Revelation

Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu!

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

May Allah grant you a long life as His obedient servant and may He place you in His service alone.

May Allah guide you to the right path of those who love Him and are loved by Him.

Know that real advice should be sought in the Revelation and the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad (saw).

If you have attained advice from it, what need have you of my advice?

And if not, then tell me, what you have attained in these past years.

(Imam Ghazali r.a)

Wasalaam!

Sunnahs of the Night

Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu!

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

A Sunnah is an action that was carried out by the Prophet Muhammad (saw). As Muslims, he is our role model in all aspects of life therefore we try to follow his ways in even the minutest detail.

Allah says in the Quran:

Say, (O Muhammad), "If you should love Allah, then follow me, so Allah will love you and forgive your sins, and Allah is Forgiving, the Merciful.

(Surah Aale-Imran)

The following are the Sunnah practices of the night:

1. To recite Bismillah while closing and locking the doors of the house.

2. Open food and water should be covered with the recitation of Bismillah. A stick could also be used to cover but Bismillah should be read.

3. To put out any burning fire.

4. To switch off or put out anything which may catch alight, if left on like a candle.

5. To discuss with members of the household matters relating to Islam, for example, telling stories about the Sahabah (ra). 

6. When children reach the age of 9 or 10 years, the beds of females should be separated from that of the males.

7. To apply surma 3 times in the right eye and 3 times in the left eye. Apply it on to the children also.

8. To lay or spread the bedding by yourself.

9. To dust the bed before sleeping.

10. To make miswaak even though one has already made miswaak for the Isha salah.

11. Before sleeping, recite with Bismillah each time:

Surah Al-Ikhlas

Surah Al-Falaq

Surah An-Nas

and thereafter blow on the palms which should be rubbed 3 times on ones entire body - beginning from the head and ending at the toes.

12. To use pillows to rest ones head on. The Prophet Muhammad's (saw) pillow was made of leather and filled with date palm leaves.

13. To use leather and hide as bedding for sleeping.

14. To use a straw mat for sleeping.

15. To sleep on bedding.

16. To sleep on a mat or carpet made of cloth.

17. To sleep on the floor.

18. To sleep on a bed.

Note - sleeping on any of the above with the intention of Sunnah shall merit reward.

19. The Prophet (saw) prohibited lying downwards on the stomach.

20. The Prophet (saw) also prohibited lying flat on the back with one leg on the other. (If there is no fear of exposing the private parts then it is permissible to lie down in this manner).

21. To sleep on the right side, facing towards the Qibla.

22. To sleep with the right hand under the head and with the knees bent.

23. To recite the following duas when one lies down:



In Your name I have laid my side and with Your help I shall rise. If You withhold my life then forgive it and if You send it back then protect it as You would protect Your pious servants.



24. To recite the following Istighfaar 3 times:



I seek forgiveness from Allah besides whom there is none worthy of worship, the Living, the Sustainer (of life) and to Him I repent.

25. To recite any Surah from the Quran that one remembers especially Surah Al-Mulk, Surah As-Sajdah and Surah Yaseen. 

26. Reciting of Surah Al-Waqiah before sleeping safeguards one from hunger and poverty.

27. To sleep in a state of purity i.e. wudhu and ghusl (if necessary). If one has done wudhu before sleeping, then it would not be necessary to repeat it.

28. To recite Subhanallah 33 times, Alhamdulillah 33 times and Allahu Akbar 34 times. For full story, see here. Recite the Kalima Tayyibah once also:



29. To keep the prayer mat for the Tahajjud prayer besides the head before sleeping.

30. If one experiences a good dream and wishes to relate it to somebody then he should relate it to a learned and compassionate person so that it is interpreted correctly.

31. After a nightmare, one should recite once:



I seek protection with Allah from the accursed Shaytan.

and spit or blow on the left side 3 times. One should change the position that one was sleeping in, and should not mention such dreams to anyone, and inshallah, no harm shall come to that person.

