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There is no specific ritual act to be observed on 12 Rabi`ul- Awwal in particular. Also, fasting on that day has no special virtue. The best way to worship Allah, attain His Pleasure and show love and adherence to His Message is to follow in the Prophet’s footsteps.
Responding to the question, Sheikh `Atiyyah Saqr, former head of Al-Azhar Fatwa Committee, states the following:
Observing voluntary fasting is a commendable act of worship. It is not restricted to specific times or occasions. However, there are some days on which fasting is haram (prohibited) such as the days of the `Eids (1 Shawwal and 10 Dhul-Hijjah); the days of tashreek (11th, 12th, and 13th of Dhul-Hijjah); and the day of doubt (the last day of Sha`ban), though this latter is controversial among scholars.
There are also some days on which fasting is makruh (disliked) such as fasting Friday alone or Saturday alone.
Moreover, there are some specific days on which fasting is commendable. These are the days of Muharram, days of the four sacred months (Muharram, Rajab, Dul-Qi`dah and Dhul-Hijjah), the day of `Arafah (9 Dhul-Hijjah), the day of `Ashurah (10 Muharram), Monday and Thursday every week, three days (13, 14 and 15) of every lunar month, the six commendable days of Shawwal, and most days of Sha`ban, as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to do so.
That is to say, the Prophet’s birthday on 12 Rabi` Awwal, as people used to celebrate it, is not among the days on which fasting is commendable (nor among the days on which fasting is forbidden). Nevertheless, it is by no means commendable to fast on 12 Rabi` Awwal in celebration of the Prophet’s birthday. This is because it is not completely agreed that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was born on that day. Rather, some people say that he (peace and blessings be upon him) was born on 9 Rabi`ul- Awwal, and there are still different views in this regard.
On the other hand, fasting on the Prophet’s birthday is rendered blameworthy if it occurs on a day such as Friday because it is blameworthy to intend to fast on Friday only. It is reported in Al-Bukhari and Muslim that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) forbade fasting on Friday alone; he said: "None of you should fast on Friday unless he fasts a day before or after it."
This is the ruling of fasting on the Prophet’s birthday every year. However, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to fast on Monday weekly. He was so keen on it for two reasons. The first reason is that people’s account of deeds are submitted to Allah Almighty on Mondays and Thursdays. So the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) preferred that his fasting on those days be included in his account of deeds when offered before Allah (as reported and verified by At-Tirmidhi).
The second reason for the Prophet’s keenness on fasting on Mondays is that Monday was the day on which the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was born and also the day on which he was sent as a Messenger to the worlds (as reported by Muslim). So the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) used to fast on that day to express gratitude to Allah Almighty for giving him life and selecting him as a Prophet.
Hence, if Muslims would like to show gratitude to Allah Almighty for the Prophet’s birth and for sending him to guide them to the straight path, then they can perform any voluntary acts of worship such as prayer, charity, fasting or whatsoever. So, there is no specific time to offer supererogatory acts of worship. However, fasting on Mondays is preferable, following in the Prophet’s footsteps.
In conclusion, there are no special acts of worship to be observed on 12 Rabi`ul- Awwal particularly, and fasting on that day has no extra virtue than fasting on any other day. Generally, the best way to worship Allah, attain His pleasure, and show love and adherence to His Message is to follow in the Prophet’s footsteps.
It is reported in Al-Bukhari and Muslim that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “He who does not follow my tradition (in religion), is not from me (not one of my followers).” It is also reported in Al-Bukhari on the authority of Abu Ya`la that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Whoever loves me should follow my tradition."
Read more: http://www.islamonline.net/
Showing posts with label Fast and Hadis. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Fast and Hadis. Show all posts
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
NC: Duke Opens Center for Muslim Community
More than 100 faculty, staff, students and members of the Muslim community from Duke and the Triangle gathered Thursday for the official opening of a Muslim Life center at Duke.
For Duke's Muslim Chaplain Abdullah Antepli, the gray clapboard house at 406 Swift Ave. represents "one of the most happy, joyous moments of my life ... a dream come true."
