THE MUSLIM WOMAN SEEKS KNOWLEDGE

The Muslim woman and knowledge

(Qur’an: Ash Shams 91:9)Allah has said: ‘The one who has succeeded has purified it (the self)’.

Narrated in Saheeh Muslim on the authority of Nu’maan Ibn Basheer The Prophet صلى الله عليه و سلم said: ‘Verily there is a morsel of flesh within the body, if it becomes good then the whole body will become good and if it becomes corrupt then it will become corrupt, verily it is the heart.’

It is narrated in Saheeh Al Bukhari on the authority of Abi Burdah that the Prophet صلى الله عليه و سلم said: Three people have two blessings. A man from the people of the book who believes in his Prophet and believes in Muhammad صلى الله عليه و سلم, and a slave if he gives Allah and his master their rights, and a man who has a female slave, and taught her good manners and did his best in doing so, and taught her knowledge and did his best in teaching her, then frees her and marries her then he has two blessings.’

And it is narrated in Saheeh Al Bukhari the statement of ‘Aisha: How virtuous are the women of the Ansaar, shyness never prevented them from learning their religion.

And it is narrated in Saheeh Al Bukhari that the Prophet صلى الله عليه و سلم gave a specific day for the women to seek knowledge.

This shows that the Prophet صلى الله عليه و سلم put great emphasis upon the education of Muslim women in the religion and has shown the immense reward of those who educate their wives and daughters and even their slave girls about the religion. The following sections will clarify to us as to why Islamic education for Muslim women is so important.

WOMEN MUST SEEK KNOWLEDGE

THE IMPORTANCE OF SEEKING KNOWLEDGE FOR WOMEN

And the statement of the Messenger صلى الله عليه و سلم: ‘Women are the twin halves of men.’

Section: The obligation of seeking knowledge.

(Qur’an, Ta-Ha 20:114):“And say: My Lord increase me in knowledge.”

(Qur’an, Muhammad 47:19): ‘So know that there is no god save Allah, ask forgiveness for your sins and for the believing men and the believing women. Allah knows well your moving and your place of rest.’

On the authority of Anas Ibn Malik the Prophet صلى الله عليه و سلم said: Seeking knowledge is obligatory upon every Muslim.

Shaikh Muhammad Ibn Abdul Wahhab At Tamimi said:

Know, may Allah have mercy upon you that it is compulsory upon every Muslim to know these four issues.

1. العلم Al ‘Ilm: “Firstly, the Knowledge.”

2. العمل به Al ‘Amalu Bihi: “and the actions (working) by it.”

3. الدعوة إليه Ad Da’watu Ilaihi: “Calling to it.”

4. الصبرعلى الأذى فيه As Sabru ‘Alaal Adhaa Feehi: “and to have patience with the hardships that come along that path (in the way of da’wah)."

THE VIRTUES OF SEEKING KNOWLEDGE

(Qur’an, Al-’Imran 3:18): ‘There is no one worthy of worship but He: That is the witness of Allah, His angels and those endowed with knowledge, Standing firm in Justice (or maintaining His Creation in Justice). There is no god but He, the Exalted in power, the Wise.’

(Qur’an, Al Zumar 39:9): ‘Are those who have knowledge the same as those who don’t have knowledge’.

(Qur’an, Al-Mujadilah 58:11):’Allah will raise up, to (suitable) ranks and (degrees), those of you who believe and who have been granted knowledge. And Allah is well-acquainted with all you do.’

(Qur’an, Fatir 35:28):“It is only those who have knowledge among His servants that fear Allah.”

Meaning: Those who have knowledge of the Book and the Sunnah and act upon this seeking the face of Allah.

It is reported in Saheeh Al Bukhari on the Authority of Mu’aawyah that he heard the Prophet صلى الله عليه و سلم say: ‘Whomsoever Allah wants good for he makes him understand the religion …’.

And narrated in Saheeh Muslim on the Authority of Abi Hurairah, the Prophet صلى الله عليه و سلم said: ‘Whomsoever proceeds upon the road to seek knowledge Allah will make it easy upon him the road to enter Jannah.’

And Tirmidhi narrated in the Authority of Abi ‘Umamah that the Prophet صلى الله عليه و سلم said: ‘The preference of a scholar over a worshipper is like the preference of myself over all of you.’

It is clear from these verses of the Qur’an and these Ahadeeth of the Messenger صلى الله عليه و سلم that a woman does not become one preferred by Allah because she has beauty, wealth or status. Rather, the sign that Allah prefers her over others is the understanding and implementation of the religion of Islam. And knowledge of Islam is that which cleanses the heart, makes a person thread upon the road of guidance, raises the person in levels and has the person die upon a state which Allah is pleased with. However, ignorance of the religion with all the beauty, wealth and status one craves and desires, only leads to a road of destruction where one walks upon darkness until one dies in a state that Allah is displeased with. For how many women are amazed with their wealth, status and beauty yet these things do not quench their thirst for happiness and contentment?

THE MONTH OF SHAWWAL

ALHAMDULILLAAHI!!!

WE HAVE FASTED IN THE BLESSED MONTH OF RAMADAAN AND I PRAY THAT ALLAAH ACCEPTS YOUR FASTS AND MINE AND FORGIVE YOU AND ME OF OUR SINS; AMEEN.

NOW IT'S THE MONTH OF SHAWWAL AND ON THE FIRST DAY OF THIS MONTH WE CELEBRATED THE END OF RAMADAAN AND THE END OF OUR FASTING, AL HAMDULILLAAH!!!

BUT, ALLAAH HAS MORE REWARDS FOR US TO ACQUIRE, IF WE CHOOSE, AND WE CHOOSE BECAUSE WE CHOOSE JANNAH/PARADISE AS OUR FINAL AND ETERNAL ABODE.

ABU AYYUB AL-ANSAREE (radiallaahu anhu) NARRATED THAT THE MESSENGER OF ALLAAH (sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam) SAID: "HE WHO OBSERVES THE FAST OF RAMADAAN, AND THEN FOLLOWS IT WITH FASTING SIX DAYS OF SHAWWAL, WOULD BE CONSIDERED AS IF HE FASTED FOR A LIFETIME. (Collected by Muslim)

SO, GO AHEAD AND GET YOUR LIFETIME FASTING REWARD, OUR LORD IS GREAT WITH HIS MERCY UPON US. ALLAAHU AKBAR!!!

"May Allaah bless us for our dua'a and may He answer them for us and forgive us of our sins and forgive us of our failures and our shortcomings and remove from us our ignorance and laziness and enter us into Paradise; AMEEN!"

ONLY ISLAAM

NO RELIGION WILL BE ACCEPTED BY YOUR LORD OTHER THAN ISLAAM!!!

Allaah says; "And whoever seeks a religion other than Islaam, it will never be accepted of him, and in the Hereafter he will be one of the losers". (Surah Imran 3:85)

IT IS OBLIGATORY TO HAVE BELIEF IN THE MESSENGERSHIP OF THE PROPHET MUHAMMAD (salallaahu alaihi wa sallam).

Narrated Abu Hurairah (radiallaahu anhu): Allaah's Messenger (salallaahu alaihi wa sallam) said; "By Him (Allaah) in Whose Hand Muhammad's (salallaahu alaihi wa sallam) soul is, there is none from amongst the Jews and the Christians (other religions of these present nations) who hears about me and then dies without believing in the Message with which I have been sent (i.e. Islaamic Monotheism), but he will be from the dwellers of the Hell Fire". (Sahih Muslim, the Book of Faith, Vol. 1, Hadith No. 240)

Allaah says; "Surely, those who reject Faith (disbelieve in Allaah and in Muhammad as being Allaah's Messenger (salallaahu alaihi wa sallam) and in all that which he (salallaahu alaihi wa sallam) has brought from Allaah), neither their properties, nor their offspring will avail them aught against Allaah. They are the dwellers of the Fire, therein they will abide".

Narrated Abu Hurairah (radiallaahu anhu): Allaah's Messener (salallaahu alaihi wa sallam) said; "By Him (Allaah) in Whose Hand my soul is, surely, the son of Maryam (Mary) Isa, (Jesus) will shortly descend amongst you people (Muslims), and will judge mankind justly by the Law of the Quraan (as a just ruler), and will break the cross and kill the pigs and abolish Jizyah (a tax taken from the people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians) who are in the protection of the Muslim government). This tax will not be accepted by Isa (Jesus) and all mankind will be required to embrace Islaam with no other alternative. Then there will be abundance of money and nobody will accept charitable gifts". (Sahih Bukhari, Vol.3, Hadith No. 425)

Islaamic Monotheism is believing in the Oneness and Unification of Allaah, His Oneness in Lordship, His Oneness in Worship and His Oneness in His beautiful Names and Attributes.

