Together We Pray

[Ummati]

[Ummati]

JAM'AAH (CONGREGATION)

"And establish prayer and pay the zakât and bow down with those who bow down" (2:43).

The prayer-service of Islâm is essentially a congregational service, and has, besides the development of the inner self of man, through communion with God, other ends as well in view, which show what a unique force the Islamic prayer is in the unification of the human race.

In the first place, this gathering of all people living in the same vicinity five times daily in the mosque, is a great help to the establishment of healthy social relations, the circle becoming wider in the Friday service, and still more extensive in the 'Îd gatherings.

But the jamâ'ah not only promotes social relations: what is far more important it levels down social differences. In the congregational prayer all Muslims stand shoulder to shoulder before their Maker, the king along with his poorest subject, the rich arrayed in costly robes with the beggar clad in rags, the white man along with his black brother. Nay, the king or the rich man standing in a back row is required to lay his head, when prostrating himself before God, at the feet of a slave or a beggar standing in the front row. There could be no greater levelling influence in the world.

In fact, congregational prayers are meant, among other things, to carry into practice the theoretical lessons of equality and fraternity for which Islâm stands, and however forcibly Islâm may have preached in words the equality of man and the fraternity of the community of Islâm, all this would have ended in mere talk, had it not been translated into everyday life through the institution of five daily congregational prayers.

[Ummati]

The Much Greater Reward

The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, "The prayer offered in congregation is twenty five times more superior (in reward) to the prayer offered alone in one's house or in a business, because if one performs ablution and does it perfectly, and then proceeds to the mosque with the sole intention of praying, then for each step which he takes towards the mosque, Allah upgrades him a degree in reward and (forgives) crosses out one sin till he enters the mosque. When he enters the mosque he is considered in prayer as long as he is waiting for the prayer and the angels keep on asking for Allah's forgiveness for him and they keep on saying: 'O Allah! Be Merciful to him, O Allah! Forgive him, as long as he keeps on sitting at his praying place and does not pass wind.

If they only knew..

"If people knew what there was in the call to prayer and the first row, and they could find no other way except to draw lots for it, they would draw lots for it. And if they knew what there was in doing Dhuhr at its time, they would race each other to it. And if they knew what there was in the prayers of 'Isha 'and Fajr, they would come to them even if they had to crawl."

(Bukhari)

[Ummati]

-- Ibn Mas'ûd said,

The Messenger of Allâh, peace and blessings of Allâh be on him, used to touch our shoulders at the time of prayer, and used to say:

"Keep straight and do not be uneven, for in that case your hearts would disagree. Let those from among you, who are possessed of understanding and wisdom, stand nearest to me, then those who are next to them, then those who are next to them."

[iloveislam]

Despite the differences in: their colours, nationalities, moods, happiness, bank accounts, needs, family members, deeds, stocks, and business, they all become EQUAL in front of their Creator as they stand in line to worship Him.

from: zuleikha.tumblr.com

[abdallah]

THE VIRTUES N IMPORTANCE OF JAMA'AT

So many Sahih Ahadith have been narrated with regards to the virtues and importance of jama'at that if all of them had to be collected at one place, a large voluminous book would get filled. After examining all these Ahadith, one aspect is very apparent, i.e. jama'at is a very important prerequisite for the perfection of salaat. Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam never ever discarded jama'at. So much so that when he fell ill and did not have the strength to walk on his own, he came to the musjid with the assistance of two people and offered his salaat with jama'at. He used to become extremely angry on the person who did not offer his salaat with jama'at and desired to mete out severe punishment on the abandoning of jama'at. Without doubt, very great importance has been attached to offering salaat with jama'at in the Shariah of Muhammad sallallahu alayhi wa sallam. And it ought to have been like this. The high status of salaat demanded that whatever was going to complement it should also be given full importance.

We will now quote a verse which some commentators and jurists have used as a proof on the establishment of jama'at.

Thereafter, we shall quote a few Ahadith. The verse translates as follows: "And bow down (in prayer) with those who bow down." (i.e. with jama'at).

Ahadith on the Virtues and Importance of Jama'at

1. Ibn Umar radiallahu anhu narrates from Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam on the virtue of offering salaat with jama'at as being 27 times more rewarding than offering it alone.

2. Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said: "It is better to offer salaat with another person than to offer it alone. And it is even better to offer it with two people. And the bigger the jama'at, the more beloved it is in the sight of Allah."

