Salaat Time

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) related that Allah’s Messenger (May Allah exalt his mention and protect him from imperfection) said, “When a person dies, his deeds are cut off except for three: from charity whose benefit continues, knowledge that is benefited by, and a righteous son who supplicates for him.” (Sahih Muslim)

Gems and Jewels
Compiled by: Abdul-Malik Mujahid
Publisher: Maktaba Dar-us-Salam
ISBN: 9960-897-59-1
Page 117

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

A man asked Hasan bin ‘Ali, “I have a daughter and people have proposed to her, so to whom should I marry her?”

He said, “Marry her to one who fears Allah, for if he loves her, he will honor her; and if he hates her, he will not wrong her.”

Gems and Jewels
Compiled by: Abdul-Malik Mujahid
Publisher: Maktaba Dar-us-Salam
ISBN: 9960-897-59-1
Page 171

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

One day, ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) left his home with Abdullah bin Mas’ud (may Allah be pleased with him) and during the late hours of the night, they saw the glow of a fire burning at a distance. They followed the light until it led them to a home with a burning lamp. Upon seeing the lamp, ‘Umar entered the house and saw an old man sitting with alcohol in front of him and a female singer entertaining him. The old man was caught off-guard by ‘Umar’s sudden attack when he said to him, “I have not seen a sight more shameful than what I have witnessed tonight from an old man who should be awaiting death.”

The old man responded, “Indeed, O Leader of the Believers, what you have done is more shameful. You have entered my house without my permission and spied on me – and is not spying forbidden in Islam?” ‘Umar admitted to the truth of his statement and left the old man’s house, biting his garment and crying as he said, “May the mother of ‘Umar lose him if Allah does not forgive me.” Thereafter, the old man stopped attending the gatherings of ‘Umar. After some time passed, ‘Umar saw the old man in one of the last rows of his gathering and wished to speak with him. Fearing harshness from ‘Umar, the old man approached him cautiously, being asked to come closer and closer until he was finally seated near the Leader of the Believers. ‘Umar asked to have his ear next to his mouth and said, “By the One Who has sent Prophet Muhammad with the truth, I have not informed anyone of what I saw of you that night, nor have I informed ‘Abullah bin Mas’ud, for indeed he was with me.” The old man replied, “O Leader of the Believers! By the One Who has sent Prophet Muhammad with the truth, I too have not returned to those evil actions since the night you entered upon me.” Umar uttered out loud, “Allahu Akbar!” yet no one from the gathering knew what had occurred between the two men.

Gems and Jewels
Compiled by: Abdul-Malik Mujahid
Publisher: Maktaba Dar-us-Salam
ISBN: 9960-897-59-1
Page 34

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

When one thinks about pre-Islamic times in Makkah, certain names come to mind – such as Abdul-Muttalib, the Prophet’s (SAWS) grandfather, or Waraqah bin Naufal. But there is another important person who is little remembered today: ‘Abdullah bin Jud’an, the first cousin of Abu Bakr As-Siddeeq’s father. In the early years of his life, ‘Abdullah bin Jud’an was neither successful nor happy. In fact, growing up hungrey and poor, he soon became embittered by life. For solace or perhaps out of spite, he turned to evil and committed many crimes. He was caught so often for his evil acts that he was considered by most to be an incorrigiable criminal. People thought that he was evil incarnate and that there was no way that he could ever improve. Everyone hated him, including his fellow clansmen, his family, and even his own father; and he reciprocated that hatred with equal or greater vehemence.

One day, as he was walking in the valleys of Makkah, ruefully thinking about his bitter existence, he noticed a small opening in a mountain, perhaps an entrance to a cave. He thought that there might be something harmful inside, perhaps a venomous snake. That foreboding did not stop him from approaching; instead, it encouraged him to go to it, for his situation was so hopeless, that he actually wanted to be killed so that he could part from his miserable existence.

When he came near to the mouth of the cave, he saw a lean shape inside, and through the darkness, he perceived it to be a snake in an erect position, the position most favored by a veneomous snake when it is ready to strike. Overcome by madness, ‘Abdullah bin Jud’an was terrified, and suddenly realized that he did not really want to die. He imagined that the snake was coming at him, so he jumped wildly, trying to fend off a lethal bite. After a short while, he calmed down, realizing that it was only him that was moving and that the snake was actually in a still position. And when he came nearer, he realized that it was only a statue of a snake, which was made of gold and had two eyes made of precious emeralds. He broke the emeralds off and took them. He then entered deeper into the cave, and from the writings he saw around him, he realized that the cave was a graveyard for the kings of the Jurham tribe. At the head of each grave was a gravestone made of gold; on it was written a short history of the king who was buried underneath. Surrounding the graves were treasures of gold, silver, pearls, precious stones, and much else.

