What’s this?

Stormcastle’s favorite chocolate bar, that’s what!

Seriously… I’ll whore my blog out for some of these, LOL.

How’s that for journalistic integrity?

Christmas is coming up… so now you know what to put in my stocking, Santa!

Please know you have profoundly helped me grow to who I am today (I hope that’s not a bad thing!). I apologize off the bat for the bad grammar. This is a very stream of consciousness letter. I am thankful for so many people this is going to sound like an acceptance speech. If only I had an award to go with it!For some reason, I feel more thankful than ever. Going through a transformation of sorts puts everything in perspective. When I lost my job this past June, I would have never guessed I would have felt more alive and have met some of the most amazing people. I never dreamed I would be on television/radio and also have a blog, which has had to date over 15,000 hits. I am grateful for EVERYONE who visits day after day!

Thank you for following the journey.

If I could tell you one thing –change the world. Go out and make a difference. Stand up for what you believe in. Change someone’s life. We all have amazing stories to tell. Share them.

My blog wouldn’t have gotten off the ground without a few people. My publicist, George, whose idea it was to really go forward and create the blog. He always has a way of staying positive. A special thanks to ALL the people I have interviewed thus far: the wonderful Marti C., single-licious Melissa B, exceptional Jerry Mitchell, incredible forced to be reckoned with Frenchie Davis, life changing activities Ryan Janek Wolowski and Randy Wicker, and uber talents Richard and Dana. Elisa, Will, Angelo and Renee thank you for one point or another for being my camera bitch! There are many more people, so I apologize if I have forgotten you.

Liz S, you are an amazing woman who constantly gives me the chance to do what I love! You always astound me by the types of events you have me cover. Thank you for taking a chance with me!
Julie H. you have such an amazing heart. I never thought in a million years I would be on the Pat Field website! You have really made my year. You see things in me that I have overlooked. I can’t thank you enough for the dream come true it has been and will keep continuing!
Meagan H. – WE WILL GET KATHY!! You are such a joy to know and you never make my crazy idea is well…crazy! You are a great visionary at what you do!

My family has always been my rock. A special shout out to my relatives in PA, who are not only amazing, but I am so blessed to have reconnected with them on Facebook. Though sometimes we seem miles apart, BENNINGTONS know we are NEVER that far. Thanks guys for all the kick ass support!

My other “family” -my friends who have seen my light and my dark, I feel so fortunate to have had the opportunity to see each of you grow and become individuals who make me proud in the way you contribute and choices you make. Each of you has such a special gift. I truly love you all and you have been a place to look for advice, support and unconditional love. You have no clue how much I value all of you (though sometimes my sarcasm may make it seem otherwise)

My Old Tappan friends, it’s been a while but let me know when you’re around the NYC/NJ area. For me to see us all grown up seems a little freaky! It was only yesterday we were singing to Mr. Boscia’s music, seeing Mr. Rossi throw a desk, cutting class, going to the prom. Now some of you have your own families. Keep me in your heart, as I do with you.

Wagner College gave me amazing inspiration to find myself and meet professors and life-long friends who inspire me daily. There are many ways you can gain an education as I learned in my years at Wager!

Thanks to all the RENT friends I have made. Measure in love. We can always be grateful for Jonathan Larson’s lasting treasure. Thanks for all the RENT road trips!

Thank you, all the new friends I have made. I look forward to knowing you more and more (that DOES sound kind of creepy)

THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU OUT THERE WHO INSPIRE!

This year, remember those who are not as blessed and keep them in your thoughts and prayers. It’s important for us –as teachers, friends, parents, lovers, brothers, sisters,-you name it, to go out there and make a difference. Anything small can help. We can be the change.

Please have a safe, healthy and happy Thanksgiving this year.

