8 June 2014 Musa (2) birth and Fiqh of Ramadhan (1)

8 June 2014

Prophet Musa (2) - his birth and Fiqh of Ramadhan (1)



Thank you all for coming. Please find today’s Study Circle summary.
Lively discussions and participation from all and some great feedback from the kids on:
- Fairy Tales,
- Puzzles about Allah’s existence and
- Hope in Allah.

Please bear in mind this is just a summary with more detail dealt with during the Circle.

InshaAllah, next week’s Study Circle will again be at our house to continue the story of Musa ending up in the Pharaoh’s Palace.

Prophet Musa (2): Birth

Birth: Musa was born in a time when his people (Bani Israel – children of Yaqub) were enslaved by the tyrant Pharaoh. They had arrived during Yusuf’s time but became slaves over the years. Pharaoh thought he was a god (amongst many other Egyptian gods) and that he owned the River Nile. This was a unipolar world.

Pharaoh had a dream that he would lose his kingdom to someone from the children of Israel so he started killing newborn males as he perceived it as an existential threat to his authority. His spies kept an eye on all the people and he ruled by Divide and Conquer.
Musa’s mother received WAHY (inspiration) from Allah: “Suckle him and then when you fear for him cast him into the sea. Do not fear or grieve; We will return him to you and make him one of the Messengers." (Surat al-Qasas: 7) and her test was to throw him into the river to save him – and this was a dangerous and big river!....



Main Topic: Basics about Ramadhan

The Obligation of Fasting: "O ye who believe! Fasting is prescribed to you as it was prescribed to those before you…", (2:183)

The Reward for Fasting: The only one who knows about the reward is Allah (swt). "Every act taken by the son of Adam is done for him except fasting, it is for me and I make the reward", (Bukhari)

Fasting stops the Muslim from Sinning: "Fasting is a shield. Thus while fasting you must not use foul language or act like those of ignorance (screaming, attacking others, etc), or speak loudly". (Bukhari)

The smell of the Fasting persons mouth: "By the one who has my soul in his hands, the smell of the mouth of the fasting person is better for Allah than the smell of musk". [Bukhari]

Special Gate in Al-Jannah for those who Fast: " There is a gate in Al-Jannah called Ar-Rayyan which those who fast enter from on the day of judgment. And no one else enters from it. Once they enter from it, it is closed, and nobody else enters from it." (Bukhari)

Due to Fasting Previous Sins Are Forgiven: "Whoever fasts in the month of Ramadan purely because of his faith and sincerity all of his/her previous sins will be forgiven." "Whosoever does not saying and acting upon falsehood, Allah is in no need for him/her to abandon his/her food " (Bukhari).

The Intention is A Requirement for Fasting: The person who wants to fast must have the pure intention for doing that action only to please Allah (swt). The intention need not be said by the tongue, for the intention is act of the heart. Moreover, the intention must be settled in the heart before Fajr.

There Is Blessing in suhur: "have Suhur, for in suhur there is blessing. " (Muslim)

The Best Things To Keep Us Busy In Ramadan: The fasting Muslim should not curse, use foul language, harm people , talk nonsense, etc. Thus, the best the fasting person should keep him/herself busy with is the remembrance of Allah (Dhikr), attend sessions of knowledge, read Quran, and spend in the path of Allah, etc.

If Someone Eats Or Drinks, Forgetfully, Then he/she Completes The Day Of Fasting: "If he forgets and eats and drinks, then he should complete his fast. It was Allah who fed him and gave him the drink." (Bukhari).

If deliberately broken the fast, Muslim needs to:
- Free a slave
- fast two months consecutively
- feed sixty poor people

Permission To Break Fast In Travelling and Sickness: Allah (swt) permitted us to break fast in travelling and in sickness on the condition that we make it up later on. "And for those who are sick or travelling, then (the prescribed period should be made up) other days."
It is only the sickness, that fasting will delay its recovery or worsen it, that permits the person to break the fast. But, the one that is not affected by the fast is not a legitimate excuse. Travel depends upon the distance travelled – often taken as 48 miles.

The Elderly and the Incurable sick: do not have to make up the days that they have missed, for they are unable to do so but have to feed one poor person as (Bukhari)

The fasting of Children and Teaching Them Manners: Only those who are above the age of puberty and sane are addressed by Shari’ah. "Order your children to pray when they are seven years of age, beat them for it when they are ten years of age, and separate them in their beds".(Abu Daud). Also Bukhari narrates "We used to make our children fast and make their toys out of wool. If any of them cried because of hunger, we would give them toy till the time to breakfast". There is no sin if the children break the fast for them or the parents.

What is recommended for the Saa’im to break his fast with: Recommended to make Iftar with Rutub (fresh, moist, ripe dates), if not then Tamr (dry dates); else to take mouthfuls of water then eat what they wish.

