Praise be to Allah, a praise which is adequate to Your graces and favors, Praise be to Allah abundant and special gratitude, we send prayer and peace on the best Messenger to the worlds our Prophet Mohamed, his family members, companions and whoever followed them until the day after. I seek refuge of Allah's Complete knowledge from my ignorance, "O my Lord! expand me my breast;* Ease my task for me* And remove the impediment from my speech* So they may understand what I say"


While we are still surfing with the Noble Quran, this piece will be shedding light on positions where Allah employed His Names and Attributes in a way that best serves the meaning. Actually, in Arabic it is astounding, however, with Allah's close guidance will do my best to bring the meaning.


"(They are) those who have Been expelled from their homes In defiance of right, (For no cause) except That they say. Our Lord Is Allah. Did not Allah check one set of people by means of another, There would surely have been Pulled down monasteries, churches, Synagogues, and mosques, in which The name of Allah is commemorated In abundant measure. Allah will certainly aid those who aid His (cause); for verily Allah is Full of Strength (laQawy Azeez), Exalted in Might, (Able to enforce His Will)" (Quran 22:40).


If we started analyzing this verse, we see that Allah started with an explanation about those who were compelled to flee their houses just for declaring that Allah is their Lord, then He moved to a confirmation about granting victory to those who stand firm for Allah's cause. (The underlined part is more to be granting victory rather than merely providing aid). And because He Shall grant victory and support He has to be at this position The Most Strong, The Possessor of All Strength and The Mighty. In the Arabic text the Name Qawy is preceded by a lam, it serves for more confirmation that He is the Most strong.


"That (is so). And if one has retaliated to no greater extent than the injury be received, and is again set upon inordinately, Allah will help him: for Allah is Paroner (A`afow) and forgives (again and again)" (Quran 22:60).


[b:a3bbce9e0f]In this verse Allah is Talking about retaliation and punishment in return for distress, because the topic here involves retaliation and punishment, He sat forth the rule on taking equal revenge without transgressing. Yet reminded us that since He is the One Who Owns pardon (A`afou: the first section of the underlined sentence) as well as One Who Forgives again and again. We might as well adopt this moral and pardon and forgive as well in such cases. [/color:a3bbce9e0f][/b:a3bbce9e0f]


"That is because Allah merges night into day, and He merges day into night, and verily it is Allah who hears and sees (all things)" (Quran 22:61).


<span>[b:a3bbce9e0f]At this position since He is the One who alternates night and day, here He must be the All Hearer since He Hears all what takes place during day time and Seeing (Baseer) who sees also all what takes place during night time.[/b:a3bbce9e0f][/color:a3bbce9e0f] </span>

<span>
"That is because Allah He is The Truth; and those besides Him whom they invoke, they are but vain Falsehood: verily Allah is He, Most High, Most Great" (Quran 22: 62). </span>

<span>
[b:a3bbce9e0f]Because He is The Truth and being endures unchangingly, then the verse must also end with a further confirmation for a description that fits His incomparable nature Most High, Most Great.[/color:a3bbce9e0f][/b:a3bbce9e0f] </span>

<span>
"Seest thou not that Allah sends down rain from the sky, and forthwith the Earth becomes clothed with green? for Allah is He who understands the finest mysteries, and The All Aware. He who has the knowledge of inner and most secret aspects of all things " (Quran 22: 63). </span>

<span>
[b:a3bbce9e0f]</span><span><span>This verse is extremely powerful, look at the beginning, Allah is One Who gifts His servants with rain from the sky which in turn causes land to grow plants forming a green carpet. Because He does this, He must be here The Subtle One. He who knows the minutest subtleties of all things so that to be able to send the rain from the sky and of course The All Aware. He who has the knowledge of inner & most secret aspects of all things. [/color:a3bbce9e0f][/b:a3bbce9e0f] </span></span>

<span><span>
"To Him belongs all that is in the Heavens and on Earth: for verily Allah, He is free of all wants, worthy of all praise" (Quran 22: 64). </span></span>

<span><span>
</span></span><span><span><span>[b:a3bbce9e0f]</span></span></span><span><span><span>Whereas here again He affirm that He Own all what is in the skies and earth. Therefore He must be He Who is not in need for anybody / thing and The Rich one. He who is infinitely rich and completely Independent. (Ghany), and also worthy of all praise for what He gives us. Sobhan Allah. The same style is used here in the Arabic text the Name Ghany is preceded by lahowa it means certainly He is.[/color:a3bbce9e0f][/b:a3bbce9e0f]
</span></span></span>

<span><span><span>
"Seest thou not that Allah has made subject to you (men) and that is on the Earth, and the ships that sail through the Sea by His command? He withholds the Sky (rain) from falling on the Earth except by His leave: for Allah is the Most Kind and Most Merciful to man" (Quran 22:65).
</span></span></span>

<span><span><span>
[b:a3bbce9e0f]
</span></span></span><span><span><span><span>Because Allah in this verse dedicated what is on earth for mankind in addition to the ships which sail in the see of course by His command so that we may benefit in many ways of transportation of people or goods and then made us secure while living on this earth. Secure because He holds the sky in order not to fall on earth. In this case He must be the Most Kind and Merciful. Through this kindness and mercy all of the previously mentioned is happening. [/color:a3bbce9e0f][/b:a3bbce9e0f]"
</span></span></span></span>

<span><span><span><span>
No just estimate have they made of Allah: for Allah is He who is strong and able to carry out his will" (Quran 22: 74).
</span></span></span></span>

<span><span><span><span>
[b:a3bbce9e0f]
</span></span></span></span><span><span><span><span><span>While again in this verse He is reminding us that there are some people who failed actually to understand and give Allah the adequate estimate. Adequate estimate for Who? Of course for the One Who is Full of Strength and Exalted in Might (Qawy Azeez).[/color:a3bbce9e0f][/b:a3bbce9e0f]
</span></span></span></span></span>

<span><span><span><span><span>
Sobhan Allah a`ama yasefoun: Glory to God (He is free) from the things they ascribe (to Him).
</span></span></span></span></span>

