Faizan-e-Mustafa

(11) Helping a person in the grave On Wednesday 28th Dhul-Hijja 529ah, the King of saints, Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jilani قُدِّسَ سرُّهُ الرَّبّاني visited the grave of his teacher Sayyiduna Sheikh Ham’maad Sheera Faraush رَحْمَةُ الله عَلَيْه accompanied by a Qafila of pious men. Ghaus-e-Azam رَحْمَةُ الله عَلَيْه did Dua at the grave for quite a while until it was midday. When he رَحْمَةُ الله عَلَيْه returned, he was very cheerful. He رَحْمَةُ الله عَلَيْه was asked, "Why did you do Dua for so long?" He رَحْمَةُ الله عَلَيْه replied, "On Friday 15th Sha’baan 439ah, my teacher Sayyiduna Sheikh Ham’maad Sheera Faraush رَحْمَةُ الله عَلَيْه and I were travelling with a Qafila to Jami-ur-Rizaafa. While we were crossing a bridge, Sheikh Ham’maad رَحْمَةُ الله عَلَيْه pushed me into the river. It was very cold but I recited بِسْمِ اللّٰهِ and made the intention for Friday ghusl. After performing ghusl, I came out and joined the Qafila. The disciples of Sheikh Ham’maad رَحْمَةُ الله عَلَيْه started laughing, but he رَحْمَةُ الله عَلَيْه told his disciples to be quiet and said I was testing Abdul Qadir and he is very strong in his faith. I saw my teacher Sheikh Ham’maad رَحْمَةُ الله عَلَيْه in his grave while doing Dua. He was dressed in clothes made from diamonds and had a crown made of rubies. He had gold bracelets on his hands and was wearing gold shoes but I also saw that his right hand was not moving. I asked him why and he replied, ‘This is the hand with which I pushed you into the river. Will you forgive me?’ I said yes. He said, ‘Please do Dua to Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ so that I can use my right hand’. I prayed to Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ and 5000 Friends of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ said اٰمِيْن from their graves. Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ put life back into his right hand and out of happiness my teacher shook hands with me." When this news spread throughout Baghdad, the disciples of Sheikh Ham’maad رَحْمَةُ الله عَلَيْه were shocked and they came to Ghaus-e-Azam رَحْمَةُ الله عَلَيْه to ask if this was true but no-one had the courage to ask. Ghaus-e-Azam رَحْمَةُ الله عَلَيْه realised why the people were there and said, "Choose two Sheikhs who will solve this problem." Sheikh Yusuf Hamdaani and Sheikh Abdur-Rahman Kurdi رَحِمَهُمُا اللّٰهُ تَعَالٰي were chosen because they had spiritual insight and Ghaus-e-Azam رَحْمَةُ الله عَلَيْه was told that he had until Friday for the two Sheikhs to support what was said. Sayyiduna Ghaus-e-Azam رَحْمَةُ الله عَلَيْه said, "In’shaa-Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ everything will be solved even before you have a chance to move from your places." Ghaus-e-Azam رَحْمَةُ الله عَلَيْه then lowered his blessed head. On seeing this, everyone present also lowered their heads. Suddenly, Sheikh Yusuf Hamdaani رَحْمَةُ الله عَلَيْه quickly came barefoot and said, "By the will of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ, I just saw Sheikh Ham’maad رَحْمَةُ الله عَلَيْه. He told me to go to the Madrasa of Abdul Qadir Jilani رَحْمَةُ الله عَلَيْه and tell everyone that Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jilani رَحْمَةُ الله عَلَيْه has not lied. What he has said about me is true." Sheikh Abdur-Rahman Kurdi رَحْمَةُ الله عَلَيْه also came and said the same thing that Sheikh Yusuf Hamdaani رَحْمَةُ الله عَلَيْه had said. Upon hearing this, everyone asked for forgiveness from Ghaus-e-Azam رَحْمَةُ الله عَلَيْه. (Bahja-tul-Asrar wa ma’danul anwaar, P17) Dear Islamic Brothers! We learn many things from this faith enlightening event. If our Islamic teacher or Murshid does or says something which we do not understand, we should be patient rather than opposing it because this may cause difficulty in the Hereafter. Look at how the teacher of Ghaus-e-Azam رَحْمَةُ الله عَلَيْه pushed Ghaus-e-Azam رَحْمَةُ الله عَلَيْه into the river but he رَحْمَةُ الله عَلَيْه did not say anything but instead made the intention for Friday ghusl.

(6) Satan’s webs The King of Saints رَحْمَةُ الله عَلَيْه says, "Once I saw Satan standing far away from me throwing soil on his head. Satan started crying and said, "Oh Abdul Qadir! I am frustrated with you." I replied, "Oh renegade, go away, I will always be afraid of you." Satan said, "These words of yours have hurt me." After this, he showed me lots of webs, nets and tricks. I asked him what these were and he told me that these are webs of the world which he uses to lead humans astray. I strived for a whole year before all the webs broke. Then lots of goods surrounded me. I asked what these were and he replied that these are the things which people love. I then strived for another year before all these webs broke." (Bahja-tul-Asrar wa ma’danul anwaar, P166) Dear Islamic Brothers! Indeed it is very difficult to get rid of the nafs and Satan. Our Ghaus-e-Azam رَحْمَةُ الله عَلَيْه got rid of Satan by striving for years and years and to gain the pleasure of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ , he رَحْمَةُ الله عَلَيْه stayed in the jungles of Iraq for twenty five years. صَلُّوْا عَلَى الْحَبيْب صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلٰى مُحَمَّد (7) Ghusl forty times on a cold night It is reported in Bahja-tul-Asrar that Ghaus-e-Azam رَحْمَةُ الله عَلَيْه said, "I spent many years in the jungles of Karkh and would survive on plants and leaves. Every year someone would come and give me a clean gown made of wool. I tried thousands of things to get the love of the world out of my heart. I stayed away from everyone and people called me daft & dumb and thought I was stupid. I used to walk barefoot on thorns and would walk into dangerous caves without thinking twice. The world would present itself in beautiful ways to me but Alhamdu-Lillah عَزَّوَجَلَّ I did not make friends with it. Sometimes my nafs would agree with me and say I will do whatever you say and sometimes it would argue with me. Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ would make me overcome my nafs and I would punish it. For one year I ate leftovers and didn’t drink any water, for another year I drank water but did not eat anything and for another year I never ate nor drank and I would starve. I was faced with many difficulties. One very cold night I kept falling asleep and ghusl would become necessary upon me. I would get up immediately and perform ghusl. This happened to me 40 times in one night." (Bahja-tul-Asrar wa ma’danul anwaar, P165 mulakhkhasan) Allama Imaam Sha’raani قُدِّسَ سِرُّهُ النُّوراني has reported in ‘Tabaqaat-e-Kubra’ that Ghaus-e-Azam رَحْمَةُ الله عَلَيْه said, "I was put through many tests at the beginning and when problems got beyond limits, I humbly lied down on the ground and read these 2 verses from the Holy Qur’an: فَاِنَّ مَعَ الْعُسْرِيُسْرًا oاِنَّ مَعَ الْعُسْرِيُسْرًاo Translation Kanzul-Imaan: Therefore, surely there is ease with hardship. Undoubtedly, there is ease with hardship. (Sura’ Alam Nash’rah: 5-6) Alhamdu-Lillah عَزَّوَجَلَّ with the blessings of these verses, all my problems went away." (Tabaqaat-ul-Kubra, V1, P178, mulakhkhasan Dar-ul-Fikr Beirut) We should also try Dear Islamic Brothers! Indeed to gain something we have to work very hard. Our Ghaus-e-Azam رَحْمَةُ الله عَلَيْه spent many years trying to gain the pleasure of his Lord عَزَّوَجَلَّ and to make his grandfather صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْه وَاٰله وَسَلَّم happy. He رَحْمَةُ الله عَلَيْه spent many years in trying to forget the love of the world, to save himself from sins, to bring the people back on the right path, to become a Mubaligh, to spread the word of Islam and to bring many non-believers to Islam. We are not as good as Ghaus-e-Azam رَحْمَةُ الله عَلَيْه but we should try our best to follow in his blessed footsteps. (8) 25 years in the jungle Oh admirers of Ghaus-e-Azam رَحْمَةُ الله عَلَيْه ! Our Ghaus-e-Azam رَحْمَةُ الله عَلَيْه spent 25 years of his blessed life in the jungles of Iraq in order to gain the pleasure of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ . If only we could take some time out of our busy lives and travel with the Madani Qafilas of Dawat-e-Islami in the company of lovers of the Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْه وَاٰله وَسَلَّم in order to propagate the sunan of The Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْه وَاٰله وَسَلَّم . صَلُّوْا عَلَى الْحَبيْب صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلٰى مُحَمَّد (9) Eating bits of food from the floor Ghaus-e-Azam رَحْمَةُ الله عَلَيْه says, "When I used to see pieces of food on the floor, I wanted to pick them up but I would notice that other people were also looking for food. I would leave them so that my Islamic Brothers could eat them and I would stay hungry. When I was feeling very weak due to hunger, I picked up some food which was on the floor in the market. I went to a corner and sat down to eat it. Suddenly, a young man who was holding fresh bread and meat came and sat down and started eating. When I saw the young man, I felt even hungrier. When he put the food in his mouth, I wanted to open my mouth so that he could feed me. Eventually, I controlled my nafs by saying, "Don’t be impatient. Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ is with me. Even if I die with hunger, I will never ask this young man for food." Suddenly, this young man looked at me and said, "Brother! Come and eat with me." I refused but he again asked me to join him. My nafs kept telling me to get up and eat but I kept refusing. This young man kept on insisting so I ate a little of his food. The young man asked me where I lived so I replied Jilan. He asked, "I am also from Jilan. Do you know Ghaus-e-Azam grandson of Sayyid Abdullah Sauma’ee رَحْمَةُ الله عَلَيْه ?" I replied that I am that person. Upon hearing this he became happy and said, "When I left Baghdad, your mother gave me 8 gold coins to give to you. I looked for you everywhere but couldn’t find you. I spent all my money and had not eaten anything for 3 days so I used your money to buy this bread and meat. Please eat with me because this is your food. First you were my guest but now I am yours." He gave me the rest of the gold coins and apologised for spending some of the money. I was very happy. I gave him any food which was left and some coins which he accepted and left." (Ad-dhail alaa tabaqaat-il -hanabila, V3, P250, Dar-ul-Kutubul Ilmiyyah Beirut) Dear Islamic Brothers! See how strong the faith of our Ghaus-e-Azam رَحْمَةُ الله عَلَيْه was and how he رَحْمَةُ الله عَلَيْه had control over his nafs. صَلُّوْا عَلَى الْحَبيْب صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلٰى مُحَمَّد (10) Unusual way to stay awake The King of Saints, Ghaus-e-Azam رَحْمَةُ الله عَلَيْه , on giving advice to his disciples and lovers says, "Alhamdu-Lillah عَزَّوَجَلَّ I spent twenty five years of my life in the jungles of Iraq. For forty years I made wuzu for Isha and read Fajr with the same wuzu. Every single day for fifteen years I would finish the whole Qur’an in nafl after Isha. At the beginning, I would fasten a rope around my waist and the other end to a hook in the wall so that if I did fall asleep, I would wake up due to the pull." (Bahja-tul-Asrar wa ma’danul anwaar, P118) "One night while I was worshipping, my nafs gave me some advice that I was tired so I should go to sleep for a while and then pray. To punish my nafs, I stood on one leg and finished the whole Qur’an." (Bahja-tul-Qadiriya) صَلُّوْا عَلَى الْحَبيْب صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلٰى مُحَمَّد Oh admirers of Ghaus-e-Azam رَحْمَةُ الله عَلَيْه ! Look at how Ghaus-e-Azam رَحْمَةُ الله عَلَيْه used to worship. If (Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ forbid) we can’t even be bothered to read our five daily salaah, what kind of admirers are we? صَلُّوْا عَلَى الْحَبيْب صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلٰى مُحَمَّد

(3) Satan’s dangerous attack Ghaus-e-Azam رَحْمَةُ الله عَلَيْه says that I once went to the jungle and remained there for many days. There was nothing to eat or drink and I was very thirsty. Suddenly a cloud appeared above my head and raindrops started falling from the cloud which I drank. A bright face then appeared in the cloud and the sky became illuminated. I heard a voice saying, "Oh Abdul Qadir! I am your Lord and I have made all Haraam things Halaal for you." I read اَعُوْذُ بِاللّٰهِ مِنَ الشَّيْطٰنِ الرَّجِيْم and the light disappeared and became smoke. A voice said, "Oh Abdul Qadir! Before this, I led seventy saints of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ astray but your knowledge has saved you." Ghaus-e-Azam رَحْمَةُ الله عَلَيْه says that I replied, "Oh renegade, it was not my knowledge that saved me, it was my Lord عَزَّوَجَلَّ ." (Bahja-tul-Asrar wa ma’danul anwaar, P228 mulakhkhasan) Dear Islamic Brothers! No doubt Satan is very deceiving. He tries his best to trick us and we should always be aware of him. We should not be overconfident and we should ask Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ to help us and to save us from the tricks of Satan. Where there is wealth, thieves will come, and whoever has Imaan, Satan will try to lead him astray. The stronger your belief and the more good deeds you do, the harder Satan will try. Satan tried to trick our Murshid Ghaus-e-Azam رَحْمَةُ الله عَلَيْه many times because he رَحْمَةُ الله عَلَيْه had very strong Imaan, but with the grace and mercy of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ , Satan failed. صَلُّوْا عَلَى الْحَبيْب صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلٰى مُحَمَّد (4) More tricks of Satan The King of Saints, Ghaus-e-Azam رَحْمَةُ الله عَلَيْه wants to advise his disciples and lovers on the way Satan tricks us. He رَحْمَةُ الله عَلَيْه says, "I stayed in the jungle for a while. During these days, Satan came and scared me with frightening faces. Armies of Satan threw fire on me. With the help of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ I ran after them and they would disappear. Sometimes, Satan would come by himself and scared me and he would tell me to go back. I would slap him and he would go away. I would then read لَاحَوْلَ وَلَا قُوَّةَ اِلَّابِاللّٰهِ الْعَلِيِّ الْعَظِيْم and he would burn." (Bahja-tul-Asrar wa ma’danul anwaar, P165) صَلُّوْا عَلَى الْحَبيْب صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلٰى مُحَمَّد (5) Unseen hand Ghaus-e-Azam Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jeelani رَحْمَةُ الله عَلَيْه says, "Once a person came to me who was very ugly and was smelling really bad. He stood in front of me and said, "I am the devil and I have come to serve you because you have exhausted me and my friends." I told him to go away but he refused. Suddenly, a hand appeared and gave the devil such a blow that he sunk into the ground, but he got fire in his hand and threw it at me. Suddenly, a man who had his face covered came riding on a white horse. The man gave me a sword and when Satan saw this, he ran away." (Bahja-tul-Asrar wa ma’danul anwaar, P166) صَلُّوْا عَلَى الْحَبيْب صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلٰى مُحَمَّد

الحمد للہ رب العلمین والصلوۃ والسلام علی سید المرسلین اما بعد فاعوذ باللہ من الشیطان الرجیم ط بسم اللہ الرحمن الرحیم Excellence of Durood Shareef The Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْه وَاٰله وَسَلَّم said, "Whoever writes Durood Shareef in a book, until my name remains in that book, the angels will seek forgiveness for that person." (mu’jamul awsat, V1, P497, Hadith 1835) صَلُّوْا عَلَى الْحَبيْب صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلٰى مُحَمَّد (1) Jinn resembling a snake Once, the chief of saints Ghaus-e-Azam رَحْمَةُ الله عَلَيْه was performing a speech in an Ijtima at his Madarsa when a big snake fell from the ceiling and landed on him. The audience started to panic. Everyone was scared but Ghaus-e-Azam رَحْمَةُ الله عَلَيْه did not move from his place. The snake slipped into his clothes and wrapped itself around the blessed body of Ghaus-e-Azam رَحْمَةُ الله عَلَيْه. The snake then came out of the collar and wrapped itself around the blessed neck but our Murshid, the King of Baghdad رَحْمَةُ الله عَلَيْه did not get confused nor did he رَحْمَةُ الله عَلَيْه stop his speech. The snake slid to the ground, stood on its tail, said something and went away. The audience gathered around Ghaus-e-Azam رَحْمَةُ الله عَلَيْه and asked, "What did the snake say to you رَحْمَةُ الله عَلَيْه?" Ghaus-e-Azam رَحْمَةُ الله عَلَيْه replied, "The snake said that I have tested a lot of friends of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ but I have not found anyone like you." (Bahja-tul-Asrar wa ma’danul anwaar, P168, Dar-ul-Kutubul Ilmiyyah) صَلُّوْا عَلَى الْحَبيْب صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلٰى مُحَمَّد Dear Islamic Brothers! We come to realise that the snake was actually a Jinn which tried to test Ghaus-e-Azam رَحْمَةُ الله عَلَيْه and Alhamdu-Lillah عَزَّوَجَلَّ, Ghaus-e-Azam رَحْمَةُ الله عَلَيْه remained steadfast. Oh admirers of Ghaus-e-Azam رَحْمَةُ الله عَلَيْه! From this incident we also learn that the Mubaligh should remain fearless. No matter what problem arises, no matter what anyone says, he should continue to give speeches and continue inviting towards good. Even if only a few people attend or if people keep walking out, he should not give up hope. It is reported in ‘Tabaqaat-e-Kharka’ that Ghaus-e-Azam رَحْمَةُ الله عَلَيْه started performing speeches in the year 530ah in Baghdad Shareef near the city wall. At first only one or two people attended but Ghaus-e-Azam رَحْمَةُ الله عَلَيْه did not lose hope and continued inviting towards good. Gradually more and more people started attending and started gaining blessings from the speeches.

Method of celebrating Milad (This letter of Ameer-e-AhleSunnat ﺩﺍﻣﺖﺑﺮﻛﺎﺗﻬﻢﺍﻟﻌﺎﻟﻴﻪ is beneficial for every Muslim. It is a Madani request of Majlis-e-Shura that this letter is read in the last weekly Ijtima of Safar-ul-Muzaffar. Islamic brothers and sisters can make appropriate changes according to their country.) ﺑﺴﻢﺍﷲﺍﻟﺮﺣﻤﻦﺍﻟﺮﺣﻴﻢ Accept a Madani Salaam full of the remembrance of Madina from Sag-e-Madina Muhammad Ilyas Attar Qadri ﻏﻔﯽﻋﻨﻪ, ﺍﻟﺣﻤﺪﷲﺭﺏﺍﻟﻌﺎﻟﻤﻴﻦﻋﻟﯽﻛﻞﺣﺎﻝ ﺍﻟﺴﻼﻢﻋﻠﻴﻜﻢﻭﺭﺣﻤﺔﺍﷲﻭﺑﺭﻛﺍﺗﻪ tum bhi karke unka charcha apnay dil chamka’o oonchay mein ooncha Nabi صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْه وَاٰله وَسَلَّم ka jhanda ghar ghar mein layra’o Madina 1: When the new month appears, make the following announcement three times, ‘Congratulations to all Islamic brothers and sisters, the moon of Rabi-un-Noor Shareef has been seen.’ rabi-un-Noor umeedoon ki dunya saath lay aaya dua’oon ki qaboolee’at ko haathoon haath lay aaya Madina 2: For men to shave their beards or trim it less than a fistful is Haraam. For Islamic sisters to remain uncovered is also Haraam. In respect of the birth of The Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْه وَاٰله وَسَلَّم, Islamic brothers should try to let their beards grow from the 1st to the 12th of Rabi-un-Noor Shareef and Islamic sisters should try to cover themselves. With the blessing of this, Islamic brothers should make the intention of keeping a beard which is a fistful and Islamic sisters should make the intention of wearing a Madani Burqa’ and doing Shari’ Pardah. (For a male to trim his beard or trim it less than a fistful and for Islamic sisters to remain uncovered are Haraam acts. To repent straightaway and promise never to do that sin again is Waajib.) jhuk gaya Ka’ba sabhi bhut munh ke bal aunday girray dab daba aamad ka tha, ahlawa sahlan marhaba Madina 3: A Madani way of gaining stability in doing good deeds is to act upon the Madani In’aamaat and to hand in the card every month. Raise your hands and say In’shaa-Allah عَزَّوَجَل. badliyan rehmat ki cha’een boondian rehmat ki aa’een ab muradain dil ki pa’een aamed-e-shah-e-Arab صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْه وَاٰله وَسَلَّم hai Madina 4: All Islamic brothers including Nigraans and Zimadaars should travel on a Madani Qafila for at least three days. Islamic sisters should give Dars from Faizan-e-Sunnat for at least thirty days in their home (only to family members) and then make the intention to continue after Rabi-un-Noor Shareef. lootnay rehmatain Qafilay mein chalo seekhnay sunnatain Qafilay mein chalo Madina 5: Display 12 flags or at least one flag in your Masjid, house, shop, workplace etc. for the whole month. Buy some flags and display them on buses, wagons, trucks, trolleys, taxis, rickshaws, horse and carriage etc. Display flags on your cycle, scooter and car. In’shaa-Allah عَزَّوَجَل wherever you look, you will see greenness. Usually, there are images or foul words written on the back of big trucks. It is my wish that a banner be made containing the follow three lines, ﺑﺴﻢﺍﷲﺍﻟﺮﺣﻤﻦﺍﻟﺮﺣﻴﻢ ﺍﻟﺼﻠﻮﺓﻭﺍﻟﺴﻼﻡﻋﻠﻴﻚﻳﺍﺭﺳﻮﻞﺍﷲ ﻣﺠﻬﮯﺩﻋﻮﺕﺍﺳﻼﻣﯽﺳﮯﭘﻴﺍﺭﻫﮯ Meet with the bus and truck owners and make some Madani arrangements and get the Duas of Sag-e-Madina in your favour. Important: If the flag has a picture of a Na’lain Shareef or has writing on it, be careful that it doesn’t get ripped or fall on to the ground. As soon as the month of Rabi-un-Noor Shareef departs, take of the flags immediately. If there is a chance that the flags might be disrespected, use plain green flags. (Sag-e-Madina displays a plain green flag in his home) nabi صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْه وَاٰله وَسَلَّم ka jhanda laykar niklo dunya mein chaa ja’o nabi صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْه وَاٰله وَسَلَّم ka jhanda aman ka jhanda ghar ghar mein layra’o Madina 6: Light up your home, Masjid and neighbourhood with 12 light strings or at least 12 bulbs. (To steal electricity for this purpose is Haraam. Contact the electricity board and make lawful arrangements of getting electricity.) Decorate all your area with green flags and bright lights. Display big banners (12 metres in length or whatever is appropriate) on the roof of your house and Masjid. Don’t display flags in the middle of the road as this will obstruct traffic. Do not decorate any place where the rights of Muslims are broken. بیت اقصی۔ بام کعبہ، بر مکان آمنہ نصب پرچم ہوگیا ، اہلا و سہلا مرحبا bait-e-Aqsa, baab-e-ka’ba, barmakaan-e-Amina nasb parcham ho gaya ahlawa sahlan marhaba Madina 7: Every Islamic brother should try and distribute risalay and Madani flowers pamphlets printed by Maktaba – tul – Madina to the value of at least 12 rupess during the Milad procession and Islamic sisters should do the same , Similarly , make it a habit of distributing rasail all year round during the Ijtima ‘aat and send the reward to the deceased and also tell others to distribute rasail . بانٹ کر مد نی رسائل دین کو پھلائیے کرکے راضی حق کو حقدار جناں بن جائیے Madani munno! Aa’o aa’o amina ke ghar chalain noor se bhar la’ain daama Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْه وَاٰله وَسَلَّم Madina 8: If possible, buy 112 copies of the pamphlet called ‘12 Madani flowers on celebrating the birth of The Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْه وَاٰله وَسَلَّم’ or at least 12 and 12 copies of the booklet ‘Enlightened Morning’ and distribute them. If possible, give them to those people who organise Milad gatherings. During the month of Rabi-un-Noor Shareef, try and give 1200 rupees to a Sunni Alim. If that’s not possible then 112 rupees and if that’s not possible then at least 12 rupees (adults only). To distribute this money between your Masjid Imaam, mu’azzin or caretaker is still alright but you should make the intention of giving some money every month. It is better to give the money on a Friday because every good deed done on a Friday is multiplied seventy times. Alhamdu-Lillah عَزَّوَجَل! Many people’s lives have been rectified by listening to a Bayan cassette. There must be some amongst you who became attached to the Madani environment after listening to a bayan cassette. To give these cassettes to people is a great service to Islam and is a means of great reward. Those who can should try and buy 12 bayan cassettes a week or at least 12 every month. Rich Islamic brothers should try and distribute them for free. In happiness of the blessed birth of the Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْه وَاٰله وَسَلَّم, distribute Bayan cassettes in large numbers. During the occasion of weddings, try and put a booklet or a bayan cassette with the wedding card. End the tradition of giving Eid cards and instead give booklets and bayan cassettes and in this way help the religion of Islam. People send me expensive Eid cards and instead of being happy, my heart burns. How I wish that the money was spent in the way of Islam rather than buying Eid cards. The glitter on these cards also causes great problems. unke dar pay palnay waala apna aap jawaab koi ghareeb nawaaz to koi data lagta hai Madina 9: Every area Nigraan (in big cities) should organise a ‘chauk’ Ijtima in different places for the first 12 days of Rabi-un-Noor Shareef (Islamic sisters should organise Ijtima’aat in their homes). If possible, try and take green flags to every Ijtima you attend. lab par Naat-e-Rasool-e-akram صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْه وَاٰله وَسَلَّم haathoon mein parcham deewaana sarkaar صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْه وَاٰله وَسَلَّم ka kitna pyara lagta hai Madina 10: Perform Ghusl on the evening of the 11th or on the 12th of Rabi-un-Noor Shareef. If possible, buy everything new for example, white clothes, Imaama, bandana, hat, chaadar, Miswaak, handkerchief, slippers, tasbeeh, Ittar, watch, pen, Qafila pad etc. (Islamic sisters should also buy new things according to their needs) aa’ee na’ee hukoomat sikka naya challay ga aalam nein rang badla subh-e-shab-e-wiladat Madina 11: Spend the 12th night in an Ijtima-e-Zikr-o-Naat and at dawn, raise your flags and whilst reciting Durood and Salaam, welcome the ‘Enlightened Morning’ with tearful eyes. After Salaa-tul-Fajr, give Salaam and congratulate each other on this occasion of Eid and continue to do so for the rest of the day. Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْه وَاٰله وَسَلَّم to Eid ki bi Eid hai aaj to hai Eid-e-Eidaan Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْه وَاٰله وَسَلَّم Madina 12: Our Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْه وَاٰله وَسَلَّم would celebrate his birth by fasting every Monday. Keeping this in mind, you should also try and fast on the 12th of Rabi-un-Noor Shareef and whilst carrying green flags, participate in the Madani procession. Stay in Wudhu as long as possible. Recite Naats, Durood and Salaam and with your gaze lowered, walk in an organised manner. Don’t cause any kind of disturbance which will allow others to complain. Rabi-ul-awwal AhleSunnat tujh pai kyun na ho qurbaan ke teri baarween tareekh who jaan-e-qamar aaya صَلُّوْا عَلَى الْحَبيْبْ صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلٰى مُحَمَّدْ