Time to break fast: Is at Maghrib when the adhaan happens and not to wait until after prayer or to delay.

Salatul-Taraweh: Abu Huraira said, "I heard the messenger of Allah (saw) say, "The one who does qiam in Ramadan with faith and sincerity, all his/her sins will be forgiven".

May Allah azza wajaal accept our Siyaam, Salah, Nawafil, Taraweeh, Adhkar, Sadakat, and all efforts by helping others inshaAllah

3 March 2013

3 March, 2013
Salah Importance  

Guest Speaker: Dr Naila Syed

Feedback from her 2 weekend courses on Salah and how to have Khushu in Salah

Salaah Salaah!

Said by the Prophet (saw) on his death bed!

Importance Of Salaah

·           QURAN – “….establish prayer for my remembrance” (Sura TaHa v 15)

·           HADITH – The Prophet (saw)’s final advice to his Ummah was “Salaat, Salaat!”

·           Al-Isra wal Mi’raj – Gift from Allah swt to the Muslims (Reward of performing 5 prayers equivalent to 50)

·           DIRECT LINK – 5 times a day we are in direct communication with Allah swt

·           RECOGNITION – on the Day of Judgement the Prophet (saw) will be able to recognise his followers by the signs of their wadu. (Bukhari)

·           Most beloved act to Allah swt – “The thing that is most beloved to Allah swt is to pray at the earliest possible time”. (Bukhari)

·           Closest to Allah swt – “The closest a servant is to his Rabb is while in sajood” (Muslim)

·           Wipes out sins – “The prayer wipes out one’s bad deeds just as if one were having a bath in a river in front of one’s house five times a day” (Bukhari)

·           Unity – “A family that prays together stays together”

·           Obligated even in battle

·           Angels praying all the time – Not even 4 finger breadth space in heavens without an angel praying (Tirmidhi)

·           First thing to be judged on the Day of Judgement

·           Controversy

Problem With Today’s Ummah

So How Can We Teach Others About The Importance Of Prayer?

Possible solutions

1.      Lead by example

2.      Make du’a

3.      Consider environment

4.      Never despair of Allah’s mercy

5.      Give info!

People On Whom Prayer Is Obligated

1.      Muslim

2.      Adult

3.      Sane

Perform Salaah on Time!

·           QUR’AN – “Verily the prayer is enjoined upon the believers at the appointed times” (Sura Nisa v103)

·           HADITH – “The thing most beloved to Allah swt is to pray at the earliest possible time”. (Bukhari)

·           Time vs cleanliness

·           If catch even 1 sajood in prayer time then have caught the prayer.

Exception

Combining prayers due to Travel, hajj or imminent and extreme difficulty

-            Dhuhr with Asr

-            Magrib with Isha

Qada

Only permissible:

·           Forget

·           Oversleep

PRIORITY - Doing Qada has more priority than doing other voluntary prayers such as sunnah or nafil

FILL THE HOLES - Important to always do sunnah and nafil prayers to compensate for any deficiencies in Fard prayers

Adhaan And Iqamah

One of the greatest signs of Islam – done all over the Muslim world 5 times per day

Seen by Abdullah ibn Zaid in a dream (Abu Dawood)

Adhaan done 15-20mins before prayer to CALL TO PRAY

Iqamah done straight before prayer to

- straighten lines                                                           

- fill the gaps                                                                                                    

- Prepare To Go Before the Greatest Being Allah Swt

Benefits

- Shaitan runs away on hearing it

- If read following dua immediately after adhaan, Prophet (saw) will do intercession for you on the Day of Judgement inshaAllah: “Oh Allah, the Lord of the perfect call and the Prayer that will be established, give Mohammad the highest place in jannnat and the highest station and give him the praiseworthy position that You have promised him” (Bukhari)

           

Travelling

Recommended to do adhaan and iqaamah even when travelling alone (This is not an obligation on women)

If Travel > 83km and < 4-15 Days Can Shorten Prayers

Six Preconditions Of Prayer

1.      SPIRITUAL PURITY – have wadu

2.      PHYSICAL PURITY – wear clean clothes and place of prayer

3.      COVER AWRAH

4.      PRAY AT CORRECT TIME – avoid makroo times or sunrise, zenith, sunset

5.      FACE THE QIBLAH

6.      INTENTION – does not need to be voiced

Walking To The Masjid

·           Reward for every step take to the masjid – Bukhari and Muslim (esp if have difficulty but not if you create the difficulty yourself!)

·           Etiquette of walking to masjid

·           Arrive early – front row, teaches punctuality

·           Enter masjid with Right foot and do du’a of entering mosque

·           Do Tayatul Masjid but do not do sunnah for sake of Fard

·           Benefit of starting prayer with Imam and ending with him until he turns away.

