The Free Ramadan Workshop

As salaamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakaatuh,

Brothers and Sisters, we are pleased to announce that The Workshop will begin on Sunday July 29,2012. We will be taking registrations up until about two hours before the workshop begins. This will give us ample time to make sure that everyone receives their invitations and links in a timely fashion. 

For those of you that have not yet registered, go to the site and register now, as there are a little less then two days left to register. Any friends or family that you think would like to register, then they are more then welcome to register for free as well. Just direct them to the site and they enter their information and they will receive their information before each of the lectures. 

In this particular workshop we will be discussing the following  four topics:

1. Ramadan The Opportunity
2. Taraawih Prayer
3. I’tikaaf
4. The Night of Decree (Layalatul Qadr)

Do not forget that the registration period will end in less then two days. So time is of the essence.  Registrations can be made on our site at the link below.

http://arabicvirtualacademy.com/

Fearing Allah and holding onto His rope.

 

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ حَقَّ تُقَاتِهِ وَلَا تَمُوتُنَّ إِلَّا وَأَنْتُمْ مُسْلِمُونَ (102) وَاعْتَصِمُوا بِحَبْلِ اللَّهِ جَمِيعًا وَلَا تَفَرَّقُوا وَاذْكُرُوا نِعْمَتَ اللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ إِذْ كُنْتُمْ أَعْدَاءً فَأَلَّفَ بَيْنَ قُلُوبِكُمْ فَأَصْبَحْتُمْ بِنِعْمَتِهِ إِخْوَانًا وَكُنْتُمْ عَلَى شَفَا حُفْرَةٍ مِنَ النَّارِ فَأَنْقَذَكُمْ مِنْهَا كَذَلِكَ يُبَيِّنُ اللَّهُ لَكُمْ آيَاتِهِ لَعَلَّكُمْ تَهْتَدُون (103

O you who believe! Fear Allah (by doing all that He has ordered and by abstaining from all that He has forbidden) as He should be feared. [Obey Him, be thankful to Him and remember Him always], and die not except in a state of Islam (as Muslims) with complete submission to Allah. (Aali Imran 3:102)

And hold fast, all of you together to the Rope of Allah (i.e. this Qur’an) and be not divided among yourselves, and remember Allah’s Favor on you, for you were enemies one to another, but He joined your hearts together, so that, by His Grace, you became brethren (in Islamic Faith) and you were on the brink of a pit of Fire and He saved you from it. Thus Allah makes His Ayaat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.,) clear to you, that you may be guided. (Aali Imran 3:103)

 *** A Basic Understanding ***

 

<O you who believe! Fear Allah (by doing all that He has ordered and by abstaining from all that He has forbidden) as He should be feared> This means – fear Allah the way he has the right to be feared. Ibn Mas’ood said, “It is that he should be obeyed and not disobeyed, that he is remembered and not forgotten, and that he should be thanked and we should not be ungrateful.”

<as He should be feared> This is done by staying far away from everything that is considered disobedience.

<and die not except in a state of Islam (as Muslims) with complete submission to Allah> Meaning hold on firmly to the religion of Islam and bite down it with your molar teeth until death finds you and you are still holding onto this beautiful religion. So that which is meant by all of this is that we establish true Islam.

<And hold fast, all of you together, to the Rope of Allah (i.e. this Qur’an), and be not divided among yourselves> – Meaning it is upon the Muslims all together to hold onto the religion of Islam and his book, and not be divided in it. Also we have been commanded not to differ in it the way that the Jews and Christians did with that which was sent to them.

<and remember Allah’s Favor on you>  – Meaning remember Allah’s favor upon you.

<for you were enemies one to another but He joined your hearts together> – Before Islam you were starch enemies towards one another, then Allah tied your hearts together by way of Islam and bringing you together  in emaan (belief).

<and you were on the brink of a pit of Fire, and He saved you from it> – Meaning you were on the verge of being in the hell fire, and Allah saved you from it by way of Islam.

<Thus Allah makes His Ayaat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.,) clear to you> – Meaning that just like this is the way that Allah explains clearly his rest of His verses.

<that you may be guided> – So that you may be guided by way if it to happiness in both worlds.