<span><span><span><span><span>
Brothers and sister, I was actually trembling before putting this article together, trembling of fear not to be up to explaining about His Names and Attributes. Have been hesitant to do it for a long time, then I said to myself I might as well try and invoke upon Al A`aleem to Help me, accept my humble effort and all of our efforts. Actually no effort can reach a precise explanation of His Names and Attributes we only try. But on the other hand it makes us really comfortable and relaxed to know that we are living under the canopy of He Who is Full of Strength and Exalted in Might.
</span></span></span></span></span>

<span><span><span><span><span>
Praise be to Allah who guided us for this and if it was not for Him we would have never been guided and I send the best prayer and blessing on our leader, teacher and Prophet Mohamed Ibn Abdullah who fought for the truth a real fighting may Allah reward him with the best reward.
</span></span></span></span></span>

Assalaamoalaikum

I was thinking if some of you can tell us how u came to be a muslim, or how were u introduced first to Islam ?

any replies would be appreciated

JazakumuAllah khair

-- Ali

Alhamdulelah :)

As salam Alykom all members

We have noticed lately some posts that are not compatible with the main theme we desire for this forum. Members slander each other and just post replies for the sake of posting.

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Interview With Usama Bin Laden

September 28, 2001

KABUL, Afghanistan (Ummat): Prominent Arab mojahed (freedom fighter) Usama bin Laden or the Al-Qaida group has nothing to do with the 11 September attacks on the Bush Administration, according to an Usama bin Laden interview with Ummat, the Karachi-based Pakistani daily newspaper. In his interview, Usama bin Laden pointed out that the Israeli regime is behind the 9-11 attacks. He expressed gratitude and support for Pakistan, urging the Pakistani people to continue their jehad against dictators, tyrants, traitors, crooks, criminals, dictatorships and tyrannies. Following is the text of Usama Bin Laden's interview conducted by a "special correspondent" and published in the daily Ummat on Friday, 28 September 2001. [The place and date of the interview was not given by Ummat.]

News of this Ummat interview was suppressed in the US. Between the time of its publication and October 7, the US apparently spent its time creating a fake "bin Laden" interview, using either a stand-in or morphing.

Daily UMMAT: You have been accused of involvement in the attacks in New York and Washington. What do you want to say about this? If you are not involved, who might be?

USAMA BIN LADEN: In the name of Allah (God), the most beneficent, the most merciful. Praise be to Allah, Who is the creator of the whole universe and Who made the Earth as an abode for peace, for the whole humankind. Allah is the Sustainer, who sent Prophet Muhammad (saw) for our guidance. I am thankful to The Ummat Group of Publications, which gave me the opportunity to convey my viewpoint to the people, particularly the valiant and momin (true Muslim) people of Pakistan who refused to believe the lies of the demon (Pakistani military dictator General Pervez Musharraf).

I have already said that I am not involved in the 11 September attacks in the United States. As a Muslim, I try my best to avoid telling a lie. I had no knowledge of these attacks, nor do I consider the killing of innocent women, children and other humans as an appreciable act. Islam strictly forbids causing harm to innocent women, children and other people. Such a practice is forbidden even in the course of a battle. It is the United States, which is perpetrating every maltreatment on women, children and common people of other faiths, particularly the followers of Islam. All that is going on in Palestine for the last 11 months is sufficient to call the wrath of God upon the United States and Israel. There is also a warning for those Muslim countries, which witnessed all these as a silent spectator. What had earlier been done to the innocent people of Iraq, Chechnya and Bosnia? Only one conclusion could be derived from the indifference of the United States and the West to these acts of terror and the patronage of the tyrants by these powers that America is an anti-Islamic power and it is patronizing the anti-Islamic forces. Its friendship with the Muslim countries is just a show, rather deceit. By enticing or intimidating these countries, the United States is forcing them to play a role of its choice. Put a glance all around and you will see that the slaves of the United States are either rulers or enemies of Muslims.

The U.S. has no friends, nor does it want to keep any because the prerequisite of friendship is to come to the level of the friend or consider him at par with you. America does not want to see anyone equal to it. It expects slavery from others. Therefore, other countries are either its slaves or subordinates. However, our case is different. We have pledged slavery to God Almighty alone and after this pledge there is no possibility to become the slave of someone else. If we do that it will be disregardful to both our Sustainer and his fellow beings. Most of the world nations upholding their freedom are the religious ones, which are the enemies of the United States, or the U.S. itself considers them as its enemies.

The countries which do not agree to become the U.S. slaves are China, Iran, Libya, Cuba, Syria [Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Iraq, Sudan, Indonesia, Malaysia] and Russia. Whoever committed the act of 11 September are not the friends of the American people. I have already said that we are against the American system, not against its people, whereas in these attacks, the common American people have been killed. According to my information, the death toll is much higher than what the U.S. Government has stated. But the Bush Administration does not want the panic to spread. The United States should try to trace the perpetrators of these attacks within itself; the people who are a part of the U.S. system, but are dissenting against it. Or those who are working for some other system; persons who want to make the present century as a century of conflict between Islam and Christianity so that their own civilization, nation, country, or ideology could survive. They can be anyone, from Russia to Israel and from India to Serbia. In the U.S. itself, there are dozens of well-organized and well-equipped groups, which are capable of causing a large-scale destruction. Then you cannot forget the American Jews, who are annoyed with President Bush ever since the elections in Florida and want to avenge him.

Then there are intelligence agencies in the U.S., which require billions of dollars worth of funds from the Congress and the government every year. This [funding issue] was not a big problem till the existence of the former Soviet Union but after that the budget of these agencies has been in danger. They needed an enemy. So, they first started propaganda against Usama and Taleban and then this incident happened. You see, the Bush Administration approved a budget of 40 billion dollars. Where will this huge amount go? It will be provided to the same agencies, which need huge funds and want to exert their importance. Now they will spend the money for their expansion and for increasing their importance. I will give you an example. Drug smugglers from all over the world are in contact with the U.S. secret agencies. These agencies do not want to eradicate narcotics cultivation and trafficking because their importance will be diminished. The people in the U.S. Drug Enforcement Department are encouraging drug trade so that they could show performance and get millions of dollars worth of budget. General Noriega was made a drug baron by the CIA and, in need, he was made a scapegoat. In the same way, whether it is President Bush or any other U.S. President, they cannot bring Israel to justice for its human rights abuses or to hold it accountable for such crimes. What is this? Is it not that there exists a government within the government in the United Sates? That secret government must be asked as to who carried out the attacks.

