The Real Alexander the Great
Who was "Alexander, the Great" – the Alexander of Macedonia or Umar Farooq (rh) of Islam? Historians of the world are duty-bound to answer this question. These are the days of the SMS, the mobile messaging system conveys thoughts in seconds from one corner of the world to another. Readers and viewers also utilize this modern facility now – yesterday someone sent a message to me wishing I had written a column on Umar Farooq (rh). This reminded me that that day was the day of the martyrdom of Umar Farooq (rh) and I am now thinking who was "Alexander, the Great" – the Alexander of Macedonia or Umar Farooq (rh) of Islam. We had read as a child that the Alexander of Macedonia became a king at the age of twenty and ventured out of Macedonia at 23. He first conquered the whole of Greece. Then he entered Turkey. After this he defeated Darius of Persia, entered Syria, moved to Jerusalem and then Babylon and Egypt and India. In India he fought King Porus and founded the city of Phalia in memory of his favorite horse.
He started his return through Makran. He contacted typhoid on his way back and died in the year 323 B.C. at the age of 33 in the palace of Bakht Nasr. We have been told that he was a great general, conqueror and king in human history and was given the title of "Alexander, the Great". We made him "Sikander Azam", the king of kings. But, today, on the first day of the ninth year of the twenty-first century, I question all the historians of the world if Alexander deserves this title when we have Umar Farooq (rh). I invite all the historians of the world to compare the conquests and the achievements of Alexander and Umar Farooq (rh).
Please compare. Alexander was the son of a king -- the best instructors taught him how to ride a horse, he had tutors like Aristotle and was offered the throne at the age of twenty. On the other hand, Umar Farooq (rh) did not have any royal ancestor even in his seven previous generations, grew up minding herds of goats and sheep and had not got trained in the art of war from anyone. Alexander had conquered 1.7 million square miles of land in ten years with an organized army -- Umar Farooq (rh), in ten years, conquered 2.2 million square miles of land including the Roman and Persian super powers with an un-organized army. Even in these days of satellites and missiles and submarines, no ruler has a domain as vast as that of Umar (rh) which he had not only got conquered on mere horseback but had also managed and ruled it. Alexander got many of his own generals killed during his conquests, many generals and soldiers deserted him, there were rebellions against him and his army even refused to proceed in India, but no companion of Umar (rh) ever had the courage to disobey him. He was the commander who deposed the strongest general of Islam, Khalid bin Waleed (rh) right in the battleground and no one dared to disobey. He removed Saad bin Abi Waqas (rh) from the governorship of Kufa, fired Harith bin Kaab (rh) as a governor, confiscated the wealth of Amro bin al Aas (rh) and recalled the governor of Hamas and assigned him to grazing the camels. No one dared to disobey.
Alexander conquered 1.7 million square miles of land but could not give any system to the world, whereas Umar (rh) gave such systems as are still prevalent the world over. He added the phrase "prayer is better than sleep" to the Fajr azaan, the taravih prayers were formally initiated during his rule, he instituted punishment for the consumption of liquor, started the Hijra system of accounting for dates, gave the concept of the jail, fixed salaries for the muezzins, arranged for light in the masjids, formed the department of the police, laid the foundations for a complete system for the delivery of justice, got the irrigation system implemented and established military cantonments and the formal army. Umar (rh), for the first time ever in the world, granted stipends for the infants, the handicapped, widows and the helpless. He was the first ever to give the concept of the declaration of assets by the rulers, the government officials and the rich. He established the institution of punishing the judges who misdelivered justice. He, for the first time, made the rulers accountable. He used to protect the trade caravans at night. He used to say that rulers who deliver justice, sleep fearlessly at night. His saying is that "the leader of the nation is actually its servant". His stamp read "Umar, death is enough of an admonition". He never had two dishes on his table. He used to go to sleep with a brick as a pillow. While travelling, he would just stretch a sheet on a tree to make a shadow and go to sleep whenever sleepy. He used to sleep on bare ground at night. His shirt had 14 patches, among them one of red leather. He used to wear thick coarse cloth and hated soft fine one.
Whenever he appointed someone on a government position, he would get an estimate of his wealth and keep it with himself. If the wealth of that person increased during his tenure, he would be held accountable. Whenever he appointed anyone as a governor, he would advise him to never to ride a Turkish horse, wear fine cloth, consume fine flour, have a gatekeeper or close his doors to the distressed. He used to say that pardoning a tyrant is injustice to the oppressed. His sentence "mothers give birth to free children, since when have you enslaved them" is still considered the charter of human rights. He said that he often wondered "how did Umar (rh) change?". He was the first Caliph of Islam who was given the title "Ameer-ul-Momineen".
Every religion of the world has a special characteristic, the special characteristic of Islam is justice, and Umar (rh) is one who makes this true. His justice gave rise to the term "adl-e-Farooqui" (the justice of Farooq). He was in debt when martyred and his loan was paid off by selling his only property according to his will. He was the only ruler ever to admit that even if a dog died of hunger on the banks on river Tigris during his rule, he would have to bear the punishment for this. His justice was such that when he died, a herdsman came running in a far off land in his domain shouting "men, Umar has died". People asked him in astonishment who, thousands of miles from Medina, informed him of this in a jungle. The herdsman said "as long as Umar (rh) was alive my sheep used to move around fearlessly in the jungle and no beast dared to even look at them. Today, for the first time, a wolf has taken away my goat. The fearlessness of the wolf indicates to me that Umar is no more".
I invite all the historians of the world to place Alexander before Umar (rh). They will find Alexander to be a gravel in front of a mountain because the empire founded by Alexander vanished just five years after his death whereas the areas where Umar (rh) planted the flag of Islam still echo with the sound of "Allah is the Greatest" and people still bow before the Allah of Umar (rh). The name of Alexander is now only in books whereas the systems devised by Umar (rh) are still prevalent in at least 245 countries of the world in some form. Even today, when a letter leaves a post office, when a policeman wears a uniform, when a soldier goes on a leave after six months of duty, when a government pays a stipend to a child, a destitute, a widow or a helpless person, the society automatically accepts Umar (rh) as "The Great" and acknowledged him to be the biggest "Sikandar" ever, except for those Muslims who, in their deep sense of inferiority, look around in fear even when reciting the words of faith.
The Muslims of Lahore had once dared the English that if they once decided to act, they will remind them of Changez Khan. Upon this Jawaharlal Nehru had smiled and said that "sadly these Muslims citing the example of Changez Khan had forgotten that there was an Umar (rh) also in their history".
We are also forgetting today that among us was one Umar Farooq (rh) about whom the Prophet (pbuh) had said that "if there could be a prophet after him, he would have been Umar (rh)".