32. To have water and miswaak ready in advance for wudhu.

33. To sleep with the intention of getting up for the Tahujjad prayer.

34. To read the Tahujjad prayer before the Fajr prayer.

35. Our Prophet Muhammad (saw) used to read such long rakaats for Tahajjud that his blessed feet became swollen. Whilst recting Quran in salah, he used to cry a lot due to which a sound used to come from his chest as if a pot of water is boiling. This was due to his fear of Allah.

36. For Tahajjud, pray at least 2 rakats and a maximun of 12 rakaats. This is the Sunnah. However, there is no limit for Nafl prayers. As many rakats can be prayed. One may also do Zikr, Tilawah and it is also permissible to sleep, provided that the Fajr prayer is not missed.

37. Zaid bin Thabit (ra) complained to the Prophet Muhammad (saw) about his sleepless nights. The Prophet (saw) advised him to read the following dua:

اللَّهُمَّ غَارَتِ النُّجُومُ وَهَدَأَتِ الْعُيُونُ وَأَنْتَ حَيٌّ قَيُّومٌ * لَا تَأْخُذُكَ سِنَةٌ وَلَا نَوْمٌ يَا حَيُّ يَا قَيُّومُ أَهْدِئْ لَيْلِي وَأَنِمْ عَيْنِي 
o Allah, the stars have sunk in and the eyes have become tranquil and quiet and You are alive and everlasting. Neither does sleep overcome You. O the live and everlasting One, make my night tranquil and give my eyes sleep.

May Allah give us all the ability to follow the Sunnah whenever the night falls - Ameen!

Wasalaam!

The Orphan and the Refugee

Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu!

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

Today two things came before me.

 The first were these beautiful and inspiring letters written by young Somali refugees to young Syrian refugees. A few examples are given below. (Full credit for the pictures go to the BBC News website).

You can find the full article here.

The second thing was a nasheed that popped into my YouTube subscription this morning. 

Abu Hurayra reported that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "The best house among the Muslims is the house in which orphans are well treated. The worst house among the Muslims is the house in which orphans are ill treated. I and the guardian of the orphan will be in the Garden like that," indicating his two fingers.

Ways to help orphans can be found here and here. To help refugees, take a look here.

May Allah help all the Muslims around the world, wherever they may be, and give us all the ability to help as much as we can - Ameen!

Wasalaam!

The Story of Zayd bin Haaritha (ra) and Zainab bint Jahash (ra)

Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu!

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

It is not for a believing man or believing woman, when Allah and His Messenger have decided a matter, that they should (thereafter) have any choice about their affair. And whoever disobeys Allah and His Messenger has certainly strayed into clear error.

And (remember O Muhammad) , when you said to the one on whom Allah bestowed favour and you bestowed favour, "Keep your wife and fear Allah", while you concealed within yourself that which Allah is to disclose. And you feared the people, while Allah has more right that you fear Him. So when Zayd had no longer any need for her, We married her to you in order that there not be upon the believers any discomfort concerning the wives of their adopted sons when they no longer have need of them . And ever is the need of Allah accomplished. 

 

There is not to be upon the Prophet any discomfort concerning that which Allah has imposed upon him. (This is) the established way of Allah with those (prophets) who have passed on before. And ever is the command of Allah a destiny decreed.

(Allah praises) those who convey the messages of Allah and fear Him and do not fear anyone but Allah. And sufficient is Allah as Accountant. 

(Surah Al-Ahzab, Verses 36-39)

Many Arabs used to kidnap children and take them to distant places, where none recognised them. They would then sell them as slaves. Zayd bin Haaritha (ra) was travelling with his mother to her parents home when some bandits kidnapped him and took him to Makkah, where they sold him as a slave. He was 8 years old at the time. Hakeem bin Hizaam bin Khuwaylid (ra) bought him as a gift for his paternal aunt, Khadijah (ra). He paid 400 dirhams for the boy.

