Qur’an – The Heart-Softener (Hadith No. 465)

Salam,
Bismillah.

Volume 1, Book 8, Number 465:

Narrated ‘Aisha (the wife of the Prophet):

I had seen my parents following Islam since I attained the age of puberty. Not a day passed but the Prophet visited us, both in the mornings and evenings. My father Abu Bakr thought of building a mosque in the courtyard of his house and he did so. He used to pray and recite the Qur’an in it. The pagan women and their children used to stand by him and look at him with surprise. Abu Bakr was a softhearted person and could not help weeping while reciting the Quran. The chiefs of the Quraish pagans became afraid of that (i.e. that their children and women might be affected by the recitation of Quran).”

Listen to this:

 

Qur’an is the Word of Allah. It is a miracle, a cure, mercy, guidance, reminder. It can make you cry and smile at the same time. It gives you solutions for your problems. It’s a real companion, if only you try befriending it!

Wassalam.

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Chill. In the Masjid. (Hadith No. 464)

Salam,
Bismillah.

Read Hadith no. 463 under Backbenchers. It’s a repeat.

 

When I first read this Hadith, I was so surprised. And very happy too. And since then I’ve been putting it into practice. It’s just too much fun. :)

Volume 1, Book 8, Number 464:

Narrated ‘Abbad bin Tamim:

that his uncle said, “I saw Allah’s Apostle lying flat (on his back) in the mosque with one leg on the other.” Narrated Said bin Al-Musaiyab that ‘Umar and ‘Uthman used to do the same.

In the masjid? Really? :O

Yeah. Mhmm. In the masjid. He was ‘chillaxing’. You should try it too.

Whenever I lie down in a masjid, it’s like an inside joke and I end up smiling to myself. People look at you like you’re a very bad person, showing disrespect to the masjid and all. But only you know that you’re following the Prophet (SAW) and actually getting reward for chillin’ in the mosque. ;)

When you go for Eid prayer tomorrow, do try it. Do let me know if you ended up smiling to yourself! :D

Wassalam.

Tahajjud/Night Prayer (Ahadith 461-462)

Salam,
Bismillah.

Hadith no. 460 is a repeat. Read it here: Debt and Ihsaan.

Volume 1, Book 8, Number 461:

Narrated Nafi’:

Ibn ‘Umar said, “While the Prophet was on the pulpit, a man asked him how to offer the night prayers. He replied, ‘Pray two Rakat at a time and then two and then two and so on, and if you are afraid of the dawn (the approach of the time of the Fajr prayer) pray one Rak’a and that will be the witr for all the Rakat which you have offered.” Ibn ‘Umar said, “The last Rakat of the night prayer should be odd for the Prophet ordered it to be so.

Volume 1, Book 8, Number 462:

Narrated Ibn ‘Umar:

A man came to the Prophet while he was delivering the sermon and asked him how to offer the night prayers. The Prophet replied, ‘Pray two Rakat at a time and then two and then two and so on and if you are afraid of dawn (the approach of the time of the Fajr prayer) pray one Rak’a and that will be the with for all the Rakat which you have prayed.” Narrated ‘Ubaidullah bin ‘Abdullah bin ‘Umar: A man called the Prophet while he was in the mosque.

So it’s easy. 2 rak’aat at a time. And when you’re done, finish up with a witr (single rak’at).

Ibn Hajar says:

There was no specific time in which the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) would perform his late night Prayer; but he used to do whatever was easiest for him.

But the last part of the night (a while before Fajr starts) is recommended for Tahajjud because of this famous Hadith:

Narrated Abu Huraira:

Allah’s Apostle (p.b.u.h) said, “Our Lord, the Blessed, the Superior, comes every night down on the nearest Heaven to us when the last third of the night remains, saying: “Is there anyone to invoke Me, so that I may respond to invocation? Is there anyone to ask Me, so that I may grant him his request? Is there anyone seeking My forgiveness, so that I may forgive him?”

`Amr ibn `Absah claimed that he heard Muhammad saying:

The closest that a servant comes to his Lord is during the middle of the latter portion of the night. If you can be among those who remember Allah the Exalted One at that time, then do so.

—At-Tirmidhi

Remember, Tahajjud is a voluntary prayer, but whoever performs it, is rewarded immensely. And the special bond and closeness that a person feels with Allah (SWT) by praying at that time, cannot be achieved with any other deed. So do try it. <3

P.S. it’s easier in Ramadan. Get up a while before Fajr (one has to get up for suhoor anyway), and pray as many rak’aat as you can. :)

Wassalam.

Raising Your Voice in a Mosque (Hadith No. 459)

Salam,
Bismillah.

