Safar 2nd Islamic month

Incorrect beliefs regarding the blessed month of Safar:

Safar al-Muzaffar is the second month of the Islamic calendar. Literal meaning of Safar is empty. During this month the houses used to be empty and deserted because the ban on going to war in the month of Muharram came to an end, thus everyone proceeded towards the battlefield.

Many people have improper beliefs regarding this month i.e. it is a month of misfortune and calamities. The teachings of Allah Ta'ala and His Most Beloved Rasool SallAllahu Alaihi wasallam give us clear guidelines on such incorrect beliefs. Allah Ta'ala says in the Holy Qur'an:

"No misfortune befalls except by Allah’s command..." [Surah Tagabun, Verse 11]

These beliefs have also been condemned in the several Ahadith:

"There is no superstitious owl, bird, no star-promising rain, no bad omen in the month of Safar". (Sahih Bukhari)

"There is no bad omen in the month of Safar and no Ghouls (evil spirits)". (Sahih Muslim)

"The descending of illness and evil superstition befalling in the month of Safar is untrue." [Sahih Muslim]

These incorrect beliefs flow from the pre-Islamic period of Jahiliyyah [Days of Ignorance]. With the advent of Islam and the teachings of Sayyadina Rasoolullah (SallAllaho Alaihi wa Sallam), all evil and incorrect beliefs common in pre-Islamic times were discarded.

Unfortunately today too, there are some Muslims who hold incorrect beliefs regarding the month of Safar:

1. A nikah performed in this month would not be successful.

2. This month is full of misfortune and calamities.

3. To commence any important task during this month will bring bad luck.

4. The first to the thirteenth of Safar is ill-fortune and evil, etc

5. The person who distributes food or money on the 13th of Safar will be saved from its ill-fortune.

6. To celebrate the last Wednesday of Safar and regard it as a holiday.

As true Muslims, we must stop all types of incorrect beliefs regarding the blessed month of Safar. We must understand that all conditions which fall on us, good or bad, are from Allah Ta'ala, (as a result of our actions). May Allah Ta'ala increase our understanding of our Deen and keep us on the straight path. Aameen

The Qadiri Treasures

The Qadiri Treasures, Explained
by Huzoor Mufassire Azam Hind Ibrahim Raza Khan Rahmatullahalaih

Huzur Ghawth al Azam Sheikh Abdul Qadir Al Jilani RadiAllahuanhu has commanded his Mureedeen to recite the five treasures of the Qadiri Order after each Salah 100 times. By adding the Blessed name of Allah Almighty it completes its astounding benefits; 

1.YAA AZEEZU YAA ALLAH (O All Mighty, O Allah) after Fajr Salah

2.YAA KAREEMU YAA ALLAH (O Ever Generous, O Allah ) after Zuhr Salah

3.YAA JABBAARU YAA ALLAH (O All Compelling, O Allah ) after Asr Salah

4.YAA SATTAARU YAA ALLAH (O Coverer of faults, O Allah ) after Maghrib Salah

5.YAA GHAFFAARU YAA ALLAH (O All Forgiving, O Allah ) after Isha Salah.

Men of extreme spiritual wisdom know very well, the secrets these particular supplications hold and what benefits the timing of these supplications hold.
My habit is one of summarising so I will present a brief summary below;

1.YAA AZEEZU has been commanded to us, to read after the Fajr prayer, this is due to the commencing of the day, one is preoccupied in fulfilling his worldly chores and will come into contact with friends and enemies. 

Ya Azeez means O. Almighty, The Strong, Dignified and Powerful.
By reciting this attribute one will overcome all problems and will gain honour, dignity and respect, especially when faced with difficult situations.
Without doubt one who remembers Allah Almighty is honourable and overcomes his adversaries .

2.YAA KAREEMU has been commanded to us to read, after the Zuhr Salah. The rule is that flowers open their buds in the evening and spread their fragrance throughout the night and wither in the afternoon, therefore to recite this attribute at this time, one has great hope of increasing ones sustenance.

