My journey to Allah part 2

Starting a life after divorce is never easy. Not only did I have to be alone, which I had not been single since I was 16 and then was 25 at the time. My religious state was very rocky not in belief but on the practical side of the religion. I had no time since I had become a Muslim to learn much of the religion. I had three kids who needed me more now than ever. Since it had been implemented in my head at that point that I would never marry again due to "no other man would want a divorced woman, especially one with three kids from a previous marriage" I set off try to satisfy my children. I remember talking to a sister on the phone while I was going through my divorce, she had helped me feel like I wasn't alone as she too had gone through a divorce. I remember her telling me "the kids got only me to rely on now and to show them that their mother is strong and can provide for them." So with that thought in my mind I found my way to collage where I learnt how to become an EA in 6 months. Before I jump into my next part of life, which I would like to call the better part of me, I want to say that this sister with her heart in the right place and reflecting back I think she truly felt this was my best option maybe because she had come from another country in which one would have to return back to work and support the family. However in my situation I had support through government at the time and if I could go back it's something I wouldn't do again. My kids needed me more than they needed new clothes and fancy things. My heart broke dropping off my babies at daycare as my youngest was only two.

Anyways before graduating collage I met a man who became my husband Alhumdulilah. He was from America and I remember prior to meeting him I said "I would never marry an America and especially not a convert." Well Allah had a much better plan than I.

We did muta as it was halal and this was the first thing I did sincerely for Allah with no stings attached. I broke the clechè of man asking and I asked him, of course he agreed. A couple months later after talking and getting to know one another he came to Canada to meet me for the first time. I was nervous. I had talked to him but I was 26 at the time and this was very new to me. I remember my mom calling to ask what I was up to (I hadn't fully tolded them I met someone) I told her I was meeting up with someone who I had been with and that he was from America. She let me go then and didn't call until a week after to see what I was up to. This became a little joke on my part because what if the man was a crazy person she would wait one week to see if I was still alive. Anyways it turned out Alhumdulilah and we did nikha through a very nice and honestly humble great Shiekh (I'll leave his name out of here) may Allah bless him in dunya and akheera. We spent days together and soon I graduated collage and we had to move. It was raining that day and it was my last day off collage and my husband was home packing up all our stuff. I rushed home to help because we had to leave that day so to pack all our stuff up in a trailer and leave was a rush. We had left lots of our belongings behind.

Marring my husband was truly a great blessing not only did someone want to marry me and I was lonely but with natural wants to have a companionship it satisfied this need. He was not only satisfying in the way of companionship but he made me flourish through his words at comforting me that I was only his and he would constantly tell me from the start that I had a beautiful soul so let in out as I had nothing to worry about anymore. I watched him lower his eyes and seek knowledge. I started to pray which sadly I had left off prior to being with him. I started learning little by little the fiqh, tawheed and all the other parts to Islam. He taught me a lot and have many reasons to say Alhumdulilah. But a huge part of my life I could truly throw away and that was feeling I was never enough. I felt happy and blessed. He helped to bring that thrist of knowledge out. My husband helped bring out the love for myself I never had.

This brings me to my very important part of this blog and I want to dedicate this piece to all my dear sister out there. This is a very sensitive issue and I ask Allah to help guide my words so that it doesn't offend anyone. I only speak from a woman who has gone through wearing hijab to pretty much removing it and then to comeing back wearing it. I started wearing hijab because of Allah but I started removing it because I did not like what I looked like and had no comfort in feeling secure, so I competed against wearing hijab and trying to look like the women in the West. It was such a horrible state I was in as I never felt good enough. I displayed my body and all the sick men were looking. I just wanted that love I truly was seeking someone to care for me and to be real I was looking for a religious man when I wasn't religious. I was backwards and upside down on how I was acting and presenting myself. I struggled a life time of trying to be beautiful but neglected the main thing, my soul. This piece to my blog honestly needs maybe a blog or two to go in depth with but I just wanted to say here was that I am sure you know your not alone and that seeking Allah's pleasure is much more, and is actually the only important part in your life, not seeking man's pleasure. Every woman wants love and every woman wants to be beautiful this is our natural want, and we are created this way as a woman to want to look beautiful. However like all part of our lives this should be in a proper place and directed a proper way, it needs justice. In sha Allah after I will write in another blog about hijab and why I feel we need to make a movement on promoting and instilling in our lives how and why we should have proper hijab.

