Sisters’ Jihaad

When asked about women’s jihaad, many people quote the hadeeth about hajj being a woman’s jihaad, but rarely do we see the following hadeeth being quoted.

A woman came to the Prophet (saw) and said:

“O Messenger of Allaah! I come to you on behalf of a group of women. For the men is al-jihaad and the spoils of war. What is for us?”

So the Prophet (saw) said:

“Convey to those whom you meet from the women that (a) obedience to the husband and (b) respect for his status is equal to that, and how few from amongst you actually does it.”

[Al-Bazzaar & Tabaraanee]

The Selflessness And Hayaa Of ‘Aa’ishah

The Selflessness Of ‘Aa’ishah:

When ‘Umar Ibn Al-Khattaab was stabbed and he knew it was his end, he said to his son ‘Abdullaah:

“Go to ’Aa’ishah, the Mother of the Believers, and say ‘Umar sends you salaams. Do not say Ameer Al-Mu’mineen, for today I am no longer the leader of the believers.”

In another narration he said to his son when ’Aa’ishah gave him permission to be buried beside his two companions:

“When I die take me there then say salaam and say ‘ ‘Umar Ibn Al-Khattaab is asking permission to enter.‘ If she gives permission, take me in, but if she refuses then take me to the graveyard of the Muslims.” [Bukhaaree]

An indication of the selflessness of ’Aa’ishah is that she wished to be buried besides her husband (the prophet (saw)) and he father (Aboo Bakr), but when ‘Umar asked permission for that, she allowed it and gave preference to him over herself.

She said:

“I had wanted it for myself, but I gave it up today.” [Bukhaaree]

The Hayaa Of ‘Aa’ishah:

‘Aa’ishah said:

“I used to enter my house in which the Messenger of Allaah (saw) and Aboo Bakr (her father) were buried, but when ‘Umar was buried with them, by Allaah I did not enter it without covering myself properly, out of shyness towards ‘Umar.”

[Mahd As-Sawaab, 3/852]

Rape Statistics In The USA

American Rape Statistics:

In 1995, over 354,670 women were the victims of rape or sexual assault. (National Crime Victimization Survey. Bureau of Justice Statistics, U.S. Department of Justice, 1996)

Over the last two years, more than 787,000 women were the victim of a rape or sexual assault. (National Crime Victimization Survey Bureau of Justice Statistics, U.S. Department of Justice, 1996)

The FBI estimates that 72 of every 100,000 females in the United States were raped last year. (Federal Bureau of Investigation, Uniform Crime Statistics, 1996)

Somewhere in America, a woman is raped every 2 mins. (US. Deprtment of Justice)

Silent Victims:

Approximately 28% of victims are rapd by husbands or boyfriends.

35% by acquaintances.

5% by other relatives. (Violence against Women, Bureau of Jusice Statistics, U.S. Dept. of Justice, 1994)

According to the FBI estimates tat only 37% of all rapes are reported to the police.

According to the U.S. Justice Department, only 26% of all rapes are reported to the police/law enforcement officials.

Living In Fear:

According to the U.S. Department of Justice (All statistics are taken from: Violence against Women, Bureau of Justice Statistics, U.S. Dept. of Justice, 1994)

25% of every rape takes place in a pubic area or in a parking garage.

31% of female victims reported that the offender was a stranger.

68% of rapes occur between the hours of 6pm and 6am.

At least 45% of rapists were under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

In 29% of rapes, the offender used a weapon.

In 7% of rapes, the victim sustained injuries other than rape injuries.

75% of female rape victims require medical care after the attack.

[Courtesy of paralumun.com]

‘Umar Ibn Al-Khattaab’s Son Marries A Milkmaid

One night, Caliph Umar as usual went in disguise with his companion Ibn Abbas to see the condition of the people. They strolled from one quarter to another. At last they came to a colony where poor people lived.

While passing by a small house, the Caliph heard a whispering talk within. The mother was telling her daughter that the amount of milk fetched by her for sale that day was very little. She told her that when she was young, and used to sell milk, she always mixed water with milk, and that led to considerable profit. She advised her daughter to do the same.

The girl said, “You adulterated milk, when you were not a Muslim. Now that we are Muslims, we cannot adulterate milk.” The mother said that Islam did not stand in the way of adulteration of milk. The daughter said, “Have you forgotten the Caliph’s order? He wants that the milk should not be adulterated.” The mother said, “But the Caliph has forgotten us. We are so poor, what else should we do but adulterate milk in order win bread?” The daughter said “Such a bread would not be lawful, and as a Muslim I would not do anything which is against the orders of the Caliph, and whereby other Muslims are deceived.”

The mother said, “But there is neither the Caliph nor any of his officers here to see what we do. Daughter you are still a child. Go to bed now and tomorrow I will myself mix the milk with water for you.” The girl refused to fall in with the plan of her mother. She said, “Caliph may or may not be here, but his order must be obeyed. My conscience is my Caliph. You may escape the notice of the Caliph and his officers, but how can we escape the notice of Allah and our own conscience.” Thereupon the mother remained quiet. The lamp was extinguished and the mother and the daughter went to sleep.

