Imaginative and halal ways to make money with friends.

Salaam! 😃

September 10th: Chapter 12 - Permissible Acts of Du'a

(Today is a very special day cos..I became the proud aunty of another baby boooy! 😃 )

There are certain acts that people might presume are prohibited, but are in fact allowed. Some of these are listed below.

1. To Pray for a Person without Praying for One's Self

This is permissible since the prophet(saw) prayed for a number of Companions without making du'a for himself

2. To Wish for Death in Severe Circumstances

The proof for this is the following hadith. Anas ibn Malik reported that the prophet(saw) said: None of you should wish for death due to any calamity that has befallen him. If he has no choice but to wish for death, then let him say 'O Allah! Grant me life as long as life is better for me, and take me away (in death) whenever death is better for me!'"

Thus it is permissible, under extreme circumstances, to wish for death.

Imam al-Bukhari, due to the many difficulties that he encountered from people who were jealous of him, wished for death towards the end of his life, and made this du'a, after which Allah granted him his desire.

3. To Pray For and Against Non-Muslims

The prayer for non-muslims can only be when they are alive, for after they are dead, Allah has prohibited us from praying for them. The Quran says

"It is not proper for the prophet and those who believe to ask Allah's forgiveness for the pagans after it has become clear to them that they are the dwellers of the Hell-fire."

During their lifetimes however, it is permissible to pray that Allah guide them to islam.

4. To Request a Pious Person to Perform a Du'a

Chapter 13 - Tawassul

Tawassul, in islamic terms means to come closer to Allah through manners prescribed by the Quran and sunnah.

In regards to du'as, tawassul is a means of having one's du'a accepted as discussed previously.

1. Tawassul through Allah's Names and Attributes

In a hadith the prophet(saw) said "....I ask you by You by every Name which is Yours with which You named Yourself (regardless of whether) You have taught it to anyone from Your creation, or sent it down in Your Book, or have kept it to Yourself in the knowledge of the Hidden with You, that You make teh Quran the spring of my heart, the light of my chest, the removal of my sadness and of my anxiety!" then Allah will remove his anxiety and sorrow and replace it with joy.

2. Tawassul by Mentioning Allah's Favours

So for example, a person might say "O Allah! You have guided me to islam, and placed in me a love for knowledge,a nd its people! O Allah! Cause me to increase in this knowledge, and cause me to be amongst the righteous scholars!"

3. Tawassul by Mentioning One's State

So to mention to Allah the dire circumstances that one is in, and the desperate need that one has for His Mercy and Blessings.

4. Tawassul Through Good Deeds

So one can say "O Allah! Because of the charity that I gave to so-and-so, out of pleasing You.." or "O Allah! Because of my love for Your religion and love for You and Your prophet.." grant me my du'a.

The Quran is replete with this type of tawassul. In one verse the believers are described as: " Those that say: 'O Allah! We have believed, so forgive us our sins, and save us from the Fire of Hell!'" - Surah Al-Imran

In the above du'a, tawassul is sought because of one's iman in Allah and His religion, and there is no doubt that the greatest good deed that a person can use is his iman in Allah

This is a great incentive for one to do deeds purely for the sake of Allah, so that one may use them as a means of tawassul when one is in dire need of a du'a being answered.

5. Tawassul through Mentioning the Effect of the Du'a

Tawassul can also be made by attaching the response of the du'a to a good deed or benefit. So for example, a person can say "O Allah! I ask you to increase me in knowledge , so that I may teach my family and relatives" or "O Allah! Increase my wealth so that I can spend it in your way!"

Similarly, Ibrahim (as) asked Allah to bless his family (when he left them in a barren valley) with fruits and cause a community of people to live with them, so that they could establish prayer and give thanks to Allah.

6. Tawassul by Asking a Living Person to Make Du'a

Especially if you feel that such a person is a true and righteous person, e.g. a scholar, but it is better to not do so for personal du'as (This is in contrast to du'as that are related to the benefit of the entire ummah).

For the following reasons:

1) The general rule is that the person should pray for himself. Just like he does his other acts of worship, and takes care of his own affairs, so too should he make his own du'a.

2) Asking others is a type of request that is done to others than Allah and shows a need or poverty that a person feels towards mankind.

3) There is no one that will feel more sincerity than the one making the du'a for himself and his loved ones. It cannot be expected that a friend etc. will feel the same emotions and sincerity that the person himself is feeling. Yet it is these very emotions that are the cause of any du'a being accepted.

