Jewish rejection of Muhammad and of the Qur'anic prohibition of riba lead to the creation by Allah (swt) of a new ummah

THE PROHIBITION OF RIBA IN THE QUR’AN AND SUNNAH

JEWISH REJECTION OF MUHAMMAD AND OF THE QUR'ANlC PROHIBITION OF RIBA LEAD TO THE CREATION BY ALLAH OF A NEW UMMAH (RELIGIOUS COMMUNITY)

The chronological sequence of Qur’anic revelations as they pertain to the change in Qiblah (direction of prayer), the promulgation of compulsory saum (fasting), the promulgation of Qital (fighting), the denunciation of the Jews for consuming riba, and the Qur’anic revelation prohibiting riba, appear all to be chronologically related to the Jewish response towards the Prophet (s) and his message.

On arrival in Madinah after the Hijrah, the blessed Prophet (s) did two things which were profoundly significant for Christians and Jews. Firstly he performed his prayers (salaat) while facing in the direction of Jerusalem, and ordered all his followers to do likewise. The Jews held Jerusalem to be their spiritual capital (and Qiblah). The Christian attachment to Jerusalem was so profound that Euro-Christianity waged, in the medieval age, several crusades (holy wars) in an attempt to wrest control of the city from Muslims. In establishing Jerusalem as the first Qiblah of the Muslims. Prophet Muhammad (s) dramatically impressed upon the Jews and Christians his link with the following:

·         David and Solomon who, as Prophet-Kings, had established the holy city of Jerusalem.

·         The Temple built by Solomon (masjid al-aqsa),

·    The Rock (sakhrah) which Jews find Christiana held to be sacred because of their (erroneous) belief that it was associated with Abraham’s momentous sacrifice (the original reason for it being sacred appears to have been because it was selected by Allah the Most High, Himself to function in the same capacity as the black stone at the kaaba).

·         The Truth which had been preached by Abraham, David, Solomon, Moses, Jesus,  etc. (Allah's blessings be upon them)

Secondly the Prophet (s) fasted with the Jews on those days when they fasted. And he fasted in accordance with the law of the Torah. Thus as stated earlier, the fast commenced after the night prayer and did not end until the next night. And during the time of fasting food, drink and sex were prohibited.

The Jewish law can still be located today in Leviticus (3:26-32) where, in respect of the Day of Atonement (youm kippur), the Torah states as follows:

It shall be a sabbath of complete rest for you and you shall practice self-denial (i.e. fasting); on the ninth day of the month at evening, from evening to evening, you shall observe this your sabbath.

The decision by the Prophet (s) to fast with the Jews served to reinforce the previous decision (to pray in the direction of Jerusalem) in impressing upon the Jews in Madinah (and Christians in Palestine, Syria, South Arabia and Abyssinia) that he recognized the Torah as divine revelation.

Our assessment is that these acts of the Prophet (s) were supposed to facilitate Jewish assessment and acceptance of his claim to be the Prophet of Allah the Most High, whose advent was prophesied by Moses (s). And Allah the Most High, knows best!

Shortly after the arrival of the Prophet (s) in Madinah the Jewish rejection of his Prophethood became manifest. The event which triggered their open hostility and which exposed in public what was concealed in their hearts for some time, was the conversion to Islam of their learned Rabbi, Husain ibn Salaam, Rabbi of the Jewish tribe of Banu Qainuqa.

Husain Ibn Salaam, who was renamed Abdullah ibn Salaam by the Prophet (s), came with his entire family to the Arab Prophet (s) and took the shahadah, thus recognizing Muhammad (s) as the awaited Messenger of Allah the Most High, whom the Jews were expecting. In doing so he affirmed, of course, that Allah the Most High, had chosen, as His final messenger, one who was not a Jew. The implication of this was that Allah the Most High, in His final chapter of revealed Truth. i.e. the appointment of the last Prophet and the revelation of the last scripture, had turned away from the Jews on account of their wickedness. With the acceptance of the prophethood of Muhammad (s), the Arab, by their own learned Rabbi, the moment of truth had arrived for the Jewish people. And this was the bitter truth. Allah the Most High, had fulfilled His promise to Abraham - I will make thee an Imam (leader) to mankind. Abraham had responded by asking whether that promise would also include his progeny. And to that question Allah the Most High, had responded with the statement: My promise will certainly not extend to the wicked (from your progeny). (Qur’an al-Baqarah;- 2:124).

