To what extent can the husband’s relatives interfere in his wife’s life

What are the rights of the in-laws (the husband’s brothers and sisters) in Islam? Do the father- and mother-in-law have the right of obedience? Do they have the right to enter my room with or without permission? To what extent should I obey them with regard to my clothing, cooking, childcare, keeping house and going out of the house? Do they have the right to interfere in our marital life? Do they have any rights with regard to our work, where we live, education and the like? Do I have to ask their permission to visit my family? Do they have the right to know all the details about our life? Do I have to obey them and shake hands with my husband’s relatives? Do my husband and I have to attend weddings in which there are haraam things?.

Praise be to Allaah.

The wife does not have to obey anyone among her in-laws, whether that is her husband’s father, mother, brothers or sisters, in any matter, major or minor, unless they tell her to do something which is obligatory according to Islam, or forbid her to do something that is haraam. In such matters she has to obey, whether that comes from a relative or a stranger, an in-law or anyone else.

With regard to the husband, she must obey him in matters that are right and proper, because Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“Men are the protectors and maintainers of women, because Allaah has made one of them to excel the other, and because they spend (to support them) from their means…”

[al-Nisa’ 4:34]

Ibn Katheer (may Allaah have mercy on him) said, discussing some of the husband’s rights over his wife:

Allaah has given the husband rights and commanded the wife to obey him; He has forbidden her to disobey him because of the fact that he excels her and maintains her. Tafseer Ibn Katheer, 1/493

It is not permissible for any of your in-laws to enter your room without your permission, because Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“O you who believe! Enter not houses other than your own, until you have asked permission and greeted those in them; that is better for you, in order that you may remember”

[al-Noor 24:27]

If any of them enters your room with your permission but he is not one of your mahrams – such as your husband’s brother – then there has to be one of your mahrams present, so that there will be no haraam khulwah between you (i.e., being alone together). You must also observe full shar’i hijab, and be certain that there is no risk of falling into fitnah (temptation).

Despite all these conditions, it is still better for him not to enter upon you in your room; this is purer for the heart and farthest removed from suspicion. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“And when you ask (his wives) for anything you want, ask them from behind a screen, that is purer for your hearts and for their hearts”

[al-Ahzaab 33:53]

And the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Beware of entering upon women.” A man from among the Ansaar said, “What about the in-law, O Messenger of Allaah?” He said, “The in-law is death.”

Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 5232; Muslim, 2172.

Al-Nawawi (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:

With regard to the Prophet’s words “The in-law is death,” what this means is that there is more fear with regard to him than anyone else, and evil is to be expected of him, and the fitnah (temptation) is greater because he is able to reach the woman and be alone with her without anyone denouncing that, unlike the case of one who is a stranger. What is meant by “in-law” (hamu) here is the relatives of the husband apart from his father/grandfather and sons/grandsons. Fathers/grandfathers and sons/grandsons are mahrams for his wife and it is permissible for them to be alone with her. The word “death” here does not refer to them. Rather what is meant is the brother, brother’s son, paternal uncle, cousin, etc, who are not mahrams. People are usually careless about this matter and a man may let his wife be alone with his brother. This is what is referred to by “death” and should be prevented more than her being alone with a stranger for the reasons mentioned above.

They do not have the right to force you to do any of the things you mention, such as how to cook, how to dress or other things such as working and teaching etc, unless that is by way of advice and kind treatment, not by way of compulsion.

It is not permissible for them to interfere in your and your husband’s private affairs, but if they convince your husband not to go out on trips and he tells you to stay in the house, then obey your husband, and be patient and seek reward.

You do not have to ask permission from any of them to visit your family; that is not their right. You have to ask your husband’s permission, and if he gives you permission then you do not have to ask permission from any of them.

They do not have the right to know the details of your life (you and your husband), and it is not permissible for your husband to tell them of any private or intimate matters between the two of you.

Your husband has to honour his parents, and you should help him in that. You should not be the cause of a split between him and them. You will see the consequences of that in your children in sha Allah.

Your husband’s visits to his parents should be on the basis of need. Something may happen to his parents which requires their son to visit them a great deal, such as sickness and the like. You husband has to pay attention to that.

With regard to your serving them and doing housework, you are not obliged to do that, but if you do it as an act of kindness towards them, or to please your husband, that will be good and you will have the reward for that in sha Allaah. This is something that will raise your status in the eyes of your husband and his family in this world, and will raise you in status in the Hereafter too, in sha Allah.

With regard to your living separately, your husband has to ensure that you have a place where you can live separately, but there is nothing wrong with his parents living in the same place with you if the house is big enough, and if that will not cause you any harm.
With regard to your life being under scrutiny, his parents have no right to dominate your life. Try to communicate in a proper manner with your husband and reach an understanding. If he can resolve the matter, all well and good, otherwise there is nothing wrong with you speaking to his family in a wise and mature manner. If they do not respond and the situation continues as it is, then be patient and seek reward from Allaah.

With regard to your shaking hands with men who are not your mahrams, this is haraam. There is no obedience to any created being if it involves disobedience towards the Creator. For more information on the ruling on shaking hands with a non-mahram, see question no. 21183.

It is not permissible for your husband to go to wedding parties in which there is noise and sin. For more information see question no. 10957.

Finally…

Our advice to husbands is that they should honour their parents with regard to that which is right and proper, but they should not obey them if they transgress the limits set by Allaah, or help them in wrongdoing, which includes mistreating their sons’ wives. They should discuss with them in a way that is better and not prevent them from obeying Allaah. They should be strong in adhering to the truth and confront those who stand in the way of their implementing the laws of Allaah in their homes, because the Muslim does not acknowledge any authority over him except the Qur’aan and Sunnah. They should also beware of those who call them to commit sin.

If the husband thinks that the interests of sharee’ah dictate that he should keep his wife and his family apart, then there is nothing wrong with him doing that.

We should be tolerant and be patient with one another, and we should not forget to be kind to one another. We should speak to one another in kindness and be patient, and ward off evil with that which is better. We should speak well to the slaves of Allaah until we meet Allaah.

Allaah is the One Whom we ask to set all our affairs straight. May Allaah send blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad

Source : http://islamqa.com/en/ref/6388

best islamic nasheeds english hope you enjoy

How Umm Waraqa RA got martyred

As Salamu Alaikum wa rahmatullah,

I found this intresting and inspiring of this great companion of our Prophet { sallal lahu alayhi wa sallam}

The prophet (peace be upon him) called Umm Waraqa RA - the martyr. She hoped for death in the cause of Allah. Therefore, at the battle of Badr, she asked the prophet (peace be upon him) permission to join the Muslim army in order to treat the wounded or she might win the martyrdom.

The prophet peace be upon him said to her:

“Allah would grant you martyrdom, stay home you are a Martyr."

She memorized the Quran by heart, The prophet therefore allowed her to lead he household of women in prayer. She kept doing the rites of Islam until she was murder at the hands of two slaves: Male and female. These two slaves killed her because their freedom was condition on her death.

In the morning Umar ibn Al kHattab said “by Allah, I did not heart the recitation of aunt Umm Waraqa last night. According he checked her home and found that she had dies. He said, “The messenger of Allah was truthful when he used to say, “Le us go to visit the martyr”

Umar ordered the killers to be brought before him. They confessed their crime, thus, he sentenced them to be crucified, and they were the first people to be crucified in Madina. May Allah have mercy on her, who won the martyrdom, which she has asked before.

Children songs, Peace TV

A beautiful dua by the girls

Beauty Tips For Muslimahs!

The virtues of hijaab

The virtues of hijab:

1. An act of obedience.

The hijab is an act of obedience to Allah and to his prophet (pbuh), Allah says in the Qur'an:

`It is not for a believer, man or woman, when Allah and His messenger have decreed a matter that they should have an option in their decision. And whoever disobeys Allah and His Messenger, has indeed strayed in a plain error.' (S33:36).


Allah also said:
'And tell the believing women to lower their gaze (from looking at forbidden things) and protect their private parts (from illegal sexual acts, etc) and not to show off their adornment except what must (ordinarily) appear thereof, that they should draw their veils over their Juyubihinna. '(S24:31).


2.The Hijab is IFFAH (Modesty).

Allah (subhana wa'atala) made the adherence to the hijab a manifestation for chastity and modesty. Allah says:

'O Prophet! Tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to draw their cloaks (veils) over their bodies (when outdoors). That is most convenient that they should be known and not molested.' (S33:59).

In the above Ayaah there is an evidence that the recognition of the apparent beauty of the woman is harmful to her. When the cause of attraction ends, the restriction is removed. This is illustrated in the case of elderly women who may have lost every aspect of attraction. Allah (swt) made it permissible for them to lay aside their outer garments and expose their faces and hands reminding, however, that is still better for them to keep their modesty.

3. The hijab is Tahara (Purity)

Allah (swt) had shown us the hikma (wisdom) behind the legislation of the hijab:
`And when you ask them (the Prophet's wives) for anything you want, ask them from behind a screen, that is purer for your hearts and their hearts.' (S33:53).

The hijab makes for greater purity for the hearts of believing men and women because it screens against the desire of the heart. Without the hijab, the heart may or may not desire. That is why the heart is more pure when the sight is blocked (by hijab) and thus the prevention of fitna (evil actions is very much manifested. The hijab cuts off the ill thoughts and the greed of the sick hearts:
`Be not soft in speech, lest he in whose heart is a disease (of hypocrisy or evil desire for adultery, etc) should be moved with desire, but speak in an honourable manner.' (S33:32)

4. The hijab is a Shield

The prophet (pbuh) said:

'Allah, Most High, is Heaven, is Ha'yeii (Bashful), Sit'teer (Shielder). He loves Haya' (Bashfulness) and Sitr (Shielding; Covering).'

The Prophet (pbuh) also said:

'Any woman who takes off her clothes in other than her husband's house (to show off for unlawful purposes), has broken Allah's shield upon her. '

The hadith demonstrates that depending upon the kind of action committed there will be either reward (if good) or punishment (if bad).

5. The hijab is Taqwah (Righteousness)

Allah (swt) says in the Qur'an:
O children of Adam! We have bestowed raiment upon you to cover yourselves (screen your private parts, etc) and as an adornment. But the raiment of righteousness, that is better.'(S7:26).

The widespread forms of dresses in the world today are mostly for show off and hardly taken as a cover and shield of the woman's body. To the believing women, however the purpose is to safeguard their bodies and cover their private parts as a manifestation of the order of Allah. It is an act of Taqwah (righteousness) .

6. The hijab is Eemaan (Belief or Faith)

Allah (swt) did not address His words about the hijab except to the believing women, Al-Mo'minat. In many cases in the Qur'an Allah refers to the 'the believing women'. Aisha (RA), the wife of the prophet (pbuh), addressed some women from the tribe of Banu Tameem who came to visit her and had light clothes on them, they were improperly dressed:

'If indeed you are believing women, then truly this is not the dress of the believing women, and if you are not believing women, then enjoy it.'

7. The hijab is Haya' (Bashfulness)

There are two authentic hadith which state: 'Each religion has a morality and the morality of Islam is haya'' AND 'Bashfulness is from belief, and belief is in Al-Jannah (paradise)'.
The hijab fits the natural bashfulness which is a part of the nature of women.

8. The hijab is Gheerah

The hijab fits the natural feeling of Gheerah, which is intrinsic in the straight man who does not like people to look at his wife or daughters. Gheerah is a driving emotion that drives the straight man to safeguard women who are related to him from strangers. The straight MUSLIM man has Gheerah for ALL MUSLIM women In response to lust and desire, men look (with desire) at other women while they do not mind that other men do the same to their wives or daughters. The mixing of sexes and absence of hijab destroys the Gheera in men. Islam considers Gheerah an integral part of faith. The dignity of the wife or daughter or any other Muslim woman must be highly respected and defended.

