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The Birth of the Prophet Mohammad: Glad Tidings for a New Beginning
Author : His Grace Shiekh Abdulkareem Al-Khasawneh
Date Added : 18-10-2021

The Birth of the Prophet Mohammad: Glad Tidings for a New Beginning

 

 

The birth of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) wasn`t a mere casual passing event in history. Rather, it was a great occasion that led to the rise of the best nation produced for mankind promoting righteousness, establishing the foundations of what is true, enjoining good and forbidding evil. When he was born, the whole earth was illuminated with the light of Prophecy after it was dominated by the darkness of ignorance and polluted with sins. Allah the Almighty sent down the Quran to remove doubt and polytheism and save people from the darkness of disbelief to the light of belief paving the way for a new ray of hope for every misguided or bewildered individual. His mother saw light coming out of her while delivering him. Whoever followed his guidance and Sunnah is guided to the straight path. Allah Says (What means): "O people of the Book! There hath come to you our Messenger, revealing to you much that ye used to hide in the Book, and passing over much (that is now unnecessary). There hath come to you from Allah a (new) light and a perspicuous Book,- Wherewith Allah guideth all who seek His good pleasure to ways of peace and safety, and leadeth them out of darkness, by His will, unto the light,- guideth them to a path that is straight." [Al-Mai`dah/15-16]. Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) said: "I`m the seal of the Prophets, the call of Ibrahim, the glad tidings given by Isa (Jesus), and upon delivering me, my mother saw light coming out of her illuminating the palaces of Sham (Syria)." [Musnad Ahmad].

 

Judge Eyaad said: "Among the wonders related to his birth is that he was born with his head held high and his eyesight fixed towards heaven." [Ash-Shifaa].

 

The glad tidings of his birth are a sign for change on universal level as the born isn`t like anyone else; he is the best of creation. He is the one who will be capable of changing historical events and steering the wheel of humanity. His destiny was in tune with the greatness of the responsibility placed on his shoulders. His birth has a announced the start of a new chapter in human history. According to religious tradition, on the night of the Prophet Mohammad`s birth, the Taq Kasra shook and its walls cracked, the fire that the Persians worshipped and kept burning continuously for a thousand years went out, and Lake Saawah dried up.

 

It is Allah`s Wisdom that he sent Mohammad (PBUH) to guide the people to the straight path, whereas He, The Most Exalted Said (What means): "Say: "I am but a man like yourselves, (but) the inspiration has come to me, that your God is one God: whoever expects to meet his Lord, let him work righteousness, and, in the worship of his Lord, admit no one as partner." [Al-Kahf/110]. He (PBUH) was known as Al-Sadiq (the Truthful) and Al-Amin (the Faithful). Allah described him in the following verse, as it Says (What means): "Now hath come unto you an Apostle from amongst yourselves: it grieves him that ye should perish: ardently anxious is he over you: to the Believers is he most kind and merciful." [At-Tawbah/128]. Allah also Praised creating him where He Said (What means): "And thou (standest) on an exalted standard of character." [Al-Qalam/4]. He is the best of creation, the seal of Prophets and Messengers, the Chief of the children of Adam till the Day of Judgment, and the leader of those whose faces are bright and limbs are white because of Wudu`. As reflected in Hadiths, he was a man tantamount to a nation.

 

His birth anniversary is a beacon of hope enabling every Muslim to come closer to Allah. A window for a brighter and more promising future. Just as the Muslim nation was able to advance by virtue of his birth, it is able today to relieve itself from the burdens of ignorance and fanaticism. This is particularly since his teachings are carved in the hearts of Muslims and the Glorious Quran guides to all that is good.

 

This anniversary reminds us of our duty to make him known to others, defend him, show his morals and noble attributes, and follow his Sunnah. This will enable the Muslim nation to assume its leading role amongst the nations; just as Allah wanted. He The Almighty Says (What means): "Ye are the best of peoples, evolved for mankind, enjoining what is right, forbidding what is wrong, and believing in God." [Al-Imran/ 110]. 