source: http://www.easyislam.com/umar_the_great.asp
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Thursday, 28 October 2010
Falling wickets and corpses
| by Mufti Muhammad Taqi Usmani Sahib There prevailed a sense of curiosity, concentration, expectation, anticipation……not one man but the whole nation was waiting their arrival, their lure, their charm………there were conflicting news, diverse reports……..news of their refusal to come cast us in gloom, faces went long, fervor was cooled……… news of their acquiescence to come made everyone happy, there were smiles all round, congratulations were exchanged……. Then it came to light that they were apprehensive of their safety, not ready to endanger their lives for their fans………. next came a delegation that toured the whole country, observed each site they would grace with their presence, explored all the hotels they would stay at, gathered information about all the roads they would tread, examined all the cars that would be used for transportation, interviewed all the cooks who would prepare the meals, had a look at the special dogs that could smell explosives, had interviews with the security officers who had the resolution to sacrifice their lives for that of the cherished guests………..everything was fine, the security arrangements were excellent: for the protection of each treasured visitor more than 500 men were provided; the preventive measures were above par……….but because of the terrorist acts the delegation was voicing its concerns…….. they were again and again being reassured that whatever was happening was happening with our own, we never did anything similar….. remotely similar…….happen to foreigners……..we are faithful, honorable people who keep their word. We stake our lives for the sake of strangers; we spill our blood rather than let them ooze sweat……….if you don't believe us, ask Colin Powell……inquire of Tony Blair! They were persuaded so reassuringly……..we thought that the idol -worshipping hearts would be softened……they would finally believe in our faithfulness and sacrificing nature…….but they were bent on testing all claims of love. They knew how to enjoy the changing colors of the agonized and impatiently waiting, groaning fans and restless adorers….instead of announcing their arrival they left it at a loose future promise. Because losing hope is a sin, our fellow countrymen men never did lose it……..the expectancy of arrival is a cruel thing, they were coming near the end when they received the elating news that our humble request had been accepted and "they" were coming. And then "they" really did come. The media went berserk; what they ate, what they drank, what weather they liked, what colors they prefered, how they spent their nights and days, when they slept, when they got up; it was deemed necessary to expose every personal and public detail to the nation so that it could not be called ignorant. Then the day was named. The papers made such a hype that the whole nation was in a frenzy………the moderns aside, even some of the regular worshippers were taken up in it……when the match began, there was a hush in cities large and small, everyday life came to a standstill, the number of worshippers in mosques diminished, people left their business and all other concerns to sit before the TV to watch the matches……..there were crowds of viewers at hotels and shops…….speculations and gambling went into millions of rupees. From Karachi this circus was transferred to Rawalpindi…….but only the circus was transferred, the fever remained with the whole of the nation………only one topic remained under discussion in streets, neighborhoods, shops, markets, offices, schools, colleges, hospitals, factories, and industries……who would get the laurels and who would face defeat? It was as if success would solve all of Pakistan's problems and defeat would erect a wall on the road to development. The media had raised emotions to such a fever pitch before the matches that makes rational thought cease and all senses concentrated at one point. Logic goes round and round that point and the mind thinks of nothing else…..A new special edition of the papers everyday, latest snapshots of the players, exposé's of the minutest events. The media ruses were productive and when the match began in Rawalpindi on the 15th of March, newspapers report that the stadium was filled in a jiffy. Those who could not enter the stadium sat in their homes, or hotels, or parks with their TV sets on. At the same instance when the whole nation was concentrating all its energies in watching the match, another match was being played a little further on from Rawalpindi in the tribal areas. This match was between the tribesmen who revered the land of Pakistan as a mosque and the law enforcing troops, in a valley between high mountains……….this was a match between living bodies and fire and flame………the tribesmen were forced by their Faith and beliefs and the troops by the requirements of duty and job………..Hundreds of classy people had arrived from Hindustan to watch the cricket match; and to directly monitor the Mountain Storm, Colin Powell had arrived in all his glory from the United States of America! He hat patted the backs of those who showered iron and fire on their own citizens and immobilized their famous nuclear athletes as soon as he came: I TRIED FOR AN HOUR TO FIND THE RIGHT SPEECH HERE BUT COULDN'T FIND IT ON THE NET. SORRY BUT SOMEONE THERE'LL HAVE 2 INSERT IT AS WE DON'T GET PAK PAPERS HERE. The reference to the struggle of a "whole generation" by Mr. Colin Powell shows that arrangements are complete to submit our beloved land to not only mountain storms but also desert, land, sky, and sea storms………life and artillery matches will be held in various provinces and cities in unique ways….Allah forbid that our hands and our artillery be used on our own brothers…….but on 15th of March, Tuesday, the same was happening. When the match at the Pindi stadium was at its peak and the spectators were wild with sensation, when not only the sons but also the daughters of the nation put aside all shame and modesty and encouraged their team with jumps, untamed clapping, whistles, and loud applaud….the "Mayor" was there whose face gleamed with happiness, the wickets were falling, the finger of the referee was repeatedly lifting……..at the same instance the "Mountain Storm" was at its peak too…..explosions were rocking walls, innocent children and women were cowering in corners praying for the safety of their fathers and husbands. The chief organizer of this match was keeping an eye on the altering proceedings. The score was counted not in fours and sixers but in whizzing bullets and flaming bombs…….and the score was going up according to his expectations……..he was very happy, so happy that he was unable to hide his happiness……impulsively he said, "" The same day, at the same time, two matches were going on. At one, wickets were falling and the other, corpses. One had a referee at least, but the other was devoid of any referee or judge….. An old, white bearded man was lying askew on the hard earth with a bullet in his chest…..his beard, his patched clothes, and his body were crimson with blood; his face looked up at the sky with half closed eyes, it felt as if he was putting his case before the Lord of lords………I was thinking that The Most Merciful was slackening the rope……..but if He decided soon, who knows what devastation might occur……..then, there will be no more clapping and no more whistling. source: |
Prays of people in distress
by Mufti Muhammad Taqi Usmani Sahib
O’ Lord! Where should we go? Why the vast earth has been narrowed on us? Why the life is restless and miserable? The wound of Afghanistan had not yet healed that operation against Iraq began. The worst ever butchers and vultures of the world have gathered in Iraq. They are clawing off the flash of bodies of innocent Iraqi Muslims who have been killed in fierce bombing by the US-led forces. World media is relaying news reports of each moment but people have no courage to listen to the horrible saga of Muslims. Every picture and every report is horrible and adding more and more to the miseries. Western media particularly giving details of war as they are relaying the running commentary of any first class match.
Tanks are crushing the populations, canons are firing firebombs, and airplanes are dropping huge bombs. This all is resulting into screams and sighs of small kids. Women and children are mourning over the bodies of their loved ones. Iraq is red. Human limbs are scattered all around. There are a few wounded who are about to take their last breath, are reciting the verses from the Holy Qur’aan. Those who were getting tired of walking in the Karbala field, hands which were swollen fighting enemies, are now looking for a Sultan Salahuddin Ayyubi. People are waiting that Ummah will wake up but all such expectations proved just dreams.
The history of Muslim never experienced such a situation of callousness. O people! What a crisis is this. Pharaoh is roaming around without any fear. But there is no follower of Hazrat Kaleem. Namrood is claiming supremacy but the courage of Hazrat Khalilullah is not seen anywhere. Abu Jehl is feeling so proud of being the supreme on the earth. But, God forbid, there is nobody who would take care of the Sunnah. The atheists are more powerful and proud of their worldly wealth. Neither any Muslim has the honour what Hazrat Farooq (radhiallahu ta'ala 'anhu) showed nor the leadership of Hazrat Sa‘ad (radhiallahu ta‘ala ‘anhu) and Hazrat Khalid bin Arfatah (radhiallahu ta‘ala ‘anhu) is seen anywhere. Neither anybody shows the stability of Hazrat Huzaifa (radhiallahu ta‘ala ‘anhu) nor anybody seems to be stubborn like Hazrat Rabi bin Amir (radhiallahu ta‘ala ‘anhu).
No one is found having desire of Shahadah like Hazrat Khalid bin Waleed (radhiallahu ta‘ala ‘anhu). Where are those people today about whom the Nazarene kings and their envoys had said: “We have experienced a nation in which every single person prefers death on life. Those are the people who prefer simplicity on luxurious lifestyle. None of them desires for the glittering world. They prefer to sit on the floor and dine together. Their Emir is a common person and they do not have classes of big and small people. Most of the times it becomes difficult to distinguish who is the lord and who is slave? When it is prayer time, no one stays behind. They purge their body by ablution and offer prayers with full concentration.”
The Christian kings and rulers heard through their envoys: “They never give up even they face enemy a thousand time bigger than them.”
Alas! We have such a generals in our fate who give up even before the dummy crusaders. They die before the enemies opt to kill them. They desire for life over the martyrdom. What a pity situation. People are dying of thirst along the Euphrates River. No one is there to give them a little water. People are crying of pains and wounds but no one is there to daub ointment. The Iraq of Hazrat Khalil ('Alayhissalaam), Baghdad of Imam Abu Hanifa (rahimahullah) and Imam Abu Yousuf (rahimahullah), and the land of Hazrat Ma’rufi Karkhi (rahimahullah), Hazrat Sari Saqi (rahimahullah), Hazrat Junaid Baghdadi (rahimahullah) and Hazrat Salahuddin Ayyubi (rahimahullah) is in the grip of flames but there is no one who could put the flames off. People of Iraq are like the herd without the driver.
