Ramadan in focus part 3

Aboo Hurayrah quoted the Messenger of Allaah r as saying: “When Ramadaan comes the gates of paradise are opened, the gates of hell are locked and the devils are chained.” Collected by al-Bukhaaree and Muslim

 ‘Iyaad mentioned that the opening of the gates of paradise and closing of the gates of hell could literally refer to a signal given to the angels regarding the beginning of the month and it could be glorification of its sanctity by prevention of devils from hurting the believers. Metaphorically it could refer to a great amount of reward and forgiveness and that the enticements and temptations of the devils are reduced, so it is as if they are chained. The opening of the gates of Paradise could also refer to the opportunities for righteous deeds which are among the causes for entering Paradise and the closing of the gates of Hell to the redirection of concerns for the sins which take people to Hell. The chaining of the devils could refer to their inability to seduce and beautify evil.

Aboo Hurayrah related that Allaah’s Messenger said: “On the first night of Ramadaan the devils and evil jinns are chained, all the doors of hell are closed and all the gates of paradise are opened. Then a caller will announce: ‘Whoever desires good come forward and whoever desires evil should remain back.’ And there are many whom Allaah frees from the fire every night.” ( Saheeh Sunan Ibn Maajah, vol. 1, p. 275, no. 1331)

The Prophet (r) identified fasting as a path to Paradise:
Aboo Umaamah said: I came to Allaah’s Messenger  and asked, “Instruct me to do something which will put me in paradise,” and he replied, “You should fast for there is nothing equal to it.” When I came to him a second time, he said, “You should fast.” (Saheeh Sunan an-Nasaa’ee, vol. 2, p. 476, no. 2099)

Since Ramadaan is a month of fasting, those who fast in this month are given many opportunities to earn Paradise. The chaining of the devils represents additional support for doing deeds which can earn the fasting person Paradise.

(Notes were extracted from IOU course: Prophetic Reflections on Ramadan

Ramadan in Focus part 2

Aboo Hurayrah narrated that Allaah’s Messenger said: “By the One in whose hand is Muhammad’s soul, the odor of a fasting person’s mouth is more fragrant to Allaah than musk.” Collected by al-Bukhaaree

The Prophet’s statement: “… is more fragrant to Allaah than musk,” means that the one with the bad breath will find it more pleasant than musk with Allaah, because he will receive more reward for it than one who is perfumed with musk from the fragrance of his musk.

Aboo Hurayrah quoted the Messenger of Allaah (r) as saying: “Fasting is for Me and I will personally give reward for it. [The fasting person] put aside his sexual desire, his food and drink for My sake.”

 Allaah alone knows about the fasting, its amount of reward and the degree to which it will be multiplied. This interpretation is supported by the narration: “Every good deed of Adam’s descendents is multiplied ten times up to seven hundred times. Allaah, Most Great and Glorious, said, ‘Except fasting, for it is only for Me and I will reward it.’ ” (Sahih Muslim)

The reason for specifying fasting is because other acts of worship are viewed by people, while fasting is entirely between the person and Allaah, it is done for Him alone and he does it seeking God’s pleasure. This can be found in the statement “Fasting is for Me…” The other reason is that the remaining righteous deeds involve spending wealth or using the body, while fasting involves breaking the soul’s desires, exposing the body to loss, and it contains patience with the pangs of hunger and thirst and abandonment of desires, indicated by his statement, “he gave up his desires for My sake…”
Thus, the statement: “Fasting is for Me and I will reward it,” emphasizes the greatness of the unlimited reward for fasting


 (Notes are extracted from IOU course material: Prophetic reflections on Ramadan)

Ramadan in Focus part 1

The following Ramadan series will be based on notes taken from Islamic Online University. 

Aboo Umaamah said: I came to Allaah’s Messenger and asked, “Instruct me to do something which will put me in paradise,” and he replied, “You should fast for there is nothing equal to it.” When I came to him a second time, he said, “You should fast.” Collected by Ahmad and an-Nasaa’ee

The above hadith clearly indicate the tremendous value of fasting. The reason for the superiority of fasting over other deeds is that riyaa does not take place in it as easily as it does in other deeds. Other deeds require actions while fasting requires intention which is normally hidden from people.

Many peoples’ stomachs fast, and their privates fast, and their livers fast from water, but their eyes do not fast. They gaze freely at what is prohibited haraam to them and what is displeasing to their Lord. This is not real fasting when the Almighty has said:

“Tell the believers to lower some of their sight to protect their privates.”

And the Prophet (r) said:  “The gaze is an arrow from among Iblees’ arrows.”

The Prophet (r) told Mu‘aath ibn Jabal “Shall I show you what will gather for you of all of that [good]?” He replied, “O course.” He said, “Restrain this,” and he took hold of his tongue. Mu‘aath asked, “O Messenger of Allaah! Are we accountable for what we speak?” He replied, “May you mother lose you! Will people be poured into the Hellfire on their noses for other than what their tongues reap?”.  The Prophet (r) was also reported to have said:“Whoever remains silent is saved.”

The ears need to fast too. They need to fast from listening from listening to falsehood and Satanic prodding. They should be given the Qura’aan to listen to and be safeguarded from the evils of music in all its forbidden forms.

(Notes were taken from IOU on the Prophetic Reflections on Ramadan Course)

What Does Islam Say about Terrorism?

Islam, a religion of mercy, does not permit terrorism.  In the Quran, God has said:

 God does not forbid you from showing kindness and dealing justly with those who have not fought you about religion and have not driven you out of your homes.  God loves just dealers.  (Quran, 60:8)

The Prophet Muhammad  used to prohibit soldiers from killing women and children,¹ and he would advise them: {...Do not betray, do not be excessive, do not kill a newborn child.}²  And he also said: {Whoever has killed a person having a treaty with the Muslims shall not smell the fragrance of Paradise, though its fragrance is found for a span of forty years.}³

Also, the Prophet Muhammad  has forbidden punishment with fire.⁴

He once listed murder as the second of the major sins,⁵and he even warned that on the Day of Judgment, {The first cases to be adjudicated between people on the Day of Judgment will be those of bloodshed.⁶}⁷

Muslims are even encouraged to be kind to animals and are forbidden to hurt them.  Once the Prophet Muhammad  said: {A woman was punished because she imprisoned a cat until it died.  On account of this, she was doomed to Hell. While she imprisoned it, she did not give the cat food or drink, nor did she free it to eat the insects of the earth.}⁸

He also said that a man gave a very thirsty dog a drink, so God forgave his sins for this action.  The Prophet  was asked, “Messenger of God, are we rewarded for kindness towards animals?”  He said: {There is a reward for kindness to every living animal or human.}⁹

Additionally, while taking the life of an animal for food, Muslims are commanded to do so in a manner that causes the least amount of fright and suffering possible.  The Prophet Muhammad  said: {When you slaughter an animal, do so in the best way.  One should sharpen his knife to reduce the suffering of the animal.}¹⁰

In light of these and other Islamic texts, the act of inciting terror in the hearts of defenseless civilians, the wholesale destruction of buildings and properties, the bombing and maiming of innocent men, women, and children are all forbidden and detestable acts according to Islam and the Muslims.  Muslims follow a religion of peace, mercy, and forgiveness, and the vast majority have nothing to do with the violent events some have associated with Muslims.  If an individual Muslim were to commit an act of terrorism, this person would be guilty of violating the laws of Islam.

Reproduced from : http://www.islam-guide.com/ch3-11.htm

Islamic Belief

Belief in God Muslims believe in one, unique, incomparable God, Who has no son nor partner, and that none has the right to be worshipped but Him alone.  He is the true God, and every other deity is false.  He has the most magnificent names and sublime perfect attributes.  No one shares His divinity, nor His attributes.  In the Quran, God describes Himself:

 Say, “He is God, the One.  God, to Whom the creatures turn for their needs.  He begets not, nor was He begotten, and there is none like Him.”  (Quran, 112:1-4)

Chapter 112 of the Quran written in Arabic calligraphy.

No one has the right to be invoked, supplicated, prayed to, or shown any act of worship, but God alone.

God alone is the Almighty, the Creator, the Sovereign, and the Sustainer of everything in the whole universe.  He manages all affairs.  He stands in need of none of His creatures, and all His creatures depend on Him for all that they need.  He is the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing, and the All-Knowing.  In a perfect manner, His knowledge encompasses all things, the open and the secret, and the public and the private.  He knows what has happened, what will happen, and how it will happen.  No affair occurs in the whole world except by His will.  Whatever He wills is, and whatever He does not will is not and will never be.  His will is above the will of all the creatures.  He has power over all things, and He is able to do everything.  He is the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful, and the Most Beneficent.  In one of the sayings of the Prophet Muhammad , we are told that God is more merciful to His creatures than a mother to her child.¹  God is far removed from injustice and tyranny.  He is All-Wise in all of His actions and decrees.  If someone wants something from God, he or she can ask God directly without asking anyone else to intercede with God for him or her.

God is not Jesus, and Jesus is not God.²  Even Jesus himself rejected this.  God has said in the Quran:

Indeed, they have disbelieved who have said, “God is the Messiah (Jesus), son of Mary.”  The Messiah said, “Children of Israel, worship God, my Lord and your Lord.  Whoever associates partners in worship with God, then God has forbidden Paradise for him, and his home is the Fire (Hell).  For the wrongdoers,³ there will be no helpers.” (Quran, 5:72)

God is not a trinity.  God has said in the Quran:

 Indeed, they disbelieve who say, “God is the third of three (in a trinity),” when there is no god but one God.  If they desist not from what they say, truly, a painful punishment will befall the disbelievers among them. Would they not rather repent to God and ask His forgiveness?  For God is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.  The Messiah (Jesus), son of Mary, was no more than a messenger... (Quran, 5:73-75)

Islam rejects that God rested on the seventh day of the creation, that He wrestled with one of His angels, that He is an envious plotter against mankind, or that He is incarnate in any human being.  Islam also rejects the attribution of any human form to God. All of these are considered blasphemous.  God is the Exalted.  He is far removed from every imperfection.  He never becomes weary.  He does not become drowsy nor does he sleep.

The Arabic word Allah means God (the one and only true God who created the whole universe).  This word Allahis a name for God, which is used by Arabic speakers, both Arab Muslims and Arab Christians.  This word cannot be used to designate anything other than the one true God.  The Arabic word Allah occurs in the Quran about 2700 times.  In Aramaic, a language related closely to Arabic and the language that Jesus habitually spoke,⁴ God is also referred to as Allah.

Reproduced from :http://www.islam-guide.com/ch3-2.htm