"And shall recompense them, for what they endured with patience, with garden (to abide) and silk (to wear)." 76:12
This is the provision of the life of
this world. And Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’Ala)
– with Him is the good goal (of life).” Caught in this imbibed
love of the ephemeral things of the life of this world, we should be wary of
slipping into dishonesty and into falling short in the line of duty. In
relationships with women, men owe the respect of the sanctity of marriage, and
within the institution of marriage, there are duties of a husband toward his
wife and duties of a wife toward her husband. When we have children, we owe them
education and a kindly and disciplined upbringing. The provisions of the life of
this world that we acquire should be Halal in both the means and the substance. Otherwise, in failing to
perform any of these functions with honesty, we are condemning ourselves to be
among the Mutaffifeen.
There is a story that has been related
of a Caliph who once stopped to pray in the mosque, and he entrusted his horse
to a man sitting outside the mosque who was guarding shoes and other
possessions. The horse was very beautiful and the man succumbed to temptation,
selling the horse surreptitiously on the black-market, and escaped into hiding.
When the Caliph discovered his missing horse, he ordered a wide search for the
man and the miscreant was ultimately caught and brought before the Caliph. The
Caliph asked him, “What price did you sell this animal for, for which you
forsook your soul?” The man replied that he had sold it for three dinars (gold
coins). The Caliph silently reflected for a moment at this reply, and then said,
“You know, when I entered the mosque leaving this horse with you, it
had occurred to me that I should give you three dinars for it when I retrieve it
from you!” All provision is from Allah (Subhanahu
wa Ta’Ala),
and He gives with due measure to whom He will. We cannot acquire more or even
less than what He has willed for us, and in all our earnings, we should have a
sincere intention in our hearts of conducting our affairs fairly and with
honesty
There are three main entrances to the
Holy City of Makkah: AlMu'allat, AlMusfalah and AlShubaikah, and there exist
many gates to the Haram AlSharef itself. In response to the
superstitious beliefs of Arabs concerning their own homes, the Glorious Qur'an
says, “It is not righteousness that you enter the houses from the back, but
the righteous man is He who fears Allah, obeys His order and keeps away from
what He has forbidden So, enter houses through the proper doors." 2.189
The Mosque surrounds the Ka’bah, the
holiest and most blessed structure on the face of the earth. Although, the
Ka'bah is called the House of Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’Ala),
it is also called the house of people. The Ka'bah is an oblong stone building
located approximately in the center of the quadrangle of the Mosque in the City
of Makkah. The front and back walls of it are 40 feet in length, the sidewalls
are 35 feet long and the height of the walls is 50 feet. Also, at the east
corner of the Ka'bah and about four feet above ground level, is the Black Stone
‘Hajar AlAswad’.
This Black Stone is from Heaven and was a meteorite that showed Nabiy Ibrahim (Alayhi
AlSalam)
A large number of requests, through
phone calls, letters, and in person with their prayers, support and substance.
Also, the Center have been received from those who are interested in the AL-KUFA
Newsletter, Dawah program, the Prayer
Time-Table and also from those who filled the Free Subscription /
Cancellation Form for the AL-KUFA
Newsletter. InShaAllah, the Center will continue the prayer time-table for each
month in the KCIK’s website. Please
share this newsletter as well as other material you receive from us, including
the Glorious Qur'an with others. Those who do not receive the AL-KUFA Newsletter may get it through KCIK’s website. If you receive 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 to all of you. May Allah (Subhanahu
Wa Ta’Ala)
reward you and shower His blessings on all with His protection, Ameen. Jazakum
Allah Khair.
Because of the large numbers of letters
that AL-KUFA has received, we will
acknowledge and publish only some of these letters each time, and we are unable
to include references due to space limitations. 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. NOTE:
For those who are interested in announcing
the birth of a child, sponsorship of orphan/child,
graduation, wedding, death, or to publish matrimonial or employment interests,
please contact the Kufa Center of
Islamic Knowledge {you
must include a telephone number for matrimonial requests and please
include your full name in English as well as your complete address, telephone number,
and identification number with picture}.
