What is Deen?

by Muhammad Abdullah

Deen is word we hear often but what does it mean? Our respected Shaykh hafizahullah discussed this concept a few weeks ago in the weekly Friday Majlis. Below is an approximate translation

Deen is to follow the desire of Allah Ta’laa and not the desire of one’s self. Deen is to know what to do in each circumstance. The definition of Deen is to practise whatever Allah Ta’laa wants on each occasion. Deen is not to come into a systematic routine like a robot. Deen is to fulfil the demands of Allah Ta’laa. To enact everything in its proper manner and place is Deen.

(Our respected Shaykh hafizahullah then quoted a saying of the great Mufti Taqi Uthmani hafizahullah):

‘To understand Deen means to understand the framework of Deen and to understand what is required at what time. This is not attained from the study of books. It is acquired only from the company of the Buzrooq/Mashaaikh (the experts of Deen)’.

Jumu’ah prayer is not obligatory for women

Is Jumu'ah prayer obligatory for women too, or only for men? How should a woman pray? I am a woman and I do not have any place in the mosque. Can I pray Jumu’ah at home by myself? Will I attain the reward for Jumu’ah?.




Praise be to Allaah.


The scholars are agreed that Jumu’ah prayer is not obligatory for women, and that they may pray four rak’ahs of Zuhr in their homes.

Ibn al-Mundhir (may Allaah have mercy on him) says in al-Ijmaa’ (no. 52):

They are unanimously agreed that Jumu’ah is not obligatory for women. End quote.

The evidence for that is the hadeeth of Taariq ibn Shihaab (may Allaah be pleased with him) according to which the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Jumu’ah is a duty that is required of every Muslim in congregation, except four: a slave, a woman, a child or one who is sick.” Narrated by Abu Dawood 91067). Al-Nawawi said in al-Majmoo’ (4/482): its isnaad is saheeh according to the conditions of the two Shaykhs (al-Bukhaari and Muslim). Ibn Rajab said in Fath al-Baari (5/327): its isnaad is saheeh. Ibn Katheer said in Irshaad al-Faqeeh (1/190): its isnaad is jayyid. It was also classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Jaami’ (3111).

The reason why Jumu’ah is not obligatory for women is that sharee’ah does not encourage women to attend places where men gather, because of the negative consequences to which that may lead, as happens nowadays in many workplaces where men and women mix. See also Badaa’i’ al-Sanaa’i’ (1/258).

If a woman adheres to the shar’i conditions for her going out to the mosque, such as not wearing adornments and perfume, then there is nothing wrong with her attending Jumu’ah prayers in the mosque and praying two rak’ahs behind the imam, in which case she does not need to pray Zuhr.

Ibn al-Mundhir (may Allaah have mercy on him) said in al-Ijmaa’ (no. 52, 53):

They are unanimously agreed that if women join the imam and pray with him, that is sufficient for them. End quote.

Ibn Qudaamah (may Allaah have mercy on him) said in al-Mughni (2/88):

But if she prays Jumu’ah it is valid, because for women to pray in congregation is valid, as the women used to pray with the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) in congregation. End quote.

With regard to praying Jumu’ah in the home on one’s own, this is not valid for either a man or a woman, because Jumu’ah prayer is only valid when done in congregation, as stated in the hadeeth of the Messenger (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) quoted above: “Jumu’ah is a duty that is required of every Muslim in congregation.”

If a group wanted to pray Jumu’ah in the house, this is also not valid, because Jumu’ah prayer is prescribed in order for the Muslims to gather together in one place for prayer and to listen to the khutbah and benefit from it. Hence it is not permissible for there to be numerous Jumu’ah prayers in one city unless there is a need for that, such as if the city is very large or there is no jaami’ mosque that can hold all the people.

Based on this, if you do not go to the mosque to pray Jumu’ah, then you should pray Zuhr at home.

It says in Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa’imah (7/337):

If a woman prays Jumu’ah with the imam, that is sufficient and she does not have to pray Zuhr; it is not permissible for her to pray Zuhr that day. But if she prays on her own then she can only pray Zuhr, and she cannot pray Jumu’ah. End quote.

It is better for a woman to pray Zuhr in her house, because of the general meaning of the words of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him): “Do not prevent your women from going to the mosques, although their houses are better for them.” Narrated by Abu Dawood (567); classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh Abi Dawood.

If she wants to go to Jumu’ah, then she has to avoid perfume and adornments, and not crowd together with men in the streets.

And Allaah knows best.