Allah the Most High, turned away from the Jews when appointing His last Prophet (s), and it was this which was so unpalatable. i.e. the fulfillment of the warning: My promise will not embrace the wicked (from your offspring), (2:124). The majority of the Jewish people had committed enormous acts of wickedness. Allah the Most High, recounted some of those acts of wickedness:

We commanded them: Transgress not in the matter of the Sabbath. And We took from them a solemn covenant. They have incurred divine displeasure in that they broke their Covenant; that they rejected the Signs of Allah; that they slew the Messengers (of Allah) in defiance of right; that they said; Our hearts are wrappings (which preserve Allah's Words - We need no more); - nay Allah has set a seal on their hearts because of their blasphemy and little is it they believe.

That they rejected faith; that they uttered against Mary a terribly false charge, (i.e. that she fornicated and as a consequence, that Jesus was a bastard child!)

That they said (in boast): We killed Christ Jesus the Son of Mary, the Messenger of Allah . . . (i.e. the bastard child of Mary the fornicator, who dared to claim that he was the Messiah).

Because of the wickedness of the Jews We have made unlawful for them (many) good things which previously had been lawful for them. (We have done this also) because they obstructed (and led astray) so many from the Path of Allah.

And (because) they took usury (riba) although they were prohibited from doing so; and because they cheated people of their wealth (through a system of legalized theft )...

(Qur’an: al-Baqarah; 2:154-161)

When Abdullah ibn Salaam recognized Muhammad (s) as the Prophet of Allah the Most High, he was able to swallow national pride and embrace the divine verdict against the Jews. The Qur’an affirms that the Jews also, were all able to recognize that which their Rabbi affirmed;

The people of the Book know this (that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah} as they know their own sons.

(Qur’an : al-Baqarah.-2:146)

The Jew's could not reconcile themselves to the fact that the long-awaited Prophet was not a Jew from Banu Israil. He was an Arab. What must have truly shaken them was the verdict that their wickedness had caused this. And the Qur’an declared the Jewish consumption of riba to be one of their many acts of wickedness.

When Abdullah ibn Salaam took the shahadah (declaration of faith in Islam) and recognized Muhammad (s) as the Prophet of Allah the Most High, he expressed his fear to the Prophet (s} that the Jews would accuse him of being a liar if they were to learn that he had become a Muslim. The Prophet (s) waited until some Jews came to him and he then questioned them concerning their Rabbi. They replied: He is the best amongst us and he is our chief and the son of our chief. The Prophet (s) then asked: What would you think if Abdullah bin Salaam embraced Islam? They replied: May Allah the Most High, protect him from this! Then Abdullah came out before them and announced: I testify that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah the Most High, and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah the Most High. The Jews then said: Abdullah is the worst of us and the son of the worst of us and cursed their Rabbi, insulted him, vilified him and in doing so, poured out all their pent-up and concealed hatred for Muhammad (s) and for the Qur’an.

The Jews not only made manifest their rejection of Muhammad (s), the Prophet, and the Qur’an, the Word of Allah the Most High, but their hostility led them to now conspire for the destruction of Islam. Allah the Most High, responded to the Jewish rejection of, and hostility to the Prophet (s) with revelations of great significance indeed. First of all He condemned them in very harsh language:

Will you then, O Jews, every time a prophet comes to you with what you yourselves do not like, you take to false pride and arrogantly reject some and kill others? They rationalize and seek to excuse themselves by admitting to dimness of vision. Allah, however, curses them for their disbelief. Little are they convinced of the Truth. And when the Book which came from Allah and which confirmed their own scripture was - brought to them and invoked for their own benefit, they denied it. Hitherto they were boasting of such revelation and deriding the disbelievers (who did not believe in One God, for example) for not receiving any. Now that the same Truth which they had known beforehand has come to them from Allah, they reject it. Allah's curse will surely fall upon the disbelievers (who reject the Qur’an).

