When to recite Takbeer?

 

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said about the first ten days of Dhul Hijjah:

  “There are no days greater in the sight of Allaah
and in which righteous deeds are more beloved to Him
than these ten days, so during this time recite a great deal
of Tahleel (“La ilaaha ill-Allaah”), Takbeer and Tahmeed.”

Classed as saheeh by al-Albaani

The virtue of Takbeer

The first ten days of Dhu’l-Hijjah are venerated days.
Allaah swore by them in His Book,
and swearing by a thing is indicative of its importance and great benefit.
Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“By the dawn;
By the ten nights
(i.e. the first ten days of the month of Dhul-Hijjah)”
[al-Fajr 89:1]

Ibn ‘Abbaas, Ibn al-Zubayr, Mujaahid and others
among the earlier and later generations said:

This refers to the ten days of Dhu’l-Hijjah.

Ibn Katheer said: This is the correct view.
Tafseer Ibn Katheer, 8/413

Good deeds during these days are beloved to Allaah,
because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said:

“There are no days in which righteous deeds are
more beloved to Allaah than these ten days.”

They said, “O Messenger of Allaah, not even jihad for the sake of Allaah?”

The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said,
“Not even jihad for the sake of Allaah, except in the case of a man
who went out to fight, giving himself and his wealth up for the cause,
and came back with nothing.”

Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 969; al-Tirmidhi, 757.

This version was narrated by al-Tirmidhi and classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Tirmidhi, 605.

One of the righteous deeds during these days is to remember Allaah
by reciting takbeer (saying “Allaahu akbar”)
and tahleel (saying “Laa ilaaha ill-Allaah”),
because of the following evidence.

1 – Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“That they may witness things
that are of benefit to them
(i.e. reward of Hajj in the Hereafter,
and also some worldly gain from trade),
and mention the Name of Allaah
on appointed days”

[al-Hajj 22:28]

“The appointed days” are the first ten days of Dhu’l-Hijjah.

2 – Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“And remember Allaah during the appointed Days”
[al-Baqarah 2:203]

These are the days of al-Tashreeq, i.e. the 11th, 12th and 13th of Dhu’l-Hijjah.

3 – The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said:
“The days of tashreeq are the days of
eating, drinking and remembering Allaah.”
Narrated by Muslim, 1141.

Description of the Takbeer

The scholars differed concerning the form of the Takbeer.

1 – The first view is that it is:

Allaahu akbar, Allaahu akbar, laa ilaaha ill-Allaah,
Allaahu akbar, Allaahu akbar, wa lillaahi’l-hamd

(Allaah is Most Great, Allaah is Most Great, there is no god but Allaah,
Allaah is Most Great, Allaah is Most Great, and to Allaah be praise).

2 – The second view is that it is:

Allaahu akbar, Allaahu akbar, Allaahu akbar,
laa ilaaha ill-Allaah, Allaahu akbar,
Allaahu akbar, Allaahu akbar, wa lillaahi’l-hamd

(Allaah is Most Great, Allaah is Most Great, Allaah is Most Great,
there is no god but Allaah, Allaah is Most Great,
Allaah is Most Great, Allaah is Most Great, and to Allaah be praise).

3 – The third view is that it is:

Allaahu akbar, Allaahu akbar, Allaahu akbar,
laa ilaaha ill-Allaah,
Allaahu akbar, Allaahu akbar, wa lillaahi’l-hamd

(Allaah is Most Great, Allaah is Most Great, Allaah is Most Great,
there is no god but Allaah,
Allaah is Most Great, Allaah is Most Great, and to Allaah be praise).

The matter is broad in scope because there is no text narrated
from the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wassalam)
which specifies a particular form of the Takbeer.

The time of the Takbeer

 

The takbeer is divided into two categories:

1 – Takbeer at any time.

This is takbeer that is not limited to a specific time,
and it is Sunnah to say it all the time, morning and evening,
before prayer and after prayer, at all times.

2 – Takbeer at certain times.

This is takbeer that is limited to the time immediately after prayer.

It is Sunnah to recite takbeer at any time
during the first ten days of Dhu’l-Hijjah and all the days of Tashreeq,
starting from the beginning of the month of Dhu’l-Hijjah
(i.e., from sunset on the last day of Dhu’l-Qa’dah)
until the end of the days of al-Tashreeq,
which is when the sun sets on the thirteenth day of Dhu’l-Hijjah).

With regard to at certain times,
it starts from Fajr on the day of ‘Arafah
and lasts until the sun sets on the last day of the days of Tashreeq,
in addition to the takbeer that may be recited at any time.