3. Anas bin Maalik radiallahu anhu narrates that the Banu Salimah who used to live quite far from the Musjid un-Nabawi decided to shift from their original place and come and settle down somewhere near Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam. On hearing about this, Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam asked them saying: "What! Don't you regard your footsteps which touch the ground as being worthy of reward?" From this we can deduce that the further one lives from the musjid, and still comes walking to it, the more reward he will receive.

4. Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said: "Whatever time that is spent waiting for salaat will be regarded as though the person was actually in salaat."

5. One night Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam addressed those companions of his who were present for the esha jama'at saying: "People are offering their salaat and going away to sleep, while whatever time you are spending in waiting for salaat is being calculated as if you are already in salaat."

6. Buraydah Aslami radiallahu anhu narrates that once Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said: "Glad tidings to those who go to the musjids in the dark of the night in order to attend the jama'at, that they will be bestowed with full light on the day of resurrection."

7. Uthmaan radiallahu anhu narrates that Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said: "The person who offers esha salaat with jama'at will get the reward of spending half the night in ibaadah. And the one who offers the esha and fajr salaats with jama'at will get the reward of spending the whole night in ibaadah."

8. Abu Hurayrah radiallahu anhu reports that once Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said: "It crossed my mind that I order someone to gather some firewood, thereafter the adhaan be called out and I order someone to perform the salaat while I go to the houses of those people who do not attend the jama'at and I set fire to their houses."

9. Another narration reads as follows: "Were it not for the little children and women, I would have occupied myself with the esha salaat and ordered the servants to go to the houses and set them alight together with them and their possessions." (Muslim)
The wisdom behind mentioning esha salaat is that it is the time for sleeping and generally most of the people are at home at that time. After quoting this Hadith, Imam Tirmidhi rahmatullahi alayh says that a similar Hadith has been narrated by Ibn Mas'ud, Abu Darda, Ibn Abbas, and Jaabir radiallahuanhum. All these people were among the respected companions of Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam.

10. Abu Darda radiallahu anhu reports that Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said: "Even if there are only three persons in a particular locality or jungle and they do not offer salaat with jama'at, then shaytaan will most certainly overpower them. O Abu Darda! Regard jama'at as being incumbent upon you. Remember, the wolves attack that sheep which has strayed away from the main flock."

11. Ibn Abbas radiallahu anhu narrates that Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said: "The person who hears the adhaan and still does not attend the jama'at without any valid excuse, then the salaat which he offers alone is not accepted." The Sahabah asked as to what that excuse was, upon which Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam replied that it was fear or sickness. In this Hadith fear and sickness have not been explained. In other Ahadith some explanation of fear and sickness has been given.

12. Mihjan radiallahu anhu narrates: "Once I was with Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam when we heard the adhaan. Rasulullah sallallhu alayhi wa sallam commenced with his salaat while I went and sat down in my place. After completing his salaat, Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam asked me: "O Mihjan! Why didn't you offer your salaat with jama'at? Are you not a Muslim?" I replied saying: "O Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam! I am indeed a Muslim, but I had already offered my salaat at home." Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said: "When you come to the musjid and see that the jama'at has commenced, join the people and offer your salaat even if you have already offered your salaat."

Ponder over this Hadith and see how Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam reprimanded his selected companion, Mihjan radiallahu anhu, and asked him: "Are you not a Muslim?"

Sayings of the Sahabah on the Virtues and Importance of Jama'at

A few Ahadith have been mentioned to serve as an example. We will now mention the sayings of the companions of Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam in order to illustrate the importance they attached to the offering of salaat with jama'at, and how they regarded the abandoning of jama'at. Why should they not regard it like this? Who can be more cautious in obeying and seeking the pleasure of Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam than them?

1. Aswad says that once he was in the company of Hadrat A'ishah radiallahu anha when the discussion turned towards the virtues and importance of salaat. In order to substantiate what she was saying, she quoted an incident from the marad ul-maut (the last sickness before death) of Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam. One day, the time of salaat entered and the adhaan was called out. Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said that Abu Bakr radiallahu anhu should be told to perform the salaat. I said to him that Abu Bakr is a very soft-hearted person. When he stands to perform the salaat in your place, he will become incapable and will not be able to perform the salaat. However, Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam repeated the same command, so I gave him the same reply. Upon this, Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said: "You are saying the same things which the women of Egypt used to say to Hadrat Yusuf alayhis salaam. Tell Abu Bakr that he should perform the salaat." Anyway, Abu Bakr went out to perform the salaat. In the meantime, Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wasallam felt some relief from his sickness, so he went towards the musjid with the assistance of two people. I can still picture the scene when Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam was going with his feet dragging on the floor. That is, he did not even have the strength to lift his feet. Abu Bakr had already commenced performing the salaat and wanted to move back. But Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam stopped him and made him perform the salaat.