Daily UMMAT: A number of world countries have joined the call of the United States for launching attacks on Afghanistan. These also include a number of Muslim countries. Will Al-Qaida declare a jehad against these Islamic countries as well?

USAMA BIN LADEN: I must say that my duty is just to awaken the Muslims; to tell them as to what is good for them and what is not. What does Islam say and what the enemies of Islam want? Al-Qaida was set up to wage a jehad against infidelity, particularly to counter the onslaught of the infidel countries against the Islamic states. Jehad is the sixth undeclared pillar of Islam. [The first five being the basic holy words of Islam (There is only one God in the entire universe and Muhammad is the last Prophet of God), prayers, fast, pilgrimage to Mecca and giving alms (zakat).] Every anti-Islamic person is afraid of jehad. Al-Qaida wants to keep jehad alive and active and make it a part of the daily life of the Muslims. It wants to give it the status of worship. We are not against any Islamic country. We do not consider a war against an Islamic country as jehad. We are in favour of armed jehad only against those infidel governments, which are killing innocent Muslim men, women and children just because they are Muslims. Supporting the U.S. act is the need of some Muslim countries and the compulsion of others. However, they should think as to what will remain of their religious and moral position if they support the attack of the Christians and the Jews on a Muslim country like Afghanistan. The orders of Islamic Shariah [jurisprudence] for such individuals, organizations and countries are clear and all the scholars of the Muslim brotherhood are unanimous on them. We will do the same, which is being ordered by the Ameer-ul-Momeneen [the commander of the faithful Afghans] Muhammad Omar and the Islamic scholars. The hearts of the people of Muslim countries are beating with the call of jehad. We are grateful to them.

Daily UMMAT: The losses caused in the attacks in New York and Washington have proved that giving an economic blow to the U.S.is not too difficult. U.S. experts admit that a few more such attacks can bring down the American economy. Why is Al-Qaida not targeting their economic pillars?

USAMA BIN LADEN: I have already said that we are not hostile to the United States. We are against the [u.S. Government] system, which makes other nations slaves of the United States, or forces them to mortgage their political and economic freedom. This system is totally in control of the American-Jews, whose first priority is Israel, not the United States. It is clear that the American people are themselves the slaves of the Jews and are forced to live according to the principles and laws laid by them. So, the punishment should reach Israel. In fact, it is Israel, which is giving a blood bath to innocent Muslims and the U.S. is not uttering a single word.

Daily UMMAT: Why is harm not caused to the enemies of Islam through other means, apart from the armed struggle? For instance, urging the Muslims to boycott Western products, banks, shipping lines and TV channels.

USAMA BIN LADEN: The first thing is that Western products could only be boycotted when the Muslim fraternity is fully awakened and organized. Secondly, the Muslim companies should become self-sufficient in producing goods equal to the products of Western companies. Economic boycott of the West is not possible unless economic self-sufficiency is attained and substitute products are brought out. You see that wealth is scattered all across the Muslim World but not a single TV channel has been acquired which can preach Islamic injunctions according to modern requirements and attain an international influence. Muslim traders and philanthropists should make it a point that if the weapon of public opinion is to be used, it is to be kept in the hand. Today's world is of public opinion and the fates of nations are determined through its pressure. Once the tools for building public opinion are obtained, everything that you asked for can be done.

Daily UMMAT: The entire propaganda about your struggle has so far been made by the Western media. But no information is being received from your sources about the network of Al-Qaida and its jehadi successes. Would you comment?

USAMA BIN LADEN: In fact, the Western media is left with nothing else. It has no other theme to survive for a long time. Then we have many other things to do. The struggle for jehad and the successes are for the sake of Allah and not to annoy His bondsmen. Our silence is our real propaganda. Rejections, explanations, or corrigendum only waste your time and through them, the enemy wants you to engage in things which are not of use to you. These things are pulling you away from your cause. The Western media is unleashing such a baseless propaganda, which makes us surprise but it reflects on what is in their hearts and gradually they themselves become captive of this propaganda. They become afraid of it and begin to cause harm to themselves. Terror is the most dreaded weapon in modern age and the Western media is mercilessly using it against its own people. It can add fear and helplessness in the psyche of the people of Europe and the United States. It means that what the enemies of the United States cannot do, its media is doing that. You can understand as to what will be the performance of the nation in a war, which suffers from fear and helplessness.

Daily UMMAT: What will be the impact of the freeze of Al-Qaida accounts by the U.S.?

USAMA BIN LADEN: God opens up ways for those who work for Him. Freezing of accounts will not make any difference for Al-Qaida or other jehad groups. With the grace of Allah, Al-Qaida has more than three alternative financial systems, which are all separate and totally independent from each other. This system is operating under the patronage of those who love jehad. What to say of the United States, even the combined world cannot budge these people from their path. These people are not in hundreds but in thousands and millions. Al-Qaida comprises of such modern educated youths who are aware of the cracks inside the Western financial system as they are aware of the lines in their hands. These are the very flaws of the Western fiscal system, which are becoming a noose for it and this system could not recuperate in spite of the passage of so many days.

Daily UMMAT: Are there other safe areas other than Afghanistan, where you can continue jehad?

USAMA BIN LADEN: There are areas in all parts of the world where strong jehadi forces are present, from Indonesia to Algeria, from Kabul to Chechnya, from Bosnia to Sudan, and from Burma to Kashmir. Then it is not the problem of my person. I am a helpless fellowman of God, constantly in the fear of my accountability before God. It is not the question of Usama but of Islam and, in Islam too, of jehad. Thanks to God, those waging a jehad can walk today with their heads raised. Jehad was still present when there was no Usama and it will remain as such even when Usama is no longer there. Allah opens up ways and creates loves in the hearts of people for those who walk on the path of Allah with their lives, property and children. Believe it, through jehad, a man gets everything he desires. And the biggest desire of a Muslim is the life after death. Martyrdom is the shortest way of attaining an eternal life.

