SALAM - Salaam - The Divine Way Of Greeting

SALAM - The Divine Way Of Greeting

A greeting is something that we say or do upon meeting someone or passing by them.

HOW THE SALAAM (GREETING) BEGAN.

Narrated Abu Hurairah [radhi-yAllâhu 'anhu]: The Prophet [sal-Allâhu 'alayhi wa sallam] said, "Allâh created Adam in His Image, sixty cubits (about 30 meters) in height. When He created him, He said (to him), 'Go and greet that group of angels sitting there, and listen what they will say in reply to you, for that will be your greeting and the greeting of your offspring.' Adam (went and) said, 'As-Salaamu 'Alaykum (peace be upon you).' They replied, 'As-Salaamu 'Alaykum wa Rahmatullah (Peace and Allâh's Mercy be on you).' So they increased 'wa Rahmatullah.' “

(Sahih Bukhari)

Allah(swt) says in Quran

Holy Quran (Saheeh International translation)

4:86. And when you are greeted with a greeting, greet [in return] with one better than it or [at least] return it [in a like manner]. Indeed Allah is ever, over all things, an Accountant.

In above verses Allah orders us that if any one greets us we should greet him back with better or at least with same greetings.

Some one greets you with	Reply (At least)	Reply (Better)
As salam wa alaikum.	As salam wa alaikum.	As salam wa alaikum wa rehmatullah As salam wa alaikum wa rehmatullahu wa barkatuhu
As salam wa alaikum wa rehmatullah	As salam wa alaikum wa rehmatullah	As salam wa alaikum wa rehmatullahu wa barkatuhu
As salam wa alaikum wa rehmatullahu wa barkatuhu	As salam wa alaikum wa rehmatullahu wa barkatuhu	As salam wa alaikum wa rehmatullahu wa barkatuhu

Practice of saying salutation by saying As salam wa awaikum is the mean to acheive faith

Saheeh Muslim

 Bk 1, Number 0096:

Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah (may peace and blessing be upon him) observed: You shall not enter Paradise so long as you do not affirm belief (in all those things which are the articles of faith) and you will not believe as long as you do not love one another. Should I not direct you to a thing which, if you do, will foster love amongst you: (i. e.) give currency to (the practice of paying salutation to one another by saying) as−salamu alaikum.

Abu Hurairah said, "I heard the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, say, 'The rights a Muslim has over another Muslim are five." He was asked, "What are they?" He replied, "When he meets him, he should greet him, When he gives him an invitation, he should accept. When he asks him for advice, he should give him good counsel. When he sneezes and praises Allah, he should wish him mercy. When he is ill, he should visit him. When he dies, he should accompany him."

(Bukhari, Al Adab Al Mufrad)

At-Tufayl ibn Ubayy ibn Ka'b related that he used to visit 'Abdullah ibn 'Umar and would go with him to the market. He said, "When we went to the market, 'Abdullah ibn 'Umar did not pass by any rubbish collector nor merchant nor poor person nor anyone else without greeting them."(Bukhari)

'A'isha reported, "The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, ''A'ish! This is Jibril who sends you greetings.' I said, 'And peace be upon him and the mercy of Allah and His blessings. You see what I do not see." By that she meant the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace. (Bukhari)

Abu Hurayra said, "The most miserly of people is the person who is miserly with the greeting. The one who is cheated of good is the one who does not return it.

Peace is one of the Names of Allah which Allah has placed on the earth. Extend it among

you. When a man greets people and they answer him, then he has a higher degree than

them because he reminds them of peace. If no one answers him, he will be answered by one

who is better and more excellent.'" (Bukhari)

What we are suppose to say when someone wish us in bad way?

Answer is given in below hadiths of Prophet (saw) where Jews said “Death be upon you” to him and he only replied Wa alaikum.

Saheeh Muslim

Bk 26, Number 5386:

'A'isha reported that some Jews came to Allah's Apostle (may peace be upon him) and they said: Abu'l−Qasim (the Kunya of the Holy Prophet), as−Sam−u−'Alaikum (death be upon you), whereupon he (the Holy Prophet) said: Wa 'Alaikum. A'isha reported: In response to these words of theirs, I said: But let there be death upon you and disgrace also, whereupon Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: 'A'isha, do not use harsh words. She said: Did you hear what they said? Thereupon he (the Holy Prophet) said: Did I not respond to them when they said that; I said to them: Wa'Alaikum (let it be upon you).

Saheeh Bukhari

 4.186: Narrated `Aisha: Once the Jews came to the Prophet and said, "Death be upon you." So I cursed them. The Prophet said, "What is the matter?" I said, "Have you not heard what they said?" The Prophet said, "Have you not heard what I replied (to them)? (I said), ('The same is upon you.')"

