697. Lose Your Job? Don't Lose Hope

By Asma bint Shameem

As world markets suffer from the ongoing global financial crisis and housing markets slump, as jobs are lost and unemployment rates rise high, as businesses close down and people don't have a source of income, you worry. 

You worry about the growing global recession and its challenges. 

And you worry about your family, your kids, how to provide for them, how to put food on the table, how to pay the bills....

In times such as these, this is a reminder for my brothers and sisters, as the reminder always benefits the believers.

"But remind, the Reminder will benefit the believers." (Surah adh-Dhaariyaat: 55)

KEEP YOUR IMAAN STRONG

1. Remember....NOTHING happens except by the will and decree of Allaah:

Belief in al-qadar (the Divine decree) is one of the pillars of our Imaan, and no one’s faith is complete without it. 

So if you lost your job, it was by the Will and Decree of Allaah. 

Allaah says:

“No calamity befalls on the earth or in yourselves but it is inscribed in the Book of Decrees (al-Lawh al-Mahfooz) before We bring it into existence. Verily, that is easy for Allaah” [al-Hadeed 57:22] 

And the Prophet (sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam) said: 

"KNOW that what has passed you by was not going to befall you, and that what has befallen you was not going to pass you by. 

And know that victory comes with patience, relief with affliction, and ease with hardship." (Tirmidhi-Saheeh)  

2. It is Allaah that provides for you and NOT your employer.

Remember that Allaah is al-Razzaaq (the Provider) and the Best of those who provide. 

It was Allaah who was providing you before you lost your job and it is still HE that will provide you after you lost it. 

The one who fed you when you were in your mother's womb will also feed you when you are an adult. 

And it was not you who was putting food on the table for your family. 

Rather it was Allaah using you as a *means* to provide for them.

Allaah says:

"Except for Allah, is there any other Creator who provides for you out of heaven and earth? 

There is no god except He. Where then do you turn?" (Surah Faatir:3)

3. Know that your provision was written for you BEFORE you were even born:

Allaah had sent an angel to write down your provision for you when you were 120 days old in your mother's womb, and you will get it, no matter what. 

 "(the angel) says, ‘O Lord, male or female? Doomed or blessed? What is his provision? What is his lifespan?’ And that is written in his mother’s womb.” (Bukhaari)

There is NOTHING that can take it away. 

And you will not die until you have had your full provision. 

 The Prophet (sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam) said: 

“The Holy Spirit (Jibreel) has inspired to me that no soul will die until it has completed its appointed term and received its provision in full, so fear Allaah and do not be desperate in seeking provision, and no one of you should be tempted to seek provision by means of committing sin if it is slow in coming to him, for that which is with Allaah can only be attained by obeying Him.” (Saheeh al-Jaami’, no. 2085)  

4. It is a TEST for you from Allaah:

Remember that disasters and calamities are a test of a believer’s patience. 

And so He will test you to see how strong you are and how you will react to His test. 

And know if Allaah loves a person, He tests him. 

Allaah says:

"We shall test you with something of fear and hunger, and decrease of goods, life and fruits. Give glad tidings to the patient." (al-Baqarah:155)

5. Surely, it is a means of expiation of your sins

Calamities are a means of expiation of sin and raising one's status. 

The Prophet (sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam) said: 

“There is nothing that befalls a believer, not even a thorn that pricks him, but Allaah will record one good deed for him and will remove one bad deed from him.” (Muslim). 

And he said: 

“Trials will continue to befall the believing man and woman, with regard to themselves, their children and their wealth, until they meet Allaah with no sin on them.” (Tirmidhi, saheeh by al-Albaani)

WHAT TO DO?

1. Have tawakkul on Allaah 

Always think to yourself...

Allaah wouldn't decree something for me unless it was good for me. 

Have faith in Allaah's Words....

He said 

"But you may hate a thing although it is good for you, and may love a thing although it is evil for you. Allah knows, and you do not." (Baqarah:216)

The Prophet (sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam) said: 

“If you put your trust in Allaah in the true sense, He will grant your provision as He grants to the birds, who go out in the morning hungry and come back full.” (Ahmad, Ibn Maajah and al-Tirmidhi).

2. Be patient

Remember that with every difficulty comes *ease* and with hardship comes *relief*.

The Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam said:

“How wonderful is the affair of the believer, for all his affairs are good and this does not apply to anyone except the believer. 

If something good happens to him he is grateful, and that is good for him, and if something bad happens to him he is patient, and that is good for him.” (Muslim). 

3. Review your life and make LOTS of istighfar

Look at your life. 

Is there something that you need to improve on? 

Is there something that you need to give up? 

