Peace And Justice Among All
Destiny And The Imbibed
AND PROCLAIM
THOU UNTO THE PEOPLE THE PILGRIMAGE (HAJJ)
Letters To AL-KUFA
Acknowledgement
We Need Your Support
That (Shall Be So); And Whoever Respects The Signs Of Allah Verily It
Is (The Reflection) Of The Piety Of The Hearts
Peace And Justice Among All O' Ye Who Believe! Enter Ye All Into Submission
(To Allah) Wholly All the divine messages converge at one point and move
towards one target which is to serve humanity and make individuals true
servants of Allah
(Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala). They all encourage kindness and the doing of good.
The Glorious Qur'an says: "And We made them leaders, guiding (the people)
by Our command, and revealed We unto them the doing of good. Those who
follow the Apostle, Nabiy the Ummi who find they, written (in their own
scriptures) with them, in the Law and the Evangle; commandeth he unto them
(what is) good and he preventeth them from evil, and maketh he lawful unto
them the good things, and he prohibiteth unto them the bad (impure) ones,
and removeth from them their burden and yokes which were upon them; so
those who believe in him, and honor him, and help him, and follow the Light
which hath been sent down with him, These are they who are the successful
ones. 21:73 & 6:157 From Nabiy Adam (Alayhi Salaam) till Nabiy Muhammad
(Sallallahu Alayhi Waalihi Wasalam), Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala) has revealed
His message of Tauheed and Islam, and with mercy and kindness, He has granted
mankind substance and true guidance. The Glorious Qur'an says: "And indeed
We have honored the children of Adam, and We carry them in the land and
on the sea and We provided them with sustenance of good things, and We
have exalted them over most of those whom We have created, by (high) degree
of exaltation." 7:70 Islam teaches us to establish justice, liberty, and
equality, and to achieve security and stability, to enjoin what is right
and forbid what is wrong, to encourage goodness and kindness for all through
the bonds of love, respect and cooperation, and to not be blinded by materialism
and misuse the gifts of Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala). The Glorious Qur'an
says: "Indeed We sent Our apostles with clear proofs, and We sent down
with them the Book and the scale that people may establish themselves in
justice; and We sent down iron wherein is latent (in its use) mighty power
and benefits for mankind, so that Allah may prove who helpeth Him and His
apostle in secret; Verily Allah is All-Strong the Ever-Prevalent. And make
ye not mischief in the earth after its reformation, and call ye on Him
fearing (His wrath) and Hoping (for His mercy);
verily the mercy of Allah is well-nigh unto those who do good." 57:25
& 7:56
The relationship between man is advised to be based on the principles of justice. The Glorious Qur'an says: "And slay those among men who enjoin justice, giving tidings to them of a painful chastisement. Verily, Allah enjoineth justice and benevolence (to others)." 3:2 & 16:90 Man is exhorted to be just, to oppose corruption, and to ease suffering and hardships. Nabiy Muhammad (Sallallahu Alayhi Waalihi Wasalam) said: "And do not incline to those who are unjust, lest the fire touch you." The Glorious Qur'an says: "That He may establish the truth of what was true and to bring to naught what was false, though disliked (it) the guilty (ones). " 8:8
Any kind of injustice should be opposed and no innocent individual is to be punished for something some other individual does, so that justice and peace prevails among all. This is the challenge for those who lead (administration, educational institutions, executive authority as well as individuals). The Glorious Qur'an says: "Whereby Allah guideth him who followeth His pleasure, into the ways of peace and taketh them out from darkness towards the Light by His will and guideth them to the path (that is) straight." 5:16
Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala) is near and responds to the call of His
servant. O' Thou, by Whom the severity of hardships is diminished, diminish
the severity of hardships. From Thee seek deliverance from trials and comfort
in time of distress. And graciously open O' Lord the gate for those with
speedy deliverance from distress and danger, Ameen.
Back to Top
[Continued FromVol.4, No. 3, February, 1998]
We understand why, as a hadith of Nabiy Muhammad [sallallahu Alayhi
(Waalihi) wa salam] narrates, when Moses (Alaihe salaam) blamed Adam
(Alaihe salaam) for the first sin that extricated man from the garden of
paradise, Adam (Alaihe salaam) confounded him by saying, "How can you blame
me for what Allah had written for me before He created me!" The incident
was to occur, that Adam (Alaihe salaam) did it intentionally was a sin
on his part, but his sincere repentance then led to forgiveness, and the
whole event became an example for us, all planned in complete detail by
Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'Ala). We understand the blameworthiness of a person
who murders another, when this occurs with the intention of the act. We
might pray and fast and give charity and perform Hajj, etc., but its acceptance
by Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'Ala) depends on the spirit, involvement and intention
with which it was done. Nabiy Muhammad [sallallahu Alayhi (Waalihi)
wa salam] said that destiny is by what Allah makes a miser part with his
money in charity. In another hadith, Nabiy Muhammad [sallallahu Alayhi
(Waalihi) wa salam] related about how three types of people, one who recited
the Glorious Qur'an excessively, another who fought a great deal in the
path of Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'Ala), and a third who performed many acts
of charity will each be questioned and they will recite their acts. Then
Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta'Ala) will tell them that this was not done for His
sake but out of show and to earn praise from men, and this they have already
received. Then they will be each sent to hell-fire. The noble acts that
they performed were after all acts of Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta'Ala), and
they did not receive the credit for these acts because of their faulty,
self-motivated intentions. [To Be Continued Insha'Allah]
Back to Top
Definitions And Fundamentals:
AND
PROCLAIM THOU UNTO THE PEOPLE THE PILGRIMAGE (HAJJ)
Hajj is one of the religious pillars in Islam. It is obligatory to
all-Muslim adults, man or woman, to be performed once in a lifetime, if
health and material well being permitted. The Grand Mosque, The Ka'bah,
was first built by Nabiy Adam (Alayhi Sasalam), then by Nabiy Ibrahim (Alayhi
Sasalam). Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala) explains the importance of Hajj in
His Glorious Qur'an by saying: "In it are clear signs; the standing place
of Ibrahim; and whoever entereth it is secure; and (purely) for Allah is
incumbent upon mankind, the pilgrimage to the House, for those who can
afford to jounery thither." 3:96
Hajj is performed during the highly respected month of Thul AlHijjah,
the last month of Islamic Calendar and it is a great experience. The Glorious
Qur'an says: "Hajj is in the months well-known." 3:197 Nabiy Muhammad (Sallallahu
Alayhi Waalihi Wasalam) advised that it should be undertaken as early in
one's mature life as possible. It is subject to the main conditions:
(1) The individual must be a major and not a minor (15 years or older
in the case of men and 9 years or older in the case of women);
(2) He/she must have the means to meet the expenses of the journey,
without detriment to his/her ability to continue his/her
business or the means of his/her living;
(3)The health of the individual should permit the journey; and
(4)There should be no unreasonable risk to life in the journey.
The Glorious Qur'an says: "And expend in the path of Allah and cast not
yourself with your own hands in to perdition, and do good, for verily Allah
loveth the beneficent one. He hath chosen you and hath laid not upon you
any hardship." 2:159 & 22:78
The conditions for the Hajj are not absolute. Before the pilgrim departs
to perform Hajj, first, all debts should be paid, i.e.
(1) he/she should be able to afford the Hajj financially, after fulfilling
obligations to others. One who cannot spare enough money from his/her essential
annual expenditures to bear the expenses of going to, staying in, and coming
from, Makkah, does not have to perform the Hajj.
(2) When the pilgrim has enough money, but this money is required for
buying a house or marrying himself or one of his dependents, he should
first execute his house duties; the Hajj is not obligatory for him unless
he has more money beyond this need.
(3) It is not necessary to borrow money for the Hajj, but if someone
donates money for the expenses of the journey, Hajj becomes obligatory.
If someone performs Hajj with this donated money, he has fulfilled his/her
religious duty and Hajj is no more obligatory on him/her even if he/she
comes to possess the money himself/herself later on. But if someone who
had enough money to perform Hajj does not perform it at that time and subsequently
becomes poor, he/she will have to fulfil this obligation in any way. Similarly,
someone should possess enough money to meet his own and his family's annual
expenses after the performance of the Hajj. The Hajj is invalid if one
has to go in debt.
