Singing "idle talks" [Luqmaaan 31:6]

Bismiallah.

As Salamualaikum Warahmatuaallahi wa barakatuh, 

Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allaah have mercy on him) said, 

"The interpretation of the Sahaabah and Taabi’in, that ‘idle talk’ refers to singing, is sufficient." 

This was reported with saheeh isnaads from Ibn ‘Abbaas and Ibn Mas’ood. Abu’l-Sahbaa’ said, 

"I asked Ibn Mas’ood about the aayah"(interpretation of the meaning), 

"And of mankind is he who purchases idle talks"[Luqmaan 31:6].

He said, "By Allaah, besides Whom there is no other god, this means singing" and he repeated it three times.

It was also reported with a saheeh isnaad from Ibn ‘Umar (may Allaah be pleased with them both) that this means singing.

There is no contradiction between the interpretation of “idle talk” as meaning singing and the interpretation of it as meaning stories of the Persians and their kings, and the kings of the Romans, and so on, such as al-Nadr ibn al-Haarith used to tell to the people of Makkah to distract them from the Qur’aan.

Both of them are idle talk. Hence Ibn ‘Abbaas said, “Idle talk” is falsehood and singing. Some of the Sahaabah said one and some said the other, and some said both.

Singing is worse and more harmful than stories of kings, because it leads to zinaa and makes hypocrisy grow (in the heart); it is the trap of the Shaytaan, and it clouds the mind. 

The way in which it blocks people from the Qur’aan is worse than the way in which other kinds of false talk block them, because people are naturally inclined towards it and tend to want to listen to it. 

The aayaat condemn replacing the Qur’aan with idle talk in order to mislead (men) from the path of Allaah without knowledge and taking it as a joke, because when an aayah of the Qur’aan is recited to such a person, he turns his back as if he heard them not, as if there were deafness in his ear. 

If he hears anything of it, he makes fun of it. All of this happens only in the case of the people who are most stubbornly kaafirs and if some of it happens to singers and those who listen to them, they both have a share of this blame. (Ighaathat al-Lahfaan, 1/258-259)

Reposted from iReminisces 

The Difference between Jihad and Terrorism by Umar Quinn

As Salamualaikum Wa Rahmatuallahi Wa Barakatuhu,

Woolwich Attack- Khawarij in the UK & West by Abu Khadeejah

As Salamualaikum Wa Rahmatuallahi Wa Barakatuhu,

Very informative short clip by brother Abu Khadijah on the Woolwich attack in the UK a few days ago. Once again the disgusting Khawarij committing purely barbaric acts of violence, that have no basis in Islam!

To the Muslims in the UK:  please be careful and stay on guard because this is just another reason for the non-Muslim extremists (EDL) to pinpoint and attack you. Women stay low for a while, and try not to go out without your husbands or male relatives or at the very least a few friends. Don't live in fear, for Allah Al-Muhaymin (The protector). But I urge you to be careful!

To All Non Muslims: I Invite you to learn about Islam. Take this chance to see what the religion is really about! Do not allow the acts of a few ignorant FOOLS lead you to believe that this religion is pure violence. Do not read the news, do NOT read books and blogs by other NON-Muslims to become informed. Read the authentic sources, works of real scholars who lived and breathed this beautiful religion. Terrorists acts are not from Islam in any way, shape, or form!   Again, I invite you to learn about Islam in it's true form... and from there draw your opinions. Peace to you.



As Salamualaikum,  Umm Talha

Scholarly Response to Those Who Say 'Hatred is Not From Islam'

Scholarly Response to Those Who Say 'Hatred is Not From Islam' 

Bismillaah Al-Hamdulillaah wa salatu wa salaamu 'ala rasulullaah 
Amma-ba'd

Response to Those Who Say 'Hatred is Not From Islam,' by Shaykh 'Abdur-Rahmaan Muhyiud-Deen (hafidhahullaah) 


Question: A well-known preacher in the West* says:Islaam does not require anyone to hate any of the people. He also says: I do not want a religion that requires me to hate some people. This understanding has spread, and some of the Muslims have adopted it. What is your advice to the one who said this and to those Muslims who have followed him?

