Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Jihad al-Nafs: Spiritual Striving


There's a hadtih regarding jihad an nafs: "The best type of jihaad is the jihaad of the one who strives against his own self (jihaad al-nafs) for the sake of Allaah." it doesnt state which hadith it is from. But some people also say that this is fabricated? is this correct?

Allah Most High said:

{And whosoever STRIVES (JAAHADA), STRIVES (YUJAAHIDU) only for himself} (29:6). {As for those who STRIVE (JAHADU) in Us (the cause of Allah), We surely guide them to Our paths, and lo! Allah is with the good doers.} (29:69) This is a Meccan Sura and the two verses refer to Jihad al-Nafs. There was no military jihad then.
Without jihad of the nafs, fighting leads to Hellfire.

Allah Most High said:

{WA NAFSIN WA MAA SAWAAHA, FA-ALHAMAHA FUJURAHA WA TAQWAHA. QAD AFLAHA MAN ZAKAAHA WA QAD KHAABA MAN DAS- SAAHA} "By the nafs and the proportion and order given to it, and its inspiration as to its wrong and its right; Truly he succeeds who purifies it, and he fails that corrupts it" (91:7-10). This is also a Meccan Sura.
Without purification, the nafs remains a "soul that enjoins evil" (al-nafs al-ammara bil-su') until it surrenders itself in total obedience to the call of animal passions and shaytan.

Allah Most High said:

{Have you seen the one who chooses for his god his own lust?} (25:43). {He followed his own lust. Therefore his likeness is as the likeness of a dog; if you attack him he pants with his tongue out and if you leave him he pants with his tongue out} (7:176). These are both also Meccan Suras.

About the person who controlled the passion of his ego Allah says: {But as for him who feared to stand before his Lord and restrained his soul from lust, Lo! The garden will be his home} (79:40-41). This is also a Meccan Sura.
The above are among the many Meccan verses and Suras enjoining jihad al-nafs. One that denies that there was/is such a Divine command commits kufr. Such a command cannot mean military jihad, as there was no permission - much less an order - for such a jihad until the Madinan period.

Further, the Prophet said upon him peace:

1. "The mujahid is he who makes jihad against his nafs (ego) for the sake of obeying Allah.
- Ibn Hibban (#1624, 2519): Authentic;
- Shu`ayb al-Arna'ut (Commentary on Ibn Hibban): authentic;
- al-Hakim: sahih;
- `Iraqi confirms him;
- it is also in Tirmidhi, Ahmad, and Tabarani;
- Albani included it in the "Sahiha".

2. "`A'isha, Allah be well-pleased with her, asked: 'Messenger of Allah, we see
jihad as the best of deeds, so shouldn't we join it?' He replied, 'But the best jihad is a perfect Hajj (pilgrimage to Makkah).'" (Sahih Al-Bukhari #2784)

3. On another occasion, a man asked: "Should I join the jihad?" The Prophet asked upon him peace, "Do you have parents?" The man said yes. The Prophet said: "Then do jihad by serving them!" (Sahih Al-Bukhari #5972)

4. Another man asked: "What kind of jihad is better?" The Prophet replied upon him peace: "A word of truth spoken in front of an oppressive ruler." (Sunan Al-Nasa'i #4209)

5. The Prophet also said upon him peace: "The strong one is not the one who overcomes people, the strong one is he who overcomes his nafs [ego]. Al-Haythami declared it authentic in Majma` al-Zawa'id.

6. The Prophet upon him peace, said to Abu Sa`id al-Khudri: "Even if one strikes unbelievers and idolaters with his sword until it breaks, and he is *completely* dyed with their blood, the Rememberers of Allah are above him one degree."

The above authentic hadiths provide additional explicit evidence - especially 1 and 5 - refuting the lie that "all the evidence for jihad al-nafs is fabricated or weak."

Further:

Allah Most High is Tayyibun and accepts only the Tayyib. He declares in the Qur'an that He accepts acts of worship only if they are based on:
- purification of the self (qad aflaha man zakkaha)
- soundness of the heart (illa man ata Allaha bi-qalbin salim)
- an humble spirit (wa-innaha lakabiratun illa `alal khashi`in)
Purification of the Intention is the general heading for these. That is why the Imams (eg Bukhari, Shafi`i, Nawawi) always began their books of fiqh with the hadith of intention: "Actions count only according to intention."
An act outwardly considered worship but performed without pure intention is not considered worship, even fighting and dying in defense of Muslims. The Prophet upon him peace, explicitly said of one such fighter that he was bound for the fire.
In fact, purification of intention is needed for all five pillars of Islam. Such purification is a fard `ayn and is required of all.

Thus those that claim there is no jihad al-nafs in Islam have imperiled their Islam and might make their shahada, salat, zakat, sawm, hajj, AND jihad worthless. Allah is our refuge from this.

Source:livingislam.com by Hajj Gibril GF Haddad
________________________________________





Read rest of entry

Thursday, September 9, 2010

HAPPY HARI RAYA EIDUL FIRTI



Read rest of entry

Sunday, September 5, 2010

Zakat Al-Fitr


What is Zakat Al-Fitr?

Zakat Al-Fitr is a small amount of alms that Muslims are obliged to pay as charity at the end of Ramadan.The origin of the obligation can be dated to the month of Sha`ban in the second year of Hijrah. Ibn `Umar said: “Allah’s Messenger enjoined the payment of one Sa` of dates or one Sa` of barley as Zakat Al-Fitr on every Muslim slave or free, male or female, young or old, and he ordered that it be paid before the people went out to offer the `Eid prayer.”

What is the purpose of Zakat Al-Fitr?

1) For the individual, his or her payment of Zakat Al-Fitr is to ensure the completion of their fast and compensation for any shortcomings in their acts or speech.
2) For the society it is for spreading love and happiness among its members, particularly the poor and needy, during the day of Eid.
3) It also purifies one’s soul from such shortcomings as the adoration of property, and from miserliness.
4) It purifies one’s property from the stain of unlawful earnings.

When is Zakat Al-Fitr paid?

It is not permissible to delay giving Zakat Al-Fitr after the day of Eid.
Most scholars believe that it is permissible to pay Zakat Al-Fitr a day or two before Eid. Ibn Umar reported that the Prophet Mohamed PBUH ordered them to pay Zakat Al-Fitr before the people went out to perform the `Eid prayer. However some scholars like Al-Shafii & Abu Hanifa reported that it is permissible to pay Zakat Al-Fitr even in the beginning of Ramadan. Scholars who supported this opinion explained that it is better for the needy, and also to make sure that the payment reaches its intended destination. This is especially important these days as Zakat Al-Fitr is transferred from country to another and that may take at least several days.

What is the amount of Zakat Al-Fitr?

The amount of the Zakat Al-Fitr mentioned by the Prophet Mohamed PBUH is a Sa' (four handfuls with the two hands together, not closed and not opened) of dates, raisins, wheat or barley. Some scholars say it is permissible to give any kind of food as long as it is the main staple in that particular region or the normal food of the person.

However, it is permissible to give the amount of the Zakat Al-Fitr in money. This can be calculated according to the amount of food mentioned previously.
Read rest of entry
 

.:: JANNATULFIRDAUZ ::. ..This Life is not our Real Life.... Copyright © 2009 Gadget Blog is Designed by Ipietoon Sponsored by Online Business Journal