(This was taken from the book Safwa tu  Tafaasir by Muhammad as Saabooni.)

http://arabicvirtualacademy.com/

EXCELLENCE OF SUPPLICATING FOR THE MUSLIMS BEHIND THEIR BACK (IN THEIR ABSENCE)

EXCELLENCE OF SUPPLICATING FOR THE MUSLIMS BEHIND THEIR BACK (IN THEIR ABSENCE)

Abu Dharr reported that Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: There is no believing servant who supplicates for his brother behind his back (in his absence) that the Angels do not say: The same be for you too.

Umm Darda’ reported: My husband reported that he heard Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: He who supplicates for his brother behind his back (in his absence), the Angel commissioned (for carrying supplication to his Lord) says: Amen, and it is for you also.

Safwan (and he was Ibn ‘Abdullah b. Safwan, and he had been married to Umm Darda’) reported : I visited Abu Darda’s house in Syria. I did not find him there but Umm Darda’ (was present at the house). She said: Do you intend to perform Hajj during this year? I said: Yes. She said: Do supplicate Allah for blessings upon us, for Allah’s Prophet (may peace be upon him) used to say: The supplication of a Muslim for his brother at his back (in his absence) is responded so long as he makes a supplication for blessings for his brother and the commissioned Angel says: Amen, and says: May it be for you too.

http://arabicvirtualacademy.com/

Back to Business

As salaamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakaatuh,

As you all know, we were experiencing some technical difficulties. We, therefore have not been able to hold our classes online for the last two or three weeks. Our deepest apologies go out to those whom are regulars to our classes. Things are all back up and running so we will begin holding our classes on-line this week in sha Allah.

The classes for the last couple of weeks have been recorded and are available to those that attend our classes so that you are not left behind in the books that we are currently studying.  If you are in need of these recordings you can contact us at our email address and we will be glad to send them to you. Barak Allahu feekum.

You can still register easily for the classes from the calendar on our website.  Barak Allahu feekum.

 

Our New Bookstore

Finally we are able to announce to you all that the Arabic Virtual Academy Bookstore is up and running. If you take a look at the link below it will take you to the exact page on our site. When you come across any titles that you would like to add to your private collection, please contact us with the name of the book and we will get the process started for you book to be shipped out to you as soon as possible.

 http://arabicvirtualacademy.webs.com/bookstore.htm

Signs of the Night of Decree

Sheikh Uthaimeen mentioned some of the signs of this blessed night in his book Sharul Mumte’a in the book of Fasting. From these signs that were mentioned were;

1. The strong radient light of that night. He mentions that in these days and times one does not notice this except someone that is in a seculuded area and not near lights.
2. The increased light on this night
3. Confortablility (meaning in the heart) so much so that the believer finds rest and relaxation. This is found this night much more then any of the other nights.
4. That the winds that night are calm and the weather is nice.
5. It is possible that some people will see Allah that night in their dreams, as was recorded to have happened to some of the Companions (may Allah be pleased with all of them. Allahuma ameen).
6. That the indivituals will find enjoyment in their night prayer more then they did in other nights.

Finding The Night of Decree….

Bismillahir Rahmaannir Raheem.

As salaamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakaatuh,

Here is a benefit that Sheikh Uthaimeen brought when asked about The Night of Decree that we wanted to share with you all:

 

Is the night of Decree change from year to year or is it a set date?

First of all it is necessary to say that the scholars differ in this matter.

But the correct opinion is that it moves around from year to year. One year it is on the 21st, the next on the 29th, the next on the 25th and so forth. We say this because there is no way for us to join together all of the different narrations.

The reason for the fact that this blessed nights moving around is that if it was one specific night then the lazy people from amongst us would not work hard except for that one particular night. But being as though is changes from year to year the chance of it taking place at anytime causes the people to work very hard all ten nights.

 

[This can be found in his book Sharul Mumte’a in the book of Siyaam]

Rulings for Fasting that are Specific for Women

Rulings for Fasting that are Specific for Women

Rulings for Fasting that are Specific for Women

AUTHOR: Shaikh Saalih Al-Fawzaan

SOURCE: His book Tanbeehaat ‘alaa Ahkaam takhtassu bil-Mu’minaat (pg. 62-67)

PRODUCED BY: Al-Ibaanah.com

Fasting the month of Ramadaan is an obligation on every male and female Muslim, and it is one of the pillars and great foundations of Islaam. Allaah says: “O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you in order that you may attain Taqwaa.” [Surah Al-Baqarah: 183] The word “kutiba” (prescribed) here means “furida” obligated. So when the young girl reaches the age in which she will be held accountable for her actions, by having one of the signs of puberty become apparent in her, among which is menstruation, then the obligation of fasting begins for her. She could begin menstruating as early as when she is nine years old. However, some young girls are not aware that they are required to begin fasting at that point, so she doesn’t fast thinking that she is too young, nor do her parents order her to fast. This is a great negligence, for one of the pillars of Islaam is being abandoned.If this occurs to any woman, she is obligated to make up for the days of fasting that she abandoned since the point when she began menstruating, even if a long time has passed since that time, for it remains in her obligations.