3.YAA JABBAARU is to be read after the Asr Salah, it is from the Asmaae Jalaaliyyah (very powerful). The time of Asr is when iblees calls a meeting on the surface of the ocean with great pride and show, where all the shayaateen gather to discuss ways in which to deceive and destroy mankind. Every Human has an individual shaytaan who attends this meeting and it is here, where it is decided between the shayateen, that you will do this, and I will do that.
Therefore this is the time to remember Allah Almighty with this name so that his wrath be on these shayateen and his protection be on us from their mischief.

4.YAA SATTAARU is to be read after Maghrib Salah, once the sun has set, and darkness sets. This is the time when animals of prey, snakes, thieves, robbers and other harms are out and about. Calamities and catastrophes swirl around in the darkness, hence the meaning of reciting this supplication is to call on the Almighty to protect and safeguard us from all these dangers. Furthermore mankind tends to commit more sins during the night, which is why one should seek his protection at the beginning of the night so that we are veiled from this and we remain steadfast . 

5. YAA GHAFAARU is to be read after Isha Salah, the sins committed by mankind during the day for which he is punishable, The Mercy of Allah Almighty prevents the Kiraaman Kaatibeen ( Honourable recorders ) from recording these until one goes to sleep without repenting and asking for forgiveness.
If one asks for forgiveness and repents for his sins before sleeping i.e by reciting Yaa Ghafaaru Allah Almighty will erase these from his book of bad deeds.

This is also one of the reasons we have been instructed to avoid worldly conversation after the Isha Prayer, and also to delay Isha for a part of the night is better so that one can sleep immediately after performing Isha Salah.

The benefits of repenting cannot be described. It is stated in a Hadith Shareef the one who repents after sinning, it is like he has not committed that sin at all. ( Sunan ibn Maajah ,Sunan albayhaqi alkubra )
In another Hadith Shareef it is stated, glad tidings be for one who finds plenty of istighfaar in his book of deeds .(Ibn Maaajah ,baabul istighfaar )

In Surah Nooh
“I therefore told them, ‘Seek forgiveness from your Lord; He is indeed Most Forgiving.

‘He will send down abundant rain for you from the sky.’

‘And will aid you with wealth and sons, and will create gardens for you and cause rivers to flow for you.’
[Verse;10,11 & 12]

Sayyiduna Huzaifa RadiAllahuanhu once presented his ailment of his tongue, in the Blessed court of the Most Beloved ﷺ which wasn't being cured by medicines, to which The Most Belovedﷺ prescribed Istighfaar.

Imaam Ul Aarifeen Sayyiduna Hassan Basri RadiAllahuanhu was approached by a group of people at the time of famine, to which the great Imam prescribed Repentance in abundance, one complained of difficulty with finances and daily life, to which he again prescribed repentance with abundance. Another complained regarding his crops withering and dying and his orchards drying up to which he was also given the wazifa of repentance. After this, the final questioner asked regarding him not having any children he also was given the wazifa of repenting and begging for forgiveness, due to istighfar all these people were successful in their needs.

Taken from Fadaaile Durood Shareef by The blessed Grandson of Alahadrat Azeemul Barakat Imam Ahmed Rida Khan Rahmatullahalaih
Huzur Mufassire Azam Hind
Hazrat Ibrahim Rida Khan Rahmatullahalaih.

SUNNAH OF QURBANI

Qurbani is a worship with goods and is Wajib (necessary) upon every rich person. To sacrifice a specific animal on a specific day for the sake of Allah (The Exalted) for the intention to gain reward is called a Qurbani. Qurbani is Wajib upon every Muslim who is not a traveller and is the owner of Nisaab and is a free person.

★ Just as Qurbani is Wajib upon all males it is also Wajib upon all females. (Durr-e-Mukhtar, etc)

★ Qurbani is not Wajib upon a traveller, however, if he wishes to perform it voluntarily, then he can do so and will gain reward. (ibid)

★ The owner of Nisaab means to have as much goods in addition to the basic necessities an amount of two hundred Dirhams (approx. £400-£500 and is always changing). (Durr-e-Mukhtar, Alamgiri, etc.)