Is there anything that may be a cause of Allaah's warning or punishment to you? 

Allaah says:

“And whatever of misfortune befalls you, it is because of what your hands have earned” [al-Shoora:30]

The Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam said:

“ a man may be deprived of provision by a sin that he commits.”  (Ibn Maajah-saheeh by al-Albaani)

If there is such an issue, NOW is the time to fix yourself. 

Ask Allaah sincerely to forgive you and He will. 

There is no doubt in that.For He is al-Ghafoor, ar-Raheem.

Allaah says:

‘Ask forgiveness from your Lord, verily, He is Oft‑Forgiving. 

He will send rain to you in abundance, and give you increase in wealth and children, and bestow on you gardens and bestow on you rivers.’”[Nooh 71:10-12] 

4. Fear Allaah and obey Him as much as you can:

Obedience is the KEY to the Mercy of Allaah and fearing Him (taqwa) is a means to attain all success. 

Allaah says:

“And whosoever fears Allaah and keeps his duty to Him, He will make a way for him to get out (from every difficulty). And He will provide him from (sources) he never could imagine. 

And whosoever puts his trust in Allaah, then He will suffice him. 

Verily, Allaah will accomplish his purpose. Indeed Allaah has set a measure for all things” [al-Talaaq:2-3] 

5. Make dua and do LOTS of good deeds

Never forget that Dua is the WEAPON of the believer. 

Pray to Allaah with the attitude of *certainty* and He will surely respond. 

Do a lot of acts of worship, such as reading Qur’aan, fasting, giving charity, etc. 

This will get rid of your worry and anxiety, and give you happiness, peace of mind and success in this dunya as well as in the Hereafter. 

Allaah says:

“Whoever works righteousness — whether male or female — while he (or she) is a true believer; verily, to him We will give a good life (in this world with respect, contentment and lawful provision), and We shall pay them certainly a reward in proportion to the best of what they used to do (i.e. Paradise in the Hereafter)” (al-Nahl:97)

Also, worship at times of hardship and tribulation has a special sweetness to it and a great reward. 

The Prophet (sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam) said:

“Worshipping at times of tribulation and confusion is like migrating to join me.” (Muslim) 

6. Uphold ties of kinship

If there are any family members that you have cut off from or are not on speaking terms, etc., correct that and ask them for forgiveness, even if it was not your fault. 

Why? 

Because the Prophet (sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam) said:  

“Whoever would like his provision to be increased and his life span to be extended, let him uphold the ties of kinship.” 

7. Do your best to seek Halaal earnings.....

Work hard to find a means of living for your family. That is a responsibility placed upon you by Allaah.

Imam Ahmad was asked about a man who sat in his house or in the masjid and said, “I will not do anything until my rizq comes to me.” He said, “This is a man who has no knowledge.

The Prophet sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam said:. 

"Strive to do that which will benefit you and seek the help of Allaah, and do not feel helpless." (Muslim). 

8. But don't lose sight of the Aakhirah

However, do realize that this world is only temporary and the REAL life is that of the Hereafter. 

This world should not be the main concern of the Muslim, rather our focus should be on what we do for the Aakhirah. 

The Prophet (sal Allaahu Alayhi wa sallam) said: 

“Whoever is mainly concerned about the Hereafter, Allaah will make him feel independent of others and will make him focused and content, and his worldly affairs will fall into place. 

But whoever is mainly concerned with this world, Allaah will make him feel in constant need of others and will make him distracted and unfocused, and he will get nothing of this world except what is decreed for him.” (Tirmidhi- saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Jaami’). 

May Allaah make it easy for all of us and grant us relief from all difficulty. Ameen. 

And Allaah knows best

696. How Can We Complete These 12 Twelve Rak’aat On Friday, If There Are No Sunnah Before Jumu’ah Prayer?

By Asma bint Shameem 

“Whoever prays twelve rak‘ahs in a day and night, a house will be built for him in Jannah.*

So how can we complete these 12 twelve rak’aat on Friday, if there are no Sunnah before Jumu’ah prayer?”*

Yes it’s true that it’s highly recommended to pray twelve rak’aat every day. 

The Prophet Sal Allaahu Alayhi wa Sallam said: 

“There is no Muslim slave who prays twelve rak‘ahs to Allaah each day, voluntarily, apart from the obligatory prayers, but Allaah will build for him a house in Paradise.” 

(Saheeh Muslim)

And he Sal Allaahu Alayhi wa Sallam said:

“Whoever prays twelve rak‘ahs in a day and night, a house will be built for him in Jannah: 

four before Dhuhr and two after it, 

two rak‘ahs after Maghrib, two rak‘ahs after ‘Isha’, and two rak‘ahs before Fajr prayer.” 