Who is obligated to fast Ramadaan?

When the month of Ramadaan comes, every male and female Muslim that (1) has reached the age of puberty, is (2) healthy and (3) a resident (i.e. not traveling) is obligated to fast. And whoever is sick or traveling during the month, may break the fast and make up the number of days missed on other days. Allaah says: “So whoever sights the (moon indicating the beginning of the) month, then he must fast. And whoever is sick or on a journey, then (he may break the fast and instead fast) the number of days missed on other days.” [Surah Al-Baqarah: 185] Likewise, whoever enters into Ramadaan and he is very old and not able to fast or has a chronic illness, which does not expect to be cured any specific time – whether male or female – may break the fast and instead feed a needy person half a saa’ (four handfuls) of the food from that people’s land for every day missed. Allaah says: “And as for those who can fast (but) with difficulty, they (may break their fast and) feed a needy person.” [Surah Al-Baqarah: 184] Ibn ‘Abbaas (radyAllaahu ‘anhu) said: “This ayah is for the old man of whom it is not anticipated that he will be cured.” [Saheeh Al-Bukhaaree]And the sick person of whom it is not hoped that he will be cured from his sickness falls under the ruling of the old person. And he does not have to make up the missed days because of his inability to fast.

A woman is specified with certain excuses that permit her to break the fast in Ramadaan, on the condition that she makes up the days she missed fasting due to these excuses on other days.These excuses are:1. Menstrual and Postpartum Bleeding: A woman is forbidden from fasting while she is in these two conditions. And she is obligated to make up these missed days of fasting on other days.This is based on what is reported in the two Saheeh collections from ‘Aa’isha (radyAllaahu‘anhaa) who said: “We were ordered to make up the (missed) days of fasting but we were not ordered to make up the (missed) prayers.” She gave this answer when a woman asked her: “Why does a menstruating woman have to make up the (missed days of) fasting and not have to make up the (missed) prayers?” So she (radyAllaahu ‘anhaa) clarified that this is from the matters dependent on revelation, which must comply with the reported texts. As for the wisdom behind that, then Shaikh-ul-Islaam Ibn Taimiyyah said in “Majmoo’-ul-Fataawaa” (15/251): “The blood that comes out of the woman because of menstruation has a discharge of blood in it. A menstruating woman can fast in times other than when the blood that comes out of her due to menstruation contains her blood. So her fasting in this situation is a moderate and balanced fast – no blood, which strengthens the body and which is its main substance – comes out of her during these times. But her fasting when she is menstruating necessitates that her blood come out during this time – the blood, which is the main component of her body and which will lead to a weakness and deficiency in her body. And this will necessitate that her fast not be that of a moderate and balanced nature. So that is why she is commanded to fast in times when she is not menstruating.”

2. Pregnancy and Breast-Feeding: If because of fasting there is harm caused to the woman or the baby or to both of them, then she may break the fast while she is pregnant or breastfeeding. But if the harm for which reason she is breaking her fast only applies to her baby and not her, then she must make up for the days she missed of fasting and feed a needy person for each day missed. And if the harm only applies to herself, then it is sufficient for her to only make up the missed days. This is based on the pregnant woman and breastfeeding woman falling under the generality of Allaah’s saying: “And for those who can fast (but) with difficulty, they (may break their fast) and instead feed a needy person.” [Surah Al-Baqarah: 184] Al-Haafidh Ibn Katheer (rahimahullaah) said in his Tafseer (1/379): “Amongst those who fall into the meaning of this ayah are the pregnant and breastfeeding women if they fear for themselves or for their children.” And Shaikh-ul-Islaam Ibn Taimiyyah said: “If a pregnant woman fears for her fetus, then she may not fast and instead make up each day of fasting that was missed on other days and feed a needy person around 2 kilograms of bread.” [Majmoo’-ul- Fatawaa: 25/318]

Important Notes:

1. Istihaadah (Irregular Bleeding): This is the condition in which a woman has blood come out of her, which is not her menstrual blood. She must observe the fast and it is not permissible for her to break her fast because of this type of bleeding. When mentioning the allowance of the menstruating woman of breaking her fast, Shaikh-ul-Islaam Ibn Taimiyyah (rahimahullaah) said: “This is contrary to the woman in the state of Istihaadah, for this state comprises an unfixed period of time, and there is not a time in it in which she can be commanded to begin fasting (again). So because of this, it is not possible to caution against it, the same as for throwing up unexpectedly, emitting blood due to a wound, getting a boil, Ihtilaam (when sexual fluid comes out of the private parts not due to intercourse or foreplay), as well as all the other things that do not have a fixed time in which they could be cautioned against. So this (Istihaadah) was not made as something that nullifies the fast, such as the blood of menstruation.” [Majmoo’-ul- Fataawaa: 25/251]

2. The Menstruating woman as well as the pregnant and breastfeeding women, if they break their fast in Ramadaan, must make up for the missed days of fasting in the time that occurs between the Ramadaan in which they broke their fast and the forthcoming Ramadaan. But to complete them early is better. And if there only remain a few days before the next Ramadaan begins, then they are obligated to make up the missed days of fasting (from the previous Ramadaan) such that the new Ramadaan will not come upon them while they still have to fast days from the previous Ramadaan. But if they don’t do this and Ramadaan comes upon them while they still owe days of fasting from the previous Ramadaan, and they have no (valid) excuse for delaying it, they are obligated to make up the missed days and to feed a needy person for each day. But if they have a valid excuse, then they must only make up the missed days of fasting. This goes the same for those who must make up the missed days of fasting due to sickness or traveling. Their ruling is like the ruling of the woman who broke the fast due to menses, with the previously mentioned details.

3. It is not permissible for a woman to observe a recommended fast if her husband is present unless she has his permission. This is based on what Al-Bukhaaree, Muslim and others have reported from Abu Hurairah (radyAllaahu ‘anhu) that the Prophet (sallAllaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “It is not permissible for a woman to fast while her husband is present except with his permission.” In some narrations of the hadeeth in Ahmad and Abu Dawood, there occurs the wording “…except Ramadaan.” But if the husband permits her to observe a recommended fast or he is not present around her or if she doesn’t have a husband, then it is encouraged for her to observe this recommended day of fasting. This is especially for the days in which it is recommended to fast such as Mondays and Thursdays, three days in every month, six days in Shawaal, the tenth day of Dhul-Hijjah, the Day of ‘Arafah and the Day of ‘Aashooraa along with the day before or after it. However, she should not observe a recommended fast while she owes days to make up for (the previous) Ramadaan, until she first makes up these missed days and Allaah knows best. 4. If a menstruating woman stops bleeding during the day in Ramadaan, she must begin her fasting for the remainder of the day but still make it up with the days that she didn’t fast because of menses. Her fasting for the remainder of the day in which she stops bleeding is an obligation on her out of respect for the time (i.e. Ramadaan).

http://anisabintbenjamin.multiply.com/journal/item/383/Rulings_for_Fasting_that_are_Specific_for_Women

Reading Quran for Beginners

As many of you have requested. We now have a beginners class for those wishing to learn the Quran. In this class we will be focusing on getting our students to correctly pronounce the different letters of the Arabic language, as well as being able to differentiate between the different letters for those that are not yet able to read. We are going to start this class as soon as we have enough students to fill the class. Anyone interested should contact us as soon as possible so that we can get the registration process underway and get you into the class before this class becomes full as well. We can be contacted at info@arabicvirtualacademy.com. May Allah give us all the success, Allahuma Ameen.

The return of the Quranic Memorization Classes

We here at Arabic Virtual Academy are happy to announce that we have been blessed with the privilege of restarting the Quranic Memorization Classes. They will be operated the same way as before. We are now again offering both private and group classes to those who would like to learn how to properly recite and memorize The Book of Allah. We do, as you all remember, only take a limited number of new students at a time. So make sure to either Subscribe to the blog or Check it frequently so as not to miss any possible enrollment opportunities.

If you are interested in joining us in these classes, or have a group that you would like to begin with, feel free to email us at info@arabicvirtualacademy.com and we will be more then happy to set you on your way to memorizing the Quran properly. We thank you all for your support and duaa. May Allah allow us all to continue to work together in gaining His Pleasure. Allahuma ameen.