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Prophet Yunus (Alaih Assalaam)

Prophet Yunus(Alaih Assalaam) was sent by Allah to a big town where the people had forgotten Allah’s orders and did many things which Allah had forbidden. You should believe only in Allah and obey only Him, Yunus told them. You should worship Him alone and do good, otherwise, a severe punishment will come upon you!

But Yunus(Alaih Assalaam) soon discovered that the people did not want to listen to him. He left the tow. Afterward, Yunus decided to go across the sea and boarded a ship for the voyage. But when the ship was in the middle of the ocean, Yunus (Alaih Assalaam) suffered a great misfortune. He was thrown overboard and swallowed up by an enormous fish. Fortunately, though, the fish had swallowed Yunus (Alaih Assalaam) in one big gulp, so he landed in its stomach unhurt.

It was very dark inside the fish’s stomach, and Yunus (Alaih Assalaam) grew very fearful. In his loneliness, he started to think over what had happened in the town and came to realize that he should not have acted so hastily and in such a quick-tempered manner. Instead, he should have stayed and kept on speaking to the people and ask them to return to Allah.

In this despair, Yunus (Alaih Assalaam) started to pray with all his heart to Allah. He said “O Allah, there is no God apart from You. You alone do I praise and honor. I have done wrong; if You do not help me, I shall be lost forever.”
Allah hears the prayers of those who pray to Him and those who believe in Him. Allah heard Yunus’s prayer, and he caused Yunus (Alaih Assalaam) to come out of the fish’s stomach, and to be swept by the waves of the sea onto the shore. Poor Yunus (Alaih Assalaam) was in a terrible state and lay on the shore, weak, ill and helpless. He felt dreadfully miserable, but Allah caused a tree to grow and this tree provided Yunus (Alaih Assalaam) with shade and nourishing fruits. Before long, Yunus (Alaih Assalaam) had recovered his health and strength.

When he was better, Allah sent Yunus (Alaih Assalaam) back to the town. This time, though, the people there listened to Yunus (Alaih Assalaam) when he told them: You should believe in Allah and worship Him alone. You must do good.

Saying Of Prophet Muhammad (SAW)

Signs of True Love with Allah
Volume 4, Book 54, Number 431:
Narrated Abu Huraira: The Prophet said, “If Allah loves a person, He calls Gabriel saying, ‘Allah loves so-and-so; O Gabriel! Love him.’
Gabriel would love him and make an announcement amongst the inhabitants of Heaven. ‘Allah loves so-and-so, therefore you should love him also,’ and so all the inhabitants of the Heaven would love him, and then he is granted the pleasure of the people on the earth.”

The reality of Devine Inspirations on Prophet saws
Volume 4, Book 54, Number 438:
Narrated Aisha: Al Harith bin Hisham asked the Prophet, “How does the divine inspiration come to you?” He replied, “In all these ways: The Angel sometimes comes to me with a voice which resembles the sound of a ringing bell, and when this state abandons me, I remember what the Angel has said, and this type of Divine Inspiration is the hardest
on me; and sometimes the Angel comes to me in the shape of a man and talks to me, and I understand and remember what he says.”

Duty of Angels
Volume 4, Book 54, Number 441:
Narrated Ibn Abbas: Allah’s Apostle asked Gabriel, “Why don’t you visit us more often than you do?” Then the following Holy Verse was revealed (in this respect):– “And we (angels) descend not but by the order of your Lord. To Him belong what is before us and what is behind us, and what is between those two and your Lord was never forgetful.” (19.64)

Volume 4, Book 54, Number 442:
Narrated Ibn Abbas: Allah’s Apostle said, “Gabriel read the Qur’an to me in one way (i.e. dialect) and I continued asking him to read it in different ways till he read it in seven different ways.”

Origin of Prayer
Volume 4, Book 54, Number 444:
Narrated Ibn Shihab: Once Umar bin Abdul Aziz delayed the ‘Asr prayer a little. ‘Urwa said to him, “Gabriel descended and led the prayer in front of the Prophet ” On that ‘Umar said, “O Urwa! Be sure of what you say.” “Urwa, “I heard Bashir bin Abi Masud narrating from Ibn Masud who heard Allah’s Apostle saying, ‘Gabriel descended and led me in prayer; and then prayed with him again, and then prayed with him again, and then prayed with him again, and then prayed with him again, counting with his fingers five prayers.”

