In the name of Allah, most Gracious, most Merciful.
As I took out the trash this morning I was reminded of a little story … The Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) was seen by one of his companions while taking out the trash. His companion was alarmed and said to the Prophet: Oh Messenger of God, you are taking out the trash! The Prophet replied: who should I have take out the trash, the mother of the believers?
Following the Sunnah is really not that difficult… Blessed Jumuah!
In the name of Allah, most Gracious, most Merciful.
Alhamdulillah, with the Grace of Allah, we were able to conduct Jumuah Salaah at Benowa State High School this afternoon. We hope that this will continue and that the attendance will improve each week. The principal, teachers and students were very accommodating which made for a very relaxed and casual environment. We even had a few non-Muslim spectators which is always a good sight. The school is very Multicultural and brought back memories of my days in High School.
Despite the negative publicity Muslims get in the media, we have much to be grateful for. I remember Jumuah at school and I believe that fostering an Islamic environment in schools can greatly influence the youth. I sincerely hope we are able to maintain this arrangement and that the students can benefit from this initiative. I don’t believe that prayer facilities in non-Muslims schools is a right of Muslims, it is a privilege and is something we should acknowledge and show our appreciation for.
May Allah guide the youth and allow them to become righteous leaders of Islam.
In the name of Allah, most Gracious, most Merciful.
In “Choosing your place in a gathering”, I mentioned the importance of sitting within a gathering and suggested finding a place closest to the Imam at Jumuah Prayers. This will put things into perspective…
According to Imam Abu-Haneefa in al-Fiqh al-’Akbar: “Allah is seen in the hereafter. The believers will see Him while they are in Paradise. (They will see Him) without any likeness, ascription, and quantity and there will not be any distance between Him and His creations.”
In a lecture I recently listened to by Imam Anwar-al Awlaki, he mentions that ”The people of Jannah, every Friday, will go down to a gathering place, and they will be seated according to how close they were to the Imam in Khutbatul Jumuah, this is when people will get to see Allah. That is the greatest pleasure. People in lowest Jannah will get to see Allah every Friday, but people in Jannatul Firdous will see Allah twice each day, once in the morning and once in the evening.” This is also mentioned by Ibn Al-Qayyim in Nooniyyah.
Remember this the next time you choosing your place at the Musjid. The ultimate incentive, the ultimate reward!
…and remember… “The deeds most loved by Allah are those done regularly, even if they are small.”
In the Name of Allah, most Gracious, most Merciful.
Ali Ibn Abu Taalib (RA) narrated: When Friday comes, the devils go to the markets with their flags, and involve people in their needs and prevent them from the Friday prayer. The angels come early in the morning, sit at the door of the mosque, and record that so-and-so came at the first hour, and so-and-so came at the second hour until the imam comes out (for preaching). When a man sits in a place where he can listen (to the sermon) and look (at the imam), where he remains silent and does not interrupt, he will receive a double reward. If he stays away, sits in a place where he cannot listen (to the sermon), silent, and does not interrupt, he will receive the reward only once. If he sits in a place where he can listen (to the sermon) and look (at the imam), and he does not remain silent, he will have the burden of it. If anyone says to his companion sitting besides him to be silent (while the imam is preaching), he is guilty of idle talk. Anyone who interrupts (during the sermon) will receive nothing (no reward) on that Friday.
Blessed Jumuah…
In the Name of Allah, most Gracious, most Merciful.
“O believers, when the call is proclaimed for the prayer on Friday, come to the remembrance of Allah and leave off business, that is better for you if you but did know.” [Al-Jumuah, 62:9]
Etiquette of the day of Jumuah:
In the name of Allah, most Gracious, most Merciful.
I read a Hadith narrated by Abu Waqid Al-Laith (RA) which tells of three men at a gathering. One of the men found a place within the circle of the gathering, the other sat behind the gathering and the third man walked away. When Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) completed his talk he said, “shall I tell you about these three persons? One of them betook himself to Allah, so Allah took him into His Grace and Mercy and accommodated him, the second felt shy from Allah, so Allah sheltered him in His mercy (and did not punish him), while the third turned his face from Allah and went away, so Allah turned His face from him likewise.”
I will remember this the next time I am present in a gathering and I hope we can all benefit from this Hadith. Let us be among those whom Allah takes into His Grace and Mercy.