Although there are Muslim kings, princes, Shaikhs and affluent, their uncountable wealth is saved in Switzerland, Paris, London and New York banks. They are ‘so-called’ Muslims but do not have sympathies towards their Muslim brethren who are in serious crisis. They have full-blown youth but that is not to fight enemy but to dance with the Westerners in nightclubs. There are well-built people in different uniforms but not to challenge the enemies of Islam, but to protect the interests of Jews, Nazarenes and Hindus. They have military bases not to defend the homeland but to extend logistic support to the Americans and its allies. They have sea routes, not to protect their waters and boundaries but to give passage facilities to the stinking atheists. They have palaces to organize dance and music parties. They have talent and wisdom to make the revolutionary movements unsuccessful.
They have traditions to make fun of own Muslims and bury own countrymen. How many mothers are there who want to sacrifice their sons for the cause of Islam? How many sisters are there who want to say goodbye to their brothers departing to wage Jihad against non-believers? How many Muslims are there who want to give their lifetime earning to help their Muslim brethren in time of serious? Alas! Muslims do not find a leadership who would show the right path to their countrymen. O skies! See our state that is the outcome of our misdeeds and sins. It was a time when our shepherds were capable enough to lead a nation but today our leaders and rulers do not have such capabilities. People in distress are praying to Allah Almighty to bless them with His mercy, change their state to betterment and pull them out of crisis. They are praying for a life with dignity or a death with honor.
O’ Lord, Who listens even to the insects, please bless us with a Salahuddin Ayyubi (rahimahullah) out of all our rulers, kings and princes. O’ Allah we seek your pardon and mercy. Take all the worldly luxuries from us and bless us with a respectable life. Aameen.
source: http://www.easyislam.com/prays_of_people_in_distress.asp
O’ Lord! Where should we go? Why the vast earth has been narrowed on us? Why the life is restless and miserable? The wound of Afghanistan had not yet healed that operation against Iraq began. The worst ever butchers and vultures of the world have gathered in Iraq. They are clawing off the flash of bodies of innocent Iraqi Muslims who have been killed in fierce bombing by the US-led forces. World media is relaying news reports of each moment but people have no courage to listen to the horrible saga of Muslims. Every picture and every report is horrible and adding more and more to the miseries. Western media particularly giving details of war as they are relaying the running commentary of any first class match.
Tanks are crushing the populations, canons are firing firebombs, and airplanes are dropping huge bombs. This all is resulting into screams and sighs of small kids. Women and children are mourning over the bodies of their loved ones. Iraq is red. Human limbs are scattered all around. There are a few wounded who are about to take their last breath, are reciting the verses from the Holy Qur’aan. Those who were getting tired of walking in the Karbala field, hands which were swollen fighting enemies, are now looking for a Sultan Salahuddin Ayyubi. People are waiting that Ummah will wake up but all such expectations proved just dreams.
The history of Muslim never experienced such a situation of callousness. O people! What a crisis is this. Pharaoh is roaming around without any fear. But there is no follower of Hazrat Kaleem. Namrood is claiming supremacy but the courage of Hazrat Khalilullah is not seen anywhere. Abu Jehl is feeling so proud of being the supreme on the earth. But, God forbid, there is nobody who would take care of the Sunnah. The atheists are more powerful and proud of their worldly wealth. Neither any Muslim has the honour what Hazrat Farooq (radhiallahu ta'ala 'anhu) showed nor the leadership of Hazrat Sa‘ad (radhiallahu ta‘ala ‘anhu) and Hazrat Khalid bin Arfatah (radhiallahu ta‘ala ‘anhu) is seen anywhere. Neither anybody shows the stability of Hazrat Huzaifa (radhiallahu ta‘ala ‘anhu) nor anybody seems to be stubborn like Hazrat Rabi bin Amir (radhiallahu ta‘ala ‘anhu).
No one is found having desire of Shahadah like Hazrat Khalid bin Waleed (radhiallahu ta‘ala ‘anhu). Where are those people today about whom the Nazarene kings and their envoys had said: “We have experienced a nation in which every single person prefers death on life. Those are the people who prefer simplicity on luxurious lifestyle. None of them desires for the glittering world. They prefer to sit on the floor and dine together. Their Emir is a common person and they do not have classes of big and small people. Most of the times it becomes difficult to distinguish who is the lord and who is slave? When it is prayer time, no one stays behind. They purge their body by ablution and offer prayers with full concentration.”
The Christian kings and rulers heard through their envoys: “They never give up even they face enemy a thousand time bigger than them.”
Alas! We have such a generals in our fate who give up even before the dummy crusaders. They die before the enemies opt to kill them. They desire for life over the martyrdom. What a pity situation. People are dying of thirst along the Euphrates River. No one is there to give them a little water. People are crying of pains and wounds but no one is there to daub ointment. The Iraq of Hazrat Khalil ('Alayhissalaam), Baghdad of Imam Abu Hanifa (rahimahullah) and Imam Abu Yousuf (rahimahullah), and the land of Hazrat Ma’rufi Karkhi (rahimahullah), Hazrat Sari Saqi (rahimahullah), Hazrat Junaid Baghdadi (rahimahullah) and Hazrat Salahuddin Ayyubi (rahimahullah) is in the grip of flames but there is no one who could put the flames off. People of Iraq are like the herd without the driver.
Although there are Muslim kings, princes, Shaikhs and affluent, their uncountable wealth is saved in Switzerland, Paris, London and New York banks. They are ‘so-called’ Muslims but do not have sympathies towards their Muslim brethren who are in serious crisis. They have full-blown youth but that is not to fight enemy but to dance with the Westerners in nightclubs. There are well-built people in different uniforms but not to challenge the enemies of Islam, but to protect the interests of Jews, Nazarenes and Hindus. They have military bases not to defend the homeland but to extend logistic support to the Americans and its allies. They have sea routes, not to protect their waters and boundaries but to give passage facilities to the stinking atheists. They have palaces to organize dance and music parties. They have talent and wisdom to make the revolutionary movements unsuccessful.
They have traditions to make fun of own Muslims and bury own countrymen. How many mothers are there who want to sacrifice their sons for the cause of Islam? How many sisters are there who want to say goodbye to their brothers departing to wage Jihad against non-believers? How many Muslims are there who want to give their lifetime earning to help their Muslim brethren in time of serious? Alas! Muslims do not find a leadership who would show the right path to their countrymen. O skies! See our state that is the outcome of our misdeeds and sins. It was a time when our shepherds were capable enough to lead a nation but today our leaders and rulers do not have such capabilities. People in distress are praying to Allah Almighty to bless them with His mercy, change their state to betterment and pull them out of crisis. They are praying for a life with dignity or a death with honor.
O’ Lord, Who listens even to the insects, please bless us with a Salahuddin Ayyubi (rahimahullah) out of all our rulers, kings and princes. O’ Allah we seek your pardon and mercy. Take all the worldly luxuries from us and bless us with a respectable life. Aameen.
source: http://www.easyislam.com/prays_of_people_in_distress.asp
Muslims today and Muslims in the past
by Mufti Muhammad Taqi Usmani Sahib
The time is over when we used to make advancements compelling the world powers to retreat. Those precious moments have gone far away from us on account of our carelessness, love for the wealth and the world. It was a time when the entire world advertently or inadvertently was compelled to follow us. We had challenged the Greek civilization, we had called Azans in whole of Hindustan, we had offered prayers at each and every spot of the earth, we had eliminated the centuries-old culture of Egypt, defeated the enemy at all fronts, we had changed the environment of Rome and Iran through our slogans of Allah-o-Akbar and recitation of holy words, our sword had its impact on the entire world from the Arab to non-Arab world, our horses had entered the oceans of brutality to eliminate injustices from the earth, we had taught new tactics and styles of living with dignity to the world nations, we had set examples of bravery, and we had introduced new rules of war.
But today we are at the defensive side. We do celebrate the Defence Day, but we do not take initiative and so we do never observe any day around the year, which could be called the Day of Advancement. We had come forward as the rescuer of the humanity, but today we are waiting for others to come for our rescue. We are the one who were assigned to show right path to the humanity from east to west, but today we are loitering hapless waiting for foreign help. We are the one that our shepherds were even had ability to lead the community, but today we do not have our ‘Imams’ (leaders). Those who had crushed the ‘white paper’ under their feet, are now standing in front of the White House with begging bowls in their hands. Those who had a kind and soft heart for the oppressed are now looking for a kind-hearted person. Those who had all hopes on just one Allah, are now looking towards hundreds of thousands others for help. Those who were stronger than storms and calamities, are unable today to sustain even a small blow of the wind and close eyes seeing the danger. We have become so coward that we take the unwanted changes in the political and worldly development as our unnatural death. We are the one who eliminated slavery from the world are now becoming slaves of the super powers.
