I am sorry for the long post but i thought it was better to post such an important matter here rathar than the link because people may be too lazy to go if there is a link.
“Do not argue with your Lord on behalf of your soul, rather argue with your soul on behalf of your Lord.” - Dhul-Nun
"It is the very pursuit of happiness that thwarts happiness." - Victor Frankl
"It has blocked the means to the real happiness of their souls."
how so?
"O Muslims! The restrictions imposed by our religion on the human being are not meant to torture or deprive him from the pleasures of this life. Rather, their aim is to elevate him from mere animalism to complete humanity. Thus, a Muslim will become capable of overcoming subservience and dependence, and his faith and piety will overpower animalistic lusts."
Shaykh Saud Ash-Shuraym
20, Rabee‘ul-Awwal 1426 (29 April 2005)
All praise is due to Allaah, Lord of all the worlds. Peace and blessings be upon the Messenger, his household and his companions.
Fellow Muslims! The most truthful speech is the Book of Allaah and the best guidance is that of Muhammad. The worst of all matters are innovations and every innovation is misguidance.
Dear brethren! Know that the life of this world is just an enjoyment and that the Hereafter is the abode of permanence.
“Fear Allaah, O men of understanding, in order that you may be successful.”
(Al-Maaidah 5:100)
Dear Muslims! Freedom of the heart and the mind from hatred and egoism is a sign of a righteous and amicable Muslim, who has no ill-feeling against anyone and is not jealous of anyone. He is selfless and knows that this world is just a transitory abode and not a permanent one. In his view, this world is nothing but a step stone to the Hereafter. What is the value of man in this world if his heart is filled with selfishness and harshness?
Many are those who are looking for ways to attain glory by all means. But there is a great source of glory that most people are oblivious of, though it is easily attainable: The key to that is a strong will and holding back one’s self from pursuing personal ego.
The desired glory can be attained through having sense of forgiveness. Being gentle-minded, having good opinion of others, excusing others, exonerating people, suppressing anger and forgiving others are some of the most important qualities encouraged by Islaam in human dealings. He who has these qualities deserves to be among the glorious and elevated people. The Messenger of Allaah said, “No wealth is ever diminished by charity. Allaah increases a man who forgives others in nothing but glory and no one humbles himself except that Allaah elevates him.” (Muslim)
According to the narration of Imaam Ahmad, the Messenger of Allaah said, “If an injustice is done to a man and he overlooks it, Allaah will give him glory and victory with it.” This is the essence of glory; O you who are looking for one!
It is a glory and exaltation in this world and in the Hereafter. This is so because Allaah has made a promise to those who possess these qualities when He says,
“And march forth in the way (which leads to) forgiveness from your Lord, and for Paradise as wide as the heavens and the earth, prepared for the pious: Those who spend (in Allaah’s Cause) in prosperity and in adversity, who repress anger, and who pardon men; verily, Allaah loves the good-doers).”
(Aal Imraan 3:133-134)
Dear brethren! Those who suppress their anger are those who do not vent their rage on people. They rather desist from bothering others and hope to get their reward from Allaah. Those who forgive are those who overlook the wrong done to them by others. They bear no grudge in their hearts against anyone. Whoever possesses these qualities should rejoice with the love of Allaah for him, for he has attained a level of righteousness and Allaah says, “Allaah loves the righteous.” Allaah loves whoever is righteous; and if He loves someone He forgives him and shows mercy to him.
Fellow Muslims! Forgiveness is a symbol of the pure, righteous, deliberate and pleasant Muslim. Forgoing one’s rights is a kind of preferring the benefits of the Hereafter above that of this world. Being generous to others with pure a mind and out of piety commands their love and respect.
Forgiving others is not an easy matter. For, one has to fight and overcome one’s self-centredness and sense of revenge. This can only be achieved by the strong men who are able to overpower the desires of their heart even though they are able to express their anger. Allaah says,
“And indeed whosoever takes revenge after he has suffered wrong, for such there is no way (of blame) against them.”
(Ash-Shooraa 42:41)
Forgoing one’s right and having self-control are signs of overcoming the norms. This is where one stands distinguished from others. This is the real strong person that the Prophet praised, according to the hadeeth reported by al-Bukhaaree and Muslim. The Messenger of Allaah also said, “Whoever suppresses his anger while he is able to express it, Allaah will call him in the presence of all creatures [on the Day of Resurrection] and ask him to choose of the houris [of Paradise] the ones he likes.” (Ahmad)
Fellow Muslims! Since the day our distinguished religion encouraged adoption of sense of pardon and forgiveness, it did not do in a narrow sense. It rather makes it wide-ranging so that it can include many aspects of private and public interactions. Islaam encourages people of higher authority to adopt sense of forgiveness as part of their policy, for doing so is a sign of successful leadership. Allaah commands His Messenger to adopt this policy when He says,
“Show forgiveness, enjoin what is good, and turn away from the foolish (i.e. don't punish them).”
(Al-A‘raaf 7:199)
He also says,
“And by the Mercy of Allaah, you dealt with them gently. And had you been severe and harsh-hearted, they would have broken away from about you; so pass over (their faults), and ask (Allaah’s) Forgiveness for them; and consult them in the affairs.”
(Aal ‘Imraan 3:195)
This encouragement to adopt the sense of forgiveness is also extended where blood and requital are involved. Allaah says,
“But if anyone remits the retaliation by way of charity, it shall be for him expiation.”
(Al-Maaidah 5:45)
The spouses are also encouraged to demonstrate sense of forgiveness concerning bridal money if divorce occurs before the marriage is consummated. Allaah says,
“And if you divorce them before you have touched (had a sexual relation with) them, and you have appointed unto them the Mahr (bridal-money given by the husbands to his wife at the time of marriage), then pay half of that (Mahr), unless they (the women) agree to forego it, or he (the husband), in whose hands is the marriage tie, agrees to forego and give her full appointed Mahr. And to forego and give (her the full Mahr) is nearer to At-Taqwa (piety, righteousness).”
(Al-Baqarah 2:237)
People are encouraged to exercise sense of forgiveness when they transact with one another. The Messenger of Allaah said, “Whoever frees a Muslim from a commercial obligation, Allaah will forgive his sins.” (Aboo Daawood and Ibn Maajah)
The Prophet also informed us about a merchant who used to give loan to people. Whenever he realizes that one of his debtors was in a financially strained situation, he would command his workers, “Write off some of his debt [or all of it], that Allaah may wipe off our sins. So, Allaah wiped off his sins.” (Al-Bukhaaree and Muslim)
The spirit of forgiveness while dealing with others is generally emphasized in the case of a man who came to the Messenger of Allaah and asked him, “How many times shall we forgive [our] servants?” The Prophet did not respond. The man repeated the question and the Prophet yet did not respond. When the question was repeated again, the Prophet said, “Forgive him seventy times every day.” (Aboo Daawood and at-Tirmidhee)
Dear brethren! Forgiving others and overlooking their mistakes do not in any way mean weakness or submissiveness. It is rather an excellent example of bravery, doing favour to others and suppressing one’s desires, especially when this spirit of forgiveness is exercised in the time of strength.
Imaam al-Bukhaaree titled a chapter in his Saheeh concerning avenging the injustice with the saying of Allaah,
“And those who, when an oppressive wrong is done to them, take revenge.”
(Ash-Shooraa 42:39)
He then narrated that an-Nakha‘ee said, “The righteous predecessors did not like to be humiliated; but if they were capable of avenging a wrong done to them, they would forgive.”
Al-Hasan ibn ‘Alee said, “If someone insults me in this ear of mine and apologizes in the other, I would accept his apology.”
Ja ‘far as-Saadiq said, “To regret twenty times for forgiving people is dearer to me than to regret for punishing them once.”
Al-Fudayl ibn ‘Iyaad said, “If someone comes to you complaining about another person, tell him: ‘My brother, forgive him, for forgiveness is close to piety.’ If he says: ‘But my heart cannot bear that. I would rather take revenge as Allaah has commanded me.’ Tell him: ‘If you are able to take revenge in the best manner, you can proceed to do so; but if you are not, resort to forgiveness, for its gate is wide. He who forgives and amends, his reward is with Allaah. The one who forgives passes his night in his bed happily and contentedly but the one who takes revenge always ponders on these things. This is because; magnanimity lies in forgiving one’s brethren.”
However, there are some people whose hearts are so hardened that they cannot forgive anyone. Nothing in this life is more important to them than taking revenge. They are like permanent clouds. They are neither pleased with secret or public apology. They notice the slightest wrong done to them but they fail to consider the apology however clear it is. They would listen with one of their ears to some sayings and they would convulsively rage for what they hear, yet they would block the other ear from listening to any apology even it is backed with proofs.
He whose situation is this is an enemy of himself who have been subdued by the desire, thereby forcing him from the righteous quality of forgiveness to the abhorrent trait of seeking revenge. ‘Aaishah narrated, “The Messenger of Allaah never beat any woman or servant with his hand. He never struck anyone with his hand except when he was fighting in the way of Allaah. Also, he never avenged any harm done to him, except if one of the sanctities of Allaah was being violated. Then he would take revenge for Allaah.” (Muslim)
Though avenging an injustice is everyone’s right, yet forgiveness is perfection and piety. Allaah says,
“The recompense for an evil is an evil like thereof; but whoever forgives and makes reconciliation, his reward is with Allaah. Verily, He likes not the Zâlimûn (oppressors, polytheists, and wrong-doers).”
(Ash-Shooraa 42:40)
Fellow Muslims! Fear Allaah as He should be feared and know that Islaam’s encouragement of sense of forgiveness is not restricted to what is outward and apparent. It should rather be adopted apparently and inwardly. A Muslim should not only give up his right to revenge, he should also forgive the offender from his heart. Allaah commands His Prophet,
“Overlook (O Muhammad (peace be upon him)) their faults with gracious forgiveness.”
(Al-Hijr 15:85)
There are many places in the Qur’aan where Allaah encourages both relinquishing the right to avenge and forgiveness. He says,
“But forgive and overlook, till Allaah brings His Command.”
(Al-Baqarah 2:109)
And He says,
“And let not those among you who are blessed with graces and wealth swear not to give (any sort of help) to their kinsmen, Al-Masâkîn (the poor), and those who left their homes for Allaah’s Cause. Let them pardon and forgive. Do you not love that Allaah should forgive you? And Allaah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.”
(An-Noor 24:22)
Allaah also says,
“O you who believe! Verily, among your wives and your children there are enemies for you (i.e. may stop you from the obedience of Allaah), therefore beware of them! But if you pardon (them) and overlook, and forgive (their faults), then verily, Allaah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.”
(At-Taghaabun 64:14)
To overlook and forgive are some of the qualities of our Prophet. Where then are those who are ready to emulate him?! Where are those who have been overwhelmed by sense of revenge? Where do they stand regarding beautiful qualities of the leader of the Messengers?
The mother of the faithful, ‘Aaishah was asked about the character of the Messenger of Allaah. She answered, “The Messenger of Allaah was never given to immoral sayings and deeds. Neither did he ever raise his voice in market places. He did never reciprocate a wrong done to him with the like. He would rather overlook and forgive.” (At-Tirmidhee)
Allaah says,
“That which is with Allaah (Paradise) is better and more lasting for those who and put their trust in their Lord (concerning all of their affairs). And those who avoid the greater sins, and Al-Fawâhish (illegal sexual intercourse), and when they are angry, they forgive.”
Dreams And Their Interpretations
Jumaadal ulaa 23, 1423 (July , 2002)[/
All praise is due to Allaah, Lord of all the worlds. May peace and blessings of Allaah be upon the Messenger, his household and companions.
Fellow Muslims! Men love to wade into issues of unseen, be they past and future. To deny this phenomenon amounts to the denial and prevention of reality. The severity or otherwise of this phenomenon depends on people's closeness to the light of prophethood and true religion that firmly controls this issue of which Allaah says,
"He alone is the All-Knower of the Unseen, and He reveals to none His Unseen; except to a Messenger (from mankind) whom He has chosen."
(Al-Jinn 72:26-27)
It is no wonder then that we see in this contemporary age – those who wade into the issues of unseen and we observe that many weak-minded people would want to know it, either through superstitious means or by making conjectures, though the verses of Allaah are being recited to them all the time. Allaah says,
Say (O Muhammad): None in the heavens and the earth knows the Unseen except Allaah, nor can they perceive when they shall be resurrected."
(An-Naml 27:65)
The Prophet's sayings are also read to these people regarding the Unseen. Among these sayings is, "There are five things which none knows except Allaah:
'Verily with Allaah is the knowledge of the Hour, He sends down the rain, and knows that which is in the wombs. No person knows what he will earn tomorrow, and no person knows in what land he will die. Allaah is the All-Knower, All-Aware.'
(Luqmaan 31:34)
"(At-Tirmidhee)
Therefore, matters of the Unseen should not be waded into except in the light of the Quraan and the Sunnah. Whatever besides that are mere conjectures if not illusions.
Islaam in its very essence is a religion that removes all superstitions. So, belief in the Unseen should not be regarded as belief in fantasies.
However, there are some people, who, though they are safe from this superstition, they fall into another evil, whereby they take their dreams as having strong connection with their future and you see them happy or sad because of mere dreams. This phenomenon is not peculiar with common men alone, but many great men have become affected by their dreams and many a nation has been preoccupied by the influence of its dream. Prophet Yousuf's dream and the King of Egypt's are not unknown to us. In both dreams, there had been good news and warning at the same time.
Brethren in faith! Dreams have their importance in the life of people before and after the advent of Islaam; but that importance may differ in the views of learned and cultured people as a result of the differences in authorities. The philosophers deny the dreams and attribute them to physical dispositions that only reflect what is in the mind of the dreamer. Some psychologists also have similar view, for they regard dreams as a mixture of moods that settle in one's memory and which is excited by sleep.
In Islaam, the Muslim scholars have followed the path of Prophethood in line with what is mentioned in the Quraan and Sunnah. They believe that good and truthful dreams are true ones from Allaah. Some of these bear good news an some bear warnings. The Prophet said, "Prophethood is gone, but announcers remain." The companions said, "What are announcers?" He answered, "Good dreams that man sees or that are seen for him."
Announcers here may be that of good news or bad news for Allaah says,
"And give them tidings of a painful torment."
It is these dreams about which the Prophet said, "When the end of time nears, the dream of a believer will always almost come true. The truest among you in dreams is the truest among you in speech. The dream of a believer is one of 46 parts of Prophethood." (Al-Bukhaaree & Muslim)
Brethren in Islaam! Many people have been led to distress as a result of spiritual vacuum and farness from Allaah and lack of belief in His predecree, that it is only what He wills that be and that what He wills not shall never be. Many have depended on dreams and visions in a way that is contrary to the path of our righteous predecessors. The matter of dreams have become widespread among people that they seldom talk of other things and the issue has dominated even satellite channels and Islaamic legal fatwas so much so that questions pertaining to dreams double those of other matters of religion. All this is a result of the rampant ignorance as to the correct stand the Muslim must take as regards dreams in spite of the fact that the Prophet has left us on a Clear Path. The matter has come to the extent that if anyone of us has a dream, he will become disturbed and will not feel secured until he finds one who will interpret the dream for him. Had everyone of us stand by the guidance of the Prophet, we would not have plunged ourselves into this deplorable quagmire.
In order to know the best way to deal with dreams, let us listen to these excellent etiquettes.
Imaam Muslim reported that Aboo Salamah said: I used to see dreams that make me sick. When I met Aboo Qataadah, I told him that and he said, "I heard the Messenger of Allaah saying: 'A good dream is from Allaah and a bad one is from Satan, if anyone of you sees what he dislikes, let him spit on to his left side three times, and let him seek refuge with Allaah from its evil; for it cannot harm him.'" In another narration, Aboo Salamah said, "I used to have dreams that seemed heavier on me than a mountain, but as soon as I heard this hadeeth, I do not worry about them any more."
It becomes clear here that, not all that man sees in his dream can be interpreted; for dreams are of three types as explained by the Messenger of Allaah when he said, "Dreams are of three types: (1) Intimidations from Satan by which he causes sorrow to man. (2) What man feels concerned of in his wakefulness and sees in his dreams. (3) A dream that is one of the 46 parts of prophethood." Al-Bagawee said, "This hadeeth explains that not all that man sees in his dream can be true, though it can be interpreted. The true dream is the one that comes from Allaah and whatever besides that are just confused dreams that have no interpretations. Of those confused dreams is the one reported from a Bedouin Arab who told the Prophet that he saw in a dream that his head was cut off and was rolling away and that this made him seriously worried. The Prophet told him, 'Do not tell people of Satan's toying with you in your dream.'"
On how to treat this kind of dreams which is prevalent in the case of many people; the etiquettes taught by the Sunnah are the following:
- Seeking refuge with Allaah from the harm of this dream and the evil of Satan.
- The dreamer should slightly spit on his left side three times when he wakes up.
- He should not tell it to anybody.
- He should perform his obligatory prayers.
- He should change the side on which he was sleeping.
- Some scholars add that he must recite Aayatul-Kursiy. An-Nawawee said, "One must combine between all these etiquettes, but if one does only some, that is enough for him by the permission of Allaah."
As for the second kind of dreams, it is what man feels in his mind during wakefulness, like thinking of travel, business, etc. So, when he sleeps, he sees in his dreams what he was thinking about. Those are also confused dreams that have no interpretations.
The only remaining dream now is the true and good one that comes form Allaah and is a good tidings or warning. It may be very clear and needs no interpretation like the dream of Prophet Ibraheem when he sees in his dream that he was slaughtering his son. It can also be hidden with signs that need interpretation like that of Prophet Yoosuf's prison mates. It is this type that the Prophet forbade to be narrated to none but a scholar and a truthful person. He said, "Do not narrate dreams but to a scholar or a truthful person." (At-Tirmidhee)
Whatever besides this of dreams that relate to establishment of an Islaamic ruling regarding halaal, haraam, acts of worship or identifying the Lailatul Qadr like the one shown to the Messenger of Allaah and about which he was made to forget, or the ones on which are based extended effects that relate to people's rights, or that cause ill feelings or that cast doubt on people's uprightness or intentions; all that are confused dreams that should be totally ignored according to the opinion of majority of scholars like Ash-Shaatibee, An-Nawawee, Ibn Taymiyyah, Ibn Al-Qayyim and others.
Ash-Shaatibee narrated in his book "Al-I'tisaam" that when Khaleefah Al-Mahdee wanted to kill Shareek bin Abdillaah Al-Qaadee, Shareek asked him, "O Commander of the faithfuls! Why do you want to kill me while you are forbidden to kill an innocent soul?" Al-Mahdee replied, "Because, I saw it in a dream that I was addressing you but you were addressing with your back against me. So I asked the dream interpreter and he said, 'This man comes to your court but disagrees with you secretly.'" Shareek then said, "O Commander of the faithfuls! Your dream is not that of Prophet Yoosuf, son of Prophet Ya'qoob; and the Muslims' blood should not be shed through mere dreams." Al-Mahdee then lowered his head and made signal that I should go."
Ibn 'Asaakir also reported in his book that someone saw Imaam Ash-Shafi'ee in his dream and that he told him, "Yoonus bin Abdil A'laa lied against me in a hadeeth that was not part of my hadeeth and I did not narrate it." Ibn Katheer, while making a comment on this dream said, "Yoonus bin Abdil A'laa is one of the most trustworthy men. He should not be discredited by mere dreams."
Adh-Dhahabee reported from Al-Marroojee that he said, "I made Ibraheem Al-Husary enter upon Ahmad bin Hanbal and he was a righteous man. Ibraheem told Ahmad: 'I saw a dream for you which is so and so' and he mentioned Paradise.' Imaam Ahmad then told him: 'My brother, people used to tell Sahl bin Salaamah things like this until he went out and shed innocent blood.' Imaam Ahmad also said, 'Good dreams gladden a believer but do not deceive him.' "
Fellow Muslims! Having said much on people's excesses in matters relating to dreams, it is an act of impartiality to speak about those who interpret dreams; for they shoulder a huge responsibility towards the dreamers. The dream interpreter should be well-versed in this field and should be able to know its benefits and harms. He should not turn himself to dream mufti especially on T.V. screens and in meeting places.
Interpreting dreams and giving religious verdicts are companions. Ibn Al-Qayyim said, "The Mufti, the dream interpreter and the physician are equal in that, they have access to people's secrets which others do not. They must therefore, conceal what should not be revealed."
Further, the interpreters should never rush into conclusions while they interpret dreams. They should consider the risk of that as well as the trial and ostentation that that it may cause. They should also bear it in mind that, their situation is more critical than that of the muftis and scholars.
Ibn Abdil Barr reported that Hishaam bin Hassaan said, "Ibn Seereen would be asked of hundreds of dreams, and he could not interpret anything before he say, 'Fear Allaah in your wakefulness, for whatever you see in your dream will never harm you.' And when he interprets he would say, 'I am only interpreting on assumption; and assumptions could be correct or wrong.'" If this is the saying of the leader of dream interpreters in his age and later generations, what then would one say about those who came after him.
The interpreters should realise that interpreting dreams on T.V. screens is dangerous in the light of these factors:
1- Unrestrained openness in interpreting dreams is a kind of temptation, especially, when he speaks on Unseen matters which are only known to Allaah.
2- His ability to know the actual condition of the dreamer. Two men came to Ibn Seereen and each of them said that he saw himself in the dream making adhaan and asked him of the meaning of that dream. Ibn Seereen interpreted it for the righteous man of the two that he would perform Hajj, and for the other man who was not righteous that he would steal.
3- People's lack of understanding the method of the interpreter which may easily lead to his being accused of fortunetelling, conjecture or future-telling.
4- That to prevent harm should be given precedence above earning benefits.
As for the argument of some people that the Prophet used to ask his companions after Fajr, "Who among you had seen a dream?" This can be replied in the light of the following points:
1- That, it is the Messenger of Allaah and that his interpretation is truth and flawless.
2- His interpretations took place in the mosque in the presence of a number of Muslim companions who were far less than millions that view it on T.V. channels today.
3- It has not been established that any of his companions or their successors did that in the mosque as the Prophet used to do, even Aboo Bakr As-Siddeeq whom the Prophet attested to his knowledge of dream interpreting never did so.
Therefore, fear Allaah and be dutiful to him in private and public, that you may prosper.
Woman’s Cause
Shaykh Saud Ash-Shuraym
23, Rabee‘ul-aakhir 1425 (11, June 2004)
All praise is due to Allaah, Lord of all the worlds. Peace and blessings be upon the Messenger, his household and companions.
Fellow Muslims! Allaah has made man and woman the foundation of mankind. No one can live without the other. If not, there would not have been procreation. That is why Allaah reminds us of this blessings when He says,
“It is He Who has created you from a single person (Adam), and (then) He has created from him his wife (Hawwâ' (Eve)) in order that he might enjoy the pleasure of living with her.”
(Al-A‘raaf 7:189)
Woman is undoubtedly, the source of stability for man and the family, not to talk of her being the half of the society. It is she that also gives birth to the other half. It is as if she is the entire society.
Dear brethren! The cause of woman is an all-important topic that is inevitable for the contemporary Muslim society. It is at the same time, a very delicate topic that is prone to errors, desires, strong environmental impacts and objective differences.
It is actually unfair to discuss woman and all matters relating to her in this short khutbah. But it is better than not saying anything at all about her.
We are saying this at a time that the woman issue has become the sole preoccupation of many especially in this time that the Ummah is facing kinds of injustices, oppression, poverty, ideological perversion and suppression from the enemies. Yet no tangible solution to this myriad of problems is seen in sight.
We are hereby calling on all those who are talking about woman’s cause to take the following factors into consideration in order to avoid going astray and innovating what Allaah has not permitted and what none of our righteous successors had not done.
One: It should be firmly borne in mind that the only source of determining the identity of both and female and deciding things they share in common and things in which they differ and the responsibilities of each of them is the Book of Allaah and the Sunnah of His Messenger, and not men’s opinions and their desires. It should also be remembered that contradicting anything from the Qur’aan and the Sunnah is tantamount to challenging the One Who revealed Islaam. Allaah says,
“Do they then seek the judgement of (the Days of) Ignorance? And who is better in judgement than Allaah for a people who have firm Faith.”
(Al-Maaidah 5:50)
Therefore, there should be no way for a vicious twisting of Islaamic criteria and giving them other names, like calling woman’s modesty, bashfulness and covering an obsolete and unjustifiable tradition by which woman is repressed.
Two: All sincere and true followers of the religion of Islaam should stop those writers whose only intention is to attack the values of this Ummah or turn them into an object of derision at the hand of lust worshippers or those who hate what Allaah revealed. Those who use their pens and tongues to drown the ship of this Ummah and deceive the Muslims into believing that the only way to scientific, industrial and cultural progress lies in adopting Western experiment on women. The fact of the matter is that the no-Muslim countries who clamour for the so-called liberation of Muslim women and those who mimic them among other nations have, in reality, very little to show for what they clamour for. Realities in their own countries are a stark contradiction of the huge noise they make about the Muslim world. The highest achievement they achieved in their own countries regarding women liberation did not exceed electing few women into parliaments or appointing one or two as ministers, while deceiving the simple-minded people into a belief that the woman has achieved a lot in their own societies.
More surprising is the fact that, in the constitutions of some of these so-called developed countries, woman is forbidden from being head of state. What moral right do these countries then have to call for women liberation?
This should not however be surprising, for it seems that these infidel countries understood the following Prophetic statement more than the so-called Muslim advocates of women liberation. The Prophet said, “Any nation that appoints a woman as its leader will not succeed.” (Al-Bukhaaree)
In a version reported by Ahmad, the Messenger of Allaah said, “The men are ruined whenever they follow the women.”
Dear brethren! What the reality shows is that the greatest achievement of those countries in which women have been ‘liberated’ is that she has been turned into a humiliated commodity in brothels or images in musical clips or mere bodies displayed to advertise goods.
Three: Using the word ‘freedom’ or ‘liberation’ in every issue relating to women have become an instrument in the hands of ignorant, deluded and evil-intentioned people who seek to disintegrate the Muslims’ social cohesion. It has actually becomes a door through which the enemy throws his time bomb, because to the term ‘freedom’ has a magical way of deluding the masses especially the teenagers. The strangest thing is the three phases that the advocates of so-called women liberation want to use to liberate the woman from her self-enslavement through adherence to the teachings of Islaam.
The first phase is exemplified by their assertion that they are responsible for treating the problems that occur among the Muslims, and that no view would be accepted if it contradicts their own way of reasoning. Their proof for this is the wide intellectual and cultural difference that is between them and ordinary citizens.
In the second phase, they claim that their write-ups and essays indicate their sincerity to and sense of compassion for the Ummah, in that they are calling for truth and knowledge. They assert that knowledge is a product of freedom and that if there is no freedom from previous ideologies, the desired goal cannot be achieved.
In the third phase, these self-styled intellectuals establish that that everything should be subjected to free scientific research; and their word ‘everything’ exclude nothing, even our belief, teachings and our virtuous heritage.
These phases undoubtedly seem attractive to simple-minded individuals. But the sooner they know that they are like smoke released by the enemy to disguise their invasion the better.
Four: There is no society that toyed with the issue of woman and her values and cast doubt on the Islaamic regulations laid down for her protection and sought to undermine those qualities with which she is distinguished from and qualities with which man is distinguished from her except that the society incurred on itself evils and woes and Allaah afflicted it with what it is trying to escape from. The Messenger of Allaah was right when he said, “I have not left a fitnah for the men of my Ummah greater than women.” (Al-Bukhaaree and Muslim)
He also said, “Beware of this worldly life and beware of women, for the first fitnah faced by the children of Israel was in women.” (Muslim)
Brethren in faith! Let us recall the incidence of the famous Dhee Qaar Battle, which is one of the fiercest battles of pre-Islamic period. This battle was initiated because of a woman whom Chosroe wanted to marry and Nu‘maan refused to let him marry her. Another example was the Jewish conspiracy to remove hijaab from the head of a Muslim woman in the market of Banoo Qaynuqaa during the time of Allaah’s Messenger.
Five: The Islaamic religion will never accept extremism in matters relating to woman. Never will Islaam condone the woman being humiliated or relegated to the margins of life. Neither will it accept her being led to moral degeneration. Both paths are extreme. The Ummah should not tolerate the pessimistic bigots nor should it give a chance to those who toy with religious values.
