Mosque for the Praising of Allah

Dr. Zakir Naik explains in the light of Qur’an, Hadith and Scientific knowledge if astronomical evidence be used to sight the new moon. As shown on Peace TV, part of the series of Ramadan – A Date with Dr. Zakir Episode 28 – Sighting of the Moon.

How the onset of Ramadaan is determined

The onset of Ramadan is confirmed by the sighting of the new moon, or by the completion of thirty days of Shabaan. Whoever sees the crescent of the new moon or hears about it from a trustworthy source is obliged to fast.

Using calculations to determine the onset of Ramadan is bidah, because the hadith of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) clearly states: “Fast when you see it (the new moon) and break your fast when you see it.” If an adult, sane, trustworthy, reliable Muslim who has good eyesight says that he has seen the crescent with his own eyes, then we should take his word for it and act accordingly (i.e., start fasting).

And for  non-Muslims as well,…ever heard of  TGIF – Thank God its Friday.

Well, most of the people get paid on Fridays, yes they get their pay-checks on Fridays and that’s why its kind of a blessed and most desired day for everyone. SubhanAllah even non muslims wait anxiously for the blessed day of Friday.

Friday prayers are mandatory for Muslims. Of all the days of the week, the day of Jumuah was chosen by Allah to be the greatest and the most special for Muslims.
“O you who believe, when the call for salah is made on Al –Jumuah, hasten to the remembrance of Allah , and leave trading aside. That is better for you, if only you knew.”  [62:9

Jumuah prayer is compulsory for all adult male Muslims. ” Allah forgives the sins of the week amongst us between the Al-Jumuah Salah (Prayer) and of three additional days, for whosoever goes to Salat-ul Jumuah, prays what he will,  listens until the end of Khutbah and makes salah with the Imam ” {Muslim}

(continue reading…)

Al-Kabaa`ir – The Major Sins
Compiled by: `AbdulBasit M. Khan

Sins [acts of disobedience to Allah ] can be classified into 2 categories:

Major sins (called in Arabic, al-kabaa`ir) and Minor sins (called, as-saghaa`ir).

Please see the Qur`aan, at the following references: 4:31, and 42:37, and 53:32.

General Ways by which to Recognize a “Major Sin”:

(1) It is mentioned explicitly as a ‘major sin’, or a ‘great sin’ in the Qur`aan or
Hadeeths of the Prophet.
(2) There is a prescribed “hadd” [  ? ?  ] (legal punishment) for that sin, mentioned
in the Qur`aan or Hadeeths of the Prophet.
(3) Hell-fire is mentioned along with this sin, either in the Qur`aan or Hadeeths
of the Prophet. Or, the “curse of Allah ” or the “wrath of Allah ” is mentioned
alongside that sin, either in the Qur`aan or Hadeeths of the Prophet.
(4) The Prophet said that whoever does such-and-such a sin, “he is not one of us”
or “he is not from us”.

Also – a statement that is attributed to `Abdullaah Ibn `Abbaas, wherein he
mentioned a distinguishing factor between Major and Minor sins. He said:
“There is no minor sin with persistence, and no major sin with repentance.”

i.e. so if a person persists (3:135) in a sin, even if it is a “minor” sin, then it becomes major for him!

(continue reading…)

Get Daily Hajj AND Umrah Reward

From Anas bin Malik, may Allah be pleased with him, who said: “The Messenger of Allah , sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam, said: ‘Whoever prays the morning prayer in congregation then sits remembering Allah until the sun rises, then prays two units of prayer has the reward like that of Hajj and `Umrah.’” He said, “Allah ’s Messenger, sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam, said: ‘Complete, complete, complete (i.e. reward)’” (narrated by Tirmidhi).

Basically, the concept is that if you pray Fajr in the masjid congregation (for sisters, they can do this at their residence as it is better for them to pray in their homes) and then after the fajr salat, you don’t get up and instead you remember Allah (do dhikr, read Quran, etc) until the time for Duha prayer (a.k.a. Ishraq prayer, which has a start time about twenty minutes after fajr ends) and then you pray the Duha prayer, you will insh’Allah , receive the reward of a full Hajj AND Umrah (however, this does not lift the obligation upon one to perform Hajj). Subhan’Allah , how great is the bounty of Allah (SWT) to give His servant sooo much reward for so little time and action. Surely, Allah (SWT) is the Owner of great bounty.

Here are more narrations that support the hadith listed above:

>>
From Abi Umaamah who said: “Allah ’s Messenger, sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam, said: ‘Whoever prays the morning prayer in congregation then sits remembering Allah until he sun rises, then stands up ad prays two units of prayer returns with the reward of Hajj and `Umrah’” (narrated by Tabarani).
>>
From `Abdullah bin `Aamir that Abu Umaamah and `Utbah Bin `Abd related that Allah ’s Messenger, sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam said: “Whoever prays as-S.ubh. (i.e. fajr prayer) in congregation then sits until he prays for Allah the prayer of Dhuha has the reward like that of a haajj (pilgrim performing Hajj) and a mu`tamir (pilgrim peforming `Umrah), complete reward of his Hajj and his `Umrah” (narrated by Tabarani).
>>
From `Usrah who said, “I heard the Mother of believers, meaning `Aa’isha, say: ‘I heard Allah ’s Messenger, sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam, say: ‘Whoever prays fajr (or he said al-ghadaah, [transl. both referring to the morning prayer]), then sits in his place and does not speak idly with something from matters of this world and remembers Allah until he prays four units of Dhuha, he will leave his sins like the day his mother bore him, without any sin’‘” (narrated by Ibn Hajr).
>>
From Sammaak That he asked Jaabir bin Samurah: “What did the Messenger, sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam do when he prayed as-Subh (the morning prayer).” He said: “He used to sit in the Musallaa after he prayed as-Subh until the Sun rises” (narrated by Muslim).
>>
From Sahl bin Mu`aadh bin Anas al-Juhani from his father, that the Messenger of Allah , sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam, said: “Whoever sits in his prayer area (musallaa) after he completes as-Subh prayer until he prays two units of Dhuha prayer, [and] doesn’t say except what is good, his sins will be forgiven even if they are more than the foam of the sea” (narrated by Abu Dawud).

All the hadith mentioned have been classified as either sahih (authentic) or hasan (good). These narrations were complied by Shaykh Abdullah ibn Abdur Rahman Al-Jibreen.

Introduction: Please find below Fatwa on Hilal Sighting from the Muslim World League in Saudia Arabia. We at the Islamic Council of New England, Imams Shura Council (website) with the best of intention will make effort to comply with the Quran and Sunnah (as well as relying on Fatwa and Scholars from around the world to increase our understanding on the matters in hand).

This Fatwa document is available in Arabic and english and you can download it by clicking here.

Below is the English text of the Fatwa.

Fatwa Muslim World League 1981 Hilal Sighting Locality

Muslim World League – The 4th Meeting of the Council
From 7th of Rabi Al-Thani-l?”1 of Rabi Al-Thani 1401 Hijri
11th of Feb-21st of Feb 1981

All Praise be to Allah alone, and peace and salutations be on the one whom after
there is no Nabi (Prophet), there after (Amma Baa’d):
The Islamic Jurisprudence Council has studied the issue of Difference in Horizons
(local sighting) and establishing sighting criteria on it. The Council concluded Islam
is basically an easy and accommodating religion; this is what individuals with sound
nature, appropriate intellect follow since it yields benefits. In the matter of Moon
sighting Islam established its visual sighting over calculation as proven by the clear
evidences from the Shariah. Also, it adopted differences in horizons (local sighting)
since it is easier for the ordinary Muslims to follow, although that is the implication
upon detailed examination of the proofs. As for the promoters of unification of the
beginning of the fasting month and its end is concerned they are in opposition of what
is established by Shariah and sound intellect.

As far as the opposition to Shariah, the Scholars of hadith have narrated the hadith of
Kuraib which is
(Book 006, Number 2391added by translator)
Kuraib reported that Umm Fadl, daughter ofHarith, sent him (Fadl, L e. her son)
to Mu’awiya in Syria. I (Fadl) arrived in Syria, and did the needful for her. It was
there in Syria that the month of Ramadan commenced. I saw the new moon (of
Ramadan) on Friday. I then came back to Medina at the end of the month.
Abdullah b. ‘Abbas (Allah be pleased with him) asked me (about the new moon of
Ramadan) and said: When did you see it? I said.: We saw it on the night of Friday.
He said: (Did) you see it yourself? -I said: Yes, and the people also saw it and they
observed fast and Mu’awiya also observed fast, whereupon he said: But we saw it
on Saturday night. So we would continue to observe fast till we complete thirty
(lasts) or we see it (the new moon ofShawwal). I said: Is the sightidg of the moon
by Mu’awiya not valid for you? He said: No; this is how the Messenger of Allah
(may peace be upon him) has commanded us.
Imam Nawawi Classified this hadith in his commentary on Sahih Muslim under the
heading “chapter for every country there is its own sighting, if the moon is sighted in
a country that sighting is not acceptable for far away countries” and none of the
authors of the six books of hadith who narrated the same hadith deviated from this
methodology in their classification for this hadith like Tirmidhi, Abu Daud and Al-
Nasa’i.

And Islam established the moon sighting by vision over all other means, because of
what was narrated by Ibn Omar in his hadith in Bukhari and Muslim.
(Book 006, Number 2363 added by the translator)

Ibn Umar (Allah be pleased with both of them) reported Allah ’s Messenger (may
peace be upon him) as saying in connection with Ramadan: Do not fast till you see
the new moon, and do not breakfast till you see it; but if the weather is cloudy
estimate about it.

This hadith established the reason for the obligation as sighting, so it (the Moon) may
be sighted in Makkah and Madina while it may not be sighted in any other country,
the time in other countries may be day instead of night, so how then we obligate the
other people with Fasting or Iftaar? All the scholars from all Madhahib have
concluded that “the difference of horizons (local Sighting)” is the answer, near a great
majority of them, so much so that Ibn Abd Al-Bar (great Maliki Jurist) narrated an
Ijmaa (Judicial Consensus) that moon sighting between far places like Khurasaan
(Asia now) and Andalus (Spain now) is not considered and every country has its own
specific sighting. A majority of the Books of Most Schools of Jurists (madhahib) are
full of opinions in favor of “the difference of Horizons” because of the vast evidence
in shariah in that regard, if one were to look at the books of Fiqh they will conclude
the same and they will heal any contempt for this issue in their hearts.

Common sense dictates, local moon sighting is something that the scholars do not
differ on, because it is obvious, and hence the intellect concludes the same. This is
the same for the Common Sense and the Shariah’s convergence on the times of prayer
as well. So if one was to be an observer of the Natural order and reality of the
differences in times he will conclude the same.

Hence the Council concludes in light of the above:

1-There is no need to peruse unification of Moon sighting and Festivals in the Islamic
world. Because this pursuit will not guarantee the ummah’s unification as the
promoters of unification of Moon sighting and Festivals imagine.

2- That the matter of moon sighting be left to the Muslim countries and their Judicial
and Juristic Councils, because that has priority as well as will yield the most benefit.

3-The only guarantee which will benefit the Muslims in unifying the ummah in its
matters and issues is that they agree to abide by the Quran and Sunnah in all of their
matters.

And Allah only guarantees success. And Peace and Salutations be on our Nabi and
his Family and his companions.

Signatures of the Scholars on this Fatwa are:

Shiekh Abd al Aziz bin Abdallah bin Baaz
Abo Bakr Mahmood Jumee
Shiekh Saleh Al Othaymeen
Sheikh Mustafa Ahmad Zarqa
Abu Al Hassan Al Nadawi
Sheikh Mohammed Salih Adood
Abdallah Ali Al Harkaan
Abdallah bin Mohammed al Homaid
Mohammed Mahmood Al-Sawwaf
Mohammed bin Abdallah al Subayil
Mabrook al Awadi
Mohammed al Shdhali Nefier
Hassanian Mohammed Makhloof
Dr.Mohammed Rashidi
Mahmmod Shhet Khattab
Mabrook al Awadi
Mohammed Rashid Qabbani

In the Name of Allah , the Gracious, the Merciful.

Islamic Council of New England, Imams Shura Council

Hilaal Conference Press Release – August 2009

“Calculations are a deviation from the Sunnah and must be rejected” Imam Nawawi

ICNE Hilaal Conference Press Release Click here to download

You can also see read the Fatwa from Muslim World League 1981 Hilal Sighting Locality (Saudi Arabia) – click here to read

Assalamu Alaykum,

My beloved respected Brothers and Sisters in Islam: I pray that you as individuals and as communities are doing well, and that Allah is pleased with us and is forgiving of our short comings.

I am writing on behalf of more than two dozen Imams and leaders in the Greater Boston area and New England Muslim community with whom I’ve had consultations regarding the assumption that astronomical calculations is an accepted means for determining our lunar months. Although we agreed that calculations are an excellent scientific tool; it cannot be used to replace the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah   of sighting the crescent moon. Therefore we rejected by an overwhelming majority this new innovation. Here is a summary of the evidences to prove that position.

(continue reading…)

Hadith reported by Imam Bukhari and Imam Muslim that the Messenger of Allah (S.A.W.) said, “I have been granted five things which were not granted to any other prophet before me: (one of them) The whole earth has been made a Masjid, and pure for me, so whenever the time of prayer comes for anyone of you, he should pray wherever he is.”

The Role of the Masjid

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

(Friday speeches delivered by Imam Mohamed Baianonie at the Islamic Center of Raleigh NC on October 8, &15, 1999)

Website URL: http://islam1.org/iar/imam/archives/1999/10/08/the_role_of_the_masjid.php

All the praise and thanks be long to Allah (S.W.T.). We thank Him, for He helped us finish the Islamic Center expansion project.

All the praise is due to Him (S.W.T.) because with His blessing all good and righteous deeds happen.

And may prayer and peace be upon our dear Prophet Muhammad and upon his family and his companions.

“Oh Allah ! Accept this good deed from us. Verily! You are the All-Hearer and the All-knowing, and accept our repentance. Truly, You are the one who accepts repentance, the Most Merciful.” “Ameen”

(continue reading…)