Assalلmu `alaykum,


Utrujj - Knowledge & Creativity Presents:


SUMMER BEEHIVE COURSES 2005: UNDERSTANDING, LOVING AND LIVING ISLAM


Teachers:


*Shaykh Haytham Tamim: Founder and Teacher of the Utrujj Foundation


*Shaykh Marwan Ghalayini:


*Dr Faissal Hameed: Islamic History lecturer from Muslim College, London


*Shaykh Mohammad Tahir: Imam of the Leeds Grand Mosque.


*Br Rani El-Khateeb: Former President of FOSIS


London


Dates: 4th July - 28th July 2005


Venue: Muslim World League, 46 Goodge Street, London W1T 4L


Leeds


Dates: 8th August - 26th August 2005


Venue: Leeds Metropolitan University & Leeds Grand Mosque


Subjects:


Tajweed: Rules of Recitation of the Qur’an


Islamic Belief (Aqeeda)


Parenting in the West – Are you Prepared?


Tafseer of Surah Yusuf


History of Andalusia


Living with the Qur’an


Biographies of the Companions


Changing Gear – Accelerating your spirituality


The Summer Beehive is a non-residential programme of essential Islamic


courses offered over a few


weeks in the summer aimed to motivate and inspire. This year the Beehive


will be in Central London


for 4 weeks offering 12 unique courses. Each course runs for one week,


either in the morning,


afternoon or evening to cater for people of all lifestyles.


The Beehive then returns to Leeds this time for three weeks, offering 6


different courses plus a supplementary Tajweed course, which will run for


one week at the Leeds Grand Mosque in the evenings.


ALL programmes are flexible and students can enrol onto as many courses as


suits them.


******PLEASE SEE ATTACHED BROCHURE FOR MORE DETAIL*********


“Understanding, Loving, and Living Islam” - This year’s courses have been


designed to:


* Increase your understanding of the teachings of Islam.


* Increase your love for Allah (swt) and His Messenger the Prophet Muhammad


(saw).


* Make you aware of and to help you deal with the challenges that are facing


the Muslims living in the UK.


Unfortunately crèche facilities will not be available. Children over the age


of 12


are welcome but remain the responsibility of their parents/guardians.


Accommodation will not be provided at any of the venues


but Free Transport will be arranged from Bradford to Leeds.


HURRY BEFORE PLACES GO! LIMITED PLACES LEFT !


To book or for more information please contact:


Tel: 0845 644 0619 / 07960 324 325


E-mail: info@utrujj.org or more courses in Leeds please e-mail:


utrujjnorth@utrujj.org


Website: www.utrujj.org


----


The blessed Prophet (peace be upon him) mentioned that 'The believer who


recites the Qur'an and applies it is like the utrujja (fruit), whose smell


is fragrant and taste is sweet .' (Bukhari)


Utrujj is based upon the teachings of the above Hadith in seeking to equip


you with the sacred knowledge of Islam, while simultaneously training you in


it's implementation in your daily lives. As a result of this dynamic


approach your personality should insh'Allah come to personify this sacred


knowledge.


The change this creates will be witnessed by those around you as they smell


the sweet fragrance of your good speech and taste the sweetness of your


exemplary actions. Such a change within individuals is critical in realising


our covenant with Allah and for the spreading of Islam, especially here in


the West.


_________________________________________________________________


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Utrujj-list mailing list


Utrujj-list@utrujj.net


http://mail.webstar.co.uk/mailman/listinfo/utrujj-list

Petition


URGENT: PLEASE SIGN IT


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Please sign the online petition and forward it to others:


http://www.petitiononline.com/mod_perl/pet...-sign.cgi?icmcb


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The true function and real intentions of the MCB - the Muslim Council of Britain, a. k. a. the Munafiq Council of Britain - were revealed yesterday in a discussion document suggesting Kutbas be written by the MCB for all UK imams and their masjids.


Such control is unheard of in the West and is only exerted in the brutal regimes on the Saudi Peninsula and in Egypt and some other oppressed Muslim countries. The details of this outrage were outlined in a secret email sent to Iqbal Sacranie, the head of the MCB and at least seven hand-picked members of the council which is favoured by the British government and its intelligence services.


Muslims in Britain would never have discovered exactly what the MCB was contemplating had it not been for the heroic actions of a whistle-blower who gave the evidence to Sister Yvonne Ridley.


Sister Yvonne, who believes in outing hypocrites and exposing sleaze with her courageous style of journalism, spilled out the contents of the secret email on her TV show "The Agenda". The award-winning tabloid journalist, feared by those in power with things to hide, read out the contents of the email to a stunned television audience across Europe, North and West Africa.


Inayat Bunglawala (also, unaffectionately, nick-named: Bung-up-wallahi), the much taunted, "oily" spokesman for the MCB called Ridley live in "The Agenda" studio belonging to the Islam Channel and denied the story. {You guessed it: Inayat Bunglawala is the same guy how found "nothing wrong" in bombing Afghanistan}.


It was very much a one-side verbal battle of wits leaving Bunglawala exposed as a purveyor of half truths and downright lies. He denied any knowledge of such an email or a plan and it was at that point Sister Ridley finished off her opponent by saying: "Well I would check your email in queue more often brother because you received this on June 6 at 22.12 according to my copy"(!!).