12 Pillars Of Prayer

1.      Standing up

2.      Takbir utul ihram

3.      Reciting surah Fatiha

4.      Ruku – bowing

5.      Standing

6.      Prostration on the 7 parts of the body

7.      Sitting up between prostrations

8.      Possessing tranquillity and calmness during the prayer

9.      The final Tashahud

10.    The final sitting

11.    The first Taslim

12.    Praying in the order recorded by the Prophet (saw)

When to offer prostration of forgetfulness?

OMISSION – Before Taslim

ADDITION – After Taslim

DOUBT – Before Taslim

Khushu

Defined as intense concentration in prayer with fear and awe of Allah swt with no distractions in worldly matters (Story of Sahaba and Lion)

Prophet (saw) said the first thing to be lifted from the Ummah will be khushu (Tabarani)

If do not have khushu – salaat will still be valid but may not get much reward

Reward of 2 rakaat with full khushu – to have all sins forgiven (Bukhari)

Reality Check!

TEST – 5 x per day we are tested to see if our hearts turn more to Allah swt or worldly matters.

DEATH – When die, body remains but soul taken by angels

Your family, who loves you the most, rush to place you in the ground.

You leave all your worldly goods behind

The only thing you can take with you is your good deeds

On the Day of Judgement the first thing to be judged will be our salaat (Tirmidhi)

Means Of Developing Khushu – Top Ten Tips!

1.      Prepare – wudu, clothes (Remember going in front of Allah swt)

2.      Time – do at earliest times

3.      Clear mind of worldly matters

4.      Remember in direct communication with Allah swt 5x per day

5.      Remember death and can only take good deeds with you on day of judgement

6.      Think of the giants of Islam – Khushu they had in their prayers

7.      Make du’a before start to have khushu in salaat

8.      Recite different surahs from Qur’an – hadith on the 3 quls

9.      Remove all distractions

10.    Remember 2 rakaat with complete khushu will wash away all your sins inshaAllah.

Remember Only Approx ½ Hr In Salaat A Day Will Grant You Admission Into Paradise InshaAllah!!!

VIDEO

Remember!

Remember Never To Miss Any Namaaz

Remember To Pray Before You Are Prayed Over

Remember If Miss One Prayer

·           It will never come back

·           Imagine on Day of Judgement your balance of Good and Bad deeds are completely balanced and just need one more salaat to avoid Hell fire and enter jannat forever!

Story:

He remembered his grandmother’s warning about praying on time: “My son, you shouldn’t leave prayer to this late time.” His grandmother’s age was 70 but whenever she heard the Adhan, she got up like an arrow and performed Salah/Namaz/prayer. He, however could never win over his ego to get up and pray. Whatever he did, his Salah was always the last to be offered and he prayed it quickly to get it in on time. Thinking of this, he got up and realized that there were only 15 minutes left before Salat-ul Isha. He quickly made Wudhu and performed Salat-ul Maghrib. While making Tasbih, he again remembered his grandmother and was embarrassed by how he had prayed. His grandmother prayed with such tranquility and peace. He began making Dua and went down to make Sajdah and stayed like that for a while.

He had been at school all day and was tired, so tired. He awoke abruptly to the sound of noise and shouting. He was sweating profusely. He looked around. It was very crowded. Every direction he looked in was filled with people. Some stood frozen looking around, some were running left and right and some were on their knees with their heads in their hands just waiting. Pure fear and apprehension filled him as he realized where he was.

His heart was about to burst. It was the Day of Judgment. When he was alive, he had heard many things about the questioning on the Day of Judgment, but that seemed so long ago. Could this be something his mind made up? No, the wait and the fear were so great that he could not have imagined this. The interrogation was still going on. He began moving frantically from people to people to ask if his name had been called. No one could answer him. All of a sudden his name was called and the crowd split into two and made a passageway for him. Two people grabbed his arms and led him forward. He walked with unknowing eyes through the crowd. The angels brought him to the center and left him there. His head was bent down and his whole life was passing in front of his eyes like a movie. He opened his eyes but saw only another world. The people were all helping others. He saw his father running from one lecture to the other, spending his wealth in the way of Islam. His mother invited guests to their house and one table was being set while the other was being cleared.