Answer by Shaykh 'Abdur-Rahman Muhyiud-Deen, Former Professor at the Islamic University of al-Madeenah and Mufti at the Prophet's Masjid (may Allaah preserve him): 

 

This poor, misguided person does not know about Islaam. Someone who says that Islam does not include any hatred, and (this includes) that it does not include love either, since love and hatred [are inseparable]… This is Liberalist philosophy. The Shaytaan (Devil) has spoken upon this person's tongue when he said there is no hatred, since there would be no love either, as a logical result. Impossible. You must hate disbelief and its people. You detest disbelief and its people. Could you watch the cross being worshiped and say: Be happy, there's nothing (wrong) with that, or it's nothing?! He would either be happy, or say there is nothing wrong. There is absolutely something wrong here, why is that? Because everything that is worshiped besides Allah is an enemy to Allaah!** All of mankind are required to worship Allah, ( O Mankind! ) What? [Students reply, ( Worship your Lord ).] (al-Baqarah, ayah 21)  

It is a must to love Allaah: ( You do not find any people who believe in Allaah and the Last Day having mutual love for those who have opposed Allaah and His Messenger ) (al-Mujadilah, ayah 22)

( There are some people who take (things) less than Allaah… ) As what? ( As partners, loving them as they love Allaah. However, the people who believe have stronger [love for Allaah] ) (al-Baqarah, ayah 165)

Love and hatred are found in the heart, however they appear outwardly, just as eemaan (faith) is found in the heart and appears on the limbs as well. Eemaan is in the heart, love is in the heart, and hatred is in the heart. They (all) become manifest on the limbs, as Allaah, the Mighty and Exalted, has said. This is similar to how a tree contains water, right? When a tree receives enough water it becomes green. When it receives less water, it turns yellow. When the water is scarce, what happens? It dies! Similar to this is eemaan – when it is alive in the heart, it has righteous deeds that extend and increase it, since it may increase or decrease. How? By righteous actions. It increases with good deeds and decreases with bad deeds.

It is not possible for the tree of eemaan to be green in such a bankrupt person’s heart. Rather it is dead! He does not hate disbelief and its people?! Think about the idols, huh? What did Ibraaheem do to them? What did he do to them?Maa-shaa` Allaah, playing games… Relics (of art or ancient civilizations)! Leave them as relics, what do you think? Their idols! What did Ibraaheem do? ( He then broke them into pieces, except for a large one they had ) (al-Anbiya, ayah 58) He challenged their faith! Allah made Ibraaheem a patron ally! Did he hate for Allaah’s sake or not? Did he break their idols or not?

Ah, the Messenger, what did he do with the idols of Quraysh when he came to Makkah? Did he leave them (as relics)? Huh? Did he leave them – O people! – or what did he do? He broke them, how many of them? ( The truth has come… ) (Al-Isra, ayah 81), and what? ( And falsehood has perished ) … Did he break them or not? Allaahu akbar.

As for him saying, "There is no hatred (in Islam)," why is there no hatred? How is there no hatred? This poor person does not know about Islaam! He is astray, leading others astray, he and those who follow him!

[Someone reminds the shaykh of a hadeeth…] 

Well done! He has reminded us with (the hadeeth): "The strongest handhold of eemaan is to love for Allaah's sake and to hate for Allah's sake." [Ahmad, 4/286, authentic]

End of the shaykh's answer (may Allaah preserve him).

Source: The shaykh's recorded answer given after the Jumu'ah prayer on the 16th of Jumaadaa al-Aakhirah, 1434, in Jeddah. (Corresponding to: April 26, 2013 on the Christians’ calendar) [Arabic audio recording], viaBakkah.Net 

Translated by: Moosaa Richardson

 

* Abul-'Abbaas Moosaa Richardson (hafidhahullaah) here mentioned that this deviant statement referred to in the question is from the teachings of Yusuf Estes who repeats these sentiments often. May Allaah guide him.  

** In the case of the righteous being worshipped besides Allaah, the righteous are not the enemy since obviously the righteous do not call to the worship of themselves. The Prophets and Messengers - and those who follow their way in da'wah - call to single out Allaah with all worship. As the scholars have said, in the case when the righteous are worshipped, what is actually worshipped is shaytan, who deviantly called to direct acts of worship to the righteous.