Game, set and match!


But this leaves us with two urgent issues:


Firstly, as one of "The Agenda" callers said: "We have to kill this foetus before it takes its first breath" This news is the thin edge of a very long wedge. What may be seen as a passing idea, a mere whim by one member of the MCB could well be taken up seriously by the control freaks at the head of the organisation. So make your feelings known by sending a "HANDS OFF OUR KUTBA" email to Admin@mcb.org.uk or to inayat_b@hotmail.com


Secondly, our own mole inside the MCB says Sacranie and Bunglawala are so furious at being exposed that they want "That woman's head on a stick".


This is not the first time Sister Ridley has been in the firing line for exposing sleaze, lies and double standards. She was sacked by Aljazeera.net for publishing a series of exclusive stories about the ritual abuse of US soldiers on our brothers and sisters in Afghanistan and Iraq. After being threatened with "treason" charges and held in Qatar for more than five weeks she eventually had her passport returned and was allowed to leave. It has taken nearly two years for her to win a case against Aljazeera.net for unfair dismissal.


We must not let her be removed from the Islam Channel where she has robustly fought the authorities on behalf of her brothers and sisters around the world, and spoken out without fear for our brothers in Belmarsh. We must not allow the Islam Channel to succumb to the sort of pressure Aljazeera gave in to, and so we must remind the channel just how valuable an asset our sister is.


Send your letters of support for Sister Yvonne Ridley to pr@islamchannel.tv or go on to the channel's discussion rooms and give her your support. The website is www.islamchannel.tv


On the other hand the The Islam Channel is becoming more and more one of the few bright spots and the end of the dark tunnel of media deceptions and lies. It deserve all our support to stand high and independent. So please: tune in, listen, call in and, most importantly, have all your adds be carried by "The Islam Channel"!


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DON'T JUST TALK,


ACT NOW: SIGN THE PETITION!!

as-salam


sneezing is considered ablessing from God.the manners concerning it are these


1)a muslim should not seek to restrain asneeze.it isa healthy function


2)when about to sneeze amuslimshould turn his faceaway or cover his mouth and nose with hand or hankerchief thus lessening the noise&at the same timeavoiding nuisance to those nearby


3)since sneezing is considered ablessingfrom god amuslim should acknowledge this by saying:Alhamdulillah(praise&thanks to Allah)


4)when amuslim sneezes& praises God,those who hear should awoke ablessing on himby saying:yarhamuka Allah(may god have mercyon you)


5)it is right to invoke blessing on one who sneezes at the most three times.if he sneezes more than three timesthis probably means he or she has cold..


6)if amuslimsneezes and doesnot praise godthen invoking ablessing on him isnot required


7)if amuslim sneezes &forgets topraise god then it is theduty of muslims near him to remind him kindly of his duty to thank God


8)Blessing for anon-muslim who sneezes should be expressed in words:Yahdikum Allah


(May Allahguide you on the Right way)


jameela

Friday, 10 June, 2005 - BBC News


<b>What happens when the world changes around you and suddenly your face doesn't seem to fit? Tariq Ahmed, a British Muslim who changed his name to beat prejudice, tells his story. </b>





Almost four years since 9/11 and it's still talked about like yesterday. That's four years in the spotlight for Muslims around the world, most of whom, like the rest of us may never have heard the name Osama bin Laden before the attack on America.


While many Muslims will tell you the name Osama has a beautiful ring in their culture (it means "like a lion") to many Western ears it is synonymous with terrorism.


In the case of Tariq Ahmed, a young London public relations executive, the fact that 9/11 was at the forefront of other people's minds led him to a radical decision - he changed his name to get a job.


Tariq had been working in Germany and returned to the UK following 9/11. With a mixed Muslim and Indian-Christian heritage, the complexities of identity were simply something that he had grown up with. And this experience had taught him a lot about stereotypes.


"The Muslims in this country are OK. We are not linked to terrorism. We are well educated, we have good jobs. We don't eat curry all the time and we even have the odd drink now and again," he says.


"[but] my 'brand' is Muslim and for people who don't know me or see me, but see my name on a CV, they will associate me with being Muslim."


Tariq said that he first noticed a subtle problem in people's perceptions when he speculatively sent his CV to corporate headhunters in the City.


Name test


"I sent my CV off and friends in very similar situations were doing that kind of exercise," he says. "And they were getting calls in for interviews, they were getting job offers and I was not.


"Then a friend said to me, 'What about your name? What about changing your name?' So I decided to test it."


"If [Muslim] people want to achieve their objectives, then they have to understand the more they adapt or the more they can fit in without losing their core identity, the better it will be for them" Tariq Ahmed


Sheikh Ali Tariq Ahmed became Daniel Jacob. And when he sent his original CV back out to the same companies who had shown no interest, "Daniel" got calls.


The fact that his new name was Jewish is coincidental, he says. Jacob is his mother's family name and he chose Daniel because it was innocuous and Anglo-Saxon.


