Zakat-ul-Fitr

• It is a compulsory form of Zakat that is legislated because of the breaking of the fast after Ramadan.
• It is compulsory upon every Muslim, for himself and for each person that it is obligatory for him to spend upon.
• One Sa' is equal to four Mudds. One Mudd is what can be placed in two average-sized hands. A Sa', then, is equal to approximately 3 kilograms.
• If one can only find a portion of a Sa', then he should give it - and fear Allah as much as you are able to.
• It is recommended to give this Zakat on behalf of a child in his mother's womb; however, doing so is not obligatory.
• It is best to give that kind of food that is most beneficial to the poor.
• One must give this Zakat before the 'Eid prayer, and it is permissible to give it a day or two in advance. It is forbidden, though, to delay it until after the 'Eid prayer without a legitimate Islamic excuse. If one delays giving it until after the prayer without an excuse, then it is not accepted from him; instead, it is considered to be a regular kind of charity. But if one delays it with an excuse, then there is no harm, such as one who is in a secluded area when 'Eid arrives: he neither finds the necessary food for Zakat-ul-Fitr nor someone who would accept it from him.
• You give Zakat-ul-Fitr in the area where you live.
• It is not permissible to give the money value of the food, because doing so goes against the Sunnah.
• It becomes compulsory to give Zakat-ul-Fitr when the sun sets on the night before 'Eid. Therefore if one accepts Islam after that time, one doesn't have to give Zakat-ul-Fitr. If one marries after the sun sets on that night or has a child, one doesn't have to give it on behalf of his wife, and in the second situation, on behalf of his child. But if any of the above occurs for someone before the sun sets on the night before 'Eid, then he must give it on their behalf as well.
• It is permissible for a group of people to give their Zakat-ul-Fitr to a single person, just as it is permissible for a single person to give his Zakat-ul-Fitr to a group of people.
• The people who may receive Zakat-ul-Fitr are the same eight categories that may receive the normal Zakat; those who take precedence, however, are the poor, the needy, and those in debt.
• It is obligatory that the Zakat should reach the one who deserves it or his representative on time.
  
  
  [Credit goes to 'What Must Be Known About Islam' (which published this article from Khulasatul-Kalam by Shaikh Al-Jarullah) in its comprehensive book, compiled by Muhammad bin 'Ali Al-Arfaj, translated by Darussalam, global leaders in Islamic books.]

The Sunnah Elements of Fasting are Six

1. Delaying the late-night meal (Sahur) until the last part of the night, as long as one does not fear that the time of dawn will arrive.

2. Hastening to break the fast when one is sure that the sun has set.

3. Increasing in good deeds, voluntary prayers, charity, recitation of the Quran, remembrance, supplication, and the seeking of forgiveness from Allah Almighty.

4. If someone curses the fasting person, rather than curse him back, he should simply say, "Indeed I am fasting." He should reciprocate the evil done to him with a good deed, so as to achieve a reward and remain safe from sending.

5. Just before breaking fast, one should invoke Allah Almighty with those invocations that he wishes to make, such as the following one:

O Allah, for You I have fasted, with Your sustenance did I break my fast, and so accept from me; indeed, You are All-Hearing, All-Knowing.

6. Breaking fast with ripe dates; if they are not available, then with dry ones; and if they are not available, then with water.

[Credit goes to 'What Must Be Known About Islam', a comprehensive book, compiled by Muhammad bin 'Ali Al-Arfaj, translated by Darussalam, global leaders in Islamic books.]

