WHAT IS THE ROLE OF MUSLIM WOMEN OUTSIDE THE HOME?

Muslim women Nurses of The Red Crescent equivalent to the Red Cross in the West: courtesy of:http://www.flickr.com/photos/27529953@N04/3081335899/

GUEST AUTHOR: Dr. Kaukab Siddique

Hadith Studies demonstrate that:

ALL WOMEN, INCLUDING YOUNG SINGLE WOMEN, ARE URGED BY PROPHET MUHAMMAD (peace be on him) TO TAKE PART IN ALL GOOD WORKS OF THE MUSLIM COMMUNITY

Question: I am studying Islam but can’t find anything in the Koran or the Traditions to support the place of women outside the home. Is it not true that Islam wants to restrict women to having children and cooking food? [U, from London, England]

ANSWER BY Dr. KAUKAB SIDDIQUE:

Asalaam o Alaikum Sister U, I have no idea why you can’t find the relevant texts. There is no need for any argument or interpretation on this issue. Here is a clear text from the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). I have put the Prophet’s words in capitals:

“Ismail narrates from Ayyub who narrates from Hafsa: She said: We used to forbid our never married maidens from going out. A woman came and stayed at the mansion of the Bani Khalaf. She narrated that her sister was married to a companion of the messenger of Allah (peace be on him) who was with the messenger of Allah (pbuh) in 12-armed expeditions. Her sister was with him in six of these expeditions. She (the sister) said: We used to bandage the wounded and take care of the sick. She (the sister) asked the messenger of Allah (pbuh): Is there any harm if one of us does not go forth if she does not have an outer covering (jilbab)?

He (the Prophet, pbuh) said: “LET HER FEMALE FRIEND GIVE HER OF HER OUTER COVERINGS and SHE SHOULD TAKE PART IN THE GOOD WORKS and CALLS TO ALLAH (supplications) OF THE BELIEVERS.” When Umm Atiyya (Allah be pleased with her) came, I (Hafsa) questioned her about it. Umm Attiya said: Let my father be sacrificed for him. (Whenever the Prophet’s (pbuh) name was mentioned, she used to say so.) I asked: Have you heard the messenger of Allah (peace be on him) say so? She replied: Yes. By my father, he (the Prophet, pbuh) told us: LET THE UNMARRIED MAIDENS AND THE YOUNG VIRGINS WHO STAY HIDDEN AND THE MENSTRUATING ONES GO FORTH TO TAKE PART IN THE GOOD DEEDS AND CALLS TO ALLAH (supplications) OF THE MUSLIMS. ONLY, THE MENSTRUATING ONES SHOULD NOT BE ON THE ACTUAL PRAYER AREA. I (Hafsa) asked (Umm Attiya): Even the menstruating women? She replied: Don’t they (the menstruating women) go to Arafat and such and such places? [Hadith in Bukhari's Sahih, kitab al-Manasik.]

ANALYSIS by Dr. Kaukab Siddique:

Muslims, by definition, are one nation and one community. However, for this community to become real, Muslims must learn to respect each other and to work together for good causes, starting at the basic level of man and woman.

Decency and modesty are important in Islam but this virtue must not be a cloistered virtue. To achieve real virtue, one must practice virtue within the community.

The hadith (above) begins by mentioning Hafsa’s mistaken notion that single women must not go out into community activities. Then along came a woman who talked about her sister who had participated in six armed expeditions (ghazwaat). Although she was part of the ambulance brigade, she did go forth to the battlefield. Hafsa got this narration confirmed by Umm Attiya (Allah be pleased with her) one of the greatest female companions of the Prophet (pbuh).

Note that the Prophet did not accept the excuse of lack of adequate clothing. Friends can always share dresses. The essential thing is to be part of the struggle. There is no indication whatever that the Prophet (pbuh) would want women to be secluded or separated from the men. Decent dress and modest attitude is all that is needed. TAQWA (God-conscious behavior) is the key.

The biggest surprise for Hafsa was the Prophet’s urging that even menstruating women go forth. No mosque or gathering place is holier than the ground of Arafat, and menstruating women can and do go there. They should stay away from actual formal prayer. (Another aspect often forgotten is that in those days it was difficult to stop the blood flow and the place of prayer would be have blood on it.)

HOW MANY WOMEN ARE NEEDED FOR WITNESSING?

