Prayer Characteristics

Narrated Abu Huraira:

Allah's Apostle entered the mosque and a person followed him. The man prayed and went to the Prophet and greeted him. The Prophet returned the greeting and said to him, "Go back and pray, for you have not prayed." The man went back prayed in the same way as before, returned and greeted the Prophet who said, "Go back and pray, for you have not prayed." This happened thrice. The man said, "By Him Who sent you with the Truth, I cannot offer the prayer in a better way than this. Please, teach me how to pray." The Prophet said, "When you stand for Prayer say Takbir and then recite from the Holy Qur'an (of what you know by heart) and then bow till you feel at ease. Then raise your head and stand up straight, then prostrate till you feel at ease during your prostration, then sit with calmness till you feel at ease (do not hurry) and do the same in all your prayers.

Bukhari - Book 1 - Volume 12 - Hadith 724

TO ALLAH IT ALL BELONGS AND TO HIM SHALL WE RETURN - A beautiful forward Message

Inna lillaahi wa inna  ilayhi Raaji'oon we say this statement when someone dies. Also some of us may say this sentence when they lose something, suffer a setback or harm.  But………..do you know what it really means? Sure, everyone know that it obviously means  'To Allaah we belong and to Him is our return.' But that's not what I am talking about. I mean ….do you REALLY, TRULY understand these words and their implications in a Muslim's life? It means …whatever we have is not really ours. It belongs to Allaah. Take a look around you; everything you see, all that you have and all that there is….in you, on you, around you….belongs to Allaah (S.W.T), alone.. It is Allah Who has given you all the property and goods you possess, and that He is the true Owner of them all. So the cars that you own, the houses that you live in, the businesses you possess all truly belong to Allaah  The kids that He blessed you with, the health that He gave you, the time that He has allowed you are all Allah's property. Even the bodies we live in and the life that we have belongs to Allaah alone. "And to Allah belongs the inheritance of the heavens and the earth…." (Surah Aal-Imraan:180) "The kingdom of the heavens and the earth and everything in them belongs to Allah. He has power over all things." ( Surat al-Ma'ida: 120) 'Say: 'To Allah belongs the East and the West…' (Surah al-Baqarah:142) Now, since everything belongs to Allaah, then we have to include even our souls in that list.. The very souls that we think of as our "self"; our "nafs"; our "being" -- whatever you want to call it -- that very thing that distinguishes you from the rest of the world, belongs to Allaah. It's not YOURS. In fact, YOU are not YOURS.  You belong to Allaah. And this is the essence of the concept of slavery to Allaah in Islam. And since He is the true Possessor of everything, and everything is His property, He allots what He wills to whomever He wills…….and then He takes it away. After all, it was Allaah's to begin with. So He may give you some thing and then take it back after a while..  He will bless you with a precious child that you love dearly…and then He may take it away.  He will grant you money, honour and status…...and then He may take it away. He will give you youth, vitality and health and then surely He will take it away. In fact everything you have will only be with you for a very short while. And then the Owner will claim His Right. So when Allaah does reclaim what was rightfully His, WHY MOURN OUR LOSSES? Just like a friend who lends you his book. And then after a few days, he wants it back and you give it back to him…no regrets…..no sorrow….no questions asked. Similarly, if Allah takes back some of His blessings upon you for some reason….so be it. Say Alhamdulillaah. Don't grieve. Be patient. Submit to the will of Allaah, being pleased with His decision for you. For surely He will only do what is best for you. Just think…..The Owner came and took it back. Remember…..that you're not the real owner…..you were NEVER the real owner to begin with. You only had everything because it was Allah who gave it to you in the first place. If He didn't give it to you, you wouldn't have had it in any way…in fact, you couldn't have had it. Remember…..man enters into this world empty handed…and leaves it empty handed.. Remember…..that everything we have, all the blessings we enjoy, are gifts from Almighty Allah...gifts that we enjoy for a limited period until He takes them away whenever He deems fit. They are a trust from Allah…a loan to you…to see how you respond to these gifts from Allaah and how you use them….in the obedience of the Almighty, thanking Him and worshipping Him……OR……...to the disobedience to the One Who gave then to you in the first place. Take note of the words of the Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) on the occasion of the death of his son, Ibraahim: 'Our eyes are filled with tears, our hearts with grief, but we say nothing with our lips except that which pleases Allah.... Verily, to Allah we belong, and to Him we return.' (Bukhaari) And we all know the famous incidence about the companion Abu Talha and his wife when one of the sons died and Abu Talha was not at home. She washed and shrouded him and when Abu Talha came home and asked about his son, she said, 'The child is quiet and I hope he is in peace….' (Bukhaari) Subhaan Allaah….such patience! And such Imaan in the statement "Inna lillaahi wa inna ilayhi Raaji'oon"! She truly understood its meaning and the affect it should have on her life as a Muslimah, submitting to him and being pleased with whatever He has decreed for her. She knew that whatever she has, is not truly hers. Rather, it is Allaah's….and He took back whatever He owns at its appointed time.. And it is because of this Imaan and Sabr, that the Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) made dua for them and Allaah blessed them immensely... "'They (i.e. Abu Talha and his wife) had nine sons and all of them became reciters of the Quran (by heart)." (Bukhaari) "Be sure we will test you with something of fear and hunger, some loss in goods or lives, but give glad tidings to those who are steadfast, who say when afflicted with calamity: 'To Allah we belong and to him is our return.' They are those on who (descend) blessings from Allah and mercy and they are the once that receive guidance."  (al-Baqarah: 155) The Prophet (PBUH) said 'Pass on knowledge from me even if it is only one verse' To forgive is the highest, most beautiful form of love.  In return, you will receive untold peace and happiness. My Lord! Grant me that I Should be grateful for thy favor which thou hast bestowed on me and on my parents, and that I should do good such as thou art pleased with, and make me enter, by thy mercy, into thy servants, the good ones.. Ameen