2. Once Hadrat Umar radiallahu anhu noticed that Sulayman bin Abi Haythama was not present for the fajr salaat. So he went to his house and asked his mother as to why he did not see Sulayman for fajr today. She replied that he had been offering salaat throughout the night and fell asleep at the time of fajr. Upon hearing this, Hadrat Umar radiallahu anhu replied: "I prefer offering fajr salaat with jama'at than spending the entire night in ibaadah. (Muwatta Imam Malik)

3. Hadrat Ibn Mas'ud radiallahu anhu says: "We witnessed ourselves - the Sahabah - that none would leave out offering salaat with jama'at except an open hypocrite or that person who is sick. But even the sick used to come for jama'at with the assistance of two people. Without doubt, Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam showed us the different paths of guidance. And among them is the offering of salaat in those musjids where the adhaan is called out, i.e. where salaat is offered with jama'at.

Another advice that he gave us is that whoever wishes to meet Allah Ta'ala on the day of resurrection as a Muslim should make a duty of offering his five times salaat regularly in those places where adhaan is called out, i.e. in those places where salaat is offered with jama'at. Without doubt, Allah Ta'ala has shown the different paths of guidance to your prophet. And this salaat is also among these paths.

If you offer your salaat in your homes, as is the habit of the hypocrites, you will most certainly be missing out on the Sunnah of your prophet. And if you leave out the Sunnah of your prophet, you will most certainly be led astray. When a person makes a complete wudu and leaves his home for the musjid, then for every step that he takes he gets one reward, his rank is elevated, and one sin is forgiven. We have noticed that no one except the hypocrite stays away from the jama'at. Our state was such that when we used to fall ill, we used to be taken to attend the jama'at with the assistance of two people and made to stand in the saff" (line in which every one stands to offer salaat).

4. Once a person walked out of the musjid without offering his salaat after the adhaan had been called out. Upon this, Hadrat Abu Hurayrah radiallahu anhu said: "This person has disobeyed Abul Qasim (Muhammad) sallallahu alayhi wa sallam and disregarded his noble order." (Sahih Muslim)

Just ponder over what Hadrat Abu Hurayrah radiallahu anhu said in regard to the person who abandoned the jama'at. After hearing this, can any Muslim still have the audacity of leaving the jama'at without any valid excuse? Can any believing person bear disobeying Hadrat Abul Qasim (Muhammad) sallallahu alayhi wa sallam?

5. Hadrat Umme Darda radiallahu anha says: "Once Hadrat Abu Darda radiallahu anhu came to me in an extremely angry state. So I asked him: 'Why are you so angry today?' He replied: "I swear by Allah that I do not see anything wrong in the ummah of Muhammad sallallahu alayhi wa sallam except that they should offer their salaat with jama'at.' In other words, they have even started leaving this out."

6. Many companions of Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam report that he said: "The person who hears the adhaan and yet does not attend the jama'at, his salaat will not be accepted."

After quotin this Hadith, Imam Tirmidhi says that some ulama have stated that this ruling is for emphasis. The purpose of this is that it is not permissible to leave out the jama'at without any valid excuse.

7. Once, Mujahid said to Ibn Abbas radiallahu anhu: "What do you have to say in regard to that person who fasts the entire day and offers salaat throughout the night but does not attend jumu'ah nor the jama'at?" He replied: "He will enter hell." (Tirmidhi)

In explaining this Hadith, Imam Tirmidhi says that this rule will apply if a person leaves out jumu'ah and jama'at out of total disregard for them. But if we regard the entry into hell for a few days, then the above explanation will not be necessary.

[abdallah]

The Benefits and Wisdom of Jama'at


1. There is nothing more beneficial or profitable than making a particular form of ibaadah into a second nature to the extent that that ibaadah becomes a necessity and it becomes impossible to leave it just as it is almost impossible to give up a particular habit. And there is no form of ibaadah greater than salaat which could be accorded such importance.