Now to continue to the last piece of my life is that my husband has wanted to go to howza since I could remember and due to him coming here this would turn out not to be possible, however I knew he was really wanting this so I found a howza online that was free (bonus to us as we had no money to pay for one) he started there while I was pregnant with my fourth and his first. I met a sister online in this time who has become a close friend to me and had been my only friend (besides my husband) which I hadn't had for so long. We still talk till this day and she has been another blessing from Allah in sha Allah I pray she succeeds in dunya and akheera.
We had beautiful baby boy and soon thereafter I was pregnant with my last. I watched my husband take his journey in seeking knowledge but I hadn't had the thirst like he had. I was content for along time in just following the basic rules until one day I had the urge to join al Mustafa in their ethics MA. I started up and in the second semester a Shiekh told me it would be very highly advisable to go a do lower level howza first then return... I was sad to be honest but I was struggling in understand a lot. My husband had found a school online free that had a diploma level which will help to continue into howza more tangible, so we joined together and now I am currently in my second to last semester with Quran and Etrat Open University. By next semester I'll have completed 80 credits and this school has taught me so much! I have also got the humble opportunity to now teach there. I can never thank them enough may Allah swt shower them all with many blessing and Alhumdulilah along the way I have gained a very close friend who's my sister and my teacher Allah bless her in dunya and akheera. As well as I am studing at Kawther Learning Circle which is done by Shiekh Shomali (Allah grant him a long life). I have Alhumdulilah learned so much through his lectures online.
So to end this blog I would like to write in point form all the minority statistic I am, just for fun:
*white convert
*divorced (which I don't endorse and highly emphasize to seek all means possible to help your marriage however there is times it becomes wajib please if your in a situation where your thinking divorce seek out a Sheikh for help)
*re married
*went from hijab to pretty much no hijab, to finding true hijab!
*7 people to my family (that's got to be a minority statistic out there)
*white online Islamic student

In sha Allah I hope this helps other sister who not only are converts to Islam but I pray it helps other sister and maybe even helps the brothers in some way. May Allah bless you all and keep you safe and in sha Allah He helps all of you find the true happiness in life which is finding Allah! Ameen.

My journey to Allah part 1

In most convert stories they usually start off with their story to Islam. However my story is different my story I would like to share starts when I was 15 years old. My reason for starting at this point will in sha Allah reveal itself in time. At 15 I was in grade 9 and really just trying to impress the group of friends I was in. I wore what they wore and went along with them. At one point I became depressed. My life throughout elementary was good socially however I had gone though many surgeries one every year, sometime more.  At this point in my life I felt very alone even though I had a group of friends I felt alone. I was so depressed I remember staying home one day from school due to it. I left all my friends that day and upon returning to school I met a new friend and new crowd to hang with. It wasn't a good change in my life I started hanging out with the crowd that would take me down a very lonely dark past. Though those years leading up to my graduation I struggled with eating disorder, dieting and truly hating myself. I wore clothing that made me feel what I thought at the time great and beautiful.  Eventually at 18 I moved out and due to my lack of loving myself and always hating my body I left my home and family for city life with a man I was never truly happy with, whom I had been with since I was 16 but our relationship was on and off a lot. I eventually ended up pregnant and wanting to become religious. I searched for a church I could fit in, with no avail I was left empty handed. After my first son and my first marriage I was not doing ok. I struggled with baby blues and feeling alone. I hated myself and competed against every other woman out there.  One and a half years after my first son I convert to Islam. This is my convert story.

This summer marks my 10 years. I converted in the hottest time of the year, August of 2008. I came to Islam through a Sunni sister who even till today I appreciate due to her teaching me about Allah and mostly about the eye open conversations about my own religion which at that time was Christianity. I came to her due to a religious racism problem in the building and wanted to help her as I was a caretaker to that building. When I approached her she only shook my hand and not the other caretakers hand who was a male due to her religion. I was surprised and I asked. I was intrigued that she as a woman did not shake his hand. I spent many late night eating dinner with her talking about religion. I went to her apartment almost every day. Due to immigration they had to leave the country and it was a sad goodbye. I spent months after reading and reflecting on my religious aspect of life. I remember the day I decided not to be a Christian anymore, it is clear in my mind exactly how I felt and where I was.

