Sleeping after Fajr and ‘Asr

As-salamu alaikun,
I would like to know if there is any verdict concerning sleeping after fajr salat? (subuh)
Shukran. Jazakukmul-lahu khairan.

Published Date: 1998-06-19

Praise be to Allaah.

As far as a person’s sleeping after praying Fajr is concerned, no text (of Qur’aan or hadeeth) has been reported to indicate that this is prohibited, so the general principle applies (i.e., everything is permitted except that which has been expressly forbidden).

But the practice of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) and his Companions after praying Fajr was to remain sitting in the place where they had prayed until the sun rose, as is reported in Saheeh Muslim(1/463) in the hadeeth of Sammaak ibn Harb, who said: “I asked Jaabir ibn Samurah, ‘Did you used to sit with the Messenger of Allaah?’ He said, ‘Yes, frequently. He would not get up from the place where he had prayed Subh until the sun rose. When the sun rose, he would get up. They used to talk about things that had happened during theJaahiliyyah, and they would laugh and smile.’”

Also, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) asked his Lord to bless his ummah in the mornings, as is reported in the hadeeth of Sakhr al-Ghaamidi, who said: “The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “O Allaah, bless my ummah in the mornings.’ Whenever he sent out troops or an army, he would send them at the beginning of the day.’” Sakhr was a trader, and he used to send out his caravans at the beginning of the day, and he did well as a result and made money.” (Reported by Abu Dawood, al-Tirmidhi and Ibn Maajah, with an isnaad in which there is some jahaalah(i.e., one narrator is unknown); corroborating evidence is to be found in a hadeeth narrated by ‘Ali, Ibn ‘Umar, Ibn ‘Abbaas, Ibn Mas’ood and others, may Allaah be pleased with them all.)

For this reason some of the salaf disliked the idea of sleeping after Fajr. Ibn Abi Shaybah reported in hisMusannaf (5/222, no. 25442) with a saheeh isnaad from ‘Urwah ibn al-Zubayr that he said: “Al-Zubayr used to forbid his children to sleep in the morning.” ‘Urwah said: “I do not hear of any man who sleeps in the morning, but I lose interest in that person.”

In summary then, people should make the most of this time which can bring many benefits in this world and in the Hereafter, but if a person sleeps at this time to gain strength to do his work, there is nothing wrong with this, especially if it is not easy for him to sleep at any other time of the day. Ibn Abi Shaybah reported in his Musannaf(5/223, no. 25454) from the hadeeth of Abu Yazeed al-Madeeni who said: “Umar came to Suhayb one morning and found him sleeping, so he sat down until he woke up. Suhayb said: ‘The Ameer al-Mu’mineen is sitting in his place and Suhayb is sleeping!’ ‘Umar said to him: ‘I did not like to disturb your sleep that could be beneficial for you.’”

As for sleeping after ‘Asr, this is also permitted; there is no saheeh hadeeth from the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) to indicate that sleeping at this time is prohibited.

As for the words, “Whoever sleeps after ‘Asr and loses his mind as a result has no-one to blame but himself,” which are attributed to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), this is a false hadeeth and there is no proof that these words were uttered by the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him). See: Silsilat al-Da’eefah, no. 39.

And Allaah knows best.

Islam Q&A
Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid

Celebrating the night of Isra and Meraj

Celebrating the night of Isra and Meraj (on 27th night of Rajab) is innovation (Bid'ah) in Islam

Praise be to Allaah.

There is no doubt that the Isra’ and Mi’raaj (the Prophet’s Night Journey and Ascent into heaven) are two great signs of Allaah which point to the truthfulness of the His Messenger Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), and the greatness of his status before Allaah. They are also signs of the great power of Allaah, and of His exalted position above His creation. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“Glorified (and Exalted) be He (Allaah) [above all that (evil) they associate with Him]

Who took His slave (Muhammad) for a journey by night from Al‑Masjid Al‑Haraam (at Makkah) to Al‑Masjid Al‑Aqsa (in Jerusalem), the neighbourhood whereof We have blessed, in order that We might show him (Muhammad) of Our Ayaat (proofs, evidences, lessons, signs, etc.). Verily, He is the All‑Hearer, the All‑Seer”

[al-Isra’ 17:1]

There are mutawaatir reports from the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) that he was taken up into the heavens, and their gates were opened for him, until he passed beyond the seventh heaven, where his Lord spoke to him as He willed, and enjoined the five daily prayers upon him. At first Allaah, may He be exalted, enjoined fifty prayers, but our Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) kept going back and asking Him to reduce it, until He made them five, so they are five obligatory prayers but fifty in reward, because each good deed is rewarded tenfold. To Allaah be praise and thanks for all His blessings.

With regard to this night on which the Isra’ and Mi’raaj took place, there is nothing in the saheeh ahaadeeth to indicate that it is in Rajab or in any other month. Everything that has been narrated concerning a specific date for these events cannot be proven to have come from the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) according to the scholars of hadeeth. Allaah has wise reasons for causing the people to forget it. Even if the date were proven, it would not be permissible for the Muslims to single it out for particular acts of worship, and it is not permissible for them to celebrate it, because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) and his companions (may Allaah be pleased with them) did not celebrate it and they did not single it out in any way. If celebrating it was something that is prescribed in Islam, the Messenger would have told his ummah about that, either in word or in deed. If any such thing had happened, it would have been well known, and his companions would have transmitted the information to us. They narrated from their Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) everything that his ummah needs to know, and they did not neglect any aspect of the religion, rather they were the first ones to do anything good. If celebrating this night had been prescribed in Islam, they would have been the first people to do so. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) was the most sincere of people, and he conveyed the message to the people in full, and he fulfilled the trust. If venerating and celebrating this night were part of the religion of Allaah, then the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) would have done that and would not have concealed it. Since no such thing happened, it is known that celebrating it and venerating it is not part of Islam at all. Allaah has perfected this ummah’s religion for it and has completed His favour upon them, and He condemns those who introduce things into the religion which Allaah has not ordained. Allaah says in His holy Book, in Soorat al-Maa’idah (interpretation of the meaning):

“This day, I have perfected your religion for you, completed My Favour upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion”

[al-Maa’idah 5:3]
 And Allaah says in Soorat al-Shoora (interpretation of the meaning):
“Or have they partners with Allaah (false gods) who have instituted for them a religion which Allaah has not ordained?”

[al-Shoora 42:21]

Dua to be recited Between Two Prostrations

Below is the Dua to be recited Between Two Prostrations.

Ibn Abbas narrated:

"Between the two prostrations, the Prophet would say: (Allahummaghfir li, warhamni, wajburni, wahdini, warzuqni).
'O Allah! Pardon me, have mercy on me, help me, guide me, and grant me sustenance.'"

Reference : Jami` at-Tirmidhi 284
In-book reference : Book 2, Hadith 136
English translation : Vol. 1, Book 2, Hadith 284

Authenticity of Dua/Niyah for Suhoor

The below dua is something that we have been thought as the niyah for fasting since our childhood.

*Allahumma Asumu Gadallaka Fagfirli
MA Qaddamtu Wa Ma Akhartu*

When i checked for its authenticity, there isn't any dalil for this dua from the books of Sunnah. Not even a weak hadith is available. On top of it, this dua itself is wrong when u check its translation.

Translation: “O ALLAH! I shall keep fast
*tomorrow* .” (Therefore forgive all my past & future sins).

In Islam the day begins at Mughrib and ends at Mughrib. Then the dua for suhoor would have been "I shall keep my fast *Today* " but the one who has fabricated this dua would have done a mistake and have made it tomorrow.

With regard to sahoor, there is no specific du’aa’ to be said at this time. What is prescribed is to say Bismillah at the beginning and to praise Allah.

With regard to the intention, it is not prescribed to utter it out loud. Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah said: “Whoever thinks
in his heart that he will fast tomorrow has formed the intention.”

Abstain from innovations, for every kind of innovation is a bid'ah, and every bid'ah is misguidance and all misguidance
leads to hell fire." [Sunan Abu Dawud, Kitab-us- Sunnah, Book 40 Hadith number 4590].

May Allah save us from these kind of Bidah and guide us to the right path.

