Reward of Salah at a place designated for Salah
Question 1: In some areas, a place is designated for Salah. The question is, will the reward of offering Salah at a Masjid be granted if Salah is offered at such a designated place?
Answer: The reward of offering Salah at a Masjid will not be granted in this case for the reason that there are differences between rulings on a Masjid and ones on a place designated for Salah. (Madani Muzakarah, 01 Rajab-ul-Murajjab, 1440 Hijri)
وَاللہُ اَعْلَمُ عَزَّوَجَلَّ وَ رَسُوْلُہٗ اَعْلَم صَلَّی اللّٰہُ عَلَیْہِ واٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم
صَلُّوْا عَلَی الْحَبِیْب! صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلٰی مُحَمَّد
Angel of death appears to the dying person
Question 2: Does the angel of death appear to the dying person?
Answer: Yes, the angel of death appears to the dying person. This is the reason why the embracing of Islamic faith by a disbeliever at the time of his death will not benefit him because he had been commanded to believe in Islam while the truthfulness of Islam was Ghayb for him. Now it is no longer Ghayb and he sees everything at the time of his death. (Bahar-e-Shari’at, vol. 1, pp. 98 to 100; summarised)
Mentioned here is a narration that provides a great lesson. Sayyiduna Ibraheem Khaleelullah عَلَيْهِ السَّلَام once asked the angel of death, ‘Can you show me the appearance of yours in which you go to sinners for removing the soul?’ The angel of death said, ‘You won’t be able to see.’ He عَلَيْهِ السَّلَام said, ‘I will see.’ Therefore, the angel of death said, ‘So look elsewhere for a little while.’ Sayyiduna Ibraheem عَلَيْهِ السَّلَام did as was suggested by the angel of death. After a little while, when Sayyiduna Ibraheem عَلَيْهِ السَّلَام looked towards the angel of death, he saw that dressed in black was a dark-skinned person with the hairs of his body raised. Very unpleasant smell was coming. The flames of fire were also emanating from his mouth and nostrils with smoke bellowing. Seeing it, Sayyiduna Ibraheem عَلَيْهِ السَّلَام passed out [i.e. he عَلَيْهِ السَّلَام became unconscious. When he عَلَيْهِ السَّلَام became conscious, he عَلَيْهِ السَّلَام saw that the angel of death had taken on his previous appearance and was sitting. Sayyiduna Ibraheem عَلَيْهِ السَّلَام then commented, ‘If there is no severity of death for a transgressor, even then just seeing your face is a very big punishment for him.’ (Mukashafa-tul-Quloob, pp. 169; Madani Muzakarah, 30 Jumadal Ukhra, 1440 Hijri)
وَاللہُ اَعْلَمُ عَزَّوَجَلَّ وَ رَسُوْلُہٗ اَعْلَم صَلَّی اللّٰہُ عَلَیْہِ واٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم
صَلُّوْا عَلَی الْحَبِیْب! صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلٰی مُحَمَّد
Accountability from animals on Judgement Day
Question 3: Will animals be also held accountable on the Judgement Day?
Answer: Yes. Animals will also be held accountable. Oppressing animals and oppressed ones will both be resurrected on the Day of Judgement. Oppressed ones will take revenge on oppressors. A blessed Hadees explicitly states that revenge would be taken on a horned goat that had caused harm to the goat without horns. Then they would be turned into dust. At that time, the disbeliever would wistfully say, ‘یٰلَیْتَنِیْ کُنْتُ تُرٰبًا’ translation from Kanz-ul-Iman: ‘Alas! If only I somehow became dust (so I would not have faced the punishment).’ (Al-Mustadrak lil-Haakim, vol. 5, pp. 794, Hadees 8756)
But disbelievers would not be turned into dust. They would live in Hell forever. May Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ protect our Islamic faith! Aameen (Madani Muzakarah, 01 Rajab-ul-Murajjab, 1440 Hijri)
وَاللہُ اَعْلَمُ عَزَّوَجَلَّ وَ رَسُوْلُہٗ اَعْلَم صَلَّی اللّٰہُ عَلَیْہِ واٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم
صَلُّوْا عَلَی الْحَبِیْب! صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلٰی مُحَمَّد
Writing only “M” instead of “Muhammad”
Question 4: Is it allowed to write only an “M” instead of “Muhammad” when writing one’s name?