I was sitting on my bed in the hot sun. The sun was shining through the window I realised I could no longer be a Christian, I was at that moment scared, worried and felt alone. All I could think about was if I became a Muslim I could potentially lose all my friends and family. I kept jolting from one thought to the next on what it would be like to be a Muslim. I knew I couldn't hide it because Islam told me to wear hijab. Then it became clear that I truly believed in the Islamic faith and that I would just have to do it because I couldn't go on my life any other way, and in some way in my heart I already felt as though I was. So in obidence to the rules I put my hijab and for the first time walked out of the house wearing my it. I remember going onto the city bus and worried how others would take it. To my surprise in 21 years of my life I had never been treated with respect always just an object. The bus driver was a male who I had seen many times before. That day when I got off he said “maam” I was so shocked by the respect he gave and because I was in shock I only remember that word he use“maam”.

Several weeks went by and my parents were coming to visit I was so scared and so new into Islam. I had no idea how to face this and if we had to go out I'd have to get dressed so I wore hijab the whole time. I had it on when they came in and I felt so nervous. We talked for awhile but they were not ok with my decision. They soon left my apartment and I felt relieved that they had known now.

Soon after I had my second child soon thereafter I became a Shia. A Shia brother had recommend "then I was guided" it was another turning point in my life as I had been making my way into the Sunni community and had sister whom I became very close too. I knew the choice was unevitable as I was seeking truth even if that left me alone. I was still very much alone I felt upset at everything. My life seemed daunting due to my living arrangements and un stabble relationship. My marriage was worse than it was before. We had a lot of problems in our marriage and before it. I never felt happy I was depressed and angry. We tried many times. I seperated with him a couple times after my third child and then on the third time of us separating homes we separated for good, ending in a divorce that was after along wait in getting my Islamic divorce. I felt free I felt a weight was taken off me. Even though community was saying not to and encouraging me otherwise I couldn't do it anymore. I won't go into great detail about this part of my life as it isn't the purpose of my writing per say. I'll end this huge transition of my life to say I did what I truly felt was my only option and I would never take it back, they say it is disliked by Allah but I truly believe in my situation it had become wajib. I want to mention here that I don't encourage other to get divorced but my situation it called for it. I encourage those going through rough marriage is to exhaust all means and trying to mend it seeking out counseling I tried to get as much help in order to fix it but with all that and more mine failed. I did feel the shift in feeling ok in the community (converts know what Im talking about) to feel outcasted and more alone in that aspect. However this brings me to the next journey in my life, the roller coaster to happiness.

Ethical Instructions and Principles of Sura Al-Hujurat (49)

Bismillah-ir Rahman-ir Raheem

Al-Hujurat was revealed in Medina and therefore the Holy Prophet SAWA was able to address more on moral cleansing then he had been able to in Makkah where he was only able to concentrate on Tawhid and removing of the idols. This surah was made clear to bring upon higher akhlaq (morals) to all of society.

In this surah Al-Hujurat if we applied all these moral traits and directions from Allah SWT it would bring about a moral society. It would take away the corruption and immoral behaviour we see today. This surah is one of the most beautiful surahs that help to purify the self. We must reflected more deeply upon this surah and apply it to our lives.

49:1 O ye who believe! Be not forward in the presence of Allah and His messenger, and keep your duty to Allah. Lo! Allah is Hearer, Knower

In this ayat it shows how to respect and be well mannered in front of Allah SWT and His messenger SAWA. One must obey the Holy Prophet SAWA and in doing so man will obey Allah SWT weather that be a small thing or a big thing. Allah forbids making decisions before the leaders he sends. Muslims must learn not let their own inner desires to lead them to make their own laws and we must obey Allah the Almighty the all Aware and His messenger SAWA.

49:2 O ye who believe! Lift not up your voices above the voice of the Prophet, nor shout when speaking to him as ye shout one to another, lest your works be rendered vain while ye perceive not.

In this ayat it makes forbidden for a believer to make their own decisions in advanced before and over the Holy Prophet SAWA. It makes us realise that our speech matters and our silence and obeying is respectable. If one doesn’t obey the holy Prophet SAWA then our good deeds are fruitless and we will become those of the sinful. Bad akhlaq and rudeness destroy the value of which we have done so we must pay close attention not to observe bad akhlaq.

49:3 Lo! they who subdue their voices in the presence of the messenger of Allah, those are they whose hearts Allah hath proven unto righteousness. Theirs will be forgiveness and immense reward.

In this ayat it instructs us on how to talk to our leaders, what we ought to do and what we ought not to do in speaking. We must speak with respect and be well mannered in front of the messenger of Allah.

Those who had true piety in their hearts showed respected, honoured and obeyed the Holy Prophet SAWA. Shouting at the Holy Prophet SAWA is bad manners so when we call to the Holy Prophet SAWA and our leaders we must use calm and a low voice. We should never speak over them or interrupt them.