The Two 'Eid Prayers

Their Rulings And Timings
The two 'Eid prayers - Al-Fitr and Al-Adhha - are Sunnahs that are compulsory like obligations. [Indeed, some of the people of knowledge have said that the two 'Eid prayers are obligatory upon the same people as those that the Jumu'ah prayer is obligatory upon, and that it is recommended for women.]
Allah ordered Muslims to perform this prayer when He said:

Verily, We have granted you (O Muhammad) Al-Kawthar (a river in Paradise); therefore turn in prayer to your Lord and sacrifice (to Him only). [Al-Kawthar 108:1, 2]

And Allah Almighty made the success of the believer conditional upon it in this verse:

Indeed whosoever purifies himself shall achieve success. And remembers the Name of his Lord, and prays... [Al-A'la 87:14, 15]

The Prophet (SAW) always prayed the two 'Eid prayers and he ordered others to do so as well; he (SAW) even ordered women and children to come out and attend. The 'Eid prayer is one of the religious practices of Islam, one of its outward aspects through which faith and piety are manifest.

The Time Of The 'Eid Prayer
When the sun rises the length of a spear, Muslims should perform the 'Eid prayer; this means that it can be performed fifteen minutes after the sun rises until midday. It is best to perform Al-Adhha at its earliest time, allowing people to slaughter their sacrifices. And it is best to delay the Fitr prayer, allowing people extra time to pay their Fitr charity, because that is what the Prophet (SAW) did. Jundub, may Allah be pleased with him, said, "The Prophet (SAW) would pray the Fitr when the sun was up the length of two spears and Al-Adhha when the sun was up the length of a single spear." [Refer to Talkhis Al-Habir, by Ibn Hajr.]

Manners Related To The 'Eid Prayer
- One should perform Ghusl, apply perfume, and wear beautiful clothing. Anas, may Allah be pleased with him, said, "For the two 'Eids, the Messenger of Allah (SAW) ordered us to wear the best that we could find, to wear perfume with the best we could find, and to sacrifice with the most expensive that we could find." [Related by Al-Hakim, and there is no harm in its chain.]
"And the Messenger of Allah (SAW) used to wear a stripped robe every 'Eid." [Related bu Ash-Shafi'i, and there is no harm in its chain due to supporting narrators.]
- Before going to the 'Eid-ul-Fitr prayer, one should eat; and after the 'Eid-ul-Adhha prayer, one should eat from the sacrifice, rulings about that are based on the following saying of Buraidah, may Allah be pleased with him, "The Prophet (SAW) wouldn't leave early in the morning on the day of Al-Fitr until he ate, and he wouldn't eat on the day of Al-Adhha until he returned, and then he would eat from his sacrifice." [Related by Tirmithi and others, and declared to be authentic by Ibn Al-Qattan.]
- One should say the Takbir on the nights before both 'Eids, and for Adhha, one should continue to do so until the end of the days of Tashriq - when the sun sets on the thirteenth (of Thul-Hijjah). And one should continue to say the Takbir on Al-Fitr until the Imam comes out for the 'Eid prayer.
The wording of this special Takbir is as follows:

Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar (Allah is the Most Great, Allah is the Most Great), Laa Ilaha Illallah (None has the right to be worshiped but Allah). Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar (Allah is the Most Great, Allah is the Most Great), Wa lillahil-Hamd (And to Allah belongs all praise).

It especially becomes significant to say Takbir when one leaves for the place of prayer, and after the obligatory prayers, until the end of the days of Tashriq.
- One should go to to the 'Eid prayer, taking one route, and return, taking another, for that is what the Prophet (SAW) did. Jabir, may Allah be pleased with him, said, "On the day of 'Eid, the Prophet (SAW) would take different routes." [Al-Bukhari]
- The 'Eid prayers should be performed in open areas unless rain or something similar prevents that from happening, in which case they may be performed in a Masjid, as has been related in the Sahihs.
- One should congratulate his brother Muslim, saying, "May Allah accept from me and you." When the Companions would meet one another on the day 'Eid, they would say, "May Allah accept from us and from you." [Recorder by Ahmad with a good (Jayyid) chain of narration.]
- There is no harm on these days to eat and drink abundantly and to play those games or sports that are permissible in Islam. On the day of 'Eid-ul-Adhha, the Prophet (SAW) said:

The days of Tashriq are days for eating and drinking and remembering Allah. [Muslim]

Anas, may Allah be pleased with him, said, "When the Prophet (SAW) came to Al-Madinah, its inhabitants had two days that they would play in. The Messenger of Allah (SAW) said,

Indeed, Allah Almighty has replaced those two days with that which is better than them: the day of Al-Fitr and the day of Al-Adhha. [Related by An-Nasa'i with an authentic chain.]

