Does the Hadith About Whoever Dies Due to Plague Being Regarded as a Martyr Also Apply to People who Die due to Corona?
April 8, 2020 § Leave a comment
Does Reciting Surah Kahf on Fridays Prevent One from Falling Under the Category of Having Abandoned the Quraan? Do I get Reward for Listening to the Quraan while Cooking?
April 4, 2020 § Leave a comment
Questioner: What is the definition of abandoning the Quraan? And does reciting Surah Kahf on Fridays prevent one from falling under the category of having abandoned the Quraan? And do I get reward for listening to the Quraan while cooking or anywhere at home?
Al-Khudair: Abandoning the Quraan is to desert reciting it and reflecting upon its meanings, taking heed from it and acting upon it, so abandoning it is done through such things. [Like I said] either by leaving off reciting it such that a long time passes without reading it. Or to leave reflecting over it, which is to abandon its meanings, taking heed from it, and pondering and benefitting from it, and to leave acting upon it, [all this] is to abandon the reason it was sent down, [and] all of this comes under the threat:
وَقَالَ الرَّسُولُ يَا رَبِّ إِنَّ قَوْمِي اتَّخَذُوا هَٰذَا الْقُرْآنَ مَهْجُورًا
“And the Messenger will say, ‘O my Lord! Lo! My people took this Qur’aan as [a thing] abandoned.’” [25:30]
Reciting Surah Kahf on Fridays does not remove one from having abandoned the Quraan, since what is meant by, ‘The Quraan,’ is the Quraan in its entirety—so one has to read it all—reciting some of the Surahs and restricting yourself to them alone, as was mentioned in the question concerning Surah Kahf, does not remove a person from having deserted it.
There is no doubt that by listening to the Quraan on the radio or from someone reciting it one obtains the reward as one does with reciting it, “And when the Qur’an is recited, give ear to it and pay heed, that ye may obtain mercy,” [7:204] so the one listening is like the one reciting, just as the person saying, ‘Aameen’ to someone’s du’aa is like the one [actually] making the du’aa.
Some people benefit more by listening than by reciting it, especially when they listen to an articulate reciter whose recitation is invigorating, for a person might recite the Quraan but his heart is preoccupied and thus he does not reflect over it but when he listens to a reciter whose recitation is enthusing it might benefit him more—but even so, he should recite the Quraan himself, and listen to it recited sometimes.
He should also vary the types of recitation he does too. At times reciting to get the reward for reading each letter, and each one has ten rewards. At others reciting so that his heart can benefit from it as ordered by reflecting over it with a slow, considered, measured, recitation of it.
The point is a Muslim needs to think about the pact he has with his Lord. The Shaikh of Islaam [Ibn Taymiyyah] says that reciting the Quraan as has been prescribed gives a believer’s heart knowledge, certainty, faith and tranquility which can only be envisaged or grasped by someone who has [actually] done so.”
Being Saved from an Affliction, Whatever it is, for as Long as You Live
March 31, 2020 § Leave a comment
“We Seized them with Punishment—but they Humbled Not Themselves …”
March 29, 2020 § Leave a comment
Shaikh Saleh Sindee said, “It’s not the physical deaths due to an epidemic that I am fearful of, since the number of deaths due to car accidents is much greater, what I worry about is the death of one’s heart:
وَلَقَدْ أَخَذْنَاهُم بِالْعَذَابِ فَمَا اسْتَكَانُوا لِرَبِّهِمْ وَمَا يَتَضَرَّعُونَ
‘And indeed We seized them with punishment—but they humbled not themselves to their Lord, nor do they supplicate in humility.’” [23:76]
“Let Your Home be Sufficient for You …”
March 23, 2020 § Leave a comment
From ’Uqbah ibn ’Aamir al-Juhani, who said, “I said, ‘O Messenger of Allaah! What is the means to salvation?’ He replied, ‘Withhold your tongue, let your home be sufficient for you, and cry over your sins.’” Tirmidhi, no. 2406, declared authentic by al-Albaani.
Seeking Refuge with Allaah from Evil Diseases
March 23, 2020 § Leave a comment
From Anas, may Allaah be pleased with him, that the Prophet ﷺ would say:
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ الْبَرَصِ وَالْجُنُونِ وَالْجُذَامِ وَمِنْ سَيِّئِْ الْأَسْقَامِ
Allaahumma innee a’uthubika minal-Barasi, wal-Junooni, wal-Judhaami, wa min sayyi’il-Asqaam
“O Allaah! I seek refuge with You from leprosy, and from madness, and from paralysis, and from evil diseases.” [Reported by Ahmad, Abu Dawud and an-Nasaai’i, Al-Albaani declared it to be Saheeh]
Amazing Quraan Memorisation App
March 22, 2020 § Leave a comment
Here is an amazing app to help with memorising the Qur’aan.