Surprised by what he had found, he went the final step and legally changed his name by Deed Poll to Daniel Jacob.


"It was amazing because the interest was so much more obvious than before," he says. "If you want to find a job when you are out of work and a Muslim, then change your name and it will happen more quickly. Believe me, I know."


Tariq's experiences have made him philosophical. He says he remains proud of his Muslim upbringing - but also believes that you don't have to wear your culture on your sleeve.


When he returned recently to work, at the same company which employed him in Germany, colleagues encouraged him to change his name back to Tariq, something he has now done.


What this has taught him, he says, is that Muslims need to regard western wariness of Islam as a particularly challenging PR project.


"If people want to achieve their objectives, then they have to understand the more they adapt or the more they can fit in without losing their core identity, the better it will be for them and the better it will be for society."


Tariq and others tell their stories of living as British Muslims in Don't Panic, I'm Islamic, on Sunday 12 June at 1900 BST on BBC Two.


http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/4079064.stm

Seize This Wonderful Opportunity For Reward inshaAllah


As-Salaamu 'alaykum


Just a reminder inshaAllah to fast the three white days which will be , Monday 20th, Tuesday 21st and Wednesday 22nd inshaAllah...


Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: <i><b>“My close friend [i.e., the Prophet peace and blessings of Allah be upon him] advised me to do three things which I will never give up until I die: fasting three days each month, praying Duha, and sleeping after praying Witr.” (</b></i>al-Bukhaari, 1178; Muslim, 721).


It was narrated that Abu Dharr said: “The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said to me, <i><b>‘If you fast any part of the month then fast on the thirteenth, fourteenth and fifteenth.’”</b></i> (al-Nasa’i, 2424; Ibn Majah, 1707; Ahmad, 210; classed as saheeh by al-Albani in Saheeh al-Jaami’ al-Sagheer, 673).


Was-Salaamu 'alaykum


__________________

Bismillah


Assalamu alaikum


Bismillaahir Rahmaanir Raheem


Jihād an-Nafs: Striving Against the Soul


By Shaykh Hasan Ayyūb – may Allāh preserve him -


from the first chapter of his book 'Fiqh al-Jihād fil-Islām'


The world, in its overwhelming majority, is encountering waves upon waves of evil and is being struck by evil passions and trials and tribulations, and it is being overtaken by various kinds of destructive evils, and it is being governed by Satanic ideas and selfish, imposing laws, and concepts that destroy all aspects of the human being that can be considered virtuous and noble. We are surrounded by an environment that has deviated from the truth, submitted to its desires and has been put to trial by its forbidden passions. And the human being inherits all that those who came before him have left for him of corruption in belief, entrenchment in misguidance, submission to the Sharī'ah of the Devil, permitting the forbidden, forbidding the permissible, and beautifying the lowest of actions and the most disgusting sins. And he is - with this - longing to satisfy his desires as he has been surrounded by the devils of the humans and Jinn.


So, he is a product of the environment, culture, upbringing, thoughts and all that he is surrounded by, and affected by; beginning with his family, his people, all the way to the general human population.


This human being, if Divine Guidance was sent down for his sake, and Allāh showed him ways of living in happiness in this life and the next, and he was given from Allāh a Book, and He favored him – by His Favor – with a Messenger to take him by the hand to that which is better and higher, and organizes the affairs of his life on the basis of justice and mercy, and saves him from everything that could be a cause of his destruction in this life and the next; if all of this occurred, then his situation would be quite different.


From the people, however, are those who have been defeated by this accumulation in evil, and are pressured by these influences, so they don't pay any attention to the religion and give it not the slightest consideration. Rather, he belittles the religion, and mocks it, and has enmity to those who call to it, and fights all those who try to change his ways and plant a pure seed in his head in place of the filthy Satanic seed that is in place.


Allāh – the Exalted – said: {"Rather! On their hearts is the black spot of the sins that they used to earn…"}
[al-Mutaffifīn; 14]


And He – the Exalted – said: {"And if it is said to them 'Come to that which Allāh has revealed and to the Messenger!' they said 'What we found our fathers upon is enough for us.' Were it not that their fathers knew nothing and were not guided…"}
[al-Mā'idah; 104]


And He – the Exalted – said: {"Verily, those who disbelieve will not believe whether you warn them or not."}
[al-Baqarah; 6]


And yet, there is another type of person that you might see who is ready to reflect calmly and with deep insight, and remove himself from any outside influences in order to look at the issues that are important, and puts aside all that he has been fed in order for his research to be upon clarity. So if he is guided and comes to know, he turns and changes and becomes another person.


This human being struggles against (yu jāhid) his soul that commands him with evil, as well as his overwhelming passions and transgressing innate nature, deviated desires, misguided cultural practices, and bad habits.


He says: there is none worthy of worship except Allāh, certain that it means: none is rightly deserving of being served or worshipped except for Allāh, and none deserves to be submitted to or humbled before except Allāh, and none has the right to command or forbid except Allāh, and there is no legislation of laws except by Allāh, and by Him – the Exalted – the Muslim takes his steps, and with this, he submits himself to Allāh in a complete manner – in every way, shape and form – so he is called a Muslim (a submitter).


