THE SHAHAADAH

The Shahaadah is the first pillar of Islam.  It is the key to one's true belief in Islam. It is not possible to be considered a Muslim if there is any lack of belief in this declaration. It is for this reason that when the Prophet [peace be upon him] sent his Companion, Mu'aadh bin Jabal, to Yemen to invite the people to Islam, he intructed him to first teach the principles of the Shahaadah. Through the declaration of the Shahaadah one becomes a Muslim. However, entrance into Paradise is based not upon pronouncement of the words of the Shahaadah alone but upon understanding its meaning and implications and practicing it in one's life.

The Shahaadah is divided into two parts:

A. LAA ILAAHA ILLALLAAH - There is no god but Allah

This part of the Shahaadah forms the basis of what is known as Tawheed, which may be translated as Monotheism, or the worship of one god.  Literally it translates to mean "There is no god but Allah."  However, the essential meaning refers specifically to worship.

Laa Ilaaha Illallaah has two aspects: 

1. Laa ilaaha - is the aspect of negation which referes to the rejection of all deities other than Allah.
2. Illallaah - is the acpect of confirmation which affirms that Allaah has no partner in worship or in dominion.

B. MUHAMMAD RASOOLULLAAH - Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah

This portion of the Shahaadah refers to the Prophet Muhammad himself [peace be upon him].  It is important part of the Islamic creed in that it requires a Muslim to profess faith in him as the Messenger of Allah, as expressed in the second part of the Shahaadah "Muhammadan Rasoolullaah." This means: Complete belief in him as the messenger of Allah. But specifically it contains a much greater meaning.

THE PILLARS OF ISLAM

Arkaan Al-Islam, the pillars of Islam, are five and are specifically mentioned in the following Hadith:

"Islam has been built upon five things:  declaring that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, the establishment of Salaah, the payment of Zakah, the Hajj, and the Sawm of Ramadan. [Al Bukhari 1/7]

The five pillars, as indicated in the Hadith, are:

1. SHAHAADAH - which is the declaration of faith [LAA ILAAHA ILLALLAAH MUHAMMADAN RASOOLULLAAH - there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the messenger of Allah].
2. SALAH - it is the performance of the five compulsory prayers daily.
3. ZAKAH - an obligatory payment upon a Muslim whose wealth exceeds his basic needs.
4. SAWM - fasting during the month of Ramadan.
5. HAJJ - it is the performance of the pilgrimage to the House (the Ka'bah), if one is able.

PRAYER AT THE TIME OF ECLIPSE

Aa-ishah [may Allah be pleased with her] related: “The sun went into eclipse during the lifetime of Allah’s messenger, on the day when Ibraheem (his infant son) died. People said that the sun was eclipsed because of Ibraheem’s death. The Prophet [peace be upon him] said: ‘The sun and the moon are two of Allah’s signs. They are not eclipsed for the death or the birth of anyone. If you see them eclipse, offer prayers and supplication to Allah’.” (Related by Abu Dawood).

THE PERFORMANCE OF SALAT (PRAYERS)

Iqamat-as-Salat: the performance of Salat (prayers).  It means that:

a)  Every Muslim, male or female, is obliged to offer his Salat (prayers) regularly five times a day at the specified times; the male in a mosque in congregation and the female at home. As the Prophet [peace be upon him] has said:  "Order your children to perform Salat (prayers) at the age of seven and beat them (about it) at the age of ten."  The chief (of a family, town, tribe) and the Muslim rulers of a country are held responsible before Allah in case of non-fulfillment of this obligation by the Muslims under their authority.

b) One must offer the Salat (prayers) as the Prophet [peace be upon him] used to offer them with all their rules and regulations, i.e. standing, bowing, prostrating, sitting as Mohammad [peace be upon him] has said: "Offer your Salat (prayers) the way you see me performing them."

[Sahih Al-Bukhari, Hadith No. 631 and 7246]

Mike Tyson Performed Umrah

Mike Tyson, a former heavyweight boxing champ, embraced Islam while serving a prison sentence in the 1990s.  He arrived in arrived in the holy city of Madinah on Friday to perform prayers at the Prophet's Mosque.  While in Madinah, Tyson met Dr. Muhammad Al-Oqala, president of the Islamic University, who briefed him on the services being rendered by the university to students from across the world.

From Madinah, Tyson will travel on to Makkah to perform Umrah and will also visit Jeddah, Abha and Riyadh as part of his Saudi tour. His visit to Saudi Arabia was arranged by the Canadian Dawa Association (CDA). Tyson would be in the Kingdom for one week, visiting the holy places as well as important landmarks in the country and meeting with Saudi people to get to know their culture and traditions.

