Purpose of Creation

Sheikh Abdul Aziz bin Baz  (رحمه الله) said :

❝Allaah سُبحانه وتعالىinforms us in His book that He created Jinn and mankind for the purpose that they worship Him. Allaah سُبحانه وتعالى says: And I (Allâh) created not the jinn and mankind except that they should worship Me (Alone). This worship for which Allaahسُبحانه وتعالى   has created Jinn and humanity means to believe in the Oneness of Allaah سُبحانه وتعالى and devote all forms of worship to Him Alone. These forms of worship include Salah, Sawm, Zakah, Hajj, Sujud, Tawaf, slaughtering sacrificial animals, making vows, showing fear or hope, seeking help and protection, all kinds of Dua as well as adherence to what is stated in His Glorious book and the Sunnah of His honest Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسلم) concerning the commandments and prohibitions of the Shari`ah (Islaamic law).❞

[Fatwa of Ibn Baz, 1/48]

Which is better: Sawm on the 10th with the 9th or the 10th with the 11th of Muharram?

Fatwa of Ibn Baaz رحمه الله

(Source: Alifta.net)

Observing Sawm on the 9th and 10th of Muharram is better than on the 10th and 11^th.

Question: What is the ruling on observing Sawm (Fast) on the Day of ‘Ashura’ (10th of Muharram)? Is it better to observe Sawm on the day that precedes it, the day that succeeds it, all the three days, or on the Day of ‘Ashura’ only? Please clarify the matter. May Allaah سُبحانه وتعالى reward you with the best! 

Answer: It is a Sunnah (supererogatory act of worship following the example of the Prophet) to observe Sawm on the Day of ‘Ashura’ for the authentic Hadiths in which the Prophet (صلّى اللَّهُ عليه وسلّم) stated so. The Prophet (صلّى اللَّهُ عليه وسلّم) mentioned that the Jews used to observe Sawm on that Day because it was the day on which Allaah سُبحانه وتعالى rescued Prophet Musa (عليه السلام) and his people and destroyed Pharaoh and his people. Our Prophet Muhammad (صلّى اللَّهُ عليه وسلّم) thus, observed Sawm on the Day of ‘Ashura’ to express his gratitude to Allaah سُبحانه وتعالى, advised Muslims to do so, and directed us as well to observe Sawm on the day preceding or succeeding it. However, observing Sawm on the ninth and tenth of Muharram is better than doing so on the tenth and eleventh. The latter form is also sufficient for it contradicts the practice of the Jews as well. 

Consequences of Sins!

Al-Mufti Ibn Baaz رحمه الله
(Majmoo’ Fatawaawa Maqaalaat Matnoo’ah)

 

            

Question: A sister with the initials 'A.A' from Riyadh says in her question: I read that from the consequences of sinning is punishment from Allaah and the removal of blessings. So I weep out of fear from that, direct me, may Allaah reward you with goodness?

Answer: No doubt that committing sins are from the causes that draw the Anger of Allaah (The-Exalted and Glorious), and from the causes of eradicating blessings, drought and the domination of the enemy as Allaah سُبحانه وتعالى said:

“And indeed We punished the people of Fir'aun (Pharaoh) with years of drought and shortness of fruits (crops, etc.), that they might remember (take heed).” ^[1]

“So We punished each (of them) for his sins, of them were some on whom We sent Hasiban (a violent wind with shower of stones) [as the people of Lout (Lot)], and of them were some who were overtaken by As-Saihah [torment - awful cry, etc.], and of them were some whom We drowned [as the people of Nuh (Noah), or Fir'aun (Pharaoh) and his people]. It was not Allaah Who wronged them, but they wronged themselves.” ^[2]

And Ayaat related to this meaning are many. And it has been authentically reported that the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) said:

“A servant is prevented from provision due to a sin that he commits.” ^[3]

Therefore, it is obligatory upon every Muslim, man and woman, to beware of sins and to repent from what has passed, along with having good thoughts of Allaah the Exalted and hope in his forgiveness, and fear his Anger and punishment, as The-Exalted said in His Noble Book about His righteous worshipers:

Beautiful advice from Sheikh ‘Abdul ‘Azeez Ibn Baaz رحمه الله

 

It was said to the Sheikh, "O' Sheikh, so and so has become misguided". 