Note also that this hadith in a number of ways contradicts the idea that reporting or witnessing by ONE MUSLIM WOMAN is not valid. Ismail accepted from Ayyub (both males) a narration from ONE WOMAN Hafsa and Imam Bukhari unhesitatingly placed it in his Sahih. The second part of the narration is again from one woman Umm Attiya (Allah be pleased with her).

CRITIQUE of DR. MUSHSIN KHAN’S TRANSLATION: Dr. Khan’s translation of Bukhari in 9 volumes has this hadith in volume 2 on page 418 and it is numbered 714. The translator has made a number of errors.

Firstly he adds the words “On Ids” and “for Id prayer” at the beginning and end of the first sentence narrated by Hafsa. If any expert in Arabic can point out where these additions of Dr. Khan are available in the text, please let me know.

Secondly, he mentions the “menstruating ones” only once, leaving out the first reference as given in my translation. Again see the Arabic.

Thirdly, he DOES NOT KNOW THAT HAFSA HERE IS NOT THE DAUGHTER of Umar Ibn al-Khattab (r.a.) and the wife of the Prophet (pbuh). Dr. Khan mistakenly puts (radi Allahu unha) in front of her name. He should study the Tabqat of Ibn Saad to find out who was this narrator. If she had been the illustrious wife of the Prophet and custodian of the Qur’an, she would not have had to ask Umm Attiya (r.a.).

Fourthly, Dr. Khan blunders by translating jilbab as “veil” and his translation come out, as “She should cover herself with the veil of her companion.” (Is that physically possible?) Most early scholars of Islam agree that jilbab is the outer garment or covering.

Some close Saudi associates of Dr. Khan have issued a summary of Sahih Bukhari from which this hadith has been omitted.

Diseases Not Heard of Before……..

HADITH

Rasul Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said:

“If ever immorality spreads in a community and there is no sense of shame on its occurrence or mentioning it (and people talk about it as if nothing bad has taken place), diseases which were not present in the time of their predecessors will spread among them.” [Ibn Majah, Al-Bazzar, Al-Bayhaqi]

We may not be committing indecent acts, yet if we ignore what is happening around us then we are to blame also.

It is our job as the Ummah of Muhammad (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) to carry on his message and guide and warn people.

Once Hazrat Jibreel (alaihis salaam) was sent by Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) to destroy a town. Jibreel (alaihis salaam) asked if the pious man in the town, who spent his every moment in the remembrance of Allah, was also meant to be destroyed.

Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) told him to annihilate that ‘pious’ man first, since he did not bother to guide his people.

end tafseer

For uncommon diseases today check out:diseases of the body by disobedience of Allah.

OUR DNA………….

Courtesy: www.flickr.com

Narrated ‘Abdullah: Allah’s Apostle, the truthful and truly-inspired, said,

“Each one of you collected in the womb of his mother for forty days, and then turns into a clot for an equal period (of forty days) and turns into a piece of flesh for a similar period (of forty days) and then Allah sends an angel and orders him to write four things, i.e., his provision, his age, and whether he will be of the wretched or the blessed (in the Hereafter).

Then the soul is breathed into him. And by Allah, a person among you (or a man) may do deeds of the people of the Fire till there is only a cubit or an arm-breadth distance between him and the Fire, but then that writing (which Allah has ordered the angel to write) precedes, and he does the deeds of the people of Paradise and enters it;

and a man may do the deeds of the people of Paradise till there is only a cubit or two between him and Paradise, and then that writing precedes and he does the deeds of the people of the Fire and enters it.”

(Book #77, Hadith #593)

For more on this subject please refer to the scholars:

Qadaa wal Qadar by Shaykh Mokhtar Magraoui available at : www.zawiyah.net or www.aswatulislam.com

I ‘d like to be…………..

Excerpted from Surah 59: Al-Hashr (The Gathering) Recitation By: Mishary Rashed AlAfasy

AS YOU PACK YOUR BAGS FOR HAJJ…..

Jabal e Rahma

guest article

A beautiful Hadeeth about Hajj

by Asma bint Shameem

One day Ibn Umar (RA) was sitting with the Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) in the masjid in Mina when a man from the Ansaar and a man from the Thaqeef came. They gave Salaam and said, “O Messenger of Allaah, we came to ask you questions.”

