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An Evil Act (Hadith No. 754)


Assalamu`alaykum,
Bismillah.

It's one thing to talk during the khutbah. That's absolutely wrong. But it's different when you ask someone else to keep quiet while the khutbah is going on. That might seem right. But it's wrong! For real for real.

Be quiet, you! I'm trying to concentrate here! e_e
Volume 2, Book 13, Number 754:
Narrated Abu Huraira:
Allah's Apostle (p.b.u.h) said, "When the Imam is delivering the Khutba, and you ask your companion to keep quiet and listen, then no doubt you have done an evil act."

Obviously, it's easier said than done. But inshaAllah if we make the intention to follow this Hadith, Allah will help us. :)
Wassalam.

Praying for Rain (Ahadith 752 - 753)


Assalamu`alaykum,
Bismillah.

Volume 2, Book 13, Number 752:
Narrated Anas:
While the Prophet was delivering the Khutba on a Friday, a man stood up and said, "O, Allah's Apostle! The livestock and the sheep are dying, so pray to Allah for rain." So he (the Prophet) raised both his hands and invoked Allah (for it).

Imagine what would happen if someone interrupted a khutbah today. *shivers at the thought*
In all fairness, Prophet (SAW) did not rebuke/scold him because he was a Bedouin - an illiterate person who was ignorant of the fact that one must not interrupt the khutbah. So instead, Prophet (SAW) just did as he said - he made du`a for rain.
A lesson for the Imaams right there. ^

Volume 2, Book 13, Number 753:
Narrated Anas bin Malik:
Once in the lifetime of the Prophet (p.b.u.h) the people were afflicted with drought (famine). While the Prophet was delivering the Khutba on a Friday, a Bedouin stood up and said, "O, Allah's Apostle! Our possessions are being destroyed and the children are hungry; Please invoke Allah (for rain)". So the Prophet raised his hands. At that time there was not a trace of cloud in the sky. By Him in Whose Hands my soul is as soon as he lowered his hands, clouds gathered like mountains, and before he got down from the pulpit, I saw the rain falling on the beard of the Prophet. It rained that day, the next day, the third day, the fourth day till the next Friday. The same Bedouin or another man stood up and said, "O Allah's Apostle! The houses have collapsed, our possessions and livestock have been drowned; Please invoke Allah (to protect us)". So the Prophet raised both his hands and said, "O Allah! Round about us and not on us". So, in whatever direction he pointed with his hands, the clouds dispersed and cleared away, and Medina's (sky) became clear as a hole in between the clouds. The valley of Qanat remained flooded, for one month, none came from outside but talked about the abundant rain.

Two words: 'LOL' and SubhanAllah! This was the barakah and sincerity in du`a of the Prophet (SAW). <3


Alright, so praying for rain is called 'istisqaa' (seeking rain from Allah). As for the proper method of this prayer, wait for Book 17 of Sahih al-Bukhari. It'll be covered in detail inshaAllah. (Right now, we're on Book 13, so not too far away..)

Here's a brief version:
During the 6th year of the Prophet's migration to Madinah, people complained to him about lack of rain, so he gave orders for a pulpit to be prepared.
He then appointed a day for the people to gather. He came out when the sun had just appeared and sat down on the pulpit. He extolled Allah's greatness and praised Him. Then he said: ‘You have complained of drought in your areas and of delay in receiving rain at the beginning of its season, but you have been ordered by Allah to supplicate Him and He has promised that He would answer your prayers.'
After this, he turned his back to the people and started praying to Allah, keeping his hands raised, saying, "Oh Allah, let us be covered with thick clouds that have abundant and beneficial rain, frequently making a light rain upon us and sprinkling upon us with lightning. Oh Allah, You are full of majesty, bounty and honour."
Finally, he faced the people, descended from the pulpit, and prayed twice in rak'at (prostration).
This prayer is taken recourse to when seeking rain from Allah during times of drought. It may be performed in one of the following manners:
  1. the imam prays, with the followers, two rak’at
  2. maybe performed during any time except those times in which it is not desirable to pray
  3. in the first rak’ah, the imam recites al-A’la after al-Fatihah
  4. in the second rak’ah, he reads al-Ghashiyah after al-Fatihah
  5. and he delivers a khutbah before or after the salah
  6. as soon as he finishes the khutbah, the people present should turn their outer garments around, each placing its left side on his right side and its right side on his left, face the qiblah (Ka’ba), supplicate Allah and raise their hands while doing so.
About turning the rida' (cloak/upper garment) inside out, this here should be helpful.
Wassalam.