 

Purification

Humran. the freed slave of 'Uthman. said: I heard from 'Uthman b. 'Affan and he was in the courtyard of the mosque, when the Mu'adhdhin (announcer of the prayer) came to him at the time of afternoon prayer. So the ('Uthman) called for the ablution water and performed ablution and then said: By Allah, I am narrating to you a hadith. If there were not a verse in the Book of Allah, I would have never narrated it to you. I heard Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) say: If a Muslim performs ablution and does it well and offers prayer, all his (sins) daring the period from one prayer to another would be pardoned by Allah.

Muslim - Book 2 - Hadith 438

Purification

Humran. the freed slave of 'Uthman. said: I heard from 'Uthman b. 'Affan and he was in the courtyard of the mosque, when the Mu'adhdhin (announcer of the prayer) came to him at the time of afternoon prayer. So the ('Uthman) called for the ablution water and performed ablution and then said: By Allah, I am narrating to you a hadith. If there were not a verse in the Book of Allah, I would have never narrated it to you. I heard Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) say: If a Muslim performs ablution and does it well and offers prayer, all his (sins) daring the period from one prayer to another would be pardoned by Allah.

Muslim - Book 2 - Hadith 438

Destiny (Al-Qadr)

Abdullah (b. Mas'ud) reported that Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) who is the most truthful (of the human beings) and his being truthful (is a fact) said: Verily your creation is on this wise. The constituents of one of you are collected for forty days in his mother's womb in the form of blood, after which it becomes a clot of blood in another period of forty days. Then it becomes a lump of flesh and forty days later Allah sends His angel to it with instructions concerning four things, so the angel writes down his livelihood, his death, his deeds, his fortune and misfortune. By Him, besides Whom there is no god, that one amongst you acts like the people deserving Paradise until between him and Paradise there remains but the distance of a cubit, when suddenly the writing of destiny overcomes him and he begins to act like the denizens of Hell and thus enters Hell, and another one acts in the way of the denizens of Hell, until there remains between him and Hell a distance of a cubit that the writing of destiny overcomes him and then he begins to act like the people of Paradise and enters Paradise.

Muslim - Book 33 - Hadith 6390

Islamic Months

Rabi-Ul-Awwal:-                                                                

It the third month of Islamic calendar; it means beginning of spring

Prophet Mohammed (Peace be upon him) was born in this month

Holy prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him) migrated from Makkah to Madinah

Prophet Mohammed Married to “Mother of Faithful” Khadijha Bintu Khuwailid

Battle of Buwaat & Safvaan took place.

Abu Baker (R.A) was appointed as Calipah 

"ALLAHUMMA SALLI ALA MUHAMMAD WA ALA AALI MUHAMMAD KAMA SALLAITA ALA IBRAHEEMA WA ALA AALI IBRAHEEMA INNAKA HAMEEDUN MAJEED.

ALLAHUMMA BARIK ALA MUHAMMAD WA ALA AALI MUHAMMAD KAMA BARAKTA ALA IBRAHEEMA WA ALA AALI IBRAHEEMA INNAKA HAMEEDUN MAJEED"

SALAWAT -UN-NABI

 

 

إِنَّ اللَّهَ وَمَلَائِكَتَهُ يُصَلُّونَ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا صَلُّوا عَلَيْهِ وَسَلِّمُوا تَسْلِيمًا(33:56)

 

"Allah and His angels send blessings on the Prophet: O ye that believe! Send ye blessings on him, and salute him with all respect (Al Quran: 33-56)"

 "ALLAHUMMA SALLI ALA MUHAMMAD WA ALA AALI MUHAMMAD KAMA SALLAITA ALA IBRAHEEMA WA ALA AALI IBRAHEEMA INNAKA HAMEEDUN MAJEED.

