The Gardens of Paradise

EID MUBARAK October 11, 2007

Movies in Ramadan?? October 7, 2007

سؤال :
Some fasting people spend most of the day in Ramadan watching movies and soap operas on videos and TVs, and playing cards. What is the ruling on that?

الجواب :
Praise be to Allaah.  

Muslims, whether they are fasting or not, should fear Allah with regard to what they are doing and not doing at all times. They must avoid that which Allah has forbidden, namely watching obscene movies which show things that Allah has forbidden such as naked and semi-naked pictures, or reprehensible programs, or things which appear on TV that go against the laws of Allah, such as images, singing, musical instruments and misleading ideas. Every Muslim, whether he is fasting or not, must avoid playing with cards and other kinds of games, because that involves witnessing evil and doing wrong, and because it also causes hardness and disease in the heart, makes a person take the laws of Allah lightly and makes him find it too difficult to do the things that Allah has enjoined, such as praying in congregation and other obligations, and makes him fall into doing many haraam things. Allah says (interpretation of the meaning): 

“And of mankind is he who purchases idle talks (i.e. music, singing) to mislead (men) from the path of Allaah without knowledge, and takes it (the path of Allaah, or the Verses of the Qur’aan) by way of mockery. For such there will be a humiliating torment (in the Hell-fire).

And when Our Verses (of the Qur’aan) are recited to such a one, he turns away in pride, as if he heard them not — as if there were deafness in his ear. So announce to him a painful torment”[Luqmaan 31:6-7] 

And He says in Soorat al-Furqaan, describing the slaves of the Most Merciful (interpretation of the meaning): 

“And those who do not bear witness to falsehood, and if they pass by some evil play or evil talk, they pass by it with dignity”[al-Furqaan 25:72] 

Falsehood (al-zoor) includes all kinds of evil, and the phrase “do not bear witness” means that they do not attend where these things are happening. 

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “There will be among my ummah people who will permit adultery, silk, alcohol and musical instruments.” (Narrated by al-Bukhaari in his Saheeh in a mu’allaq majzoom report). What is meant by adultery is illegal sexual relations, and musical instruments include singing. Allah has forbidden to the Muslims all means that lead to haraam things, and undoubtedly watching bad movies and the evils that are shown on TV are among the means that lead to haraam things or lead one to take such matters lightly without denouncing them. And Allah is the One Whose help we seek.
Shaikh ibn Baz vol 4/p/158
http://www.islamqa.com

The Essence of Worship October 3, 2007

The last ten nights of Ramadan are upon us. And soon after this
you the journey for Hajj will begin for Muslims around the world.

If you make the same dua, each day, for the last ten nights of
Ramadan, it’s guaranteed that you would have made that dua during
Laylatul-Qadr. (A night worth 1000 months of reward in the sight
of Allah).

********************************
So, prepare your dua from now!
********************************

Step 1: Ask yourself, “If Allah said to me, I’ll give you
anything you wish, just ask!” What would you ask for? Make a
list. (Try to fill 2 pages worth of dua, from the goodness of
this life and the next.

Step 2: Pick about 6 of those things

Step 3: Make dua for those 6 things consistently every night for
the last ten nights of Ramadan.

Of course, make as much dua as you want, but make sure these 6
things are consistent.

With best wishes to see you succeed at the highest level!
– Muhammad Alshareef

Laylat Ul-Qadr October 2, 2007

`A’ishah (radhiAllâhu `anha) reported that she asked Allâh’s Messenger sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, “O Messenger of Allâh! If I knew which night is Laylat ul-Qadr, what should I say during it?”

And he instructed her to say:

Allahumma innaka ‘affuwwun tuhibbul ‘afwa fa’fu ‘anni’

O Allâh! You are forgiving, and you love forgiveness. So forgive me.

[Recorded by Ahmad, Ibn Majah, and at-Tirmithi]