Tahiyyat-ul-Masjid: An Insight (Ahadith 750 - 751)


Assalamu`alaykum,
Bismillah.
There has been a post on this topic before, but this will be more detailed and insightful inshaAllah. 

Volume 2, Book 13, Number 750:
Narrated Jabir bin 'Abdullah:
A person entered the mosque while the Prophet was delivering the Khutba on a Friday. The Prophet said to him, "Have you prayed?" The man replied in the negative. The Prophet said, "Get up and pray two Rakat."

Volume 2, Book 13, Number 751:
Narrated Jabir:
A man entered the Mosque while the Prophet was delivering the Khutba. The Prophet said to him, "Have you prayed?" The man replied in the negative. The Prophet said, "Pray two Rakat."

One of the etiquettes of visiting the Masjid, is the offering of two rak`aat glorifying Allaah upon arrival. These two rak`aat show honor and respect for the places of worship. These two rak`aat are known as “Tahiyyaht-ul-Masjid”, and display salutation for the masjid. The person entering the masjid performs them greeting the masjid; similar to the way a person greets somebody.

There is proof found in the hadeeth of Abu Qaatadah that this prayer is legislated. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said,
إِذَا دَخَلَ أَحَدُكُمُ الْمَسْجِدَ فَلاَ يَجْلِسْ حَتَّى يُصَلِّىَ رَكْعَتَيْنِ
“Whenever one of you enter the masjid he MUST not sit down until he prays two Rak’ah.” (Bukhari 433)
فَلْيَرْكَعْ رَكْعَتَيْنِ قَبْلَ أَنْ يَجْلِسَ
“Then he MUST pray two Rak’ah before he sits down”(Muslim 714)

Entering the Best of Masajid.. <3
In the Ahadith mentioned above (top), an instance is mentioned where Prophet (SAW) interrupts his khutba to ask a man if he had prayed tahiyyat-ul-masjid upon entering the masjid. And then he ordered him to get up and pray the two rak`aat. This is where the confusion starts. Is the Jumu`ah khutba more important or the tahiyyat-ul-masjid? Well, read point 4 here.

Is it mandatory, recommended, or just a voluntary deed? Does a person HAVE to perform these two rak`aat upon entering a masjid, or does he/she have an option? Well, there's difference of opinion among scholars. Go through this link for details. In short, it is recommended and a "stressed Sunnah".
So if it's a stressed Sunnah, can we perform the two rak`aat even in the times when prayer is forbidden (example: after Fajr, after Asr)? Get your answer here.

Happy knowing + amal-ing. :D
Wassalam.

Camel > Cow > Ram > Chicken > Egg (Hadith No. 749)


Assalamu`alaykum,
Bismillah.

Today's Hadith will explain the title of this post inshaAllah. :P

Volume 2, Book 13, Number 749:
Narrated Abu Huraira:
The Prophet said, "When it is a Friday, the angels stand at the gate of the mosque and keep on writing the names of the persons coming to the mosque in succession according to their arrivals. The example of the one who enters the mosque in the earliest hour is that of one offering a camel (in sacrifice). The one coming next is like one offering a cow and then a ram and then a chicken and then an egg respectively. When the Imam comes out (for Jumua prayer) they (i.e. angels) fold their papers and listen to the Khutba."

The bigger you want your reward to be, the more you gotta work for it. Eggs don't weigh much, you know. :|
And what do you think about those who reach the masjid after the Imaam comes out? Even angels leave their jobs at that time to listen to the khutbah!

Share ahead!
Wassalam.

The Khutbah 'Scene' II (Hadith No. 748)


Assalamu`alaykum,
Bismillah.

Volume 2, Book 13, Number 748:
Narrated 'Abdullah Ibn Umar:
The Prophet used to deliver two Khutbas and sit in between them.
This is about the Friday Khutbah..


