Mujhe Hai Hukm-e-Adhaan

Agarchey but hain jama'at ki aasteenon mein

Mujhe hai hukm-e-adhaan

La ilaaha il Allah!

La ilaaha il Allah!

Do As You Say - Mawlana Munir.

Salamu 'Alaykum.

Log taqreer, bayaan awr waaz naheen sunte, balke hamari zindagi dekhte hain.

People don't (only) listen to (our) speeches, sermons and exhortations, rather they (also) look at our lives.

Mawlana Munir (db) through brother 'Azimuddin. 

Imam Abu Hanifa & His Mother.

Imam ‘Azam and his mother

Imam Abu Hanifa obeyed his mother in everything  she said. Whenever he went to the circle of ‘Umar ibn Dirar, he took her along on a beast. Once, she made a vow to do something and asked him to give a verdict about it but was dissatisfied with his (Imam Abu Hanifa’s) answer. She said, “I will only be at peace if you find (this) out from the preacher Zur’ah.” So he took her to him and she put her question to Zur’ah. He said, “The Faqih of Kufa is with you! Why ask me?” So, out  of respect for his mother, the Imam said, “I will dictate the edict (fatwa) and you issue it.” Thus, she was satisfied. 
The ‘Amir of Kufa, Ibn Hubayra offered the Imam the post of judge and he refused. So Yazid (had him) flogged with 110 lashes. He said that he was not so hurt with the punishment as with the pain that it caused his mother who said to him, “Nu’man! Give up this knowledge for which you have to suffer.” He said, “Mother, if I had sought the world with this knowledge then I would have earned much but I have acquired it only to please Allah and to earn deliverance.
Akhbar Abu Hanifa Wa Ashabihi pg. 53, ‘Uqud al-Juman pg. 292, Tarikh Baghdad, v13, pg.266.
Adapted from Qadi Athar Mubarakpuri’s “Achievements of Muslim Women in the Religious and Scholarly Fields.”

Mahmud-o-Ayaz

Aa gaya ayn ladaai mein agar waqt-e-namaz, 

Qibla rukh hoke zameen-bos hui qawm-e-hijaz

Ek hi saff mein khade ho gaye Mahmud-o-Ayaz, 

Na koi banda raha awr na koi banda-nawaz.

In the midst of fighting when came the time for prayer

The people of Hijaz turned to the Ka'ba and fell on their faces.

In one line stood king (Mahmud) and servant (Ayaz) 

neither of them a slave or master.

Teachers & Students Of Imam Abu Dawud.

Teachers and Students of Imam Abu Dawood Sijistani.

Teachers of Imam Abu Dawood:
Imam Shamsuddin al-Dhahabi says that he studied under many great ‘ulama. Ibn Hajr puts the number at 300. Among his more famous teachers are:

• Musaddad ibn Musarhad
• Yahya ibn Ma’een
• Qutayba ibn Sa’eed
• ‘Uthman ibn Abi Shayba
• Ahmad ibn Hanbal
• Qa’naby
• Abu’l Waleed Tayalisi.
• Muhammad ibn Kathir ‘Abdi
• Muslim ibn Ibrahim
• Abu Ja’far Nufaily.

He also benefited from Abu ‘Amr Dharir and ‘Asim ibn ‘Ali who were from the senior scholars of that time. He studied under many of Imam Bukhari’s shuyukh. Ibn Hajr has counted him alongwith Bukhari in the 11th generation of traditionists (muhaddithin).
Students:
Among his more noted students are: 

• Lu’lu’i.
• Ibn ‘Arabi
• Ibn Daastah
• Abu Hasan Ansari
• Abu Teeb Ashnani
• Abu ‘Amr Basri 
• Abu ‘Isa Ramli (to whom he gave his handwritten copy of Kitab al-Sunan) 
• Abu Usama Ruwas (narrator of 8 Sunan books)
• Abu ‘Abdullah (narrator of Kitab al-Radd ‘ala Ahl al-Qadr)
• Abu Bakr Najjar (narrator of Nasikh wa’l Mansukh)
• Abu ‘Ubayd Aajurri (narrator of Kitab al-Masa’il)
• Isma’il Saffaar (narrator of Musnad Malik)
• Abu Bakr ‘Abdullah (son of Imam Tirmidhi)
• Imam Nasa’i, 
• Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal.

