Muslims have two ʿĪd celebrations: ʿĪd al-Fiṭr and ʿĪd al-Aḍḥá.
Anas ibn Mālik (رضي الله عنه) reported:
When Allāh’s Messenger (صل الله عليه وسلم) arrived in Madīnah, the people would celebrate two days. He asked: “What are these two days?” They responded: “We would celebrate these two days during the time of pre-Islamic ignorance.” He (صل الله عليه وسلم) responded: “Verily, Allāh has replaced them with two better days: the day of al-Aḍḥá and the day of al-Fiṭr.” [Reported by Abū Dāwūd (1134), and Shaykh al-Albānī authenticated it.]
Although these two ʿĪd celebrations are similar in many way…
الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ
All praises be to Allāh, the Lord of the worlds (for His perfect attributes and benevolent and just actions).
[Al-Fātiḥah, 1:2]
[Q]: Why is the understanding of “all praise” through the addition of the article (ال) added to the term “praise” (حمد) in the beginning of Sūrah al-Fātiḥah? Should we not simply understand it as it is precisely worded: ‘Praise be to Allāh, the Lord of the worlds.’
[A]: There is an underlying meaning in the addition of All of to “the praise” that is not achieved if someone were to merely utter ‘Praise be to Allāh’ without meanin…
Imām Ibn al-Qayyim (d. 751 AH) said:
A servant of Allāh does not partake in that which has been made ḥarām for him except in relation to one of two reasons:
Holding a negative outlook with regards to His Lord. In a state of certainty that, if he was to obey him and prioritise His obedience over all else, He would still not grant him that which is ḥalāl and better than that which he has partaken in from ḥarām.
He is certain that He will grant him better than it. For, indeed, the one who leaves something for Allāh is recompensed with that which is better than what he has left. However, he…
Imām Ibn al-Qayyim [d. 751 AH] said:
From among mankind are those whose implemented actions are encompassing [of all forms of worship], traversing the path towards Allāh in every valley, utilising every path before them in their attempt to reach Him. They have made the various forms of His worship the object of their heart’s longing, the apple of their eye. They have taken [His worship] as their leader. They follow it wherever it takes them, participating with every group [specialising in a form of worship]. Wherever you find worship occurring, you will find them. If it is [the dissemination…
Allāh said:
وَإِنَّهُ لَهُدًى وَرَحْمَةٌ لِّلْمُؤْمِنِينَ
“And indeed, it is guidance and mercy for the believers.”
[Al-Naml, 27:77]
ذَٰلِكَ الْكِتَابُ لَا رَيْبَ ۛ فِيهِ ۛ هُدًى لِّلْمُتَّقِينَ
“(This is) that Book (containing knowledge of previous scriptures) about which there is no doubt (that it is from Allāh)—it contains guidance for the pious (who benefit from its admonitions and abide by its teachings).”
[Al-Baqarah, 2:2]
كَذَٰلِكَ نُفَصِّلُ الْآيَاتِ لِقَوْمٍ يَعْقِلُونَ
“Thus do We detail the verses for a people who use reason.”
[Al-Rūm, 30:28]
كَذَٰلِكَ نُفَصِّلُ الْآيَاتِ لِقَوْمٍ…
Allāh says:
خَتَمَ اللَّهُ عَلَىٰ قُلُوبِهِمْ وَعَلَىٰ سَمْعِهِمْ ۖ وَعَلَىٰ أَبْصَارِهِمْ غِشَاوَةٌ ۖ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ عَظِيمٌ
‘Allāh has placed a seal upon their hearts and upon their hearing, and over their vision is a veil (because they showed no desire for truth, goodness and guidance after it had been made clear to them). And for them is a great punishment (for their stubborn disbelief).’
[Al-Baqarah, 2:7]
Imām Muḥammad ibn ʿAlī al-Shawkānī [d. 1250 AH] explains:
Narrated by Ibn Jurayj who said: A seal is placed on their hearts and their hearing, and a veil is placed on their vision a…
Allāh says:
اللَّهُ يَتَوَفَّى الْأَنفُسَ حِينَ مَوْتِهَا وَالَّتِي لَمْ تَمُتْ فِي مَنَامِهَا ۖ فَيُمْسِكُ الَّتِي قَضَىٰ عَلَيْهَا الْمَوْتَ وَيُرْسِلُ الْأُخْرَىٰ إِلَىٰ أَجَلٍ مُّسَمًّى ۚ إِنَّ فِي ذَٰلِكَ لَآيَاتٍ لِّقَوْمٍ يَتَفَكَّرُونَ
‘Allāh takes the souls at the time of their death, and those that do not die [He takes] during their sleep. Then He keeps those for which He has decreed death and releases the others for a specified term. Indeed, in that are signs for a people who give thought.’
[Al-Zumar, 39:42]
Narrated by Al-Suddī concerning the saying of the Most High:
وَالَّتِي ل…
Shaykh ʿUbayd al-Jābirī (d. 1443 AH) said:
Ibn Abī al-ʿIzz al-Ḥanafī said in his commentary on ‘al-ʿAqīdah al-Ṭaḥāwiyyah:’ The tawḥīd that the Messengers of Allāh (عليهم السلام) invited to, and concerning which His books were revealed, are of two types:
1. Oneness in Confirmation and Recognition
As for the first, it is to confirm the reality behind the Lord, the Most High’s Existence, His Attributes, Actions, and Names. He possesses no likeness in all of these articles just as He and His Messenger (ﷺ) have related regarding Him. For the Qurʾān has eloquently highlighted this type of tawḥīd i…
Allāh said:
وَمَنْ أَحْسَنُ دِينًا مِّمَّنْ أَسْلَمَ وَجْهَهُ لِلَّهِ وَهُوَ مُحْسِنٌ وَاتَّبَعَ مِلَّةَ إِبْرَاهِيمَ حَنِيفًا ۗ وَاتَّخَذَ اللَّهُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ خَلِيلًا
“And who can be better in religion than one who submits his face (himself) to Allāh (i.e. follows Allāh’s Religion of Islamic Monotheism); and he is a Muḥsin (a good-doer). And follows the religion of Ibrāhīm (Abraham) Hanīfā (Islamic Monotheism – to worship none but Allāh Alone). And Allāh did take Ibrāhīm (Abraham) as a Khalīl (an intimate friend).”
(Al-Nisāʾ, 4:125)
Imām Ibn al-Qayyim (d. 751 AH) comments:
How can one wit…