 

Subhanak Allaahuma wa bihamdika ash-hadu anlaa illaaha illa anta astaghfiruka wa atubu ilayk

If I said anything correct, then it is from Allaah (subhanahu wa taa'ala), and if I erred, then that is from me and shaytan

Via: maktabah-alfawaaid

Dying the way that you live

As Salamualaikum Wa Rahmatuallahi Wa barakatuhu, 

And the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Make the most of five things before five others: life before death, health before sickness, free time before becoming busy, youth before old age, and wealth before poverty.” See Saheeh al-Jaami’, no. 1077. 

So many of us are in one of the two situations: 

The first- Running around like a headless chicken, stressed and upset because things aren't going the way "you planned," and you wish there were more hours in the day to fit your busy school, work, gym, leisure, and sleep in one day. But what about your Islam?

The second- No job, no hobbies, no major responsibilities. All the free time in the world spent on facebook, blogs, tv, gossiping, instagram, cultivating negative thoughts, depression and over-eating. Feeling sorry for yourself because having too much free time makes a perfect pathway for shaytaan to whisper to you how your life sucks, and Allah is "treating you unjustly" because he put you in this stagnant position.  But what about your Islam?

Take inventory: 

How often do you read the Quran? How often do you ponder it's meanings? read tafsir? study the sunnah? how many of us live according to the sunnah in a loving way, giving thought to why we do things and say things?

How many times a day do you watch tv, listen to music, backbite, overeat?  what about studying so hard all day for college exams and homework, that you basically neglect your salaah?! 

These are just a few examples. I want you to genuinely answer these questions (to yourself only). Take a time inventory of your day or week and see how much time you waste doing things that are of no benefit to you in the hereafter. The blessing of time is one of the greatest blessings Allah gives his slaves, and in true human nature we waste the majority of our time because we THINK we have more!

 The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “There are two blessings which many people do not make the most of and thus lose out: good health and free time.” [Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 6412. ]

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Ibn al-Qayyim said, “So it may become impossible for him to pronounce the shahaadah, as many people have witnessed happen to those on the deathbed, such that it was said to some of them:

“Say Laa ilaaha illallaah.” So he replied, “Aaah! Aaah! I cannot say it!”

And it was said to another, “Say Laa ilaaha illallaah.” So he replied, “King! Rook! Checkmate!” and then he passed away.

And it was said to another, “Say Laa ilaaha illallaah.” So he started singing irrationally, saying, ‘Taatinaa tinintaa, [no meaning, just irrational singing]’ and then passed away.

And the same was said to another, so he replied, “And how will what you are saying help me when I left no sin except that I committed it?” and then he passed away without saying it.

And the same was said to another, so he replied, “And how will that benefit me? And I don’t know if I have ever prayed a single time to Allaah?” and then he passed away without saying it.

And the same was said to another, so he replied [talking about himself], “He is a disbeliever in what you say,” and then he passed away.

And the same was said to another, so he replied, “Every time I want to say it my tongue withholds.”

And someone who was present at the death of someone who would beg told me that [they told him to say the shahaadah] so he started saying, “For Allaah’s Sake. A penny for Allaah’s Sake,” until he passed away.

And a trader told me that he was present when one of his relatives was on his deathbed, so they told him to say Laa ilaaha illallaah and he was saying, “This piece is cheap. This is a good buy. This is such and such,” until he passed away.

So if the devil has gained mastery over the servant in the state when his mind is present and his strength [is also present] and he has complete cognizance [i.e., while he is alive and healthy], and has employed him in committing whichever acts of disobedience to Allaah he wants him to do, and has made him unmindful of the remembrance of Allaah the Most High, and has paralysed his tongue from remembering Him and his limbs from obeying Him–then what does one think will be the case when his strength breaks down and his heart and soul become preoccupied with the death pangs that he is in?

And [all the while] Shaitaan will have gathered all of his strength and determination and assembled everything that he is capable of to avail his opportunity concerning him–for that is the last action.

So the strongest his Shaitaan will be against him is at that time, and the weakest he [i.e., the person] will be is at that time.