2. In matters of religion, we find all sorts of people - the learned as well as the ignorant. There is therefore great wisdom in this that everyone gets together and fulfils this ibaadah in the presence of each other. If someone makes a particular mistake, another person is there to correct him. It is as if this ibaadah of Allah Ta'ala is a jewel and all the inspectors are examining it: if there is any defect in it, they point it out, and if there is any merit or excellence in it, they appreciate it. So this is an excellent means for the perfection of salaat.

3. The position of those who do not offer their salaat will also come into the open. In this way, one has the opportunity of advising them.

4. The gathering of a few Muslims who render an ibaadah to Allah Ta'ala and beseech Him has a special effect for the descending of mercy and acceptance in the sight of Allah.

5. The aim and object of Allah Ta'ala with regards to this ummah is that the kalimah must supercede everything and that kufr must be subdued, and that no religion must be able to overpower Islam. This can only be possible if certain steps are adopted whereby all the Muslims - the masses, the learned, the travellers, the inhabitants of places, the young, and the old - get together for a particular ibaadah which is great and famous, thereby exhibiting the grandeur and power of Islam. Because of all these merits and qualities, the entire attention of the Shariah directed itself towards the jama'at, encouraged it, and laid down strict prohibitions on discarding it.

6. Another benefit of the jama'at is that all the Muslims will be fully aware of each others conditions and circumstances, and will be able to share each others difficulties and problems. In this way, religious brotherhood and love which is based on Imaan will be fully exhibited and consolidated. This is one of the great objects of the Shariah and its significance and virtue has been mentioned repeatedly in the Quran and Hadith.

It is indeed sad that the discarding of jama'at has become a norm in our times. Let alone the ignorant masses, many learned people are also caught in this evil web. It is extremely sad that these people read the Ahadith and even understand their meanings, but the importance of jama'at does not have any effect on their hearts which are harder than stone. What answer will these people give when they will stand in front of Allah Ta'ala and all the appeals with regards to salaat will be presented before everything else, and investigations will commence with those who discarded salaat entirely or partly?

[Ummati]

The one who has faith, no explanation is necessary.
The one without faith, no explanation is possible.
Subhan Allah

@http://islamicthinking.tumblr.com

[Mujaahid]

7 TIPS ON HOW TO STAY UP AFTER FAJR:

Nothing kills productivity like waking up at 10am to start your day, or waking up with just enough time to sloppily get dressed and race to work, arriving frantically and foggy-brained. You try to get through your To-Do List but before you know it, it is time for dinner, and then Isha prayer, and you are feeling quite unaccomplished. The problem is that you had a good 2-5 hours during which you could have achieved maximized productivity, but you slept through it!

What time am I talking about? The time right after Fajr prayers. It is a blessed time that Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) made dua for, He said: “O Allah, bless my Ummah in its early hours”.

Here are 7 ways to help you stay up after Fajr to become a beneficiary of blessings and success insha’Allah:

1. Go to bed early and rest
After the Isha prayer, the Prophet (Peace and blessings be upon him) would not like to engage in unnecessary talk and would take to his house to go to sleep. This is the similar life-style for many communities where electricity has not created a false sense of daylight. Societies that maintain going down with the sun inevitably rise with the sun, making the most of their morning to do ‘ibaadah or secure their livelihood. If you need to fit in more sleep, try taking a nap before or after Zhuhr.

2. Untie your three knots
”During your sleep, Satan knots three knots at the back of the head of each of you, and he breathes the following words at each knot, ‘The night is, long, so keep on sleeping,’ If that person wakes up and celebrates the praises of Allah, then one knot is undone, and when he performs ablution the second knot is undone, and when he prays, all the knots are undone, and he gets up in the morning lively and in a good mood, otherwise he gets up dull and gloomy. ” (Bukhari)

It is not a surprise that Shaitan is trying to prevent us from the worship of Allah and prevent us from a productive morning. However, Alhamdulillah, we were given the prescription to combat his whispering:

a. Celebrate the praises of Allah by saying:
Alhamdulillahi allathee ahyaanaa ba’da maa amaatanaa wa ilayhin nushoor.
‘All praise and thanks is for Allaah who gave us life after having taken it from us and unto Him is the Resurrection.‘

b. Perform ablution

c. Pray

Then after you have prayed, do not allow yourself to get back into bed. Perhaps splashing your face with cold water, having a bite to eat, or drinking some water or fruit juice will help brush off any drowsiness.

