Dr. Bilal Philips' Blog

Aboo Qataadah related that (the people) discussed their over-sleeping, and he asked the Prophet PBUH , “What is the case of people who slept until the sun rose?” Allaah’s Messenger (PBUH) replied, “Negligence doesn’t take place while sleeping but while being awake. So, whenever anyone of you forgets to pray or goes to bed without making his prayers, he should make the prayer whenever he remembers it, and pray on time the following day”. Authenticated in Saheeh Sunan Ibn Maajah, vol.1, p.116, no.572. Aboo Hurayrah related that Allaah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “Satan ties three knots at the back of your heads when you go to sleep, then he recites on every knot: The night is long for you, so stay asleep. The first knot is undone when one wakes up and remembers Allaah. The second is undone when one makes ablution, and the third is undone when one makes his or her compulsory prayers. A person will then wake up energetic and with a good spirit. Otherwise, he will awaken lazy and with a bad spirit.” Sahih Al Bukhari, vol.2, pp.134-5, no.243. A person who is sleeping is not held to account for religious duties he or she neglected during sleep. One is only held to account for deliberate acts of negligence while awake. ‘Aa’ishah quoted the Prophet (PBUH) as saying that the pen is raised from the record of three, one of whom was the sleeper until he awakens (Sunan Abu Dawud, vol.3, p.1226, no.4384 and authenticated in Saheeh Sunan at-Tirmithee, vol.2, p.64, no.1150). He was also reported to have said that sins due to error, forgetfullness and forced acts have been removed from his followers (collected by at-Tabaraanee and authenticated in Saheeh al-Jaami‘ as-Sagheer, vol.1, p.659, no.3515).

Samurah said that Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said: “The best thing with which you can treat sicknesses is cupping.” Collected by Ahmad, al-Haakim and at-Tabaraanee S.J.S. 3323. Jaabir ibn ‘Abdillaah quoted the Prophet (PBUH) as saying: “If there is any benefit in your medicines, it is in a drink of honey, cupping and light cauterization. However, I do not like to be cauterized.” Collected by al-Bukhaaree (Sahih Al-Bukhari, vol. 7, p. 397, no. 587). Hijaamah (cupping) is the Arab method of blood-letting. The skin is pierced, either by needles or a sharp instrument, and a cup is placed over the pierced area. The air in the cup is then extracted by sucking it out through a hole in the cup, which is then sealed. The vacuum causes blood to flow out. This refers to cauterization at a specific point (e.g. with an heated needle) which will not create major scarring.

Almighty Allaah said: “On that day, those destined for paradise will have the best abode and the nicest places for rest.” Soorah al-Furqaan (25):24
Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) as saying:“When those deserving paradise enter it, Almighty Allaah, Most Blessed, will ask: ‘Do you wish Me to give you anything more?’ They will reply: ‘Did You not brighten our faces, place us in paradise and save us from the hellfire?’ He will then lift the veil, and of the things given to them, nothing will be dearer to them than gazing at their Lord, the Mighty and Glorious.” [The Prophet (PBUH)] then recited the verse: “Those who do good will have the best reward and something more.” Soorah Yoonus (10):26. (Collected by Muslim (Sahih Muslim, vol. 1, p. 114, nos. 347-8).

“Verily, I am Allaah, there is no god beside Me, so worship Me and establish regular prayer for My remembrance.” Qur’aan, 20:14. The believers are encouraged to remember God as much as possible. Although, moderation in all spheres of life, whether material or spiritual, is generally encouraged in divine law, an exception is made regarding the remembrance of Allaah. It is virtually impossible to remember God too much. Consequently, in the final revelation, chapter al-Ahzaab, Allaah encourages the believers to remember God as often as possible: “O believers! Remember Allaah often.” Qur’aan, 33:41. Remembrance of God is stressed because sin is generally committed when God is forgotten. The forces of evil operate most freely when consciousness of God is lost. Consequently, the satanic forces seek to occupy people’s minds with irrelevant thoughts and desires to make them forget God. Once God is forgotten, people willingly join the corrupt elements. The final revelation, the Qur’aan, addresses this phenomenon in chapter al-Mujaadalah as follows: “Satan has got the better of them and caused them to forget Allaah. Those are the party of Satan. Truly the party of Satan are the real losers” Qur’aan, 58:19.

When the news of death in the family reaches the relatives and friends, they should say : “Innaa lil-laahi wa innaa ilayhi raaji‘oon [Verily we belong to Allaah and verily to Him we must return.]” Sahih Al-Bukhari, vol.2, pp.192-93 no.341. In the case of the husband or wife they should add: Allaahumma ajirnee fee museebatee wakh-luf lee khayran minhaa (or minhu if it is the wife saying it) [Oh Allaah grant me refuge in my affliction and replace her (him) with someone better.] Umm Salamah reported that Allaah’s Messenger (PBUH) said, “For any Muslim who is afflicted with a misfortune and says : “Innaa lil-laahi wa innaa ilayhi raaji‘oon, Allaahumma ajirnee fee museebatee wakh-luf lee khayran minhaa, Allaah will replace it with something better.” She then said, “So when Aboo Salamah died I asked myself, ‘Who among Muslims is better than Aboo Salamah, the first family to make the Hijrah?’ When I said [the prayer], Allaah replaced [Aboo Salamah] with Allaah’s Messenger(PBUH). Haatib ibn Abee Balta‘ah was sent by Allaah’s Messenger (PBUH) to propose to me and I said, ‘I have a daughter and I am very jealous.’ The Prophet (PBUH) said, ‘As for her daughter, we ask Allaah to make her benefit Umm Salamah, and I ask Allaah to remove her jealousy. ” Sahih Muslim, vol.2, pp.435-36, no.1999.

In their normal state, angels are not human-like creatures with a pair of birdlike wings, as portrayed in Greco-Roman legends and Christian influenced works of art. Instead, they are normally huge in size and their wings may number anywhere from two to several hundred: “…making the angels messengers, with wings two and three and four; He increases in the creation as He wills…” Qur’aan, 35:1. The companion, ‘Abdullaah ibn Mas‘ood, reported that the Prophet (PBUH) saw Angel Gabriel (Jibreel) in his natural state in which he had six hundred wings, each of which filled the horizon. And there were multicolored drops like pearls and coral falling from the wings. Collected by Ahmad. Ibn Katheer rated its chain of narrators as jayyid (good). In another narration the Prophet (PBUH) was reported to have said the following about Angel Gabriel: “I saw him descending from the heavens and his great size filled the space between the earth and the sky.” (Sahih Muslim, vol. 1, pp. 111-112, no. 337). Jaabir ibn ‘Abdullaah quoted the Prophet (PBUH) as saying, “I have been allowed to speak about one of the throne bearers. The distance between his earlobe and shoulder is [what a bird would fly in] seven hundred years.” Qur’aan, 69:17, states that on the Day of Judgment Allah’s throne will be borne by eight angels.

Zayd ibn Jubayr stated that Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said: “The best livelihood is the bare minimum.” Collected by Ahmad [S.J.S. 3275].
The Prophet (PBUH) instructed his followers to be in this world like a stranger or a traveler (Sahih Al-Bukhari, vol. 8 p. 284, no. 425). According to the Prophet (PBUH), it is best not to accumulate much property and wealth, because the more one has, the greater the responsibilities, temptations and distractions. Consequently, the best life is one based on the minimal material necessities.

Following a Muslim’s bier is among the obligatory rights due to every Muslim from all Muslims who witness his funeral procession. Aboo Hurayrah reported that the Prophet (PBUH) said, “Every Muslim has five rights due to him from his fellow Muslims : Returning his greetings of salaam [peace], visiting him when he is sick, following his bier, praying for his well being when he sneezes (saying: Yarhamukal-laah (may Allaah have mercy on you)) and giving him advice if he seeks it.” Sahih Al-Bukhari, vol.2, pp.187-88, no.332. This practice is recommended because it helps to keep Muslims in touch with the reality of death and the after-life. The believers all need to be reminded about death from time to time, because the material needs, pleasures and distractions of this life easily causes humans to forget about the life to come. Aboo Sa‘eed reported that the Prophet (PBUH) said, “Visit the sick and follow the biers, for it reminds you of the next life.” Collected by al-Bukhaaree (al-Adab al-Mufrad, p.75).

Following a Muslim’s bier is among the obligatory rights due to every Muslim from all Muslims who witness his funeral procession.

Anas reported that when the Prophet (PBUH) came to Madeenah, there were two days in which the people of Madeenah used to play during the time of ignorance. He told them: “You have two days in which you used to play, but Allaah has replaced them with something better than them: the Festival of Sacrifice (‘Eedul-Ad-haa) and the Festival of Breaking the Fast (‘Eedul-Fitr).”
Authenticated in Saheeh Sunan an-Nasaa’ee, vol. 1, p. 341, no. 1465. Jaahileeyah literally means ‘the time of ignorance’ and refers to the period prior to the beginning of the final revelation. This hadeeth is evidence for the prohibition of all annual celebrations (birthdays, national days, pagan celebrations (i.e., New Year’s Day, April Fool’s Day, Mother’s Day, etc.), as well as so called ‘religious’ celebrations (i.e., Israa & Mi‘raaj Day, Battle of Badr, Hijrah, etc.).