Importance of Tuheed, Oneness of Allah
Volume 4, Book 54, Number 445:
Narrated Abu Dhar: The Prophet said, “Gabriel said to me, ‘Whoever amongst your followers die without having worshipped others besides Allah, will enter Paradise (or will not enter the (Hell) Fire).” The Prophet asked. “Even if he has committed illegal sexual intercourse or theft?” He replied, “Even then.”

Remembrance Of Allah

002.063 And [recall] when We took your covenant, [O Children of Israel, to abide by the Torah] and We raised over you the mount, [saying], “Take what We have given you with determination and remember what is in it that perhaps you may become righteous”

004.142 The Hypocrites – they think they are over-reaching Allah, but He will over-reach them: When they stand up to prayer, they stand without earnestness, to be seen of men, but little do they hold Allah in remembrance;

005.007 And remember the favor of Allah upon you and His covenant with which He bound you when you said, “We hear and we obey”; and fear Allah. Indeed, Allah is Knowing of that within the breasts.

005.011 O you who have believed, remember the favor of Allah upon you when a people determined to extend their hands [in aggression] against you, but He withheld their hands from you; and fear Allah . And upon Allah let the believers rely.

005.020 And [mention, O Muhammad], when Moses said to his people, “O my people, remember the favor of Allah upon you when He appointed among you prophets and made you possessors and gave you that which He had not given anyone among the worlds.

005.091 Satan only wants to cause between you animosity and hatred through intoxicants and gambling and to avert you from the remembrance of Allah and from prayer. So will you not desist?

007.069 “Then do you wonder that there has come to you a reminder from your Lord through a man from among you, that he may warn you? And remember when He made you successors after the people of Noah and increased you in stature extensively. So remember the favors of Allah that you might succeed.”

007.074 “And remember when He made you successors after the ‘Aad and settled you in the land, [and] you take for yourselves palaces from its plains and carve from the mountains, homes. Then remember the favors of Allah and do not commit abuse on the earth, spreading corruption.”

007.171 “And [mention] when We raised the mountain above them as if it was a dark cloud and they were certain that it would fall upon them, [and Allah said], “Take what We have given you with determination and remember what is in it that you might fear Allah .”

007.201 Indeed, those who fear Allah – when an impulse touches them from Satan, they remember [Him] and at once they have insight.

007.205 And remember your Lord within yourself in humility and in fear without being apparent in speech – in the mornings and the evenings. And do not be among the heedless.

008.045 O you who have believed, when you encounter a company [from the enemy forces], stand firm and remember Allah much that you may be successful.

011.114 And establish prayer at the two ends of the day and at the approach of the night. Indeed, good deeds do away with misdeeds. That is a reminder for those who remember.

011.120 And each [story] We relate to you from the news of the messengers is that by which We make firm your heart. And there has come to you, in this, the truth and an instruction and a reminder for the believers.

013.028 “Those who have believed and whose hearts are assured by the remembrance of Allah. Unquestionably, by the remembrance of Allah hearts are assured”

018.028 And keep yourself patient [by being] with those who call upon their Lord in the morning and the evening, seeking His countenance. And let not your eyes pass beyond them, desiring adornments of the worldly life, and do not obey one whose heart We have made heedless of Our remembrance and who follows his desire and whose affair is ever [in] neglect.

018.101 Those whose eyes had been within a cover [removed] from My remembrance, and they were not able to hear.

020.042 “Go, you and your brother, with My signs and do not slacken in My remembrance.”

020.113 And thus We have sent it down as an Arabic Qur’an and have diversified therein the warnings that perhaps they will avoid [sin] or it would cause them remembrance.

