Fasting on the Day of Arafah

عَنْ أَبِي قَتَادَةَ اَلْأَنْصَارِيِّ ‏- رضى الله عنه ‏- { أَنَّ رَسُولَ اَللَّهِ ‏- صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏-سُئِلَ عَنْ صَوْمِ يَوْمِ عَرَفَةَ.‏ قَالَ: ” يُكَفِّرُ اَلسَّنَةَ اَلْمَاضِيَةَ وَالْبَاقِيَةَ “, وَسُئِلَ عَنْ صِيَامِ يَوْمِ عَاشُورَاءَ.‏ قَالَ: ” يُكَفِّرُ اَلسَّنَةَ اَلْمَاضِيَةَ ” وَسُئِلَ عَنْ صَوْمِ يَوْمِ اَلِاثْنَيْنِ, قَالَ: ” ذَاكَ يَوْمٌ وُلِدْتُ فِيهِ, وَبُعِثْتُ فِيهِ, أَوْ أُنْزِلَ عَلَيَّ فِيهِ ” } رَوَاهُ مُسْلِمٌ 1‏ 

Abu Qatadah Al-Ansari (RAA) narrated, ‘The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was asked about fasting on the day of Arafah (the 9th of the month of Dhul Hijjah). He replied, “Fasting on the day of Arafah is an expiation for the preceding year and the following year.” He was also asked about fasting on the day of Ashura (the 10th of the month of Muharram). He replied, “Fasting on the day of Ashura is an expiation for the preceding year.” The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was also asked about fasting on Monday, and he replied, “This is the day on which I was born and the day on which I was sent (with the Message of Islam) and the day on which I received revelation.” Related by Muslim.

1 ‏- صحيح.‏ رواه مسلم ( 1162 )‏ ( 197 )‏، وساقه الحافظ بتقديم وتأخير.‏

Reading Surah al-Mulk

وعن أبي هريرة رضي الله عنه عن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قال ‏:‏‏”‏ من القرآن سورة ثلاثون آية شفعت لرجل حتى غفرت له ،وهي‏:‏ تبارك الذي بيده الملك ‏”‏‏.‏ ‏(‏‏(‏رواه أبو داود والترمذي وقال ‏:‏‏”‏ حديث حسن ، وفي رواية أبي داود‏:‏ ‏”‏تشفع ‏”‏‏)‏‏)‏‏.‏

I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) saying, “There is a Surah in the Qur’an which contains thirty Ayat which kept interceding for a man until his sins are forgiven. This Surah is ‘Blessed is He in Whose Hand is the dominion.’ (Surat Al-Mulk 67).”

[At-Tirmidhi and Abu Dawud].

Click here to read Surah al Mulk

Fasting is obligatory in the month of Ramadan

حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ بْنُ جَعْفَرٍ، عَنْ أَبِي سُهَيْلٍ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ طَلْحَةَ بْنِ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ، أَنَّ أَعْرَابِيًّا، جَاءَ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ثَائِرَ الرَّأْسِ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَخْبِرْنِي مَاذَا فَرَضَ اللَّهُ عَلَىَّ مِنَ الصَّلاَةِ فَقَالَ ‏”‏ الصَّلَوَاتِ الْخَمْسَ، إِلاَّ أَنْ تَطَّوَّعَ شَيْئًا ‏”‏‏.‏ فَقَالَ أَخْبِرْنِي مَا فَرَضَ اللَّهُ عَلَىَّ مِنَ الصِّيَامِ فَقَالَ ‏”‏ شَهْرَ رَمَضَانَ، إِلاَّ أَنْ تَطَّوَّعَ شَيْئًا ‏”‏‏.‏ فَقَالَ أَخْبِرْنِي بِمَا فَرَضَ اللَّهُ عَلَىَّ مِنَ الزَّكَاةِ فَقَالَ فَأَخْبَرَهُ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم شَرَائِعَ الإِسْلاَمِ‏.‏ قَالَ وَالَّذِي أَكْرَمَكَ لاَ أَتَطَوَّعُ شَيْئًا، وَلاَ أَنْقُصُ مِمَّا فَرَضَ اللَّهُ عَلَىَّ شَيْئًا‏.‏ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏”‏ أَفْلَحَ إِنْ صَدَقَ، أَوْ دَخَلَ الْجَنَّةَ إِنْ صَدَقَ ‏”‏‏.‏

