My Islamic Articles

What Muslims Are Supposed To Do On FridaysFriday is the best day of the week. Imam Bukhari and Muslim reported that Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) had said, “We (Muslims) came last and yet we are the first on the day of judgment.They have received the books before us (meaning Taurah and Injil). We have received the book after them (meaning the Qur’an). Friday was their day to be glorified. However, they disputed on that while Allah Ta’ala had told us Friday is the day to glorify. Thus, they will follow us. The Jews glorify Saturday, and the Christians glorify Sunday.”Also reported by Imam Muslim, Abu-Dawod, Al-Nasaii, and Al-Termithi, that Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) had said, “The best day during which the sun have risen is Friday. It is the Day Adam was created. It is the day when Adam entered paradise and also when he was taken out from it. It is also the day on which the day of judgment takes place.”
Muslims are supposed to do the following on Fridays:•Men are obligated to participate in Friday Prayer. Allah (S.W.T.) said in Surat Al-Jumauah, (verse 9), what can be translated as, “O’ you who believe! When the call is proclaimed to Prayer on Friday hasten earnestly to the remembrance of Allah, and leave off business. That is best for you if you but knew.” •In addition, prophet Mohammad (S.A.W) had warned from not attending Friday Prayer. Imam Muslim and Ahmad had reported that Prophet Mohammad (S.A.W) said about people who do not attend Friday prayer, “I wanted to ask a man to lead people in the prayer so that I may go and burn houses of men who did not attend the Friday Prayer with us” He also said, reported by Imam Muslim, Ahmad and An-Nasaii, “Either they (meaning people who do not attend the Friday prayer) stop neglecting Friday prayers or Allah will set a seal on their hearts so they can not find the right path again.” In another authentic hadith reported by Abu Dawod, Termithi, An-Nesaii, and Ibn-Majah, that the prophet (S.A.W) said, “Who ever does not attend three Friday prayers, (without a valid excuse) Allah will set a seal on his heart” •It is also recommended to increase supplication, especially at the last hour of the day since it is the hour when requests are replied by Allah (SWT). In an authentic hadith reported by Imam An-Nasai, Abu-Dawod, and Al-hakim, that the prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) said, “Friday has 12 hours, one of which is the hour where cries are granted for Muslim believers. This hour is sought at the last hour after Asar.” •It is encouraged to wish peace be upon prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) during Fridays and Friday’s night because of an authentic hadith reported by Imam Abu-Dawod, An-Nesaii, and Ibn-Majah, that the Prophet Muhammed (S.A.W) said, “The best day is Friday. On Friday Adam was created, and died. On Friday is the first time the trumpet is blown (meaning when every creature dies) and the second time the trumpet is blown (referring to resurrection). So increase the number of times you wish peace upon me since this prayer will be shown to me.” They asked him, How will our prayers be shown to you after you have vanished. He replied, “Allah has prohibited earth to cause the body of prophets to decay.” •It is also recommended that Muslims recite surat Al-Kahf, because of the authentic hadith reported by Imam Al-Baihaqee, and Al-Hakim, that the prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) had said, “Whoever recites surat Al-Kahf on Friday, Allah will give him a light to the next Friday.” •It is also recommended that Muslims clean and wash themselves and make sure they smell nice when they attend Friday prayers. Imam Muslim and Bukhari reported that the prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) said, “Every Muslim is obligated to wash on Fridays and wear his best cloth. Also, he should use perfume if he has any.” •It is important to come early to the Friday prayer. All of the hadith collectors, except Ibn-Majah, reported in an authentic hadith that the prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H) said, “If one washes himself and then went to Friday Prayer, it is considered as if he donated a camel for the sake of Allah. However, If he went in the second hour then it is considered as if he donated a cow, and if the third hour then as if he donated a big sheep, and if the fourth hour then as if he donated a chicken, and if the fifth hour then as if he donated an egg. Then when the Imam starts delivering the speech, the angels come and listen to it.” Also in anther authentic hadith reported by Imam Abu-Dawod that the Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) said, “On Friday the angels come to stand on the doors of the mosque (masjid), the angels record who comes first, if the Imam starts delivering the speech, the angles close their files and come to listen to the speech.”It is forbidden to work on Fridays after the call for the prayer is announced because Allah Ta’ala says in Surat Al-Jumu’ah, (verse 9), what can be translated as, “When the call is proclaimed to