Adapted from “The Biography of Imam Abu Dawud Sijistani”, edited by Mufti A.H. Elias.

Saving The Eyes & Lowering The Gaze.

It is reported that Hassân b. Abî Sinân (rah) went out one 'Eid and when he returned home his wife said, “How many beautiful women have you looked at today?” After she kept asking him, he said, “Woe to you! I have looked at nothing but my toe from when I went out to when I returned to you.”

It is reported on the authority of Al-Wakî’ b. Al-Jarrâh (rah):
We went out one 'Eid with Sufyân Al-Thawrî and he said, “The first thing we will do on this day of ours is to lower our gaze.”

Ibn Abi al-Dunya, Kitab al-Wara'. Taken from Sayings of the Salaf.

Wa Salam.

'Itteba-e-Sunnat English Translation.

‘ITTEBA-E-SUNNAT: YAAD RAKKHO, YAAD RAKKHE JAOGE.

Al Salamu `Alaykum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuh.
The following is the beginning of the translation of the book, ‘Itteba-e-Sunnat! Yaad Rakkho, Yaad Rakkhe Jaoge, by Al Haaj Shakil Ahmad Sahib (db). Hadrat has kindly given this sinner permission to translate this book into the English language for the benefit of those who do not know Urdu. Instead of a literal translation from the mother tongue into English, I have chosen a free form of translation that conveys the message of the original while avoiding prolixity and unnecessary repetition. The translation begins (as of now) directly from the meat of the book avoiding the taqriz, the index, the editor’s note etc which will be added later on. This is only the first draft of the translation and will undergo changes and betterment as time goes on, Inshallah. All mistakes are from Shaytan and me. May Allah accept this effort and make it a means for me in the Hereafter. Please inform me of any mistakes so that the translation can be corrected. Jazakamullahu khayra.
Abu_Tamim.

Every intelligent person seeks profit.

Respected elders and friends! Every person of intellect in this world wants profit, no one seeks loss. Anyone with even a modicum of understanding and intelligence rushes towards benefit and avoids damage to the maximum extent possible. This approach of avoiding doing deeds of no profit is common to all people of sense. Rather such a person works in a focused manner towards a fixed goal and benefit. These benefits are expected to accrue on the basis of experience. For e.g., xyz received this benefit from this work. Therefore, if we do the same, then we will also profit in the same way. This is the way of the world and if often happens that people achieve these gains according to their expectations.

Human nature

However, the above is not an absolute and infallible law. Meaning that it is not necessary that that one will be able to benefit from doing what others have done before him and profited from. Sometimes, the opposite occurs and a person suffers a loss from the same work. But our nature is such that when we see people profiting from something our desires pull us towards that work in the hope of achieving the same profit; even if we are aware of the possibility of loss, indeed, even if we have experienced people suffering loss, we are pulled inevitably towards it. And when unaware of some profit-making business then we search for knowledgeable people, go to them and take advice from them, saying, “Brother! We would like to do some business but don’t know what line of work or what kind of business has the most profit nowadays and where there is the greatest possibility of progress. So, please guide us.” Then we follow his advice and start the business in the hope of making gains. It often happens that we earn profits and sometimes we suffer losses. This nature is not confined to us and you but to every man of sense. In short, this was an introduction to the fact that every sensible man seeks gain and avoids loss. Further, it was said that whatever we set out to do is not entirely free of risk despite giving profits most of the time.

A Query

The following question arises: Does everything that we do in this world carry the potential for gain and the risk for loss or is there a trade that offers 100% profit with no risk at all? When this question is placed before worldly people then they have no (satisfactory) answer for it. They say that we are unaware of any trade or business that offers 100% profit and zero risk.

100% Profitable Work

But when the same question is placed before the Creator and Owner of this world and His Final Prophet (saw), they guide us towards such a trade that offers 100% profit and no loss, not even a risk of loss. What do you think, when informed of such profitable deeds with no risk attached to them, will one want to do them or not? For sure, he will. Indeed, he will race towards it and be in a hurry to find out about it. Would you also like to know (what it is)? Then listen, it is to follow the Sunna of the Prophet (saw). Following the Prophetic example is that deed that gives a 100% return and never a loss.

