Question:
If a person has with him hardness in his heart, then what are affairs that will soften the heart?
Answer:
There is nothing better or more necessary (for softening the heart) than the Noble Qur’aan. It is what will soften the hearts. Allah -the Exalted and Sublime – said:
‘’Those who believe (in the Oneness of Allah – Islamic Monotheism), and whose hearts find rest in the remembrance of Allah, Verily, in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find rest.’’ [Surah al-Rad Verse 28]
So the Qur’aan is what will soften the hearts, which if Allah were to reveal it on a mountain, you would surely have seen it humbling itself and rending asunder by the fear of Allah;
‘’Had We sent down this Quran on a mountain, you would surely have seen it humbling itself and rending asunder by the fear of Allah.’’ [Suratul Hashr Verse 21]
Likewise sitting with the righteous and listening to The Qur’aan, (listening) to admonitions and reminders–this is what will soften the hearts.
Thaabit Al-Bunaanee (rahimahullaah) used to pray at night and fast during the day. He used to say: ‘’There is nothing I find more pleasing to my heart than Qiyaamul Layl (i.e. Tahajjud)’’ [Sifatus Safwah 3/262]
Maymoon Ibn Mehraan (rahimahullaah) said:
”The nobility of a Muslim is in performing the prayer in the darkness of night and not being desperate for what is in the hands of the people (i.e. their possessions) [Shu’ab Al-Imaan 3/171]
We ask Allaah to grant us the tawfeeq to follow the example of our Salaf. However, if Allaah grants you the Tawfeeq to wake up for the night prayer, do not stand up all night and then oversleep and miss fajr; rather ask Allaah for tawfeeq to wake up in the last third of the night until the beginning of Fajr.
“It is obligatory upon the scholar to speak with (sincere) intention and a good aim. If his speech amazes him, he should keep quiet; and if keeping quiet amazes him, he should speak. He should not slacken in examining his soul, because it loves fame and praise”[Siyar A’laam Nubulaa 4/494]
Imaam Ibnul Qayyim [rahimahullaah] said that Abu Hafs [rahimahullaah] said, ”The best of that which a slave seeks a means of closeness to his Mawlaa [his Protector, Patron, Supporter (i.e. Allaah)] is to be constantly in need of Him in all circumstances, holding onto the Sunnah in all his actions and seeking nourishment [i.e. food] through permissible means.” [Tareequl Hijratayn: page 59]
The ruling on studying in the mosques at the hands of one who took knowledge from the books and cassette tapes.
Question
May Allaah bestow good to you and bless you–The questioner of this question asks and she says: A female Muslim seeks knowledge through translated books and cassette tapes and she has the opportunity to contact the scholars with regards what she finds difficult; is it permissible or possible for her to teach the female Muslims in the Masjid due to the absence of others who can teach the affairs of Manners, Aqeedah and Manhaj?
Answer
What is known is that a person is to take knowledge from the mouth of the scholars and every (type of) knowledge is taken from a person who is well established in that knowledge. So when one wants to acquire the knowledge of the Tafseer of the Qur’aan, he takes it from a person who is well established in this knowledge, and this is how it is with all the other sciences-this is the means.
The second means: Indeed a person reads the books; but he should not read the books and depend on them, except if he is qualified to understand them in a correct manner; because if he has deficiencies in his understanding, then indeed he will understand something in a manner other than what it is. Thereafter, he speaks with what he understands and what he speaks with is a mistake, so people act upon what he explains to them in a wrong manner and he carries their sins.
And with regards to this woman, I advise her that she does not teach based on the fact that she read the books without anyone explaining these books to her. This is the answer to this question. [End]
Bismillahi Wal Hamdullillah Was Salaatu Was Salaamu ‘alaa Rasoolillahi
Ammaa Ba’d:
With this the final day of the blessed month of Ramadhaan, no doubt it grieves us to see it end with such quickness. And it the likes of this rapid movement of time that we witness that brings to mind the like of the statement of the Sahaabi Al Jaleel Abdullah Ibn Mas’ood – Radhiyallahu ‘Anhu who said:
“I have not grieved over anything the way I grieve over a day that the sun sets, my determined period shortens, and I have not increased in my actions“
But keep in mind constantly that the affairs are by ones final actions (as occurs in an authentic hadeeth), so let the end of this month of Ramadhaan be with Istighfaar (seeking forgiveness) from Allah and Taubah (repentance). For certainly Istighfaar is the seal of righteous actions. Allah the most high said to his Messenger – Sallallahu alaihi was Salam at the end of his life:
“When comes the help of Allah and the conquest (of Makkah), And you see that the people enter Allah’s religion in crowds,Then glorify the praise of your lord (declare him free of imperfections) and seek his forgiveness. Verily he is the one who accepts the repentance and forgives.” (Suratun Nasr)
Allah the most high similarly commands the Hujaaj (Pilgrims) when they have finished their rites to make istighfaar “Then depart from the place whence all the people depart and ask Allah for his forgiveness. Truly Allah is Oft Forgiving Most Merciful“ (Suratul Baqarah Vs 199)
And the examples of this are many. Likewise the Salaf of this Ummah would fear their actions being rejected after their performance, as Allah informs us:
“And those who give (in charity) that which they give, with their hearts full of fear (whether their charity has been accepted or not) because they are sure to return to their Lord (for reckoning)” (Suratul Mu’minoon Vs 60)
Where are such feelings within us as this month comes to an end? As Ali – Radhiyallahu anhu mentioned: “Be as ardent upon your actions being accepted as you are upon the performance of the action, have you not heard the statement of Allah: “Indeed Allah accepts only from those who are muttaqoon (God-fearing)”
(Suratul Maa’idah Vs 27)
May Allah accept our Fast, our salaah and our righteous actions and grant us a blessed Eid Inshallah
Wa Sallallahu Alaa Nabiyinaa Muhammad Wa ‘Alaa Aalihi Was Sahbihi Ajma’een
A man teaches the people the sciences of the Islamic legislation and the Aqeedah of the Salaf even though he did not acquire knowledge from the mashaayikh and the scholars; is knowledge taken from him?
Answer
As long as he does not have foundation from the scholars (i.e. did not acquire knowledge from them in person and has no recommendations for that), rather he sought (knowledge) from papers and books, then knowledge is not taken from him because he does not understand the Madhab of the salaf. And it (i.e. Madhab of the Salaf) is not understood except by studying under the scholars. (It) is acquired (from the scholars)–this knowledge is (acquired from the scholars) and not only through reading. It is acquired (through the scholars), but reading is only an aid and not depended on. The likes of this (person) is called a Muta-aalim* and knowledge is not taken from him.
– Shaykh Saleh al-Fawzaan
*Muta-aalim: [i.e. someone who feigns knowledge and understanding but does/did not seek knowledge directly from the people of knowledge.
What affirms the entrance [beginning] and exit [end] of the month of Ramadan? And what is the ruling upon the one who sees the new moon by himself for the beginning or ending of the month?
The entrance [beginning] and exit [end] of the month is confirmed by 2 trustworthy witnesses or more, and the entrance of the month is confirmed by 1 witness alone because it is confirmed from the prophet that he said;
“…and if 2 witnesses testify then fast and break the fast”
and it is established from the prophet that he commanded the people to fast upon the testification of ibn Umar and by the testification of the bedouin, and he did not request another witness.
And the wisdom in that and Allah knows best, is caution in the religion in the entering and exiting of the month as the people of knowledge have stated. And whoever sees the new moon alone [himself] in the entering or exiting of the month but his testification is not acted upon then in that case he is to fast with the people and break his fast with the people and he is not to act upon his own witnessing of the new moon based upon the more correct opinion of the scholars due to the statement of the prophet;
“fasting is the day you all fast, and the opening of the fast is the day you all open it and the day of slaughtering is the day you all slaughter”
Question:
What is the sunnah for a woman praying with her husband? Does she line up next to him or behind him?
Answer:
Its all the same; there is no prohibition if she lines up beside him and there is no prohibition if she lines up behind him.
http://alfawzan.af.org.sa/node/14854
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N.B With regards to the above fatwa then it should be noted some scholars do view the issue to be somewhat open however the overwhelming opinion based upon hadith of Anas* is that the woman stands behind, this is the opinion of many of the scholars past and present that the woman prays behind the man regardless of whether it is her husband or other than him, from these scholars are Shaykhul Islaam ibn Taymiyyah, Shaykh Muqbil bin Haadi al Waadi’ee, Shaykh bin Baz and Shaykh Ubayd Al Jaabi’ree
*Al-Bukhaari (380) and Muslim (658) narrated from Anas ibn Maalik that his grandmother Mulaykah invited the Messenger of Allaah (صلى الله عليه و سلم) to come and eat some food that she had prepared for him. He ate some, then he said: “Get up and I will lead you in prayer.” Anas said: The Messenger of Allaah (صلى الله عليه و سلم) stood up, and the orphan and I stood in a row behind him, and the old woman stood behind us, and the Messenger of Allaah صلى الله عليه و سلم) led us in praying two rak’ahs, then he left.
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Shaykh bin Baz was informed by a man that he used to pray next to his wife in and then being informed that it is impermissible for them to do so, he asked do we have to repeat our prayers?
The shaykh replied there is nothing upon you and do not repeat them, however do not do it again, and the shaykh continued to mention the above narration of Anas -radiallaahu anhu- and finished by saying the woman prays behind the men even if she was praying with her husband.
(Paraphrased)
