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Glimpses on the Birth of Brightness
Author : An Article by the Secretary General Dr. Ahmad Al-Hassanat
Date Added : 19-11-2018

Glimpses on the Birth of Brightness

 

Allah, The Almighty has ordained sending Prophets and Messengers for all mankind to lead them to the righteous path where He, The Almighty, Said (What means): "Apostles who gave good news as well as warning, that mankind, after (the coming) of the apostles, should have no plea against God: For God is Exalted in Power, Wise." [An-Nisa/165]. He, The Exalted, also Said (What means): "nor would We visit with Our Wrath until We had sent an apostle (to give warning). [Al-Isra'/15].

 

Moreover, those Prophets (PBUT) are the best of the best when it comes to manners or shapes, and this enables them to keep up with the noble task entrusted to them and that is calling people to the way of Allah, The Exalted.

In addition, Allah sent to every nation a Prophet of their own in order for them to accept and understand his message easily. However, the end of that Prophet`s message and life were inseparable.

Therefore, a continuous message to the end of days(Judgment day) was a pressing need; thus Allah chose for this great message a great man who had favors upon all Prophets to the end of days; Mohammad Ibn Abdullah Ibn Abdulmattalib Ibn Hashim Ibn Abdmanaf  whose lineage extends to Prophet Ismaiel (PBUT).

The period of sending Prophets to people/nations was somehow specified, but the period before the birth of the Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) till the beginning of his message was the longest compared to other Prophets. Allah, The Exalted, used to send one Prophet after the other and, sometimes, more than one were sent at the same time and He, The Almighty, has never took a Prophet's soul without replacing him with another one.

Further, during the long period before sending Prophet Mohammad (PBUH), humanity has encountered many negative aspects namely intellectual, religious and behavioral corruption. As a result, injustice, classism and the breaking of kinship ties have prevailed, in addition to the fact that humanity was lacking in societies.

Therefore, Allah sent His Prophet (PBUH) to correct humans` way of life, and be a safe haven to humankind by preventing injustice, putting an end to slavery, restoring the sense of humanity to people and revealing the divine mercy on his hands. Allah, The Most Exalted, Said (What means): We sent thee not, but as a Mercy for all creatures." [Al-Anbiya'/107].

The face of the world has changed when the Prophet (PBUH) was born. The throne of Anushirvan cracked, the Magians` fire extinguished and the lake of Sawa dived deeper. Amina, the mother of Prophet (PBUH), narrated: "When she was pregnant with him she dreamed that a great light came out of her and illuminated all the castles in Al-Sham." [Mosanaf Abdel-Razaq]. This shows that his reign is going to reach Al-Sham, so his birth was not a normal one; rather it was a sign for a nation's birth. Further, he (PBUH) was divinely raised and disciplined; he had neither a father, a mother nor a grandfather.

He (PBUH) was sent as a Seal of Prophets and a guidance to all mankind since Allah, Said (What means): "We have not sent thee but as a universal (Messenger) to men, giving them glad tidings, and warning them (against sin)." [Saba/28] and He, The Exalted, Said (What means): "but (he is) the Apostle of God, and the Seal of the Prophets." [Al-Ahzab/40].

Indeed, he had to be the Seal of all Prophets and Messengers since no other Prophet or Messenger had his shape or manners. His shape was perfect and his mercy has encompassed all creatures for Allah, The Most Exalted, Said (What means): "We sent thee not, but as a Mercy for all creatures." [Al-Anbiya/107] and He Said (What means):" to the Believers is he most kind and merciful." [Al-Tawbah/128]. 

Besides, he (PBUH) has transferred the Arab nation from the state of illiteracy to literacy by urging them to seek knowledge, castaway myths and use their minds. He made seeking knowledge incumbent upon every Muslim where He (PBUH) said (What means):" Seeking knowledge is a duty upon every Muslim." [Sunn Ibn Majah].This is because it is only through knowledge that societies could flourish and prosper.

Therefore, it is imperative that we adhere to good character as basis for our religion, since the Prophet (PBUH) said (What means): "I was sent to perfect good character." [Musanaf Ibn Shyiba]. In fact, nations will never be able to achieve prosperity, unless they abide by good character and seek knowledge.

Nowadays; Muslims are in desperate need to follow the teachings of the Prophet (PBUH) in dealing with others regardless of their cultural background and ways of thinking. This is because winning people's hearts and minds is far more important than conquering fortresses and castles.