The Muslim Ummah is not a nation that suppresses woman and deny her her rights, though some bigots may support their negative attitude to women with spurious hadeeths like, “Obeying a woman brings about a regret.” On the other hand, it should not allow those who seek to lure woman out of her nature through deceit and lies. These elements also support their deviated ideology with fake narrations like, “Take your religion from this humayraa [meaning: ‘Aaishah].”
The proper thing is to maintain a moderate stand, which is just and fair. Whatever has a proof from the Qur’aan and the Sunnah is the truth even if it followed by a single person, and whatever contradicts them is falsehood even if it followed by the vast majority.
It is also a big error to claim that conciliation could made between those who call woman to observe the proper Islaamic covering and those who call her to abandon the hijaab, to shamelessly expose herself and to do away with modesty. Allaah says about those who try to reconcile between these two groups,
“(They are) swaying between this and that, belonging neither to these nor to those; and he whom Allaah sends astray, you will not find for him a way (to the truth - Islaam).”
(An-Nisaa 4:143)
Fellow Muslims! Fear Allaah and beware of innovations for every innovation is heresy and every heresy is misguidance. Allaah says,
“O you who believe! Ward off from yourselves and your families a Fire (Hell) whose fuel is men and stones, over which are (appointed) angels stern (and) severe, who disobey not, (from executing) the Commands they receive from Allaah, but do that which they are commanded.”
(At-Tahreem 66:6)
Brethren in Islaam! The sixth factor is specially related to woman. Her job in this life and in the society is not based on enslaving her or exploiting her body. The woman rather has rights in the society and family. She has right to attend mosques, she has right to eliminate illiteracy, she has right to give and receive admonition and in receiving and imparting knowledge and education. She has right to enjoin virtues and forbid vices. She has right to improve herself whenever she has a job that is suitable for her naturally and religiously like in the fields of useful knowledge and righteous deeds. For the Ummah is in dire need of female Muslim teachers, Muslim female nurses and doctors and Muslim female writers. The woman herself needs to fill her head with knowledge and righteous sciences and not to strip her head and her body naked and to regard her religion with displeasure.
The job of the woman in the society shall remain critical and delicate, and no negligence or bitter experiment shall be tolerated on her. The entire society is also required to maintain honours and not to toy with them. The successful nation is the one capable of striking a balance between these noble goals for woman and the society’s needs. It does not put in a guilty cage nor does it leave her free to become prey to sins and immoralities.
The final factor, dear brethren, is that, it has to be made clear that a call for equality between male and female in all aspects of life is like a call for impossibility. The true Muslim believes that Allaah created both man and woman and created for each, peculiar qualities. He only made man excelled over woman with a degree. He says,
“And they (women) have rights (over their husbands as regards living expenses) similar (to those of their husbands) over them (as regards obedience and respect) to what is reasonable, but men have a degree (of responsibility) over them. And Allaah is All-Mighty, All-Wise.”
(Al-Baqarah 2:228)
Allaah distinguished man with prophethood, political leadership, administration of the law, leadership in prayer, fighting in the way of Allaah, marrying without a guardian, power of divorce, having double of what woman has in some cases of inheritance, the fact that the child carries man’s name, permission to marry up to four wives and the fact that his testimony equals that of two women.
Imaam Ahmad reported that Umm Salamah asked the Messenger of Allaah, “O Allaah’s Messenger, why do men engage in jihad and we [women] do not? Why are we apportioned the half of [of a male’s share] in inheritance?” Thereupon, Allaah revealed the verse:
“And wish not for the things in which Allaah has made some of you to excel others. For men there is reward for what they have earned, (and likewise) for women there is reward for what they have earned, and ask Allaah of His Bounty. Surely, Allaah is Ever All-Knower of everything.”
(An-Nisaa 4:32)
Al-Qurtubee said, “Man’s virtue over woman is clear for every wise person. Had there been no evidence for this besides a fact that she is created from man and that he is her origin and she is prevented from undertaking anything without his permission that would have been enough.”
Dear brethren! The excellence of man does not, however, mean looking down upon woman and discriminating against her. Nor does this mean that every man is better every woman. It is an established principle that declaring a thing as better than another does not mean degrading the latter. The Qur’aan is entirely the word of Allaah, yet the Messenger of Allaah said that ‘Aayah al-Kursiyy’ is the best verse in the Qur’aan, as reported by Muslim.
Also the Messengers and Prophets also excelled one another. Allaah says,
“We have preferred some of the Prophets above others.”
(Al-Israa 17:55)
This verse does not however mean that the status of the Messengers and the Prophets above whom others are preferred.
Fellow Muslims! Having mentioned evidences on men’s excellences over women, we are also asserting, in the light of the evidences of the Qur’aan and the Sunnah, that women are halves of men. They are equal to men in matters of belief and morals. They are equal to them in their entitlement to reward and punishment.
We are also asserting the falsehood and injustice of a statement being a male augments one’s scale of good deeds and that being a female decreases one’s scale of good deeds. This statement vividly contradicts the saying of Allaah,
“Verily, the most honourable of you with Allaah is most pious. Verily, Allaah is All-Knowing, All-Aware.”
(Al-Hujuraat 49:13)
Real life experiences have shown that woman can be better than many men as in the case of the mothers of the faithful and those who were after them. Being a male or female is not a criterion for weighing deeds on the Day of Resurrection. As femininity is not an imperfection for the sun so does masculinity is not a source of pride for the moon. And as the saying goes, a lioness in her jungle is better and stronger than a cock among the fowl.
Therefore, the fundamental rule in this matter lies in Allaah’s word that goes says,
“Men are the protectors and maintainers of women, because Allaah has made one of them to excel the other, and because they spend (to support them) from their means. Therefore the righteous women are devoutly obedient (to Allaah and to their husbands), and guard in the husband's absence what Allaah orders them to guard (e.g. their chastity, their husband's property).”
Danish, I wish I dreamed about pastries and cookies. The coolest dream I ever had involved a ninja and lots of butt-whooping. But can you imagine how infinitely cooler it would be if he was simultaneously munching on a Cornish Pastie?
O Muslims! As the years have passed, various groups of people have discussed a very important issue which many communities have in common. People from all walks of life with different interests have discussed the positive and negative aspects of this issue, because it is a very important topic. Many people have commented on this through various means such as magazines, mosques, clubs and other media, and from many different points of view.
This issue, O slaves of Allaah, is that of summer or yearly vacations, which has become an indispensable event for many people. All nations agree that this event has become a part of our lives and cannot be ignored. It has imposed itself to be a part of a fixed yearly plan, and in most cases it is unorganised and poorly planned, despite the fact that people feel that it is a necessity.
When people think of their vacation, they do not seem to have the proper objectives, and their plans seem to lack the limitations of time and place, let alone the adherence to the Islamic guidelines that should define what can and cannot be done during them.
Only an arrogant or ignorant person would deny the fact that people need to rest after long periods of hard work, and that they need to relax after stress. Islaam does not oblige people to make all their words as those of the remembrance of Allaah, nor to make all their time be occupied with acts of worship. Rather, Islaam has permitted rest and relaxation within defined limits. As a mater of fact, when a companion of the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam by the name of Handhalah Ibn ‘Aamir, may Allaah be pleased with him, came to the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam complaining that the strength and level of his Eemaan decreased when he returned home and played with his wife and children (as opposed to the time when he was with the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam). The Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam replied to this by saying: “A time for this and a time for that” (Bukhaari & Muslim) which means an hour for worship and increasing ones Eemaan, and an hour for living ones life within the limits and boundaries of Islaam, which would also help one increase their Eemaan.