Answer: Islamic scholars have forbidden writing an “M” instead of “Muhammad” when writing one’s name. Similarly, ‘Bahar-e-Shari’at’ states that it is impermissible and Haraam to write only ﺻ or ‘صَلْعَم’ instead of Salat [i.e. Durood] along with the blessed name of the Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰەُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم. (Bahar-e-Shari’at, vol. 1, pp. 534) Therefore, whenever you write the blessed name of the Blessed Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰەُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم, write complete Salat, i.e. ‘صَلَّى اللّٰەُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم’. (Madani Muzakarah, 04 Rabi’-ul-Awwal, 1440 Hijri)
وَاللہُ اَعْلَمُ عَزَّوَجَلَّ وَ رَسُوْلُہٗ اَعْلَم صَلَّی اللّٰہُ عَلَیْہِ واٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم
صَلُّوْا عَلَی الْحَبِیْب! صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلٰی مُحَمَّد
Holding one’s own ‘Aqeeqah
Question 5: Is a person allowed to hold his own ‘Aqeeqah?
Answer: One can hold his own ‘Aqeeqah if not held in his childhood. (Fatawa Razawiyyah, vol. 20, pp. 588, summarised; Madani Muzakarah, 01 Rabi’-ul-Aakhir, 1439 Hijri)
وَاللہُ اَعْلَمُ عَزَّوَجَلَّ وَ رَسُوْلُہٗ اَعْلَم صَلَّی اللّٰہُ عَلَیْہِ واٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم
صَلُّوْا عَلَی الْحَبِیْب! صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلٰی مُحَمَّد
Unjust measuring and weighing led to Divine wrath
Question 6: According to Shari’ah, what is the ruling on unjust measuring and weighing?
Answer: Unjust measuring and weighing are Haraam acts leading to Hell. The nation of Sayyiduna Shu’ayb عَلَيْهِ السَّلَام was inflicted with Divine retribution [i.e. punishment] due to it, as is mentioned in Ayahs 84 to 95 of Surah Hood in part 12 of the Holy Quran. It is narrated in Ruh-ul-Bayan: The one measuring and weighing unjustly will be thrown into the depths of Hell on the Day of Judgement. Then, having been made to sit between two mountains, he will be commanded to measure and to weigh them. When he begins to weigh them, fire will burn him. (Ruh-ul-Bayan, vol. 10, pp. 364)
Parable
There was a man who used to weigh things without wiping dust, etc. from the balance. After his death, he was punished in his grave. People even heard him screaming from inside his grave. Some pious people رَحِمَهُمُ اللّٰە (pitied him after they heard screaming voices from his grave) and they prayed for his forgiveness. By the blessing of their prayers, he was relieved of the punishment. (Akhlaq-us-Saliheen, pp. 61, summarised)
This hair-raising narration contains a great lesson especially for those who measure and weigh things dishonestly. O Muslims! Although, sometimes, an apparent increase takes place in the wealth due to measuring and weighing unjustly, no good lies in this wealth. At times, these unlawful earnings prove to be a nuisance even in this world. This income may be lost in the form of huge fees of doctors, expensive medicines, theft or bribery. These earnings may also be lost at the hands of pickpockets. Above all, this may well bring about a severe punishment in the Hereafter, مَعَاذَ اللّٰە. Therefore, one must refrain from unjust measuring and weighing. Always weigh and sell things justly. (Madani Muzakarah, 30 Jumadal Ukhra, 1440 Hijri)
وَاللہُ اَعْلَمُ عَزَّوَجَلَّ وَ رَسُوْلُہٗ اَعْلَم صَلَّی اللّٰہُ عَلَیْہِ واٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم
صَلُّوْا عَلَی الْحَبِیْب! صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلٰی مُحَمَّد
Salah on wooden plank
Question 7: Is it allowed to offer Salah on a wooden plank?
Answer: This is allowed. (Madani Muzakarah, 03 Rabi’-ul-Awwal, 1440 Hijri)
وَاللہُ اَعْلَمُ عَزَّوَجَلَّ وَ رَسُوْلُہٗ اَعْلَم صَلَّی اللّٰہُ عَلَیْہِ واٰلِہٖ وَسَلَّم
صَلُّوْا عَلَی الْحَبِیْب! صَلَّی اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَلٰی مُحَمَّد
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