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The Month of the Pious People
Author : Dr. Mohammad Al-Khalayleh
Date Added : 31-05-2018

The Month of the Pious People

 

Answer: All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of The Worlds, and may His peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Mohammad and upon all his family and companions.

Allah, The Almighty, has prescribed fasting on His believing slaves to raise them to the rank of the pious, so He, The Exalted, made piety the core of the verses addressing fast. As He The Almighty, said, at the beginning of these verses, (what means): "O you who believe, prescribed for you is the Fast, just as it was prescribed for those that were before you so that you might guard yourselves." [Al-Baqarah/183]. Besides, He, The Exalted, also Said (What means): "Thus doth God make clear His Signs to men: that they may learn self-restraint." [Al-Baqarah/187].

Allah, The Exalted, has prescribed acts of worship for a significant objective, and that is achieving piety in the souls of His believing slaves to raise them to the rank of the pious. He, the almighty, said, "O ye people! Adore your Guardian-Lord, who created you and those who came before you, that ye may have the chance to learn righteousness ." [Al-Baqarah/21]. This is what all the Prophets and the Messengers have invited their people to. Allah, The Almighty, Said, through the tongue of Noah (PBUH) (What means): "He said: "O my People! I am to you a Warner, clear and open "That ye should worship God, fear Him and obey me." [Nuh/2-3]. In addition, He, The Almighty, Said through the tongue of Hud (PBUH), (What means): "Behold, their brother Hud said to them: "Will ye not fear (God)?" [Al-Shu`ara`/124]. Moreover, He, The Exalted, Said through the tongue of Lut (PBUH), (What means): "Behold, their brother Lut said to them: "Will ye not fear (God)?" [Al-Shu`ara`/161]. Furthermore, Shu`aib`s (PBUH) invitation to his people, (What means): "Behold, Shu’aib said to them: "Will ye not fear (God)?" [Al-Shu`ara`/177]. And Allah, The Exalted Said through the tongue of Elias`s (PBUH) invitation, (What means): "So also was Elias among those sent (by Us). Behold, he said to his people, "Will ye not fear (God)?" [As-Safat/123-124].

The above reflects the virtue in all acts of worship. As for fasting, Allah, The Almighty, has privileged it with sublime virtues and stated that in the Noble Quran (What means): "O you who believe, prescribed for you is the Fast, just as it was prescribed for those that were before you so that you might guard yourselves." [Al-Baqarah/183].

Fasting encompasses the different elements of piety. When Ali Bin Abi Talib (May Allah be pleased with him) was asked about piety, he said: "It is fearing The Sublime, applying the rulings stated in the Holy Qur`an, being content with little and preparing for the day of departure from this life." [Subol Al-Huda Wa-r-Rashaad, vol.1/pp.421].

Fasting leads fear of Allah to grow in one`s soul because it (fasting) is a secret between the salve and His Lord. It also trains one to be content with little. As a result, the Muslim who used to unleash his desires for different lawful foods and drinks is satisfied, in Ramadan, with what`s little.

Preparations for departing from this worldly life are evident in Ramadan: the Muslim arrives at the conclusion that the body may survive with little food; whereas, spiritual life rests on piety, turning to Allah and being sincere to him. In other words, the truth doesn`t lie in material matters sought by many a man.

Undoubtedly, fasting involves the hardships of hunger, thirst and abstaining from desires and passions. However, the Muslim finds, in these, a sense of pleasure that makes him taste the sweetness of faith. Every human being on the face of this earth seeks the pleasure of the life of this world and the Hereafter, but the closest way to this end is piety.

Through fasting, Allah, the Exalted, wants to elevate His salves to the rank of the pious and Ramadan is a chance for every Muslim to do that and earn the best of ranks to be admitted to Janah (paradise). He, The Almighty Said (What means): "and for this let those aspire, who have aspirations." [Al-Mutaffifin/26]. Fasting contains all that is good for it disciplines the souls and the senses. It was narrated that Abu Um amah said: "I said: 'O Messenger of Allah, tell me of an action (I should do).' He said: 'Take to fasting, for there is nothing equal to it." [Sunan An-Nasa'i].

