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Lessons from the Birth Anniversary of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH)
Author : Dr. Hassan Abu_Arqoub
Date Added : 19-11-2018

Lessons from the Birth Anniversary of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH)

 

 

The birth anniversary of Prophet Mohammad is very close to the heart of every Muslim. Worldwide, Muslims dwell upon the Prophetic biography praising the Prophet (PBUH) in prose and poetry, sending prayers upon him and giving food in celebration.

 

His birth (Mawlid) teaches us that calling people to the way of Allah requires patience and is never a walk in the park. When a person undertakes this sacred task, he should expect aggression from the stupid and mockery from the common. He could even be attacked by the closest of kin. This is the situation that was experienced by the Prophets (PBUT) including Mohammad (PBUH). In simple terms, this is the legacy of Prophethood, and whoever continues this mission will have a taste of it.

 

We also learn that good morality has a great impact on people`s acceptance of this call and this is why the Prophet (PBUH) had the best of morals: merciful, lenient, kind, loving, pious, generous, truthful and honest. People loved him for these beautiful attributes and thus entered into Allah`s religion in crowds. In light of this occasion, the lesson that we should learn is that good morality for the one calling to the way of Allah is like the capital for the trader: once that capital is lost, the trade is rendered stagnant.

 

Moreover, such a person should have one face, be it with his household or society since, nowadays; we can notice that many people have two faces. This double personality wasn`t part of our Prophet`s morals and thus it doesn`t befit those who are entrusted with continuing his message. Accordingly, a caller to the way of Allah must have one face everywhere and at all times.

 

Further, we realize that this call entails the exertion of time, effort and wealth on the part of the caller and this is one of the best types of Jihad as calling to the way of Allah and guiding people to the right path become his one and only concern. By this, he alienates his ego and absorbs others because he means to guide them and achieve what`s best for them. 

 

In addition, we learn that companionship is of key importance, because a person is known by the company he keeps. If his companions are evil, he will be as such, but if they are good, he will be as such too. Accordingly, one should be extra careful when choosing his company, because, obviously, it has a direct effect on the life of the individuals as well as the society. When the Prophet (PBUH) wanted to build the nation of Islam, he was keen on choosing the company that was fit for that mission, and they did succeed in achieving that.

 

The Prophet`s birth isn`t a mere anniversary; rather, it is a lesson from his biography that we remind ourselves with so that it remains present in our minds. It is similar to a lighthouse that guides one though the pitch-black nights. The Prophet (PBUH) is our role model and the lantern of the truthful callers to Allah.

 

Celebrating this anniversary stresses the tight bond between the Muslim nation and its leader Prophet Mohammad (PBUH). Year after year, we renew our pledge of loyalty to this honorable Prophet (PBUH) and pray that Allah, The Almighty, gathers us with him on the Day of Resurrection, Amen to that.

 

 

 

The published article reflects the opinion of its author

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Summarized Fatawaa

What is the ruling on the follower`s prayer if the Imam stands for a fifth rak`ah?

Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our Master, the Messenger of Allah.
 
If the Imam stands up for an extra unit (rak‘ah) of prayer out of forgetfulness, he must return to the sitting position as soon as he remembers, and he should perform the prostration of forgetfulness (Sujud al-Sahw). It is the duty of the congregants (Ma’mumin) behind him to remind him. However, if the Imam is in a state of doubt regarding the extra unit (and not certainty), it is not permissible for him to return.
 
As for the congregants: anyone who is certain that the Imam has stood for an extra unit is forbidden from following him. In this case, the follower has two choices: either intend to separate from the Imam (Mufaraqah) and finish the prayer alone, or wait for the Imam in the sitting position and perform the final salams with him—the latter being the preferred option. If a follower knowingly follows the Imam into an extra unit, their prayer becomes invalid. However, if a follower is in doubt and not certain of the mistake, they must continue following the Imam, as the Imam was appointed to be followed.
 