The deeds of one who is loved by Allah (swt)

And obeying the Sunna not only gives a 100% return but also makes one beloved to the people; not only peoples’ love, but also the love of the angels; and not only the love of the angels but of the Messenger (saw) too. These bestowals and honors that one gets on following the Sunna are enough to show its importance – nothing more is required. (Even then) a special honor that is given to the follower of the Sunna is that Allah makes him beloved to Himself. This is not something ordinary – receiving Allah’s love and becoming beloved to Him- it is such an honor that no further bestowals are needed. I am not saying this from myself, it is proven from many verses of the Qur’an and traditions of the Prophet (saw). In the Qur’an, Allah says, “Say (O Prophet): “If you really love Allah, then follow me, and Allah shall love you and forgive you your sins. Allah is Most-Forgiving, Very-Merciful.” (Surah Aal-i-‘Imran, verse 31, English translation of Mufti Muhammad Taqi ‘Uthmani)

Two Priceless Gifts

Human nature contains an element of avariciousness so that after doing something he looks for some sort of return. And this potential and desire has been placed in him by Allah Himself who has taken it into consideration. Allah knows that his slave is greedy. When I (i.e. Allah) command him to do something, then he will definitely ask me, “O Sustainer! I will do this deed because you have ordered it, but tell me what will I get on doing it?” Hence keeping man’s disposition in mind, Allah answered his query in the next part of the verse quoted, that if you obey and follow my beloved then I will grant you two favors, both of which are such that none except me can grant them and they cannot be bought for anything in this world.

The First Gift

The first incomparable honor that I (Allah) will bestow on the one who follows the Sunna is that I will begin to love him and make him dear to Myself. The following part of the verse, “Yuhbibkumullah” bears witness to the fact that whoever loves Allah and follows the Holy Prophet (saw), is also loved by Allah who makes him His beloved. Allah has given us a deeper understanding of this favor through his Prophet’s (saw) saying that when I (Allah) love someone and make him dear to Me, then I do not leave him alone. Rather I tell My close angel, Jibril (as), “O Jibril! I love so-and-so. You too love him.” Then, Jibril also starts loving him and announces among all the angels that Allah loves such-and-such slave of His and has made him dear to Himself. Hence, O (Assembly of) Angels! All of you (also) love him. All of them then start loving him. The love of that person is then poured into the hearts of men and all the creatures that walk on the earth…..to be contd.

Dar-e-Nabi(saws)

Dar-e-Nabi (saw) par ye ‘umr beete, ho hum pe lutf-e-dawaam aisa,

Madine-wale kahen muqaami, ho unke dar par qayaam aisa…

'Alaykum Salam.

The Friends of Allah.

"Lo! Verily the friends of Allah! No fear shall come upon them nor shall they grieve.  They who believed and have been fearing Allah."

Al Qur`an al Kareem, Surah Yunus, v. 62 - 63.

Allah, Allah! Shaykh al-Hind & Shaykh al-Islam.

Al Salamu 'Alaykum.

Shaykh al-Hind: Hadrat Mawlana Mahmud Hasan Deobandi (rah)(teacher)
Shaykh al-Islam: Hadrat Mawlana Sayyid Husayn Ahmad Madani (rah)(student)
When Hadrat Shaykh al-Hind was arrested by the Firangis and sent to jail in Malta in 1335, Shaykh al- Islam could not stand it and handed himself over to the British in order to serve his Ustad. Being old and sickly at that time, Shaykh al-Hind could not tolerate cold water for wudu' (minor ritual ablution). Shaykh al- Islam would hold a pot of water to his belly throughout the night to warm it and would offer it for wudu' with great respect at the time of tahajjud, there being no hot water in prison. 
Subhanallah. 
Eyes cannot remain dry and hearts cannot remain in a single piece after reading the lives of our elders and their sacrifices for their teachers and this beautiful Deen. May Allah accept those who come after and give them a share in the dua's of our elders.
Peace and Blessings upon Al-Mustafa, his Family and his Sahaba.
Taken from the biography of Shaykh al-Hind with minor modifications.
Wa salamu 'alaykum.

Sayyida A'aisha's Wit & The Prophet's Smile.

Salamun 'Alaykum.

Sayyida ‘Ayesha(ra) says, “Once the Messenger of Allah(saws) came to me and I asked him, ‘Where were you the whole day?’

