The manner of offering Salat-ul-Kusuf

Q: How should Salat-ul-Kusuf (Prayer at the time of a solar eclipse) and Salat-ul-Khusuf (Prayer on a lunar eclipse) be performed? Is there any difference between them? What is your opinion on the reports published by the papers about the timings of a solar or lunar eclipse?

A: There are authentic Hadiths in which the Prophet (peace be upon him) showed how Salat-ul-Kusuf can be performed. He (peace be upon him) ordered that people should be called to it by announcing As-salatu Jami`ah “Gather for Prayer”.
(Part No. 13; Page No. 35)

The most authentic reports concerning this Salah show that it consists of two Rak`ahs (units of Prayer), and in each Rak`ah one should make two recitations and perform two Ruku`s (bowings) and two Sujuds (prostrations). The person should make lengthy recitation, Ruku` and Sujud. In the meantime, the first recitation and Ruku` should be longer than the second ones. The person should make Ruku` in the second Rak`ah for a shorter time than the two Ruku`s in the first one. During the second Rak`ah, the person should make the second recitation and Ruku` for a shorter time than the first in the same Rak`ah.

As for the two Sujuds, it is a Sunnah (action following the teachings of the Prophet) to be lengthy provided that this does not cause any difficulty to the Ma’mums (people being led by an Imam in Prayer) because this was the Prophet’s (peace be upon him) way. Upon completing the Salah, the Imam (the one who leads congregational Prayer), if he is knowledgeable, is allowed to deliver a sermon and tell the people that the solar and lunar eclipses are two signs of Allah (Exalted be He) by which He frightens His Servants. The Muslims, upon seeing it, are prescribed to offer Salah, remember Allah (Exalted be He), make Du`a’ (supplication) and Takbir (saying: “Allahu Akbar [Allah is the Greatest]”), give in charity, and emancipate a believing slave until the end of the eclipse. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: Verily the sun and the moon are two signs among the signs of Allah by which He frightens His Servants and they do not eclipse on account of the death or birth of anybody. So when you see either of them, observe Prayer, and supplicate to Allah (Exalted be He) till it is cleared from you. Another narration reads: So whenever you see them, haste to remember Allah, invoke Him and ask Him for forgiveness.
(Part No. 13; Page No. 36)

It is narrated in some Hadiths that the person should give in charity and emancipate slaves.
The astronomical reports about the timing of the eclipse must not be taken as the basis for offering Salat-ul-Kusuf. Some people of knowledge, including Shaykh-ul-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah and his knowledgeable disciple Ibn Al-Qayyim (may Allah be merciful to both of them) supported this view saying that the astronomers may sometimes be wrong; thus, these reports can not be reliable, and people should not offer Salat-ul-Kusuf depending on them. Rather, they have to offer the Salah upon seeing the eclipse when it is happening.

The publications of the astronomers’ reports about the timing of eclipse should be banned by the Ministry of Information, lest some people should be deceived by them. These publications may make people less frightened upon seeing the eclipse. Allah (Exalted be He) has made them to frighten the people. Therefore, they remember, fear, invoke Allah, and treat His Slaves properly. May Allah grant us success.

Taken from Alifta.net (Shaykh bin baaz)

“The Covenant between you and your Lord”

Shaikh Ibn Baaz رحمه الله said:

Allaah تعالى said:

﴿إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ﴾

{You (Alone) we worship, and you (Alone) we ask for help} [Surah al-Faatihah (1): 5]

“It is a covenant between you and your Lord that you WILL[1] worship Him (alone) and that you will ask (only) Him for help; and that your love for your family and children is in accordance with the love of Allaah عز وجل and His Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم (i.e. your love for your family should not be a hindrance in your obedience to Allaah).”

And he رحمه الله also said:

“And from the means of attaining firmness in obedience to Allaah تعالى is: being truthful in your love for Him سبحانه وتعالى and asking your Lord to keep you firm upon His obedience; and you should stay away from the means leading towards evil and its people; and upon you is the company of the righteous people.”