Those who send letters and e-mails, please also
provide the Center with your telephone numbers. In addition, brothers and sisters who
are requesting of us various Islamic materials and messages, please provide us
with a full name, postal address, telephone number, and e-mail address. If this
is to be sent to an institution, please ensure that the institution will accept
such material(s), even if it is just the AL-KUFA
Newsletter. (Please
informs us in this case about the committed
name, DC number for ID, Dorm & Rom #.). Please type your request(s) and
sign the paper. InShaAllah, 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. Thank you, and may Allah (Subhanahu Wa
Ta’Ala)
reward and bless all of you, Ameen.
Financial SummaryReports
In-Sha-Allah, we will report to you the
income (receipts) and expenses (payments and/or costs) through the coming
months.
Total receipts for the three months = $465.00.
Total expenditures for the three
months: Printing the AL-KUFA
Newsletter: $245; Mailing Periodicals: $804.93; Stamps: $139.90; Telephone:
$68.17; Cartridges: $59.08; copies: $40.84; Food: for Seminar $195.52 and for
Ashoora $25.80; Seminar: $500; Membership: $30; Mini gender changer: $5;
Adapter: $5; Cards: $5.66; Rental box in the Post Office: $55.
Total
= $2179.22.
Let us pray together that this mission
will have a permanent place, and that the AL-KUFA
publications, especially the AL-KUFA
Newsletter, and all KCIK programs
such as the KUFA Scholarship and the
Muslim Inmate Rehabilitation Fund will continue to serve the Muslims and the
entire world, as the fruit of this mission begins to blossom.
and we thank you for sharing your gifts from Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’Ala)
with us. O'
Lord, fulfill our desire from the vastness of Thy Grace and do not cut off our
hope by refusal, Ameen.
Inna Lilallahe Wa Inna Ilailhe Raajeoon
In March of this year, the
sadness of the untimely demise of our Muslim brother Ahmed A. Odat (the cousin of our
brother Aiman from Virginia). A mother, former wife, three sisters, two
brothers, three sons and three daughters survive brother Ahmed.
We pray for Allah (Subhanahu
Wa Ta’Ala),
mercy for him and also for the all Muslims who died. The Glorious Qur'an says,
“Every soul shall taste of death; Then unto Us (only) ye shall (all) be
returned.” 29:57
The KCIK
and the editors of AL-KUFA Newsletter
send their deepest and most sincere heartfelt condolences, to his family,
relatives and friends. May Allah (Subhanahu Wa
Ta’Ala),
for sake of His chosen one, give them patience, courage, and strength to accept
His Will. The Glorious Qur'an says, “And those who believe and do good,
certainly will We lodge them in the exalted place, in the gardens beneath which
flow rivers, they shall abide therein; How excellent is the recompense of those
who act right.” 29:58
We pray to Allah (Subhanahu
Wa Ta’Ala)
to alleviate the deep sorrow of his family, relatives, and friends. Brother
Ahmed spirit still lives in the minds of his family, especially our brother
Aiman. O' Lord, let me not forget to remember him and our brothers and sisters
who die after my ritual prayers, and forgive them through my supplication, Ameen.
May Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’Ala) bless their departed souls, shroud them
with mercy and forgiveness, and grant them company with the righteous, and
appoint for them the gardens of Paradise, and rest their souls in peace, and
join their souls with that of the true believers, “And join me with the
righteous.” O' Lord, reward them for their goodness, Ameen. The Glorious
Qur'an says, "Who when, misfortune befalleth them, say, to Allah we belong
and to Him is our return." 2:156
O’ Lord, let it be one of the gates to Thy Forgiveness and one of the keys of
the Mercy and let them abide in Thy Paradise, Ameen.
We ask our readers to read Surah Fateha
(The Opening the Glorious Qur'an) and pray for him and his families and also for
the all Muslims who died and their families.