He said, “I was with Umm Salamah(ra) (one of his other wives).”

I said to him, “You don’t seem to get enough of Umm Salamah.”

Upon this the Prophet(saws) smiled. 

Tabaqat ibn Sa’ad.

Dar-e-Mustafa(saws)

Dar-e-Mustafa(saw) se Sajid, main khud aa gaya, mera dil…

Dar-e-Mustafa(saw) se Sajid, main khud aa gaya, mera dil kabhi laut kar na aaya..

Ye karam nahin to kya hai?

(In body), I returned from Mustafa's door, my heart......

(In body), I returned from Mustafa's door, my heart......though never turned back,

If  this not grace upon me, then what is it?

Disloyal Dunya, Disloyal People.

Al Salamu 'Alaykum.

A Q&A from the Maktubat of Faqih al-Ummah:

Summary of Letter:

Bismihi Ta'ala

Respected Mufti Saheb,

Assalamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakaatuh

I was very attached to someone. I am now shattered by his disloyalty. As a result I cannot even sleep at night. I continuously perform Salaat-ut-Taubah and make dua, yet my condition continues to deteriorate. Please help me to overcome this problem. 

Summary of Reply:

Bismihi Ta'ala

Respected Brother / Sister

Assalamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakaatuh

This world is a temporary place. It is also very disloyal. It keeps a person for a few days until he lives and then pushes him away (to the next world). All the things that one regarded as his own is also snatched away by the world.

Similar is the condition of worldly people. They have no concept of loyalty. Only those who regard this world merely as a guest house (which one will shortly leave and continue upon one’s journey), or those who regard it as a jail, neither get deceived by it, nor do they deceive others.

When making dhikr of Laa Ilaaha illallaah, imagine that you have removed all other love from your heart and thrown it behind you. Then meditate that only the love of Allah Ta`ala has been firmly embedded in your heart. In this world He is with us. In the Hereafter also, He alone will be with us. He will never separate from us.

Try to embed this thought in your heart as much as possible (insha Allah your distress will be removed).

(Maktoobaat of Faqih al-Umma, Mawlana Mahmud Hasan Gangohi(rah); vol 5; pg 43)

Taken from al-Haadi.

Wa'laykum Salam.

Mercy, Forgiveness, Repentance.

Salamun 'Alaykum.

Anyone who does not show mercy will not be shown mercy. 

Anyone who does not forgive will not be forgiven. 

Anyone who does not turn in repentance will not be turned to nor will he be protected or guarded.

Amir al-Mu'minin Sayyiduna `Umar ibn al Khattab(ra) in Imam Bukhari's Adab al Mufrad.

Ittiba'-e-Sunnat.

Al Salamu ‘Alaykum.

Hadrat-e-Aqdas Mawlana Mahmud al-Hasan Gangohi (NawarAllahu Marqaduhu) says while 

making tafsir (exegesis/explanation/commentary) of a Qur’anic verse:

“Allah (swt) has sent his Messenger (saws) as the ideal for the people and has asked them to 

take him as an exemplar (model). We (Allah) want only that kind of life (from the people) that the 

Prophet (saws) lived. It is Our (Allah’s) will that everyone follows his footsteps and accepts his 

way. The people will become dearer to Us (Allah) to the extent that they follow his way and 

example.” 

(Translated from the book, “Ittiba’-e-Sunnat” by Haji Shakil Ahmad (db). Any mistakes are mine.)

'Umar's Migration To Madina.

Al Salamu 'Alaykum.

When Hadrat 'Umar ibn al Khattab(ra) was ready to migrate (from Makka to Madina) he put on his sword(top sword in pic) and slung his bow over his shoulder keeping one of his arrows in his hand, and he put his staff in his waist belt. Then he made his way towards the Ka'bah while some of the Quraish were sitting nearby. Then 'Umar began making tawaaf around the Ka'bah seven times. After finishing tawaaf, he courageously made prayer at the station of Ibraheem. 

Then he stood at their place of gathering and said: "Your faces have become ugly (to me), may Allah rub your noses in dirt. Whoever wishes that his mother weep over him, his children become orphans and his wife a widow then let him meet me (follow me) outside of this valley (the city of Mecca)." 

Ali(ra) said: "No one followed him except a group of the very weak who he recognized as such so he continued on to his destination."

Wa Salam.