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Salah And The Worst Kind of Theft

The only sad part of finding the straight path is when you lose it. There are many ways to fall, but no fall is more tragic than a fall in one’s deen. Sometimes, it’s a sister who decided to take off her hijab and live a different type of life; other times, it’s a brother who was once active in the community but got caught up with the wrong crowd. But with each story, somehow, somewhere along the line, our brothers and sisters fell so far.

Sadly, these stories are not uncommon. Sometimes, we can’t help but look at them and wonder:

Four Wives

Once upon a time, there was a rich King who had four wives. He loved the 4th wife the most and adorned her with rich robes and treated her to the finest of delicacies. He gave her nothing but the best.

He also loved the 3rd wife very much and was always showing her off to neighboring kingdoms. However, he feared that one day she would leave him for another.

He also loved his 2nd wife. She was his confidant and was always kind, considerate, and patient with him. Whenever the King faced a problem, he could confide in her, and she would help him get through the difficult times.

The King’s 1st wife was a very loyal partner and had made great contributions to maintaining his wealth and kingdom. However, he did not love his first wife. Although she loved him deeply, he hardly took notice of her!

One day, the King fell ill and he knew his time was short. He thought of his luxurious life and wondered, “I now have four wives with me, but when I die, I’ll be all alone. “Thus, he asked the 4th wife, “I have loved you the most, endowed you with the finest clothing, and showered great care over you. Now that I’m dying, will you follow me and keep me company?”

“No way!”, replied the 4th wife, and she walked away without another word. Her answer cut like a sharp knife right into his heart.

The sad King then asked the 3rd wife, “I have loved you all my life. Now that I’m dying, will you follow me and keep me company?” “No!”, replied the 3rd wife. “Life is too good! When you die, I’m going to remarry!” His heart sank and turned cold.

He then asked the 2nd wife, “I have always turned to you for help and you’ve always been there for me. When I die, will you follow me and keep me company?” “I’m sorry, I can’t help you out this time!”, replied the 2nd wife. “At the very most, I can only send you to your grave.” Her answer came like a bolt of lightning, and the King was devastated.

Then a voice called out: “I’ll leave with you and follow you no matter where you go.” The King looked up, and there was his first wife. She was so skinny as she suffered from malnutrition and neglect.

Greatly grieved, the King said, “I should have taken much better care of you when I had the chance!”

In truth, we all have 4 wives in our lives: Our
4th wife is our body. No matter how much time and effort we lavish in making it look good, it will leave us when we die. Our 3rd wife is our possessions, status, and wealth. When we die, it will all go to others. Our 2nd wife is our family and friends. No matter how much they have been there for us, the furthest they can stay by us is up to the grave.

And our 1st wife is our Soul. Often neglected in pursuit of wealth, power, and pleasures of the world. However, our Soul is the only thing that will follow us wherever we go. Cultivate, strengthen and cherish it now, for it is the only part of us that will follow us to the throne of God and continue with us throughout Eternity.

When the world pushes you to your knees…..You’re in the perfect position to pray.

The Prophetic Peace Formula: Feed, Greet and Pray

Abdullah ibn Salam (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated When the Prophet arrived for the first time in Madinah, I went with everyone to see him. When I saw him, I knew his face was not that of a liar. The first words he said were, “O people, feed the hungry, spread Salam(greeting of peace), maintain your kin relationships, and pray at night while others are asleep. With this, you shall enter Heaven in peace.” (Al-Bukhari)

Community organizers and leaders of all kinds who share and promote ideas play an important role in spreading values and bringing people together. They have the ability to leverage the collective strength of people to serve the well-being of humanity.

Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) was sincere and had strong, clear convictions in his message, which is why he implemented it first on himself before he took it to others. His sincerity showed on his face, attitude, and body language, lending confidence and credibility to his words and message. The essence of his message is the well-being of people, and his first words as he entered into the new community of Madinah emphasized that.

Eliminating hunger starts with everyone recognizing that we share the world’s food resources. We can start to feed the hungry by creating opportunities for people to have healthy meals through social occasions, dedicated outlets, or personal concerns on the individual level.

Food is a necessity of survival and a prerequisite for peace. We cannot expect communities and countries to tackle other issues until we have helped them ease the pangs of hunger among their people. Ensuring that everyone is able to find their meals for the day is an important step toward world peace.