So the Messenger (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) said: “If you want I can inform you why you came and what you want to ask, and I will do so, and if you want I will hold back and you can ask me and I will answer you.”

They said: “Tell us O Messenger of Allaah!”

The man from Thaqeef said to the Ansaari: “Ask.” So the Ansaari man said: “Inform me O Messenger of Allaah!”

The Messenger of Allaah (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) said: “You came to me, to ask about leaving your house and aiming for the Bait-ul-Haraam and the reward for it; about praying two Rakah after Tawaaf and the reward for it; going between as-Safa and Marwa and the reward for it; your staying the evening in Mina, and the reward for it; stoning the Jamarah and the reward for it; slaughtering an animal and the reward for it; and the Tawaaf of al-Ifaadh.”

The man said: “I swear by the One who sent you with the truth! This is what I came to ask you about.”

The Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) said: “As for you leaving your homes aiming for the Bait-ul-Haraam: then your she-camel does not place its foot nor does it raise it except that Allaah writes for you a reward due to it, and wipes off one of your sins.

As for the two Rakah after the Tawaaf, then it is equivalent to freeing a slave from the Children of Ismaeel.

Muqaam-e Ibrahim

As for your circuiting of as-Safa and al-Marwa, then it is the same as freeing 70 slaves.

Saee: Between Safa and Marwah walking in the steps of our mother Hagar

As for you staying till the evening in Arafah, then Allaah descends to the sky of the Duniya and He boasts about you to the Angels, and says: ‘My slaves have come to Me, looking rough, from every deep valley hoping for My mercy, so if their sins were equivalent to the amount of sand or the drops of rain or like the foam on the sea I will forgive them. So go forth My slaves! Having forgiveness and for what or who you have interceded for.’

Arafah in 1950

On the way to Jamaraat

As for stoning the Jamaar (the pillars), then for every stone that you throw, it removes a big sin from the deadly sins.

As for your slaughtering, then it is saved for you with your Lord.

As for shaving your head, then there is a reward for every strand of hair that you shaved, and a sin is wiped off by it.

Hajre-Aswaad, where tawaaf begins

As for you performing Tawaaf of the House after all this, then by this time you are performing Tawaaf with no sin upon you and an Angel comes and places his hand between your shoulders saying: “Perform good deeds in what you face of the future, for verily your past sins have been forgiven.” (at-Tabarani and al-Bazaar–graded hasan by Al-Albaanee in Saheeh al-Targheeb wa Tarheeb’)

End Hadith

Subhaan Allaah! What a beautiful hadeeth!

And what good news for the pilgrims!

Rejoice and celebrate! Those of you going for Hajj this year! What more could you ask for?!!

Remember this hadeeth as you leave your homes for this honorable journey, whether it is by plane, ship, car or camel. Remember that Allaah will forgive your sins at each step you get closer to your destination and reward you at each step.

And remember this hadeeth as you circumambulate the Kaa’ba and say your two rakaat….And during your Sa’ee as you get tired……and on the Day of Arafah as you spread out your hands and ask for His Mercy and forgiveness….remember this hadeeth and cry. Weep out of your fear of Him and beg Him to pardon you and to guide you to Jannah.

And as you stone the Jamaraat with the crowds, remember this hadeeth and thank Allaah for this opportunity to have your major sins forgiven. And when you slaughter your animal and shave your head only for His sake, remember to thank Him and praise Him and glorify Him, for no one but Him Alone made all this possible for you. No one but Him Alone can forgive you and guide you. And no one but Him Alone can accept all this from you.

And finally, as you make Tawaaf of al-Ifaadhah….remember this hadeeth and firmly resolve to be good, to fear Him, to be honest and upright…..a follower of the Sunnah….a true Muslim in word and deed, not just by name. Promise Him that you will try your best to have taqwa and keep away from all that is haraam. And direct all praise and thanks to Allaah Alone who honored you by first inviting you to His Noble House then enabled you to perform Hajj and then forgave you your sins. Alhamdulillaahi Rabb il-Aalameen. Can we ever thank Allaah for His kindness and blessings?!!

And if you do all that, sincerely following the Sunnah, you will be forgiven, just as the Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) promised us. And your reward will be Jannah.

As for those of us who couldn’t go this year, make firm intention NOW, to go for Hajj next year. No, not in the near future. Next Year. That’s it. Don’t delay it. Make a promise to yourself and ask Allaah to make it happen. If you ask sincerely, He will surely make it come true.