024.037 [Are] men whom neither commerce nor sale distracts from the remembrance of Allah and the performance of prayer and giving of zakah. They fear a Day in which the hearts and eyes will [fearfully] turn about –

026.227 Except those [poets] who believe and do righteous deeds and remember Allah often and defend [the Muslims] after they were wronged. And those who have wronged are going to know to what [kind of] return they will be returned.

029.045 Recite, [O Muhammad], what has been revealed to you of the Book and establish prayer. Indeed, prayer prohibits immorality and wrongdoing, and the remembrance of Allah is greater. And Allah knows that which you do.

039.021 Do you not see that Allah sends down rain from the sky and makes it flow as springs [and rivers] in the earth; then He produces thereby crops of varying colors; then they dry and you see them turned yellow; then He makes them [scattered] debris. Indeed in that is a reminder for those of understanding.

043.036 And whoever is blinded from remembrance of the Most Merciful – We appoint for him a devil, and he is to him a companion.

057.016 Has the time not come for those who have believed that their hearts should become humbly submissive at the remembrance of Allah and what has come down of the truth? And let them not be like those who were given the Scripture before, and a long period passed over them, so their hearts hardened; and many of them are defiantly disobedient.

058.019 Satan has overcome them and made them forget the remembrance of Allah. Those are the party of Satan. Unquestionably, the party of Satan – they will be the losers.

062.009 O you who have believed, when [the adhan] is called for the prayer on the day of Jumu’ah [Friday], then proceed to the remembrance of Allah and leave trade. That is better for you if you only knew.

063.009 O you who have believed, let not your wealth and your children divert you from the remembrance of Allah. And whoever does that – then those are the losers.

069.012 That We might make it for you a reminder and [that] a conscious ear would be conscious of it.

072.017 “So We might test them therein. And whoever turns away from the remembrance of his Lord He will put into arduous punishment.”

073.008 And remember the name of your Lord and devote yourself to Him with [complete] devotion.

074.055 Let any who will keep it in remembrance!

074.056 And they will not remember except that Allah wills. He is worthy of fear and adequate for [granting] forgiveness.

080.012 Therefore let whoso will keep it in remembrance.

089.023 And Hell, that Day, is brought (face to face),- on that Day will man remember, but how will that remembrance profit him?

Note: Reading of the Arabic Quran is necessary, translations do provide general awareness but cannot hold all the dimensions of any verse.

Racing The Imam In Prayer

Congregational prayer is one of the most important aspects of Islamic worship. It helps to bring people in the same locality together so that they would know each other and establish friendly and close relations. Moreover, their frequent meetings at prayer times give them a chance to learn more of one another’s work and what they can provide. Thus, they will seek to get what they need from within their own neighborhood. Furthermore, congregational prayer instills discipline within the community. When people take instructions from the imam during worship, which is a bond between each individual and God, they learn the value of discipline in their lives.

Stressing the importance of discipline in prayer, the Prophet (peace be upon him) says, as quoted by Abu Hurayrah: “When a person lifts his head before the imam, does he not fear that God will make his head like that of a donkey, or that He will make him look like a donkey?” (Related by al-Bukhari).

This is the strongest form used by the Prophet to emphasize the importance of following the imam in all actions, and not to go ahead of him. The Prophet said: “I am your imam. Therefore, do not go before me in bowing, prostration or standing up.” He also said: “An imam is appointed so that he is followed.” However, people are often impatient. When the Prophet noticed that his admonition in this respect has not given its desired results, he stated the hadith we are discussing, warning of a stern punishment on the Day of Judgement. Thus, a person who races the imam in prayer runs the risk of having a changed shape marking him out among all people. We should emphasize here that this is merely a warning, and it does not follow that everyone who does not abide by the order to follow the imam will be changed in form. Such a person, however, exposes himself to this risk.

A question arises here about the validity of the prayer when a person moves ahead of the imam in congregational prayer. Scholars have expressed different views, going into considerable detail. They agree that it is forbidden to precede the imam in any action. Everyone in the congregation is required to follow the imam, not to precede him. It is indeed reprehensible to do any movement or say any words of the prayer at the same time as the imam, except for the first takbeer, which signals the beginning of the prayer.

