left and right, here and there. If the person feels something is distracting him away from that khushoo’, then let him seek refuge in Allah from the Shaytaan as the prophet صلى الله عليه و سلم ordered.

No doubt the Shaytaan is keen on corrupting all worship and especially the prayer which is the best of worship after the two testimonies of tawheed and faith. So the Shaytaan will come to the one praying and say, “remember such and such, think about such and such”, and so he makes the person digress into such thoughts which there is no benefit to, and in reality they actually disappear from thought as soon as the person finishes the prayer!

So upon the individual is to strive the utmost in submitting to Allah, and if he perceives something overcoming him from these thoughts and whispers then he should seek refuge in Allah whether he is bowing in rukoo’, or sitting in the tashahhud, or otherwise in his prayer.

And from the best of methods that aid a person in khushoo’ in his prayer is that he remembers he is standing in front of his Lord and that he is calling and supplicating to Him the Mighty the Majestic”

[Based on Shaikh ibn ul-Uthaymeen’s response from Fatawa Arkaan ul-Islam p322/323]

The Difference Between Evil Eye and Envy – Shaikh ibn ul-Uthaymeen

Written by Salafi Dawah Manchester on . Posted in Aqeedah (Creed & Belief), Monotheism - Tawheed.

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

A very beneficial advice from Shaikh ibn ul-Uthaymeen for all those afflicted by evil eye or envy of others, and to all those who are afflicted by whispers causing them distress in this regard.

Q: “What is the difference between the evil eye and envy and how do we protect ourselves from them?”

A: “There is no practical difference , but the origin of the evil eye is from envy, that is because the one who causes the evil eye – and we seek refuge in Allah – has in his heart envy for the servants of Allah and he does not love any good for anyone. If therefore he sees something from a person that pleases him and he is envious then this emotion eminates from him and afflicts the individual he envies, and that is why Allah said, “و من شر حاسد إذا حسد – And from the evil of the envier when he envies”.

As for protection from the evil of the envier and the evil eye:

1 – Trust and dependance in Allah, and that a person does not turn to these affairs and give them importance and concern, rather he shuns away from them.

2 – Using the beneficial supplications mentioned in the Qur’an and Sunnah for they are the best of protection for a person, just like what has been authenticated from the prophet صلى الله عليه و سلم regarding Ayat ul-Kursee and that the one who recites it at night then there will not cease to be a protector upon him and shaytaan will not approach him until he awakens in the morning.

Regarding this I say this point – The imaginations and misconceptions [whisperings] have increased in people in recent times, so they consider [if anything occurs] it must be evil eye, magic or jinn, to the extent if some of them catch a cold they will say “it is evil eye, magic or jinn”[!]. Turn and shun away from all this [such thoughts] and instead trust and depend in Allah. Do not entertain such whispers so they may depart from you, for indeed whenever a person allows a thought to enter his mind he becomes preoccupied by it, and if only he were to ignore it so it would depart from him and he would not be afflicted by harm. This is like if a person is afflicted by an injury, if he was to ignore it and preoccupy himself with other affairs he would forget the injury and not be focussed on the pain, however if he focuses on it he feels the pain.”

[Summarized from Shaikh ibn ul-Uthaymeen’s official website via Sahab]

Shaikh al-Fawzan Rejects False Claims against Shaikh Rabee’

Written by Salafi Dawah Manchester on . Posted in Scholars of Islam.

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

The following is a telephone conversation [paraphrased] that occurred with the Shaikh regarding some statements that are attributed to him regarding Shaikh Rabee’;

The Questioner: “May Allah place blessing in you our noble shaikh, we are aware of your blessed advice regarding leaving useless speech, “he said” and and “it was said” and the like, however some of our brothers refuse and continue to busy themselves in this and they transmit that…”

The Shaikh: “Leave them, distance yourself from them”

The Questioner: “May Allah protect you, they transmit  from you that, for example, you say that Shaikh Rabee’ bin Hady is Murji’ee, so we say to them….”

The Shaikh: “Where did they find this speech, where did they find it?!”

The Questioner: “By Allah Shaikh, they put together [superimpose] refutations [like this]”

The Shaikh: “Where did they find it?! Let them bring you documentation of my speech, as for merely narrating and transmitting speech like this, it is lying and not permissible”

May Allah preserve our scholars.

[via Sahab الشيخ صالح الفوزان يثني ع ربيع السنة_new.mp3]

 

Fasting The Day of Ashooraa–Imaam Abdul Azeez Bin Baaz

Written by Salafi Dawah Manchester on . Posted in Da'wah - Calling To Islam, Muharram and Ashoorah.

