Articles

Birth of the Awaited Prophet
Author : Dr. Ahmad Al-Hassnat
Date Added : 18-10-2021

Birth of the Awaited Prophet

 

The birth of Prophet Mohammad (Peace be upon him) was exceptional in the sense that all humanity awaited it. Jews as well as Christians were awaiting that moment with all their hearts. They even knew that he was coming. The moment he was born, the whole universe was illuminated and peace and tranquility prevailed. This sign, led the People of the Book to know that the awaited Prophet was born.

 

The Jews came to Medina before the Prophet (PBUH) was sent with the Message of Islam, because they knew that it is the place where the awaited Prophet will appear. They even threatened the Arabs that they and the awaited Prophet of the end-time will kill them. Abu Na`im reported in [Dala`il An-Nobowah] that Abi Namlah said: "The Jews of Banu Qurayza mentioned Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) in their books and taught their children his name, attributes, and migration to Medina. 

 

However, when he appeared they became envious, transgressed and met him with denial. Before he was sent with the Message of Islam, they sought his intercession and turned to him for help against the pagan Arabs. It is stated in Sirat Ibn Hisham: "The Jews said: "A Prophet will be sent now and we will follow him and kill you like the people of "Aad" and "Aram." Since the Prophet (Peace be upon him) descended from the clan of Quraysh, the Jews refused to believe in him." Allah Says (What means): "When there comes to them that which they (should) have recognized, they refuse to believe in it but the curse of God is on those without Faith. Miserable is the price, for which they have sold their souls, in that they deny (the revelation) which God has sent down, in insolent envy that God of His Grace should send it to any of His servants He pleases: Thus have they drawn on themselves Wrath upon Wrath. And humiliating is the punishment of those who reject Faith." [Al-Baqarah/89-90].

 

Similarly, the Christians were awaiting the birth of the Prophet Mohammad (PBUH). As reported by Abu Na`im in [Dala`il An-Nobowah], Qis Bin Sa`idah stood one day in Makkah and said: "A man from the lineage of Lu`ai Bin Ghalib will be sent to you and he will teach you to worship one God. Should I live to see that, I would be the first to believe in him…" Amongst the Christians who awaited for his arrival of is Waraqah Bin Nawfal who followed the religion of Abraham.

 

Waraqa gave the Prophet (Peace be upon him) the glad tidings that he (PBUH) is the Prophet of the end-time. When the Prophet (Peace be upon him) returned from the Cave of Hira` trembling, Khadijah (May Allah be pleased with her) called Waraqa to hear what happened with the Prophet (PBUH). Waraqa asked: "O my nephew! What have you seen?" Allah's Messenger (PBUH) described whatever he had seen. Waraqa said: "This is the same one who keeps the secrets (angel Gabriel) whom Allah had sent to Moses. I wish I were young and could live up to the time when your people would turn you out." Allah's Messenger (Peace be upon him) asked:  "Will they drive me out?" Waraqa replied in the affirmative and said, "Anyone (man) who came with something similar to what you have brought was treated with hostility; and if I should remain alive till the day when you will be turned out then I would support you strongly."

 

He (PBUH) was born under Allah`s Care. His father died when his mother was pregnant with him and she died when he was an infant. Having lost both his father and mother made him draw closer to Allah and being taken care of and raised by Him The Almighty. Allah Says (What means): "Did He not find thee an orphan and give thee shelter (and care)? And He found thee wandering, and He gave thee guidance. And He found thee in need, and made thee independent." [Ad-Duhah/6-8]. The Messenger of Allah said: "My Lord has taught me good manners."

 

Having taken care of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) means having taken care of his nation. Allah has honored this nation with being Mohammad`s (PBUH). It is the best nation produced (as an example) for humankind. A nation of truth, mercy, and guidance to all humanity. A nation that didn`t tolerate transgression and injustice. A nation whose roots extended from the east to the west, as reflected in the remnants of its glorious civilization. Today, we are in dire need to revive the concepts of mercy and guidance with which the Prophet (Peace be upon him) was sent. This is to be considered worthy of him and his birth becomes truly the birth of a nation. And all praise be to The Lord of The Worlds. 

