"Striving Hard, Competing for Good Deeds in Ramadan"

Shaykh ‘Abdul-‘Azeez bin Baaz رحيم الله

All Praise is due to Allaah, and may the peace and blessings be upon His Messenger Muhammad.

It is legislated for all the Muslims to strive hard in the various types of worship during this noble month. They should strive to pray voluntary prayers and recite the Qur’an with reflection and thinking. They should increase the glorification of Allaah [saying “SubhanAllaah”], declaring his right to be worshiped alone [saying “La illaaha il Allaah”], praising Him [saying “Al-Hamdulillaah”], declaring his greatness [saying “Allaahu Akbar”] and seeking His forgiveness.

 

They should say legislated supplications, command the good, forbid the evil, invite to Allaah (سبحانه وتعالى), be generous to the poor and needy, strive to be kind to parents, keep good family ties, honor the neighbor, visit the sick, and other types of good deeds.

This is due to the Prophet’s (صلى الله عليه وسلم) statement: 

"Allaah (سبحانه وتعالى) looks at your competing for good works during it and He proudly tells the angels about you all. Therefore, show Allaah (سبحانه وتعالى) goodness from yourselves. For verily, the wretched person is the one who is deprived of Allaah’s (سبحانه وتعالى)Mercy during it (Ramadaan)."

[ Majma ‘uz-Zawa’id 3:142; Kanzul-‘Ummal no. 23692]

This is also due to what is reported from him (صلى الله عليه وسلم) that he said: 

"Whoever draws near to Allaah during it (Ramadaan) with a single characteristic from the characteristics of (voluntary) goodness, he is like whoever performs an obligatory act in other times. And whoever performs an obligatory act during it, he is like whoever performed seventy obligatory acts in other times." 

[Sahih Ibn Khuzaymah, no. 1887].

This is also due to his (صلى الله عليه وسلم) statement in the authentic hadith: 

"An ‘Umrah performed during Ramadaan is equal to a performance of Hajj - or he said - a Hajj with me." 

[ Al-Bukhari (no. 1863) and Muslim (no. 1256)]

The ahadith and narrations that prove the sanctioning of competing, and being aggressive in performing the various acts of goodness in this noble month are numerous.

Allaah (سبحانه وتعالى) is the one Who is asked to help us and the rest of the Muslims to do all that contains His Pleasure and to accept our fast and standing for night prayer. We ask Him to correct our situations and protect us all from the deviations of trials and temptations. Likewise, we ask Him to make the leaders of the Muslims righteous, and unite their word upon the truth. Verily, Allaah is the Guardian of that, and He is capable of doing it.

[Source: Fataawa Islamiyyah, pp. 220-221]

"A Wealth that takes without Greed

Narrated Hakeem Bin Hizaam:

" I asked the Prophet (salal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam) (for some money) and he gave me, and then again I asked him and he gave me, and then again I asked him and he gave me and he then said, ‘’This wealth is (like) green and sweet (fruit), and whoever takes it without greed, Allaah will bless it for him, but whoever takes it with greed, Allaah will not bless it for him, and he will be like the one who eats but is never satisfied. And the upper hand in (giving) is better than the lower (taking) hand’’ [1]

Imaam Abdul-Azeez Bin Baaz (rahimahullaah) said:

And in this (hadeeth) is an encouragement towards contentment and to acquire wealth in a good manner (approved) by the Sharia. The giver (of wealth) is the upper hand and the receiver is the lower hand. [2]

____________

References:

[1] Saheeh Al-Bukhaari: Vol: 8. Hadeeth Number: 6441]

[2] Al-Hulalul Ibreeziyyah Min At-Taliqaat Al-Baaziyyah Alaa Saheeh Al-Bukhaari. Page:232; Vol 4. Footnote:2

"Times When Du’a is Answered by Shaykh Salih Al-Fawzan"

بسم اللہ الرحمن الرحیم

1. Last third of the night
2. Between the adhaan and the iqaamah
3. The supplication of the parent
4. The supplication of the traveler
5. The supplication of the oppressed
6. When the armies meet
7. When the rain descends
8. In prostration

Abu Hurairah (Radhiallahu anhu) narrated that Allaah’s messenger (Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) said,

“Every night when it is the last third of the night, our Lord, the Superior, the Blessed, descends to the nearest heaven and says: Is there anyone to invoke Me that I may respond to his invocation? Is there anyone to ask Me so that I may grant him his request? Is there anyone asking My forgiveness so that I may forgive him?”

