One hadith Everyday - Page 6

Chapter 16: Women should not speak unnecessarily in the presence of foreign men

Narrated by Abu Huraira : The Prophet said, "The saying Sub Han Allah' is for men and clapping is for women i.e." (If something happens during the prayer talking is not allowed, except the men can invite the attention of the Imam by saying "Sub Han Allah (i.e. Glorified be Allah )", and women, by clapping their hands).

Chapter 17 : Prohibition of lamentation over the dead

Narrated by Um Atiyya: At the time of giving the pledge of allegiance to the Prophet one of the conditions was that we would not wail, but it was not fulfilled except by five women.

Chapter 18 : Exchange of salutation between men and women once there is no temptation

Narrated by Asmaa: Allah's Apostle passed by a group of women near the mosque. He waved his hand to them in salutation and said: "Beware of being ungrateful to your husbands, beware of being ungrateful to your husbands."

Chapter 19 : Men and women may talk to each other in good intention

Narrated by Anas bin Malik: The Prophet passed by a woman who was sitting and weeping beside a grave and said to her, "Fear Allah and be patient."

Chapter 20: A woman can offer herself in marriage to the righteous man

Narrated by Anas: "A woman came to the Prophet offering herself to him in marriage, saying, "Have you got any interest in me (i.e. would you like to marry me?)" Anas' daughter said, "How shameless that woman was!" On that Anas said, "She is better than you for, she presented herself to Allah's Apostle (for marriage)."

Chapter 31: Husband should provide for wife and children

Narrated by Aisha : Hind (bint Utba) said, "O Allah's Apostle! Abu Sufyan is a miser. Is there any harm if I take of his property what will cover me and my children's needs?" The Prophet said, "Take (according to your needs) in a reasonable manner."

Chapter 32 : Prohibition of changing Allah's creations unnecessarily

Narrated by Abdullah: Allah has cursed those women who practise tattooing and those who get themselves tattooed, and those who remove their face hairs, and those who create a space between their teeth artificially to look beautiful, and women changing the features created by Allah. Why then should I not curse those whom the Prophet has cursed? And that is in Allah's Book. i.e. His Saying: And what the Apostle gives you take it and what he forbids you abstain (from it).' (59.7)

Chapter 33 : Woman should not wear tight clothes

Narrated by Abu Huraira: Allah's Apostle said, "Two are the types of the denizens of Hell whom I did not see: people having flogs like the tails of the ox with them and they would be beating people, and the women who would be dressed but appear to be naked, who would be inclined (to evil) and make their husbands incline towards it. Their heads would be like the humps of the bukht(very huge) camel inclined to one side. They will not enter Paradise and they would not smell its odour whereas its odour would be smelt from such and such distance."

Chapter 34 : Woman should not wear false hair like Jews

Narrated by Sa'eed bin Al Musayyib: Mu'awiya came to Medina and he addressed us and took out a bunch of hair and said: I never saw but the Jews using this (adding of artificial hair) and I can well recall that when this act would reached Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him), he would name it as cheating.

In another narration Mu'awiya said one day : Should I tell you the evil make-up. Allah's Apostle forbade cheating. It was during that time that a person came with a staff and there was a cloth on its head, whereupon Mu'awiya said: Behold, that is cheating. Qutada (the sub-narrator) said: This implies how women artificially increase their hair with the help of rags.

Chapter 35 : Woman should not lie and adopt falsehood

Narrated by A'sha that a woman came to Allah's Apostle) and said: I have a co-wife. Is there any harm for me if I give her the false impression (of getting something from my husband which he has not in fact given me)? Thereupon Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: The one who creates such a (false impression) of receiving what one has not been given is like one who wears the garment of falsehood.

Chapter 36 : Women should not wear high shoes

Narrated by Abu Sa'eed Al Khudri, Allah's Apostle said :" A Jewish women used to put two wooden legs to lengthen her shoes, so that no one could recognise her, for she was very short." The Prophet forbade this action that is a kind of cheating others.