On the day of 'Eid, Abu Bakr, may Allah be pleased with him, scolded two girls for reciting poetry in the house of 'Aishah, and the Prophet (SAW) said:

O Abu Bakr, indeed every people have an 'Eid (festival holiday), and indeed today is our 'Eid. [Al-Bukhari]

How It Is Performed
People go out to the place of the 'Eid prayer, declaring Allah's Greatness. When the sun rises a few meters, the Imam stands and leads the people in a prayer of two units that has neither Athan nor Iqamah. Then after making the final Taslim, he should rise and give a sermon to the people, dividing it into two by sitting for a brief period of time during it. He should admonish, advise, and remind the people, interposing Takbirs during the sermon. He should open his sermon by praising and extolling Allah, and if it is 'Eid-ul-Fitr, he should advise people to pay the Fitr charity, clarifying for them some of its rulings. And if it is 'Eid-ul-Adhha, he should encourage people to follow the Sunnah of the sacrifice (Udhhiyah), clarifying the minimum age of the animal for it to be correct. When he finishes his sermon, he and the people leave, since there is neither a Sunnah prayer before it or after it. The exception is the person who comes late and misses the 'Eid prayer, for he should pray four units. Ibn Mas'ud, may Allah be pleased with him, said, "Whoever misses the 'Eid prayer, then let him pray four, but as for him who catches a portion of the prayer with the Imam, even if it is only the Tashahhud, he should stand up after the Imam makes Taslim and perform two units of prayer..." [In Al-Fatwa (4:507) compiled by Dr. 'Abdullah At-Tayyar and Shaikh Ahmad bin Baz, his eminence Shaikh 'Abdul-'Aziz bin Baz said, "If one misses the 'Eid prayer, he should make it up for just as he does for the obligatory prayers."]

[Credit goes to 'What Must Be Known About Islam', a comprehensive book, compiled by Muhammad bin 'Ali Al-Arfaj, translated by Darussalam, global leaders in Islamic books.]

The Wisdom Behind Sending The Messengers

Allah sent the Messengers (PBUT) to the people, so that they could call them to His Religion, to worshiping Him alone - without associating partners with Him, and to avoiding the worship of others. The first Messenger was Nuh (PBUH), and the last one was Muhammad (SAW).
Allah sent the Messengers as a proof upon mankind, to convey the message of the religion to the people, to give glad tidings of Paradise and of a great reward to the obedient one, and to warn the disobedient one of a severe punishment and the Hellfire. Allah Almighty says:

[We sent] messengers as bearers of good news as well as of warning in order that mankind should have no plea against Allah after the Messengers. [An-Nisa' 4:165]

[Credit goes to 'What Must Be Known About Islam', a comprehensive book, compiled by Muhammad bin 'Ali Al-Arfaj, translated by Darussalam, global leaders in Islamic books.]

The Dangers of turning away from Marriage: On the Individual & on Society

When young men & women turn away from marriage, which Allah legislated, & when their guardian or society places obstacles in the way to prevent them from getting married, dangerous sicknesses will prevail, shaking the individual as well as the structure of the society.

The Most Dangerous of those Sicknesses

1. The religious danger & the danger having to do with the Hereafter: The one who is submerged in fulfilling his lust & desires in a non-lawful manner becomes afflicted with total aversion to the religion; thus he becomes miserable both in this life & the next.
2. The health danger: When members of a society turn away from marriage, venereal diseases become rampant.
3. The psychological & mental danger: Sexual deviation that results from not marrying leads to many kinds of mental disorders.
4. The social danger: Many dangers associated with dissolution & moral degeneracy become realities; moreover, families become destroyed, children are born to single mothers, misery becomes widespread, & family becomes no more.
5. The economic danger: One who feels no responsibility to his wife & children squanders his wealth & is unproductive in his work.