I think it’s important that when we learn or become aware of such teachings that we avoid judging the actions of others. It is through Allah’s mercy that we attain such knowledge and through these actions we may earn His pleasure. Don’t spoil the reward of such an action by judging others or by making them uncomfortable. People may leave Islamic gatherings or might prefer to sit outside them for good reason, it’s not for us to judge or question their intentions, if you are sincere in spreading the knowledge then narrate to them the above Hadith and Insha Allah through you, they too will earn Allah’s pleasure.
A good place to start will be in the Musjid at Jumuah, Insha Allah I will find a place nearest to the front. It’s a shame that the back wall gets full so early in the sermon.
In the name of Allah, most Gracious, most Merciful.
We’ve all experienced this at the mosque at some point. You get to the mosque late and you can’t find a spot to pray so you find a gap between two brothers and force your way in; or you get there early to get a good seat and some late-comer squeezes between you and the brother beside you and suddenly you’re curled up to one side thinking… why me?
The next time you face this dilemma, think about the following Hadith:
The Prophet (p.b.u.h) said, “Whoever takes a bath on Friday, purifies himself as much as he can, then uses his (hair) oil or perfumes himself with the scent of his house, then proceeds (for the Jummah prayer) and does not separate two persons sitting together (in the mosque), then prays as much as (Allah has) written for him and then remains silent while the Imam is delivering the Khutbah, his sins in-between the present and the last Friday would be forgiven.”
The Hadith emphasizes the importance of etiquette at the Mosque. Be courteous towards your fellow worshippers, this will benefit you and those around you and will facilitate a healthy, peaceful praying environment. Most Mosques and Prayer halls struggle to cope with the crowd at Jummah Prayers so you are bound to have a space issue and will sometimes be forced to inconvenience fellow worshippers, be polite about it and there will be reward in that too Insha Allah. If you do a righteous act, do it for Allah and likewise, if you restrain yourself from committing a sin, do it for Allah.
Jummah Mubarak!
…and remember… “The deeds most loved by Allah are those done regularly, even if they are small.”
In the name of Allah, most Gracious, most Merciful.
A short but clear Hadith highlighting the importance of silence during the Jummah Khutbah:
“If you told your friend to pay attention on Friday while the Imam is delivering the speech then you committed a sin of vain talk.”
Take heed of this Hadith and remember it when you’re at the Jummah Prayer next. Keeping quiet will allow you to benefit from the sermon and also gives you the opportunity to remember Allah. Don’t waste these opportunities by engaging in worldly matters. This is a sacrifice we can all afford to make.
The Prophet (p.b.u.h) said, “Whoever takes a bath on Friday, purifies himself as much as he can, then uses his (hair) oil or perfumes himself with the scent of his house, then proceeds (for the Jummah prayer) and does not separate two persons sitting together (in the mosque), then prays as much as (Allah has) written for him and then remains silent while the Imam is delivering the Khutbah, his sins in-between the present and the last Friday would be forgiven.”
May we all benefit from this Insha Allah!
In the name of Allah, most Gracious, most Merciful.
O ye who believe! When the call is proclaimed to prayer on Friday (the Day of Assembly), hasten earnestly to the Remembrance of Allah, and leave off business: That is best for you if ye but knew!
And when the Prayer is finished, then may ye disperse through the land, and seek of the Bounty of Allah: and remember Allah frequently that ye may prosper.
Praying Jummah is and should be a high priority for all Muslims. Make a sincere intention to pray every Jummah Prayer, whether you’re at work, school or uni, make every effort to make this prayer. If you are sincere in your efforts, Allah will make it easy for you and the more effort required, the greater the reward for you Insha Allah.
…and remember… “The deeds most loved by Allah are those done regularly, even if they are small.”
In the name of Allah, most Gracious, most Merciful.
Friday (Jummah) Reminder:
It was narrated that Ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: ‘Whoever reads Surah al-Kahf on the day of Jumu’ah, a light will shine for him from beneath his feet to the clouds of the sky, which will shine for him on the Day of Resurrection, and he will be forgiven (his sins) between the two Fridays.’”
Make it a habit to recite Surah Al-Kahf on Thursday night or Friday morning every week, if you are unable to do so, recite the first ten verses at least.
…and remember… “The deeds most loved by Allah are those done regularly, even if they are small.”
Lessons, Reminders, Reflections... 