Hello everyone! After a long busy summer I'm back on-line. The forums sure have changed their look! What happened???

How has everyone been?

As-salaamu ‘alaykum everyone,

Utrujj 'Knowledge & Creativity' in conjunction with Muslim World League presents:

Autumn courses on Marriage, Ramadan, Principles on Islamic Jurisprudence & a fast track 'All you need to know' course for Muslims who have just rediscovered their religion again & for recently converted Muslims, Insha'Allah.

1) PREPARATION FOR MARRIAGE & PARENTING

With the wedding season

in full swing, we pass our dua's on those who got

married. Whether your are married or not, divorce rates amongst Muslims are

reaching worrying levels, it is incumbent that we muslims living in the

West prepare ourselves in making our Muslim marriages successful. How do we

do this? How do we bring up children & what is good Islamic parenting ?

Duration: 1 month starting from Monday 15th September 2003

Times & Date: Every Monday from 6pm-8pm

2) PRINCIPLES(USOOL) OF ISLAMIC JURISPRUDENCE(FIQH)

A long awaited course aimed at giving a basic understanding of the scienceof principles of Islamic Jurisprudence (Fiqh). We hope to cover its importance,origins & main differences in principles of Fiqh and give practical examples in Usool al-Fiqh.

Duration: 1 month starting from Tuesday 16th September 2003

Times & Date: Every Tuesday from 6pm-8pm

3) FINDING YOUR WAY BACK - A fast track course for recently practicing muslims & reverts.

With the recents global events many muslims have rediscovered their

religion, alhumdullilah. However their ignorant past still alludes them.

This course will inshallah discuss the spiritual & practical aspects of

correcting the past & looking towards the future.

For many converts to islam, the starting point of learning islam is their

biggest obstacle ! Where do I start from? Inshallah, this course will

answer many of their questions.

Duration: 1 month starting from Wednesday 1st October to 22nd 2003

Times & Date: Every Wednesday from 6pm-8pm

4) PREPARATION FOR RAMADAN (FASTING MONTH)

Alhumdullilal, the month of Ramadan is approaching & inshallah if Allah

(swt) gives us the tawfique we will fast. Unfortunetly, for many it has

become the 'month of sleeping' & insteading of reforming one' self, it has

become a cultural practice or ' a thing we must do' hence devoiding all the

benefits a person can gain. The root cause of this is ignorance. Year after

year the same questions prop up. How can we 'really' make use of Ramadan in

a practical way. The answer lies in preparing for it !

This specially made course will help explain why fast,the proofs, how to & break the fast.Permissible and non-permissible actions, taraweeh prayer, moon sighting & Eid ul Fitr & Fitra, differences in opinion. Other types of fasting, women & fasting, making up fasts and many other issues that are closely related to Ramadhan.

Duration: 1 day intensive

Times & Date: Saturday 18th October 2003

Booking Details:

Tel: 0845 644 0619

Book online: http://www.utrujj.com/registration.htm

Email: info@utrujj.org

Teacher: Shaykh Haytham Tamim (Utrujj, London):

Shaykh Haytham Tamim has studied Shariah for over 16 years and has accreditation (ijaaza's) in recitation, interpretation and Sciences of the Qur'an, Hadith and Fiqh from the scholars of Sham, Medina and Indian subcontinent. Aswell as verifying (tahqiq) over 20 books, his specialities include comparative Fiqh, Usool and Hadith. This vast knowledge is harnessed with extensive teaching experience, he has t aught students for over 12 years innumerous countries. He has served as a lecturer of Comparative Fiqh for manyyears at the Islamic University of Beirut and also as a lecturer of Hadithand Seerah at the Azhar Lubnan Academy, Lebanon. Some of his teachers include: Shaykh Professor Wahbah az-Zuhayli (Syria); Shaykh Professor Saeed Ramadan al-Bouti (Syria); Mullah Abdul Aleem az-Zanki (Syria); Shaykh Abdul Fattah abu Ghuddah (Riyad); Shaykh Professor Mustafa al-Azzami (Riyad/India) & many others.

Venue:

4th Floor, Muslim World League, 46 Goodge Street, London, W1T 4LX

(on the corner of Charlotte Street)

Transport:

Nearest Tube: Goodge Street Station (Northen Line)

Nearest Rail: Euston Station

For directions click these:

http://www.streetmap.co.uk/newmap.srf?x=52...p=newsearch.srf

For more information contact Utrujj on:

Tel: 0845 644 0619

E-mail: info@utrujj.com

Or visit our website: http://www.utrujj.org

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Introduction

The Muslim population in Spain is presently about thirty thousand as well as a 95 percent Roman Catholic and also 15,000 Jews. ( Worldbook 2000 Encyclopaedia ).

The Word Andalus in Arabic is the name for the liberian peninsula which is commonly known as Spain and Portugal. The first Muslims to actually land in; Andalus, did so sixty years before the caliphate of Uthman ( may Allah ' s blessing and peace be upon him ). On two separate occasions

approximately 648 AD ( 27 After Hijri ), in the south east of the peninsula. However both of these incursions were more in the nature of exploratory forays and prompted the need to take fresh provisions on board. It was the landing of the Muslim army in the year 711 AD which was the event that the Greeks had foretold and feared, the high point of an era which was to last for 800 years.

The Battle of Spain.

Tariq ibn Ziyad was sent by Musa ibn Nusayr in the year 711 AD as a chief commander to conquer Andalus. His men numbered 12000-17000. On his journey he decided to take some rest and sleep. It is said whilst sailing across the sea, which separates Africa from Andalus, he saw in his dream the prophet surrounded by arabs of the Muhajiruun and Ansaars, who with unsheathed swords and bended bows stood by him. They also heard the prophet say " take courage, O Tariq! and accomplish what you are destined to perform. " On hearing this, he looked around him and saw the messenger of Allah and his companions entering Andalus. Tariq immediately awoke from his sleep with a smile, and from that moment on he never doubted victory. Tariq advanced towards a small mountain in the sea which later became known as Jabal Tariq (Mount Tariq) derived from which is the modern name: Gibraltar. Here Tariq and his army disembarked into the darkness of the night. He then set fire to his fleet and in his determination to conquer Andalus he told his army " I have now burnt the ships, and now there is no return for us and here we will conquer or die fighting."

The king of the time, King Roderick, heard about the seizure and immediately prepared his army which numbered 100,000. King Roderick set off with confidence that they will make each and every Arab his prisoner. Roderick took his army to Cordova to attack Tariq and his armies. King Roderick ordered one of his bravest soldier to spy on the muslims. Tariq was informed of this and made such a cunning plan which on the other hand deluded the enemies. The plan was based on cutting up corpses and pretending to eat them. The spy returned after witnessing this in shock and confusion and related the matter to the king which filled him with utter delusion. Before the battle, Tariq gave a speech which portrayed his valiance, determination and ideology regarding the life after death.

In this speech he also mentioned his desire to kill King Roderick with his own hands. After his influential speech, Tariq and his army with their white turbans and spears in their hands proceeded towards the battlefield. When Tariq reached the battlefield he saw his ambition and aimed his arrow towards him and killed him. He had now fulfilled his long felt desire and gained victory for the Muslims. It is said in the confusion that followed the defeated Christian soldiers fled for their lives, the body of King Roderick had also disappeared. The Muslims had a zeal for knowledge, they were advanced in architecure and were masters in science. They took control of spain and transformed it in to a thriving community with interlectuals such as Allama Qurtubi. European noblemen came to Spain to learn from these Muslims who had built magnificent libraries, public baths and hospitals for all communities. Religious freedom was granted to the Catholic community. The Muslims gave their due to the state as religious Alms to the poor (Zakat), the Christians were also required to contribute a small amount (Jizya) towards the well being of fellow countrymen in lieu of the religious alms the Muslims gave. The Muslims protected the rights of the Christians who were surprised to see such good humanity in the Muslim conquerers. Previous empires plundered and ill gained. The Muslims, however, treated people fairly and just. The Cathedral at Cordova (Cordoba) was not siezed as conquerers would, but bought for a reasonable sum from the Catholic clergy. Their just society was because they governed, at the time, by the Book of Allah: The Holy Quran.

Muslim control and the fall of Spain

When Tariq and his army conquered a large portion of Spain in 711-718 AD, which mainly consisted of the Moors who were a Muslim tribe from North Africa, they immediately implemented

Islamic law ( Shariah ) with Caliphates. the muslim ruled with islamic law for over 800 years.