‘Abdullah bin Jud’an picked up a few small treasures, made a sign outside the cave so that he could find it again, and then returned to his people. He was generous with his newfound wealth, giving to family, friends, and to the needy. He was especially generous in gathering people together and serving them food. As time went on, he gained status in society until he became one of the leaders of Quraish. Whenever he ran out of funds, he would return to the cave and take some more. His generosity extended even beyong the boundaries of Makkah. Once when the people of Ash-Sham were suffering hard times ‘Abdullah bin Jud’an sent 2000 camels to them, loading each one with wheat, oils, and other provisions. And every night, someone stood on the roof of the Ka’bah and called out: “Come to the bowls (filled with food) of ‘Abdullah bin Jud’an.”

Yet in spite of all that, the following is related about him in Sahih Muslim. ‘Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) said to the Prophet (SAWS), “Indeed, Ibn Jud’an used to provide food (for the people) and he would be hospitable to his guest[s]. Will any of that benefit him on the Day of Ressurrection?” The Prophet (SAWS) answered, “No. Indeed, on no day did he ever say: O my lord, forgive me my sin on the Day of Recompense.”

SAWS: May Allah exalt his mention and protect him from imperfection

Gems and Jewels
Compiled by: Abdul-Malik Mujahid
Publisher: Maktaba Dar-us-Salam
ISBN: 9960-897-59-1
Page 15

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

Muhammad bin ‘Isa related that a young man would often go to Abdullah bin Mubarak; he studied under him, carried out certain errands for him, and would listen to him relate Hadith narrations. One day, Abdullah went to the city where the young man was living, and when he didn’t find him he asked after him. He was told that the young man was imprisoned for a loan that he could not repay. Abdullah said, “And how much does he owe?” He was told that the young man owed 10000 dirhams. Abdullah searched out the creditor, and when he found him, he gave him 10000 dirhams, but he made the man take an oath that he wouldn’t inform anyone as long as he (i.e. Abdullah) was alive that he gave him the money.

When the young man was released from prison, it was said to him, “Abdullah bin Mubarak was here and was asking after you, but he has already left.” The young man hurried off in search for him and when he found him, Abdullah asked, “Young man, where were you? I could not find you.” He said, “Yes, I was imprisoned because of a debt that I could not pay.” He said, “Then how were you released?” He said, “A man came and paid my debt for me, yet I do not know who he is.” Abdullah said, “Young man, praise Allah for the blessing of having your debt repaid.” And the creditor never informed anyone of what really happened until after Abdullah died.

It has been related that Abu Jafar Ak-Hadhdha said, “I heard Ibn Uyainah say: If your inner reality is the same as your outward appearance and deeds, that that is uprightness; if your inner reality is better than your outward appearance, then that is superiority; and if your outward appearance is better than your inner reality, then that is wrongdoing.”

Gems and Jewels
Compiled by: Abdul-Malik Mujahid
Publisher: Maktaba Dar-us-Salam
ISBN: 9960-897-59-1
Page 109

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

Allah’s Messenger (May Allah exalt his mention and protect him from imperfection) said: “The most blessed of deeds is that which is done consistently, even if it is a minute one.” (Sahih Bukhari)

Brother Muslim, the Quran is made up of thirty parts, like the month. One should read one part of the Quran every day so that it can be completed in its entirety in one month. Furthermore, each part consists of twenty pages. If one were to read four pages during the daily obligatory prayers, it would facilitate the completion of one part every day. See, brother Muslim, how much good escapes us because we do not know how to organize our lives? When you practice this habit with regularity, you will not only be one of the guided ones, but you will also find profound pleasure and fulfillment in a consistent act of worship. You will also see the benefit and reward in a small act done continuously, as opposed to much done at irregular intervals.

Gems and Jewels
Compiled by: Abdul-Malik Mujahid
Publisher: Maktaba Dar-us-Salam
ISBN: 9960-897-59-1
Page 43

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

Abu Hanifah and a man from Basrah were partners in a business. On one occasion, Abu Hanifah sent 70 expensive garments to him, sending with them a note which read: “One of them is defective, and it is such and such garment, so when you sell it, make sure that you point out the defect.” The man sold it for 30,000 dirhams and when he came with the money to Abu Hanifah, the latter asked, “Did you point out the defect?” He said, “I forgot.” Abu Hanifah took nothing from the profit, but instead gave it all in charity.

Gems and Jewels
Compiled by: Abdul-Malik Mujahid
Publisher: Maktaba Dar-us-Salam
ISBN: 9960-897-59-1
Page 124

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

Allah (the Exalted) says in the Noble Quran about the basic qualities of a believer:

“O you who believe! Why do you say that which you do not do? Most hateful it is with Allâh that you say that which you do not do.” (Quran 61:2-3)

Allah’s Messenger (SAWS) was asked, “Can a believer be a miser?” He said, “Yes.” He was asked, “Can a believer be a coward?” He said, “Yes.” And he was asked, “And can a believer be a liar?” He said, “No.”

