Women Wearing Perfume Outside

 In the Name of Allaah, the All-Merciful, the Ever-Merciful…

The imaam, Aboo Daawood {d.275) collected in his Sunan (#4174) that Aboo Hurayrah encountered a woman who was wearing perfume, and the tail of her garment was dusty.  He said, “O servant of al-Jabbaar!  Have you come from the masjid?”  She said, “Yes.”  He said, “And you have perfumed yourself for that purpose (i.e. praying in the masjid)?”  She said, “Yes.”  He then said, “I heard my beloved Abul-Qaasim (may Allaah raise his rank and grant him peace) saying:

“The prayer of a woman who wears perfume to go to the masjid is not accepted until she returns and takes a bath, like the bath of janaabah (after sexual intercourse, i.e. a full bath).”

Understanding the Hadeeth:

[1] The hadeeth was also collected by Ahmad, Ibn Maajah and others, with a weak chain because of ‘Aasim ibn ‘Ubaydillaah.  However, it is strengthened by another chain found in Saheeh Ibn Khuzaymah (1682).  The latter chain is also weak, however they strengthen each other and thus the hadeeth is considered authentic, classified as: hasan lighayrihi[1].  Ibn Khuzaymah considered the hadeeth to be authentic.  Al-Albaanee authenticated it in as-Saheehah (1031).

[2] The statement, “like the bath of janaabah” specifies that the intention is not to just remove the perfume from the place it was applied, but rather a full bath must be taken.

[3] Some people may misunderstand the hadeeth to be specific to women who go the masjid for prayer, however this is clearly not the case.  The mention of the masjid is not restrictive in this hadeeth, and the ruling applies to women going out anywhere.  Since the masjid is a place where the men have been encouraged to dress well for and wear perfume, then it is not disliked for the smell of the perfume to be in the masjid.  So the problem with women wearing perfume to the masjid is the distraction they would create and the potential fitnah that would ensue.  This is the ‘illah (reason) for the prohibition.  Thus, if this is the ruling for being around the best people, the people who pray in the masjids, the people whom Allaah has praised in His Book as being those who truly believe in Him and that they are men who are not distracted by trade, then how much more does the prohibition apply to the most evil places, the gathering sites of the wicked (fujjaar), the most despised places on earth to Allaah…!!  So it as if he was using the masjid as an example of the best case scenario, where one would never imagine someone acting upon his desires and chasing after a woman… so then if it is not allowed to wear perfume in such a place, then what about the places where illicit behavior is very common!

This general application of the hadeeth seems to be what Aboo Daawood understood when he gathered the hadeeth in his Sunan and entitled the chapter: “The Chapter of What has Been Reported About Women Wearing Perfume Outside”

[4] A similar hadeeth in Saheeh Muslim (#444) forbids women from attending ‘Eshaa’ Prayer in the masjid if they have been affected by bakhoor (burned fragrances, like incense).  It is also to be understood in light of point #3.

[5] The hadeeth shows that the Companions used to enjoin the good and forbid the evil with women who were not in their family.

[6] The hadeeth also shows the practical implementation of tathab-but (being certain before acting), since Aboo Hurayrah asked the woman, “And you have perfumed yourself…?”  Notice that he did not assume that the scent was hers without asking.

And Allaah knows best.

Footnotes:
[1]  For more understanding of hadeeth terminology, see the ‘Hadeeth Sciences’ Summer Course
Compiled and translated by Moosaa ibn John Richardson
Link: http://abdurrahmanorg.wordpress.com/2011/04/19/women-wearing-perfume-outside/

SubhanAllah this blog has made it to OVER 16,000 hits !

Wow Ma'sha'Allahh !