49:4 Lo! those who call thee from behind the private chambers, most of them have no sense.

This ayat shows the people were lacking social etiquette. Therefore it teaches us how to behave in a ethical social manner to one who holds higher authority.

49:5 And if they had had patience till thou camest forth unto them, it had been better for them. And Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.

In this ayat it teaches us about patience and how to act in a proper manner towards those who are higher in authority from Allah SWT.

49:6 O you who believe! if an evil-doer comes to you with a report, look carefully into it, lest you harm a people in ignorance, then be sorry for what you have done.

In this ayat we are being taught not to spread rumors or gossip about anyone and that we must look into the accusations that are brought to us and be careful so not to accuse someone falsely. We are to act cautiously but with good manners. We are to remember that all Muslims are our brother/sister and we must keep peace between them. We must respect one another and not call names to each other. One of the major sins is to speak bad about another Muslim (gossiping and spreading rumors)

49:7 And know that among you is Allah's Messenger; should he obey you in many a matter, you would surely fall into distress, but Allah has endeared the faith to you and has made it seemly in your hearts, and He has made hateful to you unbelief and transgression and disobedience; these it is that are the followers of a right way.

In this ayat it talks to the true believers in faith and these are the ones that obeyed Allah SWT, believed in all that was sent down through the Holy Prophet SAWA. Those who obey the holy Prophet SAWA are those who obey Allah SWT, those are the people who are on the straight path.

49:8 By grace from Allah and as a favor; and Allah is Knowing, Wise.

49:9 And if two parties of the believers quarrel, make peace between them; but if one of them acts wrongfully towards the other, fight that which acts wrongfully until it returns to Allah's command; then if it returns, make peace between them with justice and act equitably; surely Allah loves those who act equitably.

In this ayat we learn how to act with justice when someone has wronged another and how to make peace between one another. We should make peace with one another if a quarrel starts and do it swiftly.

49:10 The believers are but brethren, therefore make peace between your brethren and be careful of (your duty to) Allah that mercy may be had on you.

This ayat we are taught how to treat each other with equal respect. It doesn’t matter where you're from or what race you come from we are all brothers and sisters in faith.We should strive to have peace between our brethren at all times. It’s nice to note that “one of the gambits in the efforts of the Apostle to rehabilitate the homeless Muhajireen in Medina, and to integrate them into the economic and social life of the city, was to make them “brothers” of the Ansar. A few months after his arrival in Medina, he told the Muhajireen and the Ansar that they had to live as “brothers” of each other, and paired them off.”(A Restatement of History of Islam and Muslims by: Sayyid Ali Ashgar Razwy)

49:11  O you who believe! let not (one) people laugh at (another) people perchance they may be better than they, nor let women (laugh) at (other) women, perchance they may be better than they; and do not find fault with your own people nor call one another by nicknames; evil is a bad name after faith, and whoever does not turn, these it is that are the unjust.

In this ayat we see how not to think we are better than another (arrogance), we must humble ourselves. We are also told to not mock or slander one another. We must be just to one another, and be kind. We should remember to do to others as we would like to be done to us. Remembering that when we want to point out the faults of others or to slander them then we must stop from doing so and look at ourselves and consider our own deeds.

49:12  O you who believe! avoid most of suspicion, for surely suspicion in some cases is a sin, and do not spy nor let some of you backbite others. Does one of you like to eat the flesh of his dead brother? But you abhor it; and be careful of (your duty to) Allah, surely Allah is Oft-returning (to mercy), Merciful.

In this above ayat we are shown how to keep ourselves away from bad talk and bad thoughts of one another. We must not think suspicious of someone as sometimes this is a sin. It also talks about backbiting and how it causes one to go away from Allah SWT. So we should stay away from backbiting to seek nearness to Him. It shows our duty towards one another in not just keeping our thought and words pure but also the action of not spying on one another.

49:13 O you men! surely We have created you of a male and a female, and made you tribes and families that you may know each other; surely the most honorable of you with Allah is the one among you most careful (of his duty); surely Allah is Knowing, Aware.

In this ayat we are taught how we are all the same no matter what color, tribe or gender we are. The only thing that matters is our taqwa.

49:14 The dwellers of the desert say: We believe. Say: You do not believe but say, We submit; and faith has not yet entered into your hearts; and if you obey Allah and His Messenger, He will not diminish aught of your deeds; surely Allah is Forgiving, Merciful.

