Special Characteristics of Friday

Friday is a day on which it is recommended to dedicate oneself exclusively to worship. It holds exclusive virtues of various forms of compulsory and voluntary acts of worship over others days. Allah – blessed and exalted be He - has set aside a day for the adherents of every religion on which they devote themselves to worship and abandon preoccupation with the world; hence, Friday is a day of worship and its correlation to other days is like the relationship of Ramadan to other months. The hour of acceptance of supplications therein is like the Night of Decree in the month of Ramadan. 

Hence, anyone whose Friday is sound and free, his remaining days of the week will be sound and safe as the remaining year will be safe and sound for anyone whose Ramadan is sound and safe. Anyone whose pilgrimage to the House is complete and free from harm, his remaining life span will be complete and free from harm. Therefore, Friday is the scale of the week, Ramadan is the scale of the year and Hajj is the scale of life span.

Source: Zaad al-Ma’aad by Ibn Qayyim, vol. 1, p 155

Merits of Memorizing the Qur'aan

Memorizing the Qur’aan is an act of worship through which one seeks the Pleasure of Allaah and reward in the Hereafter. Without this intention, a person will never have any reward; rather he will be punished for doing this act of worship for someone or something other than Allaah. 

The person who has memorized the Qur’aan should not have any intention of gaining worldly benefits by memorizing the Qur’aan, because his memorization thereof is not a product to be traded with in this world, rather it is an act of worship which is done for the sake of his Lord. Hereunder are some of the special privileges in this world and in the Hereafter that Allaah has given to the one who memorizes the Qur’aan:

First:  He takes precedence over others in leading the prayer:  

Aboo Mas’ood al-Ansaaree narrated: “The Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) said: ‘The people should be led in prayer by the one among them who has the most knowledge of the Book of Allaah; if they are equal in knowledge of the Qur’aan, then by the one who has most knowledge of the Sunnah; if they are equal in knowledge of the Sunnah, then by the one who migrated (made Hijrah) first; if they are equal in terms of Hijrah, then by the one who became Muslim first. No man should lead another in prayer in his domain of authority, or sit in his place in his house, except with his permission.” Recorded by Muslim 

Second: He is placed in front of others in a common grave, closer to the Qiblah, if it is essential to bury him with others:

 Jaabir bin ‘Abdullaah (may Allaah be pleased with them both) said: “The Prophet would wrap two of the men slain at Uhud in a single cloth, then he would ask, ‘Which of them knew more Qur’aan?’ If one of them was pointed out to him, he would put that one in the lahd (niche in the side of the grave) first. And he said, ‘I will be a witness over these people on the Day of Resurrection.’ He commanded that they should be buried with their blood, without being washed, and that no funeral prayer should be offered for them.” Recorded by al-Bukhaaree

Third: He takes precedence in leadership if he able to bear that: 

‘Aamir bin Waathilah narrated that Naafi’ Ibn ‘Abd al-Haarith met ‘Umar in ‘Usfaan, and ‘Umar had appointed him as governor of Makkah. ‘Umar said, “Who have you appointed in charge of the people of the valley?” He said, “Ibn Abza.” ‘Umar asked, “Who is Ibn Abza?” He said, “One of our freed slaves.” Umar said, “Have you appointed over them a freed slave?!” He said, “He is well-versed in the Book of Allaah and he has knowledge of the laws of inheritance.” ‘Umar said: “Your Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) said: ‘Indeed, by this Book, Allaah would exalt some people and degrade others.’” Recorded by Muslim 

Fourth:  He will be given a crown of honour and a garment of honour to wear in the Hereafter:

Aboo Hurayrah related that the Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) said: “The Qur’aan will come on the Day of Resurrection and will say, ‘O Lord, adorn him.’ So he will be given a crown of honour to wear. Then it will say, ‘O Lord, give him more.’ So he will be given a garment of honour.’ Then it will say, ‘O Lord, be pleased with him.’ So Allaah will be pleased with him. Then it will be said to him, ‘Recite and advance in status, and for each verse you will gain one more reward for good deed.” Recorded by al-Tirmidhee who said it is a hasan saheeh hadeeth. Al-Albaanee graded it hasan in Saheeh at-Tirmidhee).

Fifth: The Qur’aan will intercede for him with his Lord:

It was narrated that Abu Umaamah al-Baahili said: “I heard the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) say, ‘Recite the Qur’aan, for it will come on the Day of Resurrection to intercede for its companions. Recite the two bright ones, al-Baqarah and Soorah Aal ‘Imraan, for they will come on the Day of Resurrection like two clouds or two shades or two flocks of birds in ranks, pleading for those who recite them. Recite Soorah al-Baqarah for to take recourse to it is a blessing and to give it up is a cause of grief, and the magicians cannot confront it.” Recorded by Muslim and by al-Bukhaaree in a mu’allaq form 

