Ashura of Muharram – A Shia and Sunni Muslim Observance

10th of Muharram (the day of Ashura) is observed as an important day by both Sunni and Shia Muslims – however, for different reasons.
Most scholars believe that Ahsura is named as such because of “tenth” of Muharram (ten is translated as “Ashara” in the Arabic language)
Sunni Muslims look at Ashura as “good” while Shia Muslims believe that day to be a day of mourning and sorrow.

Sunni Muslims

Based on the Hadith of Prophet Muhammad (saws), Sunni Muslims celebrate Ashura as the day when Prophet Moses (Moosa) fasted on that day because Allah saved the Israelites from their enemy in Egypt. One of the many Ahadith (sayings of Prophet Muhammad) that attests to that is in Bukhari that states:

Narrated by al-Bukhaari (1865) from Ibn ‘Abbaas, who said: The Prophet (saws) came to Madinah and saw the Jews fasting on the day of Ashoora. He said, “What is this?” They said, “This is a good day, this is the day when Allah saved the Children of Israel from their enemy and Moosa fasted on this day.” He (the Prophet Muhammad) said, “We are closer to Moosa than you.”

So he (the Prophet Muhammad) fasted on this day and told the people to fast.
There are many other versions of this Hadith in the books of “Muslim” and “Bukhari”.
According to a version narrated by Muslim,

This is a great day when Allah saved Moosa (Moses) and his people and drowned Pharaoh and his people.”

Sunni Muslims celebrate Ashura by fasting on that day. Usually, Sunni Muslims are recommended to fast on the 9th and 10th of Muharram.

It is permissible to fast the day of Ashoora on its own, but it is better to fast the day before it or the day after it. This is the Sunnah that is proven from the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), as he said, “If I am still alive next year, I will certainly fast the ninth.” Narrated by Muslim, 1134. [Source: Islam-QA.com (question 21776)]

Other Ahadith on the subject are the following:

The prophet observed the fast on Ashuraa (the 10th of Muharram),
and ordered (Muslims) to fast on that day. (Agreed upon Hadith i.e. Bukhari & Muslim).

Narrated by Abi Katada: The prophet was asked about fasting on ‘Ashuraa’ (the 10th of Muharram), he said: “it expiates the previous year (for sins).” (Sahih Muslim)
It was proven from the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) that the best fasting after Ramadaan is fasting in the month of Muharram. It was narrated that Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “The best fasting after Ramadaan is the month of Allaah Muharram, and the best prayer after the obligatory prayer is prayer at night.” Narrated by Muslim, 1163.

Shia Muslims

Shia Muslims observe Ashura as the day of martyrdom of Hussein ibn Ali, the grandson of Prophet Muhammad at the Battle of Karbala. Shia Muslims therefore consider this a day of sorrow and observe it as such by refraining from music, listening to sorrowful poetic recitations, wearing mourning attire, and refraining from all joyous events (e.g. weddings) that in anyway distract them from the sorrowful remembrance of that day.
Some Shia sects carry the observance to further extremes by beating themselves with chains in public, cutting themselves with knives and sharp objects and holding mournful public processions.

Sunni Muslims believe such Shia practices (beating, etc.) of the day of Muharram (Ashura) as innovations. Their basis is that during the lifetime of Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) a number of senior Sahabah (Prophet’s companions) were martyred and he mourned their loss, such as Hamzah ibn Abd al-Muttalib, Zayd ibn Haarithah, Jafar ibn Abi Taalib and Abd-Allah ibn Rawaahah, but he never practiced any such acts. [References: Islam-QA.com]

Your thoughts and knowledge on the subject are welcome!

Bid’ahs common on ‘Ashura

Shaykh ul-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah, may Allah have mercy on him, was asked about the things that people do on ‘Ashura, such as wearing kohl, taking a bath (ghusl), wearing henna, shaking hands with one another, cooking grains (hubub), showing happiness and so on. Was any of this reported from the Prophet, peace be upon him, in a sahih hadith, or not? If nothing to that effect was reported in a sahih hadith, is doing these things bid’ah, or not? Is there any basis for what the other group do, such as grieving and mourning, going without anything to drink, eulogizing and wailing, reciting in a crazy manner, and rending their garments?
His reply was:
“Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds. Nothing to that effect has been reported in any sahih hadith from the Prophet, peace be upon him, or from his Companions. None of the Imams of the Muslims encouraged or recommended such things, neither the four imams, nor any others. No reliable scholars have narrated anything like this, neither from the Prophet, peace be upon him, nor from the Companions, nor from those after them; neither in any sahih report or in a da’if (weak) report; neither in the books of Sahih, nor in as-Sunan, nor in the Musnad. No hadith of this nature was known during the best centuries, but some of the later narrators reported ahadith like the one which says, ‘Whoever puts kohl in his eyes on the day of ‘Ashura will not suffer from eye disease in that year, and whoever takes a bath (does ghusl) on the day of ‘Ashura will not get sick in that year,’ and so on. They also reported a fabricated hadith that is falsely attributed to the Prophet, peace be upon him, which says, ‘Whoever is generous to his family on the day of ‘Ashura, Allah will be generous to him for the rest of the year.’ Reporting all of this from the Prophet, peace be upon him, is tantamount to lying.”
Then he discussed in brief the tribulations that had occurred in the early days of this Ummah and the killing of al-Husayn, may Allah be pleased with him, and what the various sects had done because of this. Then he said:
“An ignorant, wrongful group – who were either heretics and hypocrites, or misguided and misled – made a show of allegiance to him and the members of his household, so they took the day of ‘Ashura as a day of mourning and wailing, in which they openly displayed the rituals of Jahiliyyah such as slapping their cheeks and rending their garments, grieving in the manner of the Jahiliyyah … The Shaytan made this attractive to those who are misled, so they took the day of ‘Ashura as an occasion of mourning, when they grieve and wail, recite poems of grief and tell stories filled with lies. Whatever truth there may be in these stories serves no purpose other than the renewal of their grief and sectarian feeling, and the stirring up of hatred and hostility among the Muslims, which they do by cursing those who came before them … The evil and harm that they do to the Muslims cannot be enumerated by any man, no matter how eloquent he is. Some others – either Nasibis who oppose and have enmity towards al-Husayn and his family or ignorant people who try to fight evil with evil, corruption with corruption, lies with lies and bid’ah with bid’ah – opposed them by fabricating reports in favour of making the day of ‘Ashura a day of celebration, by wearing kohl and henna, spending money on one’s children, cooking special dishes and other things that are done on ‘Eid and special occasions. These people took the day of ‘Ashura as a festival like ‘Eid, whereas the others took it as a day of mourning. Both are wrong, and both go against the Sunnah, even though the other group (those who take it as a day of mourning) are worse in intention and more ignorant and more plainly wrong … Neither the Prophet, peace be upon him, nor his successors did any of these things on the day of ‘Ashura, they neither made it a day of mourning nor a day of celebration …
As for the other things, such as cooking special dishes with or without grains, or wearing new clothes, or spending money on one’s family, or buying the year’s supplies on that day, or doing special acts of worship such as special prayers or deliberately slaughtering an animal on that day, or saving some of the meat of the sacrifice to cook with grains, or wearing kohl and henna, or taking a bath (ghusl), or shaking hands with one another, or visiting one another, or visiting the mosques and shrines and so on  all of this is reprehensible bid’ah and is wrong. None of it has anything to do with the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, or the way of the Khulafa’ ar-Rashidun.
It was not approved of by any of the imams of the Muslims, not Malik, not at-Thawri, not al-Layth ibn Sa’d, not Abu Hanifah, not al-Awza’i, not al-Shafi’i, not Ahmad ibn Hanbal, not Ishaq ibn Rahwayh, not any of the Imams and Scholars of the Muslims.” [Al-Fatawa al-Kubra]
Ibn al-Hajj, may Allah have mercy on him, mentioned that one bid’ah practiced on ‘Ashura was deliberately paying zakat on this day, late or early, or slaughtering a chicken just for this occasion, or – in the case of women – using henna. [Al-Madkhal]
We ask Allah to make us followers of the Sunnah of His Noble Prophet, to make us live in Islam and die in a state of faith. May He help us to do that which He loves and which pleases Him. We ask Him to help us to remember Him and be thankful to Him, to worship Him properly and to accept our good deeds. May He make us of those who are pious and fear Him. May Allah bless our Prophet Muhammad and all his family and companions.
“O Allaah! Show us the truth as truth so that we may follow it, and show us falsehood as falsehood, so that we may abstain from it.”
Ameen.