However when the Muslim government of Spain collapsed during the early 1000s due to the fighting amongst the groups of Moors, the country split into many small Moorish states and independent

cities. This was not the only reason for the downfall of a nation which ruled for many centuries. This was due to the fact that the leaders did not rule according to the Islamic law and chose an un-islamic life.

Below is an extract from the hadith ( saying of the prophet ).

Abdullah ibn Umar narrates ; " the Prophet came to us and said O muhajiruun, you may be afflicted by five things, may Allah forbid you live to see them, if leaders do not govern according to the book of Allah, you should realize this will not happen without Allah making them into groups and making them fight another. " ( Ibn Majah, Kitab al Fitan, 4019,2/1332 ) you can see from this small extract how the Prophet Muhammad had advanced knowledge of the future and how correct his prophecies were to be.

The Spanish Inquisition and the oppressing of the Muslims.

King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella wanted to create an astray united Spain. They considered Jews and Muslims to be a threat to their ambition. In 1480, they established the Spanish Inquisition, a court that imprisoned anybody who was suspected of not following the Roman Catholic teachings and preaching. The king set up an army which would capture anybody who did not follow and adhere to the Roman Catholic religion. How was this religious persecution achieved? is the question which arises. The answer is a simple but a despicable one. The army would go as far as checking the men genitals to see if they were circumcised. If they were then they would be killed as well as their families. They would be spied upon and if they were seen bathing on Friday, or seen wearing beautiful clothes on Eid or any such days they would be killed, even if they were not Muslims. Some frail and weak muslims found no way out of this, and denounced Islam, and embraced Christianity assuming they would be safe, they were also killed. Many mosques were converted into churches. This brutal torture continued for more than 300 years, and in 1492 Spanish forces conquered Granada, the last centre of Moorish control in Spain. These are some of the reasons why sadly there are few signs of practised Islam in Spain today.

April Fools

After the Spanish Inquisition the Christian armies wanted to get rid of the Muslims somehow. They told the Muslims that they could take with them necessary possessions from their homes. They were

told they could sail away in the ships anchored on the quay side. The Christians looted their homes and set fire to them. Before they reached the ships they set fire to them. The Christians then attacked

the innocent Muslims and killed them. They then celebrated this carnage and it has now become a ritual which is celebrated annually all around the world. We should bring out the facts of the story to all in order to educate and curtail the practice of celebrations of this bloody and shameful episode. Next April Fools day remember all those who were dreadfully massacred on this day. Pray for all who have passed away and those that are persecuted around the globe. All we can do is to pray to Allah, asking Him for peace & harmony and an end to religious persecution in all it's disguises.

The 25th of December is, as even the most ignorant, laid-back, good for nothing, illiterate dim-wit will tell you, Christmas Day; the day Jesus was born (according to popular Christian myth). When is Saint Valentine's Day? Most people will be willing to wager, without hesitation or a moments pause for thought, their life savings that it is on the 14th of February. Ask all romantics or for that matter non romantics, ask any Shabir, Imtiyaz or Rayhanah, from those in their earliest teens to those of us for whom youth is a collection of rapidly fading memories of a distant past, this question and others like it pose little difficulty.

I was testing a child whose parents took a keen interest in his school education. I asked him the dates of some historical events to which he fired back the answers unfalteringly.

"When was the Battle of Hastings?" I asked him.

"1066."

"The Great Plague?"

"1664 to early 1666. It claimed the lives of some 70’000 people."

"The Fire of London?"

"2nd to 5th September 1666. It started at Pudding Lane, 13’000 homes were destroyed."

"England's only World Cup Final victory?"

"1966, and weave never heard the end of it," he joked.

"First moon landing?"

"Neil Armstrong 1969."

"Span of the First World War?"

"1914 to 1918, treaty signed with Germany at Versailles in June, 1919."

"The birth of the Prophet Muhammad ?"

"Sorry?"

"When was the Prophet Muhammad born?" I paused to rephrase the question. "When was YOUR Prophet born?" I asked, laying emphasis on the your.

"Ah, yes, well, umm..." he began to falter.

I did not wish to embarrass him further. "He was born in the year referred to by the then Arabs as Aamul-Feel (The Year of the Elephant), corresponding to 571 CE (Christian Era), on the twelfth of Rabiul Awwal." I informed him.