Ideal Muslimah

As Salamu Alaikum wa rahmatullah

Dear sisters,

Here's an extract from a book - Ideal Muslimah. I guess most of us must have read it many a times. Though we may not possess all the qualities {as none of us can gain perfection } but atleast can try to near perfection by adorning ourselves with these qualities in our character. Here it goes

It is abundantly clear that the Muslim woman who is guided by Islam is pure, constructive, productive, alert aware , educated and refined. She fully understands her duties towards Allah swt and towards herself, her parents , her husband, her children, her relatives, her neighbours, her friends and sisters in Islam and her society as a whole, with all the different types of people, events and transactions it includes.

She believes in Allah swt and the Last day ; She is alert to the trials of this life and the traps of Shaytaan ; She worships Allah obeys His commands , heeds His prohibition , accepts His Will and Decree, returns to His protection and seeks his forgiveness when she stumbles or becomes negligent ; she is aware of her responsibility before Allah towards the members of her family ; She is keen to please Him by whatever she does ; she understands the true meaning of being a servant of Allah and supports His true religion ; she enjoins what is good and forbids what is evil as much as she is able.

She is aware of her obligations towards herself, understanding that she is human being composed of a body , mind and soul, each of which has its own needs and requirements. Hence she is careful to strike the right balance between her body , mind and spirit ; She does not devote attention to one at the expense of the others, rather . she devotes to each of them the attention that is needed to form a balanced personality , always guided by the wise teachings of Islam as seen in the Qur'an , the sunnah and example of the righteous salaf {predecessors } who followed in the footstpes of the Prophet with all sincerity.

She takes care of her outward appearance without going to extremes of excess or showing off, and she takes care of her inner nature in a manner that befits the human being whom Allah has honoured by making the angels prostrate to him and subjugating all that is in heaven and earth for his benefit. In this way , she develops a balanced , likeable character, one that is attractive both in appearance and in her thinking, reasoning , behaviour and reactions

She does not allow ger care of her body and mind to distract her from spiritual matters ; she devotes just as much attention to her spiritual development and polishes her soul thru worship , dhikr and reading Qur'an . Her guideline in all of this is to maintain a precise balance between all aspects of her personality.
She treats her parents with kindness and respect. She knows their status and her duties towards them, and she is very cautious not to disobey them. She never spares any effort to find the best way to treat then properly, and she surrounds them with every type of care, honour and respect.

With her husband , she is an ideal wife, intelligent, respectful, obedient, tolerant and loving, eager to please him and to respect and honour his family. She conceals his secrets and helps him to be righteous, to fear Allah and to do good deeds. She fills his heart with happiness, peace and tranquility.

With her children, she is loving, compassionate mother who wisely understands the great importance of her motherly role in bringing them up. She makes them aware of her love and care for them, and never withholds right guidance from them if they need it, so that they will grow up with an ideal Islamic upbringing that will cultivate in them the best morals and attitudes and a love for the highest things.

With her daughter-in-laws and Son-in-laws, she is kind , fair and wise and offers them sincere advice. She does not interfere in their private matters. She treats them well and strives to strengthen the bonds o flove and to ward off the evils of disputes.

With her relatives, she upholds the ties of love and does not neglect to keep in touch and treat them well. She is keen to maintain the relationship even if they do not uphold ties, acting in obedience to the teachings of Islam , which urge the upholding of the ties of kinship with love and affection.

She treats her neighbours well and is concerned about them. She knows the great rights they have, which Jibreel emphasised to the Prophet { PHUH} so strongly that the Prophet thought he was going to make them his heirs. So she likes for them what she likes for herself. She treats them well, respects their feelings, puts up with their insults , turns a blind eye to their faults and mistales, and is careful not to mistreat them or to fall short in her treatment of them.

With her friends and sisters in Islam, she is distinguished from other women byway in which she builds her relationship with them on a basis of love for the sake of Allah swt, which is the highest and purest love that exists among human beings, as it is free from any impurity pr ulterior motive and its purity is derived from the light of Revelation and Prophetic guidance. Therefore , the muslim woman is sincere and tolerant in her feelings with hostile arguments and disputes , bear grudges or withhold any favour she cud do for them, and she always greets them with a cheerful , smiling face

In her relationship with her society , she is a social being of the highest class, because of what she learned of the wise teachings of Islam concerning social dealings and high morals. From the rish spring of Islam she derives her customs , habits and behaviour and the ethics and values which purify her soul and form her distinct social character.

She is of good character { has a good attitude towards others } and is sincere and straighforward with all people.

She does not cheat , deceive or stab in the back. She is not a hypocrite, She does not speak falsely { or bear false witness }. She offers sincere advice and guides others to good deeds. She keeps her promises. She has the characteristics of modesty and respect.

She does not interfere in that which does not concern her. She avoids slandering the honour of others and seeking out their faults. She does not show off. She is fair in her judgements of others. SHe does not oppress others. SHE is fair even to those whom she does not like. She not rejoices on the misfortune of others. She avoids suspicion. SHe restrains her tongue from malicious gossip. She avoids cursing and obscene speech. She does not make fun of anybody. She is gentle with people. She is compasisonate.She tries to benefit others and protect them from harm. She eases hardhip of one who is suffering. She is generous. She is tolerant.

She does not bear grudges or harbour resentment. She is easy -going , not harsh. She is not envious. She avoids boasting and show-off. She does not speak in an exaggerating manner. She has a likeable personality. She is friendly and likeable. She keeps secrets. She is of cheerful countenace. She has a sense of humour. SHe tries to make people happy. She is not over-strict. She is not arrogant. She is humble. She is modest in her appearance and dress. She pursues noble things. She is concerned about the affairs of muslims. She honours her guest. She prefers others to herself, She measures her habits and customs against standards of Muslims. She uses greetings of Islam.

She does not enter any house except her own, without permission. She sits wherever she finds space in a gathering. She does not converse privately with another women when a third women is present. She respect elders and distinguished people. She chooses work that suits her feminine nature. She does not imitate men. She calls others to truth. She enjoins what id good and forbids bad. SHe is wise and eloquent in her dawah. She mixes with righteous women.She hastens to reconcile between muslim women. She appreciates favours from Allah and is grateful for them. She visits sick . She does not attend funeral procession { i.e follow bier }

This is the personality of a muslim woman as defined by the teachings of Islam.No doubt the Muslim woman is the most refined example womanhood ever known in any human society. Along with all the qualities listed above , a muslim woman also possesses wisdom, purity of soul , a high level of spirituality, a sound concept of life, the universe and humanity and a deep awareness of her important role in life.

Surely women 's reaching such a high level of intellectual , psychological , spiritual and moral development is a great human blessing, which is unequalled by any of the many blessings that human beings enjoy.

The great hopes that are pinned on the Muslim woman , who is aware of her role , require her to be even stronger in proving her Islamic identity, wherever she may live and whatever her circumstances may be. By reinforcing her Islamic identity , she clearly demonstrates her awareness, high aims , sincerity and devotion to Islam and its distictive culture. This is also indicative of her ability to contribute to the revival of the ummah to which she belongs and the development of the country she lives in.

May Allah swt, help and guide every Muslimah to possess these qualities and overcome any weaknesses of hers. Do remember me in your duas

True Story: " When He Said My Friend Was Ugly"

True Story: " When He Said My Friend Was Ugly"

A Woman ---

In this simple but beautifully written piece, guest writer Aamir Shamsi shares his answer to the question of “What is a Woman?”

What is a Woman…?

A woman is one of the most beautiful creations of Allah. A woman is the jewel of mankind. A woman is the shining star of the moonlit sky.

She is the foundation of our houses, the honour of our souls, the carer of our children, and the guidance without which we would stumble.

Our Messenger salla Allahu alayhi wasallam said, “[Women] are your partners and committed helpers.” [Sahih al-Jami']

You can see their innocence in the form of a daughter, their care in the form of a sister, their warmth in the form of a beloved, their dedication in the form of a wife, and their unconditional love in the form of a mother.

But most of all, you can see their shame and modesty in the form of a Muslimah, subhanAllah. Their heads are covered, their beauty saved only for their husbands and their actions are pure. They only associate with decent company that is the best for their deen, and absent is all lewdness, vulgarity and shamelessness.

They do not belong to the world of other women where free-mixing, promiscuity and boldness reign supreme. Gentle, humble and sweet are they. Their values differ so greatly from such an ugly society. Such is their dedication and belief in Islam. And some pious women are even lucky to have Khudah-se-Noor (light from Allah) bestowed upon them.

The Prophet salla Allahu alayhi wasallam said “The whole world is a provision, and the best object of benefit of the world is the pious woman.” [Saheeh al-Jami']

We men are truly blessed by Allah to have them among us. Their love can make our world, and their rejection can destroy our world; we men are truly nothing without our women.

The Final Messenger salla Allahu alayhi wasallam said “Hayaa (shame and modesty) is a branch of imaan.” [Bukhari]

May Allah guide all our women to have as much Hayaa as gifted to them by ar-Rahman ar-Raheem, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful. And may Allah grant me and all other men with a life partner that has Khudah-se-Noor, both outside and inside. Ameen.

_______________
Aamir Shamsi, 20, wrote this while he was missing his mother who was abroad at the time. He is studying Medicine at Imperial College London and is a part of IC Islamic Society and ICSM Muslim Medics, as well as heading Islamic Relief’s ULU Charity Week for his university in 2010. He has been a fan of IGIC since January 2009. You can follow him on Twitter @aamir2727

Glorifying Allah while cooking

True story

Translated By: IslamWay Team

I will not keep it a secret that I am not the one of cooking fans, as I used to consider it as a waste of time and effort.

When I got engaged, I discovered that my mother in law is one of those who spend most of their life time at the kitchen, moreover she loves to give variety to new kinds of food from time to time using different kinds of Arabic and western cooking books.

This matter – of course – used to make me worry because

I thought that my fiancé, after marriage, would compare between my cooking and his mother’s. So when we have finished with all marriage arrangements and the marriage date was determined, my fiancé noticed that I was delaying the wedding and every time I used to invent a different excuse so finally he came and asked me “you are delaying the marriage for a reason I do not know, what is it?” then I felt the matter is being discovered and I do not have anything to do but saying the truth, so I said “ frankly, I hate kitchen!” then he laughed in astonishment and told me “anyway I like simple kinds of food and also I do not mind if I eat the same kind of each two days ” these words calmed me down and I did not delay the marriage any more, on the contrary after I got married I started feeling responsible for the house and all its matters which include the kitchen! So I told myself “you have to do your best in the kitchen even if your husband likes simple kinds of food”.

At the first day I entered my kitchen for cooking I asked God for help and trust on Him then I pleaded Him that my food would not come to be much less that of my mother in law. Then I started to cook and during that time I remembered--with God’s help-- some words of one of our sisters who was giving us lessons at the mosque during Ramadan and she said – God Rewards her—“the Arabian woman spends most of her life time at the kitchen, especially in Ramadan, which wastes much of this great month. Ramadan is like a scent flying away easily! So do not miss it in the kitchen and such kind of works, and if though why do not you mention God while at the kitchen? Has anyone of you tried to cook while she is glorifying Allah?!”

I felt I need to do that, not to take the opportunity of Ramadan—because we were in other month which I do not remember now—but for the hope that God Will Make my food tastes good!!