Bism-Illah-Ir-Rahman-lr-Ahim
Our thanks and appreciation to our
brothers and sisters who sent their Islamic dues and/or donations and we thank
you for sharing your gifts from Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’Ala)
with us. Also, our special thanks and appreciation to all brothers and sisters,
who joined us for Islamic Seminar and Ashoora, and also to those who shared the
costs and prepared the food. Special thanks to our guest speakers, brothers
Faird and Thad (Abu Ali) and also to those who presented. If you would like to
get more information about the guest speakers and/or their speeches, please
contact the Center. May Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’Ala)
reward you all with goodness in this life and in hereafter, Ameen.
Our thanks and appreciation to our a
family and two sisters from Maryland, Virginia and Michigan who respectively
donated $25; $40 (Due +Stamps), $40 (food for Ashoora); and $[161 (in the
donation box) $100 brother from Maryland; $40 and $20 brothers and $1 family
from Virginia], also, (a brother from Virginia who paid $5.94 for coping),
during the month of March. Jazakum Allahu Khairan. May Allah (Subhanahu Wa
Ta’Ala)
reward you all for your kindness and He shower His blessings and Grace on you
for the best of your deeds, and may He be well pleased with you and you with
Him, Ameen. O' Lord, bless us, reward us
for our good actions and efforts, grant us our request s, merciful to us on the
Day when You will provide the only shade, favor us with a liking to serve Thee,
let us feel the truth in our hearts, let piety prevail over us in this world
till we do good deeds willingly and remain safe from evil on account of fear of
displeasing You, Ameen.
Muharram is one of four sacred months.
The Glorious Qur'an says, “Of these (months) four are sacred.” 9:36 These four months were recognized before Islam also as sacred
months and the heathens or pagans stopped all warfare in these months. The
Glorious Qur'an says, "That is the established religion, so be ye not
unjust therein unto yourselves, and fight ye the polytheist all together, even
as they fight you all together; and know ye that Allah is with the pious
ones." 9:36.
The tenth of Muharram is called Ashoora.
Events occurred on that day, including the fateful and tragic event in the
Hijrah Year 61, when Hussein, his family and companions were brutally massacred
even a baby of six months was spared, in the killing hunger and thirst of three
continuous days under the scorching sun of the flaming Summer on the banks of
the flowing river (Euphrates). They were vying with one another to give their
lives in the cause of Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’Ala).
Hussein said, "This blood, I shed for the sake of You (Allah)."
O’ Allah take from oppressive people what rightfully belongs to us, and
help us against oppressive people. Hussein’s message to the Umma is, he said,
"Indeed, I do not see death (for freedom) as but happiness, and living with
unjust people as nothing but grief." Only one son of Hussein survived the
killing because he was gravely ill and his last advice to his son, Ali, "My
son stand for truth even if it bitter." The Glorious Qur'an says,
"Assuredly you will be tried in your property and in your Persons." 3:186
Hussein was the son of Ali Bin Abi
Talib, cousin Nabiy Muhammad (Sallallahu Alayhi Waalihi Wasalam)
and Fatima, Nabiy Muhammad (Sallallahu Alayhi Waalihi Wasalam)'s
daughter. Muslims are obligated to love the household of the Nabiy (Sallallahu
Alayhi Waalihi Wasalam),
and the Nabiy (Sallallahu Alayhi Waalihi Wasalam) yahib
(love) Hussein. The Holy Books of Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta’Ala) condemn
any harm to any human being by humanity and mankind is exhorted to be just, to
oppose corruption, and to ease suffering and hardships. The Glorious Qur'an
says, "My Lord, save me from the unjust people." 18:21
Nabiy Muhammad (Sallallahu
Alayhi Waalihi Wasalam)
declared to his companions:
"O' Allah, I love them (Hasan and Hussein) and love those who love them and
he who detested them will have detested me.
