Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Eid Mubarak & The Day of ‘Arafah

assalamu alaykum wa rahmatullah,

Eid Mubarak to all!

Also remember to fast on The Day of ‘Arafah.

Prophet, upon whom be peace, said: “Fasting on the day of ‘Arafah absolves the sins for two years: the previous year and the coming year, and fasting on ‘ashûra, (the tenth day of Muharram) atones for the sins of previous years.”
[Reported by all except al-Bukhârî and Tirmidhî]

JazakAllahkhayran

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Sacrifice & Dhul Hijjah

assalamu alaykum wa rahmatullah,

If anyone is interested in offering Udhiya (sacrifice) online. It is possible to do so from the ICNA relief website. Remember that it is very important especially if you can afford it inshaAllah.
http://www.icnareliefcanada.ca/

You can give it for as little as $45 in Kenya and India!

Also remember to Fast on the Ninth of Ara'fa and do as many good deeds as possible during these 10 days.

IbnAbbaas (may Allaah be pleased with him and his father) also reported that the Prophet (pbuh) said:

“There is no deed more precious in the sight of Allaah, nor greater in reward, than a good deed done during the ten days of Sacrifice.” He was asked, “Not even jihaad for the sake of Allaah?” He said, “Not even jihaad for the sake of Allaah, except in the case of a man who went out to fight giving himself and his wealth up for the cause, and came back with nothing.”

(Reported by al-Daarimi, 1/357; its isnaad is hasan as stated in al-Irwaa’, 3/398)

‘Abdullaah ibn ‘Umar (may Allaah be pleased with him and his father) reported that the Prophet (pbuh) said: “There are no days greater in the sight of Allaah and in which righteous deeds are more beloved to Him than these ten days, so during this time recite a great deal of Tahleel (“La ilaaha ill-Allaah”), Takbeer and Tahmeed.”

(Reported by Ahmad, 7/224; Ahmad Shaakir stated that it is saheeh)


Check out this short video by Yasir Qadhi about the 10 days
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWixVC04yyU


JazakAllahukhayr

Saturday, September 5, 2009

Benefits of Building Masjids

Assalamu Alaykum wa Rahmatullah wa barkatuh,

In Ramadan time we can clearly see the value of building Masjids and the impact it has within our society. InshaAllah this is just a short article I wish to write in order to motivate each and everyone to assist with Masjids in whatever way possible, whether it be through your wealth, actions or du’a.

Any good in this is from Allah and any mistakes or contradictions are from Shaytan and my own weakness in knowledge.

Benefits of Building Masjids

1. Remembrance of Allah: Masjid is where Allah (subhana wa tala) is glorified, praised and remembered. If this would have been the only benefit, it would have been sufficient for us to strive to build more and more Masjids.

“In houses (mosques), which Allâh has ordered to be raised (to be cleaned, and to be honoured), in them His Name is glorified in the mornings and in the afternoons or the evenings, Men whom neither trade nor sale diverts them from the Remembrance of Allâh (with heart and tongue), nor from performing As­Salât (Iqâmat-as-Salât), nor from giving the Zakât. They fear a Day when hearts and eyes will be overturned (from the horror of the torment of the Day of Resurrection). That Allâh may reward them according to the best of their deeds, and add even more for them out of His Grace. And Allâh provides without measure to whom He wills.” (An Nur 36-38)

2. Ongoing Charity - Sadaqa Tu Jariya: Donating to a Masjid, is an ongoing charity which continues even after a person dies and his/her book of deeds are closed. Even if you spend one Dollar towards a Masjid, InshaAllah that will count as an ongoing charity.

Messenger (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “When a man dies, his good deeds come to an end except three: ongoing charity, beneficial knowledge and a righteous son who will pray for him.” Narrated by Muslim, 3084.

The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “The good deeds that will reach a believer after his death are: knowledge which he learned and then spread; a righteous son whom he leaves behind; a copy of the Qur’aan that he leaves as a legacy; a mosque that he built; a house that he built for wayfarers; a canal that he dug; or charity that he gave during his lifetime when he was in good health. These deeds will reach him after his death.” Classed as hasan by al-Albaani in Saheeh Ibn Maajah.

3. House in Jannah: Is there anything else we need? Where are the investors?

The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "Whosoever builds for Allah a masjid, Allah will reward him similar to it in paradise.” (Bukhari, Muslim)

In another narration, "Whosoever shares in building a masjid for Allah, even if it is as small as a bird’s nest, Allah will build for him a house in Paradise." (Ahmad)

4. Da’wah & Naseeha: Having the mere presence of a Masjid is a way of inviting to Islam. Allah (subhana wa tala) guides many Non-Muslims to Islam by them wandering into the Masjid and asking about Islam. How many of the youth have left corruption and have come to the Masjid? Instead of consuming drugs and alcohol they are volunteering for a Masjid. Instead of spending time with girlfriends and boyfriends they are memorizing Al Qur’an. Instead of vandalizing property they are reading about the Seerah of the Prophet (saws). The benefits of a Masjid to a neighborhood are tremendous.