As a muslim we are not supposed to use harsh words and best is to say Wa alaikum (let it be upon you).

Salam was the greeting of Prophet Jesus(pbuh) as mentioned  in Bible

John

{20:19} Then the same day at evening, being the first [day] of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace [be] unto you.

{20:21} Then said Jesus to them again, Peace [be] unto you:

{20:26} And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: [then] came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace [be] unto you.

Luke   

{24:36} And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace [be] unto you.

Jesus(pbuh) never spoke english. If we translate Peace be upon you in Hebrew it will be “Shalom lekm” which is almost similar to salam wa alaikum.

Hi/hello/good morning are modern terms and are far from perfect for example suppose we go to our friend’s house whose father died today can we say hi/ good morning/ have a nice day ahead????

No, but we can very well say Peace be upon you (as salam wa alaikum) in all situations.

2013 : The Year that was... My own Views ... By Nisaar Yusuf Nadiadwala

December 31, 2013 at 5:22pm

Every 31 Deecember the world media gives a statement of hits and flops of the passing year. So this year I too thought of making my own list of observations and analysis. Here it goes:

Seeing the Gulf war engulfing more cities it looks like its turning into Iran led Shias versus Arabs. It appears as the revival of the Persian Empire. On one hand we have the revival of the Persian Empire and on the other side of the political map of the world we have the revival of the Roman Empire via Euro Parliament, Euro currency, a brain child of previous Pope. Dangerous days ahead.

Gulf became wetter with more rain and US and Europe became colder with more snow storms. India became hotter with political heat as elections 2014 countdown begins. I have to choose between a party that makes life more expensive with soaring rates of onions and vegetables, and the other party that makes ( Muslim ) life cheaper by more riots and riots !

America's prestige went further down, faster than a stone thrown from a height. It seems to be the only government that shuts down! Even poor African countries dont shut down their governments. All of a suddent a super market type of a country looks like a road side stall. India really taught a strict lesson to America by removing barracades from around its Embassy. It looks likes the US glory is only an image or illusion that remains floated by Hollywood and Disney lands. Just like its fake supermans and bat mans, America too is in its winding up stage and be declared to be a fake super power or a ruin of an Empire.

Inspite the fact that life has become more difficult with the rates of basic needs jumping higher, Bollywood never sees a fall in business. Rather last year showed more films entering into 1000 Millions Rupees club, and most of them were Khans oriented movies. Is it a matter a pride or shame for the community that religion that came to clean up the society has followers enjoying monopoly in promoiting obscenity violence and extravagance in the society ?

The 31 December night can be called a night of the drunkards, night of accidents, night of adultery and yet people celebrate it greeting each other.

And finally breaking news from one of my 22 year old reader. He called me up and gave me the news that he is getting married soon and he said : I was inspired by your Notes on Marriage.


Author Nisaar Nadiadwala can be responded at nisaar_yusuf@yahoo.com

Taken from Facebook

What Bible says about Celebrating Christmas

It is well known that Jesus wasn’t born on 25^th December. It is one of the most widely propagated lie which has been accepted without pondering.

 In Gospel of Luke (KJV) there  are some accounts related to the birth of Jesus(pbuh):

{2:1} And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. {2:2} ([And] this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) {2:3} And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. {2:4} And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) {2:5} To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. {2:6} And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. {2:6} And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered

Parents of Jesus(pbuh) came to Bethlehem to register themselves as there was a decree from Ceaser Augustus. This census is only possible in summer due to freezing temperature in winter.  Verse continues…….

{2:7} And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. {2:8} And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

 At the time of birth of Jesus (pbuh) shepherds were keeping watch over their flock in the field . This can only be possible in summer or early winter but not in extreme winter i.e 25^th December.

 Biblical evidence are clear that Jesus(as) was born in summer and not in winter.

 Why 25^th December  was selected for celebrating Christmas ??

There are no records of early Christians celebrating this till council of  Nicea. Early pagans used to celebrate b’day of their pagan Sun God Mithra on 25^th December. Christians inherited this from pagans.

Some people argue
Yes we know, Christ wasn’t born on 25^th Dec but we do just to commemorate the birth and what is wrong??

 This is a common reply we get which show the level of religious ignorance. Lets ponder over some of the verses from bible :

Matthew {5:17} Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. {5:18} For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. {5:19} Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach [them,] the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. {5:20} For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed [the righteousness] of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.

So Jesus (pbuh) said that he has come to fulfill the law of earlier Prophet (as per Bible its Old Testament), till the end no one should break even a single law from OT else He will be called least!