Chapter 37 : Women should not shave their heads

Narrated by Ibn Abbas: Allah's Apostle said, "Women do not have to shave their head, only to shorten their hair (i.e. in hajj and other practices)"

Chapter 38 : Women's dying their hands and feet with henna

Narrated by A'isha, Ummul Mu'minin: A woman made a sign from behind a curtain to indicate that she had a letter for the Apostle of Allah. The Prophet closed his hand, saying: I do not know this is a man's or a woman's hand. She said: No, a woman. He said: If you were a woman, you would make a difference to your nails, meaning with henna.

Chapter 39: Women should cover her face in the presence of foreign men

Narrated by Abdullah bin Umar: A person stood up and asked, "O Allah's: Apostle! What clothes may be worn in the state of Ihram?" The Prophet replied, "Do not wear a shirt or trousers, or any headgear, and also do not wear anything perfumed with Wars or saffron, and the Muhrima (a woman in the state of Ihram) should not cover her face, or wear gloves."

Chapter 40 : Women are allowed to wear gold and silk

Narrated Abu Musa Al Ashari: Allah's Apostle said, "Wearing silk (clothes) and gold is no allowed for the males of my Ummah but allowed to the females."

Chapter 41 : Women, not men, are allowed to wear clothes dyed in saffron

Narrated by Abdullah b. Amr: Allah's Apostle saw me in two clothes dyed in saffron, whereupon he said: Has your mother ordered you to do so? And I said: I will wash them. He said: But burn them.

Chapter 42 : Women should not show their ornaments to foreign men

Narrated by Abu Huraira: Allah's Apostle said, "Woe unto women from the two reds: gold and saffron-dyed clothes."

Chapter 43: Women should not imitate men in dress, movements, and way of speech

Narrated by Ibn Abbas: Allah's Apostle cursed those men who are in the similitude (assume the manners) of women and those women who are in the similitude (assume the manners) of men.

Chapter 21 : A woman should not be married against her will

Narrated by Abdullah ibn Abbas: A virgin came to the Prophet and mentioned that her father had married her to a man against her will, so the Prophet allowed her to exercise her choice.

Another hadith asserts this point.

Narrated by Abdullah ibn Abbas:

The Prophet said: A guardian has no concern with a woman previously married and has no husband, and a virgin must be consulted; her silence being her acceptance. (Book 5, Number 2095: Abu Dawud)

Chapter 22 : A woman is not allowed to promise her husband not to marry after he dies

Narrated by Um Mubashir: Allah's Apostle proposed to the widow of Al Baraa bin Ma'rour but she told him: "I promised my (dead) husband not to marry after him." "This promise is not valid," said the Prophet

Chapter 23 : A woman should not ask for divorce without a reason

Narrated by Thawban: Allah's Apostle said, "Any woman who asks divorce from her husband without a reason, the smell of Paradise is prohibited for her."

Chapter 24 : Young women can sing and play the tambourine in weddings and similar occasions

Narrated by Ar-Rubai' bint Mu'auwith: The Prophet came to me after consuming his marriage with me and sat down on my bed as you (the sub-narrator) are sitting now, and small girls were beating the tambourine and singing in lamentation of my father who had been killed on the day of the battle of Badr. Then one of the girls said, "There is a Prophet amongst us who knows what will happen tomorrow." The Prophet said (to her)," Do not say this, but go on saying what you have spoken before."

Chapter 25 : Wives have great duty towards their husbands

Narrated by Abullah bin Abi Awfa: Allah's Apostle Said, "Had I ordered a person to prostrate to someone rather than Allah, I would have ordered the wife to prostrate to her husband. By Allah, who holds the soul of Muhammad in his hands, the wife will not be fulfilling her duty towards Allah until she fulfils her duty towards her husband. If he asks her (for sexual intercourse) while she is on a camel (what means, being busy), she should not disobey him."