For, how can one read this beautiful…beautiful hadeeth and not want to take benefit from it?!!

How can one stand not to be the one to whom this hadeeth applies?!!

How can one not be one of the Haajis??!!!

May Allaah enable all those of us who have not yet gone for Hajj to do so and may He accept all those who did go. Ameen.

THE ETIQUETTE OF TAHAJJUD

Kalima

SAHIH BUKHARI Volume 2, Book 22, Number 289:

Narrated Kuraib Maula Ibn Abbas:

‘Abdullah bin Abbas said that he had passed a night in the house of Maimuna the mother of the faithful believers , who was his aunt. He said, “I slept across the bed, and Allah’s Apostle along with his wife slept lengthwise. Allah’s Apostle slept till mid-night or slightly before or after it. Then Allah’s Apostle woke up, sat, and removed the traces of sleep by rubbing his hands over his face. Then he recited the last ten verses of Surat-Al Imran (2).

Then he went towards a hanging leather water-container and performed a perfect ablution and then stood up for prayer.” ‘Abdullah bin Abbas added, “I got up and did the same as Allah’s Apostle had done and then went and stood by his side. Allah’s Apostle then put his right hand over my head and caught my right ear and twisted it.

He offered two Rakat, then two Rakat, then two Rakat, then two Rakat, then two Rakat, then two Rakat and then offered one Raka Witr. Then he lay down till the Muadh-dhin came and then he prayed two light Rakat and went out and offered the early morning (Fajr) prayer.”

FOR ALL YOU NIGHT OWLS OUT THERE………..

Night at times square

GUEST ARTICLE

Staying up late…..a disease of modern times

by Asma bint Shameem

They roam the streets when everyone is asleep. Or they may hang out with friends all night at the local ‘hookah place’. Or if they have nothing to do, some of them may even ‘egg’ some poor unsuspecting person’s house….’just because’. And if they are not ‘out there’, they are indoors, up until the wee hours of the morning, watching movies, listening to music, playing video games or chatting on the Internet, just because it’s ’summer vacation’.

Yes, that’s right, brothers and sisters, that’s our youth during the summer.

And even when it is not summer, they stay up late even then. They think it is ‘cool’ to do so.

And, unfortunately, this ‘disease of late nights’ has become so widespread that we, as parents, don’t think much of it either. In fact, many of us adults are afflicted with this same disease ourselves. We come back from parties and dinners late at night and we let our kids do the same.

However what we don’t realize is….. that’s not how Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta’ala intended the order of things. In fact, it is quite contrary to the natural rhythm which Allaah has created in the universe and in mankind. Allaah says:

“It is He who has appointed the night a covering for you and sleep for a rest. The day He has appointed for rising.” (Surah Furqaan: 47)

Thus, the night is created for rest and the day for work and for seeking provision. Yet we do the exact opposite. We are up at night and sleep late into the day, sometimes, up to or even beyond Dhuhr time, and waste much precious time. ‘Umar Radhi Allaahu Anhu used to punish people the people who did this and say: ‘You stay up for the first part of the night, then sleep for the last part of it?’”.

If we look at how the righteous before us spent their nights, we realize that they used their nights as a means to earning Jannah; praying, reciting the Qur’aan, crying and supplicating to Allaah. However, some of us Muslims, today take their nights as a means of entertainment and fun and even, aaoodhu billaah, a means of haraam and sin.

Actually, the Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) himself, did not like to stay up or even speak after Ishaa.

“The Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) used to like to delay the ‘Ishaa’ prayer and he hated to sleep before it or talk after it”. (Bukhaari).

He also disapproved of staying up late and warned against it.

He (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) said: “Beware of staying up after people’s movements settle.”

Why did he do that? Because staying up late might cause many harms. Some of them are:

1. It may cause one to totally miss the Fajr prayer

The Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) said: “Between a man and kufr and shirk, there stands his giving up prayer.” (Muslim)

2. Even if you do wake up for Fajr, it is extremely hard to concentrate in the prayer or even know what one is saying.

3. Staying up late causes health problems, exhaustion, weakness, and loss of enthusiasm.

The Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) said: “Staying up late is tiring and burdensome.” (Daarimi, Tabaraani, others)

4. It also leads to lack of responsibility and laziness, as it is extremely difficult to wake up early for school, job, etc. if you are up half the night. The person ends up sleeping late into the day, missing his work, and slacking in responsibility.

