Īsā u EDITORIAL... A Prophet Of Islam. The Life Of Īsā u: A Prophet Of Islam

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1 VOLUME. 1 ISSUE. 5 INSIDE THIS ISSUE Pg 1 The Life Of Īsā u: A Prophet Of Islam Pg 2 Muḥammad s: The Perfect Example Pg4 Downfall of the Ummah Pg 6 Happy New Year? Pg 7 Words of Wisdom Pg 8 Achievements NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2015 EDITORIAL... The Life Of Īsā u A Prophet Of Islam Before we start to educate ourselves on the life of one of the greatest Prophets to walk this earth, we must first learn about his background. So we shall first briefly mention Īsā s u grandparents and his mother, then we shall mention in detail the life of Īsā u. Many years after the demise of Musa u, amongst the community of the Banu Isra eel (Isralites) there lived a very pious saint, named Imrān who was married to Hannah. They were both well respected amongst their community, however, it was the will of Allāh S, that they had no children of their own. Like many, Īsā s u grandmother longed for a child of her own, and after her daily prayers she would raise her hand in du ā and call out to Allāh S. Soon enough, because of the sincere du ā of Hannah, Allāh S - The All Hearing answered her plea and blessed them with a child. Overcome with sheer happiness and gratitude, she took an oath that the child-to-be will be dedicated to the service of AlMasjid Al-Aqsa. Sadly before the birth of the child the father, Imrān had left this world. Thus, the child was born and Hannah named her Maryam u (Mary). Upon seeing that Allāh S has blessed her with a daughter, Hannah became distressed, not because it was a girl, rather, because of the oath she had taken; the norm was that only boys were dedicated to the service of Al-Masjid Al-Aqsa. She thought to herself how she will now carry out this oath. Little did she know the decree of Allāh S and His favour that she was to become the grandmother of one the greatest Prophets to have roamed the earth. Hannah looked after and cared for this child until she was fully weaned and accustomed to food and drink other than milk. Now the day had come for Hannah to handover the child to the custodians of Al-Masjid Al-Aqsa. TWO GREAT MIRACLES This journal contains teachings from the Glorious Qur ān and the Ahādith of the Prophet Q. Please ensure its sanctity. As we have read, the father of Maryam u was very well respected, so when Hannah came with the child to the Masjid, each and every custodian wanted the honour of looking after this child. They discussed amongst themselves regarding this honour. Zakariyyā u who was the head of all the custodians and also a Prophet, argued that he had the most right of guardianship over the child as the aunt of Maryam u was his wife. After much debate, they reached no solution. To put an end to this never ending debate, Allāh S instructed the custodians to take their pens with which they copied the (Continued on page 3) 1

2 Muḥammad s: The Perfect Example By Shaykh Mawlānā Muhammad Saleem Dhorat hafizahullah Many Muslims, nowadays appear to share the misconception that material progress and prosperity rather than moral grit are the most expedient means to success. This concept has become so popular today that it is accepted even by the people who are otherwise pious or stand for religious revival. This way of thinking is, nevertheless, discredited by the lives, noble characters and achievements of the Prophets u. The character and conduct of the Prophets of Allāh u make it quite clear that the secret of their victory and weapons with which they successfully fought their enemies were faith and obedience to Allāh S. The noble person of the Prophet s stands pre-eminent, dignified and exalted amongst all the Prophets u in all qualities, habits and manners. Allāh S has praised in the Glorious Qur ān the grandeur of the noble character of the Prophet s in the following words: And thou (standest) on an exalted standard of character. (68:4) The Prophet s has himself said: I have been sent to bring the good morals to perfection. From the above it is evident that all the virtues and noble qualities had been granted to him. Allāmah Nawawī v writes in his book Tahdhīb : Allāh S had assembled all the excellencies and virtues of character and habits in the Prophet s. To describe all these noble qualities and merits is beyond human capacity, since all those excellencies which can be imagined as attainable are possessed by the Prophet s. However, a ḥadīth which comprehends the majority of the noble characters of the Prophet s is presented hereunder: Allāh S says: O Prophet! We have surely sent you a witness, a bringer of good tidings, a warner and a protector for the Ummīs. You are my chosen servant and messenger. I have named you the Trusting, (since you trust Me in every matter). You are neither rough mannered, nor hardhearted, nor do you uproar in the market place. You never requite evil for evil, but you forgive and overlook. Allāh S will not give you death till He has brought the astray ummah on the right path through you and has given light to blind eyes of the unbelievers; and has opened their deaf ears and closed hearts. In some traditions the following is also mentioned: I will refine you with all that is (Continued on page 3) 2