When Khadijah (ra) married the Prophet Muhammad (saw), she presented Zayd (ra) as a gift for her husband. The Prophet (saw) adopted him as a son and people began referring to him as Zayd bin Muhammad (Zayd, the son of Muhammad) because it was customary among the Arabs to refer to an adopted child as the real child of the adoptive father. 

When Zayd's (ra) father learnt after much investigation that his abducted son had been sold as a slave in Makkah, he arrived in Makkah to purchase his freedom. When he approached the Prophet (saw) and explained that he wished to purchase his son's freedom, the Prophet (saw) told him that he may take the boy for free if the boy agreed to accompany him. However, the boy should be left to remain with the Prophet (saw) if he chose to do so.

Exuberant, the father said that the Prophet (saw) had exceeded the bounds of kindness because the Prophet (saw) reserved the right to retain the boy. When the Prophet (saw) asked Zayd (ra) if he recognised the two persons who came to fetch him, he immediately responded by saying that they were his father and uncle. 

The Prophet (saw) told him, "You know them and you know me because you have spent time in my company. You now have the choice to join them or to remain with me". Zayd (ra) chose to remain with the Prophet (saw). His father said, "It is tragic that you prefer a life of slavery to freedom and another person to your father, uncle and family". Zayd (ra) replied, "I have seen such qualities in my master and I simply cannot prefer any other to him".

This episode took place before the Prophet (saw) announced his prophethood. When Muhammad (saw) announced that he was a prophet, Zayd (ra) was one of the first to accept Islam.

The Prophet (saw) married Zayd (ra) to his slave, Barka (ra) famously known as Umm Ayman (ra). She was of African origin and it was she who brought the Prophet (saw) back to Makkah from Abwa after his mother passed away when he was only 6 years old. Umm Ayman (ra) gave birth to Usama bin Zayd (ra), who was commonly referred to as the 'beloved of the Prophet (saw)'.

People always referred to Zayd bin Haaritha (ra) as Zayd bin (the son of) Muhammad. However they stopped doing so when Allah revealed the verse:

Allah has not made for a man two hearts in his interior. And He has not made your wives whom you declare unlawful your mothers. And He has not made your adopted sons, your (true) sons. That is (merely) your saying by your mouths, but Allah says the truth, and He guides to the (right) way.

Call them by (the names of) their fathers; it is more just in the sight of Allah. But if you do not know their fathers, then they are (still) your brothers in religion and those entrusted to you. And there is no blame upon you for that in which you have erred but (only for) what your hearts intended. And ever is Allah Forgiving and Merciful.

(Surah Al-Ahzab, Verses 4 and 5)

The Prophet (saw) then married Zayd (ra) to his cousin, Zainab bint Jahash (ra). She was the daughter of the Prophet's (saw) paternal aunt. She accepted the proposal on the Prophet's (saw) recommendation, but the couple could never adapt to each other. When Zayd (ra) wanted to divorce her, the Prophet (saw) advised him to maintain the marriage. However, when matters came to a head, he finally divorced her. 

Allah then commanded the Prophet (saw) to marry her, when He revealed the verse,

"So when Zayd fulfilled his need from her, We married her to you .."

After completing the Iddah, the Prophet (saw) sent a marriage proposal to her via Zayd (ra), but she requested time to to consider the matter. However, when Allah revealed the above verse, the marriage was contracted and the Prophet (saw) was legally married to her. It is for this reason that she boasted to the other wives of the Prophet (saw) saying,

"Your guardians married you whereas Allah Himself married me".

Wasalaam!

Tuesday Morning Inspiration

Assalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu!

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

I was going through my photo folders and found the following. I hope they are of use to you :)

This nasheed is really peaceful - I hope you like it as much as I do. If anyone knows the meaning, please let me know!

Have a blessed day!

Wasalaam!