The world knows that Muslims used to fight without food and water a hundred times bigger and stronger enemies on foot and used to defeat them in all battlefields but now despite having all resources of the world we have become spiritless.
If we recall the Islamic History, we remember that there were only 313 Muslims during ‘Badr War’. And these fistful Muslims had only two horses, 70 camels, eight swords and six armour chains. While the battalion of the enemy in that war was bigger. Still the Muslims stood victorious. In ‘Ohd War’, the battalion of Muslims comprised only 700 warriors, while the battalion of the enemy comprised 3,000 fully armed men. But the Muslims made them run from the battlefield. In ‘Khandaq War’, there were only 3,000 Muslims while the forces of enemy comprised 24,000 warriors. But the Muslims had courage and won the battle. In ‘Khyber War’, Muslims were not more than 1600 troops, who fought 20,000 Jews and still the Muslims stood victorious and captured the Khyber. In ‘Qudsiya War’, Muslim troops were a little over 30,000, while there were more than 100,000 Iranian warriors against Muslims who ultimately had to retreat and Muslims stood victorious.
In ‘Yarmook War’, 32,000 Muslims defeated 200,000 Romans. (Some historians have written the figure of Romans as 700,000 out of which 500,000 were killed while 40,000 were captured). In ‘Spain War’, 12,000 Muslims, led by Tariq bin Ziyad, who was a small follower of Hazrat Moosa bin Naseer (rahmatullahi), fought an army of 100,000 troops of the enemy who were armed with latest war gadgets. Christians cannot deny the fact that Muslims, thousands of miles away from their homeland, fought a war with them and defeated them at all fronts. What was the reason that every single Muslim was heavier than a hundred troops of the enemy? What was the reason that Muslims had never thought that they were going to wage a war against a hundred times bigger enemy? The governor of Egypt, during a war, had sought help from Hazrat 'Omar bin Al-Aas (radhiallahu ta'ala 'anhu) and demanded 30,000 troops. In response to the Egypt governor’s request, Hazrat 'Omar (radhiallahu ta'ala 'anhu) sent just three men and said initially accept these three thousand. Those three men were: Hazrat Kharja bin Hazafa (radhiallahu ta'ala 'anhu), Hazrat Zubair bin Awam (radhiallahu ta'ala 'anhu), and Hazrat Maqdad bin Aswad (radhiallahu ta'ala 'anhu). These three Muslim warriors really proved heavier than 30,000 troops of the enemy.
The Muslims of yesteryears really had something beyond the courage that turned them heavier than a hundred times bigger army of the non-Muslims. But, today that courage and zeal is not found in the Muslims. We proved our mettle to the enemy at all battlefields and fronts. The enemy knew that fistful Muslims could never be defeated on account of war gadgets. Non-Muslims knew that Muslim forces never retreat, but they fight while closing all their ways of returning home. Muslims fight the enemy after burning their boats because they fight with a vow ‘win or embrace Shahadah (martyrdom)’. The enemy knew that Muslims know how to advance and make the enemy retreat. They only stop when oceans or rivers come in their ways. At this stage they used to pray to Allah Almighty, “Allah, had this ocean not come in our way, we would have continued with waging Jihad against the enemies of Islam and eliminated the non-believers from the earth.”
Nazarenes and Jews were so ashamed of their forefathers’ defeats at the hand of Muslims. But how long such stories and narrations would continue to make them feel ashamed? And how long we would have continued to survive on reminding them such events? At last we are exposed. Our enemies have come to know that Muslims are just hollow and they have no strength, no power. The non-Muslims know that the ancestors of Muslims were practical people while Muslims today depend on lip-serving only. Their ancestors were courageous enough who used to attack enemies like dangerous eagle while Muslims today look for the shelters to hide from the enemy. Those were the Muslims who loved martyrdom and preferred death over cowardice while Muslims today love worldly things. Muslims today do not have that courage that used to make the Muslims in the past heavier over hundreds of enemies.
The saying of Hazrat Muhammad (sallallahu 'alaihe wasallam) has come true: “The day is not far away when all non-Muslim nations would get united against Muslims and launch strike jointly.” When somebody questioned the Holy Prophet, “Will it happen because Muslims will be less in number against the enemies?” The Holy Prophet replied: “No, you will be more than the enemy but you will be like foam, which has nothing in it and has no power or strength. Allah Almighty, because of your cowardice, would remove your fear from the hearts of non-Muslim powers and would fill your hearts with cowardice.” Another Sahaba questioned, “Ya Rasoolullah: What would be that weakness?” He replied: “Your weakness would be love for the world.”
Today all of us, our borders, our ideologies, our interests, our generations and the entire Muslim world have become the target of enemies of Islam. We are left just one remedy to this situation that we should change our today with our yesterday. Our zeal and courage can change our fate and this way we can protect better our interests, our religious beliefs, our countries and our generations. No other thing can defend us.
source: http://www.easyislam.com/muslims_today_and_muslims_in_the_past.asp
The time is over when we used to make advancements compelling the world powers to retreat. Those precious moments have gone far away from us on account of our carelessness, love for the wealth and the world. It was a time when the entire world advertently or inadvertently was compelled to follow us. We had challenged the Greek civilization, we had called Azans in whole of Hindustan, we had offered prayers at each and every spot of the earth, we had eliminated the centuries-old culture of Egypt, defeated the enemy at all fronts, we had changed the environment of Rome and Iran through our slogans of Allah-o-Akbar and recitation of holy words, our sword had its impact on the entire world from the Arab to non-Arab world, our horses had entered the oceans of brutality to eliminate injustices from the earth, we had taught new tactics and styles of living with dignity to the world nations, we had set examples of bravery, and we had introduced new rules of war.
But today we are at the defensive side. We do celebrate the Defence Day, but we do not take initiative and so we do never observe any day around the year, which could be called the Day of Advancement. We had come forward as the rescuer of the humanity, but today we are waiting for others to come for our rescue. We are the one who were assigned to show right path to the humanity from east to west, but today we are loitering hapless waiting for foreign help. We are the one that our shepherds were even had ability to lead the community, but today we do not have our ‘Imams’ (leaders). Those who had crushed the ‘white paper’ under their feet, are now standing in front of the White House with begging bowls in their hands. Those who had a kind and soft heart for the oppressed are now looking for a kind-hearted person. Those who had all hopes on just one Allah, are now looking towards hundreds of thousands others for help. Those who were stronger than storms and calamities, are unable today to sustain even a small blow of the wind and close eyes seeing the danger. We have become so coward that we take the unwanted changes in the political and worldly development as our unnatural death. We are the one who eliminated slavery from the world are now becoming slaves of the super powers.
The world knows that Muslims used to fight without food and water a hundred times bigger and stronger enemies on foot and used to defeat them in all battlefields but now despite having all resources of the world we have become spiritless.
If we recall the Islamic History, we remember that there were only 313 Muslims during ‘Badr War’. And these fistful Muslims had only two horses, 70 camels, eight swords and six armour chains. While the battalion of the enemy in that war was bigger. Still the Muslims stood victorious. In ‘Ohd War’, the battalion of Muslims comprised only 700 warriors, while the battalion of the enemy comprised 3,000 fully armed men. But the Muslims made them run from the battlefield. In ‘Khandaq War’, there were only 3,000 Muslims while the forces of enemy comprised 24,000 warriors. But the Muslims had courage and won the battle. In ‘Khyber War’, Muslims were not more than 1600 troops, who fought 20,000 Jews and still the Muslims stood victorious and captured the Khyber. In ‘Qudsiya War’, Muslim troops were a little over 30,000, while there were more than 100,000 Iranian warriors against Muslims who ultimately had to retreat and Muslims stood victorious.
