The (quick) fiqh of Fasting

By: Shaykh Mansur Ali

Source: ilmgate.org

Definition: Fasting is to refrain from eating, drinking, smoking, and having sexual intercourse from dawn till dusk with the intention of worship.

Types of fasting:

What Muslims Should Know about their Deen

Source: missionislam.com

By: Habib Ahmad

Prophet Muhammad (saws) said: “Seeking Knowledge is obligatory upon every Muslim.” (Related by Ibn ‘Adiyy, Al-Bayhaqi & Al-Tabarani)

Though this Hadith is known and memorised by most Muslims, the essence, the amount, and the kind of knowledge referred to in this Hadith remains misunderstood by many.

If it is true that the knowledge incumbent upon every Muslim pertains to religious knowledge, or al-‘Ilm al-Shar’i, how deeply does one have to pursue his quest of this knowledge to fulfil his duties and discharge the learning obligations placed upon him? In other words, what are the minimum teachings that every Muslim – male or female – is required to know about his Deen?

The Importance of Education in Islam

Source: islamawareness.net

To seek knowledge is a sacred duty, it is obligatory on every Muslim, male and female. The first word revealed of the Qur?an was “Iqra” READ! Seek knowledge! Educate yourselves! Be educated.

Surah Al-Zumr, ayah 9 reveals: “Are those equal, those who know and those who do not know?” Surah Al-Baqarah, ayah 269 reveals: “Allah grants wisdom to whom He pleases and to whom wisdom is granted indeed he receives an overflowing benefit.”

Prioritising for Productivity

By: Amal Stapley

Source: http://productivemuslim.com/

Do you have a massive To-Do List that keeps getting longer and longer, and, although you run around like crazy, ticking things off it, you never feel as if you’re achieving anything productive?

There is a solution, alhamdulillah, and you’ve probably heard it before, you need to prioritize! But how do you do that? To work out your priorities, you’ll need to have a system. This will require you taking some time out of your busy routine just to sit down and work out, but insha’Allah, the end result will be worth it.

Khalid Yasin: Muslim Men Growing a Beard (Video)

The sunnah is to Grow (long)

An-Nisaa’ (5232) reported from al-Baraa’ that he (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) had a thick beard; according to another report, he had a bushy beard; according to another report, he had a wide beard.

Al-Nawawi said: the best is to leave it as it is and not touch it or shorten it at all. (Tuhfat al-Ahwadhi, 8/39).

All of these ahaadeeth indicate that it is obligatory to leave the beard alone and let it grow, and that it is obligatory to trim the moustache. This is what is obligatory as taught and enjoined by the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him). This was the example set by the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) and his companions (may Allaah be pleased with them), to be different from the mushrikeen and to avoid resembling them or resembling women.

What is the ruling on fasting six days of Shawwaal?

By: Shaykh Muhammad Saalih al-Munajjid

Source: http://islamqa.info/

Praise be to Allaah.

Fasting six days of Shawwaal after the obligatory fast of Ramadaan is Sunnah Mustahabbah, not waajib. It is recommended for the Muslim to fast six days of Shawwaal, and in this there is great virtue and an immense reward. Whoever fasts these six days will have recorded for him a reward as if he had fasted a whole year, as was reported in a saheeh hadeeth from the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him). Abu Ayyoob (may Allaah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Whoever fasts Ramadaan and follows it with six days of Shawwaal, it will be as if he fasted for a lifetime.” (Narrated by Muslim, Abu Dawood, al-Tirmidhi, al-Nisaa’i and Ibn Maajah).