See the Imaam, he's standing at a raised position (minbar) to deliver the khutbah. This is Sunnah of the Prophet (SAW). One of the reasons may be to help maximum people listen to the khateeb and second, the khateeb can keep an eye on the listeners.
A little more on the Khutbah Scene here and here.
Wassalam.

Excellence of the Ansaar (Hadith No. 747)


Assalamu`alaykum,
Bismillah.

Volume 2, Book 13, Number 747:
Narrated Ibn Abbas:
Once the Prophet ascended the pulpit and it was the last gathering in which he took part. He was covering his shoulder with a big cloak and binding his head with an oily bandage. He glorified and praised Allah and said, "O people! Come to me." So the people came and gathered around him and he then said, "Amma ba'du." "From now onward the Ansar will decrease and other people will increase. So anybody who becomes a ruler of the followers of Muhammad and has the power to harm or benefit people then he should accept the good from the benevolent amongst them (Ansar) and overlook the faults of their wrong-doers."

Ansar (Arabic: الأنصار‎ al-Anṣār) is an Islamic term that literally means "helpers" and denotes the Medinan citizens that helped Muhammad and the Muhajirun on the arrival to the city after the migration to Medina. They belonged to two main tribes, the Banu Khazraj and the Banu Aws. [Wikipedia]

We all know who the Ansaar were. We read about the in the Seerah of the Prophet (SAW) - how they helped the Muslims who migrated from Makkah, how they shared their wealth, property, houses, and even families with them, how they sacrificed for Islam. This is just one example.

Their efforts and sacrifices in the name of Islam raised their status to such heights that Prophet (SAW) said what he said in the above mentioned Hadith, that the ruler should accept the good from the benevolent amongst them (Ansar) and overlook the faults of their wrong-doers. Not just that. It's a sign of IMAAN to have love for the Ansaar. Can you believe it? :O
Prophet (sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam) said, The sign of Eemaan is love for the Ansaar and the sign of hypocrisy is hatred for the Ansaar.
Reported by al-Bukhaaree (Eng. trans. 1/21/no.16). Refer also to Fadaailus-Sahaabah of Imaam Ahmad (2/790).
Even now, Madinah and its people are so amazing. You can't help but love them. :P
Wassalam.

Saying "Ammaa Ba`du" (Ahadith 745 - 746)


Assalamu`alaykum,
Bismillah.

Volume 2, Book 13, Number 745:
Narrated Abu Hummaid As-Sa'idi
One night Allah's Apostle (p.b.u.h) stood up after the prayer and recited "Tashah-hud" and then praised Allah as He deserved and said, "Amma ba'du."

Volume 2, Book 13, Number 746:
Narrated Al-Miswar bin Makhrama:
Once Allah's Apostle got up for delivering the Khutba and I heard him after "Tashah-hud" saying "Amma ba'du."

"Amma Ba`du" (أما بعد) literally means "as for after". Khateebs and lecturers usually say it in their talks after praising Allah and before starting their own speech. It's like separating the two things - what Allah and His Messenger (SAW) said, and what I have to say.

To get a clearer picture, go through this.
Wassalam.

Alhamdulillah for the Prophet [SAW] (Hadith No. 744)


Assalamu`alaykum,
Bismillah.

Volume 2, Book 13, Number 744:
Narrated Aisha:
Once in the middle of the night Allah's Apostle (p.b.u.h) went out and prayed in the mosque and some men prayed with him. The next morning the people spoke about it and so more people gathered and prayed with him (in the second night). They circulated the news in the morning, and so, on the third night the number of people increased greatly. Allah's Apostle (p.b.u.h) came out and they prayed behind him. On the fourth night the mosque was overwhelmed by the people till it could not accommodate them. Allah's Apostle came out only for the Fajr prayer and when he finished the prayer, he faced the people and recited "Tashah-hud" (I testify that none has the right to be worshiped but Allah and that Muhammad is His Apostle), and then said, "Amma ba'du. Verily your presence (in the mosque at night) was not hidden from me, but I was afraid that this prayer (Prayer of Tahajjud) might be made compulsory and you might not be able to carry it out."