(Reported by Al-Bukhaaree in ‘Kitaabut-Tawheed’ and Muslim.)

Allaah’s Messenger (Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) mentioned various occasions when the du’aa is accepted, from them:

“A supplication made between the adhaan and the iqaamah is not refused.”

(Authenticated by Al-Albaanee in Al-Irwaa (no. 244)

He (Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) said:

“There are three supplications that are answered and there is no doubt about this: the supplication of the parent, the supplication of the traveler and the supplication of the oppressed.”

(Authenticated by Al-Albaanee in Saheeh Al-Jaami (no. 3030).)

He (Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) also said:

“Seek that your supplications be answered when the armies meet, when the iqaamah is made and when the rain descends.”

(Ash-Shafi’ee in Al-Umm (1/420). Declared Saheeh due to supports by Shaykh Al-Albaanee in As-Saheehah (no. 1469)

He (Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) also said:

“When you are prostrating make a lot of supplication, because you are worthy to be answered.”

(Reported by Muslim (no. 1074) upon the authority of Ibn ‘Abbaas (Radhiallahu anhu).)

Source: [The Excellence of Supplicating to Allaah & Constantly Remembering Him. By Shaykh Salih Al-Fawzan]

"The Ruling Concerning Birth Control"

Question:

What is the ruling concerning birth control ?

Answer:

This is a contemporary issue and many people ask about it. In the previous session of the Conference of the Leading Scholars [of Saudi Arabia], there was a study of this issue. They issued a verdict according to their opinion on this issue. In sum, they concluded that it is not allowed to take birth control pills. Allah has sanctioned the means that lead to procreation and a larger Muslim nation. The Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alaihi-wasallam) said,

”Marry the child-bearing, loving women for I shall outnumber the peoples by you on the Day of Resurrection .” [1]

Another narration states at the end, ‘’[outnumber] the prophets on the Day of Resurrection.’’ The Muslim Nation is in need of being increased in numbers so that it may worship Allah, strive in His way, and defend the Muslims, by the will of Allah, from the plots of their enemies. It is a must to avoid such things [as birth control] and not to use them except in the cases of dire necessity. If there is a necessity, there is no harm.[This would be,] for example, if the women has some illness in her uterus or so forth that would harm her if she were to become pregnant. Then she may use such pills to the extent of her need. This is also the case if she already has many children and it would become a hardship on her to have another one soon, then she may use the birth control pills for a specific amount of time, such as one year or two years, which is the amount of time designated for breast feeding, until she reaches the stage where she would be able to raise the child properly. But if the women is taking them just so she will be free of responsibility or to be able to work or to live comfortable life and other similar reasons why women take such pills these days,[it should be understood that] for these reasons it is not allowed to take birth control pills.

________________________

[1] Recorded by ibn Hibban, Ahmed, al- Tabarani and others. Without the words ‘’the Day of Resurrection,’’ it is also narrated by Abu Dawud and Nasai According to al- Albani , it is authentic due to its supporting chains. Muhammed Nasir al-Din al –Albani,Irwa al- Ghaleel fi Takhreej Ahadeeth manaar al-Sabeel (Beirut: al- Maktab al- Islami, 1979), Vol.6, P. 195

 Sheikh  `Abdul-`Azeez Bin Baz

Source [Islamic Fatawa Regarding Women - Darussalam Pg. 163-164]

Ang Pagkabuhay Muli Bago ang Kamatayan

Ang Buhay Sa Kabilang Ng Kamatayan 

Ang katanungan kung tunay ngang may buhay pagkatapos ng kamatayan ay hindi nasasakop ng kapamahalaan ng agham sapagka’t ang agham ay tumutukoy lamang sa pagbaha-bahagi at pag-aaral ng mga katipunan sa senso. Higit pa roon, ang tao ay naging abala sa mga pang-agham ng pag-uurirat at pananaliksik sa makabagong pagtawag, sa mga nakalipas na ilang daang taon na lamang, nguni’t siya ay hirati na sa konsepto ng buhay sa kabila ng kamatayan sapul pa sa pasimula. 