(Qur’an: al-Baqarah 2:87-89)

It was shortly after this, in the month of Shaban in the year 2 H, after the Muslims had prayed in the direction of Jerusalem for seventeen months that Allah the Most High, sent down the revelation ordering the Muslims to pray in the direction of the ka’aba in Makkah. Allah the Most High, explained the purpose of the change in Qiblah:

We decreed your former Qiblah only in order that We might shift the true followers of the Messenger of Allah from the apostates and deceptors.

(Qur’an: al-Baqarah:-2:143)

And so a new ummah was born. And it excluded those who rejected Muhammad (s) and clung to Jerusalem as the Qiblah. At this time also, Allah the Most High, made fighting (al-qital) compulsory. And then, in order to teach the lesson that power must first he acquired internally before it can be projected externally on the battlefield. Allah the Most High, sent down the compulsory fast of Ramadan. Then, in a revelation located immediately after the revelation which promulgated the fast of Ramadan and which therefore came down in the month of Shaban in the year 2H. Allah, the Most High repeated His warning to the Muslims in connection with the economic oppression caused by riba for which He had just condemned the Jews:

And do not (through riba and other form of fraudulent transactions) wrongfully acquire the wealth of others nor employ legal artifices with a view to devouring sinfully and knowingly, anything that by right belongs to others.

(Qur’an al-Baqarah- 2:188)

And so our conclusion is that the Jewish rejection of the Qur’anic prohibition of riba and the Jewish insistence on the consumption of riba played a major role in their rejection of the prophethood of Muhammad (s). And as a direct consequence of their rejection of Muhammad (s) Allah the Most High, responded by creating a last new religious community (ummah) which would be among other things. a riba -free model unto mankind. Allah, the Most High, also warned the Blessed Prophet (s) and the Muslims concerning the Jews and the distinct possibility that they will seek to seduce Muslims away from the Truth, such as the Qur’anic prohibition of riba:

Take care lest they sway you away from some of the revelations made to you. If they turn away from you, know that Allah in pushing them for some of their misdeeds. Most of them are immoral ....

(Qur’an: al-Mai’dah 5:49-50)

It must therefore be recognized that the embrace of riba by the contemporary ummah constitutes the ultimate betrayal of Islam!

Source: IMRAN N. HOSEIN

to be continued . . . . 

The Prohibition of Riba (Interest) by Imran Hosein

The Prohibition of Riba (Interest) (Q&A) by Imran Hosein

Healing Lice

Healing Through Prophetic Medicine in Islam

Tibb-e-Nabawi

Healing Diseases

LICE

رَبَّنَا اغْفِرْ لَنَا وَلِإِخْوَانِنَا الَّذِينَ سَبَقُونَا بِالْإِيمَانِ وَلَا تَجْعَلْ فِي قُلُوبِنَا غِلًّا لِّلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا رَبَّنَا إِنَّكَ رَؤُوفٌ رَّحِيمٌ

Prophet's Guidance on treating and removing LICE from the head

فى "الصحيحين" عن كعب بن عُجْرةَ، قال: كان بى أذىً مِن رأسى، فَحُمِلْتُ إلى رسولِ اللهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم والقَمْلُ يَتناثَرُ على وجهى، فقال: "ما كنتُ أَرى الجَهْدَ قد بَلَغَ بِكَ ما أرَى"، وفى رواية: فأمَرَه أن يَحْلِقَ رأسَه، وأن يُطعِمَ فَرقاً بَيْنَ سِتَّةٍ، أو يُهدِىَ شاة، أو يَصُومَ ثلاثةَ أيامٍ

In the Sahihain, it is narrated that Ka'ab bin Ujrah Radi Allaho Anh said, "I was suffering from lice and I was carried to Prophet Muhammad Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam while lice were falling off on my face, the beloved Prophet said: "I did not realize that your trouble had reached the condition that I see (you in). Prophet Muhammad Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam then ordered him to have his head shaved and either fast three days or feed six poor persons or slaughter one sheep as a sacrifice".


