The 'Sanctified Learning Zone' Sajid Ahmed Umar: Jihad by Night: Yahya Ibrahim

The 'Sanctified Learning Zone' Sajid Ahmed Umar: Jihad by Night: Yahya Ibrahim:
Source: http://muslimmatters.org/2010/04/12/jihad-by-night-yahya-ibrahim/

“For twenty years I waged Jihad against myself. I struggled, all throughout to remain standing in prayer at night. For those twenty years I never tasted the sweetness of the night prayer. It was only after that that I found comfort and sweetness.”

These are the words of one of the greatest scholars of the early generation. Al-Imam Sufyaan ath-Thawri (161 H) is known as one of the Eight Ascetics of his age. He was, rahimahullah, ‘aabid – a worshipper.

Twenty years of Jihad by night. No sweetness was experienced by ath-Thawri (rahimahullah) for twenty years?

Nevertheless he kept the course with unwavering inspirational sabr. He struggled in fear, campaigned in love, and toiled in hope of Allah.

He would later comment that a sin he committed kept him from the night prayers for five months.

Tahajjud, from ha-ja-da meaning “vigilant by night” consumed in devotional prayer.

It is a reality that for many the thought of prayer, obligatory not voluntary, results in sluggishness of form and drowsiness in invocation.

We pray, but do we?

We call out, but do we?

We attempt remembrance, but do we?

Twenty years of Jihad – Jaahatu Nafsi the Imam said. Twenty years of difficulty and comfort, prosperity and adversity, happiness and sorrow, wealth and poverty, fear and security, births and deaths, love and animosity. Constancy in worship throughout all the conditions and experiences of life is unique.

Allah describes the animosity that a believer has for the comfort of their soft bedding. In Surat as-Sajdah (32:16-17):

تَتَجَافَى جُنُوبُهُمْ عَنِ الْمَضَاجِعِ يَدْعُونَ رَبَّهُمْ خَوْفًا وَطَمَعًا وَمِمَّا رَزَقْنَاهُمْ يُنفِقُونَ فَلَا تَعْلَمُ نَفْسٌ مَّا أُخْفِيَ لَهُم مِّن قُرَّةِ أَعْيُنٍ جَزَاء بِمَا كَانُوا يَعْمَلُونَ

Usually the verse is translated as

“Their sides Jafaa (forsake) their beds, to invoke their Lord in fear and hope, and they spend (charity in Allah’s Cause) out of what We have bestowed on them. No person knows what is kept hidden for them of joy as a reward for what they used to do.”

In fact the word Jafaa is much more contemptuous. Allah describes the physical being of a believer as despising their bed and the comfort it invites.

Ash-Shafi’ee (rahimahullah) would touch his bed and say, “May you be destroyed. You are ever so soft and inviting.”

Abu Hanifa (rahimahullah) was asked how often he recites the Quran in its entirety. He asks in response, “Do you mean during the day or by night? During the night, the questioner inquired. The Imam asked, “Do you mean while in Tahajjud or out of prayer?”

Subhan Allah!

Our audacity, at times, tempts us to feel content with our current level of devotion and ‘Ibadah. The internet becomes our dawa, the masjid our hangout, the brothers – da brothas. Our ‘Ibadah is weak but our talk is uninhibited. Our dreary lives, jobs, lack of jobs, idle free time and stress cause us to have grandiose self assessments and an over estimation of our true nearness to the Divine. The response within us reflectively is dismissive in its oversimplification.

“That was then, this is now. That is al-Imam Sufyan and I am merely Yahya.”

So we fail to change or improve. We look for quick fix solutions to problems in our life that are spiritual ailments that require a rejuvenation of Faith.

Once upon a time, ten years or more ago, I was as asleep in a hotel room thinking I was alone. Little did I know that my teacher Shaykh Mohammed Safwat Nooredeen (rahimahullah) arrived in the middle of the night to take possession of HIS room wherein I was asleep due to a scarcity of rooms in the hotel which was attached to a conference I was translating for. No one informed me that it wasn’t actually my room, and that they just put me in it knowing that I was his student and we’d make do whenever he finally arrived. There I was, snoring away.

At first I was scared hearing what sounded to me like soft huffs and puffs. I recited Ayatul Kursi. A soft whine and moan ensued. Someone or something was crying.

I sat up and looked around while fumbling for the lamp switch at the same time trying to grab my glasses; All the while reading Ayatul Kursi. Heart beat off the chart and I am ready to swing.

Prostrate in the corner of the room where the door is, out of my view was my Shaykh praying his night prayer. He arrived, ate an apple, made his ablution and did what came natural. He prayed and bowed. He stood and prostrated.

At first I thought that this was because of restlessness and inability to sleep due to the time change. But I knew his ‘Ibadah was solid, outwardly is what I am witness to, and inwardly Allah grants the reward.

I made wudu and joined him. He informed me in the morning of the words of ath-Thawri. He was so polite in his advice. Don’t snore away your night was the accusation. Even if you don’t relish the worship, remember ath-Thawri. Allah have mercy on our scholars and students.

Ath-Thawri also said, “I was barred from praying Tahajjud for 5 months on account of a sin I committed.”

Some said to Ibn Mas`ood, may Allah be pleased with him, “We are unable to perform the night prayer.” He responded simply, “Your sins are prohibiting you (from it).”

Allah orders the Messenger early on in the mission of conveying Islam to humanity:

يَا أَيُّهَا الْمُزَّمِّلُ قُمِ اللَّيْلَ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا نِصْفَهُ أَوِ انقُصْ مِنْهُ قَلِيلًا أَوْ زِدْعَلَيْهِ وَرَتِّلِ الْقُرْآنَ تَرْتِيلًا

“O you who wraps himself [in clothing], arise [to pray] the night, except for a little – half of it – or subtract from it a little or add to it, and recite the Quran with measured recitation.”[Quran 73: 1-4]

Half the night!? For real?

‘Aisha (radi Allahu anha) says, “Do not ever stop standing in prayer at night. The Prophet (sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam) never ceased praying it. When he (sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam) was sick or weak, he prayed sitting.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

My aim is not to dazzle myself and you with verses and hadeeth extolling virtue upon those who stand in prayer at night. It is simply to ask, “Why is it so hard for me?”

So I write to you to remind myself.

I want to pray more than I do, more often than I do, in a more tranquil way than I do, for longer and humbler than I do.

I want us to be from those who sleep little at night but find energy and Baraka in their day. I want to greet the dawn each and every morning having made my Jihad by night. I want to find comfort and ease in that ‘Ibadahthat is the hallmark of righteousness.

