Turning the Tables Over

It is common nowadays that the media call Muslims with labels such as fundamentalists, extremists and terrorists and many Muslims start apologising. Well, actually a different approach is needed.

The meaning of fundamentalist is "someone who follows the basics of something". Therefore, to be a good English speaker you need to follow the fundamentals (basics) of the English language and someone who follows that is a fundamentalist. Similarly, being an Islamic fundamentalist means that you are following the basics of Islam and there's no harm in doing that so no need to apologise for being a fundamentalist.

As for extremists, every Muslim should be an extremist. Islam teaches peace and love so a Muslim should be extremely kind, extremely merciful and so on. Furthermore, no one should stop you from being such an extremist.

A terrorist is someone for who terrorizes someone. For example, when a robber sees a policeman, he is terrorized and therefore, the policeman is a terrorist for the robber. Similarly, a Muslim should also be a terrorist for anyone who does something bad such as stealing.

And if every Muslim is a fundamentalist, extremist and a terrorist, the whole world will become peaceful and very few crimes would be taking place and that is exactly what we want.

Using Sahih Ahadith to find the method of Salat

Please Read the Following Article First:

Taqlid - Is It Permissible?

The primary source of Islamic law is the Holy Quran and the Sahih Ahadith. If a problem arises which is not mentioned in these sources, ijma (consensus) and qiyas (analogy) are to be used. The Quran says in Surah ale-Imran, Chapter 3, Verse no. 32:

Obey Allah and Obey the Messenger so that you may obtain mercy.

In the case of the method of salat, we, therefore, have to analyse how the Prophet (S) offered it. He (S) said in Sahih al-Bukhari, Volume 1, Book of Adhan (Book 11), Hadith 604:

Narrated By Malik:
We came to the Prophet and stayed with him for twenty days and nights. We were all young and of about the same age. The Prophet was very kind and merciful. When he realized our longing for our families, he asked about our homes and the people there and we told him. Then he asked us to go back to our families and stay with them and teach them (the religion) and to order them to do good things. He also mentioned some other things which I have (remembered or) forgotten. The Prophet then added, "Pray as you have seen me praying and when it is the time for the prayer one of you should pronounce the Adhan and the oldest of you should lead the prayer.

From this again we come to know that we should analyse the method of prayer of the Prophet (S). Here are some ahadith concerning some actions in salat from Sahih al-Bukhari, Volume 1, Book of Characteristics of Prayer (Book 12).

702
Narrated Salim bin Abdullah
My father said, "Allah's Apostle used to raise both his hands up to the level of his shoulders when opening the prayer; and on saying the Takbir for bowing. And on raising his head from bowing he used to do the same and then say 'Sami a-l-lahu Liman hamida, Rabbana walaka-l-hamd.' And he did not do that (i.e. raising his hands) in prostrations."
703
Narrated Abdullah bin Umar
I saw that whenever Allah's Apostle stood for the prayer, he used to raise both his hands up to the shoulders, and used to do the same on saying the Takbir for bowing and on raising his head from it and used to say, "Sami a-l-lahu Liman hamida". But he did not do that (i.e. raising his hands) in prostrations.

707
Narrated Sahl bin Sad
The people were ordered to place the right hand on the left forearm in the prayer. Abu Hazim said, "I knew that the order was from the Prophet."

711
Narrated Abu Huraira
Allah's Apostle used to keep silent between the Takbir and the recitation of Qur'an and that interval of silence used to be a short one. I said to the Prophet "May my parents be sacrificed for you! What do you say in the pause between Takbir and recitation?" The Prophet said, "I say, 'Allahumma, ba'id baini wa baina khatayaya kama ba'adta baina-l-mashriqi wa-l-maghrib. Allahumma, naqqim min khatayaya kama yunaqqa-ththawbu-l-abyadu mina-ddanas. Allahumma, ighsil khatayaya bil-ma'i wa-th-thalji wal-barad (O Allah! Set me apart from my sins (faults) as the East and West are set apart from each other and clean me from sins as a white garment is cleaned of dirt (after thorough washing). O Allah! Wash off my sins with water, snow and hail.)"