THE JINN CONT'D

THE JINN WERE CREATED FROM A SMOKELESS FIRE, BUT THEY NO LONGER HAVE THEIR FIERY NATURE. THEY HAVE BEEN TRANSFORMED FROM IT BY EATING, DRINKING, PROCREATION AND REPRODUCTION JUST AS THE SONS OF ADAM HAVE BEEN TRANSFORMED FROM THEIR EARTHLY ELEMENT IN THEE SAME WAY.

THE ONE WHO WAS CREATED FROM SMOKELESS FIRE WAS THE FATHER OF THE JINN IN THE WAY THAT ADAM, THE FATHER OF MEN, WAS CREATED FROM EARTH. AS FAR AS ALL OTHER JINN ARE CONCERNED, OTHER THAN THEIR FOREFATHER, THEY ARE NOT CREATED FROM ACTUAL SMOKELESS FIRE JUST AS NONE OF THE CHILDREN OF ADAM ARE CREATED FROM ACTUAL EARTH.

THE PROPHET (SAW) SAID THAT HE FELT ON THE 'COOLNESS' OF THE SPITTLE OF THE SHAYTAN WHO APPEARED TO HIM WHILE WAS PRAYING AND HE (SAW) THROTTLED HIM (THE SHAYTAN).

IMAM AHMAD IBN HANBAL RELATES FROM ABU SA'ID AL-KHUDRI THAT THE MESSENGER OF ALLAAH (SAW) GOT UP TO PRAY THE MORNING PRAYER AND I WAS PRAYING BEHING HIM. HE (SAW) RECITED AND BECAME CONFUSED IN HIS (SAW) RECITATION. WHEN HE (SAW) FINISHED THE PRAYER, HE (SAW) SAID; "IF YOU COULD HAVE ONLY SEEN ME GRABBING IBLIS (he is the shaytan and he was of the jinn) AND HOW I KEPT ON THROTTLING HIM UNTIL I FELT THE 'COOLNESS' OF HIS SPITTLE BETWEEN MY THUMB AND INDEX FINGER."

THE JINN EAT AND DRINK AND THEY CHEW AND SWALLOW AS IN THE HADITH OF UMAYYA IBN MAKHSHI TRANSMITTED BY ABU DA'WUD. HE SAID THE SHAYTAN CONTINUED TO EAT WITH HIM AND THEN HE (UMAYYA) MENTIONED THE NAME OF ALLAAH SAYING (bis mi allaah) AND HE (THE SHAYTAN) VOMITED WHAT WAS IN HIS BELLY.

IN SAHIH AL-BUKHARI A HADITH RELATED BY ABU HURAYRAH, THE PROPHET (SAW) COMMANDED HIM TO BRING HIM (SAW) SOME STONES WITH WHICH TO CLEAN HIMSELF WITH AFTER USING THE TOILET. HE (SAW) SAID, "DO NOT BRING BONES OR DUNG". WHEN ABU HURAYRAH ASKED THE MESSENGER OF ALLAAH (SAW) LATER THE REASON FOR THIS, HE (SAW) SAID, "THEY ARE THE FOOD OF THE JINN".

THE PROPHET (SAW) INFORMED US THAT SHAYTAN EATS WITH HIS LEFT HAND AND DE (SAW) COMMANDED US TO DO THE OPPOSITE OF THAT. IMAAM MUSLIM TRANSMITS FROM IBN UMAR THAT THE PROPHET (SAW) SAID; "WHEN ONE OF YOU EATS AND DRINKS, HE SHOULD DO IT WITH HIS RIGHT HAND. THE SHAYTAN EATS AND DRINKS WITH HIS LEFT HAND".

THE PARADISE

AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THE ABOVE PICTURES, PARADISE IS NOT IN THE HEAVENS, IT IS ABOVE THE SEVEN HEAVENS AND IT IS ALREADY CREATED.

PARADISE IS THE ULTIMATE REWARD, THE HIGHEST SUCCESS AND IT CAN ONLY BE ACQUIRED BY OBEYING ALLAAH AND HIS MESSENGER (SAW) IN ALL THINGS, AND AT ALL TIMES AND AFTER MAKING AN ERROR OR SIN, SEEKING FORGIVENESS FROM ALLAAH WITH SINCERE REPENTANCE.

"be foremost (in seeking) forgiveness from your Lord. and a garden (of bliss), the width of the heavens and earth, prepared for those who believe in Allaah and His Messenger - that is the grace of Allaah, which He bestows on whome He pleases, and Allaah is the Lord of abounding grace" (Al-Hadeed 57:21)

Abu Hurayrah reported that the Messenger of Allaah (saw) said that Allaah said: "I have prepared for My righteous servants what no eye has seen and no ear has heard, nor has it occurred to the human heard. Thus, recite if you wish, 'and no soul knows what joy has been kept hidden for them.' " (Bukhari and Muslim)

Sahl bin Sa'd narrated that the Messenger of Allaah (saw) said: "A place in Paradise equal to the size of a lash (eye) is better than the whole world and whatever is in it." (Bukhari)

THE PARADISE IS ADORNED WITH MANY BEAUTIFUL THINGS THAT WE CANNOT IMAGINE BECAUSE WE'VE NEVER SUCH BEAUTY AND IT IS A REWARD FROM ALLAAH OUR LORD.

THE PARADISE HAS RIVERS, OF MILK, WINE (does not intoxicate) and HONEY (pure and clear). FOUNTAINS OF WATER MIXED WITH CAMPHOR (sweet) THAT ONLY THE RIGHTEOUS SERVANTS WILL DRINK FROM.

THE PARADISE HAD GARDENS OF TREES WITH FRUITS, DATES AND POMEGRANATES WHICH WILL HAND LOW IN COMPLIANCE AND SO SHALL ITS SHADE. THERE WILL BE A TREE SO WIDE THAT ONE CAN TRAVEL UNDER ITS SHADOW FOR A HUNDRED YEARS. PERPETUAL IS THE SHADE THEREIN. THERE WILL BE LOTE TREES (without thorns) AND THE FRUIT OF THE LOTE TREES WILL BE PILED ONE ABOVE ANOTHER WITH UNLIMITED SEASON AND ITS SUPPLY WILL NEVER CEASE.

THE PEOPLE WILL RECLINE ON RAISED THRONES WITHOUT BURNING SUN NOR FREEZING COLD, THE FACES WILL BE JOYFUL AND THERE WILL BE NO BAD SPEECH AND THE PEOPLE WILL PRAISE ALLAAH. THERE WILL BE NO SORROW, NO TOIL AND NO WEARINESS WILL TOUCH THE PEOPLE AND PARADISE IS A LASTING RESIDENCE, FOREVER.

"say, shall i bring your attention to things far better than, those? for the righteous are gardens in nearness to their Lord, with rivers flowing beneath, eternal therein, with pure companions (husbands & wives) and the good pleasure of Allaah. For within Allaah's sight are (all) His servants - (especially) those who say, 'our Lord, we have indeed believed, so forgive us our sins and protect us from the agony of the Fire'. - those who are patient, are truthful, who worship devoutly, who spend (in the cause of Allaah) and who pray for forgiveness in the pre-dawn hours." (Imraan 3:15-17)

Abu Sa'eed Al-Khudri reported that the Messenger of Allaah (saw) said: "Allaah will say to the inhabitants of Paradise, 'Oh inhabitants of Paradise!' They will say 'Oh our Lord, we present ourselves and are at Your pleasure, and goodness rests in Your hands'. Then He will say, 'Are you contented'? They will reply, 'And how should we not be contented, Oh Lord, when You have given to us that which You have given to no one else of Your creation'? Then He will say, 'Would you like Me to give you something better than that'? They will answer, 'Oh Lord, and what thing is better than that'? He will say, 'I shall cause My Favor to descend upon you and thereafter I shall never be displeased with you. (Bukhari and Muslim)

saw: sallaahu alaihi wa sallam (may the peace of allaah be upon him and prayers)

these are a minute few things that describe the paradise see "descriptions of paradise

by dr. abdullaah abdurrahman al-shimemeri

THE JINN

THE JINN ARE CREATION WHICH THE HUMAN BEING CANNOT ORDINARILY SEE UNLESS THEY TAKE A FORM OF CREATION WHICH THE HUMAN BEING CAN SEE. THE JINN ARE BELIEVERS AND DISBELIEVERS. THEY EAT, THEY LIVE AND THEY DIE.

ALLAAH SAYS; "AND I (ALLAAH) CREATED NOT THE JINN AND MANKIND EXCEPT THAT THEY WORSHIP ME (ALONE)." DHARIYAT 51:56

"AND THE JINN WE (ALLAAH) CREATED AFORETIME FROM SMOKELESS FLAME FIRE." HIJR 15:27

"SAY (O MUHAMMAD (saw): IT HAS BEEN REVEALED TO ME THAT A GROUP (FROM AMONG THREE TO TEN IN NUMBER) OF JINN LISTENED (TO THIS QURAN). THEY SAID; 'VERILY, WE HAVE HEARD A WONDERFUL RECITAION' (THIS QURAAN)." JINN 72:1

"IT (THE QURAAN) GUIDES TO THE RIGHT PATH, AND WE HAVE BELIEVED THEREIN, AND WE SHALL NEVER JOIN (IN WORSHIP) ANYTHING WITH OUR LORD (ALLAAH)." JINN 72:2

"AND VERILY, THERE WERE MEN AMONG MANKIND WHO TOOK SHELTER WITH THE MALES AMONG THE JINN, BUT THEY (JINN) INCREASED THEM (MANKIND) IN SIN AND TRANSGRESSION." JINN 72:6

THE SHAYTAAN, SATAN, IBLIS IS FROM THE TRIBE OF THE JINN.

ALLAAH SAYS; "AND (REMEMBER) WHEN WE SAID TO THE ANGELS: PROSTRATE YOURSELVES BEFORE ADAM. AND THEY PROSTRATED EXCEPT IBLIS (SATAN), HE REFUSED AND WAS PROUD AND WAS ONE OF THE DISBELIEVERS (DISOBEDIENT TO ALLAAH)." BAQARAH 2:34

"ALLAAH SAID; WHAT PREVENTED YOU (O IBLIS) THAT YOU DID NOT PROSTRATE YOURSELF, WHEN I COMMANDED YOU?" IBLIS SAID; 'I AM BETTER THAN HIM (ADAM), YOU CREATED ME FROM FIRE, AND HIM YOU CREATED FROM CLAY'." ARAF 7:12

"AND (REMEMBER) WHEN WE SAID TO THE ANGELS; PROSTRATE YOURSELVES UNTO ADAM. SO THEY PROSTRATED THEMSELVES ESCEPT IBLIS (SATAN). HE WAS ONE OF THE JINN; HE DISOBEYED THE COMMAND OF HIS LORD........KAHF 18:50

THE JINN POSSESS A GREAT POWER TO TAKE ON FORMS AND CHANGE SHAPE. THEY CAN TAKE ON THE FORM OF SNAKES AND SCORPIONS, HORSES, CATTLE, CAMELS, SHEEP AND THE FORM OF BIRDS. INDEED, THEY HAVE POWER TO APPEAR IN HUMAN FORM. THEY HAVE POWER CAN CAPAABILITY THAT ARE BEYOND HUMAN BEINGS. SUCH AS STRENGTH AND MOVEMENT.

ONE JINN, NAMED IFRIT, PROMISED SULAYMAN TO BRING THE THRONE OF THE QUEEN OF YEMEN TO JERUSALEM. HE WENT TO YEMEN CARRIED THE THRONE BACK TO JERUSALEM IN LESS TIME THAN IT TOOK SULAYMAN TO RISE FROM HIS SEAT.

ALLAAH SAYS; "A IFRIT (STRONG ONE) FROM THE JINN SAID; 'I WILL BRING IT (THE THRONE) TO YOU BEFORE YOU RISE FROM YOUR PLACE (COUNCIL). AND VERILY I AM INDEED STRONG, AND TRUSTWORTHY FOR SUCH WORK'." NAML 27:39