He pleaded his case; “I too was always on this path. I helped others. I spread the word of Allah. I performed my Salah. I fasted in the month of Ramadan. Whatever Allah ordered us to do, I did. Whatever he ordered us not to do, I did not.” He began to cry and think about how much he loved Allah. He knew that whatever he had done in life would be less than what Allah deserved and his only protector was Allah. He was sweating like never before and was shaking all over. His eyes were fixed on the scale, waiting for the final decision. At last, the decision was made. The two angels with sheets of paper in their hands, turned to the crowd. His legs felt like they were going to collapse. He closed his eyes as they began to read the names of those people who were to enter Jahannam/Hell. His name was read first. He fell on his knees and yelled that this couldn’t be, “How could I go to Jahannam? I served others all my life, I spread the word of Allah to others.” His eyes had become blurry and he was shaking with sweat. The two angels took him by the arms. As his feet dragged, they went through the crowd and advanced toward the blazing flames of Jahannam. He was yelling and wondered if there was any person who was going to help him. He was yelling of all the good deeds he had done, how he had helped his father, his fasts, prayers, the Qur’an that he read, he was asking if none of them would help him. The Jahannam angels continued to drag him. They had gotten closer to the Hellfire. He looked back and these were his last pleas. Had not Rasulullah [saw] said, “How clean would a person be who bathes in a river five times a day, so too does the Salah performed five times cleanse someone of their sins?” He began yelling, “My prayers? My prayers? My prayers?”

The two angels did not stop, and they came to the edge of the abyss of Jahannam. The flames of the fire were burning his face. He looked back one last time, but his eyes were dry of hope and he had nothing left in him. One of the angels pushed him in. He found himself in the air and falling towards the flames. He had just fallen five or six feet when a hand grabbed him by the arm and pulled him back. He lifted his head and saw an old man with a long white beard. He wiped some dust off himself and asked him, “Who are you?” The old man replied, “I am your prayers.”

“Why are you so late! I was almost in the Fire! You rescued me at the last minute before I fell in.” The old man smiled and shook his head. “You always performed me at the last minute, and did you forget?” At that instant, he blinked and lifted his head from Sajdah. He was in a sweat. He listened to the voices coming from outside. He heard the adhan for Salat-ul Isha. He got up quickly and went to perform Wudhu.

QUIZ: Boys/Men Vs Girls/Women

Get designing those Harborne Islamic Study Circle logos:

See last week's logos on the blog (no new ones submitted)

18 March 2012

Lesser Pilgrimage; 40 Stranger/Traveller

* SURVEY ~ Future Circles for Harborne Islamic Study Circle *
Topics that the children (and adults) wanted covering in future Study Circles included Fiqh Topics, General Topics and Teenager Issues.
Please vote for which things you would like to discuss during the Circle.
Rank them according to which topic you would like to really do to the one you are least interested in.
Vote for as many or as few as you like....
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Naveed

** The link for the Survey is http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/HJS5R9R   **

Seerah of Muhammed*
*: May the Peace, Blessings and Mercy of Allah be upon him
TMQ: Translation to the nearest meaning of the Qur’an

Muhalim wrongly kills a person who said ‘Assalamu Alaikum’
On the way back from a short expedition Muhalim killed a person who greeted him with ‘Assalamu Alaikum’. There was some tension between Muhalim and this person in the days of Jahiliyyah (before Islam). Muhalim then took over his camel and property. The leader of the tribe of the killed person came to the Prophet* to ask that Muhalim be killed as rightful retribution allowed in Islam. Muhalim’s tribal chief asked the Prophet* for clemency. The Prophet* finally managed to convince the aggrieved chief to take blood money. Then Muhalim’s friends asked him to seek forgiveness from the Prophet* but the Prophet was angry and said ‘Oh Allah, do not forgive Muhalim’. This obviously upset Muhalim and later Allah revealed a verse criticising the behaviour of Muhalim. Hence, we learn that ‘Assalamu Alaikum’ is the greeting of Muslims and a way to spread peace and love – and that killing a Muslim wrongly is a great sin (as we discussed last week).

Obey your leader – but only in Islam (the Good)
O you who believe! Obey Allah and obey the Messenger, and those of you (Muslims) who are in (rightful) authority. (And) if you differ in anything amongst yourselves, refer it to Allah and His Messenger, if you believe in Allah and in the Last Day. That is better and more suitable for final determination. (An-Nisa 4:59)
The Sahabahs went out with a leader [ameer] and he told them to build a fire and then he said, 'jump in the fire'. However, they disobeyed him and Muhammad* said it was good they did not obey him as the leader must obey Allah and his Rasool* and listen only in the ‘Good’ (Khair = Islam). If they had jumped in the fire they would never have left (ie., Hellfire). Ibn Umar (RA) reported that Allah’s Messenger* said, ‘It is incumbent on a Muslim person to listen and obey whether he likes it or hates it as long as he is not commanded to commit sin. If he is given command to sin then he must neither listen nor obey.” [Muslim]. Hence, we can't be obedient to the "created" things if that means we disobey the "Creator" of things. The man is ameer of the home but if he says to do something haram he should be disobeyed as obedience is to Allah and His message. Today, many leaders of Muslims ask the people to do things that are not allowed by Islam and we should be careful who we follow!