713
Narrated Abu Mamar
We asked Khabbab whether Allah's Apostle used to recite (the Qur'an) in the Zuhr and the 'Asr prayers. He replied in the affirmative. We said, "How did you come to know about it?" He said, "By the movement of his beard."

723
Narrated Ubada bin As Samit
Allah's Apostle said, "Whoever does not recite Al-Fatiha in his prayer, his prayer is invalid."

747
Narrated Abu Huraira
The Prophet said, "Say 'Amin' when the Imam says it and if the Amin of any one of you coincides with that of the angels then all his past sins will be forgiven." Ibn Shihab said, "Allah's Apostle used to say 'Amin.' "

760
Narrated Aisha
The Prophet used to say in his bowing and prostrations, "Subhanaka-Allahumma Rabbana wa-bihamdika Allahumma-ighfirli. (I honor Allah from all what (unsuitable things) is ascribed to Him. O Allah Our Lord! And all the praises are for You. O Allah! Forgive me)."

767
Narrated Aiyub
Abu Qilaba said, "Malik bin Huwairith used to demonstrate to us the prayer of the Prophet at times other than that of the compulsory prayers. So (once) he stood up for prayer and performed a perfect Qiyam (standing and reciting from the Holy Qur'an) and then bowed and performed bowing perfectly; then he raised his head and stood straight for a while." Abu Qilaba added, "Malik bin Huwairith in that demonstration prayed like this Sheikh of ours, Abu Yazid." Abu Yazid used to sit (for a while) on raising his head from the second prostration before getting up.
786
Narrated Malik bin Huwairith Al Laithi
I saw the Prophet praying and in the odd Rakat, he used to sit for a moment before getting up.


773
Narrated Ibn Abbas
The Prophet was ordered (by Allah) to prostrate on seven parts and not to tuck up the clothes or hair (while praying). Those parts are: the forehead (along with the tip of nose), both hands, both knees, and (toes of) both feet.
785
Narrated Anas bin Malik
The Prophet said, "Be straight in the prostrations and none of you should put his forearms on the ground (in the prostration) like a dog."

Concentrating on and in Salat

One of the most important pillars is salat which is obligatory on every Muslim as the Prophet (S) says in Sahih al-Bukhari, Volume 1, Book of Salat (Book 2), Hadith 7:

Narrated By Ibn 'Umar: Allah's Apostle said: Islam is based on (the following) five (principles): 1. To testify that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah and Muhammad is Allah's Apostle. 2. To offer the prayers dutifully and perfectly. 3. To pay Zakat. (i.e. obligatory charity) 4. To perform Hajj. (i.e. Pilgrimage to Mecca) 5. To observe fast during the month of Ramadan.

A similar message is given in Sahih al-Bukhari, Volume 1, Book of Salat (Book 2), Hadith 24 and Sahih al-Bukhari, Volume 1, Book of Salat (Book 2), Hadith 47 and in many other places.


However, most of the Muslims who offer salat offer it in a very disrespectful manner. They go to a mosque or stay in their homes and start saying their prayers. Many don't even know what they are reciting and infact they are thinking of everything other than what they should be.

The easiest way to ensure that you focus on your salat is to know the meaning of what you usually recite and while reciting it, make sure you ponder over it.

The translation of what most people usually recite is as follows.

Allah u Akbar
Allah is the greatest

Subhanaka Allah humma wa bihamdika, wa tabaraka ismuka, wa ta'ala jadduka, wa la ilaha ghairuk.
Praise and glory be to you O Allah. Blessed be Your Name, exalted be Your Majesty and Glory. There is no God but You

Audu bi Allah i mina ashaitan i errajeem
I seek Allah's shelter from Satan, the condemned

Bismillah i rrahman i erraheem
In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful.

Al humdo lil-lahi rab-bil al ala-meen. Arrahman i rraheem.
Maliki yaum i eddeen. Iyyaka nabudu wa iyyaka nasta een. Ihdinas sirata almustaqeem.
Siratal lazhina anamta alaihim, ghairil maghdubi alaihim, wa la adhdhaal leen.
Praise be to Allah, The Cherisher and Sustainer of the Worlds; Most Gracious, Most Merciful; Master of the Day of Judgment. Thee do we worship,
and Thine aid we seek. Show us the straight way, the way of those on whom Thou hast bestowed Thy Grace, Those whose (portion) is not wrath, And who go not astray

For the translation of other Surahs, click here.

