"Treasures from the Quran" Series

As 2011 began I embarked upon a journey to study the Quran; Surah by Surah, understanding the meanings of the glorious Words of Allah (swt). And there could be no better exegesis than the authentic and universally acclaimed work of Ibn Kathir. The Tafsir Ibn Kathir is a 10 volumes series of the exegesis of the Quran. And as I progress with reading it, I shall share the blessed knowledge and the beautiful Words of Allah (swt) with you. 

Below is the Index of the topics from Tafsir Ibn Kathir (various surahs)

Al-Mu'awwidhatayn - "Verses of Refuge"

Verses of Refuge (Al-Mu’awwidhatayn)

Resource: Tafsir Ibn Kthir
Verses of Refuge (Al-Mu’awwidhatayn )

Place of revelation: Madinah

PRELUDE

Bewitchment of the Holy Prophet (saww)

Both Surah Al-Falaq and Surah Al-Nas were revealed to the Prophet Mohammad (saww) peace and blessings be upon him and his family by the angel Gabriel (Jibril)  (a.s.).

A Hadith narrates that the Prophet Mohammad (saww) had been bewitched and was suffering from disease when Jibril (a.s.) came to him and recited a prayer (Ruqyah) over him to cure him. It comprised of Surahs Al-Falaq and Al-Nas and had been sent by Allah (swt) to cure the Prophet (saww) and as verses of refuge for Mankind from the universal evils that exist. (Tabari 12:149)

The Mother of the Faithful (Ummul Momineen); A’isha (r.a.), said that the Prophet (saww) was bewitched until he thought he had relations with his wives when he had not had any. Sufyan said, “This is the worst form of magic when it reaches this stage.” The Prophet (saww) told Hazrat Ai’shah (r.a.). that Allah had answered him about his query regarding his disease. Two men had come to Prophet (saww). One of them sat by his head and the other sat by his feet. The one sitting by the head asked the other as to what was wrong with this man (Prophet Mohammad saww). The one by the feet replied that he (Prophet Mohammad saww) had bee bewitched. The first one asked as to who bewitched him. And the one by the feet replied that it was Labid bin A’sam from the tribe of Banu Zurayq; a Jewish ally tribe, and a hypocrite. The first man asked as to with what was the bewitchment done and the second replied that it was by a comb and a hair from the comb. The first one asked where the comb was and the other answered that it was in the dried bark of a male date palm under a rock in a well called Dharwan.

Ummul Momineen Ai’shah said that the Prophet (saww) went to remove the comb from the well and said: “This is the well that I saw. It was as if its water had henna soaked in it and its palm trees were like the heads of devils.”

And when Ummul Momineen Ai’shah asked him, “Will you not make this (the news) public?”

The Prophet (saww) replied:

“Allah has cured me and I hate to spread 9the news of) wickedness to any of the people.”

(Sahih Bukhari)

VIRTUES & TREASURES OF SURAHS AL-FALAQ & AL-NAS

“Do you not see that there have been Ayat revealed to me tonight the like of which has not been seen before? They are Say: “I seek refuge with, the Lord of Al-Falaq.” (Qul a’auzu birabbil falaq)  And Say: “I seek refuge with the Lord of mankind.” (Qul a’auzu birabbin nas).”

(Sahih Muslim & At-Tirmidhi)

A companion of the Prophet (saww), ‘Uqbah bin Amir (r.a.) said that the Prophet Mohammad (saww) taught him to recite Surah Al-Falaq and Surah Al-Nas; while he was leading the Messenger of Allah (saww) along the way, saying:

“O ‘Uqbah! Should I not teach you two Surahs that are of the best two Surahs that people recite?”

Then when the Adhan was given for prayer and the Messenger (saww) when forward to lead the people in prayer he recited the two Surahs in prayer and afterwards he said to ‘Uqbah (r.a.).

“Recite these two Surahs whenever you go to sleep and whenever you get up.”

(Narration: Imam Ahmad)

 “Verily, the people do not seek protection with anything like these two.”

And,

“No person beseeches with anything like these, and no person seeks refuge with anything like these.”

(‘Uqbah bin Amir in An-Nasai)

 “O Ibn Abis! Shall I guide you – or inform you – of the best thing that those who seek protection use for protection?” and then he recited the two Surahs.

(Ibn ‘Abis Al-Juhani in An-Nasai)

Ummul Momineen A’ishah (r.a.) said that whenever the Messenger of Allah (saww) was suffering from an ailment (disease), he would recite the Mu’awwidhatayn over himself and blow (over himself). Then if his pain became severe, he would recite them over him and take his hand and wipe it over himself seeking the blessing of the two Surahs.  

(Imam Malik in Bukhari, Dawud, Nasai, Majah

The Messenger used to seek protection from the evil eyes of Mankind and Jinns. But since after the Mu’awiidhatayn were revealed, he abandoned all else besides them.

(Abu Said in Tirmidhi, Nasai, Majah)

LESSONS AND MORALS

• Recite the Mu’awwidhatayn to seek refuge from the evils of Mankind and Jinns.
• Recite them over yourself when ill, diseased or in a malady. Blow over your hands and wipe them on yourself.
• Do not take to other means e.g. black magic, shirk, and bida’ah to seek protection from evil.
• Do not publicize your stories of how evil got to you through Mankind or Jinn; once you have recovered, limit the spread of wicked news.

COMING UP …

The line by line exegesis of Surah Al-Falaq and Surah Al-Nas,

inshAllah.

Sisterly Yours,

@num @li.

Fitnaah-Book or Facebook? - Your Decision

Is Facebook that big a topic to be even discussed? 

Oh yes, because it is not a teenage scrapbooking syndrome anymore. It has transformed into the most powerful and the most effective medium for mass communication. Professionals seek Facebooking as a clever marketing strategy for their products. Public figures connect with their fan bases and promote their activity updates - without any help from the spicy news headlines - and there is so much of Daawah, subhanAllah, that is now taking place via Facebook.

Non-Facebookers are missing out!

It is very convenient to not have a Facebook account. I could have chosen to do the same in order to keep myself Fitnaah-free. But there's so much productivity there, mashAllah, being contributed by Muslim brothers and sisters, that I cannot choose to be willingly blind. 

• There are informative blogs and websites for the Muslim youth that communicate messages and updates via their Facebook Pages.
• All the influential Shuyookhs e.g. Sh. Navaid Aziz, Sh. Yasir Birjas, and Imams e.g. Imam Siraj Wahhaj, Imam Safi Khan, and etc. are all there to connect with the youth online. 
• There's a whole new world of Islamic merchandising such as clothing, Hijabs and Jilbabs, books, and etc. made available via Facebook by young entrepreneurs like Sr. Amena of Pearl Daisy, and others behind a couple of more Hijab initiatives like LaDecence Hijabs and Accessories.

SHAYTAAN is on Facebook! The Fitnaah comes in!

I won't be surprised if you run a Facebook search for "Shaytan" and you actually find something. But even if it isn't a Profile yet on Facebook, with all the Fitnaah that penetrates our daily lives via the social network - Shaytan most definitely is a Facebooker. 

'Brother-Sister' Friendships: Even if Muslims call each other brothers and sisters, it doesn't imply blood relationships does it? So I believe it definitely is an issue when girls are adding the brothers and the guys are adding the sisters to their Friends Lists for the sake of 'chatting'. Male-Female conversations in Islamic have really wholesome and strict etiquette. 

Free Eye Candy: This is about those photos that brothers and sisters upload to their Facebook Albums. There is so much work going on to inculcate the concept of purification of one's gaze and the Facebook Albums are kind of counteracting the cause. Sisters, at times, are of the opinion that it is okay to share photos as long as they're in their proper Hijab code. But how can you guarantee that the brother watching even a Hijabifiied version of you is not compelled to admire your features for a good number of minutes. The last thing I would want to hear is that brothers are sharing my photos; even to admire my beauty, with others. There's also the bit about having a "sisters only" Facebook Album - I had it as well, initially. But it was until I realized that those too are not completely restricted to females. You never know who views your photos and in what environment. It could be on some public computer, a family gathering full of non-mehrams and the like

Facebook is NOT for matrimonies:I keep hearing the bit about how sisters seeking to get married choose to socialize with potential bachelors or social "aunties" via Facebook. Marriages are made in heaven not on Facebook, so stop doing that. The Halal matrimonial websites are another thing. They support mediated interactions in presence of the girl's mehram Wali. Joining Facebook Pages of these Halal matrimonial sites is alright but commenting on these Pages as if you are advertising yourself for marriage is not appropriate. It leads to safety issues as well as indecency.

Candid Camera or Devil's Eye?There's the Videos upload function that too in contributing to a whole lot of fitnaah. Video uploads; whether on Facebook or YouTube, are reviewed by technical team members for offences and violation of video uploads codes. Who are these team members? Right! Non-mehrams. So even if you run a very private video - restricted for females viewing only - either on Facebook or YouTube, it's viewed by males anyway. What really is the matter with video uploads if you're in your Hijab? It's permissible for women to be courteous to the gentlemen and to greet them because there are accounts mentioned in the Hadiths that women used to say "assalamoalekum" to men when they crossed by each other. However, the cheery, chirpy, laughter and the sweet, alluring bits of a woman's voice are part of Awraah i.e. the prescribed features and traits that are to be hidden under the Hijab code. So the candid camera is pretty much the Devil's eye.

Dangers and Risks of Careless Facebooking

• Stolen photographs
• Fake Profiles and identity theft
• Offensive or perverted commenting and spamming on Facebook Pages
• Stalking and invasion of privacy
• Social Fitnaah: gossiping, backbiting, and etc.

Public Figures & Creative Artists

A lot many of the Facebookers are not using Facebook for the sake of personal socializing but to promote their ideas, merchandise, artwork, and to maintain connectivity with their fans base for feedback. Usually these Profiles have thousands of Friends on their lists. Until these artists know their Halal code they are good to go, alhamdulillah. The concerns are the same however. 

• Are they engaging in personal and informal friendships other than maintaining moderate bonds of association? This is male-female friendship we are talking about here. Female artists and professionals can certainly communicate freely with the females. Allah knows best.
• Are they promoting Halal products and services? 
• Are their promotional means Halal?
• What is their content i.e. the means of messaging they are using. Photography, videography or blogging. Is that following the Halal limitations?

Fitnaah-Free Facebook Tips

Over the years, as a creative writer, I have learnt how to customize my Facebook profile so as to maintain a distinction between my audience - the males and the females, and the Muslims and the non Muslims, and also keep control on who gets to see what and what do I NOT share at all. Facebook features and interface have undergone frequent changes over the years and each time a new and important safety feature is definitely added. The decision depends upon how concerned are you for your privacy and the safeguarding of your modesty as well as others. The tips have been divided into 2 categories for 2 kinds of Facebookers i.e. the 'Individual' and 'The Professional or Creative Expressionist'.

The Individual

• Make sure your personal information is not available for public viewing and that your Profile Info is for Friends Only.
• Your Friends should not be Tom, Dick and Harry but people you know personally or reliable Friends of Friends.
• Do NOT upload personal photographs because you never now who watches them and where. Even a females or males only viewing setting doesn't guarantee viewer discretion from non-mehrams.
• Do not upload personal home videos. At the end of the day a bunch of non-Mehrams sitting to screen videos and photos for Facebook would definitely be looking at you.
• Be modest in your conversation with the brothers i.e. the male Friends, it should be formal and non-personal. Allah knows best.
• Also, to protect the modesty of your language with other sisters, secure privacy settings for your Facebook Wall so the male Friends can see only the non-personal and formal conversations. For personal messaging and commenting use the Facebook Inbox.
• Facebook allows forming Groups with added privacy features. These could be used to communicate more personally with sisters.
• If you cannot take such extreme privacy measures, either do not add brothers at all OR keep a separate profile for them altogether.

The Professional/Artist/Public Figure

• Maintain your Hijab code if you are a sister. A pretty logo of your project, or initials of your names, or an icon would do instead of placing a hoarding of your own photograph on your Page or Profile.
• If you have a project or merchandise pertaining to sisters only then try going for a Group instead of a Page because Page settings do not allow member discretion - even brothers could click 'Like' and join a Page. A Closed group however, gives you the discretion to allow or disallow membership.
• Your project, merchandise or ideas should be Halal. 
• Photographs and video feeds by sister artists should be promoted via email to preserve their modesty; of their adornments and their speech, inshAllah.
• If your Profile or Page is a combined environment for brothers and sisters both then moderate the Wall from time to time to discourage indecent or immodest conversation and also your own communication as a sister should be well customized. 
• For sisters - a Profile version works better because you can always disable the brothers from viewing an informal and fun Status you choose to share with the sisters.

Personally, I am acquainted with a couple of creative individuals who are Muslim artists and expressionists with a beautifully large fans base, mashAllah, and they are very skillful in maintaining their Facebook presence without promoting immodesty or being immodest themselves. InshAllah I shall approach them soon to find out if they could write up some Fitnaah-free Facebook tips for me. 

Till then ... happy Fitnaah-free Facebooking.

Sisterly Yours,

@num @.

iWEBINAR "How To Become A Leader In 2011?"

A live webinar "How To Be A Leader in 2011?" was arranged by a collaboration between Br. Aaqib of iPoet and Sr. Sayyidah of Working Muslim. It was webcasted live on Sunday, January 23, 2011 at 7PM UK and 2PM EST.


iPoet (Islamic Poet) is a project by the young and talented Br. Aaqib from the UK and is dedicated to poetry, leadership and social media growth for young Muslims. Sr. Sayyidah belongs to Working Muslim which is a team of successful working professionals from multinational companies with a wide range of work experiences. They strive to support Muslim women with various issues they face in their working life. Sr. Sayyidah is also the author of a popular e-book.


I attended the webinar and benefited from the realistic and innovative leadership strategies outlined by Sr. Sayyidah and the good humored examples and ideologies of Br. Aaqib. Their conversation added to my pool of knowledge and I also raised some questions about leadership dilemmas I face such as "jealousy from people in the social circle" and "how should a leader handle defeat?". I received beautiful answers from both Br. Aaqib and Sr. Sayyidah, mashAllah. 


I was asked to share the iGems of the iWebinar by Br. Aaqib. Since the audio quality was fading on and off, some of the attendees were unable to catch some points. So here's my compilation of iGems for everybody sorted according to topics.


INTRODUCTION TO LEADERSHIP
Sr. Sayyidah: "Leadership is about influence, there is no rocket science involved. We need good leadership in order to advocate good examples as representatives of the Muslim Ummah."
Br. Aaqib: "Good character inspires leadership e.g. the life of Prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him and his family).


PARENTAL LEADERSHIP
Sr. Sayyidah: "We don't realize often that parenthood is about leadership. As parents they are responsible to instill proper Muslim qualities in their children. 10 years of a child's life i.e. from the age of 2 years to the age of 10 years are the formative years. Parents should observe the leadership qualities the child is adopting; the kinds of roles he is playing in his games. In a family as well there should be leadership roles even if it is about driving our family somewhere or walking out the house. We should revive the forgotten Sunnah which instructs that if there are 3 of you then someone should take up a leadership role."
Br. Aaqib: (about his own parents and their leadership roles) "My Dad is a confident, assertive leader. And my mother is a leader by example."


DAWAAH IS LEADERSHIP
Br. Aaqib narrated how he came across a person; a magazine seller, on the street and befriended him. Later, they spoke about Islam and alhamdulillah the person shared his beliefs and values which were very close to what Muslims believe. Br. Aaqib explained how he used his leadership qualities; inborn of course, to show the person a clear perspective and lead him into making a beautiful decision. While seated at a Starbucks cafe the person took his Shahadaah, alhamdulillah.


LEADERSHIP THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA
Sr. Sayyidah: "The social media such as Facebook and the Internet as a whole are great platforms for mass communication because everybody is using them. If there is good content that you can write, film, narrate or express then you should publish it online."
There was a mention about Sr. Sayyidah's ebook that has gotten a 1000 downloads alhamdulillah. She chose online publishing as a medium for leadership.
Br. Aaqib also narrated the development of iPoet. He told us that while he was on a trip to Pakistan and at a relative's place he was indulged in self-reflection. This is when he conceived the idea. He had questioned himself and the purpose for his existence and realized he wished to contribute. He chose to create a character called iPoet who was a poet, a speaker and an expressionist catering to the youth and their issues. Facebook became his medium for mass communication and he also debuted into the world of blogging.


VISION AND STRUGGLE OF A LEADER
Sr. Sayyidah added that a leader begins by discussing his or her vision with the people around them because at times these people play a part in the decision making process of one's life. And so one should discuss the vision with their family; their parents, or in case of women, with their husbands. Sr. Sayyidah began by discussing with her family and then went in for an experience in a secular workplace. 


ISLAMIC LIVING DOES NOT RESTRICT LEADERSHIP
Sr. Sayyidah exemplified by referring to the Mother of the Faithful (Umm ul Momineen) and the beloved wife of Prophet Mohammad (saww) - Khadija tul Kubra (may Allah be please with her - r.a.) that she led the life of a leader whilst being pious and modest. Islamic living is never an obstacle. It always motivates towards success. The world has changed and workplaces are growing more tolerant now so a Hijabi woman is not really a taboo in a western workplace.
Br. Aaqib contributed some really, really beneficial tips and suggestions from his personal experiences and strategies of how to customize your workplace according to your lifestyle. He explained how he used to pray at the side of the staircase at a call center he worked at and finally his superior acknowledged his need and arranged for him a separate room. Br. Aaqib explained that if one has the ability to lead and speak up for oneself then they could always negotiate the lunch hours to be flexed a bit so as to offer the prayers. He spoke about how he offered to bring in lunch for everybody if his lunch hours could be flexed a bit to suit his prayer timings. He mentioned how he brought in Samosa snacks and chutney to the workplace once to share with his colleagues. 


PARTICIPATIVE LEADERSHIP
Br. Aaqib mentioned that a person should be confident to speak about their religion and spread awareness about their rituals and practices amongst people because this enables understanding and also is a form of Dawaah.
Sr. Sayyidah mentioned how at times communities encourage the participation of non-Muslims in Muslim events and rituals such as inviting them to fast alongside in Ramadan. Such activities help lead people by participation.


SUPPORTIVE LEADERSHIP
Sr. Sayyidah also spoke about how a leader can lead by supportive help of others i.e fellow brothers and sisters as well as non-Muslims. There was a mention of the Mercy mission and the Salvation Army and how benefiting human beings enables one to lead by actions.


TIME MANAGEMENT
Br. Aaqib asked Sr. Sayyidah to highlight the importance of Time Management. She introduced the importance of the post-Fajr time which is a very blessed time according to the Sunnah. She suggested that one should try not to fall back to sleep after Fajr because then he or she ends up wasting a couple of hours which could be used as a head start to the day. A leader always plans ahead.


COUNTERACTING JEALOUSY IN LEADERSHIP
I raised a question in the Q&A session as to how should I, when asked to perform a leadership role, counter the jealousy that I sense from people around me because at times they threaten to blow up at me. I asked how could I possibly cool them down?
Sr. Sayyidah suggested that if the situation is going absolutely out of hand then I should totally withdraw from the role altogether before some harm comes to me. I should try and surround myself with productive people who readily give constructive criticism but not shoot daggers at me. She exemplified by speaking about the collaboration between iPoet and Working Muslim that resulted in a beautiful iWebinar. She mentioned how she and Br. Aaqib share the same vision and passion but have different talents and leadership skills. Since they choose to be productive rather than jealous of one another's capabilities they come up with creative innovations rather than disaster. 
Also, she recommended that I should adopt a non-confrontational approach i.e. informal approach and step into the shoes of others - feel from their perspective. Maybe they are uncomfortable with me because I am not living up to their expectations. There was a mention of "the coffee bit" as I named it :) where Sr. Sayyidah mentioned that I could always try bonding with people whom I fear are becoming edgy over a "strategic cup of tea or coffee" i.e. become informal with them. We shared a little laugh when I recommended we should try samosa snacks and chutney like Br. Aaqib did at his workplace!


EMPOWERING OTHERS - CREATING LEADERS
Another topic that budded from this was that proper delegation of authority and responsibility to others might help gain their confidence because they would feel that their abilities are being recognized by you.  Sr. Sayyidah spoke that if we empower people we shall be creating leaders. A leader creates leaders.
Br. Aaqib added that we should recognize the strengths of people, promote them, and enable them to build on their weaknesses. Delegation of work eradicates the feelings of jealousy.


SOLE LEADERSHIP - ENTREPRENEURSHIP
A question was raised by an attendee about what steps should one take if he or she wishes to be their own leader i.e. if they have a creative idea and to execute it they wish to be a one man army. 
Sr. Sayyidah suggested that to promote an idea and execute it you should seek advice prior to starting off publicly. Specialists and experts should be considered; they help check for the idea's viability. She exemplified that the Companions (r.a.) of the Prophet Mohammad (saww) were all Halal business people. You should think about where your passion is and then set a direction.


SELECTING A LEADERSHIP ROLE
A question was raised, how should a person determine as to which leadership role is the best for him or her? Sr. Sayyidah recommended that one should evaluate their personality and their abilities and then choose a leadership style which helps you grow internally together with guiding the others. A person's leadership style helps show how the person communicates with others. An extrovert would have a more involved and personally interactive style. 


STRIKING A BALANCE B/W LEADERSHIP AND DAWAAH
In an answer to a concern raised by an attendee, Sr. Sayyidah directed that Dawaah can best be propagated when you have income i.e. financial stability. A realistic approach would be to have a proper job and earn well enough. It would be sheer luck to have a job at a Muslim workplace which would enable easy Dawaah opportunity!


TACKLING FELLOW LEADERS WHO HINDER PROGRESS
Sr. Sayyidah mentioned a strategy in response to a question about how to tackle supervisors and other leaders who hinder progress in a workplace. The foremost would be to show good character and to make an impression by proving your skills and abilities. However, if there are personal issues within the senior management that are not at all letting you progress, then you should definitely consider a switch.


OVERCOMING FAILURE IN LEADERSHIP
I raised the question about how should a leader tackle the emotional strain that comes in when a leader fails. Sr. Sayyidah responded with a personal example. She highlighted that before Working Muslim, a couple of projects she initiated did not work out as planned. But alhamdulillah Working Muslim worked out brilliantly. She said that nothing is a failure. If you do not win then you definitely gain an experience and it keeps collecting. 
I really enjoyed the answer by Br. Aaqib when he added that life is like a Bouncy Ball and when you make a mistake or when you fail it is the Bouncy Ball falling hard on the ground. And the harder it falls the harder and better it shall bounce back up. So if you fail you are bound to learn from experience and make a stunning recovery inshAllah. He added that all things victory or defeat come from Allah so defeat also has some wisdom in it.


MOTIVATOR STATEMENTS
Leaders motivate themselves by motivational personal statements.
Sr. Sayyidah's Motivator Statement: "Why am I even here? I should be in Jannah"
Br. Aaqib's Motivator Statement: "Tick tick tick tick ... time is ticking!"


Summarizing the iWebinar, Sr. Sayyidah advised that leaders should adopt a leadership style; whether in their professional life, or creative projects or Dawaah, which is suited to their skills and abilities and suited to the audience they are catering to.


SUGGESTED READING/WEBSITES
21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership by John C. Maxwell
Make It Happen Mentoring
Leadership Muslim
Working Muslim
Islamic Poet


FACEBOOK PAGES
iPOET
Working Muslim

She Walks In Virtue

Her prayer is jeweled with piety;
Gaze lowered in fear of her Lord,
Her fear makes her stronger
To please Him for reward.

“Beaming from woven veils of modesty;
Reminiscent from her heart and through,
Is the elegance of a Muslim woman
She lives in piety,
She walks in virtue.”

Safar ul Muzaffar - 2nd month of the Lunar calendar

@ssalamoalekum!

Today was the 1st of Safar ul Muzaffar - the 2nd month of the Lunar Islamic calendar. A month's already gone by and by now we should have developed proactive plans and to-do lists to act out the resolutions we made during Moharram ul Haraam at the start of the Muslim new year 1432 A.H.

Safar means "Empty" and it was so called because houses used to be empty as the ban on going to war and conquering new lands was lifted after having prevailed throughout Moharram - the month of peace-keeping. It also means "Yellow" as when the months were named it was autumn and the scenery had shades of ochre. 

LINGERING MISCONCEPTIONS OF JAHILIYYAH (the illiterate)

Arabs of pre-Islamic times were illiterate and it was the age of darkness and ignorance. Some really absurd superstitions and myths were harbored in the Arab psychology at that time. There were misconceptions about Safar being a month of misfortune and calamities when evils would descend from the skies; ghouls, spirits and diseases! Excuse me, this isn't Halloween we're talking about, are we? Ghosts and witches roaming the earth? 

These superstitions have lingered and have found their way into the psychology of Muslims today. I have heard people say Safar is not a good month for marriages and celebration because it signifies calamities and evils. Some say it's a bad omen because Prophet Mohammad (saww) fell ill in this month before he passed away in Rabi ul Awwal; the month that followed.

REFERENCES FROM QURAN & SUNNAH TO REFUTE THE MYTHS

Allah (swt) says in the Quran: "No kind of calamity can occur, except by the will of Allah" (Surah 64 - Ayah 11) I personally looked up all Search Results from Sahih al Bukhari Online and got the following Ahadith references. Rasool Allah (saww) said: The pre-Islamic Arabs used to superstitiously fear worms which they say originated in lungs and ribs and caused a person's color to change to yellow! Also they used to fear a snake called Safar which they said lived in the stomach of man and used to bite when he was hungry. This was their explanation for hunger pangs! Ahadith certified that there was no such thing. So your hunger pangs are contractions of your stomach wall NOT the snake! "(There is) no 'Adwa (no contagious disease is conveyed without Allah's permission). nor is there any bad omen (from birds), nor is there any Hamah, nor is there any bad omen in the month of safar, and one should run away from the leper as one runs away from a lion '' (Narrated from Abu Hurairah) Diseases were considered to be superstitious bad omens. And RasoolAllah (saww) rectified that they were from Allah (swt) and only by His command they could infect another. "There is no 'Adha (no disease is conveyed from the sick to the healthy without Allah's permission), nor safar, nor Hama." A bedouin stood up and said, "Then what about my camels? They are like deer on the sand, but when a mangy camel comes and mixes with them, they all get infected with mangy." The Prophet said, "Then who conveyed the (mange) disease to the first one?" (Narrated from Abu Hurairah)

INCORRECT BELIEFS TODAY1. A Nikaah (marriage) performed in Safar would be unsuccessful. 2. Safar is full of misfortunes and calamities. 3. The month would bring bad luck if any trade is commenced in it. 4. The 1st to the 13th of Safar are bad luck. 5. A person who distributes food and money on the 13th would be saved from misfortune. 6. The last Wednesday of Safar is to celebrated and regarded as a holiday  So basically the kind of superstitions we have heard of come from the drama of innovation (Bida'ah) and that is exactly what we are supposed to avoid. There is no aspect of our Deen that reflects negativity and sadness and depression. And there are no days of morose and gloom. Each day is a blessing of life from Allah (swt) and certain days like the two Eids are for extra celebration.  The only misfortune and calamity for a Believer is to be shunned by Allah (swt).  Rasool Allah (saww) said: "Pray, O! Allah! Cause not anyone of us to be a wretched destitute" And then asked the Companions (Sahaba): "Do you know who a wretched destitute is? A wretched destitute is he who neglects his Salah."  We should seriously understand and believe in the Qadar of Allah (swt) - that He is Qadir over all that happens and that only He can send calamity or happiness. There is no power in any star, or person, or day or time which can become a harbinger of calamity for us. The good and bad that come our way are not omens; they are trials and tribulations destined for us to bear. Allah (swt) says in the Quran: "Whatever misfortune befalls you, it's due to the things your hands have wrought, and He forgives many a sin." (Surah 42 - Verse 30)

Resolutions for 1432 A.H. (2011)

@ssalamoalekum!

Moharram's already gone! Time flies! Did we benefit from the blessings of the virtuous month? Did we fast on the day of Ashura and another? Did we revive the lessons from the defeat of the prophet Moses (Musa) a.s. over the Pharaoh (Firaun)? Did we reflect upon the martyrdom of Imam Hussain ibn Ali (r.a.) and the sacrifices of the family (Ahl ul Bayt) of the prophet Mohammad (saww) at the Battle of Karbala? Did we make steadfast new year resolutions?

If we have done all that, brothers and sisters, then we have truly lived the spirit of Moharram ul Haraam. Do you have resolutions to share with everybody? I do ...

InshAllah ...

• Recite Arabic and read translation of 1/4th Juz of Quran everyday
• Start with and catch on the daily reading of the Tafsir of Quran by Ibn Kathir
• Reflect on at least one Hadith from Sahih al Bukhari daily
• Learn a Dua'a every week - Arabic and translation
• Research issues of Fiqh and rulings
• Listen to webinars/online lectures
• Get to know more and more sisters and help them with their creative promotions and problems