Who was Prophet Muhammad Peace BE Upon Him – A short and Comprehensive Note about him!

MUHAMMAD (PEACE BE UPON HIM)

Encyclopaedia Britannica
“I have studied him — the wonderful man — and in my opinion far from being an anti-Christ he must be called the saviour of humanity.”

Almighty Allah says:

[Certainly you have in the Messenger of Allah an excellent exemplar for those who hope in Allah and the latter day and remember Allah much] (Al-Ahzab 33:21)

Muslims believe that Allah (God) sent a series of prophets to earth, to teach about His nature and His guidance for human beings. From Adam to Muhammad, they all shared the same message.
Muhammad (c. 570 – June 8, 632) is the prophet of Islam. He was a religious, political, and military leader who founded the religion of Islam. Muslims view him not as the creator of a new religion, but as the restorer of the original, uncorrupted monotheistic faith of Adam, Abraham, Moses, Jesus and others. In Muslim tradition, Muhammad is viewed as the last and the greatest in a series of prophets—as the man closest to perfection, the possessor of all virtues.

BRIEF ACCOUNT OF HIS LIFE JOURNEY

Muhammad’s father, Abdullah, died almost six months before he was born. According to the tradition, soon after Muhammad’s birth he was sent to live with a Bedouin family in the desert, as the desert-life was considered healthier for infants. Muhammad stayed with his foster-mother, Halimah bint Abi Dhuayb, and her husband until he was two years old. Some western scholars of Islam have rejected the historicity of this tradition. At the age of six Muhammad lost his mother Amina to illness and he became fully orphaned. He was subsequently brought up for two years under the guardianship of his paternal grandfather Abd al-Muttalib, of the Banu Hashim clan of the Quraysh tribe. When Muhammad was eight, his grandfather also died. He now came under the care of his uncle Abu Talib, the new leader of Banu Hashim. According to Watt, because of the general disregard of the guardians in taking care of weak members of the tribes in Makkah in sixth century, “Muhammad’s guardians saw that he did not starve to death, but it was hard for them to do more for him, especially as the fortunes of the clan of Hashim seem to have been declining at that time.”
Beginning at age 40, Muhammad reported receiving revelations from God. The content of these revelations, known as the Qur’an, was memorized and recorded by his companions.
During this time, Muhammad preached to the people of Makkah, imploring them to abandon polytheism. Although some converted to Islam, Muhammad and his followers were persecuted by the leading Makkah authorities. After 13 years of preaching, Muhammad and the Muslims performed the Hijra (“emigration”) to the city of Medina (formerly known as Yathrib) in 622. There, with the Medinan converts (Ansar) and the Makkahn migrants (Muhajirun), Muhammad establiHed his political and religious authority. Within years, two battles had been fought against Makkahn forces: the Battle of Badr in 624, which was a Muslim victory, and the Battle of Uhud in 625, which ended inconclusively. Conflict with Medinan Jewish clans who opposed the Muslims led to their exile, enslavement or death, and the Jewish enclave of Khaybar was subdued. At the same time, Makkahn trade routes were cut off as Muhammad brought surrounding desert tribes under his control. By 629 Muhammad was victorious in the nearly bloodless Conquest of Makkah, and by the time of his death in 632 he ruled over the Arabian peninsula. In all his journey he had faced a lot of opposition and resistance.

HIS REVELATIONS

The revelations (or Ayat, lit. “Signs of God”) – which Muhammad reported receiving until his death – form the verses of the Qur’an, are regarded by Muslims as the “Word of God” and around which the religion is based. Besides the Qur’an, Muhammad’s life (sira) and traditions (sunnah) are also upheld by Muslims.

FAMILY OF PROPHET MUHAMMAD

In addition to being a prophet, a statesman, and a community leader, the Prophet Muhammad was a family man. The Prophet Muhammad was known to be very kind and gentle with his family, setting an example for all to follow.

Mothers of the Believers

The wives of the Prophet Muhammad are known as the “Mothers of the Believers.”