 

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Summarized Fatawaa

What is the ruling on selling sacrificial animals (udhiyah) described with specific attributes and authorizing an agent to slaughter them?

Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our Master, the Messenger of Allah.
 
Selling sacrificial animals (udhiyah) that are described with specific attributes is permissible. This falls under the category of a salam sale (forward sale) if conducted using the terminology of salam, and under the category of a regular sale if not using the terminology of salam.
 
As for authorizing the seller to slaughter the sacrificial animal, the basic principle is that it is permissible, because the agent (wakil) stands in the place of the principal (muwakkil) in achieving his objective. This is a contract that the principal (the buyer) is entitled to perform himself, so authorizing another (the seller) to do so on his behalf is valid.
 
However, it is a condition for authorization to slaughter that the intention (niyyah) is present either at the time of slaughter or at the time of handing over the sacrificial animal to the agent. The basic principle is that the sacrificial animal must be specifically designated, as it is an act of worship. It is not required to designate it at the time of slaughter; rather, it is valid to do so before that.
 
It is permissible for the principal either to delegate the intention to the agent or to formulate it himself when authorizing the agent to slaughter. However, the sacrificial animal must be designated, even if at the time of slaughter, by the agent.
 
It is obligatory to designate the sacrificial animals so that each person offering a sacrifice receives his own specific animal. Therefore, charitable organizations and companies must take this into consideration and establish a specific mechanism that ensures no mixing of sacrificial animals occurs, so that each person offering a sacrifice receives his own designated animal. And Allah Almighty knows best.

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 on swearing an oath by the Prophet ﷺ, and does such an oath take effect according to Imām Aḥmad ibn Ḥanbal, requiring expiation upon its breach?

All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
Swearing an oath by a created being is disliked (makrūh) in our Shāfiʿī school. Shaykh al-Islām Imām al-Nawawī, may Allah have mercy upon him, states: "Swearing by a created being is disliked — such as swearing by the Prophet, the Kaʿbah, Jibrīl, the Companions, or the Prophet's family. Al-Shāfiʿī, may Allah have mercy upon him, said: 'I fear that swearing by other than Allah the Almighty may constitute an act of disobedience.' The scholars of the school explained this to mean: that is, something forbidden and sinful — indicating that he had some hesitation in the matter. Al-Imām stated: the established position of the school is that it is categorically not forbidden, but rather disliked. Furthermore, whoever swears by a created being, his oath does not take effect and no expiation (kaffārah) is required if he breaks it." [Rawḍat al-Ṭālibīn wa ʿUmdat al-Muftīn, Vol. 11/P.6]
According to the Ḥanbalī school, however, expiation becomes obligatory upon one who swears by our master the Prophet ﷺ and then breaks his oath. Imām al-Bahūtī al-Ḥanbalī, may Allah have mercy upon him, states: "No expiation is required for swearing by other than Allah the Almighty, even if the oath is broken — because expiation was made obligatory for swearing by Allah and His attributes, out of reverence for His names, and nothing else is equal to Him in this regard... except in the case of swearing by our Prophet Muḥammad ﷺ, for expiation becomes obligatory when one swears by him and then breaks the oath. This was explicitly stated in the narration of Abū Ṭālib, because he is one of the two conditions of the two testimonies of faith by which a disbeliever becomes a Muslim. Ibn ʿAqīl held the view that swearing by any of the other prophets, peace and blessings be upon them all, carries the same ruling." [Sharḥ Muntahā al-Irādāt, Vol. 3/P.441]. And Allah the Almighty knows best.

What is the difference between Qiyam al-Layl and Tahajjud?

● Qiyam al-Layl refers to any voluntary prayer performed at night, including Tarawih.
● Tahajjud specifically refers to voluntary prayer performed at night after waking up from sleep.
Glad tidings to those who combine both, as numerous Quranic verses and hadiths mention their virtues.
Allah Almighty says {what means}: "And rise from thy sleep and pray during part of the night [as well], as a free offering from thee, and thy Sustainer may well raise thee to a glorious station [in the life to come." [Al-Isra`/79]
The Prophetﷺ said: "Whoever stands (in prayer) during Ramadan with faith and seeking reward, all their past sins will be forgiven." [Agreed upon]