The best is yet to come,

Neal B
www.nealbinnyc.wordpress.com

  Im going to say that fashion xport has been very busy so i havn’t been able to be here with you all sorry. Also happy thanksgiving i hope you’rs rocks and i hope you get all the food you hope 4. I want to say dark blues, browns, blacks, purples, and other colors are perfect for this month. Fall boots of fuzz are so happy i got mine for $120 at famous foot ware and make sure you get the waterproof stuff  so water doesn’t go through it. Make sure you take care of you’r boots too like brush them every once in a while. Skinny jeans light colored goes great with that i am waring my boots and my skinny jeans now. I hope you give thanks for thanksgiving to everyone to give them apprecation to everybody. Have a great thanks giving and go get some boots 2morrow. Have fun shopping if you’r going to that black friday sale that can get dangous at times. I love you and i hope you have a great time. Happy Thanks Giving and also i want to say godbless and if you are going somewere to travel drive careful all my love the FASHION XPORT.     THANKS

Bismillah

By: Shaykhu-l-Islâm Ibn Taymiyyah
(d. 728 AH / 1328 CE)

Prologue
Shaykh al-Islaam said:

All praise and thanks are due to Allaah, we seek His Help and we seek His Forgiveness. We seek refuge with Him from the evil of our souls and the evil of our actions. Whosoever Allaah guides then none can misguide him, and whosoever Allaah leaves to stray then none can guide him. I bear witness that there is none worthy of worship save Allaah, the One Who has no partner and we bear witness that Muhammad (peace be upon him) is his servant and Messenger.

Chapter One
Concerning the distinction between the worship of the adherents to Islaam and possessors of faith, guidance, tawheed, sincerity, knowledge, divine legislation, those who follow the Prophets and Messengers and between the worship of those possessing shirk, ignorance, misguidance, innovation from amongst the polytheists and those who resemble them from the adherents of the different religions.
The worship of the Muslims is founded upon two principles:

The First: they do not worship anything save Allaah, the One Who has no partner.

The Second: they worship Him in the way He has ordered and legislated and has been conveyed by His Messengers

So they worship Allaah without associating partners with him, they have taqwaa of Him and they obey His Messengers. Allaah said:

“We sent Noah to his people (with the command): ‘warn your people before there comes to them a grievous Punishment.’ He said, ‘O my people! I am to you a warner, clear and open that you should worship Allaah, fear Him and obey me.’” [ Quran Nuh (71): 1-3]

Similarly He mentioned that Hud, Saalih and Shu`ayb said to their respective nations,

“Worship Allaah! You have no other god save Him.” [ Quraan Hud (11): 50]

He said concerning the Messiah,

“The Messiah said, ‘O Children of Israel! Worship Allaah, my Lord and your Lord.’ Indeed whosoever sets up partners in worship with Allaah then Allaah has forbidden Paradise for him and the Fire shall be his abode. And for the wrong-doers there are no helpers.” [ QuranMaa`idah (5): 72]
“And indeed Allaah is my Lord and your Lord so worship Him (Alone). This is the Straight Path.” [ Quraan Maryam (19): 36]

Indeed every Messenger said,

“So fear Allaah, keep your duty to Him and obey me.” [ Quraan ash-Shu`araa (26): 108]

He said concerning the nation of Muhammad (peace be upon him),

“They say: ‘we have believed in Allaah and His Messenger and we obey’ then a party of they turn away thereafter, such are not the believers.” [ Quraan an-Nur (24): 47]
“The only saying of the faithful believers when they are called to Allaah and His Messenger to judge between them is that they say: ‘We hear and obey,’ such are the successful. And whosoever obeys Allaah and His Messenger, fears Him and keeps his duty to Him such are the successful.” [ Quraan an-Nur (24): 51-52]

Hence appointing obedience to Allaah and the Messenger and appointing fear and taqwaa for Allaah Alone. Allaah said,

“Would that they were contented with what Allaah and His Messenger gave them and had said, ‘Allaah is sufficient for us. Allaah will give us of His Bounty and His Messenger. To Allaah do we trurn our hopes.” [ Quran at-Tawbah (9): 59]

Appointing the giving to Allaah and the Messenger. Similarly, the Exalted said,

“Whatsoever the Messenger gives then take it and whatsoever he forbids from then abstain from it.” [ Quran al-Hashr (59): 7]

Therefore the lawful is what Allaah and His Messenger made lawful and the unlawful is what Allaah and His Messenger made unlawful and the religion is that which Allaah and His Messenger legislated.