Intentions when celebrating Milad The first Hadith of Bukhari Shareef is, ﺍﻧﻤﺎﺍﻻﻋﻤﺎﻞﺑﺎﻟﻨﻴﺎﺕ Meaning ‘actions are based upon intention’ (Sahih Bukhari, V1, P5) Remember! Whenever you perform any good deed, you must have the intention of gaining reward for it otherwise you will not gain any reward. You must also have the intention of gaining reward when celebrating Milad. When making the intention of gaining reward, the action must be according to Shariah and must be performed with sincerity. If someone celebrated Milad to show off, stole electricity, forced people to give money, hurt other Muslims without Shari’ permission, played Naats etc. over the loudspeaker which caused distress to people who were sleeping or were ill then there is no point for that person to make the intention of gaining reward because he is sinful. The more good intentions you make, the more reward you will gain. 18 intentions are presented but they are incomplete. A person with knowledge of intentions can increase these intentions as much as possible. To start with, you can make the following intentions: 18 intentions attributed with ‘Jashn-e-Milad-un-Nabi Marhaba’ {1} Acting upon the verse of the Qur’an ‘And publicise well the favours of your Lord’ (Surah Duha, Verse 11) by talking about the biggest blessing {2} Will put up lights to gain the pleasure of Allah عَزَّوَجَل {3} Will fly flags because Hazrat’e Jibreel عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم placed 3 flags on the day the Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْه وَاٰله وَسَلَّم was born {4} Will fly green flags because the dome on the Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْه وَاٰله وَسَلَّم Masjid is green {5} Will show the greatness of the Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْه وَاٰله وَسَلَّم to the non-Muslims by celebrating Milad (upon seeing lights and green flags, the non-Muslims will certainly become confused and will think that the Muslims love their Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْه وَاٰله وَسَلَّم a lot) {6} I will annoy Shaitaan by celebrating Milad with full enthusiasm {7} Whilst decorating the outside, I will decorate my inside by repenting in the court of Allah عَزَّوَجَل {8} Will attend the Ijtima-e-Milad on the 12th night and {9} will participate in the procession on the 12th of Rabi-un-Noor and will talk about the Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْه وَاٰله وَسَلَّم and {10} will see Islamic scholars, {11} the pious and {12} will gain blessings by being close to the lovers of the Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْه وَاٰله وَسَلَّم {13} Will wear my Imaama in the procession and {14} will stay in Wudhu as long as possible and {15} will read my Salaah with Jama’at in the Masjid during the procession (16} Will make arrangements for ‘langar-e-rasail’ (meaning I will buy booklets, pamphlets and bayans etc. from Maktaba-tul-Madina and will distribute them during the Ijtima-e-Milad and procession) {17} Through my personal efforts, I will invite 12 brothers to travel in the Madani Qafila {18} Will read Durood and Salaam and Naat during the procession whilst doing Qufl-e-Madina of the tongue and eyes. Oh Allah عَزَّوَجَل! Give us the ability to celebrate the birth of your Beloved صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْه وَاٰله وَسَلَّم with full enthusiasm and happiness and for the sake of your Beloved صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْه وَاٰله وَسَلَّم‘s birth, enter us into Janna-tul-Firdous without any account. Baksh day hum ko Ilahi! Behr-e-Milad-un-Nabi صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْه وَاٰله وَسَلَّم Nama-e-a’maal isyan say mera bhar poor hai آﻣﻴﻦﺑﺠﺎﻩﺍﻟﻨﺒﻲﺍﻻﻣﻴﻦ صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْه وَاٰله وَسَلَّم Was’salaam ma’al ikraam 17th Safar-ul-Muzaffar 1427ah

12 Madani flowers about celebrating the birth of the Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْه وَاٰله وَسَلَّم Ameer-e-AhleSunnat Hazrat’e Allama Moulana Muhammad Ilyas Attar Qadri ﺩﺍﻣﺖﺑﺮﻛﺎﺗﻬﻢﺍﻟﻌﺎﻟﻴﻪ Madina 1: In happiness of the birth of The Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْه وَاٰله وَسَلَّم, decorate your homes, Masajid, shops and even your form of transport. Try and light at least 12 bulbs in your home. Organise an Ijtima-e-Zikr-o-Naat on the 12th night and at the time of dawn, raise your flags and whilst reciting Durood and Salaam, welcome the Enlightened Morning with tearful eyes. If possible try and fast on the 12th of Rabi-un-Noor Shareef because our Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْه وَاٰله وَسَلَّم would celebrate his birthday by fasting every Monday. Hazrat’e Sayyiduna Qatada رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ says that the Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْه وَاٰله وَسَلَّم was asked as to why he fasted every Monday. The Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْه وَاٰله وَسَلَّم replied, ‘I was born on this day and it was on this day that the revelations began.’ (Sahih Muslim, V1) The commentator of Sahih Bukhari, Hazrat’e Sayyiduna Imaam Qastalaani رَحْمَةُ الله عَلَيْه says, ‘One of the main benefits of celebrating the birth of The Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْه وَاٰله وَسَلَّم is that, that year will be peaceful and every wish will be fulfilled a lot quicker. May Allah عَزَّوَجَل‘s mercy be upon that person who made Eid during this month.’ (mawahi-bulla-dunya, V1, P27) Madina 2: Models of the Ka’ba are made and dolls are shown doing Tawaaf. This is a sin. During the days of ignorance, 360 idols were kept in the Ka’ba. After our Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْه وَاٰله وَسَلَّم was victorious in Makkah, he removed all the idols of the Ka’ba therefore even models should not contain idols (dolls). Plastic flowers can be placed instead. (It is permissible to display that picture in your house, Masjid etc. in which the face of the people doing Tawaaf-e-Ka’ba cannot be seen. However, it is impermissible to display that picture in which you can see the people’s faces) Madina 3: It is not permissible to have doors which contain peacocks etc. Read the following two Hadith about making images of living things: Ø The Angels of mercy do not enter that house in which there are pictures or dogs. Ø Whoever creates an image of a living thing will be punished on the Day of Judgement until he puts a soul in the image he created. He will not be able to so the punishment will continue. (Mishkaat) Madina 4: In happiness of the birth of the Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْه وَاٰله وَسَلَّم, music is played. This is a sin. In connection to this, two narrations are presented: Ø The Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْه وَاٰله وَسَلَّم said, ‘I have been ordered to destroy the drum and the flute.’ (Delmi) Ø Hazrat’e Dahaak رَحْمَةُ الله عَلَيْه narrates that music spoils the heart and upsets Allah. (Tafseeraat-e-Ahmediya) Madina 5: You can play Naat cassettes but be aware of Azaan and Salaah times. Also be careful that you do not cause any trouble to ill people (Do not play Naats which are recited by women). Madina 6: It is not permissible to decorate the roads or streets etc. in any manner if it causes any kind of worry or distress for passers by or drivers. Madina 7: It is not permissible for women to leave their home without a valid Shari’ reason. It is a sin for women to leave the home in order to see the lighting during Rabi-un-Noor Shareef. It is also not permissible to steal electricity. Contact the electricity board and make lawful arrangements in order to use the electricity. Madina 8: In the Milad Shareef procession, try and remain in Wudhu as long as possible. Be aware of the Jama’at time. Madina 9: Try not to use horse and cart and camels etc. during the procession as their urine or waste can make people’s clothes impure. Madina 10: During the procession do not throw fruits etc. but rather hand them to the people. They are disrespected if they are thrown on the floor and people walk all over them and to waste food in this manner is a sin. Madina 11: Shouting uncontrollably can destroy a procession. It is better to remain calm. Madina 12: If a fight or argument does begin then remain calm because by getting emotional the Milad procession will be ruined and the wish of the enemy will come true. ghunchay chatkay phool mehkay har taraf aa’ee bahar ho ga’ee Subh-e-Baharan Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْه وَاٰله وَسَلَّم

Jews blessed with Imaan through the blessing of Milad Hazrat’e Sayyiduna Abdul Wahid bin Ismail رَحْمَةُ الله عَلَيْه narrates that a great lover of The Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْه وَاٰله وَسَلَّم lived in Egypt. He used to celebrate the birth of the Messenger of Allah صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْه وَاٰله وَسَلَّم with full happiness and joy. During these days he would give a lot towards charity. A Jewish family lived next door. One day, during the month of Rabi-un-Noor Shareef, the Jewish woman asked her husband, "Why does our Muslim neighbour hold such a big feast during this month?" Her husband replied, "During this month, his Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْه وَاٰله وَسَلَّم was born, therefore he does acts like this throughout this month to show his happiness and Muslims show great respect to this month." Upon hearing this, the wife said, "The Muslims do such a nice thing by celebrating the birth of their Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْه وَاٰله وَسَلَّم every year." When the Jewish woman went to sleep that night, she had a dream in which she saw a beautiful and elegant man, a divine light was shining from his face and a crowd of people surrounded him. She walked forward and asked someone as to whom this noble person was. The man replied, "He is the last Prophet of Allah عَزَّوَجَل و صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْه وَاٰله وَسَلَّم". He has come so that he can bless your neighbour for celebrating the birth and also to meet your neighbour and show his joy." The Jewish woman then asked, "Will he صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْه وَاٰله وَسَلَّم talk to me?" The man replied, "Yes". The woman then called out to The Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْه وَاٰله وَسَلَّم. The Messenger of Allah صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْه وَاٰله وَسَلَّم replied, "Lab’baik" (I am here). She was impressed by this and said, "I am not a Muslim, but you صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْه وَاٰله وَسَلَّم still replied to me." The Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْه وَاٰله وَسَلَّم said, "Allah عَزَّوَجَل has told me that very soon you will convert to Islam." Upon hearing this she read the Kalima. She awoke from her dream and accepted Islam from the heart. She decided that in the morning she would gather all her wealth and celebrate the birth of The Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْه وَاٰله وَسَلَّم and give a lot towards charity. When she awoke in the morning she saw that her husband was preparing a feast. She asked him in astonishment, "What are you doing?" He replied, "I am preparing an invitation because you have accepted Islam." She asked, "How do you know?" He replied, "I saw the Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْه وَاٰله وَسَلَّم last night in my dream too and I have also accepted Islam." (tazkira-tul-wa’izeen, P598) aamad-e-Sarkaar صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْه وَاٰله وَسَلَّم se zulmat hui kafoor hai kya zameen kya aasmaan har samt chaya noor hai Dawat-e-Islami and Jashn-e-Wiladat Alhamdu-Lillah عَزَّوَجَل! Dawat-e-Islami has a unique way of celebrating Milad. In many countries of the world, a grand Ijtima-e-Milad is planned and the biggest Ijtima-e-Milad in the world takes place in Baab-ul-Madina Karachi. The blessings of this are in abundance. The lives of many people are transformed because of this and a Madani revolution is created within them. Read four Madani incidents concerning this. 1. Cure to sins is found A lover of the Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْه وَاٰله وَسَلَّم says: During Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْه وَاٰله وَسَلَّم, one of my friends, who never read Salaah and liked to follow the latest fashion, took part in the Ijtima-e-Milad which was held at Kakri ground in Baab-ul-Madina Karachi. During the time of Subh-e-Baharan when everyone was reciting Durood and Salaam, my friend’s life changed. He began to hate sin and made the intention to start praying Salaah and to grow a beard. Alhamdu-Lillah عَزَّوَجَل he is very strict on praying Salaah on time and has grown a beard. He also had a really bad habit within him which was removed due to the blessings of the Ijtima-e-Milad. In other words, you could say that by participating in the Ijtima-e-Milad, a patient of sins was successful in finding a cure! Maang lo maang lo unka gham maang lo, chashm-e-rehmat nagah-e-karam mang lo Ma’siyyat ki dava ka jurm maang lo, maangnay ka mazza aaj ki raat hai صَلُّوْا عَلَى الْحَبيْبْ صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلٰى مُحَمَّدْ 2. Heart got washed I will try and write the incident of an Islamic brother in my own words. The brother says: During the first few days of Rabi-un-Noor Shareef, a few lovers of the Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْه وَاٰله وَسَلَّم approached me and invited me to the Ijtima-e-Milad which was organised to take place in Kakri ground, Baab-ul-Madina Karachi. It was my good fortune that I accepted. When the night of the 12th came, I stuck to my promise and sat on the bus with all the other Islamic brothers who were also going to the Ijtima-e-Milad. A lover of the Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْه وَاٰله وَسَلَّم had some sweets called ‘cham cham’ which he broke into approximately thirty pieces and distributed them equally between the brothers. I was really impressed upon seeing such love and affection. Finally, we reached the Ijtima-e-Milad. For the first time in my life had I seen such a sight. The atmosphere was full of Naats, Salaam and people shouting Marhaba Ya Mustafa صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْه وَاٰله وَسَلَّم. This washed my heart. Alhamdu-Lillah عَزَّوَجَل I joined the Madani environment straightaway. Alhamdu-Lillah عَزَّوَجَل I now wear a green Imaama and have a beard. Also, I am in an area mushawarat and I am trying my best to spread the Sunnah. Ata-e-habeeb khuda Madani Mahol , hai Faizan-e-Ghous-o-Raza Madani Mahol Yahan sunnatain seekhnay ko milain gi, dila’ai ga khauf-e-khuda Madani Mahol Yaqeenan muqaddar ka who hai sikandar, jissay khair se mil gaya Madani Mahol صَلُّوْا عَلَى الْحَبيْبْ صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلٰى مُحَمَّدْ 3. Rain of light During Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْه وَاٰله وَسَلَّم (1417ah), the Dawat-e-Islami Madani procession left after Salaa-tul-Zuhr and filled the streets with excited people. The Madani procession stopped many times and Naikey ki Dawat (invitation towards good) was presented to the people. Everybody was quiet. After the Bayan finished, a person got up and found his way to the Nigraan. Whilst in an ecstatic state he said, ‘I saw during the Bayan that the child Mubaligh and everybody in the procession was being showered with light. Forgive me, I am not a Muslim. Please make me into a Muslim.’ The street was once again filled with excitement. After seeing the greatness and blessing of the Madani procession, Shaitaan was defeated. After that person became a Muslim, he left whilst saying that he will present invitation towards Islam to his family. Due to his invitation, his wife, three children and his father, all accepted Islam. Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْه وَاٰله وَسَلَّم se har koi masroor hai Haan magar Shaitaan bama’ rufaqa barra ranjoor hai صَلُّوْا عَلَى الْحَبيْبْ صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلٰى مُحَمَّدْ 4. Visions are everywhere A lover of the Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْه وَاٰله وَسَلَّم says, a few of us Islamic brothers went to the Ijtima-e-Milad organised by Dawat-e-Islami in Kakri ground, Baab-ul-Madina Karachi. An Islamic brother said, ‘The Ijtima-e-Milad organised by Dawat-e-Islami used to be very touching before but it’s not the same anymore.’ After hearing this, another Islamic brother said, ‘You are wrong! The Ijtima is still the same, our hearts have changed! If, instead of complaining, we listen to Naat Shareef whilst lost in the love of Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْه وَاٰله وَسَلَّم, In’shaa-Allah عَزَّوَجَل we will receive mercy upon mercy.’ The evil thinking of the first Islamic brother that the Ijtima-e-Milad would be boring would have indeed made him miss the Ijtima but upon hearing the response of the second brother, I gained courage and went and sat in between the lovers of the Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْه وَاٰله وَسَلَّم. The time of dawn approached and all the Islamic brothers stood up to welcome the enlightened morning. The crowd was ecstatic. Marhaba could be heard from every direction. Durood and Salaam was being recited upon the Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْه وَاٰله وَسَلَّم. Tears were flowing from the eyes of the lovers of the Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْه وَاٰله وَسَلَّم. People could be heard weeping from every direction. I was also in an ecstatic state. Through my sinful eyes, I saw droplets of falling on the Ijtima. It was as if the Ijtima was being showered with mercy. I closed my eyes and began to recite Durood and Salaam. Suddenly, the eyes of my heart opened and I saw that the person who’s Milad we were celebrating, The Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْه وَاٰله وَسَلَّم was showering me with his vision. Alhamdu-Lillah عَزَّوَجَل my heart gained satisfaction. The Islamic brother was right when he said that the Ijtima-e-Milad organised by Dawat-e-Islami is always touching and emotional but it is our hearts that have changed. If we stayed alert then even today, visions are everywhere. Koi aaya paakay challa gaya, koi umar bhar bhi na paa sakka Ye barray karam ke hain faislay, ye barray naseeb ki baat hai صَلُّوْا عَلَى الْحَبيْبْ صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلٰى مُحَمَّدْ

A way to safeguard your Imaan (Faith) Sheikh-ul-Islam Hazrat’e Allama ibn’e Hajar Makki رَحْمَةُ الله عَلَيْه writes in ‘an’naima-tul-kubra’ page 24 that Hazrat’e Sayyiduna Junaid Baghdadi رَحْمَةُ الله عَلَيْه said, ‘Whoever attends a Milad gathering with full respect, his Imaan will remain safe – In’shaa-Allah عَزَّوَجَل.’ Faith enlightening incident There was a true lover of The Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْه وَاٰله وَسَلَّم named Ibrahim who lived in Madina-e-Munawwara. He was a very pious person. He always earned Halaal money and would put half of his earning aside to celebrate the birth of the Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْه وَاٰله وَسَلَّم. When the month of Rabi-un-Noor Shareef would arrive he would celebrate it with joy but would stay within the Islamic laws. He would feed the poor for the eesaal-e-sawaab of The Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْه وَاٰله وَسَلَّم. He would spend his money in good ways. His wife was also a great lover of The Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْه وَاٰله وَسَلَّم. She would help her husband with the preparations. As time passed on his wife left this world. Nevertheless, he continued celebrating Milad. One day, Ibrahim said to his son, ‘Dear son! Tonight I will die and I have 50 dirhams and 19 yards of cloth. Use the material for my shroud and use the money for a good cause". After saying this he read the Kalima and his soul left his body. The son buried his father according to his will but didn’t know how he could spend the 50 dirhams. That night when he went to sleep he saw a dream. He saw that it was the Day of Judgement. Everyone was worrying about themselves; the fortunate ones were going towards Heaven whereas the unfortunate were being dragged to hell. He stood shivering and shuddering wondering what his destination would be when an announcement was made, "let this young man go to Heaven". He was then taken to Heaven where he started to walk around. After exploring the 7 Heavens, he reached the 8th Heaven and was told, ‘Only those who celebrated the birth of the Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْه وَاٰله وَسَلَّم are allowed in this Heaven.’ Upon hearing this he realised that his parents would be in there. A voice was then heard saying, ‘Let this young man enter, his parents want to meet him.’ Therefore he went in and saw his mother sat near the Fountain of Kauthar. A throne was placed nearby and a pious woman was sitting on it. Chairs were surrounding this throne and more women were sitting on them. He asked an angel, "Who are they?" The angel replied, "The one sat on the throne is Sayyidatuna Fatima Zahra رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهَا and the ones on the chairs are Khadija-tul-Kubra, Aisha Siddiqa, Sayyidatuna Maryam, Sayyidatuna Asia, Sayyidatuna Sara, Sayyidatuna Hajira, Sayyidatuna Rabia and Sayyidatuna Zubaida ﺮﺿﯽﺍﷲﻋﻨﻬﻦ." He became very happy and continued walking forward and saw an even more faith enlightening scene. He saw a very big throne and The Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْه وَاٰله وَسَلَّم was seated upon this. There were 4 chairs surrounding this throne upon which the Khulafa-e-Rashideen ﻋﻠﻴﻬﻢﺍﻠﺮﺿﻮﺍﻦ were seated. To the right were golden chairs upon which the Prophets ﻋﻠﻴﻬﻢﺍﻟﺴﻼﻢ were seated and to the left were seated the martyrs. The young man walked forward and saw his father Ibrahim amongst a crowd near our Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْه وَاٰله وَسَلَّم. Ibrahim hugged his son and was very happy. He asked his father, "Dear father, how did you receive this status?" Ibrahim replied, "Alhamdu-Lillah عَزَّوَجَل this is due to celebrating the birth of the Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْه وَاٰله وَسَلَّم". After this the young man woke up. In the morning, he sold his house and with the money from the sale of the house and his fathers 50 dirhams, he prepared a meal and invited the scholars. After this, he stayed in a Masjid and spent the rest of his 30 years worshipping Allah عَزَّوَجَل. After his death, someone saw him in their dream and asked as to what had happened to him. He replied, "With the blessings of celebrating Milad Shareef, I was sent to my father." (tazkira-tul-wa’izeen, Urdu, P321) baksh day mujh ko Ilahi عَزَّوَجَل! Behr-e-Milad-un-Nabi صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْه وَاٰله وَسَلَّم naama-e-A’maal isyaan se mera barpoor hai Reward of celebrating the birth of The Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْه وَاٰله وَسَلَّم Sheikh Abdul Haq Muhaddith Dehlvi رَحْمَةُ الله عَلَيْه says, ‘The reward of celebrating the birth of The Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْه وَاٰله وَسَلَّم is that through his mercy, Allah عَزَّوَجَلenters these people into Janna-tun-Naeem. Muslims have always celebrated the birth of the Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْه وَاٰله وَسَلَّم by cooking feasts, inviting guests and by giving charity in abundance. They express their happiness and spend open-heartedly. Through the blessing of this, Allah عَزَّوَجَل showers his blessings upon them.’ (ma sabata bis’sunna, P290) Reward of celebrating the birth of The Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْه وَاٰله وَسَلَّم Sheikh Abdul Haq Muhaddith Dehlvi رَحْمَةُ الله عَلَيْه says, ‘The reward of celebrating the birth of The Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْه وَاٰله وَسَلَّم is that through his mercy, Allah عَزَّوَجَلenters these people into Janna-tun-Naeem. Muslims have always celebrated the birth of the Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْه وَاٰله وَسَلَّم by cooking feasts, inviting guests and by giving charity in abundance. They express their happiness and spend open-heartedly. Through the blessing of this, Allah عَزَّوَجَل showers his blessings upon them.’ (ma sabata bis’sunna, P290)

Abu Lahab and the birth of The Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْه وَاٰله وَسَلَّم After the death of Abu Lahab, some people of his family saw him in a pitiful state and asked him as to what had happened. He replied, ‘I have received no happiness after leaving you but I receive water through my index finger because by using this finger I freed my slave girl suwaibah. (Bukhari, V1, P153, Hadith No. 5101) Muslims and the birth of The Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْه وَاٰله وَسَلَّم Concerning this narration, Sayyiduna Sheikh Abdul Haq Muhaddith Dehlvi رَحْمَةُ الله عَلَيْه states, in this event there is great evidence for those who celebrate the birth of The Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْه وَاٰله وَسَلَّم and spend their wealth on this occasion. (When Abu Lahab, who was a strong disbeliever, received the news of the blessed birth of The Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْه وَاٰله وَسَلَّم, he freed his slave girl suwaibah and because of this he was rewarded, so imagine how much reward that Muslim will get who spends his wealth with full happiness on this occasion. However, it is important that the Milad gathering be pure of music.) (madaari-jun-nubuwwat, V2, P34) Celebrate Milad with full happiness My Dear Islamic Brothers! Celebrate Milad with full happiness. When a strong disbeliever like Abu Lahab can gain benefit by becoming happy at the birth of The Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْه وَاٰله وَسَلَّم, we Alhamdu-Lillah عَزَّوَجَل are Muslims. Abu Lahab celebrated Milad not with the intention of the birth of Allah عَزَّوَجَل Messenger صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْه وَاٰله وَسَلَّم but with the intention of having a nephew and still he was rewarded so if we celebrate Milad with the intention that The Messenger of Allah صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْه وَاٰله وَسَلَّم was born on this day, how can we remain deprived of being rewarded. ghar Amina ke sayyiday abraar aagaya khushiyan mana’o ghamzado ghamkhaar aagaya The Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْه وَاٰله وَسَلَّم is happy with those who celebrate his birth An Islamic scholar says that I saw the Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْه وَاٰله وَسَلَّم in my dream and asked, ‘Ya Rasool-Allah صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْه وَاٰله وَسَلَّم, do you like it when Muslims celebrate your birth every year?’ The Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْه وَاٰله وَسَلَّم replied, ‘Whoever is happy with me, I am happy with them.’ (tazkira-tul-wa’izeen, P600) Flags in the happiness of Milad Sayyidatuna Amina رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهَا says, ‘I saw that three flags were placed, one in the east, one in the west and one on the roof of the Ka’ba. At that time, The Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْه وَاٰله وَسَلَّم was born.’ (khasais-e-kubra, V1, P82) ru-hul-ameen nein ghaara ka’bay ki chatt pay jhanda ta arsh urra pharaira subh-e-shab-e-wiladat Procession with flags When the Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْه وَاٰله وَسَلَّم was performing Hijrat and came to a place close to Madina called ‘mo’za’ai ghameem’, Bareeda Aslami along with seventy horsemen from the tribe of bani Sehm came with the intention to capture the Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْه وَاٰله وَسَلَّم. However, they themselves got captured in the love of The Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْه وَاٰله وَسَلَّم and accepted Islam. They said, ‘Ya Rasool-Allah صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْه وَاٰله وَسَلَّم, your entry into Madina should be done with flags.’ After saying this, the horsemen took off their Imaamay, placed them on top of their spears and lead the way into Madina.