What worshippers in the congregation are required to do is to follow the imam. When he signals a move, they make it shortly after he has signaled it, and before he has gone to the next move. If a person delays moving until the imam has completed the next action and went into the following one, then that person’s prayer is invalid. To explain: We stand to read the Quran, then bow, then stand up again, then go into prostration. If the imam bows and stands up while someone in the congregation remains standing because he wants to finish his recitation, then that person’s prayer is invalid. If he bows when the imam is still bowing, his prayer remains valid but his action is not correct. He should follow the imam.

A violation of this instruction that is often done by worshippers occurs in the last prostration. The imam signals moving to the last sitting for tashahhud. Yet we see people remaining in prostration for a whole minute or longer. This is absolutely wrong and they run the risk of making their prayer invalid.

– by Adil Salahi

A Message To Those Drowning In Sin

Q: I would like to let you know that I have committed the most major sins and I am not saying this in order to take pride in my sins – I used to feel this before but not any longer. I have defeated Satan in many rounds, but he defeated me in more battles. Is it possible for me to return to Allah once again and how?

A: In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful. All praise be to Allah and prayers and salutations to our Prophet Muhammad and his family and companions.

The Prophet (PBUH) said Allah will forgive whoever repents before the sun rises from the west [reported by Muslim from the Hadith of Abu Hurairah].

Nothing prevents you from repenting, even if your sins reach the sky or fill the whole earth. As long as the human being is in this life, the door of repentance is open. You are in the midst of a battle between the call of faith in your heart, and the call of desire that is guided by Satan in your heart.

The heart is not immunized from Satan except with the Zikr (remembrance) of Allah, the Exalted, and it does not have the strength to want good except by doing good deeds. Satan does not defeat the heart unless it is inattentive of the Zikr of Allah, the Exalted and unless it is weak because of vice and sins committed. Take it and maintain it as its results are guaranteed, Allah willing, if you persevere it honestly:

  1. Keep up the five prayers in congregation, especially the Fajr prayer and never miss it. Allah, the Exalted says “and the fajr reading of the Qur’an , verily the fajr recitation of Qur’an is witnessed,” i.e. the Fajr prayer is witnessed by angels.
  2. After the Fajr prayer remain in the mosque to read the Qur’an until sunrise, and then offer two Rakahs (prayer units) 10 minutes after sunrise.
  3. Say Subhan Allah wa bi Hamdihi (may Allah be glorified and praised) one hundred times a day at any time in the mosque or house, whether walking, sitting, in the car, etc. This Zikr wipes out sins.
  4. Ask forgiveness of Allah one hundred times each day, saying Astaghfirullah wa atoobu ilayh (I ask forgiveness of Allah and I repent to Him), once again at any time you wish and in whatever condition you are in.
  5. Say this zikr: la ilaha illa Allahu wahdahu la sharika lah, lahul mulk wa lahul hamd wa howa ala kul shayin qadeer (there is no god but Allah; He has no partner; He is the dominion and praise, and He is capable of everything) one hundred times each day at any time you wish and in whatever condition you are.
  6. Between Maghrib (sunset prayer) and Isha (evening prayer) remain in the mosque and do not leave it, and recite as much as you can of the Qur’an, with full concentration.
  7. Continue this program for at least a month: living with the Qur’an, reciting it with consideration, and acting upon what is in it; spending time alone for long hours for the Zikr of Allah, the Exalted.
  8. If the environment in which you live does not support you in applying this program, then change the environment – abandon bad friends, and avoid places that encourage you to commit sins.
  9. Donate part of your money as a form of repentance to Allah, the Exalted, as charities given in secret are seen only by Allah, the Exalted.
    In an authentic Hadith, “Secret charities extinguish the anger of the Lord.” [Narrated by ibn Hibban from the Hadith of Anas]
  10. Try to perform Umrah with the intention of renewing your faith and cleansing your past with the water of this blessed trip.
    11. If you owe anything to others, return that and do not retain anything you will be accounted for, as a form of repentance to Allah.