As we meet each other on the road, while waiting in lines, in classrooms, in the workplace, or in social gatherings, warmly greeting each other goes a long way in creating compassion and awareness among one another. Ignorance leads to hatred and greeting one another opens the door to learning about one another. It diffuses tension and fosters dialogue. A greeting of peace like “I wish you peace” or “May Allah’s peace be with you today” goes even a step further. In Islam, one of Allah’s names is Peace. A greeting of peace is a prayer for Allah to send His peace upon each one of us.

The spiritual connection with Allah is the reactor that gives us the energy to sustain our relationship with others.

Family and relatives are important units for peace in the world. As families grow and expand, the connection and ties potentially grow weaker. Individuals may find themselves alone, unsupported, and without a safety net. Small cliques and competition for power may grow inside the family, and people slowly disconnect from one another.

Renewing and maintaining family ties on a regular basis, even with distant relatives, create opportunities for collaboration and appreciation for one another. It ensures that everyone belongs with someone, somewhere. In today’s world, we are fortunate that technology has provided means of communication by which we can easily stay in touch with other family members.

In an inspiring connection between our spiritual life and physical life, the Prophet lists praying at night along with feeding the hungry, greeting each other, and maintaining family ties. There is something special about praying at night. When we are by ourselves in the quiet moments of the night, it is a powerful time to build our connection with Allah. The spiritual connection with Allah is the reactor that gives us the energy to sustain our relationship with others and our service toward them.

By balancing our inner strength and implementing our role towards others, we chart not only a path to peace in our world but a peaceful path to Heaven as well.

By Dr. Hazem Said and Maha Ezzeddine

When An Order Admits Two Interpretations

Abdullah Ibn Umar reports: “When we returned home after the siege by the confederate tribes was ended, the Prophet (peace be upon him) ordered us: ‘No one should offer the Asr prayer except at the Qurayzah quarters. Some of us were still on the way when Asr was due. Some said that they would not pray until they arrived at Qurayzah, while others said that they would pray on the way because the Prophet did not wish anyone to delay prayers until its time was over. The Prophet was told of this, and he did not reproach either group.” (Related by Al-Bukhari)

The siege referred to in this hadith was when the combined forces of major Arabian tribes, together with their Jewish allies, besieged Madinah, with the declared aim of exterminating Islam and all Muslims. The Prophet and his companions dug a moat along the area where these forces could enter Madinah, which was wide and deep enough to prevent any breach of their lines.

The Muslims were able to hold on indefinitely because their enemy could not force entry, no matter how much they tried. Only after the Jewish tribe of Qurayzah, bound by a treaty of friendship and alliance with the Muslims, decided to switch sides and attack the Muslims from behind, the Muslims were in real danger. Still, the Muslims were determined to continue with their resistance. Ultimately, the Muslims were able to create doubts among the various parties of their enemies, which led to the withdrawal of the Arabian tribes, humiliated and defeated without even putting up a fight. The Muslims were then able to go to their homes to rest.

However, on orders from God, the Prophet sent out callers requiring all Muslims to move against the traitors of Qurayzah. The order was in the terms set out in the quoted hadith: ‘No one should offer the Asr prayer except at the Qurayzah quarters.’ The Prophet’s companions immediately complied with the Prophet’s order, as they always did. They set out in small groups, heading to Qurayzah’s forts where they would join the Prophet.

As they marched on, quite a long distance that took more than a couple of hours, it was time for Asr’s prayer. They feared that by the time they would reach their destination they would have missed their prayer, as the sun would have set. Some of them argued that the Prophet did not wish them to miss their prayer; rather, he only indicated the urgency of setting out. Therefore, they stopped to pray on the way, before they resumed their march. Others took the order quite literally. They argued that the occasion was special and, therefore, the Prophet wanted them to get to the Qurayzah quarter so that they would pray there. Hence, they did not stop. Although they arrived after sunset, which meant that the time range for Asr had passed, they prayed it on arrival.

The reporter of the hadith makes clear that the Prophet did not take issue with either group. He accepted both as correct. This is an indication that some situations admit more than one acceptable alternative. If one exercises one’s discretion to arrive at the right choice, God will accept that and reward him for it, even if he is wrong. The Prophet says that a scholar who exercises scholarly discretion to arrive at a ruling will be given a double reward if he is right and a single reward if he is wrong.

– by Adil Salahi

Praying Inside The Ka’bah

Offering prayer inside the Ka’bah is a Sunnah act of the Prophet (peace be upon him). It is recommended to do so if possible in our present time.
However, if one is unable to do it, the Haj is valid.

It is recommended to perform prayer inside the Ka’bah if one is able to do it without inflicting hardship on himself or others. It is reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) did so and said, “I fear that I have placed difficulty on my Ummah.”