5. Counseling: Instead of spending thousands in organizations counseling just to earn a profit, an Imam is available for assistance to a community. Best of all he is not using some contemporary book where the author himself is having problems, he uses a book which has no contradictions and which is A Clear Guidance to all of mankind.

6. Knowledge: Masjid is a source of knowledge. Seeking knowledge is obligatory upon the believers. Also, look at how many children are benefiting from going to the Masjid and seeking knowledge. Who knows which child might be the next scholar of the Ummah and imagine if you had a hand in helping that child, by helping in establishing the Masjid.

“It is only those who have knowledge among His slaves that fear Allah.” [Fatir 35:28]

“Say: ‘Are those who know equal to those who do not know?’ It is only men of understanding who will remember.” [Az-Zumar 39:9]

“Whenever Allah desires good for a person He grants him the understanding of the religion.” [Bukhari]

"Whoever goes to the mosque not desiring except to learn or teach what is good has the reward of a pilgrim who completed his Hajj." [at-Tabarani, classed as Saheeh by Al-Albani]

7. Unite the Community and Encourage brotherhood: Establishes large gatherings of Muslims. Just look how everyone breaks their fast together in Ramadan at the Masjid, does this not encourage brotherhood?

These are just “some” of the benefits of building a Masjid. There are several Masjids that need your assistance RIGHT NOW!! Below are some links for Masjids within Canada. What better time to give than in the month of Ramadan. I ask Allah to accept our deeds and forgive us for our shortcomings. Please forgive me for any mistakes in this email and remember me in your dua’.

JazakAllahukhayran,
Fares Elahi

http://www.oshawamosque.com/
http://www.ummahmasjid.ca/en/donatecontact
http://www.daruliman.org/
http://www.pickeringislamiccentre.com/
http://www.salaheddin.org/
http://www.abuhuraira.org/
http://www.danforthcommunitycenter.org/

Saturday, August 22, 2009

Ramadan Mubarak to all of you and your families!

Assalamu Alaykum wa Rahmatullahi wa barkatu,

Ramadan Mubarak to all of you and your families!

Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: “The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said, ‘There has come to you Ramadaan, a blessed month. Allaah has made it obligatory on you to fast (this month). During it the gates of Paradise are opened and the gates of Hell are locked, and the devils are chained up. In it there is a night that is better than a thousand months, and whoever is deprived of its goodness is deprived indeed.’” (Reported by al-Nisaa'i, 4/129; Saheeh al-Targheeb, 1/490)

I ask Allah to give us all the ability to make the most out of this Ramadan, make this a means of increasing our Eman and get closer to Allah. Ameen. Let's treat this like our last and only Ramadan before death.

Lastly, please forgive me for any of my short comings, this is a month of forgiveness, so we should all forgive one another inshaAllah.

Let us all wake up late at night and ask from Allah (subhana wa tala). Please remember me and the entire ummah in your dua'.


"And your Lord said: "Invoke Me, [i.e. believe in My Oneness (Islâmic Monotheism)] (and ask Me for anything) I will respond to your (invocation)." (Surah Ghafir, 60)

JazakAllahukhayran
Fares Elahi

------------
F.E

Anas (Radhi Allahu Ta'ala Anhu), who said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (Sallallahu alayhi wa Sallam) say:"Allah the Almighty said: O son of Adam, so long as you call upon Me and ask of Me, I shall forgive you for what you have done, and I shall not mind. O son of Adam, were your sins to reach the clouds of the sky and were you then to ask forgiveness of Me, I would forgive you. O son of Adam, were you to come to Me with sins nearly as great as the earth and were you then to face Me, ascribing no partner to Me, I would bring you forgiveness nearly as great at it."[at-Tirmidhi, Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal]

Monday, August 10, 2009

Iftaar!

Why should you spend your money on iftaar funds at the Masjid?

Why should you invite guests over for iftaar?

The Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said,

"Whoever provides food for breaking of the fast of a fasting person receives the reward of the fasting person, without the reward of the fasting person being reduced in any way."

[at-Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah]

The Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) also said,
“Save yourself from the (Hell) Fire even with half a date (to be given in charity). And if you do not find that, then with a good pleasant word.”

