Halaqah: Sorat al-Kafirun #109

Salam!

Bismillah

Sorat al-Kafirun


word by word translation: http://corpus.quran.com/wordbyword.jsp?chapter=109&verse=1

English Interpretation of the Meaning:
1. Say, "Oh Disbelievers!
2. I do not worship what you worship.
3. Nor are you worshipers of whom I worship.
4. Nor will I be a worshiper of what you worshiped.
5. Nor will you be worshipers of whom I worship.
6. To you be your religion and to me my religion."

Notes from the Tafsir:
It was reported that the Messenger of Allah (salAllahu 3alaihi wa sallam) was seen praying this surah and surat al-ikhlas during:

• the two rakah of tawaf
• the two rakah of sunnah before fajr
• the two rakah after isha

The Makkans during this time tried to make a deal with the Prophet Muhammad (salAllahu 3alaihi wa sallam). They said they will worship Allah for a year, if he would worship their idols for a year. This surah was revealed in response.

Verses 2-5~ A complete disavowal of the religion of the pagans in makkah. 

Verse 6~ like the meaning of verse 10:41 (And if they belie you, say: 'For me are my deeds and for you are your deeds! You are innocent of what I do, and I am innocent of what you do!")

Ramadhan Objectives 2010

Salam!

Bismillah

This is my list of objectives for my second Ramadhan inshaAllah! I am planning to post later which du'a, surah, and sunnah I am working on at the time.

Let me know what you think and your goals as well :-D

1. Pray all 5 prayers promptly with sunnah: Alahmdulillah I am close to this as I have been working year round on it. I need to start adding the Dhuhr sunnah.

2. Eat sahoor every morning: This means waking up! I'm trying to find foods I can pre-assemble and freeze, then cook quickly.

3. Pray tarawih each night, at the masjid if possible: This means carefully arranging school and work schedules.

4. Memorize 2 new surahs: My plan is to memorize in English and Arabic two of the relatively shorter surahs. That gives me 4 weeks total if I switch surah or language each week.

5. Memorize 2 new hadith: Same as surah plan.

6. Finish Qur'an in English each week (4 times total): Alhamdulillah I read English quickly, so I want to take advantage of that. I may not be able to read Arabic that quickly, but I want to make sure I am reading something with understanding.

7. Read at least 2 pages of Qur'an بالعربية each day: Reading in Arabic can become physically tiring for me, so I am setting my goal relatively small, but hoping to read much more than this inshaAllah!

8. Avoid TV, movies, gossip, idle talk: This means keeping in mind the spirit of Ramadhan at all times. Ramadhan is not for socializing, watching nifty new tv series or catching the Barca game.

9. Post something useful/religious to the blog each day: This will encourage me to learn more and also to share it with you all inshaAllah :-D

10. Incorporate a new sunnah each week (4 new sunan total): I feel like I am not very knowledgeable about a lot of sunnahs that would be very beneficial for me.

11. Keep a daily checklist and journal of spiritual progress: This inshaAllah will help keep me motivated. It will be sort of a mash between checklist and heart wheel journal with a lot of contemplation on the state of my iman. InshaAllah I will give you guys a better idea of what this will look like later.

12. Work on making the intention before taking action: This is something I lack right now. I try to do the right thing always, but rarely take the time to form an actual intention in my heart and mind if that makes sense. I feel like I am missing on the blessing because I do not make the intention. For example when I get dressed and throw on my abaya and scarf. I do it because it is right to dress this way and it is automatic now, but I don't usually remember to make the intention to use this as an opportunity for worship through obeying Allah subhana wa ta'ala.

13. Help provide food for sahoor/iftar for someone/group once per week: We have iftar each day at the masjid and I am planning to try to take sahoor frequently with some of my friends inshaAllah.

14. Memorize one du'a per week (4 total): I want to be more knowledgeable about the du'a from Qur'an and Sunnah especially.

Las Tapadas Limenas

Salam!

Bismillah

I saw an article about tapadas limenas and I was so excited! Tapadas Limenas (there should be a tilde over the n but I don't know how to do that on my keyboard) literally translates to "Covered Women from Lima." Lima is in Peru :-)

Photo Credit

Look, one eye! They follow the sunnah!