Sheikh  رحمه الله replied:

"Perhaps his deviation was due to two things:

1. He didn’t ask Allaah for Ath-thabaat (firmness);
2. He didn’t thank Allaah for Al-Istiqaamah (steadfastness).

So when Allaah chose for you the path of guidance, it was not because you are special, nor was it because of your obedience. But rather, it was a mercy from Him that enveloped you. He can remove it from you at any time.

The Sunnah Before (Beginning) The Dua

Sheikh ibn Baaz رحمه الله in his explanation to "Riyaadh al-Saaliheen" said:

“The Sunnah before (beginning) the dua is to praise Allaah as has been mentioned in ‘al-Tahiyyaat’*, then after that to send the prayer upon the Prophet  صلى الله عليه وسلم, then (he should make) the dua. And this is how it should be done also when he is making the dua in Sujood (prostration), or at any other time; he should praise Allaah, send prayers upon the Prophet  صلى الله عليه وسلم and then supplicates to his Lord for whatever he wishes, and this is the first step for the dua being answered.”

Narrated Fudalah ibn Ubayd: The Messenger of Allaah صلى الله عليه وسلم heard a person supplicating during prayer. He did not mention the greatness of Allaah, nor did he invoke blessings on the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم. The Messenger of Allaah صلى الله عليه وسلم  said:

Are Sins Causes of Eradicating Blessings??

            Sheikh Ibn Baaz  رحمه الله

Question: A sister with the initials 'A' from Riyadh says in her question: 'I read that from the consequences of sinning is punishment from Allaah and the removal of blessings. So I weep out of fear from that, direct me, may Allaah reward you with goodness?'

Answer: No doubt that committing sins are from the causes that draw the Anger of Allaah سُبحانه وتعالى and from the causes of eradicating blessings, drought and the domination of the enemy as Allaah (سُبحانه وتعالى) said:

وَلَقَدْ أَخَذْنَا آلَ فِرْعَونَ بِالسِّنِينَ وَنَقْصٍ مِّن الثَّمَرَاتِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَذَّكَّرُونَ

“And indeed We punished the people of Fir'aun (Pharaoh) with years of drought and shortness of fruits (crops, etc.), that they might remember (take heed).”

(Al-A'raf 7:130)

How can one know if an affliction is a test or a wrath from Allaah?

Imâm Abdul-Azeez bin Baaz رحمه الله was asked:

'If someone is afflicted with an illness or a trial in one’s self or wealth, how can he know if this affliction is a test or a wrath from Allaah سُبحانه وتعالى?'

He رحمه الله replied: Allaah سُبحانه وتعالى tries His servants with prosperity and adversity, and with hardship and ease, and He may try them with that to elevate their ranks and to raise high their fame and to multiply their good deeds like He سُبحانه وتعالى does with the Prophets and Messengers and the righteous ones from His servants.

The Prophet صلّى اللَّهُ عليه وسلّم said:

“People who are tried most severely are the Prophets, then those who are like them then those who are like them”

[Graded authentic by Al-Albaani in Saheehul-Jaami’ no. 993]

And sometimes Allaah سُبحانه وتعالى does that [i.e. trying His servants] because of sins and disobedience, so the punishment is hastened as He سُبحانه وتعالى said:

وَمَا أَصَابَكُم مِّن مُّصِيبَةٍ فَبِمَا كَسَبَتْ أَيْدِيكُمْ وَيَعْفُو عَن كَثِيرٍ

'And whatever of misfortune that befalls you, it is because of what your hands have earned. And He pardons much.'

[Ash-Shuraa 42:30]

Is the Prophet صلّى اللَّهُ عليه وسلّم alive in his grave or not?

