8 Types of People who can accept Zakat

Zakat is an Arabic word means “purification”. Zakat is the third pillar of Islam and compulsory on every financially stable Muslim that is wealthy enough to afford to it. In religion, Islam charity holds so much importance that it is an obligation on Muslims in the form of Zakat. All eligible individuals are required to pay an annual percentage of 2.5% of the wealth and property they own as Zakat. Allah Almighty says in the Noble Quran: “Take from their wealth so that you might purify and sanctify them” (Quran 9:103).

The basic purpose of Zakat is to do Charity and help the poor grow and establish balance in the society. It helps poor to get basic needs which they could not fulfill due to financial problems. According to religion Islam, Zakat purifies your wealth and Allah gives you the rewards in the hereafter. When it comes to paying Zakat, there are different misconceptions that are prevalent among Muslims. Zakat cannot be given to just anybody, Islam has defined the terms and conditions of giving Zakat.

There are specific people to whom Zakat can be given. Allah Almighty mentioned them in the Holy Quran: “The alms are only for the Fuqara (the poor), and Al-Masakin (the needy) and those employed to collect (the funds); and to attract the hearts of those who have been inclined (towards Islam); and to free captives; and for those in debt; and for Allah’s cause, and for the wayfarer (a traveler who is cut off from everything); a duty imposed by Allah. And Allah is All-Knower, All-Wise.” (Quran, 9:60)

From the above verse of Holy Quran, we have mentioned below the people who can accept Zakat and to whom Muslims are required to pay Zakat:

1. Al-Fuqara (The Poor): These are the people who don’t have means to live their life properly and live below the line of poverty. They deserve your Zakat in order to meet the daily necessities of their lives.
2. Al-Masakin (The Needy): These people are also poor; however, because of their pride and bashfulness they don’t expose their poverty. Your Zakat can help them in improving their living condition.
3. The Zakat Collectors: These people are given the authority by the ruler to collect the Zakat money, preserve it, and distribute it among the needy and poor. It includes trustworthy institutions and NGOs who are working to help underprivileged Muslim communities.
4. The Newly Converted Muslims: Those who are newly converted to Islam are eligible to accept Zakat as with their conversion to Islam they need assistance and help for a new start in life.
5. Freeing Captives or Slaves: The money of Zakat can also be spent on freeing the slaves or captives and improve their living standard.
6. The Debtors: Zakat can be given to pay off debts of someone who cannot repay on his own. But one must make sure that the money they borrowed utilized for the Halal purpose.
7. In the Path of Allah: Zakat can be given to those who are striving in the path of Allah. These are the people who are fighting for Allah’s cause far away from their homes. Your Zakat can help them have a better living.
8. The Travelers: Zakat can be given to the people who are left alone in some foreign country and have no money in pocket to eat or survive. You can also give Zakat to the refugees as they leave their countries because of violence and oppression in search of a safe and better place.

The main objective of paying Zakat is to help the society by giving something from your wealth. In return, the Muslims get tremendous rewards not only in this world but also in the hereafter. Islam guides us to make this world a better place by helping others in need and that’s why it puts emphasis on charity. May Almighty Allah guide us to help the needy and poor people for the sake His pleasure. Ameen!

source: quranreading.com/blog

The Social System of Islam

Islam is the religion that promotes peace, love, and respect among Muslims and also with the people of other religions. The society in which Muslims live is known as an Islamic society. Islamic society is the one whose members have “Iman” (faith) in Islam, apply its laws in their life and performing religious duties and abstaining from doing what is unlawful according to Islam. The foundations of the social system of Islam depends on the belief that we are all equal and constitute one single society based on Islamic teachings.

Allah Almighty created a human couple to herald the beginning of the life of mankind on earth, and everybody living in the world today originates from this couple. Islam makes clear to all men that they have come from the same parents and are therefore brothers and equal as human beings. Islam says that if there is any real difference between man and man it cannot be one of race, color, country or language, but of ideas, beliefs and principles.

Anyone who believes in Allah Almighty and accepts the guidance of the Prophets as the law of his life can join the community or society of Islam, whether he is a resident of America or Africa, whether he belongs to any race, whether he is black or fair-skinned, whether he speaks any language. All those who join the Islamic community will have the same rights and social status. They will not be subjected to any racial, national or class distinctions. No one will be regarded as high or low.

The religion Islam made the social preference in man based on his worship to Allah and follow His Good Pleasure and Generous Recompense, through the channel of providing other fellow humans with service and help and not the fulfillment of his individual needs and interests. Living the faith is worship one can do service for Allah Almighty through service to humankind. Islam requires all its followers to be faithful and helpful and to share each other’s sorrows and happiness.

The social system of Islam enjoins the people to establish a strong relationship in which one can depend upon the other for help. A true Islamic society is where people can keep loyalty and faith among themselves. In an Islamic society, one has to respect the rights of others and conduct good duties towards each other. Mutual respect, kindness, and Justice towards each other create a close relationship and good morals in Islamic society. The foremost and fundamental institution of human society is the family unit.

The people of Islamic society should co-operate in acts of goodness and righteousness but not in acts of sin and injustice. Keeping good morals is another significant principle of the social system in Islam. Honesty, faithfulness, respecting neighbors, love, mercy, sacrifice, sympathy, keeping ties with near kin, and being kind and humble to others, are some other factors which consolidate a society and make happy its members. Being Muslim it is our duty and responsibility to form an Islamic society and keep it safe from corrupt elements by means of enjoining good and forbidding evil.

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source: quranreading.com/blog

Anger is the Disease of Soul - Powerful Tips to Avoid Anger

Anger is the temptation of Shaytaan and also a root of all evils; it can weaken the person’s faith. Anger is a natural feeling experienced by every person caused due to displeasure and annoyance. Despite the fact it is natural, anger can have serious consequences for us as well as the people around us. According to a narration by Abu Hurairah (RA) a man said to the Prophet (PBUH), “Advise me.” He replied, “Do not become angry”. The man repeated his request several times, and each time the Prophet (PBUH) told him, “Do not become angry” (Al-Bukhari).

Anger is a natural emotion that a person may express it in a manner that could result in violence and destructive acts. In the Holy Quran Allah Almighty says: “…Those who spend (freely) whether in prosperity or in adversity; who restrain their anger and pardon men; and Allah loves those who do good” (Quran, 3: 134). Allah loves those who control their anger and behave in well manners with other people.