So these ladies in Peru covered everything but one eye using a shawl. Why did they do this? For freedom and protection :-D

From the article:

http://www.dailystar.com.lb/article.asp?edition_id=10&categ_id=2&article_id=117479#axzz0vZsmfpuZ

The attire [of clothing] “was clearly intended to serve as a cover, to protect women’s virtue and ward off temptation,” explained Alicia del Aguila, a sociologist who has studied and written about the subject.

Over time, the bourgeoisie and the middle class appropriated the saya and the manto, which became a way for women to hide from unwanted male attention, cover their faces and also conceal their social rank and skin color.

The modest clothes provided “more freedom to those who wore them than ordinary women,” argued del Aguila.

Such an approach is a far cry from the controversy stirred by the veil throughout Europe, where it is seen as a sign of the perceived Muslim oppression of women.

The lower house of Parliament in France, where rundown city suburbs are home to Europe’s biggest Muslim minority, has voted overwhelming to ban full Islamic veils in public spaces, and similar laws are pending in Belgium, Spain and some Italian municipalities.

But in Lima, the tapada loosened the stranglehold on women, giving women a level of greater freedom while protecting their honor.

...

There is no place on Earth were women have more freedom than in Lima,” Franco-Peruvian socialist and feminist Flora Tristan said in 1837 as she enthused about the women who, while covered, were free to stroll in the streets, at amphitheaters and even in Congress.

Salat Al-Hajjah

Salam!

Bismillah

I found this on sunnipath and thought it would be nice to share :-)

In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful, and all blessings and peace upon our master Muhammad, his Folk, Companions and those who follow their noble way,

Abullah ibn Abi Awfa (Allah be pleased with him) relates that the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “Whoever has a need with Allah, or with any human being, then let them perform ritual ablutions well and then pray two rakats. After that, let them praise Allah and send blessings on the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace). After this, let them say,

لا إِلَهَ إِلا اللَّهُ الْحَلِيمُ الْكَرِيمُ
سُبْحَانَ اللَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَرْشِ الْعَظِيمِ

الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِين
أَسْأَلُكَ مُوجِبَاتِ رَحْمَتِكَ وَعَزَائِمَ مَغْفِرَتِكَ وَالْغَنِيمَةَ مِنْ كُلِّ بِرٍّ وَالسَّلامَةَ مِنْ كُلّإِثْمٍ
لا تَدَعْ لِي ذَنْبًا إِلا غَفَرْتَهُ وَلا هَمًّا إِلا فَرَّجْتَهُ وَلا حَاجَةً هِيَ لَكَ رِضًا إِلا قَضَيْتَهَا يَا أَرْحَمَ الرَّاحِمِينَ

There there no god but Allah the Clement and Wise.
There is no god but Allah the High and Mighty.
Glory be to Allah, Lord of the Tremendous Throne.
All praise is to Allah, Lord of the worlds.
I ask you (O Allah) everything that leads to your mercy, and your tremendous forgiveness, enrichment in all good, and freedom from all sin.
Do not leave a sin of mine (O Allah), except that you forgive it, nor any concern except that you create for it an opening, nor any need in which there is your good pleasure except that you fulfill it, O Most Merciful!”

[Related by Tirmidhi and Ibn Maja. The hadith has some weakness, but it is slight: such hadiths are acted upon for virtuous deeds (fada’il al-a`mal) by general agreement of Sunni scholarship]

The prayer of need is very simple: It is essentially to raise one's need to Allah Most High, by performing ritual ablution (wudu), praying 2 rakats (or four), and then making whole-hearted dua to Allah. If one uses the abovementioned Prophetic supplication, or other similar supplications transmitted from the Beloved Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace), it is best. [Ibrahim al-Halabi, Sharh Munyat al-Musalli; al-Fatawa al-Hindiyya; Ibn Abidin, Radd al-Muhtar]

The inward manners of supplication is exhibiting our neediness and absolute slavehood to Allah, consigning one's matters to Allah, and knowing that the only one who gives or benefits is Allah Most High. With this, one should be certain that Allah Most High answers our duas, but in the way He knows is best for us.