[Credit goes to 'What Must Be Known About Islam', a comprehensive book, compiled by Muhammad bin 'Ali Al-Arfaj, translated by Darussalam, global leaders in Islamic books.]

Risks involved in treating Sins lightly

Allah (SWT) has made repentance obligatory, saying:

O you, who have believed, repent to Allah with sincere repentance. [Surah at-Tahreem 66:8]

He has granted us time to repent until the angels register the sin in our names. The Prophet (SAW) said:

The scribe (i.e., angel) on the left hand delays registering the sin of a Muslim for six hours*. If he repents (within these six hours*) and seeks Allah's forgiveness, they leave it out. If he does not, they write it down as a single sin. [At-Tabarani & al-Bayhaqi - hasan]

This is the first respite. Even if it is registered, a second respite is given until the appearance of death before one's eyes. If a person sincerely repents before that time, the sin is still deleted from his record.
The problem for most people is that they do not consider the Majesty of their Lord as they should. They disobey Him in multiple ways - day and night.
To make things worse, some are mislead by the notion that "minor sins" are inconsequential. A man may justify his actions, saying, for instance, "What harm is there in looking at that woman?" or "Of what consequence is a handshake with her?" Accordingly, he stares freely at pictures of women in magazines or at those appearing on television. When told that there is sin in it, a person with this mentality may go a step further and inquire in amusement, "What is the magnitude of the sin involved? Is it a major one or minor?"
Compare this attitude with that of the Prophet's companions.
Anas said:

You imagine certain sins to be more insignificant than straw, but at the time of the Prophet (SAW), we used to count them among those that can destroy a man. [Al-Bukhari]

Ibn Mas'ud said:

A believer treats a sin as if it is a mountain over his head that may fall on him at any moment, whereas a regular violator looks at them as a fly landed on his nose which he waves away with his hand. [Al-Bukhari]

Furthermore, the Prophet (SAW) said:

Beware of minor sins. The example of minor sins is like that of a group of travelers who camped in a valley. Then one of them brought a twig. Another came with another (and a third with one more) until they had gathered enough to cook their food. (Remember,) when a man is held for questioning (on the Day of Judgement) for his minor sins, they will destroy him. [Ahmad - saheeh]

In another version, he (SAW) is reported to have said:

Beware of minor sins, for they add up until they destroy a man. [Ahmad - saheeh]

Scholars have upheld that when minor sins are committed without any remorse, without the fear of Allah, and accompanied by contempt, then they will be counted as major sins. Thus, the saying, "There is no minor sin with persistence and no major sin with repentance." Therefore, it can be said to one who commits minor sins, "Do not look whether the sin is small or large. Look to Him whom you have disobeyed."
It is hoped that these words about taking sins lightly will benefit those who are true in faith, are not seduced by delinquencies, nor are of those that insist upon wrong. In fact, these words will benefit those who believe in the following words of Allah:
Inform My servants that it is I who am the Forgiving, the Merciful, and that it is My punishment which is the painful punishment. [Surah al-Hijr 15:49-50]

*Which may refer to the hours measured by the earth's rotation or simply short periods of the night or day.

[Credit goes to 'I Would Like To Repent But!' by Muhammad Saleh al-Munajjid.]

Shirk & its Categories

There are two kinds of Shirk:

First, The Greater Shirk
The Greater Shirk means either to worship other than Allah Almighty or to make partners with Allah in something that is specifically His; for example, to take someone as His partner in worship, obedience, love, fear, supplication, and the seeking of help.