"Rabiul-what?" he spoke as if he were articulating the words of an alien tongue.

a message to all who support american army and who helping jewish with direct or indirect way we say:

don't blame us

for all muslim the next days w'll be not good to be existing in those places : economic targets

military targets

jewish buildings or any places belonging jewish

cause it w'll be new attacks against lawfull targets of american occupiers or jewish vampieres .

may allah save islam amen

shikh mujahed usama bin laden congratulate the islamic nation and promise with new attacks against occupiers for the moment which we see all armys which fighting us go back and on 11th septemper jazira chanell w'll show the new film of qaaeda which called the great hell of american in afganistan part 1

and inshaa allah we w'll produce our souls cheap in the way of allah and free our countries

Salam alikom

How about making a collection of the english anasheed that are without music, I will put the ones I know for now, if you know any please put them.

Have you heard By Zain Bhikha

You are never alone By Zain Bhikha

Mount Hira By Zain Bhikha

Talaa' al badro aa'lyina By Zain Bhikha

Ahad By Yusuf Islam

Dostorna Al-Quran By Yusuf Islam

I came across this website and found it interesting.

http://www.jannah.org/thecave/

So take a look at it and tell me wot u think.

Ten Things We Waste

(based on a lesson of Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyyah)

1. --Our Knowledge-- Wasted by not taking action with it.

2. --Our Actions-- Wasted by committing them with out sincerity.

3. --Our Wealth-- Wasted by using on things that will not bring us ajr. We waste our money, our status, our authority, on things which have no benefit in this life or in akhirah.

4. --Our Hearts-- Wasted because they are empty from the love of Allah, and the feeling of longing to go to Him, and a feeling of peace and contentment. In it's place, our hearts are filled with something or someone else.

5. --Our Bodies-- Wasted because we don't use them in ibadah and service of Allah

6. --Our Love-- Our emotional love is misdirected, not towards Allah, but towards something/someone else.

7. --Our Time-- Wasted, not used properly, to compensate for that which has passed, by doing what is righteous to make up for past deeds

8. --Our Intellect-- Wasted on things that are not beneficial, that are detremental to society and the individual, not in contemplation or reflection.

9. --Our Service-- Wasted in service of someone who will not bring us closer to Allah, or benefit in dunyaa

10. --Our Dhikr-- Wasted, because it does not effect us or our hearts.

The Four Poisons of the Heart

The glance, too much talking, too much food, bad company

From the -- The Purification of the Soul

from the works of Ibn Rajab Al-Hanbabli, Ibn Al-Qayyim al-Jawziyaa, and Abu Hamid al-Ghazali

You should know that all acts of disobedience are poision to the heart and cause its sickness and ruin. They result in its will running off course, against that of Allah, and so its sickness festers and increases. Ibn al-Mubarak said:

I have seen wrong actions killing hearts, And their degradation may lead to their bcoming addicted to them. Turning away from wrong actions gives life to the hearts, And opposing your self is best for it.

Whoever is concerned with the health and life of his heart, must rid it of the effects of such poisons, and then protect it by avoiding new ones. If he takes any by mistake, then he should hasten to wipe out their effect by turning in repentance and seeking forgiveness from Allah, as well as by doing good deeds that will wipe out his wrong actions.

By the four poisions we mean unnecessary talking, unrestrained glances, too much food, and keeping bad company. Of all the poisons, these are the most widespread and have the greatest effect on a heart's well-being.

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Unnecessary Talking

It is reported in al-Musnad, on the authority of Anas, that the Prophet *saaws* said: "The faith of a servant is not put right until his heart is put right, and his heart is not put right until his tongue is put right."1 This shows that the Prophet *saaws* has made the purification of faith conditional on the purification of the heart, and the purification of the heart conditional on the purification of the tongue.

At-Tirmidhi relates in a hadith on the authority of Ibn Umar: "Do not talk excessively without remembering Allah, because such excessive talk without the mention of Allah causes the heart to harden, and the person furthest from Allah is a person with a hard heart."2

Umar Ibn al-Khattab, may Allah be pleased with him, said: "A person who talks too much is a person who often makes mistakes, and someone who often makes mistakes, often has wrong actions. The Fire has a priority over such a freqent sinner."3

In a hadith related on the authority of Mu'adh, the Prophet *saaws* said, "Shall I not tell you how to control all that?" I said, "Yes do, O Messenger of Allah." So he held his tongue between his fingers, and then he said: "Restrain this." I said, "Oh Prophet of Allah, are we accountable for what we say?" He *saaws* said, "May your mother be bereft by your loss! Is there anything more than the harvest of the tongues that throws people on their faces (or he said 'on their noses') into the Fire?"4

What is meant here by 'the harvest of the tongues' is the punishment for saying forbidden things. A man, through his actions and words, sows the seeds of either good or evil. On the Day of Resurrection he harvests their fruits. Those who sow the seeds of good words and deeds harvest honour and blessings; those who sow the seeds of evil words and deeds reap only regret and remorse.