And I decided to start with saying God’s name before each step; starting with turning the fire on , passing through putting butter, then onion and garlic , then tomato and ending with turning the fire off.

The second time I asked myself why do not I say Surat Al-Ikhlas (the loyalty), after mentioning God’s name, during each step? I love this Surat very much, it is short and there are a lot of rewards with saying it too!!

So I have started doing that with God’s help and then, subsequently, God led me to glorify Him while the food is being cooked and during washing the dishes or cleaning the kitchen.

My husband’s reaction was to praise my food to the extent that he said my food has been better than his mother’s! —And of course I did not believe him then—because I am not the one who would pay much attention for the taste of food as long as it is fitting for eating and the salt is not too much, and I thought him saying that as a compliment, after all I was still new bride and such compliments are very normal. But I have noticed that he is repeating such words very often and this made me so happy but I never believed him and thought it is just encouraging from him especially when I discovered that he is one of the greatest fans when it comes to well cooked food , moreover he pays much attention to the way each kind of food is cooked, and thus he told me before marriage turned out to be encouragement , nothing more!!!

When I used to invite my mother in law to spend few days with us she used also to praise my food and I thought she was making a compliment as well. I have noticed that she used to spend her time with me at the kitchen while I was pleading her to have rest at the living room however she used to refuse. Because we were chatting with each other—I did not notice that she was watching my cooking till she asked me once about the method of cooking a certain kind of food and when I mentioned it she was surprised but I did not understand why till she called me once, after months from my marriage, to tell me “I adjure you to tell me the secret of your food taste” so I asked her if she is joking but she swore that she was not!!!

This was a surprise for me and I started thinking deeply to find out the reason but I could not find any but mentioning God’s name and surat Al-Ikhlas and sometimes glorifying God so I told her: “do you want the truth?” she said “sure” then I told her the aforementioned , she was surprised but she seemed as if she did not believe me, I noticed the next time she visited us that she was watching me while cooking to make sure of what I had told her!! And when she believed she told me that she “is doing the same thing now” and that she started noticing a progress in her food taste too!!!.

The funny thing about this matter is that I do not hate cooking or spending time at the kitchen anymore, especially when I play a cassette there; in the kitchen, to listen to Quran and different kinds of religious lessons. Subsequently the time I am spending at the kitchen has become amusement and I do not feel the pass of time except after finishing with everything.

Not only that but also—with God’s help—I am not confined to cook just the ordinary dishes but also baking foods like cake, pizza, and sometimes making jars and pickles to the extent that my friends and relatives did not believe that when they knew!!!

Glory to Allah that mentioning Him has secrets we do not know, but such ignorance dose not prevent us the amazement of such secrets. So Glory to you God how great you are!!!!

Source: Saaid.net

For beautiful hair

Source : I got it covered.org

To most sisters, hair is a big deal. Whether it’s feeling unglamorous in the morning because your hair is mashed and tussled, or feeling elegant and ladylike on the rare occasions you get your hair all done up; whether it’s the meltdown at the site of split ends, or the happiness at a new style or haircut – whatever it is, women worry and care about their hair. That’s why when I noticed a change in the state of my hair a few months after beginning to wear the hijab, it really depressed me. My hairs weren’t as shiny, silky, or smooth as before (perhaps from being tied in a bun and covered every single day), and it was finally when I saw them getting weaker and more brittle that I complained to my mom in a state of total despair.

I was so upset that day, and as I held a few strands of hair in front of my eyes and pouted, I said to my mom, “My hair has gotten so bad; it used to be so much healthier before! Sometimes… sometimes… sometimes I wish I didn’t have to wear the hijab!”

I had done it. I had let Shaitaan win against me in this internal battle I had been having for the past few days. I had succumbed to weakness and had expressed anger at something that was supposed to be a blessing from Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala for all believing women.

My mother looked at me, and I could see that she was disappointed in my words. Then she said something that would be etched into my mind forever; something that I remember to this day, four years later, as clearly as I might have heard her say it yesterday.

After a moment of silence where guilt slowly overcame me, my mother said, “Wouldn’t you rather have beautiful hair in jannah?”

Those few words held so much weight, and hearing them was like a shockwave of realization that spread across me. Of course I wanted beautiful hair in jannah! Of course I would give up everything in this world simply to be in jannah! Of course the temporary lackluster state of my hair did not matter if I would get an eternal lifetime of gorgeous, lustrous, (and I mean this quite literally) heavenly hair in jannah!

Surprisingly, I never complained about my hair ever again. Her words stuck with me and continue to remind me that tests from Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala come in many forms, some big and some small, and the best thing to do is to remain steadfast in faith and seek everlasting reward for the life that comes after this one. Will yourself to do anything for the sake of Allah, ‘azza wa jal.

So instead of wasting my time moping and complaining about something that was just a minor consequence of a greater deed, I decided to invest my time in finding tips that would make my hair better. Through the years, I have collected a few, some that are spiritual and some that are homemade and through products, and am going to share them here so that they can benefit anyone seeking them!

– First and foremost, dispel any negative thoughts that you may have about the hijab, regardless of whether you wear it or not. Allah ta’ala says in the Quran, “O you who have believed, enter into Islam completely [and perfectly] and do not follow the footsteps of Satan. Indeed, he is to you a clear enemy” (2:208). Those negative thoughts are brewing simply because of the whisperings of Shaitaan, and so to love wearing hijab for the sake of Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala, you must love it in its entirety.

– I have recently started a habit of making a regular, personal du’aa to Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala about my hair. I say, “Ya Rabb, give me beautiful hair,” among other things. You will notice a miraculous difference in your hair after a few days, insha’Allah.

– If you take vitamins (which you should!). Fish Oil pills are good at strengthening the hair.

– When you are at home, or are not in the company of non-mahrams, leave your hair open! Do not tie it back or even clip it, simply so that your hair can “breathe” as it is covered most of the time.

– Change the part of your hair often (if you part it), or brush it opposite to the side you usually do. If that means having to tilt your head forwards and brush your hair upside down, do it! Hair flattens since it is kept right-side-up all the time, so changing it up a bit allows the hairs to move around into positions they are normally not in. (On another note, do not brush your hair too much! This strips it of its natural oils and makes the hairs more dry and brittle. Try brushing your hair just once, lightly through the ends, after showering).

– Hair care experts say that you should technically shampoo your hair only once a week, since shampoo is too harsh to be used every day! If your hair can’t handle that (mine certainly can’t!), shampoo every other day (or every two days) and only use a quarter-sized amount of shampoo and a dime-sized amount of conditioner.

– Make a paste of egg yolk (not egg whites) and pure yogurt. Massage it into your hair, focusing more on the dry ends. Leave it in for half an hour and then shower. Your hair will be noticeably softer after just one use! Do this once a week or every two weeks. (If you don’t want to waste the extracted egg whites from this, whip the egg whites in a small bowl and apply a layer onto your face for fifteen minutes. You will feel your skin tighten, which helps prevent wrinkles and makes pores appear smaller).

– Apply about 1 cup of organic mayonnaise to your dry hair and massage it into your scalp. Leave it in for twenty minutes before shampooing. This will make your hair super soft!

– Apply Extra Virgin Olive Oil into your hair and thoroughly massage it into the roots. Leave it in all night and wash it out in the morning. To prevent oil stains, cover your pillowcase with a towel. Doing this keeps the hair shiny and prevents dandruff.

(On an interesting note, Saied al-Ansari narrated that the Prophet Muhammad salla Allahu alayhi wasallam would say: “Eat olive oil and massage it over your bodies since it is from a blessed tree.” [at-Tirmidhi and ibn Majah; al-Albani classed it as Sahih]. )

– And finally, I don’t use any hair products except one, which is the only one to make a noticeable difference in my hair. John Freida’s Frizz Ease is really good at minimizing frizz and making your hair silky, and you can find it at any retailer (like Wal-Mart, Target, or Shoppers Drug Mart) for under $10. Apply a dime-sized amount into towel-dried hair after every shower, and brush your hair with your fingers from roots to ends.

All this tips are tried, tested, and true! Alhumdulillah, I have not had a split-end in my hair for two years and counting, so they are definitely good ones to test.

Lastly, remember that when we do something for the sake of Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala, He will reward us in ways that we cannot imagine (insha’Allah). So if you are contemplating wearing the hijab, or are already wearing it, do not let Shaitaan get to you and only keep what should be your main goal in mind: jannah – with beautiful hair and all!

How shud a women in Islam conduct herself

Respected scholars, As-Salamu `alaykum. Please enlighten us – according to Islam – on how we, Muslim women, should conduct ourselves especially when getting out. Can we go out to fulfill our needs? If so, how should our behavior and dress be? Jazakum Allah khayran

Wa `alaykum As-Salamu wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.
In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.
Dear sister in Islam, we commend your keenness on getting your self well-acquainted with Islam and its teachings, which is the way Allah has chosen for the welfare of His servants.

Islam does not prohibit women from going out to fulfill their needs but it lays down a proper code of behavior, which is primarily intended to safeguard the modesty, dignity and honor of men and women. Allah, the Creator of humans, knows our nature better than ourselves, and thus He has prescribed appropriate rules of behavior and appearance to be observed when men and women interact with one another in a social milieu. These rules of interaction also include a prescription for modesty in dress, talk and walk, etc.

In his well-known book, The Lawful and the Prohibited in Islam, Sheik Yusuf Al-Qaradawi, states:


The correct Islamic behavior required of Muslim women which keeps them from wantonly displaying their attractions is characterized by the following:

1- Lowering the gaze: Indeed, the most precious ornament of a woman is modesty, and the best expression of modesty is in the lowering of the gaze, as Almighty Allah says, [...And tell the believing women that they should lower their gazes...] (An-Nur 24: 31)

2- Not intermingling with men in such a way that their bodies come in contact or that men touch women, as happens so often today in the movies, theaters, university classrooms, auditoriums, buses, streetcars, and the like. Ma`qal ibn Yasar narrated that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “It is better for one of you to be pricked in the head with an iron pick than to touch a woman whom it is unlawful to touch.” (Reported by at-Tabarani and al-Bayhaqi)

3- Her clothing must conform to the standards laid down by the Islamic Shari`ah, which are as follows:

a) Her dress must cover her entire body with the exception of [that which is apparent] (An-Nur 24: 31) which, according to the most preferable interpretation, refers to the face and hands.

b) It must not be transparent, revealing what is underneath it. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) has informed us that, “Among the dwellers of hell are such women as are clothed yet naked, seducing and being seduced. These shall not enter the Garden, nor shall (even) its fragrance reach them.” Here, the meaning of “clothed yet naked” is that their light, thin, transparent garments do not conceal what is underneath. Once some women of Bani Tamim, who were clad in transparent clothes, came to see `A’ishah, and she remarked, “If you are Believers, these are not the clothes which befit believing women.” On another occasion, when a bride wearing a sheer and transparent head-covering was brought into her presence, she commented, “A woman who dresses like this does not believe in surat an-Nur.” (This is surah 24, which together with surah 33 (al-Ahzab) contains many injunctions concerning purity and propriety, man-woman relations, and dress.)

c) Her dress must not be too tight so as to define the parts of her body, especially its curves, even though it may not be transparent. This describes many of the styles of clothing current in the sensuous, materialistic civilization of the Western world, whose fashion designers compete with one another in devising clothing for women which tantalizingly emphasizes the bustline, waist, and hips, etc., in order to elicit the lustful admiration of men. Women who wear such clothes likewise fall under the definition of “clothed yet naked”, since such a dress is often more provocative than one which is transparent.

d) She must not wear clothes which are specifically for men, such as trousers in our time. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) cursed women who try to resemble men and men who resemble women, and prohibited women from wearing men’s clothing and vice-versa.

e) In her choice of clothing she should not imitate non-Muslims, whether they are Jews, Christians, or pagans, for Islam disapproves of conformity to non-Islamic modes and desires its followers to develop their own distinctive characteristics in appearance, as well as in beliefs and attitudes. This is why Muslims have been asked to be different from non-Muslims in many aspects, and why the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) has said, “Whoever imitates a people is one of them.”