3. Perform the prescribed dhikr after Fajr
If you still have the urge to jump back into your warm comfy bed after Fajr, remember that the best extension of the prayer is the dhikr that you perform afterwards.

”The angels keep on asking Allah’s forgiveness for anyone of you, as long as he is at his Musalla (praying place) and he does not pass wind (Hadath). They say, ‘O Allah! Forgive him, O Allah! be Merciful to him.” (Bukhari)

Plus, the longer you stay up, the less likely you will go back to sleep (and the less likely you will be able to fall asleep).

You can find the dua to say after prayer and in the morning in Fortress of a Muslim, or online at www.makedua.com

4. Aim to pray Duha
Duha prayer is an extra voluntary prayer you can pray approximately 20 minutes after sunrise until 45 minutes before Zhuhr prayer.

In the morning charity is due from every bone in the body of every one of you. Every utterance of Allah’s glorification is an act of charity (Subhan Allah). Every utterance of praise of Him is an act of charity (Alhamdulillah), every utterance of profession of His Oneness is an act of charity (Laa ilaha ill Allah), every utterance of profession of His Greatness is an act of charity (Allahu Akbar), enjoining good is an act of charity, forbidding what is distreputable is an act of charity, and two rak’ahs which one prays in the forenoon will suffice. [Muslim]

Who wouldn’t want that reward?

By the time it is allowed to pray Salat-ul-Duha, you will be more awake and will have already completed your morning dhikr

5. Recite/reflect/memorize Quran
After Fajr prayer is an amazing time to be alone with the Quran. Before the day’s distractions set you off course, use this time to recite, reflect and memorize The Quran. If you are like me, if I do not read my daily dose of the Quran in the morning, I find it incredibly difficult to sit after work or at the end of the day to try to get some quality time with the Quran. Believe me, you will feel the benefit when you start your day remembering Allah.

Establish prayer at the decline of the sun [from its meridian] until the darkness of the night and [also] the Qur’an of dawn. Indeed, the recitation of dawn is ever witnessed. (17:78)

6. Exercise
An early morning walk or stretches will get your blood moving and you will find that you have the energy to stay up and make the most of your day insha’Allah.

7. Have a list of tasks ready
Has this ever happened to you? You are awake, bright and early, feeling particularly productive. You look around…and you begin to ask yourself what to do. If you do not have a plan for your morning, then you will inevitably waste time wandering and half-completing tasks. Use the morning wisely by writing your To-Do List first thing after Salat-ul-Duha, or even better, the night before. Aim to complete 3-5 tasks before you set off to work or school.

You will energized and fantastic having recited Quran, remembered Allah (dhikr), performed an extra prayer, and knocked off items from your To-Do List…all before you go to school or work! And you will still have the whole day ahead of you insha’Allah.

O Allah, help us benefit from the beautiful morning hours. Ameen.

Link: What’s your Morning Routine?

[Mujaahid]

Question:
Can we pray salat while in a moving car that's because there is no place to stop and pray?
[/b]


Praise be to Allaah.

Performing prayers at the right time is a trust and an obligation, because Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): "Verily, al-Salaat (the prayer) is enjoined on the believers at fixed hours." [al-Nisaa' 4:103].

Delaying the prayer past its appointed time is a grave major sin, as Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): "So woe unto those performers of salaat (prayers) (hypocrites), who delay their salaat from their stated fixed times." [al-Maa'oon 107:4-5]

Some scholars state that the person who deliberately misses one prayer and leaves it until the appointed time is over, with no excuse, is a kaafir.

Claiming that one cannot find a place to pray is not a valid excuse, because either one is living on the face of the earth or not, and if one is living on the face of the earth, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said:

"The (whole) earth has been made a mosque (or a place of prayer) and a means of purification for me, so wherever a man of my ummah may be when the time for prayer comes, let him pray." [Reported by al-Bukhaari, al-Fath, no. 335]

According to a report narrated by Muslim, he (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said:

"The (whole) earth has been made good for me, a means of purification and a mosque (or place of prayer); so wherever a man may be when the time for prayer comes, let him pray wherever he is." [Saheeh Muslim, no. 521]

The entire world is a suitable place to prostrate oneself; the scholars have made no exceptions except very few, such as graveyards and lavatories. Wherever a Muslim is when the time for prayer comes, he should pray: in a mosque, if possible, or else in a hallway or park, on a sidewalk or in a parking lot, or in a corner of a store. Even if one can find no other place than a church, it is permissible to pray in it.