We all should try to avoid anger as it is the disease of soul and our beloved Prophet Muhammad (SAW) also disliked this act. We are living in the world which is full of pressures makes us suffer from anger every time and can easily enrage negative emotions around us. We need to find at least solutions to reduce our negative emotion because they can easily provoke anger.

Powerful Tips to Avoid Anger in Islam

Today in this article we are going to discuss some powerful tips recommended by the Quran and Sunnah, to control and avoid anger.

• Anger is not the matter of power as stated in hadith: “The strong man is not the one who can wrestle, but it is the one who can control himself when he is angry.”(Bukhari)
• While someone is in the state of anger he/she should seek refuge from Allah Almighty. There is hadith of Prophet Muhammad (SAW) in which He (SAW) described that: If someone said “I seek refuge with Allah from the Shaytaan,” his/her anger would go away’. (Bukhari)
• One should be calm and silent when get angry it is the best solution to avoid anger. It is extremely important to stay calm and be quiet because someone can lose control and can say those things which he/she regret later. Think about what you are about to do or say in anger. The Messenger of Allah (SAW) said: “If any of you becomes angry, let him keep silent”.
• It is better to forgive others who hurt, offend, or harm us, rather than be in anger. Forgiving is miraculous. Those who are willing to forgive others will get the reward from Allah. It is mentioned in Holy Quran: “But [remember that an attempt at] requiting evil may, too, become an evil: hence, whoever pardons [his foe] and makes peace, his reward rests with God – for, verily, He does not love evildoers” (Quran 42:40).
• Make wudu and change your position while you get angry. As stated in Hadith in these words: “If one of you got angry while standing then sits down, or if sitting down then lay down. If anger does not go away then do Wudu”. (Abu Dawood)
• Before getting angry one should remember the effects of anger. As we all know that anger is like the poison it can destroy everything a man has built in minutes like marriages, brotherhood, and friendship. One should be aware of these effects and be very careful with one’s choices when in a state of anger.
• One should try and avoid the angered person from thoughts that continue to anger them.

In short, Anger can destroy one’s relationships, health, and sustenance. These destructions caused because uncontrolled anger is from the Shaytaan and he uses it to wreck lives. Therefore we should be aware of the tricks of the devil, and control our anger. Allah Almighty promised for a greater reward for in this world and in the hereafter for controlling anger. May Allah Almighty give us the strength to follow the right path and practice Islam Ameen!

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source: quranreading.com

Three levels of Faith | Islam, Iman, and Ihsan

Our religion is composed of three parts in which we have Islam, Iman, and Ihsan. We will discuss three of them in this article.

Islam

As we discussed above that there are three levels of faith that a person can attain being a Muslim. The first level is Islam. A Muslim must be declared that there is no God but Allah and Muhammad (SAW) is the messenger of Allah (SWT). By declaring this a person accepts the message of Allah Almighty that is revealed to humanity through the last prophet Muhammad (SAW). After accepting Islam it is obligatory on Muslim to observe all other Islamic obligations like five daily prayers, Zakat, Fasting in Ramadan, make a pilgrimage (Hajj) of the house of Allah if he/she is capable of doing this physically and also financially. These are some obligatory things that a Muslim must follow after the proclamation of Islam. The rules of Islam come more easily to those who have prepared their hearts with Iman.

Iman

Iman or faith is the first thing that we have to learn in our religion because it acts as our roots. Iman is basically to believe in Allah, His Angels, His Books, His Messengers and all the scriptures which He sent down before. As Allah Almighty said in Holy Quran: “O you who have believed, believe in Allah and His Messenger, (in) the Book that He sent down upon His Messenger, and the Scripture which He sent down before. And whoever disbelieves in Allah, His angels, His books, His messengers, and the Last Day has certainly gone far astray” (Quran, 4: 136)

So, a person reaching Iman believes that not only Allah exists but He is capable of doing anything He wants to do. A Mumen believes in everything Allah Almighty told in the Holy Quran. The belief in the Last Day which is the Judgment Day is an acknowledgment of accountability and estimation. It is an incentive for people to do good in this life in order to be rewarded in Paradise and a warning against doing badly in order to avoid punishment in the Hellfire.

The Prophet (SAW) said that Iman is, “To believe in Allah, His Angels, His Books, to believe in meeting Him, to believe in His Messengers, the Resurrection and the predestination” (Al-Bukhari). We can say that Iman is about inwardly actions.

Ihsan

Ihsan is the highest status of religion Islam. Its definition that our beloved Prophet Muhammad (SAW) described is: “To worship Allah as if you see Him, and if you do not see Him, He sees you.” The concept of Ihsan in Islam is also that a Muslim is a responsible person where he does things in a good manner. We can say that Ihsan means a Muhsen is sure that Allah is seeing him/her in everything he/she says or does in his life. So, a Muhsen does his best to say and do only what pleases Allah Almighty and conforms to His commands.

In the Holy Quran, Allah Almighty says: “Indeed, Allah commands justice, good conduct (Ihsan), and giving to relatives (and He) forbids immorality, bad conduct, and oppression. He admonishes you that perhaps you will be reminded” (Quran, 16: 90).

In short, by living according to the concept of Ihsan and by applying it to all that a Muslim does, he/she will be rewarded and drench with mercy and forgiveness from Allah Almighty.

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source: quranreading.com

Major Qualities of True Believers in Islam

When someone accepts Islam he/she became a Muslim. According to the Islamic point of view, a true Muslim is known to be a Mumin. Both Mumin and Muslim are somehow likely terms but a little bit different like Muslim is a person who embraces Islam by saying Kalima Tayyaba and with a devoted belief that Allah is One, There’s no God except Him and Prophet Mohammed (SAW) is His last Messenger but Mumin is the one in which this knowledge of faith invade deeply into his mind, heart and soul.