May Allah reward each and every person who visits this blog & benefits from it, Ameen

& May Allah make me sincere, Ameen<3

I'm so happy tabarakAllah :P

The Arab Race – Shaykh al-Albaani (rahimahullaah)

source:  silsilat ul-ahaadeeth idh-dha’eefa – the series of weak narrations – hadeeth no. 163

“If the Arabs are humiliated, Islaam is also humiliated” – grading of hadeeth: mawdoo’ (fabricated)

Shaykh al-Albaani (rahimahullaah) comments:

“The glory of Islaam is not connected with Arabs only; rather Allaah may give it glory by other than them from the believers, as that happened during the time of the Ottoman Empire especially in its beginning. So Allaah had given glory to Islaam through them until its authority spread to the middle of Europe. Then, when they started to abandon the Sharee’ah (Islamic Legislation) and incline toward the European laws – taking that which is lower in exchange for that which is better – their authority diminished from those countries and others until it had disappeared from their (own) countries as well! Hence, only something little remained there of the manifestations that could indicate their Islaam! So by that, all of the Muslims were humiliated after their glory, and the disbelievers entered most of their countries and concentrated on humiliating them. And even if these (countries) were apparently freed from (the disbelievers’) colonization, they colonize them in secret under the screen of many projects such as the economy and the like! Therefore, it is established that Islaam is given glory and humiliated by the glory and humiliation of its people whether they are Arabs or non-Arabs, and ‘there is no superiority of an Arab over a non-Arab except by taqwaa.’[1] So O Allaah! Give glory to the Muslims and inspire them to return to Your Book and the Sunnah of Your Prophet [sallAllaahu 'alayhi wa sallam] until You give glory to Islaam by them.

However, that does not negate the Arab race being better than the race of the rest of the nations; rather, this is what I believe in – even though I am Albanian but indeed I am Muslim, all praises and thanks are to Allaah – because the precedence of the Arab race that I have mentioned is that which ahl us-sunnah wal jamaa’ah[2] are upon, and a group of mentioned narrations about this matter indicates (this), such as (the Prophet’s) (sallAllaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) statement: ‘…Indeed Allaah chose Bani Kinaanah from the offspring of Ismaa’eel, and chose Quraysh from Bani Kinaanah, and chose Bani Haashim from Quraysh, and chose me from Bani Haashim.’[3]

But this should not cause the Arab to boast of his race – because it is from the affairs of jaahiliyyah which our Prophet Muhammad (sallAllaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam), the Arab, had abolished, as clarified earlier – just as we should not be ignorant of the reason why the Arabs deserve precedence, which is what they were distinguished with in regard to their understanding, language, manners and works, and that qualified them to be the carriers of the Islamic da’wah to the other nations. So indeed if the Arab knows this and follows it, it will enable him to be – like his predecessors – a righteous member in carrying the Islamic da’wah. As for if he gives that up, then he doesn’t have any excellence at all; rather, the non-Arab who possesses the Islaamic manners is better than him no doubt, since true excellence is only following the eemaan (faith) and knowledge with which Muhammad (sallAllaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) was sent. So whoever is stronger in it, he is better. And excellence is only by defined names in the Book and the Sunnah, such as Islaam, eemaan (faith), birr (righteousness), taqwaa, knowledge, righteous deeds, ihsaan and the like, and (it is) not by a person merely being an Arab or non-Arab, as Shaykh ul-Islaam ibn Taimiyah (rahimahullaah) said, and this is what (the Prophet) (sallAllaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) pointed out with his saying: ‘Whoever’s deeds slow him down, his lineage will not make him go faster.’ Muslim narrated it.

In summary: Indeed the excellence of the Arabs is only due to virtues that are realized amongst them, but if (these virtues) disappear because of their negligence of their Islaam, their excellence will also disappear, and whoever from the non-Arabs adheres to (these virtues) will be better than them; ‘there is no superiority of the Arab over the non-Arab except by taqwaa.’ Therefore, the going astray of the one who calls to Arabism becomes clear, (who calls to it) while he does not possess any of its excellent characteristics at all; rather, he is a European inwardly and outwardly!”

 

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[1] piety and fear of Allaah
[2] those who adhere to that which the Prophet (sallAllaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) and his Companions were upon with regard to ‘aqeedah (belief), manhaj (methodology) and all other matters of the religion
[3] Saheeh at-Tirmithee #3606

Source : asaheeha translations

New Layout !