Duke University law student Mazen Alhroob led the Islamic call to prayer, or adhan. Then, following a brief reading from the Koran, several Duke officials spoke to the crowd about the significance of the occasion.
Both President Richard Brodhead and Duke Chapel Dean Sam Wells said a strong Muslim community on campus was essential for bringing out the best of Duke.
"We are ambitious and we want to be the best we can be," Wells said. "We can't be the best without each other."
Fatemah Ahmad, a senior at Duke and co-president of the Muslim Students Association, expressed gratitude at the university's commitment to and support for the campus Muslim community. She and Antepli emphasized the center is open and welcoming to everyone.
"The easiest way to show you what we mean to do with this space is for you to come in and participate -- hang out, drink tea, read books, or study," she said. "The light is always on and a pot of tea is always brewing."
Rference by:http://islamonline.com/news/articles/
For Duke's Muslim Chaplain Abdullah Antepli, the gray clapboard house at 406 Swift Ave. represents "one of the most happy, joyous moments of my life ... a dream come true."
Duke University law student Mazen Alhroob led the Islamic call to prayer, or adhan. Then, following a brief reading from the Koran, several Duke officials spoke to the crowd about the significance of the occasion.
Both President Richard Brodhead and Duke Chapel Dean Sam Wells said a strong Muslim community on campus was essential for bringing out the best of Duke.
"We are ambitious and we want to be the best we can be," Wells said. "We can't be the best without each other."
Fatemah Ahmad, a senior at Duke and co-president of the Muslim Students Association, expressed gratitude at the university's commitment to and support for the campus Muslim community. She and Antepli emphasized the center is open and welcoming to everyone.
"The easiest way to show you what we mean to do with this space is for you to come in and participate -- hang out, drink tea, read books, or study," she said. "The light is always on and a pot of tea is always brewing."
Rference by:http://islamonline.com/news/articles/
Pakistan Targets Taliban Swat Leadership
ISLAMABAD – With local Taliban fighters in troubled Swat putting up a tough fight, the Pakistani army is targeting their top leadership, especially their commander Maulana Maulvi Fazlullah, to break their nerve. "Our main focus is to neutralize the Taliban leadership, including Fazlullah, who have been commanding militant groups in different parts of Swat, Boner and Dir districts," a senior army official involved in the ongoing military operations told IslamOnline on Tuesday, May 12, requesting anonymity.
Commandos from the army’s elite Special Services Group (SSG) were airlifted to Peochar, the stronghold of Fazlullah and his Tehrik-e-Taliban Swat (TTS) some 60 kilometers from Mingora, the capital of Swat.
"We have concrete information that he is commanding the militants from Peochar," said the army official.
Reference by:http://islamonline.com/news/articles/
IslamOnline in Swat (Special Folder)
"Commandos have been airlifted to Peochar via army helicopters and are trying to flush him out." Maulana Fazlullah, locally known as Maulana Radio because of his FM radio station, has been leading a two-year uprising that has devastated the area.
His TTS is a break-away faction of the non-violent Tehrik Nifaz-e-Shari’ah Mohammadi (TNSM) led by Maulana Sufi Mohammad, his father-in-law.
Other key Taliban commanders targeted by the army commandos are Muslim Khan, Mufti Shahid, Maulana Khalil, Ibn-e-Ameen, Maulana Shah Dauran and Qari Jabbar.
"They will also be targeted in order to break the nerves of militants, who have been putting a tough resistance in respective areas," said the army official.
"The army leadership is sure that if six to eight main Taliban leaders are neutralized - either captured or killed - a majority of militants will either surrenders or run away."
The army has been conducting a punishing offensive against militants in Malakand division, a conglomerate of eight districts including Swat, Dir and Boner.
The military said last week that around 12,000-15,000 security forces were operating against 4,000 well-armed Taliban fighters.
Interior Minister Rehman Malik claims that around 700 militants have been killed so far.
Tough Task
The army official declines to give a timeframe for the end of the ongoing operations. "In these kinds of operations, no deadline can be given. It may last for weeks, or months, but we will try our level best to accomplish the task as soon as possible," he said.
