This is the Real and True Mercy

Imaam Ibn Qayyim stated: 

One of the indispensable things to know is that mercy is an attribute that necessitates transmission of benefits and wellbeing to a servant even if his soul dislikes it and is excruciating to it. This is the real and true mercy. So the most merciful of mankind to you is the one who causes you inconvenience in bringing benefit to you and repelling harm from you. Part of the mercy of a father to his son is to compel him to be well cultured through knowledge and deed, to be hard on him in that regard through beating and similar actions, and to restrain him from his lusts that will cause harm to him. Whenever he fails to do that to his son, it signifies paucity of mercy to his son even if he thinks he is showering him with mercy and making life pleasant and comfortable for him. This type of mercy is associated with ignorance, like the mercy of the mother.

Thus, among the perfection of mercy of the Most Merciful is to inflict various types of calamity on the servant, because He is more knowledgeable of his benefit. Consequently, His afflicting him, testing him and restraining him from many of his goals and desires are from His compassion for him. However, because of the ignorance and transgression of the servant, he will blame his Lord for trying him with calamity without knowing His kindness to him with the test and trial.

It was reported in one narration that: “If a person supplicates for the afflicted by saying:  “O Allah, have mercy on him.” Allah – exalted be He - will say: “How will I show mercy upon him more than how I am presently showing mercy upon him?” In another narration: “If Allah loves His slaves, He shields him from the good things of the world and its passions just as one of you would shield his sick person.” So this is from the perfection of His mercy on him and not because of His stinginess to him. Why would He be stingy when He is the Most Generous, and the One to whom all generosity belongs? The generosity of all the creatures in relation to His generosity is lesser than an atom compared to the mountains and sands of the world.

Among the mercy of Allah on His slaves is that He tested them with obligations and prohibitions out of mercy and protection. He is not in need of them as regards to what He enjoined on them, because He is Rich and Praiseworthy; and not because He is parsimonious to them concerning what He has forbidden them, as He is the Most Generous, Most Bountiful. Another form of His mercy is that He made this worldly life resentful and disturbing to them so that they will not feel at home in it nor find tranquility in it, thus they will be desirous of permanent bliss in His abode and within His proximity. Consequently, He transports them to that through series of test and trials.

So He withheld from them in order to give them; He afflicted them with calamity in order to grant them wellbeing; and He caused them to die in order to give them life. From His compassion to them is that He warned them against Himself so that they will not be deluded and treat Him in a manner not befitting of Him as He said:  “And Allah warns you against Himself (His Punishment) and Allah is full of Kindness to the (His) slaves.” [Soorah Aal-Imraan: 30]. More than one of the pious predecessors said: “Among His kindness to His servants is that He warns them against Himself so that they will not fall into deception with Him.”

Source: Ighaathah al-Lahfaan min Masaa’id ash-Shaytaan by Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyyah

The Correct way of Following the Imaam in Salaah

Shaykh Muhammad Saalih al-‘Uthaymeen (may Allaah have mercy on him) wrote: Is it the takbeer of the Imaam (i.e. his voice) that should be considered [in following him] or his movement?

Response: What should be considered in following the Imaam is the action except when you cannot see him; then in this case you are excused. If the Imaam says, Allaahu akbar while going for prostration, and ends the takbeer before reaching the ground, do not prostrate. Al-Baraa’ bin ‘Aazib (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “When the Messenger of Allah (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam) said, ‘Sami’a Allaahu liman hamidah’, none of us would bend his back [to start prostrating] until the Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam) went down into prostration, then we would go down into prostration after him.”[1] This is the etiquette.

Therefore, what should be taking into consideration is the action [of the Imaam and not his voice]. However, a person may be far away where he cannot see the Imaam, in this case, the voice should be considered in following the Imaam based on the saying of Allah the most High: “So fear Allah as much as you are able…” [At-Taghaabun: 16]

  

Source: Sifah as-Salaah, p. 211-212 by Shaykh Muhammad Saalih al-'Uthaymeen

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[1] This means that whoever is praying behind an Imaam should not move to the next posture of the prayer until the Imaam has reached it.

Neglected Adhkaar after Iqaamah

Dr. Abdul ‘Azeem bin Badawee wrote:

When the Mu’adhdhin is done with the Adhaan or iqaamah and the listener repeated what he said, the listener should then say what is stated in the following two hadeeth: Abdullaah Ibn ‘Amr reported that he heard the Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam) say, “If you hear the Mu’adhdhin, repeat what he says and then send Salaah upon me, for whoever sends Salaah upon me once, Allaah will send Salaah upon him ten times. Then ask Allah to grant me the position of al-waseelah as it is a rank in Paradise that is reserved for a slave among the slaves of Allah and I hope that it will be me. Whoever asks for me to have al-waseelah will be assured of my intercession.”

Jabir reported that the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam) said, “Whoever says upon hearing the call to prayer, ‘O Allah, Lord of this perfect call and the prayer about to be performed, grant Muhammad al-waseelah and al-fadeelah, and resurrect him to the praiseworthy position that You had promised him,’ will be granted my intercession on the Day of Resurrection.”

Source: Al-Wajeez fee Fiqh as-Sunnah wal-Kitaab al-‘Azeez, p. 95 by Dr. Abdul-‘Azeem bin Badawee

Shaykh al-Albaanee explained:

“That which the one hears the Iqaamah is required to say [after the Iqaamah] is similar to what the one who hears the Adhaan is required to do such as repeating what the Mu’adhdhin says, sending Salaah upon the Prophet and asking for al-waseelah for him … due to the generality of the Prophet’s saying: ‘If you hear the Mu’adhdhin, repeat what he says..’  This is because Iqaamah is regarded as Adhaan both linguistically and technically based on the Prophet’s saying: “Between every two calls to prayer (Adhaan), is a prayer.” Meaning Adhaan and Iqaamah.”

Source: Athamar al-Mustataab fee Fiqh as-Sunnah wal-Kitaab, p. 214, by Muhammad Naasir ad-Deen al-Albaanee

The Abandoned Sunnah of Praying Naafilah

One of the abandoned Sunnah today is to perform voluntary prayers where people will not see someone. The Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wasallam) said: “The prayer of a man where no one will see him is twenty five times more rewardable than his prayer where people will see him.” Recorded by Aboo Ya’laa with a saheeh isnad; al-Albaanee classified it saheeh in Saheeh al-Jaami’ as-Sagheer (no. 3821)

Source: Sunan Mahjoorah, p. 32 by Shaykh Muhammad Sa’eed Raslaan

Engaging in Sports in Schools is Haraam for Girls

Shaykh ‘Abd al-Kareem al-Khudayr (may Allah preserve him) was asked: 

With regard to the introduction of physical education in girls’ schools in such a way that it does not contradict Islamic teachings, what is the ruling on introducing this course into girls’ education? 

He replied: Demanding the introduction of physical education in girls’ schools is following in the footsteps of the Shaytaan, which Allah, may He be exalted, has forbidden to us in the verses in which He says: “O mankind! Eat of that which is lawful and good on the earth, and follow not the footsteps of Shaytaan (Satan). Verily, he is to you an open enemy” [Soorah al-Baqarah: 168]

“O you who believe! Enter perfectly in Islam (by obeying all the rules and regulations of the Islamic religion) and follow not the footsteps of Shaytaan (Satan). Verily! He is to you a plain enemy” [Soorah al-Baqarah: 208]

“And of the cattle (are some) for burden (like camels etc.) and (some are) small (unable to carry burden like sheep, goats etc. for food, meat, milk, wool etc.). Eat of what Allah has provided for you, and follow not the footsteps of Shaytaan (Satan). Surely he is to you an open enemy” [Soorah al-An‘aam: 142]

“O you who believe! Follow not the footsteps of Shaytaan (Satan). And whosoever follows the footsteps of Shaytaan (Satan), then, verily he commands Al-Fahsha (i.e. to commit indecency (illegal sexual intercourse, etc.)), and Al-Munkar (disbelief and polytheism (i.e. to do evil and wicked deeds; to speak or to do what is forbidden in Islam, etc.))” [Soorah an-Noor: 21]. 

Allah has made it perfectly clear to us that the Shaytaan is an enemy to us, and He has commanded us to take him as an enemy. The Shaytaan is eager to lead the children of Adam astray, as he swore to do by the might of Allah, may He be glorified and exalted, when he said – as Allah tells us – : “ ‘By Your Might, then I will surely mislead them all’” [Soorah Saad :82]. 

If we look at what the Shaytaan did, as a result of this so-called sport, stirring up enmity and resentment, and barring people from remembering Allah – as is obvious to everyone – (then we will realize how serious the matter is). It is sufficient for us to remember what happened to neighbouring countries when they ignored the commands of Allah, may He be glorified and exalted, and followed the footsteps of the Shaytaan.

The first step was playing sports in modest clothing, in women-only environments, then they gave up these conditions gradually, little by little, until it ended up with the situation that no caring and mature-thinking Muslim could approve of, let alone anyone who is religiously committed. If men are expected to prepare themselves and be physically strong, then women are expected to focus on their role by staying at home and raising the next generation with religious commitment, good morals, virtues and Islamic etiquette.

What I have no doubt about is that playing sports in school, for girls, is Haraam, because of the negative consequences that result from it, as is obvious to anyone who has a mind to think. It is not permissible to demand it, let alone approve of it. 

Source: Fataawa ash-Shaykh ‘Abd al-Kareem al-Khudayr (1/21, 22). Click here fore more details