 

Celebrating his birth anniversary is an integral part of faith and acquainting others with his morals and attributes, and this is part of enjoining good and forbidding evil. This anniversary should motivate every Muslim to make change for the better, abandon sins, and draw closer to Allah with acts of obedience following the example of the Prophet Mohammad (PBUH): "the best human being and leader. Allah's Messenger (PBUH) said: "Verily Allah granted eminence to Kinana from amongst the descendants of Isma'il, and he granted eminence to the Quraish amongst Kinana, and he granted eminence to Banu Hashim amonsgst the Quraish, and he granted me eminence from the tribe of Banu Hashim." [Moslim].  And all praise be to Allah The Lord of The Worlds.

 

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Summarized Fatawaa

What is the ruling of Islamic Law on obtaining financing from Islamic banks by bringing invoices in prior arrangement with the seller, then taking the cash after the financing is approved — with the purpose of settling debts and buying a car?

All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
It appears from the transaction described that its underlying purpose is to obtain cash through resorting to a legal artifice (ḥīlah/tawarruq-style trick), and it is not permissible to engage in such trickery or to coordinate with the various parties merely to obtain liquidity. This is because such artifices bring the sale closer in reality to a ribā-based (usurious) transaction, even if it outwardly appears otherwise.
The Prophet ﷺ said: "Do not commit what the Jews committed, thereby making lawful what Allah has made unlawful through the flimsiest of tricks." This was related by Ibn Baṭṭah in his book Ibṭāl al-Ḥiyal (p. 47), and many scholars have graded it as ḥasan (sound/acceptable).
We have already explained the impermissibility of engaging in such deceptive dealings with Islamic banks in Fatwa No. 516, so please refer to it. And Allah, the Exalted, knows best.

What is the ruling on Jumu‘ah (Friday) prayer for a traveler, and what are the conditions for it to be waived from him?

All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.
Jumu‘ah (Friday) prayer is not obligatory upon a traveler, whether on a long or short journey, provided that — according to the Shāfi‘ī school — he departs from his place of residence before the time for Fajr prayer begins, and that he does not intend to stay in the place he travels to for four days or more, excluding the day of arrival and the day of departure. If he intends to stay longer than that, he may not make use of the travel concession simply by arriving in that town. If he begins his journey after the adhān for Fajr has already been called, then Jumu‘ah prayer remains obligatory upon him, whether in his own town or in any town where Jumu‘ah is being held.
It is stated in Bushrā al-Karīm (Vol.1/p.383), from the books of the Shāfi‘ī school: "Jumu‘ah [prayer] is not obligatory upon a traveler on a permissible journey, whether long or short, if he departs from his place of residence before Fajr."
A "short journey" refers to travel covering a distance shorter than that of a long journey — that is, less than (81 km). The traveler begins to be entitled to travel concessions once he passes beyond the built-up limits of his town. And Allah, the Exalted, knows best.

When is the prayer considered *adāʾ* (performed within its time): upon rising from the bowing (*rukūʿ*), or after rising from the prostration (*sujūd*)?

All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master, the Messenger of Allah.
Whoever catches one complete rakʿah within the prayer's time has caught the prayer as an on-time (adāʾ) prayer. The rakʿah is complete when the worshipper raises his head from the second prostration (sajdah), even if he has not yet reached the degree of standing in which the recitation is valid.
It is stated in Nihāyat al-Muḥtāj (Vol.1/p.378): "What is meant by the rakʿah is the completion of all of it, with its two prostrations." End quote.
And in Ḥāshiyat al-Shabrāmallisī: "(His saying: 'a rakʿah') means that he raises his head from the second prostration, even if he has not reached the degree in which the recitation is valid." And Allah Almighty knows best.
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Note on terminology: Adāʾ refers to performing the prayer within its prescribed time, as opposed to qaḍāʾ (making it up after its time has ended).

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.