Allah, The Almighty, has privileged his pious slaves with miracles and abundant gifts. Some of these are:

They are the pious worshippers of Allah, the ones protected and supported by Him, and no fear shall befall them nor shall they grieve. Allah, The Almighty, Said (What means): "Behold! Verily on the friends of God there is no fear, nor shall they grieve; those who believe and (constantly) guard against evil;-" [Younis/62-63]. Ibn Katheer interpreted this verse as follows: "Allah informs that His pious worshippers are the ones who believed and feared Him. Whoever is pious is a friend of Allah`s. "there is no fear on them": as regards the horrors of the Day of Resurrection. "nor shall they grieve": for what they have left behind in worldly life." [Tafseer Al-Qur'an vol.4/pp.278].

For the concept of piety to materialize in the soul of every Muslim to become a pious worshipper, he/she should purify his/her soul through performing various acts of worship in their correct manner and intending to please Allah alone, because the commodity of Allah is precious, as stated by Prophet Mohammad (PBUH): "………Be on your guard that the commodity of Allah is precious. Verily the commodity of Allah is Jannah". [At-Tirmithi]. Moreover, a Muslim should intend coming closer to Allah as the sole objective of fasting. He should also abandon material desires out of sublimity. Fasting Ramadan should be the medium for reaching the rank of the pious. Therefore, whoever managed to train himself during Ramadan to abstain from what`s lawful, in compliance with the injunctions of Almighty Allah, will find it easier to abstain from what`s forbidden for the rest of the year.

We pray that Almighty Allah helps us fast 

Ramadan and make us amongst His sincere worshippers. Indeed, He hears and responds. And all praise be to Allah, The Lord of The Worlds.

 

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Summarized Fatawaa

Is it a condition that the meat of the Eid sacrifice should be distributed in order for the sacrifice to be accepted by Allah?

The poor and needy should be given from that sacrifice , even if it be a small portion,(One kilo for example) as raw meat so that they would cook it the way they want. The remainder of that sacrifice is either distributed, eaten, or offered to people in a banquette .

I have a question regarding the deferred portion of the dowry (Mahr)*. Is the wife entitled to it only upon divorce or she can claim it even if divorce hasn`t taken place? Moreover, does she have the right to claim this portion after death of husband, even if he didn`t divorce her before that?

All perfect praise be to Allah the Lord of The Worlds. May His blessings and peace be upon our Prophet Mohammad and upon all his family and companions.
In the marriage contract, it is recorded that the deferred portion of the dowry is due upon divorce or death, whatever comes first. If divorce took place first then the woman is entitled to it and if the husband died this amount must be paid from his estate. On the other hand, if the woman died then the husband becomes liable for this portion and it becomes part of the woman`s estate. We advise every husband to give this portion to his wife while alive because it is a right of hers. And Allah The Almighty Knows Best.
* In Islam, a Mahr is the obligation, in the form of money or possessions paid by the groom, to the bride at the time of Islamic marriage (payment also has circumstances on when and how to pay). While the mahr is often money, it can also be anything agreed upon by the bride such as jewelry, home goods, furniture, a dwelling or some land. Mahr is typically specified in the marriage contract signed upon marriage.

I work at a company that provides cash advances of 800 dinars, 1000 dinars, or 1200 dinars, depending on the employee’s years of service. An administrative fee of 40 dinars is deducted from the amount in the first month, and the remaining amount is repaid in installments. What is the ruling on this, knowing that the deducted amount (40 dinars) is fixed?

We fear that the deducted amount may be a means of circumventing interest (Riba). If the deducted amount is equal to or less than the actual administrative expenses, then there is no issue, as some scholars permit the borrower to bear the costs of documenting and managing the loan. However, piety suggests refraining from taking this loan under these conditions, as dealing with private individuals and companies is not the same as dealing with the state, which spends from the public treasury. And Allah Knows Best.

Is it permissible for the children of a deceased father to settle his debt from the Zakah (obligatory charity) money due on them?

It is impermissible to use the Zakah of one`s money for settling the debts of the deceased. However, children should settle the debts of their deceased parents out of filial piety. And Allah Knows Best.

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