Lice appear on the head and body for two reasons, external and internal. The external cause occurs due to uncleanness and impure substances that the skin might carry. The internal reason is caused by rotted substances that the body expels through the skin and then rots due to wetness in the skins pores. The lice appear then (and feed on these rotted substances). Many times, lice appear after one suffers from various illnesses and diseases, because in this ease cleanliness is ignored. In addition, children are the typical victims of lice because they usually play in and deal with wet things and because of their careless nature. This is why Prophet Muhammad Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam ordered that the heads of the sons of Ja'far Radi Allaho Anh be shaved, as shaving is one of the best cures for lice because it exposes the skin to the sun and allows the harmful moistures under the skin to evaporate. Then, the head should be anointed with the cures that prevent lice from reproducing and kill them.


Shaving occurs for three reasons, as a legal ritual, as an act of innovation and polytheism, and as a cure. The first type is performed during Hajj and Umrah. The second type occurs for other than Allah.


Shaving the head is an act of humility and worship, and this is why it is a ritual that completes the Hajj acts. Imam Shafi'ee even considers shaving the head a cornerstone of Hajj since it entails lowering the sides of the head in humility before the Lord and since it is an honored act of worship. Furthermore, when Arabs wanted to humiliate a captured warrior and then set him free, they would first shave his head. Later on, the teachers of false guidance and evil who seek to acquire the rights of lordship for themselves and whose ministry concentrates on polytheism and innovations came along. Such evil teachers wanted their students to perform the acts of worship for their sake. Consequently, they encouraged their students to shave their heads for their sake, just as they lured them to prostrate before them, calling this act by other than its true name and claiming that it is not prostrating, but merely lowering the head before the teacher. By Allah! What is prostrating for the sake of Allah, if it is not lowering the head before Him?




The evil teachers lured their students to vow to them, repent to them and swear by their names. This is taking such teachers as gods beside Allah. The All Mighty LORD said:

مَا كَانَ لِبَشَرٍ أَن يُؤْتِيَهُ اللهُ الْكِتَابَ وَالْحُكْمَ وَالنُّبُوَّةَ ثُمَّ يَقُولَ لِلنَّاسِ كُونُوْا عِبَاداً لِّى مِن دُونِ اللهِ وَلَكِن كُونُواْ رَبَّانِيِّينَ بِمَا كُنْتُمْ تُعَلِّمُونَ الْكِتَابَ وَبِمَا كُنْتُمْ تَدْرُسُونَ وَلاَ يَأْمُرُكُمْ أَن تَتَّخِذُواْ الْمَلاَئِكَةَ وَالنَّبِيِّينَ أَرْبَاباً، أَيَأْمُرُكُم بِالْكُفْرِ بَعْدَ إذْ أَنْتُم مُّسْلِمُونَ

"It is not (possible) for any human being to whom Allah Has Given the Book and Al-Hukm (the knowledge and understanding of the laws of religion) and Nubuwwah (Prophet hood) to say to the people: "Be my worshippers rather than Allah’s". On the contrary (he would say): "Be you Rabbaniyyeen (learned men of religion who practice what they know and preach others), because you are teaching the Book, and you are studying it. Nor would he order you to take angels and Prophets for lords (gods). Would he order you to disbelieve after you have submitted to Allah’s Will ?" (3:79, 80)


Prayer is the highest act of worship. Yet the teachers of false guidance, the so-called scholars and tyrants have divided the acts of prayer between themselves. For instance, the teachers of false guidance chose the highest act in the prayer, prostrating, for themselves. Some so-called scholars have acquired bowing down for themselves. When they meet each other, some of them bow down before the others just as one does while praying to Allah. As for the tyrants, they acquired standing up for themselves. (Free and slave men stand up before the tyrants while the tyrants are sitting down).



The Messenger of Allah (Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam) has prohibited these three acts for other than Allah. Therefore, committing these prohibited acts is a clear violation of our beloved Prophet's commands. Our Prophet prohibited prostrating to other than Allah. He said:

لا يَنْبغِى لأَحَدٍ أنْ يَسْجُدَ لأحَدٍ

"No one should prostrate to any other person".