Chapter 26 : Angels curses the disobedient wife

Narrated by Abu Huraira: Allah's Apostle said, "If a husband calls his wife to his bed (i.e. to have sexual relation) and she refuses and causes him to sleep in anger, the angels will curse her till morning."

Chapter 27 : Woman should be grateful to her husband

Narrated by Abdullah ibn Abbas: Allah's Apostle said, "I also saw the Hell-fire and I had never seen such a horrible sight. I saw that most of the inhabitants were women." The people asked, "O Allah's Apostle! Why is it so?" The Prophet replied, "Because of their ungratefulness." It was asked whether they are ungrateful to Allah. The Prophet said, "They are ungrateful to their companions of life (husbands) and ungrateful to good deeds. If you are benevolent to one of them throughout the life and if she sees anything (undesirable) in you, she will say, I never had any good from you.' "

Chapter 28 : Woman should not obey her husband if ordered to do a sin

Narrated by Aisha: An Ansari woman (From the Supportes) gave her daughter in marriage and the hair of the latter started falling out. The Ansari women came to the Prophet and mentioned that to him and said, "Her (my daughter's) husband suggested that I should let her wear false hair." The Prophet said, "No, (don't do that) for Allah sends His curses upon such ladies who lengthen their hair artificially."

Chapter 29 : Woman should not donate from her money unless upon husband's consent

Allah's Apostle said: "A woman, once married, should ask for husband's consent if she wants to give away a gift (or donation) from her money."

Chapter 30 : Woman should help her husband and his dependants

Narrated by Jabir bin Abdullah: "My father died and left seven or nine girls and I married a matron". Allah's Apostle said to me, "O Jabir! Have you married?" I said, "Yes." He said, "A virgin or a matron?" I replied, "A matron." he said, "Why not a virgin, so that you might play with her and she with you, and you might amuse her and she amuse you." I said, " Abdullah (my father) died and left girls, and I dislike to marry a girl like them, so I married a lady (matron) so that she may look after them." On that the Prophet said, "May Allah bless you," or "That is good."

Last month we explored the Concept of Time in the Qur'an - Part1, specifically Surah al-Asr. Now we turn to further guidance from the inspired Messenger . There are two hadiths I'd like to discuss: the first sums up the whole attitude of Islam towards time; the second is a famous hadith which many have had trouble understanding.

Hadith 1

The Prophet said: "Take advantage of five matters before five other matters: your youth before you become old; your health, before you fall sick; your wealth, before you become poor; your free time before you become preoccupied, and your life, before your death." (Narrated by Ibn Abbas in the Mustadrak of Hakim & Musnad Imam Ahmad. Sahih)

The scholars regard this as one of the core hadiths of the religion as it spurs one to right action in so many different life circumstances. It contains two key principles with respect to Islam's approach to time management: a sense of urgency to our life and expressing thanks for our blessings.

The whole language of this hadith points to the limited nature of our life and how time is running out. In Surah al-Rahman, verse 26, Allah (Subhanahu Wa'Tala) beautifully states "Kullu man alaiyha faan" (All that is on earth will perish); describing the essential reality that every moment that passes is a moment that brings our death closer; our lifespan is like an upturned sand-timer and the last grain could drop soon. So the Prophet reminds us to act quickly before old age, before sickness, before our money decreases, before we get too busy and before our death. In other words, we must act now before it's too late.

This links to the second principle of shukr, or gratefulness. Each one of the five matters are five blessings of the highest magnitude: youth(which Arabs have traditionally defined as less than 40!), health, wealth, free time and life itself. Allah, Most Glorious, has informed us of the secret of keeping and indeed increasing our blessings: "If you are grateful, I shall certainly give you increase" (Qur'an 14:7).1 How then do we give thanks for these blessings? Beyond thanking Allah regularly with our tongues, scholars explain that true gratefulness is to "use the blessing for what they were intended for" or as Junayd al-Baghdadi (May Allah have mercy on him) explained at a mere seven years of age: "That one not disobey Allah using the blessings He has given." So, for instance, we should spend our youth in seeking beneficial knowledge; our wealth in sadaqa; our energy to worship Allah more.