- Click on a blank space to have its corresponding word appear temporarily.
- Click on the verse number symbol to have it appear in full, click again to hide it.
- Click on the + symbol at the bottom of the page to have the verses appear one by one in order, click on the verse number to hide them.
- Swipe over a number of words/verses at any one time to have them all appear temporarily.
- Click on a word two times to have it highlighted in a different colour, in order to help remember where memorisation is weak.
- Click on the name of a Surah, or Juzz, or page number to go there.
You can find it here.
“And We Send Not the Signs Except to Warn …”
March 21, 2020 § Leave a comment
Allaah said, “And We send not the signs except to warn, and to make them afraid [of destruction].” 17:59
Qataadah said in explanation of the above verse, “And verily Allaah causes the people to become frightened with whichever signs He wants—so that they might take heed, so that they might remember, so that they might turn back [to Him].”
Jaami’ul-Bayaan, of Imaam at-Tabaree, under the tafseer of 17:59.
The Most Noble Taabi’ee, Masrooq ibn al-Ajda’ al-Waadi’i During the Plague
March 20, 2020 § Leave a comment
The most noble Taabi’ee, Masrooq ibn al-Ajda’ al-Waadi’i, may Allaah have mercy on him, would stay at home during the plague and say, “Days of keeping oneself busy—so I love to devote myself to worship,” and then he would retreat and betake himself to it. His wife said, “Many a time I would sit behind him, crying, because of what I would see him do to himself—he would pray until his feet would swell.”
At-Tabaqaat of Ibn Sa’d, vol. 6, p. 81.
Ten Points to Help Protect Oneself Against Corona
March 19, 2020 § Leave a comment
Shaikh Abdur-Razzaaq ibn Abdul-Muhsin al-Badr, may Allaah protect him, said, “This is helpful advice connected to the state of fear that people are in these days regarding the Corona epidemic. I ask Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic, that He removes every harm and trial, hardship and adversity from us and the Muslims wherever they are, and that He protect us all with that which He protects His righteous servants with, He is the only One who can grant that, the Only One able to do so.
1—What is to be Said Before a Calamity Befalls You
From Uthmaan ibn ’Affaan, may Allaah be pleased with him, who said, “I heard the Messenger of Allaah ﷺ say, ‘Whoever says:
بِسْمِ اللهِ الَّذِي لاَ يَضُرُّ مَعَ اسْمِهِ شَىْءٌ فِي الأَرْضِ وَلاَ فِي السَّمَاءِ وَهُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيمُ
[Bismillaahilladhee laa yadurru ma’a ismihee shai’un fil-ardi wa laa fis-samaa’i wa huwass-Samee’ul-Aleem
In the Name of Allaah with Whose Name nothing can harm on earth or in heaven, and He is the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing.]
three times, he will not be stricken with a sudden affliction until morning comes, and whoever says that when morning comes, [then] he will not be stricken with a sudden affliction until evening comes.’” [Abu Dawud, no. 5088, Sahih]
2—Increasing How Much You Say, “There is no deity worthy of worship except You! Exalted are You! Indeed, I have been of the wrongdoers.”
لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ أَنْتَ سُبْحَانَكَ إِنِّي كُنْتُ مِنَ الظَّالِمِينَ
[Laa ilaaha illaa anta, subhaanaka innee kuntu minadh-Dhaalimeen
There is none worthy of worship but You, glory is to You. Surely, I was among the wrongdoers.]
Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic, said:
“And [mention] the man of the fish [Prophet Yunus, alaihis-salaam], when he went off in anger and thought that We would not decree [anything] upon him. And he called out within the darknesses, ‘There is no deity worthy of worship except You! Exalted are You! Indeed—I have been of the wrongdoers.’ So We responded to him and saved him from the distress. And thus do We save the believers.” [Anbiyaa 21:87-88]
In his tafseer, Al-Haafidh Ibn Kathir, may Allaah have mercy on him, said about Allaah’s Statement, “And thus do We save the believers,” “Namely, when they are in the midst of calamities and call upon Us, turning to Us Alone, and especially when they supplicate using this du’aa during a trial.”