In this ayat we see how to not be like those who only say “we submit” but are infact not submitting with their hearts. By obeying Allah SWT and His Messenger SAWA we can submit to all that was given to us. True submission is from the depth of the heart and not just words on the tongue.

49:15 The believers are only those who believe in Allah and His Messenger then they doubt not and struggle hard with their wealth and their lives in the way of Allah; they are the truthful ones.

In this ayat we are shown how to have faith in the Messenger of Allah. It shows how to give up our wealth and lives for Him and that these people who come to realize that wealth and life lies in the hand of Allah SWT and easily give it away are those who are of the truthful. Every human strives to live and we have an instinct to want to live therefore when one give up one's life for Allah SWT and His Messenger SAWA it is a great gift and sacrifice. This is one of the hardest struggles. It is the belief and actions that make a mumin.

49:16 Say: Do you apprise Allah of your religion, and Allah knows what is in the heavens and what is in the earth; and Allah is Cognizant of all things

49:17 They think that they lay you under an obligation by becoming Muslims. Say: Lay me not under obligation by your Islam: rather Allah lays you under an obligation by guiding you to the faith if you are truthful.

49:18 Surely Allah knows the unseen things of the heavens and the earth; and Allah sees what you do.

In the above three ayats we find how to be humble and not be arrogant before Allah SWT. How to see His authority over ourselves. We are reminded that Allah SWT is all Knower of all things. He is the Most Merciful which guides us the the straight path.

Biography

A Restatement of History of Islam and Muslims by: Sayyid Ali Ashgar Razwy

The Islamic Moral System: Commentary of Surah al-Hujurat by: Ayatullah Jafar Subhani

Moral Values of Qur'an, a Commentary on Surah Hujurat by: Ayatullah Sayyid Dastghaib Shirazi

Tafsir from Ayatullah Pooya website: http://quran.al-islam.org/

I'm still alive

as I sit in the dark room nursing my youngest son with the beauty of what Allah has given him through me
I get sweeps away with the darkness of the grave, the cold soil through the perfectly white sheets which are drawn over me.
I feel this intense suffocation and worry for what is to come next. the unbearable squeeze of the walls of this dark hole has now become my abode.
I try to scream but there is no one to calm my suffering.
I did this, I have created my own hell from the sins I committed upon the earth I roamed so freely not so long ago.
I feel the scorpions tale brush against my face. the snakes wrapping around my arms and legs.
I have become a prisoner of my own deeds.
I try hard to break away from the griped of the chains, but to no avail I can not break free.
Oh how I wish I could walk the earth one more time, just once so I can worship my Lord how He should be.
I open my eyes to see I'm still alive in the dark room nursing my youngest son with the beauty of what Allah has given him through me.
I'm still alive.

Four major Shia books

In the name of Allah

Four Major Shia Books

By: Zaynab Mccabe

In this essay I will be discussing the four major Shia books. One must keep in mind that all the hadiths within these four books are not all authentic. Therefore finding out the authenticity to these hadiths must be done before making any rulings. A person not educated in the field of deriving laws can not use these hadiths to derive their own rulings (this is known as ray). One must be educated properly to find their authenticity. I will also touch upon the authors who compiled the books and share and interesting stories or  hadiths from each of the books.

The first one I will discuss is the book Al Kafi (that which is sufficient) and was known to have taken twenty years to compile. It was compiled by Abu Ja'far Muhammad bin Yaqoub ibn Ishaq al-Kulainy(RA) he was born in 250 AH in Iran. At the age of 79 he died in the year 329 AH. in Bagdad. This year also marked the beginning of ghaibat e kubra (major occultation) of the Imam Zaman (AJ).

These books are then divided into three sections:al usul, al furu and al rawda. In total, Al-Kafi narrates between 15,176-16,199 narrations.The Usul Al Kafi book was divided in 8 different parts which are as followed::

(1) Kitab al-`aql wa al jahl (The Book of Intellect and Ignorance, contains 34 traditions),

(2) Kitab fadl al-ilm (The Book of the Merits of Knowledge, contains 176 traditions),

(3) Kitab al-tawhid (The Book of Divine Unity, contains 212 traditions,

(4) Kitab al-hujjah (The Book of God's Proofs, contains 1015 traditions),

(5) Kitab al- iman wa al-kufr (The Book of Belief and Unbelief, contains 1609 traditions),

(6)Kitab al-du'a' (The Book of Invocation, contains 409 traditions),

(7) Kitab `azamat al-Qur'an (The Book of the Greatness of the Quran, contains 124 traditions), and

(8) Kitab al-mu`asharah (The Book of Social Ethics, contains 464 traditions)

Some Hadiths are as follows:

The Book on Virtue of Knowledge

H 39, Ch. 1, h 5

A number of our people has narrated has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad al-Barqi from Ya’qub ibn Yazid from abu ‘Abdallah, a man of our people narrated in a marfu‘ manner from abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) from the Holy Prophet (s.a) who has said the following.