Abdullaah ibn Abbaas said:

"I lowered myself as a student, and thus became honored as one sought after."

Ibn 'Abdil Barr, Jaami' Bayaan al-'Ilm wa Fadhlih #756

The Life of Shaikh al-Albaani

May Allaah, the Most High, have Mercy upon him, Ameen

Link: http://www.scribd.com/doc/53435198/Shaikh-Al-Albaani%E2%80%99s-Life-Questions-and-Answers-E-Book#0

Narrated Abu Huraira: The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “There are two expressions which are very easy for the tongue to say, but they are very heavy in the balance and are very dear to The Beneficent (Allah), and they are, ‘Subhan Allah Al-’Azim and ‘Subhan Allah wa bihamdihi.’”

(Bukhari Volume 8, Book 75, Number 415)

Yoga, its origins and the ruling on practising it

Is it permissible for us as Muslim women to practice yoga, as it is originally a kind of Hindu worship?

Praise be to Allaah.

Firstly: 

There are differences of opinion among contemporary scholars on the ruling on practising yoga. Some of them are of the view that it is not allowed at all, others are of the view that it is permissible without any reservations. Yet others differentiated between some of its practices and others; they allowed those that are in accordance with sharee‘ah and forbade those that are contrary to it. 

None of them denied – as far as we know – that the origin of this practice stems from idolatrous Hindu beliefs then Buddhism. Hence those who allow it in all cases took away from it anything that has to do with beliefs and spiritual matters, and passed the ruling on it on the basis that it is regarded as physical exercise. Those who forbade it did so because of its religious origins and the resemblance to those idol worshippers, and because of the harm it causes to the body, and other reasons. As for those who differentiate between one type and another, their opinion is not acceptable because it is not possible to eliminate the bad and because people are not able to distinguish between what is permissible and what is forbidden in it. 

So it is both spiritual and physical exercise which was originally aimed at reaching oblivion and entering into a state of connection with God! 

In the book al-Yoga wa’l-Tanaffus (yoga and breathing) by Muhammad ‘Abd al-Fattaah Faheem (p. 19), it says: 

“Yoga in the sacred Indian language means union and contact with God, i.e., union between the body, the mind and God which helps man attain knowledge and wisdom and develops his thought by developing his knowledge of life; it protects him from sectarianism, religious fanaticism, narrowmindedness and shortsightedness when searching; it makes him live a life of contentment both physically and spiritually.” 

In al-Mu‘jam al-Falsafi by Jameel Sulayba (2/590) it says: 

“Yoga is a Sanskrit word which means union; it is used to refer to a kind of spiritual exercise that is practised by the wise men of India for the purpose of union with the universal spirit. Yoga is not a school of philosophical thought; rather it is an artistic way of doing some exercises that release the soul from physical and mental gravity and take it step-by-step towards reality. The Yogi is the wise man who practices this way.” End quote. 

Both quotes taken from Mazaahirat al-Tashabbuh bi’l-Kuffaar fi’l-‘Asr al-Hadeeth wa Atharuha ‘ala al-Muslimeen.

In the definition of Yoga we see that it means union, i.e., union of man with the spirit, which is the universal spirit, by which they mean God. Hence the aim of this practice is to be a way of combining all other religions. Dr Ahmad Shalabi – who is a specialist in the religions of India – says: 

“The union of Buddha with the Hindu gods is nothing but a return to belief in ‘Jnana Yoga’ i.e., the ‘path of knowledge’ which sees truth in all religions and philosophies. But this truth is only a particle of the greater, complete truth. This school of thought does not object to any religion or philosophy; it thinks that any religion or philosophy is not everything and is not the whole truth. The one who believes in this way of thinking does not belong to any religion or school of thought, because he regards the followers of all different religions as his brothers, no matter how they differ. So Jnana Yoga is a way that encompasses all beliefs and refuses to be restricted by any of them. We should highlight the fact that propagating and promoting this way of thinking is aimed at fighting Islam indirectly. I have seen these attempts in several countries. Islam is the force that defeated both Christian and Buddhist missionaries, so if they can manage to divert people in one way or another – even in the name of Jnana Yoga that encompasses all beliefs and does not restrict itself to any one of them – that is a great victory for them. After they have managed to divert the Muslim from Islam at the end of this smart trick, then it is possible to make him doubt and then pull him into another sphere. So let the Muslim beware of Yoga and its trickery and those who promote it.” 