It has been related that a man went to Allah’s Messenger (SAWS) and said, “O Messenger of Allah, indeed I do three sins in secret: (I drink) alcohol, fornication and lying. So inform me which of them I should abandon.” He said, “Leave off lying.” The man went away, and later desired to fornicate, but he thought to himself, “I will go to the Messenger of Allah and he will ask me whether I fornicated? If I say yes, he will punish me. And if I say no, I will have broken the covenant and lied.” So he abstained from fornicating, and the same occurred regarding alcohol. He returned to Allah’s Messenger (SAWS) and said, “O Messenger of Allah, indeed I have abandoned all of them.”

My brother, do you not see then, that lying is the root of every wicked deed, and it leads to all other sins. You will not see anyone more miserable and wretched than the liar, and disbelief is the most severe kind of lying, for it is lying upon Allah (the Exalted).

SAWS: May Allah exalt his mention and protect him from imperfection

Gems and Jewels
Compiled by: Abdul-Malik Mujahid
Publisher: Maktaba Dar-us-Salam
ISBN: 9960-897-59-1
Page 26

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

Aishah (May Allah be satisfied with her) said: A woman came to me with her two children, asking for help. All that I could find with me was a single date. I gave it to her and she divided it into two, giving half of the date to each of her two daughters, herself abstaining from eating anything from it. I left her, and when Allah’s Messenger (May Allah exalt his mention and protect him from imperfection) came to me, I informed him of what happened. He said, “Whoever is put to trial with daughters in any way, but then does good by them, they will be a barrier between him and the Hellfire.” (Sahih Bukhari, Sahih Muslim and At-Tirmidhi)

This Hadith and others like it give cause for joy to every mother and father who have been blessed with a daughter, for through that daughter, they are shown a way that leads to Paradise.

Gems and Jewels
Compiled by: Abdul-Malik Mujahid
Publisher: Maktaba Dar-us-Salam
ISBN: 9960-897-59-1
Page 70

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

As was his custom, ‘Umar bin Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him), the Leader of the Believers, went out at night to look after the needs of the people and to make sure that everyone was safe. As he passed by an open area in Al-Madinah, he heard the moans of a woman coming out from a small and shabby house, at the door of which was a man seated. ‘Umar greeted him and asked him how he was. The man said that he was from the desert and had come, seeking to reap some generosity from the Leader of the Believers. ‘Umar asked him about the woman and the moaning noises, and the man, not knowing that he was speaking to the Leader of the Believers, said, “Go away, may Allah have mercy on you, and do not ask about that which does not concern you.”

However ‘Umar persisted in asking the same question, offering to help if he could. And so the man informed him, “Indeed she is my wife, who is about to give birth, yet there is no one here to help her.” ‘Umar left the man, returned to his house in a hurry, entered, and said to his wife, Umm Kulthum (may Allah be pleased with her), “Will you take reward that Allah has brought to you?” She said, “And what is that goodness and reward, O ‘Umar?”

No sooner did he inform her of what happened than she stood and took all that she needed to help the woman deliver her baby and all that the newborn would need as well. Meanwhile, the Leader of the Believers took a pot and with it some fat and grains. He and his wife hurried off together until they reached the same shabby house. While Umm Kulthum went in to help the pregnant woman, the Leader of the Believers remained outside with the husband, and cooked the food that he brought with him.

From inside the house, Umm Kulthum called out, “O Leader of the Believers, give glad tidings to your companion that Allah has provided him with a young boy.” The man was amazed to find out that it was the Leader of the Believers who was seated with him and who was cooking food with him; and the wife was shocked to learn that it was the wife of the Leader of the Believers who came to meet her and help her in her shabby house.

Gems and Jewels
Compiled by: Abdul-Malik Mujahid
Publisher: Maktaba Dar-us-Salam
ISBN: 9960-897-59-1
Page 110