When Does A Slave Know That A Trial Is A Test Or A Punishment? By Bin Baaz

Question: If a person is put to trial with a sickness or an evil affliction physically or with his wealth, how does he know that this trial is a test or Anger from Allaah?

Answer: Allaah Azza Wa Jal tests His slaves in prosperity and adversity, in hardship and ease. He sometimes tests them with these things to raise their grade and to enhance the status of those people and to double their good deeds. Like what Allaah did for the Prophets and Messengers – alayhim as-Salat wa Sallam, as well as the righteous people from the worshippers of Allaah.

Like the Prophet – sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam – said: the most severely of the people to be trialed are the Prophets, then those who are next in grade, then the next.

Sometimes Allaah does this due to the sins and transgression of the people, so that the punishment can be hurried.

Like Allaah Subhanahu said:

“And whatever of misfortune befalls you, it is because of what your hands have earned. And He pardons much.“

So, what is general for humans is that they are deficient, and they do not observe all the obligatory duties. Therefore, what afflicts them is due to their sins and shortcomings with regard to Allaah’s commands.

For this reason, if someone from the righteous slaves of Allaah is afflicted with some disease or something similar, then this is from the type of trials for the Prophets and Messengers, raising of their grades and increase of reward, to be an example for others, in having patience and contentment.

So briefly, it could be a test to raise grades and to make the reward greater, like Allaah does for some of the righteous people. It could be expiation for evil deeds, as is mentioned in the saying of Allaah Ta’ala:

“Whosoever works evil, will have the recompense thereof”

Also the saying of the Prophet sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam: A Muslim is not afflicted with distress, nor sorrow, nor disease nor hardship, nor sadness nor any harm except that Allaah expiates from his sins even by a thorn that pricks him.

The saying of the Prophet – sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam – whom so ever Allaah intends good for, Allaah compels him with a trial.

It could be that this is a punishment which has been hastened due to transgression by the slave and him not having hastened in repenting as is mentioned in the hadeeth of the Messenger – sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam – that he said: ‘If Allaah intends good for His slave then He hastens his punishment in this world, and if Allaah prescribes evil for His slave, then Allaah holds back his sins until He recompenses them for him on the Day of Judgment.’

Narrated by Tirmidhi & he declared it hasan

Not Everyone Is Suitable To Be Your Friend

1 – Allah Said:

“Ah! Woe to me! If only I had never taken so-and-so as a friend! He indeed led me astray from the Reminder after it had come to me!” [al-Furqan; 28-29]

2 – The Messenger of Allah said:

“A person is upon the way of his friend. So, let one of you look to whom he keeps as a friend.”

[‘Sahih al-Jami” (3545) and ‘as-Silsilah as-Sahihah’ (927)]

3 – ‘Abdullah bin Ahmad bin Hambal said:

“My father went out to Tarsus on foot, and he perfored two or three Hajjs on foot, and he was the most patient of people upon being alone.”

[‘Tarjamat al-Imam Ahmad’; p. 18]

4 – Ibn al-Qayyim said:

“Know that the greatest of losses is for you to be preoccupied with one who will bring you nothing but a loss in your time with Allah – the Mighty and Majestic – and being cut off from Him, a wasting your time with the person, a weakening of your energy, and the dispersing of your resolve. So, if you are tested with this – and you must be tested with this – deal with him according to how Allah would wish, and be patient with him as much as possible. Get closer to Allah and His Pleasure by way of this person, and make your getting together with him something to benefit from, not something to incur a loss from. Be with him as if you are a man who is on a road who was stopped by another man, who then asks you to take him on your journey. Make sure that you are the one who gives him a ride, and that he is not the one giving you the ride. If he refuses, and there is nothing to gain from travelling with him, do not stop for him, bid him farewell, and do not even turn back to look at him, as he is a highway robber, regardless of who he really is.

So, save your heart, be wary of how you spend your days and nights, and do not let the Sun set before you arrive at your destination.”

[‘al-Wabil as-Sayyib’; p. 45]

5 – Ibn Jama’ah said:

“So, it is upon the student of knowledge to abandon socialization, as abandoning it is from the most important things that the student of knowledge must do – let alone with members of the opposite gender – especially with those who spend most of their time in play, and spend little of their time in thought, as the nature of individuals can rob you.

The harms of socialization include the passing of life without any benefit, as well as the decline of wealth and religious practice, if this socialization were to occur with the wrong people.

The student of knowledge should not mix except with either those who he can benefit, or can benefit from. And if he is offered the friendship of one who will waste his time with him, will not benefit him, will not benefit from him, and will not assist him in reaching his objective, he should politely end the relationship from the start before it progresses to something deeper, as when something becomes established, it becomes more difficult to change it. There is a phrase that is constantly on the tongues of the Fuqaha’: ‘Repelling something is easier than removing it.’