Medical Advantages Of Sajda (Prostration)

Sajda(Prostration) is a unique position or stance in the regular prayers, which a Muslim is supposed to offer at least five times a day. Although the basic purpose of obligatory prayers is not to provide an exercise for people yet it is being increasingly recognized that it has plenty of medical advantages for the human body.

Here it is worth mentioning that Holy Prophet Muhammed (peace be upon him) has mentioned in a hadith in Ibn Maja:’That prayer is a cure for many diseases’. The position of Sajda in which the forehead touches the ground is exclusively associated with the Muslim form of prayer. It is the climax of a Muslim’s prayer and as mentioned in a Hadith a Muslim is nearest to Allah in this position.

The messenger of Allah (pbuh) said: “The nearest a servant comes to his Lord is when he is prostrating himself, so make supplication’ (in this state)” In a Hadith narrated by Anas bin Malik (R.A.) Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) advised Muslims to perform Rukuu (bowing) and Sajda(prostration) properly.

In another Hadith he (peace be upon him) advised to perform Sajda(Prostration) and Bowing calmly and to get up only when the body has come to ease. Hence the first positive effect upon a person who prostrates or does Sajda(Prostration) is that he comes nearest to Allah and hence in that condition he can supplicate.

Psychological advantage:
This is a great psychological advantage and it gives relief to the person concerned as life is full of worries and in this position he gets at least a transient refuge from the agonizing problems.

When a person goes to the position of Sajda(Prostration), his whole body is in active motion. This position can be considered as a mini dive as the musalli (one who offers prayer) goes to rest his forehead on the ground while his hands are placed at the sides. This brings most of the body muscles if not all in active motion and serves to give them some exercise. The hands are then specifically stretched out and thence the forearm as well as arm muscles are supposed to bear the weight in the Sajda(Prostration) position. It gives good exercise to the muscles of the upper limb. The Prophet (peace be upon him) in a hadith advised not to put the forearms flatly on the ground but to keep them elevated above the ground and this is better for the forearm and arm muscles.

Sajda(Prostration) is a unique position as this is the only position in which brain (or head) becomes lower than the heart and hence for the first time, the blood gushes towards the brain with full force whereas in all other positions (even when lying) brain is above the heart when it has to work against gravity to send blood to the brain. In the position of Sajda(Prostration) due to the increased blood supply, the brain receives more nourishment and it has a good effect upon memory, vision, hearing, concentration, psyche and all other cognitive abilities.

People who offer their prayers regularly have more will power and can cope with the difficulties of life in a much better manner.

They have less incidence of headaches, psychological problems and other defects of cognitive function. In the unique position of Sajda(Prostration) the neck muscles get the best exercise. They have to bear the load when the forehead lies at the ground hence the neck muscles become stronger. One can note the tense pressure at the neck muscles in the position of Sajda(Prostration) especially the active motion of the neck and the facial muscles when the head is being lifted. (e.g. one inch above the ground) and it will be noticed that they are in a very active motion.

More strong cervical muscles mean the cervical vertebra will be better protected. The strength of cervical muscles is important as the headrests upon cervical vertebra supported by cervical musculature. In fact, head performs rotator movements over the cervical vertebra. In any accident cervical neck examination is especially important to the physicians because of its extraordinary importance. It is uncommon that a person who offers his prayers regularly will get the usual neck myalgias or cervical spondylosis as the neck muscles particularly become very strong due to the 34 sajdas(Prostrations) offered daily in five prayers.

The unique position of Sajda(Prostration) also has positive effects upon the back muscles as while going into Sajda and getting up from it the back muscle contract actively and they become stronger. Probably it is because of this reason that a person who is regular in prayers will (rarely) get backache.

Finally, it must be reminded that (even though) prayer is not meant to be an exercise, there are a lot of medical advantages associated with it. Still, the best blessing is the peace of mind, which a person derives by the accomplishment of his duty to Allah by fulfilling an obligation.

