RAMADAN FOR KIDS

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, and a time when Muslims across the world will fast during the hours of daylight. Ramadan is the fourth of the five pillars of Islam.

The Qur'an was first revealed to the Prophet Muhammad during this month. The actual night that the Qur'an was revealed is a night known as Lailut ul-Qadr ('The Night of Power').

That is important, however, is to appreciate the reasons behind the fasting, what those reasons signify and what this means to fasting Muslims.

It is most important to a Muslim to show intent in the fast. It is required that they recite short prayer of intent either before they sleep or just before Suhoor, the pre-fast meal.

The Arabic word for fasting means to 'refrain', to discipline yourself to avoid doing certain things which would be quite normal during the other twelve months of the year. It is also meant to teach Muslims to appreciate how much better off they are than millions of other fellow Muslims. So by refraining from drinking (even water) and food, for the long daylight hours, they should be reminded of those much less fortunate, for whom severe shortage of water and food is a way of life, not something merely done one month of the year. By reminding themselves of this fact, it is hoped that not only will they be more sensitive to those less fortunate, but to try to do something practical to help them.

Can younger children fast during Ramadan?

Indeed they can, and in fact many even as young as four or five, are encouraged to fast for a few hours a day during Ramadan, to begin to appreciate the significance of the Holy month. As they get a little older, most families encourage their children under 12 to fast for half a day, until they reach twelve years old, when all Muslim children are expected to fast for the full dawn to dusk period. Interestingly (and perhaps surprisingly to non-Muslim children), many who are approaching twelve look forward to being old enough to fast for the full day, more than anything else. It means to them, that they are now being treated the same as an adult, and all the responsibilities that adulthood brings. Every parent should include their children in Ramadan activities so that they can learn about their religious activities in their early age.

1. Ramadan Is The Ninth Month of the Islamic Lunar Calendar

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. This opens up a great opportunity to tell children about the Islamic calendar, when did it start and what are the other months in it.

2. What is Fasting

Fasting is one of the most important duties of Ramadan. Fasting is made Farz on every healthy adult and such people shouldn’t skip the fasting.One has to refrain himself from eating or drinking from sunrise to sunset as well as to stay away from all sorts of sins and bad deeds while fasting, and even after that.

3. The Month Quran Was Revealed to the World

Ramadan is the very month when Allah (SWT) revealed the Quran on Prophet Mohammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). This increases the significance of this month and makes it the month to recite Quran in abundance.

4. Sawab Of Prayers Increased by 70%

In Ramadan, the Sawab for all kinds of prayers (Dua, Salah etc.) is increased by 70 percent. Thus, there is no reason to skip even a single prayer and those who don’t earn a great amount of Sawab in this month is indeed unfortunate.

5. Lailatul Qadr (The Night of power)

Lailat-ul-Qadr, which is also known as the Night of Power also comes in the very month of Ramadan. It is said that this night is more significant than a thousand months which is why Muslim pray extensively on this night. Doing so can lead to salvation on the Day of Judgement.

6. Eid ul-Fitr (The Festival of Breaking the Fast)

Eid ul-Fitr is the festival of breaking the fast. This holiday celebrates the conclusion of the twenty nine or thirty days of dawn-to-sunset fasting during the entire month of Ramadan. Muslims celebrate Eid ul-Fitr for three days and then get back to their normal routines.

7. What is Lailatul Jaiza

Lailatul Jaiza is the night preceding Eid-ul-Fitr. This night is also called or known as the Night of Reward.The prayers of all the Muslims who performed Salahs, Tarawihs, observed fasting, gave charity etc. in the month of Ramadan are being accepted in this night.

8. Importance of Charity in Islam

Children should be taught in their early childhood that charity giving is highly encourage in Islam. All of us who are financially stable, or even if not but can give child charities every once in a while, should provide aid to our Muslim brothers. We can provide financial help to the helpless or physical aid depending on the circumstances.

9. The Moon Sighting

Ramadan begins in the start of the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar. It is determined by the sighting of the crescent moon. There are moon-watching committees all over the world to ensure that there is no confusion about the sighting of the moon. Once the crescent moon is seen, the news of the commencement of Ramadan is announced on the TV and Radio.

10. Children Don’t Have To Fast

You should tell your children that they don’t have to fast now (If they haven’t reached the age to start fasting) but they eventuallywill have to fast in upcoming years. This will get things rolling and get them in the mindset of performing this important task.

Teaching children about the month of Ramadan, its duties and the Farz responsibilities of other months is highly encouraged in Islam. You should tell your children about each of the above explained pointers in order to fulfil your religious duty as a Muslim parent.