Allah Almighty underlined in the Quran the attributes of those who deserve to be called true believers, as Allah says in Noble Quran: “The believers are only those who, when Allah is mentioned, their hearts become fearful, and when His verses are recited to them, it increases them in faith; and upon their Lord they rely. The ones who establish prayer, and from what We have provided them, they spend. Those are the believers, truly. For them are degrees (of high position) with their Lord and forgiveness and noble provision.” (Quran, 8:2-4)

Qualities of True Believers in Islam

To become a Mumin or true believer we need to strive in keeping up with these distinctive qualities which we are going to discuss below in this article:

Believer of Allah Almighty: A true believer or Mumin is such person who believes in Allah Almighty and declares no assistant with Him on everything. We have seen many people saying and believing in Allah Almighty fully yet whenever they are in trouble they seek help from others. This is, in fact, Shirk that people mostly used to do. A true believer or Mumin turns only to Allah Almighty for help and demands only from Him.

Remembrance of Allah (SWT): Muslims always remember Allah Almighty in all his matters and most of the time. Hadith stated that: “Whoever sits and does not mention the Name of Allah (before he rises) will find it a cause of sorrow for Allah. Whoever lies down to sleep and does not mention the name of Allah before rising, will find it a cause of sorrow from Allah” (Abu Dawud). This Hadith gives us suggestion that recalling the name of The Greatest One should be our utmost priority with every passing moment of life if anyone of us wants to become Mumin a true believer.

Saying Salam: Salam not only represents saying Salaam to each other in normal life routine but, in fact, it is an indication towards a situation where an ignorant person tries to have a dispute with other Mumin over any matter. The Mumin instead of showing anger or arguing with him/her, say salaam and move forward. Therefore, it clearly shows that such persons don’t indulge themselves in worthless discussions.

Being Truthful: One of the foremost attributes that are stressed by our religion Islam for gaining the much-needed beautification of one`s personality is adopting the truth and is expected as must do act for every Muslim or true believer. In the Holy Quran, Allah Almighty said: “O you, who have believed, fear Allah and be with those who are true” (Quran, 9: 119).

Avoid Shirk: True believers of Allah Almighty abstain from Shirk. It is the subject matter of Islam and if one can’t follow that he or she shall not be called a Muslim. Allah Almighty will not forgive those who indulge in this act.

Avoid lying and Fraud: True believers of Allah Almighty avoid lying and fraud and don’t go near the evil or places where evil exists. A Mumin doesn’t indulge in evil acts like fraud and lying. These are the acts that Allah (SWT) disliked and Muslims must try to avoid these things for the sake of Allah Almighty.

Noble and Generous: Believers of Allah (SWT) are very noble and generous that if they ever pass by evil gatherings, they just seek their Lord’s refuge and move on. They pray for them to be shown guidance by Allah Almighty.

Role of Simplicity: One of the finest qualities of a true believer is living a simple life. The Quranic teachings emphasize simplicity by associating it with the moral behavior of Muslims in daily life. Allah Almighty says in the Holy Quran: “And do not turn your cheek [in contempt] toward people and do not walk through the earth exultantly. Indeed, Allah does not like everyone self-deluded and boastful.” (Quran, 31: 18)

Strictly Guard their Obligatory Prayers: A true believer does not only observe the five daily prayers but also perform other Nafl prayers standing in the middle of the night. So a Mumin never misses his/her prayer and strictly guard obligatory prayers with optional prayers. In the Holy Quran, Allah Almighty says: “Verily, the prayer is enjoined on the believers at fixed hours.” (Quran, 4:103)

The above mentioned were some of the major qualities of true believers in Islam. May Allah Almighty make us all follow such a straight path and make each of us a true believer or Mumin having these qualities! Ameen.

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source: quranreading.com

The Muslim Woman: Her Status in the Ummah

The status of the Muslim woman in Islam is a very noble and lofty one, and her effect is very great in the life of every Muslim. Indeed, the Muslim woman is the initial teacher in the building of a righteous society, providing she follows the guidance from the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Prophet Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wa Sallam. Since adherence to the Quran and the Sunnah distances every Muslim male or female from being misguided in any matter.

The misguidance that the various nations suffer from, the path of Allah the Most Perfect, the Highest, and from what His Prophets and Messengers, may Allah's peace and prayers be upon them all, came with. The Prophet Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wa Sallam said: "I am leaving behind two matters, you will not go astray as long as you cling to them both, the Book of Allah and my Sunnah."

The great importance of the Muslim woman's role - whether as a wife, sister or daughter, and the rights that are due to her and the obligations due from her have been explained in the noble Quran, and further details of this have been explained in the purified Sunnah.

The secret of her importance lies in the tremendous burden and responsibility that is placed upon her, and the difficulties that she has to shoulder. In terms of responsibilities, some of which not even a man can bear. This is why from the most important obligations upon a person is to show gratitude to the mother, and kindness and good companionship with her. And in this matter, she is to be given precedence over and above the father. Allah the Highest, says:

"And We have enjoined upon man to be dutiful and good to his parents. His mother bore him in weakness upon weakness and hardship upon hardship, and his weaning is in two years. Show gratitude and thanks to Me and to your parents. Unto Me is the final destination." [Al-Quran 31:14]

Allah the Highest, said: "And We have enjoined upon man to be dutiful and kind to his parents. His mother bears him with hardship, and she brings him forth with hardship. And the bearing and the weaning of him is thirty months." [Al-Quran 41:15].

A man came to Allah's Messenger Sallallahu 'Alayhi wa Sallam said: O Messenger of Allah! Who from amongst mankind warrants the best companionship from me. He replied: "Your mother." The man asked: Then who? So he replied: "Your mother." The man asked: Then who? So the Prophet replied again: "Your mother." The man then asked: Then who? So he replied: "Then your father." So this necessitates that the mother is given three times the likes of kindness and good treatment than the father.

As regards the wife, then her effect in making the soul tranquil and serene has been clearly shown in the noble aayah (verse), in His - the Highest's - saying:

"And from amongst His Signs is this: That He created for you wives from amongst yourselves, so that you may find serenity and tranquility in them, And He has put between you love and compassion. Indeed, in this are signs for those who reflect." [Al-Quran 30:21]

Al-Haafidh Ibn Katheer (d.774H) - rahimahullaah - said, whilst explaining the terms mawaddah and rahmah which occur in the above verse. "Al-mawaddah means to love and affection, and ar-rahmah means compassion and pity since a man takes the hand of a woman either due to his love for her or because of compassion and pity for her; by giving to her a child from himself..."

