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14. SLEEPING ONLY WHEN NECESSARY. SLEEPING IN THE STATE OF TAHARAH (CLEANLINESS) AND READING THE APPROPRIATE DUAS

Many of those entrapped in this evil habit feel a strong urge to practice it when they retire and prepare to sleep, especially after having eaten excessively. Therefore, it is necessary that such youth should not retire to bed unless there is a real need to sleep. They should sleep in the state of tahârah on their right-hand sides. The du’as for sleeping which are reported from Nabi (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) should be read. Evilthoughts should be dispelled by reading Subhaanallah, La ilaha illallah, Lahawla walá quwata illa billah, the recitation of the Qurân or listening to it until sleep overpowers one.  Read more... (1167 words, estimated 4:40 mins reading time)

8. READING THE INCIDENTS OF THE AMBIYA AND THE PIOUS

Amongst those things which help man control his desires is to read and ponder over the incidents of our pious predecessors – how they controlled their desires and realised the presence of Allah Ta’ala. Consider, for example, the incident of the Nabi of Allah, Yousuf (alayhis salaam). It is an amazing and strange incident. All the means and requirements of temptation which had not gathered for anyone before, gathered for Yousuf (alayhis salaam) . He was an extremely handsome young unmarried slave. She (Zuleikha) was a lady of beauty and dignity. Yousuf (alayhis salaam) was living in her house, etc. Despite all this Yousuf (alayhis salaam) preferred the Pleasure and Fear of Allah Ta’ala over all these temptations. He chose the prison instead of fornication. Allah Ta’ala says: “He (Yousuf alaihis salâm) said: “The prison is more beloved to me than that towards which they call me.” (Sura Yousuf, ayah 33)  Read more... (546 words, estimated 2:11 mins reading time)

6. STRUGGLING AGAINST EVIL INCLINATIONS, THOUGHTS AND DESIRES

It is known that actions are originally thoughts which occur in the mind. These thoughts then turn into desires. Thereafter, these desires become firm intentions and, finally, these firm intentions are transformed into actions. From this you could conclude the importance of thoughts. If there is correctness of thoughts, then desires and actions will be correct and, similarly, if there is corruption in thoughts, then this will lead to evil desires and actions. According to the Hadith Sharif, Allah Ta’ala overlooks thoughts as long as these thoughts are not given practical expression.  Read more... (1344 words, estimated 5:23 mins reading time)

In the same way that there are obligatory (fardh) salaats, which must be, said at specific times and some voluntary (nafl) salaats for the devoted to present himself in Allah’s presence when he so desires. There is a specific time when it is compulsory to present himself at the Home of Allah for Haj and also a time when in a voluntary manner he may perform some of the acts which are also performed in Haj by performing umrah. Apart form five days (when it is makrooh from the 9th to 13th Zil Haj) umrah may be performed at any time during the year.  Read more... (414 words, estimated 1:39 mins reading time)

At the time of leaving Madina, offer two Rak’ats of Prayers in Masjid-e-Nabavi and then pay a Salam in front of the sacred Mausoleum and pray to Allah that He may render your return journey easy for you and take you to your family in peace and safety. He may guard you against the evils of both the worlds and make you lucky enough to be present again in Madina. He may not render this presence of yours as your last presence.

“(And Allah’s help is sought and He is trusted in, and the end of our invocation is “All praise to Allah the cherisher and sustainer of the worlds).”

Now on the way from Mina to Makkah your staying for a while at the place of Muhassab is Sunnat. Nowadays, the conveyance of Motor Lorries is not usually in one’s own control. It is therefore very difficult to stay anywhere on the way. As such, there is no harm if due to this helplessness one does not stay at Muhassab (Zaubda).  Read more... (242 words, estimated 58 secs reading time)

In the state of Ihram the following practices are inadmissible and unlawful:

(1) For males, wearing stitched or knitted clothes of the shape of one’s body, such as shirt, trousers, underwear, Achken and coat etc. There is no harm to have stitched patching to the ‘Ihram sheets as well as sewing of the loin in the middle. A sewn money-purse or belt is also an exception.

(2) To cover head and face for males.

(3) To apply any kind of scent to body or clothes; to used perfumed soap, to eat odoriferous tobacco. To smell any sweet smelling flower or fruit intentionally is also Makroh (undesirable). Unintentional feeling of any smell has however no significance.  Read more... (201 words, estimated 48 secs reading time)

The ban on pictures of animate objects (people and animals) is stated with great emphasis in many highly authentic Ahaadith. The authenticity of these Ahaadith has never been questioned by anyone, not even by those who propagate the permissibility of pictures. These people (who believe in the permissibility of television, cable, etc.) make their best endeavors to interpret away the prohibition. But all their interpretations are baseless and no Muslim of intelligence who is not intoxicated by his nafs will find sense in the interpretations to legalize the prohibition of pictures of animate objects.  Read more... (3168 words, estimated 12:40 mins reading time)

(1) The Saum of Ramadhan is Fardh. One who denies the fardhiyat (being Fardh) of the Saum of Ramadhan becomes a kaafir while one who accepts its fardhiyat but neglects its observance is described as a Fassiq.

(2) The Saum of Ramadhan commences when the sighting of the Ramadhan hilal (crescent moon) has been confirmed in accordance with the rules of the Shariah.  Read more... (1572 words, estimated 6:17 mins reading time)

Iyaadat (Visiting the sick) is an act of high merit. Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) said that if a person visits the sick in the morning, 70,000 Malaaikah (Angels) supplicate on his behalf (make Dua of Maghfirah for him), until the evening, and if one visits the sick during the evening, then the same process is repeated by 70,000 Angels.

In another Hadith, it is mentioned that after visiting the sick, one emerges purified of sins as one was on the day of one’s birth. While the thawaab of visiting the sick is considerable, — it is an act encouraged by Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) — it should be understood that Iyaadat too has aadaab (etiquettes and rules) which have to be incumbently observed.  Read more... (339 words, estimated 1:21 mins reading time)