When A’ishah asked the Prophet (peace be upon him) about offering prayer inside the Ka’bah, he said, “Pray in Al-Hijr, for it is a part of it.”

These texts indicate that such an act is a deed that fetches great reward. However, a Muslim should not harm others in order to get in there.

Upon entering the Ka’bah, a Muslim is recommended to pray two rak’ahs and say “Allah-o-Akbar” and make as much dua (supplication) as he can, for by doing so he is following the guidance of the Prophet (peace be upon him).

Prophet Muhammad: Starting The Day With Prayers

Let us try to paint a picture of one day in the life of the Prophet (peace be upon him) of Islam. For certain, he wakes up well before dawn, when the dark curtain of the night still covers everything. As he begins to move, he says: “Praise be to God who has returned my spirit to me, given me physical strength and permitted me to glorify Him.” Consider how he welcomes life, full of optimism: “Praise be to God who has returned my spirit to me.”

The life we are given is a blessing for which we thank God and we must use well. It offers a chance of success for whoever aims to succeed. Yet God reminds His servants of the blessing He has given them in the form of sunrise and sunset: “It is God who has made for you the night in which to rest, and the day to make you see. God is limitless in His bounty to man, but most people do not give thanks.” (40: 61) Great is life when it is coupled with good health. It is then that the body organs can function well, without trouble. A Muslim will then move about to willingly fulfill his duties well. It is for this that we praise and thank God for giving us good health.

We need to reflect on the Prophet’s early words as he praises God for “permitting me to glorify Him”. Can we imagine a more polite way in addressing the Lord? Here is an acknowledgement that a new day means permission to resume worship right at the break of dawn.

Muhammad, God’s ever grateful servant, begins his praises using words that impart certitude of faith and pure love in every letter. He says these words morning and evening: “My Lord, I pray You to grant me sound health in this life and in the life to come, to forgive me and to give me purity in faith, life, family and property. My Lord, grant me a cover of my flaws and reassurance in time of fear. Protect me from what lies ahead of me, behind me, to my right, to my left and above me. I appeal to Your greatness to protect me from any danger that lies beneath me.”

The Prophet urged every Muslim to say as he begins or ends his day: “My Lord, You know all that is beyond human perception and all that is witnessed by anyone; You are the Originator of the heavens and the earth; You are the Lord and owner of all. I bear witness that there is no deity other than You. I seek refuge with You from the evil that is within me and from the machinations of Satan.”

As they start their day, the Prophet and his companions say: “We have started this day in the original state of submission to God, with the pure word of faith, following the religion of our Prophet Muhammad and the creed of our father Abraham who followed the pure faith and never associated partners with God.”

That the Prophet’s companions should assert that they follow the religion of Prophet Muhammad is perfectly understandable. Why does the Prophet himself say the same? This occurs in many supplications the Prophet used to say, always asserting his belief in his prophethood or in the truth of his message. I feel that this serves more than one purpose. The first is that it confirms his commitment to implement what he preaches. Many are the religious leaders who appear to consider that their task is to teach others what to do. As for themselves, they consider themselves above accountability. Another purpose is to spite unbelievers by asserting that Islam is the faith of unquestionable truth. Moreover, it is an acknowledgement of the grace God has bestowed on His messenger, and an expression of gratitude and happiness for being chosen for this noble task.

-By SHEIKH MUHAMMAD AL-GHAZALI

Encouraging Children To Pray

In a Hadith narrated by Abdullah Ibn Qart the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said, “The first act that the servant of Allah will be accountable for on the Day of Judgment will be prayer. If it is good, then the rest of his acts will be good. And if it is evil, then the rest of his acts will be evil.” (Tabarani) Furthermore, prayer was the first act of worship that was made obligatory by Allah. Therefore, due to its extreme importance to the Believer, prayer should be one of the first acts of worship that parents should teach their children.

When discussing teaching children how to make prayer parents typically ask when it is necessary to begin teaching their children. Let us be realistic; learning how to perform prayer is not easy for children or in some cases adults. It can take a lot of work to master even the simplest elements of prayer. The learner must memorize the various du’a and Surahs of the Qur’an – not to mention the other required portions of the prayer. Furthermore, there must be work on proper pronunciation and rules on how, when, and what makes prayer valid. This is not an overnight process but rather one that takes time. Therefore, this leaves us with the question – when should children learn how to perform prayer?

Abdullah ibn Amr ibn al-As, narrated that the Apostle of Allah,(PBUH), said, “Command your children to start prayer when they become seven years old, and spank them for it (prayer) when they become ten years old, and arrange their beds (to sleep) separately.” (Abu Dawud).