And he believes in everything that Allāh has revealed - so he is called a Mu'min (believer).


And he stands watch over the devils among the humans and Jinn, so he does not allow them to affect him – so he is called a Sābir (an endurer).


And he stops at the limits set by Allāh, and does not cross them unless in a moment of heedlessness (in which case he repents) – so he is called a Murābit (one who guards his territory).


And he sacrifices himself and his wealth for the sake of his belief, and he lives as a fugitive who has been uprooted from his home – so he is called a Mujāhid (one who strives).


And regarding this, the Exalted says: {"And those who strive in Our cause, we will guide them to Our ways, and verily, Allāh is with those who do good."}
[al-'Ankabūt; 69]


And He – the Exalted – says: {"O you who believe! Endure and be patient and guard your territory and fear Allāh so that you may be successful."}
[Āl 'Imrān; 200]


This kind of person, wherever he is found in a land or amongst a certain group of people, he is like a rising sun who's rays are sweet-smelling perfume; by him, the Earth is connected to the Heavens, and upon him descends the Mercy of Allāh, and surrounding him are the Angels of the Most Merciful.


He has a heart with the innocence of children, and a tongue with the purity of water from a rain cloud, and a helping hand that extends as if it was sent from Allāh, and a face that shines with the truth as if it were the morning light, and firmness upon the religion of Allāh as if he himself was a firm mountain.


If you walk with him he benefits you, and if you befriend him he serves you, and if you consult him he advises you, and if you wrong him he excuses you, and if you comfort him he thanks you, and if you are at odds with him he forgives you. Truthful; easygoing; trustworthy; he fears Allāh, so he is as Allāh says regarding him: {"Muhammad is the Messenger of Allāh, and those who are with him are harsh against the disbelievers and merciful between each other. You see them bowing and prostrating, seeking Favor from Allāh and His Pleasure. Their distinctive sign is the mark of prostration on their faces."}
[al-Fat’h; 29]


And the struggle of the soul (jihād an-nafs) is the severest type of struggle, and the hardest and longest-lasting. It is a struggle at night, and during the day; in times of hardship, in times of ease; in times of relaxation and tension. It is a struggle in your beliefs and worship and interactions; while you are secluded from the people as well as when you are mixing with them. And it is a struggle by way of remembrance, prayer, fasting, and patience – as well as all things that strengthen your soul. And it is a struggle that calls for the person to be fully awake, aware and knowledgeable of the weak points of the enemy, the strategies of the Devil, the incoming waves of falsehood, the possible entrance points of doubts and confusions, as well as knowledge of the permissible and forbidden, and the commands of Allāh and his prohibitions, etc.


And without this struggle (Jihād) that polishes and purifies the soul, and changes everything in the life of the believer, and makes the Muslim a leader not a follower, and makes him a head and not a tail, and one who initiates change in others as opposed to one who is changed by others; without this type of struggle, a person is known simply as a Muslim – not a believer – and this is not a name that he would even be deserving of, and an outer image that does not reflect the inner truth.


And since this Muslim has given up on the struggle against his soul, he has also given up his Islāmic personality.


The struggle against the soul causes explosive changes – both internal and external – that give birth to a person that has been purified the utmost purification in comparison to the entire human race, so that the one who undergoes this change deserves to shine under the saying of Allāh:


{"You were the best nation brought out for the people."}
[Āl 'Imrān; 110]


Source, http://www.tibyan.com/article.php?id=1135

Bismillaahir Rahmaanir Raheem


Virtues of Martyrdom in the Path of Allah


Adopted from the works of ash-Shaykh ash-Shaheed 'Abdullah Azzam


“The life of the Ummah is connected to the ink of the scholars and the blood of the martyrs. What is more beautiful than to write the history of the Ummah with both the ink of the scholar and his blood, such that the map of Islamic history becomes coloured with two lines: one of them black, and that is what the scholar writes with the ink of his pen; and the second red, and that is what the martyr writes with his blood. And more beautiful than this is when the blood is one and the pen is one, so that the hand of the scholar, which expends the ink and moves the pen, is the same hand that expends his blood and moves the nations. The extent to which the number of martyred scholars increases, is the extent to which nations are delivered from their slumber, rescued from their decline and awoken from their sleep.


So history does not write its lines except with blood. Glory does not build its lofty edifice except with skulls. Honour and respect cannot be established except on a foundation of cripples and corpses. Empires, noble persons, states and societies, cannot be established except with examples"


ash-Sheikh ash-Shaheed ‘Abdullah Yoosuf ‘Azzam – May Allah have mercy upon you Ya Sheikhana! For your blood was not shed in vain after your assassination in 1989.


Glossary:


Shaheed: Lit. A witness, a martyr


Shuhadaa`: Plural of Shaheed - martyrs


Shahaadah: Lit. Testimony, martyrdom


1 – The blood of the Shaheed smells of musk:


“By the One in Whose Hand is my soul, no one is injured in the Path of Allah – and Allah knows best who is truly wounded in His Path – except that he comes (with his wound) on the Day of Resurrection, its colour the colour of blood, and its scent that of musk." [Muslim and Ahmad]


2 – The Most Beloved of the drops to Allah:


“There is nothing more beloved to Allah than two drops or two marks. The teardrop that falls from the fear of Allah, and the drop of blood shed in the Path of Allah. And as for the marks, then a mark in the Path of Allah, and a mark in an obligation from the obligations unto Allah”. (Hasan, reported by at-Tirmidhi)


"al-Jihad" is the intended meaning of the phrase “in the Path of Allah” as explained by Ibn Hajr al-'Asqalaani in Fath al-Bari.


