volume 1 issue 4 an introduction to islam september 2006maktabasalik.com/taaruf4.pdf · beautiful...
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Assalamu alaikum,
A l - h a m d u l i l l a h , here is the fourth issue of Ta’aruf.
Beside the emails with Dua and thank-ing me for this enewsletter, I re-ceive many email ad-dresses to be added for the subscription. Jazak Allah for the support to circulate the Ta’aruf.
Insha Allah in the next issue of Ta’a-ruf we will study about the month of Ramadan and ele-ments of Siyam (Fasting).
Your brother and friend, in need of your Dua.
Syed S. Z. Hashmi.
( MAKTABA-E-SALIK )
Email: [email protected]
A N I N T R O D U C T I O N T O I S L A M
TA’ARUF September 2006 Volume 1 Issue 4
MAKTABA-E-SALIK
Quranic Studies
In the above Aya and other places in The Holy Qur’an where succession of the night and day, ships which pass through sea, change of wind, rain, clouds and other things are mentioned the noteworthy feature of The Holy Qur’an is the emphasis that it lays on the observable aspect of reality.
The basis of the modern science and technology is the concep-tual knowledge and with this man approaches the observable aspect of reality. The immediate purpose of the Holy Qur’an in pointing out the observation of nature is to awaken the consciousness in man . The Holy Qur’an guides to observe the nature, life (itself), and history of civilizations to learn the meaning and purpose of placing His stead on earth. As it is mentioned in The Holy Qur’an:
Action without any direction is impossible. In above Aya 44:39 and in the next Aya 44:40 of Sura ad– Dukhaan it is mentioned:
(continued page 4)
A m o n t h l y e N e w s l e t t e r
[44:38] We created not the heavens, the earth, and all between them, merely in (idle) sport: [ 44:39] We created them not except for just ends: but most of them do not understand.
[ 2:30] Behold, thy Lord said to the angels: "I will create a vicegerent on
earth."
[ 44:39] We created them not except for just ends: but most of them do
not understand. [ 44:40] Verily the Day of sorting
out is the time appointed for all of them,
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MAKTABA-E-SALIK P a g e 2 T a ’ a r u f
H a d i t h / S u n n a h
There is a tradition that once The Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu alayhi wassalam) came to the mosque from his house and saw two groups of people there. One group was busy in Tasbehaat (rosaries) and the other group in learning. The Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu alayhi wassalam) said that even though both were engaged in good act but the group busy in learning was better and he joined the group busy in learn-ing. Another inspiring tradition of the Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu alayhi wassalam) is:
Seek knowledge even though it be in China (China: the farthest country in the east of Arabia. The idea is that distance is not be considered in pursuit of knowledge.) The Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu alayhi wassalam) was particularly conscious of the importance of education. Sooner after arrival in Madina, his first act was to con-struct a mosque. First in Quba and after he (sallallahu alayhi wassalam) moved to the terri-tory of Najjar, beside his house a part of mosque was reserved for educational pur-pose. This portion was called al-Suffa ( the platform). Al-Suffa was the first school as well a hostel by night for the students had no place to live. The scholars were partly dependent for their living on public gifts from the Prophet’s (sallallahu alayhi wassalam) house and from the families of the Companions of the Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu alayhi wassalam) Al-Suffa is still there in the mosque of the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wassalam) in Madina, Saudi Arabia. The importance of education was such that after the Battle of Badr, The Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu alayhi wassalam) did not demand ransom for the literate prisoners of war, each of them instead was asked to teach reading and writing to ten(10) Mus-lim children. This shows that to acquire knowledge from non-Muslims is permissible in Islam. We should not forget that the first Divine command to the Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu alayhi wassalam) refers to reading and pen.
96:1 Proclaim! (or read!) in the name of thy Lord and Cherisher, Who cre-ated- 96:2 Created man, out of a (mere) clot of congealed blood: 96:3 Proclaim! And thy Lord is Most Bountiful,- 96:4 He Who taught (the use of) the pen,- 96:5 Taught man that which he knew not.
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Allah (Subhan Wa Taala) is Rab- al-Alameen, who not only created us but directs all the events. He (Subhan Wa Taala) is the only one who determines every moment of stars in the universe, every state of living things on earth, the way one will live and what one will encounter with.
Understanding of manifold relations with God and the universe will tell the position of man he occupies in this life and focus on the Day of judgment can only teach the conduct that will benefit. Then, we can share the deeper aspirations of the universe and shape our own destiny. That is what The Holy Qur’an says in beautiful verses of Sura aal-Imraan:
P a g e 4 T a ’ a r u f
from page 1 Quranic Studies.
MAKTABA-E-SALIK
[3:191] Men who celebrate the praises of Allah, stand-ing, sitting, and lying down on their sides, and contem-plate the (wonders of) crea-tion in the heavens and the earth, (With the thought): "Our Lord! not for naught Hast Thou created (all) this! Glory to Thee! Give us sal-vation from the penalty of the Fire. [3:192] "Our Lord! any whom Thou dost admit to the Fire, Truly Thou cover-est with shame, and never will wrong-doers Find any helpers! [3:193] "Our Lord! we have heard the call of one calling (Us) to Faith, 'Believe ye in the Lord,' and we have believed. Our Lord! Forgive us our sins, blot out from us our iniquities, and take to Thyself our souls in the company of the righteous.
20:25 (Moses) said:"O my Lord! expand me my breast; 20:26 "Ease my task for me; 20:27 "And remove the impediment from my speech, 20:28 "So they may understand what I say: ( Sura TAHA: 25-28)
Month of Sha'ban Shaban is the 8th month in the Islamic calendar
and is considered one of the meritorious months for which we find particular instructions in the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu alayhi wassalam). It is reported that Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu alayhi was-salam), used to fast most of the month in Shaban except the last few days of the month. The Prophet mentioned in a hadith, "Rajab is the month of Allah, Shaban is my month and Ramadan is the month of the Nation".
Ummul Mu'mineen 'Aishah (r), says, "Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu alayhi wassalam), used to fast for most of Shaban. I said to him, 'Messenger of Allah, is Shaban your favorite month for fasting?' He said, 'In this month Allah prescribes the list of the persons dying this year. Therefore, I like that my death comes when I am in a state of fasting.' "
Fasting in the month of Shaban, though not obligatory but is very deserving and that Prophet Mu-hammad (sallallahu alayhi wassalam) did not like to miss it.
Traditions of Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu alayhi wassalam), show that the night occurring between 14th and 15th day of Shaban is a meritorious night in which the people of the earth are attended by special Divine Mercy. On the Night of 15th Shaban, after Maghrib or Isha prayer it is traditional practice to read Surah Yasin and make special supplications for good health, protec-tion from calamities and increased Iman. According to tradition this night has special blessings that are di-rected towards the faithful. Therefore, as much as possi-ble, this night should be spent in worship and total sub-mission to Allah Almighty. Also, fasting is recom-mended on the day immediately following this Night, i.e. the 15th day of Shaban.
Supplication: