Articles

Enhancing the Prophet`s Birth Anniversary in the Hearts of Children
Author : Dr. Ahmad Al-Harasees
Date Added : 30-01-2023

Enhancing the Prophet`s Birth Anniversary in the Hearts of Children

 

The Prophet`s birth anniversary is a golden opportunity to instill his love in the hearts of future generations in general and children in particular. This is since humans by nature are inclined to love those that do good to them, join the role models, and seek the practical and realistic model to emulate.

This anniversary paves the way for parents and educators to highlight the Prophetic role model with all its manifestations, potentials, morals, mercy and attributes through dwelling on his noble biography, dealings, and skills.

The first step to this end is achieved through instilling love and attachment to the Prophet (PBUH) in the hearts of these children as well as reading his biography on frequent basis. These steps generate love towards the Prophet (PBUH) since, as it is said: when you love someone or something, you mention them a lot. In addition, this love represents the second part of the testimony of faith (…And I bear witness that Mohammad (PBUH) is His slave and Messenger).

Love is proof of perfect faith since Anas reported God’s messenger as saying: "None of you believes till I am dearer to him than his father, his child, and all mankind." {Bukhari}. Loving and emulating the Prophet (PBUH) constitute a strong shield against taking evil individuals of society as role models.

As part of celebrating the Prophet`s birth anniversary, we can draw up a methodology or a simple brief plan to achieve the goals, meanings, and secrets of this great anniversary to arrive at a spiritual connection between Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) and this generation. Based on this, we can do the following:

Glorifying this anniversary and the merit of this day through showing the merit of the Prophet (PBUH) and that he is the chosen one and was sent as mercy to the Worlds. Almighty Allah Says {What means}: "Say: "In the bounty of God. And in His Mercy,- in that let them rejoice": that is better than the (wealth) they hoard." {Younis/58}.

We can also explain to them that the Quran teaches us to remember this day since Allah The Exalted Said {What means}: "We sent Moses with Our signs (and the command)."Bring out thy people from the depths of darkness into light, and teach them to remember the Days of God." Verily in this there are Signs for such as are firmly patient and constant,- grateful and appreciative." {Ibrahim/5}. This is in addition to the fact that the Prophet (PBUH) himself has celebrated this day. Abu Qatadah (May Allah Be Pleased with him) reported: "The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) was asked about fasting on Mondays. He said: "That is the day on which I was born and the day on which I received Revelation." [Muslim].

 

Another practical method is gathering household members to talk about his attributes and biography.

It is no secret that it is highly important to attend the celebrations held at mosques and Quran centers. These usually include religious guidance and prophetic chants within a joyful atmosphere.

Moreover, we could organize competitions in which questions concerning the Prophetic biography are asked and prizes given. In other words providing moral and material motivations.

This is along with encouraging the children to send prayers upon the Prophet (PBUH) on frequent basis and clarifying the reward for this great deed both in this world and the next. This can also be encouraged through giving a monetary prize no matter how small it is in order to promote the spirit of competing in doing good deeds.

This anniversary is an excellent opportunity and a high rank since it derives its greatness from the person whose birthday is being celebrated and that is Prophet Mohammad (PBUH). It is one method to instill meanings of love and affection towards this great Prophet (PBUH) in the hearts and minds of the children.

The purpose is to connect this generation with Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) and educators are at liberty to choose the method that they see fit to achieve the aforementioned goals and objectives. And all perfect praise be to Allah The Lord of The Worlds.

 

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Summarized Fatawaa

I broke my oath and am now obligated to pay the expiation for a broken oath (kaffārat al-yamīn). Would it be valid to fulfill this by inviting the poor and needy to a meal for them to eat from?

Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings upon our master, the Messenger of Allah.
The expiation for a broken oath (kaffārat al-yamīn) is given to the poor (fuqarā') and needy (masākīn), and it must be given in the form of ownership (tamlīk) transferred to them of the required amount — namely, one mudd of the staple food of the locality, or its equivalent monetary value. It isn`t valid to invite the poor or needy to a meal prepared for them to eat from, as this does not constitute "ownership" (tamlīk) but merely "permission to partake" (ibāḥah).
Imam al-Shirbīnī (may Allah have mercy on him) said: "What is intended is that ownership be transferred to them; therefore, providing them with lunch or dinner [as a meal to eat from] isn`t valid." [Summarized from Mughnī al-Muhtāj,Vol. 5/P.50]. And Allah the Almighty knows best.

Is it enough to say Tasbeeh (Saying Subhaana Rabbiya Al-‘Atheem during Rukoo`, and saying Subhaana Rabbiya Al-A‘laa during Sujood ) once, or twice during Rukoo`(Bowing in prayer) and Sujood (Prostration)?

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of The Worlds                                                                                                                                                                  Yes, saying Tasbeeh once during Rukoo` and Sujood is enough, provided that the worshiper`s attentiveness of the heart isn`t undermined during each. As regards the recompense, it depends on the number of Tasbeeh. And Allah Knows Best.

Is it permissible to agree with a butcher to purchase the meat of an animal after it has been slaughtered — for instance, by buying the meat of a sheep at a price determined by the weight of its meat following slaughter, at a fixed rate per kilogram? And what is the ruling if the animal is being purchased with the intention of it being an uḍḥiyyah (sacrificial offering)?

 
 
 
 
 

All praise is due to Allah, and may peace and blessings be upon our Master, the Messenger of Allah.
It is not permissible to sell livestock in the manner of pricing each kilogram of meat after slaughter at a fixed rate, because the meat within the animal prior to slaughter is unseen and unknown. This leads to jahālah (ignorance of the subject matter) and gharar (contractual uncertainty), both of which are among the invalidating factors in sales transactions.
However, it is permissible for the buyer to issue a promise to purchase the meat of the animal after slaughter at a specified price per kilogram, with the actual sale being concluded at the time of weighing the meat — at which point both the quantity of the goods and the total price become known. There is no Sharī'ah objection to this arrangement.
The jurists have stipulated that for a sale to be valid, both countervalues must be present and observable. Al-Khaṭīb al-Shirbīnī, may Allah have mercy upon him, states:
"It is valid to sell a heap of grain whose total measure is unknown to both contracting parties at a rate of one sā' per dirham. This sale is valid because the subject of sale is present and observable, and ignorance of the total price is not harmful since it is known in detail — and uncertainty is thereby lifted."— [Mughnī al-Muḥtāj, Vol.2/P.355]
As for the uḍḥiyyah, the 'aqīqah, and vowed blood sacrifices (al-dam al-mandhūr) — full ownership of the animal must be established prior to slaughter. It is not valid for such animals to be slaughtered while still in the ownership of the butcher. Rather, the animal must be purchased alive and then slaughtered with the intention of uḍḥiyyah or the like. And Allah Almighty knows best.

What is the waiting period ('Iddah) for a woman whose husband has passed away, and what is the ruling on her wearing gold?

Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our Master, the Messenger of Allah.
 
The waiting period ('Iddah) for a woman whose husband has passed away is four months and ten days for one who is not pregnant. As for a pregnant woman, her waiting period lasts until she gives birth. It is obligatory for her to remain in the marital home, only leaving for a necessity. During this time, it is prohibited (Haram) to display any form of adornment on the body or clothing; this includes wearing kohl, gold, all types of perfume, and dyeing the hair. Likewise, it is prohibited to receive a direct marriage proposal or to marry during this period.
 
It was narrated by Umm 'Atiyyah that the Prophet ﷺ said: 'We were forbidden to mourn for a deceased person for more than three days, except for a husband, for whom the mourning period is four months and ten days. During this time, we were not to use kohl, nor wear perfume, nor wear dyed clothing except for garments made of 'Asb (coarsely dyed yarn). We were, however, granted a concession at the time of purification—when one of us bathed following her menses—to use a small amount of Kust (costus) or Azfar (fragrant substances). We were also forbidden from following funeral processions.' (Narrated by Al-Bukhari). And Allah the Exalted knows best."