BaKhabar, November 2012, Page-5 [Virtues of the month of Muharram + Muslim Fathers Have to Man Up]

Virtues of the month of Muharram [What Muslims should do or not do in this month]

… Excerpted from Islam Q&A

1. Muharram is one of the four sacred months: The month of Muharram is the first month of the Arabic year, and it is one of the four sacred months of Allah [Quran, 9:36]
Abu Bakar Radhi Allaho Anhu reported that the Prophet (Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam) said: “…. The year consists of twelve months of which four are sacred: three consecutive months, Dhu’l-Qa’dah, Dhu’l-Hijjah and Muharram, and Rajab of Mudar which comes between Jumada and Sha’ban.” [Bukhari (3167) and Muslim (1679)]
It is proven from the Prophet (Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam) that the best fasting after Ramadan is fasting in the month of Muharram, as in the report of Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him): The Messenger of Allah (Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam) said: “The best fasting after Ramadan is the month of Allah Muharram, and the best prayer after the obligatory prayer is prayer at night.” [Muslim, 1163].

2. The virtue of fasting ‘Ashoora’ (10th Muharram): Fasting the day of ‘Ashoora’ expiates for the past year, because the Prophet (Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam) said: “Fasting the day of ‘Arafah I hope Allah will expiate thereby for the year before it and the year after it, and fasting the day of ‘Ashoora’ I hope Allah will expiate thereby for the year that came before it.” [Muslim, 1162]. This is by the bounty that Allah bestows upon us, whereby fasting one day expiates for the sins of a whole year. And Allah is the Owner of great bounty.

With regard to the reason why the Prophet (Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam) fasted on the day of ‘Ashoora’ and urged the people to do likewise is mentioned in the hadeeth of Ibn ‘Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him), who said: The Prophet (Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam) came to Madeenah and saw the Jews fasting on the day of ‘Ashoora’. He said, “What is this?” They said, “This is a good day, this is the day when Allah saved the Children of Israel from their enemy and Moosa fasted on this day.” He said, “We are closer to Moosa than you.” So he fasted on this day and told the people to fast. [Bukhari (3167) and Muslim (1679)]
The expiation of sins that is achieved by fasting ‘Ashoora’ refers to minor sins; with regard to major sins, they need separate repentance. Messenger of Allah (Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam) fasted on the day of ‘Ashoora and intended to fast on the ninth day, also, in the coming year. But, before the Muharram of next year he had passed away. [Muslim, 1916]. So, it is mustahab (better) to also fast on the 9th, and not single out the 10th for fasting. However, Ibn Taymiyah, Rahimahullah, said that it is not makrooh to single out just the 10th day for fasting.
We should not observe voluntary fasts when we still owe one or more days from Ramadan, rather we should complete the Ramadan fasts first, then observe voluntary fasts. If the intention of fasting on Ashoora day is to compensate for the Ramadan fast, it is acceptable.