Alhamdulillah. Allah sent Prophet (SAW) as a mercy for all mankind, for us. He did not want to burden us, he always made things easy for us. Alhamdulillah, tahajjud is not obligatory. :P

Think about it, do we really 'thank' Allah for sending such an awesome and amazing person to us as our Messenger?
Wassalam.

Knowing People (Hadith No. 743)


Assalamu`alaykum,
Bismillah.

Volume 2, Book 13, Number 743:
Narrated 'Amr bin Taghlib:
Some property or something was brought to Allah's Apostle and he distributed it. He gave to some men and ignored the others. Later he got the news of his being admonished by those whom he had ignored. So he glorified and praised Allah and said, "Amma ba'du. By Allah, I may give to a man and ignore another, although the one whom I ignore is more beloved to me than the one whom I give. But I give to some people as I feel that they have no patience and no contentment in their hearts and I leave those who are patient and self-contented with the goodness and wealth which Allah has put into their hearts and 'Amr bin Taghlib is one of them." Amr added, By Allah! Those words of Allah's Apostle are more beloved to me than the best red camels.

SubhanAllah. I advise you to go through the narration once more to grasp the true meaning, because I might fall short of words while expressing my thoughts..

There are two kinds of people mentioned here:
  1. those who have no patience and no contentment in their hearts,
  2. those who are patient and self-contented with the goodness and wealth which Allah has put into their hearts.
Prophet (SAW) was a very wise man. He knew how to deal with different kinds of people. So he distributed the wealth/piece of land among the first category to incline them more towards Islam, and ignored the second category because he knew they'll be content and happy even if they're not given more of the worldly wealth. They'll continue to serve Islam willingly anyway..


And `Amr bin Taghlib. This man was praised by the Prophet (SAW), and he knew the true value of those words. So he said:
By Allah! Those words of Allah's Apostle are more beloved to me than the best red camels.
SubhanAllah. :)
Question: do we know how to deal with different kinds of people that we interact with daily, without offending them?

Wassalam.

The Khutbah 'Scene' (Ahadith 741 - 742)


Assalamu`alaykum,
Bismillah.

Hadith no. 740 is a repeat. Read it here.

Volume 2, Book 13, Number 741:
Narrated Ibn Umar:
The Prophet (p.b.u.h) used to deliver the Khutba while standing and then he would sit, then stand again as you do now-a-days.
Volume 2, Book 13, Number 742:
Narrated Abu Said Al-Khudri:
One day the Prophet sat on the pulpit and we sat around him.

So that's how it was back then. Circles. Halaqaat. One person speaking and others sitting 'around' him. And the khateeb (one who is delivering the sermon) would sometimes sit in the middle, to give his legs some rest, or maybe just to be at the eye level of his audience.

Alhamdulillah, we do have halaqaat of `Ilm these days as well. May Allah increase our knowledge and help us acquire it the way the best of people did. Prophet (SAW) did not have all the teaching methods and resources back then. He did not have access to multimedia or even electricity, really. All he and his students had was Imaan and Ikhlaas. Those students of a completely 'unprofessional'  institute later on changed the face of this Earth. Precisely, those people.

And here's an interesting video:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3o6kpCLDMVg&list=PL409C23E2F903F8D3&index=1&feature=plpp_video]

Wassalam.

Why did the Stem Cry? (Hadith No. 739)


Assalamu`alaykum,
Bismillah.

Volume 2, Book 13, Number 739:
Narrated Jabir bin 'Abdullah:
The Prophet used to stand by a stem of a date-palm tree (while delivering a sermon). When the pulpit was placed for him we heard that stem crying like a pregnant she-camel till the Prophet got down from the pulpit and placed his hand over it.

You know when they say 'even walls have ears', they're not lying. Everything that surrounds us can sense or feel (totally unofficial my-own-theory type statement). The way I see it, it's part of a master plan. You see, everything around us senses or feels us, our actions, our sounds etc. For example, this Earth beneath your feet determines your footsteps, did you walk on Earth with pride or humility? This is how, on the Day of Judgement, there'll be evidence for you or against you. You see? Even your skins will begin to speak, because Allah will give them the ability to do so. Only to provide evidence. All for THAT day.


So about the stem that cried.. Why did it cry? Because it would no longer have Prophet (SAW)'s company every now and then. Because it had been replaced by a wooden pulpit. Because only being of the littlest service to the Messenger (SAW) meant having the best of this world. Because only being related with him in any way was such an honor.