Question:

What is the ruling on fasting the day of Ashoora? Is it better to fast the day which is before or the day after it or to fast all of them together or fast the day of Ashooraa alone?

 

Answer:

Fasting the day of Ashooraa is a Sunnah due to what has been established in the authentic narrations of the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) in indication to that.  And it (Ashooraa) was a day which the Jews fasted because it was the day in which Allah saved Moosaa (عليه السلام) and his people and destroyed Firawn and his people; so our Prophet Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم) fasted it as (an act of) gratefulness to Allah.  He (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam) authorized fasting (the day of ashooraa) and legislated for us to fast a day before or after it.  To fast the 9th along with the 10th is better, and if the 10th is fasted along with the 11th then that is sufficient to oppose the Jews.  And if you fast both of them (9th & 11th) alongside the 10th then there is no problem in that due to what has been transmitted in some reports, “Fast a day before it and a day after it”.  As for fasting Ashooraa by itself, then it is disliked.  And Allaah (alone) is the Guardian and Owner of all success.

Source: http://www.binbaz.org.sa/mat/617

Translated by Abu Abdir-Razzaaq (Amjad Khan)

A lady missed the fasting of Ashooraa due to her menses–Shaikh Uthaymeen

Written by Salafi Dawah Manchester on . Posted in Family & Women, Fasting, Fatawa-Rulings, Muharram and Ashoorah.

Question:
A lady fasted the 9th of Muharram and began her menses the day of Ashooraa, is it obligatory upon her to make up (the fast of Ashooraa) or is an expiation binding upon her?

Answer:
From that which is well know is that fasting is not obligatory upon the Muslim except the fasting of Ramadhaan, and the fasting of Ramadhaan is one of the five pillars of Islaam, because of the statement of the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم):

Islaam is built upon five: The testimony that none has the right to be worshipped except Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, the establishment of the prayer, the giving of the Zakaat, the fasting of Ramadhaan and Al Hajj to the House of Allah. (Bukhaari)

As for fast of Ashooraa it was obligatory in the first affair (i.e. beginning of Islam), then it was abrogated by the (obligatory) fasting of Ramadhaan and fasting it became voluntary—meaning: fasting Muharram whilst fasting the 10th (Ashooraa) is more emphasized than fasting the remaining days of Muharram.

And based on this we say in answer to the question of this lady:

Indeed she fasted the 9th and her intention was to fast the 10th day, however it became impossible for her because of menses, then indeed it is hoped that the reward for fasting the day of Ashoora will be written for her because she made the intention of fasting it, even if it was prevented.

And when a person intends a righteous action and hastens towards the means of obtaining it, however it became impossible for him, then his reward is written for him due to the statement of [Allaah- The Blessed the Most High]:

{ومن يخرج من بيته مهاجراً إلى الله ورسوله

ثم يدركه الموت فقد وقع أجره على الله}

And whosoever leaves his home as an emigrant unto Allah and His Messenger, and death overtakes him, his reward is then surely incumbent upon Allah. Surah An-Nisaa Verse 100

And this lady upon whom came about that which prevented her from fasting the day of Ashooraa and it was (her) menses, then it is not legislated for her to make up the day of Ashooraa because the fasting of Ashooraa is a Sunnah and restricted to its day.

Therefore, if a preventative legislated (Islamic ruling) occurred, there is no making up for it because it is a Sunnah and it’s time has elapsed.

Source: http://www.ibnothaimeen.com/all/noor/article_2180.shtml)

Translated by: Abu-Abdir-Razzaaq (Amjad Khan)

A Reminder to Husbands and Wives–Every human heart desires this…….

Written by Salafi Dawah Manchester on . Posted in Da'wah - Calling To Islam, Family & Women, Morals and Manners - 'Akhlaaq'.

Allaah (The Most High) said:

وَمِنْ آيَاتِهِ أَنْ خَلَقَ لَكُم مِّنْ أَنفُسِكُمْ أَزْوَاجًا لِّتَسْكُنُوا إِلَيْهَا وَجَعَلَ بَيْنَكُم مَّوَدَّةً وَرَحْمَةً ۚ إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَآيَاتٍ لِّقَوْمٍ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ

”And among His Signs is this, that He created for you wives from among yourselves, that you may find repose in them, and He has put between you affection and mercy. Verily, in that are indeed signs for a people who reflect.” [Soorah Ar-Rum: Ayah: 21]

 

Imaam as-Saa’di (rahimahullaah):

”In most cases you will not find love in anyone similar to the love and mercy between a husband and wife.”

[Source: Tayseer Al-Kareem Ar-Rahmaan]