This does not mean that parents can only start teaching their children how to perform it when they reach the age of seven. Rather, informal instruction should start when a child starts to show an interest in prayer, which usually occurs around the age of two. It is only human nature that children love to imitate their parents. In fact, this is one method that Allah has provided us for teaching our youth.

Therefore, it is important for parents of small children to let them “pretend” to perform the prayer alongside of the parents. The benefits of this are twofold. First, it teaches children that it is necessary to perform prayer every day five times a day. And second, it helps children learn the physical movements of the prayer. It really is amazing how fast a two-year-old will learn the phrase Allahu-Akbar (Allah is Greatest) when he performs prayer alongside his parents!

The next step is to teach your child Al-Fatihah (The Opening Chapter of the Qur’an). This should begin around the age of three or four. When teaching children Surahs or any other portions of the prayer that must be memorized it is important to remember to break down the instructions by using a reasonable number of verses or small segments.

In other words, teaching a child how to perform the prayer should be done progressively in small steps. It is important to practice reciting the previously learned material consistently every day along with any new material. These practice sessions should only last between 5 to 15 minutes. At this age, length of practice is not as important as consistency.

Lastly, one of the most important aspects of successful teaching is praise and encouragement. Remember that children like to please their parents. Also, it is really important that parents praise and celebrate their children’s accomplishments. This is especially true for learning how to perform prayer. After the mastery of a section, children typically feel a strong sense of achievement. Praise motivates the child to continue to learn and accomplish new goals.

When One Is Too Tired To Pray

Zainab bint Jahsh, one of the Prophet’s wives, was very devout. She was keen to offer voluntary prayers and to fast. Furthermore, she excelled in handiwork. She did things and sold them, giving the proceeds to charity. As her home was adjacent to the mosque, she sometimes offered voluntary worship in the depth of the night in the mosque.

Anas ibn Malik reports: “The Prophet (peace be upon him) came one day into the mosque and found a rope stretched between two pillars. He asked what was the rope for.

He was told that it was put up for Zainab so that she would hold on to it during her prayer when she felt too tired. The Prophet said: ‘No. Take it off. Let everyone pray when they feel fresh and comfortable. When they feel tired, they should sit down.’” (Related by Al-Bukhari).

This is just an example of the fact that Islam does not overburden its followers with worship duties. Voluntary night worship is highly recommended. It earns rich rewards from God. Yet no one should go to extreme lengths in offering such worship. It is not right to test one’s endurance in worship. God has made fasting one of the best rewarding acts of worship. We fast in Ramadan as a duty, refraining from taking food or drink for the length of the day, from dawn to dusk. Yet when the fasting time is over, we enjoy a good meal. We have another meal just before starting the fast. Thus, we are able to cope without much strain. Some people tried to make fasting harder, by taking a drink at sunset and continuing the fast to the next day. The Prophet made it clear that was wrong. He issued clear orders that no one should do that.

The present hadith tells us a similar story with regard to prayer. His wife, who was known for her exemplary devotion, wanted to spend much of the night in worship. After a while, she was very tired and could not stand up in prayer. The following day, she asked for a rope to be tied to two pillars at a suitable height for her. She felt that if fatigue overtakes her and she is about to fall asleep, she could hold on to the rope in order to keep her awake.

Thus, her body would be crying for sleep but her mind wanted her to continue her voluntary worship. The Prophet disapproved. He was too kind to his people to allow this. Moreover, he wanted them to approach worship in a cheerful and comfortable frame of mind. If worship becomes too tiring, people would soon feel it a burden and might leave it altogether. Hence, he told them to offer voluntary worship only when they are fresh and alert.

This is in line with Quranic guidance. God says in the Qur’an: “God does not charge a soul with more than it can bear. In its favor shall be whatever good it does, and against it whatever evil it does. Our Lord, do not take us to task if we forget or unwittingly do wrong. Our Lord, do not lay on us a burden such as that You laid on those before us. Our Lord, do not burden us with what we do not have the strength to bear. Pardon us, and forgive us our sins, and bestow Your mercy on us. You are our Lord Supreme; grant us victory against the unbelievers.” (2: 286)

Such is the supplication of believers: that they should not have a burden that is too hard. Hence, they must not make worship too hard.