A hadith related by Abu Huraira says, "What mostly causes people to be sent to the Fire are the two openings: the mouth and the private parts."5

Abu Huraira also related that the Messenger of Allah *saaws* said, "The servant speaks words, the consequences of which he does not realise, and for which he is sent down into the depths of the Fire further than the distance between the east and the west."6

The same hadith was transmitted by at-Tirmidhi with slight variations: "The servant says something that he thinks is harmless, and for which he will be plunged into the depths of the Fire as far as seventy autumns."7

Uqba ibn Amir said: "I said: "O Messenger of Allah, what is our best way of surviving?' He, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, replied: "Guard your tongue, make your house suffice for sheltering your privacy, and weep for your wrong actions."8

It has been related on the authority of Sahl ibn Sa'd that the Prophet *saaws* said, "Whoever can guarantee what is between his jaws and what is between his legs, I guarantee him the Garden."9

It has also been related by Abu Huraira, may Allah be pleased with him, that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "Let whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day either speak good or remain silent."10

Thus talking can either be good, in which case it is commendable, or bad, in which case it is haram.

The Prophet *saaws* said: "Everything the children of Adam say goes against them, except for their enjoining good and forbidding evil, and remembering Allah, Glorius and Might is He." This was reported by at-Tirmidhi and Ibn Ma'jah on the authority of Umm Habiba, may Allah be pleased with her.11

Umar ibn al-Khattab visited Abu Bakr, may Allah be pleased with them, and found him pulling his tongue with his fingers. Umar said "Stop! may Allah forgive you!" Abu Bakr replied; "This tongue has brought me to dangerous places."12

Abdullah ibn Mas'ud said: "By Allah, besides Whom no god exists, nothing deserves a long prison sentence more than my tongue." He also used to say: "O tongue, say good and you will profit;desist from saying evil things and you will be safe; otherwise you will find only regret."

Abu Huraira reported that Ibn al-Abbas said: "A person will not feel greater fury or anger for any part of his body on the Day of Judgement more than what he will feel for his tongue, unless he only used it for saying or enjoining good."

Al-Hassan said: "Whoever does not hold his tongue cannot understand his deen."

The least harmful of a tongue's faults is talking about whatever does not concern it. The following hadith of the Prohet *saaws* is enough to indicate the harm of this fault: "One of the merits of a person's Islam is his abandoning what does not concer him."13

Abu Ubaida related that al-Hassan said: "One of the signs of Allah's abandoning a servant is His making him preoccupied with what does not concern him."

Sahl said, "Whoever talks about what does not concern him is deprived of truthfulness."

As we have already mentioned above, this is the least harmful of the tongue's faults. There are far worse things, like backbiting, gossipying, obscene and misleading talk, two-faced and hypocritical talk, showing off, quarrelling, bickering, singing, lying, mockery, derision and falsehood; and there are many more faults which can affect a servant's tongue, ruining his heart and causing him to lose both his happiness and pleasure in this life, and his success and profit in the next life. Allah is the One to Whom we turn for assistance.

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Unrestrained Glances

The unrestrained glance results in the one who looks becoming attracted to what he sees, and in the imprinting of an image of what he sees in his heart. This can result in several kinds of corruption in the heart of the servant. The following are a number of them:::

It has been related that the Prophet *saaws* once said words to the effect: "The glance is a poisoned arrow of shaytan. Whoever lowers his gaze for Allah, He will bestow upon him a refreshing sweetness which he will find in his heart on the day that he meets Him."14

Shaytan enters with the glance, for he travels with it, faster than the wind blowing through an empty place. He makes what is seen appear more beautiful than it really is, and transforms it into an idol for the heart to worship. Then he promises it false rewards, lights the fire of desires within it, and fuels it with the wood of forbidden actions, which the servant would not have committed had it not been for this distorted image.