4- The Muslim woman walks and talks in a dignified and business-like manner, avoiding flirtatiousness in her facial expressions and movements. Flirting and seductive behavior are characteristics of wrong-minded women, not of Muslims. Allah Almighty says: [Then do not be too pleasant of speech, lest one in whose heart there is a disease should feel desire (for you)...] (Al-Ahzab 33: 32)

5- She does not draw men’s attention to her concealed adornment by the use of perfume or by jingling or toying with her ornaments or other such things. Allah says: [They should not strike their feet in order to make known what they hide of their adornment...] (An-Nur 24: 31)

The women of the time of jahiliyyah (pre-Islamic period) used to stamp their feet when they passed by men so that the jingling of their ankle-bracelets might be heard. The Qur’an forbade this, both because it might tempt a lecherous man to pursue her and also because it demonstrates the evil intention of the woman in attempting to draw the attention of men to herself. Similar is the Islamic ruling concerning the use of fragrant perfumes, since here again the intention is to attract men by exciting their desire. A hadith states, “The woman who perfumes herself and passes through a gathering is an adulteress.” (Reported by Abu Dawud and at-Tirmidhi) This hadith has also been reported by an-Nasa’i, Ibn Khuzaymah, and Ibn Hibban in the following words: “Any woman who perfumes herself and passes by a group of people so that her scent reaches them is an adulteress.” Al-Hakim also reported this hadith and said that it has sound transmitters.

From all this we know that Islam does not require, as some people claim, that a woman should remain confined to her house until death takes her out to her grave. On the contrary, she may go out for prayer, for her studies, and for her other lawful needs, both religious and secular, as was customary among the women of the families of the Companions and the women of later generations. Moreover, this early period of Islam is considered by all Muslims to be the best and most exemplary period in the history of Islam. Among the women of this time were those who took part in battles in the company of the Prophet himself (peace and blessings be upon him), and after that under the caliphs and their commanders. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) told his wife Sawdah, “Allah has permitted you to go out for your needs.” (Reported by al-Bukhari) He also said, “If someone’s wife asks his permission to go to the mosque, he should not deny it to her.” (Reported by al-Bukhari) On another occasion he said, “Do not prevent the bond-maids of Allah from (going to) Allah’s mosques.” (Reported by Muslim.)

Some very strict scholars are of the opinion that a woman is not allowed to see any part of a man who is not her mahram (unmarriageable relative). They base their ruling on a hadith reported by at-Tirmidhi on the authority of Nabhan, the slave of Umm Salmah, that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) told Umm Salmah and Maymunah, his wives, to veil themselves when Ibn Umm Maktum entered. “But he is blind,” they said. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) replied, “Are you blind, too? Do you not see him?”

However, researchers say that the manner in which this hadith has been transmitted renders it unsound. While the narrator here is Umm Salmah, the transmitter is her slave Nabhan, who had no concern with the incident nor any need to report it. Even if the hadith is sound, it simply shows that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was very strict in respect to his wives because their exceptional status required greater modesty on their part; Abu Dawud and other great scholars have commented on this exceptional position of the wives of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). In any case, the significance of the following well-established and sound hadith remains uncontested: The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) instructed Fatimah bint Qays to spend the required period of confinement (`iddah or waiting period) following the death of her husband at the house of Umm Sharik. But he later changed his mind, saying, “My Companions gather in her house. Go and stay with Ibn Umm Maktum, since he is a blind man. If you uncover yourself he will not see you.” (Tafsir al-Qurtabi, vol. 11, p. 228.)

Source : Islamonline

A letter to a daughter

As Salamu Alaikum wa rahmatullah

I wish every sister-in-Islam {esp youth} do read this letter.

In the name of Allah. All praise to Allah. Peace and blessings on the Messenger of Allah.

As-salamu `alaykum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh.

My dearest daughter,

I choose to send you this letter rather than speak to you because I know you love to receive and reread my e-mails. I am concerned about what I see developing in you and in many of the youth of your generation. This is why I am asking Allah to guide me as I offer you my advice in the following matters.

You should refrain from spending so much of your time on the computer playing silly games and listening to un-Islamic music. They corrupt the heart and soul. They occupy precious space in the mind that should be used for deep thought and contemplation on life and the real issues that affect you as a Muslim.

"Allah says: Son of Adam: Fill your time with My worship and I will fill your heart with richness, and end your poverty. But if you do not, I would make your hands completely busy (in worldly affairs) and I would not end your poverty."(At-Tirmidhi; confirmed to be a strong hadith)

Sheikh Ibn Al-Qayyim once wrote:

Our purpose of existence on earth is more meaningful than being slaves to worldly gains. There can be no meaningful life better than that prescribed by our Creator Allah. Every act done according to Allah's way is an act of worship.

You should also spend time browsing the fatwa databases. The databases contain Islamic rulings and advice from authentic Islamic scholars on issues that come up in the everyday life of Muslims. It is useful because we need to learn the Islamic perspective on these issues according to the Shari`ah. As Muslims, we can seek the advice of scholars on these matters, and this is the only way we can know how to best handle them. In doing so and by acting upon these rulings, we make sincere efforts to guard ourselves from sins and innovations that lead to the Fire.

But always remember that extremism in deen is not the way of Allah's Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him). The believer who takes Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) as an example for living life takes the middle path. As you study and learn new things, you must also beware of arrogance. What you gain in knowledge is not for show. It is not to be used for making a person look or feel less religious or pious than someone else.

Knowledge gained should bring us closer to Allah Most High, for all knowledge has its beginning with Him. Any knowledge that takes you away from the remembrance of Allah Most High is useless knowledge. It is like a ball and chain that you drag along behind you. It's "dead weight" that has no real benefit other than to slow you down and keep you distracted. It's like eating a candy bar. Surely it has some tasty significance, but it weighs you down with calories and has no nutrition. Worse yet, it takes up resources that could be put to better use learning useful knowledge.

I worry about you because you are in the stage of your development where you sometimes neglect doing what you know is right out of fear of how your peers may respond towards you. Never allow the fear of what others may say or think about you sway you from either acquiring knowledge or putting into action what you have previously learned. Fear Allah alone and He will make things right for you in the long run.

[And whoever is careful of (his duty to) Allah, He will make for him an outlet, and give him sustenance from whence he thinks not; and whoever trusts in Allah, He is sufficient for him; surely Allah attains His purpose; Allah indeed has appointed a measure for everything] (At-Talaq 65:2-3)

[If Allah assists you, then there is none that can overcome you, and if He forsakes you, who is there then that can assist you after Him? And on Allah should the believers rely.] (Aal `Imran 3:160)

Remember what I was saying earlier regarding your inability to concentrate, focus, and think through your science homework problem to its logical conclusion? Your brain is like a hard drive in a computer. The computer can get so overrun with useless files that when it's called on to handle a complex command, it gets bogged down. In its greediness for collecting useless information and storing it, the computer has misplaced bits of the most essential files in different spaces on the hard drive. These bits need to come together to handle the complex command and allow the computer to function efficiently. The solution is to first get rid of the useless files and then to clean up the hard drive that contains these bits of useful information that are so scattered that they have become fragmented. This is what happens to our minds and hearts. They become overrun with so much useless information (like silly games, un-Islamic songs, ghaybah (backbiting), idle talk, television, and video games) that they need to be purified and de-fragmented.

I've watched how quickly you pick up on things. That's why I'm confident that if you truly understood the motivation of those who promote and distribute the songs that your generation listens to, the television and movies that they watch, the clothes that they wear, the fads and trends that they follow, and the games that they play, you would easily be able to discern that the motivation is not just to make lots of money. The intentions of these corporations and the people who run them are far more sinister.

Back in the year 1897, a secret document was uncovered. This document was like a blueprint for physically and mentally enslaving masses of people. The author of this document is without a doubt a treacherous enemy of Allah Most High, as well as an enemy to the entire human family. In one section of the document, which is still on display today in the British Museum, it states:

We further distract them with amusements, games, pastimes, passions, people's palaces. … Soon we shall begin through the press to propose competitions in art, in sport in all kinds: these interests will finally distract their minds from questions in which we should find ourselves compelled to oppose them. Growing more and more unaccustomed to reflect and form any opinions of their own, people will begin to talk in the same tone as we because we alone shall be offering them new directions for thought ... of course through such persons as will not be suspected of solidarity with us.

In sha' Allah, in just a few more days we will be in the year 2006. Let's take apart the above quote and examine it with today's context in mind. We will discover just how much Allah's enemy has progressed in hoodwinking and enslaving so many of us since this document first surfaced over 100 years ago!

"We further distract them with amusements, games, pastimes, passions, people's palaces."


The amusement industry today, which includes the entertainment industry, is so huge that it could easily purchase half of the countries in the world. The misogynists'self-gratifying anthems of the day have become "you only live once ... live life to the fullest," without any regard for the hereafter and the consequences of unchecked passions.

Haven't we come a long way with this fixation with royalty, Life Styles of the Rich & Famous, and MTV Cribs? Gullible youth are foolish to marvel at rappers and hip-hoppers making videos in palaces that they don't even live in and cars that they don't drive. It's all a fake, a facade of smoke screens and mirrors-one big lie.

In fact, nearly everything about this pop, hip-hop, and rock culture is fake-fake hair, fake nails, fake body implants, fake teeth, fake eye colors, and fake symbols of wealth-like designer labels on clothes, shoes, and accessories that were made for pennies on the dollar in nameless sweat shops, with child labor or in slave "welfare" camps scattered across scores of poor, underdeveloped nations. The desperate people of these nations are being blackmailed and pimped by the International Money Fund-forced to work under unbearable conditions to produce the kinds of material goods that are ultimately transformed into icons of status here in the West simply by merit of having a designer label sewn on and a hefty price tag affixed.

All of these fakes serve to fulfill the insatiable desires and passions of the heedless consumers. These are the kind of people who neglect the remembrance of Allah and the grave, while at the same time they crave instant gratification as offered by a world that is only temporary-a mere second of gratification compared to what potentially awaits them in the hereafter. Like the swine pushing for its place at the hog trough. The hail and rain pelt its back. The thunderstorm clouds loom above. It takes no notice of this; it heeds not the signs and warnings of the approaching danger. It is consumed by its passion for the trinkets of this life.

The gaming industry spends millions of dollars on just one aspect of gaming-how to employ technology to blur the line between games and reality. The realism in video games, especially the titles that are most popular among the youth, is so close to reality that it has produced a generation that is now numb to the blood, gore, and dismembered bodies of war. Is there any wonder why there is such little uproar from the youth at the news of bodies being blown to bits by laser-guided "smart" bombs? We have a generation of couch potatoes who spend hours pushing buttons and blowing people away in these make-believe video game worlds, but who won't lift a finger to fight in jihad or even raise a voice in protest when their own people are being massacred and disgraced in the real world. But then, isn't that the whole purpose? The document's author reveals the purpose as he declares

"These interests will finally distract their minds from questions ... growing more and more unaccustomed to reflect and form any opinions of their own."