4) This act leads many people to leave du'a themselves as they rely on others to make du'a for them.

5) It might lead to arrogance on the part of the person being asked. For it is possible that he will feel that he is holy and pious and hence why people come to him to ask him to make du'a for them.

6) It has not been reported that any of the major Companions ever asked the prophet(saw) to make du'a for them, unless it was a matter that would benefit all of the muslims

These types of tawassul mentioned above are the only types sanctioned by the Quran and sunnah. So if a person does tawassul by any other means, he will either fall into shirk or bid'ah.

The most common type of tawassul that is done in our times, and yet is not sanctioned by the Quran and sunnah is tawassul through the status of the prophet(saw)

We should not raise the prophet(saw) above the level that Allah Himself chose for His prophet, and that the
prophet(saw) himself was content with

Tawassul through the prophet can be divided into 3 categories:

1) Through one's love for the prophet(saw) which comes under tawassul through one's good deeds

2) Through the prophet's du'a while he was alive. But since this isn't the case anymore, it is not possible to use this type of tawassul

3) Through the status of the prophet(saw) which has not been mentioned in the Quran or sunnah. Therefore this is a dangerous innovation into the religion of islam.

Salaams! 😃

September 9th: Chapter 11 - The Wisdom Behind A Delayed Response

11. The Du'a Might Actually Have Been Responded To

The hadith where the prophet(saw) guaranteed that a person's du'a will be accepted has already been mentioned. However, the 'acceptance' might be in a manner that is not apparent.

It is possible that Allah will give him the reward of his du'a on the Day of Judgement, and this reward will be more beloved to him on that Day than the response of his du'a in this life.

It is also possible that Allah blesses him with something else that he did not ask for, as a result of his du'a. Lastly it is possible that Allah averts an evil that was predestined for him because of his du'a.

12. The Du'a Might be Weak

Ibn al-Qayyim mentioned that there are three possibilities with regards to the du'a and Divine Decree.

Firstly it is possible that the du'a is stronger than the Decree, and thus repels it permanently. Secondly it is possible that the du'a is weaker than the Decree, so the Decree occurs but the du'a causes it to soften a little bit. Thirdly, they be equal in strength, so each one prevents the other from acting.

Therefore, a person should examine whether the du'a is fulfilling the conditions for the acceptance of a du'a. He should see if there are any impediments that prevent his du'a from being answered.

13. The Manifestation of Allah's Names and Attributes

The Ever-Generous, the One that Gives, the All-Wise and many others are all manifested in Allah's Decree, whether a person's du'a is responded to or not.

So when He gives, He gives out of Generosity ,Wisdom and Justice; and when He witholds, He witholds out of Power, Widsom and Justice. So a person should keep the Names and Attributes of Allah in mind when his du'a is not responded to.

14. The Perfection of Worship

Finally, one of the greatest benefits and wisdoms of a delayed response is that it perfects a person's worship and iman of Allah and this is the very purpose of creation!

Some of the ways in which worship is pefected are as follows:

i. Waiting for a Response: When a person eagerly and anxiously awaits a response to his du'a, this necessitates a strong hope in Allah and an optimism of Allah's Mercy and Blessings.

This feeling is in itself, an act of worship, and the longer that the response is delayed, the stronger those feelings become if the person wishes to continue in his du'a/ In this way his iman is strengthened without him even realising it!

ii. Showing One's Need to Allah: The essence of worship is to humble one's self before Allah and realise one's extreme need of Allah's Help and Mercy.

When the response is delayed, this awareness is increased, a person realises that there is no one besides Allah who can respond to his du'a, so his iman increases in this manner. Simultaneous with this realisation comes the awe and meekness that is required in Allah's presence, along with humility and humbleness.

Had every du'a of a person been answered immediately, this would lead to arrogance and cultivate a feeling of self-sufficiency and conceit. It would cause the person to forget the relationship that he should have with Allah, and in fact, might even lead him to think that he has a right upon Allah to answer his prayers.

If a person were to become arrogant, then there would be no hope for him in the Hereafter, for no person will enter Paradise with an ounce of arrogance in his heart.

iii. Pleasure at Allah's Decree

One of the most important pillars of iman is to be content with Allah's Decree. Therefore, the delay in responding to a du'a is one of the opportunities in which a believer must display his contentment at the decree of Allah and not show anger or annoyance.