Happy Fasting, Kids :)

 

#IslamGram

AKIK STONE IN ISLAM

Akik is a type of stone that is found in Turkey and Iran. It is made from agate. It is considered a semiprecious ornamental stones.

Today in Modern knowledge adds to that some more practical benefits of aqeeq in everyday life…
 

Among the New Age community, believers revere Carnelian’s mental grounding power and believe this is the source of its greatest mental effects. They say it teaches one to focus on the present for the moments in life when all one’s mental powers are necessary for success at a single, important task and is a source of confidence, eloquence and inspiration. For instances when you need a boost to creativity for problem-solving, Carnelian can assist in getting the mind out of mental ruts and back on track for success. In the long-term, it bolsters ambition and drive and reminds the wearer of the future’s goals, hence becoming a powerful tool in major decision-making. Overall, many hold Carnelian dear as a stone with the ability to protect the individual, bolster confidence and generally enhance and expand the experiences of life.

Medical benefits 

Agate deeply nourishes your physical body with earthtone color rays while fostering cooperation among all of your body’s parts. By opening lines of communication within your body, Agate’s earthtones help coordinate your body’s myriad functions. Agate also alerts your body’s innate intelligence to your current state of health so that your body can rally its own resources to resolve any disharmonies. By flooding you with life-giving earthtones, Agate helps you forge a stronger connection with the Earth and feel more grounded and comfortable living in the physical world.

More about its effects
Carnelian stimulates, sharpens, and enhances mental functions. It improves mental clarity, memory, and the ability to see things from a higher viewpoint. When you first wear Carnelian, it stirs up the clouds that inhibit mental clarity. Consequently, you may notice that your clarity seems to decrease, and your sinuses and lymph glands may become somewhat clogged. This effect won’t last long. Carnelian teaches the body to metabolize these clouds. As more and more clouds are metabolized and eliminated, your clarity will increase and surpass what you experienced before putting on the Carnelian. You will also gain the strength to help you accept the many changes this increased mental clarity will initiate in your life. 

From inter-islam.org : 

Various narrations have been quoted regarding whether Sayyidina Rasulullah Sallallahu'Alayhi Wasallam wore the ring on his right or the left hand. A group of muhadditheen have preferred the view that he wore the ring on his right hand. This is also the view of Imaam Bukhaari, Imaam Tirmidhi, and other muhadditheen.' A few of the 'ulama have concluded that he wore it on the right hand, but sometimes wore it on the left. The 'ulama differ as to which hand it is best to wear a ring. Among the Hanafi 'ulama there are different opinions. A few say it is best to wear it on the left hand and others say both hands are equal. Shaami has quoted both views. Mulla 'Ali Qaari has quoted a saying of the Hanafis, that it is best to wear it on the right hand. According to the madhhab, the view stated by Shaami is more reliable (acceptable). Imaani Nawawi has stated that it is permissible according to the majority of the 'ulama, to wear it on either hand without karaahah. The Maalikis state it is better to wear it on the left hand. In short both are proven from the hadith. The 'ulama have also given preference to both. It is mentioned in Durri Mukhtaar from Qahistani that it has become a symbol of the Rawaafid (Shi'as) to wear a ring on the right hand, therefore it is waajib to abstain from wearing it on the right hand. The author of Durri Mukhtaar says that it is possible that it was the symbol of the Rawaafid at that time and now it is not. Maulana Cangohi writes in his kitaab 'Kaukabi Durri' that because the wearing of the ring on the left hand is the symbol of the Rawaafid, it is makruh to do so. Maulana (Khalil Ahmad) Saharanpuri has given- the same view in his 'Badh-lul Majhud' and has also written that although there is a difference of opinion whether the Rawaafid are Muslims or non-Muslims, there is no difference of opinion in that they are faasiqs. It is very important to save one's self from imitating the fussaaq (plural of faasiq). (Now after the Iranian revolution the belief of the Rawaafid (Shi'ah) has been openly propagated and made known. They reject the fundamental beliefs of Islaam and hence are apostates and out of the fold of Islaam).

From Sunniforum.com :

It is sunna for a man to wear one silver ring, with or without a stone, on his pinky finger. If it has a stone, it is sunna for it to face inwards towards his palm, out of emulation of the Prophet, Allah bless and grant him peace, who did this. He may wear it on the right or left hand, and according to the Shafi'i School the right is best. As for other than his pinky, the relied upon position is that it is offensive (makruh). This is the summary of what is in Tuhfah.[1]

I have not seen the jurists mention the size, color, or shape of the stone. However, they differ as to the weight of the ring itself. Some of them said that it is obligatory for it to be under one mithqal (4.235 grams) due to a prophetic tradition prohibiting this, but the scholars of hadith differed concerning it's authenticity. While others said that the ring's size may not exceed what was commonly acknowledged to be acceptable ('urf) for someone like him in his location. This second position is what Imam Ramli and al-Khatib, Allah have mercy on both of them, said was the relied upon position,[2] but it would be more scrupulous to avoid the difference of opinion and wear a ring that was less than 4.235 grams.