إِنَّ الْمُتَّقِينَ فِي جَنَّاتٍ وَعُيُونٍ آخِذِينَ مَا آتَاهُمْ رَبُّهُمْ إِنَّهُمْ كَانُوا قَبْلَ ذَلِكَ مُحْسِنِينَ كَانُوا قَلِيلًا مِّنَ اللَّيْلِ مَا يَهْجَعُونَ وَبِالْأَسْحَارِ هُمْ يَسْتَغْفِرُونَ

“Indeed, the righteous will be among gardens and springs, accepting what their Lord has given them. Indeed, they were before that doers of good. They used to sleep but little of the night, and in the hours before dawn they would ask forgiveness.” [Quran 51: 15-18]

أَمَّنْ هُوَ قَانِتٌ آنَاء اللَّيْلِ سَاجِدًا وَقَائِمًا يَحْذَرُ الْآخِرَةَ وَيَرْجُو رَحْمَةَ رَبِّهِ قُلْ هَلْ يَسْتَوِي الَّذِينَ يَعْلَمُونَ وَالَّذِينَ لَا يَعْلَمُونَ إِنَّمَا يَتَذَكَّرُ أُوْلُوا الْأَلْبَابِ

“Is one who is devoutly obedient during periods of the night, prostrating and standing [in prayer], fearing the Hereafter and hoping for the mercy of his Lord, [like one who does not]? Say, “Are those who know equal to those who do not know?” Only they will remember [who are] people of understanding.”[Quran 39: 9]

I want my wife to hose me down with water, or maybe just a sprinkle as the Prophet (sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam) said.

Abu Hurayrah also reported that the Messenger of Allah (sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam) said: “May Allah have mercy on a man who wakes up at night, prays, and wakes his wife to pray; and if she refuses, he sprinkles water on her face. And may Allah have mercy on a woman who wakes up at night, prays, and wakes her husband to pray; and if he refuses, she sprinkles water on his face.” [Abu Dawood and it is Sahih]

Al-Hasan al Basri (another of the Eight Ascetics) was asked: “We are unable to perform the night prayer so prescribe us a cure.” He said, “Do not disobey Him during the day and He will help you stand before Him during the night.”

Oh Allah! Help me to remember you, thank you, and be better in my worship.

Oh Allah! Help me to wake up in your worship and to be consistent in it.

Oh Allah! Allow us to worship you as you deserve to be worshipped.

Oh Allah! Grant us patience in your worship.

I ask you my brother and sister to ask Allah to help me and my family worship Allah when others are oblivious in slumber.

Month of Mercy (Part 3) by Abu Abdissalam

In this part, we will look at the basis of excuses from fasting in Ramadhan.

Allah SWT says, “ Whoever from among you is sick or on a journey, then these numbers of days should be made on other day. As for those who find it difficult, they should feed a poor person for each day". (2:184)

There are two types of excuse:-
1. Those who have temporary excuse
2. And those who have permanent excuse to not to fast in Ramadhan

1. Temporary Excuse –

I. The person is sick temporarily. There are 3 categories:

i. A person who is sick and fasting does not affect his illness at all.
For example, he got a small cut on his finger.In this scenario, it is not allowed to break one’s fast. It has no effects on the fasting. Other examples include a person having a light cold, sneeze a couple of time. Hence, it is not a valid reason of not fasting for them. They are not allowed to break the fast or refrain themselves from fasting.

ii. When the fasting will affect the illness and it will make the fasting difficult.
It doesn’t harm the person. It is allowed for him to break the fast and also it is better for him not to fast as it is difficult but it doesn’t harm him. Make it up when he’s better.

iii. An illness whereby the fasting will actually harms the person, such as severe diabetes. In this scenario, such that level diabetes could affect the person and harm him if he fasts. Hence in this scenario, it is haram for him to fast. Prophet SAW said, “There should be no harm(darar) nor reciprocating harm (dirar).” (Hadith An-Nawawi, no.32)

II. A traveler. There are 3 categories:-

i. A traveler has no effect on his fast. It is not difficult for him.
It is allowed to break his fast but it is better to fast. Why?

a. Prophet SAW did it. It was narrated that Abu’l-Darda’ (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: “We went out with the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) [on a journey] during the month of Ramadaan when it was intensely hot, until one of us would put his hand on his head because of the intense heat, and no one among us was fasting apart from the Messenger of Allaah SAW and ‘Abd-Allaah ibn Rawaahah.” (Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 1945; Muslim, no. 1122). They were fasting because it was easy for them.

b. Because he would have completed his obligation quicker. And he has no contract with Allah to say that he will live to be able to make up those fast. It is better for him to fast.

c.. He ends up fasting in the month of Ramadhan.

ii. If fasting will be difficult for him but it would not harm him on his journey.
For example when travelling in a desert and he’s feeling a bit of hot, or travelling from UK and USA and the time of fasting is elongated, in this scenario it’s better not to fast and make up your fast later.
Aisyah RA said, “The Prophet SAW was never given a choice between two matters except that he took the easier of the two as long as it is not a sin.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari (3560)

iii. It is extremely difficult for him and may harm him.
Hence it is haram for him to fast and he should break the fast immediately. For example when he is about to pass out when fasting.
There is one report narrated by Muslim from Jaabir ibn ‘Abd-Allaah (may Allaah be pleased with them), that the Prophet SAW went out to Makkah in the year of the Conquest in Ramadaan, and fasted until he reached Kuraa’ al-Ghameem. The people were fasting, but he called for a cup of water and lifted it up so that the people could see it, then he drank it. After that, he was told that some of the people had continued to fast. He said, “Those are the disobedient, those are the disobedient.”

When does a person become traveler?

Scholar differed in this issue as there is no scriptural evidence of where the Prophet SAW said to become a traveller. They differ in the technical definition (Shari'ah) of travelling. They would look at a particular journey that Prophet SAW have made, some people said it was 48 miles (75 km), other scholars said 3 miles (5-7 km). They used the hadith where the Prophet SAW was going from Madinah to Mekah and he stopped at Dzuhulaifah which is about 3 miles from Madinah and then he shortened his prayers.

Also, they differed about how long is a person a traveler. The stronger view seems to be that whenever the Quran and Sunnah use a word and then don’t define it, then we understand it according to the custom of the people. Why? Allah says in the Quran, وأمربٳلعرف   ”and command them with the custom of the people.”  (7:199) If everything has been defined in the Quran and the Sunnah then take it as precedence, but if it has not been defined in the Quran and Sunnah, then it goes back to what the people understand that was to mean. Meaning, to how the Arabs understood it and then according to the various customs of the people. The word journey (safar) was not defined specifically in the Quran and Sunnah, then Allah commands it to be according to the custom of the people as a whole as long it is not against the Shariah. For example, the Bedoin never had an odometer (to measure the distance) that he can determine whether he is a traveller or not.

What the Scholars say (Ibn Taymiyyah, etc) is that you know when you are a traveler, you don’t live at the place where you travel. Hence, you are a traveler. As long as a person is a traveler, he’s a traveler. Ibn Taymiyyah gave a guideline of how do you know when you are a traveller, i.e the journeys are four types: 1)A long distance and a long time. (From Malaysia to UK and stay there for a night at least). 2) A long distance and short time. (From KL to Melaka and then spend for 10 minutes there and comes back to KL). 3) A short distance for a long time (eg: 20 minutes drive (a different town/city) and stay there for a period of time). 4) A short distance, short time is not travelling. You have to pass the last house in the city to become a traveller.

The conditions that make one a traveler for him to be able to break his fast:

- A legal journey that follows the Shariah that is called Safar (in a journey).
- The traveler must not intend to settle there.
- The journey must not be for a simple purpose.

Other issues

- Ruling for somebody who travels primarily to break his fast? It is an unlawful journey.
- You are only allowed to break your fast after you leave the last house in that city.
- The reason for that ruling of you being able to break your fast is that you are a traveler.
- The fast is from beginning to the end.
- Women whose menstruating and she becomes pure in the middle of the day, she has to make up of that fasting.
- Modern jobs that requires travelling e.g pilots, drivers - then you can apply the concession everytime everyday as long as you leave the last house of your city. But if it is easier for you to fast, then you should fast.
- A person who breaks the fast for other people - will have to make up for the fast and feed a poor person.
- A person who breaks his fast for himself - will only have to make up for the fast.
- The pregnant and breastfeeding woman, if she fears that if she fast, it will harm the baby, then she can break her fast, she has to make up the fast and she also has to pay by feeding one poor person per day. Same goes to mother who breastfeeds.
- It is haram to fast for women who have menstruation and post natal bleeding.
- It is better to make up the fast of Ramadhan before making any voluntarily fasting as the obligation take precedence over voluntarily deeds and its quicker to fill the obligations.
- Menstruation.
   > If she has an irregular cycle, she would fast during that day, but she make up the fast.
   > She should remain from fasting from the normal cycle, but if she has irregular cycle, she should see the characteristic of the blood.
   > Defective bleeding – when they bleed for longer period than the actual period itself. She should look at the actual blood. If it’s like the menstrual blood, then don’t fast. But if its thin blood, then this is defective bleeding, hence you should still fast and pray.
   > Menstrual blood- it’s thicker, dark coloured and specific distinct and smell.
- Should women take tablets to stop period cycle for fasting or hajj. No. Why?
   > It is a Sunnah of the Sahabiah and Mothers of the Believers that they also went through this as it is how Allah has decreed it.
   > It is harmful to women, as it has long term side effects. It is allowed but it is dislike.
- Childbirth or miscarriage. For miscarriage, if it’s before 14 days, then it is defective bleeding, if after 14 days, it’s post natal bleeding, then don’t fast.

2. Permanent excuse -

Example of this is the old and fragile or terminally sick person who will never recovers from his sickness. The Scholars say, somebody who has an illness that doesn't recover, hence, he doesn’t need to fast. But he would feed for a person for every day that he misses. You can do it in one go. Anas bin Malik RA, he was over 100 years old, and he didn't fast; On the first night of Ramadhan, he fed 30 poor ppl and fed them dinner. Hence, you can do it in one go.

Month of Mercy (Part 2) by Abu Abdissalam

The next question is raised: How do we prepare for this month, in order to get these virtues?

Whenever you want to gain something, you need to make preparation for that. Below are some of the points for us to make preparation before we start our fasting in Ramadhan:-

1. To repent to Allah SWT -

No one has a contract that says when he/she will die. Of course, everyone is expecting to live until they meet the month of Ramadhan again. Hence, it is OBLIGATORY to repent to Allah at all time, whether during Ramadhan or outside of Ramadhan.

Allah says in Quran, "O you who believe! Turn to Allah with sincere repentance!..." (66:8) or " Ask your Lord for forgiveness and then turn in repentance to Him..." (11:3).
This indicates that it is an obligation for us to repent to Allah when we commit sins.

Prophet (ﷺ) repents to Allah more than 70 times a day. The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "By Allah, I seek the forgiveness of Allah and I turn to Him in repentance more than seventy times each day." (Narrated by al-Bukhaari, no. 6307).
Hence, if the Prophet (ﷺ), the best human of all mankind repents to Allah more than 70 times a day, what about us?

It is an important point to remember that if a person commits a sin, and he didn’t repent to Allah, he is liable to punishment for the sin itself and for not repenting to that sin. This means that he is liable to extra punishment.
Every son of Adam sins but the best of sinners are those who repent. Allah forgives all sins as He is Forgiving and Merciful. Allah forgives all sins at any time. Hence, we shouldn’t wait until Ramadhan to repent to Allah. Start Ramadhan with a clean heart and mind.

2. Make Doa to Allah SWT

Six months before Ramadhan, the early Scholars will make Doa, “Oh Allah, allow us to see the Ramadhan.“ The month comes and goes quickly. The early Scholars actually beg to Allah for them to see the Ramadhan again. During Ramadhan they would make Doa, “Oh Allah, accept our worship in Ramadhan. “ and they will make this doa for five months after Ramadhan. The whole year revolves around Ramadhan.

Narrated Abu Huraira, Prophet (ﷺ) said, “Whoever fast in Ramadhan in Iman and to seek reward from Allah, his previous sins will be forgiven”. (Al-Bukhari, Volume 1, Book 2, Number 37).

Other doa that we can make is that Allah will make fasting easy and beloved to us, Allah will allow us to do good deeds and a lot of it and make it as habits part and parcel of our lives such that we continue to do it after Ramadhan.

3. Try to complete any obligatory fast that we need to make up from previous years.

Aishah RA said, “I will owe fast from the previous Ramadhan and I will not be able to make up except in Shaaban." Shaaban (the 8th month) is the month before Ramadhan (the 9th month) in Islamic calender. Some scholars say it is obligatory to make up fast before the next Ramadhan.

4. To get things that will distract you out of the way before Ramadhan

For example, if there is any project milestone or course datelines that might occur in Ramadhan, try to complete them before Ramadhan so that you can concentrate on your worship in Ramadhan.

5. To learn the rulings about fasting

So you can worship Allah with knowledge. Allah says, ”Know (have knowledge), know that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah, and seek forgiveness for your sins (47:19). Allah began with knowledge before action. Worshipping Allah with knowledge is completely different to worshipping Allah without knowledge as you do something based on the Ayat or Hadith or scholarly opinion, etc.

There are two types of knowledge:
i. Fardhu Ain which is obligatory for every individual to learn.
ii. Obligatory on people as a group. If some people seek that knowledge then it is sufficient for everyone else, but if no none learn, then it’s sinful for everyone.

Knowledge for fasting is Fardhu Ain. Why?
i. It is a pillar of Islam.
ii. It is an individual Fard itself, something that is obligatory upon you in Islam, hence it is obligatory for you to learn about the ruling of that obligation. Eg: a person who wants to start a business, he needs to learn the rulings of trading and doing business in Islam.
Hence, as fasting is obligatory on each person, then we need to learn the ruling regarding fasting.

We should fast some in the month of Shaaban if we can.
Aisyah RA said, "Prophet (ﷺ) used to fast until we thought that he would always fast, then he would not fast until we thought that he would always not fast, but I never saw him fast in any month more than he fasted in Sha’baan. He used to fast all of Sha’baan, and he used to fast all of Sha’baan apart from a few days” (Muslim, 1156).

A few points to note for fasting in Sha'baan:
i. If a person begins to fast in Shaaban then he can do all the way up until the end of Shaaban, but not necessarily everyday.
ii. If he didn’t start fasting in the first two weeks of Sha’ban, then he shouldn’t start to fast in the last two weeks of Shaaban.
iii. He shouldn’t fast on the day before Ramadhan or the day before that, unless it falls on his regular routines (such that he always fast on Monday and Thursday).

6. Reading a lot of Quran

Start earlier before Ramadhan. Also, regarding Ramadhan it is about increasing your sanction with Allah SWT. Make taubat, make doa, increase your worship from there. E.g. read more Quran, give more charity. Be regular, never go less than the day before whatever happens. If you are not praying the Sunnah prayers, start to pray your Sunnah prayers, then increase it by doing more other Sunnah prayers.

7. Try to set a timetable and resolutions

This means to finish something, not to start something. To start something is to start straight away. Whenever you want to do good deed, start from today. Say, I will finish the Quran by Eid. Or try to finish the Quran 3 times. Always have a higher aspiration and goal. Eg, every Friday in Mekah, there is a group of people will finish the whole 30 juzuk of the Quran by the next Friday. Hence, everyone can do it, it's all about putting your mind into it.

8. Prepare your house with beneficial books and lectures so that u can read and listen to

If something is a fitnah for you, get rid of it. Things that are gonna distract you from worshipping of Allah SWT, chuck them out of the house. So, that you can start with an environment that can help you, aid you and work with you towards your goal to Jannah. There's no such thing as boredom as when we have a purpose, we don’t have a reason to create boredom. In the ancient times, they dont have any technology or gadgets that can occupy their time, and still they didn't complaint of being bored. It doesn't make sense when you say that you are bored because you don't have a TV when there is so many things you can do which is Halal. Hence, one should make an environment that will make them close to Allah.

Legal ruling about Ramadhan (Fiqh)
When we have condition for something, we have conditions which need to be fulfilled for the act of worship to be accepted and we have conditions which need to be fulfilled before it becomes obligatory.

1. Islam

i. A Muslim is the only person in this life that is obliged to fast. It is not a secular religion, it is a complete way of life. Hence, in an Islamic state, not only criminal activities are part of Islam which constitutes in the Islamic law, but also the acts of worship are part of the Islamic law. Hence, in an Islamic state, if a Muslim does not fast, he should be punished in this world. It’s a condition for the obligation of fasting in this world.
ii. Islam is also a condition for the acceptance of fasting. If a Non-Muslim fasts, it will not be accepted by Allah SWT. Muslims who do not fast in this world will be punished but the Non-Muslim who do not fast, he will not be punished in this world. However, in the Hereafter, a Non-Muslim will not only be punished for not accepting Islam but he will also be punished for not praying, fasting, and doing things which are Haram for us.

Proof?
Allah SWT says, “The Muslims are asking some of the people from the Hellfire, What cause you to go to Hellfire? The first thing they say that we never used to pray (a proof that the person who doesn’t pray is a Non-Muslim), nor did we used to feed the poor person, and we used to engage in useless talk, and we used to deny the last day, the Day of Judgement." (74:40-46) 
People who deny the Day of Judgement, they are in the Hellfire for all these things which include “We used to deny hellfire, never pray,etc” and this ayat proves that the Non-Muslim is not only punished for not accepting Islam, but also for not praying, fasting, etc.

But, if he does pray, fast as a Non-Muslim, it is still not accepted. This is like the one who prays without wudu’. If a Muslim prays without wudu', it is invalid. Why? He did not fulfill the condition of prayer which is wudu’. We only enforce the conditions on Muslim. Hence, being a Muslim is a condition for the Ibadah to be accepted.

2. Puberty

For anyone who is under the age of puberty, it is not obligatory for them to fast. Also, it is not for mercy, like saying they are only kids, so they don’t have to fast.

Prophet SAW said, “Order your children to pray at the age of 7, and smack them if they don’t pray at the age of 10." (Narrated by Abu Dawood (495) and classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh Abi Dawood)

This shows us a few things:
i. . Don’t order them to pray before age 7. At the age of 7, order them to pray.
ii. At the age of 10, smack the child if they don’t pray. This means that you don't smack them up until the age 10. And it should be a light smack which doesn't hurt them.

3. Sanity

If a person is not sane, then it’s not obligatory upon him to fast.

However, there is something that is obligatory upon a child and an insane person.
The insane person and a child are obligatory to pay Zakat even that a child has just been born. Zakat is obligatory upon them. It is upon the guardian of the child to give that Zakat. And if you haven’t done that for 10 years for example, you must calculate it.

4. Residency

If you are a resident and you fulfill other conditions, then you are obliged to fast. For non-residents, the obligation is there when you return and then you have to make up for it.

5. Ability

Those who are unable to fast whether it’s temporary or permanent, then they have an excuse for that.
Also, for those who don’t have any impendent such as menstruation, natal bleeding, etc then they are obliged to fast.

Month of Mercy (Part 1) by Abu Abdissalam

Definition of Siyam or Saum -
Linguistically: to abstain from something, for example talking; prove: Allah SWT talks about Maryam AS saying that, "She had made an oath to Ar-Rahman to do Saum" and she says," So, therefore I would not speak to any Insan."(Maryam:26). This means that she has abstained herself from speaking to anyone. If the second ayat is not there, then Saum would means fasting (the technically meaning).

Technically: Withholding from something specific (food, drink, marriage relation), during a specific time which is from the Fajr until the sunset with a specified intention (to please Allah SWT and the type of Ibaadah which is obligatory fast/voluntarily fast, etc). Prove: "O you who believe, fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may become Al-Muttaqun" (Al-Baqarah:183) 
Whenever the word kutiba 'alaykum (prescribed upon you) this means obligation upon you. 

The true purpose of fasting is to gain Taqwa. This is the most important thing that we need to focus ourselves on. What is Taqwa? it means to do acts of worship, out of obedience to Allah SWT upon light of Allah (Imaan), seeking the pleasure of Allah and the reward form Allah SWT and to avoid disobedience of Allah upon light of Allah (Imaan) and fearing the punishment of Allah SWT. Hence, the primary goal of fasting is to gain Taqwa, anything else gives extra benefits.

But people would ask, how could you gain Taqwa by abstaining yourself from food, drink, sexual intercourse and so on?  The reality of the matter is that abstaining yourself from food, drink and sexual intercourse does not increase your Taqwa but yet Saum increase your Taqwa because you are abstaining yourself from something which are normally Halal. Because how could you abstain yourself from something which is normally halal but not from things which are always harm. Besides, you are expecting reward from Allah SWT, hence your consciousness of Allah SWT makes you abstain yourself from things which are normally Halal and that are always Harm.

Rasulullah SAW mentioned that those who did not receive the forgiveness and mercy of Allah SWT in Ramadhan is cursed because it's so easy to get forgiven in Ramadhan. Hence, a person is stupid to not getting something which is so easy to get like the forgiveness of Allah in the month of Ramadhan.

The virtues of Ramadhan:-


"Whoever fast in Ramadhan out of Imaan, seeking the reward, then his previous sins will be forgiven." (al-Bukhari, Fath, no.37)  There are two conditions to this - fasting out of your Imaan and to seek reward from Allah SWT.  Allah loves that we make du'a to Allah. "Your Lord said, make D'ua to Me and I will respond" (Ghafir, 40:60) 
Non-Muslim who is fasting will not be accepted because it is done without Imaan. 
Also, Rasulullah SAW said in a Hadith Qudsi, "Every deed of the son of Adam is for him, except for fasting as it is for Me and I shall reward for it" (al-Bukhari, al-Fath, no.1904)

Fasting is a shield. When somebody is fasting, he should avoid from having sexual relationship with his spouse and quarreling. When somebody wants to quarrel with him, he should say, "I am fasting". This shows the consciousness of that person of the rewards of fasting. It doesn't necessarily makes the person looks like he was giving up in the argument because he knows he's doing it for the sake of Allah. By saying that makes one calm down and after 1 month, it will become a habit to not argue for the sake of Allah. It's a shield against the Shaytaan, sins and hence, Hellfire. It would be pointless to abstain yourself from something you normally do, and then not gaining something for the Akhirat.

"By the One in Whose Hand is my soul, the unpleasant smell coming out from the mouth of a person who is fasting is better in the sight of Allah than the musk." (Muslim, 2/807)

There are two joys for fasting people, which are
1. When breaking his fast - it is natural to feel this joy at this moment.
2. When he meets his Lord, and then he will be pleased because he was fasting (Muslim, 2/807). - When the scale of weighing between your good deeds and bad deeds, and because of one fast that you did will take the whole balance out. It's like you expected a reward but you forget about it, but then it comes back to you because Allah does not forget your good deeds, no matter how minor or major they are. On the Day of Judgement, fasting will give a huge reward to the one who fast. Also, you should always think of why you are fasting or praying. If you fast simply to please other people like your parents or just because that everyone else is fasting, then you are just making yourself hungry for the rest of the day. But if you are fasting sincerely to please Allah, Insya Allah, your fasting will be accepted and you will get a huge reward for it.

Fasting is the most sincere deed if he keeps it to himself and do it for the sake of Allah. One way to gauge the sincerity is by judging yourself when you are in private. For eg, you recite longer recitation when you are doing Solat in private rather than in public. Then you'll know whether you are doing it for the sake of Allah by increasing your Ibaadah when you are in private. Hide your good deeds the way you hide your sins.

Al-Bukhaari (1899) and Muslim (1079) narrated from Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) that Rasulullah SAW said: “When Ramadaan comes, the gates of Paradise are opened, the gates of Hell are closed, and the devils are chained up."

In Ramadhan, it is easy to enter Paradise and it is hard to enter Hell as your environment is so close to Allah SWT and Allah's Mercy is continuously descending. There are many things that can be done to get closer to Allah, such as reading more Quran, doing more Nafl Solat, doing more night prayers, giving out more charity to the needy, etc.

However, there is a question of, "If the Devils are locked up, how come there is still evil in Ramadhan?"

There are two opinions from the scholars.
1. Only the major devils, namely the Maarids (strong ones), are locked up.
2. For eleven months of the year, Shaytan has been training you to do evil things. Then in the month of Ramadhan, it is out of your habit that you do sinful acts without the Shaytan's external help but from the 11 months training by the Shaytan.

To summarize, the primary purpose of fasting is to gain Taqwa. Aside from the primary reason, the other reasons can be to emphatize to the poor (it is hard for them to get food) , to emphatize to those who can’t get married (marital intercourse is not allowed during fasting although it is Halal) and by overcoming the influence of Shaytan.

Weekly Hadith #1

Assalamualaykum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh,

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) reminded mankind that wealth is not proportionate to the amount of material possessions a person owns. True wealth is to be content with what one has, and then to use it to strive for the everlasting reward of the Hereafter.. May Allah makes us one of those who are not only long for wealth of this world but yearn for true wealth that will benefit us in the Hereafter..

For more enlightening, imaan-boosting reminder of the above hadith can be found in the below link:-
http://faisal-elkjaer.blogspot.com/2010/12/how-to-be-seriously-wealthy.html

Ramadhan: Life in the Fast Lane - salient points

Assalamualaykum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh
I've attached a link that shows many important points taken from a talk by Sheikh Muhammad Cheppih and Sheikh Tawfique Chowdhurry regarding the topic above.

http://faisal-elkjaer.blogspot.com/2011/07/ramadhan-life-in-fast-lane-salient.html

The videos can also be found in the below links:
http://www.youtube.com/user/TVSUNNAH#p/u/10/4GBz0_entlc
http://www.youtube.com/user/TVSUNNAH#p/u/8/KN2WOxyeutM
http://www.youtube.com/user/TVSUNNAH#p/u/9/iURXgE8Fhjw

Baarakallahu feek

Reasons of Ijtihad by Rasulullah (ﷺ)

Ijtihad was not needed during the time of Rasulullah (ﷺ) because he received confirmation from divine revelation of Allah SWT. All the laws were revealed by Allah in the form of Quran and Sunnah. Allah said, “Follow what has been sent down unto you from your Lord (the Qur’an and Prophet Muhammad’s Sunnah), and follow not, the auliya’ other than Him…” (Qur’an, Al-A’raf 7:3) From Tafseer Ibn Kathir, it can be found that “Follow what has been sent down unto you from your Lord” means to follow and imitate the unlettered Prophet, who brought you a Book that was revealed for you from the Lord. Also, “and follow not any Auliya’, besides Him” means do not disregard what the Messenger brought you and follow something else, for in this case, you will be deviating from Allah's judgment to the decision of someone else. (Tafseer Ibn Kathir, 7:3) Hence, these were regarded as the only source of Shariah at that time.

Throughout Rasulullah’s lifetime, Allah taught him in making decisions based on the revealed revelations by Allah. Allah said, “And verily, you (O Muhammad (ﷺ)) are being taught the Quran from the One, All-Wise, All-Knowing.”(Qur’an, An-Naml, 27:6) He didn’t simply say anything out of his own will or desire as Allah said, “Nor does he speak of (his own) desire. It is only a Revelation revealed.”(Qur’an, An-Najm, 53:3-4)

Allah has commanded us to refer to Allah and Rasulullah (ﷺ) for judgement in disputes. Allah said, “O you who believe! Obey Allah and obey the Messenger (Muhammad (ﷺ)), and those of you (Muslims) who are in authority. (And) if you differ in anything amongst yourselves, refer it to Allah and His Messenger (ﷺ), if you believe in Allah and in the Last Day...”(Qur’an, An-Nisa’, 4:59) Allah also said, “But no, by your Lord, they can have no Faith, until they make you (O Muhammad (ﷺ)) judge in all disputes between them, and find in themselves no resistance against your decisions, and accept (them) with full submission.”(Qur’an, An-Nisa’, 4:65) Rasulullah (ﷺ) was the one in authority during this era. He was the sole authorized interpreter and a living example in all matters. Since he was the authority when he was alive, people actually went to him to resolve their disputes.