The one who is pleased with Allah as his Lord, and with the Decrees of Allah in his life, will attain the pleasure of Allah in this world and in the Hereafter, but the one who is displeased and angry, will only attain Allah's displeasure and anger.

iv. Humility in front of Allah

A delay in response is in fact a means to draw out the servant's meekness and humility from the heart. This humility is one of the primary pillars of worship, for 'ibadah is defined as 'the height of humility along with the height of love'.

v. Enjoying a Private Conversation with Allah

Amongst the many benefits of du'a is that it opens up a private channel between the servant and his Lord. So the longer the response is delayed, the stronger and more powerful this relationship becomes. Finally a stage is reached, by a very select and blessed few, in which the pleasures of this communication becomes more pleasing to the soul than the actual response of the du'a would be!

vi. Combating the Plots of Shaytan

Without a doubt, Shaytan stoops to all levels, and tries all plots so that a person will turn away from worship of Allah. And is there any opportunity greater for him to seize than when a servant's du'a is not answered?!

But the true believer, the one who is ever-aware of and cautious of Shaytan's plot, sees the dangers of this situation. Instead of letting it be a cause of him going away from worship of Allah, seizes it as an opportunity to attack Shaytan, and increase in his worship of Allah. He turns to Allah, again and again, for he realises that his only hope for safety is through Allah.

So in this battle between Shaytan and the son of Adam, the weapon is du'a to Allah, and the armour that is worn is seeking refuge in Allah

15. Conclusion

Without a doubt there are far more benefits than can be imagined, but in these few pages, there should be a reminder for the believer and a solace for the muslim.

Furthermore, although the general rule is that the more pious a person is, the greater the chances of his being answered, this is not always the case.

It is possible that a disbeliever, or an evil sinner is responsed to and it is possible that the the du'a of the most pious is not answered(like the prophet(saw)). So just because a person's du'a is not answered, it is not an indication that a person is not pious.

The purpose behind these explanations is such that a person might be comforted and not give up the continuance of du'a.

How does Islam explain irresponsible behaviour? when we do things that we know are wrong but keep doing them anyway? How does our creator explains this flaw of ours? nafs?

feel free to post any link to article, talks etc...

Im not really looking for man-guessed psychological theories to explain irresponsible behaviour but feel free to post that as well, we can compare..or something.

please guys! dont ignore...

salaam

Did anyone watch this a few days a go?

good watch

interesting to say the least....

heres a link:

Salaam! 😃

September 8th: Chapter 11 - The Wisdom Behind A Delayed Response continued

Recap of previous part

5. The Matter Might Bring Evil

Following up from the last point (Allah is the most wise), it is possible that Allah knows that a certain matter, although apparently might appear to bring good, in reality will lead to evil consequences. So a person might desire to have money, and in his heart he feels that he will spend this money for the sake of Allah, and yet Allah knows that if this person were to be given money, he would spend it in haram way, and that would ruin his iman.

So he would become like the one that is mentioned in the Quran: "And of them are some who made a promise to Allah (saying) : if He bestowed on us out of His Blessings, then we will of a surety give charity, and we will be amongst the righteous! Then, when He gave them of His Blessings, they became miserly (in spending for the sake of Allah), and turned away, averse (out of arrogance).

So because of this He punished them by putting hypocrisy in their hearts, until the Day when they shall meet Him, because they broke (that) which they promised Allah, and because they used to lie (to Allah)!"

So beware, of getting angry, or complaining against Allah's Decree, for it is possible that the matter that you so desire might be the very cause of your destruction!

Note that a believer does not ask for problems and trials, but when they occur, the true believer relishes them more than he would an apparent blessing, because he realises and expects the great reward that he will obtain through his patience and perseverance.

6. Allah's Choice is Better than the Choice of the Servant

This is a great concept that very few people appreciate or implement in their lives. For verily, Allah is more Merciful to His servant than a mother is to her child, and He will only Decree for them what is best for their needs in this world and the Hereafter.

So even when a trial or tribulation afflicts a muslim, this is better for him than it not having happened.

So, servant of Allah, next time your du'as are not answered, ask yourself "Is it not possible that Allah knows that this matter which I am asking for is not for my benefit? And is He not the Most Merciful of all that have Mercy? So, in this prevention of my du'a being answered, there might be a great good for me!"

Just like a parent must not fulfil all the desires of his child since some of them are harmful for him, so too - and to Allah belongs the greatest example - must a person realise that not all of his du'as are really for his benefit. And once a person truly and fully realises this, that Allah cares for him more than he cares for himself, then he has gone a long way towards perfecting his iman.