When one associates partners with Allah - regardless of who that partner is, such as a man, animal, plant, or inanimate object - one has perpetrated the Greater Shirk, examples of which are as follows:

• To supplicate to that partner as one supplicates to Allah.
• To love that partner as one loves Allah.
• To hope from that partner as one hopes from Allah.
• To submit oneself in obedience to that partner as one submits in obedience to Allah.
• To fear that partner as one fears Allah.
• To seek ruling or judgment from other than Allah's Shari'ah.

Allah Almighty says:

Worship Allah and join none with Him in worship. [An-Nisa' 4:36]

Of course, the Greater Shirk is the worst and most severe kind of Shirk; indeed, it is the greatest sin with Allah, for Allah does not accept any deed from its perpetrator, regardless of how pious he may be otherwise. If one dies, associating partners with Allah, Allah will not forgive him, for He says:

Verily, Allah forgives not that partners should be set up with him in worship, but He forgives except that (anything else) to whom He pleases, and whoever sets up partners with Allah in worship, he has indeed invented a tremendous sin. [An-Nisa' 4:48]

Whoever dies upon this form of Shirk is from the dwellers of the Hellfire, for the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) said:

Whoever dies calling upon other than Allah as a rival, he enters the Hellfire. [Al-Bukhari in the Book of Tafsir (5:153) and Muslim (1:94) from Ibn Mas'ud.]

In another Hadith, the Prophet (SAW) said:

Whoever meets Allah without associating partners with Him enters Paradise. Whoever meets Him, associating any partner with Him enter the Hellfire. [Recorded by Muslim (1:94) from Jabir.]

The Muslim, therefore, worships and invokes only Allah, and submits only to Him, for Allah Almighty says:

Say: "Verily, my Salat (prayer), my sacrifice, my living, and my dying are for Allah, the Lord of the 'Alamin (mankind, jinn and all that exists). He has no partner. And of this I have been commanded, and I am the first of the Muslims." [Al-An'am 6:162,163. Included here is one whom people see doing a righteous deed, but he did not do it out of sincerity, and also one who does a righteous deed secretly but wants to let people know about it.]

Second, The Lesser Shirk
It consists of various categories:

1. A small amount of Riya' (doing good deeds for show); for example, when one prays, fasts, or gives charity, he is seeking other than Allah's Face; hence, he is mixing good deeds with bad ones.

The Prophet (SAW) said:

What I fear most for you is the Lesser Shirk.

When asked about it, he (SAW) said:

Riya'. [Imam Ahmad (4:126) and Ibn Majah (2:1406) from Shaddad bin 'Aws. Ahmad also recorded it from a Hadith of Mahmud bin Lubaid (5:428).]

When one performs any good deed or act of worship to impress or please people thereby, then he has committed Riya', which is forbidden. In another Hadith related by Shaddad bin 'Aws, may Allah be pleased with him, the Prophet (SAW) said:

Whoever prays, showing off to others, he has indeed committed Shirk; whoever fasts, showing off to others, he has indeed committed Shirk; whoever gives charity, showing off to others, he has indeed committed Shirk. [Agreed upon. Recorded by Al-Bukhari (3:195), Muslim (1:92) from Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him.]

2. Another form of the Lesser Shirk is to swear by anyone other than Allah, for instance, to swear by the Prophet (SAW), by the Ka'bah, or by one's parents. In an authentic Hadith related by 'Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, the Prophet (SAW) said:
Indeed, Allah has forbidden you from swearing by your fathers; whoever makes an oath, let him swear by Allah or remain silent.

3. Another form of the Lesser Shirk is for one to say the following expressions:

• "What Allah wills and what you will."
• "This is from Allah and from you."
• "I am what I am because of Allah and because of you."
• "I have no one but Allah and you."
• "I place my trust upon Allah and upon you."
• "Were it not for Allah and you, such and such would (or wouldn't) have happened."

Based on one's intention when saying these phrases, this category may even become a form of the Greater Shirk.

[Credit goes to 'What Must Be Known About Islam', a comprehensive book, compiled by Muhammad bin 'Ali Al-Arfaj, translated by Darussalam, global leaders in Islamic books.]