The Compensatory ‘Umrah (Lesser Pilgrimage)
Preparing for the Journey
The months drew on until almost a year had passed since the signing of the treaty of Hudaibiyah, It was now time to set off for Mecca in accordance with the promise of Quraysh that the Prophet* and his Companions should have safe access to the Holy Precinct in order to perform the rite of the Lesser Pilgrimage. There were about two thousand pilgrims in all, including the would-be pilgrims of the previous year, except for a few who had died or been killed in battle.
When Dhul Qa‘da month approached towards the close of the seventh year A.H., the Prophet* ordered his people, and the men who witnessed Al-Hudaibiyah Truce Treaty in particular, to make preparations to perform ‘Umrah (lesser pilgrimage). He proceeded with 2000 men besides some women and children, and 60 camels for sacrifice, to visit the Holy Sanctuary in Mecca. The Muslims took their weapons with them fearing the treachery of the Quraishites, but left them with a party of two hundred men at a place some eight miles from Mecca. They entered the city with the swords in their scabbards. The Quraish were initially upset that the Prophet brought weapons and feared he* would attack – but were reassured that the heavy weapons would be left outside Mecca.

Entering the emptied city of Mecca
When they heard that the pilgrims had reached the edge of the sacred territory, Quraysh vacated the whole of the hollow of Mecca and withdrew to the tops of the surrounding hills. The chiefs of Quraysh were gathered together on Mount Abu Kubays, from which they could look down into the Mosque and the others aligned on the top of Qu‘aiqa‘an Mount watching the Muslims, tongue-tied at witnessing their strength and devotion. They also had a wide view of the surrounding country; and now they saw the pilgrims emerge in a long file from the north-western pass which leads down into the valley just below the city. The Prophet* at their head on his she-camel, Al-Qaswa’, while the surrounding Companions attentively focusing their look on him Their ears soon caught an indistinct murmur which quickly became distinguishable as the age-old pilgrim's cry: Labbayk Alldhumma Labbayk, [Here I am, a God, at Thy service].
The Muslims performed the usual circumambulation (tawaaf) vigorously and briskly; and on recommendation by the Prophet* they did their best to appear strong and steadfast in their circumambulation as the polytheists had spread rumours that they were weak because the fever of Yathrib (Medina) had sapped their strength. They were ordered to run in the first three rounds and then walk in the remaining ones.
The long procession of bare-headed, white-robed men was led by the Prophet*, with 'Abd Allah ibn Rawahah on foot, holding the bridle. When they entered the Holy Sanctuary, ‘Abdullah bin Rawaha walked before the Prophet* reciting: "Get out of his way, you disbelievers, make way, we will fight you about its revelation with strokes that will remove heads from shoulders and make friend unmindful of friend." Of the others some were on camelback and some on foot. They made straight for the Holy House by the nearest way. Each man was wearing his upper garment as a cloak, but at the entrance to the Mosque the Prophet* adjusted his, passing it under his right arm, leaving the shoulder bare, and crossing the two ends over the left shoulder so that they hung down back and front. The others followed his example. Still mounted, he rode to the south-east corner of the Ka'bah and reverently touched the Black Stone with his staff. Then he made the seven circuits of the House, after which he withdrew to the foot of the little hill of Safa, and passed to and fro between it and the hill of Marwah, seven courses in all, ending at Marwah, to which many of the sacrificial animals had now been led.
There he sacrificed a camel, and his head was shaved by Khirash, who had done the same for him at Hudaibiyah. This completed the rite of the Lesser Pilgrimage. The main body of the pilgrims had now performed the basic rites of the lesser pilgrimage, but there remained those who were entrusted the charge of the weapons. The Prophet* had these relieved, and they went through the same devotions as the others did.

After the rites were completed
He then returned to the Mosque, intending to enter the Holy House, cluttered with idols though it was. But the doors were locked, and the key was with a member of the clan of 'Abd ad-Dar. The Prophet* sent a man to ask for it, but the chiefs of Quraysh replied that this was not in their agreement, the entry into the House not being part of the Pilgrimage rite. So none of the Muslims entered it that year; but when the sun had reached its zenith the Prophet* told Bilal to go up to the roof of the Ka'bah and make the call to prayer. His resonant voice filled the whole valley of Mecca and floated up to the tops of the hills, first with the magnification, then with the two restifications of Islam: "I bear witness that there is no god but God. I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of God." From Abu Kubays the chiefs of Quraysh could plainly distinguish Bilal, and they were outraged at the sight of the black slave on the roof of the Holy House. But above all they were conscious that this was a triumph for the enemy which might have incalculable repercussions, and they bitterly regretted having signed the treaty, which a year ago had seemed to be in their favour.