When circumstances do not permit us to pray 2 rakats, one should still turn to Allah in supplication, raising one’s needs to Him, for He answers our supplications and loves being asked.

And Allah alone gives success.

Wassalam,

Faraz Rabbani

http://qa.sunnipath.com/issue_view.asp?id=1117

Ya Allah

"Oh my Lord! Forgive my sins and my ignorance and my exceeding the limits (boundaries of righteousness) in all my deeds and what you know better than I. O Allah! Forgive my mistakes, those done intentionally or out of my ignorance or (without) or with seriousness, and I confess that all such mistakes are done by me. Oh Allah! Forgive my sins of the past and of the future which I did openly or secretly. You are the One who makes the things go before, and You are the One who delays them, and You are the Omnipotent." (Bukhari, vol. , pp. 271, #407)

Repentance

السلام عليكم

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

Today I found some verses and ahadith about *repentance*

InshaAllah they are a helpful reminder!!

Names of Allah:
الرحيم: Ar-Raheem, the Merciful
الغفار: Al-Ghaffaar, the Forgiver
الغفور: Al-Ghaffoor, the All Forgiving
العفو: Al-Afuww, the Pardoner

From the Qur'an:
7:153 (Asad) But as for those who do bad deeds and afterwards repent and [truly] believe-verily, after such repentance [120] thy Sustainer is indeed much forgiving, a dispenser of grace!

9:112 (Asad) [It is a triumph of] those who turn [unto God] in repentance [whenever they have sinned], and who worship and praise [Him], and go on and on [seeking His goodly acceptance], and bow down [before Him] and prostrate themselves in adoration, and enjoin the doing of what is right and forbid the doing of what is wrong, and keep to the bounds set by God. And give thou [O Prophet] the glad tiding [of God's promise] to all believers.

11:3 (Asad) Ask your Sustainer to forgive you your sins, and then turn towards Him in repentance - [whereupon] He will grant you a goodly enjoyment of life [in this world] until a term set [by Him is fulfilled]; and [in the life to come] He will bestow upon everyone possessed of merit [a full reward for] his merit. But if you turn away, then, verily, I dread for you the suffering [which is bound to befall you] on that awesome Day

11:52 (Asad) "Hence, O my people, ask your Sustainer to forgive you your sins, and then turn towards Him in repentance-[whereupon] He will shower upon you heavenly blessings abundant, [76] and will add strength to your strength: only do not turn away [from me] as people lost in sin!"

From the Ahadith:
Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 7, Book 70, Number 577:

Narrated Abu Huraira:
I heard Allah's Apostle saying, "The good deeds of any person will not make him enter Paradise." (i.e., None can enter Paradise through his good deeds.) They (the Prophet's companions) said, 'Not even you, O Allah's Apostle?' He said, "Not even myself, unless Allah bestows His favor and mercy on me." So be moderate in your religious deeds and do the deeds that are within your ability: and none of you should wish for death, for if he is a good doer, he may increase his good deeds, and if he is an evil doer, he may repent to Allah."

Sahih Al-Bukhari, Volume 8, Book 75, Number 321:

Narrated Anas bin Malik:
Allah's Apostle said, "Allah is more pleased with the repentance of His slave than anyone of you is pleased with finding his camel which he had lost in the desert. "

"O our Sustainer!
We have sinned against ourselves -
and unless Thou grant us forgiveness and bestow Thy mercy upon us,
we shall most certainly be lost!" [Qur'an 7:23]

Patience

السلام عليكم

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

This time I will give some words on *Patience*

I'm not sure if I ever told you all this, but my mom use to tell me "NeverEver, don't ask for Patience from God because he will just give you opportunities to practice!" She was being sarcastic of course, because we should definitely ask Allah for patience.

Patience is a virtue, and it is one that we have to STRIVE for. It is hard to be patient. It is a skill to be patient. Patience is something we learn and practice every day and if we accomplish patience, it is a beautiful gift from Allah.