About the meaning of "Jihad" Ibn Rushd said: “The word Jihad when it is uttered means to fight the disbelievers with the sword, until they accept Islam, or pay the Jizya (tax) by hand in a state of humiliation”


3 – The Shaheed Wishes to Return to this World:


“Any slave [of Allah] who dies and has been bestowed good from Allah, does not wish to return to the World, even if he is given the World and what it contains; except a Shaheed, due to what he sees from the virtues of Shahaadah [Martyrdom]. So he wishes to return to the World in order to be killed again” – and in another wording – “So that he may be killed ten times due to what he receives from the honour” [al-Bukhari and Muslim]


Scholars differed with regards to the reasons behind naming a martyr “Shaheed” (lit. a witness). Al-Azhari says, “This is because Allah and His Messenger bear witness that he is in Paradise” an-Nadhr says, “ash-Shaheed (a witness), is alive, so they were named that because they are alive with their Lord”.


It is also said, “Because the angels of mercy bear witness and take his soul”, and “he is from those who will be a witness unto nations”, and “He is witnessed to have Iman and a good end in his outward appearance”, and “because his blood bears witness for him on the Day of Judgment”.


Sheikh 'Abdullah Azzam says: "They are Shuhadaa` [witnesses] to the fact that this Deen is greater than life, and that values are more important than blood, and that principles are more precious than souls"


4 – Haarithah in the Highest Firdaws:


The Prophet – May the Salaah and Salaam of Allah be upon him – said to Umm Haarithah bint an-Nu’maan – after her son was killed in the battle of Badr – after she asked: “Where is he (i.e. is he in Paradise or the Fire)?” – he replied, “Indeed, he is in the highest Firdaws” [al-Bukhaari]


In another Hadeeth reported by al-Bukhaari:


“Indeed, in Paradise are a hundred levels which Allah has prepared for the Mujahideen in His Path. The distance between each level is that of between the heavens and the earth. So when you ask of Allah, then ask Him for Firdaws, for it is the center of Paradise, and the highest part of Paradise, and above it is the throne of The Most Merciful, from whence, the highest Firdaws, the rivers of Paradise spring forth”


5 – The Souls of the Shuhadaa` in the Hearts of Green Birds:


“Indeed the souls of the martyrs are in the hearts of green birds, and they have lanterns hanging underneath the 'arsh (the throne of Allaah). They roam around in Paradise wherever they wish, then they return to their lanterns. So, their Lord enquires: “Do you desire anything?” They say, “What can we desire for, when we roam around in Paradise wherever we wish?” And He asks them this three times. When they realize that they will not cease to be questioned, they say, “O Lord! We wish that you return our souls to our bodies, in order that we be killed in Your Path again” When it is realized that they have no need, they will be left alone.” [Muslim]


6 – Special Favours for the Shaheed:


“The Shaheed is granted seven special favours from Allah. He is forgiven (his sins) at the first drop of his blood. He sees his place in Paradise. He is dressed in the clothes of Iman. He is married to the Hoor al-‘Ain (beautiful women of Paradise). He is saved from the punishment of the grave. He will be protected from the great fear of the Day of Judgement. A crown of honour will be placed on his head, one jewel of which is better than the whole world and what it contains. He is married to seventy-two of the Hoor al-‘Ain (beautiful women of Paradise), and he will be able to intercede for seventy members of his family.” [saheeh – Related by Ahmad, at-Tirmidhi and Ibn Hibbaan]


7 – The Shuhadaa` of Uhud:


“When your brothers were killed at Uhud, Allah placed their souls in the hearts of green birds. They frequent the rivers of Paradise, and eat from its fruits, then return to the lanterns under the Throne. When they enjoy the good in their food and drink, and their excellent speech, they say, “We wish that our brothers knew what Allah has prepared for us, so that they will never abstain from Jihad, nor will they refrain from war” So Allah said, “I will inform them of you” So Allah revealed these verses to His Messenger:


“Think not of those killed in the Path of Allah is dead...” (3:169) [Ahmad, Abu Dawud, al-Hakim classified it Saheeh and adh-Dhahabi agreed]


8 – The Shuhadaa` beside the Baariq river:


“The Shuhadaa` are in a green dome beside the river of Baariq, near the gate of Paradise, from which provision comes to them morning and evening” [saheeh al-Jami 3/235 # 3636]


9 – ash-Shahaadah is better than cities and villages:


“To be killed in the Path of Allah is more beloved to me than that people of cities and villages belong to me” [Ahmad – narrators are trustworthy, and the chain is strong]


10 – The Shaheed does not feel the pain of death:


“The Shaheed does not feel [any pain] from killing, except as one of you feels the prick of a needle” [Ahmad, at-Tirmidhi and an-Nasaa`I and the Sanad is Hasan]


11 – Levels of Shuhadaa`:


“The best of the Shuhadaa` are those who fight in the frontlines, and do not turn away their faces until they are killed. They will be thrown into the highest rooms of Paradise, and Allah will laugh at them. And when your Lord laughs at a slave in a certain instance, then there is no account for him” [Ahmad with Saheeh chain (Saheeh al-Jami 1118)]


12 – There are three types of those killed:


“There are three types of those killed. A Mu`min man (a firm believer), who makes Jihad with his wealth and his self in the Path of Allah until he meets the enemy and fights them until he is killed. Then that is the Shaheed who has been tested[to be] in the camp of Allah under His Throne. The Prophets are not better than him, except by the level of Prophethood.


And a man who oppresses his soul with sins and errors, who makes Jihad with his self and his wealth in the Path of Allah, until he meets the enemy and fights until he is killed. Then that is Mumasmasatun (a purifier) that expiates his sins and errors. Indeed, the sword wipes away errors. And he enters [Paradise] from any of the gates of Paradise he wishes. For indeed [the Paradise] has eight gates, and the Hell has seven gates, and some [of the gates] are better than others.


And a hypocrite man, who makes Jihad with his self and his wealth, until he meets the enemy and fights in the Path of Allah until he is killed, then indeed he is in the Hellfire. Verily, the sword does not wipe off an-Nifaaq (hypocrisy)” [Ahmad with Hasan chain, and Ibn Hibbaan classified it Saheeh]


13 – Which killed person is the best?


The Prophet – may the Salaah and the Salaam of Allah be upon him – was asked: “Which killed person is the best?” He replied, “The one whose blood flows and whose limbs are cut [with the sword] in the Path of Allah”. [Ahmad, Abu Dawud and the narrators are trustworthy]


14 – Master of the Shuhadaa`:


“The master of the Shuhadaa` is Hamzah Ibn ‘Abdul-Muttalib, and a man who stands up to a tyrannical ruler, and orders him [with good] and forbids him [from wrong], due to which [the ruler] kills him” [Hasan, reported by al-Haakim and adh-Dhiyaa`]


15 – The Soul of the Martyr Eats from the Fruits of Paradise:


“Verily, the souls of the Shuhadaa` are in the hearts of green birds, that eat from the fruits of the Paradise” [saheeh, reported by at-Tirmidhi from Ka’b Ibn Malik, and it is also in Saheeh al-Jami #1555]


16 – “Bury the killed in the places where they fought” [saheeh, reported by the four from Jaabir, and it is also in Saheeh al-Jami # 247]


17 – “There are five (deaths) due to which a person is a Shaheed: The one killed in the Path of Allah is Shaheed, the one who drowns in the Path of Allah is a Shaheed, the one who dies due to stomach illness in the Path of Allah is a Shaheed, the one who dies of plague in the Path of Allah is a Shaheed, and the woman who died in childbirth is a Shaheedah” [saheeh, reported by an-Nisaa`i from ‘Uqbah Ibn Naafi’. Also found in Saheeh al-Jami #3249]


18 – “Whoever sincerely asks Allah for Shahaadah, Allah raises him to the levels of the Shuhadaa`, even if he dies on his bed” [saheeh, reported by Muslim and the four from Sahl bin Haneef. Also in Saheeh al-Jami’ #6152]


Seeking martyrdom with sincerity means making preparation for it as Allah said: “If they really intended to go out [in Jihad] they would have made some preparation” (9:46)


19 – “One who falls down from his beast then he is a Shaheed” [saheeh, at-Tabarani from Uqbah bin Nafi’. Also in Saheeh al-Jami #6212]


Also, in the Hadeeth of Umm Haraam bint Milhaan, “she went out [for Jihad] with her husband, ‘Ubaadah bin as-Saamit, on the first naval expedition by the Muslims lead by Mu’awiyah. When they turned back from their expedition, returning home, and anchored at ash-Shaam, her beast was brought near to her so that she may mount, but she fell and died.” [al-Bukhari]


This Hadeeth is also a proof for the fact that the ruling of the one returning from Jihad is the ruling of the one going to Jihad.


20 – “One who is killed defending his wealth is a Shaheed, one who is killed defending his blood is a Shaheed, one who is killed defending his religion is a Shaheed, and one who is killed defending his family is a Shaheed” [saheeh, reported by Abu Dawud, at-Tirmidhi, an-Nisaa`i and Ahmad from Sa’eed bin Zaid. Also in Saheeh al-Jami’ #6321]


This is known in Fiqh as “Repulsing the Aggressor”. An “Aggressor” is the one who assaults the honour, lives and wealth.


The scholars from the four schools of Fiqh have agreed upon the obligation of repelling the aggressor who assaults the honour. As for the aggressor assaulting life and property, then it is obligatory – according to the majority – to repel him, which agrees with the correctly chosen opinion of the Maliki and Shafi’i Math-hab, even if it results in killing of a Muslim aggressor.


