Wealth Can be a Curse

Wealth can be a curse in the light of the story of Qaroon in the Holy Qur'an, if:

1. If one feels that he has earned it because of his own efforts, knowledge and capabilities and not because of the favour of Allah (swt) on him

2. It makes a person self indulgent.

3. It leads to show off and makes a person arrogant.

4. It is acquired by exploiting others.

5. It is not spent on doing good to the needy.

6. It is spent to make mischief in the land.

"O Allah, I seek refuge with Allah from laziness and senility, sins and debts and from the trial of the grave and the punishment of the grave, and from the trial of the Fire and the punishment of the Fire, and from the evil of the trial of wealth. I seek refuge with You from the trial of poverty and I seek refuge with You from the trial of the False Messiah. O Allah, wash my errors from me with snow and hail. Cleanse my heart of errors as You cleanse the white garment of filth. Put a great distance between me and my errors as You put a distance between the east and the west." (Bukhari:6007)

To know more, refer Surah Al-Qasas: 76-83

Difference between a Nabi(Prophet) and a Rasool (Messenger)

A Nabi (Prophet) is one to whom Allaah reveals something, and he passes on what Allah has revealed to him. If he is sent with that to those who go against the commandments of Allah, to convey a message from Allah to them, then he is a Rasool(Messenger). But if he follows a Sharee’ah that came before him, and is not himself sent to anyone to convey the message from Allaah to them, then he is a Prophet and not a Messenger.

-Ibn Tayymiyah

Hadith and Sunnah

The term Hadith is used to denote a saying, act or tacit approval, validly or invalidly, ascribed to the Prophet (saw).
The Muhadditheen (experts in the science of Hadith criticism) also use the term Taqrir for tacit approval. It means that, in the presence of the Prophet (saw), a believer did something, which the Prophet (saw) noticed but did not disapprove or condemn. Thus, the act done by a believer acquired tacit approval from the Prophet (saw).

Literally the word sunnah means clear, well trodden, busy and plain surfaced road.
The word sunnah in this context denotes the practice of the Prophet (saw) that he taught and practically instituted as a teacher of the sharī‘ah and the best exemplar. This practice is to be adhered to in fulfilling the divine injunctions, carrying out religious rites and moulding life in accord with the will of God. This duty, as the Qur’ān states, was a part of the responsibility of the Prophet (saw) as a Messenger of God:

لَقَدْ مَنَّ اللَّهُ عَلَى الْمُؤْمِنِينَ إِذْ بَعَثَ فِيهِمْ رَسُولًا مِنْ أَنْفُسِهِمْ يَتْلُو عَلَيْهِمْ آيَاتِهِ وَيُزَكِّيهِمْ وَيُعَلِّمُهُمُ الْكِتَابَ وَالْحِكْمَةَ وَإِنْ كَانُوا مِنْ قَبْلُ لَفِي ضَلَالٍ مُبِينٍ
Verily Allah has shown grace to the believers by sending to them a messenger of their own who recites to them His verses, and purifies them, and teaches them the law and the wisdom; although before his advent they were in manifest error. (Aale Imran:164)

لَقَدْ كَانَ لَكُمْ فِي رَسُولِ اللَّهِ أُسْوَةٌ حَسَنَةٌ لِمَنْ كَانَ يَرْجُو اللَّهَ وَالْيَوْمَ الْآخِرَ وَذَكَرَ اللَّهَ كَثِيرًا
You have indeed in the life of the Messenger of Allah the best example; for those who expect meeting Allah and the Last Day and remember Him much. (Al-Ahzaab:21)

The Prophet (saw) set the best example for us in every aspect of life. He not only taught us all religious injunctions and etiquette – that we need to learn and adopt – but also showed us the practice of how to follow and carry them out.

-Maulana Amin Ahsan Islahi in Mabadi Tadabbur-e-Hadith

To understand more about the Hadith, Types of Hadith, Sunnah, visit:
http://www.monthly-renaissance.com/issue/content.aspx?id=1228

Qur'an: A Mirror

Qur'an is a Book of Law, a Constitution but at the same time it is also a mirror. The way in which a person can see his whole image in the mirror, whatever may be the stage of life he is in, the same holds true for the Holy Qu'ran.It is also a mirror. It is not that we have devised this word, it is mentioned in the Holy Qur'an.Allah says in Surah Al-Anbiya in Ayat No. 10 :

لَقَدْ أَنْزَلْنَا إِلَيْكُمْ كِتَابًا فِيهِ ذِكْرُكُمْ

"We have revealed for you (O men!) a book in which is a Message for you."

A Book which tells about your own self, a Book in which you can see your own image.

The people who stand up as the Reformers(Musliheen) in the society are identified by two attributes in the light of the Holy Qur'an:

وَالَّذِينَ يُمَسِّكُونَ بِالْكِتَابِ وَأَقَامُوا الصَّلَاةَ إِنَّا لَا نُضِيعُ أَجْرَ الْمُصْلِحِينَ

"As to those who hold fast by the Book and establish regular prayer;― never shall We suffer the reward of the righteous to perish." (Al-A'raaf:170)

1. They hold fast to the book.

2. They establish regular prayer.

The claim of Building the society and implementing social reforms is one thing but the successful implementation is altogether a different story. Successful implementation can only take palce if the people who have taken up this task possess the qualities mentioned above, otherwise, it would just be a hollow claim which Qur'an describes in following words:

قَالُوا إِنَّمَا نَحْنُ مُصْلِحُون۔ أَلا إِنَّہُمْ ہُمُ الْمُفْسِدُونَ وَلَکِن لاَّ یَشْعُرُون۔َ

"They say: "Why, we only want to make peace!"Of a surety, they are the ones who make mischief, but they realize (it) not." (Al-Baqarah:11-12 )

-Translated from Dr. Hasan Raza's interview published in Rafeeq-e-Manzil(May-2011). To read the complete article in Urdu, please visit:

http://rafeeq-e-manzil.sio-india.com/

Perequisites of Gaining Quranic Treasures

Rejoice you must, in the mercy and blessing and generosity of Allah. Seek you must, for the treasures that await your search herein. But the Qur'an opens its doors only to those who knock with a sense of yearning, a sincerity of purpose and an exclusive attention that befit its importance and majesty. And only those are allowed to gather its treasures, while they walk through it, who are prepared to abandon themselves completely to its guidance and do their utmost to absorb it.