So when a person says the tasleem at the end of the obligatory prayer,
he should pray for forgiveness (by saying Astaghfir-Allaah) three times,
and say, “Allaahumma anta al-salaam wa minka al-salaam,
tabaarakta yaa dhaa’l-jalaali wa’l-ikraam
(“O Allaah, You are al-Salaam
[the One Who is free from all defects and deficiencies],
and from You is all peace, blessed are You,
O possessor of majesty and honour)”,
then start the takbeer.

This is for those who are not on Hajj.

The pilgrims should start the takbeer recited
after prayer from Zuhr on the Day of Sacrifice
(the 10th of Dhu’l-Hijjah).
And Allaah knows best.

See Majmoo’ Fataawa Ibn Baaz (may Allaah have mercy on him),
13/17; al-Sharh al-Mumti’
by Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allaah have mercy on him), 5/220-224.

Returning to Allah- MUST LISTEN! (Br. Nouman Ali Khan)

Can one observe a voluntary fast when one still owes days from Ramadaan?

Question: Can one observe a voluntary fast when one still owes days from Ramadaan?

 

Praise be to Allaah. This issue is known to the scholars as observing naafil fasts before making up missed Ramadaan fasts.

 

There is a difference of scholarly opinion concerning this matter.

 

Some scholars say that it is haraam to observe naafil fasts before making up days that one owes, because it is more important to start with an obligatory action than a naafil one.

 

Some of the scholars say that it is permissible.

 

Shaykh Muhammad ibn Saalih al-‘Uthaymeen (may Allaah have mercy on him) was asked about combining making up a missed obligation and doing something that is mustahabb: is it permissible for a person to do the mustahabb action and make up the obligatory action later on, or should he do the obligatory action first, such as fasting the day ‘Ashoora’ which coincides with making up a missed Ramadaan fast?

With regard to obligatory and voluntary fasts, what is prescribed in sharee’ah and what makes sense is to start with the obligatory fasts and then do the naafil ones, because the obligatory fast is a debt which must be paid, whereas the naafil fast is voluntary and is to be done if one can manage it, otherwise there is no sin on one. Based on this, we say to the one who owes a missed Ramadaan fast: make up what you owe before you observe a voluntary fast.

If he observes a voluntary fast before making up what he owes then the correct view is that his voluntary fast is valid so long as there is still enough time to make up the missed fasts, because a person may make up missed Ramadaan fasts so long as there is still enough time for him to do so before the next Ramadaan comes. So long as there is still plenty of time, it is permissible for him to observe voluntary fasts.

This is similar to the case of obligatory prayers, such as if a person offers a naafil prayer before an obligatory prayer when there is still plenty of time, this is permissible.

Whoever fasts on the day of ‘Arafah or ‘Ashoora’, and still owes some days from Ramadaan, his fast is valid.

But if he has the intention of fasting this day to make up for a missed Ramadaan fast, he will have two rewards – one for the day of ‘Arafah or ‘Ashoora’ and another for making up the missed fast.

This applies to all voluntary fasts that are not connected to Ramadaan. With regard to fasting the six days of Shawwaal, these are connected to Ramadaan and can only be done after making up missed Ramadaan fasts. If a person fasts these days before making up his missed Ramadaan fasts, he will not get the reward for them, because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said:

“Whoever fasts Ramadaan then follows it with six days of Shawwaal, it will be as if he fasted for a lifetime.” It is known that the one who still has some days to make up is not regarded as having fasted Ramadaan until he makes up those days. Some people think that if they fear Shawwaal is going to end soon and they fast the six days even though they still owe some days from Ramadaan, that this is acceptable. This is a mistake, because these six days cannot be fasted until a person has made up the days that he owes from Ramadaan.

Majmoo’ Fataawa Ibn ‘Uthaymeen, 20/438.

Based on this, it is permissible for you to fast the first ten days of Dhu’l-Hijjah as a naafil fast, but it is better for you to fast them with the intention of making up what you owe of Ramadaan, and you will have two rewards in sha Allaah.

See also question no. 23429.

And Allaah knows best.

Islam Q&A

Ahadeeth regarding the Benefits and Blessings of Hajj

13 Hadith of Hajj Www.abdurRahman

The Muslim Always Returns to Allah

From Abu Sa’eed al-Khudree (radiyallaahu ‘anhu) who said that Allaah’s Messenger said: 

The example of the believer with regards to eemaan is like the example of a horse with regards to its tethering stake; it roams around and then returns to its tethering stake, and the believer is negligent and then he turns to his eemaan. So feed the pious with your food and treat the believers well.