ALLAHUMMA BARIK ALA MUHAMMAD WA ALA AALI MUHAMMAD KAMA BARAKTA ALA IBRAHEEMA WA ALA AALI IBRAHEEMA INNAKA HAMEEDUN MAJEED"

The Great scholar Sheikh ibn al-Qayyim wrote in his books, there are thirty nine benefits of Salawat

1.       Responding to the order of Allah, Exalted and Magnificent.

2.      Following the lead of Allah, Exalted and Magnificent in the sending of blessings upon His Messenger (may Allah bless him and give him peace), although the blessings (Salawat) differ, being from us supplication and request, and being from Allah exaltation and ennoblement.

3.      Following the Angels in invocation of the Messenger (may Allah bless him and give him peace), also.

4.       The attainment of ten blessings from Allah for the one who invokes one blessing upon His Messenger (may Allah bless him and give him peace).

5.      He who sends blessing upon the Prophet (may Allah bless him and give him peace), Allah raises him by ten degrees.

6.       He also has written for him ten good deeds.

7.       He also has erased from his record ten bad deeds.

8.       The invocation increases the chance of one's supplication being answered if it follows the supplication, as the invocation of blessings upon the Prophet (may Allah bless him and give him peace) lifts those supplications up to the Lord of the Worlds which were stalled between the heavens and the earth.

9.       It is a means to receive the intercession of the Prophet (may Allah bless him and give him peace), whether or not a specific intercession is sought.

10.     It is a means to have one's sins forgiven.

11.     It is a means for Allah to satisfy his bondman’s worldly needs.

12.    It is a means to draw neat to Prophet (May Allah bless him and give him peace) on the Day of Resurrection.

13.    It compensates for giving charity for those who are too poor to give it.

14.   It is a means of fulfilling one's needs (Qada’ al-Hawa’ij)

15.   It is a means to receive the Prophet's (may Allah bless him and give him peace)

         blessings, and the Angels likewise.

16.   It is a means of purification for he who invokes it.

17.   For one who sends blessings on him (may Allah bless him and give him peace) it is glad

       tidings in his life that he has been granted his place in Paradise as is mentioned by Al-

        Hafiz Abu Musa in his book on the matter, for which he brought Hadith as evidence.

18.   It is a means of salvation from the horrors of the Day of Resurrection, as also

        mentioned by Abu Musa with evidence.

19.     It is a means for the Prophet (may Allah bless him and give him peace) to return the blessings and greeting upon he who invokes it.

20.    It is a means of ennobling a meeting or gathering and a means to prevent any ill talk or conduct occurring therein, so that it will not return upon its participants as a hardship on the Day of Resurrection.

21.    It is a means to remember something which has been forgotten.

22.    It is a safeguard against poverty.

23.   It saves one from being branded a miser if one were to omit it upon the Prophet’s name (may Allah bless him and give him peace) being mentioned.

24.   It saves one from being cursed and disgraced because the one who omits the blessings 

      and prayers upon hearing the Prophet's name (may Allah bless him and give him peace) 

       risks receiving Allah's anger.

25.   It keeps the one who invokes it steadfast upon the path to Paradise, and keeps he who neglects it from traveling the path.

26.    It safeguards a meeting from turning ill; a meeting without the mention of Allah Exalted and His Messenger (may Allah bless him and give him peace), and without the praise and glorification of Allah and the invocation of blessings on His Messenger (may Allah bless him and give him peace) has no blessing nor benefit.

27.      It is a cause for the perfection of any speech which begins with the praise of Allah the Exalted and the blessings of His Messenger (may Allah bless him and give him peace).

28.      It is a cause for the bondman to find light cast in abundance in his life to guide him on the Straight Path.

29.     It refines the worshipper's character and manners.

30.    It is a means for Allah to preserve those in the heavens and the earth praising and commending he who invokes it.

31.    It is a means of the worshipper to obtain blessing for himself in his work, life and

       provision.

32.  It is a means of obtaining the mercy of Allah.

33.  It sustains, increases and multiplies love for the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless

      him and give him peace), which is among the core bases of Faith, without which faith 

      cannot be complete.

34.   It earns the Prophet’s (may Allah bless him and give him peace) love for the bondsman.

35.   It is a means of the worshipper’s guidance, and a source of vitality for his heart.

36.   It causes the worshipper’s name to be shown to the Prophet, and the mention of the worshipper to him (may Allah bless him and give him peace).

37.  It is a means for the worshipper to find ease upon crossing the pass over the Hellfire.

38.  Invoking blessing and peace upon the Prophet (may Allah bless him and give him peace) 

      is an infinitesimal recompense of his right upon us, and of the thanks which we owe for 

     the grace which Allah has bestowed upon us by sending him (may Allah bless him and 

    give him peace), although what he truly deserves is innumerable, either for us to 

  comprehend or to bestow, or even to will. However Allah, because of His Boundless 

   Generosity, is pleased with his bondsmen even with the small amount of thanks they can 

  offer.

39.   Invoking blessing and peace upon the Prophet (may Allah bless him and give him 

      peace) in itself contains remembrance of Allah the Exalted, and is an expression of thanks to Him and a recognition of His immense favour upon His bondsmen by sending him (may Allah bless him and give him peace).

 May Allah (S.W.T) bless us all with his mercy.....