No probing questions, no serious concerns, no opinions on anything-just give him his Xbox; his Play-station; his iPod; his gas-guzzling sports utility vehicle; his 22-inch rims; his season tickets; his lottery tickets; his second and third mortgage; his purple pill; his blue pill; his drugs; his beer, wine, and liquor; his Starbucks latte; his flat screen TV; his dish with 150 channels; and his remote control-and then he'll have no inclination for deep contemplation or reflection on the prevailing issues of the day and what his role is as a Muslim and member of society. Finally, with his subjects spiritually defeated and deeply indebted to his master plan, the enemy of Allah boasts

"People will begin to talk in the same tone as we because we alone shall be offering them new directions for thought."

We have those who call themselves "free Muslims" who regularly appear alongside neo-fascist talking heads on the neoconservative networks like Fox News, speaking with Muslim names but in the same tone as those who set themselves up as rivals against Allah. Are these folk "free Muslims" because the rest of us are not? Or are they free because they don't get arrested based on secret evidence, and detained for years without ever being charged? Or is it simply because they're careful to say nothing more than exactly what the rulers want them to say?

"Of course through such persons as will not be suspected of solidarity with us."

The certain unnamed "free Muslims," orientalists, and neoconservative fascists take their lead from the edicts of certain dubious scholars in full Islamic garb, who issue fatwas that weaken the resolve of the Muslim Ummah and pave the way for more imperialist aggression against the believers.

As I conclude, I again caution you against wasting so much of your time. You should get as much benefit from me as you can now because I may not be with you much longer. No, I am not feeling ill, but it's that kind of time that we live in today. Allah's enemy hates to see a strong Muslim father guiding his children with Islamic teachings, training them to think critically, and developing in them a millah (religion) that is conscientious of the cause and effect of what they see happening around them. Seek knowledge, my child, and you will find that it opens many doors-doors that you never even realized were there before.

Fi amani-llah.

With love,

Your father

amaaluddin al-Haidar is an American Muslim from Detroit, Michigan, who, along with his parents and siblings, reverted to Islam over 30 years ago. He is a published author of more than 100 articles and commentary on social, economic, and political issues from an Islamic perspective. He has worked with Muslim youth for the past 20 years, teaching middle and high school science in Islamic schools in Houston, Texas and in Detroit. Al-Haidar resides in Houston, where he teaches science, coaches an Islamic community-based AAU basketball team, and serves as commissioner of the Muslim Youth Basketball Association. {Source islamonline}

A call to sisters in Islam

My Muslim Sister, you will never be able to reach the perfection that you desire, you wont be able to regain your lost glory of the past, or achieve your highest rank and position unless you follow the teachings of Islam and unless you stop at the limits and boundaries of the Shariah. This will make your heart love and appreciate the good qualities and will keep you away from bad and evil qualities.

So stay at your home. By Allah you will be praised; you will please your household and make your home happy; you will perfect your hijab; you will perfect your chastity, relieve others and you will make yourself happy and comfortable.
Allah says (which means):

O Prophet! Tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to draw their cloaks (veils) all over their bodies. That will be better, that they should be known (as free respectable women) so as not to be annoyed. And Allah is Ever Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. (Al-Ahzaab 33:59)

So with Islam you are a protected jewel but without it you are a doll in the hands of the wrongdoers; a mere object of amusement and a merchandise of trade in the hands of human wolves who will destroy your chastity, your honour and your dignity, and then throw you and disregard you as one does with a date fruit and its seed.

So whenever the woman abandons the teachings of Islam and neglects the proper Islamic dress and takes easy the matter of hijab, exposing herself to men (by) walking among them and wearing perfume, her dignity and honour vanishes and her brightness disappears, and her modesty dwindles, and she becomes a source of fitnah (temptation and trial) for others and the evils embrace her. Therefore, O Muslim woman, who cherishes and holds on to the honour of Islam (and is proud of the honour of Islam), and O free, honourable, chaste and protected woman, you are the best successor of the best past generation of Muslims. Hold fast to the Book of Allah and to the Sunnah (way and teachings) of His Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him.)

Beware of the hands of the wicked plotters and the jealous eyes, and people with bad character, and evil souls, who want to lower you from the highness of your esteemed position and dignity, and lower you from your glory of higher rank, and take you out from the circle of your happiness. And beware of the deception and defeat before the open war between hijab and sufoor (revealing beauty), and between chastity and liberalism.
The enemies of Islam are upset and sleepless over the fact that the Muslim woman is honourable, dignified and protected, so they put her under the spotlight, trap her in (fishermen-like) nets and shoot her with their arrows. Moreover, it is strange that some of our people who speak our language follow them and spread their ideas and fulfil their aims, and wage an intellectual and cultural war against our Muslim sisters, who are the moisture of our faces, through the alluring and deceiving slogans and the charming articles here and there.

Thus, they spread rumours about Muslim women saying ... the conservative Muslim society (the real one indeed, the Muslim society can only be conservative) is that which half of it does nothing and breathes only from one lung..., and how can the Muslim woman stay prisoner at home between four walls ..., and other misleading slogans.

They want freedom for the woman, but in reality they want to free her from her character and etiquette, and to strip her from her principles, dignity and honour, and lead her into evil and corruption. They want her to be a fashion model and an item for sale to the naive and simpleminded (assuthajj wal busataa)
Who is then left to the well-being of homes; to the happiness of the family; to raise and educate children?

How many young women get trapped and how much tragedy happens when the hijab is destroyed and the jilbaab (outer garment) is taken off and the wolves (wicked men) devour the woman. Such is as a result of sufoor and mingling with men in jobs, schools, and marketplaces.

Isnt it enough zajr (reminder) what the societies, who did not practise the teachings of Islam, fell into in terms of indecency, evils, and disappearance of values when they neglected and ignored the matter of the woman? As a result of that, there are now repeated calls in these societies asking for the return of the woman to her protected fort: her home.

Would any man with the slightest bit of ghairah (honour) and rujoolah (manhood) be content to see his wife become a pasturage of the eyes of the wicked men, and to become a serving on the dining table. The current condition of some societies is a sign of destruction, loss, corruption and spread of indecency and mischief in society.

Virtues of Hijaab

1. An act of obedience.

The hijab is an act of obedience to Allah and to his prophet (SAW), Allah says in the Qur'an:

`It is not for a believer, man or woman, when Allah and His messenger have decreed a matter that they should have an option in their decision. And whoever disobeys Allah and His Messenger, has indeed strayed in a plain error.' (Surah Ahzab: Ayah 36).
Allah also said:

'And tell the believing women to lower their gaze (from looking at forbidden things) and protect their private parts (from illegal sexual acts, etc) and not to show off their adornment except what must (ordinarily) appear thereof, that they should draw their veils over their Juyubihinna.' (Surah Nur: Ayah 31).

2.The Hijab is IFFAH (Modesty).

Allah (SWT) made the adherence to the hijab a manifestation for chastity and modesty. Allah says:

'O Prophet! Tell your wives and your daughters and the women of the believers to draw their cloaks (veils) over their bodies (when outdoors). That is most convenient that they should be known and not molested.' (Surah Ahzab: Ayah 59).

In the above Ayah there is an evidence that the recognition of the apparent beauty of the woman is harmful to her. When the cause of attraction ends, the restriction is removed. This is illustrated in the case of elderly women who may have lost every aspect of attraction. Allah (SWT) made it permissible for them to lay aside their outer garments and expose their faces and hands reminding, however, that is still better for them to keep their modesty.

3.The hijab is Tahara (Purity)

Allah (SWT) had shown us the hikma (wisdom) behind the legislation of the hijab:

`And when you ask them (the Prophet's wives) for anything you want, ask them from behind a screen, that is purer for your hearts and their hearts.' (Surah Ahzab: Ayah 53).

The hijab makes for greater purity for the hearts of believing men and women because it screens against the desire of the heart. Without the hijab, the heart may or may not desire. That is why the heart is more pure when the sight is blocked (by hijab) and thus the prevention of fitna (evil actions is very much manifested. The hijab cuts off the ill thoughts and the greed of the sick hearts:

`Be not soft in speech, lest he in whose heart is a disease (of hypocrisy or evil desire for adultery, etc) should be moved with desire, but speak in an honourable manner.' (Surah Ahzab: Ayah 32)

4. The hijab is a Shield

The prophet (SAW) said: "Allah, Most High, is Heaven, is Ha'yeii (Bashful), Sit'teer (Shielder). He loves Haya' (Bashfulness) and Sitr (Shielding; Covering)."

The Prophet (SAW) also said: "Any woman who takes off her clothes in other than her husband's house (to show off for unlawful purposes), has broken Allah's shield upon her. "

The hadith demonstrates that depending upon the kind of action committed there will be either reward (if good) or punishment (if bad).

5. The hijab is Taqwah (Righteousness)


Allah (SWT) says in the Qur'an:

`O children of Adam! We have bestowed raiment upon you to cover yourselves (screen your private parts, etc) and as an adornment. But the raiment of righteousness, that is better.' (S7:26).

The widespread forms of dresses in the world today are mostly for show off and hardly taken as a cover and shield of the woman's body. To the believing women, however the purpose is to safeguard their bodies and cover their private parts as a manifestation of the order of Allah. It is an act of Taqwah (righteousness).

6.The hijab is Eemaan (Belief or Faith)


Allah (SWT) did not address His words about the hijab except to the believing women, Al-Mo'minat. In many cases in the Qur'an Allah refers to the "the believing women". Aisha (RA), the wife of the prophet (SAW), addressed some women from the tribe of Banu Tameem who came to visit her and had light clothes on them, they were improperly dressed: "If indeed you are believing women, then truly this is not the dress of the believing women, and if you are not believing women, then enjoy it."

7. The hijab is Haya' (Bashfulness)

There are two authentic hadith which state: "Each religion has a morality and the morality of Islam is haya'" AND "Bashfulness is from belief, and belief is in Al-Jannah (paradise)". The hijab fits the natural bashfulness which is a part of the nature of women.

8.The hijab is Gheerah (Justifiable jealousy)

The hijab fits the natural feeling of Gheerah, which is intrinsic in the straight man who does not like people to look at his wife or daughters. Gheerah is a driving emotion that drives the straight man to safeguard women who are related to him from strangers. The straight MUSLIM man has Gheerah for ALL MUSLIM women In response to lust and desire, men look (with desire) at other women while they do not mind that other men do the same to their wives or daughters. The mixing of sexes and absence of hijab destroys the Gheera in men. Islam considers Gheerah an integral part of faith. The dignity of the wife or daughter or any other Muslim woman must be highly respected and defended.

The purpose of wearing hijab must be achieved. In order for the hijab to be a cover, it must not be made of transparent material making the woman covered only by name, while in reality she is naked.

The prophet (SAW) is quoted as saying: "In the latest part of my Ummah (nation of Muslims) there shall be women who would be naked in spite of being dressed, they have their hair high like the humps of the Bukht camel, curse them, for they are cursed. They will not enter Al-Jannah and would not even perceive its odour, although it's fragrance can be perceived from a distance of 500 years travelling by camel"

This indicates that a woman could cause herself a grave and destructive sin if she puts on a garment that is thin and transparent and which clearly shapes her body's features.

Beautiful cursed women

On the authority of ‘Abdullâh Ibn Mas’ûd – Allâh be pleased with him, who said:
May Allâh curse those women who tattoo or seek to be tattooed, those women who remove facial hair or seek it to be removed and those women who put gaps between their teeth for beautification; those who seek to change Allâh’s creation.

