Islamic Revival

We plan to serialise some sections from the draft translation of   الجامع لأحكام الصيام ‘Al-Jami li Ahkam as-Siyam’ (A complete guide of the rules of fasting) by Sheikh Abu Iyas Mahmoud bin Abdul Latif al-Uweida this Ramadhan, please note this is a draft translation so please overlook errors.  Introduction All praise is to Allah (swt) Lord of the worlds, Ar-Rahman Ar-Raheem, the Owner of the Day of Judgment and prayers and peace are upon the Messenger of Allah who was sent as a mercy to all mankind. May Allah’s prayers and peace be on him and on his family and companions. This is a book about the laws of fasting which I have named ‘Al Jaami’u li Ahkaam As Siyaam’ (A complete guide to the rules of fasting). It has been written as a follow up to the book ‘Al Jaami’u li Ahkaam As Salaah’ (A complete guide to the rules of prayer). I have followed the same methodology in this book. From the beginning of ‘Ahkaam at Tahaarah’ (rules of purification) I have followed and ...

Part 5: “Angels send Blessings on those who Fast” – Imam al-`Izz Ibn `Abd Al-Salam *** “And He – upon him be peace – said:  ‘The Angels impart salutations on those who are fasting when food is eaten in front of them until they finish.’ [1]  As for the angels imparting salutations on the one who is fasting when food is eaten in front of them, their refraining from eating food even when it is in front of them shows considerable restraint [s: and control] of their  nafs . Therefore, they are fully deserving of the angels’ salutations upon them. The reference to the salutations of the angels ( salatuhum ) is an expression meaning their supplications of mercy and forgiveness for those fasting ( du`a’uhum lahu bi ’l-rahma wa ’l-maghfira )…” [2] Notes : Fasting has immense merit and excellence. Celestial beings are involved by imploring Allah for mercy and forgiveness on behalf of those fasting. The reward of Angels imparting salutations is on account of restraini...

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم Acceptance of the Geneva document is an undeniable stain of disgrace and an unforgettable betrayal of spilled blood and violated honour A meeting held in Geneva on Saturday 30/6/2012 included the permanent members of the UN Security Council, Turkey, Iraq, Kuwait and Qatar, along with Kofi Annan, the joint envoy of the Arab League and the United Nations. This was alongside the Secretary General of the Arab League, the Secretary General of the UN, and the European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. The meeting aimed to discuss political settlement with the tyrant of Syria by forming a joint interim government with the criminal ruling regime and the (official) opposition! This was preceded by a meeting in St. Petersburg in Russia, between U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and her opposite number, the Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, to agree a transition stage in Syria. They said they had agreed, in St. P...

Part 4: “Fasting Elevates the Rank” – Imam al-`Izz Ibn `Abd Al-Salam *** “Fasting has many benefits: [ fawa’id ; s: one of them is] elevating of rank [...] and this is based on his – Allah bless him and grant him peace – saying:  ‘when Ramadan arrives, the doors of Paradise are flung open, the doors of Hellfire are bolted shut and the devils are all shackled’ [1]  [...] as for the doors of Paradise being opened, this is an expression for positive acts of worship being increased which causes the doors of Paradise being opened. The doors of Hellfire being shut is an expression in disobedience being reduced as a consequence of the doors being shut. The devils being chained up is an expression of their whisperings being cut off from influencing those who are fasting because they feel no desire or temptation to respond to commit acts of disobedience…” [2] Notes : Fasting in Ramadan brings with it an explicit gesture of Allah’s Mercy which is not worded so for other act...

SHAYKH `ATA IBN KHALIL (Allah preserve him) TAFSIR  of SURAT AL-BAQARA:  THE NOBLE VERSE OF FASTING   Allah states in the Qur’an: { O believers! Fasting has been mad obligatory for you just as it was made obligatory for those before you so that you may attain  taqwa  [Q. 2:183-187] } Notes of Shaykh `Ata’s  tafsir  of the noble verse : The verse establishes the obligation to fast but not the number of days or what month. [1] { ya ayyuha’lladhin amanu : ‘o believers’; grammatically it is the vocative address, referring to the Muslim  umma  as a whole. [2] The evidence for the obligation of fasting from the verse : Shaykh `Ata’ writes: “As for why the verse establishes the obligatory nature of fasting, it is because of the following: [1] { Fasting has been  written / prescribed  ( kutiba  ` alaykum ) for you [Q. 2:183] }. This is an informative statement that denotes a request ( talab ), i.e. ‘fast!’ [2] the...

Part 3: “Fasting repels Sinful Thoughts” – Imam al-`Izz Ibn `Abd Al-Salam *** “As for fasting repelling sinful thoughts and bad behaviour, this is because if the  nafs  [s: appetites, lower self; ego-soul] is gratified or satiated, it inclines towards and directs itself to disobedience as well as bad behaviour. If it is made to feel hungry or thirsty, it will long for food and drink. The inclinations and desires of the  nafs  towards spirituality and to busy it with that is better than its inclination towards and desire for disobedience and lapsing into sin. This is why some of the  Salaf  preferred fasting over the other acts of worship. One was asked about that and he replied: ‘because I would prefer Allah looking at my  nafs  while it is in conflict with me over food and hunger than when it is in conflict with me over disobedience to Him [after] having been satiated…” [1] قدم بعض السلف الصوم على سائر العبادات فسُئل عن ذلك فقال: لأن ...

بِسْمِ اللّهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ Question:  Kindly give us an overview about the political reality of Myanmar (Burma) and the reasons for the terrible persecution of Muslims there, as well as the regional and international stances towards it, with thanks and appreciation. Answer:  Below is an overview of what is necessary regarding this issue. 1- The population of this country is more than 50 million, including around 20% Muslims who are concentrated in the capital city of Rangoon, the city of Mandalay and the province of Arakan. 70% of the inhabitants are Buddhists and the rest embrace Hinduism, Christianity and other religions. Burma, however, recognizes only a tiny 4% of the Muslims and considers the remaining Muslims as foreigners. Consequently, it works to expel them and neither grants them the country's nationality nor does it recognizes any rights for them. Hence, they are exposed to attacks by Buddhists, with the support of the government machinery to the e...