(At-Tirmidhi 415; saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh Sunan at-Tirmidhi)

However, as there’s *no proof of reading any Sunnah prayers before Jumu’ah prayer*, the number of Sunnah prayers associated with the daily prayers would not add up to twelve. 

So the scholars say that 

Friday is an EXCEPTION to the general meaning of the hadeeth:

“… whoever prays twelve rak‘ahs each day…” 

Shaykh Dr. Bandar ibn Naafi‘ al-‘Abdali said:

“There is no regular Sunnah prayer before Jumu‘ah prayer, but there is a regular Sunnah prayer *after* it.

In that case, Friday is *exempted* from the general meaning of the hadeeth, 

“There is no Muslim slave who prays twelve rak‘ahs to Allaah each day, voluntarily, apart from the obligatory prayers, but Allaah will build for him a house in Paradise.” (Muslim 728).”

However, you can pray as many NAWAAFIL on Fridays as you want. 

That’s because there’s *no restrictions* in that. 

The Prophet Sal Allaahu Alayhi wa Sallam said: 

“Whoever does ghusl on Friday, and purifies himself with whatever means of purification he can, then puts on perfume, then goes and does not push between any two people, *then prays whatever is decreed for him*, then when the Imaam comes out he listens attentively, (his sins) between that and the next Friday will be forgiven.” 

(al-Bukhaari 910)

That’s why the Sahaabah would try and come *early* to Jumu’ah and pray as many *Nawaafil* as they could before the Khutbah of Jumu’ah. 

And there’s a great reward in that. 

Naafi’ said: 

“Ibn Umar Radhi Allaahu anhu used to *lengthen the prayer* before the Jumu’ah (prayer).” 

(Aboo Dawood 1128; saheeh by al-Albaani) 

Imaam Ibn Taymiyyah said:

“This is that which has been reported from the Sahaabah; 

when they would come to the Masjid on the day of Jumu’ah; they would pray from the time that they entered – that which would be easy (for them). 

So from them was he who would pray *ten rak’aat* and from them was he who would pray *twelve rak’aat* and from them was he who would pray *eight rak’aat*and from them was he who would pray less than that.

Due to this the majority of the Imaams are in agreement that there is no Sunnah (prayer) before the Jumu’ah (prayer) which is scheduled for a given time – valuated with a number (of specific units), because that has to be established from the statement of the Prophet ﷺ  or through his action, and nothing has been prescribed/established in that regard, not through his statement nor through his action.”

(Majmu’ Fataawa vol 24 p.189)

Shaykh Ibn Uthaymeen said regarding the above statement:

(..then he prays whatever is decreed for him…)

“(Here) The Prophet Sal Allaahu Alayhi wa Sallam did not specify a prayer, this proves that the Jumu’ah (prayer) does not have a regular Sunnah (prayer) before it, rather the person can pray what he wishes, whether it is a little or plentiful – up until the Imaam becomes present.”

(Sharh Riyaadh us Saaliheen vol 5 p.171)

Shaikh ibn Baaz said:

“…And the sahaabah Radhi Allaahu anhum, on the day of Al-Jumu’ah; *they would pray plentifully before the sermon*, so this does not have a restricted limitation.”

(Fataawa Noorun ‘Alad-Darb vol 2 p.858)

And he said:

“It has been authentically established from the Prophet Sal Allaahu Alayhi wa Sallam in many ahaadeeth that which indicates that it is legislated for the Muslim when he comes to the Masjid on the day of Al-Jumu’ah  that he prays that which Allaah has portioned for him before the emergence of the Imaam. 

The Prophet Sal Allaahu Alayhi wa Sallam did not restrict a confined number of rak’ahs in that, hence *if one prays two or four or more than that then ALL of it is GOOD*; and the least of that is the two rak’ahs for the Tahiyyatul Masjid.”

(Majmu’ Fataawa vol 12 p.387)

And Allaah knows best.

695. Rules Regarding Divorce

 By Asma bint Shameem 

The correct rules regarding divorce are:

When a man divorces his wife, her iddah starts IMMEDIATELY 

It lasts for THREE menstrual cycles or till she gives birth, if she’s pregnant 

They have a chance to reconcile with each other. 

The wife should stay at her HUSBAND’s house during these three months 

She should ADORN herself and does NOT wear hijaab in front of him. 

She lives like she did BEFORE the divorce. She cooks, cleans and does EVERYTHING like she did before EXCEPT intercouse. 

The purpose behind this is that our Deen ENCOURAGES that the husband and wife get back together. 