This reached a woman from Banî Asad who was called Umm Ya’qûb and who used to read the Qur`ân. She came to [Ibn Mas’ûd] and said, “What is this I hear from you, that you curse women who tattoo or seek to get tattooed, and those who remove facial hair and those who put gaps between their teeth for beauty, those who change Allâh’s creation?” ‘Abdullâh [Ibn Mas’ûd] replied, “And why should I not curse those whom Allâh’s Messenger has cursed and those who are mentioned in Allâh’s Book?” She said, “I have read [the Qur`ân] from cover to cover and I have not seen it mentioned.” He replied, “If you had really read it [carefully] you would have found it; Allâh the Mighty and Sublime said:

And whatever the Messenger gives you, take it; and whatever he forbids you, shun it. [Al-Hashr (59):7]

The woman then said, “Well I have just seen some of this on your own wife.” He said, “Go and see her.” So she went to the wife of ‘Abdullâh but didn’t see anything. She returned to him and said, “I don’t see anything.” He said, “Well, if any of those practices had been done I would not be with her any more.”

Al-Bukhârî and Muslim. This translation is from the version in Muslim.

Points to note

The teachings of Allâh’s Messenger have the same legal weight as teachings in the Qur`ân because the Qur`ân commands us to take everything the Messenger teaches us, even if it is not specifically mentioned in the Qur`ân. This refutes the claim of heretics who say we only need to follow the Qur`ân

It can even be said that a ruling given by Allâh’s Messenger is in the Qur`ân based on the verse quoted

Tattooing, removal of facial hair – including the plucking of eyebrows – and making gaps between the teeth for beautification are strictly forbidden in Islâm and are regarded as major sins. In another narration, hair extensions have also been mentioned

Exceptions have been made by scholars in cases where a woman suffers a condition that causes her to grow a full beard, or where filing of teeth and widening spaces are needed for medical reasons

Being cursed (al-la’nah) means to be removed from Allâh’s mercy; this goes to prove that these practices are major sins

People should ask Allâh to curse those whom Allâh’s Messenger has asked to be cursed
Women can ask male scholars about matters of religion and can converse with them for the purpose of understanding knowledge and legal rulings

Wives who remain disobedient to Allâh should be divorced

A person who helps another to sin is regarded as a participant in that sin
These points have been summarized from Ibn Hajr, Fath Al-Bârî and Al-Nawawî, Sharh Sahîh Muslim.

Mother interfering married daughter's life

As Salamu Alaikum wa rahmatullah

Was reading this fatwa from Islam-qa and thought to share here, so that many readers get enriched by the suggestions given by the scholar.

I personally had seen lives of daughters getting ruined by unnecessary interference of mothers in their daughter's life. Khayr, here's the sharing :

Praise be to Allaah.

The mother’s rights over her children are great, and Islam has enjoined the children to fulfil these rights, and it regards disobedience to parents as a major sin.

The details of the mother’s rights and her duties are explained in the answer to question no. 5053.

The mother whose daughter has got married should realize that it is not permissible for her daughter to give precedence to obeying her mother over obeying her husband, and she (the mother) should understand that it is not permissible for her to interfere in her daughter’s life after marriage, unless she is asked to intervene in order to bring about a reconciliation or to offer advice and guidance. { I wish every daughter notes this important point. Dr. Farhat Hashmi explained very well, that elders shud be intervened only when there's severe problem between the couple, and which could not be resolved by themselves. Its not wise to say all the stories and happenings in a complaining way or holding negativity of her family {sasural} and share that to a mother.}

The mother’s interference in her married daughter’s life has both negative and positive effects. The positive effects include what the wise mother does of guiding her daughter to things that will improve her life, whether that guidance comes before her daughter gets married or after.

Undoubtedly the mother’s experience of life and her compassion towards her daughter will motivate her to offer advice to her daughter who does not have the same experience and wisdom in dealing with a husband.

But the mother’s interference in her married daughter’s life may also have negative effects, the most serious of which is a case in which her interference leads to her daughter being divorced, when the husband sees that his wife is not obeying him and he has no position of control over her, and that his wife’s mother is the one who tells his wife what to do and what not to do, which leads to the destruction of her daughter’s marriage.

It is not permissible for the daughter to go along with her mother when she asks her for private information, even if that will make her angry with her, for obedience to Allaah comes before obedience to anyone else, and it is not permissible to give precedence to the wrath of anyone else over the wrath of Allaah, may He be exalted.

Undoubtedly there are reasons for this interference on the part of the wife’s mother. These reasons include the following:

1 – The mother’s strong personality, and her husband’s weak character, so that she is the one who makes decisions in the home, and she wants to transfer this to her daughter’s home too.

2 –Weak character of both her daughter’s husband and her daughter, which gives the mother the opportunity to play a major role in directing the affairs of her daughter’s household. The mother thinks that running the household needs a strong hand and that the couple are unable to run their home, so she takes charge.

3 – Impassioned feelings towards her daughter, which makes her ask about her food, drink, medicine and sicknesses, and how her husband is treating her; it may even make her overstep the mark and ask about intimate details of married life, including love and sex!

4 – Husband’s mistreatment of his wife, which leads the mother to intervene in matters great and small, so as to make the husband behave himself and ensure that the wife is given her rights.

5 – Frequent visits on the daughter’s part to her mother, and being in touch with her a great deal. In most of these visits etc the mother cannot find anything to talk about except finding out what is going on in her daughter’s house.

In order to solve the problem of the mother interfering in her married daughter’s life in ways that may spoil her life, she and her husband should pay attention to a number of things, including the following:

1 – Direct advice from the daughter or her husband to the mother not to interfere in their lives, telling her that this is not permissible for her, and that this interference may lead to the couple splitting up.

2 – Telling the father (the mother’s husband) that he must stop his wife from interfering in the life of her daughter and her husband.

3 – Hinting to the mother, or even warning her, that if she continues to interfere in their lives, then the husband will stop her from visiting her daughter or getting in touch with her, and he will also stop his wife and children from visiting her mother. This will clearly demonstrate the strength of character of the husband and wife, and it will prevent the mother from interfering in a negative way in their lives.

4 – It is essential that the couple work out together how to deal with this problem and that neither of them tries to solve it on his or her own without the other. This problem concerns both parties, so it needs a common strategy to deal with it.

5 – They should consult the mother with regard to some matters, and ask for her advice, so that the relationship between them will remain within shar’i limits, and so that she will know that her involvement is not rejected completely, and that they may need her in some cases. This will give her confidence and maintain contact, whilst preventing negative interference.

6 – Reducing the number of visits and contact with the mother, and when the visit does take place, there should be a focus on talking about useful things, advice and reminders to do acts of obedience, and avoid sins and bad deeds.

We ask Allaah to set your affairs straight and to guide you all to that which pleases Him.

And Allaah is the Source of strength.

That was the fatwa shared. I felt every point in it is important, so marked most of the lines bold. May Allah swt bestow hidayah to all the mothers and daughters. :D :D.

Ameen

Slander on Ayesha RA - II

The Grace of Allah towards the People of the Slander by giving Them the Opportunity to repent


Allah says,


[وَلَوْلاَ فَضْلُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَتُهُ فِى الدُّنْيَا وَالاٌّخِرَةِ]


(Had it not been for the grace of Allah and His mercy unto you in this world and in the Hereafter,) This is addressed to those who were indulging in discussing the matter of `A'ishah, informing them that Allah has accepted their repentance in this world, and forgiven them because of their faith in the Hereafter.


[لَمَسَّكُمْ فِى مَآ أَفَضْتُمْ فِيهِ]


(would have touched you for that whereof you had spoken.) with regard to the slander.


[عَذَابٌ عظِيمٌ]


(a great torment) This refers to those who had faith in Allah because of their repentance, such as Mistah, Hassan and Hamnah bint Jahsh the sister of Zaynab bint Jahsh. As for the hypocrites who indulged in the slander, such as `Abdullah bin Ubayy bin Salul and his like, they are not the ones who are referred to in this Ayah , because they did not have sufficient faith and righteous deeds to balance or cancel out what they had done. By the same token, the threats that were narrated for a specific deed are bound to be carried out, if there is no repentance or sufficient righteous deeds to balance or outweigh it. Then Allah says:


[إِذْ تَلَقَّوْنَهُ بِأَلْسِنَتِكُمْ]


(When you were propagating it with your tongues,) Mujahid and Sa`id bin Jubayr said, "Some of you were relating it to others,'' where one says, `I heard this from so-and-so, and so-and-so said such and such, and some of them mentioned such and such.' Others recited the Ayah: (إِذْ تَلِقُونَهُ بِأَلْسِنَتِكُمْ) ("When you were inventing a lie with your tongues...'') In Sahih Al-Bukhari, it is recorded that `A'ishah recited it like that. According to her, the meaning refers to lies which a person persists in telling. The first recitation is preferred and more popular, and the majority recite it that way, but the second is reported from `A'ishah, the Mother of the believers.


[وَتَقُولُونَ بِأَفْوَهِكُمْ مَّا لَّيْسَ لَكُمْ بِهِ عِلْمٌ]


(and uttering with your mouths that whereof you had no knowledge,) means, you were speaking about something which you knew nothing about. Then Allah says:


[وَتَحْسَبُونَهُ هَيِّناً وَهُوَ عِندَ اللَّهِ عَظِيمٌ]


(you counted it a little thing, while with Allah it was very great.) means, `you said what you said about the Mother of the believers and you thought that it was a trifling and insignificant matter, but even if she was not the wife of the Prophet , it still would not be an insignificant matter -- so how about when she is the wife of the Unlettered Prophet, the Seal of the Prophets and Leader of the Messengers ' It is a very serious matter with Allah that such a thing should be said about the wife of His Messenger! For Allah, may He be glorified and exalted, feels great fury and anger over such matters, and He would never decree such a thing for the wife of any of His Prophets. If that is the case, then how about the best of the wives of any Prophet, the wife of the best of the sons of Adam in this world and the next Allah says:


[وَتَحْسَبُونَهُ هَيِّناً وَهُوَ عِندَ اللَّهِ عَظِيمٌ]


(you counted it a little thing, while with Allah it was very great.) In the Two Sahihs it is reported that:


«إِنَّ الرَّجُلَ لَيَتَكَلَّمُ بِالْكَلِمَةِ مِنْ سَخَطِ اللهِ، لَا يَدْرِي مَا تَبْلُغُ، يَهْوِي بِهَا فِي النَّارِ أَبْعَدَ مَا بَيْنَ السَّمَاءِ وَالْأَرْضِ»


(A man may say a word that angers Allah without realizing how far it will go, and because of that he will be thrown into Hell a distance greater than that between heaven and earth.) According to another report:


«لَا يُلْقِي لَهَا بَالًا»


(And he may not pay any attention to it.)


[وَلَوْلا إِذْ سَمِعْتُمُوهُ قُلْتُمْ مَّا يَكُونُ لَنَآ أَن نَّتَكَلَّمَ بِهَـذَا سُبْحَـنَكَ هَـذَا بُهْتَـنٌ عَظِيمٌ - يَعِظُكُمُ اللَّهُ أَن تَعُودُواْ لِمِثْلِهِ أَبَداً إِن كُنتُمْ مُّؤْمِنِينَ - وَيُبَيِّنُ اللَّهُ لَكُمُ الاٌّيَـتِ وَاللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ حَكِيمٌ ]


(16. And why did you not, when you heard it, say: "It is not right for us to speak of this. Glory be to You (O Allah)! This is a great lie.'') (17. Allah forbids you from it and warns you not to repeat the like of it forever, if you are believers.) (18. And Allah makes the Ayat plain to you, and Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise.)