Fatwa of Sheikh ‘Abdul-‘Aziz bin Baaz (2/386/388)

Question: Is the Prophetصلّى اللَّهُ عليه وسلّم  alive in his grave or not? And does he know what is happening in the Dunya?

Answer: Many of the scholars of Ahl as-Sunnah have explained that the Prophet صلّى اللَّهُ عليه وسلّم  is alive in his grave in the sense of the life of Barzakiyyah, or the life that exists in the grave, we don’t know how this is and this knowledge is with Allaah سُبحانه وتعالى. It is not like the life of the Dunya, rather it is a form of life in which that the Prophet صلّى اللَّهُ عليه وسلّم  lives in pleasure in which he hears the Salaam/ Salutations of the Muslims, at which point his soul is restored periodically by Allaah, the Most High, so that he may respond. All of this has been narrated in narrations, such as the one narrated by Abu Dawud with an Isnad which is Hasan:

On the authority of Abu Hurairahرضي اللّه عنـه  that the Messenger of Allaah صلّى اللَّهُ عليه وسلّم said:

 “There is no one who sends salutations/Salaam upon me but Allaah will restore my soul so that I may return his salutations/Salaam.”

                [Classed as Sahih in Sahih Sunan Abi Dawud by Shaykh al-Albani (1795)]

When Ibn Baaz Lost his Eyesight

 

“Shaikh Muhammad ibn Ibrahim al-Humoodi mentioned a story to me about His Eminence, Sheikh ’Abdul-’Aziz ibn Baaz’s mother, so I asked him to write it which he did and for which I am grateful, dated 11/10/1421.  Here is the text of the letter:

الحمد لله وحده، والصلاة والسلام على من لا نبي بعده

Thereafter, at the request of my brother ’Abdul-Aziz ibn ’Abdullah as-Sadhaan that I write down for him the story of what happened to our father, His Eminence, Sheikh ’Abdul-’Aziz ibn Baaz, may Allaah’s Mercy be on him, and on our parents and all Muslims, [I present the following].

’Abdur-Rahmaan ibn Naasir ibn Jaabir from Riyadh told me that the Sheikh, may Allaah have mercy on him, lost his eyesight at the prime of his youth. His mother’s residence, and she was from the family of Huzaim, was in a district called Dikhnah, to the east of al-Hakm Palace. She used to have a neighbour who was the wife of Prince ’Abdul-’Aziz ibn Turki Aal-Su’ood.

Benefits & great wisdom of Sawm - Sheikh `Abdul-`Aziz ibn Baaz

O Muslims, you are in the great sacred month of Ramadhan, the month of Sawm (Fast) & Qiyam-ul-Layl (optional Prayer at night). In this month, Allaah opens the door of forgiveness & sets His Pious Servants free from the Hellfire. Ramadhan is the month of giving Sadaqah (voluntary charity), a month in which the doors of Paradise are opened, rewards of deeds are multiplied, hardships are removed, supplications are answered, ranks are elevated, & sins are forgiven. During this month, Allaah (سُبحانه وتعالى) provides His servants with all kinds of bounties & showers His Awliya' (pious people) with blessings. This is a month in which Allaah has made observing Sawm in it one of the pillars of Islaam. 

It is the month in which the Prophet (صلّى اللَّهُ عليه وسلّم) observed Sawm & commanded the people to do the same. He (صلّى اللَّهُ عليه وسلّم) informed us that whoever observes Sawm in Ramadhan out of sincere faith & hoping for Allaah's Reward, their previous sins shall be forgiven; and that those who observe Qiyam-ul-Layl in Ramadhan out of sincere faith & hoping for Allaah's Reward, their previous sins shall be forgiven. In this month, there is one night that is better than a thousand months...

 Click the link below to read more:
http://alifta.net/Fatawa/FatawaSubje...BenefitsofSawm

To Whom are the Deeds of a Child Written?

Question posed to Sheikh Ibn Baaz, رحمهم الله:

 

Are the deeds of a child who has not yet reached the age of puberty such as prayer, Hajj and the reading of the Qur’aan attributed to his parents or are they attributed to him?