 Now lets see what what earlier law (OT) says about celebrating Pagan’s festivals:

Jeremiah {10:1} Hear ye the word which the LORD speaketh unto you, O house of Israel: {10:2} Thus saith the LORD, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them. {10:3} For the customs of the people [are] vain: for [one] cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe. {10:4} They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not.{10:5} They [are] upright as the palm tree, but speak not: they must needs be borne, because they cannot go. Be not afraid of them; for they cannot do evil, neither also [is it] in them to do good.

 There is a clear command not to follow Pagan’s way or celebrate their festivals, Interesting it specifically speaks about (prohibits) cutting tree and decorating it like the way Christians do with Christmas tree on the occasion of Christmas!!

Celebrating Christmas = Breaking law of OT = Breaking the command of Jesus (pbuh)

Still they  claim that they love Jesus (pbuh)! 
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Before you Invest...Our Financial Woes by Nisaar Yusuf Nadiadwala

Before you Invest...Our Financial Woes

August 3, 2013 at 1:39pm

A young graduate once inquired : Sir ! is there any Islamic bank which can give me an Interst free loan?

I countered him with another question : Why do you need a loan?

He replied : I want to start a business of Ready to wear garments.

I asked again: Do you have any experience in it? Do you have any knowledge about the whole line?

He said : No, but can you find out for me an investing partner or one who can give Qard e Hasana if there is no Islamic bank?

I inquired again : Do you know how to write or read an account sheet?

He replied : No, but my business idea is very good it will click hundred percent.



Many people assume that because they have an business idea, it is going to click hundred percent. They look around for loan (with or without interest) . Some even look for Investing partners. Are bussiness assumptions always correct? Would I ever risk my money to some one if he is not experienced in any bussiness or never worked on it and also no project report to present his case ? Nobody would risk even to an honest man because honesty, though is important but equally important is a person's effeciency too.



A widow's story once came accross me. She trusted her nephew with her precious savings and became her investing partner. There was no accounts maintained. The boy did not have an expereince in the field. He didnot have a list of his debtors and creditors. He had a beard, he prayed regularly and he was no doubt an honest person. But these are not the only qualification you need to run a business. Many of us do not know how to read an account sheet. Today Financial education is no longer just an option but it is now necessary.



Many people are totally dependant upon some one else to make their financial decisions. The moment some people around you come to know that you have money they will swarm around you with business ideas, inviting you to invest. And people invest without examining the prospect of the business or inquiring the nature of the business. They invest because they want a financial security. A steady income out of their savings. It can be possible that our life time earning can go in waste if we do not update our financial statements. ( Inshallah I will write about WHAT IS AN ISLAMIC FINANCIAL STATEMENT ? in my upcoming notes)



Many people after running into loss have a long list of creditors and debtors. Out of carelesness they avoid going to borrow their money and out of spiritual lethargy and being heedless of accountablity on the Day of Hisaab they do not pay their creditors. They do not worry about returning the people's money. This is called a 'Financial Cancer'.



Islamic financial system is not only about acounts but also accountablity. You are suppose to repay the debts. It is sad to note that our schools teach us only accounts but no accountablity so we have financial frauds and our Madrasas teach us only accountablity but not accounts, so we have financial illiteracy. Illiteracy in Finance cause frauds to harvest on our hard earned money.



Author Nisaar Nadiadwala can be responded at nisaar_yusuf@yahoo.com. He has launched BEYOND EDUCATION , an Institute that imparts Real life Education. His workshops are conducted on many topics. rangining from Family, Education, Social Problems and Interfaith dialogues too. He is a trainer in Islamic Public Speaking.

Taken from FB

The Guard Who Found Islam

By Dan Ephron - NEWSWEEK
From the magazine issue dated Mar 30, 2009

Army specialist Terry Holdbrooks had been a guard at Guantanamo for about six months the night he had his life-altering conversation with detainee 590, a Moroccan also known as "the General." This was early 2004, about halfway through Holdbrooks's stint at Guantanamo with the 463rd Military Police Company. Until then, he'd spent most of his day shifts just doing his duty. He'd escort prisoners to interrogations or walk up and down the cellblock making sure they weren't passing notes. But the midnight shifts were slow. "The only thing you really had to do was mop the center floor," he says. So Holdbrooks began spending part of the night sitting cross-legged on the ground, talking to detainees through the metal mesh of their cell doors.