Source:
الفوائد الجلية من دروس الشيخ ابن باز العلمية (ص 17)

_______________________________

[1] The emphasis is on the word “will” because in regards to worship, three types of mistakes are committed:

a) Those who do not worship Allaah تعالى at all:

As Allaah تعالى said:

﴿فَخَلَفَ مِن بَعْدِهِمْ خَلْفٌ أَضَاعُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَاتَّبَعُوا الشَّهَوَاتِ ۖ فَسَوْفَ يَلْقَوْنَ غَيًّا﴾

{Then, there has succeeded them a posterity who have abandoned As-Salaah (the prayers) and pursued desires; so they will be thrown in Hell.} [Surah Maryam (19): 59]

b) or they worship Him but are careless in their actions or offer them outside their proper fixed times:

`Ammaar bin Yaasir رضي الله عنهما said: I heard the Messenger of Allaah صلى الله عليه وسلم say:

إن الرجل لينصرف ، وما كتب له إلا ، تسعها ، ثمنها ، سبعها ، سدسها ، خمسها ، ربعها ، ثلثها ، نصفها

“A man returns after offering his prayer while a tenth part of his prayer, or a ninth part, or an eight part, or a seventh part, or a sixth part, or a fifth part, or a third part, or half of it, is recorded for him.” [Sunan Abu Dawood (796) and graded as “Saheeh” by Shaikh al-Albaanee in Sifatu as-Salaah (36)]

c) or they worship Him but are not sincere. As they also associate partners with Him تعالى:

As Allaah تعالى said:

﴿وَمَا يُؤْمِنُ أَكْثَرُهُم بِاللَّـهِ إِلَّا وَهُم مُّشْرِكُونَ﴾

{And most of them believe not in Allaah except that they attribute partners unto Him} [Surah Yusuf (12): 106]

Virtues of Fasting The Month of Muharram and Fasting ‘Aashuraa

Virtues of Fasting The Month of Muharram and Fasting ‘Aashuraa

By: Ash-Shaykh Bin Baaz رحمه الله
Taken from: http://www.sahab.net/forums
original post:
http://www.binbaz.org.sa/mat/13761

Question:
متى يبدأ صيام شهر المحرم أو صيام عاشورا، هل يبدأ في أول المحرم، أو في وسطه، أو في آخره، وكم عدد صيامه؟ لأني سمعت أن صيام عاشورا يبدأ من واحد محرم إلى عشرة محرم. وفقكم الله

When does fasting the month of Muharram begin or fasting ‘Aashuraa, does it begin in the beginning of Muharam, or in its middle (part) or in the last of it, and how many days are it’s fast? I heard that fasting ‘Aashura begins from the first of Muharam to the 10th of Muharram. May Allaah grant you success.

الجواب :
Answer:

يقول النبي -صلى الله عليه وسلم-: 1(أفضل الصيام بعد رمضان شهر الله المحرم) وهو عاشوراء،
The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said: the most virtuous fasting after Ramadhan is sharullah al-Muharram.

والمعنى أنه يصومه كله من أوله إلى أخره، من أول يوم منه إلى نهايته، هذا معنى الحديث،
And the meaning is that it is fasting all of it from the beginning to the end of it, from the first day from it to it’s last. This is the meaning of the hadeeth.

ولكن يخص منه يوم التاسع والعاشر، أو العاشر والحادي عشر لمن لم يصمه كله،
Rather specifically from it the 9th and 10th
or the 10th and 11th for those who don’t fast all of it.

لأن النبي -صلى الله عليه وسلم- كان يصوم عاشوراء في الجاهلية، وكانت تصومه قريش أيضاً، فلم قدم المدينة -عليه الصلاة والسلام- وجد اليهود
يصومونه
The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم use to fast ‘Aashuraa in the pre-Islamic times, and also the Quraish use to fast it. when the Messenger عليه الصلاة والسلا arrived in Medinah and found the Jews fasting it

، فسألهم عن ذلك فقالوا: إنه يومٌ نجى الله فيه موسى وقومه، وأهلك فرعون وقومه، فصامه شكراً لله صامه موسى شكراً لله ونحن نصومه،
Therefore he questioned them about that and they said: “Indeed it is the day Allaah saved in it Musa and his people, an destroyed Farun and his people. Therefore fasting it is gratitude for Allaah, Musa fasted it thankful for Allaah and we fast it.”