Enlightened Morning The Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْه وَاٰله وَسَلَّم arrived on this earth on the 12th of Rabi-un-Noor Shareef at the time of dawn. As soon as he arrived, the helpless, depressed and wanderers had their lives turned upside down and into an ‘enlightened morning’. musalmaano subh-e-baharan Mubarak wo barsaatay anwaar sarkaar صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْه وَاٰله وَسَلَّم aa’ai Miracles As soon as Allah عَزَّوَجَل Noor صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْه وَاٰله وَسَلَّم arrived on this earth, the dark clouds of oppression and disbelief disappeared. An earthquake struck Iran and fourteen spikes fell off the palace of the king. A flame which had been burning continuously for one thousand years was extinguished. River ‘sava’ became dry. The Ka’ba began to sway and idols fell face first. teri aamad thi ke baitullah mujray mein jhuka teri haibat thi ke har buth thar thara kar gir gaya There is no doubt in the fact that The Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْه وَاٰله وَسَلَّم arrived as a mercy and indeed that day is a day of happiness when a mercy is sent by Allah عَزَّوَجَل. Allah عَزَّوَجَل says in the Holy Qur’an, Para 11, Surah Yunus, Verse 58: Say- you, 'only Allah’s' grace and only His mercy, on it therefore let them rejoice. That is better than all their wealth. Allahu-Akbar! To celebrate upon receiving Allah عَزَّوَجَل blessing is commanded by the Holy Qur’an and can there be a greater mercy than the Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْه وَاٰله وَسَلَّم? It is clearly stated in the Holy Qur’an, Para 17, Surah Al-Ambiya, Verse 107: And We sent you not, but a mercy for all worlds. Greater night than Shab-e-Qadr Hazrat’e Sayyiduna Sheikh Abdul Haq Muhaddith Dehlvi رَحْمَةُ الله عَلَيْه says, ‘Indeed, the night The Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْه وَاٰله وَسَلَّم was born is better than Shab-e-Qadr because on this night The Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْه وَاٰله وَسَلَّم was born and Shab-e-Qadr was given to The Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْه وَاٰله وَسَلَّم . The night which is blessed because of the arrival of the Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْه وَاٰله وَسَلَّم is better than that night which is blessed because of the descent of the angels. (maa sabata bis’sunna, P289) Eid of Eids Alhamdu-Lillah عَزَّوَجَل ! The 12th of Rabi-un-Noor is the Eid of Eids for Muslims. Indeed, if the Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْه وَاٰله وَسَلَّم did not arrive in this world, there would be no Eid and no Shab-e-Bara’at, so much so that everything we have is because of the dust of the feet of the life of the universe, the mercy to the worlds, the beloved of Allah صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْه وَاٰله وَسَلَّم . wo jo na thay to kuch na thaa, wo jo na hoon to kuch na ho jaan hain wo jahaan ki, jaan hai to jahaan hai

Benefit of Durood Shareef Whoever reads Durood Shareef ten times, Allah عَزَّوَجَل sends one hundred mercies upon him. (at’targheeb wat’tarheeb, V2, P322) صَلُّوْا عَلَى الْحَبيْبْ صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلٰى مُحَمَّدْ As soon as the month of Rabi-un-Noor Shareef arrives, the atmosphere fills with happiness. The lovers of The Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْه وَاٰله وَسَلَّمbecome full of excitement. Whether he is old or young, every true Muslim is thinking: nisaar teri chahal pahal par hazaar eidain rabi-ul-awwal siwa’ai iblees ke jahan mein sabhi to khushian mana rahay hain When the universe was covered in the darkness of disbelief and idolatry, a light shone in Makka-e-Mukarrama in the house of Sayyidatuna Amina رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهَا which lit up the entire universe. When people were waiting in anticipation, The Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْه وَاٰله وَسَلَّمwas sent as a mercy to all the Worlds. mubarak ho ke khata-mul-mursaleen صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْه وَاٰله وَسَلَّمtashreef la’ai aa’ai janaab-e-rehma-tul-lilaalameen صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْه وَاٰله وَسَلَّم tashreef lai aa’ai

COMMENTS OF THE GREAT MUJADDID IMAM AHMAD RAZA Sheikh Suleman Al-Jamal (Radi Allah Unho) gives preference to the Master (Peace be upon him) not going above the Arsh while the words and views quoted of Imam Ibne Hajr Makki (Radi Allah Unho) and others stress that the Master (Peace be upon him) proceeded above the Arsh and La-Makan (Super-arcane Region beyond Time and Space). La-Makan is indeed above the Arsh. So, in reality, there is no contradiction between these two views. The boundaries of space (Mayan) end at the Arsh and beyond this are the region beyond time and space. A body needs space (Mayan) for it to be in, but the Beloved (Peace be upon him) proceeded with his Sacred Soul to the furthest regions of the Arsh, His sacred soul went beyond all limited bounds to experience the Divine Vision. The Creator Almighty Allah who took the Beloved (Peace be upon him) there or the Beloved (Peace be upon him) who went there only knows these limits. The words of Sayyedi Makashifeen Sheikh-e-Akbar ibne Arabic (Radi Allah Unho) points to this fact. Shortly, I will quote his words. He says that the Arsh was journey’s limits of the Beloved’s (Peace be upon him) sacred feet. Therefore, the journey of the sacred feet ended on the Arsh. Allah Almighty forbids! This termination does not mean that there were any faults or mishaps in the sacred journey. In fact, the journey terminated because the sacred feet encompassed every possibility, creation and space. There was no space (Makan) for the Beloved’s (Peace be upon him) feet to reach above the Arsh. But the journey of the Beloved’s (Peace be upon him) sacred heart terminated at Qaba-Qosain. Is there a doubt in one’s heart of what is beyond the Arsh that the Beloved (Peace be upon him) proceeded towards? Then listen to the words of Imam-e-Ajal Arif-e-Billah Sayyedi Ali Wafa (Radi Allah Unho) , which is quoted by Imam Abdul Wahab Sha’rani (Radi Allah Unho)in his master-piece, Al-You’ waqet wal Jawahir Fi Aqa’idil-Akabir . A perfect Man is not he who circumfuses the Arsh and whatever it encompasses, namely, the skies, Jinnah and Jahanam. But, a perfect Man is he, whose vision surpasses all these dimensions and sees and appreciates the Glory of the Creator (Allah Almighty) of all these dimensions. Imam Allama Ahmad Qastalani (Radi Allah Unho) states in Mawahibul-Ladunniya and Man’hi-Muhammadiya, and Allama Muhammad Zarqaani (Radi Allah Unho)in his Shar’ha state: It was the exclusivity of Sayyeduna Rasoolullah (Peace be upon him) at he saw Almighty Allah Almighty with his physical eyes in wakefulness and this is the preferable Madhab. Allah Almighty Spoke to His Beloved in those high Divine regions which was above all possibilities and Imaginations. Imam Ibne Asakar narrates from Sayyeduna Anas ibne Malik (Radi Allah Unho) that the Prophet of Allah Almighty (Peace be upon Him). said, “On the night of Isra my Lord (Allah Almighty) drew me so close to Him that we were two bows apart, in fact, even closer”. It is also stated in the same Kitabs: There was a difference in opinion amongst the Ulama whether there was one Me’raj or two, one with the body and soul in Wakefulness, and the other in a dream or wakefulness from Masjid-e-Haram to Masjid-e-Aqsa. Then, from Aqsa, In a dream till the Arsh. The truth is that there was one Isra and an entire journey from Masjid-e-Haram to the Arsh was physical and in wakefulness. This is the Madhab of the majority of Ulama, Muhaddithen, Fuqaha and Mutakallimeen. The same Kitab further states: There were ten Meh’rajs and the tenth was till the Arsh. It is also recorded in the same Kitab: It is reported in Sahih Al-Bukhari by Sayyeduna Anas ibne Malik (Radi Allah Unho) that the beloved Rasool of Allah Almighty (Peace be upon him) said, “Jibra’il proceeded with me till the Sidrat-ul- Muntaha. Then, the Divine Power of the Almighty Lord drew me to a distance of two bows close to Him (Allah Almighty). In fact, even closer”. This closeness was above the Arsh as mentioned in the Hadith-e-Shareef. Allama Sha’hab Khafaji (Radi Allah Unho) , in his Nasim-ur-Riyad Shar’ha Shifa Imam Qadi Ayad (Radi Allah Unho) states: It is reported in the Hadith of Me’raj that when the Master (Peace be upon him) reached Sidra- tul-Muntaha then, Sayyeduna Jibra’il presented the Rafraf, which carried him to the Arsh. It is noted in the same Kitab: The units of Sahih Ahadith emphasize that the Master (Peace be upon him) visited Jinnah and the Arsh or the boundaries of that region beyond which lies the extra- terrestrial domain (La-Makan).This all happened physically and in wakefulness. Sayyed-ul-Mukashifeen Sheikh-e-Akbar Muhiuddin ibne Arabi (Radi Allah Unho), in the 216th chapter of his famous Futuhat-e-Makkiya, states: The Holy Quran was the beautiful character of Sayyeduna Rasoolullah (Peace be upon him) and the unique characteristics of the Divine Names of Allah Almighty was found in him. In the Holy Quran, Allah Almighty Announces through the praise of His Attributive Qualities of His appearance on the Sacred Arsh. Similarly, Allah Almighty The Supreme, blessed His Beloved (Peace be upon him) with the reflection of His Divine Appearance of the sacred Arsh and Praised him. The Arsh is that high station where the Isra of Rasools end. This proves that the Isra of Sayyeduna Rasoolullah (Peace be upon him) was physical because if it was a dream then Almighty Allah would have not praised his appearance on the Sacred Arsh. Only the unpleasant reject this reality. Imam Allama Arif-e-Billah Abdul Wahab Sha'rani (Radi Allah Unho)in his Al-Yuwaqet wal Jawahir, quotes from Sheikh-e-Akbar(Radi Allah Unho) that: Verily, he (Sheikh-e-Akbar Radi Allah Unho) said that the statement of praises of the exalted Habeeb (Peace be upon him) “And until that time when I was elevated to the Divine Levels” reflects to the fact that the termination of the physical feet’s journey was at the Sacred Arsh. Sheikh-e-Muhaqqiq Imam Abdul Haq Muhaddith Dehlvi (Radi Allah Unho) states in his Madarjun-Nubuwah. Sayyeduna Rasoolullah (Peace be upon him) said, “Then a green Rafraf (Divine Carrier) was laid for me. Its light was even greater than that of the sun. Its brilliance brightened my vision. I was seated on it and taken into the Heavens until I reached the Arsh of Allah Almighty. He further states: It is narrated that when Sayyeduna Rasoolullah (Peace be upon him) reached the Arsh, it respectfully touched his Sacred Garb. He states in Ash’atul-Lam’aat Sharha Mishkat that: No one else besides the Beloved Habeeb (Peace be upon him) reached this Height in the Heavens. This was a timeless and space less transcendental region: Meh’raj surpassed the limits of human nature As Allah’s Almighty special servant was taken from Masjid-e-Haram. He reached the Divine Arcane Zone that cannot be explained. This zone has no place, description, name or direction. Also Sheikh-e-Muhaqqiq (Radi Allah Unho) states in the same Kitab, in the third section, under “Divine Vision of Allah Almighty”, while discussing the Hadith Shareef that: Indeed, Sayyeduna Rasoolullah (Peace be upon him) saw his Sublime Creator twice. First at Sidratul-Muntaha and then at the Arsh. It is recorded in the fourth volume, letter number 283, in the Maktobat of Hazrat Mujaddid Alfe Sani Sheikh Ahmad Sirhindi (Radi Allah Unho) that: On the night of Meh’raj, Sayyeduna Rasoolullah (Peace be upon him) did not leave the boundaries of time and space and surpassed the restrictions of human nature. He saw the Secrets from Eternity till Eternity combined in a dot of Unity. He further states in the letter number 272 that: Sayyeduna Muhammad (Peace be upon him) is the most beloved of Allah Almighty and the most unique in creation. He was the only creation to be blessed with physical Me’raj. He traveled further than the Arsh, Kursi and limitations of time and space. Imam Ibnus-Salah (Radi Allah Unho) states in Ma’arifate Anwa’e-Ilmul Hadith that: The Authors and Jurists say that the Beloved Habeeb (Peace be upon him) said so and so (signs). Nobody understood the explanation of the Nabi. Muhaddith Abu-Bakr Al-Hafiz named this Hadith “Al-Mursal” in accordance to that School which classify all the non-Muttasil Ahadith as Mursal. It recorded in Tal’weh, etc. that: If the chain of narration have not been mentioned then it will be regarded as Mursal. It is stated In Musallamul-al-Thuboot that: The Mursal Hadith will be regarded as authentic because it is the words of Sayyeduna Rasoolullah (Peace be upon him). It is states in Fawateh-ar-Rahmoot that: According to the Principles of Hadith (Osool), all Mursal Hadith will be classified as Sahih. It further states: If a Sahaba narrates a Mursal Hadith then it will be unanimously accepted. If a non-Sahaba narrates it then it will also be considered as accepted. Imam Abu-Haneefa (Radi Allah Unho), Imam Malik (Radi Allah Unho) and Imam Ahmad Ibne Hambal (Radi Allah Unho) say that the Mursal of a non-Sahaba will be unconditionally accepted if the Narrators are indisputable. It is recorded in Mirqat Shar’ha Mishkat that: There is no harm to present a Mursal Hadith as proof because a Hadith-e-Munqata’ah (Hadith with broken chain of narrators) is accepted as useful in Fada’il (in praise of Luminaries). Imam Qadi Ayad (Radi Allah Unho) states in Shifa Shareef: Sayyeduna Rasoolullah (Peace be upon him) informed of the Shahada of Sayyeduna Ali (Radi Allah Unho) that his attacker is a Jahannami. (This is an example of a Mursal Hadith) It states in Nasim-ur-Riyad: It is obvious that this information came through the Prophet of Allah Almighty. All the Muhadditheen accept the above Hadith, besides Imam Ibne-Atheer, who says that in Nihaya, that Sayyeduna Ali (Radi Allah Unho ) said, “I am the distributor of fire.” Imam Sha’hab Khafaji (Radi Allah unho) Says that Ibne–Atheer is correct in his decision about what Sayyeduna Ali (Radi Allah Unho) said which is not used as an opinion. Therefore, this Hadith will be classified as a Marfoh. Imam Ibn_ul-Humaam (Radi Allah Unho) states in Fathul-Qadeer If a Hadith does not have any narrators, its origin will not be rejected. Almighty Allah knows best! Written and Signed by : The humble servant of Allah Almighty Ahmed Raza Al-Barelwi ( May the Merciful Lord forgive him )

QUESTION Another similar question was posed to the Great Mujaddid, Imam Ahmad Raza Al-Qadri (Radi Allah Unho) on 11Muharram al-Haram 1320 A.H. which read: What is the ruling of the Noble Ulama regarding Sayyeduna Rasoolullah (Peace be upon him) going up to the Arsh in the night of Meh’raj? Is this an established fact because Zaid says that this is a lie. Is Zaid’s statement correct or not? ANSWER Indeed the illustrious Ulama and distinguished Imams of Islam have in their authentic books expressed in great details on this subject. All these are based on the Ahadith Shareef. Although these Ahadith are forwarded () or problematic (), both are unanimously agreed to and accepted by the sector of Fada’il (Virtues) by the Muhaddithen. The narrators and presenters are all trustworthy ones personal opinion. It depends solely on the authenticity of solid proof. Hence, confirmation deplores contradiction. Ignorance does not necessarily reject its, one is in fact a liar and an contradictor of the Deen. Imam-e-Ajal Sayyedi Muhammad Boseri (Radi Allah Unho), in his renowned Qasidah Burdah Shareef states: The Habib (Peace be upon him) of Allah Almighty, in short space of time, traveled from Masjid-e- Haram to Masjid-e-Aqsa. This sacred journey was bright like the brilliance of the full moon. The Beloved (Peace be upon him) traveled in the night of Meh’raj until he reached the station of Qaba Qosain. No creation could reach this height nor possessed the courage to do so. The noble status of the Nabi (Peace be upon him) left everything below him when he proceeded towards the Divine Height of the Unique Lord (Almighty Allah) on the Night of Ascension. The Beloved (Radi Allah Unho) enjoyed such excellence that no one can share. He passed such place where no creation set foot. Sayyed-ul-Aalameen (Peace be upon him) was blessed with exclusive gifts and secrets and passed all the heights without any hindrance, Without doubt, this goes to say that the Master (Peace be upon him) traveled the secret and timeless regions alone to the Divine Presence and met and saw Allah Almighty . Allama Mullah Ali Qari (Radi Allah Unho) in his Shar’ha elaborates on Imam Boseri’s verses: Sayyeduna Rasoolullah (Peace be upon him) passed all the Secret Curtains and reached the Divine Absolute Presence of the Supreme Creator (Almighty Allah) as one reaches one’s goal leaving everyone behind. There was no step of excellence in the entire universe that the Master (Peace be upon him) did not surpass. In fact, the Master (Peace be upon him) transcended above the domain of space and time and entered the Station of Qaba-Qosain and O’adna. Then, Allah Almighty the Supreme spoke to the Beloved what He had to Say. Likewise, Imam-e-Humam Abu-Abdullah Sharf-uddin Muhammad (Radi Allah Unho) states in Ummul-Qurra: The Master (Peace be upon him) advanced till Qaba-Qosain (Divine Presence) and this is indeed the ultimate. These are the Secret Stations where desires and thoughts cannot contemplate because there are no paths that leads to them. Thus, Imam Ibne Hajr Makki (Radi Allah Unho) comments in the Shar’ha of Umm-ul-Qura. Some Aimma state that there were ten Meh’rajes in the night of Isra. There were seven in the seven skies, the eighth, Sidra_tul_ Muntaha, the ninth in the Divine Levels and the Tenth to the Arsh. Sayyedi Allama Arif-e-Billah Abdul Ghani Nablusi (Radi Allah Unho) re-affirms this in Hadiqa-e- Nadiyyah Shar’ha Tareqa-e-Muhammadiyah: There were ten Meh’rajes. The tenth was from the Arsh till the Divine Presence. Imam Ibne Hajr Makki (Radi Allah Unho) states in Shar’ha Hamziyya. When Nabi Suleman (Alehis salam) was given the wind, it carried him the distance of one month’s journey in one day. Our Master (Peace be upon him) was given the Buraq which carried him from the earth to the Arsh in a fleeting moment. The shortest portion of this journey (between earth and the seven skies ) takes seventeen thousand years. And Allah Almighty only knows the distance above the Arsh to the arcane levels with the Rafraf (to the Divine Presence). It is also recorded in the same Shar’ha Hamziya. Nabi Moosa (Alehis salam) was blessed with Dialogue (Kalam). Similarly, our Master (Peace be upon him) was blessed on the night of Isra with Divine Presence. He saw Allah Almighty from very close range with his naked eye. You cannot compare the experiences of Mount Tour with the experiences of our Master (Peace be upon him) with Allah Almighty. It is further recorded in the same Kitab: Sayyeduna Rasoolullah (Peace be upon him) physically proceeded to the skies on the night of Isra in wakefulness. From there to Sidratul Muntaha, then Divine Levels, then Arsh and Rafraf till he saw the Divine Vision. Allama Ahmad bin Muhammad Sawi Maliki Khal’wati (Radi Allah Unho) in a marginal annotation of Umm-ul-Qura writes: The Beloved Habeeb (Peace be upon him) undertook the journey of Meh’raj in wakefulness with his body and soul. He traveled from Masjid-e-Haram to Masjid-e-Aqsa. Then up to the skies, then Sidratul Muntaha, then Divine Levels then, Arsh, and then Rafraf. Imam Ash-Sheikh Sulayman Al-Jamal (Radi Allah Unho) states in Futuhat-e-Ahmad Shar’ha Hamziya: The heights of Sayyeduna Rasoolullah (Peace be upon him) in the night of Isra was from Bait-ul-Muqaddas to the seven skies. And from there to wherever Allah Almighty Willed. But, it is reckoned that he did not go further than the Arsh. It also recorded in the same Kitab: There were ten Meh’rajes on the night of Isra. Seven in the skies, eighth Sidrat-ul-Muntaha, ninth Divine Levels and tenth, the Arsh. The research scholars of Meh’raj say that he did not go further than the Arsh. He goes on further to say: When the Beloved (Peace be upon him) passed the seventh sky, the Sidratul-Muntaha was raised in front of him. He passed that and reached the Divine Levels. He was then placed in the World of Noor (Divine Light ). There he passed seventy thousand Curtains of Light. The distance between each curtain is a distance of five hundred years. Then a green bedding was hung before him. The Master ( Peace be upon him ) passed this and reached the Arsh. He did not go further than this but reached the station of Qaba-Qosain of his Lord (Almighty Allah).

OPINION OF THE ILLUSTRIOUS IMAMS OF DEEN Imam Khal’lal (Radi Allah Unho) in Kitab-us-Sunnah narrates from Imam Ishaq bin Marozi (Radi Allah Unho) that Imam Ahmad ibne Hambal (Radi Allah Unho) accepts this Tradition and confirms this by saying that: Sayyeduna Rasoolullah (Peace be upon him) said, “I saw my Creator (Almighty Allah)." (briefly quoted) Imam Naqqash (Radi Allah Unho) in his Tafseer narrates from Imam Sanadul Anam ( Radi Allah Unho ) that: He said, “I accept the Hadith of Ibne Abbas (Radi Allah Unho) that Sayyeduna Rasoolullah (Peace be upon him) saw his Creator (Almighty Allah) with his eyes, he did see, he did see, he did see”.He repeated this till his breath lasted. Imam Ibne Khateb Misri (Radi Allah Unho) states In Mawahib Shareef that: Mah’mar bin Rashid Basri bul-Hasan Ash’ari (Radi Allah Unho) and others Ulama acknowledge this, and this is the Madhab of the Ahle-sunnah, Imam Abul Hasan Ash’ari (Radi Allah Unho) and the majority of his followers. Allama Imam Sha’hab Khafaji (Radi Allah Unho) in his Nasim-ur-Riyaad, the commentary of Shifa Qazi Ayad (Radi Allah Unho), states that: The most correct and pure Madhab is that Sayyeduna Rasoolullah (Peace be upon him) on the night of Me'raj saw Allah Almighty with his naked eyes as it is the Madhab and consensus of the illustrious Sahaba fraternity. Imam Nawawi (Radi Allah Unho) in Shar’ha Muslim Shareef and Allama Muhammad bin Abdul Baqi (Radi Allah Unho) in Shar’ha Mawahib states: It is the consensus of the majority Ulama that Sayyeduna Rasoolullah (Peace be upon him) saw Allah Almighty with his naked eyes on the night of Me’raj.

COMMENTS OF THE NOBLE SAHABA 1. Tirmidi Shareef narrates from Sayyeduna Abdullah ibne Abbas (Radi Allah Unho) : We, the Bani Hashim (Ahle-Bait), say that undoubtedly, Sayyeduna Muhammad (Peace be upon him) saw Allah Almighty twice. 2. Ibne Ishaq (Radi Allah Unho) narrates from Sayyeduna Abdullah ibne Abi-Salma (Radi Allah Unho) that: Sayyeduna Abdullah ibne Omar (Radi Allah Unho) inquired of Sayyeduna Abdullah ibne Abbas (Radi Allah Unho) to find out whether Sayyeduna Rasoolullah (Peace be upon him) saw Allah Almighty He replied, "Yes." 3. The words of Tabrani state: The word of Tabrani states that Sayyeduna Abdullah ibne Abbas (Radi Allah Unho) said that Sayyeduna Rasoolullah (Peace be upon him) saw Allah Almighty. Akrama ( Radi Allah Unho ), who was his student, asked him: "Did Sayyeduna Rasoolullah (Peace be upon him) see Allah Almighty ?" He replied, "Yes, Allah Almighty blessed Sayyeduna Moosa (Alehis salam) with Dialogue, Sayyeduna Ibrahim (Alehis salam) with Friendship and Sayyeduna Muhammad (Peace be upon him) with His Divine Presence". (Words of Tabrani) "And verily, Sayyeduna Muhammad (Peace be upon him) saw Allah Almighty twice". Imam Tirmidi ( Radi Allah Unho) states that this Hadith Shareef is Hasan. Imam Nisa’e (Radi Allah Unho), Imam Ibne Hazeema (Radi Allah Unho) and Hakim (Radi Allah Unho) all record the following: Are you surprised of the Dialogue of Sayyeduna Moosa (Alehis salam), Friendship of Sayyeduna Ibrahim (Alehis salam) and Divine Sight of Sayyeduna Muhammad (Peace be upon him)? Hakim has said that this is a Sahih Hadith Shareef. Imam Qastalani (Radi Allah Unho) and Imam Zarqani (Radi Allah Unho) both acknowledge the authentically of this Hadith Shareef. 4. It is narrated in Tabrani and Moh’jam Awsat : Sayyeduna Abdullah ibne Abbas (Radi Allah Unho) says that "Verily, Sayyeduna Muhammad (Peace be upon him) saw his Lord twice, once with his physical eye and once with the eye of his heart". Imam Suyuti (Radi Allah Unho) , Imam Qastalani (Radi Allah Unho), Allama Shami (Radi Allah Unho) and Allama Zarqaani (Radi Allah Unho) all say that there is no doubts in the authentically of this Hadith Shareef. 5. Imam-ul-Aimma Ibne Hazeema (Radi Allah Unho) and Imam Bazaz (Radi Allah Unho) both narrate from Sayyeduna Anas ibne Malik (Radi Allah Unho): “Verily, Sayyeduna Muhammad (Peace be upon him) saw his Most Gracious Creator”. Imam Ahmad Qastalani (Radi Allah Unho) and Imam Abdul Baqi Zarqani (Radi Allah Unho) state that the authenticity of this Hadith Shareef is very strong. 6. Imam Muhammad ibne Ishaq (Radi Allah Unho) narrates this Hadith Shareef from Sayyeduna Abu Huraira (Radi Allah Unho) Marwan asked Sayyeduna Abu-Huraira (Radi Allah Unho) if Sayyeduna Rasoolullah (Peace be upon him) He replied, “yes”. VIEWS OF THE TABA’EEN 1. Imam Abdur Razzaq (Radi Allah Unho), Ustaaz of Imam Bukhari (Radi Allah Unho), in his famous Musannaf reports from his Ustaaz Imam Mah’mar (Radi Allah Unho): Imam Mah’mar ( Radi Allah Unho ) narrates from Imam Hasan Al-Basri (Radi Allah Unho) who swore an oath in the Name of Allah Almighty that Sayyeduna Rasoolullah (Peace be upon him) positively saw his Creator (Almighty Allah). 2. Similarly, Imam Ibne Hazeema (Radi Allah Unho) narrates from Sayyeduna Orwa bin Zubair (Radi Allah Unho) , who is the cousin of Sayyeduna Rasoolullah (Peace be upon him) and grandson of Sayyeduna Abu-Bakr (Radi Allah Unho). He also accepts that Sayyeduna Rasoolullah (Peace be upon him) saw Allah Almighty on the night of Meh’raaj. And he used to get very upset if anyone rejected this. The following Luminaries held similar views: 1. Sayyeduna Kaab Ahbar (Radi Allah Unho) who was a great Aalim of the previous Scriptures. 2. Imam Ibne Sha’hab Zahri Qarshi (Radi Allah Unho) 3. Imam Mujahid Makh’zoomi Makki (Radi Allah Unho) 4. Imam Akrama bin Abdullah Madani Hashmi (Radi Allah Unho) 5. Imam Ata bin Rabah Qarshi Makki (Radi Allah Unho) Ustaaz of Imam Abu-Haneefa (Radi Allah Unho). 6. Imam Muslim bin Sabeeh Abu’d-Duha (Radi Allah Unho), etc. and all the students of Aalim-ul-Quran Jabrul-Ummah Sayyeduna Abdullah ibne Abbas (Radi Allah Unho) confirm the Divine Vision. Imam Ahmad Qastalani (Radi Allah Unho) states in Mawahib-ul-Ladunniya:

DIVINE VISION By Sheikh-ul-Islam Taj-ul-Ulama Badrul-Fuqaha Mujaddid-e-Meh’ta Hadira Ala’Hazrat Azeem-ul-Barkat Imam Ahmad Raza Al-Qadri Barkati Muhaqqiq Barelwi (Radi Allah Unho) QUESTION: What is the Ruling of the Ulama of Islam concerning the Divine Sight of Allah Almighty? Did Sayyeduna Rasoolullah (Peace be upon him) see Allah Almighyt with his naked eye on the night of Meh’raaj? Is there any proof in the Hadith Shareef concerning this subject? Please furnish us with authentic proofs from the sacred Sharee’ah and clarify this matter. May Allah Almighty bless you for the service of Deen. DIRECTLY TRACED AHADITH 1. Imam Ahmad ibne Hambal (Radi Allah Unho) in his Musnad narrates from Sayyeduna Abdullah ibne Abbas (Radi Allah Unho) "Sayyeduna Rasoolullah (Peace be upon him) said, "I saw my Sublime Creator". Imam Jalaludeen Suyuti (Radi Allah Unho)in his Khsa’is-e-Kubra and Allama Abdur Rauf Munadi (Radi Allah Unho) in his Tafseer Shar’ha Jameh Sagheer state that this Hadith Shareef is authentic 2. Imam Muhaddith ibne Asakar (Radi Allah Unho) narrates from Sayyeduna Jabir bin Abdullah (Radi Allah Unho) that Sayyeduna Rasoolullah (Peace be upon him) states: "Verily, Almighty Allah blessed Sayyeduna Moosa (Alehis salam) with the privilege of Dialogue and cherished me with his Divine Vision and exalted me with the Crown of Intercession and the Fountain of Kauthar". 3. Imam Asakar (Radi Allah Unho) also narrates from Sayyeduna Abdullah ibne Mas’ood (Radi Allah Unho) who said: Sayyeduna Rasoolullah (Peace be upon him) states, "My Glorious Lord said to me, ‘I gave My friendship to Sayyeduna Ibrahim ( Alehis salam ) and spoke to Sayyeduna Moosa ( Alehis salam ), and O ! Muhammad ( Peace be upon Him ) ! I blessed you with My Meeting ( where you saw My Divine Being without any obstacles)’". In Majma-ul-Bihaar (), the word of the above Hadith Shareef is explained as follows: Majma-ul-Bihaar explains the word that Almighty Allah blessed His Beloved with such a Presence and Vision that there were no veils as barriers and no intervention of an Angel. 4. Ibne Marduwiyya (Radi Allah Unho) narrates from Sayyedah Asma bint Abu Bakr (Radi Allah Unho) that: Sayyeduna Rasoolullah (Peace be upon him) was praising the excellence of Sidrat-ul-Muntaha when I inquired from him, "Ya Rasoolullah (Peace be upon him)! What did you see at Sidra- tul-Muntaha ?" He said, "There I saw the Divine Glory (i.e. of Allah Almighty )."