Ibn ‘Abdul-Barr, may Allaah have mercy upon him, narrated that ‘Ali Ibn Abu Taalib, may Allaah be pleased with him, said: "Relax your hearts and find some means of entertainment for them, because they become apathetic just as bodies get tired."
Ibn Al-Jawzi, may Allaah have mercy upon him, said: "I have observed that man has shouldered many difficult responsibilities and obligations. Amongst the heaviest of burdens is controlling himself and persevering through that which he likes and dislikes, and it seems to me that the correct thing to do is interrupt that with something that entertains."
This is how we should understand mixing seriousness with amusement and hard work with relaxation, but there are important questions regarding the behaviour of many Muslims during vacations that must be asked. How far does amusement go during vacations? What is the ideal way of utilising our time and maintaining our priorities? What should be our real understanding of vacationing? Is it too much sleep? Is it holding expensive and extravagant weddings? Is it switching days into nights and nights into days? Or is excessive TV and internet viewing?
These are questions which come from the heart of every believing man and woman, who have a conscience and are deeply concerned by the manner in which our youth are spending their time and utilising their health.
This topic requires a detailed research, so that objectives can be set for the fruitful utilisation of time, and so that limits can be set for people so that they remain within Islamic boundaries. Such a research can be conducted by studying all available entertainment programs and evaluating their pros and cons, and by establishing a strong link between them, Islamic guidelines and people’s customs and traditions; This could be in the form of a study that finds inventive ways of accomplishing relaxation, entertainment and other benefits along with the pleasure of Allaah during peoples vacations, and which analyses people’s actions and reactions based on Islaam, in light of people’s interests and hobbies. This would be a study that discovers the benefits that vacations give, such as reviving people, energising them and increasing their productivity, which will reflect on their communities and benefit them in this life and the Hereafter.
O Muslims! In order to recognise mature and responsible communities, who are concerned about their individuals and the utilisation of the wasted human resources within their ranks, we must observe what their stance is regarding vacations and holiday periods, as well as the serious researches that they conduct in order to find solutions for the negative and unsavoury aspects of vacations.
Indeed if we were to attempt to go into detail about the negative practices that take place during vacations in many of our communities, it would take too long a time, but we will mention just a few to give an idea about what takes place. It is best to be clear and honest about these vacations which in many cases stray away from the teachings and boundaries of Islaam.
One of the most dispraised practices during vacations is when people switch their days into nights and vice versa; people stay up all night with useless talk and incorrect behaviour. Sometimes this even involves sinful words and actions. Some people spend their nights dancing or listening to music, and then when the day comes they spend it sleeping, heedless of the remembrance of Allaah, let alone in His worship. Such practices make people heedless of the fact that Allaah made nights to rest in and days for working, and that the alternation of the day and night is one of the signs of the greatness of Allaah. In fact, when Allaah wanted to give the disbelievers an example of His might and power He mentioned the alternation of the day and night, as He says that which translates as: “Say: 'Have you considered: if Allaah should make for you the night continuous until the Day of Resurrection, what deity other than Allaah could bring you light? Then will you not hear?' Say: 'Have you considered: if Allaah should make for you the day continuous until the Day of Resurrection, what deity other than Allaah could bring you a night in which you may rest? Then will you not see?' And out of His Mercy He made for you the night and the day that you may rest therein and [by day] seek from His bounty and [that] perhaps you will be grateful.” (Al-Qasas: 71-73).
Slaves of Allaah! From among the incorrect practices which frequently occur during vacations and for which people in general and women in particular long for, are the evil practices which occur during weddings. In preparation for such events people spend excessive amounts of money and concentrate all their efforts in this, they spend ridiculous amounts on renting the halls where the event is to be held and boast to others about doing so. They go to ridiculous lengths in shopping for the event, and women expose their adornment during these times. All of this happens prior to the wedding, as well as huge amounts of money spent on clothes, food and drinks – solely for the purpose of boasting and showing off. Dowries are so high that it seems as if many couples are living in separate eras, the husband in one which has passed and the wife in one which is yet to come, so how can these two eras be reconciled?
Some young men barely have enough to live on, while the parents of the young ladies they wish to marry spend wastefully; some young men just wish to get married while the parents of the young ladies they wish to get married to simply wish to boast. Abu Hurayrah, may Allaah be pleased with him, narrated that a man came to the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam seeking assistance and said: "I have married a woman from the Ansaar." The Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam replied: “How much did you pay? (i.e., as dowry)” the man replied: "One hundred and sixty silver coins" the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam said: “One hundred and sixty silver coins! It is as though some of you dig silver out from a mountain! - I have nothing to give you” (Muslim).
Another evil practice which is widespread during vacations is the satellite television channels which prepare programs especially for the summer vacation. They prepare for these just as people prepare to face an enemy; they compete in broadcasting the most seductive programs which destroy chastity and persevere in this so that the noble manners which people might have acquired during the year are destroyed in a very short amount of time. These channels act like a destructive hammer which destroys any trace of morality that people may have in their hearts; channels which are administered by people with no conscience that would have made them distinguish between that which is good and that which is shameless. The effect of these channels is that they eradicate the strong community bonds that exist from their roots regardless of whether we realise this or not. Moreover, some of what these channels are broadcasting may be jeopardising the social stability and security that we currently enjoy.
Something that we must realise is that those who steal people’s minds and command their ideology are no less evil than those who steal money; both types of thieves cause havoc and endanger security and stability.
We should know that it is the media that controls the minds of people and communities; it is through this that people’s ideologies are formed. The media is what should propagate issues that are of concern to the Muslims and support them, or, it could be the cause for facts to be altered or caused to disappear. If anyone wishes to know whether a nation is serious or careless, all they have to do is observe their media and the issues that it regards as important, because this is what will affect its community, both in a positive and negative manner.
Slaves of Allaah! Fear Allaah during your summer vacations and stay far away from the satanic gatherings which lead people to destruction. Allaah says that which translates as: “And do not be like she who untwisted her spun thread after it was strong … ” (An-Nahl: 92).
Second Khutbah:
There are two other important issues which are not any less significant than what has already been mentioned regarding evil practices during vacations, and these are travelling to the lands of the disbelievers and to Muslim countries which are in essence not much different from the disbelieving countries.
It is a well known fact that anybody who is serious and fears their Lord, Who has bestowed His bounties upon him, would never spend anything on that which would result in his destruction. On the other hand, there are others who have gone to ridiculous extremes in their entertainment and have begun to think that they are imprisoned in their homes and countries. They have slighted things which they used to consider as serious and vital, and this has got to the point where these people have become accustomed to vacationing with no apparent consideration of whether this entails seeing shameless things which Allaah has prohibited, such as nudity and other disgusting matters.
Moreover, some committed practicing Muslims who are exposed to this become weaker in performing their obligatory duties, or perform them but accompanied by shame and embarrassment, as if they are stealing something; they may offer their prayers in the midst of loud music, which would destroy their tranquillity and concentration.
