Articles

Birth of the Awaited Prophet
Author : Dr. Ahmad Al-Hassnat
Date Added : 28-08-2023

Birth of the Awaited Prophet

 

By Secretary General,

Dr. Ahmad Al-Hasanat

 

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 Mdinah before the Prophet (Peace be upon him) 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 (Peace be upon him) in their books and taught their children his name, attributes, and migration to Madinah. 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 (Peace be upon him). 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 (Peace be upon him) 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 (Peace be upon him). Waraqa asked, "O my nephew! What have you seen?" Allah's Messenger (Peace be upon him) 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 (Peace be upon him) 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 Meesenger of Allah said: "My Lord has taught me good manners"

 

Having taken care of Prophet Mohammad (Peace be upon him) means having taken care of his nation. Allah has honored this nation with being Mohammad`s (Peace be upon him). 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

Is it acceptable to perform the Aqiqah for a male child by slaughtering and distributing the first sheep, and bringing the second one cooked from the restaurant?

 

Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon our master, the Messenger of Allah.

It is permissible to slaughter the first sheep with the intention of Aqiqah (the newborn's sacrificial offering) and distribute it entirely [uncooked], and to slaughter the second sheep and have it cooked at a restaurant to bring home for the household. However, it must be noted that it is obligatory to give some portion of the Aqiqah in charity to the poor, even if it is a small amount, though it is preferable to send the food cooked to them.

Buying a pre-cooked, ready-made sheep from a restaurant does not suffice as an Aqiqah. However, if an agreement is made with the restaurant to explicitly slaughter a sheep with the intention of Aqiqah for the newborn, and then cook it afterward, this is permissible.

In conclusion, slaughtering the sheep and distributing it with the intention of Aqiqah is permissible, and through it, the foundational prophetic tradition (Sunnah) is fulfilled. As for simply buying a cooked sheep from a restaurant that was not specifically slaughtered with the intention of Aqiqah, it will not count as such. Conversely, if the restaurant owner is commissioned (Wakala) to handle both the slaughtering and the cooking as an Aqiqah, it is valid—provided that a portion of it, even if small, is given in charity, which is estimated to be approximately half a kilogram of meatAnd Allah the Almighty knows best.

What are the categories of the livestock permissible for Udhiyah?

Praise be to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah.
 
The Udhiyah (sacrificial offering) is not valid except from Al-An’am (livestock), which are: camels, cattle, and sheep/goats. Allah the Almighty says {what means}: "And for every nation We have appointed a rite [of sacrifice] that they may mention the name of Allah over what He has provided for them of beast-livestock." [Al-Hajj/34]
The best of them are camels, then cattle, then sheep/goats. A sacrifice of a camel or a cow avails for seven people. Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "We sacrificed with the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) in the year of Al-Hudaybiyah a camel for seven and a cow for seven." [Narrated by Muslim] And Allah the Almighty knows best.

What is the ruling on the ablution of one who washes his arms from the wrist to the elbows?

In the school of Imam al-Shafi'i (may Allah have mercy on him), washing the arms (hands) is achieved by washing the arms completely, from the fingertips to the elbows. Washing only the palms at the beginning is insufficient, as washing them at the beginning is a Sunnah, but after washing the face, it becomes obligatory (fard). The person performing ablution must wash his palms along with the arms after washing the face. If he does not wash his palms, his ablution is invalid and not correct. And Allah the Almighty knows best.

Is it permissible for a woman who has become pure before the end of forty days of confinement to perform different acts of worship? and is it lawful for her husband to have sex with her?

Once postpartum bleeding ceases and she is certain that it won`t happen again, she becomes pure, and so she should perform Ghusl (ritual bath), pray, and fast. She can also have sex with her husband even before the end of (40) days because the minimum of postpartum bleeding is a moment, and the maximum is (60) days. However, the postpartum bleeding for the majority of women is (40) days, but this does not apply to rest of them.