Allah's Messengers and Prophets

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Raihan - 25 Rasul

Allah states in the Holy Qur`ān,


"And We did not send any Messenger before you (O Muhammad SAW) but We revealed to him (saying): Lâ ilâha illa Ana [none has the right to be worshipped but I (Allâh)], so worship Me (Alone and none else)." [Al-Anbiyaa'(21):25]


It is our belief that Allah has sent a prophet to every nation and not necessarily to every generation. Allah has mentioned in the Qur'an,


"And verily, We have sent among every Ummah (community, nation) a Messenger (proclaiming): "Worship Allâh (Alone), and avoid (or keep away from) Tâghût[] (all false deities, etc. i.e. do not worship Tâghût besides Allâh)." Then of them were some whom Allâh guided and of them were some upon whom the straying was justified. So travel through the land and see what was the end of those who denied (the truth). "[An-Nahl(16):36]

"Verily! We have sent you with the truth, a bearer of glad tidings, and a warner. And there never was a nation but a warner had passed among them." [Al-Fatir(35):24]

As for the exact number of prophets the Prophet (ṣaw) was asked by Abu Dharr (ra), "O Messenger of Allah! What was the total number of prophets?" the Prophet (ṣaw) replied, "124,000 and from amongst them 315 messengers".

The difference between a prophet and a messenger, is that a messenger is a prophet to whom Allah reveals a new book or law, and orders them to propagate their new law. Whereas a prophet would merely upholds the law and scriptures of previous messengers.

Therefore all messengers are prophets but not all prophets are messengers.


About other prophets and messengers Allah said, "We have told you the story of some Messengers and of others We have not …" (al-Nisa' 4:164)

Allah alone has knowlege of true number and names of messengers and prophets chosen by Him. Allah's guidance to mankind began with Adam (peace be upon him) and was completed with Muhammad (peace be upon him).

In the Quran, Allah SWT has mentioned the twenty-five most prominent messengers and prophets by name:

Adam (Adam)
Idris (Enoch)
Nuh (Noah)
Hud
Salih (Salih)
Ibraheem (Abraham)
Isma'el (Ishmael)
Is'haque (Isaac)
Lut (Lot)
Ya'quob (Jacob)
Yusuf (Joseph)
Shu'aib
Ayyub (Job)
Musa (Moses)
Haroon (Aron)
Dhul-kifl (Ezekiel)
Dawud (David)
Sulaiman (Solomon)
Ilias (Elias)
Al-Yasa (Elisha)
Yunus (Jonah)
Zakariyya (Zechariah)
Yahya (John)
Isa (Jesus, the Messiah (Christ) of Israel)
Muhammad (Ahmad)
peace be upon them all.

Why Does Allah SWT Test Us.

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A Timely Reminder.

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Allah tests His believing servants with various types of crises and disasters in order to:


1) Reveal the Patient from the Impatient:


“And certainly, We shall test you with a bit of fear, hunger, loss of wealth, lives and fruits. But give glad tidings to the patient ones who, when afflicted with a calamity, say: “Truly! To Allah we belong and truly, to Him we shall return.” They are those upon whom are the blessings, descend from their Lord, and they receive His Mercy, and it is they who are guided.” (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:155-157)


“And among mankind is he who worships Allah as if he were upon the very edge (i.e. in doubt); if good befalls him, he is content with it;. But if a trial befalls him, he turns back on his face. He loses both this World and the Hereafter. That is the evident loss.”(Surah al-Haj 22:11)

“So, it is a must for the souls to be nurtured by way of tests, and to be severely tested during the course of the battle between truth and falsehood with fear and hardship, and with hunger and decrease in wealth and life and fruits.

This testing is a necessity so that the believer can give his share of what his belief requires; so that it becomes dear to him in accordance with that he gives for its sake of sacrifice and burden; so that it becomes dear to him in accordance with what he is willing to give for its sake!

The bearers of worthless beliefs that do not require any type of sacrifice will not hesitate to abandon their beliefs at the first sign of hardship. So, the burden here is the personal price that one pays so that this belief becomes dear and valuable in the hearts of its bearers before it becomes dear to the hearts of anyone else.

Whenever they experience pain for its sake, and every single time they are forced to give something up for its sake, it becomes even dearer and more valuable to them, and they become even more honored with it.

With this, nobody else will realize its value until they see how its bearers are tested because of it and how patient they are upon such tests.”