Al-Jassas said, “We do not know if any difference, in a case where if a man raises his sword against a person to kill him without right, that the Muslims are obliged to repel him” Ibn Taymiya says, “As for the aggressive enemy, who assaults the religion and the worldly life, nothing becomes an obligation after Iman, than repelling him”


21 – “One who is killed repelling oppression is a Shaheed” [Reported by an-Nisaa`i and adh-Dhiyaa` from Suwaid bin Muqrin. Also in al-Jami’ #6323]


This is also explained in a Hadeeth narrated by Abu Hurairah and reported by Muslim: that a person came to the Prophet – may the Salaah and the Salaam of Allah be upon him – and said, “O Messenger of Allah, What if a person comes who wants to take my property?” He replied, “Then don’t give him your property” The man said, “What if he fights me?” He replied, “Fight him back” The man said, “What if he kills me?” He replied, “Then you are a Shaheed” The man said, “What if I kill him?” He replied, “He is in the Hellfire”.


22 – Desiring Shahaadah:


“By Him in whose Hand is my soul, were it not for some men amongst the believers, who disliked to be left behind me, and for whom I cannot provide any means of conveyance, I would certainly never remain behind any unit setting out for a military expedition in the Path of Allah. By Him in whose Hand is my soul, I would love to be killed in the Path of Allah, then be brought back to life again, then killed, then be brought back to life then killed, and then be brought back to life then killed” [al-Bukhari from Abu Hurairah]


Likewise, it is authentically reported about the Shaheed that he “would desire to return to this world, and be killed 10 times due to what he sees from honour”.


23 – “A Military expedition in the sea is better than ten military expeditions on land. And the one who traverses is as if he has traversed all the valleys. A seasick person is like the one covered with his blood” [saheeh, related by al-Hakim from Ibn ‘Amr]


24 – “Every sin of a Shaheed is forgiven except debt” [Related by Muslim from Ibn ‘Amr]


As al-Qurtubi stated about the Shaheed who is barred from entering Paradise, that his soul is beside the river at the gate of Paradise, called “Baariq”, in a green dome from which provision comes to them morning and evening – and Allah knows best.


There comes an important question: Which of the two obligations overrule the other? Should he go in the Path of Allah? Or should he work until he pays off his debts and then go?


Here we say – may Allah give us ability: When a hand span of Muslim land is attacked, Jihad becomes an individual obligation, whereby a debtor may leave without the permission of his creditor, just as a boy may leave without the permission of his father, and this is a matter of agreement amongst the Salaf and the Khalaf of this Ummah.


Similarly, the debtor should evaluate the situation. If he is not able to pay off the debt, then he should leave and not wait to pay off the debt. And if the debtor is able to pay off the debt, then he should further evaluate the situation, and if he thinks that after paying off the debt, the creditor will use the payment for Jihad in the Path of Allah, then it is obligatory to pay off the debt, in order to achieve two benefits: paying off the debt, as well as aiding Jihad. This is how Ibn Taymiya has issued fatwa in al-Fatawa al-Kubra 4/183.


Ibn Taymiya also says: “It is obligatory upon the women to make Jihad with their wealth if they have this bounty, and similarly with the wealth of children. For if the enemy attacks, then to repel their harm upon the religion, lives and honour is obligatory by consensus”


25 – The Shaheed who did not bow down to Allah once:


“On the authority of Abu Hurairah: Amr ibn Uqaysh had given usurious loans in pre-Islamic period; so he disliked to embrace Islam until he took them. He came on the day of Uhud and asked: Where are my cousins? They (the people) replied: At Uhud. He asked: Where is so-and-so? They said: At Uhud. He asked: Where is so-and-so? They said: At Uhud. He then put on his coat of mail and rode his horse; he then proceeded towards them. When the Muslims saw him, they said: Keep away, Amr. He said: I have become a believer. He fought until he was wounded. He was then taken to his family wounded. Sa'd ibn Mu'adh came to his sister: Ask him (whether he fought) out of partisanship, out of anger for them, or out of anger for Allah. He said: Out of anger of Allah and His Apostle. He then died and entered Paradise. He did not offer any prayer to Allah.” [al-Haafidh said in al-Isaabah – its chain is strong, narrated by the group from Ibn Ishaaq]


26 – A Shaheed killed by his own weapon:


On the authority of Salamah bin al-Akwa’ who said: On the Day of Khaibar, my brother fought very fiercely, but he was hit by his own sword and killed. So the companions of the Messenger of Allah – may the Salaah and the Salaam of Allah be upon him – said after having doubts about him [salamah’s brother], “The man died due to his own weapon” So the Prophet – may the Salaah and the Salaam of Allah be upon him – said, “He died while making Jihad, as a Mujahid” Ibn Shahaab said: I then asked Salamah Ibn al-Akwa’s son, so he narrated to me from his father the like of it, except that he also said: The Messenger of Allah – may the Salaah and the Salaam of Allah be upon him – said, “They have lied! He died while making Jihad, as a Mujahid, so he will be rewarded twice”


[Extracted by Bukhari and Muslim and it is also found in the summarised Sunan Abi Dawud #2427]


On the authority of Abu Salaam – the Ethiopian – narrates about a man from the companions of the Prophet – may the Salaah and the Salaam of Allah be upon him – so he says: We attacked a area from the Juhayna [tribe], so a man from the Muslims sought after a man from the tribe [to fight him], and he struck him but erred and injured himself with the sword. So the Messenger of Allah – may the Salaah and the Salaam of Allah be upon him – said, “Your brother! O Muslims! [i.e. save him!]”, so the people rushed to him but found him dead. So the Messenger of Allah – may the Salaah and the Salaam of Allah be upon him – wrapped him with his garment and his blood, prayed over him and then buried him. So the people said: O Messenger of Allah, is he Shaheed? He replied, “Yes! And I am a Shaheed for him [i.e. I bear witness to his martyrdom].”


