Articles

In Commemoration of the Prophet's Hijra (Migration)
Author : Dr Noah Ali Salman
Date Added : 14-10-2015

 

In Commemoration of the Prophet's Hijra (Migration)

 

 

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.

 

Usually, a significant event marks the beginning of any nation`s history. As Muslims, our history is pregnant with significant events such as the birth of the Prophet (PBUH), the descent of the revelation, the Hijra (Divinely ordained migration) from Makkah to Medina, the divine declaration in which Allah has perfected our religion for us, completed His favor upon us, and has chosen Islam for us as our religion.

 

However, when Umar Bin Al-Kattab consulted the honorable companions (May Allah Be Pleased with them) on the starting date of the Islamic calendar, they agreed that the most appropriate reference point for the Islamic calendar was the Hijra. Umar justified that by saying: "Islam has been powerful since the Hijra." In fact, Islam has assumed its right and complete position by the Hijra, and there are three important issues in this regard:

 

First: The noble companions have agreed that having a calendar is one aspect of any nation`s independence and a reflection of its privacy, so it is unacceptable that the Muslim nation follows the calendar of another nation for marking its events. Thanks to Allah, our Islamic nation has been using the Islamic calendar to show that it is proud of its religion, it is distinguished, it is independent, and it is loyal to the Prophet who initiated the Hijra.

 

Second: Allah, the Almighty, has honored Islam with the Hijra, because Muslims gathered in Medina under the leadership of the Prophet (PBUH) and they established a state concerned with spreading Islam and protecting Muslims against aggression. As a result, the principles of Islam were reflected in the behavior of the Muslim society, and this led to the spread of justice, goodness, observing kinship ties as well as ending injustice, aggression, lewdness and abomination, as indicated in the following verse, (What means): "Indeed God enjoins justice and virtue and giving to kinsfolk, and He forbids lewdness, and abomination, and aggression: He admonishes you so that you might remember." [An-Nahil/90].

 

A close comparison between the number of Muslims before Hijra and after it shows that there is a big difference although they were invited to Islam by the same Prophet, Mohammad (PBUH). He enjoyed the needed eloquence and wisdom, but his style varied in accordance with the new conditions since people are more influenced by what they see, than what they hear. Rather, they neither listen to the weak nor respect what is right unless it was backed with might.

 

Three: It is necessary at this time and at every other time that Muslims reflect the bright image of the glorious Islam through their behavior and that the task of inviting others to embrace Islam should be passed to the different generations, because Allah has sent this religion as a mercy to all humanity.

If some Muslims have tarnished the bright image of Islam through violating its very teachings, then it is incumbent upon every Muslim to set the records straight and clear that suspicion.

It is a relief that people the world round are still embracing Islam owing to the sincere efforts of faithful Muslims who invite them to Allah by good word and good deed.

 

Finally, people of reason, even non-Muslims, are still admiring and praising Islam; however, if some have insulted Islam by word or deed, or insulted the Prophet (PBUH), then he is too honorable to be belittled by the rancorous and the disbelieving.

 

And All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of The Worlds.

 

 

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Summarized Fatawaa

I have a date farm, and the dates come in different categories, and within each category there are different sizes. How is zakāh paid on the yield?

All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
If the yield reaches the niṣāb (the minimum threshold for zakāh to become obligatory) — which is five awsuq (plural of wasq), equivalent to (611) kg — then zakāh becomes obligatory upon it, at a rate of one-tenth ('ushr) if irrigated by rainwater (i.e., naturally, without the use of machinery), or one-twentieth (half of the 'ushr) if irrigated using machinery/equipment.
If the yield of dates consists of different varieties, then zakāh should be paid from each variety according to its respective proportion. If this proves difficult, it is permissible to pay from a medium-quality variety [representative of the average].
It is stated in Ḥāshiyatā Qulyūbī wa ‘Umayrah (Vol.2/P.22): "Different varieties are combined together [for the purpose of calculating the niṣāb] — such as the various types of dates, the various types of raisins, and so on — and zakāh is paid from each type according to its respective proportion. However, if this becomes difficult due to the large number of varieties and the small quantity of each individual type, then zakāh should be paid from a medium-quality variety among them — neither the best nor the worst — out of consideration for both sides [the giver and the poor recipient]. If one goes to the trouble of paying from each variety according to its proportion, this is also permissible." And Allah, the Exalted, knows best.