3 VOLUME. 1 ISSUE. 5 NOVEMBE/DECEMBER 2015 (Continued from page 2) Abū Sufyān ibn Ḥarb t relates that Heraclius noble; and endow you with every noble habit; had sent a messenger to him while he (Abū Suand will make tranquillity your attire and trait; fyān t) had been accompanying a caravan and piety your conscience; and wisdom the from the Quraysh. They were merchants doing substance of your thought and knowledge; and business in Shām (Syria, Palestine, Lebanon truthfulness and sincerity your nature; and and Jordan), at the time when Allāh s Messenforgiveness and good works your custom; and ger s had a truce with Abū Sufyān and the justice your practice, truth your rule, right- Quraysh pagans. So Abū Sufyān t and his eousness your guide. companions went to Heraclius at Ilyā (Jerusalem). Heraclius called them in the court These were the very characteristics which prompted even the non-muslim leaders at the time of Rasūlullāh s to testify to his Prophethood. One such incident is related in Ṣaḥīḥ-al-Bukhārī: Like the parents of Maryam u Zakariyyā u also Tawrāt (Torah) to a river; upon reaching they were to had no children of his own. Upon seeing the favour of throw their pens into the river. The owner of the pen Allāh S on Maryam u he to thought If Allāh S can that flowed against the current would gain custody of provide for Maryam with fruits out of season, can He the child. This would indicate the choice of Allāh S as not, through His power, bless me and my wife with a anything that floats in a river flows with the current child in our old age? Thus he started to ask from and not against it. Allāh S, O my lord, give me a pious child. Allāh S The custodians carried out this command of Allāh S sent to him angels with glad tidings of a pious son. and Zakariyyā u was chosen to be the guardian. They said, Allāh S has granted your prayer, you will Thus, Maryam u entrusted her to him and she began be given a pious child. His name will be Yahyā u. living within the complex of Al-Masjid Al-Aqsa. She, He will be a noble and chaste Prophet. Upon this like her father, grew up to be a saint. Zakariyyā u Zakariyyā u said, O Allāh S, I am very old and my gave Maryam u a room of her own, where she wife is barren. How can we have a son? Allāh S said would worship and study the Tawrāt throughout the it is easy for me. I do whatever I wish. day. At night she would return to her aunt accompanied by Zakariyyā u. Whenever Zakariyyā Zakariyyā u said, May I have some sign by which I will know this? Allāh S You will not be able to u visited Maryam u in her room he would find speak for three days. This will indicate that Yahyā u food, drink and out of season fresh fruits by her. Being is coming. Thus Zakariyyā u was bestowed with a puzzled and curious, he u once asked her, From child in his old age and Yahyā u was born, the where do you get these fruits? She u answered, cousin of Maryam u. From Allāh S. (Continued from page 1) Continued in next issue The Du a of Zakariyyā u (Editor Mawlānā Shabir Mohamed Ravat) 3

4 DOWNFALL OF THE UMMAH By Mawlānā Emran Ahmed (London) (Graduate of the famous Islāmic Daʻwah Academy) Today, the Muslim Ummah is so caught up in trivial, insignificant matters that we have a different opinion in everything. We dispute and argue to overpower others. We divide ourselves; we make groups and oppose others; we look down on other Muslims solely because of their background, colour, appearance or nationality. Many a times, due to ego and arrogance, we categorise Muslims and share pain and happiness accordingly. Today we're so caught up with our differences, we forget the dozens of things we have in common. We forget that we are brothers in Islam and belong to the same Ummah. Take the example of the greatest friends of the Prophet s, Abu Bakr t and Umar t they had a difference of opinion in many matters. After the battle of Badr there were many captives of war and the Prophet s didn t know what to do with them, so he called his Sahabah t and took their opinions. Abu Bakr t said Islam is new, Islam is in its beginning stages and we know these people, we know their family so we should ransom them and sell them back to their family, to the people of Makkah and use that money to strengthen Islam and strengthen the army. Umar t said, Give the cousin of Ali to Ali and give the cousin of Umar to Umar and let them take their lives. And let it be known to the world, the people of Makkah that nothing will stand between us the Muslims and Allāh S. These were the opinions and the Prophet s took the opinion of Abu Bakr t. The next day Umar t was coming to see our beloved Prophet s, he sees Abu Bakr t and the Prophet s both crying, he says, Why are you crying? Share with me so I can also share the pain. The Prophet s says, We were wrong and Allāh S brought down a verse of the Qur an agreeing with you O Umar. What was Umar s t response? Did he say I told you so? Was he happy that his opinion was stronger? No! He started crying. Remember we are one Ummah, the Prophet s says: A Muslim for another is like a structure, they strengthen one another. Each and every brick is necessary to complete the structure although some are more important than others they all stick together whether it is on the bottom or top and complete the structure. We are Muslims we need to work together appreciate each other only on the basis of īmān. Allāh S says: Indeed the believers are brothers. (Al-Hujurāt:10) FEEDBACK... We would greatly appreciate your feedback, comments & suggestions. alhidayah@hotmail.co.uk 4