A bedouin with unkempt hair came to Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) and said, “O Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ)! Inform me what Allah has made compulsory for me as regards the prayers.” He replied: “You have to offer perfectly the five compulsory prayers in a day and night (24 hours), unless you want to pray Nawafil.” The bedouin further asked, “Inform me what Allah has made compulsory for me as regards fasting.” He replied, “You have to fast during the whole month of Ramadan, unless you want to fast more as Nawafil.” The bedouin further asked, “Tell me how much Zakat Allah has enjoined on me.” Thus, Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) informed him about all the rules (i.e. fundamentals) of Islam. The bedouin then said, “By Him Who has honored you, I will neither perform any Nawafil nor will I decrease what Allah has enjoined on me. Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said, “If he is saying the truth, he will succeed (or he will be granted Paradise).

 

 

 

Praying the Congregation Prayer at the Masjid

حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا يَزِيدُ بْنُ هَارُونَ، قَالَ أَخْبَرَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ مُطَرِّفٍ، عَنْ زَيْدِ بْنِ أَسْلَمَ، عَنْ عَطَاءِ بْنِ يَسَارٍ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏ “‏ مَنْ غَدَا إِلَى الْمَسْجِدِ وَرَاحَ أَعَدَّ اللَّهُ لَهُ نُزُلَهُ مِنَ الْجَنَّةِ كُلَّمَا غَدَا أَوْ رَاحَ ‏.”‏‏

The Messenger (peace be upon him) said, “Allah will prepare for him who goes to the Masjid in the morning and in the afternoon (for the congregation prayer) an honorable place in Paradise with good hospitality.”

[Agreed Upon]

Commentary:

From the benefits of this hadith:

  1. The virtue of travelling to the Masjid.
  2. The virtue of constantly praying in congregation.
  3. The actions of people are gathered with Allah.

It shows the great bounty of Allah upon His slaves whereby he gives such a great reward for such a small act.

And Allah Knows Best!

Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 662 In-book reference : Book 10, Hadith 56

Obeying One’s Husband

The Messenger (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said, “If a woman observes her five daily prayers, fasts during the month of Ramadhan, guards her chastity and obeys her husband, she may enter Paradise through any of the gates she wishes.”

[Ibn Hibban ~ Hadith Sahih]

Commentary:

This hadith shows the bounty of Allah which He has bestowed upon the Muslimah (Muslim woman) whereby she is granted paradise and given the choice to enter through any gate she pleases if she is able to perform these certain acts.

These acts are:

  1. Constantly prays her five daily prayers.
  2. Fasts the month of Ramadhan.
  3. Guards her chastity from all types of adultery.
  4. Obeys her husband in everything other than disobedience to Allah.

On the day of judgment the people of paradise will enter paradise through the gates which they are deserving of, so the ones who fast would enter through the gate of fasting and the ones who died as martyrs would enter through the gate of martyrdom and the Muslimah who observes these actions is given the choice to enter through any gate which she pleases. This is the bounty of Allah which He gives to whomever He pleases.

And Allah Knows Best!

Four Simple Deeds

The Messenger (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said, “O mankind! Spread the salutation, feed the poor and needy, join the ties of kinship and offer prayers at night while the people are asleep and you shall enter Paradise in peace.”

[Ibn Majah]

Commentary:

This hadith shows four types of worship which help one enter paradise with no hardship.

These four actions are:

  1. Spreading salutation (salam) by making it apparent to those whom you know and those whom you don’t know from the Muslims.
  2. Feeding the poor and needy by giving charity other than the Zakaat which is obligatory.
  3. Joining the ties of kinship from family and relatives.
  4. Praying the night prayers whilst everyone else is asleep. The final third of the night is considered to be the best time for this prayer because it is the time that Allah Almighty descends to the lowest heaven in order to forgive those whom are praying and grant them what they ask for

And Allah Knows Best!

99 Names of Allah

The Messenger of Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said “Allah has ninety nine names, one less than a hundred, whoever perfects them enters paradise”.