• Khadija bint Khuwailid – The Prophet Muhammad described his first wife as follows: “He believed in me when no one else did; He accepted Islam when people rejected me; and He helped and comforted me when there was no one else to lend me a helping hand.” Muhammad and Khadija were married for 25 years until her death. It was only after her death that Muhammad married again.
• Sawdah bint Zam’ah – Sawdah had been previously married and widowed, and was one of the first to immigrate toAbyssiniain the early years of Islam.
• Aishah bint Abu Bakr – Known for her spirit and good memory, He became a teacher to other Muslims and a narrator of hadith. Aishah was the daughter of Muhammad’s close friend and companion, Abu Bakr.
• Zainab bint Jahsh
• Hafsah bint ‘Umar – Hafsah was a woman who was not afraid to speak her mind. He had been previously married. Hafsah was assisting the wounded on the battlefield when her husband was killed.
• Zainab bint Khuzaimah – Zainab bint Khuzaimah was an elderly widow who was known to give money to the poor.
• Umm Salamah – Umm Salamah and her first husband were early converts to Islam, and He had emigrated to bothAbyssiniaand Madinah. At the time of her marriage to the Prophet, He was the single mother of four young orphans.
• Maria
• Juwayriah bint Al-Harith
• Umm Habibah
• Maimunah bint Al-Harith
• Safiyah bint Huyayy
• Raihanah

Daughters of the Prophet Muhammad

The Prophet Muhammad doted on his four daughters. Only two survived him after death, Zainab and Fatimah.

• Ruqaiyyah
• Umm Kulthum
• Zainab
• Fatimah – The Prophet’s youngest daughter was deeply devoted to him, and spent her spare time in prayer and worship. He was the mother of the Prophet Muhammad’s grandsons, Hassan and Husayn.

The Prophet Muhammad also had three sons, but they died in infancy. They were named Qasim, Abdullah, and Ibrahim.

HIS MIRACLES

The Messenger of Allah possesses many manifest miracles and signs demonstrating [his veracity], reaching thousands and they are well known.
From amongst them was the Qur’an, the manifest and clear miracle and brilliant proof, falsehood cannot approach it from before it or behind it. It is a revelation from One Who is All-Wise and Praiseworthy. It incapacitated the most eloquent of people in the most eloquent of times to produce a single chapter that would be comparable to it, even if the whole of creation were to gather for that purpose. Allah, the Exalted says,

“Say: If the whole of mankind and the jinn gathered in order to produce the like of this Qur’an, they could not produce the like of it, even if they assisted each other.” [Al-Israa' (17): 88]

It challenged them to this despite their large numbers, their eloquence and their severe enmity, and it challenges them to this day.
As for the other miracles, it is not possible to enumerate them all due to their huge number and renewing and increasing nature.

CHARACTERS OF MUHAMMAD (Peace Be Upon Him)

In fact his characters can’t be summed up in one article, here we’ll discuss few of his features..

-  Courage and bravery

The Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) had great courage. He faced a multitude of dangers and calamities all at once but never showed any weakness or timidity. When the opposition and rebukes of the Quraish of Makkah became unbearable, his uncle Abu Talib spoke to Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) and said, “Could you not be silent about all this; believe it all for yourself, but not trouble others, anger the chief men, and endanger yourself and all of us, talking of it?” Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) answered: “If the sun stood on my right hand and the moon on my left, ordering me to hold my peace, I could not obey!” This indicates what divine courage Muhammad possessed and that he never showed any weakness in his determination to fight for a just cause.. similarly he fought all the wars against Kuffar chivalry and bravely..

-  Sacrifice

The most conspicuous quality of Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) was his unselfish struggle for the cause of Islam and sacrifice of his personal comforts for other people. He (Peace Be Upon Him) sacrificed all, even the love and comfort of his most dear ones, for Islam and for the convenience of other people. He (Peace Be Upon Him) loved his daughter, Fatima, so much that he used to stand up with an abundance of love for her and kissed her forehead whenever He came to see him. He lived in extreme poverty and herself worked on a wheel to grind flour and brought water from the well. The palms of her hands were worn out through the grinding of flour and her chest was beaten black and blue with the load of the water-bag. He came to her father and asked him for a maid-servant. Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) replied, “I have not been able to do anything for the As’hab Suffah; until this problem is resolved satisfactorily I cannot attend to other matters.” He never cared for his own interests or the interests of his most dear ones, when he was considering the interest and welfare of the people. Once a woman offered him a Heet of cloth which he needed at that time and he took it from her. A man praised the beauty of the Heet of the cloth and asked the prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) to give it to him; the Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) took it off and gave it to him. When he left the assembly, the people cursed the man saying, “You knew that God’s Messenger (Peace Be Upon Him) needed this and also knew that he (Peace Be Upon Him) never turns down anyone’s request.” He agreed with them but said that he wanted the cloth as blessing and that it would be kept for his coffin.
Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) spent all his life in poverty but still never refused anyone’s request. After the Muslim victories, many lands and orchards came into their possession but he distributed them all..

-   Fulfillment of promises

Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) always kept his promises and contracts at all costs even with his enemies, and never broke his word. He preached the Qur’an and practiced what he taught to other people in obedience to the Commandment of God
In the treaty of Hudaibiyah, one of the conditions was that if any Muslim went to Medinah from Makkah, he would be returned on demand. When the Treaty was being written, Abu Jandal escaped from the prison of the Makkans in chains. All the Muslims were shocked to see him in this condition, but the Holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) said to him, “O Abu Jandal! Be patient, we cannot break the promise. God will very soon find a way for you.” He was returned to the people of Makkah. Two companions of the Holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him), Hazifa bin al-Yaman and Abu Husail, while coming from Makkah, were caught by the unbelievers. The Makkans insisted that they should not go to Muhammad but the two companions refused. At last they were released on the condition that they would not participate in the battle (of Badr) on behalf of the Muslims. They came to the Holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) and told him the whole story. It was a severe test of their truthfulness. The Muslims were very few and needed more men to fight against the unbelievers. The addition of two men would have made a lot of difference to them but the Holy Prophet said, “Both of you must go back; we will keep the promise under all circumstances. We need only the help of God.”

- Honesty and Truthfulness

Undoubtedly, no one can be more truthful and honest than the Messengers of God (Peace Be Upon Him).The Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) proved by his living example that he was the most truthful and honest person of his age. Everyone was impressed by his honesty and truthfulness. He was a poor orphan, who had started trading with his uncle, but in a very short time, owing to his honest and fair dealings with all people, he became well-known and respected. He was known as Al-Sadiq (the Truthful) and Al-Amin (the Faithful). Every Makkan, rich or poor called him by these names..
When he gathered together all the Quraish near the Mount of Safa and asked them, “O Quraish! If I say that an army is advancing on you from behind the mountains, will you believe me?” All said in one voice, “Yes; because we have never heard you telling a lie.” All the people of Makkah, without any exception swore to his truthfulness and honesty, for he had lived an unblemiHed and extremely pious life among them for forty years.
He had lived his whole life in purity and virtue among them and this was acknowledged even by his most staunch enemies. They knew that he was the most honest and truthful person among them

- Modesty

Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) was very modest and shy; in fact, he was a perfect model of modesty. It is narrated by many of his companions that he was more modest and bashful than a maiden. He never spoke loudly or in an unseeming manner. When he went shopping in the market, he always passed by the people quietly with a smile. When he heard anything undesirable in the assembly; he did not say anything out of respect for the people, but the colour of his face showed his feelings and the companions would become cautious. A’isha (RA) said that He never saw God’s Messenger (SAWS) laughing so immoderately that He could see the inside of his mouth, for he only used to smile. Zaid ibn Talya reported God’s Messenger as saying, “Every religion has a character and the character of Islam is modesty.” Abu Hurairah reported, “God’s Messenger never criticized any food (presented to him) but would eat it if he liked it; otherwise, he would leave it (without even expressing dislike)

- Fair dealing

The Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) was always fair and honest in his dealings with other people even before his prophethood. When he attained the age of maturity he became a trader and went on expeditions to theMiddle Eastcountries. He traded with other people’s money with great prudence and made large profits. The people of Makkah were very much impressed by his trading skill and fair dealing. Gradually he became well-known and the people trusted him. It was his honesty and fair dealing in business that impressed Khadijah, who first entrusted her enterprise to him and later married him. All the people who had done business dealings with him before his prophethood had always praised his honesty and fair dealing in trade.

- Simplicity

Our Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) was a very simple person and spent all his life in simplicity. He (Peace Be Upon Him) was very unceremonious and informal in his habits. He (Peace Be Upon Him) ate whatever he was given, wore very thick and coarse cloth, even when he (Peace Be Upon Him) was the ruler of a state and undisputed leader of the people. He (Peace Be Upon Him) sat on the floor, bare ground or a mat without any hesitation, alone or in the company of other people. He (Peace Be Upon Him) ate bread made from coarse flour and even spent days on mere dates. He (Peace Be Upon Him) wore simple clothes and did not like display or show. He (Peace Be Upon Him) was by nature simple and liked simplicity and informality in everything.

Ibn Masud (ra) said that God’s Messenger slept on a reed mat and got up with the mark of it on his body. He (Peace Be Upon Him) said, “O God’s Messenger! I wish you would order us to spread something out for you and make something.” The Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) replied, “What have I to do with the world, I am like a rider who rests for a while under the shade of a tree, then goes off and leaves it.” Ubaid-Allah bin Muhsin (ra) reported God’s Messenger as saying, “If anyone among you is secure in mind in the morning, healthy in body and has food for the day, it is as though the whole world has been brought into his Possession.”

- Generosity

The Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) was by nature a very generous and charitable man. According to Ibn Abbas, God’s Messenger (Peace Be Upon Him) was the most generous of all people, especially in the month of Ramadan, when he (Peace Be Upon Him) became more generous. Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) never said ‘no’ to any request from anyone all his life.
Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) was generous to such an extent that he (Peace Be Upon Him) always gave something to anyone who asked him for help, but if he (Peace Be Upon Him) had nothing, he (Peace Be Upon Him) promised help later on. Sometimes it so happened that Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) purchased an article for himself, then gave it as a gift to the seller. Once he (Peace Be Upon Him) bought a camel from Umar (RA) and straightaway gave it as a gift to Abdullah ibn Umar(RA).

- Forgiveness

Another great quality of the prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) was that he (Peace Be Upon Him) never took revenge on anyone for personal reasons and always forgave even his staunch enemies. A’isha(RA) said that God’s Messenger (Peace Be Upon Him) never took revenge on his own behalf on anyone. He also said that God’s Messenger (Peace Be Upon Him) was not unseemly or obscene in his speech, nor was he (Peace Be Upon Him) loud-voiced in the streets, nor did he (Peace Be Upon Him) return evil for evil, but he (Peace Be Upon Him) would forgive and pardon. The people of the Quraish rebuked him, taunted and mocked at him, beat him and abused him. They tried to kill him and when he escaped to Medinah, they waged many wars against him yet when he (Peace Be Upon Him) entered Makkah victorious with an army of 10,000, he did not take revenge on anyone He forgave all Even his deadliest enemy Abu Sufyan, who fought so many battles, was forgiven, and anyone who stayed in his house was also forgiven
The leaders of T’aif, who engaged scoundrels to throw stones at him when he (Peace Be Upon Him) visited that town in order to invite them to Islam, were also forgiven by him (Peace Be Upon Him)

lf a man like Muhammed were to assume the dictatorship of the modern world, he would succeed in solving its problems that would bring it the much needed peace and happiness.”
George Bernard Shaw

Ramadan Reminder : Zakat – The 8 Recipients

Ramadan is the traditional time for giving zakat, but who does your money reach? Eight charities provide a brief insight.

“Alms (Zakat) are for the poor and the needy, and those employed to administer the (funds); for those whose hearts have been (recently) reconciled (to Truth); for those in bondage and in debt; in the cause of Allah; and for the wayfarer: (thus is it) ordained by Allah, and Allah is full of knowledge and wisdom.” (Surah Al Tawbah 9:60)

One of the five pillars of Islam, Zakat is a purification for one’s wealth, freeing one from the love of possessions by encouraging humility and discipline. An essential principle of Islam is that everything belongs to Allah. We do not own our wealth, but have been entrusted with worldly possessions by Him.
Zakat means ‘purification’ and ‘growth’; possessions are purified by setting aside a portion for those in need, and like the pruning of plants, this cutting back encourages new growth.
The annual payment of zakat is different to any charitable gifts given out of kindness or generosity, otherwise known as sadaqah. Zakat is a mandatory religious obligation and forms the systematic giving of 2.5% of one’s net wealth each year, benefitting targeted recipients on a sustained basis.
From the Quranic verses ordaining zakat, eight classes of recipients have been identified by the scholars. As Ramadan approaches, we need to organise ourselves to reach out and distribute support to the eight beneficiaries of zakat.