It is stated in Al-Majmu’ (Vol.4/P.145): 'If [the Imam] stands for a fifth rak‘ah, the follower should not follow him, even if it is assumed that the Imam might have omitted a pillar from a previous unit; because if the reality is known, following him is impermissible since the follower has certainly completed their own prayer. Even if the follower had missed a previous unit (Masbuq) or was in doubt about performing a pillar like the Fatihah, and the Imam stood for the fifth, it is not permissible for the latecomer to follow him in it. This is because we know that this unit is not counted for the Imam and that he is mistaken in performing it.' And Allah the Exalted knows best.

What is the ruling on a woman using contraception without her husband's knowledge if he is mistreating her?

All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
It is not permissible for a woman to use any means of delaying pregnancy without her husband's knowledge, consent, and mutual agreement. This is because having children is a sharʿī right belonging to both spouses equally in Islamic law. Imām al-Māwardī, may Allah have mercy upon him, stated: "The right to a child from a free woman is shared between them both" — meaning between the two spouses. [al-Ḥāwī al-Kabīr, 9/320]
It is therefore not permissible for either spouse to make a unilateral decision regarding the prevention of pregnancy without the consent of the other. We advise both spouses to discuss the matter with wisdom and mutual respect, so as to resolve any disagreement and arrive at a suitable solution that serves the interests of them both. And Allah the Almighty knows best.

What is the ruling of Islamic Law regarding one who purchases a sacrificial animal (uḍḥiyah) and it then develops a defect before slaughter?

Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings upon our master, the Messenger of Allah.
If a defect that invalidates the sacrifice (uḍḥiyah) arises after its purchase — for example, if one purchased a sound, defect-free animal, and it then developed a limp, blindness in one eye, or a similar defect before slaughter — it does not fulfill the requirement of a valid uḍḥiyah, according to the Shāfi'ī school.
It is stated in Asnā al-Maṭālib fī Sharḥ Rawḍ al-Ṭālib (Vol.1/P.535): "Even if the limp develops [in the animal] while the knife is upon it, it still does not fulfill the requirement, because it is lame at the moment of slaughter — this is analogous to a case where a sheep's leg breaks and one hastens to slaughter it [in that condition]."
The Ḥanbalī school, however, held that if the one offering the sacrifice purchased the animal while it was sound and defect-free, and a defect then befell it afterward, the sacrifice remains valid and there is no obligation to replace it.
It is stated in Masā'il al-Imām Aḥmad, one of the Ḥanbalī reference works (Vol.8/P.4021): "I said: If a person purchases the sacrificial animal while it is sound, and it is then afflicted with illness, blindness in one eye, or a broken limb [before slaughter]? He [Imam Aḥmad] said: It is said that it still fulfills the requirement. Isḥāq said likewise, because he purchased it while sound, and the defect befell it only afterward, so it remains sufficient on his behalf." [End of quote]
Accordingly, a sheep afflicted with a defect that invalidates the sacrifice does not fulfill the requirement of a valid uḍḥiyah — whether the defect arose after purchase or during the slaughter itself — according to the Shāfi'ī school. However, there is no objection to following the Ḥanbalī position on this matter [as a valid alternative]. And Allah, the Most High, knows best.

What is incumbent upon the one offering the sacrifice if, after slaughtering the animal, they discover that one of its internal organs is damaged or diseased?

All praise is due to Allah, and may peace and blessings be upon our Master, the Messenger of Allah.
 
The presence of disease or defect in the internal organs of a sheep does not affect the validity of the sacrificial animal, unless the disease leads to the animal becoming emaciated and its meat becoming corrupted.
 
It is stated in al-Iqnā' (2/590) by Imam al-Shirbīnī: "The third disqualifying condition: an animal with a manifest illness — meaning one whose illness visibly results in emaciation and corruption of its meat. However, if the illness is minor and does not produce such effects, it doesn`t affect the validity of the sacrificed animal." And Allah Almighty knows best.