Subhana rabbiya al azeem
Glorified is my Lord, the Great

Samiallah u liman hamidah
Allah listens to those who praise (Him)

Rabbana wa lakal hamd
All praise is to our Lord

Subhana rubbiyal a'ala
Glory to Allah, the Exalted.

Attahiyat u lil Allah i wa assalawat u wa attaiyibat.
Assalam u a'laika aiyoha annabiyyu wa rahmat u Allah i wa barakatuh.
Assalam u a'laina wa a'la ebadi e llahi essaliheen.
Ashehadu alla ilaha illa Allah u wa ashhadu anna Muhammadan abduhu wa rasooluh.
All our oral, physical and monetary ways of worship are only for Allah. Peace, mercy and blessing of Allah be on you, O Prophet.
May peace be upon us and on the devout slaves of Allah. I testify that there is no God but Allah and I testify that Muhammad is His slave and messenger.

Assalam u a'laikum wa rahmatu Allah.
Peace and mercy of Allah be on you.


In case of any mistake in translating, please inform me along with the suggested translation.

The Main Problem with Democracy

The problem is that the people decide the laws whereas laws given by Allah and his messenger, Prophet (S), should be followed. The government is in fact giving authority to people to substitute most commands of Allah with their own inferior laws. They are then following themselves instead of following Allah which means that they are actually doing shirk in ibadah (worship/obedience).

Discussion Forum

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Common Questions and Misconceptions among Muslims

Many of the Muslims are confused by the question that if Allah knows what we will do why then does he need to send us in this world if we don't have a will.
In fact, we do have a will. Let me give you an example. Before an exam, a teacher guesses that this boy is going to fail and this one will come first in the class. Now when the result comes, the guess made by the teacher proved to be correct but the boy who failed cannot say that I failed because the teacher said it. Similarly, Allah has infinite knowledge so what we call His guesses they are not really guesses because Allah's so called guesses are perfect. Allah knows what we will do but we are in fact doing it of our free will.
If Allah had directly sent us to Heaven or Hell, the ones entering Heaven would be happy but the ones who would enter Hell would protest saying that we might have gone to the right path so now that Allah has sent us here, we won't be able to say anything against Allah's decision on the Day of Resurrection. Take the above case. If the teacher gave the results without taking the exams, the students who would get less marks would protest.

The misconception that Muslims have is that they think that since Allah is so kind and merciful, He will forgive everyone. Allah is more loving than a mother and since a mother cannot bear to see his child in pain, Allah , also, will not be able to bear His creations in pain.
Well, let me give you an example. You make two robots. One of them works as you want it to while the other does not. Will you keep both of you or throw the useless one away? Of course, unless you don't collect junk you'll throw it away. Similarly, those people who obey Allah's commands will be rewarded by being sent to Heaven while the ones who do not obey Allah (God) will be useless and will be sent to Hell.

Another misconception is that Muslims think that whatever we do in this world does not matter because Prophet Muhammad (S) will intercede on their behalf and persuade Allah to accept them into Heaven.
You should know that Allah will only allow intercession of whom He wills (i.e. his faithful servants who obey Him) as Allah says in the Holy Quran in Surah al-Baqarah, Chapter no. 2, Verse no. 255:

Who is there can intercede in His presence except as He permitteth?

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Why Muslims should not wish a "Merry Christmas"

The main reason for this is that the Christians believe that on the 25th of December, God gave birth to Jesus (AS). However, Islam teaches us in Surah al-Ikhlas, Surah 112, Verse 3 that Allah has neither parents nor children. Furthermore, Muslims believe that Isa (Jesus) (AS) is only a messenger of Allah who was born as a miracle from Allah. Therefore, if we wish someone a "Merry Christmas", we are indirectly accepting that God gave birth to a son as you would not be wishing someone if you know that that day is not special for him or you.

SO BEWARE!

Questions for Tanzeem-e-Islami

There are some things that I don't understand about Tanzeem-e-Islami.

THE QUESTIONS HAVE BEEN ANSWERED! THEREFORE, I HAVE REMOVED THEM TO AVOID CONFUSION!

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Eid Wishes

Eid Mubarak to all viewers! May Allah bless us all!