5 (Continued from page 4) Hold onto the rope of Allāh together and do not be divided. (Āl- Imrān:103) We need to spread love and peace amongst the Muslims. On the day that the Prophet s was commanded to convey the messages of Allāh S, we see that the environment of the Muslims in Madinah was plagued with differences. It was not possible to restore back to health the sickness of division that had corrupted the community. Continued in next issue Almighty Allah By Layla Khalique-Loonat (A student of Madrasat-ul-Hidayah) When we are poor He gives us more. When we are ill He gives us the will. He has no siblings, Sisters nor brothers. He has no parents, Father nor mothers. Allah is the one. Look at the amazing things he has done! He made the skies, He decides when someone dies. He created the sun, He is why we have so much fun. He made the stars, And helped create our amazing cars. There are many things he has done That is why we should accept that he is the One. The Almighty Allah will give us all And that includes everything; Even your brand new football. He is the one we listen to He tells us what we should and should not do We should believe in Him with all our hearts For He is the one that made them start. 5

6 Happy New Year? By Mawlānā Tamir Shujauddin (Leicester) (Graduate of the famous Islāmic Daʻwah Academy) As we approach the end of 2015, new ambitions and resolutions are finding their way in to our minds. A sense of happiness is apparent in the atmosphere at the passing of yet another year. Heavy preparations are being made for the big day; when we will switch from 2015 to Such a joyous period we are passing through that throughout the town centres, each and every shop will be holding new year s offers where items will be for sale at ridiculously discounted prices. The mood of happiness in every household is on its edge with every talk and action being related to the much awaited day. But.what is all this for? The country on a collective scale is spending millions, for what? Is this upcoming event really a moment of joy and happiness? Is it really a moment worth all the money, effort and preparation? The beautiful dīn of Islām has left no stone unturned for a human in his day to day life. It has presented an ideal and a well conducted way of living. And upon this sort of juncture too, it has taught a beautiful lesson to all: any celebration can only be after some sort of achievement and the passing of a year - or any period of time - is not an achievement by its mere passing. Allāh S has taught us a very effective practice to be carried out on this sort of occasion known as muhāsabah. Muhāsabah means to ponder over ones past; whether the past few moments, hours, days, weeks, months, years or even ones entire life and to think about ones actions during this period of time and compare the good with the bad. To think about ones loss and gain. To think about what one has achieved and what one could have achieved. And after taking a thorough account of oneself, to decide whether one can call himself successful or a failure. It is only after this that one may decide whether this occasion is one worth celebrating or one to be sorry over and to start mending ones ways. O you who believe! Fear Allāh and each person 6 must ponder over what he has sent forth for the hereafter. (Al-Hashr:18) Let s take a look An entire year; 12 months, 52 weeks, 365 days, 8,760 hours, 525,600 minutes, 31,536,000 seconds, is an awful lot of time. What can t a person achieve and acquire in this period? Let us glance in to our lives and see what we have acquired in this time. For the majority, all this year consisted of was probably just sticking to a normal daily routine; morning and afternoon at work or school, evenings hanging out with friends, eating out, competing on the games console, preparations for work and school before going to bed and then.bed! Weekends were again for going out with friends, maybe a little while in the park for a game of football and again on the games console, shopping with the family and.that s it! Nothing spectacularly productive. It was all just a routine of work, study, play and shop. What were the achievements of the past year? Was there any action we did which stood out in 2015 and which made 2015 stand out from the previous years? As believers, whose sole objective of life is to please and befriend the Creator, Allāh S, what did we achieve? What sort of actions did we do to please Him? How much did our connection build with Him? How many times did we go out of our way and sacrifice our wish just for His sake? To how many people did we give happiness for His sake? Did we rebuild any broken relations just because it is Allāh S s desire? Did we go meet the ill people and give them encouragement for His sake? Did we go meet the household of those who passed away for Him? Did we sincerely spend in charity to help fellow human beings around the globe who barely have anything to eat or wear? Did we even perform our five times daily salāh the entire year without missing any? Did we recite the Qur an daily? The list can go on and on. These are the real achievements which make a person s life fruitful and productive. Did we do any of these mentioned using our full potential and even that for the sake of Allāh S? (Continued on page 7)