As for the ring of our beloved prophet, Muhammad, Allah bless and grant him peace; Muslim relates on the authority of Anas Bin Malik, Allah be pleased with him, that Allah's Messenger, peace and blessing be upon him, wore a sliver ring on his right hand, in it was an Abyssinian stone and he used to make the stone face his palm.[3]

Imam al-Nawawi said in his commentary on Sahih Muslim: "The scholars say ... an Abyssinian stone means a stone of onyx [ in which there is whiteness and blackness] or carnelian ('aqiq) because their mines are in Abyssinia and Yemen, or it is said [it means] that it's color was Abyssinian (i.e. black)."[4] Some of the scholars among them al-Suyuti also said that Abyssinian means a kind of chrysolite with a greenish color which exists in the lands of the Abyssinians.[5] This prophetic tradition is rigorously authenticated and one explanation for an Abyssinian stone is that it was carnelian ('aqiq), but it should be noted that there are no prophetic traditions which have been authenticated stating that the prophet, Allah bless and grant him peace, wore a carnelian ring. Shaykh Abdullah al-Lahji said in his commentary on al-Nabahani's Shama'il: "Everything that has been transmitted of prophetic sayings concerning carnelian rings, indeed none of it is authenticated; even if it's chains of transmission are numerous as the Hafiz Ibn Rajab said [Allah have mercy on him]."[6]

So whether you get engaged or not, intend by wearing a ring emulation of the Prophet Muhammad, Allah bless and grant him peace. If you choose to wear a carnelian ('aqiq) ring, make the basis of that decision the aforementioned rigorously authenticated (sahih) tradition related by Muslim and others, in which one sound interpretation of an Abyssinian stone was carnelian. And Allah knows best and He alone gives success (tawfiq).



1. Ibn Hajar al-Haytami, Hawashi al-Sharwani Wa Ibn Qasim al-Abbadi 'Ala Tuhfah al-Muhtaj Bisharh al-Minhaj (Beruit, Dar Ihya' al-Turath al-'Arabi), 3:276.
2. Abdul-Hamid al-Sharwani, Hawashi al-Sharwani Wa Ibn Qasim al-Abbadi 'Ala Tuhfah al-Muhtaj Bisharh al-Minhaj (Beruit, Dar Ihya' al-Turath al-'Arabi), 3:277.
3. Sahih Muslim hadith 2094.
4. Yahya Bin Sharaf al-Nawawi, Sahih Muslim Bisharh al-Imam Abi Zakariya Yahya Bin Sharaf al-Nawawi (Beruit: Dar al-Fikr, 1995), 7:58-59.
5. Abdullah Bin Sa'eed Muhammad 'Abbadi al-Lahji, Kitab Muntaha al-Sul 'Ala Wasa'il al-Wusul Ila Shama'il al-Rasul, 3d. ed. (Beruit: Dar al-Minhaj, 2003), 1:540.

Wallahu a'lam

#Islamgram

April Mop AKA April Fool

01 april april often synonymous with a mop. some say in that day [01 April] is the day that Islamic forces in granada [Spain] overthrown on crusade with burnt alive in the ships on April 1st, and hence they celebrate the April Fool's Day to spite us.

Is the story true?

Perhaps the following article can give a bright spot on there

For the past several years, some highly emotionally charged stories regarding the origin of the April Fool’s Day have been circulating all over Pakistan, and to a great extent, the entire Muslim world.
Since most of our fellow Pakistanis and Muslim brothers seem very keen to take up such stories without really bothering to verify them, so we thought we’d write a little feature on it.


Falsifying the April Fool stories that we hear in Pakistan (and the Muslim world):

Several stories about the origin of the April Fool’s Day have been circulating in Pakistan, usually through text messages but sometimes through emails and blogs.

We shall falsify the two major ones here:

FAKE THEORY NO. 1: Reported online with the name of a fictitious scholar ‘Aasim Ibn ‘Abdullaah Al-Qurawayti,  the most famous story is summarized below:
           “When the Muslims ruled Spain, approximately one thousand years ago, they were a force that could not be destroyed. the disbelievers sent their spies to Spain to study and find out the secret of the Muslims’ strength, who attributed it to their taqwa.

           To break this strength, the Christians began to send wine and cigarettes to Spain for free.