3. What the Shi’ah do on ‘Ashoora’ is bid’ah (innovation) and misguidance: What the Shi’ah do on ‘Ashoora’ of beating their chests, slapping their cheeks, striking their shoulders with chains and cutting their heads with swords to let the blood flow are all innovations that have no basis in Islam. These things are evils that were forbidden by the Prophet (Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam), who did not prescribe for his ummah to do any of these things or anything similar to them to mark the death of a leader or the loss of a martyr, no matter what his status. During his lifetime (Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam) a number of senior Sahabah were martyred and he mourned their loss, such as Hamzah ibn ‘Abd al-Muttalib, Zayd ibn Harithah, Ja’far ibn Abi Talib and ‘Abd-Allah ibn Rawahah, but he did not do any of the things that these people do. If it was good, he (Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam) would have done it before us.
‘Abd-Allah ibn Mas’ood (may Allah be pleased with him) said: The Prophet (Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam) said: “He is not one of us who strikes his cheeks, rends his garment, or cries with the cry of the Jahiliyyah.” [Bukhari (1294) and Muslim (103)]
Al-Hafiz Ibn Katheer (may Allah have mercy on him) said: Every Muslim should mourn the killing of al-Husayn (may Allah be pleased with him), for he is one of the leaders of the Muslims, one of the scholars of the Sahabah, and the son of the daughter of the Messenger of Allah (Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam), who was the best of his daughters. He was a devoted worshipper, and a courageous and generous man. But there is nothing good in what the Shi’ah do of expressing distress and grief, most of which may be done in order to show off. His father was better than him and he was killed, but they do not take his death as an anniversary as they do with the death of al-Husayn. His father was killed on a Friday as he was leaving the mosque after Fajr prayer, on the seventeenth of Ramadan in 40 AH. When Hazrat Uthman was killed - he was besieged in his house during the days of al-Tashreeq in Dhu’l-Hijjah of 36 AH, his throat was cut from one jugular vein to the other - but Hazrat Ali, Radhi Allaho Anhu, did not take his death as an anniversary, nor did he take the murderous death of ‘Umar ibn al-Khattab, while standing in the mihrab praying Fajr and reciting Qur’an, as an anniversary. Muslims did not take as an anniversary, Abu Bakr al-Siddeeq’s death. Muslims did not mark an anniversary for the greatest messenger of Allah (Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam), the leader of the sons of Adam in this world and the hereafter. All the prophets died before our prophet, but he did not take the dates of their deaths as anniversaries on which they do what these ignorant Rafidis do on the day that al-Husayn was killed. … The best that can be said when remembering these and similar calamities is that which ‘Ali ibn al-Husayn narrated from his grandfather the saying of Messenger of Allah (Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam): “There is no Muslim who is afflicted by a calamity and when he remembers it, even if it was in the dim and distant past, he says Inna Lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’oon (verily to Allah we belong and unto Him is our return), but Allah will give him a reward like that of the day when it befell him.” [Narrated by Imam Ahmad and Ibn Majah, end quote from al-Bidayah wa’l-Nihayah (8/221).]

muharram

4. What the anti-Shia do is also bid’ah (innovation) and misguidance: On the day of ‘Ashoora, the Nasibis of Syria do the opposite of what the Rafidis and Shi’ah do. They cook grains on the day of ‘Ashoora and do ghusl and perfume themselves, and wear their finest garments, and they take that day as an Eid on which they express happiness and joy, intending thereby to annoy the Rafidis and be different from them.
Celebrating that day is an innovation (bid’ah), and making it an anniversary for mourning is also an innovation. Hence Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah (may Allah have mercy on him) said: Because of the killing of al-Husayn (may Allah be pleased with him), shaitan caused the people to introduce two innovations: some introduced mourning and others introduced celebrations … Every innovation is going astray. None of the four imams of the Muslims or any other (scholars) regarded either of these things as mustahab. [Minhaj al-Sunnah (4/554)].
It should be noted that these reprehensible actions are encouraged by the enemies of Islam, so that they can achieve their evil aims of distorting the image of Islam and its followers. These innovations, that is, (a) celebrating as a day of enjoyment, and (b) mourning for the killing of Hazrat Husain, Radhi Allaho Anhu, reached Iran and Iraq and India during the British occupation. The British are the ones who exploited the ignorance and naiveté of the Shi’ah and their deep love for Imam al-Husayn, and taught them to strike their heads with swords. Until recently the British embassies in Tehran and Baghdad sponsored the Husayni parades in which this ugly spectacle appears in the streets and alleyways. In Britain, they claimed these acts of Muslims as barbaric, and justified the occupation as a saviour’s act so that the uncivilized and barbaric muslims don’t eliminate each other’s existence.

Muslim Fathers Have to Man Up

… by Yahya Whitmer

As-Salamu Alaykum,

There is an old saying that goes “It takes a village to raise a child”.
To me, that statement emphasizes the tremendous impact that a child’s environment and peers has on his or her development. In a hadith narrated by imām Muslim, the Prophet ṣallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) mentioned that sheep shepherds are meek and humble, whereas the caretakers of camels are proud and arrogant, indicating that these human beings are influenced by the innate character of the animals that they take care of.

In commenting on this hadeeth, the Ulama have long mentioned that if people are susceptible to being influenced by the character of animals, then how much more susceptible must they be to being influenced by other people and cultures? Now, please take time to think about this in relation to the situation with Muslim families today.

Take a quick scan of mainstream culture; check out what is playing on TV or in the cinema, what are the popular stories on the internet, see what your average co-worker or potential classmate for your child is talking about. While there are positive nuggets to be found, the overwhelming majority of what is buzzing and rumbling in the cloud of mainstream culture is petty, selfish, and indulgent, and “Muslim” cultures are not exempt from this. This is our new, global village. Our children deserve better.