In ‘Yarmook War’, 32,000 Muslims defeated 200,000 Romans. (Some historians have written the figure of Romans as 700,000 out of which 500,000 were killed while 40,000 were captured). In ‘Spain War’, 12,000 Muslims, led by Tariq bin Ziyad, who was a small follower of Hazrat Moosa bin Naseer (rahmatullahi), fought an army of 100,000 troops of the enemy who were armed with latest war gadgets. Christians cannot deny the fact that Muslims, thousands of miles away from their homeland, fought a war with them and defeated them at all fronts. What was the reason that every single Muslim was heavier than a hundred troops of the enemy? What was the reason that Muslims had never thought that they were going to wage a war against a hundred times bigger enemy? The governor of Egypt, during a war, had sought help from Hazrat 'Omar bin Al-Aas (radhiallahu ta'ala 'anhu) and demanded 30,000 troops. In response to the Egypt governor’s request, Hazrat 'Omar (radhiallahu ta'ala 'anhu) sent just three men and said initially accept these three thousand. Those three men were: Hazrat Kharja bin Hazafa (radhiallahu ta'ala 'anhu), Hazrat Zubair bin Awam (radhiallahu ta'ala 'anhu), and Hazrat Maqdad bin Aswad (radhiallahu ta'ala 'anhu). These three Muslim warriors really proved heavier than 30,000 troops of the enemy.
The Muslims of yesteryears really had something beyond the courage that turned them heavier than a hundred times bigger army of the non-Muslims. But, today that courage and zeal is not found in the Muslims. We proved our mettle to the enemy at all battlefields and fronts. The enemy knew that fistful Muslims could never be defeated on account of war gadgets. Non-Muslims knew that Muslim forces never retreat, but they fight while closing all their ways of returning home. Muslims fight the enemy after burning their boats because they fight with a vow ‘win or embrace Shahadah (martyrdom)’. The enemy knew that Muslims know how to advance and make the enemy retreat. They only stop when oceans or rivers come in their ways. At this stage they used to pray to Allah Almighty, “Allah, had this ocean not come in our way, we would have continued with waging Jihad against the enemies of Islam and eliminated the non-believers from the earth.”
Nazarenes and Jews were so ashamed of their forefathers’ defeats at the hand of Muslims. But how long such stories and narrations would continue to make them feel ashamed? And how long we would have continued to survive on reminding them such events? At last we are exposed. Our enemies have come to know that Muslims are just hollow and they have no strength, no power. The non-Muslims know that the ancestors of Muslims were practical people while Muslims today depend on lip-serving only. Their ancestors were courageous enough who used to attack enemies like dangerous eagle while Muslims today look for the shelters to hide from the enemy. Those were the Muslims who loved martyrdom and preferred death over cowardice while Muslims today love worldly things. Muslims today do not have that courage that used to make the Muslims in the past heavier over hundreds of enemies.
The saying of Hazrat Muhammad (sallallahu 'alaihe wasallam) has come true: “The day is not far away when all non-Muslim nations would get united against Muslims and launch strike jointly.” When somebody questioned the Holy Prophet, “Will it happen because Muslims will be less in number against the enemies?” The Holy Prophet replied: “No, you will be more than the enemy but you will be like foam, which has nothing in it and has no power or strength. Allah Almighty, because of your cowardice, would remove your fear from the hearts of non-Muslim powers and would fill your hearts with cowardice.” Another Sahaba questioned, “Ya Rasoolullah: What would be that weakness?” He replied: “Your weakness would be love for the world.”
Today all of us, our borders, our ideologies, our interests, our generations and the entire Muslim world have become the target of enemies of Islam. We are left just one remedy to this situation that we should change our today with our yesterday. Our zeal and courage can change our fate and this way we can protect better our interests, our religious beliefs, our countries and our generations. No other thing can defend us.
source: http://www.easyislam.com/muslims_today_and_muslims_in_the_past.asp
A cry in the wilderness
by Mufti Muhammad Taqi Usmani Sahib
No friends! I will not be able to write; words seem empty, and sentences trivial, the pen is stuttering, the mind is paralyzed, I feel desolate, wrapped in depression and pessimism. Besides I am an “‘Ajmi”, uncoached in the play of words. Neither can I write an elegy nor a eulogy; had I been the uncrowned king of lamentations I would not have been able to give this tragedy its due. But how long can a lamentation be? Here, it’s a new tragedy everyday, a new mishap, the writhing bodies of the innocent, the blasted breasts of patriots and hailers of Faith. Is it really true that no one has the right to walk our land with their heads up?
But these little angels had not challenged anyone! What they went through in light of day and darkness of night, under the very noses of minders and protectors, would not have befallen even a wild animal at the hands of a wild beast. Have we really descended so low into the hole of darkness where humanity struggles for breath and moral values die out? You must be thinking I’m putting riddles to you or trying to lay a puzzle to you……but no friends! This is neither a riddle nor a puzzle. This is a living tragedy that took place in Mayman Goth, a suburb of the “City of Light”, Karachi. It captured the banners of the press for some days and then became old news; but is it really old news? Just ask the mother who saw the body of her little darling, torn and chewed up by wild beasts; just ask the father who lifted the bits of what was left of his daughters in his arms!
I have the newspaper. I lift it and put it down; I start reading, then cannot go further. In my mind I reach Mayman Goth, where there lived two little girls, one eight year old and the other just five…………the age for building sandcastles, the time for playing. Faces like shining stars, but poverty a family member………a hard working father, hungry, needing wood for fire, the traditional eastern love coming to the fore, the wish to help the parents by collecting firewood, the journey to the woods to collect sticks……the sense of safety the nearby police station gave, the confrontation with the two legged wolves, the assailing lust, the hungry eyes, the satanic faces, the vulnerability and helplessness of the little angels, the cries, the little hands begging for mercy, the rolling tears, the devilish shouts of laughter, the monstrous brutality, the clothes in tatters, the bodies in blood, two corpses like broken toys…………lifeless eyes, the tears dried on cold cheeks…………the crowding of wild beasts after human ones, dogs, cats, jackals, wolves…………the tatters of humanity, the shavings of law, the shreds of morality. The heart-rending cries of the parents, the pledges of the politicians, an action replay of the 56 year old pastime of throwing mud on one another…… hypocrisy, callousness, accusations of incompetence, the generosity of the city’s governor, the price for the dead, a cheap bargain for humanity, the establishment of a committee, the promise of investigation, the announcements of hanging, the dreadful talk of making an example, the arrests, suspensions and dismissals!
But friends! Nothing will happen. The sands of time have covered innumerable guiltless bodies, countless protest marches and cries have bounced off the citadel walls. The sky did not fall in, the earth did not shatter, the current of time kept passing; the wrangling for ministries, and the power struggle never stopped, commissions and committees kept on being prepared, meetings kept on being held, declarations kept on being made, avowals kept on being taken to deal with iron fists.
But ………these fists whenever lifted, they lifted on friends, on patriots of nation and country. These days of course, these iron fists are very busy. Their increased responsibilities hardly leaves them time for such “small” matters. The Pathans of the tribal areas have become too headstrong. They just refuse to bend to anyone but Allah, they will befriend anyone who proclaims the Kalimah, be he Arab or Ajam, Tajik or Uzbek. They even marry into them, establish brotherhood; they don’t give a damn for national “interests” and “constraints”. They just don’t understand that this brotherhood was for a specified moment, this assistance was tied to the fancy of the bully of our times, and he does not fancy now. But these crazy people, they prefer Allah’s fancy to anyone else’s; they will have to learn their lesson, so this iron fist is being used. Suspicious public transport is under fire, blood is flowing, bodies are falling, payments are being made, commissions are sitting, investigations being done. These investigations made their debut with the founding of Pakistan………but neither are the results announced nor the characters get their due. These results are too sensitive, the characters too powerful; their safety takes precedence over everything. Honor, respect, blood, lives; all can be sacrificed for them. Bringing the results to light can change the whole scene: there can be big scandals, government overthrows, political shops shuttered down, the sentiments of the people escalated to hysteria, the weak come to power, storms raged in the halls of authority, whirlpools kicked up in stagnant waters……so naturally, its better not to reveal the results to the public.
These lines were being written when 48 more fell in Quetta. Hundreds are injured; the hospitals are choked with awry groaning bodies. Protestations have been made, commissions been set up, investigations started………the iron fist is operating. Declarations have been made to mete out severe punishment to those responsible for the tragedy……but just in the papers.