 Ang lahat ng mga Propeta ng Diyos ay nawawagan sa kanilang pamayanan upang sumamba sa Diyos at ang maniwala sa pagkaroon ng kabilang buhay. Sila ay nagbuos ng lubhang maraming pagbibigay diin sa paniniwala sa sa kabilang buhay na kahit ang pinakamaliit sa pag-aalingan doon ay naguguluhan ng pagtakwil sa Diyos ay nagsitalakay sa ganitong metapisakang katanungan tungkol sa kabilang buhay ng may paniniwala at pagkatulad na ang agwat ng kanilang mga magulang ay libong taon at nagpatunay lamang na pinagkunan ng ganitong kaalaman tungkol sa kabilang buhay na ipinahayag nilang lahat ay iisa. 

 Ang kapahayagan ng Diyos ay batid natin na ang lahat ng mga Propetang ito ay mahigpit na tinutulan ang kanilang pamayanan dahilan na rin sa pinakabuod na katanungan ng kabilang buhay sapagkat ang kanilang pamayanan ay nag-aakala na ito ay di kapani-paniwala. Nguni’t sa kabila ng lahat ng pagtutol, ang mga Propeta ay nagsipagwagi ng lubhang maraming matatapat na tagasunod. Ang katanungan ay kung ano ang nag-udyok sa mga tagasunod na ito na iniwan ang kanilang nakagisnang paniniwala, tradisyon at kaugalian ng kanilang mga ninuno ng hindi nagbibigay pahalaga sa panganib na sila ay mapaghiwalay sa kanilang sariling pamayanan? Ang payak na kasagutan ay ito: sila ay gumagamit ng kakayahan ng kanilang pag-iisip at puso at napagtanto nila ang katotohanan. Sila ba’y napagtanto ang katotohanan sa kanilang pag-uunawa? Hindi nga, sapagka’t ang makaranas ng kabatiran tungkol sa buhay sa kabila ng kamatayan at tunay na imposible. 

 Sa katotohanan, ang Diyos ay hindi lamang nagbigay ng kaisipang pangkamalayan kundi gayon din naman ng kamalayang makatuwiran, paghanga sa kagandahan at moral. Ang kamalayang ito ang  namamatnubay sa pamamagitan ng katipunang pangsentido. Dahil dito, kung bakit ang lahat ng mga Propeta ng Diyos habang sila at nanawagan sa mga tao upang sumampalataya sa Diyos at sa kabilang buhay ay nanawagan sa pamamagitan ng paghanga sa kagandahan sa moral at makatuwirang kamalayan ng tao. Halimbawa, nang ang mga paniniwala sa diyus-diyosan sa Makkah ay nagtakwil sa pagkaroon ng buhay sa kabila na kamatayan ang Qur’an ay naglantad ng kahinaan ng kanilang pananagan sa paggagawad ng lubhang makakatotohan at makatuwirang argumento upang patunayan. 

 “At siya ay nagturing sa amin ng pabula, at nakalimot sa katotohan ng kanyang pagkalikha na nagsasabi: sino ang magpapanumabalik sa butong ito ng nangabulok na? Ipagbadya, Siya ang magpapanumbalik doon (sa mga buto) na Siya rin ang lumikha roon ng una, sapagkat Siya ang nakakaalam ng bawat nilikha Siya ang naggawad sa inyo ng apoy mula sa luntiang puno at tunghayan nagpapaningas kayo roon.  

“Di ba Siya na lumikha ng mga kalangitan at kalupaan ay malilikha ang katulad nila? Tunay nga, at Siya
lamang ang kataas-taasang Manlilikha, ang Nakakaalam”.

(Qur’an 36:78-81)

 Sa iba pang pangyayari, ang Qur’an ay malinawanag na nagsasaysay na ang mga di sumasampalataya ay walang matibay na batayan sa kanilang pagtatakwil ng buhay sa kabila ang kamatayan. Ito ay batay lamang sa mga haka-haka. 

 “Sila’y nagsisipagbadya, “wala ng iba pa maliban sa aming pangkasalukuyang buhay; kami’y mamatay, kami’y mabubuhay, at tanging panahon lamang ang makaksira sa amin. At tungkol sa kabilang buhay, silay walang kaalaman bagkus ay mga haka-haka lamang. At kung ang Aming rebelasyon ay binigkas sa kanila, ang kanilang pamarali ay pagsasabi ng:”Ibalik mo muli sa aming mga ninuno kung ikaw ay
nagbadya na katotohanan”. 

[Qur’an 45:24-25]