The last two matters mentioned in the hadith relate directly to time management. Our free time is what we have left to work with. In Surah al-Inshirah (94:7), an oft-recited verse, "fa iza faraghta fa-nsab", Allah commands us: So when you are free, toil on [in worship]!' After a hard day's work in the office, kitchen or school our first inclination is to rest. Yet the Prophet(, who had more responsibilities and hard work than many of us put together, was commanded to toil on'. This is why we read of his long hours of Salah in the night to the extent that his feet swelled.

I remember a scholar once criticizing the Western work culture of counting the hours to 5 P.M., the days to the weekend and the weeks to the holidays. As a teacher, I can attest that in my profession we are accustomed to constantly counting down till the holidays! However, for the Muslim, whether it is the evening/morning, work-day/holiday, weekday/weekend, our goal and purpose for every moment should be to worship Allah in the best way possible. When we're at work, we're happy to work for the sake of Allah; when we're home we're happy to worship Allah. No doubt this is how the early Muslims, the scholars and the pious from every generation lived. I live next door to a local Imam and I can tell you that when he's not at work with his wife teaching at the madrasa, he's at home teaching Hifz to his children. Though you and I may be far from such incredible striving, we can at least ensure that a portion of each night is reserved for toiling in worship. Many Islamic leaders recommend even a few rakahs of Tahajjud before Fajr comes in. By devoting at least a small portion of each night, after our day's work, to worship we can hope that our life, the fifth and final blessing mentioned in the hadith, is not wasted.

Hadith 2

"Allah said, The son of Adam wrongs me for he curses Ad-Dahr (Time); though I am Ad-Dahr (Time). In My Hands are all things, and I cause the revolution of day and night'" (Al-Bukhari).

This hadith used to confuse me for many years until I asked one of my teachers for the meaning of the phrase I am Time' for I knew that Allah, Most High, is beyond time and does not resemble His creation. It was explained to me that the Arabs of the time of the Prophet (saw) were very proud people, especially proud of their strength, vitality, power, wealth and status. Since old age,and death would eventually erode all of these qualities they would grow despondent and curse time as they felt it made them old'. Allah responded to this ignorant custom with this hadith qudsi, saying in effect, "I alone effect the changes in you (due to time)." Thus by cursing time, one is indirectly cursing Allah (just as one would be if you cursed destiny which is also only effected by Allah).

There is an immediate relevance to us here. Many a time, we find ourselves having a difficult situation or experiencing one of those days' where everything seemingly goes wrong. Sometimes, Shaytan overcomes us at such moments and we find ourselves thinking thoughts such as Why does Allah create days like this?'. Na'uzu billah, such thoughts are like modern curses of time and we should guard against such words or thoughts. Indeed, if we contemplate the blessings of time in our times, there is much to be thankful for. Most readers of this article are living away from the many troubled Muslim lands where they are suffering carnage, warfare, famine, oppression or poverty.

How can we complain about lack of free time, when there are thousands of Muslims who have to spend their free time' searching for food, dodging bombs or just trying to survive? My wife attended a recent lecture by the famous modern muhaddith, Shaykh Mohammed Akram Nadwi, about women scholars in Islamic history (he's researched thousands of them). When asked how they found time to do all their incredible studies of Hadith or Fiqh on top of their household duties, the shaykh explained that they were as busy as we were (indeed had to walk great distances without modern transport)and yet found time.

Women(and men) today are simply lazy compared to our great predecessors!

Alhamdulillah, we are blessed with ample time and modern conveniences to efficiently use it. Let's increase this blessing by toiling hard to use it in ways most pleasing to Allah.