Monthly Archives: October 2010
Hadith No. 39 – Sahih al-Bukhari
Salam,
Bismillah.
Immediate obedience. Take a minute to think what it actually is.
I’ll give you a practical example..
Narrated Al-Bara’ (bin ‘Azib):
When the Prophet came to Medina, he stayed first with his grandfathers or maternal uncles from Ansar. He offered his prayers facing Baitul-Maqdis (Jerusalem) for sixteen or seventeen months, but he wished that he could pray facing the Ka’ba (at Mecca). The first prayer which he offered facing the Ka’ba was the ‘Asr prayer in the company of some people. Then one of those who had offered that prayer with him came out and passed by some people in a mosque who were bowing during their prayers (facing Jerusalem). He said addressing them, “By Allah, I testify that I have prayed with Allah’s Apostle facing Mecca (Ka’ba).’ Hearing that, those people changed their direction towards the Ka’ba immediately. Jews and the people of the scriptures used to be pleased to see the Prophet facing Jerusalem in prayers but when he changed his direction towards the Ka’ba, during the prayers, they disapproved of it.
Al-Bara’ added, “Before we changed our direction towards the Ka’ba (Mecca) in prayers, some Muslims had died or had been killed and we did not know what to say about them (regarding their prayers.) Allah then revealed: And Allah would never make your faith (prayers) to be lost (i.e. the prayers of those Muslims were valid).’ ” (2:143).
The people in the other Masjid were in the position of Ruku’ when they changed their direction. Changing direction in Medina meant an about turn (180 degrees) because Medina is between Jerusalem and Mecca when you draw a straight line on the map. (I suck at explaining maps and locations. Hope you understand. :P)
Anyway, the point I’m making here is: IMMEDIATE OBEDIENCE. No questions asked, not thinking twice, we need to obey Allah and His Messenger (SAW). But do we?
I’ll give my example. I’m a mathematical person. Firm belief in logic (the very reason I despise Chemistry). Everything should fit my logic, and then I’ll believe it. But studying Islam, I learnt that religion is not all logic. Most of the things might be easy to understand. But some things make you surrender your logic and intellect. You will never understand some things about Deen. And that’s a fact.
This is where ‘immediate obedience’ comes in. Even when you don’t understand why you need to obey a certain command of Allah, you give in with pleasure. For example, most people don’t ‘understand’ why Hijab is an obligation on Muslim women (although there are many strong logical explanations to it), so they question and eventually disobey.
Get my point? Questioning too much will lead to disobedience.
So, the lesson here is: IMMEDIATE OBEDIENCE. And for that, you might need to surrender your logic, sometimes. Don’t feel bad. Smile. :)
Wassalam.
Hadith No. 38 – Sahih al-Bukhari
Salam,
Bismillah.
Following Islam. Do you find it hard? Like it’s impossible? It’s not practical in this time and age. It was for the Arabs 1400 years back. Not us.
If you get these kind of thoughts, better kick them out of your mind. NOT GOOD! Believe the Holy Prophet (SAW) when he says: Religion is easy. :)
Narrated Abu Huraira:
The Prophet said, “Religion is very easy and whoever overburdens himself in his religion will not be able to continue in that way. So you should not be extremists, but try to be near to perfection and receive the good tidings that you will be rewarded; and gain strength by worshipping in the mornings, the nights.”
A few tips are given to make religion easy for us to follow. We’ll look at them one by one.
– Do not overburden yourself. Voluntary fasting is good, but doing it everyday non-stop isn’t. And frankly, you won’t be able to continue it for long.
– Try to be near perfection. Whatever you do, do it perfectly. Find out exactly how the Prophet (SAW) did it and follow the footsteps. When you’re doing it for Allah, hindrances lose their meaning.
– Receive the good tidings that you will be rewarded. Always keep the outcome of your efforts in mind. You don’t want people to acknowledge your good deeds, you want reward from Allah. It’ll become too easy.
– Gain strength by worshiping in the mornings and nights. The MOST important point. Tahajjud prayers. They give you so much strength and spiritual boost that keeps you going through the most difficult times in life. It’s the most beautiful time of the 24 hours. The time when Allah descends to the seventh Heaven. He’s so close. He listens to your prayers. He gives you what you ask for. Ask for strength, He’ll give you it. ;)
Conclusion: religion is easy. Our misunderstanding/misinterpretation makes it seem hard to us. And sometimes, we just get emotional. :D
Keep these few things in mind and inshaAllah you’ll find the words of the Prophet (SAW) to be true.
Wassalam.
Hadith No. 37 – Sahih al-Bukhari
Salam,
Bismillah.
Once again, something about Ramadaan is related to Faith. :) And you’d be surprised to know what it is..
Narrated Abu Huraira:
Allah’s Apostle said, “Whoever observes fasts during the month of Ramadan out of sincere faith, and hoping to attain Allah’s rewards, then all his past sins will be forgiven.”