• The Masakeen – translated as ‘the destitute’, these are people who do not have anything, and who are in need of asking others for food, clothing and shelter. 

• Fuqaraa – translated as the ‘poor’ or ‘needy’, these people have some money, but not sufficient for their everyday needs. The elderly are often amongst the ‘fuqaraa’. The Prophet Muhammad said “He is not one of us who does not show tenderness to the young and who does not show respect to the elder.” (At-Tirmidhi). It is a sad fact that the elderly tend to be neglected in today’s society. According to recent research, older people are among the most excluded and materially worse off.

• Amil’ Zakah – these are the alms collectors, people who the authority employs to collect zakat. The authority gives them a fee for their work, which includes collecting, recording, guarding, dividing and distributing zakat.

• Fi sabi ‘Lillah – this means ‘in the path of Allah’ and pertains to anyone struggling for a righteous cause, including expenditure towards the promotion of Islam and for all charitable purposes.

• Gharimun - these are the debtors, people burdened by debts because of personal needs or social necessity. These people should be given zakat if they do not have enough money beyond their basic needs to repay debts. Help should also provided to those who may have landed themselves in debt as a result of social obligations such as supporting an orphan or renovating a school.

• Ibn as’Sabil – traditionally, the wayfarers are travellers stranded in a foreign land in need of money. These people can receive zakat, if the purpose for travelling is lawful. Wayfarers can today be interpreted as refugees or displaced people.

• Riqab - the riqab are people in bondage or slavery. Zakat can be used to buy the freedom of such a person. Many people living in poor countries suffer from economic slavery at the hands of local landlords, rich industrialists, and multinational corporations that exploit natural and human resources.

• Mu’Allaf - translated as ‘those who have inclined towards Islam’.  Zakat can be used to attract the hearts of those who have inclined towards Islam. It includes those who have just become Muslim, or those whose circumstances are so desperate they fear turning to crime if they are not helped.
  

  
  

Misconceptions Vs Facts About Shabaan



FACT : The most involuntary fasts (nafil fasts) kept by Rasool Allah sallalahu alayhe wasallam were in the month of shabaan.

A’isha (Allah be pleased with her) reported: The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) did not observe fast in any month of the year more than in the month of Sha’ban, and used to say: Do as many deeds as you are capable of doing, for Allah will not become weary (of giving you reward), but you would be tired (of doing good deeds) ; and he also said: The deed liked most by Allah is one to which the doer adheres constantly even if it is small.( Muslim :: Book 6 : Hadith 2582 )

Common Knowledge About Shab e Baraat Vs FACTS

MISCONCEPTION: Fasting only on 15^th of Shaban is a deed of great reward.

FACT: Fasting ONLY on 15^th of Shabaan is an innovation and not according to the sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). Thus should be totally avoided. Fasting frequently in Shabaan was the Sunnah of Rasool Allah However; Rasool prohibited his ummah from fasting after 15^th of Shabaan due to fear of becoming too weak to be able to fast in Ramadan.

Rasool Allah Sallaalahu alayhe Wasallam said : “When half of shaban has passed, do not fast” (Abu Dawood Bab 12: Hadith  2337- Classed Hasan Sahih by Albani)

Therefore the Muslims should fast frequently in the first half of Shabaan and avoid fasting in the second half of Shabaan.

MISCONCEPTION: Shab e Baraat i.e. the 15^th of Shabaan is a Special Night for prayers in Islam.

FACT: There is no such thing as Shab e Baraat. Word Shab e Baraat never appears in the Quran or Hadith. Shab e Baraat is infact NOT an Arabic Word.

Shab e Barat is actually Persian for lailatul qadr:
The night on which the Quran was revealed is termed “Lailatul Qadr” in Surah al Qadr in the Quran. When Lailtul Qadr is translated in Persian Language : Lailatul became Shabb and Qadr became “Baraat”. Thus Shab e Baraat is the Persian translation of Lailatul Qadr.
This is the night on which Quran was revealed, it is a night of great blessing and it falls in the last 10 days of Ramadan.Thus there is no reality in celebrating the night of 15th of sha’baan, because Shab e Baraat actually falls in Ramadan.
(Reference:Translation of Tafsir Surah Dukhaan, Taiseer ul Quran , Vol 4, pg. 176 by Molana Abdul Rehman Kelani.)

MISCONCEPTION: On this blessed night Allah Tala descends down to forgive people

FACT: Allah Tala descends down EVERY night to forgive the people who repent.
Narrated Abu Huraira:
Allah’s Apostle said, “When it is the last third of the night, our Lord, the Blessed, the Superior, descends every night to the heaven of the world and says, ‘Is there anyone who invokes Me (demand anything from Me), that I may respond to his invocation; Is there anyone who asks Me for something that I may give (it to) him; Is there anyone who asks My forgiveness that I may forgive him?’ “Bukhari, Volume 8, Book 75, Number 333:

MISCONCEPTION: This is the blessed night on which the taqdeer is decided. Who will live…who will die. Who will get how much rizq…
The following verses of the Quran are presented as evidence for this as this verse is talking about a blessed night on which everything is decreed..

