Brief Comments on Riyaadh al-Saaliheen #79

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

The following points are covered under this topic:

1. Importance of revising knowledge

2. What forgetting the Qur’aan means and the rulings pertaining to it

3. Reasons for forgetting and its cure

4. Weak Hadeeth

Riyaadh al-Saaliheen: Chapter: The Command to keep on reciting the Qur’aan and being careful not to allow oneself to forget it.

1002 - Narrated Abu Musa رضي الله عنه: the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “Keep refreshing your knowledge of the Qur’aan, for, by Him in Whose Hand my life is, Qur’aan runs away (is forgotten) faster than camels that are released from their tying ropes.” [Saheeh al-Bukhaaree (5033) and Saheeh Muslim (1727)]

1003 - `Abdullaah ibn `Umar رضي الله عنهما reported Allaah’s Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم as saying: “The example of a man who has memorized the Qur’aan is like that of a hobbled camel. If he remained vigilant, he would be able to retain it (with him), and if he loosened the hobbled camel it would escape.” [Saheeh Muslim (1722)]

The obligation for men to perform the Salaah in Jamaa`ah:

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

Shaikh Ibn Baaz رحمه الله said:

Allaah تعالى says:

﴿وَأَقِيمُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَآتُوا الزَّكَاةَ وَارْكَعُوا مَعَ الرَّاكِعِينَ﴾

{And perform al-Salaah, and give Zakaah, and bow down along with those who bow down (in prayer).} [Surah al-Baqarah (2): 43]

This verse is prove that it is obligatory (upon individuals) to gather together to observe the Salaah in congregation. If the purpose was just to observe it, then the following command would not have been stated clearly in the last part of this verse: {and bow down along with those who bow down (in prayer).}

﴿وَإِذَا كُنتَ فِيهِمْ فَأَقَمْتَ لَهُمُ الصَّلَاةَ فَلْتَقُمْ طَائِفَةٌ مِّنْهُم مَّعَكَ وَلْيَأْخُذُوا أَسْلِحَتَهُمْ فَإِذَا سَجَدُوا فَلْيَكُونُوا مِن وَرَائِكُمْ وَلْتَأْتِ طَائِفَةٌ أُخْرَىٰ لَمْ يُصَلُّوا فَلْيُصَلُّوا مَعَكَ وَلْيَأْخُذُوا حِذْرَهُمْ وَأَسْلِحَتَهُمْ﴾

{When you (O Messenger) are among them, and lead them in al-Salaah, let one party of them stand up [in Salaah] with you taking their arms with them; when they finish their prostrations, let them take their positions in the rear and let the other party come up which has not yet prayed, and let them pray with you taking all the precautions and bearing arms.} [Surah al-Nisaa’ (4): 102]

Allaah تعالى has made it an obligation upon Muslims to observe the Salaah in congregation at times of war and great panic. If this is the case, then what about doing so at times of peace? If it was allowed for someone to abandon the Salaah in congregation, those who are engaged in war against the enemy would be the first to have an excuse for abandoning the congregation. So, it becomes evident that observing the Salaah in congregation is one of the most important obligations and that no one is allowed to abandon it.

[Majmoo` Fataawa of Shaikh Ibn Baaz (12/15-16)]

Brief Comments on Riyaadh al-Saaliheen #78

Etiquette: Permissible sitting positions

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

Chapter: On the permission to lie on one's back and put one leg across the other when one's private parts are not exposed, and the permission to sit cross-legged and sitting with one's legs drawn up

820 - Narrated `Abbaad bin Tameem that his uncle said: “I saw Allaah’s Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم lying flat (on his back) in the mosque with one leg on the other.” [Saheeh al-Bukhaaree (475, 6287) and Saheeh Muslim (5239)]

821 - Jaabir bin Samurah رضي الله عنه said: “When the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم prayed the Fajr (dawn) prayer, he used to sit crossed-legged where he had prayed till the sun had come well up.” [Sunan Abu Dawood (4850) and graded as “Saheeh” by Shaikh al-Albaanee]

Why some people can’t accept the truth?! (some of the reasons):

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

1) Hero worship:

In the past the people did not accept the truth because it went against the teachings of their forefathers:

﴿وَإِذَا قِيلَ لَهُمُ اتَّبِعُوا مَا أَنزَلَ اللَّـهُ قَالُوا بَلْ نَتَّبِعُ مَا أَلْفَيْنَا عَلَيْهِ آبَاءَنَا أَوَلَوْ كَانَ آبَاؤُهُمْ لَا يَعْقِلُونَ شَيْئًا وَلَا يَهْتَدُونَ﴾

{When it is said to them: "Follow what Allah has sent down." They say: "Nay! We shall follow what we found our fathers following." (Would they do that!) Even though their fathers did not understand anything nor were they guided?} [Surah al-Baqarah (2): 170]

The intention of the Imaam is different from that of the followers

The intention of the Imaam is different from that of the followers. Everyone has to make the intention for the prayer he is about to pray. The place of intention is the heart.

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

1) Praying optional (Nafil) prayer behind the one who is praying the obligatory (Fardh) prayer:

a)

Abu Sa`eed al-Khudree رضي الله عنه narrated: A man came when Allaah’s Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم had already prayed, so he صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “Which of you will give some reward to this person?” So a man stood to pray with him. [Sunan al-Tirmidhee (220) and the wordings are his; and Sunan Abu Dawood (574) with the wordings: “Is there not a person who will give him charity by praying with him?”; and graded as “Saheeh” by Shaikh al-Albaanee]

Don't be lax about straightening the rows in congregations

And we want to unite the Ummah whereas we cannot even stand as one in our prayers:

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

Shaikh Ibn Baaz رحمه الله said:

And from the matters in which there is laxity and negligence - on the part of some of the Imaams (of the Masaajid) and those who are praying behind them in the congregation – is in regards to straightening the rows, standing (straight) in it, and being close to each other (while offering the prayer in congregation). And in this matter it is feared that the wrath of Allaah سبحانه may befall (the one who is negligent about it) on account of the threats that have been reported in this regard:

On the authority of Abu Mas`ood al-Ansaaree رضي الله عنه who said:  The Messenger of Allaah صلى الله عليه وسلم used to gently pat our shoulders (when we were standing in rows) at the time of Salaah and say: “Keep (the rows) straight and do not differ from each other (do not be irregular) lest your hearts should suffer from discord.” [Saheeh Muslim (868)]

Narrated An-Nu`maan bin Basheer رضي الله عنه: The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “Straighten your rows or Allaah will alter your faces (and would create dissension amongst you).” [Saheeh al-Bukhaaree (717) and Saheeh Muslim (874, 875)]

It was reported on the authority of Anas رضي الله عنه that the Messenger of Allaah صلى الله عليه وسلم said:  “Straighten your rows, for the straightening of rows is a part of the perfection of Salaah.” [Saheeh al-Bukhaaree (722) and Saheeh Muslim (871, 873)]

[Majmoo` Fataawa of Shaikh Ibn Baan (12/10)]

More Ahaadeeth on Straightening the Rows:

http://ilm4all.blogspot.com/2012/04/hadeeth-prophetic-method-of-uniting.html

Better a thief than a Raafidhee

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

Bashshaar bin Bard said to Hilaal bin `Attiyyah and they were friends:

“O Hilaal! Will you listen to my advice?” He (Hilaal) said: “Yes.” He said: “(O Hilaal!) There was a time when you used to steal donkeys. Then you repented (from it) and (now) you became a Raafidhee. (O Hilaal!) Return back to stealing donkeys, for it is, By Allaah, better for you than to be engaged in Rifdh (i.e. better for you than being a Raafidhee).”

[Wafayaat al-A`yaan (1/425)]

The one with poor recitation should not be made the Imaam - especially when the meaning changes

Praying behind the one who makes apparent and clear mistakes while reciting the Qur’aan

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

Question: Some scholars are reported to have said that the one who makes clear and obvious mistakes while reciting the Qur’aan, like substituting the letter (like ز instead of ذ, س instead of ث), or changing the vowel sound, or leaving al-Madd al-waajib (the compulsory prolongation) etc., then it is not proper to pray behind the one who does so. Please advise us in this regards.

Shaikh Ibn Baaz رحمه الله:

The mistakes are of two types: 1) the mistake which alters the meaning. In this regards, the Imaam should be notified so that he corrects his recitation. Example: reciting

The Best Gift: Taqwa

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

Taqwa is: “the Fear of Allaah” by which one abstains from sins.

Taqwa is: that which generates “the Love of Allaah” by which one performs all that he has been commanded.

Taqwa is: “God-consciousness” by which one is in constant remembrance of Allaah and is mindful of Him تعالى in all his affairs.

The best provision is: “Taqwa”

The best advice one can give is: “Taqwa”

The best advice one receives is: “Taqwa”

The best thing one enjoins upon others is: “Taqwa”

The best gift one can give to his loved ones is: “Taqwa”

The thing by which people will enter Paradise the most is: “Taqwa”

Welfare of the children: the concern of every parent

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

The welfare of the children depends upon the righteousness of the parents. The more the parents are obedient to Allaah تعالى, the more they secure His protection for their children.

Allaah تعالى says:

﴿فَانطَلَقَا حَتَّىٰ إِذَا أَتَيَا أَهْلَ قَرْيَةٍ اسْتَطْعَمَا أَهْلَهَا فَأَبَوْا أَن يُضَيِّفُوهُمَا فَوَجَدَا فِيهَا جِدَارًا يُرِيدُ أَن يَنقَضَّ فَأَقَامَهُ﴾

{Then they both (Moosaa and Khidr) proceeded, till, when they came to the people of a town, they asked them for food, but they refused to entertain them. Then they found therein a wall about to collapse and he (Khidr) set it up straight…} [Surah al-Kahf (18): 77]