And the unique stance that the Prophet sallAllahu 'alayhi wa sallam's wife Khadeejah - radiAllahu 'anhaa - took, had a huge effect in calming and reassuring Allah's Messenger sallAllahu 'alayhi wa sallam, when the angel Jibreel - 'alayhis-salaam - first came to him in the cave of Hiraa. The Prophet sallAllahu 'alayi wa sallam returned to Khadeejah with the first Revelation and with his heart trembling and beating severely, saying to her, "Cover me! Cover me!" So she covered him until his fear was over, after which he told Khadeejah - radiAllahu 'anhaa - everything that had happened, and said: "I fear that something may happen to me." She said to him: "Never! By Allah! Allah will never disgrace you. You keep good ties with relations, you help the poor and the destitute, you serve your guests generously and assist those who have been affected with calamities."

And do not forget about 'Aaishah - radiAllahu 'anhaa - and her immense contribution. Even the eminent Sahaabah (Companions) used to take knowledge of Hadeeth from her, and many of the Sahaabiyaat (female Companions) learnt the various rulings pertaining to women's issues from her.

And I have no doubt that my mother (may Allah shower His mercy upon her) had a tremendous effect upon me, and has a great excellence over me, in encouraging me to study, and she assisted me in it. May Allah greatly increase her reward and reward her with the best of rewards for what she did for me. And there is no doubt also, that the house in which there is kindness, gentleness, love, and care, with the correct Islamic tarbiyah (education and cultivation) will greatly affect the man. So he will become, if Allah wills, successful in his affairs and in any matter whether it be seeking knowledge, trading, earning a living, etc. So it is Allah alone that I ask to grant us all success and to guide us all to that which He loves and is pleased with. And may the prayers and peace of Allah be upon our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his Family, his Companions, and his followers.

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source: islamicstudies.islammessage.com

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), the Father and Husband

Although Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) carried the world’s weight of responsibility on his shoulders, calling people to Allah and teaching Islam, he (peace be upon him), valued family and cared deeply about his family members. To learn how women are viewed in Islam or how women should be treated, one is to look at the Prophet (peace be upon him), and how he interacted with his daughters, wives, and the women in his community.

Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) loved his daughters dearly and he never made them feel marginalized or unimportant because they were women, or because they were daughters not sons. He loved his daughters, took pride in them, and he was never ashamed to show his affection towards them in public.

Although the youngest of his daughters, Fatima had always been a source of comfort, support, and strength for her father in those early difficult days in Makkah when the men of Quraysh scorned and hurt the Prophet (peace be upon him). She was never intimidated or afraid to defend her father in public, and he never reprimanded her for her strength and outspokenness when it came to speaking the truth and defending justice.

After the Prophet (peace be upon him) and his family migrated to Madinah, Ali bin Abi Talib, the Prophet’s cousin asked for Fatima’s hand in marriage. Although the Prophet (peace be upon him) approved of Ali, he consulted with Fatima to make sure that she consented to the marriage. He never forced any of his daughters into marriage against their will.

Whenever Fatima visited the Prophet (peace be upon him), he would stand up for her to greet her and give her his place to sit. She, in turn, would kiss his forehead. Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) loved Fatima and he loved her sons, and he was often seen kissing and playing with his grandsons. He (peace be upon him) was kind and gentle with his family.

When the Prophet (peace be upon him) was preparing for the Battle of Badr against the disbelievers of Quraysh, the Prophet’s daughter, Ruqayyah fell ill. The Prophet (peace be upon him) asked her husband, Uthman bin Affan to remain with Ruqayyah to tend to her and care for her, rather than leaving her and participating in this extremely decisive battle. Uthman obeyed the Prophet and stayed with his wife during her illness, and she died later in the month before the Muslim army returned to Madinah from the Battle of Badr.

In his entire life, Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) never struck or even raised his hand to hit a woman or a child, ever.

When calling his daughter or wife, he chose beautiful nicknames to make them feel special. He called Fatima Al-Zahraa, meaning the shining one. He called Aisha, his wife, Al-Homairaa, due to her red, rosy cheeks.

After the death of Khadijah, Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) remarried, and Allah gave special permission only to the Prophet to marry nine wives, and each marriage was for a very specific reason. Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) respected each of his wives, treated them justly, listened to their grievances and opinions, and cared about their feelings. No matter what ordeals he may have been going through outside the home, he always took the time to talk to his wives, console them, and show them that he loved them.

The Prophet (peace be upon him) was sensitive to the feelings of his wife, Aisha. He recognized when Aisha was upset, what upset her, what made her sad, and he tried to cheer her up.

Aisha reported that Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) once said to her, “I know well when you are angry or pleased with me.” I said, “How do you know that?” He replied, “When you are pleased you say ‘By the Lord of Muhammad’ but when you are upset, you say ‘By the Lord of Abraham.’” I said, “Yes, I do not desert except your name.” (Sahih Al-Bukhari)

That is our Prophet, making light of an agitated situation, making his wife smile when she is upset.

In the home, he helped with household chores. Aisha, his wife, stated, “He always joined in household work and would at times mend his clothes, repair his shoes, and sweep the floor. He would milk, tether, and feed his animals and do the household shopping.” (Sahih Al-Bukhari)

Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) respected his wives, acknowledged the wisdom of the women in his life, and went to them for advice.

When a group of Muslims along with the Prophet (peace be upon him) trekked to Makkah intending to perform the pilgrimage, Quraysh prevented them from proceeding. Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) signed the treaty of Hudaibiyah and Quraysh promised to allow the Muslims to perform the pilgrimage the following year. Some of the companions disagreed with the terms of the treaty and they were disappointed that they were unable to perform the pilgrimage. When Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) instructed them to shave their heads and discard their pilgrimage clothes and return to Madinah, at first the companions did not follow the Prophet’s instructions.

Umm Salama, the Prophet’s wife, was intelligent and she advised the Prophet to go out in front of his companions and have his head shaved. She figured that if they saw him shaving his head, they would follow his actions, and that would be better than simply telling them to do so. Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) took Umm Salama’s advice, and she was right.

In Madinah, the women of his community complained to the Prophet (peace be upon him) that the men spent more time with him and they learned directly from him, and the women wanted to learn and they had questions to ask. The Prophet (peace be upon him) assigned a day of every week for the women to gather for a lecture at his mosque, and he would give them time to ask their questions.

The Prophet (peace be upon him) even knew and appreciated the woman who had no place but the mosque to live and she was responsible for the cleaning and upkeep of the masjid. One day, he noticed she was not at the masjid; he was concerned so he asked his companions about her. When they told him she died at night, he asked why they had not informed him. He asked where her grave was so he could offer the funeral prayer for her.