Sassi and Hajra, the unfurled buds of Mayman Goth! We are distressed at your parting. Your sighs and cries, your imploring entreaties storm our feelings. If you had been born in a responsive society, if you had been thus thrown under a mountain of torment in a law abiding country: many heads would have rolled, many ministries would have come under attack……but! In my dear country volcanoes might erupt and business calmly goes on undisturbed, shouts of laughter can be heard in company with cries of lament. It is just not done here to dismiss the answerable on the biggest of tragedies. My blossom-like daughters! The regret is that we can do nothing other than raise this voice of protest although we know that it will be nothing more than a cry in the wilderness……another cry among the millions of others…well, let it be……perhaps this might prove to be the reason for our absolution. Tomorrow when the cries will be gathered from the wilderness of cries, we will be lucky to have our voice among those that rose for the defense of innocent, defenseless daughters.
source: http://www.easyislam.com/a_cry_in_the_wilderness.asp
No friends! I will not be able to write; words seem empty, and sentences trivial, the pen is stuttering, the mind is paralyzed, I feel desolate, wrapped in depression and pessimism. Besides I am an “‘Ajmi”, uncoached in the play of words. Neither can I write an elegy nor a eulogy; had I been the uncrowned king of lamentations I would not have been able to give this tragedy its due. But how long can a lamentation be? Here, it’s a new tragedy everyday, a new mishap, the writhing bodies of the innocent, the blasted breasts of patriots and hailers of Faith. Is it really true that no one has the right to walk our land with their heads up?
But these little angels had not challenged anyone! What they went through in light of day and darkness of night, under the very noses of minders and protectors, would not have befallen even a wild animal at the hands of a wild beast. Have we really descended so low into the hole of darkness where humanity struggles for breath and moral values die out? You must be thinking I’m putting riddles to you or trying to lay a puzzle to you……but no friends! This is neither a riddle nor a puzzle. This is a living tragedy that took place in Mayman Goth, a suburb of the “City of Light”, Karachi. It captured the banners of the press for some days and then became old news; but is it really old news? Just ask the mother who saw the body of her little darling, torn and chewed up by wild beasts; just ask the father who lifted the bits of what was left of his daughters in his arms!
I have the newspaper. I lift it and put it down; I start reading, then cannot go further. In my mind I reach Mayman Goth, where there lived two little girls, one eight year old and the other just five…………the age for building sandcastles, the time for playing. Faces like shining stars, but poverty a family member………a hard working father, hungry, needing wood for fire, the traditional eastern love coming to the fore, the wish to help the parents by collecting firewood, the journey to the woods to collect sticks……the sense of safety the nearby police station gave, the confrontation with the two legged wolves, the assailing lust, the hungry eyes, the satanic faces, the vulnerability and helplessness of the little angels, the cries, the little hands begging for mercy, the rolling tears, the devilish shouts of laughter, the monstrous brutality, the clothes in tatters, the bodies in blood, two corpses like broken toys…………lifeless eyes, the tears dried on cold cheeks…………the crowding of wild beasts after human ones, dogs, cats, jackals, wolves…………the tatters of humanity, the shavings of law, the shreds of morality. The heart-rending cries of the parents, the pledges of the politicians, an action replay of the 56 year old pastime of throwing mud on one another…… hypocrisy, callousness, accusations of incompetence, the generosity of the city’s governor, the price for the dead, a cheap bargain for humanity, the establishment of a committee, the promise of investigation, the announcements of hanging, the dreadful talk of making an example, the arrests, suspensions and dismissals!
But friends! Nothing will happen. The sands of time have covered innumerable guiltless bodies, countless protest marches and cries have bounced off the citadel walls. The sky did not fall in, the earth did not shatter, the current of time kept passing; the wrangling for ministries, and the power struggle never stopped, commissions and committees kept on being prepared, meetings kept on being held, declarations kept on being made, avowals kept on being taken to deal with iron fists.
But ………these fists whenever lifted, they lifted on friends, on patriots of nation and country. These days of course, these iron fists are very busy. Their increased responsibilities hardly leaves them time for such “small” matters. The Pathans of the tribal areas have become too headstrong. They just refuse to bend to anyone but Allah, they will befriend anyone who proclaims the Kalimah, be he Arab or Ajam, Tajik or Uzbek. They even marry into them, establish brotherhood; they don’t give a damn for national “interests” and “constraints”. They just don’t understand that this brotherhood was for a specified moment, this assistance was tied to the fancy of the bully of our times, and he does not fancy now. But these crazy people, they prefer Allah’s fancy to anyone else’s; they will have to learn their lesson, so this iron fist is being used. Suspicious public transport is under fire, blood is flowing, bodies are falling, payments are being made, commissions are sitting, investigations being done. These investigations made their debut with the founding of Pakistan………but neither are the results announced nor the characters get their due. These results are too sensitive, the characters too powerful; their safety takes precedence over everything. Honor, respect, blood, lives; all can be sacrificed for them. Bringing the results to light can change the whole scene: there can be big scandals, government overthrows, political shops shuttered down, the sentiments of the people escalated to hysteria, the weak come to power, storms raged in the halls of authority, whirlpools kicked up in stagnant waters……so naturally, its better not to reveal the results to the public.
These lines were being written when 48 more fell in Quetta. Hundreds are injured; the hospitals are choked with awry groaning bodies. Protestations have been made, commissions been set up, investigations started………the iron fist is operating. Declarations have been made to mete out severe punishment to those responsible for the tragedy……but just in the papers.
Sassi and Hajra, the unfurled buds of Mayman Goth! We are distressed at your parting. Your sighs and cries, your imploring entreaties storm our feelings. If you had been born in a responsive society, if you had been thus thrown under a mountain of torment in a law abiding country: many heads would have rolled, many ministries would have come under attack……but! In my dear country volcanoes might erupt and business calmly goes on undisturbed, shouts of laughter can be heard in company with cries of lament. It is just not done here to dismiss the answerable on the biggest of tragedies. My blossom-like daughters! The regret is that we can do nothing other than raise this voice of protest although we know that it will be nothing more than a cry in the wilderness……another cry among the millions of others…well, let it be……perhaps this might prove to be the reason for our absolution. Tomorrow when the cries will be gathered from the wilderness of cries, we will be lucky to have our voice among those that rose for the defense of innocent, defenseless daughters.