Islam Q&A

Salamat Dok: Ikaw at ang iyong vitamins

Kayo ba’y umiinom ng vitamins? Ang mga vitamins at minerals na kailangan ng katawan ay nakukuha natin sa mga pagkain araw-araw lalung-lalo na sa gulay, isda at prutas. Nakukuha rin natin ito sa mga supplements na mabibili sa botika. Maaaring nagtatanong ang ilan sa inyo kung kailangan ba talaga ito? Narito ang ilang practical tips mula kay Dr. Willie Ong kung bakit kailangang uminom ng vitamins?

Maraming nakakatakot na sakit ang naglalabasan sa ating paligid. May swine flu, epidemya, tu¬ber¬culosis, trangkaso, perwisyong ubo, at marami pang iba. Para malabanan ang sakit, kailangan ma-lakas ang resistensya ng katawan. Kumain ng tama, matulog ng 7-8 oras, magbawas sa stress at uminom din ng multivitamin.
Kulang sa bitamina ang pagkain ng Pinoy. Kara-mihan sa atin ay matipid kung kumain. Isang ulam lang at 2 platong kanin para mabusog. Eh, anong sustansya ba ang mayroon iyan? Ang kailangan ng katawan mo ay sari-saring pagkain tulad ng 1 platong kanin, isang gulay at konting isda o karne. Dagdagan mo pa ng isang saging o dalandan. Iyan ang kumpleto sa bitamina at pampalakas ng katawan.
Maraming stress sa ating buhay. Ang stress ay nakakaedad sa katawan. Kaya magandang uminom ng vitamin, lalo na ang may vitamin B para malabanan ang stress. Tumutulong ang bitamina sa paghilom ng nasisi-rang selula sa ating katawan

Maraming klaseng vitamins. Iba-ibang hugis, kulay at lalagyan. Narito ang ilan sa mga iniinom natin at mga dapat tandaan tungkol dito:

Calcium

- Mas naa-absorb o nagagamit ito ng katawan kung iinumin sa gabi
- Nakatutulong itong mapaganda ang pagtulog sa gabi.
- Mas epektibo kung 500 milligrams lamang. Kung 1000 ang nabili, hatiin sa dalawa.
- Maaaring magkaroon ng interaksyon ang calcium sa antibiotics, bisphosphonates at mga gamot sa altapresyon. Inumin ang calcium ilang oras bago o pagkatapos ng ibang pang gamot.

Vitamins A, D, E at K

- Mas magandng isabay sa pagkain para sa mas magandang epekto sa katawan

Vitamin C

- Ilang oras lamang itong nagtatagal sa daluyan ng dugo. Para sa mas magandang resulta, inumin kada 3 oras o kaya’y kada matapos kumain.
- Huwag inumin bago matulog. Isa itong stimulant at maaaring hindi kayo makatulog.

Fiber

- Kailangan ng katawan sa umaga pagkagising para malinis at mawalis ang laman ng bituka bago pa ito mabarahan ng bagong pagkain.

Rekomendado ni Dok

Sa panayam ng isang TV show kay Dr. Andrew Weil, Amerikanong author at isa sa mga nagsusulong ng Integrative Medicine, inirerekomenda niya sa babae’t lalaki edad 18 pataas ang tinatawag na ‘daily antioxidant regimen” na kinabibilangan ng:

200mg Vitamin C
400 hanggang 800 IU natural Vitamin E
200mcg Selenium
15,000 hanggang 20, 000 IU Mixed Carotenoids
30 hanggang 100mg Coenzyme Q10

Dagdag pa ni Dr. Weil, ang mga nabanggit na vitamins ay mas magbibigay ng magandang resulta sa katawan kung sasabayan ng:

- Paglalakad araw-araw
- Pagkaing mayaman sa antioxidant at omega 3 fatty acids
- Pag-iwas sa paninigarilyo at second hand smoke
- Breathing exercises, yoga, meditation at iba pang relaxation

-- with reports from Otek Galauran, Segment: Medicine 101, aired November 27, 2011

Sunnah of Sleeping

1. Do Miswaaq Before Going Sleep
2. Sleeping With Wudhu Is A Sunnah
3. Shake Your Blanket
4. Recite The Sleeping DUA -Allahumma Bismika Amutu Wa
... Ahya
5. Don't Sleep On Your Stomach ,
6. Sleep On Your Right Side With Your Right Hand On Your Cheek
7. Recite Surah Al-Fatiha, Ayat-ul-Kursi, Surat Al-Ikhlas, Surat Al-
Falaq, Surat Al-Naas: 3 Times -
8. SubhanAllah 33 Times, Alhamdulillah 33 Times, Allahu Akbar 34
Times
9. Recite Darood Shareef
10. Try To Wake Up Early For Tahajjud
11. Don't Forget To Set Your Alarm For Fajr Salah
Always Remember - Salah Is BetterThan Sleep♥