           The faith of the Muslims began to weaken,and the western Catholic Christians subdued the whole of Spain and put an end to the Muslim rule of that land which had lasted for more than eight hundred years. The last stronghold of the Muslims, in Grenada, fell on April 1st; hence they considered this to be the “trick of April."

FALSIFYING THIS THEORY: The last stronghold of Granada fell not on 1st April, but on January 2, 1492, when Muhammad XII of Granada surrendered the Emirate of Granada, the city of Granada, and the Alhambra palace; following the Granada wars.
Moreover, it would be worth mentioning that cigarette was not yet invented when Isabella and Ferdinand were planning to take over Granada in the 1480s. In fact, tobacco itself was not yet known to the Europeans. 

Furthermore, Reconquest was not so easy as to have been accomplished by making Spanish Muslims addicted to smoking cigarettes. It took almost 500 years of ceaseless Christian military campaigns in spite of anarchy and dispersion of power that had prevailed in Muslim Spain since the fall of Spain’s Umayyad dynasty in 1031 CE, and 11 years of cleverly crafted strategy of Ferdinand-Isabella team to unseat an incompetent Muslim monarch.

FAKE THEORY NO. 2: In 1492 when Spain was captured, the Christians promised the Muslims that they would be transported to Africa safely; but they were burnt alive in the ships on 1st April, and hence they celebrate the April Fool’s Day to spite us.

FALSIFYING THIS THEORY: Although Spain was captured in 1492,  the Muslims were not expelled until the 16th century.
In addition, the order to expel the Muslims was given on 9th April, 1609. So once again, this event is clearly not linked to the 1st of April!

The Actual Origin of April Fool’s Day:

There is more than one theory about the origin of April Fool’s Day.

The most credible of these theories states that the tradition began in 1582, when France switched from the Julian calendar to the Gregorian calendar in 1583. The transition was in accordance with the orders of Council of Trent, the 16th century Ecumenical Council of the Roman Catholic Church.

People who were not aware of the transition kept on celebrating the New Year during the last week of March through 1 April instead of 1 January. And they became the objects of jokes and hoaxes such as placing a paper fish on their backs and was also called "poisson d'avril" (April fish) meaning an easy to fool person.

(Some people disagree with the above theory, stating that the OLDEST mention that we find about the April Fool dates back to 1392 in Chaucer’s book “Canterbury Tales”. That is explained as below:
In Canterbury Tales, the "Nun's Priest's Tale" is set “Syn March bigan thritty dayes and two”. Readers apparently believed this line to mean "March 32", i.e. April 1. Somewhere in the storyline, the vain cock Chauntecleer is tricked by a fox; implying to the reader’s that this refers to April Fool’s Day

 Modern scholars believe that there is a copying error in the extant manuscripts and that Chaucer actually wrote, “Syn March was gon thritty dayes and two.” Thus the passage originally meant 32 days after April, i.e. May 2, the anniversary of the engagement of King Richard II of England to Anne of Bohemia, which took place in 1381.)

____________

The Absolute Verdict:

The above discussion makes it clear that the April Fool's Day is not a tradition made to spite the Muslims.

Reacting to these rumours over the internet, Abdul-Halim V, has rightly remarked on Planet Granada blog: "...sometimes I get the feeling that as a group, Muslims need to develop a lot more critical-thinking and need to learn not to pass on everything we hear from so-and-so as the truth".

Source of Article 

And you can read about Granada war at wikipedia, there noted :

On January 2, 1492 Muhammad XII of Granada (King Boabdil) surrendered the Emirate of Granada, the city of Granada, and theAlhambra palace to the Castilian forces.

You can read [too] In Muhammad  Thariq Ghazi's notes about it.

May we have to read history, More and again

Qunut [English Translations]

"اللَّهُمَّ اهْدِنِي فِيمَنْ هَدَيْتَ، وَعَافِنِي فِيمَنْ عَافَيْتَ، وَتَوَلَّنِي فِيمَنْ تَوَلَّيْتَ، وَبَارِكْ لِي فِيمَا أَعطَيْتَ، وَقِنِي شَرَّ مَا قَضَيْتَ، فَإِنَّكَ تَقْضِي وَلَا يُقْضَى عَلَيْكَ، إِنَّهُ لَا يَذِلُّ مَنْ وَالَيْتَ، [وَلَا يَعِزُّ مَنْ عَادَيْتَ]، تَبَارَكْتَ رَبَّنَا وَتَعَالَيْتَ".