[Sahih Al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim]

Commentary:

The Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) mentions in this hadih that Allah Almighty has 99 names and whoever perfects these 99 names enters paradise. Allah’s names are not restricted to 99, what this hadith means is that whoever perfects these (specific) 99 names enters paradise.

The meaning of “perfecting” Allah’s names is to affirm them, memorize them and understand their meanings.

And Allah Knows Best!

Offering Twelve Voluntary Units of Prayer

حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عِيسَى، حَدَّثَنَا ابْنُ عُلَيَّةَ، حَدَّثَنَا دَاوُدُ بْنُ أَبِي هِنْدٍ، حَدَّثَنِي النُّعْمَانُ بْنُ سَالِمٍ، عَنْ عَمْرِو بْنِ أَوْسٍ، عَنْ عَنْبَسَةَ بْنِ أَبِي سُفْيَانَ، عَنْ أُمِّ حَبِيبَةَ، قَالَتْ قَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ “‏ مَنْ صَلَّى فِي يَوْمٍ ثِنْتَىْ عَشْرَةَ رَكْعَةً تَطَوُّعًا بُنِيَ لَهُ بِهِنَّ بَيْتٌ فِي الْجَنَّةِ ‏”‏ ‏

The Messenger (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said, “Whoever prays twelve units (of voluntary prayer) during the night and day, Allah will build for him a house in Paradise.”

[At-Tirmidhi ~ Hadith Sahih]

Commentary:

The twelve units of voluntary prayer mentioned in this hadith consists of:

  1. Four (4) units before Dhuhr and two (2) units after it
  2. Two (2) units after Maghrib
  3. Two (2) units after Ishaa’
  4. Two (2) units before Fajr

And Allah Knows Best!

Reciting Ayat Al-Kursiy Before Going To Bed

عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ وَكَّلَنِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ بِحِفْظِ زَكَاةِ رَمَضَانَ فَأَتَانِي آتٍ فَجَعَلَ يَحْثُو مِنْ الطَّعَامِ فَأَخَذْتُهُ فَقُلْتُ لَأَرْفَعَنَّكَ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَذَكَرَ الْحَدِيثَ فَقَالَ إِذَا أَوَيْتَ إِلَى فِرَاشِكَ فَاقْرَأْ آيَةَ الْكُرْسِيِّ لَنْ يَزَالَ عَلَيْكَ مِنْ اللَّهِ حَافِظٌ وَلَا يَقْرَبُكَ شَيْطَانٌ حَتَّى تُصْبِحَ فَقَالَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ صَدَقَكَ وَهُوَ كَذُوبٌ ذَاكَ شَيْطَانٌ

Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, ordered me to guard the alms of Ramadan. Then someone came and was stealing from the food. I caught him and said, “I will take you to the Messenger of Allah!” He said to me, “Please do not take me to the Messenger of Allah! I will tell you a few words through which Allah will benefit you! When you go to your bed, then recite the verse of the Throne (2:255) for there will be a guard from Allah to protect you throughout the night and Satan will not come near to you until dawn.” When the Prophet heard this, he said, “He told you the truth although he is a liar, for he was Satan.

 

Commentary:

This hadith shows the virtue of reciting Ayat Al-Kursi before going to bed whereby the Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) mentioned that whoever recites it when going to bed then one is protected from Satan. In another hadith Prophet (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) mentioned that when someone recites Ayat Al-Kirsi, he will protect until the morning. Two angels are deputed to protect him.

This Ayah (verse) has many virtues, from these virtues are:

  1. The Prophet described it as the greatest ayah in the Quran
  2. It is considered to be protection from all types of evil.
  3. In it the Most Great Name of Allah is mentioned

And Allah Knows Best!

Reference: Surah al-Baqarah 2: 255, al-Bukhaari

Performing Hajj

The Messenger (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said, “The reward for an accepted hajj is nothing less than Paradise.”

[Agreed Upon]

Commentary:

Performing Hajj is a pillar from the pillars of Islam and this hadith is evidence that an accepted hajj has no reward except paradise.

The scholars defined an accepted hajj as the hajj which is free from:

  1. Rafath (sexual engagement)
  2. Fusooq (sins)
  3. Jidaal (arguing)

And Allah Knows Best!