Allaah appointed sufficiency and hope for Himself Alone in His sayings,

“Say: Allaah is sufficient for me, in Him let those who trust, put their trust.” [ Quran az-Zumar (39): 38]
“But if they turn away, say: ‘Allaah is sufficient for me. There is none worthy of worship but Him, in Him have I put my trust and He is the Lord of the Mighty Throne.’” [ Quraan at-Tawbah (9): 129]

“And if they intend to deceive you, then indeed Allaah is All-Sufficient for you.” [ Quraan al-Anfaal (8): 62]

“They unto whom the (hypocrites) said: ‘Verily the people have gathered against you (a great army) therefore fear them.’ But it only increased them in faith and they said: ‘Allaah (Alone) is sufficient for us and He is the best Disposer of affairs.” [ Quraan Aali `Imraan (3): 173]

Hence Allaah Alone is the recourse of the Messengers and the Believers in their entirety as Allaah says,

“O Prophet! Allaah is sufficient for you and for the believers who follow you.” [ Quranal-Anfaal (8): 64]

Meaning that He Alone Suffices you and all those who follow you. This is the understanding of this verse according to the majority of the Salaf and later scholars.

So this is the religion of Islaam, a religion any other than this is not accepted by Allaah – not from the first peoples or the later peoples. Islaam is to worship Allaah at all times in the way that He has commanded – He is the sole object of worship. Allaah said,

“Allaah said: Take not two gods in worship. Indeed He is One God then fear Me (and Me Alone). To Him belongs all that is in the heavens and the earth and to Him belongs perpetual sincere obedience. Will you then fear any other than Allaah? Whatsoever of blessings and good things you have, it is from Allaah. Then, when harm touches you, unto Him you cry aloud for help. Then, when He has removed the harm from you, behold! Some of you associate others in worship with their Lord. So (as a result of this) they deny the favours We have bestowed on them! Then enjoy yourselves but you will soon come to know!” [ Quran an-Nahl (16): 51-55]

However the legislated laws have differed for example the case when the Prophet (peace be upon him) first prayed towards Bait al-Maqdis before the Hijrah and after the Hijrah for ten odd months and then Allaah had him change direction to face the Ka`ba. {1}Hence the legislated law changed but in both cases, before and after, the religion was one and the same. The religion of Islaam – to worship Allaah Alone without any partners.

In Saheeh Bukhaaree and Muslim that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “indeed we, the gathering of Prophets – our religion is one and the Prophets are paternal brothers.” [2] Meaning that their religion is one and the same even if the laws differ. Allaah said,

“Allaah has ordained for you the same religion which he ordained for Noah, and that which We have inspired in you and that which We ordained for Abraham, Moses, and Jesus saying: you should establish the religion and not make any divisions in it. Intolerable upon the polytheists is that which you call them to.” [ Quran ash-Shura (42): 13]
“So set your face towards the religion of pure monotheism – the nature in which Allaah has created mankind. No change is there in the creation of Allaah. This is the straight religion but most men are unaware. (Always) turning in repentance to Him, and be afraid and dutiful to Him, establish the prayers perfectly and do not be of the polytheists. From those who split up their religion and became sects, each party rejoicing in what was with it.” [ Quran ar-Rum (30) 30-32]

“O Messengers! Eat of the lawful and good things and do righteous deeds. Indeed I am well Acquainted with what you do. Indeed your religion is one religion and I am your Lord so keep your duty to Me.” [ Quran al-Mu`minoon (23): 51-53]