So who do you think will be safe from that? So it is there that, “Allaah keeps firm those who believe, with the firm word [i.e., 'the firm word' is Laa ilaaha illallaah], in the worldly life and in the Hereafter. And Allaah sends astray the wrongdoers. And Allaah does what He wills.” Ibraaheem 14:27

So how can someone whose heart Allaah has made heedless from His remembrance and who has followed his desires and whose affair is ever [in] neglect be granted the success to have a good ending?

Thus far away–the one whose heart is distant from Allaah the Most High, heedless of Him, worshipping his own desires, a slave to his lusts, his tongue dry from ever remembering Allaah [i.e., not moist with His remembrance], his limbs incapacitated from obeying Him actively working to disobey Him–far away [is such a person] from being granted the success to have a good ending.”

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Don't you want to be able to pronounce the shahadah before your soul departs from your body? The words flow effortlessly off the tongue now, but at the time of death as with the time in the grave, it is your heart that will do the speaking. Spend your time wisely, guard your tongue, and do as many good deeds as you can! Beg Allah in Du'a to root at-Tawheed firmly in your heart, and live as if the hour will approach you tomorrow. 

May Allah inject our hearts with Eeman, istiqamah, ikhlaas, and haya, and may he allow us to among those who are able to die with the sweetness of the shahadah on our hearts and tongues. Laa Illaha IllAllah!

As Salamualaikum, 

Umm Talha

Who are the Ghurabah (Strangers)?

As Salamualaikum Wa Rahmatuaallahi Wa Barakatuhu,

Al-hamdu Lillaahi nasta’eenahu wa nastaghfiruhu, wa na’oodhu billaahi min shuroori anfusinaa wa sayi’aati a’maalinaa. Man yahdih Illaahu falaa mudilla lahu wa man yudlil falaa haadiya lahu. Wa ashhadu an laa ilaaha ill-Allaah wa ashhadu anna Muhammadan ‘abduhu wa rasooluhu: Amab'ad

((Praise be to Allaah, we seek His help and His forgiveness. We seek refuge with Allaah from the evil of our own souls and from our bad deeds. Whomsoever Allaah guides will never be led astray, and whomsoever Allaah leaves astray, no one can guide. I bear witness that there is no god but Allaah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger)) To Proceed:

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Welcome to my blog! I chose the name "Oh Strangers!" because of the Hadith of our Nabi Salallahu Alayhi Wa Salaam: “Islam began as something strange and will revert to being strange as it began, so give glad tidings to the strangers.” (Muslim; 145).  This blog is mainly geared toward women, as I am a woman, however anyone can benefit from my posts Insha'Allah. My posts will range from Islam to Beauty, and anything I find that will benefit the women. You are welcomed to follow, re-post or share any content on this site, and I hope you find it a source of comfort and a great benefit. 

Who are the strangers? 

The scholars (rahimahumullaah) have categorized the issue of strangeness into three categories:

1- There is the strangeness from the land or from one's country, and this strangeness could be praiseworthy or blameworthy. And this is connected to the niya (intention) of a particular individual. ...So for instance, if a person were to travel to a strange land for the purpose of halal trade or da'wa, then his strangeness to the land would be a praiseworthy strangeness. And if a person were to travel to a land for the purpose of fisq (sin, evil) orfasaad (evil spreading) or corruption, then this strangeness would be blameworthy.

2- The second type is the [blameworthy] strangeness of the people of fisq, corruption and evil deeds, and the people of dalaala (misguidance) and the people of shirk. [This is] because this kufr, shirk, and dalaala makes their chest constrained, and it makes them individuals who are strangers - even though they may be plentiful in one particular place. But without guidance, these people are strange [in a blameworthy way] and have constraint in their chest. So you see some of them may have much money, but because of the constrained chest - due to kufr and dalaala - they kill themselves. ...

3- The third type of strangeness is the strangeness of Ahlul-Deen, and this is a strangeness that is mamdouha(good). The intent is a person holds onto the religion of Allaah while among the people of dalaala and kufr and shirk and bid'ah and ma'siya. So this strangeness is mahmouda (praiseworthy), because for this individual there will be great reward due to the good he's upon, and opposing the people distant from the deen of Allaah ('Azza wa jall) and the Sunnah of His Messenger (salallaahu 'alaihiwasallam). So you will find this type of stranger obeying Allaah's commands in all his affairs and carrying out the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allaah (salallaahu 'alaihiwasallam).  