The Messenger of Allah did not swear, cuss, use profane language, curse others, or spread obscenity. The Prophet’s character can be summarized in the eloquent verse in the Holy Qur’an which describes him, “You are of the highest noble character.” (Chapter 68, verse 4)

It is no wonder why his wives, his daughters, his companions, and his servants loved him so much, more than they loved their own souls.

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source: saudigazette.com.sa

Returning to the Holy Qur’an in word and practice

More than half of the blessed month of Ramadan has passed and we need to be wary of losing that initial fervor and energy we had at the beginning of Ramadan for reading the Qur’an and praying night prayers at the mosque.

Our pious predecessors used to anticipate Ramadan almost all year long and spend their time in worship and making supplication to ready themselves for Ramadan. For the six months before Ramadan, they would ask Allah to grant them long life so that they could witness Ramadan. And after Ramadan, for the next six months, they would ask Allah to accept their fasting and prayers in Ramadan.

The present-day trials and tribulations demands on our time, and also the temptations around us can detract from our spiritual growth this Ramadan.

The solution to protect our hearts and remain devoted to Allah is to turn to the Holy Qur’an and connect to the Word of Allah, according to the learned scholar, Shaykh Hamza Yusuf.

Have we integrated the Holy Qur’an into our daily lives by reading the Quran, learning it, studying its meanings, listening to its recitation in the home and the car, attending study sessions at the mosque and other learning centers?

In our Islamic tradition, scholars have transmitted that Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) has said that the Holy Qur’an is the strong, unbreakable rope that connects us to Allah, and it is a clear light and guidance. Its wonders never cease. The scholars will never be satiated from its meanings and the pious people will never tire or bore from reciting it.

In the Qur’an, there is healing, from both physical ailments and ailments of the heart.

As the following verse states, {And We send down of the Qur’an that which is healing and mercy for the believers.} (Chapter 17, verse 82)

The Prophet (peace be upon him) has recommended a number of tools that have medicinal properties which we must not belittle or neglect. Reading the Holy Qur’an while putting your hand on the ailing part of your body can promote healing. Honey, olive oil, and black seeds are also beneficial.

Ramadan is a time to bring back to life the tradition of relying on the Holy Qur’an for guidance, rewards, healing, and for achieving calmness and serenity.

As Allah, Himself has promised in the Qur’an, {Unquestionably, by the remembrance of Allah's hearts are assured.} (Chapter 13, verse 28)

The goal is not to simply read the Qur’an hastily or to compete in how many times we can read the entire Qur’an in Ramadan. The goal is also to understand and apply what we read, to improve our character, and to cultivate a year-long habit of reading and studying the Qur’an.

Return to the Qur’an and allow a certain amount of time each day to read a portion of the Qur’an. Some chapters are prescribed to be read more regularly than others. For example, it is recommended to read the chapter, Al-Khaf (The Cave) every Friday.

Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said, “Whoever reads Surah al Kahf on the day of Friday will have a light that will shine from him from one Friday to the next.” (Al-Jaami)

It was the practice of our pious predecessors to read Al-Waqiah (The Inevitable) every night after Maghreb prayers, and Al-Mulk (The Kingdom) every night after Ishaa prayers.

Moreover, if we were to practice in our lives what we read in the verses of the Qur’an, we could really transform our own character, and transform our societies.

Do not just rush over the verses, but apply the verses in your life, such as the following.

{And speak to people good [words] and establish prayer and give zakah.} (Chapter 2, verse 83)

How many social problems and friction in families could be avoided if we spoke kind words to one another, prayed our prayers, and helped those in need?

{Eat and drink but be not excessive.} (Chapter 7, verse 31)

If we could implement eating and drinking in moderation how many health problems could we prevent? Health professionals recommend eating and drinking moderately to prevent obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and cancers.

{And the servants of the Most Merciful are those who walk upon the earth easily [lightly]} (Chapter 25, verse 61)

One way of walking on the earth lightly is to decrease the environmental pollution we are contributing to.

So we can see how Ramadan is actually a school, in which we read the Qur’an and learn and train ourselves to grow spiritually and in other areas of our lives as well.

It may be more difficult for some; it could be a struggle for non-Arabic speakers to read the Holy Qur’an. But there is hope and optimism for those who find hardship in reading the Qur’an.

Aisha, the wife of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) narrated that he said, “Verily the one who recites the Qur’an beautifully, smoothly, and precisely, he will be in the company of the noble and obedient angels. And as for the one who recites with difficulty, stammering or stumbling through its verses, then he will have twice that reward.” (Saheeh Al-Bukhari)

For those who find it challenging to read the Qur’an, I hope they will persevere and they will receive double the rewards from Allah. Now, more than any other time is the season for reading the Qur’an because the good deeds for reading one letter of the Qur’an is not only 10, but can be multiplied to up to 700 times more.

The language was not a barrier for hundreds and thousands of students of the Qur’an from all countries across the world, who mastered reading and memorizing the Qur’an. Fatih Seferagic is Bosnian but he was born in Germany and moved to the United States when he was four years old. Arabic was not his native tongue, but he managed to memorize the Holy Qur’an and now teaches the Qur’an and leads people in prayer in mosques in the US. And for thousands like him, Allah makes it easy on those who have a sincere intention to pursue their studies of the Holy Qur’an.

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Unraveling wonders in the Holy Qur’an

Ramadan is the month of fasting, and it is also the month of Qur’an. It was during Ramadan that the first verses of the Qur’an were revealed to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).

{The month of Ramadan [is that] in which was revealed the Qur’an, a guidance for the people and clear proofs of guidance and criterion.} (Chapter 2, verse 185 of the Holy Qu’ran)

Eager to gain the rewards in this month, many of us rush to read the entire Qur’an and we compete to complete even more than once before the month is over. While dedicating your time to reading the Qur’an is no doubt praiseworthy, I call upon my Muslim brothers and sisters to take a slightly different approach this Ramadan.

Rather than hastily reading through, why not pick a certain chapter or chapters of the Qur’an and delve deeply into the meanings of the verses, the lessons to be learned, the context in which they were revealed during the life of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), studying the history, and also the implications the verses carry for our lives today? Rather than simply, we need to work hard to understand the Qur’an. Alternately, you can pick a certain topic and research it in-depth in the Holy Qur’an, for example, stories of the prophets, or the description of Paradise. Another recommendation is to use the Qur’an as a blueprint to develop your character. For example, study the verses which speak about patience or piety or the characteristics of a believer in general.

