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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

Is Zakah (obligatory charity) due on the Zakah money received by a poor person, and reached a Nissab (minimum amount liable for Zakah), and a whole lunar year had lapsed over having it in his possession?

Yes, the poor who possessed a Nissab for a whole lunar year is obliged to pay the Zakah due on that money even if it was given to him as a Zakah money in the first place. And Allah Knows Best.

Is a person rewarded for refraining from all that breaks their fast when required to do so, and is it considered a valid fast?

If a person eats or drinks thinking that Fajr has not yet arrived, but then someone informs them that Fajr had already begun, they must refrain from eating for the rest of the day and make up the fast later.
If they observe the required restraint (imsak), they will be rewarded for obeying the command because fulfilling an obligation brings reward.
However, this is not considered a valid fast in terms of rulings. For example:
● It is not disliked (makruh) for them to use a miswak after noon.
● They are not encouraged to hasten the breaking of the fast at sunset.
● Other fasting-related rulings do not apply to them.

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.

What is the ruling on men wearing rings (those made of silver and of other metals, such as iron), and are there conditions for men wearing rings?

All praise is due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master, the Messenger of Allah.
It is sunnah for men to wear a silver ring on the right hand, following the practice of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). It is reported in Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, on the authority of Anas ibn Mālik (may Allah be pleased with him), that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) took a silver ring and had “Muḥammad Rasūl Allāh” engraved on it. He said: “I have taken a ring of silver and had ‘Muḥammad Rasūl Allāh’ engraved on it, so let no one engrave the like of its engraving.”
It is a condition that the silver ring not exceed the size customary in the local norm (ʿurf). If it does, that is extravagance (isrāf). A ring made of a metal other than silver, such as iron or copper, is permissible to wear without disapproval (karāhah), except gold, which is forbidden (ḥarām) for a man to wear.
It is stated in Mughnī al-Muḥtāj (Vol.1/p.586): “It is permissible, without disapproval, to wear a ring of iron or lead. It is sunnah for a man to wear a silver ring on the little finger of his right or left hand. Wearing it on the right is better, and it is permissible on the left, and on both together.”
It is also stated in Mughnī al-Muḥtāj (Vol.2/p.97): “It is lawful for him, that is, the man, and likewise the khunthā (person of indeterminate sex), indeed all the more so, to wear a ring of silver, by consensus (ijmāʿ), because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) took a ring of silver, narrated by the two Shaykhs (al-Bukhārī and Muslim). Wearing it is in fact sunnah, whether on the right or the left, though the right is better according to the sound position, as stated in the chapter on clothing in al-Rawḍah… The Shāfiʿī jurists did not specify the permitted size of the ring, and they probably relied on custom (ʿurf), that is, the custom of that country and the habit of people of his standing in it. Whatever exceeds that is extravagance, as they said regarding a woman’s anklet. This is the reliable position (al-muʿtamad).” And Allah Almighty knows best.