(4) If someone's health cannot bear the exertions of the journey, or
his/her health could be adversely affected, he/she is not obligated to
perform the Hajj. A healthy constitution and the physical ability to travel
to Makkah are prerequisites. If someone has a healthy constitution and
also the material means to perform the Hajj but does not, and then later
on becomes unable to perform it due to illness or old age, he/she should
depute someone else to perform the rituals of the Hajj and should bear
all his/her expenses. And second, the hearts of the pilgrim should be clear
and clean of all prejudices and grudges and hate. The Glorious Qur'an says:
"What! Love ye not that Allah should forgive you? And Allah is Oft-Forgiving,
All Merciful." 24:22
Hajj is the Muslim's evolution toward Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala).
It is also a display of brotherhood, unity of the Ummah (Nation) and oneness
of the humanity of mankind before the eyes of the Creator. The Glorious
Qur'an Says: "And help ye (one another) in righteousness and piety, and
help ye not (one another) in sin and aggression and keep duty to Allah
(for), verily, Allah is severe in punishment." 5:2
Annually, Muslims from all over the world participate in the Hajj to
join together to worship the Almighty, Lord of the Worlds, and to purify
their souls in a pilgrimage to Him. Everyone is considered equal, regardless
of whether that Muslim is a man or a woman, young or old, black or white,
poor or rich. The Glorious Qur'an says: "And proclaim thou unto the people
the Pilgrimage (Hajj)! They will come unto thee on foot and on lean camel,
from every remote (high) way. For you therein are benefits till a fixed
time, and the place of their sacrifice is the Ancient House, (the Ka'bah)."
22:33 & 22:27 O' Lord, do not spoil my solitudes with the occurrence
of corrupt thoughts as a test from Thee.
Preserve my countenance from begging of any one of the people of the
world. Restrain me from seeking what the wicked possess. Do not let
me be a supporter of tyrants, nor their helper and accessory in nullifying
Thy Book. Open for me the doors of repentance to Thee and of Thy Mercy,
Grace and ample Subsistence. Verily I am one of those who beg of Thee.
Letters To AL-KUFA
Share With People Their Experiences
A large number of requests, through phone calls, letters and in person,
have been received from those who are interested in the AL-KUFA Newsletter,
the Prayer Time-Table and also for those who filled the Free Subscription
/ Cancellation From for the AL-KUFA Newsletter. If you received more than
one copy of this newsletter via a duplicate mailing, you can help us correct
this by informing us.
Our sincere thanks and appreciation are given to all of you. Because
of the large numbers of letters that AL-KUFA has received, we will acknowledge
and publish only some of these letter each time. Our purpose of publishing
these letters is to
(a) make a certain plea known to the public in order that they might
respond for the pleasure of Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala,
(b) make us all aware of certain circumstances, or
(c) to share a joyous news as well as to make Dua'as and Prayers for
those who are ill or have lost a loved one, and also for the one they have
lost.
Insha'Allah, we will continue sending this newsletter to whoever wishes to receive it. Also, we request readers to let us know their new addresses when they relocate.
Segments of a letter received from brother Hasney, Embassy of Brunei Darussalam, Washington, D.C.: I would like to thank you for introducing the Kufa Center of Islamic Knowledge and wish you success in your programs.
Thank you for your kind letter. May the Almighty Lord reward you for
taking the time to write to us and we wish you guidance by Islam in every
respect.
Segments of a letter received from brother Robert, Chaplain, Maryland:
I am writing to request a copy of the "Prayer Time-Table". If you can send
a copy of this to me I will then be able to make copies for distribution
to our Muslim inmates. Your help in providing a copy would be greatly appreciated.
Your November, 1997 issue of AL-KUFA contains a generous offer to provide
copies of the Glorious Qur'an. The Islamic library maintained in the Chaplain's
office is in desperate need of the Qur'an. I would sincerely appreciate
any copies you can donate.
Let me take this opportunity to thank you for sending me a monthly
copy of AL-KUFA. We distribute copies to the Muslim population here
and they have found it to be very enriching and informative.