He criticized Mu’aaz Radi Allaho Anh when he prostrated before him. Since prohibiting prostrating before the creation is clearly indicated in our beloved Prophet’s Sunnah, then those who allow such acts seek to dispute the rights of Allah and His Messenger. Prostrating is one of the essential acts of worship. When the polytheist allows it to the creation, he will be allowing worshipping other than Allah.



Prophet Muhammad Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam was once asked,

الرَّجُلُ يَلقَى أخاه أَيَنْحَنِى له ؟ قال: "لا". قيل: أَيَلْتَزِمُه ويُقَبِّلُهُ ؟ قال: "لا". قيل: أَيُصافِحُه ؟ قال: "نعم".

"When one sees his brother, should he bow down for him ? He said, "No". He was asked, "Should he hug and kiss him? He said, "No". He was asked, should he shake his hand?’ He said, "Yes".



In addition, bowing down while greeting someone is a type of worship, just as Allah Said:

وَادْخُلُواْ الْبَابَ سُجَّداً

"And enter the gate in prostration". (Or bowing with humility) (2:58)



Besides, prostrating and entering through the door is not possible at the same time [prostration mentioned in the Verse is bowing down]



Prophet Muhammad Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam prohibited standing up for someone just as the non-Muslims used to do. He even disallowed this act during the prayer and commanded the Muslims to imitate the leader in the prayer, that if he sits down while praying due to an illness, they all sit behind him although they are healthy. Otherwise, they will be standing while the Imam is sitting down, although their standing is for Allah. How about if standing was for other than Allah ?



The ignorant misguided people have associated others with Allah in the worship, thus prostrating before other than Allah and bowing down for other than Allah. They stand up before the creation, just as they do when they are praying. Furthermore, they swear, vow, shave their heads, sacrifice, perform Tawaaf (circumambulation of an object or person), love, fear, and obey other than Allah, just as they do for Allah and even more. They equate Allah, the Lord of the Worlds, Whom they worship, with the creation. They are the enemies of Allah & His Messenger. They are the ones who will say in Jahannam (The Hell), while arguing with the false deities they were worshipping.

تَاللهِ إن كُنَّا لَفِى ضَلاَلٍ مُبِينٍ إذْ نُسَوِّيكُم بِرَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ

 "By Allah, we were truly in a manifest error, when we held you (false gods) as equals (in worship) with the Lord of Alameen (mankind, Jinn and all that exists); (26:97, 98)



They are the people, whom Allah Described, when He Said:

وَمِنَ النَّاسِ مَن يَتَّخِذُ مِنْ دُونِ اللهِ أَنْدَاداً يُحِبُّونَهُمْ كَحُبِّ اللهِ، وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَشَدُّ حُبّاً للهِ

"And of mankind are some who take (for worship) others besides Allah as rivals (to Allah). They love them as they love Allah. But those who are the believers love Allah more than anything else. (2:165)

Source

to be continued .....

Healing by Herbs - Siwaak - Miswaak

Healing Through Prophetic Medicine in Islam

Tibb-e-Nabawi

Healing by Herbs

سِوَاكٌ / Siwaak / Miswaak

سِوَاكٌ‏:‏ في ‏(‏الصحيحين‏)‏ عنه صلى الله عليه وسلم‏:‏ ‏(‏لَوْلا أن أَشُقَّ على أُمَّتى لأَمَرْتُهُمْ بالسِّواكِ عند كُلِّ صلاةٍ‏)‏‏.‏ وفيهما‏:‏ أنه صلى الله عليه وسلم كان إذا قامَ من اللَّيل يَشُوصُ فَاهُ بالسِّوَاكِ‏.‏ وفى ‏(‏صحيح البخارى‏)‏ تعليقاً عنه صلى الله عليه وسلم‏:‏ ‏(‏السِّوَاكُ مَطْهَرَةٌ لِلْفَمِ، مَرْضَاةٌ للرَّبِّ‏)‏‏.‏ وفى ‏(‏صحيح مسلم‏)‏‏:‏ أنه صلى الله عليه وسلم كان إذا دَخَلَ بيته، بدأ بِالسِّوَاكِ‏.‏