TIME OF QURBANI

★ The time of Qurbani is from the break of dawn of the 10th of Dhul Hajj to sunset on the 12th of Dhul Hajj, meaning three days and two nights. However, it is better to perform it in the morning of the 10th, then 11th, then 12th.

★ If the Qurbani is performed in a city then the condition is that it is performed after the ‘Eid Salaah and because there is no ‘Eid Salaah in villages and outskirts then it can be performed after the break of dawn.

★ It is necessary to perform Qurbani at the time of Qurbani, therefore, if that much money or the same amount of goods to the value of an animal is given then the responsibility of Qurbani will not be fulfilled. (Alamgiri etc.)

★ If the time of Qurbani has passed then a Qurbani can no longer be performed and if you had purchased an animal for Qurbani then give it as Sadaqa (charity) or give the amount of money equivalent to the
value of a goat as Sadaqa. (Durr-e-Mukhtar, Alamgiri, etc.)

RULES OF QURBANI

★ Once the conditions of Qurbani are fulfilled (as mentioned above), then to sacrifice one goat or sheep or lamb or one seventh of a camel, cow, buffalo is Wajib and no less than this can be performed.

★ If a person’s share of a large animal is less than one seventh then their share of the Qurbani will not count (meaning, if eight people  are jointly sacrificing one large animal then only seven of these people’s Qurbani will count).

★ If there are less than seven people jointly performing Qurbani and the parts divided are equal to at least one seventh per person then the Qurbani will count.

★ Every person that is jointly performing Qurbani have to make the intention that they are doing it to gain reward and not just to gain the meat and therefore a person wanting to perform an Aqiqah can also
join in as this is done to gain reward. (Radd-ul-Mohtar).

RULES OF MEAT AND THE SKIN

★  If the animal is bought jointly then the meat should be weighed and equally distributed. It should not be divided roughly because if it is divided un-equally then even if the person receiving less forgives them it will not be forgiven as the right is as per Shariat. (ibid Bahar)

★ Then split your share into three parts and give one third to the poor as Sadaqa, one third to your relatives and one third for yourself and eat the meat yourself and give some to your wife and children. If you have a lot of children and a large family then you can keep all the meat for yourself and if you so wish you can give all of it to Sadaqa, however, it is better to keep one part of yourself.

★ If you have performed a Qurbani on behalf of a deceased person then the rule of the meat is the same, however, if the deceased had requested for the Qurbani then give all the meat away as Sadaqa.

★ If the Qurbani is from a deceased person then the meat cannot be eaten by yourself nor can it be given to a rich person, but it is Wajib to give all the meat away as Sadaqa. (Bahar)

★ It is Mustahab for the person performing the Qurbani to eat the Qurbani meat as the first food of the day. (Barraur-Raiq)

★ The meat of the Qurbani should not be given to infidels.

★ The animal’s skin, reins, saddle etc. should all be given in Sadaqa.

★ You can use the skin for yourself and make something out of it e.g. a leather bag or a mat for praying Namaz on. However, you cannot sell the skin and use the money for yourself, if this is done then the money has to be given as Sadaqa.  (Durr-e-Mukhtar, Radd-ul-Mohtar)

★ Nowadays people usually give the skins to Madressas, this is allowed and if you sell the skin with the intention to give the money to the Madressas then this is also allowed.
(Alamgiri, Bahar-e-Shariat )

★ The meat of the Qurbani cannot be given to the person performing the Qurbani or skinning the animal as labour or salary. If however, you give it as a gift as you would do to friends then this is acceptable, but you cannot include it as a form of payment for his work.
(Hidaya etc.)

★ There are many places where the skin is given to the Imam. This should not be given as part of his salary but can be given as a gift or assistance.
(Bahar-e-Shariat)

WHICH ANIMALS CAN BE USED FOR QURBANI

★ Animals for Qurbani - Camel, cow, buffalo, goat, ewe (male or female), eunuch, and large eunuch can all be used for Qurbani. (Alamgiri)

★ Wild animals such as deer, white antelope, and reindeer cannot be used to perform Qurbani.