As far as praying on board means of transportation is concerned, then it is possible to pray there so long as the necessary conditions of prayer are fulfilled, or else one can wait until one gets out of the vehicle. If waiting means that the time for the prayer will pass, then you should pray in the best way that you can. Let us assume, for example, that you are in a car or train where there is no place to pray, you cannot stop and pray at the side of the road, and the time for that prayer is running out.

In such a situation, the Muslim should pray in the best way that he can, even if he is sitting in his seat and even if he is not facing the qiblah, because Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

"So keep your duty to Allaah and fear Him as much as you can…" [al-Taghaabun 64:16],

and because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "If I have comanded you to do something, do as much of it as you can." [Reported by al-Bukhaari, al-Fath, no. 7288]

An exception to be above is naafil (supererogatory) prayers offered when riding a camel, which is permissible even if one cannot get down or if one is not facing the qiblah. This is known from the report of Ibn 'Umar, who said:

"The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) used to pray when travelling on his camel, no matter which direction it was facing, and he would gesture with his head to indicate the movements of the night prayer, apart from the obligatory prayers, and he would pray witr on his camel too." [Reported by al-Bukhaari, 945]

Ibn 'Umar (may Allaah be pleased with him) said:

"The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) used to pray voluntary (nafl) prayers when riding on his camel, no matter what direction it was facing, when he came from Makkah to Madeenah."

Then Ibn 'Umar recited this aayah (interpretation of the meaning): "And to Allaah belong the east and the west, so wherever you turn yourselves or your faces, there is the Face of Allaah (and He is High above, over His Throne)…" [al-Baqarah 2:115]

Ibn 'Umar said: "It was concerning this that this aayah was revealed."

[Reported by al-Tirmidhi, 2883; he said, this is a saheeh hasan hadeeth]

We should not forget to point out here that Muslims living in non-Muslim countries sometimes delay or abandon their prayers for another, completely different, reason, which is that they feel too embarrassed to pray in front of the kuffaar in public or open places, or they are afraid that they will make fun of them and regard them as odd.

This is a serious mistake. How can a Muslim feel embarrassed about proclaiming the truth and worshipping openly, hastening to fulfil the command of Allaah at the time when Allaah has said it is to be done? We ask Allaah to help us all to remember Him, to be grateful to Him and to worship Him properly.

Islam Q&A
Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid

[iloveAllah]

The Silent Bayaan (Sermon)



A member of a certain mosque, who previously had started attending the mosque to perform his Salaah (prayer), suddenly stopped attending. After a few weeks, the imam decided to visit him.

It was a chilly evening. The imam found the man alone at home, sitting before a blazing fire. Guessing the reason for his imam’s visit, the man welcomed him, led him to a comfortable chair near the fireplace…and waited.

The imam made himself at home but said nothing. In the grave silence, he contemplated the dance of the flames around the burning logs. After some minutes, the imam took the fire tongs, carefully picked up a brightly burning ember and placed it to one side of the hearth all alone, then he sat
back in his chair, still silent.

The host watched all this in quiet contemplation. As the one lone ember’s flame flickered and diminished, there was a momentary glow and then its fire was no more. Soon it was cold and dead.

Not a word had been spoken since the initial greeting. The imam glanced at his watch and realised it was time to leave. He slowly stood up, picked up the cold, dead ember and placed it back in the middle of the fire. Immediately it began to glow, once more with the light and warmth of the
burning coals around it.

As the imam reached the door to leave, his host said with a tear running down his cheek, ‘Shukran for your visit and especially for the firey sermon. I will be attending mosque again tomorrow starting with the Fajr Salaah, InshaAllah’.

Say, “This is my way; I invite to Allah with insight, I and those who follow me. And exalted is Allah ; and I am not of those who associate others with Him.” (Quran 12:108)

Our best Dawah (invitation to Islam) is our example. Our actions speak louder than words. We live in a world today, which tries to say too much with too little. Consequently, few listen. Sometimes the best bayaans (sermons) are the ones “given silently”.

[Ummati]

Rasul Allah SWS nay farmaya kay:

jiss shaks nay isha ki namaz jam'at kay saath ada karli to aadhi raat kay qayaam ka sawaab pa lia. aur jiss nay subha ki namaz bhi jam'at say ada kar li to poori raat jaagnay ibaadat karnayka sawaab haasil kar lia.

(Sahih Muslim)

[Tuaha]