From being a random stem of a regular date-palm tree to 'the Prophet's pulpit'. SubhanAllah!
And notice the reaction of the Prophet (SAW). He gets down there and puts his hand over it, like he was consoling it. That is complete aww-ness. <3

Wassalam.

Learn! (Hadith No. 738)


Assalamu`alaykum,
Bismillah.

Volume 2, Book 13, Number 738:
Narrated Abu Hazim bin Dinar:
Some people went to Sahl bin Sad As-Sa'idi and told him that they had different opinions regarding the wood of the pulpit. They asked him about it and he said, "By Allah, I know of what wood the pulpit was made, and no doubt I saw it on thy very first day when Allah's Apostle I took his seat on it. Allah's Apostle sent for such and such an Ansari woman (and Sahl mentioned her name) and said to her, 'Order your slave-carpenter to prepare for me some pieces of wood (i.e. pulpit) on which I may sit at the time of addressing the people.' So she ordered her slave-carpenter and he made it from the tamarisk of the forest and brought it (to the woman). The woman sent that (pulpit) to Allah's Apostle who ordered it to be placed here. Then I saw Allah's Apostle praying on it and then bowed on it. Then he stepped back, got down and prostrated on the ground near the foot of the pulpit and again ascended the pulpit. After finishing the prayer he faced the people and said, 'I have done this so that you may follow me and learn the way I pray.' "

Related post here.
I have done this so that you may follow me and learn the way I pray.
Understanding these words properly can suffice us inshaAllah. ^
What did Prophet (SAW) do but to teach us the right way to go about things? His life was a mission - to teach, to deliver the message. So learn. Learn. Learn! Learn from the Prophet (SAW). Learn from those who follow him. Learn from those who love him. Learn about him, his life, his mission, his journey, his everything.
`Ilm - giving or taking - is noble, bro. It honors a person. This is what made Adam (AS) the 'best of creation'. Because this is how Allah (SWT) sort of defended him in this incident:
And [mention, O Muhammad], when your Lord said to the angels, "Indeed, I will make upon the earth a successive authority." They said, "Will You place upon it one who causes corruption therein and sheds blood, while we declare Your praise and sanctify You?" Allah said, "Indeed, I know that which you do not know."
And He taught Adam the names - all of them. Then He showed them to the angels and said, "Inform Me of the names of these, if you are truthful."
They said, "Exalted are You; we have no knowledge except what You have taught us. Indeed, it is You who is the Knowing, the Wise."
He said, "O Adam, inform them of their names." And when he had informed them of their names, He said, "Did I not tell you that I know the unseen [aspects] of the heavens and the earth? And I know what you reveal and what you have concealed."
[Surah al-Baqarah: 30-33]
And this is why the angels were made to bow down (in honor) before him. This `Ilm. So learn, will you?
P.S. 'learning' and 'gathering information' are two different things. Look it up. :)
Wassalam.

How to Answer the Adhaan - II (Hadith No. 735)


Assalamu`alaykum,
Bismillah.

One way to answer the Adhaan is described here. There's another way according to the Sunnah. It's more or less the same as the previous one, just a slight change in the answer..

Volume 2, Book 13, Number 735:
Narrated Abu Umama bin Sahl bin Hunaif:
I heard Muawiya bin Abi Sufyan (repeating the statements of the Adhan) while he was sitting on the pulpit. When the Muadh-dhin pronounced the Adhan saying, "Allahu-Akbar, Allahu Akbar", Muawiya said: "Allah Akbar, Allahu Akbar." And when the Muadh-dhin said, "Ash-hadu an la ilaha illal-lah (I testify that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah)", Muawiya said, "And (so do) I". When he said, "Ash-hadu anna Muhammadan Rasulullah" (I testify that Muhammad is Allah's Apostle), Muawiya said, "And (so do) I". When the Adhan was finished, Muawiya said, "O people, when the Muadh-dhin pronounced the Adhan I heard Allah's Apostle on this very pulpit saying what you have just heard me saying".

"And (so do) I" is wa 'ana (وأنا) in Arabic. Cool, eh? ;)
Wassalam.

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