He developed a strong relationship with the General, whose real name is Ahmed Errachidi. Their late-night conversations led Holdbrooks to be more skeptical about the prison, he says, and made him think harder about his own life. Soon, Holdbrooks was ordering books on Arabic and Islam. During an evening talk with Errachidi in early 2004, the conversation turned to the shahada, the one-line statement of faith that marks the single requirement for converting to Islam ("There is no God but God and Muhammad is his prophet"). Holdbrooks pushed a pen and an index card through the mesh, and asked Errachidi to write out the shahada in English and transliterated Arabic. He then uttered the words aloud and, there on the floor of Guantanamo's Camp Delta, became a Muslim.

Nadia Muslimaah

Taken From FB group
I Love Hijaab's Page

Interview with Jesus (pbuh), Disciples, and Paul

To Jesus: who are you ??
"I am a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God." John 8:40

To the Disciples: who is Jesus?
"Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know." Acts 2:22

To the people: who is Jesus ??
"He was a prophet who did powerful miracles, and he was a mighty teacher in the eyes of God and all the people." Luke 24:19

To Paul: who is Jesus ??
"Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body." Colossians 2:9

To Jesus: what do yo teach ??
"'I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.' For I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners."

"I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." Luke 5:32

To the Disciples: what did Jesus taught??
"Now repent of your sins and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped away." Acts 3:19

To Paul: what did Jesus taught??
"Christ died for our sins" 1 Corinthians 15:3


To Jesus: to whom you were sent ??
"I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel." Matthew 15:24

To the Disciples: what Jesus instructed ??
"Do not go among the Gentiles or enter any town of the Samaritans. Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel." Matthew 10:6

To Paul: Why did you go to the Gentiles ??
"It has always been my ambition to preach the gospel where Christ was not known, so that I would not be building on someone else's foundation." Romans 15:20

to Paul: do you mean the Disciples??
"I don't consider myself inferior in any way to these "super apostles" who teach such things. I may not be a trained speaker, but I do have knowledge. We have made this perfectly clear to you in every way." 2 Corinthians 11:6


To Jesus: did you came to abolish the law ??
"Think not that I have come to abolish the law and the prophets; I have come not to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the law until all is accomplished. "Matt. 5:17,18

To Paul: what do you say about that??
"Jesus abolished in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations." Eph. 2:15

"Christ is the end of the law, that every one who has faith may be justified." Rom. 10:4

To the Disciples: Is man Justified by faith alone??
"man is justified by works and not by faith alone." James 2:24

To Paul: what do you say about that ??
"man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law." Romans 3:28

To Paul: so you contradict the disciples of Jesus ??
"When Peter came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he was clearly in the wrong." Galatians 2:11

To Paul: so what do you say about their teachings ??
"If we or an angel from heaven preach any other Gospel to you than what we (Paul and his disciples) have preached to you let him be a curse " Gal 1:8

To Paul: why do you say that??
"all those in Asia have turned away from me" 2 Tim. 1:15

to the Disciples: did you rejected Paul??
"When he came to Jerusalem, he tried to join us, but we were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple." Acts 9:26

Taken From FB group Awake Christians.

Arundhati Speaks: puts forward 13 questions in her book on the parliament attack of Dec 13

Arundhati Speaks: SHARE THE TRUTH (MUST READ)
Arundati puts forward 13 questions in her book on the parliament attack of Dec 13:

Question 1: For months before the Attack on Parliament, both
the government and the police had been saying that Parliament
could be attacked. On 12 December 2001, at an informal
meeting the Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee warned of an
imminent attack on Parliament. On 13 December Parliament was
attacked. Given that there was an ‘improved security drill’, how
did a car bomb packed with explosives enter the parliament
complex?

Question 2: Within days of the Attack,the Special Cell of Delhi
Police said it was a meticulously planned joint operation of Jaish-e-Mohamma d and Lashkar-e- Toiba . They said the attack was led by a man called ‘Mohammad’ who was also involved in the hijacking of IC-814 in 1998. (This was later refuted by the CBI.)
None of this was ever proved in court.
What evidence did the Special Cell have for its claim?

Question 3: The entire attack was recorded live on Close Circuit
TV (CCTV). Congress Party MP Kapil Sibal demanded in
Parliament that the CCTV recording be shown to the members.
He was supported by the Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha,
Najma Heptullah, who said that there was confusion about the
details of the event. The chief whip of the Congress Party,
Priyaranjan Dasmunshi, said, ‘I counted six men getting out of
the car. But only five were killed. The close circuit TV camera
recording clearly showed the six men.’ If Dasmunshi was right,
why did the police say that there were only five people in the car? Who was the the sixth person?
Where is he now?
Why was the CCTV recording not produced by the prosecution as evidence in the trial? Why was it not released for public viewing?

Question 4: Why was Parliament adjourned after some of these questions were raised?

