Articles

Qualities that Allah Loves
Author : Dr. Hassan Abu_Arqoub
Date Added : 28-09-2022

Qualities that Allah Loves

 

Allah has shown us some qualities that He loves: Tawbah (Repentance, Taqwa (Piety), Ihsan (Goodness & Perfection), Taharah (Purification), and Jihad in the way of Allah.

What is the secret behind Allah`s love for these qualities?

Tawbah (Repentance) is returning to Allah, abandoning sins, showing deep sorrow and regret for committing them, and determining not to commit them again. Undoubtedly, choosing to abandon whatever distances one from the path of Allah indicates that one loves Allah and Allah loves them back. He The Almighty Says: "For God loves those who turn to Him constantly." [Al-Baqarah/222].

Taqwa (Piety) is when a person distances himself or herself from the punishment of Allah by eschewing sins because they incur His wrath. Undoubtedly, one who is keen on offering acts of obedience and avoiding acts of disobedience loves Allah and is loved by Him. He The Almighty Says (What means): "Nay.- Those that keep their plighted faith and act aright,-verily God loves those who act aright." [Al-Imran/76].

Ehsan (Goodness & Perfection) is to worship Allah as if you see Him and if you don`t achieve this state of devotion, then take it for granted Allah sees you. Someone of this state and rank must have the love of Allah settled in his/her heart and that Allah loves him/her back. Allah The Almighty (What means): "And spend of your substance in the cause of God, and make not your own hands contribute to (your) destruction; but do good; for God loveth those who do good." [Al-Baqarah/195]. 

Taharah (Purification) is both external and internal; visible and invisible. External purity refers to removing filth and impurities. Internal purity refers to cleansing one`s heart from envy, hatred, and arrogance. Therefore, keenness on purifying one`s-self from these internal and external impurities indicates that such person loves Allah and is loved by Him. He The Almighty Says (What means): "He loves those who keep themselves pure and clean…." [Al-Baqarah, 222].

As for Jihad in the way of Allah, the person makes the ultimate sacrifice for the sake of Allah The Almighty. Moreover, preserving unity of the Muslim nation harnesses whims as well as prioritizes public interest. However, all of this stems from having the love of Allah in one`s heart and being loved by Him. Allah The Almighty Says (What means): "Truly God loves those who fight in His Cause in battle array, as if they were a solid cemented structure." [As-Saf/4].

Enjoying these qualities retains Allah`s love for his servants. However, it isn`t easy to reach this rank. Rather, one has to fight ego and exercise patience. One way to achieve this is by keeping the company of those who enjoy these qualities for one is known by the company he/she keeps. This is reflected in the verse, whereas Allah, The Most Exalted Says (What means): "And keep thy soul content with those who call on their Lord morning and evening, seeking His Face; and let not thine eyes pass beyond them, seeking the pomp and glitter of this Life; no obey any whose heart We have permitted to neglect the remembrance of Us, one who follows his own desires, whose case has gone beyond all bounds.:" [Al-Kahf/28].

In conclusion, we Ask Allah for forgiveness and well-being in this world and the next.  

 

The published article reflects the opinion of its author

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Summarized Fatawaa

What is the ruling of Islamic Law regarding one who slaughters a ewe and it turns out to have been pregnant, and is it permissible to slaughter the ewe if one knows it is pregnant?

Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings upon our master, the Messenger of Allah.
If a person slaughters a ewe and it turns out to have been pregnant, the fetus becomes lawful (ḥalāl) by virtue of its mother's slaughter (tabaʿan li-ummihā).
It is stated in Mughnī al-Muḥtāj (Vol.6/P.158): "A fetus found dead [after the mother's slaughter], or found alive but in a state resembling that of a slaughtered animal [i.e., dying shortly after], becomes lawful — whether or not it had grown fur — provided it is found in the womb of a mother that was lawfully slaughtered, whether her slaughter was by cutting the throat, or by an arrow or hunting dog sent after her. This is based on the ḥadīth: 'The slaughtering of the fetus is [effected by] the slaughtering of its mother' [narrated by al-Tirmidhī, who graded it ḥasan, and by Ibn Ḥibbān, who graded it ṣaḥīḥ] — meaning that the slaughter which rendered the mother lawful renders the fetus lawful as well, by virtue of following her; and because the fetus is one of her constituent parts, and her slaughter renders lawful all of her parts."
This ruling differs, however, from the case of one who knows from the outset that the ewe is pregnant [and intends to sacrifice her specifically as the udḥiyah while pregnant] — in which case, according to the Shāfi'ī school, she does not fulfill the requirement of a valid sacrifice.
It is stated in Ḥāshiyat al-Bujayrimī 'alā al-Khaṭīb (Vol.4/P.335): "A pregnant animal does not fulfill the requirement [of a valid sacrifice], and this is the authoritative position (al-mu'tamad), because pregnancy diminishes the quality of the meat. As for why such an animal is nevertheless counted as complete [i.e., fully valid] in matters of zakāh, that is because the intent there is reproduction (nasl), not the quality of the meat.". And Allah, the Most High, knows best.

Do pregnant and breastfeeding women have to fast?

Pregnant and breastfeeding women are required to fast. However, if fasting causes them harm or unusual hardship, they may break their fast but must make up for the missed days later.
If they break their fast solely out of fear for the fetus or the child, then they must both make up the fast and give fidyah (feeding a needy person for each missed day), as the benefit of breaking the fast was only for the child.

What is the semi-circular structure attached to the Holy Kabah?

The semi-circular structure attached to the Holy Kabah is Hijr Al-Kabah (is a low wall originally part of the Kabah) and passing behind it is an obligation while making Tawaf because it is a part of the Holy Kabah. And Allah Knows Best.

What is the ruling of Islamic Law regarding one who purchases a sacrificial animal (uḍḥiyah) and it then develops a defect before slaughter?

Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings upon our master, the Messenger of Allah.
If a defect that invalidates the sacrifice (uḍḥiyah) arises after its purchase — for example, if one purchased a sound, defect-free animal, and it then developed a limp, blindness in one eye, or a similar defect before slaughter — it does not fulfill the requirement of a valid uḍḥiyah, according to the Shāfi'ī school.
It is stated in Asnā al-Maṭālib fī Sharḥ Rawḍ al-Ṭālib (Vol.1/P.535): "Even if the limp develops [in the animal] while the knife is upon it, it still does not fulfill the requirement, because it is lame at the moment of slaughter — this is analogous to a case where a sheep's leg breaks and one hastens to slaughter it [in that condition]."
The Ḥanbalī school, however, held that if the one offering the sacrifice purchased the animal while it was sound and defect-free, and a defect then befell it afterward, the sacrifice remains valid and there is no obligation to replace it.
It is stated in Masā'il al-Imām Aḥmad, one of the Ḥanbalī reference works (Vol.8/P.4021): "I said: If a person purchases the sacrificial animal while it is sound, and it is then afflicted with illness, blindness in one eye, or a broken limb [before slaughter]? He [Imam Aḥmad] said: It is said that it still fulfills the requirement. Isḥāq said likewise, because he purchased it while sound, and the defect befell it only afterward, so it remains sufficient on his behalf." [End of quote]
Accordingly, a sheep afflicted with a defect that invalidates the sacrifice does not fulfill the requirement of a valid uḍḥiyah — whether the defect arose after purchase or during the slaughter itself — according to the Shāfi'ī school. However, there is no objection to following the Ḥanbalī position on this matter [as a valid alternative]. And Allah, the Most High, knows best.