Origin of The Trinity

All Pagan religions from the time of Babylon have adopted (in one form or another) a Trinity doctrine or a triad or trinity of gods. Long before the Christian era, numerous variations of the trinity existed, and they were found in a host of pagan religions and mythologies. As with so many other pre-Christian traditional customs and practices, the revival of this doctrine in the Christian era was predictable. It was essential that followers be able to see Christianity – their 'new' religion – in familiar terms.

Triad deities (the worship of a three-in-one god) first appeared in ancient Egypt about three centuries after the Great Flood of Noah's time. These Egyptian deities came to be worshiped as Osiris, Isis and Horus.

After the destruction of the Tower of Babel, Nimrod and his mother-wife Semiramis, the first rulers of Babylon, fled to Egypt. There, Nimrod (known as Ninus or Athothis, among numerous other names) shared rulership with his father Cush (Menes) in the first dynasty. After Nimrod's death, Semiramis claimed his son Horus to have been Nimrod reincarnated. These three – Osiris (Nimrod), Isis (Semiramis) and Horus (the son) – came to be exalted as a triad of deities

There is no evidence the Apostles of Jesus ever heard of a Trinity. The Bible does not teach the doctrine of the Trinity. Neither the word Trinity itself, nor such language as one in three, three in one, one essence or substance or three persons, is biblical language. The language of the doctrine is the language of the ancient Church, taken not from the Bible but from classical Greek philosophy.

Long before the founding of Christianity the idea of a triune god or a god-in-three persons was a common belief in ancient religions. Although many of these religions had many minor deities, they distinctly acknowledged that there was one supreme God who consisted of three persons or essences. The Babylonians used an equilateral triangle to represent this three-in-one god. The Greek triad was composed of Zeus, Athena and Apollo. These three were said by the pagans to 'agree in one.' One of the largest pagan temples built by the Romans was constructed at Ballbek (situated in present day Lebanon) to their Trinity of Jupiter, Mercury and Venus. In Babylon the planet Venus was revered as special and was worshipped as a Trinity consisting of Venus, the moon and the sun. This triad became the Babylonian holy Trinity in the fourteenth century before Christ. Although other religions for thousands of years before Christ was born worshipped a triune god, the Trinity was not a part of Christian dogma and formal documents of the first three centuries after Christ. That there was no formal, established doctrine of the Trinity until the fourth century is a fully documented historical fact. Clearly, historians of church dogma and systematic theologians agree that the idea of a Christian Trinity was not a part of the first century church. The twelve apostles never subscribed to it or received revelation about it. So how then did a Trinitarian doctrine come about? It gradually evolved and gained momentum in late first, second and third centuries as pagans, who had converted to Christianity, brought to Christianity some of their pagan beliefs and practices.

The modern belief in the trinity originated in the 4th century at the Council of Nicaea in approximately 325 C.E. King Constantine, the Roman Emperor and an adherent to paganism, presided over the Council. Its main purpose was to unite the Roman Empire by achieving agreement on Christian doctrine. This would promote a universal consolidation within the church.

As the council proceeded, there were two distinct sides, which the Archdeacon Athanasius of Alexandria, Egypt upheld regarding the trinity. Arius fought for the opposition; but after long weeks of debate, the admitted pagan, Pontifex Maximus Constantine, ruled in favor of the Trinitarian teaching of Athanasius, the Egyptian.

Egypt, one of the oldest civilizations in the world, had long before adopted the pagan belief of the trinity. One of the most famous Egyptian trinities was that of Horus, Isis, and Seb (HIS), a trinity that consisted of father, mother, and son, and a concept that also traces back to Babylonian ancestry.

History teaches that much later, after instituting a mandatory belief in the trinity, Constantine tried to be more tender and merciful with the decision, but it was too late. The Nicene Creed (also known as the Athenasian Creed) had taken hold. All who did not believe in the trinity doctrine were persecuted and killed. Every available instrument of torture was used on the nonbeliever. The Nicene Creed has since been amended, but it is still read today in many of the Protestant and Catholic churches. Those churches that associate themselves with the World Council of Churches now require belief in the trinity doctrine.

How can a Merciful & a Loving God punish his own creation?

