عربي
Home


Articles

Articles

Teacher of Goodness
Author : An Article by His Grace Dr. Mohammad Al-Khalayleh
Date Added : 07-11-2019

Teacher of the Goodness 

 

 

Praise be to the Lord of all worlds. Prayers and peace be upon our Prophet, Muhammad, his family and all of his companions.

 

Allah the Almighty has sent His Prophets (PBUT) to take human beings out of the darkness of ignorance into the light of knowledge and guide them to all that is good in this life and the next. He The Almighty Says (What means): "And before thee also the apostles We sent were but men, to whom We granted inspiration: if ye realise this not, ask of those who possess the Message." [An-Nahl/43].

 

Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) was the seal of all Prophets and Messengers. As humanity was in a state of ignorance and manifest error, Allah sent him as a teacher and a guide to the truth and the straight path. With knowledge and faith, he (PBUH) watered the seed of goodness instilled in society and abolished the concepts and convictions that led it to ignorance and backwardness.  Allah The Almighty Says (What means): "It is He Who has sent amongst the Unlettered an apostle from among themselves, to rehearse to them His Signs, to sanctify them, and to instruct them in Scripture and Wisdom,- although they had been, before, in manifest error;" [Al-jumu`ah/2].

 

He (PBUH) was the best to carry the message of education and work for building a new nation guided by the light of knowledge and insight. His efforts have paid off for he (PBUH) managed to make it literate. This is reflected in the fact that first Surah that was revealed to Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) in Mecca at cave of Hira (The name of the cave located in Mecca) located at Mountain Jabal Al-Nour was Al-Alaq, which reads as follows: "Proclaim! (Or read!) in the name of thy Lord and Cherisher, Who created-Created man, out of a (mere) clot of congealed blood: Proclaim! And thy Lord is Most Bountiful,- He Who taught (the use of) the pen,- Taught man that which he knew not." [Al-Alaq/1-5].

 

It wasn`t easy for him to accomplish this difficult mission for life isn`t a bed of roses. It is difficult to raise a generation equipped with knowledge and faith particularly when ignorance is driven by personal interest and tribalism, which dominated that society. As a result, he (PBUH) was exposed to many forms of materialistic and non-materialistic resistance embodied in carrot-stick practices. His response to Quraish was decisive where he said to his uncle Abu Talib: "O my uncle! by God if they put the sun in my right hand and the moon in my left on condition that I abandon this course, until God has made me victorious, or I perish therein, I would not abandon it."

 

The Prophet (PBUH) has elevated the status of knowledge and the learned. He said: "The learned are the heirs of the Prophets who bequeath neither dinar nor dirham but only that of knowledge; and he who acquires it, has in fact acquired an abundant portion." [At-Tirmidhi]. This is because the learned are the corner stone for the advancement of the nation. They understand clearly the truth about the Prophet`s message and its teachings, which lead to reforming self by believing in Allah the Almighty and trusting that He will bless it with success. It also leads to building civilization and achieving progress in light of adhering to the injunctions of Allah The Almighty in everything. Allah Says (What means): "Those truly fear God, among His Servants, who have knowledge: for God is Exalted in Might, Oft-Forgiving." [Fatir/28].

 

He (PBUH) was the role model in teaching goodness. He was a source of guidance and inspiration. His character was the Quran. He practiced everything that he preached. He was an embodiment of the message; all of the verses of grace, ethics, and beauty were embodied in his example. He also established the values of truth and justice. His whole life was a practical valuable lesson to humanity. He was merciful, truthful, honest, polite and kind. He passed advice with wisdom and fair exhortation. He (PBUH) said: "God did not send me to be harsh, or cause harm, but He has sent me to teach and make things easy." [Moslim]. Moreover, Mu'awiya B. Al-Hakam said: "While I was praying with the Messenger of Allah (PBUH), a man in the company sneezed. I said: Allah have mercy on you! The people stared at me with disapproving looks, so I said: Woe be upon me, why is it that you stare at me? They began to strike their hands on their thighs, and when I saw them urging me to observe silence, (I became angry) but I said nothing. When the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) had said the prayer (and I declare that neither before him nor after him have I seen a leader who gave better instruction than he for whom I would give my father and mother as ransom). I swear that he did not scold, beat or revile me but said: Talking to persons is not fitting during the prayer, for it consists of glorifying Allah, declaring his Greatness. and recitation of the Qur'an or words to that effect….." [Moslim].