Halamang gamot

Kung nais ang natural at alternatibong paraan, huwag nang lumayo pa. Nasa bakuran n’yo lang ang remedyo. Narito ang mga halamang gamot na rekomendado ng kilalang Herbalist na si Arnold Pesit:

ARATILES

- Mainam sa pagtatae at dysentery o pagduming may kasamang dugo
- Pakuluan ang ilang dahon at inumin bilang tsaa 3 beses 1 araw

LUYA

- Makakatulong para maibsan ang pagtatae, lagnat, sipon at ubo
- Dikdikin at pakuluan ang katamgtamang dami ng dahon
- Inumin bilang tsaa 3 beses 1 araw

BALBAS PUSA

- Mahusay sa gout o pananakit ng kasu-kasuan, lalo na kung mataas ang uric acid dala ng sobrang pagkain ng lamang-loob
- Mainam rin ito sakit sa bato at pantog
- Ilagay ang katamtamang dami ng dahon sa kumukulong tubig
- Inumin bilang tsaa 3 beses 1 araw

LUYANG DILAW

- Mabisa ito kapag naparami ang kinaing matataba o malalangis
- Pampababa ng cholesterol
- Ilaga ang isang dakot ng hiniwa-hiwang luyang dilaw sa 3 basong tubig
- Pakuluan sa katamtamang apoy ng 5 minuto
- Inumin bilang tsaa 3 hanggang 5 tasa sa isang araw

LAGUNDI

- Mabuti sa sipon, trangkaso, hika at lagnat
- Pakuluan ang katamtamang dami ng dahon
-Inumin bilang tsaa 3 hanggang 5 tasa sa isang raw

BAYABAS

- Mabisa sa pagtatae, sakit ng tiyan at pagduming may halong dugo (dysentery)
- Ibabad ang mga dahon sa mainit na tubig
- Inumin bilang tsaa 3 beses 1 araw

TSAANG GUBAT

- Mabisa sa empatso, nasobrahan ng kain, pagtatae at dysentery
- Pakuluan sa mahinang apoy ang 1 dakot na dahon nang 5 minuto
- Inumin bilang tsaa 3 beses 1 araw

Paalala lang, ang mga nabanggit na halamang gamot ay pang-ayuda o pangunang lunas lamang. Sakaling ang inyong nararamdaman ay mahigit nang 3 araw, huwag mag-atubiling komunsulta sa doktor. Kung magkaroon ng kakaibang reaksyon sa katawan ang mga nabanggit, itigil ang paggamit. -- with reports from Rea Tiama and Raquel Tagle, Segment: May Remedyo Dyan, December 25, 2011

Ashura

What is Ashura ?
Ashura (عاشوراء transliteration: ‘Āshūrā’, Ashura, Ashoura, and other spellings) It is on the 10th day of Muharram in the Islamic calendar and marks the climax of the Remembrance of Muharram but not the Islamic month. It is also called Yaumu-l ‘Ashurah, or simply Ashura meaning, ‘the tenth day’.
It is well-known because of historical significance and mourning for the martyrdom of Husayn ibn Ali, the grandson of the Islamic prophet Muhammad at the Battle of Karbala in the year 61 AH (AD 680). It is a day of speeches, public processions, and great grief. Men and women chant and weep, mourning Husayn, his family, and his followers. Speeches emphasize the importance of the values for which Husayn sacrificed himself, his family, and his followers. For centuries Shi’a pilgrims flocked here during Muharram, a practice which was severely limited under the regime of Saddam Hussein

Muharram

Muharram (Arabic: محرم) It is the first month of the Islamic calendar. Instead of joyous celebration, Muslims mark the beginning of the New Year by taking up the black attire of sorrow and participate in mourning gatherings in which the sacrifices of Husayn and his companions are commemorated.It is one of the four months of the year in which fighting is prohibited. Since the Islamic calendar is lunar, Muharram moves from year to year when compared with the Gregorian calendar.
Muharram is so called because it was unlawful to fight during this month; the word is derived from the word ‘haram’ meaning forbidden. It is held to be the most sacred of all the months, excluding Ramadan.It is the same month when Husayn, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, was brutally massacred in Karbala alongside his family and friends in the year 680 CE/61 AH.

Their martyrdom is a sad day for all Muslims, especially the Shi’a, who hold mourning ceremonies to recall the righteous virtues for which the valiant martyrs stood and the grave calamities that they thus had to bear. The commemoration of this brutal massacre (Battle of Karbala) begins on the first day of Muharram and reaches its climax on the 10th of Muharram, the day of the battle, known as Ashurah and continues for 40 days or 69 days.