Allaahum-mahdinee feeman hadayta, wa 'aafinee feeman 'aafayta, wa tawallanee feeman tawallayta, wa baarik lee feemaa 'a'atayta, wa qinee sharra maa qadhayta, fa'innaka taqdhee wa laa yuqdhaa 'alayka, 'innahu laa yathillu man waalayta, [wa laa ya 'izzu man 'aadayta] , tabaarakta Rabbanaa wa ta'aalayta.

O Allah , guide me with those whom You have guided , and strengthen me with those whom You have given strength. Take me to Your care with those whom You have taken to Your care. Bless me in what You have given me. Protect me from the evil You have ordained. Surely, You command and are not commanded, and none whom You have committed to Your care shall be humiliated [and none whom You have taken as an enemy shall taste glory] . You are Blessed , Our Lord , and Exalted.

Reference:
Abu Dawud, Ibn Majah, An-Nasa'i, At-Tirmithi, Ahmad, Ad-Darimi, Al-Hakim, and Al-Bayhaqi. See also Al-Albani, Sahih At-Tirmithi 1/144, Sahih Ibn Majah 1/194, and 'Irwa'ul-GhaW. 2/ 172.

"اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِرِضَاكَ مِنْ سَخَطِكَ، وَبِمُعَافَاتِكَ مِنْ عُقُوبَتِكَ، وأَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْكَ، لَا أُحْصِي ثَنَاءً عَلَيْكَ، أَنْتَ كَمَا أَثْنَيْتَ عَلَى نَفْسِكَ".

Allaahumma 'innee 'a'oothu biridhaaka min sakhatika, wa bimu'aafaatika min 'uqoobatika, wa 'a'oothu bika minka, laa 'uhsee thanaa'an 'alayka, 'Anta kamaa 'athnayta 'alaa nafsika.

O Allah , I seek refuge with Your Pleasure from Your anger . I seek refuge in Your forgiveness from Your punishment . I seek refuge in You from You . I cannot count Your praises , You are as You have praised Yourself.

Reference:
Abu Dawud, Ibn Majah, An-Nasa'i, At-Tirmithi, Ahmad. See Al-Albani, Sahih At-Tirmithi 3/180, Sahih Ibn Majah 1/194, and 'Irwa'ul-Ghalil. 2/ 175.

"اللَّهُمَّ إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ، وَلَكَ نُصَلِّي وَنَسْجُدُ، وَإِلَيْكَ نَسْعَى وَنَحْفِدُ، نَرْجُو رَحْمَتَكَ، وَنَخْشَى عَذَابَكَ، إِنَّ عَذَابَكَ بِالْكَافِرِينَ مُلْحَقٌ. اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّا نَسْتَعِينُكَ، وَنَسْتَغْفِرُكَ، وَنُثْنِي عَلَيْكَ الْخَيْرَ، وَلَا نَكْفُرُكَ، وَنُؤْمِنُ بِكَ وَنَخْضَعُ لَكَ، وَنَخْلَعُ مَنْ يَكْفُرُكَ".

Allaahumma 'iyyaaka na'budu, wa laka nusallee wa nasjudu, wa 'ilayka nas'aa wa nahfidu, narjoo rahmataka, wa nakhshaa 'athaabaka, 'inna 'athaabaka bilkaafireena mulhaq. Allaahumma 'innaa nasta'eenuka, wa nastaghfiruka, wa nuthnee 'alaykal-khayr, wa laa nakfuruka, wa nu'minu bika, wa nakhdha'u laka, wa nakhla'u man yakfuruka.

O Allah, You alone do we worship and to You we pray and bow down prostrate. To You we hasten to worship and to serve. Our hope is for Your mercy and we fear Your punishment. Surely, Your punishment of the disbelievers is at hand. O Allah, we seek Your help and Your forgiveness, and we praise You beneficently. We do not deny You and we believe in You. We surrender to You and renounce whoever disbelieves in You.

Reference:
Al-Bayhaqi graded its chain authentic in As-Sunan Al-Kubra. Al-Albani said in 'Irwa'ul-GhaliL 2/170 that its chain is authentic as a statement of 'Umar.

9 Facts About Friday, In Islam

Friday is a very important day for Muslims. It is more significant and more beneficial than any other day of the week. It is the day that Muslims gather together to pray in congregation. Directly before the prayer they listen to a lecture designed to empower them with valuable knowledge about God, and the religion of Islam. It is a blessed day that has been designated as such by God, Almighty; no other day of the week shares its virtues.

 

A believer’s entire life is one of worship; even celebrations are conducted as worship. While there is no special place or special time to worship God, there are moments, days, or times that God has made more superior; Friday is one of those times. 

