General
From Issue: 282 [Read full issue]
| Living the Quran |
Al-Maun
(The Small Kindness)
Forgetfulness in prayer 1. Forgetfulness implies abandoning, and that can be either intentional or unintentional. If it is intentional, that is deliberate; if it is unintentional, it is forgetfulness (sahw) for which there is no responsibility. 2. It is impossible for the forgetful person to be responsible because he does not understand the requirement. If the person had an intention to leave the prayer, he is censured when the time of the prayer comes, whether if he was heedless at that actual moment or if it is simply his habit to omit it. This does not include the one who overlooks something in his prayer. 3. It is impossible to be completely free of forgetfulness. The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, forgot in his prayer as did the Companions. If someone does not ever forget in his prayer, this could be an indication that the person does not reflect and understand his recitation. His concern is only for the number of rakats. The only thing that made the Prophet forget in his prayer was reflecting on what was greater than it. Those who show off Ibn Wahb said that Malik said that these are the hypocrites who make a show of their prayer. A hypocrite shows people that he is praying in obedience to Allah, but he is praying out of taqiyya (dissimulation). A fasiq prays so that he will be accepted as someone who prays. The reality of riya (show off) is to seek this world by worship. Its basis is to seek to enjoy a position in people's hearts. The beginning of it is good reputation, and he desires to obtain rank and praise by that. The second level is showing off by wearing short clothes and coarse clothes to give an appearance of asceticism in this world. The third is to show off by verbal expression by displaying anger against the people of this world and admonition while he actually regrets not having wealth and their worship. The fourth is making a public display of the prayer and sadaqa or making the prayer appear good so that people will see it. It is also making the prayer long. Denying help to others Maun is derived from the verb help (a'ana). It means to assist with strength, tools and means to make something easy. Some scholars have considered Maun to exclusively refer to Zakat, like Imam Malik. Yet, others like ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) considers this to be in reference to what one individual lends to another. Source: |
| Understanding the Prophet's Life |
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Our Goal: This World or The Next? The Prophet (S) said, "Whoever sets this world as his goal, Allah divides his affairs for him, He will place poverty between his eyes, and he will be able to attain nothing from this world, except for what Allah has already written for him. (In contrast) whoever sets the Hereafter as his goal, Allah gathers his affairs for him, gives him richness of (faith in) the heart and the world will come to him grudgingly and submissively." (Collected by Ibn Maajah and Ibn Hibbaan) These days, our lives are so busy in this world, that very often we
forget about the priorities of Islam and we forget the fact that the
ultimate source of all the livelihood, academic success, and happiness
in this world has already been decreed by Allah. Source: |
| Blindspot |
Harmony within our deeds A question is often asked, "How can one manage his time between seeking knowledge, working for Da'wah and Jihad? Where should one start?" It seems a troubling issue suffered by many young men and women knocking the doors of Da'wah whilst being surrounded by others calling for seeking knowledge or for Jihad. But why should one consider Islam as separate issues and then use them one against the other! Why don't we follow the good example of the earlier Muslim generation? One would perform the Fajr (Dawn) prayers with the Prophet, may Allah send His prayers and blessings upon him, then join a study circle which would go on till sun rise and then proceed to earn his living. Later on in the day you would find him hosting a Bedouin to teach him the fundamentals of Islam and should there be a call for Jihad you would find him in the forefront. All of this constitutes Islam. All of this constitutes Din (a complete way of life) and there is no call to separate those issues as all of them are divine injunctions and requirements. They had learnt that from the great teacher, Muhammad, may Allah send His prayers and blessings upon him, who told them, "Convey (my teachings) to others, be it a (single) statement." [This statement is recorded by al-Bukhari]. So, a man would learn a surah (chapter) from the Quran, then would go and teach it to his family, the neighbours and then, may be to the rest of his tribe. He realised, if he is to see the fruit of his efforts, having learnt a chapter in the day time he is to stand the night (or part of it) in prayers reciting what he has learnt and later on implementing it to the best of his capabilities. He didn't see any contradiction between this and him working to earn his living, which is essential to his life. One's life was a continuous harmony of balanced events, interconnected without double standards or contradictions. This is not to say that you wouldn't find one of them (the companions) who excelled in a particular field which could have possibly resulted in him lacking in some other duties, as for example was the case with Khalid bin al-Walid, may Allah be pleased with him, who is reported as saying, "Jihad has kept me away from (learning) the Qur'an." There are however, some prerequisites to be adhered to if someone for example is to preach, he is not to preach ignorance and he must preach what he has learnt of Allah's Din, Islam. Also, a person who fights for the sake of Allah should not do so unless he has learnt the necessary rules concerning Jihad. He should know who he is to fight? Why he is to fight? How he is to fight? They (the Companions) did not find in the above issues contradictions or objections, to the contrary those issues as a whole formed the particulars of their active life. Source: |