[Reported by Ahmad]

So he does not persist upon sin, or treat it lightly. Rather like the rest of the children of Aadam he commits many sins. However he is frequent in turning back in repentance to his Lord.

From: Forty Hadeeth On: The Islamic Personality by ‘Alî Hasan ‘Alî ‘Abdul Hamîd

Reward for joining funerals

God states in the Qur’an that He has honored man, or to use the Qur’anic expression, “the children of Adam”, which includes every human being.

Indeed, the honor extends after a person dies. Islam establishes certain rights for a deceased person, which the living must fulfill. These include that the deceased should be given a bath, wrapped and embalmed. Relatives, neighbors, friends and anyone else should join the deceased’s funeral until the funeral prayer is offered and after that, until the burial is complete. They must also pray to God to grant mercy and forgive the deceased.

The Prophet encouraged us to join funerals. Abdullah ibn Umar was told that Abu Hurayrah quoted the Prophet as saying: “Whoever follows a funeral will have a portion of the reward.” Ibn Umar commented: “Abu Hurayrah has stated too many.”

Regarding the Reward

Narrated Abu Huraira: Allah’s Apostle said, “(A believer) who accompanies the funeral procession of a Muslim out of sincere faith and hoping to attain Allah’s reward and remains with it till the funeral prayer is offered and the burial ceremonies are over, he will return with a reward of two Qirats. Each Qirat is like the size of the (Mount) Uhud. He who offers the funeral prayer only and returns before the burial, will return with the reward of one Qirat only.” Sahih Bukhari  (Book #2, Hadith #45)

Hypocrites’ techniques of deception

They claim to want what is good, but they open their own masjid, imagining that they can harm Muslims

 

As for those who have set up a mosque,CAUSING HARM AND OUT OF DISBELIEF, TO CREATE DIVISION BETWEEN THE BELIEVERS, AND IN READINESS FOR THOSE WHO PREVIOUSLY MADE WAR ON ALLAH AND HIS MESSENGER, THEY WILL SWEAR, ‘WE ONLY DESIRED THE BEST.’ But Allah bears witness that they are truly liars. (Surat at-Tawba, 107)

Although they cause corruption, they claim to be putting things right

When they are told, ‘Do not cause corruption on the earth,’ THEY SAY, ‘WE ARE ONLY PUTTING THINGS RIGHT.’ No indeed! THEY ARE THE CORRUPTERS,but they are not aware of it. (Surat al-Baqara, 11-12)

They try to depict themselves as people with good intentions who are unwilling to be involved in corruption

AMONG THEM ARE THERE SOME WHO SAY, ‘GIVE ME PERMISSION TO STAY. DO NOT PUT TEMPTATION IN MY WAY.’ Have they not fallen into that very temptation? … (Surat at-Tawba, 49)

They want Muslims to be fragmented

They are the people who say, ‘Do not spend on those who are with the Messenger of Allah, SO THAT THEY MAY GO AWAY.’ The treasuries of the heavens and earth belong to Allah. But the hypocrites do not understand this. (Surat al-Munafiqun, 7)

They foolishly imagine they can frighten believers

Those TO WHOM PEOPLE SAID, ‘THE PEOPLE HAVE GATHERED AGAINST YOU, SO FEAR THEM.’But that merely increased their belief and they said, ‘Allah is enough for us and the Best of Guardians.’ (Surah Al ’Imran, 173)

And a group of them said, ‘PEOPLE OF YATHRIB, YOUR POSITION IS UNTENABLE SO RETURN!’some of them asked the Prophet to excuse them, saying, ‘Our houses are exposed,’ when they were not exposed; it was merely that they wanted to run away. (Surat al-Ahzab, 13)

They put forward the lie that they cannot engage in the struggle because they have to look after their families, and they seek to give the impression they are well intentioned

Those Arabs who remained behind will say to you, ‘OUR WEALTH AND FAMILIES KEPT US OCCUPIED,so ask forgiveness for us.’ They say with their tongues what is not in their hearts. Say: ‘Who can control Allah for you in any way whether He wants harm for you or wants benefit for you?’ Allah is aware of what you do. (Surat al-Fath, 11)

They lie in claiming not to know how to struggle on Allah’s path, and seek to give the impression they are well intentioned