O YOU who have attained to faith! Seek aid in steadfast patience and prayer: for, behold, God is with those who are patient in adversity.- [Qur'an 2:153]

O you who have attained to faith! Be patient in adversity, and vie in patience with one another, and be ever ready [to do what is right], and remain conscious of God, so that you might attain to a happy state!- [Qur'an 3:200]

... And be patient in adversity: for, verily, God is with those who are patient in adversity- [Qur'an 8:46]

And be patient in adversity: for, verily,. God does not fail to requite the doers of good!- [Quran 11:115]

Nay, seek (Allah’s) help with patient perseverance and prayer: It is indeed hard, except to those who bring a lowly spirit, Who bear in mind the certainty that they are to meet their Lord, and that they are to return to Him.- [Quran 2:45-46]

Sahih Bukhari: Volume 2, Book 24, Number 548:

Narrated Abu Said Al-Khudri:

Some Ansari persons asked for (something) from Allah's Apostle (p.b.u.h) and he gave them. They again asked him for (something) and he again gave them. And then they asked him and he gave them again till all that was with him finished. And then he said "If I had anything. I would not keep it away from you. (Remember) Whoever abstains from asking others, Allah will make him contented, and whoever tries to make himself self-sufficient, Allah will make him self-sufficient. And whoever remains patient, Allah will make him patient. Nobody can be given a blessing better and greater than patience."

Sahih Bukhari: Volume 2, Book 23, Number 389:

Narrated Anas:

The Prophet said, "The real patience is at the first stroke of a calamity."

Du'a: Our Lord! Pour out on us patience and constancy
and make us die as those who have
surrendered themselves unto You.- [Qur'an 7:123]

Sometimes Life is Hard

السلام عليكم

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

Sometimes things get hard. Like life things. And when they DO, this is what I like to remind myself.

Narrated By Abu Said Al-Khudri and Abu Huraira: The Prophet, salAllahu aleyhi wa salam, said, “No fatigue, nor disease, nor sorrow, nor sadness, nor hurt, nor distress befalls a Muslim, even if it were the prick he receives from a thorn, but that Allah expiates some of his sins for that.” (Sahih Bukhari Vol. 7, Book 70, #545)

Narrated By Abu Huraira: Allah’s Apostle, salAllahu aleyhi wa salam, said, “If Allah wants to do good to somebody, He afflicts him with trials.” (Sahih Bukhari Vol. 7, Book 70, #548)

Every soul shall have a taste of death: and We test you by evil and by good by way of trial. To Us must ye return. [Quran 21:35]

Do men think that they will be left alone on saying, “We believe”, and that they will not be tested? – [Quran 29:2]

On no soul doth Allah Place a burden greater than it can bear – [Quran 2:286]

For truly, with hardship comes ease; truly, with hardship comes ease. [Qur`an, 94:5-6]

InshaAllah I will try more of these *words by topic* things and see how you like them.

Sometimes it is nice to be reminded :-)

Ashura

Salam!

Bismillah

I received an e-mail about practices of Ashura and I decided to look up some information about it to come to my own conclusion.
For Ashura inshaAllah I will fast either the 9th and 10th or the 10th and 11th, but I will not be mourning for anyone. My reasoning can be found below. Also, inshaAllah I will post the e-mail as well.

love you girls!

FASTING FOR ASHURA

Sahih Muslim Book 006, Number 2524:

Ibn Abbas was asked about observing of fast on the day of Ashura, whereupon he said: I do not know Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) singling out any day's fast and considering it more excellent than another, except this day (the day of Ashura) and this month, meaning the month of Ramadan.

Sahih Muslim Book 006, Number 2520:

Ibn'Abbas (Allah be pleased with both of them) reported that the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) arrived in Medina and found the Jews observing fast on the day of 'Ashura. The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said to them: What is the (significance) of this day that you observe fast on it? They said: It is the day of great (significance) when Allah delivered Moses and his people, and drowned the Pharaoh and his people, and Moses observed fast out of gratitude and we also observe it. Upon this the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said: We have more right, and we have a closer connection with Moses than you have; so Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) observed fast (on the day of 'Ashura), and gave orders that it should be observed.

Sahih Al-Bukhari Volume 4, Book 52, Number 93:

Narrated Abu Said:

I heard the Prophet saying, "Indeed, anyone who fasts for one day for Allah's Pleasure, Allah will keep his face away from the (Hell) fire for (a distance covered by a journey of) seventy years."