"Seeking knowledge is obligatory."

In another Hadith Imam abu ‘Abdallah has narrated from the holy Prophet who said, "Seeking knowledge is obligatory for every Muslim. Let it be known that Allah loves those who seek knowledge.

The Book of Intelligence and Ignorance:

H 1, Ch. 1, h 1

Abu Ja'far Muhammad ibn Ya’qub has narrated from a number of our people of whom one is Muhammad ibn Yahya al-‘Attar who narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Hassan ibn Mahbub from 'Ala' ibn Razin from Muhammad ibn Muslim from abu Ja’far (a.s) who has said the following.

" When Allah, God, created Intelligence He made it speak and then He said to it, ‘Come forward’.

It came forward. He then said, "Go back." It went back.

Then Allah said, "I swear by My honor and glory that I have not created any creature more beloved to Me than you. I will not perfect you in anyone except those whom I love. I, however, will command only you to do things and prohibit only you from doing certain things. I will grand blessings (rewards) to you only and will subject only you to punishments."

The Book on Ones of Allah

H 224, Ch. 4, h 1

Muhammad ibn al- Hassan has narrated from ‘Abdallah ibn al-Hassan al-‘Alawi and Ali ibn Ibrahim from al-Mukhtar ibn Muhammad ibn al-Mukhtar al-Hmadini altogether from al- Fath ibn Yazid who has said the following.

"I asked Imam abul Hassan (a.s.), "What is the minimum required degree of knowledge about Allah?" The Imam said, "To acknowledge that there is no other lord besides Him and that nothing is similar to and like Him and that He is eternal, positively existing and not absence and that nothing is like Him."

The Book of People With Divine Authority

H 482, Ch. 10, h 1

A number of our people has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from al-Husayn ibn Sa‘id from al-Nadr ibn Suwayd and Fudala ibn Ayyub from Musa ibn Bakr from al-Fudayl who has said that he asked Imam abu ‘Abdallah (a.s.) about the meaning of the words of Allah: "For every nation there is a guide." (13:7) The Imam (a.s.) said that every Imam is the guide in his own time."

Second major Shia book is Man la yahduruh al-Faqih'(every man is his own jurist) by Al-Saduq(RA). His birthday is unknown but he did study and live in Qom. A very interesting story about his birth though is that when his father was in Iraq, he met Abul Qasim al-Husain b. Rawh, the third agent of the Hidden Imam(AJ). During their meeting he asked the latter several questions. Later he wrote to al-Husain b. Rawh asking him to take a letter to the Hidden Imam. In this letter he asked for a son. Al-Husain sent back an answer telling him that they (the Hidden Imam and al-Husain) had prayed to God to ask Him to grant the request and he would be rewarded with two sons. Another version of the story says three sons. The elder, or eldest, of these sons was Muhammad, that is al-Shaikh al-Saduq(RA). He died in al-Rayy in 381 A.H. The book covers most of the points concerned with the furu' (practices) of fiqh jurisprudence. It is not arranged in chapters (kutub) but in smaller sections (abwab), with the various categories such as fasting and pilgrimage following closely after each other.

Third and fourth major book is by Shaykh Al-Tusi(RA) who was born in 995 and died in the year 1064.  Shaykh al Tusi(RA) grew up in Tus and began his studies there. In 408 A.H. he left Tus to study in Baghdad.  He founded the Howza in Najaf. Sheikh Al Tusi(RA) was taught by the greatest scholars of his time who included Sheikh al-Mufid(RA) and Sayyid al-Sahreef al-Murtada(RA).

