Articles

The Culture of Building
Author : Dr. Hassan Abu_Arqoub
Date Added : 03-02-2019

The Culture of Building 

 

Work, building, and development are key features of civilized countries as it is highly unlikely for one to find an civilized country whose progress rests on the ignorance or laziness of its citizens. Actually, countries are built through quality education and hard work, and this is Allah`s Law in the universe. Further, Allah has combined means to results and ordered us to make use of all available means and to do whatever is possible in order to get the result that we aspire to. At the same time, we should believe, deep down, that Allah will help us when using those means. However, belief alone isn`t sufficient; rather, it must be accompanied with actual work where available means are taken advantage of, as enjoined by our Islamic creed. 

 

If we ponder on the biography of our role model, Prophet Mohammad (Blessings and peace be upon him), we can`t help but to notice that it is replete with lessons urging us to building and development. When the Prophet (PBUH) entered Medina and wanted to build a mosque, he helped his companions in moving stones and this is a practical example of how the role model should be. After a while, it was brought to his attention that one of the companions was very good in mixing and preparing mud, so he made him in charge of that task. Actually, many benefits can be derived from this narration: A leader should be familiar with every skill that his followers have, appoint the right person in the right position, and choose individuals according to their skill and knowledge, and not according to the degree of kinship or love. 

 

This is how the Prophet (PBUH) taught us to explore and invest other`s capacities. Therefore, if a person is good at particular thing, then he should be set apart on that basis. This reflected in the following narration: In which Anas Ibn Malik (May Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet (PBUH) said: "The most merciful of my nation to my nation is Abu Bakr, and the most severe of them concerning the order of Allah is 'Umar and the most truly modest of them is 'Othman bin 'Affan. The best reciter (of the Qur'an) among them is Ubayy bin Ka'b, the most knowledgeable of them concerning (the laws of) inheritance is Zaid bin Thabit, the most knowledgeable of them concerning the lawful and the unlawful is Mu'adh Bin Jabal. Truly, every nation has a trustworthy one, and the trustworthy one of this nation is "Abu 'Ubaidah Bin Al-Jarrah."  Therefore, as mentioned above, a leader should discover the skills of his followers and choose them accordingly.

 

Further, he (PBUH) taught us how to make use of other nations' experiences, and never criticize any unfamiliar or weird experience based on its source. This is because, during Al-Ahzab battle, Salman Al-Farisi (May Allah be pleased with him), suggested digging a ditch as a defensive line for Al-Medina since the Persians have used this strategy in warfare, so the Prophet (PBUH) approved of that. Furthermore, a wise word is the lost property of the believer, so wherever he finds it, he has more right to it, therefore, making use from other nations experiences and developing them, is one of a successful leader's aspects.

 

Moreover, he (PBUH) is our role model when it comes to consulting others and not listening only to one`s-self, although none will blame him for that, since he is Allah's Messenger and many of his acts and words are divinely inspired. Nevertheless, he used to consult his companions and listen to what they have to say in almost every matter. This is reflected in the following examples:

 

The Prophet (PBUH) Took Al-Habab Ibn Al-Monther's opinion regarding the spot that the Muslim army should be stationed at in the battle of Bader, gave the companions the permission to negotiate with the disbelievers regarding the prisoners, consulted them in the battle of Ohoud and took Salman's opinion as mentioned earlier. Thus, a good leader should be keen on consulting his followers and listening to what they have to say, and this can only be achieved in an atmosphere full of freedom and respect, and finding such an atmosphere is a leader`s prime responsibility..

 

In conclusion, every person is a leader in his position-capable of changing and developing- and all we need to do is to take the initiative towards that end [Allah guideth whom He will unto a straight path.] So is it time for hard work? 

 

The published article reflects the opinion of its author

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Summarized Fatawaa

What is the ruling of Islamic Law on leaving the Sunnah prayer of Dhuhr due to fatigue?

Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings upon our master, the Messenger of Allah.
According to the general rule, a Muslim should strive to maintain the Sunnah prayers before and after the obligatory prayers (al-sunan al-qabliyyah wa al-ba'diyyah). One is permitted to pray them sitting from the outset, but if one leaves them due to severe fatigue, there is no objection to doing so. It is recommended (mustahabb) to make up (qadā') a time-bound supererogatory prayer (nafl mu'aqqat) at any time if it was missed.
Al-Shirbīnī (may Allah have mercy on him) said: "If a time-bound supererogatory prayer is missed, it is recommended to make it up according to the more authoritative view (al-azhar), based on the hadith recorded in the two Ṣaḥīḥs: 'Whoever sleeps through a prayer or forgets it should pray it when he remembers it.' This is also supported by the fact that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) made up the two rak'ahs of Fajr when he and his companions overslept in the valley and missed the dawn prayer until the sun had risen [narrated by Abū Dāwūd with an authentic chain]." And Allah, the Most High, knows best.