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

إِنَّآ أَنزَلۡنَـٰهُ فِى لَيۡلَةٍ۬ مُّبَـٰرَكَةٍ‌ۚ إِنَّا كُنَّا مُنذِرِينَ (٣) فِيہَا يُفۡرَقُ كُلُّ أَمۡرٍ حَكِيمٍ (٤) أَمۡرً۬ا مِّنۡ عِندِنَآ‌ۚ إِنَّا كُنَّا مُرۡسِلِينَ (٥) رَحۡمَةً۬ مِّن رَّبِّكَ‌ۚ إِنَّهُ ۥ هُوَ ٱلسَّمِيعُ ٱلۡعَلِيمُ (٦)

Verit ly We Sent it down on a blessed night Verily,We are ever warning (3) There in is decreed every matter of ordainments(4) As a Command from Us. Verily, We are ever sending , (5)(As) a Mercy from your Lord. Verily! He is theAll-Hearer, the All-Knower. (6)

Surah Dukhaan Chapter 44 Verse 4

FACT: The verse is being misquoted.
This Verse is about a Night in Ramadan NOT Shab e Baraat. The verse is talking about revelation of Quran on a blessed Night. Read the first 2 ayats of Surah Dukhaan again! Indeed we sent IT (i.e. The Quran) on a blessed Night (Lailtul Qadr in Ramadan)

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

Hâ-Mîm (1) By the clear Book,(2) Indeed, We sent it down during a blessed night. Indeed, We were to warn [mankind].(3) On that night is made distinct every precise matter -(4)(Quran Surah Dukhaan 44: 1-4)

Allah has informed us in Surah Baqarah that the Quran was revealed in the month of Ramadan.

شَہۡرُ رَمَضَانَ ٱلَّذِىٓ أُنزِلَ فِيهِ ٱلۡقُرۡءَانُ

The month of Ramadan in which was revealed the Qur’an.( Surah Al Baqarah. Chapter 2:185)

So which night is Surah Dukhaan talking about? The night of revelation of Quran in Ramadan is none other than Lailtul Qadr. On this night angels descend and taqdeer is decided.Read Surah Qadr

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

إِنَّآ أَنزَلۡنَـٰهُ فِى لَيۡلَةِ ٱلۡقَدۡرِ (١)

وَمَآ أَدۡرَٮٰكَ مَا لَيۡلَةُ ٱلۡقَدۡرِ (٢)

لَيۡلَةُ ٱلۡقَدۡرِ خَيۡرٌ۬ مِّنۡ أَلۡفِ شَہۡرٍ۬ (٣)

تَنَزَّلُ ٱلۡمَلَـٰٓٮِٕكَةُ وَٱلرُّوحُ فِيہَا بِإِذۡنِ رَبِّہِم مِّن كُلِّ
أَمۡرٍ۬ (٤)

سَلَـٰمٌ هِىَ حَتَّىٰ مَطۡلَعِ ٱلۡفَجۡرِ (٥

Indeed, We sent the Qur’an down during the Night of Decree. (1) And what can make you know what is the Night of Decree?(2) The Night of Decree is better than a thousand months(3) The angels and the Spirit descend therein by permission of their Lord for every matter.(4) Peace it is until the emergence of dawn(5)(Quran  97: Surah Qadr)


Lailtul Qadr is the night on which decree is decided.

Please re-read verse four: “On that night is made distinct every precise matter.”

This is the verse which is talking about deciding of fate. and in Surah Qadr, the name itself is self explanatory, ” Qadr” – Taqdeer” The night of decree – \decree means “to decide”

also Allah says in this surah Qadr:
The angels and the Spirit descend therein by permission of their Lord for EVERY MATTER.


Please visit the following link and read the tafsir of Surah Qadr from Tafsir Ibn Kathir.

http://www.tafsir.com/default.asp?sid=97&tid=58835


And we all know that Laitul Qadr isa night which falls in the odd nights of last 10 days of Ramadan.So the Night of Decree is NOT 15th Shabaan but Lailatul Qadr.

MISCONCEPTION : Souls of the dead visit the earth and therefore one should go to cemeteries.

FACT: Once a person dies, if the soul is good, it is sent to IleeYeen and if it is bad it is sent down to Sijeyeen. There is a barzakh / a barrier between the souls and this world and they can never ever return to this world or contact us.

Until, when death comes to one of them (those who join partners with Allâh), he says: “My Lord! Send me back, (99) “So that I may do good in that which I have left behind!” No! It is but a word that he speaks, and behind them is Barzakh (a barrier) until the Day when they will be resurrected.(Surah Mominoon -100)


Further Reading:

Flash Presentation on Shabaan

Ruling on Celebrating Middle of Shabaan – Abdul Aziz bin Abdullah Bin Baz

Bid'ah of Shabaan

Easy Steps for Memorizing Qura’n

1. Niyah (intention) for Allaah: 

This is making a sincere intention of memorizing the Qur’an to only gain the pleasure of Allaah ‘Azza wa Jall. If this is not your intention, then your whole plan of memorizing fails and there will be no barakah in your memorizing.

2. Start practicing Islam to the best of your ability: 

It is important to keep an Islamic habit and trying to abstain from sinning. Be in the company of good people who will encourage you to do good practices rather than those who take you away from the path of Allaah ‘Azza wa Jal.

Imaam Shafi’ee once complained to his teacher about poor memory, and this was obviously a great concern for the great Imaam of one of the four school of thoughts. The teacher of Imaam Shafi’ee advised him to abstain from sin. So this is indeed a great advice for us to follow as well, since abstaining from sin will eventually make us focus more on the ‘ibaadah (worship) rather than the dunyaa (worldy matters).

3. Learning tajweed from someone who has Ijaaza: 

This is to learn from a teacher who knows how to pronounce the words and vowels correctly in order to recite the Qur’an in its correct manners.

4. Make a habit to memorize every day: 

Do bit by bit every day, even if it is little as memorize 5 small ayahs from the Qur’an. Do your best to make this a consistent effort, so that you will not fall back on your goals. If you memorize even a small amount day by day, you will be one step closer to the end of bridge insha’allah.

5. Memorize at the early stage of the day: 

I know this is difficult for a lot of us, especially for me. I must admit, I love snuggling with my nice comfy pillow, however for those who are really determined in memorizing the Book of Allaah, it is best to memorize right after Fajr/ early in the morning when the mind is fresh and when the beautiful Sun is bright.

6. Recite to somebody on consistent basis: 

Have a friend, family member or a teacher who you can recite to consistently. This is an amazing tip when it comes to reviewing, because you will have someone catch the small mistakes you wont notice while you are reciting the surah from memory.

7. Compete!!: 

It is best to have a buddy that you can compete with. At times you may feel unmotivated. This is true for a lot of students and due to this reason you may see people actually quitting on their goal. Thats why a little competition wont hurt. Try finding a friend who you know wants to memorize the Qur’an and knows nearly the same amount as you. Both of you can race towards attaining good deeds and keep each other motivated by sharing how much each of you have memorized at the end of the day and how much you reviewed. 