Abu Haamid Al-Ghazaali, may Allaah have mercy upon him, mentioned some types of vacationing by saying: "Continuous vacationing and entertainment destroy the heart. Some people wish for nothing except to boast and have a fine reputation, which leads them to resemble the people of great disobedience in the way they talk, their habits, the way they perform some acts of worship and their manners. They think highly of themselves and think they are doing well. How foolish is the one who cannot differentiate between being healthy and a having a wound which is swollen; such people are despised by Allaah, because Allaah hates unutilised youth, and the only thing which led such people to this type of vacationing is unutilised youth".
Ibn Al-Jawzi, may Allaah have mercy upon him, said: "If travelling through the land is not for the purpose of seeking knowledge or propagating Islaam, then it is prohibited."
Imaam Ahmad, may Allaah have mercy upon him, said: "Travelling (for entertainment) is not recommended in Islaam nor was it the practice of the Prophets and the righteous, because it distracts the heart" and when he was asked once about amusement, he, may Allaah have mercy upon him replied: "No, rather, amusement is attained by frequently going to the mosque."
Slaves of Allaah! Fear Allaah regarding your vacations and take a serious stance towards finding the proper way of utilising and preserving your time. In order to realise the importance of this issue, we must know that everybody will have to answer five questions, which were mentioned by the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam. Abu Barzah, may Allaah be pleased with him: narrated that the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam said: “No person’s feet will be able to move on the Day of Resurrection until he is asked about five things: how he spent his life; how he utilised his youth; how he earned his wealth and how he spent it; and what he did with his knowledge” (Tirmidhi).
O people! I advise you all and myself to fear Allaah and be pious because that is the source of might, honour and security in this life, and the way to salvation on the Day of Resurrection, as Allaah says that which translates as: “And there is none of you except he will come to it. [i.e., Hell] This is upon your Lord an inevitability decreed. Then We will save those who feared Allaah and leave the wrongdoers within it, on their knees.” (Maryam: 71-72).
Slaves of Allaah! If one takes a just and unbiased look at the current condition of mankind in general and the Muslims in particular, in an era where technology is at its most advanced and civilization is at its most developed in economic, medical, military and informational terms, they will find that all this worldly knowledge, information and development is inherently deficient and inept because it cannot produce a single human being who realises the reason for his creation.
There is no doubt that this is a fact, otherwise, how can one explain the spread of ignorance and illiteracy in the era of knowledge and technology? Why is there so much poverty at a time of abundant resources? Why is unemployment overwhelming in an era of mass production and manufacturing? Why do some international researchers who specialise in community affairs call this era an era of grief and depression after they called the previous one an era of anxiety?
We do not need many evidences to prove that we are suffering from the spread of this phenomenon, the phenomenon of grief and depression.
Slaves of Allaah! This is the destructive problem of our time and it is the most widespread amongst all the psychological diseases in the world. It is continually on the increase. An accurate International survey affirms that ten percent of the world's population suffers from it, including the Muslim countries, which means that hundreds of millions of people are living through this bitter reality. Moreover, there is proof that this phenomenon is starting at a younger age as time goes by and that it affects twice as many females as males. This has resulted from the fact that women are not practicing their natural role in the community due to them shouldering responsibilities which they were forced to, leading them to leave the role of raising their children to maids and day care centres.
The number of suicides resulting from grief and depression has exceeded eight hundred thousand annually, and this is beside the fact that eighty percent of those who suffer from it do not see doctors in order to report or solve the problem.
This is not a new phenomenon and its causes are not mysterious, rather it is the natural and expected result when people become obsessed by gathering and collecting worldly belongings and when people’s concerns become purely materialistic. Therefore, this problem differs from one country or community to another and is dependent on the weakness of people’s belief in Allaah, His angels, His Books, His Messengers, The Last Day and the divine decree. This is in addition to people’s behaviour and the degree of security, justice and love between the people.
This phenomenon has interested scholars of various disciplines, medical doctors, writers and journalists who have studied and addressed this problem. In many cases the articles written have been of little benefit, and as much as people have addressed this problem, no one seems to have approached it correctly. The only correct and acceptable way of curing and solving this problem is if its diagnosis is founded on scientific treatment which is based on authentic laboratory tests and reports conducted by trustworthy specialists who apply the principles of Islaam to all their tests and stay away from the purely materialistic bias which fails to attach any value to the spiritual side of the problem.
Grief is a something natural that humans feel due to their common problems, it is when it increases and overwhelms a person that it becomes what is known as depression. This is a condition that is considered to be at the highest level of grief and results in a person becoming controlled and dominated by their inner misery, the result of which is despair and loss of happiness. It is usually accompanied with headaches, bone problems, ulcers and other symptoms; it also makes a person lose their taste of joy and happiness. The results of depression include laziness, loss of energy and hatred of life which makes some people feel that suicide is the only solution. Imaam Ibn Al-Qayyim, may Allaah have mercy upon him, said: "four things destroy the body: anxiety, grief, hunger and sleeping late."
Applying medical treatment with a religious foundation, extracted from the Book of Allaah and the Sunnah of the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam is vital because it is the most perfect and safest form of treatment, especially when one compares this to the hundreds of medications and tranquilizers which have flooded the market and which the human body becomes addicted to, thereby descending into a worse and more serious condition than depression.
Some medical reports state that swimming and frequently doing house work is a solution for depression, but it is ludicrous to imagine that depressed people will always remain in swimming pools or be constantly doing housework. On the other hand, it is accepted that a person can easily be remembering Allaah, glorifying him and seeking His forgiveness at all times, whether he is standing, sitting or lying down. This is how Allaah described the people of understanding when He says that which translates as: “[Those] Who remember Allaah while standing or sitting or [lying] on their sides and give thought to the creation of the heavens and the earth, [saying]: 'Our Lord! You did not create this aimlessly; exalted are You [above such a thing]; then protect us from the punishment of the Fire'”. (Aal ‘Imraan: 190-191). Therefore, we can see the importance of spiritual treatment to these problems, although there is no doubt that medication is also necessary, but the point is that we must not ignore the spiritual treatments that exist for these problems.
One may well ask: we realise that these problems exist, but what are the reasons behind them and what is the solution?
The answer is that in some cases, there are purely medical reasons behind depression which cannot be ignored, the most common being the frequent consumption of medication, drugs and alcohol. This leads to a person becoming addicted to them and subsequently feeling that their life is pointless without them. This results in a chemical imbalance within the brain which causes depression. Another reason why depression takes place is due to heredity, when one inherits them through their genes. We shall concentrate on the some of the reasons why depression exists which have been specifically addressed by Islaam and dispraised and warned against it in many verses of the Qur’aan and in various Ahaadeeth.
In many Qur'aanic verses and Ahaadeeth it is mentioned that the heart which is heedless of the remembrance of Allaah, which is reflected by the heedlessness of the tongue is an indication of grief and misery for the person who is afflicted by this. Allaah says that which translates as: “And whoever turns away from My remembrance – Indeed, he will have a depressed [i.e., difficult] life, and We will gather [i.e., raise] him on the Day of Resurrection blind.” (Taa Haa: 124). Also, it is also mentioned in the Sunnah that sins lead to depression, as stated in the book of Imaam Ahmad, may Allaah have mercy upon him, that the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam said, “If a slave’s sins increase and he does not have enough good deeds which would wipe these out, then Allaah will afflict him with grief and sorrow in order to wipe them out”.