Similarly He said with regards to the Prophets,

“Truly! This is religion is one religion and I am your Lord so worship Me.” [ Quran al-Anbiyaa (21): 92]

The word ‘ummah’ has been explained to mean religion, i.e. ‘your religion is one and the same’, this is as Allaah says,

“Nay! They say: ‘We found our fathers upon a religion (ummah) and we guide ourselves by following their footsteps. Similarly, We sent not a warner before you to any town but the affluent ones among them said: ‘We found our fathers upon a religion (ummah) and we will guide ourselves by following their footsteps.” [ Quran az-Zukhruf (43): 22-23]

If it said that the meaning of ‘ummah’ is people then the meaning still remains the same i.e. call all of mankind to worship Allaah Alone as Allaah says,

“Establish the religion and make no divisions.” [ Quran ash-Shuraa (42): 13]
“And We did not send any Messenger before you but We inspired him (saying): There is none worthy of worship save Me, so worship Me (Alone)” [ Quran al-Anbiyaa (21): 25]

“And ask those of Our Messengers whom We sent before you: ‘Did We ever appoint gods to be worshipped besides the Most Merciful?’” [ Quran az-Zukhruf (43): 45]

“And indeed We sent among every community (ummah) a Messenger (proclaiming): ‘Worship Allaah (Alone) and avoid all that is worshipped besides Allaah.” [ Quran an-Nahl (16): 36]

“He sends down angels with inspiration of His Command to whom of His slaves He pleases (saying): ‘Warn mankind that none has the right to be worshipped but Me, so fear Me.” [ Quranan-Nahl (16): 2]

Every Prophet was upon the religion of Islaam as Allaah mentions about Noah that he said,

“But if you turn away, then no reward have I asked of you, my reward is only from Allaah and I have been commanded to be one of the Muslims.” [ QuranYunus (10): 72]

He mentioned concerning Ibraaheem al-Khaleel,

“And who turns away from the religion of Ibraaheem except he who fools himself? Truly We chose him in this world and indeed in the Hereafter he will be among the righteous. When his Lord said to him, ’submit,’ he said, ‘I have submitted (become a Muslim) to the Lord of the Universe.’” [ Quranal-Baqarah (2): 130-132]

Ibraaheem and Ismaa`eel said,

“Our Lord! Make us Muslims and make of our offspring those who are Muslims” [ Quranal-Baqarah (2): 128]

He said concerning Musaa that he said,

“O my people! If you have believed in Allaah, then put your trust in Him if you are Muslims.” [ QuranYunus (10): 84]

He said concerning the magicians who believed in Musaa,

“And you take vengeance on us only because we believed in the signs of our Lord when they reached us! Our Lord! Pour out on us patience and cause us to die as Muslims.” [ Quranal-A`raaf (7): 126]
“Indeed We sent down the Torah wherein was guidance and light by which the Prophet who submitted themselves to the Will of Allaah (became Muslims) judged the Jews.” [ Quranal-Maa`idah (5): 44]

He said concerning Yusuf as-Siddeeq that he said,

“… and cause me to die as a Muslim and join me with the righteous” [ QuranYusuf (12): 101]

Bilqees said,

“My Lord! Verily I have wronged myself and I submit (in Islaam) together with Solomon to Allaah the Lord of the Universe.” [ Quranan-Naml (27): 44]

He said concerning the followers of the Messiah,

“And when I put into the hearts of the disciples (of Jesus) to believe in Me and My Messenger, they said: We believe and bear witness that we are Muslims.” [ Quran al-Maa`idah (5): 111]

Allaah said,

“Allaah bears witness that none has the right to be worshipped but He, and the Angels and those having knowledge (also give this witness). (He is always) maintaining His creation with justice. None has the right to be worshipped save Him. Truly the religion in the Sight of Allaah is Islaam.” [ Quran Aali `Imraan (3): 18-19]

Qataadah said concerning His saying, “the only religion acceptable to Allaah is Islaam” – “the testimony that none has the right to be worshipped save Allaah and to accept all that has come from Allaah. This is the the religion that He legislated for Himself and sent His Messengers with and guided His friends to. He does not accept any other religion and does not reward except one who follows it.”