So, if he requires someone to befriend, let that person be righteous, religious, pious, wary, intelligent, full of benefit, having little evil, good at complying, rarely conflicting, reminding him if he forgets, cooperating with him when he is reminded, helpful if he is in need, and comforting if he is in distress.”

[‘Tadhkirat as-Sami’ wal-Mutakallim’; p. 83]

6 – Ibn Qudamah al-Maqdisi said:

“Know that not everyone is suitable to be your friend. You must verify that this potential friend has the neccessary characteristics that make friendship with him something to be desired. The one you seek to befriend must have five characteristics:

* He must be intelligent, as there is no good in befriending an idiot, as he will only harm you when he wants to benefit you. By intelligent, we mean one who understands things as they are, either on his own, or if they are explained to him;

* He must have good manners, and this is a must. One who is simply intelligent might be overcome by anger or desire, and obey his desire. Thus, there would be no benefit in befriending him;

* He must not be a fasiq, as such a person would not fear Allah, and whoever does not fear Allah cannot be trusted;

* He must not be an innovator, as his abundance of innovation is feared from befriending him;

* He should not be eager for the dunya.”

[‘Mukhtasar Minhaj al-Qasidin’; p. 126-132]

The Marriage Of A Noble Qurayshi Woman To A Slave

‘Umar Ibn Al-Khattaab (ra) encouraged the people to perform marriages with different tribes, so that love would develop amongst the people. Therefore, a slave went to a man from the Quraysh and asked him to marry his sister to him, which the latter refused.

‘Umar went to that man and asked him, “Why did you not marry your sister to him? He is a talented and pious individual. You should seek the opinion of your sister; if she accepts the proposal then you should marry her to him.”

The man from the Quraysh accepted the advice of ‘Umar and went to his sister to ask her opinion. She agreed to the marriage and the married his sister to the slave.

[Al-Murtadaa, by An-Nadawee, p. 106]

Shaykh Abdullah Al-Mutlaq Makes Du’aa For A Woman Who Needs A Husband

Shaykh Abdullah Al-Mutlaq Makes Du’aa For A Woman Who Needs A Husband

In question answer program, a woman called Sheikh Abdullah Almutlaq and asked him a question. And after he gave her the answer, she asked him to pray to Allah that she is bless with Sheikh Mohammad Al-Arifi as her husband. Sheikh Almutlaq replied to her saying do you want Sheikh Alarifi for his good looks or knowledge? She answered for his knowledge. Sheikh Almutlaq replied to her that Sheikh Saleh Alsadlan was more knowledgeable than him, I will pray to Allah that you be blessed with him as a husband.

Mohammad Alarifi

Al-Sadlan

Source

‘Umar’s Respect To The Wives Of The Prophet (saw)

‘Umar Ibn Al-Khattaab was very protective of the Prophet’s wives. They were all very innocent and pious and yet, as ‘Umar certainly remembered, that did not stop the hypocrite ‘Abdullaah Ibn Ubay from slandering ‘Aa’ishah. Thus, ‘Umar would do everything in his power to safeguard the honour of the Prophet’s wives.

So when the Prophet’s wives asked ‘Umar to perform Hajj, he denied their request. Then, when they continued to implore him for permission, he met them halfway, saying to them: “I will grant you permission to go the following year, and yet even that is something I do not truly agree with.”

The following year,’Umar sent ‘Uthmaan Ibn ‘Affaan and ‘Abdur-Rahmaan Ibn ‘Awf to accompany the Mothers of the believers during their pilgrimage. And ‘Umar gave both of them strict orders; one of them was to walk ahead of the Prophet’s wives, and the other was to walk behind them. They were not to allow anyone to walk alongside the Prophet’s wives. When they had to stop to set up camp, they were to set up camp in a mountain pass (an enclosed area); as long as the Prophet’s wives rested inside the mountain pass, they were to stand guard at the entrance of the mountain pass; they were to allow no one to enter upon the Prophet’s wives.

And when the Prophet’s wives performed Tawaaf around the Ka’bah, they were to forbid all men from performing Tawaaf at the same time.

[Tabaqaat, by Ibn Sa’d, 8/109]

Every Mother Is A Da’ee, By Ibn ‘Uthaymeen

A woman first and foremost needs to be righteous herself, so that she can be a good example for her daughters…

A woman should train her children properly, for her children represent the men and women of the future. In the earliest stages of their development, it is the mothers that human beings learn from. If she is a good mother, good in her manners and dealings and good in the way she brings up her children, then those children will take after her and contribute positively to the betterment of society.

Every mother, then, must dedicate herself to training her children, and if she cannot undertake their training on her own, then their father or another guardian – for example, a brother or uncle, if their father is dead – should help her to raise them.

A woman should not yield to difficult circumstances, feeling that she cannot change her situation or her family’s situation for the better.

[The Islaamic Awakening, by Ibn ‘Uthaymeen, Pp. 223 & 229]