Then he mentioned a hadith from the Prophet ﷺ where he said, “The supplication of Dhun-Nun (Prophet Yunus) when he supplicated, while in the belly of the whale, was: ‘There is none worthy of worship except You! Glory to You! Indeed, I have been of the transgressors.’ No man supplicates with it for anything, ever, except that Allaah responds to him.” [Imaam Ahmad and Tirmidhi, Sahih]
The Allaamah, Ibn al-Qayyim, may Allaah have mercy on him, said in his book, Al-Fawaa’id, “None of life’s adversities are repelled with anything like tawheed, and for this reason the du’aa said at times of distress is one of tawheed, and the du’aa of Dhun-Noon, which no afflicted person supplicates with except that Allaah delivers him from his distress, is one of tawheed. Nothing throws one into major calamities except shirk, and nothing saves you from them except tawheed—it is creation’s refuge, its asylum, its fortress and succourer [i.e., aider in times of need] and with Allaah lies all success.”
3—Seeking Refuge from the Difficult Moments of a Calamity
From Abu Hurairah, may Allaah be pleased with him, “Allaah’s Messenger ﷺ used to seek refuge from the difficult moments of a calamity, and from being overtaken by wretchedness in the Hereafter or destruction and from being destined to an evil end, and from the malicious joy of enemies.”
From Abu Hurairah, may Allaah be pleased with him, from Allaah’s Messenger ﷺ, that he said, “Seek refuge with Allaah from the difficult moments of a calamity, and from being overtaken by wretchedness in the Hereafter or destruction and from being destined to an evil end, and from the malicious joy of enemies.” [both reported by Bukhaari]
[So one would say:
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ جَهْدِ الْبَلاَءِ، وَدَرَكِ الشَّقَاءِ، وَسُوءِ الْقَضَاءِ، وَشَمَاتَةِ الأَعْدَاءِ
Allaahumma innee a’uthubikaa min Jahdil-Balaa, wa darakishaqaa, wa soo’il-qadaa, wa shamaatatil-a’daa.
Oh Allaah! I seek refuge with You from the difficult moments of a calamity, and from being overtaken by wretchedness in the Hereafter or destruction, and from being destined to an evil end, and from the malicious joy of enemies.”]
4—Always Remembering to Say the Du’aa for Leaving One’s Home
From Anas ibn Maalik, may Allaah be pleased with him, that the Prophet ﷺ said, “When a man goes out of his house and says:
بِسْمِ اللهِ تَوَكَّلْتُ عَلَى اللهِ لاَ حَوْلَ وَلاَ قُوَّةَ إِلاَّ بِاللهِ
[Bismillaah. Tawakkaltu alallaah, laa hawla, wa laa quwwata illaa billaah.
In the Name of Allaah. I rely upon Allaah, there is no power and no strength except with Allaah.’]
then it is said, ‘You have been guided, defended and protected!’ And the devils go far away from him, and another devil says, ‘What can you do with a man who has been guided, defended and protected?’” [Abu Daawud, no. 5095, Sahih]
5—Asking Allaah for Well-being in the Morning and Afternoon
From Abdullah ibn Umar, may Allaah be pleased with him, who said, “Allaah’s Messenger ﷺ never used to leave these words of supplication in the morning or evening:
اللّهُـمَّ إِنِّـي أسْـأَلُـكَ العَـفْوَ وَالعـافِـيةَ في الدُّنْـيا وَالآخِـرَة
اللّهُـمَّ إِنِّـي أسْـأَلُـكَ العَـفْوَ وَالعـافِـيةَ في ديني وَدُنْـيايَ وَأهْـلي وَمالـي
اللّهُـمَّ اسْتُـرْ عـوْراتي وَآمِـنْ رَوْعاتـي
اللّهُـمَّ احْفَظْـني مِن بَـينِ يَدَيَّ وَمِن خَلْفـي وَعَن يَمـيني وَعَن شِمـالي، وَمِن فَوْقـي
وَأَعـوذُ بِعَظَمَـتِكَ أَن أُغْـتالَ مِن تَحْتـي
Allaahumma innee as’alukal-afwa wal-aafiyata fid-dunyaa wal-aakhirah.
Allaahumma innee as’alukal-afwa wal-aafiyata fee deenee wa dunyaaya, wa ahlee, wa maalee.
Allaahummastur awraatee, wa aamin raw’aatee.
Allahummah-faznee mim-bayni yadayya, wa min khalfee, wa an yameenee, wa an shimaalee, wa min fawqee.
