(1)Chapter: How As-Salat (the Prayer) was prescribed on the night of Al-Isra (miraculous night journey) of the Prophet (pbuh) to Jerusalem (and then to the heavens)

Narrated Abu Dhar:

Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "While I was at Mecca the roof of my house was opened and Gabriel descended, opened my chest, and washed it with Zamzam water. Then he brought a golden tray full of wisdom and faith and having poured its contents into my chest, he closed it. Then he took my hand and ascended with me to the nearest heaven, when I reached the nearest heaven, Gabriel said to the gatekeeper of the heaven, 'Open (the gate).' The gatekeeper asked, 'Who is it?' Gabriel answered: 'Gabriel.' He asked, 'Is there anyone with you?' Gabriel replied, 'Yes, Muhammad I is with me.' He asked, 'Has he been called?' Gabriel said, 'Yes.' So the gate was opened and we went over the nearest heaven and there we saw a man sitting with some people on his right and some on his left. When he looked towards his right, he laughed and when he looked toward his left he wept. Then he said, 'Welcome! O pious Prophet and pious son.' I asked Gabriel, 'Who is he?' He replied, 'He is Adam and the people on his right and left are the souls of his offspring. Those on his right are the people of Paradise and those on his left are the people of Hell and when he looks towards his right he laughs and when he looks towards his left he weeps.' Then he ascended with me till he reached the second heaven and he (Gabriel) said to its gatekeeper, 'Open (the gate).' The gatekeeper said to him the same as the gatekeeper of the first heaven had said and he opened the gate. Anas said: "Abu Dhar added that the Prophet (ﷺ) met Adam, Idris, Moses, Jesus and Abraham, he (Abu Dhar) did not mention on which heaven they were but he mentioned that he (the Prophet (ﷺ) ) met Adam on the nearest heaven and Abraham on the sixth heaven. Anas said, "When Gabriel along with the Prophet (ﷺ) passed by Idris, the latter said, 'Welcome! O pious Prophet and pious brother.' The Prophet (ﷺ) asked, 'Who is he?' Gabriel replied, 'He is Idris." The Prophet (ﷺ) added, "I passed by Moses and he said, 'Welcome! O pious Prophet and pious brother.' I asked Gabriel, 'Who is he?' Gabriel replied, 'He is Moses.' Then I passed by Jesus and he said, 'Welcome! O pious brother and pious Prophet.' I asked, 'Who is he?' Gabriel replied, 'He is Jesus. Then I passed by Abraham and he said, 'Welcome! O pious Prophet and pious son.' I asked Gabriel, 'Who is he?' Gabriel replied, 'He is Abraham. The Prophet (ﷺ) added, 'Then Gabriel ascended with me to a place where I heard the creaking of the pens." Ibn Hazm and Anas bin Malik said: The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "Then Allah enjoined fifty prayers on my followers when I returned with this order of Allah, I passed by Moses who asked me, 'What has Allah enjoined on your followers?' I replied, 'He has enjoined fifty prayers on them.' Moses said, 'Go back to your Lord (and appeal for reduction) for your followers will not be able to bear it.' (So I went back to Allah and requested for reduction) and He reduced it to half. When I passed by Moses again and informed him about it, he said, 'Go back to your Lord as your followers will not be able to bear it.' So I returned to Allah and requested for further reduction and half of it was reduced. I again passed by Moses and he said to me: 'Return to your Lord, for your followers will not be able to bear it. So I returned to Allah and He said, 'These are five prayers and they are all (equal to) fifty (in reward) for My Word does not change.' I returned to Moses and he told me to go back once again. I replied, 'Now I feel shy of asking my Lord again.' Then Gabriel took me till we '' reached Sidrat-il-Muntaha (Lote tree of; the utmost boundary) which was shrouded in colors, indescribable. Then I was admitted into Paradise where I found small (tents or) walls (made) of pearls and its earth was of musk."