The Prophet* marries Maymunah
The pilgrims spent three days in the evacuated city. The Prophet's tent was pitched in the Mosque. During the nights those of the Meccans who were Muslims in secret stole down from the hills, and there were many joyous encounters. 'Abbas, whose Islam was tolerated by Quraysh, openly spent most of the three days with the Prophet. It was then that he offered him in marriage his wife's sister Maymunah, now a widow, and the Prophet* accepted. Maymunah and Umm al-Fadl were full sisters, and with them, living in the household of 'Abbas, was their half-sister Salma, the widow of Hamzah, and her daughter Umerah. 'Ali suggested that their cousin, Hamzah's daughter, should not be left amongst the idolaters, to which the Prophet* and 'Abbas agreed; and since Fatirnah was one of the pilgrims it was arranged that she should take Umerah with her in her howdah.
When the three days were at an end, Suhayl and Huwaytib came down from Abu Kubays and said to the Prophet* who was sitting with Sa'd ibn 'Ubadah and others of the Helpers: "Thy time is finished, so begone from us." The Prophet* answered: "How would it harm you to give me some respite, that I may celebrate my marriage amongst you and prepare for you a feast?" "We need not thy feast," they said. "Begone from us. We adjure thee by God, O Muhammad, and by the pact which is between us, to leave our country. This was the third night, which now is passed." Sa'd was angry at their lack of courtesy, but the Prophet* silenced him, saying: "O Sa'd, no ill words to those who have come to visit us in our camp!" Then he gave orders that by nightfall every pilgrim should have left the city. But he made an exception for his servant, Abu Rafi', whom he told to stay behind and bring Maymunah with him, which he did; and the marriage was consummated at Sarif, a few miles outside the Sacred Precinct.
 

Narrators attached different designations to this lesser pilgrimage. Some called it the compensatory lesser pilgrimage, performed instead of that uncompleted of Hudaibiyah; and the other one, given preponderance by jurists, is the lesser pilgrimage consequent on certain terms of a treaty already agreed upon. On the whole, compensatory, judicial consent, retribution and reconciliation are all terms applicable to that visit.
 

Hadith 40 (of Nawawi's Forty Hadith)

Hadith 40: Be as a Stranger or Traveller
On the authority of Ibn Umer, who said: The Messenger of Allah*, took me by the shoulder and said: "Be in this world as though you were a stranger or a traveller/wayfarer."
Ibn Umer used to say: "When evening comes, do not expect (to live till) morning, and when morning comes, do not expect (to live till) evening. Take from your health (a preparation) for your illness, and from your life for your death." [Al-Bukhari]

There are so many verses in the Qur'an that make comparisons between the worldly life and the Hereafter. The priority and emphasis is made on the Hereafter where it is described as the real life and the worldly life as a life of nothing but entertainment and amusement. Allah says in Surah al-An'am, Ayah 32: And the worldly life is not but amusement and diversion but the home of Hereafter is best for those who fear Allah. Will you not then reason? And in Surah al-'Ankabut, Ayah 64, Allah expresses the same meaning mentioned in the previous ayah. The same meaning is also expressed in other ayahs such as in Surah Muhammad Ayah 36, Surah Yunus Ayah 26, Surah al-Kahf Ayah 45 -46, Surah Fater Ayah 5, Surah al-A'la Ayah 16-17, and Surah al-Isra' Ayah 18-19.
In all of the above mentioned ayahs, Allah draws the attention of the believers toward the Hereafter to remind them that it is the final destination and the real life and enjoyment of the believers. Allah also comments on this life as nothing but amusement and diversion. It is a life of a test and trial. It is a life used as a means of getting us forward to the Hereafter.

Spirituality
Islam does not view spirituality as some Hindus (body is a vessel and suppress desires to be close to God – like a guru living in isolation) or Christians (where the ‘spirit’ is sent by Jesus to enter the body and get them close to piety through supernatural means). In Islam there is no nullification of life as some people may misunderstand. There is a balance and adjustment between this life and the Hereafter. There should be no polarization or what Islam is - rahbanah or extremism. There should be no conflict between this life and the next life. There is a kind of moderate conception about this life and the Hereafter. Islam also makes it an obligation that the believers cultivate the earth and make it as an amanah for them to establish the Islamic civilization which is based on Tawhid, good morals and values. This civilisation is guided by revelation. This is considered an obligation.
Furthermore, the concept of 'ubudiyyah (worshipping Allah) is a comprehensive concept where everything we do in this life, if it is guided by revelation and is done with a good intention, becomes a form of worship even though it is a worldly matter. If the thing is done in accordance with the teachings of shari'ah and the main guidelines of revelation, then there will be the adjustment and the harmony between this life and the Hereafter. The Muslim's life in this world and the Hereafter should be in total submission and devotion to the will of Allah. The Muslim should establish a good life, improve his way of life and aim for the Hereafter at the same time. By doing so, he is obeying Allah, being guided by His guidance and instructions. He will still enjoy this life but at the same time whatever he does will be recorded by Allah as his good deeds. Consequently, he will get the pleasure of Allah.

