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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

Is "Bismillāhir-Raḥmānir-Raḥīm" a verse (āyah) of Sūrat al-Fātiḥah?

All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
The basmalah ("Bismillāhir-Raḥmānir-Raḥīm") is, without question, a verse (āyah) of the Noble Qur'an, and according to the Shāfi‘ī school, it constitutes a verse of Sūrat al-Fātiḥah itself. Al-Fātiḥah is a pillar of the prayer, and it consists of seven verses, of which the basmalah is one. The prayer is not valid without reciting it, nor if any of the Fātiḥah's verses, letters, or shaddahs (consonant doublings) are omitted or altered.
It is stated in Bushrā al-Karīm (Vol.1/p.202), from the books of the Shāfi‘ī school: "The basmalah is a complete verse of it [i.e., of al-Fātiḥah] in practice — and it suffices, for this to be established, that there be strong probability (ẓann), especially given that this has come very close to certainty (yaqīn), due to the consensus (ijmā‘) of the Companions on its inclusion in the muṣ-ḥaf [the written text of the Qur'an] in its script, despite their extreme diligence in excluding from it anything that did not genuinely belong to it — to the point that they even [carefully regulated] its diacritical dots and vowel markings." And Allah, the Exalted, knows best.

What is the ruling on a young man and a young woman having a love relation for the purpose of getting married?

It is forbidden for a man and a woman to have any kind of relation whether for marriage, or not because it leads to committing sin. Such relations include: private meetings, mixing, gazing, and seclusion (Khulwa). Accordingly, one who is sincere in his intentions should go to the woman`s guardian and ask for her hand in marriage.

Is it permissible for someone who is unable to fast to pay the fidyah (ransom/compensation payment) to himself, due to his own poverty?

All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
It is not permissible, nor does it fulfill the obligation, for a sick person who is currently and permanently unable to fast to pay the fidyah (ransom/compensation payment) to himself, since it is a financial obligation owed by him, established as a standing debt upon him — much like any other debt he owes. If he were to pay it to himself, it would not thereby be discharged. So if he cannot find [anyone eligible to] pay it to, it remains a standing obligation upon him, and is not thereby waived. If Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, later grants him wealth, it becomes obligatory upon him to pay it out to the poor and needy.
Imam al-Khaṭīb ash-Shirbīnī (raḥimahullāh) said: "There is no difference in the obligation of the fidyah between the wealthy and the poor person; its benefit lies in its remaining established as a standing debt upon the poor person [until he is able to pay it] — and this is the more correct position (al-aṣaḥḥ), as indicated by the wording of ar-Rawḍah and its source text." [Mughnī al-Muḥtāj, Vol.2/P.174]
Accordingly: it is not permissible for a Muslim to pay the fidyah to himself while he remains poor. If the sick person is poor, he is not obligated to pay the fidyah immediately, and it remains a standing debt upon him until a time when he has sufficient means and wealth. And Allah, the Exalted, knows best.

What are the key differences between the 'aqīqah and the uḍḥiyyah?

 All praise is due to Allah, and may peace and blessings be upon our Master, the Messenger of Allah.
The following are the key differences between the 'aqīqah and the uḍḥiyyah:
First: The 'aqīqah is slaughtered as an act of drawing closer to Allah the Almighty and expressing gratitude for the blessing of a newborn child. The uḍḥiyyah, on the other hand, is slaughtered as an act of drawing closer to Allah and expressing gratitude to Him specifically during the days of slaughter (ayyām al-naḥr).
Second: The 'aqīqah is performed on the seventh day from the birth of the newborn, whereas the uḍḥiyyah is performed on Eid al-Aḍḥā and its time extends for three days after the Eid.
Third: The 'aqīqah is performed once in a lifetime for the newborn, whereas the uḍḥiyyah is recommended every year for the one who is financially capable to offer it.
Fourth: It is Sunnah for the one intending to offer the uḍḥiyyah to refrain from cutting his hair and nails until after he has slaughtered. This is not a Sunnah for the one intending to perform the 'aqīqah.
Fifth: It is Sunnah for the 'aqīqah to be cooked and distributed to the poor in its cooked form. The uḍḥiyyah, by contrast, must be distributed as raw meat. And Allah Almighty knows best.