-By Adil Salahi

Whenever I Pray I Think Of All Things Except What I Am Praying

How to Gain Khushu in Salah
Dr. Mamdouh N. Mohamed
Associate Professor at the American Open University

What is Khushu?
Khushu during Salah is misunderstood by some people as crying and weeping.
Rather, it is the presence of the heart during an act of Ibadah.
When a person’s heart is fully occupied with what he says or hears, he is in a true state of Khushu.

The concept of Khushu in Salah is very essential.

1- It is a vital factor in making a person successful in this life and in later life.

“Indeed, the believers, who have Khushu’ in their Salah, are the winners.” [Noble Quran 23:1-2]

2-It is a contributing factor to the acceptance of Salah.

3- It is a way to gain more rewards from the Almighty Allah; the more Khushu a person has, the more rewards he gets.

4- Without Khushu the heart cannot easily be purified.

Ways to Gain Khushu

A. Pre-Salah
1- A Muslim should know his Lord very well. Knowing whom one worships makes a person a better worshipper. Having clear and authentic knowledge about Allah increases His love in our hearts. Consequently, faith also increases.

2- Avoiding major and minor sins is very helpful in gaining Khushu, as the heart becomes more receptive to the words of Allah during and after Salah.

3- Reciting the Quran frequently and consistently softens hearts and prepares it for Khushu. Hard hearts do not gain Khushu.

4- Minimize attachment to worldly matters. Gearing one’s intentions towards the Afterlife helps against the temptations of life.

5- Avoid excessive laughter and useless arguments as they harden the heart and lead to heedlessness.

6- Stop working as soon as you hear the Adhan. When you listen attentively to the call of Salah repeat after the muezzin then offers the relevant supplication. This prepares you for a smooth transition from the business with worldly matters to the business with Salah.

7- Performing Wudu immediately after hearing the Adhan prepares you for the pending Salah. Wudu also works as a buffer zone before engaging in Salah.

8- Going to the mosque early for praying and continuing to mention Allah drives Satan away and helps them gain concentration.

9- The waiting time for the congregational Salah helps create a buffer zone between the state of mind before Salah and the state during Salah.

B. During Salah
1- The Iqamah itself is a final signal to the mind to be well prepared for performing the actual Salah. Remember what the messenger of Allah said to Bilal “Let us enjoy the comfort of the Salah.”

2- When you stand facing the Qiblah remember the following:
a. It might be the last Salah in your life. There is no guarantee to live longer to catch the next Salah.
b. You are standing between the hands of Allah, the Lord of the worlds. How can you be busy with something else?

c. The angel of death is chasing you.

3- Do not forget to make Istiadthah. It wards off Satan’s whispers.

4- Keep your eyes focused on the place of Sujud. This helps you gain more concentration.

5- When reciting the Fatihah, try to recall the response of Allah to you after every Ayah you say. (When you say: “al-Hamdu Lillahi Rabbil Alamin) Allah responds: “My servant praised me.” etc. This feeling of speaking to Allah puts you in the right mood for Khushu.

6- Beautifying the recitation of the Quran has a positive impact on the heart.

7- Recite the Quran slowly and reflect upon its meaning deeply.

8- It is recommended to change the Surah that you recite from time to time to avoid the mechanic-like state of repetition.

9- Alternate between the various authentic Sunan such as proclaiming a different opening supplication in every Salah.

10- Undoubtedly, understanding Arabic helps you focus on the intended meaning.

11- These forms of interactions are very helpful in keeping you focused.

12- When you prostrate, remember that this position brings you closer to Allah. Seize the opportunity to make sincere Duaa.
Invest these moments in making sincere supplications.

C- Post-Salah

1. When you make Taslim, make Istighfar to Allah as you might have made during Salah.

2. When you praise Allah, thank Him from the bottom of your heart that you have experienced the beauty of Salah in your heart. Getting used to this habit prepares you for the next Salah, as you will always be eager to focus in your prayer.

3. One perfection leads to another perfection. If someone perfects his Salah once, he would be self-motivated to continue on the same level.

4. Interact with the recited Ayahs;

a. if you hear an Ayah about Allah, glorify Him by saying “Subhanallah”;
b. If you hear an Ayah about Hellfire,
say “Audthu Billahi Minan-Nar”.

c. If you hear a command to make Istighfar, do it.

d. If you hear an Ayah that requests Tasbih, make Tasbih.

“May the Peace and Blessings of Allah be Upon You”
Praise be to Allaah, we seek His help and His forgiveness. We seek refuge with Allah from the evil of our own souls and from our bad deeds. Whomsoever Allaah guides will never be led astray, and whomsoever Allaah leaves astray, no one can guide. I bear witness that there is no god but Allaah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.