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Salaat Time is a FREE multi-function Islamic application that calculates the prescribed five daily Muslim prayer times as well as Qiblah direction for anywhere in the world. It rests in the system tray and at the prescribed times the Athan sounds and/or displays visual alerts.

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Salaat Time - Islamic Software, Audio Lectures and Daily Email
www.salaattime.com
Salaat Time is a multi-function Islamic application that calculates the five daily Islamic prayers and Qiblah direction for anywhere in the world. At the prescribed times the Athan will sound and/or display visual alerts.

Marriage with Qur’an, a Sinful Act in Islam

Large number of feudal in backward areas had married their daughters to the Quran. The ceremony takes place after the girl of the family is asked to take a bath, after which a Qur’an is put before her as the men folk apologize to her for the ritual which would condemn the girl never to get married but to read the Quran every day.

Reasons for Marrying with Qur’an

These sorts of marriages are conducted to prevent their share of the land going to them and thus avoid redistribution of land.

Another reason is that poor parents are not able to find perfect match for their daughter so to prevent her for disgrace, they marry her with Qur’an.

Those who are not so rich to pay dowry to their daughters find it easy to marry her with Qur’an to keep away from humiliating gossips about them.

Islamic Rulings

These marriages are totally illegitimate in Islam and have nothing to do with the religion. This is all about power, control and extreme of ignorance. Women are not valued enough to consider how their entire lives, and any dreams or hopes they might have had, their lives are ruined by a ‘tradition’ that is inhumane and beyond any rational explanation.

Islam never allows coming off from the world for the sake of religion. how can one claim that it is right or allowable? Although Islam requires complete devotion towards religion and Quran Recitation is obligated to all Muslims but this is abusive to marry a girl with Qur’an to make her recite it daily.

Islam doesn’t give men unbounded power to ill-treat women when he is given the status of leader of the house’. Islam does not want sheep for its disciples. men are required to protect women from abuses, not to legalize what has been illegal in Islamic societies.

We need to clean up our societies from these sorts of unlawful acts to seek God’s pleasure. As God Himself guides us in Qur’an as:

“You shall encourage those of you who are single to get married. They may marry the righteous among your male and female servants, if they are poor. GOD will enrich them from His grace. GOD is Bounteous, Knower.” [24:32]

The importance marriage receives its greatest emphasis from the following Hadith of the Prophet (PBUH),

“Marriage is my sunnah. Whosoever keeps away from it is not from me.”

“When a man gives his daughter in marriage and she dislikes it, the marriage shall be annulled.” Once a virgin girl came to the Prophet (PBUH) and said that her father had married her to a man against her wishes. The Prophet (PBUH) gave her the right to repudiate the marriage. [Abu Dawud]

Parents Responsibilities

The responsibilities of parents in Islam regarding daughters can b best understood by this Hadith:

Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said: He, who brought up two girls properly till they grew up, he and I would come (together) (very closely) on the Day of Resurrection, and he interlaced his fingers (for explaining the point of nearness between him and that person)

Forced marriages are discouraged in Islam.

The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said: “A previously-married woman should not be married without being consulted, and a virgin should not be married without asking her permission.” They said, “O Messenger of Allah, how is her permission given?” He said, “By her silence.”

Parents are responsible for best possible growth of their children and selecting best match for their marriage.

Conclusion

Muslim parents are required to act upon the rulings of their religion neglecting the unlawful and disgusting customs and traditions that are brought up by humans. May God help us in abolishing iniquitous practices from our societies that are result of ignorance and betrayal from Islamic teachings.

Praying in a moving vehicle

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Question: Can we pray salat while in a moving car that's because there is no place to stop and pray?

Praise be to Allaah.

Performing prayers at the right time is a trust and an obligation, because Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): "Verily, al-Salaat (the prayer) is enjoined on the believers at fixed hours." [al-Nisaa' 4:103].

Delaying the prayer past its appointed time is a grave major sin, as Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): "So woe unto those performers of salaat (prayers) (hypocrites), who delay their salaat from their stated fixed times." [al-Maa'oon 107:4-5]

Some scholars state that the person who deliberately misses one prayer and leaves it until the appointed time is over, with no excuse, is a kaafir.

Claiming that one cannot find a place to pray is not a valid excuse, because either one is living on the face of the earth or not, and if one is living on the face of the earth, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said:

"The (whole) earth has been made a mosque (or a place of prayer) and a means of purification for me, so wherever a man of my ummah may be when the time for prayer comes, let him pray." [Reported by al-Bukhaari, al-Fath, no. 335]

According to a report narrated by Muslim, he (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said:

"The (whole) earth has been made good for me, a means of purification and a mosque (or place of prayer); so wherever a man may be when the time for prayer comes, let him pray wherever he is." [Saheeh Muslim, no. 521]

The entire world is a suitable place to prostrate oneself; the scholars have made no exceptions except very few, such as graveyards and lavatories. Wherever a Muslim is when the time for prayer comes, he should pray: in a mosque, if possible, or else in a hallway or park, on a sidewalk or in a parking lot, or in a corner of a store. Even if one can find no other place than a church, it is permissible to pray in it.

As far as praying on board means of transportation is concerned, then it is possible to pray there so long as the necessary conditions of prayer are fulfilled, or else one can wait until one gets out of the vehicle. If waiting means that the time for the prayer will pass, then you should pray in the best way that you can. Let us assume, for example, that you are in a car or train where there is no place to pray, you cannot stop and pray at the side of the road, and the time for that prayer is running out.

In such a situation, the Muslim should pray in the best way that he can, even if he is sitting in his seat and even if he is not facing the qiblah, because Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

"So keep your duty to Allaah and fear Him as much as you can…" [al-Taghaabun 64:16],

and because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "If I have comanded you to do something, do as much of it as you can." [Reported by al-Bukhaari, al-Fath, no. 7288]

An exception to be above is naafil (supererogatory) prayers offered when riding a camel, which is permissible even if one cannot get down or if one is not facing the qiblah. This is known from the report of Ibn 'Umar, who said:

"The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) used to pray when travelling on his camel, no matter which direction it was facing, and he would gesture with his head to indicate the movements of the night prayer, apart from the obligatory prayers, and he would pray witr on his camel too." [Reported by al-Bukhaari, 945]

Ibn 'Umar (may Allaah be pleased with him) said:

"The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) used to pray voluntary (nafl) prayers when riding on his camel, no matter what direction it was facing, when he came from Makkah to Madeenah."

Then Ibn 'Umar recited this aayah (interpretation of the meaning): "And to Allaah belong the east and the west, so wherever you turn yourselves or your faces, there is the Face of Allaah (and He is High above, over His Throne)…" [al-Baqarah 2:115]

Ibn 'Umar said: "It was concerning this that this aayah was revealed."

[Reported by al-Tirmidhi, 2883; he said, this is a saheeh hasan hadeeth]

We should not forget to point out here that Muslims living in non-Muslim countries sometimes delay or abandon their prayers for another, completely different, reason, which is that they feel too embarrassed to pray in front of the kuffaar in public or open places, or they are afraid that they will make fun of them and regard them as odd.

This is a serious mistake. How can a Muslim feel embarrassed about proclaiming the truth and worshipping openly, hastening to fulfil the command of Allaah at the time when Allaah has said it is to be done? This matter has been dealt with in a similar question on this website (see question # 980). We ask Allaah to help us all to remember Him, to be grateful to Him and to worship Him properly.

Reasons Eemaan Increases and Decreases

We wish to know what things enable Eemaan to increase and what things make it decrease?
As far as the things that make Eemaan increase, then from them:

The first reason:
To know Allaah Ta’aala with His names and attributes. Indeed whenever a person’s knowledge of Allaah and His names and attributes increases, then his Eemaan increases without a doubt as a result. This is why you will find that the people of knowledge, those who know about the names and attributes of Allaah what others do not, you will find that they have stronger Eemaan than other than them from this perspective.

The second reason:
To Ponder over the Ayaat (signs) of Allaah, Both the universal and legislated signs. Indeed whenever a person ponders over the universal Ayaat, which is the creation; the heavens, the earth, humans, animals and other than that, will increase in Eemaan. Allaah Ta’aala says:

{And on the earth are signs for those who have Faith with certainty. And also in your own selves, Will you not then see?}

There are many verses that prove this. What I mean is, the verses that prove that if a person was to ponder and contemplate upon the universe, his Eemaan as a result will increase.

The third reason:
To practice a lot of good deeds, for whenever a person increases in practicing good deeds, his Eemaan will increase, whether these deeds are from the deeds of the tongue or actions of the body parts. For indeed Dhikr, (remembrance of Allaah) increases Eemaan in its amount (i.e. the number of times one makes Dhikr) as well as in the way it is practiced. Salaat and Sawm (fasting) as well, and Hajj increases Eemaan as in regards to the number of times it is practiced, as well as in regards to the way in which it is practiced.

As for the reasons why Eemaan decreases then it is the complete opposite of what has been mentioned.

So ignorance of the names and attributes of Allaah will make Eemaan decrease. Because if a person does not know the names and attributes of Allaah, then he lacks knowledge of them that [if he had] would in turn enable him to increase in Eemaan.

The second reason:

That one does not ponder over the universal and legislated Ayaat of Allaah. Indeed this causes Eemaan to decrease, or in the least will stop its growth .

Thirdly:

Falling into sins, for indeed the sin has a tremendous effect on the heart and on Eemaan!. This is why the messenger of Allaah صلى الله عليه و سلم said:

“The zaanee (adulterer) does not commit zinaa (adultery) while he is a believer at the time of the act.”

Fourthly:

Leaving off obedience (to Allaah and his Messenger), for indeed leaving off obedience is from the reasons that decrease one’s Eemaan. However, if this certain action of obedience was Waajib (compulsory), and one leaves it without a reason, then this is a decrease in Eemaan that one is blameworthy as well as punished for. But if it isn’t Waajib, or it is Waajib and one leaves it with an excuse, then it is a decrease of Eemaan that one is not punished for. This is why the Messenger of Allaah declared that women are deficient in ‘Aql (mentality) and Deen (Religion), and the reason he said that they had a deficiency in their Deen is because they do not pray or fast during their menses, rather they are ordered not to pray or fast, but because they are unable to practice these actions (during menses) that a man is able to practice , they decrease (in Deen) compared to a man from this perspective.

A delay in a prayer

There was only 15 minutes left before Salat-ul Isha.

He quickly made Wudhu and performed Salat-ul Maghrib.

While making Tasbih, he again remembered his grandmother and was embarrassed by how he had prayed.His grandmother prayed with such tranquillity and peace.

He began making Dua and went down to make Sajdah and stayed like that for a while.

He had been at work all day and was tired, so tired.
He awoke abruptly to the sound of noise and shouting.
He was sweating profusely.
He looked around.
It was very crowded.

Every direction he looked in was filled with people.
Some stood frozen looking around, some were running left and right and some were on their knees with their heads in their hands just waiting.
Pure fear and apprehension filled him as he realized where he was.
His heart was about to burst.

It was the Day of Judgment.

When he was alive, he had heard many things about the questioning on the Day of Judgment, but that seemed so long ago.

Could this be something his mind made up?

No, the wait and the fear were so great that he could not have imagined this.

The interrogation was still going on.
He began moving frantically from people to people to ask if his name had been called.
No one could answer him.

All of a sudden his name was called and the crowd split into two and made a passageway for him.
Two angels grabbed his arms and led him forward.
He walked with unknowing eyes through the crowd.
The angels brought him to the centre and left him there.
With his head down his whole life was passing in front of his
eyes like a movie.

He opened his eyes but saw only another world.

People were helping others.
He saw his father running from one lecture to the other, spending his
wealth in the way of Islam.
His mother invited guests to their house and one table was being set
while the other was being cleared.

He pleaded his case, I too was always on this path.
I helped others and spread the word of Allah.
I performed my Salah. I fasted in the month of Ramadhan.
Whatever Allah ordered us to do, I did.
Whatever he ordered us not to do, I did not.'
He began to cry and thought about how much he loved Allah.
He knew whatever he had done in life would be less than what Allah deserved and his only protector was Allah.

He was sweating like never before and was shaking all over.
His eyes were fixed on the scale, waiting for the final decision.

At last, the decision was made.

The two angels with sheets of paper in their hands turned to the crowd.
His legs felt like they were going to collapse.
He closed his eyes as they began to read the names of those people who were to enter Jahannam.

His name was read first.

He fell on his knees and yelled that this couldn't be, 'How could I go to Jahannam?

I served others all my life, I spread the word of Allah to others'.
His eyes had become blurry and he was shaking with sweat.

The two angels took him by the arms.

As his feet dragged, they went through the crowd and advanced toward the blazing flames of Jahannam.
He was yelling and wondered if there was any person who was going to help him.
He was yelling of all the good deeds he had done, how he had helped his father, his fasts, prayers, the Noble Qur'an that he read, he was asking if none of them would help him.

The Jahannam angels continued to drag him.
They had gotten closer to the Hellfire. He looked back and these were his last pleas.

Had not Rasulullah [SAW] said,
'How clean would a person be who bathes in a river five times a day, so too does the Salah performed five times cleanse someone of their sins'

He began yelling, 'My prayers? My prayers? My prayers.?'

The two angels did not stop, and they came to the edge of the abyss of Jahannam.
The flames of the fire were burning his face. He looked back one last time, but his eyes were dry of hope and he had nothing left in him.

One of the angels pushed him in. He found himself in the air and falling towards the flames.

He had just fallen five or six feet when a hand grabbed him by the arm and pulled him back.

He lifted his head and saw an old man with a long white beard.
He wiped some dust off himself and asked him, 'Who are you?'
The old man replied, 'I am your prayers'.
'Why are you so late? I was almost in the Fire! You rescued me at the last minute before I fell in'.

The old man smiled and shook his head,
'You always performed me at the last minute, did you forget?' (And what of those who perform no prayers at all?)

At that instant, he blinked and lifted his head from Sajdah. He was in a sweat.
He listened to the voices coming from outside. He heard the Adhan for Salat-ul Isha and got up quickly and went to perform Wudhu.

Hope it helps open our eyes InshaAllah.

How to Become Wali(friend) Of Allah?

The word 'Awliya' singular 'wali' comes from the root word of wilaya. Wilaya is the opposite of enmity (adawaa). The Wali is therefore the one who is close.

Allah has explained in His Book, and in the Sunnah of His Messenger (sallalahu alaihe wa-sallam) that He has awliya among the people and that shaitaan also has his awliya. The Qur'aan mentions the allies of Allah.

"Indeed there is no fear upon the awliya of Allah, nor shall they grieve; those who believe and used to fear Allah much. For them are glad tidings in this life and the Hereafter…" [Soorah Yunus (10): 62]

"Allah is the protector (ally) of those who believe, He takes them out of darkness into light." [Soorah Baqarah (2): 257]

The allies of devil have also been mentioned in the Qur'aan: "…As for those who disbelieve, their allies are the taaghoot who take them out of the light and into the darkness. Those are the people of fire, and they will be in it forever." [Soorah Baqarah (2): 257]

"We have made the devils allies of those who do not believe; those who commit outrages and then say: "We found our predecessors on this (tradition)" Surely they have taken the devils as allies instead of Allah, and they think that they are on guidance" [Soorah Al-A'raf (7): 27-28]

After knowing that there are among people allies of the Merciful and the allies of the devil, it becomes very important to differentiate between these groups by means of the criterion, as described by Allah and His Prophet (sallalahu alaihe wa-sallam) as follows: .

The First and Foremost Condition of an Ally of Allah - Taqwa and Belief in Allah -

No slave can be an ally of Allah, unless he has the characteristics of faith and pious practices, since Allah has made faith and piety a pre-condition for His Wilaya. He said: "Indeed there is no fear upon the awliya of Allah, nor shall they grieve, those who believe and used to fear Allah much (i.e. have Taqwa - piety). For them are glad tidings in this life and the Hereafter…" [Yunus (10): 62]

Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (sallalahu alaihe wa-sallam) said:
"Allah, the Exalted said: "Whoever takes a Wali (loyal slave) of Mine as an enemy, I will wage war on him; and My slave will not perform any act with which he draws closer to Me, more beloved to Me then when he fulfills what I have ordained on him; and My salve will keep drawing closer to Me by performing the Nawafil (voluntary acts of worship) until I love him, and when I love him, I will be his hearing with which he hears, his sight with which he sees, his hands with which he strikes, and his legs with which he walks; and if he asks Me, I will give him; and if he seeks refuge with Me, I will grant him refuge." [Saheeh Bukhari]

From this narration and the above-mentioned Qur'aanic verse, we know that the Awliya of Allah are those who believe in Allah and give Him their full loyalty Thus, they love all that Allah loves, hate what Allah hates, are pleased with what Allah is pleased with, despise what Allah despises, they enjoin what Allah enjoins, forbid that what He forbids, give to those whom Allah loves for them to be given, and withhold from those whom Allah loves not to receive, since Prophet (sallalahu alaihe wa-sallam) explained the best handhold of faith to be love and hate for the sake of Allah: "The most dependable handhold on faith is: love for the sake of Allah and hatred for the sake of Allah." [At-Tirmidhee]

"Whoever loves for Allah, hates for Allah, gives for Allah, and withholds for Allah, has sought the completion of his faith." [Abu Dawood]

Belief (imaan) of necessity entails belief in Allah, His angels, His books, His Prophets, and the Last Day:
"Say: We believe in Allah and in that which has been sent to us and in that which was sent to Ibrahim, and Ismail and Ishaq and Ya'qub, and the tribes and that which was given to Moosa and Isa and that which was given to the Prophets form their Lord. We do not differentiate between any of them, and we submit to Allah. And so, if they believe in that which you believe, they have achieved guidance, but if they turn away, they are surely in rebellion. Allah will suffice you against them and He is the all-hearing, the all-knowing." [Soorah al-Baqarah (2): 136-137]

"The Prophet has believed in that which is sent to him from his Lord as have the believers. All of them believe in Allah, His angels, His books and His Messengers. We do not differentiate between any of His messengers, and they say: "We hear and we obey. (We seek)Your forgiveness, our Lord to You is the return (of all). Allah does not burden any soul beyond his scope. He gets reward for that (good) which he has earned, and he is punished for that (evil) which he has earned." [Soorah Baqarah (2): 285-6]

"This is a book in which there is no doubt, a guidance for those who are pious. Those who believe in the unseen, establish prayer, and spend out of what We have provided for them. Those who believe in that which was sent down to you and that which was sent down to those before you, and certainly of faith in the existence of the Hereafter. Such are on a true guidance from their Lord, and such are the successful." [Soorah al-Baqarah (2): 1-5]

Thus, a necessary component of faith (eeman) is to believe that Muhammad (sallalahu alaihe wa-sallam) is the seal of the prophets, and there is no prophet after him, and that Allah sent him to all of the two possessors of free will: humans and jinns. From the moment he was made a prophet, Allah made him the criterion between His allies and His enemies, none are the allies of Allah except one who believes in Muhammad (sallalahu alaihe wa-sallam) and in that with which he was sent, and follows it openly and in secret. Whoever claims love of Allah and alliance with Allah but does not follow the Prophet (sallalahu alaihe wa-sallam) is not one of the allies of Allah. He is one of the allies of shaitaan.

Allah said: "Say (O Mohammad) If you truly love Allah, then follow me so that Allah loves you." [Al-Imraan (3): 31]

Allah made it clear in the verse that Allah loves whoever follows the Prophet, and whoever claims the love of Allah, but does not follow the Prophet, is not from the allies of Allah. Al-Hasan al-Basri said about this verse: "A group of people claimed to love Allah, so He sent down this verse as a test for them."

And secondly to believe in all that which he (Prophet) was sent with. Anyone who does not believe in it is not a believer, much less a pious ally of (waly) of Allah. Whoever believes in part of what he brought and rejects part is a kaafir, and not a believer:

"Those who disbelieve in Allah and His Prophets and seek to differentiate between Allah and His prophets, and they say: "We believe in some and we reject some" Such are true disbelievers, and We have prepared for the disbelievers a humiliating punishment. As for those who believe in Allah and His prophets, and sought not to differentiate between any of them. We shall give them their rewards. And Allah is Ever Oft-Forgiving and Most Merciful." [(4): 150-152]



Whatever stage the person reaches in terms of asceticism, devotion, and knowledge, but without belief in the entire message brought by Muhammad (sallallahu alaihe wa-sallam), it can never make him a believer, nor an ally of Allah. Allah said: "Whoever turns away from the reminder of the Merciful, we will assign to him a devil, who will be a partner to him." [(43): 36]

The reminder is the reminder with which He sent His Messenger such as the Qur'aan. So, whoever does not believe in the Qur'aan, and all the information contained therein, has turned away from it, and so is assigned a shaitaan. He turns himself as blind from the Book of Allah and Allah will turn him blind on the Day of Judgment:

"And whoever turns away form my reminder will have an oppressive, restricted life, and We will resurrect him on the Day of Qiyamah: blind. He will say: "Oh my Lord! Why have you resurrected my blind, while I used to see?" (Allah) will say: "Just as My verses came to you and you forgot them, today you are forgotten." [Soorah Ta-Ha (20): 124-126]

This verse clearly shows that 'my reminder' here is the same thing as 'my verses' which Allah sent down. Thus, even if someone mentions Allah (which is known as 'dhikr' in Arabic) constantly, day and night, with devotion, but at the same time is not a follower of Allah's dhikr (Qur'aan) which He sent down to His prophet, he would be one of the allies of shaitaan, even if he were to fly through the air, or walk on water.

Faith also includes - belief that Prophet is the intermediary between Allah and His creation for the purpose of delivering His orders and forbiddance, His promises and threats, and the definition of Halaal and the Haraam. The Halaal is that which Allah and His Messenger have declared Halaal, and the Haraam is what Allah and His Messenger have ordained, because Allah commands the believers to obey him:

"O you who believe! Obey Allah and Obey the Messenger and make not vain your deeds." [Soorah Muhammad (47): 33]

"He who obeys the Messenger had obeyed Allah" [Soorah An-Nisa (4): 80]

He also says: "Whatsoever the Messenger gives you take it and whatsoever he forbids you refrain from it."

Thus, whoever believes that any waly has a way to Allah without following the Prophet (sallalahu alaihe wa-sallam) is a kaafir, and is an ally of the devil.

Actions of the Allies of Allah

The allies of Allah are of two levels: forerunners those who brought near - and those of the right hand who act in moderation. Allah, the Exalted says reminding the Day of Judgement: "And you (all) will be in three kinds (i.e separate groups). So those on the Right Hand and Who will be those of the Right Hand? And those on the Left Hand and who will be those on the Left Hand? And those foremost will be foremost in Paradise. They will be those nearest to Allah." [Soorah al-Waqiyah (56): 8-12]

And again Allah says in the end of the same Soorah: "Then, if the dying person be of the Muqarraboon (those brought near to Allah.) (There is for him) rest and provision, and a Garden of delights (Paradise). And if he be of those on the Right Hand. Then there is safety and peace for those on the Right Hand. But if he be of the denying then for him is entertainment with boiling water. And burning in Hell-Fire." [(56): 88-94]

And the actions of these two groups are mentioned in the Hadeeth of Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu alaihe wa-sallam):
"Allah says: "Whoever takes a Wali (loyal slave) of Mine an enemy, I will wage war on him; and My slave will not perform any act with which he draws closer to Me, more beloved to Me then when he fulfills what I have ordained on him; and My salve will keep drawing closer to Me by performing the Nawafil (voluntary acts of worship) until I love him, and when I love him, I will be his hearing with which he hears, his sight with which he sees, his hands with which he strikes, and his legs with which he walks; and if he asks Me, I will give him; and if he seeks refuge with Me, I will grant him refuge." [Saheeh Bukharee]

Consequently, the righteous - those of the Right Hand are those who seek to come close to Allah with obligatory actions: they do that which Allah has ordered them to do, and avoid that which Allah has forbidden them, and do not demand of themselves the doing of the commendable but less than obligatory (i.e. mandoob), or the avoiding of some of the disrecommendable of the allowed (i.e. makrooh)

As for the forerunners those brought near, they sought to come close to Allah with extra efforts after the obligatory. They did the obligatory and the commendable, and avoided the forbidden and the non-recommended. When they sought to come close to Him with everything within their ability of that which they love, Allah's love for them became complete, as Allah says: "…My salve will keep drawing closer to Me by performing the Nawafil (voluntary acts of worship) until I love him…" [Saheeh Bukharee]

The Allies of Allah have no Special Appearance

The allies of Allah have no special appearance with which they differ form other people. They have no special dress from other than just being permissible. Rather, they are to be found in all categories of the nation of Muhammad (sallallahu alaihe wa-sallam). However, the Qur'aan and the Sunnah show clearly that the best people in the sight of Allah is the one with the most of Taqwa (pious practice):

"O people, we have created you from a male and a female and made you in peoples and tribes that you may know each other. Verily, the noblest of you in the sight of Allah is the greatest in righteous practice." [Soorah al-Hujarat (49): 13]

Abu Hurairah narrates in a Saheeh Hadeeth: "The Prophet of Allah (sallalahu alaihe wa-sallam) was asked: "Which people are the best? He said: "Those greatest in taqwa (righteous practice)"… [Bukhareee and Muslim]

Allies of Allah are not ma'soom (protected) from mistakes

It is not a condition for an ally of Allah that he be free of (protected from) mistakes and errors. It is quite possible that some knowledge of the shari'ah may be hidden from him, just as it is possible for him to be confused about some issues in Islam But, he may not necessarily because of this, leave the ranks of allies of Allah, since Allah has overlooked and forgiven for this Ummah error, acts of forgetting, and things done under compulsion:

"There is no burden upon you for that in which you were mistaken, rather that which you have done with the full determination of the heart." [Soorah Ahzab (33): 5]

Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "Prophet (sallalahu alaihe wa-sallam) said: "When a ruler exerts himself to arrive at the correct ruling, and is correct, he gets two rewards and when he exerts himself but is mistaken, he gets one reward." [Bukharee and Muslim]

Since, it is possible for any ally of Allah to make a mistake. It can never be obligatory upon the people to believe in everything any one of them says, except that in the case that one of them is a prophet. Rather, it is obligatory for him to measure all of that up to the criterion of that which the Prophet (sallalahu alaihe wa-sallam) brought. If it is in agreement therewith then he can accept it, but if it is in disagreement then he must reject it, and if he cannot be sure whether it is in accordance with the Prophet's message or at variance with it, he must refrain from believing it or applying it.

The second Caliph Umar (may Allah be pleased with him), regarding whom Prophet of Allah (sallalahu alaihe wa-sallam) said: "In previous nations there were individuals who were addressed (with the truth). If there are such people in my nation, Umar is the one of them." [Bukharee and Muslim]

"Verily, Allah has put the truth on the tongue of Umar and in his heart."[At- Tirmidhee (hasan)]

But, Umar always did that which was obligatory upon him: i.e. - to measure things that occurred to him against that with which the Prophet (sallalahu alaihe wa-sallam) was sent. He never said: "I am mahaddath, I receive inspiration and visions, and so you should accept that which I say and not oppose me therein."

Heart is an intuitions and not protected from falling into errors, and so one needs always to measure them against that which has been brought by the Prophet (sallalahu alaihe wa-sallam), the protected from falling into error. And the early scholars of Islam have unanimously agreed that the opinions of any man can be accepted and rejected i.e. they are open to questions except for the statements of the Prophet.

The point we are making here is an issue of complete consensus of the allies of Allah:

It is obligatory upon the allies of Allah to hold tight to the criterion; the Qur'aan and the Sunnah, and no one of them is ma'soom; i.e. protected against falling into errors, such that it is permissible to him or to his followers to follow that which comes to his heart without subjecting it to the test of the Qur'aan and the Sunnah. Whoever does not accept this is in no way or shape or form among the allies of Allah, whom Allah has ordered us to emulate. Such a person is either 'kafir' or is engaged in extreme and excessive foolishness and ignorance.

[This article is adapted from the Book "Criterion between the Allies of Allah and the allies of the Devil" by Shaikh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah]

O Muslims never miss your Salah (the prayer)