2) Remove Our Sins and Reward the Righteous:


“And, when he was old enough to walk with him, he said: “O my son! I have seen in a dream that I am slaughtering you, so what do you think?” He said: “O my father! Do that which you are commanded, if Allah Wills, you will find me to be of the patient.” Then, when they had both submitted, and he had laid him prostrate on his forehead, and We called out to him: “O Ibrahim! You have fulfilled the dream!” Verily! Such do We reward the good-doers.” (Surah as-Saffat :102-7)


Sa’ad bin Abi Waqqas reported that he asked the Messenger of Allah (SAW): “Which of the people are tested most severely?”

Rasulullah (SAW) replied: “The Prophets, then the righteous, then those who are most like them, then those who are most like them from the people. A man is tested according to his religious commitment. So, if his religious practice is sound, then his testing is increased, and if his religious practice is weak, then his testing is reduced. A servant continues to be tested until he walks the Earth without a single sin on him.”
(Ahmad, Tirmidhi)



3) Purify the Ranks and Distinguish the Righteous from the Wicked:


“Allah will not leave the believers in the state in which you are now until He distinguishes the wicked from the good.” (Surah Al ‘Imrân 3:179)


“And when the believers saw the Confederates, they said: “This is what Allah and His Messenger had promised us, and Allah and His Messenger had spoken the truth,” and it only added to their faith and submissiveness.” (Surah Ahzaab 33:22)


“Allah might make easy the affairs of the people of evil so that they may increase in sin and corruption, and so that they might increase in their buildup of sins and crimes. Then, he may deal with them in this World or the Hereafter – depending on His Wisdom and Decision – on account of this sinister buildup of deeds!

On the other hand, He may also prevent them from ease so that they would increase in evil and sin and crimes and suffocation, eventually losing hope in the Mercy of Allah, resulting in an increase in their buildup of evil and misguidance.

Likewise, Allah can make easy the affairs of the people of good so that they may become established in their righteous actions and carry out as much of them as they can while increasing in their sustenance, so that they may thank Him for these blessings with their hearts, tongues, and pleasant actions. With all of this, they increase in a buildup of good deeds that they rightfully deserve with Allah because of their righteousness and because of the good that Allah Knows is in their hearts.

On the other hand, He may also prevent them from ease in order to observe their patience upon this state, as well as their confidence and hope in their Lord, their relaxation at the realization of His Power, their being pleased with Him as their only Lord – and He is better than all others – resulting in an increase in their buildup of good.”



4) Emphasize the Hardships of This World in Comparison to the Hereafter:


“Blessed is He in Whose Hand is the kingdom, and He is Able to do all things. The One Who has created death and life in order to test you and see which of you is best in deed, and He is the All-Mighty, the Oft-Forgiving.” (Surah al-Mulk 67:1-2)



5) Expose the Reality of the Human Being:


“Verily, We have created man from drops of mixed semen in order to test him, so We made him hearer, seer. Verily, We showed him the way, so he is either grateful or ungrateful.” (Surah al-Insan 76: 2-3)


“Verily, We have made that which is on earth as an adornment for it so that We may test them as to which of them are best in deeds.” (Surah al-Kahf 18:7)


“And it is He Who has made you generations after generations, replacing each other on the earth. And He has raised you in ranks – some above others – that He may test you in that which He has bestowed on you. Surely, your Lord is Swift in retribution, and certainly He is Oft*-Forgiving, Most Merciful.” (Surah al-An’am 6:165)


“A human being is tested so that he may come to know the reality of himself and others. Life is consists of constant testing; testing with what is bad, or testing with what is good.

However, what is best for the believer may be found in what he hates, and what is bad for him may be found in what he likes. The true believer is the one who loves that which Allah has chosen for him.

So, if He tests him with something that he loves, he thanks Him, and if He tests him with that which he hates, he is patient and thanks Him in this case, as well. And Allah – the Glorified – gives the believer in accordance with what will lead to his happiness in either this World or the next.

So, if it is better for him to have something, Allah gives it to him. If it is better for him not to have something, Allah prevents him from having that thing, just as one who is sick is prevented from too much food or water.

Therefore, it is upon a person to completely submit to Allah – the Glorified – in regards to what He has chosen for him, and to be pleased with what Allah has given him, and to understand that if Allah prevents him from something, then it is because Allah wishes to save him from being tested with that thing.”