7 (Continued from page 6) Those of us who attend madrasah, let s ponder over our achievements. Did we learn our lessons every single day without fail? Did we attend madrasah every single day without fail? Did we behave in class every single day without fail? Did we try to surpass our predicted performance? Did we implement all the good characteristics in to our lives which we are taught in madrasah? Let s take a look at the worldly aspect, did we excel in our studies in school, college or university? Did we make day and night one to acquire our best possible grades? Did we work full on to help promote and advance our workplace? Did we acquire some sort of promotion ourselves due to our hard work? For most, it s a no! Then how can this be a moment of joy for us?! A sincere message Thus, a sincere message to all readers; the passing of any period of time is in fact the passing of our life. A person who has been destined to live for fifty years and is currently 40, after another year he will be 41, 9 years away from 50 and 1 year closer to his death. Not only the year, but in fact our entire lives are for us to make achievements and acquire our aspirations, mainly our dini aspirations and along with that even those worldly ambitions which are in accordance to our dīn. At these period breaks we must take a look at our lives and see if and how we are progressing and then make resolutions and preparations according to that. Dear readers, our moment of joy will only begin at the end of our lives when we look back at our past and it brings a smile on to our faces and we think in our minds, I did what I could. If at that moment the thought in our minds is, I could have done better, if only I did, then dear readers, that will be the most unfortunate moment for us and we will have nothing but to dread what is to come ahead. The great companion Umar ibn Al-Khattāb t used to say, Take account of yourselves (i.e. in this world) before you are taken to account (i.e. in the hereafter). Therefore, let us first bring this practice of muhāsabah in to our lives. From time to time, preferably on a daily basis, look back at what you have done, what was good, what was bad, repent for your bad actions, and aim to do even more good. And then mould your life to make it more productive and constantly work towards building your relation with Allāh S. Training Children If your child requests something that you know you will give him if he persists in asking for it, then give it at the very first request. Do not let your child force you into giving it through crying or making a fuss. If the request is one you do not intend ever to fulfil, due to its detrimental nature, then do not give in, even if the child creates a fuss. In this way you will nurture your children to understand that making a fuss is not going to force you to give in. If you do not take care in this matter, you will spoil the character of your children. Courtesy of 7

8 BEST ATTENDANCE The students listed below are congratulated. They did not miss a single day in that month. SEPTEMBER SAHIL ZAHEER TALHA WAJID M.AAYAN KHAN MARWAN SHAHID M.ISAH VASIM SAKIB MIAH AQIF ZAHEER MUHAMMAD SABIR MOHAMMED AMIN M.ZAIN ARSHAD AMYRA ALI LAIBA HANIF ZARA ALAM UMAYMAH NAWAZ ZAYNAH MAHMOOD FATIMA LOONAT NOOR SALMA BEGUM TANZEELA BIBI MAISHA BEGUM ABIDA MIAH ALIYAH.B. AHMED MARIAM FAROOQ NOURA DIABATE AMMAARAH SALLOO JUWAIRIYYA BIBI SABAH VASIM HALIMA BEGUM RUKEYA BEGUM ALYASA ALI AHMED HAMZA AFTAB AYSHA ARSHAD MUHAMMED ALI KHAN ADAM ALI AHMED HAMMAD KHAN HASAN UDDIN OCTOBER M.AMAN.H.KHAN A.RAHMAN GELANE MUHAMMED SABIR M.MUQEET ALAM ABDULLAH GELANE ZAIN HUSSAIN IBRAHIM HUSSAIN M.ZAIN ARSHAD SIRAJ RAVAT AMYRA ALI LAIBA HANIF ARYA HAQUE ZARA ALAM ZAYNA MAHMOOD FATIMA LOONAT TANZEELA BIBI ALIYA.B.AHMED MARYAM FAROOQ NOURA DIABATE SAKINA DIABATE HALIMA LOONAT AMMAARAH SALLOO JUWAIRIYYA BIBI ALYASA ALI AHMED MUHAMMED ALI KHAN AAYAN MUHAMMED AYSHA ARSHAD ADAM ALI AHMED MAKE DUA 273,000 *AMOUNT CORRECT AT THE TIME OF PRINTING 250, , , , , ,000 Through the grace and mercy of Allāh S and the du ās of our pious elders, we have managed to raise 125,000* out of the 273,000 we need, we now need 148,000 to repay the loan which is on Al-Hidayah Foundation. We urge all readers to take part in this humble effort of ours to spread the true message of Islam throughout the world. You can contribute towards this noble project in three ways:- TAKE PART 100,000 75,000 50,000 25,000 WE NEED: 148PEOPLE TO GIVE 1000 EACH, or 296 PEOPLE TO GIVE 500 EACH DONATE 8