[Al-Bukhari]

Note: This does not remove the obligation of fasting if one is capable of doing so, it is a means of increasing the scale of good deeds of an individual through the mercy of Allah.

Sunday, August 9, 2009

Benefits and Blessings of Seeking Knowledge

Assalamu alaykum wa rahmatullah all,

Here are some of the benefits and blessings of seeking knowledge. This should be enough motivation for us to go and seek knowledge, whether it be from Halaqas in our local Masjid, or through events, conferences or by reading books. Seek as much knowledge as possible till death and put it into practice.

At the same time, while you seek knowledge don't forget your family and friends, help them by teaching them or taking them to the lectures that you attend! This is one of the areas many brothers/sisters neglect, after getting into the Deen they end up going home and expects everyone to change without putting in the time and effort to help them. Also remember that knowledge without good character is pointless, so read up books on manners and ettiquetes and inshaAllah that will help.

inshaAllah the following will be enough motivation for you to seek Ilm or further your studies....

“It is only those who have knowledge among His slaves that fear Allah.” [Fatir 35:28]

“Whenever Allah desires good for a person He grants him the understanding of the religion.” [Bukhari]

“Say: ‘Are those who know equal to those who do not know?’ It is only men of understanding who will remember.” [Az-Zumar 39:9]

“Whosoever pursues a path to seek knowledge therein, Allah will thereby make easy for him a path to Paradise. Verily, the Angels lower their wings for the Seeker of Knowledge out of contentment for what he does. Verily, everything in the heavens and everything in the earth, even the fish in the water, asks forgiveness for the scholar. The superiority of the scholar over the worshipper is like the superiority of the moon over the rest of the stars. Verily, the scholars are the inheritors of the Prophets, and verily, the Prophets did not inherit a Dinar nor a Dirham, rather they only inherited knowledge, so whoever takes a hold of it has taken a hold of a great fortune.” [Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah, Ibn Hibban, Bayhaqee]

"Seek knowledge, because seeking it for the sake of Allah is a worship. And knowing it makes you more God-fearing; and searching for it is jihad, teaching it to those who do not know is charity, reviewing and learning it more is like tasbeeh. Through knowledge Allah will be known and worshipped. With the knowledge Allah will elevate people and make them leaders and imams, who will in turn guide other people." Ibn Taymiyya vol.10, p.39

"Whoever treads on a path in search of Islamic knowledge, Allah will ease the way to Paradise for him. The angels will lower their wings, pleased with this seeker of knowledge, and everyone in the heavens and on earth will ask forgiveness for the knowledgeable person, even the fish in the deepest of waters will ask for his forgiveness” [Abu Dawud, Ibn Majah, Tirmidhi]

“He whom death overtakes while he is engaged in acquiring knowledge with a view to reviving Islam with the help of it, there will be one degree between him and the Prophets in Paradise .” [Al-Tirmidhi]

Prophet (saw) said,"Whoever goes down a path/road searching for knowledge, Allah will make it easy for him the road to Paradise ." [Muslim]

"Whoever goes to the mosque not desiring except to learn or teach what is good has the reward of a pilgrim who completed his Hajj." [at-Tabarani, classed as Saheeh by Al-Albani]

Imaam Adh-Dhahabee (d. 748H) said: "Whoever's heart becomes sick with doubts and false notions, then this condition will not come to an end unless he asks the people of knowledge, so that he learns from the truth that which will repel his sickness. And thus it will not affect him seriously.

Imam Shafi’ (rahimahullah) said: "Whoever seeks the fruits of this life should gain Islamic knowledge, and whoever seeks the hereafter should gain (Islamic) knowledge."

Monday, March 23, 2009

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Prophet (salallahu alayhi wasalam) said, "Whoever leaves his home in a state of purity (wudu) to perform obligatory prayer, his reward is like that of a pilgrim (while in the state of ihram). (ie. He receives a reward similar to that of spending time in ihram during hajj)
[Abu Dawood, Saheeh Al Albani]


Prophet (salallahu alayhi wasalam) said, “Whoever goes to the Masjid not desiring (anything) except to learn or teach what is good has the reward of a pilgrim who completed Hajj”
[At-Tabaranee, Saheeh Al Albani]


Prophet (salallahu alayhi wasalam) said, “Whoever prays Al Fajr in congregation (in the Masjid), then sits remembering Allah until sunrise, then prays two units of prayer, has a complete reward of Hajj and Umrah [The Prophet repeated complete three times for emphasis]
[At-Tirmidhee]


Please Note: This does not remove the obligation to do Hajj at least once in a lifetime. It gives you the opportunity to receive a similar reward.

This is an example of the Mercy of Allah.