In conclusion, we do need to follow the teachings of the Prophet (PBUH) in everything, since Allah, The Exalted (What means): "And know that among you is God’s Apostle." [Al-Hujurat/7]. Further, when Muslims celebrate his birth, they show gratitude to Allah, The Exalted, for His endless generosity that lies in choosing and allocating them to be the best to enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong. He, The Almighty, Said (What means): "In the bounty of God. And in His Mercy, - in that let them rejoice": that is better than the (wealth) they hoard." [Yunus/58].

 

 

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Summarized Fatawaa

What is the ruling on a mother giving the Zakat of her wealth to her children?

Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our Master, the Messenger of Allah.
 
It is permissible for a mother to give her children from the Zakat if they are among those who are eligible for it—such as being poor (Fuqara), possessing no wealth, and not being sufficiently provided for by the maintenance (Nafaqah) of others. This is based on the statement of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ regarding Zaynab, the wife of 'Abdullah ibn Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with them both): (Your husband and your children are the most deserving of those upon whom you spend in charity) [Narrated by Al-Bukhari].
 
It is stated in [Al-Hawi al-Kabir, Vol. 8/P.537]: 'As for the wife, it is permissible for her to pay her Zakat to her husband from all the designated shares... Our evidence is the generality of the saying of Allah the Almighty: "Zakat expenditures are only for the poor and for the needy", and the Hadith of Abu Hurairah that the Prophet ﷺ said to Zaynab, the wife of 'Abdullah ibn Mas'ud: (Your husband and your children are the most deserving of those upon whom you spend), and this is taken in its general sense.' And Allah the Exalted knows best.

What is the ruling on istibra' and how is it performed?

Istibra' (cleansing from urine) is recommended. It is for a person to ensure that nothing remains of urine in its passage before performing istinja'. Its method is: to clear the throat (or cough slightly), shake the penis (meaning to pass fingers along it to expel any remaining urine if needed), and walk a few steps to the extent that one thinks nothing of urine remains if walking is needed. Each person knows his own nature best. The preferred opinion is that this differs among people. The objective is for one to think that nothing remains in the urinary passage that he fears will exit later. And Allah the Almighty knows best.

What is the Islamic ruling on the aqiqa?

All praise is due to Allah, and may peace and blessings be upon our Master, the Messenger of Allah.
The 'aqīqah is a confirmed Sunnah (sunnah mu'akkadah). Two sheep are to be slaughtered for a newborn boy, and one sheep for a newborn girl. This is established by numerous Prophetic traditions, among them:
The narration of Samurah ibn Jundub, may Allah be pleased with him, who reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: "Every child is held in pledge for his 'aqīqah, which is slaughtered on his behalf on the seventh day, and he is named, and his head is shaved." — Narrated by al-Tirmidhī, who graded it as ḥasan ṣaḥīḥ.
And the narration of 'Ā'ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, who said: "The Messenger of Allah ﷺ commanded us to slaughter one sheep as 'aqīqah for a girl, and two sheep for a boy." — Narrated by Aḥmad and Ibn Mājah.
The imperative in these narrations is understood to denote recommendation rather than obligation, based on the ḥadīth of 'Amr ibn Shu'ayb, on the authority of his father, on the authority of his grandfather, who said: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ was asked about the 'aqīqah, whereupon he said: "Allah does not love 'uqūq" — as though he disliked the name itself — and then said: "Whoever has a child born to him and wishes to offer a sacrifice on their behalf, let them do so: two equivalent sheep for a boy, and one sheep for a girl." — Narrated by Aḥmad and Abū Dāwūd.
The legal inference drawn from this narration is that the Prophet ﷺ linked the slaughter to the wish and willingness of the individual, saying: "whoever wishes to offer a sacrifice... let them do so" — thereby indicating that the 'aqīqah is recommended (mustaḥabb) and not obligatory (wājib).
And Allah Almighty knows best.

Which holds greater virtue: The Udhiyah (Sacrificial Offering) or giving its value in Charity (Sadaqah)?

In the Name of Allah, and may peace and blessings be upon our Master, the Messenger of Allah.
 
Offering an Udhiyah (sacrificial offering) holds greater virtue than donating its monetary value to the poor and needy. This is because the sacrifice is a prominent, manifest ritual among the sacred symbols of Islam. Allah Almighty says: "That [is so]. And whoever honors the symbols of Allah - indeed, it is from the piety of hearts." (Al-Hajj: 32)
 
Furthermore, there are numerous authentic and explicit Hadiths highlighting its immense reward. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) consistently offered this sacrifice, as did the Righteous Caliphs after him. And Allah the Almighty Knows Best.