Being anxious and concerned about the future and the lack of belief in divine decree and pre-destination is another cause of this problem. Some people worry about what the future holds for them and fear being incapable of dealing with problems, disasters and calamities, if and when they arrive. One finds that such people are in such a frenzy at times of tribulation that if they could find refuge in a cave or other remote and concealed place, they would rush like mad to get to it.
Bad dreams caused by Satan, who instils sorrow in a person, also play an important role the cause of depression. The Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam informed us that Satan comes to people as they sleep and makes them see things which results in them feeling grief and sorrow. This is why we see many people who suffer from depression not being able to sleep properly.
Other reasons that lead to depression are debts which a person cannot repay, cowardliness at the time of fear and stinginess whilst aggressively collecting wealth.
The Proof that debts cause grief and anxiety lies in the Hadeeth where the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam went into the mosque one day and found Abu Umaamah, may Allaah be pleased with him, and said: “O Abu Umaamah! Why do I see you sitting in the mosque when it is not prayer time?” Abu Umaamah, may Allaah be pleased with him, replied: "It is due to Anxiety and grief, which resulted from debts that I owe." So the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam said: “Shall I teach words which will take away your grief and by which Allaah will help you repay your debts, if you were to say them?” Abu Umaamah, may Allaah be pleased with him replied: "Yes! O Messenger of Allaah." Thereupon, the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam said: “Every morning and every evening say, O Allah! I seek refuge in you from anxiety and grief, weakness and laziness, miserliness and cowardliness, the burden of debts and from being over powered by men." After this, Abu Umaamah, may Allaah be pleased with him, commented that: "I did this and Allaah relieved my sorrow and anxiety and helped me repay my debts."
These were some reasons behind depression, and through these one can clearly see the connection between depression and straying away from the guidance and the path of Allaah, committing that which Islaam has prohibited, and being attached to worldly matters. Allaah says that which translates as: “So whoever Allaah wants to guide – He expands his breast to [contain] Islaam; and whoever He wants to misguide – He makes his breast tight and constricted as though he were climbing into the sky. Thus does Allaah place defilement upon those who do not believe.” (Al-An’aam: 125).
Second Khutbah
O people! In order to address this topic in a comprehensive manner we must briefly point out some of the best ways of curing this problem, based on the Islamic texts in addition to the testimony of eminent and specialised medical doctors:
· The first and most important is the obligation of the Muslim nation of performing Jihaad for the sake of Allaah, propagating it and inviting people to perform it, and warning against being inclined towards this life and its pleasures. This is the way to a prosperous and tranquil heart, and a means of getting rid of grief and misery. The Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam said: “When people become stingy, deal with ‘Eenah (a form of Ribaa), follow their cattle and become satisfied with agriculture (i.e., become attached to agriculture and commerce) then Allaah will afflict them with humiliation until they return to their religion”. The Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam also said, “Perform Jihaad because it is one of the gates that lead to Paradise, and a way through which Allaah relieves people from anxiety and grief”.
· The correct understanding and belief in divine decree and pre-destiny is another way to treat this problem. When a person believes that there was no way that he could have escaped whatever befell him and that all matters are in the Hands of Allaah, including ones provisions and death, and that no one will die until he consumes all his decreed provision and until he lives for the whole amount of time that was given to him, then he will definitely rely on Allaah completely without any worry or grief and will face all his problems with strength and resolution. Also, if people acknowledge that whatever Allaah has decreed resulted from His perfect wisdom, then they will be content with whatever He decrees. One who is discontent will become an easy victim for grief, disease and following base desires. Al-Hasan, may Allaah have mercy upon him, was asked how he attained his good manners, he replied: "From being content with the decree of Allaah". Abu Haatim, may Allaah have mercy upon him, reported that some of the Salaf said regarding being content: "There is no rank higher or mightier than being content. It is the peak of loving Allaah". This is exactly why Prophet Zakiryaa, peace be upon him, supplicated to Allaah to grant this to his son, as Allaah says that which translates as: “…And make him, my Lord, pleasing [to You]."(Maryam: 6). Contentment can only be established when the slave has firmly in his mind the conviction that whatever Allaah decrees results from His wisdom. Allaah provides and deprives for a wise reason, and this is the only thing that will make a person feel at ease during times of hardships. This also applies during times of prosperity, as Allaah informs us in the Qur’aan about Prophet Sulaymaan, peace be upon him, with that which translates as: “…'This is from the favour of my Lord to test me whether I will be grateful or ungrateful. And whoever is grateful – his gratitude is only for the [benefit of] himself. And whoever is ungrateful – then indeed, my Lord is free of need and Generous.' (An-Naml:40). This is also evident in the saying of the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam when his son Ibraaheem died: “The eyes cry tears, and the heart becomes sad, but we will not say that which will bring the wrath of our Lord. If it was not a true promise, and that we will meet in an appointed time, and that the last will eventually follow (die) after the first, then we would have cried hard for your death (O Ibraaheem). Indeed we are saddened by your departure” (Al-Bayhaqi & Ibn Maajah). By saying this, the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam meant that had he not known that there was a wisdom from Allaah behind taking his son, he would have extremely been saddened.
· Extra prostration and glorification of Allaah and worship in general takes away grief. Allaah says that which translates as: “…And We already know that your breast is constrained by what they say. So exalt [Allaah] with praise of your Lord and be of those who prostrate [to Him]. And worship your Lord until there comes to you the certainty [i.e., death].” (Al-Hijr: 97-99). Whenever the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam felt grief or worry, he would rush to prayer. The Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam said: “Whoever continuously asks forgiveness from Allaah, then Allaah will make a way out for him from all his worries, and will provide him from means he never would have expected”.
· The dish of Talbeenah is another relief from grief and anxiety, as narrated by ‘Aa’ishah, may Allaah be pleased with her, that the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam said: “Talbeenah relieves a person’s heart from anxiety and some of its grief” (Bukhaari & Muslim). Talbeenah is a natural medicine which is prepared by boiling wheat or barley with either honey or milk, or both of them.
· The final cure is that which the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam advised us with when he said: “Allaah will relieve any slave who is afflicted with grief and anxiety from his anxiety and replace his grief with happiness if he says: 'O Allaah! I am Your servant, son of Your servant, son of Your maidservant, my forelock is in Your hand, Your command over me is forever executed and Your decree over me is just. I ask You by every name belonging to You which You named Yourself with, or revealed in Your Book, or You taught to any of Your creation, or You have preserved in the knowledge of the unseen with You, that You make the Qur’aan the life of my heart and the light of my chest, and a departure for my sorrow and a release for my anxiety. O Allaah! Teach me from it that which I am ignorant of and remind me with it that which I was made to forget; I ask You by Your mercy, for You are the Most Merciful, to grant me its recitation during the hours of night and day in the form which pleases You'” . The people asked: "O Prophet of Allaah! Should we learn (i.e., memorize) these words’. He sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam replied: “Yes! Everyone who hears this should memorise it”.
What I have mentioned are some helpful ways of curing the sickness of depression.
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English Translations Of Khutab By Sheikh Saud Ash Shuraim
Woman’s Cause
ah, i see...u r behind the trend B) u learn fast enough no doubt...Danish, I wish I dreamed about pastries and cookies.
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