Question 5: A few days after 13 December, the government
declared that it had ‘ incontrovertible le evidence’ of Pakistan’s
involvement in the attack, and announced a massive
mobilization of almost half a million soldiers to the Indo-
Pakistan border. The subcontinent was pushed to the brink of
nuclear war. Apart from Afzal’s ‘confession’, extracted under
torture (and later set aside by the Supreme Court), what was the
‘ incontrovertible le evidence’?

Question 6: Is it true that the military mobilization to the Pakistan border had begun long before the 13 December Attack?

Question 7: How much did this military standoff, which lasted for
nearly a year, cost?How many soldiers died in the process? How many soldiers and civilians died because of mishandled landmines, and how many peasants lost their homes and land because trucks and tanks were rolling through their villages, and landmines were being planted in their fields?

Question 8: In a criminal investigation it is vital for the police to
show how the evidence gathered at the scene of the attack led them to the accused. How did the police reach Mohammad
Afzal? The Special Cell says S.A.R. Geelani led them to Afzal.
But the message to look out for Afzal was actually flashed to the Srinagar Police before Geelani was arrested. So how did the
Special Cell connect Afzal to the 13 December Attack?

Question 9: The courts acknowledge that Afzal was a surrendered militant who was in regular contact with the security
forces, particularly the Special Task Force
(STF) of Jammu & Kashmir Police.
How do the security
forces explain the fact that a person under their surveillance was
able to conspire in a major militant operation?

Question 10: Is it plausible that organizations like Lashkar-e-
Toiba or Jaish-e-Mohamme d would rely on a person who had
been in and out of STF torture chambers, and was under
constant police surveillance, as the principal link for a major
operation?

Question 11: In his statement before the
court, Afzal says that he was introduced to ‘Mohammed’
and instructed to take him to Delhi by a man called Tariq, who was
working with the STF. Tariq was named in the police charge
sheet. Who is Tariq and where is he now?

Question 12: On 19 December 2001,
sixdays after the Parliament Attack, Police Commissioner, Thane (Maharashtra), S.M. Shangari identified one of the attackers killed in the Parliament Attack as Mohammad Yasin Fateh Mohammed (alias Abu Hamza) of the Lashkar-e-Toiba , who had been arrested in Mumbai in November 2000, and immediately handed over to the
J&K Police. He gave detailed descriptions to support his statement. If Police Commissioner Shangari was right,how did
Mohammad Yasin, a man in the custody of the J&K Police, end
up participating in the Parliament Attack?
If he was wrong, where is Mohammad Yasin now?
Question 13: Why is it that we still don’t know who the five dead ‘terrorists’ killed in the Parliament Attack are?


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Source : Facebook

Islamic ruling on the issue of imitating the kuffaar in their customs and dealings?

What is the Islamic ruling on the issue of imitating the kuffaar in their customs and dealings? What are the guidelines concerning that in Islamic sharee’ah? Is every imitation of the actions of the kuffaar regarded as a haraam kind of imitation – knowing that there are many things that the kaafirs do that are not haraam and are not condemned by sharee’ah, where the one who does them does not do them merely to imitate the kuffaar, but because he thinks those things are good, as Ibn Mas’ood (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: “What the Muslims think is good is good before Allaah”?
Please advise us, may Allaah honour you, and please give me a detailed answer and explain to me the guidelines on this matter.

Praise be to Allaah.

Firstly:

The Muslims have no need to imitate any of the other nations in matters of religious rituals and acts of worship, for Allaah has perfected His religion and completed His Favour, and chosen for us Islam as our religion, as He says (interpretation of the meaning):

“This day, I have perfected your religion for you, completed My Favour upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion”

[al-Maa'idah 5:3]

Islam forbids the Muslims to imitate the kuffaar, especially the Jews and Christians, but this prohibition does not apply to all their affairs, rather it applies to matters of their religion and things that are unique to them, by which they are known.

It was narrated from Abu Sa’eed al-Khudri (may Allaah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “You will certainly follow the ways of those who came before you hand span by hand span, cubit by cubit, to the extent that if they entered the hole of a lizard, you will enter it too.” We said: “O Messenger of Allaah, (do you mean) the Jews and the Christians?” He said: “Who else?” Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 1397; Muslim, 4822.

This hadeeth indicates that it is haraam to imitate the Jews and the Christians, and that those who follow them and tread the same path as them are criticized. Islam has reinforced this prohibition, by describing those who imitate the kuffaar as being of them.

It was narrated that ‘Abd-Allaah ibn ‘Umar said: The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Whoever imitates a people is one of them.” Narrated by Abu Dawood, 3512; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Irwa’ al-Ghaleel, 2691.

Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:

This at the very least indicates that it is haraam to imitate them, although the apparent meaning is that the one who imitates them is a kaafir.

