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Taqwaa and Tawheed

Narrated Anas Bin Maalik (radiyallaahu-anhu) that the Messenger of Allaah (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam) stated about this ayah: [هُوَ أَهْلُ التَّقْوَىٰ وَأَهْلُ الْمَغْفِرَةِ – He (Allah) is the One, deserving that mankind should be afraid of, and He is the One Who forgives (sins) (74:56)] that Allaah (The Mighty and Majestic) said: ‘’I am worthy of being feared, so whoever fears me and does not associate another Ilaah (i.e. god or anything taken as an object of worship) with Me (in worship), then I am worthy of forgiving him.’’ [Reported by Imaam Tirmidhee; Number: 3328 and declared Hasan Li-Ghayrihee by Imaam Albaani in ‘Dhilaal Al-Jannah Fee Takhreej As-Sunnah (969)]

Sins are one of the causes of splitting between Muslims, so let us take heed!

Anas Bin Maalik (radiyallaahu-anhu) said that the Messenger (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam) said: ‘’There are not two people who love each other for the sake of Allaah, and then they split from each other, except that it is due to a sin of one of them.’’

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[Reported by Imaam al-Bukhaari (rahimahullaah) in Al-Adabul Mufrad (401) and authenticated by Imaam Albaani (rahimahullaah) in As-Saheehah (637))

Summarized Explanation of the words of the Talbiyyah’ by Shaikh Rabee bin Haadi (may Allaah preserve him)

In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy

[لبيك اللهم لبيك – Here I am O Allaah, here I am!]

(The) meaning of it (i.e. the above statement) is that indeed you have made a (profound) covenant with Allah to establish obedience to Him (Glorified be He, The Most high), fulfil His commandments and stay away from His prohibitions. This is the meaning of [لبيك -I am here]- obedience to You after obedience, answering to you after answering, in other words I am always answering to You (Allaah) and always fulfilling obedience (to Allah). This is the meaning of [لبيك اللهم لبيك -I am here O Allah, I am here!]

[لبيك لا شريك لك لبيك -I am here, You have no partner, I am here!]:

(A proclamation of) Allaah’s oneness, that You (Allaah) have no partner in worship. You (Allaah) have no partner in your kingdom ship. You (Allaah) have no partner in Your Lordship. You neither have a partner in divinity nor in Your Names and Attributes. We declare Allah [The Blessed and Most High] free from all similitudes and partners in worship and other than it, and (we declare Him free from all similitudes and partners in His) Attributes.

[إن الحمد و النعمة لك -Verily all praises and blessings are Yours!]

All praises belong to You-you have no partner in (this).- you have no partner in providing and bestowing (blessings) to Your Creation (i.e. Mankind, Jinn etc).  You are the only one worthy of all praise in an absolute sense because you are the one Who bestows bounties and the one Who blesses the slaves (i.e. the creation). You created them so that they may worship You and You created this universe to help them fulfil this worship.

اللَّهُ الَّذِي خَلَقَ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضَ وَأَنزَلَ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ مَاءً فَأَخْرَجَ بِهِ مِنَ الثَّمَرَاتِ رِزْقًا لَّكُمْ ۖ وَسَخَّرَ لَكُمُ الْفُلْكَ لِتَجْرِيَ فِي الْبَحْرِ بِأَمْرِهِ ۖ وَسَخَّرَ لَكُمُ الْأَنْهَارَ

وَسَخَّرَ لَكُمُ الشَّمْسَ وَالْقَمَرَ دَائِبَيْنِ ۖ وَسَخَّرَ لَكُمُ اللَّيْلَ وَالنَّهَارَ

Allah is He Who has created the heavens and the earth and sends down water (rain) from the sky, and thereby brought forth fruits as provision for you; and He has made the ships to be of service to you, that they may sail through the sea by His command; and He has made rivers (also) to be of service to you. And He has made the sun and the moon, both constantly pursuing their courses, to be of service to you; and He has made the night and the day to be of service to you. And He gave you of all that you asked for, and if you try to count the blessings of Allah, never will you be able to count them. Verily, man is indeed an extreme wrongdoer, ungrateful. [Surah Ibrahim Ayaat: 32-33)

These are Allaah’s blessings (bestowed) upon His slaves, which He enumerates to His slaves, for He made the heavens and the earth to be of service to them. He subjected the sun and the moon, both constantly pursuing their courses. Pay attention to the sun and the moon- how night and day constantly alternate by Allaah’s (absolute) control. Had Allaah not subjugated them, the people would have been destroyed. They would not have been able to live on the surface of the earth. This (i.e. subjugation of the sun and the moon) are among Allaah’s Greatest blessings, which He (Glorified and Exalted be He) bestowed upon His slaves.