prayer on Friday hasten earnestly to the remembrance of Allah, and leave off business.” Also, it is forbidden to talk during the Khutbah. Several sayings of prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) covers this subject. In an authentic hadith reported by (the group of Ahadith collectors), except Ibn-Majah that prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) said, “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.” Another authentic hadith which was reported by Imam Ibn-Majah and Attermizi that prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) said, “Even who touches the gravel on the floor then he committed vain talk, and he who does commit that there will be no (Jumuah) Friday for him.”It is also disliked to walk between sitting people during Friday gathering unless there is an empty spot to fill. In an authentic hadith reported by Imam Abu-Dawod, An-Nesaii and Ahmad it was reported that, A man came and started walking between people during a Friday gathering while Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H) was delivering his speech, so the Prophet told him, “Sit, because you caused harm to other people and came in late.”It was not legislated to consider Friday as a day off and not work on that day, because Allah (S.W.T.) said in surat Al-Jumu’ah, (verse 10), what can be translated as, “And when the prayer is finished, then you may disperse through the land and seek of the bounty of Allah.” It was not a habit of any of the companions to consider Friday as a day to take off from work. On the contrary, Imam Al-Malik said, “It is disliked to take Friday off since we will be resembling the Jews and Christians for taking, respectively, Saturday or Sunday off.”Finally , there are two important matters for us in this country to be caution of •First of all, we must not neglect Friday prayers because of work, study, or other matters. Every Muslim should make attending Friday prayer his top priority. It is important to do so since ignoring it three times with no valid reason will cause the heart to be sealed from the right path. •The second matter to watch for is the loosing of one’s interest in the importance of Friday. This is especially important for the growing generation who are used to the concept of weekend being Saturday and Sunday, and know almost nothing about the importance of Friday in the eyes of Muslims. So it is our duty to remind them and ourselves about this great day which is the best day of the week and try to spend it according to Islamic teaching. To Develop Love Between Husband And WifeIslam has placed much emphasis on love and tolerance when it comes to the issue of marriage. As it is, marriage is one of the pillars of the Sunnah (tradition) of the holy Prophet of Islam, Abul-Qasim Muhammad (S.A.W).Allah (SWT) in His holy book (Al-qur’an), indicates that marriage is one of His outstanding signs that He created man and woman and imparted them with wisdom of love and care, so that they will regenerate and prosper in the generation of Islam. Due to the importance of this profound topic, alot of scholars have contributed their own quota in actualising good homes. As the topic goes, we need to explore some dua’ (supplications) from the holy qur’an in order to have everlasting love and understanding between spouses. From my findings, the following are some of the supplications:•Recite Surah Yasin 7 times and every time blow breath through the palm of the right hand on 7 almonds or dates separately and give them to your spouse to eat all of them.•Recite Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim 786 times on a glass of clean (pure) water and give it to your spouse to drink. •Recite Surah Al Quraysh 14 times and blow it on roses and both husband and wife should smell them. •Recite Al-Wadood 1000 times and every time blow breath through the palm of the right hand on some sweet eatables and both should eat it. •Recite Surah al Muzzammil 41 times and every time blow breath through the palm of the right hand on some sweet eatables and give it to your spouse to eat.•Recite the following dua’ verse 31 of sura Ali-Imran: Qul in kuntum tuhibbuunallah, fattabi’uunii yuhbibkumullahu wa yaghfirlakum walLaahu ghafuurur-raheem 3 times and every time blow breath through the palm of the right hand on a glass of pure water and give it to your spouse to drink.• Recite verse 32 of Sura Sad: (Fa qaala) Innee ahbabtu hubbal-khair andhikri rabbee hatta tawaarat bil hijaab (Translation: He said: “Verily I have loved the love of (earthly) good above the rememberance of my Lord until (the sun) was hidden in the veil (of night)) on some sweet eatables and give it to both of them to eat for a period of 7 days.