Interesting political story on the author is that Shaykh Tusi(RA) is the Caliph of Banu Abbas had gifted him with an ornate chair. This created envy in the minds of the scholars of the other school at the court and they started fearing that the Shias of Ahl al Bayt (a.s) might thus dominate Baghdad and one day come into the power. The first step they took was to start a whispering campaign to turn the caliph against Shaykh Tusi(RA). They told him that the person who was enjoying his favor was against the companions of the Prophet (SAWA) and that he spoke ill of them. He once asked them to give a proof of the Sheik’s(RA) actions. Therefore they presented to him a book written by Shaykh Tusi(RA) titled, “Al Misbah”. This book contains prayers and supplications for the entire year. They opened the page on which the “Ziyarat Ashura” was written. This Ziyarat has reached us through the Sixth Imam (AS) and is recited on the10th of Muharram to commemorate the martyrdom of Imam Hussain (AS). In the Ziarat it is said:

“Allahumma khus anta awwal zaalim btl-laan minni wa abdan behi awwalansumma al-Taani summa al-Taalit war Rabeh”

“O Allah! My curse on the First, on the Second, on the Third and on the Fourth”

When the caliph saw the content of the Ziyarat in Al Misbah, he called Shaykh Tusi(RA) to his presence. He reached the court. The caliph of the time, Al Qaim Billah, pointed towards the first lines of the ziyarat and asked him who were the four persons being cursed therein. Shaykh Tusi(RA) asked him who had created a misapprehension in his mind? He further added that he had mentioned the truth through the writing of the Imam (AS) that his curse on the First, the Second, the Third and the Fourth. He elaborated saying that the First cruel one was Qaabeel who killed his own brother Haabeel. The Second cruel one was the person who severed the rein of the she camel of Hazrat Saleh (AS) and earned the wrath of Allah. The Third cruel one was the assassin of Hazrat Yahya bin Zakariya(AS), who just to please a dancing girl, severed the head of Hazrat Yahya (AS) and placed in a tray to present it to her. The Fourth cruel person was Abd ar Rehman ibne Muljim who was the assassin of Hazrat Amir al Momineen (AS). The caliph was convinced with the argument of Shaykh Tusi(RA). He angrily asked the persons who brought the book to his presence. He ordered severe punishment for them. With his prudence and presence of mind, Shaykh Tusi(RA) was able to ward off a calamity for himself and for his friends. His adversaries now started a propaganda campaign with the populace in Baghdad against Shaykh Tusi(RA).

The third book Tahdhib al-ahkam fi sharh al-muqni by Al-Tusi(RA) “The Refinement of the Laws (as Discussed) in Terms of the Explanation of the Sufficiency” he makes it clear in his introduction that his work would only concern the furu' of Islamic law. The work is divided into chapters (kutub) and the chapters into sections (abwab) with appendices following when appropriate. The work is a very comprehensive study of Shi'ite traditions and consists of the following chapters:

1) al-Tahara

Ritual Purity

2) al-Salat

Formal Prayer

3) al-Zakat

Alms Tax

4) al-Siyam

Fasting

5)al-Hajj

Pilgrimage

6) al-Jihad

Sacred War

7) al-Qadaya wa-'l-ahkam

Judgements and Legal Requirements

8) al-Makasib

Acquisitions

9) al-Tijarat

Trading

10) al-Nikah

Marriage

11) al-Talaq

Divorce

12) al-'itq wa-'l-tadbir wa-'l-mukatba

Manumission of Slaves (according to the various methods)

13) al-Ayman wa-'l nudhur wa-'1-kaffarat

Oaths, Vows and Atonements

14) al-Said wa-'l-dhaba'ih

Hunting and Ritual Slaughter

15) al-Wuquf wa-'l-sadaqat

Endowments and Alms

16) al- Wasaya

Bequests

17) al-Fara'id wa-'l-mawarith

Formal Rules of Inheritance

18) al-Hudud

Punishment prescribed by Revelation

19) al-Diyat

Indemnities for Bodily Injury

The fourth book was named Al-Istibsar by Shaykh Al-Tusi(RA). It covers the same field as Tahdhib al-ahkam but is considerably smaller. It is seen from Shaykh Al Tusi's(RA) own introduction, al-Istibsar is essentially a summary of Tahdhib al-ahkam. In this one though he gives full isnads for the traditions quoted. However it is possible to say that Al-Kafi and Tahdhib al-ahkam represent comprehensive collections of traditions, while Man la yahduruh al-faqih and al-Istibsar are books intended to be used as ready reference works for students and scholars.

In conclusion I would like to say that through my research on the shaykh’s that compiled these books I noticed the characteristics of them being of good moral and very humble. As stated in the beginning people who are not educated should be cautious when reading these books so they don’t derive their own rules.  These four books have been very useful and have helped our scholars in many ways. I pray that I described these books and their authors in the best of ways. May Allah SWT help guide us through these narrations to learn and follow the truth. ameen.