What is the ruling of Islamic Law on performing prayer on the upper floors of al-Masjid al-Ḥarām?

All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
Facing the actual structure of the Ka‘bah (‘ayn al-Ka‘bah) is one of the conditions for the validity of the prayer. The scholars have clarified what is meant by "the actual structure of the Ka‘bah."
Imam ash-Sharwānī (raḥimahullāh) said: "What is meant by its ‘ayn (actual structure) is its physical body, or the airspace directly aligned with it — if the person praying is not inside it. But if he is inside it, then the airspace alone does not suffice; rather, the actual physical structure must be faced, such that even if he faces a projecting part of it measuring roughly two-thirds of a dhirā‘ (cubit) or more, this would be sufficient." [Ḥāshiyat ash-Sharwānī ‘alā Tuḥfat al-Muḥtāj, Vol.1/P.484]
Sheikh al-Qulyūbī (raḥimahullāh) said: "Unlike one who prays outside it — i.e., outside the Ka‘bah — for him the airspace (directly above it) suffices, even if he is higher than it, or even if he is at the location where it (hypothetically) has been demolished." [Ḥāshiyat al-Qulyūbī ‘alā Sharḥ al-Minhāj,  Vol.1/P.154]
Accordingly, the prayer is valid on the upper floors of al-Masjid al-Ḥarām, even though these floors are higher than the roof of the Ka‘bah itself. And Allah, the Exalted, knows best.

 I`m keeping a plot of land (10 Dunums) for my children. Is it liable for Zakah?

Praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds.

Land that is purchased with the intention of ownership and personal benefit—meaning to retain it for use and not for trade—is not subject to zakāh, as such property is not considered from trade commodities (ʿurūḍ al-tijārah).
 
It is stated in Al-Ḥāwī al-Kabīr:
“If it is property and one intends it for trade, then zakāh is due upon it; but if he intends it for personal possession, then no zakāh is due upon it.” And Allah, the Exalted, knows best.

 

What is the ruling on making up missed prayers during prohibited times?

 

Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our Master, the Messenger of Allah.
 
It is permissible to make up (qada’) missed prayers at any time, even during the periods when prayer is generally prohibited. The prayers that are forbidden and considered invalid during these times are 'absolute voluntary prayers' (nafl mutlaq)—which have no specific cause—and voluntary prayers whose cause follows the prayer itself, such as the Sunnah of entering Ihram or the Sunnah of the Istikharah prayer. Furthermore, no prayer is considered disliked (makruh) during these prohibited times when performed within the Meccan Sanctuary (Makkah al-Mukarramah).
 
It is stated in Bushra al-Karim (Vol.1/P.181), one of the Shafi’i texts: 'It is not forbidden to perform prayers that have a cause that is not delayed (i.e., the cause is preceding), such as making up a missed prayer (fa’itah)—even if it was a voluntary one—and the funeral prayer (janazah); or a cause that is simultaneous, such as the prayer for rain (istisqa’) or the eclipse prayer (kusuf)... and the Sunnah of wudu, the greeting of the mosque (tahiyyat al-masjid), the Sunnah of circumambulation (tawaf), the Sunnah of arrival, and the prostrations of recitation (tilawah) or thankfulness (shukr). These mentioned prayers and their like are not forbidden provided that one does not specifically intend (ta'ammud) to perform them during the disliked time because it is a disliked time. If one does so intentionally, it becomes forbidden, even if it is a mandatory makeup prayer that is due immediately; because in that case, one is acting in defiance of the Sharia. This is in contrast to when one does not specifically seek out that time, even if the prayer happens to fall within it, or if one seeks it for another purpose—such as delaying a funeral prayer to that time so that a larger number of people may pray over the deceased; in such cases, it is permissible and valid... And it is forbidden to perform prayers with no cause at all, like absolute nafl, or those with a delayed cause, such as the Istikharah prayer, the prayer for Ihram, the prayer for a need (hajah), the prayer before leaving the house, or the prayer before execution; because their causes occur after the prayer itself.' And Allah the Exalted knows best."