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Maher Zain - Always be there

Video done by emobawang

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Eid-ul-Adha

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The Sunnah of Eid al-Adha

In keeping with the tradition of the Prophet Muhammad, Muslims are encouraged to prepare themselves for the occasion of Eid. Below is a list of things Muslims are recommended to do in preparation for the Eid al-Adha festival:

1. Wake up early (before sunrise).

2. Make wudu (ablution) and offer Salat al-Fajr (the pre-sunrise prayer).

3. Prepare for personal cleanliness - take care of details of clothing, etc.

4. Take a Ghusl (bath) after Fajr prayer.

5. Brush teeth (preferably with a miswak, or tooth-stick).

6. Dress up, putting on new or best clothes available (White, when available, is optimal.

7. Apply (alcohol free) perfume (attar) (men only).

8. It is customary to eat dates preferably or something before going to Eid prayers but you can't eat sacrificed meat as Sacrifice must be done after Eid prayers to be accepted as Sacrifice otherwise it becomes just normal meat and no reward for sacrifice.

9. Go to the prayer grounds (known as an 'Eidgah') early.

10. Offer Salat al-Eid (the congregational Eid prayer) in an open place, weather permitting, or in mosque.

11. Use two separate routes when travelling to and from the Eid prayer location.

12. Recite the following Takbir which starts at Maghrib (sunset) on the 9th of Dhu al-hijah and last until the Asr on the 12th Dhu al-ilhijah:

Allahu-Akbar, Allahu-Akbar, Allahu-Akbar. La ilaha illa-lah wallahu-Akbar. Allahu-Akbar wa-lillahil-hamd, which translates to: "Allah (God) is the Greatest (3 times); there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and Allah is the Greatest. Allah is the Greatest and to Him are due all praises."

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Al-Quran : As-Saaffat(37) : 100 - 111

"My Lord! Grant me (offspring) from the righteous." (100)

So We gave him the glad tidings of a forbearing boy. (101)

And, when he (his son) was old enough to walk with him, he said: "O my son! I have seen in a dream that I am slaughtering you (offer you in sacrifice to Allâh), so look what you think!" He said: "O my father! Do that which you are commanded, Inshâ' Allâh (if Allâh will), you shall find me of As-Sâbirun (the patient)." (102)

Then, when they had both submitted themselves (to the Will of Allâh), and he had laid him prostrate on his forehead (or on the side of his forehead for slaughtering); (103)

And We called out to him: "O Abraham! (104)

You have fulfilled the dream!" Verily! thus do We reward the Muhsinûn (good-doers - see V.2:112). (105) Verily, that indeed was a manifest trial. (106)

And We ransomed him with a great sacrifice (i.e. کبش - a ram); (107)

And We left for him (a goodly remembrance) among the later generations. (108)

Salâmun (peace) be upon Ibrâhim (Abraham)!" (109)

Thus indeed do We reward the Muhsinûn (good-doers - see V.2:112). (110)

Verily, he was one of Our believing slaves. (111)



Rules Regarding the Animal to be Sacrificed

1. The animal has to be one of the cattle approved by the Sharia (Cow, Camel, Goat, Sheep etc.)

2. The animal has reached the required age. The adult age is:

(a) six months for a sheep
(b) One year for a goat, lamb
(c) Two years for a cow
(d) Five years for a camel.

3. The animal is free from an obvious defect like a one-eyed animal whose defect is obvious, a sick animal whose sickness is obvious, a lame animal whose limp is obvious and an emaciated animal that has no marrow in its bones

4. The animal is in full possession of the one who is offering the sacrifice; i.e. it is not stolen or taken by force, not of joint possession or held in pledge

5. The animal can not be sold or given away once selected or bought for sacrifice, unless exchanging for something better.

The Heart

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Imaam al-Bukhaaree said:

'Chapter: the saying of the Prophet (sallallaahu-alayhi-wa- sallam): 'I have more knowledge of Allaah than you all.'

And that ma'rifah (knowledge/realization) is an action of the heart about which Allaah the Exalted says:

'But He will call you to account for what your hearts have earned.' [Sooratul-Baqarah 2:225]


Al-Haafidh Ibn Rajab said:

'So hearts will not be corrected until the ma'rifah of Allaah - being in awe of Him, loving Him, fearing Him, relying and trusting in Him, hoping in Him - is not firmly implanted in them.

