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Showing posts from January, 2006

The significance of Muharram and ‘Ashoora

The following is a transcript of a talk delivered on this subject: The day of ‘Ashoora is approaching us on the tenth of the month of Muharram. This sacred month of Muharram is a blessed and important month for the Muslims. It is the first month of the Hijri calendar, and is one of the four sacred months concerning which Allah (swt) says in Surah al-Tawbah: “Verily, the number of months with Allah is twelve months (in a year), so it was ordained by Allah on the Day when He created the heavens and the earth; of them, four are sacred. That is the right religion, so wrong not yourselves therein…” [TMQ al-Tawbah: 36] In this ayah, Allah says, “so wrong not yourselves therein…” means do not wrong yourselves in these sacred months, because sin in these months is worse than in other months. It was reported that Ibn ‘Abbas (ra) said that this phrase, “so wrong not yourselves therein…” referred to all the months, then these four were singled out and made sacred, so that sin in these months is m

The importance of seeking knowledge

The following is a transcript of a talk delivered on this subject: The Prophet (saw) said: "Seeking knowledge is an obligation upon every Muslim" Today unfortunately we see many Muslims who when it comes to their education, work or even entertainment they would gain a lot of knowledge regarding these areas, however when it comes to the Deen they have very little. Indeed the Prophet (saw) mentioned this time: Hazzam bin Hakeem narrated from his uncle from the Messenger of Allah (SAW) who said: “You are in a time of many jurisprudents (fuqaha), few speakers, many who give and few who ask; so action in this time is better than knowledge. There will soon come a time of few jurisprudents, many speakers, many who beg and few who give; so knowledge in this time is better than action.” What type of knowledge is Fard ul Ayn? Firstly, It is obligatory upon us all to believe in Islam definitively without a doubt and therefore this knowledge must be known to us. This is the kno

The Evidences for Ijtihad

Extract from my upcoming book, 'Ijtihad & Appying Islam in the 21st Century': The Messenger’s approval of Sahabas ijtihad in his age: The Sahabah (ra) used to make ijtihad in the time of the Messenger of Allah (saw) and differ in their deduction of ahkaams and the Messenger (saw) accepted this. This can be seen in the following incidents: 1- Bukhari narrated from Aisha that when the Prophet (saw) returned from the battle of khandaq (ditch) and laid down his arms and took a bath. Jibrail came and said “You have laid down your arms? By Allah, we angels have not laid them down yet. So set out for them.” The Messenger (saw) asked, “where to go?” so Jibrail pointed towards Banu Quraiza. The Prophet (saw) instructed the mu`azzin to give azan and so he announced to the people: “Whosoever hears and obeys he should not pray Asr except in Bani Qurayzah.” So they headed towards the fortresses of Bani Qurayzah, however they had different understandings of what the Messenger (saw) had s

The need for Ijtihad in every age

Allah (swt) addressed the whole of mankind through the Prophethood of our master Muhammad (saw). He (swt) said: “Say (O Muhammad (saw)): “O mankind! Verily I am sent to you all as the Messenger of Allah…”’ [TMQ 7:158] And He (swt) said: “O mankind! Verily, there has come to you a convincing proof (Muhammad [saw]) from your Lord” [TMQ 4:174] And He (swt) said: “O mankind! Verily, there has come to you the Messenger (Muhammad [saw]) with the truth from your Lord.” [TMQ 4:170] And He (swt) addressed the people and the Muslims with the Ahkam of Islam. He (swt) said: “O mankind! Fear your Lord and be dutiful to Him! Verily, the earthquake of the Hour (of judgment) is a terrible thing.” [TMQ 22:1] He (swt) said: “O mankind! Be dutiful to your Lord, Who created you from a single person...” [TMQ 4:1] He (swt) said: “O you who believe! Fight those of the disbelievers who are close to you, and let them find harshness in you…” [TMQ 9:123] And He (swt) said: “O you who believe! Approach n