Allaah has censured the one who legislates a religion that He did not reveal, or declares something to be lawful or prohibited without any proof from the revelation saying,

“Or do they have partners with Allaah who have instituted a religion for them which Allaah has not allowed.” [ Quran ash-Shuraa (42): 21]

He censured the polytheists for making unlawful what He had not declared to be unlawful and for making lawful what He had made unlawful thereby legislating a religion that He had not revealed saying,

“And when they commit an indecent action they say: ‘We found our fathers doing it and Allaah has commanded us to it.’ Say: ‘Nay, Allaah never commands indecent actions. Do you say of Allaah that which you know not?’ Say: ‘My Lord has commanded justice and (said) that you should face the Qiblah in each and every place of worship during prayers. Supplicate to Him only making your religion sincerely for Him.” [ Quran al-A`raaf (7): 28-29]

“Say: ‘Who has forbidden the adornment with clothes given by Allaah which He has produced for His slaves and all good things?’ Say: ‘They are, in the life of this world, for those who believe and exclusively for them on the Day of Resurrection.’ Thus We explain the signs in detail for the people who have knowledge. Say: ‘The things that my Lord has indeed forbidden are all indecent actions, whether committed openly or secretly, sins of all kinds, oppression, joining partners with Allaah for which He has given no authority, and saying things about Allaah of which you have no knowledge.” [ Quraan al-A`raaf (7): 32-33]

“Alif Laam Meem Saad. A Book sent down to you so let not your breast be constricted therefrom, that you may warn thereby, and a reminder unto the believers. (Say): ‘Follow what has been sent down to you from your Lord and do not follow any friends or protectors who besides Him. Little do you take heed!” [ Quraan al-A`raaf (7): 1-3]

Chapter Two
As for the religion of the Polytheists and the innovating People of the Book then this is a religion for which Allaah has sent down no authority. They either supplicate to others alongside Allaah or they say: ‘we worship them only that they may make us draw closer to Allaah,’ and they say: ‘these are our intercessors with Allaah.’ Or they worship Him in a way that He has not commanded or legislated – worshipping Him with what those whom they have set up as partners to Allaah command. Allaah said,

“They (Jews and Christians) took their rabbis and monks to be their lords besides Allaah, and they also took the Messiah son of Mary (to be their Lord) while they were commanded to worship none save One God. Glory be to Him (far above is He) from having the partners they associate.” [ Quranat-Tawbah (9): 31]
“It is not for any human being to whom Allaah has given the Book and wisdom and Prophethood to say to the people: ‘Be worshippers of me rather than Allaah.’ On contrary (he would say): ‘Be you learned men of the religion because you are teaching the book and studying it.’ Neither would he order you to take Angels and Prophets as lords. Would he order you to disbelieve after you have submitted to the Will of Allaah?” [ QuranAali `Imraan (3): 79-80]

“Say: ‘Call unto those besides Him whom you pretend (to be gods). They have neither the power to remove the adversity from you nor even to shift it from you to another place. Those whom they call upon themselves seek and desire the means of approach to their Lord, as to which of them should be nearest and they hope for His Mercy and fear His Torment. Verily the Torment of your Lord is to be feared!” [ Quran al-Israa (17): 56-57]

Meaning that those people to whom the polytheists supplicate themselves are desiring and seeking a means of approach to draw close to their Lord. Ibn Abbaas and Mujaahid said, “they are `Eesaa and his mother, `Uzayr, the Angels, the sun, the moon and the stars.” [3]

Ibn Mas`ud said, “a group of people used to worship a party of the Jinn. The Jinn then accepted Islaam and the people who used to worship them were unaware of this and stuck to their worshipping them and Allaah condemned them.” [4]

Therefore according to all the opinions concerning the meaning of this verse, Allaah censured whosoever supplicated to a created being when in fact that created being itself worships Allaah and seeks to draw close to Him – hoping and fearing Him. Included in this are all of the Angels, the Prophets and the righteous from amongst mankind and Jinns.