Despite Rasulullah (ﷺ) being the authority during his time, he still allowed and encouraged the Sahabah to make ijtihad in his presence or otherwise. The main reason for this was to teach them the proper method for ijtihad.[1] After Rasulullah (ﷺ) passed away, the Sahabah conquered many new countries and hence, there were many exposures of new cultures and practices which were not directly addressed in the Qur’an and Sunnah. Therefore, the training for Sahabah to make ijtihad became important for them during the time of Rasulullah (ﷺ) as a need at that time as well as a guidance and preparation for the future.

An example of Rasulullah (ﷺ) asked the opinion of the Sahabah in his presence was before the Battle of Khandaq. When the news of the large army of Quraysh reached Madinah, Rasulullah (ﷺ) summoned his Companions for consultation of strategy. Salman al-Farisi said, “O Rasulullah! In Persia, when feared an attack (of horsemen), we would surround ourselves with a trench. Let us dig a trench around us now." Rasulullah (ﷺ) accepted Salman’s suggestion to dig the trench.[2] This shows that Rasulullah (ﷺ) openly accepted ideas that would help in the strategy of war.

Sometimes, the Sahabah exercise their own ijtihad during Rasulullah’s absence and later on, reported on their ijtihad to Rasulullah (ﷺ). An example of this is a hadith whereby ‘Umar al-Khattab and ‘Ammaar ibn Yaasir exercised ijtihad about tayammum. While ‘Umar decided to delay his prayer, ‘Ammaar decided to roll himself on the ground to perform tayammum and offered the prayer. Later, he told Rasulullah (ﷺ) about it who responded, “It is enough for you to strike the ground with your hands, then blow into them, then wipe up your face and the palms of your hands with them.”[3] Rasulullah (ﷺ) corrected ‘Ammaar about the acceptable nature of tayammum.

Usually, revelations for his judgment were revealed at that instance, but there were some occasions where he had to make his own deduction to solve the problems before revelations were revealed, in which, if it was wrong, Allah will correct him immediately. For example, Rasulullah (ﷺ) made ijtihad to seek forgiveness for the hypocrites.[4] Ibn 'Umar reported that when 'Abdullah b. Ubayy b. Salul died, his son 'Abdullah, came to Rasulullah (ﷺ) and begged him that he should give him his shirt to be used as a coffin for his father, and he gave him that. He then begged that he should conduct funeral prayer for him. Rasulullah (ﷺ) had hardly got up to observe the prayer for him that 'Umar stood up and caught hold of the garment of Rasulullah (ﷺ) and said, “Rasulullah, are you going to conduct prayer for this man, whereas Allah has forbidden you to offer prayer for him?” Thereupon Rasulullah (ﷺ) said, “Allah has given me an option as He has said, "You may beg pardon for them or you may not beg pardon for them, and even if you beg pardon for them, seventy times", and I am going to make an addition to the seventy.” Rasulullah (ﷺ) offered prayer for the hypocrite when later Allah SWT revealed this verse, "Do not offer prayer for any one of them at all and do not stand upon their graves for (offering prayer over them)". (Qur’an, Surah At-Tawbah, 9: 84)

The correction that Allah made for Rasulullah (ﷺ) indicates that He allowed Rasulullah (ﷺ) to make ijtihad at the first place. In other cases, Allah might not have corrected those related to purely worldly affairs based on expertise and experience like medicine, agriculture and technology [5] which proves that Rasulullah (ﷺ) is still a human being who can make mistakes.

In summary, the above explanations prove that ijtihad was established during his time, but it was not referred to using this terminology as it actually forms the Sunnah of Rasulullah (ﷺ). The definition of Sunnah is the way of life of Rasulullah (ﷺ) consisting of his sayings, actions and silent approvals which is contained in the various narrations of hadith. [6] Hence, this means that whatever Rasulullah (ﷺ) approved or any explanations because of his disapprovals from the disputes arose by the Sahabah or his mistakes in circumstances like in the hadith mentioned before becomes the Sunnah. [7] In addition, the validity of his ijtihad depended on the confirmation of revelation; hence his ijtihad was mainly done as a practice for the Sahabah in the application of Shariah after Rasulullah (ﷺ) had passed away.

Reference:

[1] Dr. Abu Ameenah Bilal Philips, The Evolution of Fiqh, (Riyadh: International Islamic Publishing House, 2006), p. 52.

[2] Dr. ‘Ali Muhammad As-Sallaabee, The Noble Life of The Prophet (peace be upon him), (Riyadh, Maktaba Dar-us-Salam, 2005, Vol. 3, pg. 1359) [3] Qur’an, An-Naml, 27:6

[3] Narrated by ‘Abdur Rahman bin Abza, collected by Bukhari (English Translation), Vol. 1, Book 7, No. 334

[4] Reported by Ibn ‘Umar, collected by Muslim, (English Translation), book no. 38, hadith no. 6680

[5]http://forums.understanding-islam.com/showthread.php?8540-THE-SCOPE-OF-PROPHET-MUHAMMAD%92S-IJTIHAD

[6] Dr. Abu Ameenah Bilal Philips, The Evolution of Fiqh, (Riyadh: International Islamic Publishing House, 2006), p. 199.

[7]http://www.suhaibwebb.com/islam-studies/islamic-law/towards-understanding-ijtihad-and-taqleed-a-brief-introduction/

Hellfire in The Hereafter by Anwar Al-Awlaki

Narrated Yusuf bin Mahk:
While I was with Aisha, the mother of the Believers, a person from Iraq came and asked, "What type of shroud is the best?" 'Aisha said, "May Allah be merciful to you! Why does it matter?" He said, "O mother of the Believers! Show me (the copy of) your Koran," She said, "Why?" He said, "In order to compile and arrange the Koran according to it, for people recite it with its Suras not in proper order." 'Aisha said, "What does it matter which part of it you read first? (Be informed) that the first thing that was revealed thereof was a Sura from Al-Mufassal, and in it was mentioned Paradise and the Fire. When the people embraced Islam, the Verses regarding legal and illegal things were revealed. If the first thing to be revealed was: 'Do not drink alcoholic drinks.' people would have said, 'We will never leave alcoholic drinks,' and if there had been revealed, 'Do not commit illegal sexual intercourse, 'they would have said, 'We will never give up illegal sexual intercourse.' While I was a young girl of playing age, the following Verse was revealed in Mecca to Muhammad: 'Nay! But the Hour is their appointed time (for their full recompense), and the Hour will be more grievous and more bitter.' (54.46) Sura Al-Baqara (The Cow) and Surat An-Nisa (The Women) were revealed while I was with him." Then 'Aisha took out the copy of the Koran for the man and dictated to him the Verses of the Suras (in their proper order) . (Saheeh Al-Bukhari, Volume 6, Book 61, #515)

From the hadith above, if the first verses in the Quran is telling the people the dos and don'ts and what is halal and harm, the people wouldn't have followed those orders and being receptive to that message. But the first verses in the Quran were telling about the Paradise and the Fire. Until the heart has attached to Allah SWT, and then the dos and don'ts were revealed. The way to attach our hearts to Allah SWT is by talking about Jannah and An-Nar. Hence, it is important to keep ourselves reminded and also to attain full knowledge about the Paradise and Hellfire.