اَمَّابَعْدُ! فَاَعُوْذُ بِاللهِ مِنَ الشَّيْطٰنِ الرَّجِيْمْ ط بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيْم ْط Negligence In’shaa-Allah عَزَّوَجَل reading this entire booklet will have a deep impact on your heart. The Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْه وَاٰله وَسَلَّم said, "O people! One who sends Durood upon me in abundance in this world will be granted quick relief from the calamities and accounting on judgement day". (Firdous-ul-Akhbar, V5, P375, Hadith 8210, Dar-ul-Kutubul Arabiy Beirut) صَلُّوْا عَلَى الْحَبيْب!ْ صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلٰى مُحَمَّد Gold brick It is said that a pious person once gained possession of a gold brick. He lost himself in the love of worldly wealth and spent all night planning what he would do with this newly found treasure of his, thinking of delicious foods, fancy clothing, and servants all around him at all times. That night he lost himself in dreaming of fantasies of a luxurious and fancy life and had become completely negligent of the Lord عَزَّوَجَل. When he left his house in the morning day dreaming of his previous nights fantasies he walked by a cemetery in which he saw a man using the soil of a grave to make bricks. This shook him up and removed the veil of negligence from his eyes. He began to weep and thought to himself, "What if people make bricks from the soil of my grave after I die? My fancy houses, my posh clothes, everything will be left behind. Falling for a gold brick will only lead to spending life in negligence. If I must fall in love it must be with Allah عَزَّوَجَل". He left the brick and adopted the life of piety. صَلُّوْا عَلَى الْحَبيْب!ْ صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلٰى مُحَمَّد Causes of negligence My Dear Islamic Brothers! Truly, the chances of becoming negligent when we find ourselves in possession of worldly wealth increase. One must not fall prey to negligence because negligence pulls a person away from Allah عَزَّوَجَل. Good trade is a gift, wealth is a gift, a grand house is a gift, grand transport is a gift, children are a gift, but over occupying ones self in any worldly gift is negligence. The 9th verse of Sura Munafiqun (part 28) says: Translation Kanzul-Iman: O you who believe! Do not let your wealth or your children distract you from the remembrance of Allah عَزَّوَجَل, those who do so, are the losers. A lesson should be learnt from this verse especially brothers who are presented with an invitation to goodness and called to Salaah but instantly reply, "I’m working, isn’t it a virtuous act to provide for your family, when I have time I’ll join you in the masjid". Negligence causes one to make such statements. A dead mans cries are of no use People who only think of increasing their wealth, suffer the pains of travelling to other countries in order to earn more, hesitate to come in the Masjid, throw away huge amounts of money on interior designs but fail to give even a little in the way of Allah عَزَّوَجَل and use all sorts of tricks to get hold of money but do not bother about earning good deeds must wake up before death carries them away from their comfortable beds in their illuminated rooms to a dark grave full of insects and spiders leaving them screaming out, "O Allah عَزَّوَجَل send me back into the world so that I can worship you, send me back, I’ll spend all my wealth for you, I’ll pray all my Salaah with the first takbeer with jamaa’at (congregation), I’ll never miss tahajjud, I’ll stay in the Masjid all the time, I’ll grow zulfan (tresses) as well as a beard, I’ll keep an Imaama Shareef on my head all the time, O Allah عَزَّوَجَل send me back, give me another chance, I’ll rid the world of fashion and spread the Sunnah everywhere, O Lord عَزَّوَجَل! Give me just one more chance; I’ll do lots of good deeds". The screams of people who spent their days and nights indulged in sins will mean nothing. The Holy Qur’an has already warned us in the 10th and 11th verses of Sura Munafiqun (part 28): Translation Kanzul-Iman: And spend some of that which We have provided you in Our way before death comes to one of you and he says, O Lord why did You not give me a little more time so that I could give charity and be among the righteous. Allah عَزَّوَجَل Will not give anyone time once his life has ended, And Allah عَزَّوَجَل knows what you do. Unusual shame Hujja-tul-Islam Imam Muhammad Ghazali رَحْمَةُ الله عَلَيْه mentions in Mukashifa-tul-Quloob that Sayyiduna Sheikh Abu Ali Daqqaq رَحْمَةُ الله عَلَيْه said, "A great saint رَحْمَةُ الله عَلَيْه was once very ill, so I went to visit him. When I got there I saw a crowd of devotees around him, and saw the saint crying, I asked him, "O Sheikh! Are you crying because you are leaving the world?" He replied no and said it was because he had missed his Salaah. I asked, "But how can you have missed your Salaah?" He replied, "Whenever I prostrated I was negligent, whenever I lifted my head I was negligent, and now in a state of negligence I am dying". He then let out a deep sigh from the depths of his heart and read out these four verses of poetry: - (1) I pondered about resurrection, judgement and lying in my grave, (2) After such a dignified life I will be left alone and be seeking a favour due to my sins and the soil will be my pillow, (3) I have thought about the judgement and my book of deeds, (4) But O Creator and Cherisher! I am hopeful of You; I know You can forgive my sins. (Mukashifa-tul-Quloob, P22, Dar-ul-Kutubul Ilmiyyah Beirut) Crying at the time of entering Hell My Dear Islamic Brothers! There is a great warning for us in this story. Look at these saints. Each moment of theirs is spent in the remembrance of Allah عَزَّوَجَل but despite this they are so humble they do not boast about their devotional practices, in fact they cry out of fear of Allah عَزَّوَجَل. Shame upon the people who are drowned in negligence, do not even possess signs of piety, no signs of sincerity, but look at them, they never stop talking about their worships. The pious people of Allah عَزَّوَجَل, despite being protected from sins, tremble with fear of Allah عَزَّوَجَل and weep but people who live in negligence continue their sinful activities, publicly announce their crimes and then laugh over them. Listen carefully! Hujja-tul-Islam Imam Muhammad Ghazali رَحْمَةُ الله عَلَيْه says that Sayyiduna Abdullah ibn Abbas رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ said, "If a person laughs whilst he is sinning, he will enter Hell crying". (Mukashifa-tul-Quloob, P375, Beirut) What if ones Imaan is lost? This is something to ponder about for those who laugh whilst lying, breaking promises, selling faulty merchandise, watching films and dramas, listening to music, causing grief to Muslims and hurting their feelings. What will become of us if Allah عَزَّوَجَل is displeased and His Beloved Messenger صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْه وَاٰله وَسَلَّم becomes upset and we lose our faith due to sinning happily out of negligence and then have to go to Hell? Listen to this warning carefully, Allah عَزَّوَجَل says in the 82nd verse of Surah Taubah (part 10): - Translation Kanzul-Iman: Let them laugh little and cry much. Three messengers of death Hujja-tul-Islam Sayyiduna Imam Muhammad Ghazali رَحْمَةُ الله عَلَيْه narrates in Mukashifa-tul-Quloob that Sayyidduna Ya’qoob عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم and the Angel of death Sayyidduna Izraeel عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم were friends; Once when the Angel of death came, Sayyiduna Ya’qoob عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم asked, "Is this a general meeting or have you come to take my soul?" He answered, "To meet you". Sayyiduna Ya’qoob عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم said, "Before you take my soul send me some messengers (to let me know)", the Angel of death said that he would send one or two. When the Angel of death came to take his soul, Sayyiduna Ya’qoob عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم asked, "You said you would send some messengers before taking my soul, where are they?", Sayyiduna Izraeel عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم replied, "White hair after black hair, weakness after strength and a bent back after a straight one, Oh Ya’qoob عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم! These are the messengers I send to people before death". (Mukashifa-tul-Quloob, P21, Dar-ul-Kutubul Ilmiyyah Beirut) There is great warning for us is in the following two verses of Arabic poetry: Translation: (1) Days have passed but sins remain, the Angel of death has arrived but the heart is negligent (2) Your worldly luxuries are a deceit which you will regret; your desire to live in the world forever is useless (ibid) Sickness is death’s messenger My Dear Islamic Brothers! We have realised that the Angel of death sends its messengers before death, there are messengers apart from those already stated; sickness, and eyesight and hearing problems are also messengers of death. Sayyiduna Izraeel’s عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم messengers have already reached many of us, but what can one say about negligence! If one’s hair does begin to turn white then despite this being a messenger of death, he will tell himself it has been caused by flu! If one falls ill, despite this being a messenger of death, he remains negligent, he forgets that illnesses kill innumerable people every day, the sickness that seems minor could possibly take a fatal form and cause death, and then his dear ones will cry and his enemies will rejoice and he himself will be buried in his dark grave under a ton of earth with only himself and his good or bad deeds. Name on the gate of Hell Remember! Anyone who lives in negligence and continues to commit sins has lost the way and has wandered into the darkness of evil and if he succeeds in earning the wrath of Allah and His Messengerعَزَّوَجَل و صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْه وَاٰله وَسَلَّم he will be stuck in the punishment of the afterlife where regret and shame will not be able to save him. You still have a chance, quickly repent sincerely and decide to live your lives according to the Sunnah. Our Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْه وَاٰله وَسَلَّم has warned, "Anyone who deliberately misses a single Salaah has his name written on the gate of Hell through which he will enter". (Hilya-tul-Auliya, V7, P299, Hadith 10590, Dar-ul-Kutubul Ilmiyyah Beirut) Another Hadith says, "If a person misses a single fast in the month of Ramadhaan without a valid reason, he can fast as much as he wants later but he cannot compensate for that one fast". (Jami’ Tirmizi, V2, P175, Hadith 723, Dar-ul-Fikr Beirut) Fire in the eyes Anyone who stares at women, watches films, listens to music and backbiting should repent instantly because Hujja-tul-Islam Imam Muhammad Ghazali رَحْمَةُ الله عَلَيْه says, "Anyone filling his eyes with Haraam will have them filled with fire on the day of judgement". (Mukashifa-tul-Quloob, P10, Dar-ul-Kutubul Ilmiyyyah Beirut) Nails in eyes and ears The famous Hadith scholar and great Shafi’ee saint Allama Jalaluddin Suyuti Ashshafi’ee رَحْمَةُ الله عَلَيْه says, "(On the night of ascension) the blessed Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْه وَاٰله وَسَلَّم saw people with nails hammered into their eyes and ears. He was told, "They watched what you do not watch and listened to what you do not listen to". (Shar-hus-Sudoor, P171, Dar-ul-Kutubul Ilmiyyah Beirut) So people who look at and listen to Haraam things will have nails hammered into their eyes and ears. Beware! Do not even watch the news on the TV. Remember! For men and women to look at each other with lust is Haraam and every Haraam will lead to hell. (Allah عَزَّوَجَل forbid) Face like a fire worshipper My Dear Islamic Brothers! To shave the beard completely and to reduce it less than a fists length are both Haraam. Sayyiduna Imam Muslim رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ narrates that the Beloved Messenger of Allahعَزَّوَجَل و صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْه وَاٰله وَسَلَّم has warned, "Trim your moustaches, let your beards grow and do not imitate the fire worshippers". (Sahih Muslim, V1, P129) This Hadith has shaken the pride of a Muslim, how strange, claiming to love the Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْه وَاٰله وَسَلَّم but imitating the enemies of the Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْه وَاٰله وَسَلَّم. Who must one veil himself from? My Islamic Sisters who are listening to me from behind the veil! Listen! Not covering your bodies is Haraam, casting a lustful glance at men who are not mahram (those whom one is not allowed to marry) is Haraam and will lead to hell. A man must avoid looking at, talking to and being alone with all his female cousins, he must also avoid the same in regards to his auntie’s daughters. The same applies to a man and his own sister in law. In fact, the same ruling applies to a woman and her spiritual sheikh. A woman cannot kiss the hands of her sheikh; she cannot even have her head stroked by him. Girls should be kept veiled from boys from the age of 9, and boys from the age of 12. Prohibited fashion The Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْه وَاٰله وَسَلَّم said, "(On the night of ascension) I saw the tongues of men being cut with scissors, when I asked why, Jibreel عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم answered, "They adorned themselves in the world using prohibited means". I also heard screaming and shouting from a ditch that was stinking of a foul smell, Jibreel عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم explained, "These are women who adorned themselves with prohibited means". (Tarikh Baghdad, V1, P415 Dar-ul-Kutubul Ilmiyyah Beirut) Remember! Nail polish forms a layer over the nail which means neither wudhu nor ghusl is valid, this in turn invalidates Salaah. I request Islamic sisters to wear a Madani hijab, socks and gloves and to not reveal even their hands or the soles of their feet to men who are not mahram. Repeat your Salaah If you have missed Salaah or fasts, you must calculate and make up for them, repentance for this delay is also necessary. I have explained the easy way to make up for missed prayers in a booklet called "The method of Qadha Salaah" which can be bought from Maktaba-tul-Madina. It explains important rulings about the topic. In’shaa-Allah عَزَّوَجَل All Islamic Brothers raise your hands and express your Madani emotions by shouting out In’shaa-Allah عَزَّوَجَل in a loud voice, and make a firm intention, "after today we will not miss a single Salaah" (In’shaa-Allah عَزَّوَجَل) "We will not miss a single fast in Ramadhaan" (In’shaa-Allah عَزَّوَجَل) "We will not watch films" (In’shaa-Allah عَزَّوَجَل) "We will not listen to music" (In’shaa-Allah عَزَّوَجَل) "We will not shave our beards" (In’shaa-Allah عَزَّوَجَل) "We will not trim them less than a fistful" (In’shaa-Allah عَزَّوَجَل) Blessings of Dawat-e-Islami Each and every one of you should become a part of Dawat-e-Islami because In’shaa-Allah عَزَّوَجَل you will succeed in both worlds. Let me tell you of a recent occurrence of Dawat-e-Islami’s successs. In’shaa-Allah عَزَّوَجَل it will fill your hearts with enthusiasm and In’shaa-Allah عَزَّوَجَل turn it into a garden of Madina. The body of Muhammad Ihsaan Attari A young man called Muhammad Ihsaan of the Gulbahar area of Karachi joined Dawat-e-Islami and became a follower of Sayyiduna Ghous-e-Azam رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ through me. This brought about a Madani transformation in his life. He grew a full beard and began to wear a green Imaama Shareef. He learnt how to read the Holy Qur’an at Madrassa-tul-Madina and began to approach people in order to invite them towards good. All of a sudden he began to feel pain in his neck and despite treatment it only got worse and he found himself facing a life or death situation. He used my published will (available to buy from Maktaba-tul-Madina) to write his own will and passed it on to his local Nigraan (in charge) just before he died. He was approximately 35 years old at the time of death and was buried in the local cemetery. He had asked for Islamic Brothers to recite Naats for about 12 hours near his grave and this is what they did. On Tuesday 6th Jamad-ul-Akhir 1418 (7th October 1997), about three and a half years after his death, the body of another Islamic Brother, Usman Attari, was brought to the same cemetery for burial. Some of the attendees approached the grave of Muhammad Ihsaan Attari رَحْمَةُ الله عَلَيْه to pray but they were astonished to see a big hole on one side of the grave which allowed the body to become visible, Muhammad Ihsaan Attari who had been buried approximately three and a half years ago was lying there with a green Imaama Shareef on his head, the body was still intact and the shroud was still smelling of perfume. The news spread like fire and throughout the whole night people stood there gazing at the body. Among those present were people who had misunderstood Dawat-e-Islami and after witnessing the mercy of Allah عَزَّوَجَل on this Islamic brother, decided to change their opinions and became a part of Dawat-e-Islami themselves. Martyr of Dawat-e-Islami My Dear Islamic Brothers! You might already be aware of the fact that a murder attempt on the life of this humble servant of the Sunnah was made on the 25th Rajab 1416 in Lahore. As a result of this attempt two Muballigheen, Haji Uhud Raza Attari and Muhammad Sajjad Attari ﺭﺣﻤﻬﻢﺍﷲ were martyred. About 8 months later, Lahore experienced some severe rainfall, due to which the grave of Haji Uhud Raza Attari ﺭﺣﻤﻬﻢﺍﷲ was damaged. It was decided that the body would be transferred into another grave so his grave was dug up but to their amazement those present witnessed the body intact and unaffected. In the presence of many people his body was moved. This incident has been mentioned in detail in "The blessings of Dawat-e-Islami" Part 2. I request all Islamic brothers and Islamic Sisters to associate yourselves with the Madani environment of Dawat-e-Islami. There is no membership process in Dawat-e-Islami. Make an attempt to attend your local Dawat-e-Islami Ijtima every week and to travel with Ashiqaan-e-Rasool in Madani Qafilay for discipline in the way of the Sunnah. Each and every single person should make efforts to spread the message of the Sunnah and invite others to good in their own individual occupations and fields. (Translated by: Majlis-e-Tarajim of Dawat-e-Islami) This speech was delivered on the last day of the 3 day Sunnah inspired gathering of Dawat-e-Islami in Ahmadabad (India) in 1418 ah from the 28th -30th of Rajab-ul-Murajjab (28th - 30th December 1997) –Ubaid Raza ibn Attar

MashaAllah azzawajal, Fabulous post! Very informative and beneficial, JazakAllah for sharing!

