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Mercy and Blessings are Revived by the Prophet`s Birth Anniversary
Author : His Grace Shiekh Abdulkareem Al-Khasawneh
Date Added : 09-10-2022

Mercy and Blessings are Revived by the Prophet`s Birth Anniversary

 

In Rabi` Al-Awal of every year, faith and mercy are revived by the Prophet`s birth anniversary indicating the Muslim nation`s connection with the Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) who came as mercy for all creatures. Its being the best nation evolved for mankind is by virtue of being attributed to the seal of the Prophets and Messengers (PBUT). 

From the very moment of his birth, blessings have spread in Makkah, then the area where Halima, who nursed him as an infant, lived, leading to the growth of their crops and their goats pouring milk. Her husband told her: "You have been blessed?" She replied: "By Allah, I hope so." Latter he was raised by his grandfather and uncle and Allah sent the verse (What means): "A. L. R. A Book which We have revealed unto thee, in order that thou mightiest lead mankind out of the depths of darkness into light - by the leave of their Lord - to the Way of (Him) the Exalted in power, worthy of all praise!- " [Ibrahim/1]. By this, the pillars of Islam were completed and the moderation, derived from the character of the Prophet (PBUH) and the Glorious Quran, was formed. Allah Says (What mean): "We sent thee not, but as a Mercy for all creatures." [Al-Anbiya`/107]. This is why this nation has been blessed from its establishment guiding people to the truth, enjoining kindness and forbidding iniquity, believing in Allah alone, and was sent by Allah to take people from the darkness of ignorance into the light of Islam. This theme is attested to in the words of Ibn Amir: "Allah has sent us to take whomever he pleases from worshipping people to worshipping the Lord of the people and from the injustice of religions to the justice of Islam." Here, the idea is that this nation is a blessed one, its goodness is settled and constant, it lights of faith are derived from the guidance of the Prophet (PBUH) and its goodness is embodied in following the commands of Allah  through celebrating good character, enjoining kindness, forbidding iniquity, and believing in Allah alone. Allah Says (What means): "Ye are the best of peoples, evolved for mankind, enjoining what is right, forbidding what is wrong, and believing in God." [Al-Imran/110]. 

In conclusion, the corner stone of the Muslim nation is the blessings that Allah has placed in it along with being related to the Prophet (PBUH), and this what brings this blessed anniversary to the forefront reminding people of this great blessing conferred upon them and the mercy that Allah has gifted them. This blessing is tantamount to the lantern that lights our path and reminds us of the significance of being connected to the Prophet through following his blessed guidance and approach.

 

 

 

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Summarized Fatawaa

What is the ruling on performing the Witr prayer as a single rak`ah?

Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our Master, the Messenger of Allah.
 
It is permissible to perform the Witr prayer as a single unit (rak‘ah). It was narrated from Ibn ‘Umar that a man asked the Messenger of Allah ﷺ about the night prayer, and the Messenger of Allah ﷺ replied: 'The night prayer is offered two by two (mathna mathna). If one of you fears the approach of dawn, let him pray a single rak‘ah to make what he has prayed odd-numbered (Witr) for him.' (Related by al-Bukhari & Muslim)). However, limiting the prayer to only one rak‘ah is considered 'contrary to the preferred way' (Khilaf al-Awla).
 
It is stated in Al-Minhaj al-Qawim Sharh al-Muqaddimah al-Hadramiyyah (p. 137): 'The minimum of Witr is one rak‘ah, but limiting it to that is contrary to what is best.'
 
The most complete form of Witr is eleven units, while the minimum level of 'perfection' is three units. It is stated in ‘Umdat al-Salik (p. 60): 'The minimum of Witr is one rak‘ah, and its maximum is eleven, performing the taslim (salutation) after every two units. The lowest level of perfection is three units with two separate taslims (meaning 2+1).' And Allah the Exalted knows best.

What is I‘tikaf, and how is it performed?

I‘tikaf is staying in the mosque with the intention of I‘tikaf. It is fulfilled by remaining in the mosque for a period that qualifies as devotion or seclusion (I‘tikaf). It is recommended (Sunnah) for anyone entering the mosque to intend I‘tikaf as long as they remain inside.

What is the ruling on a Friday sermon in which the khaṭīb did not explicitly exhort the congregation to be conscious of Allah (taqwā) in both sermons, but sufficed with commanding them to obey Allah and refrain from disobeying Him?

All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
For the Friday sermon (khuṭbat al-Jumʿah) to be valid, certain essential pillars (arkān) must be fulfilled. Among these is the exhortation to be conscious of Allah (waṣiyyah bi-taqwā Allāh), which must be present in both sermons. Alongside this pillar, the praising of Allah (ḥamdallah) and the sending of blessings upon the Messenger of Allah ﷺ are equally required.
Shaykh al-Islām Imām Ibn Ḥajar al-Haytamī, may Allah have mercy upon him, states: "These three are pillars in each of the two sermons, because each sermon is independent and separate from the other." [Tuḥfat al-Muḥtāj,Vol.4/P.447]
It is not a condition that the exhortation be expressed in any specific wording, nor is it required that the word "taqwā" itself be used — such as saying "I exhort you to be conscious of Allah." Rather, this pillar is fulfilled by any expression that contains a command to obey Allah the Almighty and to abstain from what He has prohibited.
Imām al-Khaṭīb al-Sharbīnī, may Allah have mercy upon him, states: "The third pillar is the exhortation to taqwā... The specific wording of this exhortation is not required, according to the most correct view, because the purpose is admonition and the urging of obedience to Allah the Almighty. Therefore, any expression that conveys admonition suffices — whether long or short — such as: 'Obey Allah and be ever mindful of Him.'" [Mughnī al-Muḥtāj,Vol.1/P.550]
Accordingly, what the khaṭīb has done — by commanding obedience to Allah and forbidding disobedience to Him in both sermons — is valid and sufficient. And Allah the Almighty knows best.

Is it obligatory to make up all missed prayers?

All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
Making up missed prayers (qaḍāʾ) is a sharʿī obligation, established by the practice of the Prophet ﷺ himself — when the disbelievers preoccupied him on the Day of the Trench and he missed the ʿAṣr prayer, he made it up afterward. This is further affirmed by the ḥadīth: "Fulfil what you owe to Allah, for Allah is most deserving of being fulfilled." (Reported by al-Bukhārī.)
Accordingly, a person who has missed prayers should set aside his voluntary and Sunnah prayers and replace them with make-up prayers in their stead. There is no objection to making up one missed prayer alongside each obligatory prayer that is performed — praying the equivalent missed prayer together with each current obligatory prayer as a practical and manageable way of gradually clearing one's debt of missed prayers. And Allah the Almighty knows best.