And so that He would know the hypocrites. They were told, ‘Come and fight in the Way of Allah or at least help defend us.’ THEY SAID, ‘IF WE KNEW HOW TO FIGHT, WE WOULD CERTAINLY FOLLOW YOU.’ They were closer to disbelief that day than to iman, saying with their mouths what was not in their hearts. And Allah knows best what they are hiding. (Surah Al ’Imran, 167)

They appear to consider the family important, but their sole aim is to avoid the struggle

And a group of them said, ‘People of Yathrib, Your position is untenable so return!’ some of them ASKED THE PROPHET TO EXCUSE THEM, SAYING, ‘OUR HOUSES ARE EXPOSED,’ WHEN THEY WERE NOT EXPOSED;it was merely that they wanted to run away. (Surat al-Ahzab, 13)

They rejoice at supposedly avoiding the struggle and foolishly imagine they are better off because of it, and seek to hinder believers

THOSE WHO WERE LEFT BEHIND WERE GLAD TO STAY BEHIND THE MESSENGER OF ALLAH. THEY DID NOT WANT TO STRUGGLE WITH THEIR WEALTH AND THEMSELVES IN THE WAY OF ALLAH. They said, ‘Do not go out to fight in the heat.’ Say: ‘The Fire of Hell is much hotter, if they only understood.’ (Surat at-Tawba, 81)

They hide behind their oaths and seek to obstruct Allah’s path

THEY HAVE MADE THEIR OATHS INTO A CLOAK AND BARRED THE WAY OF ALLAH.What they have done is truly evil. (Surat al-Munafiqun, 2)

In order to divide Muslims, they constantly call them to their sides by lying to them

ALLAH KNOWSthe obstructers among you AND THOSE WHO SAY TO THEIR BROTHERS, ‘COME TO US,’ and who only come to fight a very little, and are begrudging towards you. Then when fear comes, you see them looking at you, their eyes rolling like people scared to death. But when fear departs they flay you with sharp tongues, grasping for wealth. Such people have no faith and Allah will make their actions come to nothing. That is easy for Allah. (Surat al-Ahzab, 18-19)

THEY ARE THOSE WHO SAID OF THEIR BROTHERS, WHEN THEY THEMSELVES HAD STAYED BEHIND, ‘IF THEY HAD ONLY OBEYED US, THEY WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN KILLED.’ Say, ‘Then ward off death from yourselves if you are telling the truth.’ (Surah Al ’Imran, 168)

They trust in the material power of deniers, repeat the lie that they are powerful and seek to make believers uneasy

They say, ‘IF WE RETURN TO MADINA, THE MIGHTIER WILL DRIVE OUT THE INFERIOR.’But all might belongs to Allah and to His Messenger and the believers. But the hypocrites do not know this. (Surat al-Munafiqun, 8)

… DO THEY HOPE TO FIND POWER AND STRENGTH WITH THEM? Power and strength belong entirely to Allah. (Surat an-Nisa’, 139)

They foolishly seek to encourage believers to rebel against our Prophet (saas), but they behave like Muslims when they are with our Prophet (saas) 

DO YOU NOT SEE those who were forbidden to confer together secretly returning to the very thing they were forbidden to do, and CONFERRING TOGETHER SECRETLY IN WRONGDOING AND ENMITY AND DISOBEDIENCE TO THE MESSENGER? AND WHEN THEY COME TO YOU THEY GREET YOU WITH WORDS ALLAH HAS NEVER USED IN GREETING YOU,and say to themselves ‘Why does Allah not punish us for what we say?’ Hell will be enough for them! They will roast in it. What an evil destination! (Surat al-Mujadala, 8)

When they are with believers they appear to be Muslims and seek to deceive them

Among the people there are some who say, ‘WE HAVE FAITH IN ALLAH AND THE LAST DAY,’ WHEREAS THEY ARE NOT BELIEVERS. THEY THINK THEY DECEIVE ALLAH AND THOSE WHO HAVE FAITH. They deceive no one but themselves but they are not aware of it. There is a sickness in their hearts and Allah has increased their sickness. They will have a painful punishment on account of their denial. (Surat al-Baqara, 8-10)

WHEN THEY MEET THOSE WHO HAVE IMAN, THEY SAY, ‘WE HAVE FAITH.’But then when they go apart with their demons, they say, ‘We are really with you. We were only mocking.’ (Surat al-Baqara, 14)

They seek to deceive people by calling upon Allah when they speak

Among the people there is someone whose words about the life of this world excite your admiration, AND HE CALLS ALLAH TO WITNESS WHAT IS IN HIS HEART, WHILE HE IS IN FACT THE MOST HOSTILE OF ADVERSARIES. (Surat al-Baqara, 204)

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