source: http://www.easyislam.com/a_cry_in_the_wilderness.asp
Fiqh of Masjid (Mosque) & Musalla
| What exactly is a masjid (mosque)? Is there a difference between a masjid (mosque), musalla, and jamat khana, etc? These are questions which need detailed discussion. |
| Nowadays, in the west, many Islamic Centers being managed include, among other things, a prayer hall, musalla, or jamat khana. Some communities rent an industrial unit, a store front, a house, or an apartment in which members of the Muslim community gather to perform congregational prayer (and in many cases social activities). Many communities actually have purchased property which they consider their masjid (mosque). |
| Which of the above can technically be considered a masjid (mosque), and what are the related rulings? |
| There is a difference between a masjid (mosque) and a musalla (or jamat khana). A musalla (or jamat khana) literally means a place where prayer is performed or where congregations are held, or worded differently, any temporary place in which worshippers congregate to perform their prayers. A musalla is also a place that has not been made an endowment or not yet intended to become a permanent masjid (mosque) until the Last Day. In many cases, it is a temporary place from which the community will transfer once they find a more suitable, convenient, or permanent location. Though Muslims today commonly refer to their “musalla” as their “masjid (mosque),” which the literal meaning of masjid (mosque) (a place where the prostration is made) allows, a musalla cannot technically be considered a legal [shar‘i] masjid (mosque). Likewise the reward for prayer in a musalla is not the same as in a proper masjid (mosque). |
The masjid (mosque) |
| The masjid (mosque) is a sanctified area, in which the rewards of prayers in congregation increase 25 to 27 times and where the mercy of Allah descends. It is considered the best of places by the Messenger of Allah (upon him be peace). Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) relates: |
masjid (mosque)s are the houses of Allah on the earth. They shine up to the inhabitants of the heavens just as the stars in the sky shine down to the inhabitants of the earth (Tabarani). |
| A masjid (mosque) is normally made into a waqf or endowment (sometimes difficult to establish depending on the legal connotations of endowment in some countries). However, once a masjid (mosque) is erected, it will always be a masjid (mosque)and the property of Allah. It cannot return to being the property of any person or community even those who may have paid for establishing it. Allama Haskafi writes: |
If the inhabitants surrounding the masjid (mosque) wither away and themasjid (mosque) becomes desolate, it will still remain a masjid (mosque)according to Imam Abu Hanifa and Imam Abu Yusuf until the Last Day, and the fatwa is on this opinion (Hawi al-Qudsi)” (al-Durr al-Mukhtar 3:371). |
| The Messenger of Allah, Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: |
All the earth will disappear on the Day of Judgment with the exception of the masjid (mosque)s for they will join with one another (Suyuti, Jami al-Shaghir). |
Designation of a masjid (mosque) |
| A masjid (mosque) (to become a masjid (mosque)) must be formally designated by the committee or persons in charge. They do this by defining the area it will occupy and its boundaries. Along with this they can designate other adjoining areas to be used as bathrooms, lobby, storage, etc. The latter however will be considered the auxiliary areas of the masjid (mosque) and, though part of the endowment, will not classify as “masjid (mosque)” area that was previously defined by the committee. Therefore, it is possible, for example, to designate only the front half of a large hall (i.e. the first 10 rows) as the "masjid (mosque)", while the rest of the hall is classified as a musalla. Once the front half has been designated as such, then that part, both above and below it, becomes a shari masjid (mosque). This means that neither above it nor below it on any floor can be used for anything but as a masjid (mosque). Hence, all rulings that apply to a masjid (mosque) will now apply to the exact same area directly below it on each of the lower floors (including the basement); and likewise on all floors above it. Constructing toilets, bathrooms, or holding any non-suitable activities above or below the "masjid (mosque)" area will also be impermissible. However, it is permissible to have toilets or bathrooms constructed out of the boundary of the designated masjid (mosque) area on any of the floors, since those areas will be considered the auxiliary area of the masjid (mosque) and not technically the masjid (mosque) itself. Allama Haskafi writes in his well-accepted text al-Durr al-Mukhtar: |
“It is prohibitively disliked to have sexual intercourse above the masjid (mosque). Likewise it is disliked to urinate or defecate above it because it is a masjid (mosque) to the peaks of the heavens (Ibn Abidin adds, “Likewise to the recesses of the earth below”) … it is disliked to enter any impurity into it.… [However] these are not disliked above a room which has been just set aside as a masjid (mosque) [in a person's home] nor in the room itself, since that is not a shar‘i masjid (mosque)… It is permitted for those in a seminally defiled state or menstruating women to enter into it [i.e. a musallaor place especially prepared for Eid or funeral prayer] just as is permitted into the extended yard of the masjid (mosque) [i.e. the overflow area].… (al-Durr al-Mukhtar with Radd al-Muhtar 1:441-442). |
| Hence, no area of the actual masjid (mosque) prayer area can be excluded from the masjid (mosque) once designated as a masjid (mosque). However, before the plans are finalized and the area is designated a masjid (mosque), portions can be excluded from any of the floors above or below where the masjid (mosque) will be, to be used for something else that is related to the masjid (mosque), for instance, a storage area, office for the imam, a basement for storing masjid (mosque)amenities, a shop to bring in income for the masjid (mosque), etc. Ibn Abidin writes in his Radd al-Muhtar: |
If they build a room above it for the imam then there is nothing wrong with that, because that is part of the welfare of the masjid (mosque). However, once the construction [designation] of the masjid (mosque) is completed then they want to add a room, it will be prohibited [to change the designated masjid (mosque) area and add a room for something else in it]. If the committee states that we had intended to do such, their statement will not be upheld [in court] (Radd al-Muhtar 3:371). |
| Likewise the Egyptian jurist Ibn Nujaym writes: |
It states in the Mujtaba that it is not permitted for the guardian of themasjid (mosque) to build shops in the masjid (mosque) or in its courtyard [i.e. the courtyard in which salats are performed during summer in hot countries - also known as the external masjid (mosque)] (al-Bahr al-Raiq5:249). |
Storage Areas and Water Reservoir Above or Below a masjid (mosque) |
| A masjid (mosque) can have a storage area above or below the actual prayer hall. The storage space below the prayer hall however must be used solely for the amenities of the masjid (mosque) and must have been designated as such in themasjid (mosque)'s design phase. Likewise, it would be permitted to have constructed a water reservoir underneath the masjid (mosque) (as in some Muslim countries). It states in the al-Durr al-Mukhtar: |
If they make a basement beneath the masjid (mosque) for its welfare [however, Allama Ibn Abidin adds here that this should be of limited area], it would be permissible just as is in the masjid (mosque) in Jerusalem (al-Durr al-Mukhtar ma’a ‘l-Radd al-Muhtar 3:370). |
A Residence or Bathrooms Above or Below a masjid (mosque) |
| Although it is permissible to allocate certain parts of the masjid (mosque) as a room for the imam and other uses from the original plan, bathrooms or a complete apartment for the imam should not be planned directly above the actual masjid (mosque) area, even during the masjid (mosque)'s initial design phase, since it is impermissible to have sexual relations, relieve oneself, etc., above or below a masjid (mosque). In any case, adding a residence or office to the existing masjid (mosque) area will not be permissible after the masjid (mosque) area is designated. Allama Ibn Abidin writes: |
"It remains [to be ruled], whether it would be permissible if the person making the endowment designates lavatories [bayt li ’l-khala’] to be directly beneath the masjid (mosque), as is the case in masjid (mosque) Mahallat al-Shahm in Damascus. I have not seen a specific ruling on this. Yes, it states in the Chapter of Endowments [of al-Durr al-Mukhtar] 'If they make a basement beneath the masjid (mosque) for its welfare it would be permissible' so ponder" (Radd al-Muhtar 1:441). |
| Ibn Abidin however only mentions this analogy between a storage basement and bathrooms in passing, stating that it is an issue in need of further deliberation. It is not based on any strong analogy. |
Islamic Centers and Musallas Today |
| In the case of large Islamic centers today, which include a prayer hall, the prayer hall area could be considered the shar'i masjid (mosque), if it has been intended and designated as such. However, the adjacent rooms, such as the lobby, dining hall, children's room, gymnasium, or offices would be considered as supplementary or extensions of the masjid (mosque) and hence, not part of the shar'i masjid (mosque) area, even though they would be part if the endowment [waqf] (i.e. not returnable to any one's ownership), but the rulings would be different for the two as we will highlight below. |
Women in Menstruation |
| A menstruating women or one who is experiencing post natal bleeding or a person in a seminally defiled state is prohibited from entering into a masjid (mosque). The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: |
I do not make the masjid (mosque) lawful for the menstruating women or the one experiencing post natal bleeding (Abu Dawad, Ibn Maja, Tabarani,Zayla'i has considered it sound [hasan] 1:193-194). |
Young Children in the masjid (mosque) |