This distracts the heart and makes it forget its more important concerns. It stands between it and them; and so the heart loses its straight path and falls into the pit of desire and ignorance. Allah, Mighty and Glorious is He, says:

--*< And do not obey anyone whose heart WE have made forgetful in remembering Us- who follows his own desires, and whose affair has exceeded all bounds. (18:28)--<*

The unrestrained gaze causes all three afflications.

It has been said that between the eye and the heart is an immediate connection; if the eyes are corrupted, then the heart follows. It becomes like a rubbish heap where all the dirt and filth and rottennes collect, and so there is no room for love for Allah, relating all matters to Him, awareness of being in His presence, and feeling joy at His proximity-only the opposite of these things can inhabit such a heart.

Staring and gazing without restraint is disobedience to Allah:

-*< Tell the believing men to lower their gaze and quard their modesty; that is more purifying for them. Surely Allah is aware of what they do. (24:30)--<*

Only the one who obeys Allah's commands is content in this world, and only the servant who obeys Allah will survive in the next world.

Furthermore, letting the gaze roam free cloaks the heart with darkness, just as lowering the gaze for Allah clothes it in light. After the above ayah, Allah, the Glorious and Mighty, says in the same surah of the the Qur'an:

-*< Allah is the light of the heavens and the earth: the likeness of His light is as if there were a niche, and in the niche is a lamp, and in the lamp is a glass, and the glass as it were a brilliant star, lit from a blessed tree, an olive, neither of the east nor of the west, whose oil is well nigh luminous, though fire scarce touched it. Light upon light. 'Allah guides whomever He wants to His Light. Allah strikes metaphors for man; and Allah knows all things. (24:35)--<*

When the heart is a light, countless good comes to it from all directions. If it is dark, then clouds of evil and afflictions come from all directions to cover it up.

Letting the gaze run loose also makes the heart blind to distinguishing between truth and falsehood, between the sunnah and innovation; while lowering it for Allah, the Might and Exalted, gives it a penetrating, true and distinguishing insight.

A righteous man once said: "Whoever enriches his outward behaviour by follwing the sunnah, and makes his inward soul weathy thorugh contemplation, and averts his gaze away from looking at what is forbidden, and avoids anything of a doubtful nature, and feeds soley on what is halal-his inner sight will never falter."

Rewards for actions come in kind. Whoever lowers his gaze from what Allah has forbidden, Allah will give his inner sight abundant light.

***Too much Food, Keeping Bad Company, and What Gives the Heart Life and Sustence from this chapter, will be sent tommorrow by the will of Allah***

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Too Much Food

The consumption of small amounts of food guarantees tenderness of the heart, strenght of the intellect, humility of the self, weakness of desires, and gentleness of temperament. Immoderate eating brings about the opposite of these praiseworthy qualities.

Al-Miqdam ibn Ma'd Yakrib said: "I heard the Messenger of Allah *saaws* say: "THe son of Adam fills no vessel more displeasing to Allah than his stomach. A few morsels should be enough for him to preserve his strength. If he must fil it, then he should allow a third for his food, a third for his drink and leave a third empty for easy breathing."15

Excessive eating induces many kinds of harm. It makes the body incline towards disobedience to Allah and makes worship and obedience seem laborious-such evils are bad enough in themselves. A full stomach and excessive eating have caused many a wrong action and inhibited much worship. Whoever safeguards against the evils of overfilling his stomach has prevented great evil. It is easier for shaytan to control a person who has filled his stomach with food and drink, which is why it has often been said: "Restrict the pathways of shaytan by fasting."16

It has been reported that when a group of young men from the Tribe of Israel were worshipping, and it was time for them to break their fast, a man stood up and said: "Do not eat too much, otherwise you will drink too much, and then you will end up sleeping too much, and then you will lose too much."

The Prophet *saaws* and his companions, may Allah be pleased with them, used to go hungry quite frequently. Although this was often due to a shortage of food, Allah decreed the best and most favourable conditions for His Messenger, may Allah bless him and grant him peace. This is why Ibn Umar and his father before him-in spite of the abundance of food available to them-modelled their eating habits on those of the Prophet *saaws*. It has been reported that Aisha, may Allah be pleased with her, said: "From the time of their arrival in Madina up until his death *saaws*, the family of Muhammed *saaws* never ate their fill of bread made from wheat three nights in a row."17

Ibrahim ibn Adham said: "Any one who controls his stomach is in control of his deen, and anyone who controls his hunger is in control of good behaviour. Disobedience towards Allah is nearest to a person who is satiated with a full stomach, and furthest away from a person who is hungry."