Be Patient

“Perhaps the delay in you attaining your wish lies in a benefit which ALLAH wants for you. So be patient. Do not hasten. And be optimistic. For indeed, what awaits you of blessing is far greater than what you wished for, and there is no-one more generous than ALLAH .”A

Be Stronger and Believe In Allah

Allah won't give you more than you can handle. If your situation seems harder than most, it's because He knows you're strong enough for it and He wants to make you stronger. Please be patient and trust Allah's plan.

Under His Shade

Love for the sake of Allah is one of the most beautiful and strongest bonds of faith, and probably one of the most essential fundamentals on which Muslim community is based. It is the central point by means of which bonds of friendship and harmony among people are attained, so that they love one another, visit one another and are sincere towards one another. Through it people find the sweetness of faith in their interactions, companionship and friendship.

When people love each other for the sake of Allah swt then He swt gives them the sweetness of iman as mentioned in the ahadith books of both Imam Bukhari and Imam Muslim (Rahimahumulla), narrated by Sayyiduna Anas Radhiallahu Anhu that the Prophet Sallalahu Alayhe Wasallam said ,

" whoever  possesses the following three qualities will have the sweetness (delight) of faith: The one to whom Allah and his Apostle becomes dearer than anything else ,who loves a person and he loves him only for Allah's sake and who hates to revert to atheism(disbelief) after Allah has saved him from it, as he hates to be thrown into the fire ."

Please understand this .Love each other for the sake of Allah swt. Do not hate each other. The Prophet Sallalahu Alayhe Wasallam said that Allah swt will say on the Day of Judgement,

" Where are those people who used to love for my Sake .Today, I will share them in my shelter, when there is no shade except My Shade.”(Sahih Muslim).

Where are those people? Stand up! Those who used to love each other for my Sake. Then a group of people will stand up .Then Allah swt will say ," O You, today I am going to give you the shade of my Throne when there is no shade but My Shade. Go in my Shade. "

Greet Every Muslim With Salam

1. To greet with salaam is one of the great Sunnahs for a Muslim. Rasulullah Sallalahu Alayhe wasallam has laid a lot of emphasis on this. It increases love amongst people. Salaam should be made to every Muslim whether one knows him or not (Bukhari). Salaam is an Islamic right and to know the person is not a requirement.

2. It has been mentioned in the ahadith of Bukhari and Muslim that once Rasulullah Sallalahu Alayhe wasallam passed by a group of children and he (Sallalahu Alayhe wasallam) made salaam to them, hence we deduce that it is Sunnah to make salaam to children as well. (Muslim)

 3. The Sunnah method of making salaam is that one should say verbally. To make salaam with the wave of the hand, the nod of the head or the indication of the finger or to answer to the salaam in this manner is against the Sunnah. If salaam is being made from far then one should make salaam verbally as well as with the hand. (Mishkaat)

 4. When meeting a fellow Muslim, then it is Sunnah to shake hands with him after Salaam. (Mishkaat)

5. When joining any gathering, one should sit wherever a place is found. To make others stand up and to sit in their place is Makruh (disliked) and a sin. (Bukhari, Muslim)

6. When a person comes to meet you move a little even though there is ample place. This is also Sunnah and through it, the one arriving will feel honoured. (Zaadut‐taalibeen)

 7. If there are three persons together, it is not permissible for two persons from amongst them to engage in any conversation separately without the third person being able to hear. The third person may become suspicious and feel hurt. To hurt the feelings of any Muslim is a great sin. (Muslim)

8. When going to somebody’s house one should take permission before entering. (Mishkaat)

9. When yawning, it is Sunnah to prevent it as far as possible. (Bukhari). If the mouth cannot be kept closed despite making an effort to do so, then place the back of the left hand over the mouth.

10 Ahadith About Friday

Friday has many unique features and virtues that Allah swt has bestowed upon this day and not others.

It was narrated that Abu Hurairah and Hudhayfah (may Allah swt be pleased with them) said: The Messenger of Allah swt (peace and blessings of Allah swt be upon him) said: “Allah swt led those who came before us away from Friday. The Jews had Saturday, and the Christians had Sunday. Then Allah swt brought us and Allah swt guided us to Friday. So there is Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and thus they will follow us on the Day of Resurrection. We are the last of the people of this world but we will be the first on the Day of Resurrection, and we will be dealt with before all others.” (Muslim)

1. Abu Hurairah (may Allah swt be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:

“The best day on which the sun has risen is Friday; on it Adam was created; on it he was made to enter Paradise; on it he was expelled from it; and the [last] hour (i.e. the Day of Resurrection) will take place on no day other than Friday.” (Muslim).