★ A sheep or lamb is included in the eunuch category.

AGE OF of A QURBANI ANIMAL

★ A camel must be at least five years old; a buffalo must be at least two years old and a sheep or lamb or goat at least a year old. If they are younger than this then the Qurbani will not count. However, if a lamb or a eunuch’s young is so big at six months that by looking at it from a distance it looks to be a year old then it can be used for
Qurbani. ( Durr-e-Mukhtar)

What should a Qurbani Animal be like?

★ A Qurbani animal should be big and healthy and should not have any faults. If there is a small fault with the animal then the Qurbani will count but is Makrooh and if there is a big fault then the Qurbani will not count. (Durr-e-Mukhtar, Radd-ul-Mohtar, Alamgiri)

★ If a bull has no horns from birth then it is allowed and if the horns have been broken upto the root then it is not allowed to use it for Qurbani and if they are a little broken then it is allowed. (Alamgiri, etc.)

★ A blind, lame, cross-eyed, mad, cut-ears, cut-tailed, teethless, cut-teats, dried teats, cut nosed, deaf from birth, a hermaphrodite (where an animal’s both sexual organ’s exist), an animal that only
eats impurities then all of these animals cannot be used for Qurbani.
(Durr-e-Mukhtar, Bahar)

★ If the illness is small and the lameness is not that bad so that the animal can walk upto the slaughter-house or the ears, nose etc. are less than a third cut then the animal can be used for Qurbani. (ibid
Hidaya, Alamgiri)

★ If when performing the Qurbani the animal jumped and shook and due to this it became faulty then there is no harm. (Durr-e-Mukhtar, Radd-ul-Mohtar)

★ If you performed a Qurbani and found that there is a live born inside then that should also be slaughtered and can be made use of, and if the young inside is dead then it should be thrown away.
(Bahar-e-Shariat)

If after purchasing and before the Qurbani the animal give birth then the new-born should also be slaughtered and if it is sold then the money should be given away as Sadaqa and if it is not slaughtered before the Qurbani then give it away live as Sadaqa. (Alamgiri, Bahar)

NOTICE: Just look at our master and king the Prophet Muhammad Mustafa’s (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) big heart and concern that he made a Qurbani on behalf of his Ummah and thought of us, therefore, if a Muslim can then they should perform an additional Qurbani on behalf of the Holy Prophet then it would be a very good and fortunate act. (Bahar-e-Shariat)

What are major sins and minor sins

Question:     What is Gunah Kabiraha and what are they and what is Gunah Saghira and what are they? ............................................................................

Answer:     There are various Traditions about the Major Sins (Gunah Kabira).  Those sins, which are normally included in Major Sins are the following: 1.  Shirk- making someone or something a partner to Allah Most High. 2.  Killing somebody without a valid reason. 3.  Leaving any Fardh (Obligation) of Allah Most High like Salaat or fast. 4.  Using wine or any other intoxicant. 5.  Adultery. 6.  Theft or stealing. 7.  Magic. 8.  Oppressing someone. 9.  Lies. 10. Accepting bribes 11. Taking, giving or making someone give usury 12. Short weighing (weighing less than the actual weight) 13. Embezzling the money of an orphan. 14. Breaking a trust. 15. Hiding the true evidence and giving false evidence. 16. Taking a false oath to prove right as wrong or wrong as right. 17. Disobeying parents or hurting them. 18. Gambling. 19. Accusing a virtuous, chaste woman of adultery. 20. Homosexuality. 21. Insisting on a minor sin or considering it small. Imam Ibn Hajar Haitami (May Allah shower His Mercy on him) has enumerated 467 Major Sins in Az Zawajir.  One more opinion is that every sin is minor when compared to the one before it and is Major when compared to the one after it.  Going on committing a minor sin or taking it lightly is also a major sin. Apart from Major sins, all other sins are minor sins.