Effective tools to spread the word
The hadith starts with Abdullah bin Umer (Ibn Umer), saying: "The Messenger of Allah*, took me by the shoulder and said." Here we can learn many lessons as teachers and educators. We have to show care and attention to our audience if we want to be good educators or teachers. This can be achieved in many different ways. The Prophet*, used to follow different approaches when dealing with his audience. Sometimes he called upon the name of a certain person and in other times, like in this hadith, he gets closer to the person he is speaking to by putting his hand on his shoulder. Sometimes the Prophet*, will start his advice or teaching with a statement that attracts the attention of the audience . For example, we can see this in a previous hadith (19) that has been said on the authority of Ibn 'Abbas when the Prophet*, said "O young man, I will teach you some words (of wisdom)." Sometimes the Prophet*, used the questioning style as we saw in a number of previous hadiths. The questioning style plays a significant role in conveying the message and attracting the attention of the audience. The Prophet*, asks the question where the answer to that question is only known to him. The audience and the addressee will be more keen and motivated to know the answer. In general, the Prophet*, used all of these approaches or means to show care to the addressee, to attract their attention, and also to stress or emphasise the meaning he wanted to convey. This is also sometimes achieved by repeating what he says. Sometimes he would draw diagrams (e.g. a circle or a square) on the ground. Other times he would use analogy to clarify or simplify a certain concept. All of the above mentioned ways can be adopted as techniques for educating.

The Prophet’s* short but powerful advice
The Prophet*, tells the believers how to deal with this life, and as usual he offers his audience with more than one choice. In this hadith, the Prophet*, is giving two choices or levels with regards to living in this world:
1. To be as a stranger
This is usually the easier choice. The Prophet*, used the analogy 'to be as a stranger' because, as scholars points out, the stranger is usually prepared to eventually go back to his original place or home town. His heart will always long for his home. His main concern will be to be in preparation to do whatever possible and beneficial for returning. A stranger does not look like the other people in his current environment - he is different. Similarly, the believer should be different from those who only care about this life and worldly matters. He should rid himself of the yearning for this materialistic world, a world where some people do not care about the spiritual aspects and the Hereafter. As believers, we should be different from the 'people of this world'.
2. To be a traveller or wayfarer, travelling along a path
This is a higher level than the stranger. The traveller is always travelling day and night without stopping, He is heeding towards his final destination. Even if he stops for a while, this is to provide himself with the needed power to continue his journey and to go farther until he achieves his main objective. A stranger might obtain and keep more things than he actually needs but the traveller takes as little as possible in terms of luggage or other things. Similarly, the believer who is in such a situation has a main objective or concern - and that is not to take more than what he needs (i.e. he should not be weighed down with materialistic things or wealth). Another thing is the traveller needs to know that he is travelling on the right path, the straight path. For this, he needs to obtain the right knowledge (ilm). He also needs good, helpful companions to help him on his way. Some scholars ask how would a person be contented with this life where the day distorts the month and the month distorts the year and the year will distort the age? That is how this person will be satisfied with this life if his age will lead him to his final destination and his life will lead him to death. One scholar said when a person looks back at his life since his awareness of this life until this moment, it will seem like a blink of an eye. What remains for the rest of his life is also like that 'blink of an eye'. If that is the case, the person should be careful and wise up.

Ibn Umer’s Advice
Ibn Umer says: "When evening comes, do not expect (to live till) morning, and when morning comes, do not expect (to live till) evening." This saying is like an explanation to the hadith. Al-Bukhari mentions it because the Prophet*, is talking to Ibn Umer. If one still did not understand the message, Ibn Umer continues by saying: "Take from your health (a preparation) for your illness, and from your life for your death." This means that today you may be healthy, but you never know about the future. It is then wise and better to perform good deeds and to be closer to Allah now before being unhealthy or before dying. This meaning has been stressed by the Prophet*, in other hadiths where he asks us to utilise our time and to do beneficial things whether in this life or in the Hereafter.
This part of the hadith reminds us of the more famous hadith: “Take advantage of five before [another] five occur: Your life before death, your health before your illness, your free time before your preoccupation, your youth before your old age and your wealth before you poverty.” (Haakim) Allah, has given us ample ability and opportunity to perform good deeds, it’s up to us whether we take advantage of them. We are also reminded that the things that we have at our disposal now, will not be with us forever. Each of these five resources can also be a trial for human beings. Indeed, the trial of bounties can be harder than the trial of hardships. When we have a hardship we turn to Allah, but when we have bounties, we tend to forget who gave them to us. In this case, the believer must work harder to restrain themselves, and only partake in that which is permissible and good. Let us look at each of these trials in detail:

Wealth: There is no doubt that wealth is one of the greatest trials facing man. Allah, all praises and glory be to Him, tells us in the Qur’an:  “Know that your wealth and your children are not but a trial for you and that Allah has with Him a great reward” (Surah al-Anfaal:28) Similarly the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, advised us: “Verily, for every nation there is a fitnah (trial and temptation). And the fitnah of my nation is wealth.” (Tirmidhi) One of the greatest trials of wealth, both earning it and spending it, is that it diverts us from the most important thing in life, the remembrance of Allah, all praises and glory be to Him. Allah tells us: “O you who believe, let not your wealth and children divert you from the remembrance of Allah. And whoever does that, then they are the losers.” (Surah al-Munaafiqoon:9)
The Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, advised us in a hadith recorded in Sahih al-Bukhari, that the ones with the most wealth, will have the least on the Day of Resurrection, except those who say, ‘This is for that, this is for that and this is for that’. In other words, they give their wealth away for good causes. Using wealth in a good way is one of the greatest ways in which we can earn Allah’s pleasure. Allah tells us: “And spend [in the way of Allah] from what We have provided you before death approaches one of you and he says, ‘My Lord, if only You would delay me for a brief term so I would give charity and be among the righteous.’ But never will Allah delay a soul when its time has come. And Allah is acquainted with what you do.” (al-Munaafiqoon:10-11)

Free Time: Free time is amongst one of the important bounties that Allah gives mankind. When we have time that is uninterrupted, we can devote it to study, memorising the Qur’an , helping the poor and needy and other good deeds. If we have time available to us, we have no excuse if we do not use it for the pleasure of Allah. This time will be a proof against us on the Day of Judgement. Unfortunately, our societies seem to be dedicated to entertainment, enjoyment, pleasure and sensual gratification, rather than spending time contemplating the purpose of our existence and our relationship with our Creator. Television, movies, sports, music, art and alcohol are all temptations to sidetrack us from our true purpose in life. The loss of our free time in these is a devastating loss that we will come to regret on the Day of Judgement.

Health: Sickness is a great barrier to performing good deeds, as most good deeds require some type of effort to be exerted. If we become ill, even temporarily, we will not find the means to perform these deeds. By Allah’s infinite mercy, if a person was doing good deeds, then became ill preventing them from doing the deeds, Allah will reward them as if they had been able to perform them. But if a person was not performing good deeds, and then got ill, they will not get any extra reward.

Youth: Youth is one of the most important times in a persons’ life, because they have strength, energy, zeal and more free time. Sadly, it is not unusual for people to consider youth a time for fun and enjoyment. However, this is not the correct Islamic approach. According to Islamic law, when a person reaches puberty, they are fully responsible for their deeds. All training of our youth should therefore be complete before this age. As we mentioned in previous hadith, it was the young Companions to whom the Prophet, peace and blessing of Allah be upon him, gave the most profound advice. If they had reached puberty, the young Companions took part in battles, some even leading armies at the tender age of eighteen.

Life: Every Muslim must realise that this life is a trial. Allah has given us this life to see how we will use it. Allah tells us in the Qur’an: “Blessed is He in whose hands is the dominion, and He is powerful over all things. [He] who created death and life to test you as to which of you is best in deed. And He is the Exalted in Might, the Forgiving.” (Surah al-Mulk:1-2)  Our lives will soon come to an end, and if we spent all our time chasing after our own desires – what will we have to show for our time in this world? The Prophet, peace and blessing of Allah be upon him, advised us: “Three things follow the deceased [to his grave], two of them return and one remains will him: His family, wealth and deeds follow him while his family and wealth return and only his deeds remain with him.” (Bukhari)  Only the good deeds that we perform in this life, for the sake of Allah, will be of benefit to us in the Hereafter. So take the time to get your priorities in order before death overcomes you, as it inevitably will.

The impact of this hadith on the life of Muslims
1. To increase the sense of responsibility in terms of our duties towards Allah, the Prophet*, relatives, and the community members.
2. To motivate the Muslims to enjoin what is good and to forbid what is evil.
3. To be closer to Allah at all times.
4. To minimise weaknesses, shortcomings and sinful acts.
5. To maximise self-accountability and self-reckoning.
6. To emphasise taqwa and fearing Allah the Almighty.
7. To be safeguarded from being misled or enslaved by self-interests, desires and worldly temptations.

Challenges that threaten the above mentioned concept of dealing with this life in a good way
1. The promotion of the materialistic aspects of life, especially by the media.
2. The complexity of contemporary life where there are more problems, and the engagement in life activities without proper balance.
3. Rapid life changes due to technology advancement and progress which in turn creates other problems, such as:
   * Adjustment between the old lifestyle and the new lifestyle.
   * The emergence of new values which lead to conflicts between sets of values.
   * Technology misuse.
   * The increase of social ills.
   * The weak religious awareness and education or spiritual training in the Islamic world (i.e. tazkiyyah).
4. The challenges of modernity.
5. The challenges of globalisation and promotion of imposed corrupted western values.

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