Hence, blessings (come) from Allah alone (Glorified and Exalted be He) and He alone is worthy of praise (Glorified and Exalted be He). All praise belongs to Him (as He said): [الحمد لله رب العالمين- All praise belongs to Allah the Lord of the universe” (Fatiha Ayah 2)]

All praises are for Him (Glorified be He, The Most High). The one who does not praise Allah and thank the people will not thank Allah (The Mighty and Majestic). The people are thanked for all good (they do), but praise belongs absolutely to Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He)- blessings comes from Him entirely and He is worthy of all praise in all affairs (big and small), Glorified be He, The Most High.

[لا شريك لك إن الحمد و النعمة لك و الملك – Verily all praise and blessings are Yours, and all sovereignty]

Sovereignty belongs to Him (Glorified be He, The Most High)- The Owner of the heavens and the earth. All the creation are His slaves- the Angels, the Prophets, the Messengers, the pious and the Kings are His slaves and their forelocks are Bi Yadihee (in His hand). He gives life to whom he wills and gives death to whom He wills. He honours whom He wills and humiliates whom He wills. He acts in His kingdom ship with His (absolute and perfect) Greatness, Loftiness, Overwhelming Subjugation of all things and His Exalted and All-Mighty Irresistible Power, glorified be He, The Most High. All the creation are subjugated (to Him) and all things glorify Him with praise, glorified be He, The Most High. From this, we understand the Greatness of Allah (Glorified be He, The Most High) and His Magnificence. We sanctify Him, praise Him, worship Him and thank Him (Glorified be He, The Most High).

This is how it is obligated on the believer to fill his (or her) heart with the love of Allaah and His Greatness- thanking Allaah; paying gratitude to Allaah; testifying to the truthfulness of Allaah’s Akhbaar (i.e. everything He has told us); testifying to the truthfulness of His (revealed) books; belief in what Allah has obligated on us to believe; obey Allaah and fulfil His commandments. All this results from exalting Allaah, proclaiming Allaah’s Greatness and thanking Him (Glorified be He, The Most High) due to the blessings He has provided and bestowed upon us.

This is how it is obligated on a believer to fill his heart with Allaah’s symbols (i.e. the acts of worship Allaah has ordained)- proclaiming Allaah’s Greatness, Exalting Him, Exalting His commandments (i.e. by fulfilling them), Exalting His Prohibitions (i.e. by keeping away from them), loving Him, relying upon Him and depending on Him in every situation. A human being cannot survive at any moment without Allaah’s Mercy (Glorified be He, The Most High). Allaah (Glorified be He, The Most High) protects him (or her), otherwise he (or her) will not be able to accomplish anything, and due to this we say: [إياك نعبد و إياك نستعين- You (Alone) we worship, and You (Alone) we ask for help (for each and everything)]. We are neither able to fulfil acts of worship nor any work in this worldly life, except by way of Allaah’s (Glorified be He, The Most High) Aid.

This is the meaning of the Talbiyah or some of its meaning, which a Muslim must call to attention when he (or she) utters it. That is because many people utter this statement (i.e. the Talbiyah) without understanding its meaning, nor adhering to what it necessitates. So understand the meaning of these symbols of Tawheed which are repeated (i.e. by way of speech) by many (people). Adhere to its meanings and act upon what they necessitate. May Allaah bless you. [Source: http://www.sahab.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=105178 slightly paraphrased and abridged]

Shared by our brother Risaalaat (may Allaah preserve him) @Masjid al-Furqan Stoke-On-Trent

A Warning from Allaah (The Most High) to the Hujjaaj (Pilgrims)

Allaah (The Most High) said:

الْحَجُّ أَشْهُرٌ مَّعْلُومَاتٌ ۚ فَمَن فَرَضَ فِيهِنَّ الْحَجَّ فَلَا رَفَثَ وَلَا فُسُوقَ وَلَا جِدَالَ فِي الْحَجِّ ۗ وَمَا تَفْعَلُوا مِنْ خَيْرٍ يَعْلَمْهُ اللَّهُ ۗ وَتَزَوَّدُوا فَإِنَّ خَيْرَ الزَّادِ التَّقْوَىٰ ۚ وَاتَّقُونِ يَا أُولِي الْأَلْبَابِ

The Hajj (pilgrimage) is (in) the well-known (lunar year) months (i.e. the 10th month, the 11th month and the first ten days of the 12th month of the Islamic calendar, i.e. two months and ten days). So whosoever intends to perform Hajj therein by assuming Ihram), then he should not have sexual relations (with his wife), nor commit sin, nor dispute unjustly during the Hajj. And whatever good you do, (be sure) Allah knows it. And take a provision (with you) for the journey, but the best provision is At-Taqwa (piety, righteousness, etc.). So fear Me, O men of understanding! [2:197]

