Can women be prevented from going to the Masjid?

Question asked to Imaam Muqbil (may Allaah have mercy upon him)

Q.  Is it permissible for the woman to go to the masjid for the purpose of learning the religion and beneficial knowledge without the permission of her guardian?

A. It is obligatory upon him to allow her (to go to the masjid). The Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) said:

“Do not prevent the female slaves of Allaah from the Masaajid of Allaah”

(Bukhaari and Muslim)

This narration is agreed upon on the authority of Ibn Umar (may Allaah be pleased with them both).  He should not prevent her except in the case where he fears that she will mix with the men and be put to trial by way of them or she will put them to trial. The repelling of the harm and the preservation of the safety of the heart takes precedence over that (i.e. her going to the Masjid).

Source:  Fataawa Al-Mar’ah lil-Imaam Al-Waadi’ee  pg. 70 Fatwaa #37

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Can the Menstruating Women Touch the Mushaf ?

Question asked to Imaam Muqbil (may Allaah have mercy upon him)

Q. Is it ok for the menstruating woman to touch the Mushaf/Qur’aan?

A. There is no harm in that, due to there being no evidence to prohibit that. As for the Hadeeth

 

“None should touch the Qur’aan except for the one who is pure”

(Haakim, Bayhaqi, Authenticated by al-Albaani by way of its combined routes)

Imaam Ash-Shawkaani (may Allaah have mercy upon him) said concerning this:

“That which is intended by – None should touch the Qur’aan except for the one who is pure – means the believer. The evidence is that the Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam) said:

“Indeed the believer doesn’t become impure”

(Bukhaari and Muslim)

Also the Prophet (sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam):

“Prohibited traveling to the lands of the enemy with the Qur’aan”

(Bukhaari and Muslim)

Source: Fataawa Al-Mar’ah lil-Imaam Al-Waadi’ee pg. 91 Fatwaa # 69

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The Guidance of Our Children by Mohammad Elshinawy

 

Surah Jumuah by Fahd Al Kendari

“The Third Party”

Bismillah walHamdulillah

GUIDELINES FOR ‘PRIVATE EMAILS’

How often do we find ourselves having to email a sister (if you are a brother) or a brother (if you are a sister) privately, about a matter that is really not one that can be shared with everyone on the MSA board? There are three guidelines that fall under this:

1) Always make sure it is something that really can’t be avoided. Don’t just email him/her privately because it’s more personal that way, or because you just get a kick out of it. Really think to yourself: Do I absolutely have to email him/her about this matter privately? If you answer yes, see the next guideline.

2) ALWAYS CC a third party in the email. Rarely do we need something to be addressed that is SO private, that we can’t add even one more person to the conversation. If you really think this is the case, ask yourself what is it that you are discussing with the brother/sister that is so personal that you can’t tell anyone else, and is this something you should really be discussing with them?

“And do not follow desires such that you are misguided from the Way of Allah”[38:26]

CCing a third party will keep you in check during the conversation. There are things that can happen in a 2-person conversation that are less likely to happen in a 3-person conversation. If you still think you cannot CC third party, see the next guideline.

3) If you absolutely cannot CC a Third Party: Fear Allah, and keep the email as short as humanly possible. This is one of the easiest avenues that Shaytaan can enter to ruin your life, so don’t even give him that option. If the case is really that you cannot CC anyone, then understand that you still have a third party in that email/conversation and it is shaytaan.

The Prophet sallallahu 3layhi wasallam said: “Never is a man alone with a woman except that Satan is the third party with them.” (Al-Tirmidhi 3118, Narrated by Umar ibn al-Khattab)

And know that Allah swt is Watching you from Above the seven Heavens, and He sees what you are doing.

“Have you not seen that Allah knows whatsoever is in the heavens and whatsoever is on the earth? There is no Najwa (secret counsel) of three, but He is their fourth (with His Knowledge, while He Himself is over the Throne, over the seventh heaven), nor of five but He is their sixth (with His Knowledge), not of less than that or more, but He is with them (with His Knowledge) wheresoever they may be; and afterwards on the Day of Resurrection, He will inform them of what they did. Verily, Allah is the All-Knower of everything.” Surah Mujadilah, ayah 7

So keep the email as short as possible and do not mention anything that does not need to be mentioned. If you can, point it out to the email-recipient “I did not CC a third party for such and such reason, but let’s keep this conversation short and to the point.” This shows them that you are not interested in anything but a quick answer to your inquiry, otherwise, it sends people a really WRONG message when you email them privately.
Stay tuned for more!

(Check out the old posts under “MSA advice”)

“Cut the fat out”

Bismillah walHamdulillah

When working with an MSA, you may find yourself having to email the opposite gender. So a brother may have to send an email to a sister, or a sister may have to send an email to a brother. Or it may be something like an email list where your email gets sent to every member of the MSA board. Without certain guidelines, this can be quite a hotbed of fitan (pl. of fitnah).

The biggest and easiest guideline that anyone can follow is simple, 4 short words:

Self-explanatory, no? Basically, your emails should be so short and to the point, that you leave no room to guess second-meanings, and that you don’t try to show your personality to the opposite gender (will it benefit the da’wah if you were to try to show what a great sense of humor you have? probably not, it’ll probably do the opposite, trust me.) So if there is a question about what speaker to get for an event, the answer is as simple as:
Asalamualaykum
I suggest speaker A, B, and C.

You may end it with Barak Allahu Feekum, or Jazzakum Allahu Khayr, or waAsalamualaykum. But sometimes people end their emails like this purely out of habit. Like they don’t know what else to say and the email looks incomplete so they just stick it in the end. Does this mean that this is fat that needs to be cut out? Maybe not, but at least don’t stick it there out of habit, do it sincerely hoping that Allah blesses them, and rewards them, etc.

That is Guideline #1 for Communicating through Emails, more to come inshaa’Allah!

Amazing Facts About the Bible

The Role of Parents in Their Children’s Lives

The Role of Parents in Their Children’s Lives By Maria Khani Play Quoting a saying of Imam Ali where he says children should be played with until the age of seven, after which they are disciplined for a further seven years, and then befriended for the next seven years, For example, prayer times should be a time of great joy for young children, not something that is rushed. Parents can tickle and play on the prayer mat and display affection before starting, so that children have a positive association with this important ritual. Love – Parents can nurture love within the home and love for Allah and His Prophet through gentleness and warmth. – Pick up the Quran, take your child in your arms and read together. Ask him or her to point out words they know or that you want them to learn. – Move beyond memorization alone, and capture your child’s imagination by telling them the stories that would make a typical fairy tale pale in comparison. – Flying creatures? Al-Buraq. – Miraculous objects? A Pen, which wrote about everything that would happen. – Look for topics that would engage children – study the animals in the Quran and work on crafts that relate back. – Make the Adhan a fixture in your home. Encouragement & Support Respect is key to the success of any family, and translates to communities where children are heard and are encouraged to participate. This starts at home. Parents should make time for their children – why do teachers often know more about our own children than we do? If that’s the case, more time with your child is in order. Respect your child’s needs. No one likes to get up in the morning and immediately head to work, for example. Give children at least one hour and a half before they have to leave the house, or start an activity. How best to wake them up? Massage them, kiss them – make waking up a bonding activity that everyone looks forward to. Make sure children are well fed before starting the day. Teach Generosity Encourage children to share with others. Only buy them what they need, not what they want. Let them give of their time and their effort, and they will soon prefer to give, rather than receive. Muslim Versus Mainstream Make Eid an awesome party. Talk about the point of celebrating achievements. Teach about sensitive issues – like sex education – through references to the Quran and Sunnah (which a parent can slowly impart between grades 4 to 7). Other health topics from the Sirah include information on how to keep bodies clean. For daughters, show the honor of Hijab, emphasizing its beauty as something a woman voluntarily does for the sake of Allah. Mothers should talk about how they feel about their Hijab, and share their own experiences with it. Father’s Role Parents should consult each other on how to raise their children. In Surah Al Baqarah, Allah Talks about the decision to wean a child as one that both parents should make. “…but if both desire weaning by mutual consent and counsel, there is no blame on them,” [Noble Quran 2:233] Nowadays, many fathers have given up this responsibility, but it is important for them to remain involved in the upbringing of their children. Remember The Goal: When Prophet Zachariah called on Allah to grant him a son, he wanted someone to carry on the Prophetic tradition. The aim of having a child was to raise someone up who would carry on the mantle of righteousness. “And surely I fear my cousins after me, and my wife is barren, therefore grant me from Thyself an heir, Who should inherit me and inherit from the children of Ya’qub, and make him, my Lord, one in whom Thou art well pleased.” [Noble Quran 19:5-6] Remember, Prophet Noah lost his son because his son’s actions had cut him off from his own father (which shows that ultimately, even the best parent cannot be sure of the outcomes.) “[Allah] said: O Nuh! Surely he is not of your family; surely he is (the doer of) other than good deeds, therefore ask not of Me that of which you have no knowledge; surely I admonish you lest you may be of the ignorant.” [Noble Quran 11:46] Raise your children with love and kindness, and pray that Allah will save us all.

Khadejah Jones Share Islam Team ShareIslam.com

Attend online sisters classes in the comfort of your home. Visit: IslamEvents.com for class schedules. Watch various Islamic channels at WatchIslam.com.

The Jealousy of the Husband for his Wife

‘Iyyad and others said that it (jealousy) is taken from the verb to change, as in changing the heart and arousing anger. The reason for it being that it shares something that is special, and the most severe type is between husband and wife, and that is with respect to the rights between women.

As for the rights of Allah, Al-Khattaabee said that the best explanation of it is the explanation given in the hadeeth of Abu Hurayrah in which the Prophet (Sall Allahu ʿalayhi was sallam) said:  “Verily Allah is jealous and the jealousy of Allah is that a believer does that which Allah has forbidden”.

The meaning of jealousy is that the man protects the woman from speaking to men who are not mahram for her, gazing at them, adorning herself for them, and unveiling herself in front of them. The meaning is not that you question her in her religion and her honor and spy on her. We have in the Messenger of Allah (Sall Allahu ʿalayhi was sallam) and his companions a good example, and here are examples of their jealousy:

On the authority of Al-Mugheerah who reported that Sa’ad ibn ‘Ibaadah said; “If I saw a man with my wife, I would strike him with the sharp side of the sword.” So the Prophet (Sall Allāhu ʿalayhi was sallam) was informed of that and said: “Are you surprised by the jealousy of Sa’d?  Because I am more jealous than him and Allah is more jealous than me.”

He also narrated on the authority of Aisha that the Messenger of Allah (Sall Allāhu ʿalayhi was sallam)) said: Oh nation of Muhammad! No one is more jealous than Allah when He sees His servant or his nation commit adultery.”

On the authority of Asmaa’ bint Abee Bakr who said: ” Az Zubayr married me and did not have any wealth or any possessions at all except for a camel, which helped him to take water and a horse. I used to feed and water his horse, fix the bucket for getting water, and  make dough, but I was not good at baking bread.  So,  our Ansaaree neighbor girls used to make bread for me, and they were honorable women. I used to carry the date stones (from the land that the Messenger of Allah sall Allāhu ʿalayhi was sallam had given Az-Zubayr), on my head, and this land was about two miles from my house. One day, while I was coming with the date stones on my head, I met the Messenger of Allah (Sall Allāhu ʿalayhi was sallam)who was with some Ansaaree men. He called me and then said:“Eak Eak!” in order for me to ride behind him on his camel. I felt shy to go with the men and I remembered Az-Zubayr’s jealousy (as he was one of the most jealous people). The Messenger of Allah (Sall Allāhu ʿalayhi was sallam)) knew that I felt shy, so he moved on. So, I came to Az-Zubayr and said: “I met the Messenger of Allah(Sall Allāhu ʿalayhi was sallam) while I was carrying date stones on my head and he had a group of companions with him, and I was offered a ride, but I was shy from him and I remembered your jealousy.” He said: ” By Allah, the fact that you carry date stones on your head is much more embarrassing to me than you riding with him. She continued, until Aboo Bakr sent me a servant to look after the horse, and then it was as if I had been set free.”

Muhammad ibn Abee al-Muqaaddamee informed him, that Mu’tamar informed him, on the authority of Ubaydillaah ibn Muhammad ibn al-Munkadir, on the authority of Jabir ibn ‘Abdillah from the Prophet (Sall Allāhu ʿalayhi was sallam)) who said: ” I entered Paradise, or I came to Paradise, and I saw a palace.  So, I said:’Who is this for?’ They said: ” It is for Umar ibn Al-Khattaab.” So, I wanted to enter it and the only thing that stopped me from doing so is my knowledge of your jealousy.” Umar ibn Al-Khattaab said :” Oh Messenger of Allah (Sall Allāhu ʿalayhi was sallam) let my mother and my father be sacrificed for you. How dare my jealousy offend you.”

‘Abdaan informed me that ‘Abdullah informed him, on the authority of Yoonus, on the authority of Az-Zuhree who reported that Ibn Al-Musayb informed me on the authority of Abee Hurayrah who said:  

“We were sitting with the Messenger of Allah (Sall Allāhu ʿalayhi was sallam) who said: ” When I was sleeping I saw into Paradise . So, there was a woman making Wudhoo’ beside  a palace. Therefore, I said: ‘Who is this for?’ He said: “This is for Umar .” I remembered his jealousy and I turned away from it.” Umar who was sitting with us started crying and then said: ” How dare my jealousy offend you  Oh Messenger of Allah”

From The jealousy that we are talking about is that the man prevents the woman from exposing her adornments to men that are not lawful to her such as his brothers and other than them.

On the Authority of ‘Uqbah ibn Aamir that the Messenger of Allah (Sall Allāhu ʿalayhi was sallam) said: “It is forbidden to you to enter upon (unlawful) women.” So, a man from the Ansar said: ” Oh Messenger of Allah can we see our sisters-in-laws?” He said: ” The in-laws are death.”

Al-Imaam An-Nawwawee said concerning the meaning of in-laws: Its meaning here is the close relatives of the husband excluding his fathers and his children because they are mahram for his wives, and it is allowable for them (wives) to be alone with them (his father and his children) and they are not described with death. The meaning is his brother, or his nephew, or his uncle and those like them, from those who not mahram. Most people are tolerant in this, and stay alone with the wife of his brother although he is death, and he is the first person who should be blocked from unlawful women.

Also from the jealousy, that we are talking about is not exposing her to trials. Those trials come with extended absence from her or by his presenting her with something that Allah has forbidden like the television or so on. Also, that he does not require her to go out a lot to the mall or the hospital.

Source:  Supporting the Rights of the Believing Women by Umm Salamah As-Salafiyyah, pg. 109

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Beware of the “Spiritual Void” by Nouman Ali Khan

NOTE: There is music in this video, so only put your volume on when you see Br. Nouman Ali Khan.

This is the first post under “MSA Advice” for a reason. Many times we get so caught up in running an amazing MSA and in helping this Muslim and that Muslimah, but we do it, at our own expense. Sometimes we become so engrossed in calling out to everyone else, that we fail to notice that our own hearts are deteriorating. That they are becoming hard, that our deeds are frighteningly insincere, and that our advice is only for others and never for ourselves. This video discusses this “spiritual void,” a gaping hole that sometimes appears inside of some “active” brothers and sisters, a condition that deserves our attention and acknowledgment.

As Allah swt says in Suratul Baqarah:

“Do you order righteousness of the people and forget yourselves while you recite the Scripture? Have you then no sense?”