Almighty God is merciful and beneficent and at the same time he will punish also. To inform and warn us about his punishment is also part of his infinite mercy. Only people who use their intellect will understand this.*

This is why we have to comprehensively understand the characteristics of Allah. He is the most gracious, the most merciful (Rahman, Raheem), the bestower (Al mannan), the most compassionate (Ar-Raoof), the most forgiving (al gaffaar), the ever giving (al wahhab), the most generous (al jawwad), the most bountiful (Al Kareem).

Not only that, he does complete justice - the perfect in ability (Al mukhaddir), the ever watchful (Al muhaimin), the superb Arbiter (Al Fattaah), the supreme judge (Ad-dayyaan, Al hakim)

If God is like a doll which cant even punish anyone then He cant do justice. What is the use of such a God if there is no difference between people who do righteous good deeds all their life and people who committed all sorts of atrocities (for example rapist and murderers of nirbhaya and many others who were never even caught)?

Who are we to define characteristics of God? Who are we to say that he should be like this and He should not be like this? First of all He is our Creator and sustainer so we have to be ever obedient to him. We have to understand and follow his message to prove our obedience to him.

In philosophy - Men contemplate about God, universe, life and purpose of mankind’s creation and existence. Where as in Revelation, God communicates to his messenger about his true nature, universe, life and purpose of mankind’s creation and existence. So there is a big difference between the two which need to be understood clearly. Quran is Revelation, not philosophy of human beings. Its individual's choice which one to follow - Revelation or Philosophy.

Concepts such as “God will not threaten or punish” are philosophies of people who followed their whims and desires and rejected accountability for their deeds. Also this preaching is from those who reject Revelation and declare themselves as Gods and lead people astray.

Please reflect on this message. Dont accept everything just because its sounds nice to hear and easy to follow.

God has given us freedom and free-will. He is not forcing anything on us. He is just warning us by giving the knowledge of events to come after death.

After your death, if you realise that all these philosophies about God were wrong and only Revelation is Truth then there will be no use. Those who wrote those philosophies or those who convinced you about them will not be able to save you.

"And do not follow that about which you have no knowledge; Verily; every act of hearing, or of seeing, or of (wandering of) the heart will be questioned (on the Day of Judgment)" Quran 17:36

"They have not made a true estimate of Allah: For Allah is He who is strong and Almighty" Quran 22:74

"I will turn them away from My signs (verses), those who behave with pride on the earth opposing the right- And even if they see all the Signs (verses), those who behave with pride on the earth opposing the right- And even if they see all the signs (verses), they will not believe in them; And if they see the way to right conduct, they will not follow it as the Way; But if they see the way to wrong, that is the way they will follow. (They do this) because they rejected our signs (verses), and have not taken the warning from them. Those who reject Our signs (verses of Quran), and the Meeting in the Hereafter, their actions are useless" Quran 7:146,147

"If it had been your Lords Will all of them would have believed- All who are on earth! (But) will you then compel mankind, against their will, to believe? No soul can believe, except by the Will of Allah, and He will place doubt on *those who will not use their ability to understand*" Quran 10:99-100.

Do you want to get rid of this scorching summer and enjoy rains?

Read astaghfar all time time.

“Astaghfirullah al-lathi laa ilaha illa huwa, al-Hayyul Qayyum wa atubu ilayh” –

"Ask forgiveness of your Lord. Truly He is Oft-Forgiving. He will send rain to you in abundance; increase you in wealth and children; grant you gardens and bestow
on you rivers."'" [Nuh (71):10-12]

A man once came to al-Hasan al-Basri and complained to him: “The sky does not shower us with rain.” He replied: “Seek Allah’s forgiveness (i.e. say ﺃﺳﺘﻐﻔﺮ ﺃﻟﻠﻪ ).”

Also the below can be recited for Rain.

Transliteration
Allaahumma 'asqinaa ghaythan mugheethan maree'an maree'an, naafi'an ghayradhaarrin, 'aajilan ghayra 'aajilin.

Translation
O Allah, shower upon us abundant rain,
beneficial not harmful, swiftly and not delayed.

Abu Dawud 1/303. See also Al-Albani Sahih Abu Dawud
1/216.

Source : www.Religioustutor.blogspot.in