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Abu Mu’aawiyah (Abdullah al-Gambi)

[1] Negligence towards Performance of the Congregational Prayer (in the Masjid) – by Imaam Abdul Azeez Bin Baaz

In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy

Imaam Abdul Azeez Bin Baaz (rahimahullaah) said:

It has reached me that many people have indeed become negligent towards performance of the Salaah in congregation (in the Masjid), and they utilise the ease facilitated by some of the Scholars in this regard.  Therefore it is obligatory upon me to clarify the greatness of this affair and its dangerous (consequences). There is no doubt that this (negligence) is a great evil and grave danger, therefore it is obligatory upon the people of knowledge to draw attention to this (affair) and warn (the people) because it is a manifest evil and it is not permissible to keep quiet about it.

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[Source: Al-Muntaaz Min Rasaa’il imaam Ibn Baaz. page: 497]

What is Sakeenah (tranquillity) and how does it descend upon the believers?

Question:

The questioner asks: What is Sakeenah (tranquillity) and how does it descend upon the believers?

Answer:

Sakeenah (tranquillity) is the calmness, relaxation and happiness a person feels inside his heart, and from the means of (experiencing) this Sakeenah and happiness in the heart is when one is constant in the remembrance of Allaah.  Allaah (Glorified be He and free is He from all imperfections) said:

الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَتَطْمَئِنُّ قُلُوبُهُم بِذِكْرِ اللَّهِ ۗ أَلَا بِذِكْرِ اللَّهِ تَطْمَئِنُّ الْقُلُوبُ

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. [13:28]

Ibnul Jawzi (rahimahullaah) said that two statements have been mentioned regarding the word Dhikr; one of them is that Dhikr means the Qur’aan and the second statement is that it means the remembrance of Allaah in general.

And with regards to the meaning of Tu’maneenah (repose or rest) there are two statements: The first one is that it is love of Allah and being completely at ease in His presence. The second meaning is that it is complete submission to Him without harbouring any doubts as opposed to those whose hearts are filled with disgust when Allaah is mentioned.

In summary: Constant remembrance of Allaah (through recitation of) the Qur’aan; remembering Him by uttering Subhaanallaah, Alhamdulil laah, Allaahu Akbar and thanking Him, sending the salaah and salaam upon His Prophet [Muhammad (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam)], constantly repenting to Allaah and seeking His Forgiveness- all these deeds bring about Sakeenah (tranquility) in the heart of the believer. And Allaah knows best.

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[Source: Fadaa’il Al A’maal’ pages 11-12’ by Shaikh Muhammad Bin Abdillaah As-Subayyil (rahimahullaah). Abridged and slightly paraphrased]

[3] Using the office phone and taking a rest at work without permission

Question:

What is the ruling with regards to taking out time at work whether that is little or a lot, and also the ruling with regards to using the work telephone (for personal use)?

Answer:
You are entrusted with the work you do and Allaah (Glorified Be He and free is He from all imperfections) stated:

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَا تَخُونُوا اللَّهَ وَالرَّسُولَ وَتَخُونُوا أَمَانَاتِكُمْ وَأَنتُمْ تَعْلَمُونَ

O you who believe! Betray not Allah and His Messenger, nor betray knowingly your Amanat (things entrusted to you, and all the duties which Allah has ordained for you). [8:27]

It is betrayal to take from that which you are entrusted (without permission), even if your boss excuses you. That is because maybe he is not the one in charge of this (i.e. he is not the one with the authority to excuse you). But if he is the one in charge and gives you permission (to take time out), there is no harm in taking it.

As for the work telephone or other things, it is better to refrain from using them out fear of falling into some unlawful. However, if (using the office phone for personal use) is something known amongst everyone in the office (i.e. known to both employer and employees) and no one says anything about it (i.e. objects), there is no harm using it InshaaAllaah.

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 [Source: Fadaa’il al Amaal’ pages 7-8, by Shaikh Muhammad Bin Abdullaah As-Subayyil (rahimahullaah)]

[2] Working with a person whose wealth is Haraam and eating his food: Is this permissible?

Question:

What is the ruling on the following: Working with a person whose provision is Haraam and eating his food during occasions?

Answer:

If it is ascertained that all his wealth is haraam, it is not permissible to eat (his food). But if some haraam enters his wealth and there is also some halaal in it, there is no harm eating (his food) because you do not know whether the food is from the halaal or haraam aspect of his wealth. The basis of this affair is that it is allowed to eat InshaaAllaah because the Prophet (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam) ate from the food of the Yahood.

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[Source: Fadaa’il al Amaal’ page: 7; by Shaikh Muhammad Bin Abdillaah As-Subayyil (rahimahullaah)]