Being a Mother

I will never regret being a stay at home mother. Why many will ask well it's the fact that materialistic world could never be glamour enough for me to leave my children.
As a mother one who raises you souley has a reward only God can give. You have tried my patience, you have seen me cry, you have made me proud and you have given me more faith than any job could give.
Islam has told us mother's that:
while we are preg until we finish breastfeeding we are fighting in the way of God and if we die in such a state we will have the reward of a martyr.
When we go through child birth all our sins are forgiven.

Marriage for the brother

Marriage the Sunnah of the Prophet (SAWA)

To our Brothers

Bismillah ir-rahman ir-rahim

I will be separating this blog into two parts one part I will be writing to the brothers and in the second part I’ll write to the sisters. I feel to keep the blog on track this is the best way to do so. I’ll discuss the sunnah of the Holy Prophet (SAWA) in regard to marriage. I’ll inshaAllah try to answer these very important questions that can help the Holy Prophet's (SAWA) ummah.  What was his (SAWA) marriage like? Are there any hadiths in regards to marriage? Who did he marry and in what condition was the woman? Why did the Holy Prophet (SAWA) marry so many and for what reason? What kind of example was he (SAWA) trying to give to the brother in each of his (SAWA) marriage? How should our brothers treat marriage?

I’ll start off with a beautiful hadiths the Holy Prophet [s] said: "Any young man who marries at the beginning of his youth, his devil moans and intensively regrets that he has protected two-third of his Faith from Satan."

Bihar-ul-Anwar, vol. 103, p. 221

The Holy Prophet (SAWA) was married to Bibi Khadija from age 25 to age 50. He married ten more wives from age 50 to 63. The Prophet (SAWA) did not marry these women for looks nor did he marry all them to bare his children. He married them for the religion of Islam, for an example to our men. Lets be honest with ourselves now a days men don't want to marry a woman who is older or widow or someone divorced and especially someone who has had children from a previous marriage. These woman are outcasted and no one helps them to get married if they want. I’m not saying all brothers are like this but most are materialistic.

Brothers have you forgotten that the Prophet (SAWA) married Khadija who was widely known to be 15 years older than him… What about Bibi Sawdah bint Zam‘ah,  Bibi Zaynab bint Khuzaymah and  Bibi Umm Salamah to name a few these 3 women were widowed and some more than one husband before the Prophet (SAWA)... Some of the other women were ‘Ãisha bint Abu Bakr who was barren.  Bibi Umm Habibah reverted to Islam as her husband stayed a Christian so the Prophet (SAWA) married her so she’d be safe. Lady Zaynab bint Jahsh, she was a cousin of the Prophet (SAWA); and she was a widow and a divorcee. As you see The Prophet (SAWA) married these types of woman. I see all to much woman who have been divorced maybe from a bad previous marriage or because she choose Islam and her husband didn’t not get re married because no one wants to marry her to their son or the fact that the men don’t want someone who had been previously married. The ummah has way too many women and men who are not married mainly do to the fact that the standard of marriage is set beyond what the Prophet (SAWA) said to look for in a spouse. Faith, one’s religion should be one's main look when finding a wife.

In modern times, the criteria for selecting a marriage partner tends to focus mainly on materialistic traits such as: wealth, beauty, social rank, character, etc. The Holy Quran, however, enjoins Muslims to select partners who are good and pure. Allah (swt) states, “Women of purity are for men of purity, and men of purity are for women of purity"[24:26]

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) recommended Muslims to select those partners who are best in religion and morality.  The Holy Prophet (SAWA) said "Do not choose a wife for her wealth or beauty. Her wealth will cause her rebellion, and her beauty will cause her corruption. You must consider her faith and religiousness for marriage" [Mustadrak al-Vasa'il, On Marriage Ch. 13]

Brothers who are trying to find a spouse please sit back and think of which woman would the Prophet (SAWA) want you to marry. Would he (SAWA) be pleased with how many men are older and not married. I’m not saying unwedded men are because you brothers are having high standards to your spouse selection, I know very well that the women play a huge role in the brothers not being able to find a spouse.

I will address the women as well in my next blog so please stay tuned for the next one by following my page. I hope that if both men and women see the issue that lies within their own self that we can turn this issue around.

InshaAllah Allah SWT helps all you to find the right spouse one that will be kind and grant you all you rights. A virtuous wife who will be the pleasure and a comfort to you. Ameen.