Iqtida’ al-Siraat al-Mustaqeem, 237.

The one who imitates the kuffaar feels that inferior and defeated, so he hastens to make up for his feelings of inadequacy by imitating those whom he admires. If these people were to ponder the greatness of Islamic sharee’ah and understand how corrupt is that civilization they are running after, they would realize that they are doing wrong and that they have forsaken something that is perfect and true for something that is imperfect and corrupt.

Secondly:

The types of imitation which are forbidden to us are many.

Shaykh Saalih al-Fawzaan said:

The things in which the kuffaar are imitated include acts of worship, such as imitating them in matters of shirk, such as building (structures) over graves, building shrines and exaggerating about them. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “May the curse of Allaah be upon the Jews and the Christians, for they took the graves of their Prophets as places of worship.” Al-Bukhaari, 425; Muslim, 531. And he told us that when a righteous man among them died, they would build a place of worship over his grave, and install images therein, and that they were the most evil of mankind. Al-Bukhaari, 417; Muslim, 528. Nowadays there are instances of major shirk because of exaggeration concerning graves, as is well known to scholars and ordinary folk alike. The cause of that is imitation of the Jews and Christians.

Another example is their imitation of the festivals of shirk and bid’ah, such as birthday celebrations, whether it is the birthday of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) or the birthdays of presidents and kings. Or these festivals of bid’ah and shirk may be named after days or weeks, such as a country’s national day or independence day, or Mother’s Day, or hygiene week, and other days or weeks that are celebrated. All of these have come to the Muslims from the kuffaar, for Islam has only two festivals: Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha. Anything else is bid’ah and an imitation of the kuffaar.

From a khutbah entitled al-Hathth ‘ala Mukhaalafat al-Kuffaar (Exhortation to be distinct from the kuffaar)

In the answer to question no. 47060 we have stated that it is forbidden to imitate the kuffaar in the clothing that is unique to them and in the customs that are unique to them, such as imitating them by shaving the beard.

Thirdly:

The prohibition on imitating the kuffaar applies to their acts of worship and the customs that are unique to them and by which they are distinguished, not the things that they do and invent from which we may benefit. There is no sin on the Muslims if they share in that, rather the Muslims should be in the forefront of such things.

Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen said:

With regard to the phrase “imitation of the kuffaar”, that does not mean that we should not use anything that they have manufactured. No one says such a thing. At the time of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) and afterwards the people used to wear clothes made by the kuffaar and use vessels made by them.

Imitation of the kuffaar means imitating their clothing and appearance, and the customs that are unique to them. It does not mean that we should not ride what they ride or wear what they wear. But if they ride in a specific way that is unique to them, then we should not ride in that way. If they tailor their clothes in a certain fashion that is unique to them, we should not do likewise. But if we have cars that are similar to theirs and fabric that is similar to theirs, there is nothing wrong with that.

Majmoo’ Fataawa al-Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen, 12, question 177.

And he said:

The definition of imitating is when the imitator does something that is unique to those whom he is imitating. Imitation of the kuffaar refers to when a Muslim does something that is one of their unique characteristics. With regard to that which has become widespread among the Muslims and is no longer something by which the kuffaar are distinguished, then this is not imitation of the kuffaar, and it is not haraam because it is an imitation, unless it is haraam for some other reason. What we have said is what is indicated by the meaning of the word tashabbuh (imitation).

Majmoo’ Fataawa al-Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen, 12, question 198.

In the answer to question no. 21694 you will find a detailed discussion of the ruling on imitating the kuffaar. See question no. 43160 for further details.

Fourthly:

There are both beneficial things and harmful things in non-Muslim civilization. We should not ignore the good things and take the harmful things. This attitude was summed up by Shaykh al-Shanqeeti (may Allaah have mercy on him) who said:

Our attitude towards western civilization may be one of four things, and there is no fifth:

1- Ignoring this civilization, good points and bad alike.

2- Adopting it in whole, good points and bad.

3- Adopting the bad things and not the good.

4- Adopting the good things and not the bad.

The first three are undoubtedly wrong and only one of them is undoubtedly good, which is the last one.

Adwa’ al-Bayaan, 4/382.

Fifthly:

With regard to the words of ‘Abd-Allaah ibn Mas’ood (may Allaah be pleased with him), “What the Muslims think is good is good before Allaah”, this does not refer to things that go against sharee’ah but which may be deemed good on the basis of rational thinking. Imam al-Shaafa’i (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: “Whoever thinks something is good issuing a ruling.” It does not refer to when one person thinks a thing is good but the majority of people do not. Rather this phrase may be interpreted in one of two ways, both of which are sound:

1 – That what is meant is traditions and customs that do not go against sharee’ah

2 – That what is meant is the proof of scholarly consensus, for the Muslims are unanimously agreed that thinking a thing is good is consensus which counts as evidence. So this thing must be good before Allaah as well. This is what is indicated by the words, “What the Muslims think is good.”