The 32 Makroohaat-e-Tanzeeha of Salaah (1) Praying in work clothes despite having other clothes available. (ghuniya-tul-mustamli, P337) To pray with something in the mouth. The Salaah will be invalid if this prevents you from recitation or causes you to recite words that are not from the Qur’an. (ad dur-ul-mukhtar, rad-dul-muhtar) (2) Praying with your head uncovered due to laziness. (alamgiri, V1, P106) If your hat falls down during Salaah it is preferable for you to pick it up avoiding excessive movement (in which case the Salaah will be invalidated). If the hat has to be picked up several times it is better to leave it where it is. If picking the hat up obstructs your concentration then it is preferable to leave it. (ad dur-ul-mukhtar ma’ rad-dul-muhtar, V2, P491) If someone is praying bare headed or his hat has fallen off then a second person should not pick it up for him and place it on his head. (3) Saying the tasbih less than 3 times in ruku’ or sajdah without a proper reason (If there is a shortage of time or if you fear you may miss your train, bus, etc. then there is no harm in doing so). If a congregate has not yet completed 3 tasbihaat and the Imam lifts his head then he must follow him (even though he has not yet completed his tasbihaat) (4) Clearing dust or grass from your forehead. There is no harm in doing so if you are distracted due to having dust/grass on your forehead. (5) Turning the toes away from qiblah in sajdah or any other part of the Salaah. (fatawa Qadhi Khan ma’ alamgiri, V1, P119) (6) For men to let the stomach touch the thighs in sajdah. (alamgiri, V1, P109) (7) Answering someone’s Salaam using your head or hand. (ad dur-ul-mukhtar ma’ rad-dul-muhtar, V2, P497) To answer verbally will invalidate the Salaah. (maraqil falah ma’ hashiya-tut-tahtawi, P322 Qadimi Kutub Khana) (8) Sitting in Salaah with your legs folded without a proper reason. (ghuniya-tul-mustamli, P339) (9) Stretching out (as you do when waking up from sleep). (10) Coughing deliberately. (ghuniya-tul-mustamli, P240) There is no harm in coughing if you have to. (11) Placing the hands on the ground before the knees without a good reason when going into sajdah. (alamgiri, V1, P107) (12) Lifting the knees before the hands when getting up from sajdah. (ghuniya-tul-mustamli, P335) (13) Not having the head in level with the back in ruku’. (ghuniya-tul-mustamli, P338) (14) Saying ta’awwudh, tasmiyah and aameen loudly in Salaah. (alamgiri, V1, P107) (15) Leaning against a wall or anything else without needing to. (16) Avoiding placing the hands on the knees in ruku’ and (17) not placing your hands on the ground in sajdah. (18) Swaying from side to side. (Tarawuh, i.e. transferring the body weight from one foot to the other is Sunnah) (alamgiri, V1, P107) It is mustahab to lay pressure on the right side when going into sajdah and on the left when getting up from sajdah. (ibid P101) (19) Closing the eyes in Salaah. Closing your eyes will become preferable if this helps you to concentrate. (ad dur-ul-mukhtar, rad-dul-muhtar, V2, P499) (20) Praying in front of burning fire. A candle or light will not affect the Salaah. (alamgiri, V1, P107) (21) Praying in front of something that distracts your attention (something very attractive) or praying in front of instruments or people that are engaged in amusements. (rad-dul-muhtar, V1, P439) (22) Running for Salaah. (23) Praying on a public street (24) Praying in a rubbish area (25) Praying in a place where animals are slaughtered (26) Praying in a stable (27) Praying in a bathroom (28) Praying on a farm (especially where camels are kept) (29) Praying on the roof of a toilet (30) Praying in a desert without a barrier in front of you (and there is a possibility of people walking past you). (ghuniya-tul-mustamli, P339) (31) Killing a fly or mosquito with your hand when there is no need to do so. (fatawa Qadhi Khan ma’ alamgiri, V1, P118) (If you are being bothered by a lice or mosquito in Salaah then there is no harm in killing it as long as excessive movement is not required. (Bahar-e-Shariat) (32) Any slight movement that is beneficial for Salaah is permissible but slight movement which is not beneficial is Makrooh. (alamgiri, V1, P109) Praying Salaah in a half sleeved shirt Praying Salaah in a half sleeved shirt is Makrooh-e-Tanzeehi when other clothes are available to wear. Sadrush-shariah Mufti Muhammad Amjad Ali A’zami رَحْمَةُ الله عَلَيْه says, "It is Makrooh-e-Tanzeehi to pray wearing a half sleeved shirt or a vest when there is a full sleeved shirt available to wear, but if there are no alternative clothes then it is not Makrooh." (Fatawa Amjadia part.1 p.193 Maktabah Razawiyyah Babul Madinah Karachi) Mufti A’zam Pakistan Qiblah Mufti Waqaruddin Qadiri Razavi رَحْمَةُ الله عَلَيْه says, "Half sleeved shirts are classed as work clothes, therefore, if someone hesitates to confront honourable people wearing such clothes it will be Makrooh-e-Tanzeehi for him to pray wearing them, but if he does not hesitate to confront such people wearing these clothes his Salaah will not be Makrooh. (Waqar-ul-fatawa, V2, P246) The last 2 Nafl of Zuhr Praying 4 rak’aat after Zuhr is desirable because a Hadith states, "If someone protects the 4 before Zuhr and the 4 after, Allah عَزَّوَجَل will make it Haraam for the fire of Hell to burn him". (Sunan Nasai, Hadith 1817, P2207, Dar-ul-heel Beirut) Allama Sayyid Tahtawi رَحْمَةُ الله عَلَيْه comments on this saying, "This person will not enter the Hell fire at all, and his sins will be forgiven, and Allah عَزَّوَجَل will make please the people who have anything against him. Or it could mean that Allah عَزَّوَجَل will make him do good actions which prevent him from being punished". Allama Shaami رَحْمَةُ الله عَلَيْه says, "Good news for him is that his ending will be blissful and he will not enter Hell". (Shaami, V2, P452) My Dear Islamic brothers! Alhamdu-Lillah عَزَّوَجَل! We already pray 10 rak’aat of Zuhr Salaah, how long would it take for a person to add on 2 more rak’aat and make it twelve rak’aat, for the sake of the 12th of Rabi-un-Noor Shareef! So convince yourselves to pray these two rak’aat punctually. صَلُّوْا عَلَى الْحَبيْب صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلٰى مُحَمَّد Imaamat (Leading others in Salaah) There are six conditions for a man to qualify as an Imam:- (1) Being a Muslim of the correct creed. (2) Having reached the age of puberty. (3) Sanity. (4) Being male. (5) Reciting correctly. (6) Being without a disability. (ad dur-ul-mukhtar ma’ rad-dul-muhtar, V2, P284) 13 conditions of following an Imaam (1) Intention. (2) For the iqtida (following the Imam) and intention of iqtida to be at the same time as the Tahreema. The intention can be made before the Tahreema as well but in this case there must not be a strange action separating the intention and Tahreema. (3) For the Imaam and the Muqtadi to be in the same place. (4) For both of them to be praying the same Salaah or for the Imaam’s Salaah to include the muqtadi’s Salaah. (5) For the Imaam’s Salaah to be correct according to the school of thought that the muqtadi follows. (6) For both the Imaam and the muqtadi to believe it is valid. (7) For a woman not to be standing next to you (there are some conditions regarding this). (8) The muqtadi must not be standing ahead of the Imaam. (9) Being aware of the Imaams movements. (10) Being aware of whether or not the Imaam is a traveller or not. (11) Following the Imaam in all his movements. (12) For the muqtadi to carry out the actions at the same time or after the Imaam. (13) For the muqtadi not to exceed the Imaam in conditions. (rad-dul-muhtar, V2, P283 to 285) The Imaam should make this announcement after the Iqaamat: Bring your heels, necks and shoulders in line with each other and straighten your rows. It is a sin to leave space between two people. To have your shoulders touching is wajib. To straighten your rows is wajib. Until the row before you is filled to both corners to deliberately start praying behind is missing a wajib, Haraam and a sin. Do not let children less than 15 years of age stand in the rows, do not let them stand in the corners either, the row for young children should be made at the very end. (For detailed information refer to: fatawa-e-Razawiyyah, V7, P219 to 225, Raza Foundation Lahore) Jamaa’at (Congregation) It is wajib for a sane, ###### (having reached the age of puberty), free and able person to attend the first jamaa’at held in the Masjid. Anyone who misses jamaa’at even once without a valid reason commits a sin and is worthy of punishment, if he makes a habit of this he will be classed a fasiq, mardoo-dush-shahadah (not worthy of being a witness), will be punished severely, if his neighbours remain quiet they will also have committed a sin. (ad dur-ul-mukhtar, rad-dul-muhtar, V2, P287) Some of the Honourable Scholars ﺭﺣﻤﻬﻢﺍﷲ say, "Anyone who hears the adhan and then waits for the Iqaamat in his house will be classed a sinner and will not be accepted as a witness". (al bahrur-raiq, V1, P451, 604) 20 valid reasons for missing Jamaa’at (1)) Sickness, if it makes going to the Masjid a difficult task. (2) Disability (3) Someone with an amputated leg. (4) Victim of stroke. (5) Being unable to go the Masjid due to very old age. (6) Blind man, even if there is someone who can hold his hand and take him to the Masjid. (7) Intense rain. (8) Being obstructed by severe mud. (9) Severe cold weather. (10) Intense darkness. (11) A storm. (12) Fear of your possessions or food being damaged. (13) Fear of someone to whom one is in debt, considering one is poor. (14) Fear of a tyrant. (15) Strong urge to excrete (16) or uinate (17) or release wind. (18) Presence of food (with a strong desire to eat). (19) Fear of fellow travellers leaving without you. (20) Visiting a sick person (if you feel that your absence will cause him distress). (ad dur-ul-mukhtar ma’ rad-dul-muhtar, V2, P292 to 293 Fear of dying as a disbeliever صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْه وَاٰله وَسَلَّم has warned us, "He who wishes to meet Allah عَزَّوَجَل tomorrow as a Muslim should punctually pray these five Salaah (with jamaa’at) where the adhan is called because Allah عَزَّوَجَل has commanded your Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْه وَاٰله وَسَلَّم to abide by the sunan huda (customs of guidance) and these prayers (with jamaa’at) are among the sunan huda, and if you abandon the Sunnah of your Prophet you will go astray". (Muslim Shareef, V1, P232) This hadith indicates that a person who punctually prays with the first jamaa’at will die a good death and the one who misses the first jamaa’at in the Masjid without a valid reason could ma’aaz-Allah عَزَّوَجَل die a death of disbelief. Those people who fail to pray the whole jamaa’at out of shear laziness must pay attention to this statement of AlaHazrat Imam-e-AhleSunnat Maulana Shah Ahmad Raza Khan رَحْمَةُ الله عَلَيْه with reference to "Bah-rur-raiq" and Quniyyah, "…if he heard the adhan and then waited for the Iqaamat to enter the Masjid, he will have committed a sin". (fatawa-e-Razaviyyah, V7, P102 - Al bah-rur-raiq, V1, P604) On the same page of Fatawa-e-Razaviyyah Shareef it says, "Someone who hears the adhan and then waits at home for the Iqaamat will not be accepted as a witness". (Al bah-rur-raiq, V1, P451) My Dear Islamic brothers! If someone does not enter the Masjid until he has heard the Iqaamat then according to some respected Jurists ﺭﺣﻤﻬﻢﺍﷲ he is a sinner and is unworthy of acting as a witness, so where does that leave those people who pray with jamaa’at at home or don’t even pray with jamaa’at without a valid excuse or ma’aaz-Allah عَزَّوَجَل don’t pray at all! Oh Lord of Mustafa! عَزَّوَجَل و صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْه وَاٰله وَسَلَّم grant us the good fortune of forever praying all five Salaah in the first jamaa’at in the Masjid in the first row with the Takbeer-e-Oola. آﻣﻴﻦﺑﺠﺎﻩﺍﻟﻨﺒﻲﺍﻻﻣﻴﻦ صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْه وَاٰله وَسَلَّم<> صَلُّوْا عَلَى الْحَبيْب صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلٰى مُحَمَّد 9 Madani flowers for Salaa – tul -Witr (1) The Witr Salaah is wajib. (Al bah-rur-raiq, V2, P66) (2) If it is missed it must still be prayed as a qadha (missed) Salaah. (ad dur-ul-mukhtar, rad-dul-muhtar, V2, P532) (3) The time for Witr is from the end of the fardh of Isha up to Subh-e-Sadiq (dawn). (maraqil falah ma’ hashiya-tut-tahtawi, P178) (4) For someone who has the ability to get up in the latter part of the night after sleeping a short while, it is preferable that he gets up at this time and first prays Tahajjud and then prays his Witr. (ghuniya-tul-mustamli, P403) (5) The Witr Salaah consists of three rak’aa (maraqil falah ma’ hashiya-tut-tahtawi, P375) (6) The first qa’dah (sitting) is wajib, only tashahhud should be read and then you must stand up. (7) In the 3rd rak’at it is wajib to say the Takbeer-e-Qunoot after the qiraa’at. (ad dur-ul-mukhtar ma’ rad-dul-muhtar, V2, P533) (8) The Takbeer-e-Qunoot should be said the same way as the Takbeer-e-Tahreema (first lift your hands to your ears and then say Allahu Akbar). (hashiya-tut-tahtawi, P376) (9) Then place your hands beneath your navel and read Dua-e-Qunoot. Dua-e-Qunoot - The Supplication of Qun'ut Oh Allah عَزَّوَجَل we seek Your help and we seek Your forgiveness and we believe in You and we trust You and we praise You and we thank You and we are not ungrateful to You and we abandon and stay away from anyone who disobeys You. Oh Allah عَزَّوَجَل it is only You we worship and for only You we pray and prostrate and we run towards You and obey You and hope to gain Your mercy and we fear Your punishment, indeed Your punishment is for the non believers. (10) To read Durood Shareef after the Dua-e-Qunoot is preferable. (ghuniya-tul-mustamli, P402) (11) Anyone who does not know Dua-e-Qunoot should read: Oh Allah عَزَّوَجَل! Our Lord! Grant us goodness in the world and in the hereafter and save us from the punishment of the fire. Or one can read this: اَللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْلِيْ Oh Allah عَزَّوَجَل grant me forgiveness. (maraqil falah ma’ hashiya-tut-tahtawi, P385) (12) If you forget to read Dua-e-Qunoot and go into ruku’ then you must not return, carry on instead and then do Sajdah-e-Sahw at the end. (alamgiri, V1, P110) (13) If you are praying the witr with congregation (as is done in the month of Ramadhaan) and the Imaam bows for ruku’ before you manage to complete the Dua-e-Qunoot then you must follow the Imaam (and leave it incomplete). (alamgiri, V1, P110 - Tabyeenul haqaiq, V1, P171 Multan) Sajdah-e-Sahw (Prostration of forgetfulness) (1)(ad dur-ul-mukhtar ma’ rad-dul-muhtar, V2, P655) (2) If Sajdah-e-Sahw is omitted despite having to do it then the whole Salaah must be repeated. (3) If a wajib is missed deliberately then Sajdah-e-Sahw is not sufficient. In fact the whole Salaah must be repeated. (4) If you miss something that is wajib but not one of the wajibaat of Salaah then Sajdah-e-Sahw does not need to be done, for example, reciting the Holy Qur’an in the wrong order is a sin (and to recite it in the proper order is wajib) but it is one of the wajibaat of reciting the Qur’an not one of the wajibaat of Salaah therefore Sajdah-e-Sahw is not needed (although you must still repent). (ibid) (5) Missing out a fardh invalidates the Salaah and Sajdah-e-Sahw does not make up for it. (6) Leaving out any Sunnah or desirable act like thana, ta’awwudh, tasmiyah, aameen, the takbeers said when changing positions and tasbihaat does not necessitate Sajdah-e-Sahw, (fathul Qadeer, V1, P438) but to pray it again is desirable, whether it was omitted deliberately or unintentionally. (7) Even if 10 wajibaat are omitted only 2 Sajdah-e-Sahw are enough. (rad-dul-muhtar, V2, P655) (8) If ta’deel-e-arkaan (e.g. standing up straight after ruku’ and sitting straight in between 2 sujood for the duration of saying Subhan-Allah once) is unintentionally omitted then Sajdah-e-Sahw must be performed. (alamgiri, V1, P127) (9) Sajdah-e-Sahw is wajib if Dua-e-Qunoot or the Takbeer-e-Qunoot are omitted unintentionally. (alamgiri, V1, P128) (10) If you spend the duration of saying Subhan-Allah three times "thinking" (and not doing anything) whether it be in qiraa’at or any other position, then Sajdah-e-Sahw is wajib. (rad-dul-muhtar, V2, P655) (11) Attahiyyat is wajib even after Sajdah-e-Sahw. In fact it is preferable to read Durood Shareef as well in both sittings (before and after Sajdah-e-Sahw). (alamgiri, V1, P125) (12) If the Imaam has to do Sajdah-e-Sahw then the congregate must follow him and do Sajdah-e-Sahw too (it is wajib for him as well). (ad dur-ul-mukhtar ma’ rad-dul-muhtar, V2, P658) (13) If a congregate makes a mistake whilst he is behind the Imaam he does not need to do Sajdah-e-Sahw, (alamgiri, V1, P128) and he does not have to repeat the Salaah either. Very important rulingg (14) A masbooq (one who comes late and misses one or more rak’aat behind the Imaam) is not allowed to say Salaam with the Imaam, if he does so deliberately he will invalidate his Salaah, if he says it unintentionally at exactly the same time as the Imaam then his Salaah will not be affected (but this is a very rare case), and if he says it unintentionally slightly after the Imaam he must stand up to complete his Salaah and then do Sajdah-e-Sahw himself at the end of his Salaah. (ad dur-ul-mukhtar ma’ rad-dul-muhtar, V2, P659) (15) A masbooq must do Sajdah-e-Sahw along with the Imaam even if the mistake he made was before he joined the congregation, if he does not do Sajdah-e-Sahw with the Imaam and stands to complete his Salaah then he must do it (the Sajdah-e-Sahw) at the end. If the masbooq makes a mistake himself whilst reading his missed rak’aat then the same Sajdah-e-Sahw will be sufficient. (alamgiri, V1, P128) (16) Sajdah-e-Sahw will become wajib even if the phrase اَللّٰهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلٰي مُحَمَّدِِ is said after tashahhud in the first rak’at, this isn’t because of reciting Durood Shareef, in fact it is due to the delay in standing for the 3rd rak’at. If one was to remain quiet for the same duration he would still have to do Sajdah-e-Sahw. Incident Sayyiduna Imam Abu Hanifa رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ saw The Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْه وَاٰله وَسَلَّم in a dream. The Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْه وَاٰله وَسَلَّم asked him, "Why have you decided that anyone who reads Durood Sharif has to do Sajdah-e-Sahw"? He رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ replied, "Because he read it in a state of negligence". The Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْه وَاٰله وَسَلَّم liked this answer. (ad dur-ul-mukhtar ma’ rad-dul-muhtar, V2, P657) (17) If any part of tashahud is omitted in any of the sittings, Sajdah-e-Sahw must be done, whether the Salaah is nafl or fardh. (alamgiri, V1, P127) Method of Sajdah-e-Sahw Read the whole of Attahiyyat, in fact it is preferable to read the whole of Durood Shareef as well, then turn your head towards your right shoulder and say salaam and then prostrate twice, after this read Attahiyyat again along with Durood Shareef and the Du’a and then end with the salaam to both sides. (fatawa Qadhi Khan ma’ alamgiri, V1, P121) What if you forget to do Sajdah-e-Sahw? If someone has to do Sajdah-e-Sahw but forgets to do it, he can return and do it as long as he has not left the Masjid. (ad dur-ul-mukhtar ma’ rad-dul-muhtar, V2, P556) But if he is in a field then he can return as long as he does not walk past the rows or walk past the point of prostration in front of him. However, remember in both cases if any action that contradicts the Salaah (e.g. speaking) is done after the salaam then he cannot return and do the Sajdah-e-Sahw. (ad dur-ul-mukhtar ma’ rad-dul-muhtar, V2, P556) Sajdah-e-Tilawat and the destruction of Satan The Beloved of Allah عَزَّوَجَل و صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْه وَاٰله وَسَلَّم has given us the glad tidings that when someone recites a verse of prostration and then prostrates, Satan moves away and cries, "I’m doomed! The Son of Adam was commanded to prostrate and did so and for him is Heaven, I was commanded but I rejected and now Hell is for me". (Sahih Muslim, V1, P61) In’shaa-Allah عَزَّوَجَل; you’ll get what you want If someone recites all 14 verses of prostration and prostrates for each one keeping in mind a particular wish to be fulfilled, Allah عَزَّوَجَل(ghuniyah – ad dur-ul-mukhtar and others) 8 Madani flowers regarding Sajdah-e-Tilawat (1) Reciting or listening to a verse of sajdah makes Sajdah-e-Tilawat wajib. The recitation must be loud enough to hear the words yourself (if there is no noise). This sajdah will become wajib even if a person does not deliberately listen to the verse. (alamgiri, V1, P132) (2) Sajdah will become wajib even if the translation of the verse is recited, regardless of whether or not the listener understands it is the translation of a verse of sajdah. However, if he did not know then it is important that he be told that it was the translation of a verse of sajdah, but if the Arabic verse was recited, it is not necessary to tell the listener. (alamgiri, V1, P133) (3) Sajdah-e-Tilawat is only wajib when the whole verse is recited, however, according to some of the later scholars it will become wajib if every word containing the message of sajdah is recited along with a word either preceding it or following it, therefore, it is safer to do the sajdah in both cases. (mulakhkhasan fatawa-e-Razawiyyah, V8, P223-233, Raza Foundation Lahore) (4) If a verse of sajdah is recited whilst not being in a state of Salaah then to do the sajdah instantly is not wajib, however, if you have wudhu then delaying it is Makrooh-e-Tanzeehi. (tanweer-ul-absaar ma’ rad-dul-muhtar, V2, P583) (5) To do the sajdah instantly in Salaah is wajib. If it is delayed (in other words, if more than three verses are recited after it) you have committed a sin, and therefore will have to do Sajdah-e-Sahw as well as Sajdah-e-Tilawat at the end (as long as you are in the Salaah or if you have finished the Salaah but have not yet done anything contradicting the Salaah). (ad dur-ul-mukhtar ma’ rad-dul-muhtar, V2, P584) Warning! Beware! (6) In the blessed month of Ramadhaan if a person is not taking part in the tarawih or shabina (even if he is praying his own Salaah) he will still have to do Sajdah-e-Tilawat if he hears any verse of sajdah. Sajdah-e-Tilawat will be wajib even you hear a verse from a kafir or a child. If you have missed many Sujood of Tilawat since reaching the age of puberty then you must make a rough calculation of these and make up for them now. Method of Sajdah-e-Tilawat (7) Start by standing up and then as you say اَللهُ اَکبَر (Allahu Akbar) go into sajdah and say سُبْحٰنَ رَبِّيَ الْاَعْلٰي at least three times, then say Allahu Akbar and stand up. To say Allahu Akbar before and after the sajdah is Sunnah and to stand before and after is desirable. (alamgiri, V1, P135) (8) The hands are not raised when saying Allahu Akbar in Sajdah-e-Tilawat nor does this sajdah contain tashahhud or salaam. (tanweer-ul-absaar ma’ rad-dul-muhtar, V2, P580) Sajdah-e-Shukr (prostration of thankfulness) It is desirable to do Sajdah-e-Shukr when one is granted a blessing, whether it is the birth of a child or attainment of wealth, or retrieving lost property, or curing of a patient, or returning from a journey, or anything else. This sajdah is done in exactly the same way as the Sajdah-e-Tilawat. (alamgiri, V1, P136) To do this sajdah when one hears good news is also a means of earning blessings; some examples are, being granted a visa to travel to beautiful Madina, success in doing Infiradi Koshish upon someone and convincing him to travel with a Madani Qafila of Dawat-e-Islami, casting a glance at a practising sunni scholar, seeing a good dream, passing an exam, being relieved of a calamity, or the death of an enemy of Islam. Walking past a person praying Salaah is a serious sin (1) The Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْه وَاٰله وَسَلَّم said, "If any one knew what (harm) there was in walking past his brother whilst he is praying, he would prefer to stand for 100 years than to take that one step". (Sunan Ibn Majah, Hadith 946, V1, P506 Dar-ul-ma’rifah Beirut) (2) Sayyiduna Imam Malik رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ narrates that Sayyiduna Ka’bul Ahbar رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ said, "If the person walking past a praying person knew what a sin he has committed he’d prefer to be eaten up by the earth than walk past him." (Muwatta Imam Malik, Hadith 371, V1, P154 Dar-ul-ma’rifah Beirut) The one walking past the praying person is definitely a sinner but this does not affect the Salaah of the one praying. (mulakhkhas fatawa-e-Razawaiyyah, V7, P254 Raza Foundation Lahore) 15 rulings regarding walking past a person praying Salaah (1) To walk past a praying person in a field or in a huge Masjid from a very short distance is not permissible (short distance means the area from the feet to the extent of ones vision if one was to look at the point of prostration). (tabyeen-ul-haqaiq, V1, P160) This is approximately 3 yards from ones feet. (Qanoon-e-Shariat, Part 1, P131, Farid Book Stall, Markaz-ul-Auliya Lahore) Therefore, to walk past a praying person in a field from a distance of three yards or more is permissible. (2) To walk past a praying person in a house or small Masjid is not permissible from any distance right up to the wall ahead of him (considering he does not have a barrier in front of him). (alamgiri, V1, P104) (3) If there is a barrier in front of the person praying it will be permissible to walk past him. (4) The barrier must be at least an arms length (approximately half a yard) high and thick as a finger. (maraqil falah ma’ hashiya-tut-tahtawi, P365) (5) If the Imaam has a barrier in front of himself then congregates do not need one. This means that if someone was to walk in front of a congregate in the state that his Imaam has a barrier in front of him he will not have sinned. (rad-dul-muhtar, V2, P484) (6) Trees, humans and animals can be used as barriers too. (alamgiri, V1, P104) (7) If a person is used as a barrier he must have his back facing the praying person. (hashiya-tut-tahtawi, P365 – rad-dul-muhtar, V2, P496) (If someone sits or stands facing a praying person then he is making a mistake and not the person praying, so you should take care not to turn around and face the people behind you after the Imaam has finished his Salaah because if someone is praying directly behind you and you turn to face him you will have sinned) (8) If someone is walking past a praying person and a second person sees him and walks along with him (at exactly the same pace) using him as a barrier then the first person will have sinned (and not the second). (rad-dul-muhtar, V2, P483) (9) If someone stands to pray in the following row despite having space in the previous row then a newcomer can push his way past him because he has lost his respect himself. (ad dur-ul-mukhtar ma’ rad-dul-muhtar, V2, P483) (10) If someone is praying on a level higher (e.g. a raised platform) than a second person who wants to walk past, you must look to see whether or not any part of his body comes in front of him, if not then he can walk past and will not have done anything wrong. (alamgiri, V1, P104) (11) If there are two people who wish to walk past a praying person then this is the way they can do so; one of them should stand with his back facing the person praying, the second should firstly use him as a barrier and walk past, and then he should stand behind the first with his back facing the praying person, the first should then use the second person as a barrier and walk past, the second should then step back to the same side he came from. (12) If someone tries to walk past you whilst you are praying you are allowed to warn him and stop him in your Salaah, this can be done by either saying "Subhan-Allah" or reciting the Qur’an loudly, or alerting him using a gesture of the hand, head or eyes, no more than this is allowed (eg. grabbing his clothes or hitting him). Remember, if excessive movement takes place the Salaah will become invalid. (ad-dur-ul-mukhtar, rad-dul-muhtar, V2, P483 – marqil falah ma’ hashiya-tut-tahtawi, P367) (13) To do both the gesture and raise the voice without necessity is Makrooh. (ad dur-ul-mukhtar ma’ rad-dul-muhtar, V2, P486) (14) If someone is walking past a woman, she should use tasfeeq to stop him/her, this means hitting the back of the left hand with the fingers of the right hand. If a man uses the method of tasfeeq and a woman raises her voice, the Salaah will still be valid but this contradicts the Sunnah. (15) Someone doing tawaf of the Holy Ka’ba is allowed to walk past a praying person during his tawaf. (rad-dul-muhtar, V2, P482) صَلُّوْا عَلَى الْحَبيْب صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلٰى مُحَمَّد تُوبُو ااِلَي اﷲ! اَسْتَغْفِرُاﷲ صَلُّوْا عَلَى الْحَبيْب صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلٰى مُحَمَّد

