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The Prophet`s Birth Anniversary
Author : His Grace Shiekh Abdulkareem Al-Khasawneh
Date Added : 04-01-2015

The Prophet`s Birth  Anniversary

By the Grand Mufti of  Jordan, Sheikh Abdulkarim Khasawneh

 

All perfect praise be to Allah,the Lord of the Worlds,and may His blessings and peace be upon our Prophet Mohammad and upon all his Family and Companions.

Before the birth of Prophet Mohammad{PBUH}, the world was in a state of chaos and anarchy as the people were overwhelmed with false ideas, myths and illusions where it was impossible to tell right from wrong and people misused the heritage of the prophets. Abu Raja Al-Utaridi narrated : “We used to worship stones, and when we found a better stone than the first one, we would throw the first one and take the latter, but if we could not get a stone then we would collect some earth (i.e. soil) and then bring a sheep and milk that sheep over it, and perform the Tawaf around it. When the month of Rajab came, we used (to stop the military actions), calling this month the iron remover, for we used to remove and throw away the iron parts of every spear and arrow in the month of Rajab. “{Bukhari}.

When Almighty Allah decided for the truth to uncover and the tyranny to end, He permitted the birth of His Prophet{PBUH}. He made him illuminate this universe with rays brighter than those of the sun, and by doing so the darkness of the night has faded away.

When he was born{PBUH}, he marked the birth of a new world. Almighty Allah says: “ There hath come to you from Allah a (new) light and a perspicuous Book,- “{Al-Ma`idah/15}.

His birth has given life to the universe, Monotheism emerged and Allah willed that His Message{Islam} be launched from a blessed spot of a remote place located in a barren, unreachable valley in the heart of desert. The great favor that Allah has conferred upon the Arabs  is that he has sent the seal of His messengers from them, and he specifically mentioned the believers although the Prophet was sent as mercy to all creatures. Almighty Allah says: “ God did confer a great favor on the believers when He sent among them an apostle from among themselves, rehearsing unto them the Signs of God, sanctifying them, and instructing them in Scripture and Wisdom, while, before that, they had been in manifest error. “{Al-Imran/164}.

The Prophet{PBUH} adopted the message of Islam and paid no attention to the ignorant, opportunist and skeptic. He countered mischief with patience and abomination with meekness. History hasn`t witnessed a man who has been perfected, disciplined and good mannered by Allah like our Prophet Mohammad{PBUH}. Thus, it isn`t surprising that he has led humanity from darkness to light and from injustice of religions to the justice of Islam. This has established principles of  a generation that addresses the world: “ How could you enslave people whose mothers  gave birth to them free. “ Praise be to Allah for His favors and gifts.

This is the Prophet whose birth anniversary we are celebrating today. His manners and heritage are reflected through the acts of  his followers.

However, we should realize that it is difficult to combine  peace of mind with the fulfillment of aspirations. Challenges are only overcome by uniting under the banner of Islam as one person, and Almighty Allah won`t fail the best of  people`s, evolved to mankind. Our Prophet{PBUH} said: “ My Muslim Ummah(Nation) is like the rain: One can`t tell its beginning from its end “

In a bid to achieve our aspirations, overcome weaknesses and protect ourselves against tests and trials, it is mandatory that we adhere to the commands of our beloved Prophet: adherence to the Quran and the Prophetic tradition. Abu Hurrairah narrated that the Prophet{PBUH} said: “ You shall never go astray if you adhere to the Book of Allah and the Sunnah{Prophetic tradition} of His Messenger  “{ Malik}. And Allah knows best.

 

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Summarized Fatawaa

What is the ruling on praying seated due to severe obesity, given that I experience hardship in performing the prayer — especially when rising from the ground after sujūd to perform the next rak‘ah?

All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
Standing, when one is able to do so, is a pillar of the prayer. However, whoever would experience severe, intolerable hardship, or fears harm to himself or to a limb due to obesity, or finds that standing causes him to lose his khushū‘ (humble focus and concentration) in prayer, then there is no objection to his praying seated on a chair or on the ground, performing rukū‘ (bowing) and sujūd (prostration) through gesture — provided that the gesture for sujūd is made lower than that for rukū‘. Whoever is able, at any point, to properly perform any one of these pillars, is obligated to perform it in full; for omitting it is a concession that applies only in cases of genuine inability. The Prophet ﷺ said: "When I command you to do something, do of it whatever you are able." (Related by al-Bukhārī). As the scholars of fiqh have established: what remains possible is not waived on account of what is difficult.
The criterion for determining genuine inability, as chosen by Imam al-Ḥaramayn al-Juwaynī (raḥimahullāh), is that the worshipper experiences hardship that causes him to lose his khushū‘.
As for voluntary (nafl) prayer, there is no objection to performing it while seated, even if one is able to stand. However, rukū‘ and sujūd must still be performed [in their proper physical form] by anyone who is able to do so. And Allah, the Exalted, knows best.

What is the ruling on someone who possesses gold with the intention of saving/hoarding it, and owns nothing else — is he obligated to sell a portion of it in order to pay the zakāh due on it?

All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
Zakāh becomes immediately obligatory on cash, and likewise on gold — that which is not designated for a woman's personal adornment— once both reach the niṣāb (minimum threshold liable for zakah) and a full ḥawl (lunar year) has passed over them. It is not permissible to delay payment when it is genuinely possible to pay — meaning, when the wealth and the eligible recipients are both available. It is stated in Mughnī al-Muḥtāj (Vol.2/p.129): "Zakāh is obligatory immediately once it becomes feasible to pay it, meaning when the wealth and the eligible recipients are both present."
The one paying zakāh must discharge the obligatory zakāh due on saved (hoarded) gold either from the gold itself, or from its equivalent monetary value, in the event that no other funds are available — since paying from the gold itself is the original default (al-aṣl). It becomes permissible to pay from other funds instead only because zakāh is built upon the principle of ease and leniency, as stated in Asnā al-Maṭālib (Vol.1/p.366): "When a full ḥawl has elapsed on wealth other than trade goods... zakāh attaches to the actual asset itself (al-‘ayn), and the poor effectively become partners in it — even, for example, [becoming partners] in camels through the value of a sheep [owed as zakāh on them]... Paying from other wealth is permitted only because zakāh is built upon the principle of ease and leniency."
Accordingly: the one paying zakāh must discharge it either from the actual saved gold itself, or by selling a portion of the gold equal to the amount of zakāh owed. He may also borrow money to pay the zakāh, or pay the zakāh in installments before the ḥawl is complete [as an advance payment]. And Allah, the Exalted, knows best.

Is it permissible to trim the eyebrows if they become excessively long?

Trimming eyebrows is permissible if they become excessively long, yet; it is reprehensible. And Allah Knows Best.

What is the virtue of Laylat al-Qadr?

It is enough to know its great status that Allah revealed an entire surah about it—Surah Al-Qadr. Moreover, the Quran was first revealed on this night.
Allah says {what means}:
"We have indeed revealed this (Message) in the Night of Power: And what will explain to thee what the night of power is? The Night of Power is better than a thousand months. Therein come down the angels and the Spirit by Allah's permission, on every errand: Peace!... This until the rise of morn!" [Al-Qadr/1-5]
The Prophet ﷺ taught us to observe I‘tikaf in the last ten nights of Ramadan, seeking Laylat al-Qadr. Whoever worships Allah and revives this night will receive the reward of worshiping for a thousand months—excluding Laylat al-Qadr itself.