Dr. Muhammad Karim Beebani, Saudi Gazette

How Prayer Accelerates Treatment Of The Sick

And Your Lord said: “Invoke Me, I will respond to your (invocation). Verily, those who scorn My worship, they will surely enter Hell in humiliation!” (Ghafir 40:60)

According to the Qur’an, prayer, meaning “calling, requesting, seeking help,” is a person’s turning sincerely to Allah, and seeking help from Him, the Almighty, the Compassionate and Merciful, in the knowledge that he is a dependent being. Illness is one of those instances when a person feels this dependence most and draws closer to Allah. Furthermore, sickness is a test, devised in His wisdom, that takes place by His will, and is a warning to remind people of the transience and imperfection of this life, and is also a source of recompense in the hereafter for the patient and submissive.

Those without faith, on the other hand, imagine that the way to recovery is through doctors, medicines or the advanced technological capabilities of modern science. They never pause to think that it is Allah Who causes their physical systems to function when they are in good health, or Who creates the healing medicines and doctors when they are ill. Many turn only to Allah when they arrive at the opinion that doctors and medicines are inadequate. People in such situations seek help only from Allah, realizing that only He can free them from their difficulty. Allah has revealed this mindset in a verse:

And when harm touches man, he invokes Us, lying on his side, or sitting down or standing. But when We removed his harm from him he passes on as if he had never invoked Us for a harm that touched him! Thus it is made fair-seeming to be Musrifun that which they used to do. (Yunus 10:12)

The fact is, however, that even in good health, or without tribulations or other difficulties, a person must pray and give thanks to Allah for the comforts, good health and all the other blessings He has imparted.

One very important aspect of prayer is this: In addition to praying out loud, it is also important for a person to make every effort to pray through his or her deeds. Prayer by action means doing everything possible to attain a certain wish. For example, in addition to praying, a sick person may also have to visit an expert doctor, use medicines that will be of benefit, and receive hospital treatment if necessary or some other form of special care. Because Allah has linked everything that happens in this world to specific causes, everything in the world and in the universe happens in accordance with these causes. Therefore, the individual must take the requisite measures in accordance with these causes, and yet await the outcome from Allah, with humility, submission, and patience, in the knowledge that it is He Who brings about their results.

The positive effect of faith and prayer on the sick and the way this accelerates treatment is a matter that has attracted the attention of and is recommended by doctors. Under the heading “God and Health: Is Religion Good Medicine? Why Science Is Starting to Believe,”  Newsweek took the curative effect of religion as its cover story. It reported that faith in God raised people’s morale and helped them recover more easily, and that science had also begun to believe that people with religious faith recover more easily and quickly. According to a Newsweek survey, 72 percent of Americans say they believe that praying can cure someone and that prayer facilitates recovery. Research in Great Britain and the USA has also concluded that prayer reduces patients’ symptoms and accelerates the recovery process.

According to research conducted at Michigan University, depression and stress are observed to a lesser extent in the devout. And, according to findings at Rush University in Chicago, the early death rate among people who worship and pray regularly is some 25 percent lower than in those with no religious convictions. Another study conducted on 750 people, who underwent angio-cardiography, proved scientifically the “curative power of prayer.” It was established that the death rate among heart patients who prayed decreased by 30 percent within a year after their operations.

Examples of the prayers mentioned in the Qur’an are these:

And (remember) Ayyub (Job), when he cried to his Lord: “Verily, distress has seized me, and You are the Most Merciful of the merciful of all those who show mercy.” (Al-Anbiya’ 21:83)

And (remember) Zakariya (Zachariah), when he cried to his Lord: ” O My Lord! Leave me not single (childless), though You are the Best of Inheritors.” (Al-Anbiya’ 21:89)

And indeed Nuh (Noah) invoked Us, and We are the Best of those who answer (the request). (As-Saffat 37:75)

As has already been stated, prayer must not only be for alleviation of sickness or other mundane problems. A sincere believer must always pray to Allah and accept whatever comes from Him. The fact that the benefits of prayer revealed in many verses of the Qur’an are now being recognized scientifically once again reveals the miraculous nature of the Qur’an.

And when My slaves ask you (O Muhammad, peace be upon him) concerning Me, then (answer them) I am indeed near (to them by my knowledge). I respond to the invocations of the supplicant when he calls on Me. So let them obey Me and believe in Me, so that they may be led aright. (Al-Baqarah 2:186)