Daily UMMAT: What do you say about the Pakistan Government policy on Afghanistan attack?

USAMA BIN LADEN: We are thankful to the Momin and valiant people of Pakistan who erected a blockade in front of the evil forces and stood in the first file of battle. Pakistan is a great hope for the Islamic brotherhood. Its people are awakened, organized and rich in the spirit of faith. They backed Afghanistan in its war against the Soviet Union and extended every help to the mojahedeen (freedom fighters) and the Afghan people. Then these are very Pakistanis who are standing shoulder by shoulder with the Taleban. If such people emerge in just two countries, the domination of the West will diminish in a matter of days. Our hearts beat with Pakistan and, God forbid, if a difficult time comes we will protect it with our blood. Pakistan is sacred for us like a place of worship. We are the people of jehad and fighting for the defense of Pakistan is the best of all jehads to us. It does not matter for us as to who reforms Pakistan. The important thing is that the spirit of jehad is alive and stronger in the hearts of the Pakistani people.

- Source: Ummat, Urdu-language daily newspaper based in Karachi, Pakistan - Friday, 28 September 2001 - pages 1, 7.

- Source: BBC Monitoring Service.

[b:395b10cca3]What if you Find a Watch in The Sand? [/b:395b10cca3]

Suppose you found a watch in the middle of the desert. What would you conclude? Would you think someone had dropped the watch? Or would you suppose that the watch came by itself?

Of course, no sane person would say the watch just happened to emerge from the sand.

All the intricate working parts could not simply develop from the metals that lay buried in the earth. The watch must have a manufacturer.

If a watch tells an accurate time, we expect the manufacturer must be intelligent. Blind chance cannot produce a working watch.

But what else tells accurate time? Consider the sunrise and the sunset. Their timings are so strictly regulated that scientists can publish in advance the sunrise and sunset times in your daily newspapers. But who regulated the timings of sunrise and sunset? If a watch cannot work without an intelligent maker, how can the sun appear to rise and set with such clockwork regularity? Could this occur by itself?

Consider also that we benefit from the sun only because it remains at a safe distance from the earth. A distance that averages 93 million miles. If it got much closer, the earth would burn up. And if it got too far away, the earth would turn into an icy planet making human life here impossible. Who decided in advance that this was the right distance? Could it just happen by chance?

Without the sun, plants would not grow. Then animals and humans would starve. Did the sun just decide to be there for us?

We need to experience sunrise. We need the sun's energy and its light to see our way during the day. But we also need sunset. We need a break for the heat, we need the cool of the night and we need the lights to go out so we may sleep. Who regulated this process to provide what we need?

Moreover, if we had only the warmth of the sun and the protection of the atmosphere we would want something more beauty. Our clothes provide warmth and protection, yet we design them also to look beautiful. Knowing our need for beauty, the designer of the sunrise and the sunset also made the view of them to be simply breathtaking.

The Creator who gave us light, energy, protection and beauty deserves our thanks. Yet some people insist that He does not exist. What would they think if they found a watch in the desert? An accurate, working watch? A beautifully designed watch? Would they not conclude that there does exist a watchmaker, One who appreciates beauty? Such is God who made us.

She is obedient to her husband

and shows him respect

The true Muslim woman is always obedient to her husband, provided

that no sin is involved. She is respectful towards him and is always

eager to please him and make him happy. If he is poor, she does not

complain about his being unable to spend much. She does not complain

about her housework, because she remembers that many of the virtuous

women in Islamic history set an example of patience, goodness and a

positive attitude in serving their husbands and taking care of their

homes despite the poverty and hardships they faced. One of the

foremost of these exemplary wives is Fatimah al-Zahra', the daughter

of Muhammad and the wife of `Ali ibn Abi Talib (RAA). She used to

complain of the pain in her hands caused by grinding grain with the

hand-mill. Her husband `Ali ibn Abi Talib said to her one day, "Your

father has brought some female slaves, so go and ask him for one of

them to come and serve you." She went to her father, but she felt too

shy to ask him for what she wanted. `Ali went and asked him to

provide a servant for his beloved daughter, but the Prophet could

not respond to those who most dear to him whilst ignoring the needs

of the poor among the Muslims, so he came to his daughter and her

husband and said: "Shall I not teach you something that is better

than that for which you asked me? When you go to bed at night, say

`Subhan Allah' thirty-three times, `Al-hamdu lillah' thirty-three

times, and `Allahu akbar' thirty-four times. This is better for you

than a servant."

Then he bid them farewell and left, after inin them this divine help

which would make them forget their tiredness and help them to

overcome their exhaustion.

`Ali (RAA) began to repeat the words that the Prophet had taught

him. He said, "I never stopped doing that after he had taught me

these words." One of his companions asked him, "Not even on the night

of Siffin?" He said, "Not even on the night of Siffin."8

Asma' bint Abi Bakr al-Siddiq served her husband al-Zubayr, and took

care of the house. Her husband had a horse, which she took care of,

feeding it and exercising it. She also repaired the water-bucket,

made bread, and carried dates on her head from far away. Al-Bukhaari

and Muslim report this in her own words:

"Al-Zubayr married me, and he had no wealth, no slaves, nothing

except his horse. I used to feed his horse, looking after it and

exercising it. I crushed date-stones to feed his camel. I used to

bring water and repair the bucket, and I used to make bread but I

could not bake it, so some of my Ansari neighbours, who were kind

women, used to bake it for me. I used to carry the dates from the

garden that the Prophet had given to al-Zubayr on my head, and this

garden was two-thirds of a farsakh away. One day I was coming back

with the dates on my head. I met the Messenger of Allah, who had a

group of his Companions with him. He called me, then told his camel

to sit down so that I could ride behind him. I told (al-Zubayr), `I

felt shy, because I know that you are a jealous man.' He said, `It is

worse for me to see you carrying the dates on your head than to see

you riding behind him.' Later, Abu Bakr sent me a servant, who

relieved me of having to take care of the horse; it was as if I had

been released from slavery."9

The true Muslim woman devotes herself to taking care of her house and

husband. She knows her husband's rights over her, and how great they

are, as was confirmed by the Prophet's words:

"No human being is permitted to prostrate to another, but if this

were permitted I would have ordered wives to prostrate to their

husbands, because of the greatness of the rights they have over

them."10

And:

"If I were to order anyone to prostrate to anyone else, I would have

ordered women to prostrate to their husbands."11

`A'ishah (May Allah be pleased with her) asked the Messenger of

Allah : "Who has the greatest rights over a woman?" He said, "Her

husband." She asked, `And who has the greatest rights over a man?" He

said, "His mother."12

A woman came to ask the Prophet about some matter, and when he had

dealt with it, he asked her, "Do you have a husband?" She

said, "Yes." He asked her, "How are you with him?" She said, "I never

fall short in my duties, except for that which is beyond me." He

said, "Pay attention to how you treat him, for he is your Paradise

and your Hell."13

How can the Muslim woman complain about taking care of her house and

husband when she hears these words of Prophetic guidance? She should

fulfil her household duties and take care of her husband in a spirit

of joy, because she is not carrying a tiresome burden, she is doing

work in her home that she knows will bring reward from Allah

(subhaanahu wa 'ta'aalaa).

The Sahabah, may Allah (subhaanahu wa 'ta'aalaa) be pleased with

them, and those who followed them understood this Islamic teaching

and transmitted it from the Prophet . When a bride was prepared for

marriage, she would be told to serve her husband and take care of his

rights. Thus the Muslim woman knew her duties towards her husband,

and down through the ages caring for her husband and being a good

wife were established womanly attributes. One example of this is what

was said by the faqih al-Hanbali ibn al-Jawzi in his book Ahkam al-

Nisa' (p. 331): In the second century AH there was a righteous man

called Shu`ayb ibn Harb, who used to fast and spend his nights in

prayer. He wanted to marry a woman, and told her humbly, "I am a bad-

tempered man." She replied, tactfully and cleverly, "The one who

makes you lose your temper is worse than you." He realized that there

stood before him a woman who was intelligent, wise and mature. He

immediately said to her, "You will be my wife."

This woman had a clear understanding of how to be a good wife, which

confirmed to the man who had come to seek her hand that she was a

woman who would understand the psychology and nature of her husband

and would know what would please him and what would make him angry;

she would be able to win his heart and earn his admiration and

respect, and would close the door to every possible source of

conflict that could disrupt their married life. The woman who does

not understand these realities does not deserve to be a successful

wife; through her ignorance and shortcomings she may provoke her

husband to lose his temper, in which case, she would be worse than

him, for being the direct cause of his anger.

The tactful Muslim woman is never like this. She helps her husband to

be of good character, by displaying different types of intelligence,

cleverness and alertness in the way she deals with him. This opens

his heart to her and makes him fond of her, because being a good wife

is a not only a quality that she may boast about among her friends,

but it is also a religious obligation for which Allah (subhaanahu

wa 'ta'aalaa) will call her to account: if she has done well, she

will be rewarded, but if she has fallen short she will have to pay

the penalty.

One of the most important ways in which the Muslim woman obeys her

husband is by respecting his wishes with regard to the permissible

pleasures of daily life, such as social visits, food, dress, speech,

etc. The more she responds to his wishes in such matters, the happier

and more enjoyable the couple's life becomes, and the closer it is to

the spirit and teachings of Islam.

The Muslim woman does not forget that her obedience to her husband is

one of the things that may lead her to Paradise, as the Prophet

said:

"If a woman prays her five daily prayers, fasts her month (of

Ramadan), obeys her husband and guards her chastity, then it will be

said to her: `Enter Paradise by whichever of its gates you wish.'"14

Umm Salamah (May Allah be pleased with her) said:

"The Messenger of Allah said: `Any woman who dies, and her husband

is pleased with her, will enter Paradise.'"15

The Prophet draw a clear and delightful picture of the well-behaved,

easy-going, loving, righteous Muslim wife, one who will be happy in

this world and the next:

"Shall I not tell you about your wives in Paradise?" We said, "Of

course, O Messenger of Allah." He said, "They are fertile and loving.

If she becomes angry or is mistreated, or her husband becomes angry,

she says, `My hand is in your hand; I shall never sleep until you are

pleased with me.'"16

The true Muslim woman knows that Islam, which has multiplied her

reward for obeying her husband and made it a means of her admittance

to Paradise, has also warned every woman who deviates from the path

of marital obedience and neglects to take care of her husband, that

she will be guilty of sin, and will incur the wrath and curses of the

angels.

Al-Bukhaari and Muslim report from Abu Hurayrah that the Prophet

said:

"If a man calls his wife to his bed and she does not come, and he

goes to sleep angry with her, the angels will curse her until the

morning."17

Muslim reports from Abu Hurayrah that the Prophet said Imam:

"By the One in Whose hand is my soul, there is no man who calls his

wife to his bed, and she refuses him, but the One Who is in heaven

will be angry with her, until the husband is pleased with her once

more."18

The angels' curse will befall every woman who is rebellious and

disobedient; this does not exclude those who are too slow and

reluctant to respond to their husbands:

"Allah (subhaanahu wa 'ta'aalaa) will curse those procrastinating

women who, when their husbands call them to their beds, say `I will,

I will . . .' until he falls asleep." 19

Marriage in Islam is intended to protect the chastity of men and

women alike, therefore it is the woman's duty to respond to her

husband's requests for conjugal relations. She should not givsilly

excuses and try to avoid it. For this reason, several hadith urge a

wife to respond to her husband's needs as much as she is able, no

matter how busy she may be or whatever obstacles there may be, so

long as there is no urgent or unavoidable reason not to do so.