Please send the "Prayer Time-Table" and any Qur'an and other available
Islamic literature to me. Please note that our security rule DO NOT allow
to accept any hardcover Qur'an or books. Only softcover / paperback books
are acceptable.
Then brother Robert wrote a letter of thanks, segments from it:
I wanted to thank you for the package of materials you recently sent.
It has been very difficult to obtain Islamic materials for our inmates,
and we appreciate your efforts on their behalf.
Thank you for doing that and also for letting us know that you received
your package.
Several packages were returned back with Zip codes 17866, 76367, 76528, 77343, 79107, and 95531 and we are holding these packages until we receive a typed written request from the official of that institution, Chaplain, Minister, Imam or inmate who will be able to distribute these packages without charge. These packages will be sending to the prison library, i.e., to be shared by Muslim inmates and/or those who are interested to learn about Islam and Muslims? Please write your name, address and full information as required by your institution to receive this material.
Segments of a letter received from brother Moinuddin in Virginia:
Bismillahahir Rahmanir
Rahim
Asalam Alaikum
First of all, let me thank you for the Newsletter and Namaaz (prayer)
timetable that you had hand delivered to me at the hotel. It was very helpful
& I'm very grateful to you for this favor. I would appreciate it if
you could send me the Namaaz timings. I think you are doing a very noble
job and Insha'Allah, Allah will help you in all your endeavors.
I'm sending a small token (a Check) with this letter. Thank you brother
Moinuddin for your nice letter and donation. Also,
thanks for your effort in establishing the e-mail for AL-KUFA and KCIK.
Brother Moinuddin has moved to another place and we pray for his success,
Insha'Allah.
Segments of a letter received from brother, Bilal Muslim Mission of
Kenya and another letter from Yusuf, Bilal Muslim Mission in New York:
Bismillahahir Rahmanir
Rahim
Dear brother in Islam
Salamun Alaikum Wa Rahmatullahi Wabarakatuhu We acknowledge with
thanks, the receipt of your esteemed newsletter "AL-KUFA". Shukran jazilan
for your kind presentation. We've found the newsletter to be very informative
and have placed it as a reference in our library. Also maintain our name
on your mailing list for future issues or any other relevant literature.
We pray to Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala) to give tawfiq to continue your
noble task in disseminating the message of Islam. Ending with Salam and
Dua'as. Wassalamu Alaikum.
Thank you for your nice letters and our Salam to all of you. Most of
our progress reports and activities are published in the AL-KUFA Newsletter.
May the Almighty Lord bless all of you and grant that your mission and
others missions may be of great service to Islam and humanity. We do invite
you, especially, to write an article to help our brothers and sisters in
prison. Our prayers and Dua'as to all of you, and please remember us.
Acknowledgement
Thanks For Your Support!
Our thanks and appreciation to all brothers and sisters, Muslims and non-Muslims alike, who sent letters, faxes, postcards, or phone calls, or came in person to the Kufa Center Of Islamic Knowledge (KCIK), and for their support of the AL-KUFA Newsletter, the KUFA School, and the KUFA Public Library, from within the United States and aboard. The kind expressions of the readers encouraging us to continue this Newsletter are especially appreciated. As for financial help, our thanks and appreciation to all brothers and sisters among our generous readers for their support. Please note: you may specify the purpose of your donations(s), unless you give us permission to use your donations(s) wherever they are needed most and where your donation(s) can most effectively assist us, especially for the AL-KUFA Newsletter. All donation(s) and gifts are acknowledged with a tax-deductible receipt (unless otherwise requested), and we thank you for sharing your gifts from Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala) with us. As the fruit of this mission begins to blossom, Insha'Allah, large numbers will receive the AL-KUFA Newsletter.
We are very gratefully to all sources who sent us publications, their communications about Islam, Muslim community affairs, and educational articles, and to many individuals and institutions in the United States and abroad. MaSha'Allah, these publications are all excellent and those who have borrowed them have enjoyed reading them. These publications are inventoried in the KUFA Public Library and some have been mailed to our brothers and sisters in the prisons and other places.