If he decides to take her back, all he has to do is say he’s taking her back or show in other ways that he wants to reconcile, for example have intercourse with her.

And he does not have to do anything else to claim her back. 

She is his wife again. 

But this will count as FIRST divorce. 

If he does NOT take her back WITHIN the iddah period, and her iddah is OVER, she goes home to her father’s house and they’re divorced. 

Once the iddah is over, she may marry someone else. 

HOWEVER, 

IF the ex husband wants to reconcile AFTER the iddah is over, *he may STILL do so*.

But now he has to marry her again with a NEW contract and a NEW mahr. 

However he only has ONE MORE chance for a revocable divorce. 

If he divorces her a SECOND time, the SAME rules will apply. 

BUT if he divorces her a THIRD time, then that  divorce is IRREVOCABLE and she will be permanently forbidden to marry. 

That is UNLESS she marries a different person, WITHOUT the intention of marrying the first person, and LIVES a NORMAL life with her second husband. And IF the second husband HAPPENS BY CHANCE to die or divorce her, she may be allowed to marry her first husband. 

IF she married the second husband JUST to get back with her first husband, that is a MAJOR SIN and HARAAM. 

Shaikh Ibn Baaz said:

“If a man divorces his wife and this is the first or second talaaq and she has not ended her ‘iddah (by giving birth if she is pregnant or by the passage of three menstrual cycles), then he can take his wife back by saying, “I am taking you back” or “I am keeping you.” 

Then his taking her back is valid. 

Or he may do some action intending thereby to take her back, such as having intercourse with the intention of taking her back. 

The Sunnah is to have two witnesses to the fact that he has taken her back, so that two witnesses testify to that, because Allaah says: 

“Then when they are about to attain their term appointed, either take them back in a good manner or part with them in a good manner. And take as witness two just persons from among you (Muslims)”[al-Talaaq 65:2]

In this manner a man may take his wife back. 

But if the ‘iddah has ended following a first or second talaaq, then there has to be a new marriage contract. 

In this case he has to propose marriage like any other man, to her guardian and to her. 

When she and her guardian agree and they agree upon a mahr, then the marriage contract is completed. 

That must be done in the presence of two just witnesses. 

But if the divorce is the final – i.e., third – divorce, then she becomes haraam for him until another man has married her, because Allaah says: 

“And if he has divorced her (the third time), then she is not lawful unto him thereafter until she has married another husband” [al-Baqarah 2:230]

So it is not permissible for him to marry her unless she has been married to another man and the marriage has been consummated, then he leaves her either through death or divorce. 

This marriage must be a legitimate shar’i marriage; if she marries him just to make it permissible for her to go back to her first husband, that is not permitted and she does not become permissible (to the first husband).”

(Fataawa Al-Talaaq 1/195-201)

And Allaah knows best

694. Is It Preferred To Pray In Congregation If You Are At Home

By Asma Bint Shameem

It is preferred to pray in congregation even if you’re at home. 

And there’s nothing wrong with a man praying in congregation with his wife. 

Two people can pray together as Jama’ah. 

It could be two men, or a man and a woman, a man and a boy or even among two women.

 Proofs:

1. The Prophet Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam said:

“When the time for prayer comes, give the adhaan and iqaamah then let the oldest of you *TWO* lead you in prayer.” (al-Bukhaari, 658). 

2. Sa’eed al-Khudri radhi Allaahu anhu said that the Messenger of Allaah Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam 

saw a man praying on his own and said: 

“Why doesn’t a man perform an act of charity for him and pray with him?” 

(Abu Dawood 554; saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Jaami’, 2652) 

3. Abdullah bin Abbaas radhi Allaahu anhumaa said that he stayed overnight in the house of Maimuna the wife of the Prophet, his aunt. 

He added : 

“I lay on the bed (cushion transversally) while Allaah’s  Messenger Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam  and his wife lay in the lengthwise direction of the cushion. Allah’s Messenger Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam  slept till the middle of the night, either a bit before or a bit after it and then woke up, rubbing the traces of sleep off his face with his hands. 

He then, recited the last ten verses of Sura Al-`Imran, got up and went to a hanging water-skin. 

He then Performed the ablution from it and it was a perfect ablution, and then stood up to offer the prayer. 

I, too, got up and did as the Prophet had done. 

Then I went and stood by his side. 

He placed his right hand on my head and caught my right ear and twisted it. 

He prayed two rak’aat then two rak’aat and two rak’aat and then two rak’aat and then two rak’aat and then two rak’aat (separately six times), and finally one Rak’ah (the witr)...”

(al-Bukhaari 183)

All these ahaadeeth show that congregation may be held by only two people praying together. 

And Allaah knows best