•Recite verse 83 of Sura Yasin: Fasubhanalladhee biyadihee malakuutu kulli shay’in wa ilaihi turja’uun. Wa laa haula wa laa quwwata illaa billahil-aliyyil ‘azeem (Translation: Therefore glory be to Him in whose hand in the kingdom of all things. Unto Him you will all return. There is no might nor strength with (any one) save Allah, the high, the great.) on some sweet eatables and give it to both of them to eat. Insha Allah very soon they will come very close to each other. •Take an egg (of hen) clean it and write verse 128 of Sura Al-Bara-at: Laqad jaa’akum rasuulun min anfusikum ‘azeezun ‘alaihi maa ‘anittum hareesun ‘alaykum bil mu’mineena ra-uufun raheem (Translation: Indeed a messenger from among you has come to you. Any distress that befalls you grieves him, (he is) most kind and merciful to the believers.) on it with the name of your spouse. Enclose the egg in a pot with a cover and bury it under the earth where fire burns everyday. Insha Allah the spouse will come very close to you. If there has been a separation, an immediate reconciliation will take place.•It is written in the book, Biharul Anwar that in order to create love between husband and wife, write the names of Ashab al-kahf (the people of the cave) and then the name of your spouse with her or his mother’s or father’s name and wear it as a ta’wid on the right arm. The names of seven sleepers (followers of Prophet Isa (AS)) in Christian books are as follows: (1) Constantine (2) Dionysius (3) John (4) Malchus (5) Martinian (6) Maximiam (7) Serapion According to Hafiz Farman Ali Sahib they were six and the seventh was a dog. Their names are given below : (1) Kimsilmina (2) Martunus (3) Sarnivilus (4) Ninivanus(5) Tmlikha (6) Wariwanus The Eminence Islam Attaches To WomenFrom Zainab Bashir MarafaThe position of women in Islam has recently been an issue of debate. Some misconceptions arise, either from traditional practices which are thought to be “Islamic,” but are not, or else from prejudices. However, the real issue is how women are regarded in the Islamic faith, and when we look at this, we see that Islam gives women great social value, freedom and comfort.God’s commandments about the status of women and the relations between men and women, which have been revealed to us through the Qur’an, consist of full justice. In this regard, Islam suggests equality of rights, responsibilities and duties between the two genders. Islam is based on sympathy, tolerance and respect for human beings, and does not discriminate against women in this matter. The examples of good morals communicated to us in the Qur’an are universally compatible with human nature, and are valid for all stages of history. Respect for women and women’s rights fall within this. In the Qur’an, God insists that the tasks and responsibilities of women are the same as those of men. Furthermore, while performing these tasks and responsibilities, men and women must help and support each other: The men and women of the believers are friends of one another. They command what is right and forbid what is wrong, and establish prayer and pay alms, and obey Allah and His Messenger. They are the people on whom Allah will have mercy. Allah is Almighty, All Wise. (Qur’an, 9:71) God emphasizes that believers will be rewarded in the same manner according to their deeds, regardless of their gender. Their Lord responds to them: ‘I will not let the deeds of any doer among you go to waste, male or female - you are both the same in that respect... (Qur’an, 3:195) Anyone who acts rightly, male or female, being a believer, We will give them a good life and We will recompense them according to the best of what they did. (Qur’an, 16:97) In another verse, Muslim men and women are considered together, and it is stressed that both have the same responsibility and status in God’s sight: Men and women who are Muslims, men and women who are believers, men and women who are obedient, men and women who are truthful, men and women who are steadfast, men and women who are humble, men and women who give alms, men and women who fast, men and women who guard their private parts, men and women who remember Allah much: Allah has prepared forgiveness for them and an immense reward. (Qur’an, 33:35)In the Qur’an there are many more verses stating that men and women are exactly equal in terms of their tasks and responsibilities and their rewards or punishments in return. There are a few differences in social issues, but these are for the comfort and protection of women. The commands of the Qur’an regards the congenital differences between the two genders resulting from their creation, and suggest a system maintaining equal justice for men and women in this light. Islam does not see women as objects. Therefore, it is not seen appropriate that a woman of good morals should marry a man of bad morals. In the same way, it is not permitted for a woman of bad morals to marry a man of good morals: Corrupt women are for corrupt men and corrupt men are for corrupt women, Good women are for good men and good men are for good women. The latter are innocent of what they say. They will have forgiveness and generous provision. (Qur’an, 24:26) Also as regards marriage, the duties and responsibilities of couples towards each other require equality. God demands that both spouses be protective of and supervise each other. This duty is expressed in the Qur’an in the following words. They are covers for you and you for them... (Qur’an, 2:187) Many rules and commandments exist in the Qur’an regarding the protection of women’s rights on marriage.