From the traditions of Prophet Muhammad, may the mercy and blessings of God be upon him, we learn that “The best day in the sight of God is Friday, the day of congregation”. Congregational prayers (obligatory for men) are one of the most strongly emphasized duties in Islam. It is a time when Muslims come together to worship One God, and find strength and comfort by standing shoulder to shoulder and reaffirming their faith and devotion to Him.

“O you who believe! When the call to prayer is proclaimed on Friday hasten earnestly to the remembrance of God, and leave aside business. That is best for you if you but knew.” (Quran 62:9) 

 

Here are some other virtues and facts about the Day of Jumu'ah:

1. It includes the congregational Jumu'ah prayer, which is one of the obligatory acts in Islam and one of the great gatherings of the Muslims. Allah The Almighty will seal the heart of whoever abandons and slights this, according to the Prophet , in a Hadeeth (narration) in the book of Imaam Muslim . 
2. The day of Jumu'ah includes an hour during which all supplications are accepted. Abu Hurayrah, narrated that the Messenger of Allaah , said: "On (the day of) Jumu'ah is an hour during which Allaah gives to a Muslim servant standing in prayer whatever he asks for.”[Al-Bukhaari and Muslim]. 
3. Giving in charity during this day is more virtuous than any other day. Ka'b, narrated that the Messenger, , said: "Charity given during the day of Jumu'ah is greater (in reward) than any other day." 
4. The believers will see their Lord from Paradise on that day. Anas ibn Maalik, said regarding the saying of Allaah The Almighty (which means): {"And We have more (i.e. a glance at the All-Mighty)"}[Quran, 50: 35] "Allaah will appear to them on the day of Jumu'ah.".
5. It is an 'Eed, i.e., a recurrent holiday and celebration. Ibn 'Abbaas, narrated that the Messenger of Allaah said: "Jumu'ah is a day of celebration, so whoever attends it should perform Ghusl (bathing) beforehand." [Ibn Maajah]. 
6. It is a day on which sins are forgiven, as narrated by Salmaan who narrated that the Prophet, said: “Any man who performs Ghusl on Friday, perfumes himself if he has perfume, wears the best of his clothes, then goes to the mosque and offers as many prayers as he wishes while not harming anybody, then listens quietly while the Imaam speaks until he offers the prayer, will have all his sins between that Friday and the next forgiven.” [Al-Bukhaari]. 
7. When walking to attend the Friday sermon, a Muslim gets the reward of both praying Qiyaam (i.e., the night prayer) and fasting a full year. Aws ibn Aws narrated that the Prophet, , said: “Whoever performs Ghusl on Friday after having sexual intercourse with his wife, then goes early to the mosque and attends from the beginning of the Khutbah and draws near to the Imaam and listens to him attentively, Allaah will give him the full reward of fasting all the days of a year and observing night-vigil on each of its nights for every step that he took towards the mosque.”[Ibn Khuzaymah, Ahmad]. 
8. Hell is fired-up during every day of the week except Friday, as a mark of honour and respect for the day of Friday.  
9. Dying on Friday, during the day or night, is a sign of a good end, for the one who dies on that day will be protected from the trial of the grave (i.e., Allaah The Almighty will enable such a person to be steadfast during it). The Prophet, said: “Any Muslim who dies during the day or night of Friday will be protected by Allaah from the trial of the grave.” [At-Tirmithi and Ahmad].

#Islamgram

Source

Islamic Months, The Lunar Calendar

Islamic months begin at sunset of the first day, the day when the lunar crescent is visually sighted. The lunar year is approximately 354 days long, so the months rotate backward through the seasons and are not fixed to the Gregorian calendar. The months of the Islamic year are:

1. Muharram ("Forbidden" - it is one of the four months during which it is forbidden to wage war or fight)

2. Safar ("Empty" or "Yellow")

3. Rabia Awal ("First spring")

4. Rabia Thani ("Second spring")

5. Jumaada Awal ("First freeze")

6. Jumaada Thani ("Second freeze")

7. Rajab ("To respect" - this is another holy month when fighting is prohibited)

8. Sha'ban ("To spread and distribute")

9. Ramadan ("Parched thirst" - this is the month of daytime fasting)

10. Shawwal ("To be light and vigorous")

11. Dhul-Qi'dah ("The month of rest" - another month when no warfare or fighting is allowed)

12. Dhul-Hijjah ("The month of Hajj" - this is the month of the annual pilgrimage to Makkah, again when no warfare or fighting is allowed)

Allah says in the Qur'an:

"The number of months in the sight of Allah is twelve (in a year) - so ordained by Him the day He created the heavens and the earth...." (9:36).

"It is He Who made the sun to be a shining glory, and the moon to be a light of beauty, and measured out stages for it, that you might know the number of years and the count of time. Allah did not create this except in truth and righteousness. And He explains His signs in detail, for those who understand" (10:5).