"That is why we are trying to neutralize their leadership to bring the ongoing operation to an end as soon as possible.
But defense and security analysts believe that liquidating the local Taliban leadership is not a walk in the park.
"This will be a very difficult task," Major General rtd Jamshed Ayaz, a senior defense and security analyst, told IOL.
"These types of people do not sit at one place. They camouflage themselves among the masses and use them as human shield. It is very hard to differentiate them."
Ayaz, who was commissioned in the army in 1965 and served in various capacities till 2001, believes intelligence can make the task much easier.
"Therefore, I emphasize on intelligence, both human and technical. The most difficult step in this process will be their precise location," he explains.
"If the army, with the help of an active intelligence, succeeds to locate them, then the task will turn out to easier."
The expert agrees that finishing off the main Taliban leaders will be a turning point.
"This is a uniformed formula that if the leadership is eliminated, the nerves of the troops are broken. That is especially true in the case of such militias who do not act as a regular force."
He contends that with such militias, personalities are very important as they keep their followers attached and united thanks to their personal charisma.
"But once these personalities are de-motivated or eliminated, their followers’ nerves are shattered, and they do not stay united and firm.
"The elimination of leadership will be disastrous for them."
Commandos from the army’s elite Special Services Group (SSG) were airlifted to Peochar, the stronghold of Fazlullah and his Tehrik-e-Taliban Swat (TTS) some 60 kilometers from Mingora, the capital of Swat.
"We have concrete information that he is commanding the militants from Peochar," said the army official.
Reference by:http://islamonline.com/news/articles/
IslamOnline in Swat (Special Folder)
"Commandos have been airlifted to Peochar via army helicopters and are trying to flush him out." Maulana Fazlullah, locally known as Maulana Radio because of his FM radio station, has been leading a two-year uprising that has devastated the area.
His TTS is a break-away faction of the non-violent Tehrik Nifaz-e-Shari’ah Mohammadi (TNSM) led by Maulana Sufi Mohammad, his father-in-law.
Other key Taliban commanders targeted by the army commandos are Muslim Khan, Mufti Shahid, Maulana Khalil, Ibn-e-Ameen, Maulana Shah Dauran and Qari Jabbar.
"They will also be targeted in order to break the nerves of militants, who have been putting a tough resistance in respective areas," said the army official.
"The army leadership is sure that if six to eight main Taliban leaders are neutralized - either captured or killed - a majority of militants will either surrenders or run away."
The army has been conducting a punishing offensive against militants in Malakand division, a conglomerate of eight districts including Swat, Dir and Boner.
The military said last week that around 12,000-15,000 security forces were operating against 4,000 well-armed Taliban fighters.
Interior Minister Rehman Malik claims that around 700 militants have been killed so far.
Tough Task
The army official declines to give a timeframe for the end of the ongoing operations. "In these kinds of operations, no deadline can be given. It may last for weeks, or months, but we will try our level best to accomplish the task as soon as possible," he said.
"That is why we are trying to neutralize their leadership to bring the ongoing operation to an end as soon as possible.
But defense and security analysts believe that liquidating the local Taliban leadership is not a walk in the park.
"This will be a very difficult task," Major General rtd Jamshed Ayaz, a senior defense and security analyst, told IOL.
"These types of people do not sit at one place. They camouflage themselves among the masses and use them as human shield. It is very hard to differentiate them."
Ayaz, who was commissioned in the army in 1965 and served in various capacities till 2001, believes intelligence can make the task much easier.
"Therefore, I emphasize on intelligence, both human and technical. The most difficult step in this process will be their precise location," he explains.
"If the army, with the help of an active intelligence, succeeds to locate them, then the task will turn out to easier."
The expert agrees that finishing off the main Taliban leaders will be a turning point.
"This is a uniformed formula that if the leadership is eliminated, the nerves of the troops are broken. That is especially true in the case of such militias who do not act as a regular force."
He contends that with such militias, personalities are very important as they keep their followers attached and united thanks to their personal charisma.
"But once these personalities are de-motivated or eliminated, their followers’ nerves are shattered, and they do not stay united and firm.
"The elimination of leadership will be disastrous for them."
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