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I wish to end this chapter with a story related by the author of ‘Ithaaf’.

Once one of the mureeds of Sheikh Shilbi; the great saint; came to visit him after having performed Haj. The Sheikh asked him some questions. The mureed continues the story:

The Sheikh asked me: “Did you make a determined niyah for Haj?”

I replied: “Yes I made a firm intention for performing Haj.”

Sheikh: “Together with having made a firm intention for Haj; did you also have a firm niyah of forever giving up doing all those things you did since you were born that are opposed to the spirit of Haj?”  Read more... (1287 words, estimated 5:09 mins reading time)

An elderly Arab lady was sitting alone at the trunk of a tree and Abdullah bin Mubarak also happened to pass that way. Seeing this lady in distress, he spoke to her. The discussion is recorded as follows:

Abdullah bin Mubarak: Asalamu alaykum wa Rahmatullah.

The lady: The word from a merciful Lord is peace [Ya Sin 36/58]. She meant that the reply of salaam is from Allah, Most High, Himself. She said further: Those whom Allah sendeth astray, there is no guide for them. [Araaf 7/186]. She meant that she had lost her way.  Read more... (1132 words, estimated 4:32 mins reading time)

Hazrat Ibn Shimaastah R.A. reports we were present around Hazrat Amr Ibn al-Aas R.A. before he passed away. He cried for a long time and then related the story of his embracing Islam. He said: “When Allah caused Islam to enter my heart, I came to Rasulullah Sal’am and said: ‘O messenger of Allah, put forth your hand that I may swear allegiance. ‘When Rasulullah Sal’am stretched forth his hand, I withheld mine. Rasulullah Sal’am inquired: “What troubles you ‘O Amr?” I said: I went to make a condition that Allah shall forgive my previous sins”. Rasulullah Sal’am replied: ‘O Amr, do you then not know that Islam washes away all sins committed in disbelief, and that the Hijrat (migration) washes away all sins committed before Hajj?”  Read more... (410 words, estimated 1:38 mins reading time)

This includes overbearing the weak, the male slave, the female slave, the wife and the beast. Allah, the Almighty ordered us to deal in kindness towards these varieties. He said,

{Serve Allah and join not any partners with Him, and do good to parents, kinsfolk, orphans, those in need, neighbors who are of kin, neighbors who are strangers, the companion by your side, the way-fairer( ye meet) and what your right hands possess: for Allah loveth not the arrogant, the vainglorious} (An-Nisa’: 36)

Concerning Allah’s saying,

{Serve Allah, and join not any partners with Him}  Read more... (2801 words, estimated 11:12 mins reading time)

A few Ahadith have been mentioned to serve as an example. We will now mention
the sayings of the companions of Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam in order
to illustrate the importance they attached to the offering of salaat with
jama’at, and how they regarded the abandoning of jama’at. Why should they not
regard it like this? Who can be more cautious in obeying and seeking the
pleasure of Rasulullah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam than them?  Read more... (1152 words, estimated 4:36 mins reading time)

1. Makruh is that act with which salaat does not break
but the reward diminishes and it is sinful.

2. It is makruh to play with one’s clothing, body,
jewellery, or to remove pebbles. However, if one cannot make sajdah
because of the pebbles, he could move them once or twice with his hands.

3. It is makruh to do the following in salaat: to
crack one’s fingers, to rest one’s hands on one’s hips, to turn one’s head and
look to the left or right. However, if one looks at something by glancing
sideways without turning one’s head, then this is not makruh. However, to
do this without any real need is also not good.  Read more... (1468 words, estimated 5:52 mins reading time)