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Keeping Bad Company

Unnecessary companionship is a chronic disease that causes much harm. How often have the wrong kind of companionship and intermixing deprived people of Allah's generosity, planting discord in their hearts which even the passage of time-even if it were long enough for mountains to be worn away-has been unable to dispel. In keeping such company one can find the roots of loss, both in this life and in the next life.

A servant should benefit from companionship. In order to do so he should divide people into four categories, and be careful not to get them mixed up, for once one of them is mixed with another, then evil can find its way through to him:

The *FIRST* category are those people whose company is like food: it is indispensable, night or day. Once a servant has taken his need from it, he leaves it be until he requires it again, and so on. These are the people with knowledge of Allah-of His commands, of the scheming of His enemies, and of the diseases of the heart and their remedies- who wish well for Allah, His Prophet *saaws* and His servants. Associating with this type of person is an achievement in itself.

The *SECOND* category are those people whose company is like a medicine. They are only required when a disease sets in. When you are healthy, you have no need of them. However, mixing with them is sometimes necessary for your livelihood, businesses, consultation and the like. Once what you need from them has been fulfilled, mixing with them should be avoided.

The *THIRD* category are those people whose company is harmful. Mixing with this type of person is like a disease, in all its variety and degrees and strengths and weaknesses. Associating with one or some of them is like an incurable chronic disease. You will never profit either in this life or in the next life if you have them for company, and you will surely lose either one or both of your deen and your livelihood because of them. If their companionship has taken hold of you and is established, then it becomes a fatal, terrifying sickness.

Amongst such people are those who neither speak any good that might benefit you, nor listen cloesly to you so that they might benefit from you. They do not know their souls and consequently put their selves in their rightful place. If they speak, their words fall on their listeners' hearts like the lashes of a cane, while all the while they are full of admiration for and delight in their own words.

They cause distress to those in their company, while believing that they are the sweet scent of the gathering. If they are silent, they are heavier than a massive millstone-too heavy to carry or even drag across the floor. 18

All in all, mixing with anyone who is bad for the soul will not last, even if it is unavoidable. It can be one of the most distressing aspects of a servant's life that he is plagued by such person, with whom it may be necessary to associate. In such a relationship, a servant should cling to good behaviour, only presenting him with his outward appearance, while disguising his inner soul, until Allah offers him a way out of his affliction and the means of escape from this situation.

The *FOURTH* category are those people whose company is doom itself. It is like taking poision: its victim either finds an antidote or perishes. Many people belong to this category. They are the people of religious innovation and misguidance, those who abandon the sunnah of the Messenger of Allah *saaws* and advocate other beliefs. They call what is the sunnah a bid'a and vice-versa. A man with any intellect should not sit in their assemblies nor mix with them. The result of doing so will either be the death of his heart or, at the very best, its falling seriously ill.

~~ What Gives the Heart Life and Sustenance

You should know that acts of obedience are essential to the well being of the servant's heart, just in the same way that food and drink are to that of the body. All wrong actions are the same as poisonous foods, and they inevitably harm the heart.

The servant feels the need to worship his Lord, Mighty and Glorious is He, for he is naturally in constant need of His help and assistance.

In order to maintain the well being of his body, the servant carefully follows a strict diet. He habitually and constantly eats good food at regular intervals, and is quick to free his stomach of harmful elements if he happens to eat bad food by mistake.

The well being of the servant's heart, however, is far more important than that of his body, for while the well being of his body enables him to lead a life that is free from illnesses in this world, that of the heart ensures him both a fortunate life in this world and eternal bliss in the next.

In the same way, while the death of the body cuts the servant off from this world, the death of the heart results in everlasting anguish. A righteous man once said, "How odd, that some people mourn for the one whose body has died, but never mourn for the one whose heart has died-and yet the death of the heart is far more serious!"

Thus acts of obedience are indispensable to the well being of the heart. It is worthwhile mentioning the following acts of obedience here, since they are very necessary and essential for the servant's heart: ---Dhikr of Allah ta'Ala, recitation of the Noble Qur'an, seeking Allah's forgiveness, making du'as, invoking Allah's blessings and peace on the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and praying at night.*