Divorce – Mufti Ismail Menk

None of us are exempt from going through divorce or experiencing it in the lives of the best of our children or family members.

Hence it is very important that we watch very carefully what we say about those who are divorced and how we treat them, speak to them or look at them.

In many instances, two individually brilliant people divorce, not because one is bad but because together, they were unable to survive. This is proven by the fact that in many cases both are then very happily married to others.

Remember, if your mouth or actions become hurtful to those divorced, there may come a time when you will be dumbfounded by repetition of the same if not worse in your own home!

Never be from those who frown upon, look down upon, criticize or gossip about those divorced, making them feel unworthy.

The Messenger pbuh chose to marry a divorced woman and repeated this type of choice. Had they been “bad” simply because they were divorced, he would have been the furthest away from them.

Shame upon those parents who do not allow their children to consider a divorced spouse. They need to know that many people say that marriages to those previously divorced are more likely to be everlasting.

May the Almighty guide us all and grant us ALL spouses who will be the coolness of our eyes. Aameen

This status was inspired by the cry of a sister. In no way are we belittling those never married. We are simply raising a VERY VERY common and REAL problem in almost every society.

-Mufti Ismail Menk

Quran and Hadith – Be Humble

Allah, The most Gracious is He, says, “And the servants of the Most Merciful are those who walk upon the earth easily, and when the ignorant address them [harshly], they say [words of] peace, And those who spend [part of] the night to their Lord prostrating and standing [in prayer]. And those who say, “Our Lord, avert from us the punishment of Hell. Indeed, its punishment is ever adhering; Indeed, it is evil as a settlement and residence.” (Al Furqan:63-66).

Dua – Say Aameen!

Dua – Say Aameen!

I ask You with every name that is Yours, with which You have named Yourself, brought down in Your book, taught to one of Your creation, or have preferred for Yourself in the hidden knowledge, with You: that You make the Qur’an the spring of my heart, and the light of my chest, and the dispelling of my sadness, and deportation of my concern.

Reminder – Why Our Dua’s Are Not Answered

Why our Du’as are not answered
by ibn Rajab al Hanbali from Khushu’ fis-salah

Ibrahim ibn Adham – may Allah have mercy on 
him – a third century scholar, a teacher and a
companion of Sufyan ath-Thawri, was asked 
about the saying of Allah – the Most High:

“and your Lord says: “Call on me I will answer
your prayer…”
[40:60]

“We supplicate and we are not answered.”
So he said to them:

You know Allah, 
Yet you do not obey Him,

You recite the Qur’an, 
Yet do not act according to it,

You know Shaitan, 
Yet you have agreed with him,

You proclaim that you love Muhammad (SAW)
Yet you abandon his Sunnah,

You proclaim your love for Paradise, 
Yet you do not act to gain it,

You proclaim your fear the Fire, 
Yet you do not prevent yourselves from sins,

You say “Indeed death is true”,
Yet you have not prepared for it,

You point out the faults with others,
Yet you do not look at your faults,

You eat of that which Allah has provided for you, 
Yet you do not thank Him,

You bury your dead, 
Yet you do not take a lesson from it.” 

Quran and Hadith – Eating Habits

Ka’b bin Malik (radi Allahu anhu) reported: “I saw the Messenger of Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) licking his three fingers after eating.” [Sahih Muslim, #5296]

Thus, the best way of eating is that shown by the Messenger of Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) which was eating with his three fingers.

Here is also the affirmation of licking one’s fingers after finishing a meal, and not during it. Another hadith encouraging licking one’s fingers states: “You do not know in which portion the blessing lies.” [Sahih Muslim, #5300] Therefore, to obtain the full benefit from the meal we should lick our fingers after the last morsel.

Also when eating, it if from the Sunnah to eat with the right hand for the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “If one of you eats, he should eat with his right hand. And if he drinks something, he should drink with his right hand. For indeed, Satan eats and drinks with his left hand.” [Sahîh Muslim (2020)]

Quran and Hadith – THE BEST WEALTH

THE BEST WEALTH

Rasulullah صلى الله عليه وسلم said:

“The best wealth is a tongue which remains in the remembrance of Allah Ta’ala, a grateful heart and a believing wife who helps her husband in his Imaan.” (Tirmizi #3094)

Nowadays we have understood only material possessions to be wealth, whereas in the words of Rasulullah صلى الله عليه وسلم the best wealth is a tongue that remember الله and is moist in zikr.

Secondly a thankful heart appreciating the favours of الله : Our life should not evolve around acquiring the wealth of this world nor should our hearts be simply filled with the desire for more of the world. 

Instead, while making a moderate effort for halaal sustenance, one’s heart should be filled with contentment.

Thirdly, a wife is a man’s best wealth if she helps him in matters of deen and encourages him to serve الله : His wife should not become an obstacle in his journey towards Allah Ta’ala by not allowing him to keep a beard, taking him out visiting at the time of salaah, forcing him to work harder at the expense of his deen so that she has more money to squander and enjoy. The need of the time is that the society be filled with believing men and women who assist each other in their journey towards اَللَّه سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى

الحمد لله رب العالمين

Quran and Hadith – Gathering for Allah SWT and Angels

One of my favourite hadith is:

On the authority of Abu Harayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) from the Prophet (s), who said:
Allah (glorified and exalted be He) has supernumerary angels who rove about seeking out gatherings in which Allah’s name is being invoked: they sit with them and fold their wings round each other, fillin that which is between them and between the lowest heaven. When [the people in the gathering] depart, [the angels] ascend and rise up to heaven.
He (the Prophet p.b.u.h.) said: Then Allah (mighty and sublime be He) asks them – [though] He is most knowing about them: From where have you come? And they say: We have come from some servants of Yours on Earth: they were glorifying You (Subhana llah), exalting you (Allahu akbar), witnessing that there is no god but You (La ilaha illa llah), praising You (Al-Hamdu lillah), and asking [favours] of You. He says: And what do they ask of Me? They say: They ask of You Your Paradise. He says: And have they seen My Paradise? They say: No, O Lord. He says: And how would it be were they to have seen My Paradise! They say: And they ask protection of You. He says: From what do they ask protection of Me? They say: From Your Hell-fire, O Lord. He says: And have they seen My Hell-fire? They say: NO. He says: And how would it be were they to have seen My Hell-fire: They say: And they ask for Your forgiveness. He (the Prophet p.b.u.h) said: Then He says: I have forgiven them and I have bestowed upon them what they have asked for,and I have granted them sanctuary from that from which they asked protection. He (the Prophet p.b.u.h) said: They say: O Lord, among them is So-and-so, a much sinning servant, who was merely passing by and sat down with them. He (the Prophet p.b.u.h) said: And He says: And to him [too] I have given forgiveness: he who sits with such people shall not suffer. It was related by Muslim (also by al-Bukhari, at-Tirmidhi, and an-Nasa’i).

Ya Allah allow me to live the entirety of my life calling and reminding others to your way. AMEEN

Hadith – An Instance Of Nabi (Sallallaahu Alyhi Wasallam’s) Abhorrence For Shaving Of Beard

Hafiz Ibn Katheer(RA) has quoted an incident in his book, Al Bidayah wa Nihaya, that Bazaan, a minister of the king of Persia (Kisra) sent two men to capture Nabi (Sallallahu alayhi wasallam) (May Allaah forbid). 

When two men came, Nabi (Sallallahu alayhi wasallam) disliked to even look at them as their beards were shaven and their moustaches long. Nabi (Sallallahu alayhi wasallam) asked them: “Who ordered you to do this (i.e. shave your beards and keep your moustaches long)”. They replied: “Our Rabb, Kisra (King of Persia)”. Upon this Nabi (Sallallahu alayhi wasallam) replied: “But My Rabb ordered me to lengthen my beard and cut my moustache.” [Al Bidayah wa Nihaya Vol.1 pg 270]

This incident has been quoted in many books.

Note: Nabi (Sallallahu alayhi wasallam) objected to their actions although they were Kaafirs, and even disliked looking at them. Hence, one can imagine how unpleased and unhappy Nabi (Sallallahu alayhi wasallain) will be if an Ummati of his who claims to have love for him, shaves the beard. 

One of the three questions that will be asked in the grave “What have you to say regarding this person”. According to some Ulema the blessed face of Nabi (Sallallahu alayhi wasallam) will be presented when this question will be asked. How will a person who shaves his beard face Nabi (Sallallahu alayhi wasallam). 

What a great deprivation will it be if Nabi (Sallallahu alayhi wasallam) has to turn his face away because of his unhappiness and dislike. Similarly on the plains of reckoning also a person will come in front of Nabi (Sallallahu alayhi wasallam) for intersession. What answer will a person have to offer if Nabi (Sallallahu alayhi wasallam) has to ask that you neglected my way and chose the ways of my enemies, the Kuffaar and the Mushrikeen?”

May Allaah Ta’aala grant us the ability to repent sincerely and conform to the Sunnat of Nabi (Sallallahu alayhi wasallam).

Many sins are such that a person only remains a sinner while he is involved in that particular sin e.g. adultery – homosexuality ¬drinking – lying – stealing etc. When he stops doing so, then the sin also comes to an end. Trimming or shaving of the beard on the other hand is such a sin that until a person does not repent and start keeping a Shari Beard, he will remain a perpetual sinner. 

He will be regarded as a sinner even whilst sleeping or eating and even whilst performing Ibaadat. This increases the seriousness of this sin. At the time of Ibaadat, just as Nabi (Sallallahu alayhi wasallam) abhorred it, similarly if Allaah Ta’aala does not focus the level of acceptance on the person, then his Ibaadat will not reach the level of acceptance. Then ponder and think what will be that person’s condition in the Aakhiraat (Hereafter)!

The Law of the Beard & Hair in Light of the Ahadith
Shaykhul Hadith Hadhrat Moulana Fazlur Rahmaan Azmi (rahimullah)

Quran and Hadith – Forerunners!!

Du’a – Heart Consoling Adhkaar

♥~One of our favorite heart consoling Adhkaar/Duáas~♥

يَا حَيُّ يَا قَيُّومُ بِرَحْمَتِكَ أَسْتَغِيثُ أَصْلِحْ لِي شَأْنِي كُلَّهُ
وَلَا تَكِلْنِي إِلَى نَفْسِي طَرْفَةَ عَيْنٍ 

Yaa Hayyu yaa Qayyoomu birahmatika ‘astagheethu ‘aslih lee sha’nee kullahu wa laa takilnee ‘ilaa nafsee tarfata ‘aynin.

O Ever Living One, O Eternal One, by Your mercy I call on You to set right all my affairs. Do not place me in charge of my soul even for the blinking of an eye (i.e. a moment).

[Its chain of transmission is sound (Sahih), Al-Hakim 1/545, see Albani, Sahihut-Targhib wat-Tarhib, 1/273.]