See al-Mabsoot by al-Sarkhasi, 12/138’ al-Faroosiyyah by Ibn al-Qayyim, p. 298.

These interpretations mentioned above are applicable if we take the words of Ibn Mas’ood (may Allaah be pleased with him) as applying to all the Muslims in general. But from the context it seems that he is referring to the companions of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) only, and not others. What Ibn Mas’ood said was: “Allaah looked into the hearts of His slaves and found that the heart of Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) was the best of all His slaves’ hearts. So He chose him for Himself and sent him with His Message. Then He looked into the hearts of all His slaves after the heart of Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) and He found that the hearts of his companions were the best of all His slaves’ hearts, so He made them the helpers of His Prophet, fighting for the sake of his religion. So what the Muslims think is good is good before Allaah and whatever the Muslims think is bad is bad before Allaah.”

Narrated by Ahmad, 3418; classed as saheeh by Shaykh al-Albaani in Takhreej al-Tahhaawiyyah, 530.

Whatever the case, it is not correct to quote the words of Ibn Mas’ood (may Allaah be pleased with him) as evidence for thinking as good that which is forbidden in Islam, such as imitating the mushrikeen.

And Allaah knows best.

Islam Q&A

A fabricated hadeeth about the reward for charity given on behalf of the deceased being presented to him on a platter of light

How sound is this hadeeth: “If you offer supplication for the deceased, the angel will enter upon him with a platter of light and will say: ‘This is a gift to you from your brother or relative So and and so,’ and he will rejoice thereat”?.

Praise be to Allaah.


This hadeeth is fabricated. It was narrated by at-Tabaraani in al-Mu‘jam al-Awsat (6504): Muhammad ibn Dawood ibn Aslam as-Sadafi told us, ‘Ubaydullah ibn ‘Abdillah al-Munkadiri told us, Muhammad ibn Ismaa‘eel ibn Abi Fudayk said: I heard Abu Muhammad ash-Shaami narrate that he heard Abu Hurayrah say that he heard Anas ibn Maalik say: I heard the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) say: “There is no household of whom one person dies and they give charity on his behalf after his death, but Jibreel (peace be upon him) will present it to him on a platter of light. He will stand at the edge of the grave and say: ‘O occupant of the deep grave, this is a gift given to you by your family, so accept it.’ Then he will enter upon him, and he will rejoice thereat and be of good cheer, and his neighbours who were not given anything will be sad.”

At-Tabaraani said after quoting it: This hadeeth was not narrated from Anas except via this isnaad, which was narrated only by Ibn Abi Fudayk.

Al-Haythami (may Allah have mercy on him) said:

It was narrated by at-Tabaraani in al-Awsat; its isnaad includes Abu Muhammad ash-Shaami, of whom al-Azdi said: He is a liar.

End quote from Majma‘ az-Zawaa’id, 3/139

Shaykh al-Albaani (may Allah have mercy on him) mentioned it in as-Silsilah ad-Da‘eefah (486) and said: It is fabricated … The problem with this hadeeth is that it is narrated by Abu Muhammad ash-Shaami. Adh-Dhahabi said: He narrated odd hadeeths from some of the Taabi‘een. Al-Azdi said: He is a liar.

This is how it appears in al-Lisaan; it is as if what they meant by munkar hadeeth was this report. End quote.

So it is not permissible to attribute these words to the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) or to narrate it from him except for the purpose of explaining its status and to warn against narrating it, because the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “Whoever narrates a hadeeth from me thinking that it is a lie is one of the liars.” Narrated by Muslim in the Introduction to his Saheeh (1/7).

An-Nawawi (may Allah have mercy on him) said:

This hadeeth contains a stern warning against lying and indicates that whoever thinks it most likely that what he is narrating is false but still narrates it is a liar. How can he not be a liar when he is telling you of something that did not happen? End quote.

In the same chapter there is another hadeeth which says: “The dead person in his grave is like the drowning person who calls for help, hoping for a supplication to reach him from his father or mother or brother or friend, and when it reaches him it will be dearer to him than this world and everything in it. Allah will cause to reach the inhabitants of the graves gifts like mountains as a result of the supplication of the inhabitant of houses (i.e., the living). And the gift of the living to the dead is prayers for forgiveness.”

This was quoted by Shaykh al-Albaani in as-Silsilah ad-Da‘eefah (799). He said: (It is) munkar jiddan (very odd). End quote.