Get circumcised

Get circumcised or known as Khitān (Arabic: ختان‎) or Khatna (Arabic: ختنة‎). is the term for male circumcision carried out as an Islamic rite by some Muslims. It is considered by some as a sign of belonging to the wider Islamic community.

Islamic male circumcision is optional and analogous but not identical to Jewish circumcision. Islam is currently the largest single religious group in which the practice is widespread, and although circumcision is not mentioned in the Qur'an itself, it is mentioned in the hadith and the sunnah. Whether or not it should be carried out after converting to Islam is debated among Islamic scholars.

Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allaah have mercy on him) wrote a useful book on the rulings concerning the newborn, which he called Tuhfat al-Mawdood fi Ahkaam al-Mawlood. In this book he wrote an extensive chapter in which he spoke of circumcision and the rulings thereon. The following is a summary of that, with additional comments from some other scholars.

1 – The meaning of circumcision (khitaan):

Ibn al-Qayyim said:

Khitaan is a noun describing the action of the circumciser (khaatin). It is also used to describe the site of the circumcision, as in the hadeeth, “When the two circumcised parts (al-khitaanaan) meet, ghusl become obligatory.” In the case of a female the word used is khafad. In the male it is also called i’dhaar. The one who is uncircumcised is called aghlaf or aqlaf.

Tuhfat al-Mawlood, 1/152

2 – Circumcision is the Sunnah of Ibraaheem and the Prophets after him:

Al-Bukhaari (6298) and Muslim (2370) narrated that Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Ibraaheem (peace be upon him) circumcised himself when he was eighty years old, and he circumcised himself with an adze.”

An adze (qadoom) is a carpenter’s tool; it was also said that al-Qadoom is a place is Syria.

Al-Haafiz ibn Hajar said:

It is most likely that what is referred to in the hadeeth is the tool. Abu Ya’laa narrated that ‘Ali ibn Rabaah said: “Ibraaheem was commanded to circumcise himself, so he circumcised himself with an adze and it was very painful for him. Then Allaah revealed to him saying, “You rushed to do it before We told you what tool to use.” He said, “O Lord, I did not want to delay obeying Your command.”

Ibn al-Qayyim said:

Circumcision was one of the things with which Allaah tested Ibraaheem, His Close Friend. He did them perfectly so Allaah made him a leader of mankind. It was narrated that he was the first one who was circumcised, as mentioned above. What it says in al-Saheeh is that Ibraaheem circumcised himself when he was eighty years old. After him, circumcision continued among the Messengers and their followers, even the Messiah. He was circumcised and the Christians affirm that, and do not deny that, as they also affirm that he was forbidden the flesh of pigs…

Tuhfat al-Mawdood, p. 158-159

But the scholars (may Allaah have mercy on them) differed as to the ruling on circumcision.

Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:

The most correct view is that it is obligatory in the case of men and Sunnah in the case of women. The difference between them is that in the case of men, it serves an interest which has to do with one of the conditions of prayer, namely purity (tahaarah), because if the foreskin remains, when the urine comes out of the urethra, some of it will collect there, and this causes burning and infection every time the person moves, and every time the foreskin is squeezed, some drops of urine come out, thus causing najaasah (impurity).

In the case of women, it serves a useful purpose which is to reduce desire. This is seeking perfection, not removing something harmful.

Al-Sharh al-Mumti’, 1/133-134

This is the view of Imam Ahmad (may Allaah have mercy on him). Ibn Quddamah said in al-Mughni(1/115): As for circumcision, it is obligatory for men and it is good in the case of woman, but it is not obligatory for them.

3 – Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:

Abu’l-Barakaat said in his book al-Ghaayah: In circumcision of a man, the skin at the tip of the penis (the foreskin) is removed; if he only removes most of it, that is permissible. It is mustahabb to circumcise females provided that is not done in an extreme manner. It was narrated that ‘Umar said to a woman who circumcised females, “Leave some of it if you circumcise (a girl).” Al-Khallaal said in his Jaami’: What is cut when circumcising: Muhammad ibn al-Husayn told me that al-Fadl ibn Ziyaad told them: Ahmad was asked, How much should be cut in circumcision? He said, Until the glans (tip of the penis) becomes visible.

Ibn al-Sabbaagh said in al-Shaamil: What is obligatory in the case of a man is to cut the skin on the tip of the penis until the entire glans becomes visible. In the case of a woman, it means cutting the skin that looks like the comb of a rooster at the top of the vagina, between the two labia; if it is cut the base of it should be left like a date pit.

