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 on one who sees moisture on his clothes and doubts whether it is semen or pre-seminal fluid (madhy)?

Whoever finds moisture upon waking from sleep and doubts whether it is semen or madhy, and cannot distinguish between them, he may choose between them and act according to his choice. If he wishes, he can consider it semen and perform the ritual bath, or consider it madhy, perform ablution, and wash what it has soiled. This is because if he fulfills the requirement of one of them, he is definitively free from it, and the default is his innocence from the other. And Allah the Almighty knows best.

What is the ruling on omitting the prostration of recitation?

Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our Master, the Messenger of Allah.
 
The prostration of recitation (Sajdat al-Tilawah) is a Sunnah for both the reader and the listener. There is no sin in omitting it, though doing so results in missing a great reward. Muslim narrated from Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet ﷺ said: 'When the son of Adam recites a verse of prostration and prostrates, Shaytan withdraws weeping, saying: "Woe to him! (and in the narration of Abu Kuraib: "Woe to me!") The son of Adam was commanded to prostrate and he prostrated, so Paradise is his; and I was commanded to prostrate and I refused, so the Fire is mine."'
 
Sheikh al-Islam Imam al-Nawawi (may Allah have mercy on him) stated: 'It is recommended to prostrate immediately after reciting or hearing a verse of prostration. If one delays it but the interval is short, he may still prostrate. However, if the interval is long, the opportunity is missed.' [Rawdat al-Talibin Vol.1/P.323].
 
Furthermore, the prostration of recitation becomes obligatory (Wajib) in congregational prayer if the Imam prostrates, out of the necessity of following him. And Allah the Exalted knows best.

What is the correct point at which to raise the hands when standing up for the third rak‘ah (after the middle tashahhud)?

All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
Raising the hands while saying the takbīr [when rising for the third rak‘ah] is a recommended sunnah, and omitting it does not affect the validity of the prayer. The proper time for this is after rising from the middle tashahhud, once one has fully stood up.
It is stated in I‘ānat aṭ-Ṭālibīn (Vol.1/P.158): "His statement, 'and rising from the first tashahhud' — meaning, this manner [of raising the hands] is also a sunnah when he rises from the first tashahhud, that is, when he stands upright from it.
Consider [the question]: when precisely does the raising of the hands begin? Is it at the very start of rising from the first tashahhud, or after he has reached the minimum position of rukū‘ [i.e., once fully upright]? The apparent, [correct] view is the latter — even though the outward wording [of the text] might suggest the former — because at the very start of his rising, he is still relying on both hands [to push himself up, and therefore cannot yet raise them]."
It is stated in ‘Umdat as-Sālik (p. 53): "If his prayer extends beyond two rak‘ahs, he sits after them in the iftirāsh position, recites the tashahhud, and sends blessings upon the Prophet ﷺ alone, without [mentioning] his family [at this point]. He then stands while saying the takbīr, supporting himself with his hands; and once he has stood upright, he raises them level with his shoulders." And Allah, the Exalted, knows best.

There are olive trees within the precincts of the mosque, and my father covers the costs of electricity, water, and other needs of the mosque. Is it permissible for him to take the olive harvest?

All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master, the Messenger of Allah.
If trees and fruit-bearing crops are planted in a mosque for the mosque itself, they may only be spent on the mosque’s interests. If they were planted for the public way (musabbalah), that is, for the general public, then any Muslim who enters the mosque may eat from them. If the planter’s intention is unknown, they are treated like those dedicated for public use, wherever custom has so run.
It is stated in Tuḥfat al-Muḥtāj (Vol.6/p.295): “The fruit of a tree planted for the mosque within it is not freely permitted without compensation. Rather, the imam spends its equivalent value on the mosque’s interests. The tree left its planter’s ownership here without any verbal declaration because of the evident indication. The case of planting it for the mosque excludes planting it as musabbalah, in which case eating from it without compensation is permissible, and likewise if his intention is unknown, where custom has so run. The tree may be uprooted from the mosque if the imam sees fit. Indeed, if he makes the plot a mosque while a tree stands in it, the imam may uproot it, even if the endower included it within the endowment (waqf).”
The father is a donor (mutabarriʿ), so he is not entitled to take anything in return for his donation to the mosque.
The Ministry of Awqāf is the body that supervises the affairs of endowments, so it must be consulted and the Sharīʿah and administrative instructions regulating such matters must be considered. And Allah Almighty knows best.