| It is unlawful [haram] to bring in infants or young children into the masjid (mosque)if there is a possibility of them polluting the area of the masjid (mosque). If they are in diapers and less likely to pollute any part of the masjid (mosque), it will still be somewhat disliked (makruh tanzihan) to bring them as they could be carrying filth in their diapers (Radd al-Muhtar ’ala ‘l-Durr 1:441, Al-Ashbah wa ‘l-Naza’ir, al-Qawl fi Ahkam al-masjid (mosque) 407). The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: |
Keep your infants and the insane away from your masjid (mosque)s (Sunan Ibn Maja, babu ma yukrahu fil-masjid (mosque)). |
Sleeping & Eating in the masjid (mosque) |
| It is disliked to sleep or eat in a masjid (mosque) without the intention of itikaf or unless one is a traveler (al-Ashbah wal-Nazair 407) |
Congregation for Five Daily Prayers in the masjid (mosque) is a Communal Obligation |
| A congregation for the five daily prayers have to be established in a masjid (mosque) otherwise the local inhabitants would be sinful for negligence, since it is awajib to perform the congregational prayers for the locals in the masjid (mosque).Allama Ibn Abidin writes regarding tarawih prayer which is a confirmed sunna and not wajib: |
The apparent purport of their [jurists] statement is that it is a communalsunna to perform it [tarawih] in congregation in the masjid (mosque), to the extent that if they performed it in congregation in their homes, and no congregation took place in the masjid (mosque), they would all be sinful (Radd al-Muhtar 1:473). |
| Hence, if this is the case for a confirmed sunna congregation, it would be more binding to have a congregation for every obligatory prayers in each locality. The Messenger of Allah (upon him be peace) said: |
There is no salat for the neighbor of the masjid (mosque) except in themasjid (mosque) (Daraqutni, Hakim from Kashf al-Khafa’). |
Conversation in the masjid (mosque) |
| It is likewise disliked [makruh] for one to speak about worldly affairs in the masjid (mosque), Umar Farooq (may Allah be pleased with him) had designated a special place outside the masjid (mosque) where people could go and talk. Ibn Abidin writes: |
(It is disliked to speak in the masjid (mosque)) this is regarding that talk which is of [a] permissible nature, [and] not regarding other than that which would warrant much greater sin (i.e. if one were to speak of it in the masjid (mosque)) (Radd al- Muhtar 5:269). |
The Musalla or Temporary Place of Prayer |
| All the above restrictions (i.e. that it is disliked to speak of worldly matters in themasjid (mosque), etc.) do not technically apply to a musalla since it is a temporary place for worship. Hence, it can have apartments, bathrooms, etc., above or below it; or itself even turned into such (i.e. an apartment), once it is no longer used as amusalla. However, it is recommended to treat it as a masjid (mosque), since it is being used for similar purposes. |
| A third floor musalla within an industrial complex, which has other activities and businesses operating on the other floors (basement included), cannot be considered a shar'i masjid (mosque), but rather comes within the definition of a musalla.Allama Haskafi writes: |
If the basement was designated for any other use [i.e. not for the masjid (mosque)] or he [the owner] made a room above it and faced the door of the masjid (mosque) to the street [meaning he made it separate], then it cannot be a masjid (mosque). Hence he may sell it… [if he wishes, since it does not become an endowment] the same as if he had made [a portion from] the middle of his home into a masjid (mosque), and permitted for theadhan to be called therein - it would not become a masjid (mosque). |
| Allama Ibn Abidin comments on this by saying: |
The reason for the place not being a masjid (mosque) is because the additional rooms are not designated for the welfare of the masjid (mosque).This is explicitly mentioned in the Is'af, where it says, “If the basement or the floor above it is endowed for the benefit of the masjid (mosque) or they were properly endowed for that then it would become a masjid (mosque)(Shurunbulaliyya). It states in al-Bahr [al-Ra’iq] that the summary of this [issue] is that it is a condition for it being considered a masjid (mosque)that the lower and upper floors need to [also] be a masjid (mosque), so that the rights [and ownership] of people is waived from it, as Allah says 'And verily the masjid (mosque)s are for Allah' (Radd al-Muhtar 3:370). |
| Although similar laws should be observed in a musalla as in a masjid (mosque),since it is emulating a masjid (mosque), it is not legally necessary. Therefore: |
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| A useful setup for women's prayer could be that there be two room: one connected to the back of the men's prayer area, which could be intended as being included in the shar’i masjid (mosque); and another room behind the first room, which could be a musalla or a multi purpose room for menstruating women or women with children to stay in. source: |
RULINGS FOR AL-IFTAAR
When a person lawfully break his fast
Allah(T) said:
"Then complete the fasting until the night "[Baqarah 2:187]
The Messenger of Allah (S) explained this to mean the coming of the night and the going away of the day and when the disk of the sun disappears.
Hastening the breaking of the fast
People of Eemaan! It is important to hasten breaking the fast as soon as the sun sets because this was the practice of the Messenger of Allah (T) and his companions.
'Amrun Ibn Maimoon Al-Awdee said: "The companions of the Messenger were the fastest people to break the fast (at Maghrib) and the last to eat the Sahoor (i.e. they used to try to take it at the last possible moment)." [Abdur Razaak in the Mussanaf]
Hastening to break the fast also has other benefits that can be included under this heading.
Hastening to break the fast earns good
Sahl Ibn Sa'd (R) said that the Messenger (S) of Allah (T) said: "The people will continue to be in good condition as long as they hasten to break the fast." [Bukhaaree and Muslim] To hasten the breaking of the fast is the Sunnah of the Messenger (S)
If the Muslims hasten the breaking of the fast this would help them to keep on the Sunnah and they would be following the Salaf (Pious Predecessors) who followed it. It is known that the person who holds unto the Sunnah will never go astray.
Sahl Ibn Sa'ad said that the Messenger (S) of Allah (T) said: "My nation would continue to be on my Sunnah as long as they do not wait for the stars to come out before breaking the fast." [Ibn Hibbaan]
Hastening the breaking of the fast is a way to he different from the Astray (the Christians) and those whom Allah is angry with (the Jews)
If people will remain on what is good because they hold on to the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (T), then if they leave this way and follow the Christians and the Jews they would definitely lose the good benefits. This is established in the following Hadeeth. Abu Huraira (R) said that the Messenger of Allah (T) said: "The Deen will be uppermost/manifest as long as the people hasten to break their fast because the Jews and the Christians delay (it)." [Abu Dawood and Ibn Hibbaan]
From the above Hadeeth we must not think that our practicing this hadeeth alone would be responsible for the Deen to be manifest. This hadeeth must be understood along with all those verses from the Quraan and the Hadeeth of the Messenger (S) that deal with the issue of being different from the disbelieving people.
Breaking the fast before the Maghrib Salaat
It is reported that "The Messenger of Allah (T) used to break his fast before the Maghrib Salaat." [Ahmad and Abu Dawood]
Abu Dardaa said: "There are three signs of prophethood, hastening the breaking of the fast, delaying the Sahoor and placing the right hand on the Ieft hand in the Salaat." [Tabaraanee]
What is recommended to eat to break the fast?
The Messenger (S) of Allah (T) used to incite the breaking of the fast with dates and if he did not find any, he would then break it with water.
Anas Ibn Maalik said: "The prophet (S) used to break his fast with fresh dates before he prayed. If he did not find fresh dates then he would use dried dates. If he did not find that also he drank a few sips of water. [Ahmad and Abu Dawood]
What should be said at the time of breaking the fast?
The fasting person should know that Allah (T) listens to his supplication and answers it.
Abu Huraira said the Messenger (S) of Allah (T) said: "The supplications of three groups of people's are not rejected; the du'aa (Supplication) of the fasting person when he is breaking his fast, the du'aa of the just Imam and the du'aa of the oppressed." [Tirmidhee, Ibn Majah and Ibn Hibbaan]
So the fasting person should make use of the time when he is breaking his fast to ask Allah (T) for all those things that would make his life easy in this world and the next. However, although any Du'aa can be made at that time the Messenger (S) also used to make a specific one which we should make sure we supplicate with, along with whatever other supplication we desire.
The Messenger of Allah (S) when he broke his fast. used to say: "The thirst has gone and the veins have recovered and the blessing is established if Allah wills" (dhahaba dhamaa'a wabtallat al-urooq wa thabatal ajr inshaa'allaah) [Ahmad, Al-Baihaaqee]
Feeding a fasting person
It is imperative for the believer to always try to do righteous deeds. From among these righteous deeds is the feeding of the fasting person because of the numerous rewards for this act.
The Prophet (S) said: "Whoever gives someone something to break the fast with, he would hove The same blessings as the fasting person and this would not reduce the blessings of the fasting person in any way " [Ahmad and Tirmidhee]
If someone is invited to break his fast then he should respond to the invitation. If he refuses then he has disobeyed the Messenger (S).
It is also recommended for the person invited to supplicate for his host after finishing eating his food as was the practice of the Messenger (S).
The Messenger (S) used to make the following supplications:
"May the righteous eat your food may the angels send salaat unto you and may the fasting person break their fast with you." [Ahmad, An-Nasaaee]
"O Allah! Feed the one who fed me and give drink to him who gave me to drink" [Muslim]
"O Allah! Forgive them and have Mercy on them and bless whatever you provide for then" [Muslim]
source: http://web.archive.org/web/20050215000345/isgkc.org/ram6.html
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