Sixth: For Parents who assisted their Children to Learn the Qur’aan

Aboo Hurayrah said: “The Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) said: ‘The Qur’aan will come on the Day of Resurrection like a pale man saying to its companion, “Do you recognize me? I am the one who made you stay up at night and made you thirsty during the day…” Then he will be given dominion in his right hand and eternity in his left and a crown of dignity will be placed upon his head, and his parents will be clothed with garments which far surpass everything to be found in this world. They will say, “O Lord, how did we earn this.” It will be said to them, “Because you taught your child the Qur’aan.”’” Recorded by at-Tabaraanee in al-Awsat 6/51

Buraydah related: “The Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) said: ‘Whoever reads the Qur’aan, learns it and acts in accordance with it, on the Day of Resurrection his parents will be given a crown to wear whose light will be like the light of the sun, and his parents will be given garments which far surpass everything to be found in this world. They will say, “Why have we been given this to wear?” It will be said, “Because your child learned the Qur’aan.”’” Recorded by al-Haakim, 1/756); these two hadeeths support one another. See Silsilah as-Saheehah, 2829. 

This act is not Bid'ah!

Question: Is it bid’ah to say Aameen while the Imaam is making supplication during the Friday sermon?

Response: It is not an innovation to say Aameen to the Imam’s supplication while delivering the Friday sermon when he starts supplicating for the Muslims. In fact it is recommended to say Aameen to his supplication [without raising one’s hand]. However, it should not be done with a loud voice or in unison. Rather, each individual should say the Aameen alone with a low voice so that it would not lead to disturbance or loud voices. So everyone should say Aameen to the supplication of the Imaam secretly and individually.

Source: Fataawaa Arkaan al-Islaam, p. 261 by Shaykh Muhammad Saalih al-'Uthaymeen

Are Women Allowed to Use Beads and the like on Their Hair?

Shaykh Muhammad Saalih al-Uthaymeen said:

If someone were to ask: Some scholars are of the view that the prohibition of [a woman] attaching something to her hair is general regardless of whether the thing is hair or other than hair while some scholars are of the view that it is restricted to hair. Which of the two views is the most correct?

We will respond by saying: The correct view is that if a woman joins another hair or artificial hair to her real hair, there is no doubt that it falls under the hadeeth which prohibits [joining false hair to one’s real hair]; because whoever sees it will think that it is a natural hair. However, whoever attaches something else to the hair, which is very clear that it is not hair, such does not fall under the hadeeth. For example, if a woman ties something that dangles or hangs on her hair, there is no problem or harm in it. This is because it does not fall under the hadeeth and it cannot be considered changing Allah’s creation…

Source: Fath Dhil-Jalaal wal-Ikraam bisharh Buloogh al-Maraam, vol. 4, p. 567 by Shaykh Muhammad Saalih al-‘Uthaymeen

Some Tips on How to Raise Righteous Children

Imaam Ibn Qayyim (may Allaah have mercy on him) stated:

From among that which a child is in dire need of is to pay attention to the issue of his character, because he will grow up based on what his guardian accustomed him with at his tender age of anger, stubbornness, hastiness, foolhardiness with his desires, recklessness, sharpness and greed; as it may become difficult for him to correct all of that when he grows up.

Thus, these characters will become deep-rooted in him to the extent that no matter how he tries to guard against them, they will certainly shame him some day. For this reason, you will find out that most people who have perverted characters, such stems from the type of upbringing they received. In addition, when a child becomes reasonable, it is obligatory to distance him from places of amusement, falsehood, singing; listening to vulgarity, innovations and evil talks.

This is because if he becomes fond of listening to it, it will become difficult for him to avoid it when he grows older and difficult for his guardian to save him from it.  Changing of habits is one of the most difficult things to achieve as it requires a person to invent a second nature, and exiting from the rule of nature is very difficult.

It is also very necessary that his guardian should stop him from accepting things from people, because whenever he gets used to collecting something from people, it will become his nature and he will grow up [with the habit] of collecting and not to give. One should accustom him to spending and giving. If his guardian intends to give something out (as charity), he should give it to the child to give it out so that he will taste the sweetness of given.

He should keep him away from the act of telling lies and deception more than the way he keeps him away from a deadly poison. This is because whenever the path of lie and deception becomes easy for him, it will ruin his happiness in this world and in the Hereafter and deprive him of every good. He should also keep him away from laziness, idleness, meekness and relaxation; rather, he should engage him in the opposites. 

He should not allow him to feel comfort except with what will keep his soul and body busy, because laziness and idleness have evil consequences and lead to regret at the end, while seriousness and hard work have praiseworthy end either in this world or in the Hereafter or in both.

Hence the most comfortable people are the most hardworking people and the most hardworking people are the most comfortable people. Dominion in this world and happiness in the Hereafter cannot be attained except by crossing the bridge of hard work. Yahyaa bin Abee Katheer said: “Knowledge cannot be attained with comfort of the body.” 

He should also accustom him to getting up at the last part of the night, for it is a time for the division of bounties (from Allaah) and distribution of rewards/prices. Some will be given small; some will get plenty while some will be denied. So when he gets used to it at his tender age, it becomes easier for him when he grows older.

Source: Tuhfah al-Mawdood fee Ahkaam al-Mawlood, p. 211 by Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyyah