Madrasatuna || مدرستنا

#Side_Benefits@madrasatunaa A Beneficial Principle for Conflicting Acts of Worship

Question:

Questions keep coming up about the same topic, such as: Which is better: attending a class or following a funeral? Also: Is jihad better or seeking knowledge? And similar questions. When a person has two acts of worship that conflict, which one should he start with or give priority to?

Sheikh Rashad Adh-Dhali'ee hafidhahullah:

If it is possible to do both, then combining them is best. If it is not possible to combine them, Imam Ibn Al-Qayyim (may Allah have mercy on him) mentioned a beautiful and useful principle in his book "Madaarij As-Salikeen" (1/135). By knowing this principle, a person can decide which act of worship to prioritise when he cannot do both. Ibn Al-Qayyim (may Allah have mercy on him) said: "The best act of worship is to do what pleases Allah at each time, based on what that time requires. So at the time of jihad, jihad is best even if it means leaving regular night prayers and day fasting, or even leaving part of the obligatory prayer as during safe times. At the time of hosting a guest, fulfilling his rights and attending to him is best, even over a recommended worship. The same applies to fulfilling the rights of one's wife and family. At the time when a student asks for guidance or teaching an ignorant person, focusing on teaching him is best. At dawn (suhoor time), focusing on prayer, reciting Qur'an, supplication, and remembrance is best. At the time of Adhan, leaving whatever worship you are doing and responding to the caller is best. At the times of the five prayers, striving to perform them in the best way, at the beginning of their time, and going to the masjid even if far away is best. At times when someone is in need of help with status, physical effort, or money, helping them and relieving their distress is best, even over your personal devotions and solitude. At the time of reciting the Qur'an, focusing your heart and mind on understanding and reflecting upon it, as if Allah is speaking to you, is best. At the time of standing at Arafat, striving in humility, supplication, and remembrance is best, not fasting which would weaken you for that. During the first ten days of Dhul-Hijjah, increasing worship, especially saying Allahu Akbar, La ilaha illa Allah, and Alhamdulillah, is best, even over non-obligatory jihad. During the last ten nights of Ramadhan, staying in the masjid, secluding yourself, and performing i'tikaf is best, even over teaching people knowledge or the Qur'an according to many scholars. At the time of your Muslim brother's illness or death, visiting him, attending his funeral, and following his bier is best, over your solitude and gatherings. At times of calamities or when people harm you, patiently enduring while still mixing with them is best, not fleeing from them. The believer who mixes with people and endures their harm is better than the one who does not mix with them. Mixing with them for good is better than staying away from them for good. Staying away from them for evil is better than mixing with them for evil. If you know that mixing with them will remove or reduce evil, then mixing is better. So the best at every time and situation is to do what pleases Allah at that time and situation, focusing on what that time requires." [Paraphrased] Source: https://t.me/rshad11/4519

#صفة_الوضوء Description of the Prophet's Wudhu Lesson 1 ⤵️ https://youtu.be/orMw-TMIp1w Pdf: https://t.me/madrasatunaa/167 Memorisation: https://t.me/madrasatunaa/228

A Day in The Life of a Salafi Lesson 13 ⤵️ https://youtu.be/-hXIWets5Uw Pdf: https://t.me/madrasatunaa/35

Dhul-Hijjah Benefit #2 فتشبهوا إن لم تكونوا مثلهم * إن التشبه بالكرام فلاح “Imitate them, if you cannot be like them — for resembling the noble is itself a success.”

Ibn Rajab rahimahullah writes:

من لم يستطع الوقوف ‎بعرفة فليقف عند حدود الله الذى عرفه. If you can't stop at ʿArafah, then stop at Allah’s commands. ومن لم يستطع المبيت بمزدلفة فليبت على طاعة الله ليقربه ويُزلفه. If you can't spend the in night in Muzdalifah, then spend your night in obedience to Allah. ومن لم يقدر على ذبح هديه بمنى فليذبح هواه ليبلغ به المنى. If you can't offer a sacrifice in Mina, then sacrifice your desires. ومن لم يستطع الوصول للبيت لأنه بعيد فليقصد رب البيت فإنه أقرب من حبل الوريد And if you can't reach the Kaʿbah because it's far, then turn to the Lord of the Kaʿbah, for He is nearer than your jugular vein. [Lataif Al-Ma'arif] ‎ https://t.me/madrasatunaa/212

And in another report, she said:

((ما رأيت رسول الله ﷺ يصلي سبحة الضحى قط، وإني لأسبحها))

“I NEVER SAW the Messenger of Allah ﷺ pray the Dhuha prayer at all, though I myself do pray it.” Both reports are found in Sahih Muslim. 5⃣ Some scholars explained that the fact that the Prophet ﷺ did not fast the ten days does not mean that fasting them is not virtuous, because he ﷺ may have had other important matters that prevented him from fasting. 6⃣ Many scholars also mentioned that the Prophet ﷺ would sometimes leave certain good deeds out of concern that people might think those deeds were obligatory upon them. For example, Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) said:

((مَا رَأَيْتُ رَسُولَ الله ﷺ يُصَلِّي سُبْحَةَ الضُّحَى قَطُّ، وَإِنِّي لَأُسَبِّحُهَا، وَإِنْ كَانَ رَسُولُ الله ﷺ لَيَدَعُ الْعَمَلَ وَهُوَ يُحِبُّ أَنْ يَعْمَلَ بِهِ؛ خَشْيَةَ أَنْ يَعْمَلَ بِهِ النَّاسُ فَيُفْرَضَ عَلَيْهِمْ))

“I never saw the Messenger of Allah ﷺ pray Dhuha prayer, though I do pray it. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ would sometimes leave a deed that he loved to do, out of fear that people would act upon it and it would become obligatory upon them.” [Reported by Bukhari & Muslim] Conclusion: Strive to fast all nine days. Sheikh 'Uthaymeen was asked: “Has it been authentically reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ fasted all ten days of Dhul-Hijjah?” He replied: “There is something reported from the Prophet ﷺ that is even stronger than simply him fasting them: he encouraged fasting them by saying:

((ما من أيام العمل الصالح فيهن أحب إلى الله من هذه الأيام العشر، قالوا: ولا الجهاد في سبيل الله؟ قال: ولا الجهاد في سبيل الله؛ إلا رجل خرج بنفسه وماله فلم يرجع من ذلك بشيء))

‘There are no days in which righteous deeds are more beloved to Allah than these ten days.’ They said: ‘Not even jihad in the path of Allah?’ He replied: ‘Not even jihad in the path of Allah, except for a man who went out with his life and wealth and returned with nothing.’” [Liqa’ Al-Bab Al-Maftuh (92/12)] And Allah knows best https://t.me/madrasatunaa/209

Dhul-Hijjah Benefit #1 According to the majority of scholars, fasting is among the good deeds that Muslims are ENCOURAGED to perform during the first NINE days of Dhul-Hijjah. Someone might ask: How should we understand the statement of Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) found in Sahih Muslim:

((ما رَأيتُ رَسولَ اللهِ ﷺ صائِمًا في العَشرِ قَطُّ))

“I NEVER saw the Messenger of Allah ﷺ fasting during the ten days (of Dhul-Hijjah).” Scholars have given several responses: 1⃣ Some give preference to the hadith of Hafsah (may Allah be pleased with her):

((أن رسول الله ﷺ كان لا يدع ثلاثًا: صيام العشر، وصيام ثلاثة أيام من كل شهر، وركعتين قبل الغداة))

“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ would never neglect three things: fasting the first ten days (of Dhul-Hijjah), fasting three days of every month, and praying two rak‘ahs before the dawn prayer.” [Reported by An-Nasa'i] For example, Sheikh Uthaymeen (may Allah have mercy on him) said: “When two hadiths appear contradictory — one affirming and the other negating — the affirming report takes precedence over the negating one. For this reason, Imam Ahmad said: ‘The hadith of Hafsah affirms, while the hadith of Aishah negates, and the affirming report is given precedence.’ I also want to give you a principle: when the Sunnah comes in the form of a statement, then act upon what the statement indicates. As for actions, it is not a condition that we know the Messenger ﷺ himself did it or that the Companions did it. If we were to say, ‘We will not act upon evidence unless we know that the Companions acted upon it,’ then many acts of worship would be lost to us. Rather, we have before us a textual proof that has reached us clearly, and we must act according to what it indicates, whether or not we know that people acted upon it previously.” [Liqa’ Al-Bab Al-Maftuh (92/12)] Note: The above report of Hafsah is considered weak by some scholars because its chain of narration contains Abu Ishaq Al-Ashja‘i, who is unknown (majhool). Abu Dawud reports (2437) from Hunaydah ibn Khalid (may Allah be pleased with him), from his wife, from one of the wives of the Prophet ﷺ, who said:

((كَانَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ يَصُومُ تِسْعَ ذِي الْحِجَّةِ وَيَوْمَ عَاشُورَاءَ وَثَلَاثَةَ أَيَّامٍ مِنْ كُلِّ شَهْرٍ))

“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to fast the first nine days of Dhul-Hijjah, the day of Ashura, and three days of every month.” [Shaykh Albani graded this sahih in Sahih Sunan Abi Dawud] Note: This hadith has also been deemed weak by some scholars due to inconsistency (idhtirab) in its chain. Different narrations were reported from Hunaydah: from his wife, from one of the wives of the Prophet ﷺ, from Hafsah, from his mother, and from Umm Salamah in a shortened form. [See: Nasb al-Rayah (2/157)] 2⃣ Assuming the hadith of Hafsah is authentic, some scholars attempted to reconcile the two reports by saying that the Prophet ﷺ fasted during these days without Aishah’s knowledge. However, it seems very unlikely that he ﷺ would regularly fast the ten days while it remained unknown to Aishah, especially since he stayed with her for two days and two nights out of every nine days, because Sawda bint Zam'a had given her allotted day to Aishah, and the Prophet ﷺ approved of that. Thus, Aishah had two days and two nights out of every nine. [Majmūʿ Fatāwā wa Maqālāt Ash-Shaykh Ibn Bāz (25/215)] 3⃣ Another reconciliation is that he ﷺ fasted the ten days on some occasions. Hafsah observed this and remembered it, while Aishah observed it and later FORGOT it. 4⃣ Others explained that Aishah meant that he ﷺ did not fast all ten days completely. This is similar to the response given by some scholars when reconciling the two apparently conflicting reports from Aishah regarding Salat Adh-Dhuha. In one report, she said:

((كان رسول الله ﷺ يصلي الضحى أربعا، ويزيد ما شاء الله))

“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ USED TO PRAY four rak‘ahs of Dhuha prayer, and sometimes he would increase as Allah willed.”

وعليكم السلام ورحمة الله وبركاته Response ⤵️ https://t.me/madrasatunaa/209

What to do During the First Ten Days of Dhul-Hijjah Narrated by Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both), who said that the Prophet ﷺ said: ((ما مِنْ أيَّامٍ العمَلُ الصَّالِحُ فيها أحبُّ إلى اللهِ مِن هذه الأيام)) يعني أيامَ العشر، قالوا: يا رسُولَ الله، ولا الجهادُ في سبيلِ الله؟ قال: ((ولا الجهادُ في سبيلِ الله، إلا رجلٌ خَرَجَ بنفسِه ومالِه فلم يَرْجِعْ من ذلك بشيءٍ)). [رواه البخاري وأبو داود، واللفظ له]

“There are no days in which righteous deeds are more beloved to Allah than these days” — meaning the first ten days (of Dhul-Hijjah). They said: “O Messenger of Allah, not even jihad in the way of Allah?” He said: “Not even jihad in the way of Allah, except for a man who goes out with his life and wealth and returns with nothing from that (i.e., he loses both his life and wealth).”

This hadith shows that good deeds during these days are more beloved to Allah than deeds done during any other days of the year, without exception. The only exception is the highest form of jihad, where a person gives up both his life and wealth completely. There is no authentic hadith specifying exactly how much the reward is multiplied during these days, but the hadith clearly shows that the reward is immensely great, and Allah knows best how great it is. The hadith of Ibn Abbas also indicates that all righteous deeds are multiplied during these ten days without exception. Sheikh Saliḥ Al-Fawzān on the actions that should be increased upon during the days of Dhul-Hijjah: 1⃣. Voluntary prayer, especially at night 2⃣. Voluntary fasting, especially the ninth day (except for those performing Hajj) 3⃣. Glorifiying Allāh with takbīr (i.e saying: "Allāhu Akbar, Allāhu Akbar, Lā ilāha illa Allāh, Allāhu Akbar, Allāhu Akbar, wa lillāhi al-Ḥamd") 4⃣. Gloryifying Allāh with tasbih (i.e saying: "Subḥān Allāh") and tahlil (i.e saying: "Lā ilāha illa Allāh") 5⃣. Reciting the Qur'ān 6⃣. Giving charity to the poor and for the sake of Allāh 7⃣. To sacrifice on the day of 'Eid [Summarised from the Shaykh's website, article titled: 'Fadl Al-'Ashr Min Dhil-Hijjah']

Cancellation Notice Due to travel commitments, our host in Thailand is unable to make the Laamiyyah class this week. The class will therefore be postponed until next week, in shā’ Allāh.