Al-Fudayl ibn ‘Iyaad said: There are two qualities that harden the heart: sleeping too much and eating too much.

5. We also miss out on the most blessed part of the day is the early morning. The Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa sallam) said:

“The early morning has been blessed for my Ummah.”(Saheeh al-Jaami’).

That’s why whenever the Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa sallam) sent out troops or an army, he would send them at the beginning of the day. But by sleeping late, we lose the blessings of this time and the profits we could have gained.

6. If we sleep early, we can wake up in time for qiyaam ul-lail, a time for prayer, making dua and seeking forgiveness from Allaah, as the Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) said:

“Our Lord descends every night to the heavens when there is only one third of the night remaining and says: Who is supplicating to me so that I can respond to him? Who is asking Me for something so that I can grant him that which he is asking for? Who is seeking My forgiveness so that I can forgive him” (Bukhaari, Muslim)

Is it befitting that we, as Muslims, miss this honorable and virtuous time and waste it either sleeping or  following our desires?

7. Staying up late is also a major reason behind many of the moral crimes, community problems, car accidents, etc.

8. Exceptions to the rule: The Ulama say that staying up late unnecessarily is nothing but a bad habit, unless it serves a purpose, such as praying and worshipping Allaah, seeking knowledge of Islaam, a person’s job, traveling, students preparing for exams, or other beneficial or permissible matters.

The Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) said: “Staying up late is for one of three categories of people; those traveling, those praying the night prayers, or those on their wedding night.” (Abu Ya’laa).

What Islaam encourages us to do is to sleep early, preferably right after Ishaa, then wake up early in time for

our prayers (Fajr and Tahajjud, if possible) and then take advantage of the blessings of early morning for our work and provision. We are also encouraged to take a nap during the day, either before Dhuhr or after, if we are able to. The Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) said:

“Take a nap, for the shayaateen do not take naps.” (al-Tabaraani–Saheeh).

Ishaaq ibn ‘Abd-Allaah said: “Taking a nap is one of the deeds of good people. It revitalizes the heart and helps one to pray qiyaam al-layl.”

Brothers and sisters, realize that staying up late is a diseased lifestyle that takes one away from the religion of Allaah and encourages the following of ones lusts and desires. One should avoid it unless there is a legitimate reason for it. Not only should we keep our kids away from it, we ourselves need to break this bad habit and develop healthy lifestyles and wholesome ways.

May Allaah enable us to realize the harms and evils of staying up late. May He enable us to utilize our time in the most productive manner, that is most pleasing to Him. Ameen

THE POWER SURGE FOR A MUSLIM

Masjid e Nabvi, women's entrance

Link up with Allah Almighty. Don’t miss your prayers under any circumstances. You need the power surge:

“Pray standing up; if not possible, then sitting down; and if you don’t have the strength even for that, then pray lying down.” [Prophet Muhammad, pbuh, Hadith narrated by 'Imran, r.a.  in Bukhari's Sahih, Abu Dawud's Sunan and Ahmad ibn Hanbal's Musnad.]

TELLING A LIE……AN ACT OF COMMISSION OR OMISSION

Tell them Daddy’s not home!!”
The different forms of lying –by Asma bint Shameem

“So you see,” said Hamza’s father as he finished reading the storybook, “A Muslim never lies and always tells the truth. That’s what Islam teaches us.”
Just then, the telephone bell rang sharply in the house. As little Hamza ran to answer it, his father called out, “If it is for me, tell them Daddy is not home!!”

Subhaan Allah!
This is just one the scenarios in our everyday lives. We claim to be Muslims and unhesitatingly say that we are proud to follow it, but when it comes to putting our words into actions, unfortunately, we are far from it. We teach our children one thing but we do another. We preach piety but we ourselves don’t practice it.
We lie in our everyday lives and in our dealings with everyone yet we are totally unaware of it.

There are many of us who, pray and fast, and are the first to criticize others. But our practical lives are full of all forms of lying, fraud and dishonesty. And we see examples of such lying left and right, day in and day out.

And lying doesn’t just mean out rightly telling untruths to someone on their face. Lying includes all kinds of ‘little white lies’, deceit, deceptions and forgery.