Excellence of a dusty forehead Hazrat’e Sayyiduna Wathilah bin Asqa’ رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ narrates that The Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْه وَاٰله وَسَلَّم said, "None of you should clear his forehead (from dust) until he has finished his Salaah, because Angels pray for his forgiveness for as long as he has a mark of prostration on his forehead". (majmauz zawaid, V2, P311, Hadith 2761, Dar-ul-Fikr, Beirut) My Dear Islamic Brothers! It is preferable to avoid clearing off dust from the forehead during Salaah and ma’aaz-Allah عَزَّوَجَل to clear it out of arrogance is a sin. If you leave dust on your forehead after ma’aaz-Allah عَزَّوَجَل to show people that you are someone who prays his Salaah, then this will be considered as showing off and will lead to Hell. If someone fears showing off he should clear the dust off his forehead after the Salaah. 29 things that invalidate Salaah (1) Speaking (ad dur-ul-mukhtar ma’ rad-dul-muhtar, V2, P445) (2) Saying Salaam to someone. (3) Answering someones Salaam. (maraqil falah ma’ hashiya-tut-tahtawi, P322) (4) Answering someone when they sneeze. If you sneeze yourself during Salaah you should remain quiet but even if you do say Alhamdu-Lillah it will not affect your Salaah, if you did not say it at the time you should wait for the Salaah to finish and then say it. (alamgiri, V1, P98) (5) Saying Alhamdu-Lillah on hearing good news. (alamgiri, V1, P99) (6) Saying اِنَّا للهِ وَ اِنَّآ اِلَيْهِ رٰجِعُوْنَ on hearing bad news (or news of someone’s death). (7) Answering the adhaan. (alamgiri, V1, P100) (8) Saying جَلَّ جَلَا لُه' on hearing the name of Allah عَزَّوَجَل. (ghuniya-tul-mustamli, P420) (9) Reading Durood Shareef, for example صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْه وَاٰله وَسَلَّم on hearing the honourable name of the Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْه وَاٰله وَسَلَّم. (alamgiri, V1, P99) (If جَلَّ جَلَا لُه' or صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْه وَاٰله وَسَلَّم are said without the intention of replying, then the Salaah will not be affected) Crying in Salaah (10) The Salaah will break if (out of pain or grief) the sounds ‘aah’0, ‘ooh’, ‘uff’, ‘tuff are uttered or if letters are uttered as you cry. However, it is alright if one cries without uttering letters. (alamgiri, V1, P101) If a person begins to cry in Salaah due to the recitation of the Qur’an by the Imaam and utters the words "na’am", or "yes" then the Salaah will still be valid because this is due to concentration. However, if these words are said due to his style of recitation it will become invalid. (ad dur-ul-mukhtar, rad-dul-muhtar, V2, P456) Coughing in Salaah (11) The Salaah will not break if a sick person helplessly utters words like "aah" and "ooh". The same applies to letters uttered helplessly whilst sneezing, yawning, coughing, and burping etc. (ad dur-ul-muhtar, V1, P416) (12) If you blow without creating a sound then it is the same as breathing and therefore does not affect the Salaah but it is Makrooh to blow (or puff) deliberately. However, if even two letters are uttered whilst blowing, (uf, tuf e.t.c.) the Salaah will break. (ghuniyah, P427) (13) Uttering two letters (e.g. "ukh") to clear your throat will invalidate the Salaah, however, if there is a desperate need or proper purpose to do so, for example if you are clearing your throat (so you can recite properly) or you are informing the Imaam of a mistake or trying to catch the attention of someone who is about to walk past you, then there is no harm in coughing. (ad dur-ul-mukhtar, rad-dul-muhtar, V2, P455) Reading something in Salaah (14) Looking at a copy of the Qur’an Shareef, a piece of paper or the mihrab etc. and reciting the Qur’an Shareef (If you are reciting off by heart but happen to be looking at the Qur’an, mihrab etc. at the same time, your Salaah will not be affected. If there is a piece of paper or something else with verses written on it and you look at it and think about it but do not read it, your Salaah will not be affected) (rad-dul-muhtar, V2, P464) (15) To deliberately stare at and ponder over an Islamic book or article during Salaah is Makrooh. (alamgiri, V1, P101) If the information is worldly it is worse, therefore, before Salaah you should place any books, bags with writing on them, mobile phones, watches etc. that are near you in a manner that doesn’t allow you to see the written material, (throw a handkerchief over them). One should also avoid staring at stickers, posters and frames hanging on the pillars in the Masjid. Definition of excessive movement (16) Excessive moment invalidates Salaah considering the movement is not something done in Salaah or something done to rectify the Salaah. Excessive movements are those that make an onlooker think that you are not in Salaah. If the onlooker is in doubt as to whether or not you are in Salaah then the movement is minor and will therefore not invalidate the Salaah. (ad dur-ul-mukhtar ma’ rad-dul-muhtar, V2, P464) Dressing during Salaah (17) Wearing a kurta, pajaama or tehband during Salaah. (rad-dul-muhtar, V2, P465) (18) Praying one whole rukn (part) of the Salaah with the sitr exposed or allowing the time it takes to say Subhan-Allah three times to pass with the sitr exposed. (ad dur-ul-mukhtar ma’ rad-dul-muhtar, V2, P467) Eating in Salaah (19) Eating or drinking even a very small amount of food or drink, (even something the size of a pea or a drop of water). (ghuniya-tul-mustamli, P418) (20) If there was something stuck in your teeth prior to starting the Salaah and during the Salaah you swallowed it then you will have to consider the size of what you have swallowed. If it was the same or larger than a pea it will invalidate the Salaah, but if it was smaller it will only make it Makrooh. (maraqil falah ma’ hashiya-tut-tahtawi, P241) (21) If you ate something sweet prior to the Salaah and there are no pieces of food left in the mouth only some minute particles in the saliva then swallowing them will not invalidate the Salaah. (khulasa-tul-fatawa, V1, P127) (22) If there is sugar or anything similar in the mouth and melts and reaches the throat, the Salaah will become invalid. (23) If you bleed from your teeth you must consider the amount of blood. If the saliva is dominant and is swallowed, the Salaah will not be affected otherwise it will invalidate the Salaah. (alamgiri, V1, P102) (Being dominant means being able to taste the blood, this will invalidate the Salaah. When talking about the Salaah being invalidated the taste will be taken into consideration but when talking about the wudhu being invalid the colour will be taken into consideration, therefore wudu no longer remains valid when the saliva becomes mainly red but if it is of a yellowish colour it will not be afffected) Turning away from the Qiblah during Salaah (24) Turning the chest 45 degrees or more away from the direction of qiblah without a proper excuse will invalidate the Salaah, but if there is a valid reason it will not, for example, if you turn away from qiblah due to the thought that your wudhu has broken but then realise that you were wrong, then if you have not yet stepped out of the Masjid the Salaah will remain valid. (ad dur-ul-mukhtar ma’ rad-dul-muhtar, V2, P468) Killing a snake (25) Killing a snake or scorpion will not invalidate the Salaah but if it requires walking 3 steps or striking 3 times then it will. (ghuniya-tul-mustamli, P423) Killing a snake or scorpion is permissible if it passes in front of you and you fear it will harm you, if there is no danger of it causing harm then to kill it is makrooh (disliked). (alamgiri, V1, P103) (26) Plucking 3 hairs one after the other or killing 3 head lice or making three attempts to kill the same lice will invalidate the Salaah, but if is not done consecutively the Salaah will remain valid but makrooh. Scratching in Salaah (27) Scratching 3 times in one rukn (section) will invalidate the Salaah, this means scratching once and then lifting the hand and then scratching again and lifting the hand again, if this is done a third time the Salaah will become invalid. If you scratch three times with your hand in the same place then the Salaah will not be affected (this will be considered scratching once). (alamgiri, V1, P104 – ghuniya-tul-mustamli, P423) Mistakes in saying Takbir (ALLAH HU'AKBAR) اَللهُ اَکبَر' (28 )The Salaah will become invalid if the alif in the phrase Allahu Akbar is lengthened during the takbeers whilst changing positions (e.g. saying Aallah or Aakbar) or if an alif is added after the "ba" (i.e. Akbaar). Remember, if this happens at the time of Takbeer-e-Tahreema, the Salaah will not even begin. (ad’dur-ul-mukhtar ma’ rad-dul-muhtar, V2, P177) Mukabbireen (congregates who say the takbeer aloud to convey it to those who cannot hear the Imam) often make these mistakes and ruin not only their own Salaah but the Salaah of others too, therefore, someone who does not know these rulings should not act as a mukabbir. (29) Making a serious mistake in recitation or other phrases in Salaah that grossly change the meaning invalidates the Salaah. (ad dur-ul-mukhtar ma’ rad-dul-muhtar, V2, P473) 33 Makroohaat-e-Tahreema of Salaah (1) Fidgeting with your beard, body or clothes. (alamgiri, V1, P104) (2) Gathering the clothes, like many people nowadays who lift their trousers slightly when going in to sajdah. (ghuniya-tul-mustamli, P337) If your clothes stick to your body then there is no harm in using one hand to lift them off. Hanging a blanket over your shoulders (3) Hanging a piece of cloth, for example hanging a blanket or handkerchief over your head or shoulders so that both ends hang down. There is no harm if one end is left hanging and the other is swung over the opposite shoulder. (ad dur-ul-mukhtar ma’ rad-dul-muhtar, V2, P488) (4) Some people nowadays hang handkerchiefs over their shoulders with one end hanging over the back and the other over the stomach, to pray Salaah in this manner is Makrooh-e-Tahreemi. (Bahar-e-Shariat, Part 3, P165) (5) If either of both sleeves is rolled up more than half way up the forearm the Salaah will become Makrooh-e-Tahreemi. (ad dur-ul-mukhtar ma’ rad-dul-muhtar, V2, P490) Desperate for the toilet (6) Feeling the urge to use the toilet. If a person finds himself desperate even before the Salaah begins then considering there is plenty of time, it is a sin for him to even begin the Salaah in such a state, however, if he feels that the Salaah time will end if he goes to the toilet and make wudhu then he should pray first. If a person feels this urge during the Salaah then considering there is enough time, it is wajib for him to break his Salaah, to continue in such a state is a sin. (rad-dul-muhtar, V2, P492) Moving stones during Salaah (7) Moving stones during Salaah is Makrooh-e-Tahreemi. (ghuniya-tul-mustamli, P338) Sayyiduna Jabir رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ says that he asked The Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْه وَاٰله وَسَلَّم a question about moving stones during Salaah, he صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْه وَاٰله وَسَلَّم replied, "Only once, and avoiding it is better than having 100 black-eyed camels". (Sahih ibn Khuzaimah, Hadith 897, V2, P52 Al Maktaba-tul-Islami Beirut) However, if it becomes difficult to prostrate according to the method of the Sunnah, it is permissible to move them once and if they prevent you from fulfilling a wajib then it is wajib for you to move them even if it takes more than one attempt. Clicking fingers (8) Clicking fingers in Salaah (ad dur-ul-mukhtar ma’ rad-ul-muhtar, V2, P493)Allama ibn Abidin Shaami رَحْمَةُ الله عَلَيْه says that ibn Maja narrates that the Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْه وَاٰله وَسَلَّم said, "Do not click your fingers during Salaah". (Sunan ibn Maja, V1, P514, Hadith 965, Dar-ul-Ma’rifah Beirut) He also writes with reference to "Mujtaba" that the Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْه وَاٰله وَسَلَّم forbade clicking fingers whilst waiting for Salaah. Another report states that he صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْه وَاٰله وَسَلَّم forbade clicking ones fingers whilst going towards the Salaah. Three points are proven from these sacred ahadith; (a) Clicking the fingers during Salaah or during anything connected to the Salaah (walking towards the Salaah or waiting in the Masjid for Salaah) is Makrooh-e-Tahreemi (Clicking the fingers unnecessarily outside of Salaah (including the activities linked to Salaah) is Makrooh-e-Tanzeehi © Clicking the fingers outside of Salaah for a proper reason e.g. to relax them, is permissible (without even being Makrooh). (ad dur-ul-mukhtar ma’ rad-dul-muhtar, V2, P409, Publisher Multan) (9) Tashbeek (inserting the fingers of one hand into the fingers of the other hand). (ghuniya-tul-mustamli, P338) The Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْه وَاٰله وَسَلَّم said, "When a person leaves his house to go to the Masjid he must not do tashbeek because it (walking towards Salaah) is the same as being in Salaah". (musnad Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal, Hadith 18126, V6, P320, Dar-ul-fikr Beirut) Both the above mentioned are Makrooh-e-Tahreemi when walking towards Salaah and waiting for Salaah as well. (maraqil falah ma’ hashiya-tut-tahtawi, P246) Holding your hips (10) Placing your hands on your hips. (ibid P347) One should not place his hands on his hips without a good reason even when not praying Salaah. (ad dur-ul-mukhtar ma’ rad-dul-muhtar, V2, P494) The Beloved of Allah عَزَّوَجَل و صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْه وَاٰله وَسَلَّم says, "Putting the hands on the hips is the relaxing of the dwellers of hell". (as sunan-ul-kubra, V2, P408, Hadith 3566, Dar-ul-kutubul Ilmiyyah Beirut) This refers to the Jews because they will go to hell (as far as the dwellers of hell are concerned there is no relaxing for them). (hashiyah Bahar-e-Shariat, Part 3, P115, Maktaba Islamiyyah Lahore) Looking up at the sky (11) Looking towards the sky. (al bahr-ur-raiq, V2, P38) The Beloved of Allah عَزَّوَجَل و صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْه وَاٰله وَسَلَّم says, "Those people who raise their eyes to the sky should refrain from it or else their ability to see will be snatched away from them". (Sahih Bukhari, V2, P103) (12) Turning the face, whether slightly or fully. To look around unnecessarily without turning the face (by turning the eyeballs only) is Makrooh-e-Tanzeehi, and if there is a need to do so then there is no harm in it. (alamgiri, V1, P106) The Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْه وَاٰله وَسَلَّم said, "When a person is praying Salaah the special mercy of Allah عَزَّوَجَل remains focussed on him until he begins to look around, when the person turns his face His mercy turns away from him too". (Abu Da’wood, V1, P334, Hadith 909, Dar Ihya Itturathil Arabiyy Beirut) (13) For men to rest their forearms on the ground when in sajdah. (ad dur-ul-mukhtar ma’ rad-dul-muhtar, V2, P496) Looking at a person who is praying Salaah (14) Praying Salaah facing a person. It is a sin for someone to directly face a praying person. If someone is already facing a particular direction and then another person comes and starts to pray facing him then this second person will have committed a sin otherwise the one facing him will be the sinner (if he had already started and someone stood or sat in front of him to directly face him). (ad dur-ul-mukhtar ma’ rad-dul-muhtar, V2, P496) All those people who finish their congregational Salaah and then turn around to look at the person directly behind them, and those who stand up to face someone who is praying and wait for him to finish so that they can walk out, and those who sit or stand directly in front of a praying person in order to make an announcement, give a dars or speech should all repent. (15) Hiding the nose and face in Salaah. (alamgiri, V1, P106) (16) Unnecessarily bringing phlegm to the mouth. (ghuniya-tul-mustamli. P339) (17) Yawning deliberately. (maraqil falah ma’ hashiya-tut-tahtawi, P354) (There is no harm if it is unintentional but to prevent it would be desirable) The Beloved Prophet of Allah عَزَّوَجَل و صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْه وَاٰله وَسَلَّم said, "If someone yawns in Salaah he should prevent it as much as possible because Satan enters the mouth". (Sahih Muslim, P413) (18) Reciting verses of the Qur’an in the wrong order (for example, reciting "tab’bat" in the first rak’at and "izaa jaaa" in the second) (19) Ommitting a wajib. (maraqil falah ma’ hashiya-tut-tahtawi, P345) For example, bowing for ruku’ or the second sajdah before straightening the back in qauma and jalsa. (alamgiri, V1, P107) A very large number of Muslims seem to be committing this sin. Remember! It is wajib to repeat all Salaah offered like this. (20) Reciting the Holy Qur’an in any position other than qiyaam. (maraqil falah ma’ hashiya-tut-tahtawi, P351) (21) Ending the qiraa’at in ruku’. (22) For a congregate to do ruku’, sujood, etc. before the Imaam, or to get back up before him. (rad-dul-muhtar, V2, P513) Sayyidunna Imam Malik رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ narrates on the authority of Sayyiduna Abu Huraira رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ that the Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْه وَاٰله وَسَلَّم said, "He who raises and lowers his head before the Imaam has the hair on the front of his head in the hand of shaitan". (muwatta Imam Malik, Hadith 212, V1, P102 Dar-ul-ma’rifah Beirut) Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ narrates that the Beloved Messenger of Allah عَزَّوَجَل و صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْه وَاٰله وَسَلَّم said, "Does the person who raises his head before the Imaam not fear that Allah عَزَّوَجَل will turn his head into that of a donkey". (Sahih Muslim, V1, P181) Donkeys face Sayyiduna Imaam Nawawi رَحْمَةُ الله عَلَيْه travelled to a very famous person in Damascus to learn Hadith from him. That person used to teach without letting people see him. Imaam Nawawi رَحْمَةُ الله عَلَيْه studied with him for quite a long period but had not yet seen his face. After a long time, when the Muhaddith was certain of Imaam Nawawi’s extreme enthusiasm with regards to Hadith, he decided to show himself. Imam Nawawi رَحْمَةُ الله عَلَيْه saw that his face was like that of a donkey’s! The muhaddith said, "Dear son! Beware of preceding the Imam during the congregation, when I heard this Hadith I didn’t believe it (due to the weakness of some narrators) and therefore I deliberately preceded the Imaam in my Salaah and my face turned in to what you see now". (Bahar-e-Shariat, Part 3, P95, Madina-tul-Murshid Bareili Sharif) (23) Praying Salaah wearing only trousers despite having something else available. (24) For the Imaam to make the prayer longer for a late comer whom he knows (in order to please him). (alamgiri, V1, P107) There is no harm in saying one or two extra tasbihat to help him with his Salaah. (25) Praying on maghsoob land (land obtained by force) or (26) on someone else’s field (in which there are crops) (maraqil falah ma’ hashiya-tut-tahtawi, P258 – ad dur-ul-mukhtar ma’ rad-dul-muhtar, V2, P52) or (27) on a ploughed field or (28) facing a grave (if there is nothing in between the person praying Salaah and the grave). (alamgiri, V1, P107) (29) Praying in the places of worship belonging to non believers (churches, temples), in fact it is not permissible to even enter them. (rad-dul-muhtar, V2, P53) (30) Praying whilst wearing clothes inside out, or having such clothing hanging over the body. (31) It is Makrooh-e-Tahreemi to have the buttons of the shirt open allowing the top of the chest to be seen, but if there is a second piece of clothing underneath preventing the chest from being seen then it is Makrooh-e-Tanzeehi. Salaah and pictures (32) It is Makrooh-e-Tahreemi to pray wearing clothes that display a picture of any living being, to wear such clothes even when one is not praying is also prohibited. (ad dur-ul-mukhtar ma’ rad-dul-muhtar, V2, P502) (33) Having a picture above your head (on the ceiling) or on the place of sajdah or in front of you or towards the left or right makes the prayer Makrooh-e-Tahreemi, having it behind you is also Makrooh but not as bad as the other cases. If the picture is on the floor and not at the point of sajdah then there is no harm. There is no harm in having pictures of unliving objects (like rivers or mountains) around you either. A picture so small that you cannot see the details of the body parts if you are stood up and the picture is on the floor (like scenes of people doing tawaf of the ka’bah) would not affect the Salaah. (ghuniya-tul-mustamli, P247 – ad dur-ul-mukhtar ma’ rad-dul-muhtar, V2, P503) However, it will not be permissible if even one face amongst the people doing tawaaf can be seen clearly. There is no harm in having pictures without the faces (only the hands, feet, back, back of the head) or pictures of faces which have the eyes, nose, lips etc. erased.