With regard to the hadeeth which says: “When you offer supplication for the dead, the angel enters upon him with a platter of light…”, we could not find any such report from the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) whether this version or the first version. So it is not permissible to attribute that to the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) just as it is not permissible to quote it, even if it is not attributed to the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him), because the matter of al-barzakh is one of the matters of the unseen, and it is not permissible to indulge in talking about it without knowledge.

And Allah knows best.

Source: Islam Q&A

Aurangzeb's Fatwa on Jizya... Points which are intentionally overlooked.

Aurangzeb's Fatwa on Jizya [Jizyah, or Poll Tax]

Much has been made of Aurangzeb's reimposition of the poll tax (jizya, or jizyah) on Hindus. However, as the text of the fatwa, which is seldom read, indicates, an exemption was provided for various classes of people, such as those who were indigent, without employment, unable to work on account of poor health, and so on. Moreover, the fatwa clearly shows that the amount was, far from being uniform, fixed according to a person's ability to pay. The statement that the jizyah was imposed as well on "the people of the Book" -- here doubtless a reference to Christians and Jews -- is particularly significant, since it suggests that there was no animus directed particularly against the Hindus. The translation below is by Anver Emon of the Department of History, UCLA.

Source:
Al-Fatawa al-Alamgiriyyah = Al-Fatawa al-Hindiyyah fi Madhhab al-Imam al-A‘zam Abi Hanifah al-Nu‘man (Beirut: Dar al-Ma‘rifah, 1973), 2:244-245.


Chapter on Jizyah

[Jizyah] refers to what is taken from the Dhimmis, according to [what is stated in] al-Nihayah. It is obligatory upon [1] the free, [2] adult members of [those] who are generally fought, [3] who are fully in possession of their mental faculties, and [4] gainfully employed, even if [their] profession is not noble, as is [stated in] al-Sarajiyyah. There are two types of [jizyah]. [The first is] the jizyah that is imposed by treaty or consent, such that it is established in accordance with mutual agreement, according to [what is stated in] al-Kafi. [The amount] does not go above or below [the stipulated] amount, as is stated in al-Nahr al-Fa’iq. [The second type] is the jizyah that the leader imposes when he conquers the unbelievers (kuffar), and [whose amount] he imposes upon the populace in accordance with the amount of property [they own], as in al-Kafi. This is an amount that is pre-established, regardless of whether they agree or disagree, consent to it or not.

The wealthy [are obligated to pay] each year forty-eight dirhams [of a specified weight], payable per month at the rate of 4 dirhams. The next, middle group (wast al-hal) [must pay] twenty-four dirhams, payable per month at the rate of 2 dirhams. The employed poor are obligated to pay twelve dirhams, in each month paying only one dirham, as stipulated in Fath al-Qadir, al-Hidayah, and al-Kafi. [The scholars] address the meaning of "gainfully employed", and the correct meaning is that it refers to one who has the capacity to work, even if his profession is not noble. The scholars also address the meaning of wealthy, poor, and the middle group. Al-Shaykh al-Imam Abu Ja‘far, may Allah the most high have mercy on him, considered the custom of each region decisive as to whom the people considered in their land to be poor, of the middle group, or rich. This is as such, and it is the most correct view, as stated in al-Muhit. Al-Karakhi says that the poor person is one who owns two hundred dirhams or less, while the middle group owns more than two hundred and up to ten thousand dirhams, and the wealthy [are those] who own more than ten thousand dirhams...The support for this, according to al-Karakhi is provided by the fatawa of Qadi Khan (d. 592/1196). It is necessary that in the case of the employed person, he must have good health for most of the year, as is stated in al-Hidayah. It is mentioned in al-Idah that if a dhimmi is ill for the entire year such that he cannot work and he is well off, he is not obligated to pay the jizyah, and likewise if he is sick for half of the year or more. If he quits his work while having the capacity [to work] he [is still liable] as one gainfully employed, as is [stated in] al-Nihayah. The jizyah accrues, in our opinion, at the beginning of the year, and it is imposed on the People of the Book (whether they are Arab, non-Arab, or Majians) and idol worshippers (‘abdat al-awthan) from among the non-Arabs, as in al-Kafi...The [jizyah] is not imposed on the idol worshippers from among the Arabs or from among the apostates, where they exist. Their women and children [are considered] as part of a single liability group (fi’). [In other words], whoever from among their men do not submit to Islam shall be killed, and no jizyah is imposed upon their women, children, ill persons or the blind, or likewise on the paraplegic, the very old, or on the unemployed poor, as is stated in al-Hidayah.

Source