In one of these hadith, the Prophet said:

"If a man calls his wife to his bed, let her respond, even if she is

riding her camel [i.e., very busy]."20

And:

"If a man calls his wife, then let her come, even if she is busy at

the oven."21

The issue of protecting a man's chastity and keeping him away from

temptation is more important than anything else that a woman can do,

because Islam wants men and women alike to live in an environment

which is entirely pure and free from any motive of fitnah or haram

pleasures. The flames of sexual desire and thoughts of pursuing them

through haram means can only be extinguished by means of discharging

that natural energy in natural and lawful ways. This is what the

Prophet meant in the hadith narrated by Muslim from Jabir:

"If anyone of you is attracted to a woman, let him go to his wife and

have intercourse with her, for that will calm him down."22

The warning given to the woman whose husband is angry with her

reaches such an extent that it would shake the conscience of every

righteous wife who has faith in Allah (subhaanahu wa 'ta'aalaa) and

the Last Day: she is told that her prayer and good deeds will not be

accepted, until her husband is pleased with her again. This is stated

in the hadith narrated by Jabir from `Abdullah:

"The Messenger of Allah said: `There are three people whose prayers

will not be accepted, neither their good works: a disobedient slave

until he returns to his masters and puts his hand in theirs; a woman

whose husband is angry with her, until he is pleased with her again;

and the drunkard, until he becomes sober.'"23

When these hadith refer to the husband being angry with his wife,

they refer to cases in which the husband is right and the wife is

wrong. When the opposite is the case, and the husband is wrong, then

his anger has no negative implications for her; in fact, Allah

(subhaanahu wa 'ta'aalaa) will reward the wife for her patience. But

the wife is still required to obey her husband, so long as no sin is

involved, because there should be no obedience to a created being if

it entails disobedience to the Creator. Concerning this, the Prophet

said:

"It is not permitted for a woman who believes in Allah (subhaanahu

wa 'ta'aalaa) to allow anyone into her husband's house whom he

dislikes; or to go out when he does not want her to; or to obey

anyone else against him; or to forsake his bed; or to hit him. If he

is wrong, then let her come to him until he is pleased with her, and

if he accepts her then all is well, Allah (subhaanahu wa 'ta'aalaa)

will accept her deeds and make her position stronger, and there will

be no sin on her. If he does not accept her, then at least she will

have done her best and excused herself in the sight of Allah

(subhaanahu wa 'ta'aalaa)."24.

Another aspect of wifely obedience is that she should not fast at

times other than Ramadan except with his permission, that she should

not allow anyone to enter his house without his permission, and that

she should not spend any of his earnings without his permission. If

she spends anything without him having told her to do so, then half

of the reward for that spending will be given to him. The true Muslim

woman takes heed of this teaching which was stated by the Prophet in

the hadith:

"It is not permitted for a woman to fast when her husband is present,

except with his permission; or to allow anyone into his house except

with his permission; or to spend any of his earnings unless he has

told her to do so, otherwise half of the reward will be given to

him."25

According to a report given by Muslim, he said:

"A woman should not fast if her husband is present, except with his

permission. She should not allow anyone to enter his house when he is

present without his permission. Whatever she spends of his wealth

without him having told her to do so, half of the reward for it will

be given to him."26

The point here is the permission of the husband. If a wife gives some

of his money in voluntary charity without his permission, then she

will not receive any reward; on the contrary, it will be recorded as

a sin on her part. If she wants to spend in his absence, and she

knows that if he knew about it he would give his permission, then she

is allowed to do so, otherwise it is not permitted.

Mutual understanding and harmony between husband and wife cannot be

achieved unless there is understanding between them on such matters,

so that neither of them will fall into such errors and troubles as

may damage the marriage which Islam has built on a basis of love and

mercy, and sought to maintain its purity, care and harmony.

If the husband is a miser, and spends too little on her and her

children, then she is allowed to spend as much as she needs from his

wealth on herself and her children, in moderation, without his

knowledge. The Prophet stated this to Hind bint `Utbah, the wife of

Abu Sufyan, when she came to him and said, "O Messenger of Allah, Abu

Sufyan is a stingy man. What he gives me is not enough for me and my

child, unless I take from him without his knowledge." He told

her, "Take what is enough for you and your child, in moderation."27

Thus Islam has made women responsible for good conduct in their

running of the household affairs.

The Muslim woman understands the responsibility that Islam has given

her, to take care of her husband's house and children by making her

a "shepherd" over her husband's house and children. She has been

specifically reminded of this responsibility in recognition of her

role, in the hadith in which the Prophet made every individual in

the Islamic society responsible for those under his or her authority

in such a way that no-one, man or woman, may evade responsibility:

"Each of you is a shepherd, and each is responsible for those under

his care. A ruler is a shepherd; a man is the shepherd of his family;

a woman is the shepherd of her husband's house and children. For each

of you is a shepherd and each of you is responsible for those under

his care."28

The true Muslim woman is always described as being loving towards her

children and caring towards her husband. These are two of the most

beautiful characteristics that a woman of any time or place may

possess. The Prophet praised these two characteristics, which were

embodied by the women of Quraysh, who represented the best women

among the Arabs in terms of loving their children, caring for their

husbands, respecting their rights and looking after their wealth with

care, honesty and wisdom:

"The best women who ride camels are the women of Quraysh. They are

the most compassionate towards their children when they are small,

and the most careful with regard to their husbands' wealth."29

This is a valuable testimony on the part of the Prophet , attesting

to the psychological and moral qualities of the women of Quraysh

which enhanced their beauty and virtue. This testimony respresents a

call to every Muslim woman to emulate the women of Quraysh in loving

her children and taking care of her husband. These two important

characteristics contribute to the success of a marriage, make

individuals and families happy, and help a society to advance.