This worldly life is just a means for us to get to our final destination. Where is our final destination? It's either the Paradise or the Hellfire and life of the hereafter will be eternal and forever. Forever means infinite number of years. But how do we know what we want, if we don't know about them. Hence, it is hoped that this post which is based on Anwar Al-Awlaki's lecture could help us to know more about Paradise and Hellfire. Of course, by learning this, it will still be beyond our imagination of how Paradise and Hellfire would be like. But it is hoped that by knowing about the hot blazing fire and the severe punishments that shall await us in Hellfire which are stated in the Qur'an , we know that we definitely don't want to go there. And in contrast, the beautiful life, even the smell of Paradise at the steps of it's doors would make us desire to strive for Jannah.

The first part will be about the Hellfire or An-Nar. Hellfire is created as a punishment for the disbeliever, hypocrite and believers who accumulate a lot of sins.



What are the indications of the HUGE size of Hellfire? 

1. It always asking for more.

• Whenever Allah SWT will put people in it, Hellfire will say, "Anymore?" Allah says, "One day We will ask Hell are you full? It will say are there anymore to come?" (50:30)
• It will always ask for more until Allah SWT will force it to stop asking for more people. It has the size and capacity to take as much as it can.

2. The depth of Hellfire

Narrated in Sahih Muslim, Rasulullah was sitting with the Sahaba and they heard a sound/noise or a bang that something fell down. Rasulullah asked, "Do u know what the sound was? Sahaba said, "Allah and His Messenger know best". Rasulullah said, "This is a huge rock that was thrown 70 years ago in the Hellfire and it has just landed in the bottom of Hellfire right now". This tells us that it's very deep.

3. The number of Angels involve in pulling it.

Rasulullah says, "The hell will be brought on that day, Day of Judgment, with 70,000 chains and every chain will be pulled by 70,000 Angels (Muslims).

4. Sun and moon will be thrown in Hellfire.

The size of the sun and moon which are huge indicates the huge size of Hellfire. Rasulullah ," On Day of Judgment, both sun and the moon would be thrown in Hellfire."(Muslim) Why sun and moon? Any God that is worshipped besides Allah will be thrown in Hellfire.

Hellfire has been divided into ranks and levels.

The level of Hellfire will be worst as it goes lower. Allah says, "The hypocrites are in the lowest level of Hellfire". (4:145)

Rasulullah said that his uncle, Abu Talib will be in a shallow pool of fire that reaches toward his ankle and it would cause his brain to boil. This is supposed to be the least punishment in the Hellfire.

Hellfire has 7 gates, while paradise has 8 gates.

Allah says, "It has seven gates". (15:44)

Allah says, “And those who disbelieved will be driven to Hell in groups, till, when they reach it, the gates thereof will be opened (suddenly like a prison at the arrival of the prisoners). And its keepers will say, "Did not the Messengers come to you from yourselves, reciting to you the Verses of your Lord, and warning you of the Meeting of this Day of yours?" They will say: "Yes, but the Word of torment has been justified against the disbelievers!" (39:71)

What are the FUEL in Hellfire?

The fuel are the people of Hellfire and stones. People of Hellfire will be burning each other.

Allah says," O who you believed, save yourselves and your families from the fire whose fuels are man and stones." (66:6)

How is the HEAT of Hellfire?

Allah says, "The companions of the left hand, what would be the companions of the left hand? They will be in the midst on the fierce hot wind and boiling water and shadow of black smoke. Nothing will be cool or pleasant." (56:41-44)

Water, breeze and shade are three ways to cool ourselves from heat. The people of Hellfire will have these three options, water, air and shade.

Instead of a breeze that will cool them down, it will burn them. It's scorching, dry and hot. They will get a shade, but the shade will be dark, black smoke. And the water will be boiling water.

Allah says," And what will explain to you what Hellfire is? It doesn’t permit to endure and it doesn’t leave alone. Darkening and changing the colour of man." (74: 27-29)

Narrated in Sahih Muslim, Rasulullah says," The fire that the sons of Adam burn is only one seventieth part of the fire of Hell." The fire that we have in Dunia is only 1/70 heat of the fire of Hellfire. The Sahaba said "by Allah, even ordinary would have been enough". Rasulullah said, "It is 69 parts in excess of the heat of fire of the fire of this world each of them would be equivalent to the heat." Hence, imagine it's as 70 times hotter that the fire we can get on this earth.

Hellfire SEES and HEARS.

Allah says, "When it sees them from a place far off, they will hear its fury and roaring." (25:12)

Narrated in Termidhi, Rasulullah says, "On Day Of Judgment, a column of fire will come out from Hellfire. It has two eyes that see, and two ears that hear and a tongue that can speak. And it will say, "I am here to capture anyone who is stubborn tyrants and the ones who associate other Gods than Allah and the ones who makes statues/ idols to be worshiped.""

Size of people in Hellfire and Jannah will be greater than the size of the people in Dunia.

Narrated in Termidhi, Rasulullah says, "The thickness of the skin of the people of Hellfire is 42 dzirat (one dzirat is almost 1 meter)". The molar will be like the mountain of Uhud. The area occupied when they sit down is the distance between Mekkah and Madinah."

Why skin? It’s because it's the centre of the nerve and that's where the pain's felt. The sizes are expanded so that they will have more surfaces to feel the pain and more exposed to Hellfire.

What are the FOOD in Hellfire?

Allah says, "No food will be there for them but a bitter which will neither nourish nor satisfy hunger".(88:7)

The primary dish is the fruits of a tree called ad Zakkum. Allah says, "Verily the tree of Zaqqum will be the food of the sinners. Like boiling oil, it will boil in the bellies. Like the boiling of scalding water". (44:43-46).

Allah says, "Is that the better entertainment or the tree of Zaqqum? Truly, We have made it a trial for the Zalimun. Verily, it is a tree that springs out of the bottom of Hellfire. The shoots of its fruit-stalks are like the heads of Shaytaan. Truly, they will eat thereof and fill their bellies therewith. Then on the top of that they will be given boiling water to drink so that it becomes a mixture." (37: 62-67)

Allah says, "Then will you truly, O you who do wrong and treat truth as falsehood. You will surely eat of the trees of Zaqqum. Then you will fill your bellies therewith. And drink boiling water on top of it. And you will drink that like thirsty camels!" (56: 51-55). Camels have a disease which causes the camels to continuously drink until it kills itself. Allah says that the people of Hellfire will drink like the diseased camels.

