Today's TAFSIR OF THE DAY!

SURAH AL-FATIHA Cont'd

The Meaning of Al-Fatihah and its Various Names

This Surah is called Al-Fatihah, that is, the Opener of the Book, the Surah with which prayers are begun. It is also called, Umm Al-Kitab (the Mother of the Book), according to the majority of the scholars. In an authentic Hadith recorded by At-Tirmidhi, who graded it Sahih, Abu Hurayrah said that the Messenger of Allah said,

«الْحَمْدُ للهِ رَبَ الْعَالَمِينَ أُمُّ الْقُرْآنِ وَأُمُّ الْكِتَابِ وَالسَّبْعُ الْمَثَانِي وَالْقُرْآنُ الْعَظِيمُ»

(Al-Hamdu lillahi Rabbil-`Alamin is the Mother of the Qur'an, the Mother of the Book, and the seven repeated Ayat of the Glorious Qur'an.)

It is also called Al-Hamd and As-Salah, because the Prophet said that his Lord said,

«قَسَمْتُ الصَّلَاةَ بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَ عَبْدِي نِصْفَيْنِ، فَإِذَا قَالَ الْعَبْدُ:الْحَمْدُدِلله رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ، قَالَ اللهُ: حَمِدَنِي عَبْدِي»

(`The prayer (i.e., Al-Fatihah) is divided into two halves between Me and My servants.' When the servant says, `All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of existence,' Allah says, 'My servant has praised Me.')

Al-Fatihah was called the Salah, because reciting it is a condition for the correctness of Salah - the prayer. Al-Fatihah was also called Ash-Shifa' (the Cure).

It is also called Ar-Ruqyah (remedy), since in the Sahih, there is the narration of Abu Sa`id telling the the story of the Companion who used Al-Fatihah as a remedy for the tribal chief who was poisoned. Later, the Messenger of Allah said to a Companion,

«وَمَا يُدْرِيكَ أَنَّهَا رُقْيَةٌ»

(How did you know that it is a Ruqyah)

Al-Fatihah was revealed in Makkah as Ibn `Abbas, Qatadah and Abu Al-`Aliyah stated. Allah said,

[وَلَقَدْ ءاتَيْنَـكَ سَبْعًا مِّنَ الْمَثَانِي]

(And indeed, We have bestowed upon you the seven Mathani) (seven repeatedly recited verses), (i.e. Surat Al-Fatihah) (15:87). Allah knows best.

Source: Tafsir Ibn Kathir http://www.tafsir.com/default.asp?sid=1&tid=11

Fasting and Good Deed in the First Ten Days of Thul Hijja

The Two Festivals (Eids) - Narrated Ibn Abbas: The Prophet said, "No good deeds done on other days are superior to those done on these (first ten days of Dhul Hijja)." Then some companions of the Prophet said, "Not even Jihad?" He replied, "Not even Jihad, except that of a man who does it by putting himself and his property in danger (for Allah's sake) and does not return with any of those things." "There aren't any days greater, nor any days in which deeds done in them are more beloved to Allah Most High, than these ten days. So, increase in them the saying of Tahleel (La ilaha ill Allah), and Takbeer (Allahu Akbar) and Tahmeed (Alhamdu lillah)." (Reported by Imam Ahmad). "By the dawn; By the ten nights (i.e. the first ten days of the month of Dhul-Hîjjah), And by the even and the odd (of all the creations of Allâh) And by the night when it departs There is indeed in them (the above oaths) sufficient proofs for men of understanding (and that, they should avoid all kinds of sins and disbeliefs)!" [The Qur'an 89:1-5] 1. Allah (swt) swears an oath by them, and swearing an oath by something is indicative of its importance and great benefit. 2. The Prophet (Salalahu Alaihi Wa Salaam) testified that these are the best days of this world, and encouraged people to do righteous deeds on these days. Among the good deeds which the Muslim should strive to do during the first ten days of Dhu’l-Hijjah are: 1. Fasting. It is Sunnah to fast on the ninth day of Dhu’l-Hijjah, because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) urged us to do good deeds during this time, and fasting is one of the best of deeds. 2. Takbeer. It is Sunnah to say Takbeer ("Allahu akbar"), Tahmeed ("Al-hamdu Lillaah"), Tahleel ("La ilaha ill-Allah") and Tasbeeh ("Subhaan Allah") during the first ten days of Dhu’l-Hijjah, and to say it loudly in the mosque, the home, the street and every place where it is permitted to remember Allah and mention His name out loud, as an act of worship and as a proclamation of the greatness of Allah, may He be exalted. Men should recite these phrases out loud, and women should recite them quietly. 3. Doing more good deeds in general, because good deeds are beloved by Allah and will bring a great reward from Him. Whoever is not able to go to Hajj should occupy himself at this blessed time by worshipping Allah, praying (salaat), reading Qur’an, remembering Allah, making supplication (du’aa’), giving charity, honoring his parents, upholding the ties of kinship, enjoining what is good and forbidding what is evil, and other good deeds and acts of worship. 4. Sacrifice. One of the good deeds that will bring a person closer to Allah during these ten days is offering a sacrifice, by choosing a high-quality animal and fattening it, spending money for the sake of Allah. 5. Sincere repentance. One of the most important things to do during these ten days is to repent sincerely to Allah and to give up all kinds of disobedience and sin. Repentance means coming back to Allah and foregoing all the deeds, open and secret, that He dislikes, out of regret for what has passed, giving it up immediately and being determined never to return to it, but to adhere firmly to the Truth by doing what Allah loves. There is much to be gained, so make the most of the opportunity afforded by these invaluable and irreplaceable ten days. Hasten to do good works, before death strikes, before one can regret one’s negligence and failure to act, before one is asked to return to a place where no prayers will be answered, before death intervenes between the hopeful one and the things he hopes for, before you are trapped with your deeds in the grave.

Source: http://www.islamicity.com/mosque/hajj/10Nights/10Nights.shtml A REMINDER TO MYSELF FIRST AND FOREMOST!!!

Not going to Hajj? Get closer to Allah in these Blessed Days of Dhul Hijjah

The Blessed Days of Dhul Hijjah

In what follows, we will highlight some of the Sunnah regarding these days, hoping by this to provide an incentive to make the best out of them and gain Allah’s reward, insha’ Allah.

Righteous actions in the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah.

"There are no days in which righteous deeds are dearer to Allah than these ten [days of Dhul Hijjah]." They said, "O Messenger, even jihad in the way of Allah?" He said, "Not even jihad in the way of Allah, except for the man who leaves with his wealth, and does not return with any of it (life or wealth)." [al-Bukhari]

All good deeds can be done during these days and the early generations of Muslims used to exert themselves excessively in worshipping Allah. In particular, fasting and dhikr (mentioning and remembering Allaah) are to be done in plenty on these days. Charity , being kind to parents and relatives, neighbors, reciting Quran, are examples of other great deeds.


Dhikr

Ibn Abbas commented on the verse "…and to mention Allah’s name [plentifully] on Known days" [22:28] by saying: "…these known days are the ten days [of Dhul Hijjah]." [Tafseer ibn Katheer]
 

Fasting

One of the wives of the Prophet, sallallahu alayhi wa salam, said: "Allah’s Messenger used to fast the (first) nine days of Dhul Hijjah, the day of Ashora, and three days of each month. [Saheeh Sunan Abee Daawood #2129]

The Day of Arafah - The Best Day of the Whole Year

The day of Arafah is the day when the pilgrims stand in worship on the Mountain of Arafah.

"Fasting the day of Arafah expiates the [minor] sins of two years: a past one and a coming one. And fasting the day of Ashora expiates the sins of the past year." [Muslim]

"There is no day on which Allah azza wa jall frees people from the Fire as He does no the day of Arafah. He comes close (to those standing on `Arafah) and then revels before His angels, saying: "What are these people seeking?" [Muslim]

The best dua to make on the day of Arafah is:

The Messenger of Allaah (may Allaah raise his rank and grant him peace) said:

خير الدعاء دعاء يوم عرفة، وخير ما قلت أنا والنبيون من قبلي: لا إله إلا الله وحده لا شريك له، له الملك وله الحمد وهو على كل شيء قدير

“The best supplication is the one made on the Day of ‘Arafah. The best thing ever said by me and the previous prophets is: There is no deity worthy of worship other than Allaah, who is alone, having no partner. His is the dominion, and to Him belongs all praise. He is, of everything, All-Capable.”

The hadeeth was collected by Imam at-Tirmithee and others, and it has been authenticated by the scholars.

 

Again:

 

لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللهُ ، وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ ، لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَلَهُ الْحَمْدُ ، وهُوَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ

"The best of supplications is the supplication on the day of AAarafah and the best which I and the Prophets before me have said (is):

“None has the right to be worshipped except Allah, alone, without partner. To Him belongs sovereignty and all praise and He is over all things omnipotent.”

laa ilaaha ill-allaahu, waḥdahu laa shareeka lah, lahul-mulku wa lahul-ḥamdu, wa huwa ‛alaa kulli shay’in qadeer (arabic right above)

Sources: At-Tirmithi No# 3585

 

The Day of Eid al-Adha

The tenth of Dhul-Hijjah is Eid ul-Adha or the day of an-Nahr (slaughtering). It marks the conclusion of the major rites of Hajj, and commemorates Allah’s bounty on His Messenger Ibrahim, when He gave him a ram to sacrifice as ransom for his son Ismael, alayhimassalam.

"The day of al-Fitr [i.e. `Eed ul-Fitr], the day of an-Nahr, and the days of Tashreeq are `Eid days for us Muslims. They are days of eating and drinking." [Ahmad, an-Nasae, Saheeh ul-Jaami #8192]


Allahu Aalam!

SOURCE: http://theracetojannah.blogspot.com/2010/11/not-going-to-hajj-get-closer-to-allah.html

A REMINDER TO MYSELF FIRST AND FOREMOST!