It is a great honour for a woman to take care of her husband every

morning and evening, and wherever he goes, treating him with

gentleness and good manners which will fill his life with joy,

tranquillity and stability. Muslim women have the best example in

`A'ishah (May Allah be pleased with her), who used to accompany the

Prophet on Hajj, surrounding him with her care, putting perfume on

him with her own hands before he entered ihram, and after he finished

his ihram, before he performed tawaf al-ifadah.30 She chose for him

the best perfume that she could find. This is stated in a number of

sahih hadith reported by Al-Bukhaari and Muslim, for example:

"I applied perfume to the Messenger of Allah with myown hands before

he entered the state of ihram and when he concluded it before

circumambulating the House."31

"I applied perfume to the Messenger of Allah with these two hands of

mine when he entered ihram and when he concluded it, before he

performed tawaf," - and she spread her hands.32

`Urwah said:

"I asked `A'ishah, `With what did you perfume the Messenger of Allah

at the time when he entered ihram?' She said, `With the best of

perfume.'"33

According to another report also given by Muslim, `A'ishah said:

"I applied the best perfume I could find to the Messenger of Allah

before he entered ihram and when he concluded it, before he perfomed

tawaf al-ifadah."34

When the Prophet was in seclusion (i`tikaf), he would lean his head

towards `A'ishah, and she would comb and wash his hair. Al-Bukhaari

and Muslim both report this in sahih hadith narrated from `A'ishah

(May Allah be pleased with her), such as:

"When the Messenger of Allah was in i`tikaf, he inclined his head

towards me and I combed his hair, and he did not enter the house

except to answer the call of nature."35

"I used to wash the Prophet's head when I was menstruating."36

`Aishah urged women to take good care of their husbands and to

recognize the rights that their husbands had over them. She saw these

rights as being so great and so important that a woman was barely

qualified to wipe the dust from her husband's feet with her face, as

she stated: "O womenfolk, if you knew the rights that your husbands

have over you, every one of you would wipe the dust from her

husband's feet with her face."37

This is a vivid expression of the importance of the husband's rights

over his wife. `A'ishah wanted to bring this to women's attention, so

as to remove from the hearts of arrogant and stubborn women all those

harsh, obstinate feelings that all too often destroy a marriage and

turn it into a living hell.

Honouring and respecting one's husband is one of the characteristic

attitudes of this ummah. It is one of the good manners known at the

time of jahiliyyah that were endorsed by Islam and perpetuated by the

Arabs after they embraced Islam. Our Arab heritage is filled with

texts that eloquently describe the advice given by mothers to their

daughters, to care for, honour and respect their husbands; these

texts may be regarded as invaluable social documents.

One of the most famous and most beautiful of these texts was recorded

by `Abd al-Malik ibn `Umayr al-Qurashi, who was one of the

outstanding scholars of the second century AH. He quotes the words of

advice given by Umamah bint al-Harith, one of the most eloquent and

learned women, who was possessed of wisdom and great maturity, to her

daughter on the eve of her marriage. These beautiful words deserve to

be inscribed in golden ink.

`Abd al-Malik said: "When `Awf ibn Muhallim al-Shaybani, one of the

most highly respected leaders of the Arab nobility during the

jahiliyyah, married his daughter Umm Iyas to al-Harith ibn `Amr al-

Kindi, she was made ready to be taken to the groom, then her mother

Umamah came in to her, to advise her, and said:

`O my daughter, if it were deemed unnecessary to give you this advice

because of good manners and noble descent, then it would have been

unnecessary for you, because you possess these qualities, but it will

serve as a reminder to those who are forgetful, and will help those

who are wise.

`O my daughter, if a woman were able to do without a husband by

virtue of her father's wealth and her need for her father, then you

of all people would be most able to do without a husband, but women

were created for men just as men were created for them.

`O my daughter, you are about to leave the home in which you grew up,

where you first learned to walk, to go to a place you do not know, to

a companion with whom you are unfamiliar. By marrying you he has

become a master over you, so be like a servant to him, and he will

become like a servant to you.

`Take from me ten qualities, which will be a provision and a reminder

for you.

`The first and second of them are: be content in his company, and

listen to and obey him, for contentment brings peace of mind, and

listening to and obeying one's husband pleases Allah.

`The third and fourth of them are: make sure that you smell good and

look good; he should not see anything ugly in you, and he should not

smell anything but a pleasant smell from you. Kohl is the best kind

of beautification to be found, and water is better than the rarest

perfume.

`The fifth and the sixth of them are: prepare his food on time, and

keep quiet when he is asleep, for raging hunger is like a burning

flame, and disturbing his sleep will make him angry.

`The seventh and eighth of them are: take care of his servants (or

employees) and children, and take care of his wealth, for taking care

of his wealth shows that you appreciate him, and taking care of his

children and servants shows good management.

`The ninth and tenth of them are: never disclose any of his secrets,

and never disobey any of his orders, for if you disclose any of his

secrets you will never feel safe from his possible betrayal, and if

you disobey him, his heart will be filled with hatred towards you.

`Be careful, O my daughter, of showing joy in front of him when he is

upset, and do not show sorrow in front of him when he is happy,

because the former shows a lack of judgement, whilst the latter will

make him unhappy.

`Show him as much honour and respect as you can, and agree with him

as much as you can, so that he will enjoy your companionship and

conversation.

`Know, O my daughter, that you will not achieve what you would like

to until you put his pleasure before your own, and his wishes before

yours, in whatever you like and dislike. And may Allah (subhaanahu

wa 'ta'aalaa) choose what is best for you and protect you.'"38

She was taken to her husband, and the marriage was a great success;

she gave birth to kings who ruled after him.

This advice clearly included everything that one could think of as

regards the good manners that a young girl needs to know about in

order to treat her husband properly and be a suitable companion for

him. The words of this wise mother deserve to be taken as the

standard for every young girl who is about to get married.