This is the reality of Tawheed and the meaning of the statement Laa ilaahaa illallaah (None has the right to be worshipped except Allaah).

So the hearts cannot be corrected until Allaah is made the ilaah (deity) to be known, loved, feared and hoped for; and that He becomes the only deity (ilaah) worthy of this - without associating any partners with Him in this.

So know that the world - whatever is above and whatever is below in the waters - will not be corrected, except when the actions of its people are all for Allaah's sake.

Since the actions of the body follow from the actions and intentions of the heart, then when the heart's actions and intentions are only to Allaah alone, then it is corrected, and all the actions of the body will likewise be corrected.

However, if the actions and intentions of the heart are directed to other than Allaah, then it is corrupted, and likewise, all the actions of the body will be corrupted in proportion to how much the heart has been corrupted.'


Knowing The Good And The Evil


Abdullaah Ibn Mas'ood heard a man saying: 'Whoever does not command the good and prohibit the evil is ruined!'

So he replied to the man: 'Whoever does not know the good and the evil in his heart is ruined.'

Al- Haafidh Ibn Rajab al-Hanbalee said: 'Ibn Mas'ood indicates that knowledge of the good and the evil in the heart is an obligation from which no one is exempt. So whoever does not know it is ruined.'

[source: www.troid.org]

The Heart of a Muslim

Heart of a Muslim
By Zain Bhikha


Looking up at the sky, searching for Allah most High
He rejected the way of worshipping Gods of clay
Prophet Ebrahim knew that Allah was near
And that the heart of a Muslim is sincere

Under the hot burning sun, he declared God is one
Though with stones on his chest, his Imaan would not rest
The Muadhin knew that right would conquer wrong
And the heart of a Muslim must be strong

Chorus:
It's the heart of a Muslim through the guidance of Islam
That makes you fair and kind and helpful to your fellow man
So living as a Muslim means that you must play a part
Allah looks not at how you look, but what is in your heart

In our poor meager state, little food on our plate
Mother said she was glad, always sharing what we had
When I asked how can we share what's not enough
She said the heart of a Muslim's filled with love

He said its time you should know, you will learn as you grow
That some people around will do what's bad to bring you down
Father said to be a star that's shining bright
For the heart of a Muslim does what's right

Chorus

So whatever you, make sure your words are true
Honesty is the best, because life is a test
Even if it hurts so much you want to cry
For the heart of a Muslim does not lie

The month of Dhul Hijjah

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What’s So Special About Dhul Hijjah?

The first ten days of this month are full of blessings and are very special for many reasons, as followed:


* Allah swears an oath by these 10 days, and when Allah swears an oath by something it indicates its importance and great benefit.


* Allah says (interpretation of the meaning): “By the dawn; by the ten nights” [al-Fajr 89:1-2].


* Ibn ‘Abbaas, Ibn al-Zubayr, Mujaahid and others of the earlier and later generations said that this refers to the first ten days of Dhu’l-Hijjah. Ibn Katheer said: “This is the correct opinion.” (Tafseer Ibn Katheer, 8/413)


* The Prophet (may peace be upon him) testified that these are the best days of this world and Allah has preferred them over all the other days of the year.


* The Prophet (may peace be upon him) commanded us to recite a lot of Dhikr (remembrance) of Allah, example – Allahu Akbar, La ilaha illallah, Alhamdulillah, Subhaanallah


* These days include the Day of Arafaah, on which Allaah perfected / completed the religion of Islaam and fasting on this day will expiate for the sins of two years. (Don't miss this opportunity!)


* These days include the pilgrims (hujjaj) performing Hajj in Makkah

(The Wuquf in Arafah is one of the pillars of Haj which must be performed)

* These days include the Day of Sacrifice – Eid ul Adhaa


Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allaah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (sallallahu'alayhi wasallam) said:

"There are no days in which righteous deeds are more beloved to Allaah than these ten days.”

The people asked, “Not even jihaad for the sake of Allaah?”

He (sallallahu'alayhi wasallam) said, “Not even jihaad for the sake of Allaah, except in the case of a man who went out to fight giving himself and his wealth up for the cause, and came back with nothing.”

[Hadith Reported by Sahih Al-Bukhaari]


Spread the knowledge and remind about these blessed days to your family & friends.


As Salaamu'Alaykum.