Sufyan al-Thawri said: "Verily, when He witholds, He actually gives, because He did not withold on account of miserliness or stinginess, but rather He looked at the benefit of the servant. So the fact that He witheld is actually His choice for the servant and His excellent decision."

7. Man Does not Know the Result of His Du'a

Ponder over the story of the youth that was killed by Khadir, Musa's teacher(surah Kahf- see tafsir). Without a doubt, the youth's parents must have suffered greatly at his death. Yet Allah knew that, had the boy lived, he would have caused great distress and hardship to his parents.

Therefore it was Allah's Mercy that the youth was not allowed to grow up to harm his parents, for had he done so, and turned to disbelief, the grief caused to such pious parents would have been worse than the grief of an innocent death. Allah says in the Quran "And as for the boy, his parents were believers, and We feared lest he should oppress them by rebellion and disbelief".

Therefore, it can be seen that a person's knowledge of good and evil is relative, whereas Allah's knowledge is infinite.

8. Trials Bring One Closer to Allah

The prophet(saw) said: The greatness of reward is based on the severity of the trial. And if Allah loves a person, He tests him, so whoever is pleased (with Allah), then he will have the Pleasure (of Allah), but whoever is angry, then he will receive the Anger (of Allah).

So the fact that a person's du'a is not responded to is a trial from Allah, and this should make a person optimistic that he is from amongst those that Allah loves. Such a test should make him increase in his patience and draw him closer to Allah.

9. Something Hated Sometimes Brings Good

When a person's iman is strong, then he will realise that everything that Allah has decreed for him is good, even if he does not see the wisdome behind the Decree. So when an affliction befalls him, he will know and realise that hidden in it is great good and benefit for him for Allah says "For it is possible that you hate something, yet Allah places in it a lot of good (for you)." Similarly about jihad: "Jihad is ordained for you (muslims) though you dislike it. And it may be that you dislike a thing even though it is for your good, or that you like a thing even though it is for your evil. And Allah knows, whereas you do not know."

Sufyan ibn 'Uyaynah stated "What the slave detests is better for him than what he loves! This is because what he destest will cause him to increase in his du'a, whereas what he loves will distract him (from worshipping Allah)."

10. It Causes the Believer to Reflect on Himself

When a person's du'a is apparently not answered, it causes him to contemplate his life, the good and the bad. It causes him to examine his du'a, and why he is making it. It causes him to examine his life, and what he wants with it. It causes him to examine his money, how he earns it and how hes spends it. It causes him to examine his good deeds and and how few they actually are. It causes him to examine his evil deeds and how numerous they are. It causes him to turn to Allah in repentance, and change his lifestyle and these effects only occur to the true believer.

So this delay in response is actually a cleansing experience and a purification for the muslim, for it forces him to re-examine his relationship with Allah and try to strengthen it. Had this du'a been responded to immediately, then this examination would not have occured, nor would any extra good come out of it, but in this delay a person, as it were, finds himself and this in itself is great blessing from Allah.

Astronomers say light from supernova of dying star 21m light years away can be seen with binoculars or telescope

An exploding star in a galaxy far from Earth should be visible from Britain soon after twilight this evening. Amateur astronomers will be able to observe the flicker of light from its violent death throes through a good pair of binoculars or a telescope, clear skies permitting.

The supernova – the nearest of its kind to be spotted in 40 years – lies in the Pinwheel galaxy, 21m light years from Earth.

Read more @ The Guardian

Okay.. well i have a friend at school and she asked me 'are you allowed to touch the quran whilst menstruating?' and i replied by saying 'no' because thats what id been taught..
she told me that her tajweed teacher said that you are allowed to touch it.. because it shouldnt really matter.. and you can touch it and read it from memorisation even whilst menstruating.. then she told me that her teacher follows shaykh bani (im not familiar with him).. she also said that there was no evidence you can't touch the quran and that it was 'bidah' if you make stuff up like that.. she did mention something do with the 'angels being pure'.. cant remember it totally..

So Yeaah.. i need some evidence... solid and beleivable evidence with reference.. and i hope i can hear your views

The parents of Shafilea Ahmed, the victim of a suspected "honour killing" almost eight years ago, have been charged with murder and appeared before magistrates on Wednesday.

Shafilea, 17, disappeared from her home town of Warrington, Cheshire, in September 2003.

Her badly decomposed remains were found in February 2004 on the banks of the River Kent in Cumbria, following a flood.

She had hoped to study law at university and become a solicitor. Her inquest heard that the most likely cause of death was strangulation or suffocation.

Read more @ The Guardian