Further Discipline


This is further discipline, in addition to the command to think well of people, i.e., if something unbefitting is mentioned about good people, then one should think well of them, and not feel towards them anything but good. Then if a person has any unsuitable thoughts about them, insinuated into his mind and imagination by Shaytan, he should not speak about that, for the Prophet said:


«إِنَّ اللهَ تَعَالَى تَجَاوَزَ لِأُمَّتِي عَمَّا حَدَّثَتْ بِهِ أَنْفُسُهَا مَا لَمْ تَقُلْ أَوْ تَعْمَلْ»


(Allah will excuse my Ummah for anything that occurs to their minds, so long as they do not speak about it or act upon it.) This was reported in the Two Sahihs. Allah's saying:


[وَلَوْلا إِذْ سَمِعْتُمُوهُ قُلْتُمْ مَّا يَكُونُ لَنَآ أَن نَّتَكَلَّمَ بِهَـذَا]


(And why did you not, when you heard it, say: "It is not right for us to speak of this''.) meaning, we should not talk about it or mention it to anyone.


[سُبْحَـنَكَ هَـذَا بُهْتَـنٌ عَظِيمٌ]


(Glory be to You (O Allah)! This is a great lie.) means, glory be to Allah that such a thing should be said about the wife of His Prophet and close Friend . Then Allah says,


[يَعِظُكُمُ اللَّهُ أَن تَعُودُواْ لِمِثْلِهِ أَبَداً]


(Allah forbids you from it and warns you not to repeat the like of it forever, ) meaning, Allah is forbidding you and warning you from doing anything like this again in the future. Allah says,


[إِن كُنتُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ]


(if you are believers.) meaning, if you believe in Allah and His Laws, and you respect His Messenger . As for those who are described as disbelievers, a different ruling applies in their case. Then Allah says,


[وَيُبَيِّنُ اللَّهُ لَكُمُ الاٌّيَـتِ]


(And Allah makes the Ayat plain to you,) meaning, He makes clear to you the rulings of Shari`ah and His divine decrees.


[وَاللَّهُ عَلِيمٌ حَكِيمٌ]


(and Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise.) means, He knows what is right for His servants and He is Wise in His Laws and decrees.


[إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يُحِبُّونَ أَن تَشِيعَ الْفَـحِشَةُ فِى الَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ فِى الدُّنْيَا وَالاٌّخِرَةِ وَاللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ وَأَنْتُمْ لاَ تَعْلَمُونَ ]


(19. Verily, those who like that Fahishah should be circulated among those who believe, they will have a painful torment in this world and in the Hereafter. And Allah knows and you know not.)

Slander on Aishah RA

إِنَّ الَّذِينَ جَآءُوا بِالإِفْكِ عُصْبَةٌ مِّنْكُمْ]


(Verily, those who brought forth the slander are a group among you.) meaning they were not one or two, but a group. Foremost among this group was `Abdullah bin Ubayy bin Salul, the leader of the hypocrites, who fabricated the lie and whispered it to others, until some of the Muslims started to believe it, and others thought it might be possible and began to talk about it. This is how matters remained for almost a month, until Qur'an was revealed. This is reported in Sahih Hadiths. Imam Ahmad recorded that Az-Zuhri said: Sa`id bin Al-Musayyib, `Urwah bin Az-Zubayr, `Alqamah bin Waqqas and `Ubaydullah bin `Abdullah bin `Utbah bin Mas`ud told me about the story of `A'ishah, the wife of the Prophet , when the people of the slander said what they said about her, and Allah declared her innocence. Each of them told something about the story, and some of them knew more details than others or had memorized more than others. I learned the story from each of them, who had heard it from `A'ishah herself, and what one told me confirmed what the others said. They mentioned that `A'ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, the wife of the Prophet , said: "When the Messenger of Allah wanted to go on a journey, he would cast lots among his wives, and the one whose lot was drawn would go with him.'' `A'ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, said, "So he drew lots among us with regard to a campaign he was going out on, and mine was drawn, so I went out with the Messenger of Allah . This was after the commandment of Hijab had been revealed, so I traveled in my howdah and stayed in it when we camped. We traveled until the Messenger of Allah completed his campaign, then we returned. As we were approaching Al-Madinah, we paused for a while, then they announced that the journey was to be resumed. When I heard this, I walked quickly away from the army to answer the call of nature, then I came back to my howdah. Then I put my hand to my chest and noticed that a necklace of mine that was made of onyx and cornelian had broken, so I went back and looked for it, and was delayed because of that. In the meantime, the people who used to lift my howdah onto my camel came along and put it on the camel, thinking that I was inside. In those times women were more slender and not so heavy, they only ate mouthfuls of food. So the people did not think anything of the howdah being so light when they lifted it up, as I was a young woman. They set off, and I found my necklace after the army had moved on. Then I came back to the place where we had stopped, and I saw no one to call or answer. So I went to the place where I had been, thinking that the people would miss me and come back for me. While I was sitting there, I fell asleep. tSafwan bin Al-Mu`attal As-Sulami Adh-Dhakwani had rested during the night behind the army. Then he set out just before daybreak and reached the place where I was in the morning, where he saw the outline of a person sleeping. He came to me and recognized me when he saw me, as he had seen me before Hijab was made obligatory for me. When he saw me and said `Truly, to Allah we belong, and truly, to Him we shall return,' I woke up, and covered my face with my Jilbab (outer garment). By Allah, he did not speak a word to me and I did not hear him say anything except `Truly, to Allah we belong, and truly, to Him we shall return,' until he brought his camel and made it kneel so that I could ride upon it, then he set out leading the camel until we caught up with the army at Zuhr time.


There are people who are doomed because of what happened to me, and the one who had the greater share therein was `Abdullah bin Ubayy bin Salul. When we came back to Al-Madinah, I was ill for a month, and the people were talking about what the people of the slander were saying, and I knew nothing about it. What upset me when I was ill was that I did not see the kindness I used to see on the part of the Messenger of Allah . When I was ill; he would just come in and say,


«كَيْفَ تِيكُمْ؟»


(How is that (lady)) That is what upset me. I did not feel that there was anything wrong until I went out after I felt better, and Umm Mistah went out with me, walking towards Al-Manasi`, which is where we used to go to relieve ourselves, and we would not go out for that purpose except at night. This was before we had lavatories close to our houses; our habit was similar to that of the early Arabs in that we went out into the deserts to relieve ourselves, because we considered it troublesome and harmful to have lavatories in our houses. So I went out with Umm Mistah, who was the daughter of Abu Ruhm bin Al-Muttalib bin `Abd Manaf, and her mother was the daughter of Sakhr bin `Amir, the paternal aunt of Abu Bakr As-Siddiq. Her son was Mistah bin Uthathah bin `Abbad bin Al-Muttalib. When we finished what we had to do, the daughter of Abu Ruhm Umm Mistah and I came back towards my house. Umm Mistah stumbled over her apron and said, `May Mistah be ruined!' I said to her, `What a bad thing you have said! Are you abusing a man who was present at Badr' She said, `Good grief, have you not heard what he said' I said, `What did he say' So she told me what the people of the slander were saying, which made me even more ill. When I returned home, the Messenger of Allah came in to me and greeted me, then he said,


«كَيْفَ تِيكُمْ؟»


(How is that (lady)) I said to him, `Will you give me permission to go to my parents' At that time I wanted to confirm the news by hearing it from them. The Messenger of Allah gave me permission, so I went to my parents and asked my mother, `O my mother, what are the people talking about' My mother said, `Calm down, for by Allah, there is no beautiful woman who is loved by her husband and has co-wives but those co-wives would find fault with her.' I said, `Subhan Allah! Are the people really talking about that' I wept throughout the whole night until morning. My tears never ceased and I did not sleep at all, and morning came while I was still weeping. Because the revelation had ceased, the Messenger of Allah called `Ali bin Abi Talib and Usamah bin Zayd, and consulted with them about divorcing his wife. As for Usamah bin Zayd, he told the Messenger of Allah about what he knew of his wife's innocence and his fondness for her. He said, `O Messenger of Allah, she is your wife, and we do not know anything about her but good.' But `Ali bin Abi Talib said, `O Messenger of Allah, Allah has not imposed restrictions on you, and there are plenty of other women besides her. If you ask her servant girl, she will tell you the truth.' So the Messenger of Allah called Barirah and said,


«أَيْ بَرِيرَةُ هَلْ رَأَيْتِ مِنْ شَيْءٍ يَرِيبُكِ مِنْ عَائِشَةَ؟»


(O Barirah, have you ever seen anything that might make you suspicious about `A'ishah) Barirah said to him, `By the One Who sent you with the truth, I have never seen anything for which I could blame her, apart from the fact that she is a young girl who sometimes falls asleep and leaves her family's dough unprotected so that the domestic goats come and eat it.' So then the Messenger of Allah got up and (addressed the people) and asked who could sort out `Abdullah bin Ubayy bin Salul for him. While he was standing on the Minbar, the Messenger of Allah said,


«يَامَعْشَرَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ مَنْ يَعْذِرُنِي مِنْ رَجُلٍ قَدْ بَلَغَنِي أَذَاهُ فِي أَهْلِ بَيْتِي، فَوَاللهِ مَا عَلِمْتُ عَلَى أَهْلِي إِلَّا خَيْرًا، وَلَقَدْ ذَكَرُوا رَجُلًا مَا عَلِمْتُ عَلَيْهِ إِلَّا خَيْرًا، وَمَا كَانَ يَدْخُلُ عَلَى أَهْلِي إِلَّا مَعِي»


(O Muslims, who will help me against a man who has hurt me by slandering my family By Allah, I know nothing about my family but good, and the people are blaming a man of whom I know nothing except good, and he has never entered upon my family except with me.) Sa`d bin Mu`adh Al-Ansari stood up and said, `O Messenger of Allah, by Allah I will deal with him for you. If he is from (the tribe of) Al-Aws, then I will cut off his head, and if he is from our brothers of (the tribe of) Al-Khazraj, tell us what to do and we will do it.' Then Sa`d bin `Ubadah stood up. He was the leader of Al-Khazraj, and he was a righteous man, but he was overwhelmed with tribal chauvinism. He said to Sa`d bin Mu`adh, `By Allah, you will not kill him and you will never be able to kill him.' Then Usayd bin Hudayr, who was the cousin of Sa`d bin Mu`adh, stood up and said to Sa`d bin `Ubadah, `You are lying! By Allah, we will kill him, and you are a hypocrite arguing on behalf of the hypocrites!' Then the two groups, Al-Aws and Al-Khazraj, started to get angry and were about to come to blows, with the Messenger of Allah standing there on the Minbar, trying to calm them down until they became quiet, then the Messenger of Allah also fell silent. On that day I kept on weeping so much, my tears never ceased and I did not sleep at all. My parents thought that my liver would burst from all that weeping. While they were sitting with me and I was weeping, a woman of the Ansar asked for permission to see me. I let her in, and she sat and wept with me. While we were in that state, the Messenger of Allah came in, greeted us and sat down. He had never sat with me since the rumors began, and a month had passed by without any revelation coming to him concerning my case. The Messenger of Allah recited the Tashahhud when he sat down, then he said,


«أَمَّا بَعْدُ، يَا عَائِشَةُ فَإِنَّهُ قَدْ بَلَغَنِي عَنْكِ كَذَا وَكَذَا،فَإِنْ كُنْتِ بَرِيئَةً فَسَيُبَرِّئُكِ اللهُ، وَإِنْ كُنْتِ أَلْمَمْتِ بِذَنْبٍ فَاسْتَغْفِرِي اللهَ ثُمَّ تُوبِي إِلَيْهِ، فَإِنَّ الْعَبْدَ إِذَا اعْتَرَفَ بِذَنْبِهِ ثُمَّ تَابَ، تَابَ اللهُ عَلَيْهِ»