And Allah says: “So hasten towards all that is good.” ( 2:148 )

8. Divide relationship of Qur’an into four categories:

New memorization: No matter what, memorize after Fajr, bright and early since this is the best time to do it.

Linking last 7 days memorization: What this means is, that everything you learned in the last seven days, revise it completely. This is essential since it is easy to forget your past lessons if you don’t consistently review, and this is believed to be a good methodology for memorizing the Qur’an and keeping up to date with your revision.

GO OVER OLD STUFF: I capitalize this, because this is an important advice to myself. Sometimes you will get lazy to review stuff that you learned so long ago. It is easy to forget your old stuff, and this is really the hardest part when it comes to memorizing the Qur’an. Ask yourself, what is the point of memorizing, when you will forget what you learned in the past. Therefore, try to revise your old juz, or ayaat you memorized from before on a consistent basis during any time of the day, and if you can, do your best to keep it to a minimum of 1/4 – 1/2 Juz insha’allah.

Read what you will memorizing the next day before you go to sleep: I am currently a hifdh student, and this something I added. Personally, I find it easier to memorize when you read what you are going to be memorizing the next day, the night before. I just think it helps because you will have some words and phrases stuck in your mind which helps you to learn the lesson faster.

9. Brain Food and Health: 

“A daily run, a diet rich in almonds and other healthful foods and a stimulating environment — all may keep aging brain cells in shape, according to research out Monday.” (Kathleen Fackelmann, USA TODAY) To increase your memorization capacity, I guess its advisable to eat some almonds and be a little more active (Shoot, I actually have to get off the couch to memorize!!).

When Will ALLAH’S Help Come?

As a young, student, I used to wait at the bus stop sometimes up to an hour in 100-degree F. heat and pray for my bus to come. As buses passed by, I noticed nearly all of them had written on them (Help from Allah and victory are near). I felt happy about the Promise, which is always true.

Many years have passed since then, and despite tremendous growth in the number of Muslims and Muslim flags, I am saddened by the defeats and losses of Muslims. The 1967 Arab-Israeli war, loss of Al-Quds, breakup of Pakistan, massacre in Palestine, Lebanon, India, Kashmir, Bosnia, , invasion of Afghanistan, the Iraq-Iran war, the Gulf War, the Iraq war , the theft of Islamic rule in Algeria and the terrorism of the media on Islam and Muslims all contribute to this sadness. When any American president’s popularity goes down in the polls, he can boost it by bombing a Muslim country like Libya or Iraq, or by sending a massive force to intimidate Muslim countries. In France, Christian women can wear crosses, Jewish men can have their cap, but Muslim girls cannot wear Hijab in school.

Prophet Muhammad (P) is reported to have said, “The nations will gather against you like those who are invited to a feast while they are starving.” The companions asked, “Is this going to occur when we will be few in number?” The messenger of Allah replied, “No, you will be in large numbers, but you will be like the foam that floats on the ocean. Your enemies will no longer fear you. The ‘Waham’ will be in your heart.” They asked what is Waham, and He replied, “the love of this life and fear of death.”

In the last 15 years alone, close to 10 million Muslims have died in the above wars imposed on them. Eighty percent (80%) of the world’s 20 million refugees are Muslims, and all we have are flags and organizations like O.I.C. and the Arab League. These groups can only meet and make statements begging the U.N. and U.S.A. to “do something,” while 40 million impotent Muslim armies, armed to the teeth, can only fight their Muslim neighbors and oppress their own people, while most of the Muslim masses remain in poverty, uneducated and unemployed. Thousands of Muslim children sleep without shelter and without food.

Have not those who look up to Washington for help and protection, read Qur’an:

If Allah helps you, no one can overcome you; if He forsakes you, who is there, after that, that can help you? In Allah, then, the believers put their trust (Qur’an 3:160)

Thus, as I started studying the Qur’an, I found out that this promise of Allah of help and victory was not unconditional. It was a binding contract between two parties, and the reward was conditioned upon completing the terms of the contract.

O you who believe! Shall I show you a trade that will save from a painful doom. That you believe in Allah and His Messenger, and strive in the cause of Allah with your possessions and person. It is better for you if you knew it (His return). He will forgive your sins, and enter you into gardens under which rivers flow, and give you pleasant dwellings in the garden to live in. This is a great reward and something (more) you love, the help from Allah and the victory are near (so) give glad tidings to the believers. (61:10-13)

Allah has promised, to those among you who believe and work righteous deeds, that He will, of a surety, grant them in the land, inheritance (of power), as He granted it to those before them; that He will establish in authority their religion–the one which He has chosen for them; and that He will change (their state), after the fear in which they (lived), to one of security and peace: ‘They will worship Me (alone) and not associate aught with Me.’ If any do reject faith after this, they are rebellious and wicked. (24:55)

Allah has purchased from the believers, their persons and their goods and (in return) they have a garden (of paradise).`(9:111)

Say my prayer, my sacrifice, my living and my dying, are only for Allah, the Sustainer of the worlds. (6:163)

You have been raised as best among nations, because you enjoin what is good, and forbid what is wrong and believe in Allah. (3:110)

Thus, as we ponder the above verses, we come to the conclusion that Iman (faith) is not just lip service. After taking Shahada (declaration of faith), one becomes a “legal” believer. Then the believer is being asked to believe, i.e., expressing his belief by his actions, in following Qur’an and Sunnah, and striving in the cause of Allah, with all he has, i.e., his wealth and person, and devoting his rituals, his sacrifice, his life and his death only for the pleasure and cause of Allah, in enjoining the good and forbidding the wrong as defined by Qur’an and Sunnah. Only then will he become worthy of the status of best of the nation, and only then will Allah reward us with success in both worlds.

Qur’an challenges Muslims to act and not just talk.

And say (unto them), Act! Allah will hold your actions and (so will) His messengers and believers, and you will be brought back to the Knower of the invisible and the visible, and He will tell you what you used to do. (9:105)

If we just stand at the bus station and pray, and do not move, we will for sure miss the bus when it comes and we have!

Guidance to Straight path comes from Allah Alone!

Source: Usool al-Deen al-Islami by Shaykh Muhammad ibn Ibraaheem al-Tuwayjri

Allaah has created man and given him reason, and He has sent down to him Revelation and sent to him Messengers to call him to the truth and warn him against falsehood. Then He has left him to make his own choice.