In addition, our thanks for all brothers and sisters who took the time
to write or call KCIK and inform us about the change of their addresses
or their desire to receive the AL-KUFA Newsletter. REMEMBER IT COSTS US
TO DISTRIBUTE THIS NEWSLETTER TO THOUSANDS OF READERS. Please be aware
of this and send your donations to cover the cost for mailing, etc., to
AL-KUFA. Please also inform us of any change in address. When a newsletter
is returned to us, it costs $0.32 or $0.50, or $0.76, or $1.20 or $1.60
if different cases, and if the package is returned, it costs more. This
is a waste of resources. Please, let us avoid this loss.
Our special thanks and appreciation to our brother from Maryland and
a brother and a sister from Virginia for their donations of $50; $50 and
$50 respectively. Jazakum Allahu Khairan for your donations and support.
May Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala) reward all of you in this life and the
hereafter. The Glorious Qur'an says: "You will never attain piety unless
you spend on others out of what you dearly cherish." 3:92.
Finally, we are very much thankful to our generous readers and members who continue to send their donations, gifts, publications, and so on. The Glorious Qur'an says: "(Say): We feed you only for the pleasure of Allah; we desire from you neither reward nor thanks. And spend (benevolently) of what We have provided them with, secretly and openly, and they turn evil away with good; for these is the (happy) attainment of the (Eternal) abode." 76:9 & 13:22
Just remember that any money you pay to support KCIK, KUFA School, KUFA
Public Library and AL-KUFA Newsletter is paid to strengthen the word of
Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala) and for the sake of spreading Islam. May Allah
(Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala) bless you all, give you courage and provide you with
resources to continue your support. The Glorious Qur'an says:
"Say (O' Our Apostle Muhammad!)' If ye do love Allah, then follow me,
and Allah will love you." 3:30 Jazakum Allah Khair (MAY ALLAH REWARD YOU
WITH GOODNESS).
The Kufa Center Of Islamic Knowledge is entirely dependent on your financial
contributions. The AL-KUFA Newsletter especially needs your support to
cover its monthly costs. So, please share with us a fair contribution for
this newsletter to enable it to continue.
In addition, we receive a large number of requests for the AL-KUFA
Newsletter. If you don't receive the AL-KUFA Newsletter, it is only because
we don't have enough funds to cover the costs, especially for overseas
shipping including Canada. It is our responsibility to bring to your attention,
our dear readers, that we are in desperate need for a place to teach and
in need of resources {Qur'an, Hadith, Fiqh, and other Islamic books (we
are in particular need of English translations of the Glorious Qur'an)}.
Copies of the Glorious Qur'an with English meaning and Islamic books were
received from the donation of two Islamic foundations. Also, Islamic bookshop
and Open School donated books and tapes. These donations will aid us in
our Dawah program as well as benefit the KUFA Public Library. Insha'Allah,
many individuals and publishers will participate in this Dawah program.
Jazakum Allahu Khairan.
Also, we are in need for several items in order for you to receive
this newsletter in time, such as a copy-machine, a typewriter (particularly,
an Arabic typewriter), audiocassette duplicator, and other items. Please
donate these or the costs of these items. Also, we don't have software
to enable us to write in Arabic. Insha'Allah, you will be one of the (Mohsin)
who will donate for the cause of Islam and humanity. May Allah (Subhanahu
Wa Ta'ala) reward you for your efforts and enable you to do good deeds
in this life and bless you in the hereafter. Jazakum Allahu Khairan.
Insha'Allah, the AL-KUFA Newsletter will be distributed on the Internet
(please see the editorial page for our e-mail and web page information).
Jazakum Allahu Khairan. The Glorious Qur'an says: "That Allah may give
them the best recompense for what they have done and increase for them,
out of His grace; And Allah provideth sustenance for whomsoever He willeth
without measure." 24:38
For the pleasure of Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala), we therefore request
you to assist us financially or materially (by donating money, books, tapes,
etc.). We particularly request you to bring this plea to the attention
of your community, and encourage them to donate their Islamic charities
to this cause. Jazakum Allah Khair (MAY ALLAH REWARD YOU WITH GOODNESS).