(Thereafter, O `A'ishah, I have been told such and such a thing about you, and if you are innocent, then Allah will reveal your innocence, but if you have committed a sin, then seek Allah's forgiveness and turn in repentance to Him, for when a servant confesses his sin and repents to Allah, He accepts his repentance.) When the Messenger of Allah finished what he had to say, my tears stopped completely and I not longer felt even one drop. Then I said to my father, `Answer the Messenger of Allah on my behalf.' He said, `I do not know what I should say to the Messenger of Allah.' So I said to my mother, `Answer the Messenger of Allah on my behalf.' She said, `I do not know what I should say to the Messenger of Allah.' So even though I was just a young girl who had not memorized much of the Qur'an, I said: `By Allah, I know that you have heard so much of this story that it has become planted in your minds and you believe it. So now if I tell you that I am innocent -- and Allah knows that I am innocent -- you will not believe me; but if I admit something to you -- and Allah knows that I am innocent -- you will believe me. By Allah, I cannot find any example to give you except for that which the Prophet Yusuf's father said,


[فَصَبْرٌ جَمِيلٌ وَاللَّهُ الْمُسْتَعَانُ عَلَى مَا تَصِفُونَ]


(So (for me) patience is most fitting. And it is Allah Whose help can be sought against that (lie) which you describe) [12:18]. Then I turned my face away and lay down on my bed. By Allah, at that point I knew I was innocent and that Allah would prove my innocence because I was innocent, but by Allah, I did not think that Allah would reveal Qur'an that would be forever recited concerning my situation, because I thought of myself as too insignificant for Allah to reveal anything concerning me. But I hoped that the Messenger of Allah would see a dream in which Allah would prove my innocence. By Allah, the Messenger of Allah did not move from where he was sitting and no one left the house before Allah sent down revelation to His Prophet , and he was overtaken by the state that always overtook him when the revelation came upon him, until drops of sweat like pearls would run down him, even on a winter's day; this was because of the heaviness of the words which were being revealed to him. When that state passed -- and the Messenger of Allah was smiling -- the first thing he said was,


«أَبْشِرِي يَا عَائِشَةُ، أَمَّا اللهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ فَقَدْ بَرَّأَكِ»


(Be glad O `A'ishah, Allah has declared your innocence.) My mother said to me, `Get up and go to him.' I said, `By Allah, I will not go to him and I will not give praise to anyone except Allah, may He be glorified, for He is the One Who has proven my innocence.' So Allah revealed:


[إِنَّ الَّذِينَ جَآءُوا بِالإِفْكِ عُصْبَةٌ مِّنْكُمْ]


(Verily, those who brought forth the slander are a group among you.), until the ten Ayat. Allah revealed these Ayat concerning my innocence. Abu Bakr, may Allah be pleased with him, who used to spend on Mistah bin Uthathah because he was a close relative and because he was poor, said, `By Allah, I will never spend anything on him again after what he has said about `A'ishah. ' Then Allah revealed,


[وَلاَ يَأْتَلِ أُوْلُواْ الْفَضْلِ مِنكُمْ وَالسَّعَةِ أَن يُؤْتُواْ أُوْلِى الْقُرْبَى]


(And let not those among you who are blessed with graces and wealth swear not to give to their kinsmen.) until His saying:


[أَلاَ تُحِبُّونَ أَن يَغْفِرَ اللَّهُ لَكُمْ وَاللَّهُ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ]


(Do you not love that Allah should forgive you And Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful) [24:22]. So Abu Bakr said, `By Allah, certainly I love that Allah should forgive me.' So he resumed spending on Mistah as he had spent on him before, and he said, `By Allah, I shall never stop spending on him.' The Messenger of Allah asked Zaynab bint Jahsh about my situation, and said,


«يَا زَيْنَبُ مَاذَا عَلِمْتِ أَوْ رَأَيْتِ؟»


(O Zaynab, what do you know and what have you seen) She said, `O Messenger of Allah, may Allah protect my hearing and my sight. By Allah, I know nothing but good.' She is the one who used to compete with me among the wives of the Prophet , but Allah protected her (from telling lies) because of her piety. But her sister Hamnah bint Jahsh kept on fighting on her behalf, so she was doomed along with those who were doomed.'' Ibn Shihab said, "This is as much as we know about this group of people.'' It was also by Al-Bukhari and Muslim in their Sahihs from the Hadith of Az-Zuhri, and by Ibn Ishaq also from Az-Zuhri. He also said: "Yahya bin `Abbad bin `Abdullah bin Az-Zubayr told me from his father, from `A'ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, and `Abdullah bin Abi Bakr bin Muhammad bin `Amr bin Hazm Al-Ansari told me from `Amrah, from `A'ishah, (a report) similar to that quoted above. And Allah knows best. Allah's saying:


[إِنَّ الَّذِينَ جَآءُوا بِالإِفْكِ]


(Verily, those who brought forth the slander) means, the lies, falsehood and fabrications.


[عُصْبَةٌ]


(are a group) means, a gang among you.


[لاَ تَحْسَبُوهُ شَرّاً لَّكُمْ]


(Consider it not a bad thing for you.) O family of Abu Bakr,


[بَلْ هُوَ خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ]


(Nay, it is good for you.) means, in this world and the Hereafter, honorable mention in this world and raised status in the Hereafter. Allah demonstrated the esteem with which He regarded the family of Abu Bakr when He defended `A'ishah the Mother of the believers, may Allah be pleased with her, by revealing her innocence in the Qur'an,


[لاَّ يَأْتِيهِ الْبَـطِلُ مِن بَيْنِ يَدَيْهِ وَلاَ مِنْ خَلْفِهِ]


(Falsehood cannot come to it from before it or behind it. ..) [41:42]. Ibn `Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, entered upon her when she was dying, he said to her, "Rejoice, for you are the wife of the Messenger of Allah and he used to love you; he did not marry any virgin other than you, and your innocence was revealed from heaven.''


[لِكُلِّ امْرِىءٍ مِّنْهُمْ مَّا اكْتَسَبَ مِنَ الإِثْمِ]


(Unto every man among them will be paid that which he had earned of the sin,) means, each of those who spoke about this matter and accused the Mother of the believers `A'ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, of any immoral action, will have a great share of punishment.


[وَالَّذِى تَوَلَّى كِبْرَهُ مِنْهُمْ]


(and as for him among them who had the greater share therein,) It was said that this referred to the one who initiated the rumors, or that it was the one who collected rumors and spread them among the people.


[لَهُ عَذَابٌ عَظِيمٌ]


(his will be a great torment.) means, for that. He was `Abdullah bin Ubayy bin Salul, may Allah disfigure him and curse him.


[لَّوْلا إِذْ سَمِعْتُمُوهُ ظَنَّ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ وَالْمُؤْمِنَـتُ بِأَنفُسِهِمْ خَيْراً وَقَالُواْ هَـذَآ إِفْكٌ مُّبِينٌ - لَّوْلاَ جَآءُو عَلَيْهِ بِأَرْبَعَةِ شُهَدَآءَ فَإِذْ لَمْ يَأْتُواْ بِالشُّهَدَآءِ فَأُوْلَـئِكَ عِندَ اللَّهِ هُمُ الْكَـذِبُونَ ]


e(12. Why then, did not the believers, men and women, when you heard it, think good of their own people and say: "This is an obvious lie'') (13. Why did they not produce four witnesses against him Since they have not produced witnesses! Then with Allah, they are the liars.)

Disciplining the Believers for spreading the Slander


Here Allah disciplines the believers with regard to the matter of `A'ishah, because some of them spread this evil talk and the slander that had been mentioned. So Allah says:


[لَّوْلا إِذْ سَمِعْتُمُوهُ]


(Why then, when you heard it,) meaning, the talk which accused the Mother of the believers, may Allah be pleased with her,


[ظَنَّ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ وَالْمُؤْمِنَـتُ بِأَنفُسِهِمْ خَيْراً]


(the believers, men and women, think good of their own people) means, why did they not compare what was said to themselves -- if it was not befitting for them then it was even less appropriate for the Mother of the believers, and she was more likely to be innocent. Or it was said that this was revealed about Abu Ayyub Khalid bin Zayd Al-Ansari and his wife, may Allah be pleased with them. Imam Muhammad bin Ishaq bin Yasar narrated, "The wife of Abu Ayyub Khalid bin Zayd Al-Ansari, Umm Ayyub, said to him, `O Abu Ayyub, have you heard what the people are saying about `A'ishah' He said, `Yes, and it is all lies. Would you do that, O Umm Ayyub' She said, `No, by Allah, I would not do that.' He said, `And by Allah, `A'ishah is better than you.' When the Qur'an was revealed, Allah mentioned those who spoke about the evil deed among the people of the slander,


[إِنَّ الَّذِينَ جَآءُوا بِالإِفْكِ عُصْبَةٌ مِّنْكُمْ]


(Verily, those who brought forth the slander are a group among you.) [24:1] This refers to Hassan and his companions who said what they said. Then Allah said,


[لَّوْلا إِذْ سَمِعْتُمُوهُ ظَنَّ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ]


(Why then, did not the believers, men, when you heard it, think...) means, as Abu Ayyub and his wife did.'' Allah's saying:


[ظَنَّ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ]


(the believers, men think...) meaning, `why did they not think good, because the Mother of the believers is his wife and is closer to him.' This is concerned with innermost feelings;


[وَقَالُواْ]


(and say:) means, with their tongues, verbally,


[هَـذَآ إِفْكٌ مُّبِينٌ]


("This (charge) is an obvious lie'') means, a clear untruth told about the Mother of the believers, may Allah be pleased with her. What happened should not have been the cause of suspicion. The fact that the Mother of the believers came openly, riding on the camel of Safwan bin Al-Mu`attal at midday, with the entire army watching and the Messenger of Allah among them, should have made it clear that there was no cause for suspicion. If there had been anything suspicious about the matter, they would not have come openly in this manner in front of so many witnesses; they would have come secretly. On this basis, what the people of the slander said accusing the Mother of the believers was an utter lie, false speech and evil foolish talk, by which people who indulged in it lost out. Allah said:


[لَّوْلاَ جَآءُو عَلَيْهِ بِأَرْبَعَةِ شُهَدَآءَ]


(Why did they not produce four witnesses against him) meaning, to prove that what they were saying was true.


[فَإِذْ لَمْ يَأْتُواْ بِالشُّهَدَآءِ فَأُوْلَـئِكَ عِندَ اللَّهِ هُمُ الْكَـذِبُونَ]


(Since they have not produced witnesses! Then with Allah they are the liars.)Allah has ruled that they are indeed wicked liars.


[وَلَوْلاَ فَضْلُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَتُهُ فِى الدُّنْيَا وَالاٌّخِرَةِ لَمَسَّكُمْ فِى مَآ أَفَضْتُمْ فِيهِ عَذَابٌ عَظِيمٌ - إِذْ تَلَقَّوْنَهُ بِأَلْسِنَتِكُمْ وَتَقُولُونَ بِأَفْوَهِكُمْ مَّا لَّيْسَ لَكُمْ بِهِ عِلْمٌ وَتَحْسَبُونَهُ هَيِّناً وَهُوَ عِندَ اللَّهِ عَظِيمٌ ]


(14. Had it not been for the grace of Allah and His mercy unto you in this world and in the Hereafter, a great torment would have touched you for that whereof you had spoken.) (15. When you were propagating it with your tongues, and uttering with your mouths that whereof you had no knowledge, you counted it a little thing, while with Allah it was very great.)