And the only person that can provide them what they deserve is you, Allāh willing.
“Each of you is a shepherd and each of you shall be asked about his flock” – [Bukhāri and Muslim], is what the Prophet ṣallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) told us.

Was there ever a time in history where this hadeeth has been more pertinent to a Muslim parent? Has there ever been a time where adultery, disrespect for parents, heedlessness of the Creator, rudeness, and intoxication, which are sins condemned by all the world’s major faiths, are not just accepted, but actually advertised to children? I dearly wish that I was exaggerating, that I was some turbaned version of Glenn Beck, but take one long, eye-searing look at the popular media that is targeted at youth, such as MTV and hip-hop, and you might get upset with me for understating the problem.

And as I often have to point out, the Muslim community is not mystically protected. Just because our children are named Aisha and Muḥammad, or because someone’s great grandfather was a hafiz of the Qurʾān, does not bestow a quasi-magical barrier of protection from society’s ills. Through research and personal accounts, I can guarantee you that our children fall prey to the same immorality that the children of all other communities suffer from. Permit me to lift the veil for just one moment: amongst Muslim youth, I know stories of zina, alcohol and drug use (including kids in Hifz school), apostasy, and even incest. We are not immune! These children needed a protector. They needed a true Muslim Father.
Let me address the inevitable question: Why am I talking about Muslim Fathers and not Muslim Mothers?

The simple answer is that the level of involvement of Muslim Mothers in the upbringing of our Ummah’s children is relatively high; look at Muslim parenting websites, masjid activities geared towards children, etc., and you will find that the majority of participants are mothers. Or even better, speak with the youth of your local community and ask them about their relationship with their parents. When it comes to their mothers, many may even complain that their mothers are too involved, “nosy”, or “smothering”.

Ask them about their fathers and you will often get blank expressions, and vague, shy answers that they don’t spend much time together. Our sisters were not meant to bear this tremendous responsibility alone. Children need the unique dynamics that a father and a mother bring to a family. Allāh has created everything with an inherent nature and purpose, as indicated by the Prophet’s ṣallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) statement, “People are minerals like the minerals of gold and silver, the best of them before Islam are the best of them in Islam when they obtain knowledge and understanding.” – [Bukhāri and Muslim].

There is a specific role that men are supposed to play in the family, modern gender politics be damned. Failing to live up to that role is failure to be a man. Our Creator said, “men are the caretakers (Qawwamoon) of women” [An-Nisaa', 34].

I understand that this verse has often been used as a bludgeon to enforce female subservience to their husbands, but that is the result of a backwards and impotent culture, and has nothing to do with our Creator’s intent in revealing this verse. As always, our salvation comes from the Sunnah of the Messenger ṣallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him). In dealing with his wives and children, the Prophet ṣallallāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam (peace and blessings of Allāh be upon him) demonstrated kindness, consideration, compassion, and patience that would put any modern relationship guru to shame. And he sealed the issue by saying, ”The best of you is the one who is best to his family, and I am the best amongst you to my family” – [At-Tirmidhi}, emphasizing that his implementation of Qawwamah is the only authentic one, and it is not open to a new American, Arab, Pakistani, or other interpretation. To reiterate: failure to be strong, kind, and caring to your family is failure to be a true man and Believer.

There has never been a time when families have been more in need of this strong, caring figure.
We live in an age where we can take nothing for granted. Can you wholly entrust your child’s education to the public school system, especially in such an evolving and dynamic world? Thousands of educators and experts have written about the inherent flaws of our school system and those flaws are present in any school that models itself after that system (i.e. Islamic schools).

Is the food in our supermarkets safe? Again, the testimony of countless experts highlights significant dangers in the way our food is produced. What about your child’s physical development? Hours and hours of play every day were once typical for a child, but current cultural trends are more likely to steer your child towards hours in front of the TV or computer. And what about their spiritual life? Is it enough to send them to Qurʾān class on Saturday and Sunday?

Would memorizing and reciting lines from Grey’s Anatomy be enough to make them competent physicians? What about the immorality promoted by modern media channels that I discussed earlier? The list goes on and on, the challenges are relentless, and Muslim families will be overwhelmed, unless they can come together, cooperate, and help each other in the path to their Creator.
This endeavor, like all great endeavors, needs a leader. That leader is supposed to be the Muslim Father.
And Allāh knows best
Source: muslimmatters.org.