 

He also taught us the etiquette of giving rights and claiming them. This is reflected in the story of the infuriated man who took the Prophet by the shirt and said to him: "Give me my right, O Mohammad." Omar wanted to kill him for that, but the Prophet told him: "O, Omar! You should have ordered him to collect well and ordered me to pay back well."

 

Finally, his message has paid off. It produced a generation that managed to elevate the Muslim nation to the vanguard of international procession. Allah The Almighty Says (What means): "Say: "Are those equal, those who know and those who do not know?" [Az-Zumar/9]. Our nation used the intellect to conquer hearts and minds.  Its kind treatment to people from different races, backgrounds and affiliations constitutes a valuable lesson to humanity. It didn`t celebrate oppressing others or transgressing against them. Rather, it is all about collecting well and paying back well. Moreover, the Muslim nation has the capacity to continue the message of the Prophet (PBUH), adhere to his guidance and methodology as well as preserve his legacy. We are proud to have millions of learned men who pave the way for a brighter future to our nation and children. And all praise be to Allah The Lord of The Worlds.

 

Article Number [ Previous | Next ]

Read for Author




Comments


Captcha


Warning: this window is not dedicated to receive religious questions, but to comment on topics published for the benefit of the site administrators—and not for publication. We are pleased to receive religious questions in the section "Send Your Question". So we apologize to readers for not answering any questions through this window of "Comments" for the sake of work organization. Thank you.




Summarized Fatawaa

What is the ruling on offering a sheep as a sacrifice (Udhiyah) if its fat-tail is sound, except that when it was young, the tip of its fat-tail was cut so that it would grow larger? And what is the ruling in case of doubt regarding the amount that was cut?

 
In the Name of Allah, and may peace and blessings be upon our Master, the Messenger of Allah.
 
Cutting a minor, insignificant portion from the tip of an animal's fat-tail (al-alyah) to encourage it to grow larger is not considered a defect, and it does not prevent the animal from being valid for sacrifice (Udhiyah).
 
It is stated in Tuhfat al-Muhtaj (Vol.9/P.352): "There is some scholarly deliberation regarding the common practice of cutting the tip of the fat-tail so that it grows larger. It could potentially be likened to a partial cut of the ear—supported by the jurists' general rule: 'even if it is a small amount.' On the other hand, if it is an exceptionally minor cut, it might have no effect on validity. This is explicitly clarified by the juristic exception to the general rule, which states that cutting a tiny piece from a large limb causes no harm. This latter view is more well-founded.
 
Furthermore, I found that some scholars investigated this matter and concluded: 'It should not affect validity if a custom-sanctioned portion of its fat-tail is removed during its youth to make it grow larger and look better, just as castrating a male animal causes no harm.' However, applying this unconditionally contradicts the established texts of the jurists, as understood from what I have laid out; thus, the restriction I specified is what must be relied upon."
 
Similarly, it is mentioned in Nihayat al-Muhtaj (8/135): "If a small piece is cut from the fat-tail to help it grow larger, the most well-founded view is that the sacrifice remains valid, as was given in a formal legal verdict (Fatwa) by my father [Shihab al-Din al-Ramli], may Allah be pleased with him. This is proven by the jurists' maxim: 'The loss of a tiny piece from a large limb causes no harm.'"
 