Adyaan al-Hind al-Kubra, p. 174 

We think that forbidding it altogether is the correct approach. We have studied the words of many concerning this practice, and we have decided to sum up the comments on it from a book that deals specifically with the ruling on this practice, by a writer whom we trust with regard to his methodology and beliefs; he is a doctor who knows what he is saying when he criticises it even from a health point of view. This writer is Dr Faaris ‘Alwaan and his book is called al-Yoga fi Mizaan al-Naqd al-‘Ilmi, which was published by Darussalam in Cairo. Everything that we will quote below is from this book, but it should be noted that we cannot quote everything that it says in the book. Hence we will limit it to a definition of this practice and the discussion of the Islamic ruling on it; whoever wants to know more may refer to the book. 

Secondly: 

What is Yoga? 

Yoga means union; one of its prominent teachers says that it is union of man with the spirit. 

Yoga involves various exercises and rituals, but the most important and most famous of them is an exercise called Surya Namaskar [known in English as the “Sun Salutation”], which means in Sanskrit: “prostration to the sun on eight parts of the body”. And they defined these parts as the two feet, the two knees, the two hands, the chest and the forehead. 

It is preferable for the one who practices yoga to be naked, especially the chest, back and thighs; to face the sun when it is rising and when it is setting if he wants Yoga that is sound and beneficial; and to fix his gaze and focus his attention on the disc of the sun, and be attached to it completely, which includes his body, his faculties, his mind and his heart. If he is in a built-up area and cannot see the sun, he is allowed to draw the disc of the sun in front of him on the wall. One of them said: If the one who is practising yoga is a believer in a religion and is concerned about committing an act of disbelief, there is nothing wrong with him drawing any image in front of him and focusing on it completely! 

Yoga also includes pondering one’s body deeply and thinking of and examining every part of the body, starting with the toes and going up to the head when waking up and before getting up from one’s bed, and doing the opposite, from the head down to the toes just before sleeping, and it is not allowed to forget or be distracted from this important task! 

Whoever wants to benefit from yoga should also be vegetarian. 

And he has to repeat specific words out loud whilst doing these exercises. These words are called mantras, the most famous of which are the beeja mantras, which are hram, hreem, hraim, hraum, hara. Some syllables are also repeated in yoga, such as Aum (or Om). 

In addition to that, it is essential to repeat the twelve names of the sun, because this is a major and important part of Yoga. 

Names of the sun include: 

Rafanama, which means, “I bow my head to you, O one whom everyone praises.”

Suryanama, which means, “I bow my head to you, O guide of all.”

Bahaanafinama, which means, “I bow my head to you, O bestower of beauty.”

Safeetarnama, which means, “I bow my head to you, O bestower of life” etc. 

And they claim that this repetition is very beneficial. 

One of those who practices yoga says that he wakes up at 3.30 a.m. and continues practising yoga and offering its special prayers until 6:15 a.m. And in the evening he does the same thing from 6 p.m. until 6:30 p.m. 

Thus he spends three and a quarter hours every day practising yoga, and he says that some of them spend more time than that, claiming that the more time they spend on it the more beneficial it is. 

Al-Yoga fi Mizaan al-Naqd al-‘Ilmi, p. 13-18 

Thirdly: 

The Islamic ruling on practising yoga 

To sum up, it is not permissible for the Muslim to practice yoga at all, whether he does it on the basis of belief or imitating others, or because he is seeking a particular so-called benefit. That is due to a number of reasons which we may conclude from what is mentioned above, and which we will sum up as follows: 

-1-

Because Yoga is contrary to Tawheed and involves associating other deities with Allah, may He be exalted, and because it involves prostrating to the sun and repeating its names. 

Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“Say (O Muhammad): I am commanded only to worship Allaah (Alone) and not to join partners with Him”

[al-Ra‘d 13:36]

“If you join others in worship with Allâh, (then) surely (all) your deeds will be in vain, and you will certainly be among the losers”

[al-Zumar 39:65]. 

-2-

Because it involves imitation of idol worshippers and resembling them, and the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “Whoever imitates a people is one of them.” Narrated by Ahmad, Abu Dawood and al-Tabaraani from Ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him). 

-3-

Because some of its practices are harmful to most people and lead to serious health consequences for them. Some of its practices involve sitting in a very strange and shameful way, and sitting in a lazy way, oblivious to what is going on around one. This is also harmful from a health and psychological point of view. The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “There should be neither harming nor reciprocating harm.” Narrated by Ahmad and Ibn Maajah from Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allah be pleased with him). 

-4-

Because it is a waste of time doing something that does not bring anything but harm and loss in this world, and calamity and despair in the Hereafter. The trustworthy Messenger (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “A person’s feet will not move on, on the Day of Resurrection, until he has been asked about four things: his life and how he spent it, his knowledge and what he did with it, his wealth and from where he acquired it and on what he spent it, and his body and how he used it.” Narrated by al-Tirmidhi from Abu Barzah. 

-5-

Because it is a clear call to imitate animals and detracts from human dignity, such as: adopting nakedness, resting on all fours in most of the exercises (Surya Namaskar or sun salutation) and the special posture in the third and eighth exercises. 

-6-

Because many of those who tried to practice what is called scientific yoga or behavioural therapy fell into the pit of drugs and addiction, and this remedy has been proven to be ineffective and of no benefit. 

-7-

Because it is based on lies and charlatanry; its promoters rely on deceit and twisting the facts in spreading it. Thus it attracted the attention of a large number of those who are simple-natured and many of those who are weak in faith. 

-8-

Because a few of those who practice yoga or some other esoteric or deviant trends may perform extraordinary feats, people are deceived by it. But in most cases they are only using devils among the jinn as in the case of magic and so on, and this is haraam according to Islam. 

-9-

Most of the advice given by the promoters of yoga is harmful to the individual, including the following: 

(a)     Nakedness and what it causes of cultural, sexual, psychological and physical diseases.

(b)    Exposing the skin to the sun. We have seen the harm that this causes, especially when there is lengthy exposure to the sun.

(c)     Fixing the gaze on the disc of the sun, which causes severe damage to the eyes.

(d)    Encouraging a vegetarian diet for which Allah has not revealed any authority. 

Al-Yoga fi Mizan al-Naqd al-‘Ilmi, p. 84-86 

And Allah knows best.

Islam Q&A

Personal 109

So recently I've been working alot + studying for exams & this Friday is a religious holdiay for Christian people and so is Sunday. The most strangest thing how they want us to work on these days =S & I was kind of shocked because I would think aside from Christmas that this is a HUGE DEAL to them..but strange enough I realize they don't care. I asked my supervisor why we were working & she told me the CLIENT had changed his mind and wanted us to work. Now alhamdulilah I respect peoples faiths as much as my own but how can I give them the respect of loving there religion when they themselves don't respect it at all =S. I was chatting with another supervisor and was told that what I think about it is different then what really is, explaining that people aren't as religious as how I see them or perceive them to be, my supervisor was so right about that. I always hold people to be religious when I see they portray a symbol of their religion; but I am very far from being right. I know if this was an Islamic holiday that no one would work everyone would be at prayer; shops, groceries everything would close just for the prayer or maybe for the whole day. Not every Muslim takes their religion serious but the majority do that's why it was hard for me to understand when it came to my workplace because there are Muslims & Christians..They know about Ramadan and Eid; ma'sha'Allah they are aware. It was just mind-boggling how much they seemed to not care about their religious holiday coming up.

DO YOU EVER GET THAT LIGHTBULB MOMENT WHILE YOUR TALKING TO A PERSON..THEN LATER REALIZE HOW SMALL THE WORLD IS BETWEEN YOU 2? AJEEB...THOSE MOMENTS ARE TO CHERISH :)