Method of Salaah (Hanafi) Stand facing the Qibla in a state of Wudhu with a distance of four fingers between your feet. Now raise both hands and touch the ear lobes with the thumbs, the fingers should neither be too wide apart nor too close; in fact they should remain in a normal position and be facing the Qibla. At this point you should be looking at the place of Sajdah. Now make a firm intention in the heart regarding the Salaah that you are about to pray, to say it verbally is even better (for example, "I intend to pray 4 rak’at for today’s fardhh Zuhr Salaah", if you are in a congregation then add, "Behind this Imam"). Now whilst saying Takbeer-e-Tahreema i.e. Allahu Akbar lower the hands and place them under the navel with the right palm on the back of the left hand, the 3 fingers in the middle on the back of the left wrist, and the thumb and the small finger around the wrist. Now read thana’ like this: Glory is to you O Allah عَزَّوَجَل! I recite Your praises, Blessed is Your name, You are the most exalted and none is worthy of worship besides You. Glory is to you O Allah عَزَّوَجَل! I recite Your praises, Blessed is Your name, You are the most exalted and none is worthy of worship besides You. Then read ta’awwuz:- I seek the protection of Allah عَزَّوَجَل from the accursed Satan Then read tasmiyyah:- Allah عَزَّوَجَل’s name I begin with, the Most Compassionate the Most Merciful. Then read the whole of Sura Fatiha:- Translation Kanzul-Imaan: All praise unto Allah عَزَّوَجَل, Lord of all the worlds. The most Affectionate, The Merciful. Master of the Day of Requital. We worship You alone, and beg You alone for help. Guide us in the straight path. The path of those whom You have favoured. Not of those who have earned Your anger and nor of those who have gone astray. Once you have finished Sura Fatiha say a آمين (Aameen) quietly and then recite either 3 verses or one long verse which is equivalent to three short verses or any chapter of the Qur’an for example Sura Ikhlaas: - Translation Kanzul-Imaan: Allah عَزَّوَجَل’s name I begin with, Most Compassionate the Most Merciful. Say you, He is Allah, the one. Allah the Independent, Care free. He begot none' nor was He begotten. And nor anyone is equal to Him. Now as you say اَللهُ اَکبَر (Allahu Akbar) bow down into Ruku’ and hold your knees with both palms firmly with the fingers spread out. The back should be lowered with the head in line with it, in this position you should be looking at your feet. Read the tasbih for Ruku i.e.سُبحٰنَ رَبِّيَ الْعَظِيْم at least three times. Then say tasmee’ i.e. سَمِعَ اﷲ ُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَه and take the standing position again as you say it, this standing straight after ruku’ is a called Qauma. If you are a munfarid i.e. you are praying alone then say اَللَّهُمَّ رَبَّنَا وَ لَکَ الْحَمْد. After that say Allahu Akbar and at the same time go down to do Sajdah. First the knees then the hands then the head should touch the floor (first the nose then the forehead). You must take care to make sure that the nasal bone and the forehead firmly press against the ground and not just the tip of the nose. You should be looking at your nose in this position. The arms should be distanced from the sides of the body, the stomach should be kept distanced from the thighs and the thighs should be kept apart from the shins during the Sajdah (but if you are in the congregation then keep your arms close to your body). All ten toes should be facing the Qibla (the soles of the toes). The palms should be flat on the ground with the fingers pointing towards Qibla, but make sure your forearms do not touch the ground. Now recite سُبْحٰنَ رَبِّيَ الْاَعْلٰي at least 3 times and then lift your head (first forehead, then nose, then hands) and sit up straight. The way to sit is to keep your right foot straight with its toes facing Qibla and lay the left foot flat, it is this foot you should sit on. The palms in this position should be on the thighs close to the knees with the fingers facing Qibla. Sitting in between the two prostrations is called Jalsa. You must stay in this position for at least the amount of time it takes to say Subhan-Allah once (to say اَللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْلِيْ i.e. Oh! Allah Azawajal forgive me, in this position is desirable). Now say ‘Allahu Akbar’ and at the same time make a second prostration the same as the first. Now stand up straight lifting the head first, then the hands, then the knees (with the hands on them). Do not rest your hands unnecessarily on the ground as you get up. You have completed one whole rak’at. Now in the second rak’at start withبسم الله الرحمن الرحيم and then read Sura Fatiha and another Sura. After this, do the ruku’ and sujood as you did for the first rak’at. After completing the second sajdah sit up straight with the right foot straight and the left foot spread out. To sit after 2 rak’aat is called qa’dah. In qa’dah you must read tashahhud: All types of worship, oral, physical and monetary are for Allah عَزَّوَجَل. Peace be upon you O Prophet and the mercy and blessings of Allah عَزَّوَجَل. Peace be upon us and the righteous Servants of Allah عَزَّوَجَل. I bear witness that there is none worthy of worship except Allah عَزَّوَجَل and I bear witness that Muhammad صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْه وَاٰله وَسَلَّم is His Servant and Messenger. When you get close to saying the word لا "laa" in tashahhud, form a circle with the middle finger and thumb of the left hand and at the same time close the small finger and the finger next to it. As soon as you say the word "laa" (immediately after "ash’hadu al") raise your index finger without waving it from side to side and lower it as soon as you reach اِلا "illaa", straightening the hand out immediately. If you are praying more than two rak’aat then stand up straight reciting Allahu Akbar. If the Salaah is fardhh then in the 3rd and 4th rak’aat read بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم and Alhamd shareef, an additional Sura is not needed. The rest of the actions must be performed the same as before, but if the Salaah is Sunnah or nafl then an additional Sura must be added after Sura Fatiha (You must remember that if you are standing behind an Imam you cannot recite anything in any of the rak’aat, in fact you must stand quietly). Once you have prayed all 4 rak’aat, sit in Qa’dah Akheerah (the last sitting), and then read tashahhud plus Durood-e-Ibrahim عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَم (which is): O Allah عَزَّوَجَل send Durood on (Our Master) Muhammad and on his Family as you sent Durood On our Master Ibrahim and his family. Indeed you alone are praise worthy and Glorious. O Allah عَزَّوَجَل shower your blessings On our Master Muhammad and his family Like you showered blessings on our Master Ibrahim and his family. Indeed You are praise worthy and Glorious. Then read any Dua-e-Mathura e.g.:- O Allah عَزَّوَجَل! Our Lord! Grant us the good of this world and the good of the hereafter and save us from the punishment of the fire. To end the Salaah, first look towards the right shoulder and say اَلسَّلاَمُ عَلَيْکُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ اﷲ and then do the same for the left shoulder. Now your Salaah has ended.(Maraqilfalah ma’ hashiya-tut-tahtawi, P278, Ghuniya-tul-mustamli, P261, Karachi) A few differences in the way Islamic sisters pray The method mentioned is for an Imaam or a male praying on his own. Islamic Sisters should lift their hands for the Takbeer-e-Tahreema to their shoulders and keep them tucked inside their mantles. (Al hidayah ma’ fathul qadeer, V1, P246). In the position of qiyam, the hands should be placed below the chest with the right palm on top of the left. They should bend only slightly in ruku’, enough to place the hands on the knees; they should not press against their knees or grab them tightly, their fingers should be kept close and knees slightly bent, not completely straight like men. (Fatawa Alamgiri, V1, P73) In sajdah, the body should be kept close together, i.e. the arms should touch the sides, the stomach should touch the thighs, the thighs should touch the shins and the shins should touch the ground. (Al hidayah ma’ fathul qadeer, V1, P267). Both feet should point backwards in sajdah and in qa’dah both feet should be pointing towards the right and they should sit on the left buttock. Both hands should be in the centre of both thighs. The remaining detail is the same. (Al hidayah ma’ fathul qadeer, V1, P272) Both should pay attention to this! Some of the things in the described method of Salaah for both Islamic brothers and Islamic sisters are fardhh, (without which the Salaah is invalid) some are wajib, (to miss any of these deliberately is a sin, to repent and repeat the Salaah in this case is wajib, and if any one of these is missed unintentionally then sajdah sahw becomes wajib) some are sunnah mu’akkadah, (to develop a habit of missing these is a sin) and some are mustahab (to perform these is a virtuous act but to miss them is not a sin). (Bahar-e-Shariat, Part 3, P66, Madina-tul-Murshid Bareili Shareef) 6 conditions of Salaah (for the 6 letters of ""يا الله) (1) Cleansiness (Tahaarat): The person’s body, clothes and place of prayer must be pure from all types of impurity. (mariqilfalah ma’ hashiya-tut-tahtawi, P207) (2) Covering of the body (Sitr-e-Aurat): 2.1- Men must have all the skin from below the navel to below the knees covered. However, women must have the whole body covered except these five areas: the face, both palms and the soles of both feet. According to one Mufta Bihi (statement upon which a fatwa is given) the Salaah will be valid if both hands (up to the wrists) and both feet (up to the ankles) are completely exposed. (ad’durrul-mukhtar ma’ rad-ul-muhtar, V2, P93) 2.2- If you wear very thin clothing that reveals any part of the body which must be covered or allows the colour of the skin to be recognised the Salaah will not be valid. (fatawa alamgiri, V1, P58) (3) The trend of wearing extremely thin clothing nowadays is becoming even more popular by the day. Wearing such thin trousers that expose the thighs or any other part of the sitr is Haraam even when not praying Salaah. (Bahar-e-Shariat, Part 3, P42, Madina-tul-Murshid Bareili Shareef) (4) Wearing thick clothes that conceal the body but fit very tightly and reveal the outline of the sitr will not invalidate the Salaah but to look at that area of the body is not permissible for other people. (rad-ul-muhtar, V2, P103). To wear such clothes in front of others is prohibited and this prohibition is stricter for women. (Bahar-e-Shariat, Part 3, P42, Madina-tul- Murshid Bareili Shareef) (5) Some women wear scarves made of muslin that reveal the blackness of the hair or wear clothes that reveal the colour of the skin, Salaah is not valid in such clothes. (3) Facing the Qibla (Istiqbaal-e-Qibla): 3.1 If you turn your chest away from Qibla deliberately without a proper excuse the Salaah will become invalid, even if you turn back instantly. However if it was unintentional and you turned back towards the Qibla before the time taken to say ‘Subhan-Allah’ 3 times, the Salaah will still be valid. (al bah-rur-raiq, V1, P497) 3.2 If only the face is turned away from Qibla then it is wajib to turn back instantly and the Salaah will be valid, however to do this without a proper excuse is makrooh tahrimi. (ghuniya-tul-mustamli, P222, Karachi) (3) If you are in a place where there is no means to determine the direction of qiblah and there is no Muslim to ask either then you must do tahar’ree, i.e. concentrate and wherever your heart guides you as to where the direction of Qibla is, face that direction. Wherever you face will be considered Qibla for you. (al hadayah ma’ fathul qadeer, V1, P236) (4) If after doing tahar’ree you pray your Salaah and then realise that you weren’t facing qiblah the Salaah will still be valid, it does not need to be repeated (fatawa alamgiri, V1, P64) (5) If someone has done tahar’ree and whilst praying his Salaah another person sees him and without doing tahar’ree himself faces the same direction his Salaah will not be valid. The second person must also do tahar’ree. (rad-ul-muhtar, V2, P143) (4) Time (Waqt): It is important that the time for the present Salaah have begun. For example if you are praying today’s Asr you must make sure the time for Asr has begun. If it is prayed before it starts, the Salaah will not be valid. (ghuniya-tul-mustamli, P224) 4.1 There are usually timetables available in the Masajid to determine times for Salaah. To use a timetable compiled by a reliable astronomer that is certified by AhleSunnah scholars is convenient. 4.2 For Islamic sisters it is mustahab to pray Fajr early, and for the other Salaah they should wait for the brothers to have finished praying with their congregation. (ad dur-rul-mukhtar ma’ rad-ul-muhtar, V2, P30) The Three Makrooh Times: (1) From sunrise up until 20 minutes after (2) From 20 minutes before sunset up until sunset (3) From mid-day to when the sun begins to decline. Salaah, whether it be fardhh, wajib, nafl or qadha is permissible in these three times. However if you have not prayed the Asr of that day and the Makrooh time has begun, it can be prayed but to delay it to this extent is Haraam. (ad dur-ul-mukhtar ma’ rad-ul-muhtar, V2, P40 – Bahar-e-Shariat, Part 3, P23, Madina-tul-Murshid Bareil Shareef) What if the Makrooh time begins while praying Salaah? The Salaam for Asr should be said at least 20 minutes before sunset. AlaHazrat Imam Ahmad Raza Khan رَحْمَةُ الله عَلَيْه says, "The more Salaa-tul-Asr is delayed the better, however, it should be completed before the Makrooh time begins". (fatawa Razawaiyyah Shareef jadeed, V5, P156) If he takes care and prays a lengthy Salaah allowing the Makrooh time to begin during the Salaah then this is alright". (fatawa Razawiyyah Shareef jadeed, V5, P139) (5) Intention (Niyyat): Niyyat means "firm intention". (hashiya-tut-tahtawi, P215, Karachi) 5.1- To pronounce the intention verbally is not necessary but to say it is better. (fatawa alamgiri, V1, P65). If you do say it verbally, it is not necessary that it be in Arabic, it can be in Urdu or any other language. (mulakhkhas az ad dur-rul-muhtar ma’ rad-ul-mukhtar, V2, P113) 5.2- It is not the words pronounced that matter, for example if you intend to pray Zuhr in your heart but you say the word Asr, your Zuhr Salaah will still be valid. (ad dur-rul-mukhtar ma’ rad-ul-muhtar, V2, P112) 5.3- The least extent of the niyyah is that if some one was to ask you what Salaah you are praying, you should be able to answer immediately without having to think. If you require time to think then the Salaah is not valid. (fatawa alamgiri, V1, P65) 5.4- If the Salaah is fardh the intention for fardhh must also be included, e.g. I am praying the fardh of today’s Zuhr. (ad dur-rul-mukhtar, rad-ul-muhtar, V2, P116) 5.5- For Salaah that is either nafl, Sunnah or taraweeh, the general intention of Salaah is sufficient (without mentioning nafl, sunnah or taraweeh), this is the strongest opinion, but as a precaution you should make the intention for "taraweeh" or the "present sunnah" for taraweeh Salaah and make the intention for "Sunnah" or "Imitation of the Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْه وَاٰله وَسَلَّم" for the other sunan, because some mashaikh ﺭﺣﻤﻬﻢﺍﷲ have declared it insufficient to make a general intention for these Salaah. (munya-tul-musallee, ma’ ghuniya-tul-mustamli, P245) 5.6- For nafl Salaah, the general intention of Salaah is sufficient even if the concept of nafl is not intended. (ad dur-rul-mukhtar, rad-ul-muhtar, V2, P166) 5.7- To mention that your face is towards Qibla is not a condition 5.8- If a person is following an Imam he can say, "I intend to pray the same Salaah that the Imam is praying" (saying only this would be sufficient). (alamgiri, V1, P66) 5.9- The intention for the funeral Salaah is, "This Salaah is for Allah عَزَّوَجَل and the Dua is for this deceased". (ad dur-rul-mukhtar, rad-ul-muhtar, V2, P126) 5.10- To intend "wajib" for Salaah that is wajib is necessary, and it should also be specified; for example Eid-ul-Fitr, Eid-ul-Adha, Nazr (oath), Salaah after tawaaf (Wajib-ut-Tawaaf) or the nafl Salaah that was deliberately invalidated (because the qadha of such Salaah is also wajib). (hashiya-tut-tahtawi, P222) 5.11- Sajda shukr is nafl but despite this its intention is necessary; e.g. I am doing sajdah shukr. (ad dur-rul-mukhtar ma’ rad-ul-muhtar, V2, P120) 5.12- According to the author of ‘Nahr-ul-Faiq’, the intention is necessary even for sajda sahw i.e. one should know in his heart that he is doing sajdah sahw. (6) Takbeer-e-Tahreema: Starting Salaah while saying "Allahu Akbar" is compulsory. (alamgiri, V1, P67) The 7 faraidh of Salaah (In accordance to the 7 letters of بسم الله) (1) Takbeer-e-Tahreema (2) Qiyaam (3) Qiraa’at (4) Ruku’ (5) Sujood (6) Qa’dah Akheerah (7) Khurooj-e-bisun’ihi. (ghuniya-tul-mustamli, P253-286) (1) Takbeer-e-Tahreema: In actual fact Takbeer-e-Tahreema (also called Takbeer-e-Oola) is amongst the conditions of Salaah but because it is attached so closely to the actions within Salaah it is also included amongst the faraidh. (ghuniya-tul-mustamli, P253) 1.1-If the Muqtadi (one behind the Imam) says the word ‘Allah’ of the Takbeer-e-Tahreema with the Imam but the word ‘Akbar’ before him, his Salaah will not be valid. (alamgiri, V1, P68) 1.2- If the Muqtadi sees the Imaam in the ruku’ and joins him by instantly bending for ruku’ and saying the Takbeer at the same time (i.e. if he was to stretch his arms out and by the time he finishes the takbeer his hands would reach his knees) the Salaah will not be valid. (khulasa-tul-fatawa, V1, P83) (In this case what should be done is that the person should say the Takbeer-e-Tahreema in a standing position and then say Allahu Akbar again for ruku’ and bow down. If you manage to join the Imam in ruku’ even for a split second, that rak’at will be taken in to account, but if the Imam stands up before you join him in the ruku’, that rak’at will not be taken into account. 1.3- If any one is unable to pronounce the Takbeer because he his dumb or cant speak due to any other reason, he does not have to say it. To make the intention is sufficient for such a person. (tabyeen-ul-haqaiq, V1, P109) 1.4- If the word Allah is read with a stretched alif (Aallah), or the word Akbar is read with a stretched alif (Aakbar) or stretched ba (Akbaar), the Salaah will be invalid. In fact if some one deliberately understands what these words mean and then says it he will become a kafir (due to the gross change in the meaning). (ad dur-ul-mukhtar, rad-dul-muhtar, V2, P177) When there are a lot of people in the congregation, Mukabbirs are sometimes used to convey the Takbeer to the people standing at a distance from the Imaam, but nowadays due to a lack of knowledge, Mukabbireen are heard saying ‘Akbaar’ instead of Akbar. This invalidates their own Salaah as well as the Salaah of the people who pray following their voices. Therefore, one should refrain from becoming a Mukabbir without learning the rulings that are involved. (5) If the ruku’ of the first rak’at is done with the Imaam, you will gain the blessings of Takbeer-e-Oola. (alamgiri, V1, P69) (2) Qiyaam: (To Stand) 2.1- The minimum requirement for qiyaam is to stand so that if you were to let your hands drop down they would not reach your knees. And complete qiyaam is to stand completely straight. (ad dur-ul-mukhtar, rad-dul-muhtar, V2, P163) 2.2- The duration for qiyaam is the same as for the qira’at. To stand for fardh qira’at is fardh for the duration it takes to complete it, to stand for wajib qira’at is wajib and for Sunnah is Sunnah. 2.3- Qiyaam is fardh for prayers that are fardh, witr, Eidain and the Sunan of Fajr Salaah. If anyone was to pray any of these Salaah in a sitting position without a proper reason it would not be valid. 2.4- Merely feeling a slight amount of pain due to standing is not a valid excuse to to sit down. In fact, praying in a sitting position will only be permissible in the following cases; if it is not possible to stand or prostrate, if standing or prostrating causes bleeding, if standing causes a discharge of urine, if standing results in a quarter of the sitr being exposed, if you are not able to recite the Qur’an in a standing position, if standing is possible but results in a sickness being intensified or prolonged, or if standing results in unbearable pain. (ghuniya-tul-mustamli, P258) 2.5- If it is possible for you to stand leaning on a staff or against a servant or a wall then it is fardh to do so. (ghuniya-tul-mustamli, P258) 2.6- If it is only possible for you to stand for the Takbeer-e-Tahreema then it is fardh for you to say Allahu Akabar standing up, and then (if it is not possible to remain standing) you can sit down. (ghuniya-tul-mustamli, P259) WARNING! The people who pray their fardh Salaah sitting down due to the slightest amount of pain should look very carefully at this ruling. It is fardh to repeat all the Salaah that were prayed sitting down despite having the ability to stand. Similarly, all the Salaah in which it was not possible to stand but standing with the help of a staff, wall or person was possible and that person sat down, the Salaah are invalid and to repeat them is fardh. (mulakhkhas az Bahar-e-Shariat, Part 3, P64, Madina-tul-Murshid Bareili Shareef) The same ruling applies to women, i.e. they cannot pray in a sitting position without a valid reason. Some Masajid have chairs to facilitate needy people, but they are used to pray by people who have walked to the Masjid and are seen standing talking to others. If such people pray sitting down without a valid reason their Salaah will not be valid. 2.7- To pray nafl Salaah in a sitting position despite having the ability to stand is permissible, however, it is better to pray them standing up. Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Amr رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ narrates that the Blessed Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْه وَاٰله وَسَلَّم said, "The Salaah of the one sitting down is half of the one praying standing up (the reward is half)". (Sahih Muslim, V1, P253) However, the reward will not be reduced if you pray it like this due to a valid reason. Nowadays, praying nafl Salaah sitting down has become a trend. It seems as if people believe it is better to pray these sitting down, if that is the case they are mistaken. The same ruling applies to the 2 rak’at nafl after the witr (to pray them standing up is better). (Bahar-e-Shariat, V4, P17, Madina-tul-Murshid Bareili Shareef) (3) Qiraa’at: 3.1- Definition of qira’at: ‘To pronounce each and every letter from its correct place of origin so that each letter is clearly different to every other letter’. (alamgiri, V1, P69) 3.2- Even when reciting quietly, the reader must be able to hear himself. (ghuniya-tul-mustamli, P271) 3.3- If the letters are pronounced correctly but not loud enough for the reader to hear himself (considering there is no obstruction such as noise or being hard of hearing) then the Salaah will not be valid. (alamgiri, V1, P69) 3.4- Even though it is necessary for the reader to be able to hear himself, it is important to remember that care must be taken not to allow others to hear your recitation in sirree (silent) Salaah. The same care should be taken regarding the tasbihat. 3.5- The same ruling applies to formulas or Islamic rulings other than those read during Salaah (they must be read loud enough for the reader to hear himself), examples are: when giving talaq, freeing a slave, and saying the name of Allah عَزَّوَجَل in order to slaughter an animal. In all these cases the words must be said loud enough for the speaker to hear himself. The same should be kept in mind when reading Durood Shareef and other formulas. 3.6- To recite one verse in the first two rak’aat of fardh Salaah and every rak’at of witr, sunan and nawafil Salaah is fardh for an Imaam and Munfarid. (maraqil falah ma’ hashiya-tut-tahtawi, P226) 3.7- A muqtadi is not allowed to recite anything in Salaah, not surah Fatiha nor any other verse. Not in a sirree Salaah (Salaah in which the qira’at must be silent) nor any jahri Salaah (Salaah in which qira’at must be loud). The qira’at of the Imam is sufficient for the muqtadi. (maraqil falah ma’ hashiya-tut-tahtawi, P227) 3.8- If you did not do qira’at in any rak’at at all or only one rak’at the Salaah will be invalid. (alamgiri, V1, P69) 3.9- You should recite the Qur’an steadily in fardh Salaah and at a medium pace in taraweeh Salaah. To read quickly in nawafil of the night is permissible however the words should be understandable, i.e. the mad’daat (stretches) should be of the minimum duration set by Qurra or else it would be Haraam because we have been commanded to recite the Qur’an with tarteel (steadily/calmly). (ad dur-ul-mukhtar, rad-dul-muhtar, V1, P363) The way Huffaz read these days is that it is hard to understand anything other than ya’lamoon ta’lamoon (never mind the mad daat), the letters are not pronounced properly, in fact many letters are even missed out and above this the hufaaz boast amongst themselves about the speed of their recitation, whereas reading in such a manner is Haraam, strictly Haraam. (Bahar-e-Shariat, V3, P86-87, Madina-tul-Murshid Bareili Shareef) To pronounce the letters properly is vital The majority of people do not distinguish between ﻁ ﺖ ,ﺱ ﺹ ﺙ ,ﺍ ﺀﻉ ,ه ﺡ ,ﺽ ﺫ ﻅ. Remember if changing the sound of the letter causes a major change in the meaning of the word the Salaah will not be accepted. (Bahar-e-Shariat, Part. 3, P108, Maktaba Razawiyyah). For example if someone says عَزِيْم instead of عَظِيْم (with a ﺰ instead of a ﻅ) in the word سُبْحٰنَ رَبِّيَ الْعَظِيْم, his Salaah will become invalid. If someone cannot read عَظِيْم properly, he should say the word سُبْحٰنَ رَبِّيَ الْکَرِيْم instead. (Qanoon-e-Shariat, Part 1, P119, Farid Book Stall Lahore) WARNING! WARNING! WARNING! Someone who cannot pronounce the letters properly should not merely rely on only a bit of practice; in fact he must practice hard day and night. If such a person can pray behind someone who recites properly then it is fardh for him to do so or he must read only those verses that he can recite properly. If neither of these is possible then during the practice period his own Salaah will be valid. A lot of people these days have this problem. Many do not know how to read the Qur’an but do not learn either. Remember, in this way Salaah is ruined. (mulakhkhas az Bahar-e-Shariat) If someone spends his days and nights practicing but fails to succeed, as some people do find it impossible to pronounce the letters properly, then he must practice throughout the whole day and during the practice period he will be considered excused. His own Salaah will be valid but he will not be allowed to lead in prayer those who can read properly, however, if others make the same mistakes as him (i.e. the letters they can’t pronounce are the same) then he can lead them in prayer during the practice period, but if he does not make an effort to begin with then even his own Salaah is not valid (never mind leading others). (makhooz az fatawa Razawiyyah, V6, P254, Raza Foundation Lahore) Madrassa-tul-Madina My Dear Islamic brothers! You have now probably realised the importance of correcting your qira’at. Any Muslim who does not learn how to read the Qur’an correctly is very unfortunate. Alamdu-Lillah عَزَّوَجَل numerous Madaris by the name of ‘Madrassa-tul-Madina’ have been established by the international non political propagational movement of the Qur’an and Sunnah, Dawat-e-Islami. In these schools, girls and boys are taught hifz and nazira free of charge. Apart from this, adults are usually taught proper pronounciation after Salaa-tul-Isha as well as being given training regarding the blessed Sunnah. If only we would start teaching the Qur’an in each and every house. If only every Islamic brother who knows how to read the Qur’an properly starts teaching all Islamic brothers who don’t know. Islamic sisters should do the same. Those sisters who can read properly should teach those who cannot and those that cannot should learn from them. Inshaa-Allah عَزَّوَجَل then we will see the teachings of the Qur’an blossoming everywhere and those that learn and teach will be earning a huge amount of reward, Inshaa-Allah عَزَّوَجَل. (4) Ruku’: The minimum amount of bowing that is required for the ruku’ to be valid is to bow enough to allow yourself to touch your knees if you were to let your arms drop. (ad dur-ul-mukhtar, rad-dul-muhtar, V2, P166) However the full ruku’ is to straighten the back. (hashiya-tut-tahtawi, P229) Our Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْه وَاٰله وَسَلَّم has said, "Allah عَزَّوَجَل does not look at the Salaah of a person in which he does not straighten his back during ruku’ and sujood". (musnad Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal, V3, P617, Hadith 10803, Darul Fikr Beirut) (5) Sujood: 5.1- The Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْه وَاٰله وَسَلَّم has said, "I have been ordered to prostrate on 7 bones, the face, both hands, both knees and both feet, and I have been commanded not to fold my clothes and hair. (Sahih Muslim, V1, P193) 5.2- Two prostrations are fardh in each rak’at. (ad dur-ul-mukhtar, rad-dul-muhtar, V2, P167) 5.3- It is important that the forehead be pressed firmly whilst prostrating. To press firmly means that the hardness of the ground must be felt. If the forehead is not pressed like this the sajdah will not be valid. (alamgiri, V1, P70) 5.4- If you prostrate on something soft like grass, wool or a carpet and the forehead is pressed firmly onto it (i.e. you’ve pressed it so hard that it cannot be pressed any more) then the sajdah will be considered valid or else not. (tabyeen-ul-haqaiq, V1, P117) 5.5- Our Masajid usually have carpets in them these days (infact in some carpets have foam underneath them) therefore it is important when doing sajdah on these carpets that the forehead be pressed firmly, otherwise the Salaah will not be valid. If the nasal bone does not press against the ground it will be Makrooh-e-Tehreemi and the Salaah must be repeated. (mulakhkhas az Bahar-e-Shariat, Part 3, P71) 5.6- It is not possible to press one’s forehead on a spring mattress therefore Salaah will not be valid on this. Disadvantages of carpets Carpets make it very hard to do sajdah properly and apart from this they are very rarely cleaned properly, which means that dust and germs accumulate inside them. The dust and germs enter our bodies during breathing whilst in sajdah. If particles of the carpet are inhaled they may enter the lungs and stick there which ma’aaz-Allah عَزَّوَجَل could lead to cancer. Sometimes children vomit or urinate on these carpets, or animals may stain them, and in such cases no one bothers to purify them. If only this trend of laying carpets in the Masajid would end. How to purify an impure carpet Wash the impure area of the carpet and let it hang until not even a single drop of water falls from it. Then let it hang after washing it a second time until it stops dripping again. Repeat this a third time. Now the third time it stops dripping it will be considered pure. Rugs, shoes and clay pots that soak up water should be washed according to this method. Another way of purifying these things is to dip the impure carpet or cloth in flowing water (a river, stream, or under a tap) long enough to give you the impression that the impurity has been washed away. If a small child urinates on a carpet then simply splashing a few drops of water onto the area is not enough. Remember that the urine of even a one-day old baby is impure. (For detailed information see part 2 of Bahar-e-Shariat) (6) Qa’dah Akheerah: Sitting at the end of all the rak’aat for the time it takes to read the whole of tashahhud (attahiyyat) up to warasooluhu is fardh. (alamgiri, V1, P70). If you are praying a four rak’aat Salaah and forget to sit at the end of the fourth rak’at and you have not yet done the sajdah of the fifth rak’at then you must sit down immediately. However if you have done the sajdah of the fifth rakat (or in case of Fajr the sajdah of the third rak’at and in case of Maghrib the sajdah of the fourth rak’at) the fardh will be rendered invalid. In this case you should add on an extra rak’at for each Salaah except Maghrib. (ghuniya-tul-mustamli, P286) (7) Khurooj-e-Bisun’ihi: This means doing Salaam, talking, or anything else after the qa’dah akheerah deliberately, that will end the Salaah. However, doing anything other than Salaam deliberately will make it necessary to repeat the Salaah, and if it is done unintentionally the Salaah will become invalid. The 30 Wajibaat of Salaah (1) Using the phrase "Allahu Akbar" for Takbeer-e-Tahreema (2) Reading Alhamd Shareef in every rak’at of every Salaah except the last two rak’aat of fardh prayers. To add another Sura or one long verse of the Holy Qur’an (equivalent to 3 short verses) or three short verses. (3) Reading Alhamd before the Sura (4) Avoiding saying anything between Alhamd and the Sura other than ‘Aameen’ and ‘Bismilla hir rahma nir raheem’ (5) Bowing for ruku’ immediately after the qira’at (6) Doing sajday one after the other (in order) (7) To stay in ta’deel-e-arkaan, i.e. ruku’, sujud, qauma and jalsa for the time it takes to say "Subhan-Allah" once (8) Qauma i.e. standing straight after doing ruku (some people do not straighten their backs and therefore miss a wajib) (9) Jalsa, i.e. sitting straight between two sajday (some people go down into the second sajdah without sitting up straight which means that they miss a wajib. No matter how much of a hurry you are in, you must sit up straight or else your Salaah will become Makrooh-e-Tehreemi and to repeat it will be wajib) (10) The first qa’dah is wajib even if the Salaah is nafl (in actual fact every qa’dah in nafl Salaah is the ‘last qa’dah’ and is therefore fardh. If you miss this and stand up and then remember, you must return before you reach the sajdah of the 3rd rak’at and do sajda sahw at the end) (Bahar-e-Shariat, Part 4, P52, Madina-tul-Murshid Bareili Shareef) If you have done the sajdah of the 3rd rak’at then finish off four and do sajdah sahw. This sajdah sahw is wajib because even though every qa’dah of nafl is fardh, as soon as you did the sajdah of the 3rd/4th rak’at, the qa’dah oola became wajib instead of fardh. (mulakhkhasan tahtawi, P422) (11) Not reading anything after tashahhud in Fardh, witr or Sunnah mu’akkadah prayers. (12) Reading tashahhud completely in both sittings. If even one word is missed it will be wajib to do sajdah sahw. (13) If you unintentionally read اَللّٰهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلٰي مُحَمَّدِِ or اَللّٰهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلٰي سَيِّدِنَا after tashahhud in the first qa’dah you will have to do sajdah sahw but if you say it deliberately you will have to repeat the Salaah. (ad dur-ul-mukhtar, rad-dul-muhtar, V2, P269) (14) Saying the word "as’salaam" twice whilst turning your head to the left and right is wajib. Saying the word "alaikum" is Sunnah not wajib. (15) Saying the takbeer qunoot in witr. (16) Reading Dua-e-Qunoot in witr. (17) The 6 takbeers of the Eid Salaah. (18) Saying the Takbeer of ruku’ in the second rak’at of Eid Salaah and using the words "Allahu Akbar" for it. (19) For the Imaam to recite loudly (enough to allow at least 3 people to hear) in the first two rak’aat of Maghrib and Isha and in every rak’at of Fajr, Jumua’, Eidain, Taraweeh and the Witr of Ramadhaan. (20) Reciting quietly in the "quiet prayers" (Zuhr and Asr). (21) Keeping every fardh and wajib in its prescribed order. (22) Bowing for ruku’ only once in each rak’at. (23) Prostrating only twice in each rak’at. (24) Avoiding doing qa’dah before the second rak’at. (25) Avoiding doing qa’dah in the 3rd rak’at of a 4 rak’at Salaah. (26) Doing the prostration of recitation if a verse of prostration is recited. (27) Doing sajdah sahw if it has become wajib. (28) Avoiding a pause of 3 tasbihat (the time it takes to say "Subhan-Allah" 3 times) in between 2 faraidh, or 2 wajibaat, or a fardh and a wajib. (29) Remaining silent when the Imaam is reciting the Qur’an, whether the recitation is aloud or silent. (30) Doing what the Imaam does throught the whole Salaah, except reciting the Holy Qur’an. (ad dur-ul-mukhtar, rad-dul-muhtar, V2, P181 – alamgiri, V1, P71) Approximately 86 Sunan (Sunnats) of Salaah Sunan of Takbeer-e-Tahreema (1) Raising the hands for Takbeer-e-Tahreema. (2) Keeping the fingers in a normal position (not spread out but not too close either). (3) For the insides of the fingers and palms to be facing qiblah. (4) Avoiding lowering the head whilst saying Takbeer-e-Tahreema. (5) Raising both hands to the ears before you say the takbeer. (6) The same sunan apply to the Takbeer of qunoot and (7) the takbeers of Eidain. (ad dur-ul-mukhtar, rad-dul-muhtar, V2, P207) (8) For the Imam to say Allahu Akbar (9) سَمِعَ اﷲ ُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَه and (10) Saalam in a loud voice (raising the voice louder than necessary is makooh). (rad-dul-muhtar, V2, P 208) (11) Tying the hands immediately after the Takbeer is Sunnah (some people say the takbeer and then drop their hands to their sides or sway their arms backwards and then tie their hands, this is not Sunnah). (ad dur-ul-mukhtar, rad-dul-muhtar, V2, P229) Sunan of Qiyaam (12) Men should tie their hands beneath their navels with the right palm on the left wrist, the thumb and small finger should be around the wrist and the rest of the fingers should be on top of the wrist.(ghuniya-tul-mustamli, P294) (13) Reading thana first and then (14) Ta’awwudh (اَعُوْذُ بِاللهِ مِنَ الشَّيْطٰنِ الرَّجِيْمْ) and then (15) Tasmiyah (بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيْم). (16) Reading the previously mentioned three things immediately after the previous one. (17) Saying them quietly. (ad dur-ul-mukhtar, rad-dul-muhtar, V2, P210) (18) Saying Aameen. (19) Saying this quietly too. (20) Reading thana immediately after Takbeer-e-Oolaa. (Ta’awwudh and tasmiyah are joined to the qira’at and because the muqtadi does not have to do qira’at it is not sunnah for him to read ta’awwudh and tasmiyah either. However, if a muqtadi misses one or more of his rak’aat he should read these in the missed rak’at/rak’aat) (al hidayah ma’ fathul qadeer, V1, P253) (21) Ta’awwudh should only be read in the first rak’at (22) Tasmiyah is Sunnah at the beginning of every rak’at. (alamgiri, V1, P73) Sunan of Ruku’ (23) Saying Allahu Akbar for ruku’ (al hidayah ma’ fathul qadeer, V1, P257) (24) saying سُبْحٰنَ رَبِّيَ الْعَظِيْم three times in ruku’. (25) For men to hold their knees and (26) spread their fingers wide. (27) Keeping the legs straight in ruku’ (some people bend their legs slightly like a bow, this is makrooh). (alamgiri, V1, P73) (28) Bending the back properly to the extent that if a cup of water was placed on your back it wouldn’t spill (maraqil falah ma’ hashiya-tut-tahtawi, P266) (29) Avoiding swaying the head up and down, it should be in line with your back. The Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْه وَاٰله وَسَلَّم said, "The Salaah of a person who does not keep his back straight in ruku’ and sajdah is incomplete" (as’sunan-ul-kubra, V2, P126, Darul-Kutubil Ilmiyyah Beirut) The Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْه وَاٰله وَسَلَّم says, "Do your ruku’ and sujood properly for I swear by Allah عَزَّوَجَل! I can see you from behind myself". (Muslim Shareef, V1, P180) (30) It is preferable that you start to say Allahu Akbar as you start to bow for ruku’ and finish saying it at the same time you fully reach the ruku’ position. (alamgiri, V1, P69) To cover this space you should stretch the laam of Allah, and not the baa of Akbar (or any other letter). (Bahar-e-Shariat, Part 3, P72, Madina-tul-Murshid Bareili Shareef) Saying Aallahu, Aakbar or Akbaar invalidates the Salaah. (ad dur-ul-mukhtar, rad-dul-muhtar, V1, P232) Sunan of Qauma (31) Letting you’re hands drop down to your sides when standing after ruku’. (32) For the Imaam to say سَمِعَ اﷲ ُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَه when getting up from the ruku. (33) For the muqtadi to say اَللَّهُمَّ رَبَّنَا وَ لَکَ الْحَمْد (34) For the munfarid (one praying alone) to say both is Sunnah. The Sunnah will be fulfilled even if the words رَبَّنَا وَ لَکَ الْحَمْد are said but is better to have the letter "waw" after the word "rabbana". To have "Allahumma" added on is even better and to add both is again even better than this, in other words one should say اَللَّهُمَّ رَبَّنَا وَ لَکَ الْحَمْد (ghuniya-tul-mustamli, P310) (35) The munfarid should say سَمِعَ اﷲ ُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَه as he gets up from ruku’, and when he has stood up straight he should say اَللَّهُمَّ رَبَّنَا وَ لَکَ الْحَمْد (alamgiri, V1, P74) Sunan of Sajdah (36) Saying Allahu Akbar to go into sajdah and (37) to get up from sajdah. (al hidayah ma’ fathul qadeer, V1, P261) (38) Saying سُبْحٰنَ رَبِّيَ الْاَعْلٰي at least three times in sajdah. (39) Placing the palm of the hands on the ground in sajdah. (40) Having the fingers close together facing qiblah. (41) When going into sajdah first place the knees on the ground and then (42) the hands and then (43) the nose and then (44) the forehead. (45) Getting up the opposite way, meaning (46) lifting the forehead first and then (47) the nose and then (48) the hands and then (49) the knees. (50) For men it is Sunnah to have the arms away from the sides and (51) the thighs away from the stomach. (al hidayah ma’ fathul qadeer, V1, P266) (52) Do not lay your forearms on the ground. If you are with others in a row then keep your arms close to your sides. (rad-dul-muhtar, V2, P257) (53) All ten toes of both feet should be pressed against the ground so that they face the qiblah. (al hidayah ma’ fathul qadeer, V1, P267) Sunan of Jalsa (54) Sitting between both sajday is called jalsa. (55) Sitting on the left foot with the right foot straight and the left foot flat. (56) Facing the toes of the right foot towards qiblah. (57) Placing both hands on the thighs. (tabyeen-ul-haqaiq, V1, P111) Sunan of getting up for the second rak’at (58) After the completion of both sajday it is Sunnah to stand up for the second rak’at laying pressure on the toes as you stand (59) with the hands on the knees. However, standing with your hands on the ground for support due to weakness or pain is acceptable. (rad-dul-muhtar, V2, P262) Sunan of Qa’dah (60) After completing the sujud of the 2nd rak’at, it is Sunnah for men to lay the left foot flat (61) sit with both buttocks on the left foot (62) keeping the right foot straight (63) and facing the toes of the right foot towards qiblah. (al hidayah ma’ fathul qadeer, V1, P75) (64) Keeping the right hand on the right thigh (65) and the left hand on the left thigh. (66) Leaving the fingers in a normal state, not too close and not too wide apart. (67) Having the tips of the fingers close to the knees, but do not hold the knees. (ad dur-ul-mukhtar ma’ rad-dul-muhtar, V2, P265) (68) Pointing whilst saying the shahadah in at’tahiyyat. The way to do this is to close the small finger and the finger next to it, form a circle with the thumb and the middle finger and lift the index finger as you say the word "Laa". The finger should be kept still and be dropped when the word "Illa" is said, and then all the fingers should be spread out again. (rad-dul-muhtar, V2, P266) (69) Sitting in the second qa’dah the same way as the first. Tashahhud must also be read in the second qa’dah as well as the first. (70) Reading Durood Shareef after tashahhud. (al hidayah ma’ fathul qadeer, V1, P273) Reading Durood-e-Ibrahim is preferable. (Bahar-e-Shariat, Part 3, P85) (71) Reading Durood Shareef after tashahhud in the first qa’dah of nafl and ghair mu’akkadah sunan is also Sunnah. (rad-dul-muhtar, V2, P282 – ghuniya-tul-mustamli, P322) (72) Saying a Dua after Durood Shareef (ad dur-ul-mukhtar ma’ rad-dul-muhtar, V2, P283) Sunan of Salaam (73) Saying Salaam twice using the following words اَلسَّلاَمُ عَلَيْکُمْ وَرَحْمَةُاﷲ (74) Turning the head to the right first (75) and then the left. (76) Saying both Salaams loudly is Sunnah for the Imam, but the second should be slightly quieter than the first. (alamgiri, V1, P76) (77) The Imaam will terminate the Salaah as soon as he says the word ‘Salaam’ the first time even if he does not say the word ‘alaikum’, therefore, a latecomer cannot join the congregation at this time, however, if the Imaam says Salaam and then does the prostration of forgetfulness (Sajdah-e-Sahw) (considering he does have to do it) the latecomer can still join the congregation. (rad-dul-muhtar, V1, P352) (78) When the Imaam turns his head to the right he should intend to greet the people to his right and when he turns to the left, the people on the left, but intention of any woman should not be made (even if there are any in the congregation). Also Kiraman Katibeen and the protecting angels should be greeted during both Salaams, but a particular number of angels should not be thought of. (ad dur-ul-mukhtar, V1, P354) (79) The congregates should intend to greet the people and angels on both sides too but as well as this they should intend to greet the Imaam as they turn towards him. If the Imaam is straight in front of you then you should intend to greet him in both Salaams. A munfarid should intend to greet only the angels. (ad dur-ul-mukhtar, V1, P356) (80) For the muqtadi to follow the movements (ruku’, sujood etc.) of the Imaam throughout the whole Salaah. Sunan after saying the Salaam (81) It is Sunnah for the Imaam to turn right or left after saying the Salaam, preferably the right side. To sit facing the congregates is also acceptable but only when there is not a single person still praying who his directly behind the Imam (even if he is in the last row). (ghuniya-tul-mustamli, P330) (82) It is permissible for a munfarid to stay in his position and make Dua without turning around. (alamgiri, V1, P77) Sunan of the Sunnah-e-Ba’diyyah (Sunan after the faraidh) (83) You should not talk after the faraidh which have sunan following them, if you do, the sunan will still be valid but the reward will be reduced. To delay the sunan is also Makrooh. Similarly, long auraad (formulas) are not permitted (after the faraidh and before the sunan). (ghuniya-tul-mustamli, P331, rad-dul-muhtar, V2, P300) (84) The Dua made after the faraidh and before the sunan should be kept short or else the reward will be reduced. (Bahar-e-Shariat, Part 3, P81, Madina-tul-Murshid Bareili Shareef) (85) The strongest opinion regarding speaking between the sunan and faraidh is that the sunan are not invalidated, however, the reward is reduced. The same applies to any other action that opposes tahreemah. (tanweer-ul-absaar ma’ rad-dul-muhtar, V2, P558) (86) The sunan should be prayed by moving to a different spot or at home, not in the same place. (alamgiri, V1, P77) (The sunan are not affected by the time taken to go home. It is a sin to walk past someone praying his Salaah or to turn and face him in order to change your place or to walk home, therefore, if you do not find room to move you should pray the rest of the Salaah where you are) An important ruling regarding the Sunan The Islamic brothers that start walking around and talking after praying the sunan before the faraidh or Sunnah-e-Ba’diyyah should learn a lesson from the following blessed fatwa of AlaHazrat رَحْمَةُ الله عَلَيْه. In reply to a question he was asked he answered, "The best time for the sunan before the faraid is the beginning time of the Salaah, but this is if speaking or any other act that contradicts Salaah is avoided between the faraidh and sunan. And the best time for the sunan after the faraidh is immediately after, unless a person decides to come home and pray, in which case a delay would be acceptable, however, any delay due to contradictory actions should be avoided. Such a delay will result in losing the reward of the sunan prior to and after the faraidh and will take them out of the prescribed Sunnah method". (fatawa-e-Razawiyyah Jadeed, V5, P139, Raza Foundation, Markaz-ul-Auliya Lahore) The previous 86 Sunan apply to Islamic sisters aswell Now follow 10 Sunan specifically for Islamic sisters (1) Lifting the hands up to the shoulders for Takbeer-e-Tahreema and Takbeer-e-Qunoot is Sunnah for Islamic Sisters. (al hidayah ma’ fathul qadeer, V1, P236) (2) In qiyaam women and eunuchs should place their left palms just below their chests with their right palms on top. (ghuniya-tul-mustamli, P294) (3) For Islamic Sisters it is Sunnah to place their hands on their knees in ruku’ but to avoid spreading the fingers. (al hidayah ma’ fathul qadeer, V1, P258) (4) Islamic sisters should bow only slightly in ruku’ (just enough for the hands to reach the knees). The back should not be completely straight and they must not push down on their knees (simply place their hands above them). Their fingers should be close together and legs should be slightly bent, not completely straight like men. (alamgiri, V1, P74) (5) Keep the body close together in sajdah, in other words make the arms touch the sides and (6) make the stomach touch the thighs and (7) make the thighs touch the shins and (8) make the shins touch the ground. (9) After completing the sujood of the second rak’at both feet should be pointed towards the right. (10) Sit on the left buttock. (al hidayah ma’ fathul qadeer, V1, P75) 14 desirable acts of Salaah (1) Verbally pronouncing the intention. (tanweer-ul-absar wa’ rad-dul-muhtar, V2, P113) This is considering you have the intention in your heart because if you do not the Salaah will not be valid. (2) Leaving a gap of four fingers between both feet when standing. (alamgiri, V1, P73) (3) Looking at the place of prostration when in the standing position (4) looking at the back of the feet when in ruku (5) looking at the nose in sajdah (6) looking at you’re lap when in qa’dah (7) looking at the right shoulder in the first Salaam and (8) looking at the left shoulder in the second Salaam. (tanweer-ul-absaar wa’ rad-dul-muhtar, V2, P214) (9) For a munfarid to say the tasbih more than three times in ruku’ and sujood (but in odd numbers i.e. 5, 7, 9). (rad-dul-muhtar, V2, P242) (10) The book "Hilyah" as well as others mentions that Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Mubarak رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ and other scholars have said it is desirable for the Imaam to say the tasbihaat 5 times. (11) If you feel the need to cough, it is desirable to prevent yourself from doing so as much as possible. (maraqil falah ma’ hashiya-tut-tahtawi, P277) (12) If you feel the need to yawn then keep your mouth closed but if this not possible then bite your lip. If this does not help either then use the back of your right hand in qiyaam, and the back of the left hand in every other position to cover your mouth. A very good way to prevent yawning is to think to yourself that The Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْه وَاٰله وَسَلَّم and the other Prophets ﻋﻠﻴﻬﻢﺍﻟﺴﻼﻢ never yawned. In’shaa-Allah عَزَّوَجَل this thought will prevent you yawning. (mulakhkhasan ad dur-ul-mukhtar wa rad-dul-muhtar, V2, P215) (13) For the Imaam and congregates to stand when the mukabbir says حَيَّ عَلَي الْفَلَاحِ ط (alamgiri, V1, P57, Maktaba Haqqaniyyah) (14) Prostrating without anything in between your forehead and the ground. (maraqil falah ma’ hashiya-tut-tahtawi, P371) What Umar bin Abdul Aziz رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْه ُ used to do Hujja-tul-Islam Sayyiduna Imam Muhammad Ghazali رَحْمَةُ الله عَلَيْه narrates that Sayyiduna Umar bin Abdul Aziz رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ always prostrated on the ground without a prayer mat or anything else present. (Ihya-ul-Uloom, V1, P204, Beirut)

