Author: kmwa

The Significance of Sha’bān

Sha’bān, the eighth Islamic month is second only to Ramadān in virtue, blessings and greatness. It is due to this virtue and greatness that the Prophet sallallāhu ‘alayhi wasallam used to emphasise its importance not only verbally but practically too.

‘Ā’ishah radhiyallāhu ‘anhā narrates, “Rasūlullāh sallallāhu ‘alayhi wasallam used to fast till we would say that he would never stop fasting and he would abandon fasting till we would say that he would never fast. I never saw Rasūlullāh sallallāhu ‘alayhi wasallam fasting for a whole month except the month of Ramadān and did not see him fasting in any month more than in the month of Sha’bān.” (Bukhārī, Muslim, Abū Dāwūd, Nasa’ī)

‘Ā’ishah radhiyallāhu ‘anhā narrates, “Rasūlullāh sallallāhu ‘alayhi wasallam used to fast the (whole) month of Sha’bān except for a few days.” (An-Nasa’ī)

Usāmah radhiyallāhu ‘anhu asked, “O Rasūlullāh! I do not see you fasting in any month as much as in Sha’bān.” He replied, “It is a month people are negligent of between Rajab and Ramadān. It is a month in which deeds are raised towards the Lord of the worlds. Therefore, I like my deeds to be raised whilst I am fasting.” (An-Nasa’ī)

Fifteenth of Sha’bān

Amongst the days and nights of Sha’bān, there is one night called Laylat-al-Barā’at or Shabe Barā’at, a night noted for its great blessings and virtues. The Glorious Qur’ān describes it as the blessed night.

Lo! We revealed it on a blessed night. (44:3)

According to ‘Ikrimah radhiyallāhu ‘anhu and a group of mufassirīn, the ‘blessed night’ referred to in this verse is the fifteenth night of Sha’bān.

Fortunate indeed are those who attain the full blessings and benefits of this night by spending it in performing good and refraining from evil. One must strive his utmost to attend to ‘ibādah (worship) in this auspicious night as this night indeed is a great favour of Allāh ta’ālā for the believers. There are a number of ahādīth in regard to this night.

(1) ‘Alī radhiyallāhu ‘anhu narrates that Rasūlullāh sallallāhu ‘alayhi wasallam said, “When it is the fifteenth of Sha’bān, then stand (in worship) at night and fast during the day. Because Allāh ta’ālā descends in this night at sunset to the first heaven and says: ‘Is there any seeker of forgiveness, that I may forgive him? Is there any seeker of sustenance, that I may sustain him? Is there anyone in affliction, that I may remove his affliction? Is there anyone like this, like that (and so on)’. This continues until Fajr.” (Ibn Mājah)

(2) Abū Mūsā Al-Ash’arī radhiyallāhu ‘anhu narrates that the Messenger of Allāh sallallāhu ‘alayhi wasallam said, “In the fifteenth night of Sha’bān, Allāh ta’ālā manifests and forgives all His creation except for the Mushrik (idolater) and the spiteful.” (Ibn Mājah)

(3) ‘Ā’ishah radhiyallāhu ‘anhā narrates: “The Messenger of Allāh sallallāhu ‘alayhi wasallam came to me (one night) and took off his clothes, but he had hardly sat down when he got up again, put on his clothes and left. A strong ghayrah (sense of honour and self-respect) overtook me as I thought he was going to one of his other wives. I followed him and found him in the graveyard of Baqī’ seeking forgiveness for believing men and women and the martyrs. I said (to myself), ‘May my parents be sacrificed for you. You, (the Prophet) are in want of your Lord and I am in want of the world.’

Read the full article in KMWALTR #004

There is a lot of emphasis on equal rights in this society, what does Islam teach about it?

Equality means equality. Equal rights means that all citizens have equal rights, and everyone has access to national resources without any regional, national, or racial discrimination. To that extent the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah (SWT) be upon him) said in his Farewell Sermon:

All the customs and traditions of the age of ignorance are under my feet today, and no Arab has any superiority over a non-Arab, and a non-Arab has no superiority over an Arab, a white has no superiority over a black, and a black has no superiority over a white.

And if equal rights mean that all human beings are provided with the same salary, the same food, the same clothing, and that men and women are equal in all matters, then there is no place for it in Islam. Neither is this in accordance with the principles of nature, because Allah (SWT) has endowed human beings with different abilities, and each human being differs from the other in his ability to use his knowledge, experience, mental capacity and resources.

Read full Imams Corner in KMWALTR #002

Should the Tablighi Jamaat be banned?

Recently, the Minister of Islamic Affairs, Saudi Arabia, Dr. Abdullatif Al- Ash Sheikh, announced the decision that the government is officially banning the Indian-origin Tablighi Jamaat. He said that the Jamaat is dangerous and false and ‘a gateway to terrorism’.

Who are Tablighi Jamaat?

Tablighi Jamaat is a missionary movement (orthodox). The motive of this movement is to urge fellow Muslims to follow Islam for every aspect of life (primarily, personal behaviour, dressing, and rituals).

Tablighi Jamaat has more than 400 million followers worldwide, and the group strictly stays away from political activities and riots. Instead, it solely focuses on religion.

Since the US government is very much interested in Islam and what Muslims of the world are doing, it has closely monitored the Tablighi Jamaat since 2001. This is because they consider the teachings of a Muslim religious group as a starting point towards radical and terrorist organizations.

The world was made to believe with the collective efforts of the USA and India that Tablighi Jamaat sows the seeds of terrorism in young minds with their teachings. This fact was further made solid when an operation led to catching seven Tablighi members by Russian intelligence in Russia in February 2020. The terrorist cell was entailed in fanaticism

The Indian media is curiously using this news extensively and spreading hate crime. Their point is that since the Tablighi Jamaat is originated from India that is why Saudi Arabia banned it. Muhammad Ilyas Khandhalvi founded the Jamaat in Haryana via a tweet.

But, considering that Saudi Arabia houses the holiest places of Islam; Mecca, the Ka’ba, and Medina, where Islam was born and grew up; where Prophet Muhammad SAWW lived for the last 10 years of his life in exile.

Read the full article in KMWALTR #002