وقال النبي -صلى الله عليه وسلم-: (نحن أحق وأولى بموسى منكم) وصامه وأمر بصيامه، فالسنة أن يصام هذا اليوم يوم عاشوراء،
The Prophet عليه الصلاة والسلا said: “We (the Muslim nation) have more right and preference with Musa than you!” And fasted it and ordered with fasting it, therefore the sunnah is that he fasted this day the say of ‘Aashuraa

والسنة أن يصام قبله يوم أو بعده يوم، لما روي عنه -عليه الصلاة والسلام- أنه قال: (صوموا يوماً قبله ويوماً بعده)، وفي لفظ: (يوماً قبله أو يوماً بعده) وفي حديث آخر: (لئن عشت إلى قابل لأصومن التاسع يعني مع العاشر)،
And the sunnah is that you fast before it a day or after it a day, wherein it is reported from him عليه الصلاة والسلا that he said: “Fast a day before it and a day after it.” And in another wording: ” A day before it or a day after it.” And in another hadeeth: ” indeed if I live to meet it, I would fast the 9th with the 10th.”

فهذا هو الأفضل، أن يصام العاشر لأنه يوم عظيم حصل فيه خيرٌ عظيم لموسى والمسلمين، وصامه نبينا محمد -عليه الصلاة والسلام-، فنحن نصوم التاسع بنينا -عليه الصلاة والسلام-، وعملاً بما شرع -عليه الصلاة والسلام-، ونصوم مع يوماً قبله أو يوماً بعده مخالفة لليهود،
This is better that you fast the 10th for it is a great day which occurred in it great good for Musa and the Muslimeen, and our Prophet Muhammad عليه الصلاة والسلا fasted it therefore we fast the 9th also acting with what he عليه الصلاة والسلا legislated and we fast with it a day before it or a day after it differing from the Jews.

والأفضل التاسع مع العاشر لحديث (لئن عشت إلى قابل لأصومن التاسع)
And it’s better the 9th with the 10th based on the hadeeth: “Indeed if I live to meet it I would fast the 9th…

فإن صام العاشر والحادي عشرة أو صام الثلاث فكله حسن يعني صام التاسع والعاشر والحادي عشر كله طيب,
So indeed fasting the 10th and 11th or fasting all 3 is better, meaning fasting the 9th, 10th and 11th all of it is good

وفيه مخالفة لليهود، فإن صام الشهر كله فهو أفضل له.
And in it is differing from the Jews, therefore fasting all the month is even better.

Akhukum,
أبو عبد الهادي خليل ديفس
Abu Abdul-Haadee Khaleel Davis

And still they asked for acceptance!

And still they asked for acceptance!

When the Imaam, the Shaykh, `Abdul-azeez Bin Baaz رحمه الله was explaining the Tafseer of the saying of Allaah تعالى:

﴿وَإِذْ يَرْفَعُ إِبْرَاهِيمُ الْقَوَاعِدَ مِنَ الْبَيْتِ وَإِسْمَاعِيلُ رَبَّنَا تَقَبَّلْ مِنَّا ۖ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيمُ﴾

{And (remember) when Ibraaheem and (his son) Ismaa`eel were raising the foundations of the House (the Ka`bah at Makkah), (saying): “Our Lord! Accept (this service) from us. Verily! You are the All-Hearer, the All-Knower.”} [Surah al-Baqarah (2): 127]

He cried for more than 5 minutes and could not say more than:

“A special command, for a special slave, (assigned) with a special task, at a special place, and still he (Ibraaheem عليه السلام) is asking Allaah تعالى for acceptance!!!”

Then he رحمه الله cried even further.

The prayer expiates sins: Brief Comments of Shaikh Ibn Baaz رحمه الله on Saheeh al-Bukhaaree

The salat expiates sins: Brief Comments of Shaikh Ibn Baaz رحمه الله on Saheeh al-Bukhaaree

Imaam al-Bukhaaree رحمه الله said:

Book of Prayer Times: Chapter: Prayer expiates sins

Narrated Shaqeeq that he had heard Hudhaifah رضي الله عنه saying: “Once we were sitting with `Umar رضي الله عنه and he said: “Who amongst you remembers the statement of Allaah’s Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم about the afflictions?” I said: “I know it as the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم had said it.” `Umar said: “No doubt you are bold.” I said: “The afflictions [1] caused for a man by his wife, money, [2] children and neighbor are expiated by his prayers, fasting, charity and by enjoining (what is good) and forbidding (what is evil).” `Umar said: “I did not mean that but I asked about that affliction which will spread like the waves of the sea.” [3] I (Hudhaifah) said: “O leader of the faithful believers! You need not be afraid of it as there is a closed door between you and it.” `Umar asked: “Will the door be broken or opened?” I replied: “It will be broken.” `Umar said: “Then it will never be closed again.” I was asked whether `Umar knew that door. I replied that he knew it as one knows that there will be night before the tomorrow morning. I narrated a Hadeeth that was free from any misstatement.” The sub-narrator added that they deputized Masrooq to ask Hudhaifah (about the door). Hudhaifah said: “The door was ‘Umar himself.” [4] [Saheeh al-Bukhaaree (525, 1895, 3586, 7096) and Saheeh Muslim (276, 6914)]