Go through a few repeated Ahadith before we come to no. 459. Reminder benefits. :)

Volume 1, Book 8, Number 456:

Narrated Ibn ‘Abbas:

“Allah’s Apostle in his fatal illness came out with a piece of cloth tied round his head and sat on the pulpit. After thanking and praising Allah he said, “There is no one who had done more favor to me with life and property than Abu Bakr bin Abi Quhafa. If I were to take a Khalil, I would certainly have taken Abu- Bakr but the Islamic brotherhood is superior. Close all the small doors in this mosque except that of Abu Bakr.”

More on it here.

Volume 1, Book 8, Number 457:

Narrated Nafi:

Ibn ‘Umar said, “The Prophet arrived at Mecca and sent for ‘Uthman bin Talha. He opened the gate of the Ka’ba and the Prophet, Bilal, Usama bin Zaid and ‘Uthman bin Talha entered the Ka’ba and then they closed its door (from inside). They stayed there for an hour, and then came out.” Ibn ‘Umar added, “I quickly went to Bilal and asked him (whether the Prophet had prayed). Bilal replied, ‘He prayed in it.’ I asked, ‘Where?’ He replied, ‘Between the two pillars.’ “Ibn ‘Umar added, “I forgot to ask how many Rakat he (the Prophet) had prayed in the Ka’ba.”

More on it here.

Volume 1, Book 8, Number 458:

Narrated Abu Huraira:

Allah’s Apostle sent some horse men to Najd and they brought a man called Thumama bin Uthal from Bani Hanifa. They fastened him to one of the pillars of the mosque.

More on it here.

 

Today’s Hadith:

Volume 1, Book 8, Number 459:

Narrated Al-Sa’ib bin Yazid:

I was standing in the mosque and somebody threw a gravel at me. I looked and found that he was ‘Umar bin Al-Khattab. He said to me, “Fetch those two men to me.” When I did, he said to them, “Who are you? (Or) where do you come from?” They replied, “We are from Ta’if.” ‘Umar said, “Were you from this city (Medina) I would have punished you for raising your voices in the mosque of Allah’s Apostle.

If you ever find yourself shouting/raising your voice in a masjid, remember this stern reaction of Umar (RA). Masjid is a sacred place. A place where Allah is remembered, worshiped. It requires a certain respect from us. A code of conduct, to be precise. Remember that book we used to read as kids called ‘Adaab-e-Zindagi’? Open it up and read the chapter titled ‘Masjid ke Aadaab’.
Or just look it up in Minhaj-ul-Muslim. :P

Wassalam.

The Prophet’s Faithful Friend (Hadith No. 455)

Salam,
Bismillah.

Yesterday’s Hadith highlighted the importance of good company. Today you’ll see what a ‘good’ friend is like. The best example of all times: Abu Bakr, Prophet (SAW)’s friend. <3

Volume 1, Book 8, Number 455:

Narrated Abu Said Al-Khudri:

The Prophet delivered a sermon and said, “Allah gave a choice to one of (His) slaves either to choose this world or what is with Him in the Hereafter. He chose the latter.” Abu Bakr wept. I said lo myself, “Why is this Sheikh weeping, if Allah gave choice to one (of His) slaves either to choose this world or what is with Him in the Here after and he chose the latter?” And that slave was Allah’s Apostle himself. Abu Bakr knew more than us. The Prophet said, “O Abu Bakr! Don’t weep. The Prophet added: Abu- Bakr has favored me much with his property and company. If I were to take a Khalil from mankind I would certainly have taken Abu Bakr but the Islamic brotherhood and friendship is sufficient. Close all the gates in the mosque except that of Abu Bakr.

We all know the stories of their friendship. How he was the only man supporting him, believing in him when everyone else, even family, turned their backs on the Prophet (SAW). We know how he was always ready to put his life on the line for him, how he helped out in the Hijrah and how glad he was to find out that he was accompanying the Prophet (SAW) on his journey to Madinah. He was thaniya ithnayn (the second of the two), as Allah mentions him in the Qur’an. He was Abu Bakr, Allah be pleased with him.

ثَانِيَ اثْنَيْنِ إِذْ هُمَا فِي الْغَارِ إِذْ يَقُولُ لِصَاحِبِهِ لَا تَحْزَنْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ مَعَنَا
“..the second of the two; when they (Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم and Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه) were in the cave, he (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said to his companion (Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه): “Be not sad (or afraid), surely Allah is with us.” [At-Tawbah: 40]

There’s a lot to say about Abu Bakr (RA). There’s a lot to know about him. Try reading up on him. And, do listen to this beautiful nasheed about him:

Do you have a friend like that? Moreover, are YOU such a friend to others? :)

Quick question: do you know why he was known as as-Siddeeq?

Wassalam.