“And say: ‘The truth is from your Lord.’ Then whosoever wills, let him believe; and whosoever wills, let him disbelieve  [al-Kahf 18:29 – interpretation of the meaning]

Allaah commanded His Messenger Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) to convey the truth to all of mankind. Then they have the choice to do as they wish. If a person obeys, he benefits himself, and if he disobeys, he harms himself, as Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“Say: ‘O you mankind! Now truth (i.e. the Qur’aan and Prophet Muhammad), has come to you from your Lord. So whosoever receives guidance, he does so for the good of his own self; and whosoever goes astray, he does so to his own loss; and I am not (set) over you as a Wakeel (disposer of affairs to oblige you for guidance)’”[Yoonus 10:108] 

Islam is the religion of the natural state of man (fitrah), the religion of reason and thought. Allaah has distinguished the truth from falsehood. He has enjoined all that is good and forbidden all that is evil. He has permitted good things and forbidden evil things. There is no compulsion in religion because the benefits or harms come back upon the created being, not upon the Creator. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“There is no compulsion in religion. Verily, the Right Path has become distinct from the wrong path. Whoever disbelieves in Taaghoot (false gods) and believes in Allaah, then he has grasped the most trustworthy handhold that will never break” [al-Baqarah 2:256]

And Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“Whosoever does righteous good deed, it is for (the benefit of) his ownself; and whosoever does evil, it is against his ownself. And your Lord is not at all unjust to (His) slaves”[Fussilat 41:46] 

Guidance is in the hand of Allaah. If Allaah willed, He could guide all of mankind, for there is nothing that He cannot do on this earth or in the heavens. Nothing happens in His Dominion except that which He wills.

“Say: ‘With Allaah is the perfect proof and argument, (i.e. the Oneness of Allaah, the sending of His Messengers and His Holy Books, to mankind); had He so willed, He would indeed have guided you all’”[al-An’aam 6:149 – interpretation of the meaning] 

But in His Wisdom, Allaah has created us with the ability to choose, and He has sent down to us guidance and the Criterion. So whoever obeys Allaah and His Messenger will enter Paradise and whoever disobeys Allaah and His Messenger will enter Hell, as Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“Verily, proofs have come to you from your Lord, so whosoever sees, will do so for (the good of) his ownself, and whosoever blinds himself, will do so to his own harm, and I (Muhammad) am not a watcher over you”[al-An’aam 6:104] 

The Messenger (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) has no part in guidance; all that he and the Muslims have to do is to explain and convey the message, and show them guidance but they cannot force people to follow it, as Allaah said to His Messenger (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) (interpretation of the meaning):

“And had your Lord willed, those on earth would have believed, all of them together. So, will you (O Muhammad) then compel mankind, until they become believers”[Yoonus 10:99] 

And Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“And the duty of the Messenger is only to convey (the Message) plainly”[al-‘Ankaboot 29:18] 

Guidance to the truth is in the hand of Allaah alone and no human being has any share in that, as Allaah said to His Messenger (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) (interpretation of the meaning):

“Verily, you (O Muhammad) guide not whom you like, but Allaah guides whom He wills. And He knows best those who are the guided[al-Qasas 28:56] 

Allaah guides whomsoever He wills and sends astray whomsoever He wills. He has told us that He guides those who obey Him and turn to Him, as He says (interpretation of the meaning):

“While as for those who accept guidance, He increases their guidance and bestows on them their piety”[Muhammad 47:17] 

But whoever disobeys Allaah and turns away from Him, Allaah will not guide him, as He says (interpretation of the meaning):

“Truly, Allaah guides not him who is a liar, and a disbeliever”  [al-Zumar 39:3]

Allaah is Omniscient and knows what has happened and is happening and what is yet to come. Allaah knows the believers and the disbelievers, and what they will do, and He knows what their fate will be in the Hereafter. He has written all that in al-Lawh al-Mahfooz (the Preserved Tablet), as He says (interpretation of the meaning):

“And all things We have recorded in a Book”[al-Naba’ 78:29] 

Allaah has created man with the ability to choose, and He has created him able to do both, either believer or disbelieve, as He says (interpretation of the meaning):

“Verily, We showed him the way, whether he be grateful or ungrateful”[al-Insaan 76:3] 

Man has the choice in terms of his reason only; if he loses his reason by which he is able to distinguish between the alternatives of good and evil, truth and falsehood, then he is not accountable. Hence according to Islamic sharee’ah, the pen is lifted from the insane person (i.e., he is not accountable) until he recovers his senses, and from the child until he reaches the age of understanding, and from the sleeper until he wakes up. None of these people are accountable until they gain or recover the reason by which they may distinguish between the alternatives of faith and disbelief, truth and falsehood, and so on.

Whatever direction a person takes, there will be reward and punishment, If he obeys, there will be Paradise:

“Indeed he succeeds who purifies his ownself (i.e. obeys and performs all that Allaah ordered, by following the true Faith of Islamic Monotheism and by doing righteous good deeds”  [al-Shams 91:9 – interpretation of the meaning]

and if he disobeys, there will be Hell:

“And indeed he fails who corrupts his ownself (i.e. disobeys what Allaah has ordered by rejecting the true Faith of Islamic Monotheism or by following polytheism, or by doing every kind of evil wicked deeds” [al-Shams 91:10 – interpretation of the meaning] 

The choice of one of these two ways is something about which a person will be questioned by the Lord of the Worlds. Hence it is clear that faith or disbelief, obedience or disobedience, is the matter of personal choice. Allaah has made reward and punishment dependent upon this choice:

“Whosoever does righteous good deed, it is for (the benefit of) his ownself; and whosoever does evil, it is against his ownself. And your Lord is not at all unjust to (His) slaves”[Fussilat 41:46] 

Whoever loves Allaah and His Messenger and desires good in this world and in the Hereafter, let him enter Islam, and whoever turns away from that and is content with this world and has no interest in the Hereafter and does not submit, then his abode will be Hell. The individual is the one who will benefit or harm himself. There is no compulsion to choose either. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“Verily, this (Verses of the Qur’aan) is an admonition, so whosoever wills, let him take a Path to his Lord (Allaah)” [al-Insaan 76:29]

O Allah show us the right path, the path of those whom u have favored! Ameen!