Wa a’oodhu bi azamatika an ughtaala min tahtee.
‘O Allaah, I ask You for pardon and well-being in this life and the next.
O Allaah, I ask You for pardon and well-being in my religious and worldly affairs, and my family and my wealth.
O Allaah, veil my weaknesses and set at ease my dismay.
O Allaah, preserve me from the front and from behind and on my right and on my left and from above.
And I take refuge with You lest I be swallowed up by the earth.’] [Ahmad and others]
6—Making Lots of Du’aa
From Ibn Umar, may Allaah be pleased with him, who said, “Allaah’s Messenger ﷺ said, “Whomsoever of you the door of supplication is opened for, the doors of mercy have been opened for him. And Allaah is not asked for anything—meaning: more beloved to Him—than being asked for Al-Aafiyah [well-being].” And the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “Supplication benefits against that which strikes and that which does not strike, so hold fast, O worshippers of Allah, to supplication.” [Tirmidhee, no. 3548]
7—Safeguarding Oneself from the Places where the Plague Is
From Abdullaah ibn Aamir, may Allaah be pleased with him, that, “Umar, may Allaah be pleased with him, went to Shaam and when he reached Sargh, he received news that an epidemic (of plague) had broken out in Shaam. Abdur-Rahman bin Auf told him that Allaah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said, ‘If you hear that it has broken out in a land, do not go to it, but if it breaks out in a land where you are present, do not go out in order to run away from it.’” [Bukhaari, no, 5730]
And from Abu Hurairah, may Allaah be pleased with him, that the Messenger of Allaah ﷺ said, “The ill should not be taken to the healthy.” [Bukhaari and Muslim]
8—Doing Good Deeds and Helping Others
From Anas, may Allaah be pleased with him, that Allaah’s Messenger ﷺ said, “Good works protect [one] from falling into evil, from calamities and diseases, and different types of destruction. The good people in this world are the good people in the Hereafter.” [Al-Haakim]
Ibn al-Qayyim, may Allaah have mercy on him, said, “Some of the greatest cures for illnesses are: doing good deeds and helping others, remembering Allaah, making du’aa, humbling oneself [before Allaah], earnestly supplicating to Allaah [Ibtihaal], turning to Him in repentance—these things have an effect in repelling these sicknesses and obtaining a cure, even greater than natural medicines, but are dependant on how prepared a person is, on his acceptance [of these things], his belief in them and in their benefit.”
9—Standing to Pray at Night [Qiyaam al-Layl]
From Bilaal, may Allaah be pleased with him, that the Prophet ﷺ said, “Hold fast to praying at night [Qiyaam al-Layl], for it is the practice of the righteous before you, and indeed Qiyaam al-Layl is a means of nearness to Allaah, a means of prevention from sin, an expiation for bad deeds, and a barrier for the body against disease.” [Tirmidhi, no. 3549]
10—Covering up Vessels and Tying up Water-skins
From Jaabir ibn Abdullah, may Allaah be pleased with him, who said, “I heard Allaah’s Messenger ﷺ saying, ‘Cover the vessels and tie up the water-skins, for there is one night in the year when pestilence descends, and it does not pass by any vessel that is not covered or any water-skin that is not tied up except that some of that pestilence descends into it.’” [Muslim]
Ibn al-Qayyim, may Allaah have mercy on him, said, “And this is a point which the knowledge of doctors and their acquaintances cannot attain.” [Zaadul-Ma’aad]
To conclude, it is upon every Muslim to entrust his affairs to Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic, hoping for His Bounty, longing for His Gifts, trusting in Him, since all matters are in His Hands and under His Direction, subservient to Him, and that he strive to face what misfortunes may come his way through patience and hoping for reward from Allaah, for He, the Mighty and Majestic, has promised a great reward for the one who does so, saying, “Only those who are patient shall receive their rewards in full, without reckoning.” [Zumar 39:10]
And from Aaishah, may Allaah be pleased with her, that she asked the Prophet ﷺ about the plague, so he ﷺ said, “The plague was a punishment which Allaah used to send on whom He wished, but Allaah made it a blessing for the believers. None [among the believers] remains patient in a land in which the plague has broken out and considers that nothing will befall him except what Allaah has ordained for him, but that Allaah will grant him a reward similar to that of a martyr.” [Bukhaari]
And I ask Allaah that He grant us all success in doing righteous actions and uttering beautiful speech that pleases Him, for verily He says the truth and guides to the right path.”
Gifts of Knowledge 