For a class which I offer the girls in our community, we picked Surah Al-Israa, the Chapter of the Night Journey, to explore the meanings of the verses, and we have learned a lot and greatly enjoyed the classes.

The Qur’an, the word of God, is a book of guidance for humanity. Students of the Qur’an never cease to be amazed by the wonders found in it. Researchers have studied the numbers of times that certain words are repeated in the Qur’an which causes us to appreciate the Qur’an even more.

The word ‘day’ (yawm) is repeated in its singular form 365 times, while the plural and dual forms, ‘days’ (ayyam and yawmayn) together are repeated 30 times. The number of repetitions of the word ‘month’ (Shahar) is 12.

The words ‘Paradise’ and ‘Hellfire’ are each repeated the same number of times, 77 times. The significance I draw from this is that the believer must live his/her life in a balance between fear of Allah and fear of the punishment, but also hope in Allah’s mercy and forgiveness, and the yearning to enter Paradise.

The words, ‘world’ (dunya) and ‘Hereafter’ (akhira) are repeated an equal number of times, 115 times. Although there may not be great importance in the numbers, we should ponder on the importance of mentioning this world and the next world an equal amount of times in the Qur’an.

The ultimate priority in a believer’s life is worshiping Allah, but that does not mean we can neglect our duties and responsibilities of building and protecting this Earth. What comes to mind is the saying of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), “If the Resurrection were established upon one of you while he has in his hand a sapling, then let him plant it.” (Musnad Ahmad)

At the same time, we must not become so immersed in this world’s pleasures and problems that we neglect our worship. Neither work nor entertainment should blind us from dedicating enough time to the service of others and worshiping Allah.

Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) warned us of becoming entranced by worldly affairs; he said, “By Allah, it is not poverty that I fear for you, but I fear that this world will be spread out in front of you as it was spread out in front of those before you, and then you will vie for it as they vied for it, and it will destroy you as it destroyed them” (Riyad as-Salihin by Imam Nawawi)

Another finding in the Qur’an I marveled over is the reference to the land and sea. The word ‘land’ appears 13 times in the Qur’an and the word ‘sea’ 32 times, giving a total of 45 references. The number of total references to land and sea, 45, divided by the number of references to the sea in the Qur’an, 32, and multiplied by 100 is 71.1%. Extraordinarily, these figures represent the exact proportions of land and sea on the Earth.

source: saudigazette.com.sa

Culture of Muslim Society

Anyone can stand up and say whatever about Islam without prior research. I won’t blame them who bash on Islam like this, though the world is facing some genuine problems regarding extremism. But why only Islam is blamed every time? It is not because people who are involved in these acts are Muslim, and it’s not even about someone is violating Islam through this. 

It’s all about Muslim itself, just look around and observe their daily routine, no exception in anyone’s life, people in business are making profits by fake promises, others are just supporting unlawful acts by keeping mum, have no faith in Allah and his wisdom.They say they have the certain affection for Allah they do go for Best Umrah Tours London and Hajj but all their efforts of being a Muslim are just show off.

If you know that Islam is ultimately a complete life plan then why are neglecting it in our daily lives. There is nothing which depicts a real Muslim. They have zero tolerance towards someone else’s opinion, every other person wants to be heard by the whole world no matter they have something nice to say or not.

Our so-called system is fulfilling their own needs instead of fulfilling responsibilities they have. All we talk about is benefit and profits, Muslims have no empathy for their fellow brothers. The culture which was introduced by Prophet (PBUH) was peaceful, kind and generous not only for Muslims but for everyone. Our systems and institutions have failed the criteria of being a Muslim. Muslim is not someone who destroys innocents just to keep himself in the higher ranks of the world. Muslim is someone who is taught to sacrifice, to be kind and help his fellows. He is the one who is fair with everyone and knows his limits.

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Confronting Rumors

Confronting Rumors

With the advent of the powerful social media tools there has been a surge in rumor-mongering. Rumor-mongering has become a serious business. Irresponsible media have added fuel to the fire in spreading rumors.

Communal riots of Muzzaffarnagar in India in the year-2013 which displaced 40,000 Muslims as refugees was blamed on a WhatsApp video which enticed the majority community to carry out the riots.

Continuous efforts are carried out to create chaos and division in the Muslim lands. The flames of false news and vile propaganda have engulfed clean and unbiased minds.

Even a mature and wise individual finds it challenging to distinguish between the truth and the falsehood. In fact, Prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him) foretold the sequel of trials and that will befall the Muslim community after his departure.

Rumor-mongers did exist in his time. Islamic texts and the lessons from the life of Prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him) speak volumes of how to tackle ungrounded rumors.

Knowledge: Knowledge of authentic Islamic texts protects an individual from all sorts of chaos, be it in his personal life or societal life.

In fact, Allah praised those who possess knowledge.

“Only those fear Allah, from among His servants, who have knowledge.” (Qur’an 35:28)

“Allâh will raise those of you who have believed among you and those who were given knowledge, by degrees. And Allah is aware of what you do.” (Qur’an 58:11)

“Say: ‘Are those who know equal to those who do not know?’ Only they will remember [who are] people of understanding.” (Qur’an 39:9)

A scholar gauges a calamity before it commences and a person of little knowledge realizes it later.

Ignorance is impetus to calamities and knowledge is the elixir.

Verify the news that reaches you and return it to the experts:

Among our worst habits is to forward every news that reaches us. Most of us hardly verify it or even try to authenticate it.

If we were to follow the following the instructions in the following verse of the Holy Qur’an, a lot of troubles would be ceased.

“And when there comes to them information about [public] security or fear, they spread it around. But if they had referred it back to the Messenger or to those of authority among them, then the ones who [can] draw correct conclusions from it would have known about it. And if not for the favor of Allah upon you and His mercy, you would have followed Satan, except for a few.” (Qur’an 4:83).

It is as clear as day from the Qur’an that every rumor or news that reaches us should be referred back to those who have knowledge and the experts who draw proper conclusions, in order to protect yourself from slipping into the rumor-mongering.