[Abu Dawud and al-Mundhiri remained silent, thus it is Hasan. Also found in al-Mukhtasar #2428]


27 – Chapter: It should not be said that so and on is a Shaheed:


This is how Imaam al-Bukhari titled the chapter for the Hadeeth: Amongst the companions of the Messenger of Allah – may the Salaah and the Salaam of Allah be upon him – was a man who would not leave any isolated or detached person except that he would chase him and strike him with his sword. So they said: No one performed better than us today the way such person surpassed us. So he said – may the Salaah and the Salaam of Allah be upon him – “As for him then verily he is in fire”.


At the end of the Hadeeth, the person commits suicide.


As for the statement of al-Bukhaari: "It is not said that such and such is Shaheed", then Ibn Hajr said commenting on his words, “Meaning, in absolute sense”


The meaning of the words of al-Bukhaari and Ibn Hajr is that we do not rule about the one killed on the battlefield that he is Shaheed and that he will enter Paradise. This is because entry into Paradise is a matter that rests on the intention of the one killed, and that is only in the knowledge of Allah. It is also a principle of Ahlus-Sunnah wal-Jama’ah that we do not rule a person to be either in Paradise nor Hellfire.


As for calling the one killed in the battlefield a “Shaheed” in order to apply the legal rulings of a Shaheed, based on a strong speculation, hence, not wrapping him in a shroud, nor washing him, nor praying over him, then this case has been supported by the vast majority of the Salaf and the Khalaf.


Thus, Ibn Hajr states, “Due to this reason, the Salaf practiced calling martyrs of Badr and Uhud and others “Shuhadaa`”, intending by it, the apparent ruling based on a strong speculation – and Allah knows best” [Fath al-Bari 6/90]


In fact, some of the Muhadditheen, such as Ibn Katheer would use the phrase “Istush-hida” (meaning “became Shaheed”) for someone who did not even die in a battle. So he says about al-Fadhl-ubn-ul-‘Abbas in al-Bidaayati wan-Nihaayah [4/96]: “Istush-hida (He became Shaheed) due to a plague epidemic”. Likewise, he says about al-Haarith bin Hishaam [4/95] “Istush-hida bish-Shaam” (meaning, ‘he became Shaheed in Shaam’)


Ibn Kathir also says about an-Nu’maan bin Muqrin al-Muzani [4/123]: “[‘Umar] al-Faarooq sent him is a leader over the forces to Nahaawand. So Allah bestowed by his hands a great conquest, and Allah established him in that land, and established him as an authority over those servants, and through him Allah established the Muslims there until the Yawm at-Tunaad (lit. the Day of Calling – meaning the Day of Resurrection), and He granted him victory in this world, and on the Day when the witnesses will stand forth, (i.e. Day of Resurrection). And He granted him, after seeing how he loved the magnificent Shahaadah, which is the desired objective. So he became from those, about whom Allah, the Most High said in His clear Book, which is the straight path, “Indeed, Allah has purchased from the believers, their lives and their properties, and in return for them is Paradise” [at-Tawbah]

The Quran says that Jesus will be a sign of the Last Day.


Does anyone have any ideas about what he's supposed to do?


After reading some of Revelation in the bible, I get the idea that he's supposed to open the door to Heaven and Hell and kill the evil spirit and cast him into the bottomless pit. [img]style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif[/img]

Sometimes, we wonder "What did I do to deserve this", or "Why did God have to do this to me".


Here is an explanation...!!!!


A daughter is telling her Mother how everything is going wrong. She's failing Algebra, her boyfriend broke up with her and her best friend is moving away.


Meanwhile, her Mother is baking a cake. She asks her daughter if she would like a snack, and the daughter says, "Absolutely Mom, I love your cake."


"Here, have some cooking oil," her Mother offers. "Yuck" says her daughter. "How about a couple of raw eggs?"


"Gross, Mom!"


"Would you like some flour then? Or maybe baking soda?" "Mom, those are all yucky!"


To which the mother replies: "Yes, all those things seem bad all by themselves.


But when they are put together in the right way, they make a wonderfully delicious cake!


God works the same way. Many times we wonder why He would let us go through such bad and difficult times.


But God knows that when He puts these things all in His order, they always work for good!


We just have to trust Him and, eventually, they will all make something wonderful!


God is very much in love with you. He sends you flowers every spring and a sunrise every morning.


Whenever you want to talk, He'll listen.


He can live anywhere in the universe, but He chose your heart."

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