والأحاديثُ فيه كثيرة، وصَحَّ عنه من حديث أنه استاك عند موته بسواك عبد الرحمن بن أبى بكر، وصَحَّ عنه أنه قال‏:‏ ‏(‏أكْثَرْتُ عَلَيْكُم في السِّوَاكِ‏)‏‏.‏ وأصلح ما اتُخِذَ السِّواكُ من خشب الأراك ونحوه، ولا ينبغى أن يُؤخذ من شجرة مجهولة، فربما كانت سُماً، وينبغى القصدُ في استعماله، فإن بالغ فيه، فربما أذهب طَلاَوةَ الأسنان وصقالتها، وهيأَها لقبولِ الأبخرة المتصاعدة من المَعِدَة والأوساخ، ومتى استُعمل باعتدال، جلا الأسنان، وقوَّى العمود، وأطلق اللِّسَان، ومنع الحَفَر، وطيَّب النَّكهة، ونقَّى الدِّمَاغ، وشَهَّى الطَّعام‏.‏

وأجود ما استُعمل مبلولاً بماء الورد، ومن أنفعه أُصولُ الجَوْز‏.‏ قال صاحب ‏(‏التيسير‏)‏‏:‏ ‏(‏زعموا أنه إذا استاك به المستاك كلَّ خامسٍ من الأيام، نقَّى الرأس، وصفَّى الحواسَّ، وأحَدَّ الذهنَ‏)‏ وفى السِّوَاك عدة منافع‏:‏ يُطيِّب الفم، ويشد اللِّثَةَ، ويقطع البلغم، ويجلو البصرَ، ويُذهب بالحَفَر، ويُصحُّ المَعِدَة، ويُصفِّى الصوت، ويُعين على هضم الطعام، ويُسَهِّل مجارى الكلام، ويُنَشِّطُ للقراءة، والذِّكر والصلاة، ويطرُد النوم، ويُرضى الرَّبَّ، ويُعْجِبُ الملائكة، ويُكثر الحسنات‏.‏ ويُستحَبُّ كلَّ وقت، ويتأكد عند الصلاة والوضوء، والانتباهِ من النوم، وتغيير رائحة الفم، ويُستَحب للمفطر والصائم في كل وقت لعموم الأحاديث فيه، ولحاجة الصائم إليه، ولأنه مرضاةٌ للرَّبِّ، ومرضاتُه مطلوبة في الصوم أشدَّ من طلبِها في الفِطر، ولأنه مَطْهَرَةٌ للفم، والطهور للصائم من أفضل أعماله‏.‏ وفى ‏(‏السنن‏)‏‏:‏ عن عامر بن ربيعة رضى الله عنه، قال‏:‏ رأيتُ رسولَ الله صلى الله عليه وسلم ما لا أُحْصى يَستاكُ، وهو صائمٌ‏.‏ وقال البخارىُّ‏:‏ قال ابن عمرَ‏:‏ يستاكُ أول النَّهار وآخره‏.‏

وأجمع الناسُ على أنَّ الصائم يتمضمض وجوباً واستحباباً، والمضمضةُ أبلغُ مِنَ السِّواك، وليس لله غرضٌ في التقرُّب إليه بالرائحة الكريهة، ولا هي من جنس ما شُرِعَ التعبُّدُ به، وإنما ذكر طِيب الخُلوف عند الله يوم القيامة حثّاً منه على الصوم؛ لا حثاً على إبقاء الرائحة، بل الصائمُ أحوجُ إلى السِّوَاك من المْفطرِ‏.‏ وأيضاً فإنَّ رضوان الله أكبرُ من استطابتِه لخلوف فم الصائم‏.‏

وأيضاً فإنَّ محبَّته للسِّوَاك أعظمُ من محبته لبقاء خُلوف فم الصائم‏.‏وأيضاً فإنَّ السِّوَاك لا يمنعُ طيبَ الخُلُوفِ الذي يُزيله السِّوَاكُ عند الله يوم القيامة، بل يأتى الصائمُ يوم القيامة، وخُلوفُ فمِه أطيبُ من المسك علامةً على صيامه، ولو أزاله بالسِّوَاك، كما أنَّ الجريحَ يأتى يوم القيامة، ولونُ دم جُرحه لونُ الدم، وريحُه ريحُ المسك، وهو مأمور بإزالته في الدنيا‏.‏ وأيضاً فإنَّ الخُلوف لا يزولُ بالسِّوَاك، فإنَّ سبَبَه قائم، وهو خُلو المَعِدَة عن الطعام، وإنما يزولُ أثره، وهو المنعقِدُ على الأسنان واللِّثَة‏.‏ وأيضاً فإنَّ النبىَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم علَّم أُمَّته ما يُسْتَحب لهم في الصيام، وما يُكره لهم، ولم يجعلِ السِّوَاكَ من القسم المكروه، وهو يعلم أنهم يفعلونه، وقد حضَّهم عليه بأبلغ ألفاظِ العموم والشمول، وهم يُشاهدونه يَستاك وهو صائم مراراً كثيرة تَفُوتُ الإحصاء، ويعلم أنهم يقتدون به، ولم يقل لهم يوماً من الدهر‏:‏ لا تستاكوا بعد الزوال، وتأخير البيان عن وقت الحاجة ممتنع‏.‏‏.‏ والله أعلم‏.‏

In the Sahihain, it is narrated that Prophet Muhammad Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam said : “If it was not for the fact that my nation would not be able to bear it, I would have ordered them to use Siwaak before every prayer”.


In addition, in the Sahihain, it is also narrated that: “Whenever Prophet Muhammad Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam would wake up at night, he would clean his mouth with Siwaak”.

Bukhari narrated that Prophet Muhammad Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam said : “Siwaak cleanses the mouth and pleasures the LORD (Allah)”.


Sahih Muslim narrated that whenever Prophet Muhammad Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam would enter his house, he would first use the Siwaak”.


An authentic Hadith narrated that before he died, Prophet Muhammad Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam used the Siwaak. Prophet Muhammad Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam said: “I have troubled you by frequently stressing using the Siwaak”.


The best type of Siwaak is made from Arak trees. Furthermore, one should not use an unknown tree for Siwaak for it might be poisonous. Siwaak should be used moderately, because it might cause the coating of teeth to wear away and thus the teeth will be susceptible to hot vapors or gasses that ascend from the stomach and to all kinds of dirt. When Siwaak is used moderately, it will polish the teeth, strengthen the roots of teeth, help the tongue, prevent plaque, perfume the breath, clear the mind and strengthen the appetite.


The best way to use Siwaak is by soaking it in rose water. In addition, a good quality of Siwaak is also made from the roots of walnut tree. The author of At-Tayseer said, “It was said that when a person uses Walnut's root Siwaak once every five days, it will clear the head, sharpen the senses and alert the mind”.


Siwaak is beneficial for many reasons, such as perfuming the breath, strengthening the gingiva, clearing the phlegm and the sight and preventing cavities. It preserves the health of the stomach, clears the voice, helps the digestion process, helps make the speech clear and encourages one to recite the Quran, remember Allah and pray. Siwaak fights sleepiness, pleases the Lord, delights the angels and increases the number of the good deeds.


Siwaak is preferred at any time, especially before the prayer, ablution, when waking up and when the mouth emits foul odor, It is preferred for those who are fasting and all other people at all times. There are Ahadith that allow this practice for those who are fasting, because it is beneficial for them and it pleases the Lord. Pleasing the Lord when one is fasting is even more desired than at other times. Siwaak cleans the mouth, and cleanliness for the fasting person is one of his best deeds.


In the Sunan, it is narrated that Amir bin Rabi’ah said: “I saw the Messenger of Allah (Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam) on numerous occasions using the Siwaak while he was fasting”.

Bukhari narrated that Ibn Umar Radi Allaho Anh said that Prophet Muhammad Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam used the Siwaak at the two ends of the day.