So if it is not permissible to supplicate to these creatures that have been exalted and are close to Allaah then it is even more the case that those disobedient to Allaah, such as the satans and jinns, cannot be supplicated to. The verse refers unrestrictedly to all who supplicate to other than Allaah.

He made clear that the person who is supplicated to is not able to remove any harm from the supplicator or even shift the harm to another place saying,

“Say: ‘Call upon those whom you assert (to be gods) besides Allaah, they possess not even an atoms weight – either in the heavens of the earth, nor have they any share in either, nor is there for Him any supporter from among them. Intercession with Him is of no avail except for him who He permits.” [ Quran as-Saba (34): 22-23]

Therefore Allaah explained that the created being does not have the sovereignty just as he does not have any share in it and just as he does not help Allaah in any form of fashion. All he can have is the ability to intercede but this intercession is of no avail unless Allaah grant him permission to intercede. Allaah said,

“And they worship besides Allaah things that hurt them not nor profit them and they say: ‘these are our intercessors with Allaah.’ Say: ‘Do you inform Allaah of that which He knows not in the heavens and the earth?’ Glorified be Allaah, Exalted is He above all that they associate with Him.” [ QuranYunus (10): 18]
“And warn therewith those who fear that they will be gathered before their Lord, when their will be neither a protector nor an intercessor for them besides Him.” [ Quran al-An`aam (6): 51]

“But remind them with (the Qur`aan) lest a person be given up to destruction for that which he has earned, when he will find for himself no protector or intercessor besides Allaah.” [ Quran al-An`aam (6): 70]

“Allaah, it is He Who created the heavens and the earth and all that is between them in Six Days, then He Rose over the Throne. You have none besides Him as a protector or an intercessor, will you then no take heed?” [ Quran as-Sajdah (32): 4]

“Surely, your Lord is Allaah Who created the heavens and the earth in Six Days and then Rose Over the Throne, disposing the affair of all things. No intercessor (can plead with Him) except after His leave. That is Allaah, your Lord; so worship Him (Alone) so will you not take heed?” [ QuranYunus (10 ): 3]

“Who is there that can intercede with Him except after His permission?” [ Quran al-Baqarah (2): 255]

“And how many are the Angels in the heavens whose intercession will be of no avail except after Allaah has given leave for whomsoever He Wills and Pleases.” [ Quran an-Najm (53): 26]

Chapter Three
The misguided people call to the religion of some unknown entity not possessing any authority sent down from Allaah for what they call to. Allaah, the Exalted says,

Say: ‘The things that my Lord has indeed forbidden are all indecent actions, whether committed openly or secretly, sins of all kinds, oppression, joining partners with Allaah for which He has given no authority, and saying things about Allaah of which you have no knowledge.” [ Quran al-A`raaf (7): 33]
“And they have assign a portion of that which We have provided them unto what they know not (false deities). By Allaah, you shall certainly be questioned about all that you used to fabricate.” [ Quran an-Nahl (16): 56]

Allaah said concerning the believers from amongst the people of Pharaoh that they said,

“And O my people! How is it that I call you to salvation while you call me to the Fire! You invite me to disbelieve in Allaah and to join partners with Him; that of which I have no knowledge, and I invite you to the All-Mighty, the Oft-Forgiving. No doubt you call me to one who cannot grant me me request (or respond to me invocation) in this world or the Hereafter.” [ Quran Ghaafir (40): 41-42]