2. Abu Hurairah (may Allah swt be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:

“The five [daily prescribed] Prayers, and Friday [prayer] to the [next] Friday [prayer], and Ramadan to the next Ramadan, is expiation of the sins committed in between them, so long as major sins are avoided.” (Muslim).

3. Abu Hurairah (may Allah swt be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said while talking about Friday,

“There is a time on it (i.e. Friday) at which Allah grants the request of any Muslim servant who, at this time, happens to be asking Allah for something while standing in Prayer” And the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) pointed with his hand to indicate that this period of time is very short. (Al-Bukhari and Muslim).

4. Abu Sa`id A-Khudri (may Allah swt be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:

“Whoever reads Surat Al-Kahf on the night of Friday, will have a light that will stretch between him and the Ancient House (i.e., the Ka`bah).” (Al-Daarimi).

5. Aws ibn Aws (may Allah swt be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said:

“Among the best of your days is Friday. So, pray to Allah frequently on it to bless me, for such supplications of you will be presented to me.” (Abu Dawud).

6. Salman (may Allah swt be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:

“If a man takes bath on Friday, cleans himself as much as he can, oils his hair, applies perfume available in his house, sets forth for the mosque, does not separate two people (to make a seat for himself), performs as many Prayers as written [by Allah] for him, remains silent when the Imam speaks, his sins between that Friday and the following Friday will be forgiven.” (Al-Bukhari).

7. Ibn `Umar and Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with them) reported:

We heard the Messenger of Allah saying (while delivering Khutbah on his wooden pulpit), “Either some people stop neglecting the Friday prayers, or Allah will seal their hearts and they will be among the heedless.” (Muslim).

8. Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “If you say to your companion: Listen attentively on a Friday when the Imam is delivering the Khutbah, then you have engaged in idle talk.” (Muslim).

9. It was narrated that Ibn ‘Umar said: The Messenger (peace and blessings of Allah swt be upon him) said: “The best prayer before Allah swt is Fajr prayer on Friday in congregation.”(Narrated by al-Bayhaqi in Shu’ab al-Eemaan).

10. It was narrated that ‘Abd-Allah ibn ‘Amr said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “There is no Muslim who dies during the day of Friday or the night of Friday but Allah swt will protect him from the trial of the grave.” (Al-Tirmidhi)

Under His Shade

Love for the sake of Allah is one of the most beautiful and strongest bonds of faith, and probably one of the most essential fundamentals on which Muslim community is based. It is the central point by means of which bonds of friendship and harmony among people are attained, so that they love one another, visit one another and are sincere towards one another. Through it people find the sweetness of faith in their interactions, companionship and friendship.

When people love each other for the sake of Allah swt then He swt gives them the sweetness of iman as mentioned in the ahadith books of both Imam Bukhari and Imam Muslim (Rahimahumulla), narrated by Sayyiduna Anas Radhiallahu Anhu that the Prophet Sallalahu Alayhe Wasallam said ,

" whoever  possesses the following three qualities will have the sweetness (delight) of faith: The one to whom Allah and his Apostle becomes dearer than anything else ,who loves a person and he loves him only for Allah's sake and who hates to revert to atheism(disbelief) after Allah has saved him from it, as he hates to be thrown into the fire ."

Please understand this .Love each other for the sake of Allah swt. Do not hate each other. The Prophet Sallalahu Alayhe Wasallam said that Allah swt will say on the Day of Judgement,

" Where are those people who used to love for my Sake .Today, I will share them in my shelter, when there is no shade except My Shade.”(Sahih Muslim).

Where are those people? Stand up! Those who used to love each other for my Sake. Then a group of people will stand up .Then Allah swt will say ," O You, today I am going to give you the shade of my Throne when there is no shade but My Shade. Go in my Shade. "