Al-Nawawi (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:

The well-known correct view is that everything covering the glans must be cut.

Al-Majmoo’, 1/351

Al-Juwayni said:

The hadeeth indicates that not too much of it should be removed (in the case of women), because he said, “Leave something sticking out and do not go to extremes in cutting.”

Tuhfat al-Mawdood, 190-192

The point is that in the case of males, all the skin covering the tip of the penis should be cut, but in the case of females only a part of the skin that is like a rooster’s comb at the top of the vagina should be cut.

4 – The wisdom behind circumcision

With regard to a man, he cannot be clean from urine unless he is circumcised, because drops of urine collect underneath the foreskin and he cannot be sure that they will not drip and make his clothes and body impure. Hence ‘Abd-Allaah ibn ‘Abbaas was very strict on the issue of circumcision. Imam Ahmad said: Ibn ‘Abbaas was very strict on this matter, and it was narrated that there is no Hajj and no prayer for him, i.e., if a person is not circumcised his Hajj and prayer are not valid. Al-Mughni, 1/115

With regard to the wisdom behind the circumcision of women, it is to regulate their desire so it will be moderate.

Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah (may Allaah have mercy on him) was asked about whether women should be circumcised or not. He replied:

Praise be to Allaah. Yes, they should be circumcised, i.e., the top of the piece of skin that looks like a rooster’s comb should be cut. The Messenger of Allaah (S) said to the woman who did circumcisions: “Leave something sticking out and do not go to extremes in cutting. That makes her face look brighter and is more pleasing to her husband.” That is because the purpose of circumcising a man is to make him clean from the impurity that may collect beneath the foreskin. But the purpose of circumcising women is to regulate their desire, because if a woman is not circumcised her desire will be strong. Hence the words “O son of an uncircumcised woman” are used as an insult, because the uncircumcised woman has stronger desire. Hence immoral actions are more common among the women of the Tatars and the Franks, that are not found among the Muslim women. If the circumcision is too severe, the desire is weakened altogether, which is unpleasing for men; but if it is cut without going to extremes in that, the purpose will be achieved, which is moderating desire. And Allaah knows best.

Majmoo’ al-Fataawa, 21/114

5 – It is permissible to pay money for circumcision.

Ibn Qudaamah said:

It is permissible to pay money for circumcision and for medical treatment. We do not know of any difference of opinion on this matter, because it is doing something that is needed and which is allowed in sharee’ah. So it is permissible to pay money for it, like all other permissible actions.

Al-Mughni, 5/314.

History of Circumcision

 

Male circumcision is an ancient practice, dating back to several thousand years B.C.. Although there is no mention of it in the Quran, it was commonly done among the early Muslims during the lifetime of the Prophet Muhammad. Muslims consider it a matter of hygiene and cleanliness (tahara ). It is also considered to be a tradition of the children of Abraham (Ibrahim), or previous prophets. Circumcision is mentioned in the hadith as one of the signs of fitrah , or the natural inclination of humans -- along with the clipping of nails, removal of hair in the armpits and genitals, and trimming of the moustache.

 

Although circumcision is an Islamic birth rite, there is no special ceremony or procedure surrounding the circumcision of a baby. It is considered a health matter often left in the hands of doctors. Most families choose to have a doctor perform the circumcision while the baby is still in the hospital after birth or shortly thereafter. In some cultures, the circumcision is done later, at around seven years old or as the boy approaches puberty. The person performing the circumcision does not need to be a specific person, or even necessarily a Muslim, as long is the procedure is done in sanitary conditions by an experienced professional.

 

Female "circumcision" is really genital mutilation , with no known health benefits or basis in Islamic practice. The removal of female genitalia is traditional practice in some areas of Africa, among people of different faiths and cultures. Some Muslims have tried to justify the practice, but their judicial evidence is weak or non-existent. Rather, this practice causes harm to a girl with life-changing effects on her reproductive health.

 

The commonly-cited motivation for a FGM procedure is to reduce a woman's sexual drive. In Islam, however, both men and women have the right to lead fulfilling sexual lives within the marriage relationship. Female genital mutilation denies a woman this fundamental right.

Male circumcision existed before the birth of the Prophet Mohammed and this custom is religously practised by Muslims as a precedent of the Prophet, which is called the SUNNAH. In the index of an authentic English translation of the Holy Quaraan, with Arabic script, circumcision was not listed. However, every Muslim is expected to follow the way of life of Prophet Mohammed (be peace upon him). Therefore, all Muslims - devouts, liberals or seculars - observe this ritual. Muslims are obliged to follow not only Allah's message in the Holy Quaraan but also what the Prophet said or did, as a proof of their dedication to Islam. 

From Various Source

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