What are the DRINKS in the Hellfire?

Allah says, "Then shall they tasted a boiling fluid and dirty wound discharges. And other of similar kind - all together! (38:57-58)

Allah says, "And if they cry for water, they shall be given water like molten brass which will scald their faces; evil the drink and ill the resting-place." (18:29)

Four different types of drinks:

a. Hameem - boiling water

b. Ghassaq and Ghaaslin - very cold fluid and body excretion. Al-Qurtubi said that the juice which is the grease and sweat of people of Hellfire is Al-Ghassaq. 

c. As Sadit - puss that comes out from enteries. From Sahih Muslim, Rasulullah said, “Anyone who drinks intoxicants will be made to drink the mud of khabal. They asked, ‘O Messenger of Allah, what is the mud of khabal?’ He said, ‘The sweat of the people of Hell’ or the ‘juice of the people of Hell.’”

d. Al Muhl - Boiling oil. Rasulullah said, “It is like boiling oil, when it is brought near a person’s face, the skin of the face falls off into it.” (Musnad Ahmad, Tirmidhi)"

What are the CLOTHES of the people of Hellfire?

Allah says, "As for those who disbelieved, garments of fire will be cut out for them, boiling water will be poured down over their heads. (22:19)

Allah mentioned about their garment as molten copper (Qitran).

What are the PUNISHMENTS for the people of Hellfire?

1. Lowest level of punishment

Allah will ask that person who suffer from the least of punishment. In Saheeh Al-Bukhari, Rasulullah said, "A disbeliever will be brought on the Day Of Judgment and will be asked, "Allah will ask him, supposed you have much gold that will fill the earth, would you offered to answer yourself?" He will say yes. I asked you something less. You were asked something easier than that to join none in worship but Allah but you refused."

In Saheeh Bukhari, Rasulullah said that the person who has the least punishment from among people of Hellfire on Day of Resurrection will be a man under whose arch of the feet a smoldering amber coal will be placed so that the brain will boil because of it.

In Saheeh Bukhari, Rasulullah said that may on the Day Of Judgment, because of my intercession, my uncle will be placed in a shallow pool of fire that reached his ankle that will cause his brain to boil.

2. Worst level of punishment

The punishment of the hypocrites.

Allah says, "The hypocrites will be the lowest level of Hellfire."

3. Different form of punishments:

i. Roasting of the skins

Allah says, "Those who reject our signs, We shall soon cast into the fire as often as their skins are roasted through we shall change them for fresh skin that they may face the penalty" (4:56).

The highest pain is felt in the skin. Hence, as soon as the skin is roasted and the nerves are burnt, Allah will give them a new skin and the skin starts roasted again.

ii. The Melting

Allah SWT says, "But those who deny their Lord, for them will be cut out a garment of fire over their heads will be poured out boiling water, with it will be scalded water within their bodies as well as their skins. (22:19)

iii. Face

Face is the most honored and sensitive part.

Allah says, "The fire will burnt their faces and they will therein grin with their displaced lips (23:104).

iv. The dragging

Allah says, "Truly those in sin are the ones strain in mind and mad, the day they will be dragged to the fire on their faces, they will hear taste you the touch of Hell". (54:48)

v. The darkening of the faces

It's a form of humiliation.

Allah says," but those who has earned evil will have a reward of like evil. Humiliating disgrace will cover their faces, no defender will they have from Allah, and their faces will be covered as it was pieces of the depth of the darkness of night. They are companions of the fire, they will abide therein forever (10:27).

vi. The punishment will surround them

It will be from the front, back, top, bottom from the sides. Allah says, "Indeed, We have prepared for the wrongdoers a fire whose walls will surround them" (18:29).

How come the fire surrounds them from every side? Allah says," Those who seek gain and evil and are surrounded by their sins. Because they are surrounded by the sins, they will be surrounded by the Fire. Allah says, Yes! Whosoever earns evil and his sin has surrounded him, they are dwellers of the Fire (i.e. Hell); they will dwell therein forever. (2:81)

vii. Fire will get into their heart.

Allah says, "Nay! Verily, he will be thrown into the crushing Fire. And what will make you know what the crushing Fire is? The fire of Allah kindled, Which leaps up over the hearts." (104:4-7)

viii. Dragging of the intestines.

This is for the one who enjoin good and forbid evil but they didn’t do it themselves.

In Saheeh Bukhari, Rasulullah said a man will be brought and be put into Hellfire, and will go round and round in Hellfire like a donkey of a flour grinding mill. He will go around with his intestines and he'll be screaming. And then they will say, “Weren't you were the one who used to preach to us to do good and prevent us from doing evil. How come you ended with us in the Hellfire?”. He will say, “I used to ask others to do good but I myself didn't do it, and I used to prevent others from doing evil while I myself used to do evil."

This is the punishment of double standard. They will carry with them heavy chains. Allah says, "They will be chained, their arms will be tight to their necks, dragging this chain with them and they are dragged by the chains. (40:71)

ix.  Pain and Regret of the people of Hellfire

The people of Hellfire will try to climb over the wall of Hellfire. There will be Angels who knock them down with hammers of iron and they will be chained and pulled down. This will result in pain and regret of the people of Hellfire.

Allah says, "We opened to them the gates of every (pleasant) thing, until in the midst of their enjoyment in that which they were given, all of a sudden, We took them to punishment, and lo! They were plunged into destruction with deep regrets and sorrows. (6:44)

As soon as they see the punishment in the Day Of Judgment, they will be suppressed with regret. Nobody will help them. They neglect the words of Anbiya, hence the Anbiya will neglect them on Day Of Judgment. They ignore the orders of Allah in this world, so Allah will ignore them.

Allah says," And when they are cast down together into a constricted place therein, they will plead for destruction there and then, this day plead not for a single destruction, plead for destruction oft-repeated." (25:13-14)

They will ask for destruction and ask Allah to destroy them, but it will not be answered.

Allah says, "And they will cry out therein, "Our Lord, remove us; we will do righteousness - other than what we were doing!" But did We not grant you life enough for whoever would remember therein to remember, and the warner had come to you? So taste [the punishment], for there is not for the wrongdoers any helper. (35:37)

What about for those who associates others with Allah?
Allah says, "Certainly! You (disbelievers) and that which you are worshipping now besides Allah, are (but) fuel for Hell! (Surely), you will enter it" (21:98).

On Day Of Judgment, Allah will tell those who worship idols to follow their idols. For the one who worship Jesus AS, Jesus AS is a Prophet of Allah and he will be in the highest rank of Paradise. What will be set for them is not Jesus, he was never asked to be worshipped but it will be set for them is a cross. Allah will say, Followers of the cross, follow the cross and it will be put into Hellfire and they all will follow it. And it will happen to other objects of worship besides Allah.

TO BE CONTINUED ...