So, telling your kid to say “Daddy’s not home’ when, in fact, you are right there is absolutely a from of lying.
And not fulfilling your promises on purpose, when you had the power to do so, is a form of lying.
And cheating in the exams is a form of lying.
Your ‘friend’ marking you present, although you were absent, is another form of lying.
Faking a ‘doctor’s note’ when in reality, you were not sick, you just overslept or were too lazy to go to work or school is also lying.
Telling the cop that your wife is having surgery or your kid is sick, (or whatever else excuses one can think of) when he pulls you over for speeding is also lying.
Dishonesty in your business dealings as well as in your interaction with others is lying.
Giving false witness is one of the gravest forms of lying.
Making a false claim that your injury happened at work, although it didn’t, so that you could get compensation is lying.
Pretending to be of low income and applying for government aid, although you are not in need of it, is another form of lying and deception.
Forging or altering university certificates to get a job or visa is just plain and simple, lying and fraud.
Paper marriages to get a green card, altering a bill to ‘save’ some money or for insurance purposes or some other kind of personal gain are also trickery and deceit.
And the list goes on and on…….

We forget that Ibaadah doesn’t mean just praying and fasting. TRUE Ibaadah includes our ‘Mu’amalaat’, how we deal with others, Muslims as well as non-Muslims, our manners and our behavior.

We forget that lying is on of the MAJOR SINS.

The Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) said: “Shall I not tell you of the greatest of major sins?” They said: Yes, O Messenger of Allaah. He said: “Association of others with Allah, disobedience towards one’s parents” – and he was reclining, but he SAT UP and said: “And false speech and false witness.”

And we forget that lying is one of the signs of the hypocrites.
The Prophet (Sal Allah Alaiyhi wa Sallam) said: “The signs of the hypocrite are three: when he speaks, he lies, when he makes a promise he breaks it, and when he is entrusted with something he breaks that trust.” (al-Bukhaari, Muslim)

We also forget that any apparent ‘gain’ that we get from all these forms of lying is not actually any gain at all.
Actually, any money that we earn or save is all haraam because we didn’t earn it lawfully. And it is one of the reasons why dua is rejected by Allaah Subhaanahu wa Ta’ala.

Remember the Hadeeth of the Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam):
“Then he mentioned a man who had been traveling for a long time and was disheveled and dusty; he stretches out his hands towards the heavens and says, ‘O Lord, O Lord’, but his food is haraam, his drink is haraam, his clothing is haraam. He is nourished by haraam, so how can his du’aa’ be accepted?” (Muslim)

And one of the biggest harms of lying is that it is the key to the door of Hellfire.
The Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) said:

“Beware of telling lies, for lying leads to immorality and immorality leads to Hellfire. A man will keep telling lies and striving to tell lies until he is recorded with Allaah as a liar.” (Muslim)

Thus we as Muslims, must learn to recognize the different forms of lying as we come across them. We must realize what being truthful really means. It means speaking the truth and saying and doing things that reflect reality. We have to remember the gravity of sin involved in lying and strive to the best of our ability to tell the truth under all circumstances, no matter what the outcome.

If you fear Allah, He will find ways out of all difficulties for you and provide for you from means you never even imagined.

“And whosoever fears Allah 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 Allah, and then He will suffice him. Verily, Allah will accomplish his purpose. Indeed Allah has set a measure for all things.” (Surah Talaaq:2-3)

Isn’t the above ayah enough reminder for us??!!

“O you who believe! Be afraid of Allah, and be with those who are TRUE (in word and deeds).” [al-Tawbah:119]

‘Leave that which makes you doubt for that which does not make you doubt, for truthfulness is certainty and tranquility, whilst lying is doubt and confusion.” (Saheeh- al-Tirmidhi, al-Nisaa’i, and Ahmad)

THE CONCEPT OF ‘EVENTS AT DEATH’ IN ISLAM

(from: National Geographic.com)

This has been a difficult subject for me to write. I have read about it and listened to many scholars on this subject, yet it remains personally challenging.
Listening to the Surah Al Anaam in the middle of a storm, isolated in a gym far away from home at the retreat had a way of bringing it to me so picturesquely that it made it possible for me to share it with you.
I pray for myself and I ask you to pray for me that I die a Momin, and that no muslim be put through what non-Momins are put through at death.