Hussein is the dearest grandson of
Nabiy Muhammad (Sallallahu Alayhi Waalihi Wasalam),
and he is also a leader of the youth of the paradise as Nabiy Muhammad (Sallallahu
Alayhi Waalihi Wasalam)
and was the Raihana (the one much beloved to him) of Nabiy Muhammad (Sallallahu
Alayhi Waalihi Wasalam).
It is reported that Nabiy Muhammad (Sallallahu
Alayhi Waalihi Wasalam) was
holding Hasan by one hand and Hussein by the other one when he went to meet a
group of Christians to maintain peace and general social harmony while preaching
the Truth. Nabiy Muhammad (Sallallahu
Alayhi Waalihi Wasalam)
said, “Hasan and Hussein are from me and I am from them. They are the delights
of my eyes. Verily, Al Hasan and Al Hussein are each a forerunner of the
youthful in Heaven (paradise). They are both Imams.”
Nabiy Muhammad
(Sallallahu Alayhi Waalihi Wasalam) was
well aware of it and prepared his grandchildren to offer sacrifices. Sacrifice
is a lesson in Islam. The Nabiy (Sallallahu Alayhi Waalihi Wasalam)
was proud of it and used to say, "I am the son of two sacrifices",
meaning the descendent of Nabiy Ismail (Alayhi Salam) and his own father Abdullah
whom Abdul Muttalib was going to sacrifice. Islam offered another great
sacrifice in the lives of Hasan and Hussein. It is reported from the Nabiy (Sallallahu
Alayhi Waalihi Wasalam)’s
wife that she saw her husband in a dream and had the vision that Hussein will be
killed at a place called Karbala in the Tigris-Euphrates Valley. In the dream,
he was upset and dust was on his head. When she asked him why he was so dusty,
he replied, "My grandson was killed and I was digging a grave for
him." Nabiy Muhammad (Sallallahu Alayhi Waalihi
Wasalam) answered
Hussein, "My beloved Hussein, there are degrees which you will not acquire
except through martyrdom." Hussein said, "We are patients at His trial
and He gives us the reward of the patience." He was a very brave and strong
man. He often fought against evildoers. The hardships and sorrows of his family
and others have suffered after the martyrdom of Hussein. This Great sacrifice is
also reported in the old Testament where Jeremiah says: For this day of the Lord
God of Hosts, a day of Vengeance, that he may avenge him of his adversaries and
the sword shall devour, and it shall be satiated and made drunk with their
blood, for the Lord God of Hosts Hath a sacrifice in the north country of the
river Euphrates." 46:10
May Allah (Subhanahu Wa
Ta’Ala)
bestow upon us and reward us for grief Hussein. We pray to Allah (Subhanahu
Wa Ta’Ala)
to keep us on His path and He may has His protection with His blessings upon us,
Ameen. The Glorious Qur'an says, "Perhaps my Lord will guide me in the
right path." 38:22 O' Lord!
bless Muhammad and his family and make us know what we are ignorant of, and
teach us what we do not know, and show us what we do not see. Help us die guided
with righteous and not misled, obedient and not unwilling, repentant not sinning
and not persisting in sin and make us one of the number of his followers, and
raise us in the Day of Judgement among his followers. We belong to Allah and to
Him we will return Inna Lillah Wa Inna Ilaihi Raji-oon.
We pray that this New Year bring to the
world kindness, and humane relations among humans, and for Muslims a true
brotherhood. O’ Lord, enable us to
become conscious of Your Benevolence and Mercy, and induce in us the desire for
equality, freedom, truthfulness, piety, and justice. O' Lord, grant us in this New Hijrah Year a great blessing and the
ability to attain what pleases You, Oh Almighty Creator, Ameen
O' Lord! make us know what we are ignorant of, and teach us what we do not know, and show us what we do not see. Help us die guided with righteous and not misled, obedient and not unwilling, repentant not sinning and not persisting in sin, Ameen.
Nabiy Muhammad (Sallallahu Alayhi Waalihi Wasalam) said, “Contentment is a
treasure which does not exhaust."
We are patients at His trial and He gives us the reward of the patience.