MAKTABA-E-SALIK

TA’ARUF A monthly eNewsletter

Volume 1 Issue 4 AN INTRODUCTION TO ISLAM September 2006

Quranic Studies

Assalamu alaikum,
[44:38] We created not the heavens,
Al-hamdulillah, the earth, and all between them,
here is the fourth merely in (idle) sport:
issue of Ta’aruf. [ 44:39] We created them not except
for just ends: but most of them do
Beside the emails
not understand.
with Dua and thank-
ing me for this
In the above Aya and other places in The Holy Qur’an where
enewsletter, I re-
succession of the night and day, ships which pass through sea, change
ceive many email ad- of wind, rain, clouds and other things are mentioned the noteworthy
dresses to be added feature of The Holy Qur’an is the emphasis that it lays on the
for the subscription. observable aspect of reality.
Jazak Allah for the The basis of the modern science and technology is the concep-
tual knowledge and with this man approaches the observable aspect of
support to circulate
reality. The immediate purpose of the Holy Qur’an in pointing out the
the Ta’aruf.
observation of nature is to awaken the consciousness in man . The
Insha Allah in the Holy Qur’an guides to observe the nature, life (itself), and history of
next issue of Ta’a-
civilizations to learn the meaning and purpose of placing His stead on
earth. As it is mentioned in The Holy Qur’an:
ruf we will study
about the month of [ 2:30] Behold, thy Lord said to the
Ramadan and ele- angels: "I will create a vicegerent on
ments of Siyam earth."
(Fasting).
Action without any direction is impossible. In above Aya
Your brother and 44:39 and in the next Aya 44:40 of Sura ad– Dukhaan it is mentioned:
friend, in need of
your Dua.
[ 44:39] We created them not except
for just ends: but most of them do
not understand.
Syed S. Z. Hashmi.
[ 44:40] Verily the Day of sorting
( MAKTABA-E-SALIK ) out is the time appointed for all of
Email: keetab@gmail.com them,
(continued page 4)

(Phone): 602-324-7243 Email: keetab@gmail.com

 MAKTABA-E-SALIK
Page 2 Ta’aruf
H a d i t h / S u n n a h
There is a tradition that once The Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu alayhi wassalam)
came to the mosque from his house and saw two groups of people there. One group
was busy in Tasbehaat (rosaries) and the other group in learning. The Prophet
Muhammad (sallallahu alayhi wassalam) said that even though both were engaged in good
act but the group busy in learning was better and he joined the group busy in learn-
ing.
Another inspiring tradition of the Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu alayhi wassalam) is:
Seek knowledge even though it be in China
(China: the farthest country in the east of Arabia. The idea is that distance is not be
considered in pursuit of knowledge.)
The Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu alayhi wassalam) was particularly conscious of
the importance of education. Sooner after arrival in Madina, his first act was to con-
struct a mosque. First in Quba and after he (sallallahu alayhi wassalam) moved to the terri-
tory of Najjar, beside his house a part of mosque was reserved for educational pur-
pose. This portion was called al-Suffa ( the platform). Al-Suffa was the first school as
well a hostel by night for the students had no place to live. The scholars were partly
dependent for their living on public gifts from the Prophet’s (sallallahu alayhi wassalam)
house and from the families of the Companions of the Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu
alayhi wassalam) Al-Suffa is still there in the mosque of the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wassalam)
in Madina, Saudi Arabia.
The importance of education was such that after the Battle of Badr, The Prophet
Muhammad (sallallahu alayhi wassalam) did not demand ransom for the literate prisoners
of war, each of them instead was asked to teach reading and writing to ten(10) Mus-
lim children. This shows that to acquire knowledge from non-Muslims is permissible
in Islam.
We should not forget that the first Divine command to the Prophet Muhammad
(sallallahu alayhi wassalam) refers to reading and pen.

96:1 Proclaim! (or read!) in the name

of thy Lord and Cherisher, Who cre-
ated-
96:2 Created man, out of a (mere) clot
of congealed blood:
96:3 Proclaim! And thy Lord is Most
Bountiful,-
96:4 He Who taught (the use of) the
pen,-
96:5 Taught man that which he knew
not.

(Phone): 602-324-7243 Email: keetab@gmail.com

Volume 1 Issue 4 MAKTABA-E-SALIK Page 3

(Phone): 602-324-7243 Email: keetab@gmail.com

Page 4 MAKTABA-E-SALIK
from page 1 Quranic Studies.
Allah (Subhan Wa Taala) is Rab- al-
Alameen, who not only created us but directs
all the events. He (Subhan Wa Taala) is the only
one who determines every moment of stars in
the universe, every state of living things on
earth, the way one will live and what one will
encounter with.
Understanding of manifold relations 20:26 "Ease my task for me;
with God and the universe will tell the position 20:27 "And remove the impediment from my speech,
of man he occupies in this life and focus on the 20:28 "So they may understand what I say:
Day of judgment can only teach the conduct ( Sura TAHA: 25-28)
that will benefit. Then, we can share the deeper
aspirations of the universe and shape our own
destiny. That is what The Holy Qur’an says in
beautiful verses of Sura aal-Imraan:
[3:191] Men who celebrate
the praises of Allah, stand-
ing, sitting, and lying down
on their sides, and contem-
plate the (wonders of) crea-
tion in the heavens and the
earth, (With the thought):
"Our Lord! not for naught
Hast Thou created (all) this!
Glory to Thee! Give us sal-
vation from the penalty of
the Fire.
[3:192] "Our Lord! any
whom Thou dost admit to
the Fire, Truly Thou cover-
est with shame, and never
will wrong-doers Find any
helpers!
[3:193] "Our Lord! we
have heard the call of one
calling (Us) to Faith,
'Believe ye in the Lord,' and
we have believed. Our Lord!
Forgive us our sins, blot out
from us our iniquities, and
take to Thyself our souls in
the company of the
righteous.
(Phone): 602-324-7243
Ta’aruf
Supplication:
20:25 (Moses) said:"O my Lord! expand me my breast;
Month of Sha'ban
Shaban is the 8th month in the Islamic calendar
and is considered one of the meritorious months for
which we find particular instructions in the Sunnah of
Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu alayhi wassalam). It is
reported that Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu alayhi was-
salam), used to fast most of the month in Shaban except
the last few days of the month. The Prophet mentioned
in a hadith, "Rajab is the month of Allah, Shaban is my
month and Ramadan is the month of the Nation".
Ummul Mu'mineen 'Aishah (r), says, "Prophet
Muhammad (sallallahu alayhi wassalam), used to fast for
most of Shaban. I said to him, 'Messenger of Allah, is
Shaban your favorite month for fasting?' He said, 'In this
month Allah prescribes the list of the persons dying this
year. Therefore, I like that my death comes when I am in
a state of fasting.' "
Fasting in the month of Shaban, though not
obligatory but is very deserving and that Prophet Mu-
hammad (sallallahu alayhi wassalam) did not like to miss
it.
Traditions of Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu
alayhi wassalam), show that the night occurring
between 14th and 15th day of Shaban is a
meritorious night in which the people of the earth
are attended by special Divine Mercy.
On the Night of 15th Shaban, after Maghrib or
Isha prayer it is traditional practice to read Surah Yasin
and make special supplications for good health, protec-
tion from calamities and increased Iman. According
to tradition this night has special blessings that are di-
rected towards the faithful. Therefore, as much as possi-
ble, this night should be spent in worship and total sub-
mission to Allah Almighty. Also, fasting is recom-
mended on the day immediately following this Night,
i.e. the 15th day of Shaban.
Email: keetab@gmail.com