What is the ruling of Islamic Law on colleagues alternating overtime shifts and receiving wages for absent days?

All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master, the Messenger of Allah.
 
An employee is religiously obligated to abide by the instructions and regulations pertaining to overtime hours. Furthermore, it is mandatory to adhere to honesty and avoid deceit, circumvention, and falsehood. Allah Almighty says (what means): "O you who have believed, be conscious of Allah and be with those who are truthful."
(At-Tawbah/119).
 
Therefore, whoever is assigned to work overtime must remain present at the designated workplace, even if no active tasks are required of them during that time.
 
Likewise, the official authorized to approve overtime work must comply with all established conditions and regulatory guidelines. It is impermissible for them to grant overtime hours in violation of system regulations. Should any compensation be disbursed in contravention of these official rules, it is unlawful to accept or consume such wages. And Allah Almighty knows best.

In the Sharia-compliant viewing  at a prospective bride (*al-naẓrah al-sharʿiyyah*), is it permissible for the man to see the woman without a veil (*ḥijāb*)?

All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master, the Messenger of Allah.
It is sunnah for the suitor to see the woman he is seeking to marry within the limits the Sharīʿah permits, namely looking at the face and the hands (palms and backs), based on the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): “Look at her, for it is more likely to bring about harmony between you.” Narrated by al-Tirmidhī.
The suitor may also ask one of the women to look at the woman he is seeking to marry. In that case, she is permitted to see of her what she is normally permitted to see, which is not limited to the face and hands, and she then describes these matters to the suitor. It is narrated on the authority of Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) sent Umm Sulaym to look at a girl, and said: “Smell her breath, and look at her heels.” Narrated by Aḥmad in his Musnad.
It is stated in Tuḥfat al-Muḥtāj (Vol.7/p.192): “For one who cannot easily look, or does not wish to look himself, it is sunnah to send someone who is permitted to look at her, to observe her and describe her to him, even regarding what he himself is not permitted to look at. He thereby gains through the sending what he would not gain through looking. Because of the added need for this, it is excepted from the prohibition of a woman describing another woman to a man.”
The permissibility of looking is conditional upon his resolve to marry her once he is able to, his predominant assumption that his proposal will be accepted, and his assumption that the woman is free of marriage and of a waiting period (ʿiddah). Otherwise, looking is forbidden.
Accordingly, it is not permissible for the suitor to look at anything other than the face and hands. He may ask one of his maḥram women, such as his mother or sister, to see the woman unveiled, and the Sharia-compliant viewing (of a prospective bride) must take place in the presence of one of the woman’s maḥrams. And Allah Almighty knows best.

What are the legal and religious consequences for a charitable organization in the event that a sacrificial animal is damaged or spoiled after slaughter?

All praise is due to Allah, and may peace and blessings be upon our Master, the Messenger of Allah.
Charitable organizations entrusted with slaughtering sacrificial animals (uḍḥiyyah) and distributing their meat on behalf of their owners are obligated to safeguard the meat from spoilage, damage, theft, and any other harm. This is because such organizations act as agents (wukalā') on behalf of those offering the sacrifice, and an agent holds what is entrusted to them in trust (amānah) — whether they receive a wage for their work or act on a voluntary basis.
If the sacrificial animal is damaged after slaughter during the processes of packaging, transportation, or storage due to negligence or oversight — whether on the part of the organization's own staff overseeing the operation, or on the part of third parties contracted by the organization such as transport or shipping companies — then liability falls upon the negligent party, who is required to compensate for the value of the sacrifice. It is not permissible to cover such compensation from the organization's other donor funds.
However, if the damage to the sacrificial animal occurs without any negligence in its preservation and storage on the part of any party involved in the transportation, shipping, or storage process, and is instead attributable to force majeure circumstances beyond their control, then no financial liability is borne by any party in such a case. And Allah Almighty knows best.