6:61 He is the irresistible, (watching) from above over His worshippers, and He sets guardians over you. At length, when death approaches one of you, Our angels take his soul, and they never fail in their duty.

Wahuwa alqahiru fawqa AAibadihi wayursilu AAalaykum hafathatan hatta itha jaa ahadakumu almawtu tawaffathu rusuluna wahum la yufarritoona
وَهُوَ الْقَاهِرُ فَوْقَ عِبَادِهِ وَيُرْسِلُ عَلَيْكُم حَفَظَةً حَتَّىَ إِذَا جَاء أَحَدَكُمُ الْمَوْتُ تَوَفَّتْهُ رُسُلُنَا وَهُمْ لاَ يُفَرِّطُونَ (6:61)

6:62 Then are men returned unto Allah, their protector, the (only) reality: Is not His the command? and He is the swiftest in taking account.

Thumma ruddoo ila Allahi mawlahumu alhaqqi ala lahu alhukmu wahuwa asraAAu alhasibeena
ثُمَّ رُدُّواْ إِلَى اللّهِ مَوْلاَهُمُ الْحَقِّ أَلاَ لَهُ الْحُكْمُ وَهُوَ أَسْرَعُ الْحَاسِبِينَ (6:62)

(The tafseer is primarily from Sheikha Farhat Hashmi and some from the retreat and some for the CDs “The Hereafter”)
Allah SWT introduces Himself. He commands us to know Him (SWT) and to look into ourselves and His (SWT) signs around us.
SLEEP: The cycle of life and minor death is repeated every night. Our body continues to function at the level of basic subsistence and the soul (Haivani) remains with the body.
Our spiritual soul (for the lack of a better translation) is taken from the body and it reviews the day’s activities, and then it is returned upon awakening. Every night this cycle is repeated and then we are awakened to carry on the activities of the next day. We are being given a chance to prepare every night for death, and review our life every morning and to make decisions of obedience to Allah.
Our spiritual soul leaves at night but our physically body retains our Haivani soul that continues to function in the physicality of the body i.e. vital function of life (breathing, heart beat etc
We have been sent to this world for an appointed time. Thus the spiritual soul is returned to the body and we awaken to fulfill our appointed time in this world.
Allah SWT gives an example of sleep being a minor death because it is something fathomable by the human brain. However one day at an appointed time this cycle of the minor death (sleep) followed by awakening will end, and our loved ones will grieve at our departure.
At that time we cannot return to this earth to improve our actions and or erase our regrets of good deeds undone. Our book of actions will close and the first phase of questioning about our actions on this earth will begin.

Allah has control over everything and watches over all of us. He does allow us free will in some areas, but some areas we do not have free will (e.g. our choice of our face, our parents, and need of food, sleep and the progress of age from infancy to old age. Etc)
We are independent in many areas and we become accountable for our actions in these areas.
ALLAH DESIGNATES ANGELS FOR US IN LIFE & IN DEATH
In life each one of us have a designated set of angels, they have no emotions or feelings (unlike what the movies depict) they are allocated to us to keep watch over us in two ways:
1. One set is for life (our assigned time in dunya) and they watch over us to protect us from harm and to keep a detailed record of our actions. They have no way to record our intentions….. that only Allah knows.

2. The second set arrive at death and come prepared for removal of the soul from the body depending on whether we are Momin, Kaafir and or Munafiq and I presume all the levels in between.

GUARDIAN ANGELS
RasoolAllah (PBUH) said (related by Abu Huraira RA): and I paraphrase: We are assigned several angels in our life; they have two shifts. Some watch over us in the day and some in the night. There are two times when all the angels of the Day and Night assigned to each one of us meet. The first time is between fajr and Ishraaq and the second time is between Asar and Maghrib.
The departing angels return to Allah SWT at this window of time take our record of the day or night (Tahajud) with them to Allah SWT who asks them ‘How was my abd and what was he or she doing?’ even though He (SWT) knows. (Al Aleem)

The angels are accurate in their reporting. If we are praying then they report, “Your abd was in prayer” and if we are sleeping at fajr then that is what they report.

Thus at all times in life and in death, we have angels with us. (It is recommended that when you enter your house even if there is no human there, extend your salaam, as there are angels in your house who greet you).
ANGELS OF PROTECTION & DOCUMENTATION
We have a fixed and appointed time in this world and the angels appointed to us protect us during this time. One example given by RasoolAllah is that seven angels protect just our eyes.
THE QUALITY OF THEIR WORK is mentioned in these ayahs. They continue their job diligently both of protection and recording till the time of death comes, then the angels of life stand aside for the angels of death (several).
Our soul is removed from our body by the angels of death never to be returned to it again (as was done after sleep).

THE DEPARTURE OF THE MOMIN
At the death of the Momin, the angels of death come and extend salaam to the Momin, at this time the Momin in the throes of death……. smiles. (Perhaps some of you may have seen this in a pious relative) The angels of death then gently call for the soul to come out.
From another reference (The Hereafter by Anwar Awlaki): When the soul of a believer who is righteous and innocent is removed, it comes out of the body like a drop of water sliding off the tip of the spout of a jug. However the soul of a disobedient person fights back and refuses to leave the body. His soul is removed forcibly and comes out torn and fragmented like a piece of cloth being pulled off a thorny bush.
It is also reported that when the soul of the innocent leaves the body voluntarily when called by the angels of death, the eyes of the dying watch it leave. (I remember being perplexed at the peaceful look in Tariq’s eyes in death: as if he was watching something going far away that he liked, his face in repose…at peace)

If the person is a Kafir or Munafiq then the angels of death look frightening to him and the dying person is terrified at the time of death.

PERFECTION OF THEIR TASK.
At the time of death the angels, both those of life and those of death complete their task perfectly, neither excessive nor less. And fulfill their duty completely towards their Lord as ordered.
When the soul is removed it is returned to Allah SWT.

THE JOURNEY OF THE SOUL OF THE MOMIN

This description is from a Hadith related by Abu Huraira (RA)
The angels of death arrive with a coffin for the soul of the Momin, perfumed with the fragrance of Jannah. The soul of the Momin is wrapped in the perfumed silk coffin and the angels ascend with it towards Allah SWT traversing the seven heavens.
At each Level of Heaven the door is opened with a welcome, and the angel guards ask “ who is this pure (paak) soul that lived in a pure (paak) body? (The importance of remaining in taharah at all times is thus extremely important) until it reaches Allah SWT. (I am not sure what happens there)
The spirit is then returned to earth to remain with the body and it asks to be buried quickly (thus the muslim injunction to bury the body as quickly as you can)
In the grave, the soul is returned to the body and the Munkar Nakeer begin their interrogation.
Who is your Rab? The Momin says Rabi Allah
What is your deen? The Momin says Deen e Islam
Who is your Nabi? The Momin gives shahada of Prophet Muhammad as Allah’s Rasool
When the same questions are asked fron the Kafir and the Munafiq he or she says:
“I don’t know” or “I said what ever other people said”
The momin is then put to sleep gently and with respect and told that he or she will wake up on the Day of Judgment.
As for the disobedient and those who deny Tawheed of Allah:
Surah al Annam Allah SWT warns:
006.093 
 Who can be more wicked than one who inventeth a lie against Allah, or saith, “I have received inspiration,” when he hath received none, or (again) who saith, “I can reveal the like of what Allah hath revealed”? If thou couldst but see how the wicked (do fare) in the flood of confusion at death! – the angels stretch forth their hands, (saying),”Yield up your souls: this day shall ye receive your reward,- a penalty of shame, for that ye used to tell lies against Allah, and scornfully to reject of His signs!” (Translation by Yusuf Ali)
Barzakh is an Arabic word derived from the Persian word” Pardah”: The hijab between the world and the Day of Judgement

In summary: These ayahs underline the following:
1. Allah is Al Qahir, Al Haqq ,Al Hakim & Al Hasib, four powerful attributes of Allah in these ayahs!
2. We are assigned a fixed time in this dunya
3. We are accountable for our voluntary actions in this dunya: based on our declaration and implementation of Tawheed in ourselves and our behavior accordingly with our fellow human beings.
4. Sleep is a minor death, and is used as an example of death and resurrection on the Day of Judgment.
5. What happens at death and immediately after is alluded in these ayahs and explained in more detail by Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)
6. We have a team of angels protecting us in life and caretaking us in death exactly as per orders of Allah no less and no more.
The lessons from these ayahs are self-evident and are an incentive to prepare us.

What do you do daily to prepare yourself to meet your Maker? Please share.