The Qur'an's blessings are limitless, but the measure of your taking from it depends entirely upon the capacity and the suitability of the receptacle you bring to it. So, at the very outset, make yourself more deeply aware of what the Qur'an means to you and what it demands of you; and make a solemn determination to recite the Qur'an in an appropriate manner, so that you may be counted among 'Those whom We have given the Book, they recite it as it ought to be recited; it is they who believe in it' (al-Baqarah 2: 121).

-Khurram Murad in Way to the Qur'an

To read the complete book, visit:

http://www.sunnipath.com/Library/Books/B0039P0002.aspx

Four Sacred Months

In the name of Allah, The Most Gracious, The Most Merciful

"Verily, the number of months with Allaah is twelve months (in a year), so was it ordained by Allaah on the Day when He created the heavens and the earth; of them four are Sacred (i.e. the 1st, the 7th, the 11th and the 12th months of the Islamic calendar). That is the right religion, so wrong not yourselves therein" (Tawbah 9:36)

ثَلَاثَةٌ مُتَوَالِيَاتٌ: ذُو الْقَعْدَةِ وَذُو الْحِجَّةِ وَالْمُحَرَّمُ وَرَجَبُ مُضَرَ الَّذِي بَيْنَ جُمَادَى وَشَعْبَان
The Prophet said regarding the four sacred months, "Three are in succession; Dhul-Qa`dah, Dhul-Hijjah and Muharram, and (the fourth is) Rajab of (the tribe of) Mudar which comes between Jumada (Ath-Thani) and Sha`ban. (Al Bukhaari (4662) and Muslim (1679): Narrated from Abu Bakrah (may Allaah be pleased with him))
The Prophet said "Rajab of Mudar'' to attest to the custom of Mudar, in saying that Rajab is the month that is between Jumada and Sha`ban, not as the tribe of Rabi`ah thought, that it is between Sha`ban and Shawwal, which is Ramadan in the present calendar.
The four Sacred Months were made four, three in succession and one alone, so that the Hajj and `Umrah are performed with ease.

• Dhul-Qa`dah, the month before the Hajj month, was made sacred because tribes refrained from fighting during that month and people start to travel for Hajj.


• Dhul-Hijjah, the next month, was made sacred because it is the month of Hajj, during which Hajj rituals are performed.


• Muharram, which comes next, was made sacred so that people are able to go back to their areas in safety after performing Hajj.


• Rajab, in the middle of the lunar year, was made sacred so that those coming from the farthest areas of Arabia are able to perform `Umrah and visit the House of Allah and then go back to their areas safely.

Me'raj (Holy Ascension) of the Prophet Muhammad(saw))

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

Exalted is He who took His Servant by night from al-Masjid al-Haram to al-Masjid al- Aqsa, whose surroundings We have blessed, to show him of Our signs. Indeed, He is the Hearing, the Seeing. (Surah Al-Isra:1)

By the Star when it goes down. Your Companion is neither astray nor being misled. Nor does he say (aught) of (his own) Desire. It is no less than inspiration sent down to him: He was taught by one mighty in Power, Endued with Wisdom: For he appeared (in stately form). While he was in the highest part of the horizon: Then he approached and came closer, And was at a distance of but two bow-lengths or (even) nearer; So did (Allah) convey the inspiration to His Servant - (conveyed) what He (meant) to convey. The (Prophet's) (mind and) heart in no way falsified that which he saw. Will ye then dispute with him concerning what he saw? Near the Lote-tree beyond which none may pass: Near it is the Garden of Abode. Behold, the Lote-tree was shrouded (in mystery unspeakable!). (His) sight never swerved, nor did it go wrong! For truly did he see, of the Signs of his Lord, the Greatest! (Al-Najm: 1-18)

At an age of fifty two, probably on 27th Rajab, before the year of the Hijrah (migration) from which the Muslim calendar began, the Prophet’s Meraj or ascension took place; This was an important milestone in the life of Prophet Muhammad, PBUH, and also a highly significant reminder to us of the special gift from Allah of the minimum five-times daily prayers.

a) On that day, Allah, swt, honored prophet Muhammad, PBUH, by transporting him to the heavens and showing him a panorama of the cosmos, where Allah also tutored him in various sciences.

b) On that day, Prophet Muhammad was mandated that Muslims should pray a minimum of five-times daily salat, reduced from the original 50 times.

c) On that day, an important conversation took place between Allah, swt, and Prophet Muhammad, PBUH, which is rehearsed many times daily by millions of Muslims all over the world, soon after they sit down after the second prostration (sajdah) to recite the tashahhud (Declaration of Faith), also called A-tahiyyat (greetings), because Prophet Muhammad, PBUH, brought greetings to Allah, swt, on behalf of himself and also on behalf of his followers.

To know in detail, please read the below document:

http://www.prophetmuhammadforall.org/webfiles/downloads/urdu/safarnama.pdf