Idraak – Issue no. 9 February 2025

By Al Ansaar Admin

Do you prefer to read this article as a PDF? Download the PDF version by clicking here.

Welcoming Ramadan

The month of Sha’ban has come to an end, and thus, we welcome the blessed month of Ramadan! In this months issue of Idraak, we will discuss the importance and beauty of Ramadan and beneficial ways that we can increase our ibada during the holy month. We thank Allah for allowing us all to see another Ramadan and make dua that he may show us many more, ameen!

Did you Know?

Rasool Allah SAW said “Every deed of the son of Adam is for him except fasting; it is for Me and I shall reward for it” (Bukhari: 1761). Allah SWT has given us the opportunity to fast for 30 days for Him. This is a blessing beyond recognition!

the Month of Fasting

Of the 12 months of the Hijri calendar, Ramadan is perhaps the most anticipated and beloved by Muslims all across the ummah. Fasting is one of the five pillars of Islam, the others being Shahdah, Salah, Zakaat, and Hajj. Thus, we can understand how truly important Ramadan is for Muslims. Allah SWT says in the Quran, regarding Ramadan, that “The month of Ramadan in which was revealed the Quran, a guidance for mankind and clear proofs for the guidance and the criterion (between right and wrong). So whoever of you sights (the crescent on the first night of) the month (of Ramadan i.e. is present at his home), he must observe Sawm (fasts) that month…” [al-Baqarah 2:185]. Based on this verse, we can ascertain many virtues of this blessed month. Firstly, the Holy Quran, which is the word of Allah and the guidance for all of mankind, was revealed during Ramadan, the book upon which we as Muslims ought to base our entire way of life. Allah SWT tells us that Laylat Ul Qadar (the night of power) was the night that the Quran was revealed (Quran 97). There will be more info regarding Laylat Ul Qadar in the following article!

Another virtue of Ramadan is the expiation of sins. According to a Hadith narrated by Abu Hurraira, Rasool Allah SAW said, “Whoever fasts Ramadan out of faith and in the hope of reward, his previous sins will be forgiven” (Muslim 760). SubhanAllah, scholars agree that this Hadith means that those who complete the fard of fasting in the holy month will have their sins of the previous Ramadan forgiven.

Continuing upon the virtues of Ramadan, those who perform the pilgrimage of Umrah during the month of Ramadan will have the equivalent reward of having performed Hajj! Rasool Allah SAW said, “When Ramadan comes, go for ‘Umrah, for ‘Umrah in Ramadan is equivalent to Hajj” (Bukhari 1782). Among these virtues, it is vital to remember that the core reason for our fasting is to attain taqwa and come closer to Allah. Allah SWT has given us a whole month to come closer to Him; truly, this is a blessing.

These are simply a few of the bountiful virtues of the beautiful month of Ramadan! There is no shortage of blessings from Allah SWT during this holy period. We ought to do our best to be grateful to Allah for these blessings and fulfill our obligatory duties as Muslims.

Did you Know?

Although fasting during Ramadan is an obligatory act for all Muslims, the mercy of Allah is such that the following people are exempt from fasting: The sick, the elderly, women who are menstruating and women who are pregnant. We ought to give husn-e-dhan to those whom we see not fasting and mind our own business. May Allah accept our intentions and fasts.

One Night, A Thousand Months

Laylat al-Qadr, or the Night of Decree, is one of the most significant nights in the Islamic calendar. It is a night of immense spiritual value, described in the Qur’an as being “better than a thousand months.” On this night, the divine mercy of Allah descends upon humanity, and Allah’s decrees for the coming year are set in motion. The Qur’an states: “We sent it down on the Night of Decree. But what will convey to you what the Night of Decree is? The Night of Decree is better than a thousand months. In it descend the angels and the Spirit, by the leave of their Lord, with every command. Peace it is; until the rise of dawn.” (Surah Al-Qadr: 1-5)

Islamic scholars, such as Al-Baghawi, explain that this is the night when Allah ordains and decrees matters for the upcoming year. On this night, Allah’s commands are carried out, determining the fate of individuals and events. Another interpretation is that it is a night of great honor, as evidenced by Surah Al-An’am 91 and Surah Al-Zumar 67 where Allah describes the disbelievers as “not honoring Allah as He deserves,” and uses the word “qadar” to mean “honoring.” From this interpretation, Laylat al-Qadr would be the night on which righteous deeds honored by Allah Almighty through acceptance and by being greatly multiplied!

The most authentic view is that Laylat al-Qadr falls within the last ten nights of Ramadan. The Prophet Muhammad PBUH emphasized this in a hadith narrated by Aisha: “Allah’s Messenger used to practice I’tikaf in the last ten nights of Ramadan and used to say, ‘Look for the Night of Qadr in the last ten nights of the month of Ramadan.’” (Sahih Bukhari). Another narration clarifies that it is most likely to occur on an odd-numbered night: “Seek Laylat al-Qadr on an odd-numbered night among the last ten in Ramadan.” (Sahih Bukhari, Sahih Muslim). The most popular opinion is that Laylat al-Qadr occurs on the 27th night of Ramadan. However, since the exact date is uncertain, Muslims are encouraged to seek it throughout the last ten nights.

The Prophet Muhammad PBUH demonstrated the best way to observe this sacred night. Aisha narrated: “When the last ten nights began, Allah’s Messenger avoided intimacy, stayed awake at night, and kept his family awake [for worship].” (Sahih Bukhari, Sahih Muslim). Another narration states: “Allah’s Messenger used to exert himself in devotion during the last ten nights to a greater extent than at any other time.” (Sahih Muslim). Therefore, Muslims are encouraged to dedicate this night to prayer, supplication, recitation of the Qur’an, and seeking Allah’s forgiveness. Engaging in worship and sincerely calling upon Allah in this blessed night would be the equivalent of worhsipping Allah and making dua to Him for eighty three years! Such an opportunity could literally be a once in a life-time opportunity to really get ahead in the Hereafter and make up for any time wasted in not worshipping Allah. A wise person should not let such a great opportunity pass by.

We ask Allah to grant us the ability to witness Laylat al-Qadr, to worship Him with sincerity, and to bless us with His mercy and forgiveness. May this night bring us closer to our Creator and grant us success in this life and the Hereafter. Ameen.

Did you Know?

Although we may feel compelled to get a few extra hours or minutes of sleep before fajr and decide to skip out on suhoor, this is highly advised against. It was narrated by Ibn Umar that Rasool Allah SAW said “Verily, Allah and His angels send blessings upon those who eat before fasting” (Ibn Hibbān 346). Allah is pleased when we wake up and eat suhoor! There is no amount of sleep that is not worth the sacrifice to have Allah SWT and his angels send blessings upon us!

That you may Attain Taqwa

With the holy month commencing, we ought to ask ourselves that aside from fasting, how can we maximize our time and worship during Ramadan? Perhaps many of us are familiar with those who wake up for iftar to eat and then proceed to sleep all day until Maghrib only to resume eating. Is this truly making the most of a blessed month? Not at all. There are also those who put their sinful habits and actions on hold from sunrise to sunset only to resume sinning at night. We must do our best to not only make the most of our fasts but to also change our habits and mindsets. What benefit does one gain from fasting while continuing to use foul language or display anger? What benefit can we gain from fasting if we are asleep all day? Absolutely none. There are simple ways through which we can make the most of our days and nights.

First and foremost, we ought to increase our supplementary worship as much as we can. We ought to pray the prescribed sunnah prayers along with our five daily prayers, increase our zikr after every prayer, and make abundant duas to Allah SWT. Rasool Allah SAW said, “Whoever spends the nights of Ramadan in prayer out of faith and in the hope of reward, his previous sins will be forgiven” (Bukhari, 2008). Tarawih prayer gives us the perfect opportunity to fulfill the recommendation of the aforementioned Hadith. It is nightly worship where we can earn the reward of congregational Salah as well as have our sins forgiven.

Another way we can make the most of our days during Ramadan is to make an abundance of dua. When opening our fast at the time of Maghrib, we ought to recite the following dua: “Dhahaba al-zama’ wa abtalat al-‘urooq wa thabata al-ajr in sha Allah”, which translates to “thirst is gone, the veins are moistened, and the reward is certain if Allah wills” (Abu Dawood 2357). As mentioned earlier, Ramadan is a time to seek forgiveness from Allah, so another dua we can recite is “Allahumma innaka afuwwun tuhibb Al-afwa faaffu anni” (O Allah, You are forgiving and You love forgiveness, so forgive me). These are just a few duas found from within the sunnah. However, we ought to also make dua from our heart as much as we can, for forgiveness, blessings, shukr, and all things that we need, as Allah is Al-Mujeeb, The Answerer of Prayers.

Another vital thing to remember is that we must have sabr while fasting. Rasool Allah SAW said that “fasting is half of sabr” (Tirmidhī 3519). Furthermore, it was recommended by Rasool Allah that if one of us should become angry or annoyed while fasting, we ought to say “Allahuma inni saim,” which means “Oh Allah, I am fasting,” as a means to remain calm and remember that you are fasting for Allah. It is easy to become irritable or annoyed while fasting, but we ought to do our best to avoid harsh language and anger for the sake of Allah.

Finally, we should remember that while every Muslim has their own weaknesses and temptations, being able to observe the month of Ramadan is a huge blessing from Allah. For this reason, we should try our best to change our ways, only for the sake of Allah SWT. While Ramadan is a great time to offer extra prayers and zikr, we should try our best to keep these habits alive within our minds beyond the holy month. Why should we only try to be our best selves for one month out of the year? Ramadan is a time for spiritual growth and change. May Allah allow us to build a positive mindset of taqwa during this blessed month, and may Allah allow us to keep the good habits we make during Ramadan year-round. Ameen.

Jazakum Allahu Khayr for reading! We are grateful for your readership and continued support. We are always finding ways to improve the quality of these articles and would appreciate any feedback from our readers.

Stay tuned for our next issue of Idraak at the end of March 2025 insha’Allah.

Idraak – Issue no. 8 January 2025

By Al Ansaar Admin

Do you prefer to read this article as a PDF? Download the PDF version by clicking here.

A Sacred Journey

As we come to an end of the sacred month of Rajab, we ought to reflect upon the miraculous beauty of Isra’ wal Miraj. The Night Journey is a building block in the foundations of our spiritual beliefs and practices. Join us in this months issue of Idraak as we discuss The Night Journey, the significance of Rajab and how we can understand, appreciate and increase our rizq.

Did you Know?

Rajab was called “the Rajab of Mudar” by the Prophet PBUH because the tribe of Mudar was the only tribe among the pre-Islamic tribes to correctly designate Rajab as sacred and strictly uphold its sanctity whereas others did not.

The Sacred Journey

Perhaps one of the most miraculous events in the history of Islam, second only to the Holy Quran itself, is the sacred night of Isra’ wal Miraj. In this article we will be looking at the journey in two parts, the first being Rasool Allah’s (SAW) journey to Masjid Al-Aqsa and the second being his ascension through the seven heavens.

The word Isra’ translates to “Night Journey” and denotes the first half of the life-changing experience of Rasool Allah (SAW). It was a time of great stress and sadness for Nabi (SAW) as he had recently lost both his first and most beloved wife, Khadijah (RA), and Abu Talib, his uncle who acted as a protector and ally. Furthermore, this was around the time when the people of Taif had savagely rejected the message of the Messenger of Allah (SAW) and attacked him with stones to such an extent that his shoes had filled with blood. One night, feeling particularly dejected (which reports estimate to have been the 27th of Rajab) the Holy Prophet (SAW) was resting by the Kaaba when suddenly the angel Jibreel appeared before him. In a moment of astonishment, Jibreel opened the chest of Rasool Allah (SAW) and washed his heart. Upon doing so, he brought forth a white animal for Rasool Allah (SAW) to mount. This animal was unlike anything he had ever seen before and it was between the size of a mule and a donkey, the animal was named Buraq.

Having mounted upon Buraq, and moving at the speed of light Rasool Allah (SAW) was first taken to Medina, then to the peak of Mount Sinai where Allah had revealed the Torah to Musa (AS). After that, Buraq transported The Holy Prophet (SAW) to Bethlehem, where Isa ibn Maryam (AS) was born, and finally to the grave of Musa AS. After having visited the four sites, Rasool Allah (SAW) was then taken to Jerusalem where he was brought to Masjid Aqsa. To his astonishment, when Jibreel led Rasool Allah (SAW) to Bait ul Maqdis, the prophets of Allah from the past were present. Here, Jibreel led Nabi (SAW) to the front where he was made to lead the other prophets in prayer.

The second portion of the blessed journey is referred to as Miraj, which means “ascension.” It was here where Rasool Allah (SAW) left Bait ul Maqdis with Buraq with Jibreel and they ascended to the first heaven. At the first heaven Rasool Allah (SAW) was greeted by Adam (AS) the father of humanity. From here, Rasool Allah (SAW) ascended further towards the second heaven where he was greeted by Yahya (AS) and Isa ibn Maryam (AS). At the third heaven, Rasool Allah was welcomed by Yusuf (AS), and at the fourth by Idris (AS). At the fifth, Rasool Allah (SAW) was greeted by Harun (AS), the brother of Musa (AS) whom Nabi (SAW) went on to encounter at the sixth heaven. Upon departing from Musa (AS), Rasool Allah (SAW) was welcomed by Ibrahim (AS) at the seventh and last heaven.

After his encounter with the prophets, Rasool Allah (SAW) was taken to Sidrat-ul-Muntaha, a lote tree which marked the boundary beyond which is the Throne of Allah and no being was allowed to cross. The tree had great leaves and stood across four rivers, surrounding the tree were golden butterflies and fruits the likes of which no man on earth had ever seen. Jibreel mentioned to Rasool Allah (SAW) that he could no longer accompany him beyond the lote tree. Before leaving, Jibreel offered Rasool Allah (SAW) a glass of milk, a glass of wine and a jar of honey. Being the best of creations and the most dedicated and humble servant of Allah, Rasool Allah (SAW) naturally chose the milk, to which Jibreel said “you have chosen the Fitra, had you chosen otherwise your nation would have gone astray.”

Upon crossing the boundary, Rasool Allah (SAW) was covered by indescribable colours and a strange fog as the Voice of Allah called out to him stating that “The day I created the heavens and the Earth, I enjoined upon you and your Ummah fifty prayers, so establish them, you and your Ummah.” Upon hearing this, the prophet Muhammad (SAW) returned to Ibrahim (AS) who did not offer any consultation, so he went to Musa (AS) who asked him “how much did your Lord enjoin upon you and your Ummah?” Rasool Allah (SAW) replied “fifty prayers,” Musa (AS) said “you will not be able to establish them, neither you nor your Ummah. Go back to your Lord and ask Him to reduce it.” So the Holy Prophet (SAW) went back to Allah and He reduced it to ten. Then Nabi (SAW) returned to Musa (AS) who urged him to go back, so he went back to Allah and it was reduced to five prayers. Once more Nabi (SAW) returned to Musa (AS) who said “go back to you Lord and ask Him to reduce it, for two prayers were enjoined upon the Children of Israel but they did not establish them.” Having considered the warning of Musa (AS), Rasool Allah (SAW) said “I have requested so much of my Lord that I feel ashamed, but I am satisfied now and surrender to Allah’s Order.” In response to this act of obedience, Allah said “the day I created the heavens and the Earth, I enjoined fifty prayers upon you and your Ummah. Five is for fifty, so establish them, you and your Ummah” and thus, the five daily prayers of Islam were revealed. After having received the commandments of salah, Rasool Allah (SAW) was taken back to Makkah by Buraq.

Thus, we conclude the blessed story of Al Isra wal Miraj. Some key points we can take away from this event are; understanding why we pray five times a day, the high status of Rasool Allah (SAW) amongst the prophets, the importance of Masjid Al-Aqsa, and the power of Allah who can take a living man through the heavens and have him encounter prophets of the past. We ought to remember this vital event and share the story with our children.

empty pockets, full heart

Among the trials and tribulations of the modern world, perhaps one cause of stress that afflicts people more than any other is that of rizq, sustenance. Often times when we think of rizq, we think of the food that Allah gives us or the money He provides us. However, when we truly understand rizq, we can see that it is so much more than just material wealth or daily provisions.Allah has told us that one of His beautiful names and attributes is Al-Razzaq, The Provider. This attribute of Allah goes well beyond food and money; the rain that falls causing crops to grow is rizq, the crops that grow and feed the cattle we consume is also rizq. There is not a creation on Earth whose provisions and sustenance is not accounted for by Allah, be it birds, trees, or humans.

Often times we may find ourselves stressing, and of course, as a believer, it is understandable to worry about being able to provide for your family, to make the bills at the end of the month, and uphold the rights of your loved ones. We may even be stressing about where our next meal may come from, may Allah house the homeless and feed the hungry, ameen. Understandably, we are human and bound to be stressed by certain things. However, we ought to remember that Allah is Al-Razzaq, and whatever He has written in our rizq will reach us, no matter what. One beautiful dua we ought to remember comes from the Holy Quran in Surah al-Jumu’ah, Verse 11, which states, “and Allah is the best of providers.” SubhanAllah! Indeed, Allah is the best of providers. Rasool Allah (SAW) spoke regarding the rizq that Allah guarantees all things and said, “He provides for the birds. They go out in the morning with empty stomachs and return full” (Tirmidhi). It should be noted, however, that the context of this Hadith was referring to a person’s effort to work hard towards seeking their rizq, all the while keeping faith that Allah SWT will provide. So, taking this Hadith into account, we ought to remember two things: Allah will provide all that is written and needed, and that we must put in the effort to work hard at the same time.

As stated earlier, we often understand rizq to be material and physical provision. However, we should be mindful of what Allah has given us in terms of spiritual rizq as well. The fact that Allah gives us the opportunity to pray, make dua, do zikr, and give charity. All of these blessings are also a form of spiritual sustenance that Allah SWT provides. When considering the spiritual rizq that Allah provides us with, we should remember the dua of Zakariyah (A.S) in Surah Maryam, verse 4, as he says, “and never have I been in my supplication to You, my Lord, unhappy.” This beautiful dua should serve as a reminder for us to remain hopeful and grateful in our duas to Allah SWT, that surely what He has provided us with is a blessing, be it physical or spiritual, and surely, He will answer our prayers and provide.

Once we understand that Allah SWT is Al-Razzaq, and we can recognize and be grateful for His blessings, we should ask how we can increase our rizq? One of the first things we ought to do is istighfar. Allah SWT tells us in Surah Hud (11:3) that “And oh my people, ask forgiveness of your Lord and then repent to Him. He will send [rain from] the sky upon you in showers and increase you in strength.” The second is to give charity to those in need. Rasool Allah (SAW) said, “Seek out the vulnerable for me, for you are only given provision and divine support due to your care for the vulnerable” (Tirmidhi). Make dua while making an effort to earn, make plenty of istighfar, and give what we can in charity. It would be beneficial to write down the duas mentioned in this article and add them to one’s daily supplications and routines. May Allah bring ease and provision to those in need. Ameen.

Did you Know?

The word Rizq comes from the verb Razaqa which means to “provide for” but can also mean “to bless.” Truly, Rizq is a blessing from Allah!

The month of preparation

This year, we were blessed by Allah to witness one of the sacred months of the year, the month of Rajab. However, why is Rajab sacred, and what is the significance of the sacred months? Allah the Almighty informs us in the Quran that the number of months in the year is twelve and among these twelve are four months which are sacred and holy. (Quran 9:36) Allah, being the One to Whom Belongs Creation and Command (Quran 7:54), is the only one who is able to declare something to be fully or partially sacred and to place virtue in it.

The four sacred months are Dhul-Qa’dah, Dhul-Hijjah, Muharram, and Rajab. Their designation as such is established in the hadith of the Prophet PBUH who said, “Time has completed a cycle and assumed its form on the day when Allah created the heavens and the earth, the year consisting of twelve months of which four are sacred, three of them consecutive: Dhul-Qa’dah, Dhul-Hijjah and Muharram and also Rajab of Mudar which comes between Jumada and Sha’ban.” (Bukhari 3197, Muslim 1679a) These months were designated for the safety of the pilgrims and visitors to the Ka’ba: three consecutive months were for the safety of those performing Hajj, and the sanctity of Rajab was for those performing Umrah.

One might wonder now that, besides being the time during which pilgrimage is made, what is so important about these months for us living far away from Makkah and not planning on performing pilgrimage any time soon? Allah, the Most-Sublime, instructs us in the aforementioned verse, “do not wrong yourselves during them,” and the Prophet PBUH informs us in another similar hadith that “your blood, your properties, and your honor are sacred like the sanctity of this day of yours, in this city of yours, in this month of yours” (Bukhari 4406). These sublime and eloquent words tell us that the sacred months are such that any transgression or any sin committed within them is much greater and much more grave than in any other time of the year. Thus, it is incumbent upon us to avoid as much sin as we can during these holy months.

By avoiding sins to the best of our ability during the holy months, we are not only saving ourselves from the stains of sin, but we are also showing honour to that which Allah has designated as virtuous and sacred, and perhaps by doing so we will attain some mercy from Allah for simply showing honour and respect to the sacred symbols of Allah. Allah informs us, “whoever honors the sacred ordinances of Allah — it is best for him in the sight of his Lord” (Quran 22:30). Whoever honours the sacred ordinances of Allah in Rajab will, perhaps, be helped by Allah in fulfilling their obligations towards their Creator, in making up what obligations they left or missed, and in leaving acts of disobedience. This is because one’s veneration of the sacred months is evidence that the flame of Iman remains in one’s heart.

With the holy month of Ramadan fast approaching, preparation for it should be our priority. The Sacred Month of Rajab is a golden opportunity from Allah to cast off that which will hold us back in Ramadan: our own sins and desires. After all, the month of Ramadan is also a means for us to attain greater taqwa by forsaking our desires. Thus, our first step towards preparing for the month of Ramadan should be to free ourselves of as many sins as we possibly can. So whoever spreads gossip and partakes in backbiting and slander, should abstain from that; whoever consumes what is forbidden through usury, bribery, fraud, or deception should refrain from that; whoever is addicted to looking at the forbidden should refrain from that; whoever wrongs others and doesn’t give them their rights should refrain from that; whoever falls short of their obligations to Allah should refrain from that. Perhaps by simply refraining from these acts of disobedience and sanctifying the Sacred Months, Allah will shower us with His Mercy. Ameen.

Stay tuned for our next issue of Idraak at the end of February 2025 insha’Allah.

Idraak – Issue no. 7 December 2024

By Al Ansaar Admin

Do you prefer to read this article as a PDF? Download the PDF version by clicking here.

A Holy Day?

As we come to the end of another year on the Gregorian calendar we ought to reflect upon the pagan practices and customs celebrated by the disbelievers. While one may look upon these celebrations as innocent holidays and something purely cultural, it is vital to know the roots of holidays like Christmas and New Years. Furthermore, it is vital for us as Muslims to understand the detrimental consequences of celebrating holidays that run counter to our deen and aqeedah. Join us in this month’s issue of Idraak, as we explore the history and dangers of pagan holidays, the ongoing efforts of our brothers and sisters in Syria following the fall of the Assad regime and the importance of having unity in the ummah.

Did you Know?

The names of the months of the Gregorian calendar are based on the names of pagan deities and emperors, such as July for Julius Caesar. While the global system works on this calander, it is important to know its origins and know that January 1st is not the first day of the islamic Hijri calendar and we do not celebrate New Years.

Egoism, Luxury & Disunity

Since the dissolution of the Ottoman empire in 1922, the state of the entire Ummah has been one of disunity and occupation by the secular liberal West. Whether its constant political upheaval, political overthrows and assassinations, or the forceful adoption and enforcement of secular liberal values, the Ummah has not been truly independent for over 100 years. We have learned to always be suspicious of our rulers as they might be agents of the West, complete or partial sellouts of Islam, or unwilling political players who have to accept Western political, economic, and military domination. All of this has turned the Ummah into one large ineffective body of people.

This is nothing but the fulfillment of the words of the Noble Prophet PBUH who is reported to have said in one hadith, “Soon, nations will descend upon you just as people invite one another to partake in a meal,” indicating that we will be in such a weakened state that other nations and peoples will attack and dominate us, facing little to no resistance. When asked why, he PBUH explained, “You will be many in number but you will be like the scum floating atop a river. Allah will remove fear of you from the hearts of your enemies and will place in your hearts wahn (enervation).” When the Prophet PBUH was asked what wahn is, he said, “Love of this world and dislike of death.” (Sunan Abi Dawud 4297) What precise and accurate words! Not only are words of the Prophet PBUH describing our state as an Ummah, but they also perfectly encapsulate the psychology that secular liberalism teaches: individualism, egoism, consumerism, and fear of death (We will discuss these topics in the future insha’Allah).

There are many other ways we can break down and understand this comprehensive metaphor. Focusing on unity, how can we use this metaphor to understand our current state of disunity? Let us reflect on what the focus has been for many of us, especially Muslims living in the West: getting a good education, getting a good job with a good salary, getting a house, getting married and having kids, all while keeping our heads down so we don’t get in trouble with the system.

In other words, we have bought into the lie the West has sold us, the “American dream,” the middle-class life! In other words, an Islamicized American dream. Our focus on this pipe-dream causes us to lose focus of what actually matters and will make an infinitely lasting difference: worshiping Allah.

Rather than all of us being focused on one single goal, like we have been commanded to, most of us are instead focused on our individual well-being, causing us to fall into argumentation and in-fighting as each of us tries to maximize their material happiness, most of the time at the expense of another Muslim brother or sister. How many Muslims since the start of the Genocide have firmly decided to give up some of the comforts of their lives to help their dying brothers and sisters? The answer should make you realize how serious this crisis is.

The only way to resolve this crisis, throw off this toxic influence, and unite as an Ummah is to obey Allah and His Messenger PBUH. Let us heed the command of Allah when He said “He has ordained for you believers the same religion as He had enjoined upon Nuh, and that which We have revealed to you (O prophet,) and that which We had enjoined upon Ibrahim and Musa and Isa by saying, ‘Establish the religion, and be not divided therein’.” (Quran 42:13) We should never prefer ourselves and our comfort over Allah, the Messenger PBUH, or the cause of Islam, as Allah has commanded us “It is not [proper] for the people of Madinah and those surrounding them of the bedouins that they remain behind after [the departure of] the Messenger of Allah or that they prefer themselves over him.” (Quran 9:120) Our goal must be to become the loyal servants of Allah who unite upon Islam to establish the religion of Allah. May Allah help us all work towards that goal.

Role Of The Believer

For most of us living far away from the conflict and horror of the past two and a half decades, the death and destruction almost feels surreal. As we carry on with our mostly mundane lives, we tend to only follow events happening in Muslim lands only when calamity strikes, despite the constant pleas for help we see and hear online. The fact is, we have fallen short of our duty of supporting our struggling Muslim brothers and sisters, which is especially egregious knowing that Allah has commanded us to support our Muslim brothers and sisters whenever they need it from us (Quran 8:72).

At this point some might proclaim that there is nothing we can do to help, since most of us are so far away from the lands where help is needed, in particular lands such as Palestine, Syria, Yemen, and Sudan which are so isolated from the rest of the world, one might say “even when we donate or send aid, we don’t know if it will reach them, so what more could we do?” Alhamdulillah, we are not limited to sending money and aid! There is a lot we can actually do, all of us right now, to help our brothers and sisters.

First and foremost, realize our share of the blame. That’s right, we are partially to blame for the crisis facing our Ummah now. Though we are not the ones dropping bombs or blockading aid, we have knowingly or otherwise contributed to the current state of affairs. Allah made this very clear when He said in the Noble Quran, “Corruption has spread on land and sea as a result of what people’s hands have earned, so that Allah may cause them to taste (the consequences of) some of their deeds and perhaps they might return (to the Right Path)” (Quran 30:41) These calamities and others such as natural disasters are not random or human-controlled events, but rather are a result of the moral corruption and decay of people. We must ask ourselves: have we remained upon the right path or have we strayed and followed our desires? Allah in His perfect justice, did not allow these calamities to occur suddenly and all at once as punishment, but rather He gave us many decades to reflect and rectify our actions. Many have squandered this time by pursuing worldly gains and causing separation within the Ummah, but its not too late to reverse course.

Second, commit to Islam like never before. There is no doubt we are in dire need of the help of Allah, so how can we receive it? Allah tells us “O believers! If you aid the [cause of] Allah, He will aid you and make your feet firm” (Quran 47:7) We can contribute to the cause of Allah by increasing our submission to Allah, reducing or eliminating transgressions, and working to decrease kufr in all its forms. On an individual level, this means increasing the quality and quantity of our worship, and decreasing our sins and disliked actions. On a communal level, it means advising and encouraging each other to do the same.

Third, make Dua. The Prophet PBUH taught us that “Dua is the weapon of the believer” (Mustadrak 1836). Despite this teaching, some people still disregard this very important act of worship. Imam Shafi’i said in a couplet of poetry “Do you mock dua and make light of it / while you do not know what it has done / The arrows of the night do not miss, rather / they have an end and every end is fulfilled.” Why would we not use the most powerful weapon at our disposal?

Finally, we must cease bickering and arguing, and unite as an Ummah! Despite having a population of two billion, we Muslims are one of the weakest groups of people in the world. Not a surprise since we are our own worst enemy! Many among us frequently partake in arguing, infighting, and fruitless discussions, all about the smallest issues that are of no consequence or benefit, all against the advice of Allah who said “Obey Allah and His Messenger and do not dispute with one another, or you would be discouraged and weakened.” (Quran 8:46) How can we unite as one Ummah if we are busy deviating from obedience to Allah and His Messenger PBUH, and trying to prove each other wrong? We must make an effort to put aside all argumentation and focus on unity. Otherwise, forget ever freeing Palestine or saving other Muslims.

Did you Know?

Ibn Umar reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Whoever imitates a people is one of them” (Sunan Abī Dāwūd 4031). Taking this Sahih hadith into account, we ought to think twice before wishing others “Merry Christmas” or “Happy New Year.” To imitate the Kufar is to become one of them and it is best to avoid such actions, especially when wishing them well in celebrations related to shirk and paganism. Be kind to all but remember to do so within the bounds of Islam.

Holiday, Holy Day?

What significance does the birth of Isa AS hold for Muslims? While the circumstances and occurrences of his birth are important for us, the date of his birth should be of little concern for the believers. For Muslims living in the west, especially the youth, Christmas time may be a subject of confusion. A child may see that his non Muslim peers are having a wonderful time celebrating the holidays and receiving gifts, specifically under the connotation of the birth of a prophet who holds great significance in Islam, and may feel left out or confused. However it is vital to understand that the Isa AS of Islam and the Jesus of Christianity may on the surface be referring to the same individual, they are by matters of faith and creed, completely unrelated. We need to first and foremost explain to our children that Christmas in truth, has nothing to do with Isa AS and that the Christian view of Jesus is one embedded in falsehood and shirk.

To understand why we must avoid celebrating Christmas we ought to look at three subjects; the view of Isa in Islam versus Christianity, the pagan origins of Christmas, and the forbiddance of celebrating non Islamic holidays for Muslims. Isa AS in Islam is a prophet of great importance as he is the messiah who will return in the end times to aid Muslims in victory. However, in Christianity Jesus is considered a god. The blatant shirk of considering Isa both the son of God and a part of God goes against the very foundation of our faith: tawheed. In Surah Ikhlas it is plainly written “He neither begets, nor is he born” (Quran 112:3). How can we celebrate the birth of someone considered the son of God, Allah forbid!

Regarding Christmas we ought to also ask if this was even the day Isa AS was born. According to the Quran, Maryum AS the mother of Isa was told to shake a date tree during labour causing ripe fresh dates to fall (19:25). Given the presence of dates this would place the date of birth some time between June to October, with October being an assumption based on the ease with which the dates fell. To further clarify the suspicious nature of Christmas, it should be noted that there is no mention anywhere in the Christian bible about the birthdate of Jesus.

If we are to further look at the bible to understand the pagan roots of Christmas, the Book of Jeremiah specifically warns believers not to “cut down trees, fasten them to the ground and deck them with silver and gold” (Jeremiah 10: 3-5). Most historic researchers have noted that December 25th was widely celebrated by the Romans as the winter solstice and the birth of the Sun god, more shirk upon shirk. The festival of shirk at the end of December was known as Saturnalia and was celebrated on December 25th. Historians have estimated that by 380CE when the emperor Theodosius changed the Roman empire’s official religion to Christianity, the birth of the “Sun god” was slowly replaced by the birth of the “son of God!” May Allah protect us from shirk. Finally, it is clear cut that as Muslims we should not partake in anything that involves shirk or bidah.

Furthermore, Allah has given us two days of celebration which we are grateful for. It was narrated that Anas bin Malik said: “The people of the Jahiliyyah had two days each year when they would play. When the Messenger of Allah (SAW) came to Al-Madinah he said: You had two days when you would play, but Allah (SWT) has given Muslims something instead that is better than them: the day of Al-Fitr and the day of Al-Adha” (An-Nasa’i 1556). Ignoring all the reasons given above as to why we ought not to celebrate Christmas, (or any other holidays of the kuffar) this Sahih Hadith should be enough to remind us that as we Muslims we should be content celebrating the two days of Eid given to us by Allah SWT. May Allah protect us from shirk and kufr and keep us firm upon As-Sirat al Mustaqeem. Ameen.

Jazakum Allahu Khayr for reading! Stay tuned for our next issue of Idraak at the end of January 2025 insha’Allah.