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

After the Battle of Badr, Abu ‘Azzah Al-Jumahi, a poet, was a prisoner in the hands of the Muslims. He was from Quraish and through his poetry he would incite battle against the Muslims. After his capture, he said to Prophet Muhammad (SAWS), “Indeed, I am poor and I have many dependents that are needy and you know this, so please have mercy upon me and may Allah have mercy upon you.” The Prophet (SAWS) did so and released him. Before the Battle of Uhud[1], Safwan bin Umaiyyah, one of the leaders of the Quraish, said to the poet before they were to fight the Muslims, “O Abu ‘Azzah, indeed you are a poet, so help us with your words to incite men to battle.” Abu ‘Azzah replied that the Prophet (SAWS) had bestowed a favor upon him by giving him his freedom and he did not wish to go against that kindness. Safwan said, “Help us and if you return alive from this battle, I will make you rich and if you are struck down, I will make your daughters partners with my daughters in my wealth.” So, Abu ‘Azzah went forth with them and was taken as prisoner by the Muslims for a second time. Again he pleaded with the Prophet (SAWS) asking to be pardoned. The Prophet (SAWS) said to him, “By Allah, your cheeks will not touch Makkah and you will not be able to say that indeed, you have deceived Muhammad twice. Indeed the believer is not stung from the same hole twice. O Zubair, strike his neck!” Zubair struck his neck and he was killed.

SAWS: May Allah exalt his mention and protect him from imperfection

[1]: Audio lecture on the lessons from the Battle of Uhud can be found here.

Gems and Jewels
Compiled by: Abdul-Malik Mujahid
Publisher: Maktaba Dar-us-Salam
ISBN: 9960-897-59-1
Page 57

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

Shaikhul-Islam Ibn Taimiyyah (may Allah have mercy on him) said that there are those from the people that backbite or listen to backbiting, and they do so to please the company they keep, with the awareness that the victim is likely to be innocent of some of the things that are uttered about him. Often such offenders feel that if they were to attempt to end such conversation in a gathering, their presence might become unwelcome or burdensome.

There are many methods and guises that are employed when one mentions another in a negative way.

Under the pretense of being informative, one could say that it is not one’s habit to mention others, except for the sake of relating another’s condition to someone.

Or one could state that by Allah, indeed so-and-so is one to be pitied, thereby showing superiority over one who is to be rejected.

Another method might be to say that so-and-so is a good person; however, he has such and such qualities. Again, one is justified in revealing another’s faults.

One could also simply state that we should forget so-and-so, and make supplication for their forgiveness as well as our own, intending only to belittle the one that was mentioned.

In reality, all these tactics are designed to try to deceive Allah (the Exalted) and to please the creation; and in reality, the many that follow these methods only serve to deceive themselves.

Then there are those that backbite to raise their own status.

When they hear of someone’s error, they employ words like, “Had I prayed for so-and-so last night in my prayer, the news of their sin would not have reached my ears.”

Again, when a person states of another that he lacks understanding in a matter, the implication is personal superiority for the one that mentions the other’s shortcoming.

There are also those that couple jealousy with backbiting – the act of being critical or belittling to those that are praised in the company of others.

Some people also backbite for the sake of humor, playfulness and lightheartedness. A person finds a certain amount of satisfaction from being appreciated for his story-telling abilities; speaking ill of someone in a humorous fashion adds flavor to a tale.

Others engage in backbiting by showing surprise and amazement at another’s actions: “‘How is it that someone could do such a thing?”

Yet others mention people and their actions with the pretense of sympathy for their actions or misfortunes. In reality, the one who backbites actually finds contentment and satisfaction at the mention of others and their misdeeds.

Another form of backbiting is relating someone’s misfortune to their enemies, so that they, too, may find pleasure in putting them down.

From these examples, one can surmise that backbiting pertains to a disease of the heart… May Allah save us from this most evil of actions and protect us from its temptations.

Gems and Jewels
Compiled by: Abdul-Malik Mujahid
Publisher: Maktaba Dar-us-Salam
ISBN: 9960-897-59-1
Page 54

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

My story is plain enough, nothing strikingly poignant about it, but I tell it to you so that perhaps you can learn from my mistake. My marriage began as a very happy union between my husband and me. We weren’t rich, but we were contented with what we had, and we had a daughter whom we both loved dearly. In the early stages of our marriage, we would put our daughter to sleep, and we would then pray, glorify Allah, and recite the Quran.

One day, we checked our savings and realized that we had saved a considerable sum of money, and so I suggested to my husband that we should buy interest-bearing shares, the proceeds of which we could definitely use to help our daughter later on in life. We invested all that we had, including the money I made from selling all of my jewelry. After only a short time passed, the prices of the shares plunged, we went bankrupt, and we were left with many debts. We came to learn the hard way that:

“Allah will destroy Riba (usury) and will give increase for Sadaqat (deeds of charity, ominous, etc.).” (Quran 2:276)

During one of the difficult nights that followed, I got into a huge argument with my husband and demanded that he divorce me. He then screamed out, “You are divorced from me… you are divorced from me!” Both my child and I cried, and through many tears, it was this that was constantly going through my mind: We were joined together through obedience to Allah, and we then became separated through disobedience to Him.

Gems and Jewels
Compiled by: Abdul-Malik Mujahid
Publisher: Maktaba Dar-us-Salam
ISBN: 9960-897-59-1
Page 257