بسم اللہ الرحمن الرحیم اَلْحَمْدُ ﷲ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِيْنَ ط وَالصَّلاَةُ وَالسَّلاَمُ عَلٰى سَيِّدِ الْمُرْسَلِيْنْ ط اَمَّابَعْدُ! فَاَعُوْذُ بِاللهِ مِنَ الشَّيْطٰنِ الرَّجِيْمْ ط بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيْم ْط Method of Salaah (Hanafi) No matter how hard Satan tries to prevent you from reading this booklet, read it through completely.In’shaa-Allah عَزَّوَجَل you will see the benefits for yourself. Excellence of Durood Shareef The Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْه وَاٰله وَسَلَّم said to a person who praised Allah عَزَّوَجَل and then read Durood after his Salaah, "Make Dua it will be accepted, ask, it will be granted". (Sunan Nasai, V1, P189, Bab-ul-Madina Karachi) صَلُّوْا عَلَى الْحَبيْب صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلٰى مُحَمَّد My Dear Islamic brothers! The Qur’an and Hadith mention many virtues of praying Salaah and severe punishments for not praying. The 9th verse of Sura-tul-Munafiqoon in Part 28 says: Translation Kanzul Imaan: O believers! Do not let your wealth or your children distract you from the remembrance of Allahعَزَّوَجَل and those who do are in loss. Sayyiduna Imam Muhammad bin Ahmad Zahabi رَحْمَةُ الله عَلَيْه narrates that the commentators of the Qur’an say that in this Holy verse by the remembrance of Allah عَزَّوَجَل is meant the five daily Salaah. Therefore, anyone who remains engaged in his wealth i.e. buying and selling, earning a livelihood, merchandise and children and does not pray his Salaah is in loss. (Kitabul Kabaa’ir, P20, Beirut) The first question on the day of Judgement The Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْه وَاٰله وَسَلَّم has said, "On the day of judgement the first action that a man will be asked about is Salaah. If it is fulfilled he will succeed but if it is incomplete, he will be disappointed and will be in loss" (Kanz-ul-Ummal, V7, P115, Hadith 18883, Dar-ul-kutubul ilmiyyah, Beirut) Light for the one who prays The Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْه وَاٰله وَسَلَّم has said, "If a person protects his Salaah, on the day of judgement his Salaah will be light, proof and salvation for him. And if anyone does not protect it then on the day of judgement there will be no light, proof or salvation for him, and on that day he will be with Fir’oun, Qaroon, Hamaan and Ubay bin Khalaf". (Majma-uz-Zawaid, V2, P21, Hadith 1611, Dar-ul-Fikr, Beirut) Who will one be resurrected with My Dear Islamic brothers! Sayyiduna Imam Muhammad bin Ahmad Zahabi رَحْمَةُ الله عَلَيْه narrates, "Some honourable scholars ﺭﺣﻤﻬﻢﺍﷲ say that the one who neglects Salaah will be with these 4 (Fir’oun, Qaroon, Hamaan and Ubay bin Khalaf) because people usually miss their Salaah due to wealth, property, administrative work and business. If anyone misses his Salaah due to being involved with his property he will be with Fir’oun. If anyone misses his Salaah due to wealth he will be with Qaroon. If the reason for missing Salaah is administrative work he will be with Fir’oun’s administrator Hamaan and if the reason is business then he will be with the head trader of unbelievers in Makka-tul-Mukarramah Ubay bin Khalaf".(Kitabul Kabaa’ir, P21, Dar Maktaba-tul-Hayah, Beirut) Salaah in a severely wounded state When Sayyiduna Umar Farooq-e-Azam رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ was severely wounded he was told, "Oh leader of the believers, the Salaah!" He رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ said, "Yes, truly! Anyone who forsakes Salaah is to have no share in Islam", and thereupon he prayed whilst his wounds were bleeding. Salaah is either light or dark Sayyiduna Ubada bin Saamit رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ narrates that the Merciful Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْه وَاٰله وَسَلَّم said, "The one who does Wudhu well and then stands for Salaah and completes the ruku’, sujood and recitation, his Salaah says, "May Allah عَزَّوَجَل protect you the way you have protected me". The Salaah is then elevated to the sky and it sparkles with light. The gates of the skies are opened for it so it reaches the court of Allah عَزَّوَجَل and then it intercedes for the one who prayed it. But if he does not do ruku’, sujood and recite well then it says, "May Allah عَزَّوَجَل abandon you the way you have ruined me". That Salaah is then taken to the skies and is shadowed by darkness. The gates of the skies are closed for it. It is then folded up like an old piece of cloth and thrown onto the persons face". (Kanz-ul-Ummal, V7, P129, Hadith 19049) One of the reasons for a bad death Sayyiduna Imam Bukhari رَحْمَةُ الله عَلَيْه says that Sayyiduna Huzaifa رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ saw a person not performing his ruku’ and sujood properly during his Salaah. He رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ said, "If you die whilst praying a Salaah like the one you have just prayed you will not die on the path of Sayyiduna Muhammad صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْه وَاٰله وَسَلَّم". (Sahih Bukhari, V1. P112) The report in Sunan Nasai mentions that He رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ asked, "How long have you been praying Salaah like this?" The man replied, "40 years". He رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ said, "Then you haven’t even prayed for the past 40 years, if you die in this state you will not die following the religion of Muhammad صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْه وَاٰله وَسَلَّم". (Sunan Nasai, V2, P58 Dar-ul-Jeel, Beirut) The Salaah thief Hazrat’e Sayyiduna Abu Qataada رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ narrates that The Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْه وَاٰله وَسَلَّم said, "The worst of thieves is he who steals in his Salaah". He was asked, "O Messenger of Allah عَزَّوَجَل و صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْه وَاٰله وَسَلَّم who is the Salaah thief?" He صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْه وَاٰله وَسَلَّم replied, "The one who does not do his ruku’ or sujood properly". (Musnad Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal, V8, P386, Hadith 22705 Dar-ul-Fikr, Beirut) Two (2) types of thieves The famous commentator of the Qur’an, Hakeem-ul-Ummat Mufti Ahmad Yaar Khan رَحْمَةُ الله عَلَيْه comments on this Hadith saying, "This tells us that the Salaah thief is worse than the money thief because an ordinary thief will gain worldly profit although he may be punished (in the hereafter) but a Salaah thief will be punished but gain no profit at all. An ordinary thief betrays people but a Salaah thief disobeys Allah عَزَّوَجَل. These are the people that pray their Salaah incompletely; so those who do not pray at all should learn a lesson. (Mir’at, V2, P78, Zia-ul-Qur’an publications) My Dear Islamic brothers! Many of us do not pray at all, and the majority of those that do pray, because of lacking interest in learning the Sunnah, are deprived of praying properly. What follows is a brief description of how to pray Salaah. For the sake of Madina! Read it carefully and correct your Salaah.

Turned his face to the comforts of the world Look at the strength of the faith of that young blessed Syrian youngester رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ. Just think! Both of his brothers were martyred in front of his eyes but he remained steadfast. Threats didn’t scare him and the harsh conditions of captivity didn’t make him lose sight of his goal. All the difficulties and problems didn’t terrify this pillar of truth and righteousness. His feet did not move a single bit due to cruelty. The one willing to die for Allah and His Messenger عَزَّوَجَل و صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْه وَاٰله وَسَلَّم did not care about worldly problepms. He accepted every difficulty which he encountered in the way of Allah عَزَّوَجَل. Wealth and beauty of the world couldn’t make this warrior move away from the path of truthfulness and he turned his face to the comforts of the world all for the sake of Islam. یہ غازی یہ تیرے پر اسرار بندے جنہیں تو نے بخشا ہے ذوق خدائی ہے ٹھوکر سے دو نیم صحرا و دریا سمٹ کر پہاڑ ان کی ہیبت سے رائی دو عالم سے کرتی ہے بیگانہ دل کو عجب چیز ہے لذت آشنائی شہادت ہے مطلوب و مقصود مومن نہ مال غنیمت نہ کشور کشائی Finally, Allah عَزَّوَجَل created great means for his freedom. The roman girl became a Muslim and they both got married. صَلُّوْا عَلَى الْحَبيْب! صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلٰى مُحَمَّد

Three brave brothers Allama Abul Farrij Jozi رَحْمَةُ الله عَلَيْه copies the following incident in Oyunul-Hikayaat: Three young Syrian brothers left with the Islamic army to participate in a holy war. They rode separately, not with the army and did not attack until the enemy attacked first. Once, a big roman army attacked the Muslims. Many Muslims were martyred and many were taken as prisoners. The three brothers said to each other, "The Muslims are facing a big problem. It is necessary for us that we don’t think about our lives. We should go into the battlefield." They went into the battlefield and said to the remaining Muslims, "Stay behind us and let us fight them. If Allah عَزَّوَجَل wills, we will be enough for you." After saying this, the three brothers started fighting with the roman army and forced them to retreat. The roman king (who was watching the bravery of the three brothers) said to one of his generals, "Whoever arrests one of those three will become my most trusted person and commander-in-chief." When the roman army heard this, they no longer cared about their lives and eventually captured the three brothers alive without injuring them. Once they were captured, the roman king said, "There is no greater war treasure (booty) than these three." After saying this, the king ordered the roman army to leave and took the three brothers with him to his kingdom. When they got there, he told the three brothers to become Christian and said, "If you become Christian, I will have my daughters marry you and later on you will become rulers." The three brothers remained steadfast in their Imaan and refused this offer of the king. The three brothers called out to the Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْه وَاٰله وَسَلَّم and pleaded. The king asked the people present as to what the brothers were saying and the people replied, "They are calling their prophet." The king said to the brothers, "If you don’t listen to what I say, I will order three big pots to be brought and filled will hot oil. I will throw you each into a pot." He then ordered three big pots to be brought and ordered that the oil inside the pot be heated for three days. Everyday, the king brought the brothers to the pots and repeated his request again that become Christian and I will have my daughters marry you and you will rule. This offer was refused every time. After three days, the oldest brother was called and this request was repeated to him. The king threatened that if you do not accept my offer I will throw you into the oil but still the brother refused. In anger, the king ordered the brother to be thrown into the oil. As soon as the brother was thrown into the boiling oil, his flesh melted and his bones rose to the surface. The king did the same thing to the second brother and threw him into the boiling oil. When the king saw the steadfastness of the brothers in such a difficult time, he started saying to himself, "I have never seen anyone braver than these Muslims. What have I done?" After saying this, he called the younger brother and started making excuses but the youngest brother didn’t fall into the trap of the king. After seeing all this, a person present said, "Oh king! If I can trap him, what reward will I get?" The king replied, "I will make you the commander-in-chief of my army." That person agreed. The king asked, "How will you trap him?" The person replied, "Oh king! You know that the people of Arabia are very interested in women and nearly every roman knows that my daughter is the most beautiful in all of Rome. Give this youngster to me and I will make him meet my daughter alone. My daughter will be able to trap him." The king gave that person forty days and handed the youngster over to him. That person took the youngster to his daughter and told her the situation. The girl agreed to act upon what her father said. That youngster started staying with that girl but during the day he fasted and during the night he busied himself with praying nawafil. The time limit that the king gave was nearly up so he asked the father about the situation of the youngster. He came and asked his daughter and she said, "I am unsuccessful in trapping him. He doesn’t even pay attention to me. A reason for this could be that two of his brothers were killed in this city and he keeps on thinking about them. Get an extension from the king and send us to another city." The father went and told this king the situation. The king extended the time limit and ordered the girl and the youngster to be taken to another city. That youngster still did exactly the same and fasted during the day and remained busy in worship during the night. When there were only three days until the time limit ended, the girl went to the youngster and said, "I want to enter into you religion" and she became a Muslim. They then made a plan to escape. The girl took two horses from the stable and they both headed towards the Muslim ruled lands. One night, they heard the sound of horses behind them. The girl thought that the Christian soldiers had been following them and had caught up. The girl said to that youngster, "Pray to that Allah عَزَّوَجَل who I have brought faith onto that He saves us from our enemy." The youngster turned around and was shocked to see that his two brothers, who were martyred, were sitting on the horses surrounded by a group of angels. The youngster gave them salaam and asked of their condition. They both said, "With one dive we entered Janna-tul-Firdous and Allah عَزَّوَجَل has sent us to you." After saying this, they went. The youngster took the girl and went to Syria where he married her. This incident of the three brothers became very famous in Syria and poems were written for them. One verse from a poem is: سَيُعْطِي الصَّادِقينَ بِفَضْلِ صِدْقٍ نَجَاةً فِي الْحَياةِ وَ فِي الْمَمَاتِ (Translation: With the blessing of truth, Allah عَزَّوَجَل will very soon free the truthful in this world and during death.) (Oyunul-Hikayaat, P197-198, Dar-ul-Kutubul Ilimiya Beirut) May Allah عَزَّوَجَل shower his mercy upon them and forgive us for their sake. صَلُّوْا عَلَى الْحَبيْب صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلٰى مُحَمَّد My Dear Islamic Brothers! Did you see how the three brothers remained steadfast in their Imaan? They not only claimed to love the Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْه وَاٰله وَسَلَّم. They were sincere lovers of the Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْه وَاٰله وَسَلَّم. Two brothers were martyred and thus became entitled to the blessings of Janna-tul-Firdous and the third didn’t even look at the beauty of Rome but instead indulged himself in the worship of Allah عَزَّوَجَل and the one who came as a predator became the prey! From this incident we also find out that in the time of difficulty, to seek help from the Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْه وَاٰله وَسَلَّم is the method of the AhleHaq (people of the truth) . یا رسول اللہ کے نعرے سے ہم کو پیار ہے ان شاء اللہ دو جہاں میں اپنا بیڑا پار ہے صَلُّوْا عَلَى الْحَبيْب! صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالىٰ عَلىٰ مُحَمَّد