And this type of praiseworthy strangeness differs from land to land. So you will find in some places that this type of strangeness is not present due to the great presence of the Sunnah, whereas in another place, that strangeness may be present due to the presence of kufr, bid'ah, shirk, and widespread nature of that. This is the strangeness for whom the stranger will find a tremendous reward with Allaah (subhanahu wa ta'aala).

If this type of strangeness is praiseworthy, and the Messenger of Allaah (salallaahu 'alaihiwasallam) has praised the individual who has this type of strangeness, then what are the characteristics of this type of stranger? And what is it that distinguishes this stranger from everyone else. Many of the scholars have mentioned many of the characteristics of these strangers. The characteristics are many. We'll mention some, inshaAllaah: 

1- The first of those characteristics is ifradullaahi ta'la, that they single out Allaah with 'ibada (worship), knowing that He is alone without partner. So they do not worship except Allaah; they do not pray save to Allaah; they do not fast except for Allaah; they do not perform dhikr except for Allaah; they do not recite Qur'an except for Allaah; they do not seek refuge except with Allaah; they do not seek aid except from Allaah; and they do not rely except on Allaah (Jalla wa 'Alla). So if he says La illaaha il Allaah and he understands its meaning, he puts it into practice. And it was for this reason that when the 'Arabs said La illaaha il Allaah, they would abandon all those things that were worshipped besides Allaah. Those mushrikun (idolators) who entered Islam at the hand of the Prophet (salallaahu 'alaihiwasallam) would leave all those idols, and throw them behind their back, because they knew the meaning of La illaaha il Allaah [none has the right to be worshipped except Allaah alone].

Astonishing is the condition today of many Muslims, who say La illaaha il Allaah but don't know the meaning. 

Allaah says:

And I (Allaah) created not the jinns and humans except they should worship Me (Alone). (Adh-Dhariyat 51:56)  

And also: And indeed it has been revealed to you (O Muhammad), as it was to those (Allaah's Messengers) before you: "If you join others in worship with Allaah, (then) surely (all) your deeds will be in vain, and you will certainly be among the losers." (Az-Zumar 39:65)

So Allaah ('Azza wa jall) has commanded us with tawheed and has prohibited us from that which opposes it (shirk). Therefore, the greatest of the characteristics of these strangers is they hold onto at-tawheed, singling out Allaah in each and every act of worship; they leave off shirk, distance themselves from it, have a strong fear of falling into it; and give da'wa to at-tawheed, calling the creation to single out Allaah with each and every act of worship.

(More at Source: Abdurrahman.org)

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We live in a time where Islam itself is not strange, but the people who practice it the way it should be practiced, implements the Quran and Sunnah the way they should be implemented, and do their best to live according to that, are indeed looked at as strange...even among the Muslims!

The people who cling to the Sunnah with all of their strength are now being labeled as "extremists," "Wahabis," and my ultimate peeve "Haram Police." So I say to the Muslims who are trying to stick to the sunnah; Do not give up! Stay firm and obedient to Allah, and do not let the words of the layman discourage you from that. Have patience, and seek Allah's pleasure because every pleasure and every reward is with him!

The Messenger (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam) said: "I advise you to fear Allaah (have taqwaa of Him) and to listen and obey (to the leader) even if it is a black abyssinian slave. He amongst you lives for long will see many controversies/differences. Therefore, you must stick to my sunnah and the sunnah of the rightly guided caliphs. Stick to it (the sunnah) with your molar teeth and beware of the newly-invented matters as every newly-invented matter is an innovation and every innovation is misguidance." 

And the life of this world is nothing but play and amusement. But far better is the house in the Hereafter for those who are Al­Muttaqûn (the pious). Will you not then understand? (Al-An'am 6:32)

Strangeness and the Strangers: Dawud Adib

May Allah make us amongst the Ghurabah, may he keep us rightly guided and firm upon his religion, may he fill our hearts with Emaan, Taqwaa, and Ikhlaas,  may he accept our good deeds and forgive our bad. Allahumma Ameen.  I hope you enjoy this blog, feel free to share anything posted here, "Reminders benefit the believers!" (51:55) 
Wa Salmualaikum Wa Rahmatuallahi Wa Barakatuhu,  Umm Talha Al-Amreekeeyah