MOURNING FOR ASHURA

003:169 Do not think that those who are killed in the cause of GOD are dead; they are alive at their Lord, enjoying His provisions.
003:170 They are rejoicing in GOD's grace, and they have good news for their comrades who did not die with them, that they have nothing to fear, nor will they grieve.

Why should I grieve for someone who is rejoicing at being given provision by Allah subhana wa ta'ala?

Sahih Al-Bukhari Volume 4, Book 52, Number 72:

Narrated Anas bin Malik:

The Prophet said, "Nobody who enters Paradise likes to go back to the world even if he got everything on the earth, except a Mujahid who wishes to return to the world so that he may be martyred ten times because of the dignity he receives (from Allah)."

Narrated Al-Mughira bin Shu'ba: Our Prophet told us about the message of our Lord that "Whoever amongst us is killed will go to Paradise." Umar asked the Prophet, "Is it not true that our men who are killed will go to Paradise and their's (i.e. those of the Pagan's) will go to the (Hell) fire?" The Prophet said, "Yes."

Volume 2, Book 23, Number 382:

Narrated 'Abdullah:

the Prophet said, "He who slaps his cheeks, tears his clothes and follows the ways and Traditions of the Days of Ignorance is not one of us."

Volume 2, Book 23, Number 391:

Narrated 'Abdullah bin 'Umar :

Sad bin 'Ubada became sick and the Prophet along with 'Abdur Rahman bin 'Auf, Sad bin Abi Waqqas and 'Abdullah bin Masud visited him to enquire about his health. When he came to him, he found him surrounded by his household and he asked, "Has he died?" They said, "No, O Allah's Apostle." The Prophet wept and when the people saw the weeping of Allah's Apostle (p.b.u.h) they all wept. He said, "Will you listen? Allah does not punish for shedding tears, nor for the grief of the heart but he punishes or bestows His Mercy because of this." He pointed to his tongue and added, "The deceased is punished for the wailing of his relatives over him." 'Umar used to beat with a stick and throw stones and put dust over the faces (of those who used to wail over the dead).

Volume 2, Book 23, Number 392:

Narrated Aisha:

When the news of the martyrdom of Zaid bin Haritha, Ja'far and 'Abdullah bin Rawaha came, the Prophet sat down looking sad, and I was looking through the chink of the door. A man came and said, "O Allah's Apostle! The women of Ja'far," and then he mentioned their crying . The Prophet (p.b.u.h) ordered h im to stop them from crying. The man went and came back and said, "I tried to stop them but they disobeyed." The Prophet (p.b.u.h) ordered him for the second time to forbid them. He went again and came back and said, "They did not listen to me, (or "us": the sub-narrator Muhammad bin Haushab is in doubt as to which is right). " ('Aisha added: The Prophet said, "Put dust in their mouths." I said (to that man), "May Allah stick your nose in the dust (i.e. humiliate you)." By Allah, you could not (stop the women from crying) to fulfill the order, besides you did not relieve Allah's Apostle from fatigue."

WORSHIPING AT GRAVES
Volume 2, Book 23, Number 425:

Narrated 'Aisha:

When the Prophet became ill, some of his wives talked about a church which they had seen in Ethiopia and it was called Mariya. Um Salma and Um Habiba had been to Ethiopia, and both of them narrated its (the Church's) beauty and the pictures it contained. The Prophet raised his head and said, "Those are the people who, whenever a pious man dies amongst them, make a place of worship at his grave and then they make those pictures in it. Those are the worst creatures in the Sight of Allah."

Kohl vs. Eyeliner

VS.

Salam!

Bismillah

So I have heard around the grapevine that kohl is okay for women to wear because it is sunnah to do so.

I have some questions maybe you guys can answer for me. :-D (i know i'm getting really into this whole question thing... tell me if it bugs you)

1. What are the benefits of kohl that make it sunnah and not just something to make you look prettier?
2. Was it sunnah for the sahabah to wear it, or just the dudes?
3. What is the difference between kohl (specifically) and the eyeliner we can buy at stores here in the U.S.?

I think thats all I've got, thanks girls!!!!