If she is rich, the true Muslim woman does not let her wealth and

financial independence make her blind to the importance of respecting

her husband's rights over her. She still takes care of him and

honours him, no matter how rich she is or may become. She knows that

she is obliged to show gratitude to Allah for the blessings He has

bestowed upon her, so she increases her charitable giving for the

sake of Allah. The first person to whom she should give generously is

her own husband, if he is poor; in this case she will receive two

rewards, one for taking care of a family member, and another for

giving charity, as the Prophet stated in the hadith narrated by

Zaynab al-Thaqafiyyah, the wife of `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud (RAA):

"The Prophet told us: `O women, give in charity even if it is some

of your jewellery.' She said, `I went back to `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud

and told him. `You are a man of little wealth, and the Prophet has

commanded us to give charity, so go and ask him whether it is

permissible for me to give you charity. If it is, I will do so; if it

is not, I will give charity to someone else.' `Abdullah said, `No,

you go and ask.' So I went, and I found a woman of the Ansar at the

Prophet's door, who also had the question. We felt too shy to go in,

out of respect, so Bilal came out and we asked him, `Go and tell the

Messenger of Allah that there are two women at the door asking you:

Is it permissible for them to give sadaqah to their husbands and the

orphans in their care? But do not tell him who we are.' So Bilal went

in and conveyed this message to the Prophet , who asked, `Who are

they?' Bilal said, `One of the women of the Ansar, and Zaynab/' The

Prophet asked, `Which Zaynab is it?' Bilal said, `The wife of

`Abdullah.' The Prophet said: `They will have two rewards, the

reward for upholdithe relationship, and the reward for giving

charity.'"39 According to a report given by Al-Bukhaari, he

said, "Your husband and your child are more deserving of your

charity."40

The true Muslim woman is always careful to give thanks for Allah's

blessings if her life is easy, and she never loses her patience if

she encounters difficulty. She never forgets the warning that the

Prophet issued to women in general, when he saw that most of the

inhabitants of Hell will be women, and so she seeks refuge with Allah

from becoming one of them.

Al-Bukhaari and Muslim narrated from Ibn `Abbas (RAA) that the

Prophet said: "O women, give charity, for I have surely seen that

you form the majority of the inhabitants of Hell." They asked, `Why

is this so, O Messenger of Allah?" He said, "Because you curse too

much, and are ungrateful for good treatment (on the part of your

husbands)."41

According to another report given by Al-Bukhaari, he said, "because

they are ungrateful for good and kind treatment. Even if you treated

one of them (these ungrateful women) well for an entire lifetime,

then she saw one fault in you, she would say, `I have never seen

anything good from you!'"42

According to a report given by Ahmad, a man said, "O Messenger of

Allah, are they not our mothers and sisters and wives?" He said, "Of

course, but when they are treated generously they are ungrateful, and

when they are tested, they do not have patience."43

When the true Muslim woman thinks about these sahih hadith which

describe the fate of most women in the Hereafter, she is always on

the alert lest she fall into the sins of ingratitude towards her

husband, or frequent cursing, or denying her husband's good treatment

of her, or forgetting to give thanks for times of ease, or failing to

be patient at times of difficulty. In any case, she hastens to give

charity as the Prophet urged all women to do, in the hope that it

may save them from that awful fate which will befall most of those

women who deviate from truth and let trivial matters distract them

from remembering Allah (subhaanahu wa 'ta'aalaa) and the Last Day,

and whose bad qualities will ultimately lead them into the Fire of

Hell. The Muslim woman, on the other hand, sets the highest example

of respect towards one's husband and taking note of his good

qualities. This is the attitude of loyalty that befits the true

Muslim woman who respects her husband's rights and does not ignore

his virtues.

Muslim women's history is full of stories which reflect this loyalty

and recognition of the good qualities of the husband. One of these

stories is that of Asma' bint `Umays, who was one of the greatest

women in Islam, and one of the first women to migrate to Madinah. She

was married to Ja`far ibn Abi Talib, then to Abu Bakr al-Siddiq, then

to `Ali, may Allah be pleased with them all. On one occasion, her two

sons Muhammad ibn Ja`far and Muhammad ibn Abi Bakr were competing

with one another, each of them saying. "I am better than you, and my

father is better than your father." `Ali said to her, "Judge between

them, O Asma'." She said, "I have never seen a young man among the

Arabs who was better than Ja`far, and I have never seen a mature man

who was better than Abu Bakr." `Ali said, "You have not left anything

for me. If you had said anything other than what you have said, I

would have hated you!" Asma' said: "These are the best three, and you

are one of them even if you are the least of them."44

What a clever and eloquent answer this wise woman gave! She gave each

of her three husbands the respect he deserved, and pleased `Ali, even

though he was the least of them, because she included all of them in

that group of the best.

As-salaam Alikum;

Ibn Masoud (RAA) once said to another Muslim: "If you hear O ye who believe, then pay attention to the Ayah because it's either an order to do something good, or it's a forbiddance to do something bad"


May we all obay ALLAH (SWT), understand and apply those Ayat onto ourselves and our lives, Ameen.

Al-Baqara

[129] "Our Lord! Send amongst them a Messenger of their own, who shall rehearse Thy Signs to them and instruct them in Scripture and Wisdom, and sanctify them: for Thou art the Exalted in Might, the Wise."


[151]A similar (favour have ye already received) in that We have sent among you a Messenger of your own, rehearsing to you Our Signs, and purifying you, and instructing you in Scripture and Wisdom, and in new knowledge.

[285] The Messenger believeth in what hath been revealed to him from his Lord, as do the men of faith. Each one (of them) believeth in Allah, His angels, His Books, and His Messengers. "We make no distinction (they say) between one and another of His Messengers." And they say: "We hear, and we obey, (we seek) Thy forgiveness, our Lord, and to Thee is the end of all journeys."

[286] On no soul doth Allah place a burden greater than it can bear. It gets every good that it earns, and it suffers every ill that it earns. (Pray:) "Our Lord! Condemn us not if we forget or fall into error; our Lord! Lay not on us a burden like that which Thou didst lay on those before us; our Lord! lay not on us a burden greater than we have strength to bear. Blot out our sins, and grant us forgiveness. Have mercy on us. Thou art our Protector; help us against those who stand against Faith."

Al-Imran

[31] Say: "If ye do love Allah, follow me: Allah will love you and forgive you your sins; for Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful."


[32] Say: "Obey Allah and His Messenger": but if they turn back, Allah loveth not those who reject Faith.

[132] And obey Allah and the Messenger; that ye may obtain mercy.



At-Touba

[128] Now hath come unto you a Messenger from amongst yourselves: it grieves him that ye should perish: ardently anxious is he over you: to the Believers is he most kind and merciful.