Fasting in Ramadaan. Who doesn’t do it? But does this Hadith mean that every person who observes his fasts during Ramadaan will get his sins forgiven? Clearly not. There’s a condition prescribed: whoever does it out of sincere faith and hoping to attain Allah’s rewards. It sounds easy. Doing is otherwise.
Fasting is something that only Allah can reward us for. No one else can measure our sincerity and Taqwa that we achieve from it. Because no one watches over us the whole day except for Allah. We might take a sip/bite when there’s no one around and still pretend to be fasting. Nobody will even doubt us. But Allah knows, right? That thing that keeps us from doing so is called Taqwa. Fearing Allah even when you’re alone. So fasting is for Allah, and only Allah will reward us for it.
About keeping our intentions straight, here’s a checkpoint:
Do you fast JUST because it is mandatory? Because if you don’t, Allah will punish you? And people will think such and such about you? OR do you fast because you love the one-month drill that gives your Imaan a rush that lasts the whole year? And you want to do something that’ll please Allah, hoping that He’ll forgive you your sins?
Well, we all need to check ourselves in this. And hopefully, when next Ramadaan comes (may Allah keep us alive till then), we’re ready to take maximum benefit from it, inshaAllah. =)
Wassalam.
Hadith No. 36 – Sahih al-Bukhari
Salam,
Bismillah.
Ramadaan and its excellence. Praying in it, fasting in it, doing any good deed in it earns us extra reward than normal days. That’s why it’s known as the best month of the year. <3
Narrated Abu Huraira:
Allah’s Apostle said: “Whoever establishes prayers during the nights of Ramadan faithfully out of sincere faith and hoping to attain Allah’s rewards (not for showing off), all his past sins will be forgiven.”
This Hadith is not a repeat. It’s almost the same as No. 34., where it talked about praying on the night of Qadr. But here, it talks about praying in all nights of Ramadaan.
So, praying during the nights of Ramadaan with sincerity and hoping for Allah’s rewards gets all your sins forgiven. It sounds easy. Doing might not be so.
First problem we face during Ramadaan is staying up late for ‘Ibadah. Because we’re so busy, we work so hard during the day, we get so tired that we need to sleep during the night. Solution: take a bit of rest during the day, eat less in Iftar and more in Suhoor. =)
Second problem: we do force ourselves to stay up, but when we start praying, we’re too distracted. Mostly because we’re sleepy and also because we don’t understand what we or the Imam is reciting. We don’t understand Quraan! Solution: take the Fehm-ul-Quraan classes in Ramdaan that are held for this very purpose. Do a little digging. Find out the places and the timings.
Third problem: intention. We just can’t seem to keep it on the right track! If we’re praying with congregation or even alone, twisted thoughts come to mind. I don’t need to give examples, do I? :P
Anyway, the solution is to keep putting yourself back on the track. Keep reminding yourself that you’re doing it for Allah’s sake ONLY. Not to show off or any other material benefit. Because sincerity is a condition mentioned in the Hadith. We have to keep a check on it.
If you did it this Ramadaan, Alhamdulillah. Otherwise, pray to live till next Ramadaan so you can practice this Sunnah as well, inshaAllah. =)
Wassalam.
Hadith No. 35 – Sahih al-Bukhari
Salam,
Bismillah.
Jihad is NOT holy war. Qitaal is.
In other words, Qitaal is a type of Jihad. Because Jihad means: utmost struggle for the cause of Allah.
Jihad is much appreciated in Islam. Actually, it is what’s required of a believer. About Qitaal, the Hadith will tell us.
Narrated Abu Huraira:
The Prophet said, “The person who participates in (Holy battles) in Allah’s cause and nothing compels him to do so except belief in Allah and His Apostles, will be recompensed by Allah either with a reward, or booty (if he survives) or will be admitted to Paradise (if he is killed in the battle as a martyr). Had I not found it difficult for my followers, then I would not remain behind any sariya going for Jihad and I would have loved to be martyred in Allah’s cause and then made alive, and then martyred and then made alive, and then again martyred in His cause.”
I will not discuss more on the misconceptions about Jihad in today’s world. Fundamentalism, extremism and terrorism are mere words. And the Fiqh of Qitaal is beyond me. Argue with someone else. =)
This Hadith talks about a believer fighting for Allah’s cause, against His enemies. What a beautiful reward Allah has promised him! And both ways. If he survives, he gets war booty. If he’s martyred, he’s admitted into Paradise.
Moreover, the Prophet (SAW) wished to be a martyr. Not once. Again and again and again. Must be an awesome feeling, right? But only for the ease of his followers – us – he didn’t go forward in all the battles fought in his time. If he had done, it could’ve become compulsory for the followers.
Anyway, the way I choose to act upon this sunnah of the Prophet (SAW) is to develop the love of Jihad. To struggle for Allah’s sake. To serve my Deen.
May Allah choose us for His service. Ameen.
Wassalam.
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