In cases where there is doubt as to whether the portion cut was large or small, the animal is still deemed valid for sacrifice. It is noted in Hashiyat al-Shubramallisi ‘ala Nihayat al-Muhtaj (Vol.8/P.135):
 
"This matter requires careful consideration, but the closer and more correct view is that it is valid. This is because soundness is the default state for the animal from which the piece was cut, and it aligns with what usually occurs—namely, that the part removed to help the fat-tail grow larger is naturally very small." And Allah the Almighty Knows Best.

How do I deal with whispers (waswasa) in ablution and purification?

Whispers in ablution are from Satan, and the Muslim should not pay attention to them. He is not required to re-perform ablution or repeat washing a limb because of waswasa. He should always base his purification on its being valid. It is recommended for him to frequently say "La ilaha illa Allah" (There is no god but Allah), because Satan recoils when Allah is mentioned. And Allah the Almighty knows best.

In the Sharia-compliant viewing  at a prospective bride (*al-naẓrah al-sharʿiyyah*), is it permissible for the man to see the woman without a veil (*ḥijāb*)?

All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master, the Messenger of Allah.
It is sunnah for the suitor to see the woman he is seeking to marry within the limits the Sharīʿah permits, namely looking at the face and the hands (palms and backs), based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): “Look at her, for it is more likely to bring about harmony between you.” Narrated by al-Tirmidhī.
The suitor may also ask one of the women to look at the woman he is seeking to marry. In that case, she is permitted to see of her what she is normally permitted to see, which is not limited to the face and hands, and she then describes these matters to the suitor. It is narrated on the authority of Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) sent Umm Sulaym to look at a girl, and said: “Smell her breath, and look at her heels.” Narrated by Aḥmad in his Musnad.
It is stated in Tuḥfat al-Muḥtāj (Vol.7/p.192): “For one who cannot easily look, or does not wish to look himself, it is sunnah to send someone who is permitted to look at her, to observe her and describe her to him, even regarding what he himself is not permitted to look at. He thereby gains through the sending what he would not gain through looking. Because of the added need for this, it is excepted from the prohibition of a woman describing another woman to a man.”
The permissibility of looking is conditional upon his resolve to marry her once he is able to, his predominant assumption that his proposal will be accepted, and his assumption that the woman is free of marriage and of a waiting period (ʿiddah). Otherwise, looking is forbidden.
Accordingly, it is not permissible for the suitor to look at anything other than the face and hands. He may ask one of his maḥram women, such as his mother or sister, to see the woman unveiled, and the Sharia-compliant viewing (of a prospective bride) must take place in the presence of one of the woman’s maḥrams. And Allah Almighty knows best.

What is the ruling of Islamic Law on kissing while fasting?

All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
It is prohibitively disliked (makrūh taḥrīman) for a husband to engage in foreplay with or kiss his wife during the daylight hours of Ramaḍān if doing so stirs his desire. If pre-seminal fluid (madhī) is released as a result, the fast is not invalidated; however, if seminal fluid (manī) is released, the fast is broken.
Imām al-Khaṭīb al-Sharbīnī, may Allah have mercy upon him, stated: "It is prohibitively disliked to kiss — whether on the mouth or elsewhere — for one whose desire is stirred, whether man or woman, to the extent that he fears it may lead to intercourse or ejaculation. Embracing, touching, and similar acts without a barrier carry the same ruling as kissing in this regard, because such acts expose the act of worship to being corrupted — and as the two Ṣaḥīḥs record: 'Whoever circles around a protected boundary is liable to fall into it.'"
He further added: "It is preferable for one whose desire is not stirred — even if he is a young man — to refrain from such acts as well, so as to close the door entirely. For he may believe his desire has not been aroused when in fact it has. Moreover, it is Sunnah for the fasting person to abstain from all desires without exception." — Summarised with minor adaptation from [Mughnī al-Muḥtāj]. And Allah the Almighty knows best.

See More