Sign of Allah's Love

Allah, the Exalted says: Say (O Mohammad [peace be upon him] to mankind): 'If you (really) love Allah then follow me (i.e., accept Islamic Monotheism, follow the Qur'an and the Sunnah), Allah will love you and forgive you of your sins.  And Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.'" (Qur'an 3:31)

"O you who believe! Whoever from among you turns back from his religion (Islam), Allah will bring a people whom He will love and they will love Him; humble towards the believers, stern towards the disbelievers, fighting in the way of Allah, and never afraid of the blame of the blamers.  That is the Grace of Allah which He bestows on whom He wills. And Allah is All-Sufficient for His creatures' needs, All Knower." (Qur'an 5:54)

Safeguarding and Perpetuating Good Habits

Allah, the Exalted, says:

"Verily, Allah will not change the (good) condition of a people as long as they do not change their state (of goodness) themsleves (by committing sins and by being ungrateful and disobedient to Allah)."  [Qur'an 13:11]

Fulfillment of Promises

Abu Hurairah [may Allah be pleased with him] reported:  Messenger of Allah [peace be upon him] said, "Three are the signs of a hypocrite:  When he speaks, he lies; when he makes a promise, he breaks it; and when he is trusted, he betrays his trust."   [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

Secrecy of Private Matters

Allah, the Exalted, says:  "And fulfill (every) covenant. Verily! The covenant, will be questioned about."   [Qur'an 17:34]

Modesty

Ibn 'Umar [may Allah be pleased with him] reported:  Messenger of Allah [peace be upon him] passed by a man of the Ansar who was admonishing his brother regarding shyness. Messenger of Allah [peace be upon him] said, "Leave him alone, for modesty is a part of Iman."   [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]



Commentary by Hafiz Salahuddin Yusuf:

The Ansari, who was being lectured by his brother, was indeed an embodiment of modesty and unpretentiousness. Such a man is never sharp in worldly affairs because modesty restrains him from following wrong ways.  For this reason, modesty has been called a part of the faith.  This is an inborn quality, that is, some people are unassertive by birth.  Yet, if they are gradually guided and directed towards virtues, their unassumingness further increases.  And in Islam it is counted a virtue.

The Book of Good Manners

Hafsah [may Allah be pleased with her] reported:  Messenger of Allah [peace be upon him] used to use his right hand for eating, drinking and wearing his clothers and used to use his left hand for other purposes.  [Abu Dawud]

The Just Ruler

'Abdullah bin 'Amr bin Al-'As [may Allah be pleased with him] reported:  The Messenger of Allah [peace be upon him] said, "The just will be seated upon pulpits of light." Those who are fair with regards to their judgement and their family and those who are under them."  [Muslim]

Commentary by Hafiz Salahuddin Yusuf:  How will be the likeness of the pulpits of light?  Although we are not aware of their reality, yet we are supposed to have faith in them.  We must also believe that these people (just rulers) will be under the shade of the Throne or the Divine mercy, while people will be drenched in their sweat depending on their deeds. The Hadith throws light on the excellence of justice and the high rank of those who do justice.

Treatment Towards Orphans

Abu Hurairah [may Allah be pleased with him] reported:  Messenger of Allah [peace be upon him] said, "He who takes care of an orphan, whether he is his relative or a stranger, will be in Jannah with me like these two." the narrator, Malik bin Anas raised his forefinger and middle finger for illustration.   [Muslim]

Commentary by Hafiz Salahuddin Yusuf:  The Islamic system of welfare and economic security is not restricted to relatives only.  It includes every orphan and needy. If Muslims put this system into practice, there will be no need for insurance - a system which is based on usury.  May Allah enable the Muslims to adopt the teachings of Islam so that they will be relieved of the curse of the system of usury.

Ways of Doing Good

Abu Hurairah [may Allah be pleased with him] reported:  The Prophet [peace be upon him] said: "O Muslim women, never belittle any gift you give your neighbor even if it is a hoof of a sheep."   [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

Commentary by Hafiz Salahuddin Yusuf:  This Hadith enjoins that any gift presented sincerely by a neighbor should not be treated as humble, however ordinary it may be, because in spite of being of small worth it has a high value with Allah.

Patience

Abu Hurairah [may Allah be pleased with him] reported that the Messengeer of Allah [peace be upon him] said, "He whom Allah intends good, He makes him to suffer from some affliction."  [Al Bukhari]

Commentary by Hafiz Salahuddin Yusuf: Troubles of this world like grief, calamity, disease, poverty, loss of life and property, etc., have a benign aspect for a Muslim in the sense that on account of them he turns towards Allah and begs mercy and compassion from Him because of which his sins are forgiven.  Thus, in these troubles there is blessing for him in the Hereafter.

Prayer Times for Saudi Arabia

Prayer Times for Saudi Arabia

Prayer Times for Saudi Arabia