In the time of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), the rumor that the Prophet (peace be upon him) divorced all his wives spread like wild fire in Madinah. The Prophet’s companions assembled in the Prophet’s Mosque; they were worried and were talking about this drastic step. Many people took part in this talk, but Omar ibn Al-Khattab did not. Omar ibn Al-Khattab laid a great example for us to follow, by insisting to directly question Prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him) about the news and to clarify the issue and publicly refute the rumors.

People have caused a great mayhem due to their attitude of spreading and sharing all news that reaches them.

Beware of being overly enthusiastic. Act judiciously and patiently:

Thousands of youth fall prey to radical organizations and their ideologies due to their overly enthusiastic attitude, and some of them eventually joined terrorist organizations.

Had they taken care with wisdom, patience, forbearance, they would have remained a great asset to the community, and many lives would have been spared.

‘Better to be safe than sorry’ comes vivid in reacting calmly to rumors.

Sahih Muslim mentions an incident of a delegation that visited Prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him) from Bahrain. Moved by their over-enthusiasm and anticipation to meet the Prophet all the visitors jumped off their horses and rushed to the Prophet.

The Prophet (peace be upon him) observed their leader who acted calmly by tying up all the camels and arranging their luggage. Later, he showered, changed his clothes, wore perfume, came to the Masjid, prayed in the Masjid, and eventually greeted the Prophet.

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said to the leader, “You have two qualities which Allah loves and His Messenger loves; forbearance and patience.”

Being judicious and patient are the traits loved by Allah and He bestows them upon whom He wishes.

The lack of patience and an overly zealous nature have caused us to react to every single piece of news and rumor.

Staying in touch with moderate scholars:

The scholars who teach the Islamic texts, narrate to you the traditions and sayings of the Prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him) and interpret the religion as interpreted by the righteous companions are upon moderation. Those who speak out their own personal opinions and provoke youth and spread radical views are not to be followed.

Righteous scholars are like stars. The way stars guide the travelers to the correct destination, so do the scholars. The way stars beautify the sky, so do the existence of scholars among us. The way shooting stars strike the devils, scholars strike the devils who spread corruption and promote anarchy and terrorism.

In conclusion, I say, as a Muslim we have to equip ourselves with divine knowledge, rightful behavior, truth and moderation, patience and forbearance; and to nurture the nature of verification, authentication, and analyzing. One must avoid being susceptible to fall prey to any kind of propaganda, rumor-mongering, and chaos.

With this we can set up a just, moderate, and balanced society where rumor-mongers cannot harm the peace and wellbeing of our communities.

Source: saudigazette.com.sa

The Patience of Ayyub

The Patience of Ayyub

Every person is faced with trials and tribulations at one point or another in their lives. It is patience that helps the believer cope. When calamity befalls a patient believer, it does not crush him. Instead, the believer endures, persists, and has hope in the mercy of Allah and the rewards that are awaiting him on the Day of Judgment.

Patience is a virtue that you can work on to develop.

There is much to learn from the story of Prophet Ayyub, as he is the ideal example of the afflicted believer who remained patient and faithful to His Lord.

Prophet Ayyub (peace be upon him) was mentioned in the Holy Qur’an four times. He resided in the region that is now Syria. Prior to his illness, Prophet Ayyub was an extremely wealthy man. He possessed treasures of gold and silver, and he owned land, farms, fields, and cattle. He also had many children.

Scholars say that the illness overtook Prophet Ayyub when he was seventy years old. The illness was so severe; historians have written that not a single limb of Ayyub was free from disease except his tongue and his heart, which he used for the remembrance of Allah. He lost his children and his whole family except his wife who remained devoted to him.

Historians have recorded different durations and the extent of the Prophet’s illness. Some claimed his illness lasted three years, others claim seven years, and others claim eighteen years. Regardless of the exact number of years, we can certainly know that Prophet Ayyub patiently bore his illness for a very long time.

Never did Prophet Ayyub lament, grow angry, or reject the fate which Allah had decreed for him. Day and night, throughout the pain and difficult times, Prophet Ayyub would praise his Lord.

What inspired such patience? Why did he not lose it?

Prophets and pious believers know that Allah tests His servants with trials and tribulations to test their patience, raise their rank in Paradise, and erase the sins they have committed. In fact, calamities that befall a Muslim should not be perceived as a disaster that will ruin his/her life, but as a sign that Allah loves him/her. For some Muslims, it is the wake-up call they need to turn to Allah and repent, which is actually a blessing in disguise.

The companion, Sa`d ibn Abi Waqqas asked, “O Messenger of Allah, which of the people are most sorely tested?” He said, “The Prophets, then the next best and the next best. A man will be tested in accordance with his level of religious commitment. If his religious commitment is strong, he will be tested more severely, and if his religious commitment is weak, he will be tested in accordance with his religious commitment. Calamity will keep befalling a person until he walks on the earth with no sin on him.”

Both were very patient, Prophet Ayyub and his wife. She took care of her husband, served him single-handedly, and worked in the village to earn a livelihood to feed herself and her husband. One day, she asked her husband why he did not supplicate to Allah to relieve him of his illness.

Prophet Ayyub replied, “I lived for seventy years in prosperity and health why shouldn’t I be patient for the sake of Allah for seventy years.”

After realizing the physical toll his situation had taken on his wife, Prophet Ayyub raised his hands and supplicated to Allah, without complaining to anyone else. Making duaa does not contradict being patient at all. A believer is encouraged to make duaa to Allah but to be wary of complaining and grumbling to people.

“And [mention] Job, when he called to his Lord, ‘Indeed, adversity has touched me, and You are the most merciful of the merciful.’” (Qur’an 21:83)

After turning to Allah, calling fervently upon Allah, and supplicating, without becoming disgruntled or dissatisfied with the decree of Allah, Ayyub’s call was answered. Allah directed Prophet Ayyub to drink from and bathe in a cool spring. He was cured and his body healed.

“[So he was told], ‘Strike [the ground] with your foot; this is a [spring for a] cool bath and drink.’” (Qur’an 38:42)

Not only was Prophet Ayyub cured but Allah also restored his wife’s youth.

What we learn from the story of Prophet Ayyub is true patience and acceptance, while still seeking refuge in Allah and turning to Allah for help.

We will encounter hardships, but we must deal with our hardships as a test, as an opportunity to exhibit patience and firm belief in Allah.