There is a consensus that the fasting person rinses his mouth while performing ablution, and rinsing the mouth is an obligation or a more preferred act than using the Siwaak. Allah Does not have a use for the people to worship him while their mouths are emitting foul odor, nor is it an act of worship. When Prophet Muhammad Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam mentioned that the odor (of the mouth) which a fasting person emits is better in Allah’s Sight than the scent of Musk, he meant to encourage the practice of fasting, and not the practice of allowing the mouth to emit foul odor. Hence, the fasting person needs the Siwaak more than anyone else.


Using Siwaak does not prevent the good scent that Allah Creates in a fasting person’s mouth on the Day of Resurrection. Rather, the mouth of the fasting person will smell better than Musk on the Day of Qiyamah (Resurrection) as a sign of his observing the Fast, even if the Siwaak removed the odor that used to come from his mouth. Similarly, whoever suffers a wound (for the sake of Allah) in this life is commanded to remove / clean the blood from his wound in this life, but his wound would still have the color of blood on the Day of Resurrection.


Furthermore, Siwaak does not completely removes the odor of mouth (for the fasting person) because its reason still remains, that is, the stomach being empty of food. Only the effect of this fact will be lessened from the teeth and gums.


Prophet Muhammad Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam taught his Ummah (nation) the preferred and the disliked acts of the Fast. He did not mention the Siwaak among the disliked acts although he knew that his Sahabah (companions) were using it. Rather, he encouraged them in general to use the Siwaak and they saw him using it himself at innumerable occassions, knowing that they could imitate him. Never did he discourage them from using Siwaak in the afternoon (when they were fasting).

سُبْحَانَ الذي تَعَطَّفَ بالعِزِّ، وقَالَ بهِ، سُبْحَان الذي لَبِسَ المَجْدَ وتَكَرَّمَ بهِ، سُبْحَانَ الذي لا يَنبَغِي التَّسْبِيحُ إلاَّ لَهُ سُبْحَانَ مَن أحْصَى كُلَّ شَيءٍ بِعِلْمِهِ، سُبْحانَ ذِي الفَضْلِ والطَّوْلِ، سُبْحَانَ ذِي المَنِّ والنِّعَمِ، سُبْحَانَ ذِي المجدِ والكرمِ سُبْحَانَ ذِي الجَلالِ والإكْرامِ.اللَّهُمَّ لا تَكِلْنِي إلى نَفْسِي طَرْفَةَ عَينٍ ولا تَنزِعْ مِنِّي صَالِحَ مَا أعْطَيْتَنِي

Kabath (Arak Tree Fruit)

كَبَاثٌ: فى "الصحيحين": من حديث جابر بن عبد الله رضى الله عنه، قال: كُنَّا مع رسولِ اللهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم نَجْنِى الكَباثَ، فقال: "عليكم بالأسْوَدِ مِنْهُ، فإنَّه أطْيَبُه".

الكَباث بفتح الكاف، والباء الموحدة المخففة، والثاء المثلثة ثمرُ الأراك. وهو بأرض الحجاز، وطبعُه حار يابس، ومنافعُه كمنافع الأراك: يُقَوِّى المعدة، ويُجيدُ الهضمَ، ويجلُو البلغمَ، وينفعُ مِن أوجاع الظهر، وكثيرٍ من الأدواء. قال ابن جُلْجُل: إذا شُرِبَ طحينُه، أدرَّ البَوْلَ، ونقَّى المثانة، وقال ابنُ رضوان: يُقَوِّى المَعِدَة، ويُمسكُ الطبيعة.

In the Sahihain, it is narrated that Jabir bin Abdullah Radi Allaho Anh said, “We were with the Messenger of Allah (Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam) collecting Kabath when he said, collect the black colored Kabath because it is the best type.”


Kabath is the fruit that grows on the plant called Arak which grows in the area of Hejaz and whose branches are used for Siwaak. It is hot and dry and carries the same benefits as the Arak tree. It is beneficial for strengthening the stomach, helping the digestion, dissolving phlegm and relieving back pain and several other illnesses. Ibn Juljul said, “Drinking its soup produces urine as a diuretic, and cleanses the bladder & prostate”. In addition, Ibn Radhwan said, “The Kabath strengthens the stomach and constipates (mildly)”.

Source

to be continued .....