Narrated Ibn Mas`ood رضي الله عنه: A man kissed a woman (unlawfully) and then went to the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم and informed him. So Allaah تعالى revealed:

﴿وَأَقِمِ الصَّلَاةَ طَرَفَيِ النَّهَارِ وَزُلَفًا مِّنَ اللَّيْلِ ۚ إِنَّ الْحَسَنَاتِ يُذْهِبْنَ﴾

{And offer prayers (perfectly) at the two ends of the day and in some hours of the night (i.e. the five compulsory prayers). Verily! Good deeds remove (annul) the evil deeds (i.e. small sins)} [Surah Hood (11): 114]. The man asked Allaah’s Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم: “Is this instruction for me only?” He صلى الله عليه وسلم said:

لِجَمِيعِ أُمَّتِي كُلِّهِمْ

“It is for all my followers.” [5] [Saheeh al-Bukhaaree (526, 4687, 6823) and Saheeh Muslim (6655, 6656, 6657, 6658)]

Shaikh Ibn Baaz رحمه الله said:

* This is a great Hadeeth.

[1] His wife and children may cause him to slip and he commits sins because of them, like using foul language or something similar to it (from the minor sins), then prayer expiates such sins.

[2] Spending money in disobedience.

[3] A major affliction.

[4] Meaning: when `Umar is killed, the afflictions will appear. And the first sign was the dispute about (the legitimate caliphate of) `Uthmaan رضي الله عنه (which the Khawaarij refused to acknowledge) and (which ultimately led to) his killing.

[5] This indicates that if a person commits minor sins, and repents for it (sincerely), he will not be punished.

Reference:
الحلل الإبريزية من التعليقات البازية على صحيح البخاري

The 5 things which the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم boasted about : Shaykh Bin Baaz رحمه الله

The 5 things which the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم boasted about

بـسـم الله والحـمـد لله والـصلاة والـسـلام عــلى رسـول الله، وبـعـد

Imaam al-Bukhaaree رحمه الله said:

Book of Prayer: Chapter: “The earth has been made a place for praying”

Narrated Jaabir bin `Abdullaah رضي الله عنه: Allaah’s Apostle صلى الله عليه وسلم said, “I have been given five things which were not given to any amongst the Prophets before me. These are:

1. Allaah made me victorious by awe (by His تعالى frightening my enemies) for a distance of one month’s journey.[1]

2. The earth has been made for me (and for my followers) a place for praying and a thing to perform Tayammum. Therefore my followers can pray wherever the time of a prayer is due. [2]

3. The booty has been made Halaal (lawful) for me. [3]

4. Every Prophet used to be sent to his nation exclusively but I have been sent to all mankind. [4]

5. I have been given the right of intercession.” [5] [6]

[Saheeh al-Bukhaaree (335, 438) and Saheeh Muslim (815)]

Shaikh Ibn Baaz رحمه الله said:

[1] His enemies feared him from a distance of one month’s journey. And it is hoped that this khair (goodness) is (also) for the one who follows his صلى الله عليه وسلم path, that fear is put in the hearts of his enemies.

[2] Excluded from this are the graveyards, toilets, and dirty places like slaughter houses, dumpsites.

[3] (For the nations) before us, a fire would descend (from the sky) and burn the war booty. But Allaah تعالى made it Halaal for this Ummah.

[4] Except for the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم, all the Prophets before him were sent to their respective people; but he صلى الله عليه وسلم was sent to all, the `Arabs and the non-`Arabs, the Jinns and the humans.

[5] This is the great intercession (which he صلى الله عليه وسلم would be allowed to make) on the Day of Resurrection.

[6] The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم was given many more things, but he chose (to narrate only about) these five.

Reference:
الحلل الإبرزية من التعليقات البازية على صحيح البخاري