How do we pass these tests? Only if we are patient will the calamity serve as expiation of sins and higher rewards. If we respond to the tests with discontent, rage, constant complaining to every person we meet, and vulgar behavior, we fail the test.

What do we say when we are faced with difficulty or grief or injury or illness? We should say, “Verily to Allah we belong and unto Him is our return.

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “Great reward comes with great trials. When Allah loves a people, He tests them, and whoever accepts it attains His pleasure, whereas whoever shows discontent with it incurs His wrath.”

The collective Muslim community is being tested in these times, may Allah grant us patience.

source: saudigazette.com.sa

Islam is not only for Muslims, says scholar

Islam is not only for Muslims, says scholar

ISLAM is not a religion for Muslims alone; it is for the entire mankind, a well-known Indian scholar and preacher has said.

“It is our duty to enlighten followers of other religions on the noble teachings of Islam. Our religion teaches us moderation, tolerance, compassion and peaceful coexistence,” Muhammad Umar Gautam, chairman of the New Delhi-based Islamic Dawah Center (IDC), said at a special function organized by Aligarh Muslim University Old Boys Association (Jeddah chapter) in Jeddah recently.

It is high time to exert great efforts to disseminate the sublime nature of Islam at a time when the image of the religion which preaches peace is tarnished by its own followers, as well as by certain deviant groups, said the preacher who reverted to Islam in 1984.

Formerly known as Shyam Pratap Singh Gautam, Muhammad Umar belongs to an affluent Rajput Thakur family from the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, and is a distant relative of former Indian prime minister V.P. Singh.

He said the best propagation of Islam is strict observance of its teachings by its followers.

Since the very first day of embracing Islam, Gautam embarked on this great mission and it had an electrifying impact on the people and he has succeeded in attracting hundreds of people to the fold of Islam as well as to enlighten hundreds of thousands others to have a proper understanding of Islam and remove misgivings about the divine religion.

Another revert and an active Dawah worker, Muhammad Sufiyan (formerly Saurabh Dutt), narrated the sequence of events that led him to believe in the Oneness of God. “What fascinated me to Islam is the spirit of empathy and compassion that energizes followers of Islam to help fellow human beings. In my case, it was a childhood friend who guided me toward the true teachings of Islam,” he said.

Mufti Mohd Sagheer Qasmi, a close Gautam aide, shed light on the working of the Islamic Dawah Center. There are more than 500 reverts associated with the center. “We focus on four-pronged strategy to rehabilitate the converts. First of all, we go to local magistrate to complete legal procedures, and then Qadi to obtain religious conversion certificate, besides publishing classified advertisements in newspapers for change of name and then gazette the notification,” he said and added: “Our priority is to rehabilitate them. We have full-fledged multistory building for the center where they live and receive training so as to enable them to take up jobs and work in the society. The center is basically meant for the converts and for their education and rehabilitation. We hold full time Dawah training for scholars to equip them for their work, in addition to conducting interfaith dialogue and supporting weaker sections, especially widows and divorcees,” he added.

In this connection, he said the Islamic Dawah Center will be organizing the eighth annual reverts get-together in New Delhi in the beginning of the next month. Speakers at the event will throw light on the importance of Dawah in the light of Qur’an and Sunnah and duties of a Muslim in providing the message of Islam for the guidance of whole mankind.

Bahjat Najmi, well-known Dawah worker in Jeddah and grandson of late Moulana Hifzur Rehman Seoharvi, a famous freedom fighter, member of parliament and noted Muslim personality of India, will be the chief guest at the event, he said.

The Aligarh Muslim University Old Boys Association (Jeddah chapter) also utilized the occasion to bid farewell to senior Alig, Muhammad Mian Sahab, who is leaving Saudi Arabia after serving in various capacities for more than three and half decades in the Kingdom.

Vice president of the association, Nooruddin Khan, paid rich tributes to the outgoing Aligarian recalling his contributions toward the unity of AMU alumni. Muhammad Mian Sahab, he said, acted as returning officer in several elections of the association.

source: saudigazette.com.sa

The seven most beloved places to the Prophet (peace be upon him)

Al-Masjid Al-Haram in Makkah Al-Mukarramah

Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was directed by his Lord to direct his face in prayer to the Ka`bah. The Prophet (peace be upon him) taught that a single prayer in Al-Masjid Al-Haram is worth 100,000 prayers in any other mosque. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “I swear by Allah, you (Makkah) are the best of the lands of Allah and you are the most beloved land to Allah.”

Al-Masjid An-Nabawi in Al-Madinah Al-Munawwarah

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “O Allah! Make us love Madinah as much as we love Makkah or even more.” When the Prophet (peace be upon him) would return from travel and see the walls of Madinah, he would speed up his camel out of his love for Madinah.

Masjid Al-Aqsa in Jerusalem

Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) led all the prophets in prayer at Masjid Al-Aqsa on the night of the amazing journey of Al-Israa’ and Mi`raaj. Allah states in the Holy Qur’an, “Exalted is He who took His Servant [Prophet Muhammad] by night from Al-Masjid Al-Haram to Al-Masjid Al-Aqsa, whose surroundings We have blessed.” (Qur’an 17-1)

Masjid Quba in Madinah

It was the first mosque to be built in Islam by Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). The reward for one prayer there is equal to the reward for performing Umrah.

Mount Uhud in Madinah

While standing on Mount Uhud with his companions, the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “This mountain loves us and we love it.”

Al-Baqee`, the burial ground in Madinah

Al-Baqee` is the burial ground of an estimated 10,000 companions of the Prophet (peace be upon him). He (peace be upon him) used to visit their graves and make duaa for the people buried there. He (peace be upon him) used to say, “May you be safe, O abode of the believing. What you have been promised has come to you.” He (peace be upon him) also said, “O Allah, forgive the inhabitants of the Baqee` Al-Gharqad.”

Ar-Rawdah in the Masjid An-Nabawi in Madinah

Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said, “Between my house and my pulpit there is a garden of the gardens of Paradise, and my pulpit is on my fountain tank (i.e. Al-Kauthar).”

The seven most beloved places to the Prophet (peace be upon him). British haj travel Ltd is one of the Leading travel agency in UK. We arrange Hajj, Umrah and Ziyarat. Visit our website: www.britishhajtravel.com or Call Us at: 0177 2252 996

Source: saudigazette.com.sa