Allaah said,

“And they worship besides Allaah others for which He has sent down no authority, and of that which they have no knowledge and the wrong-doers shall have no helpers.” [ Quran al-Hajj (22): 71]

Authority means: the revelation that is sent down from Allaah. Allaah said,

“Or have We revealed to them a Scripture which speaks of that which they have been associating with Him?” [ Quran ar-Rum (30): 35]
“They are but names which you have names – you and your fathers – for which Allaah has sent down no authority.” [ Quran an-Najm (53):23]

The religion that has been revealed is none other than the religion that Allaah, the Mighty and Magnificent, has legislated whereas the people of misguidance follow a religion that does not concord to the legislation that has been revealed and neither do they have knowledge of it. Indeed all they do is follow their vain desires and all they find that would satisfy their base desires.

This is why the true scholars enjoin one to follow the Legislation and knowledge and they censure the worshipers who do not follow these two things just as Allaah said,

“And they worship besides Allaah other for which He has sent down no authority and of that which they have no knowledge and the wrong-doers shall have no helpers.” [ Quran al-Hajj (22): 71]

This is why Allaah demanded knowledge and authority from the misguided in His words,

“Say: ‘Has he forbidden the two males or the two females, or (the young) which the wombs of the two females enclose? Inform me with knowledge if you are truthful.” [ Quran al-An`aam (6): 143]

Hence explaining that the truthful one is the one who is upon certain knowledge of what he says and believes, whereas the one who has no knowledge to back what he says and believes is spreading lies against Allaah. Allaah says,

“Say: ‘Tell me what provision Allaah has sent down to you! And you have made of it lawful and unlawful.’ Say: ‘Has Allaah permitted you, or do you invent a lie against Allaah?” [ QuranYunus (10): 59]
“And say not concerning that which you tongues put forth falsely: ‘this is lawful and this is unlawful’ so as to invent lies against Allaah. Indeed those invent lies against Allaah will never prosper.” [ Quran an-Nahl (16): 116]

“O Mankind! Eat of that which is good and lawful on the earth and follow not the footsteps of Satan. Indeed he is to you and open enemy. He commands you only to what is evil and indecent and that you should say against Allaah what you know not.” [ Quran al-Baqarah (2): 168-169]

“O People of the Scripture! Do not exceed the limits in your religion, nor say of Allaah aught but the truth.” [ Quran an-Nisaa (4): 171]

“Then after them succeeded an evil generation who inherited the Book but they chose (for themselves) the goods of this low life saying: ‘everything will be forgiven us.’ And if again the offer of the similar goods came their way they would again seize them. Was not the covenant of the Book taken from them that they would not say about Allaah anything but the truth? And they have studied what is in the Book and the Home of the Hereafter is better for those who are God-fearing. Do you not then understand? And as to those who hold fast to the Book and establish the prayers, certainly, We shall never waste the reward of those who do righteous deeds.” [ Quraan al-A`raaf (7): 169-170]

Chapter Four
There are two types of people who report hadeeth from the Prophet (peace be upon him): the trustworthy and precise; and those who are not trustworthy and precise.

From amongst this second category are those who deliberate lies while most of them do not do this but it is possible that one of them narrate a lie due to having weak memory. The scholars have criticised both these types of people [in this second category] in order to preserve the religion from addition and subtraction.

As for those who speak based upon their opinions, research, understanding, and what their hearts find contentment with then their words are of two types: whatsoever agrees with the Messenger (peace be upon him) then it is the truth and whatsoever opposes him is in error. Most of these people do not deliberately err but do so unintentionally but there are some who deliberately say something that is not true knowing that the truth lies elsewhere.

Chapter Five
The best of creation after the Prophets, those with the most complete knowledge and religion, those who clung firmest to the rope of Allaah and who followed the religion of Islaam most closely were the Companions of the Messenger of Allaah (peace be upon him).

Indeed the nation of Muhammad (peace be upon him) is the best of nations, and the Companions are the best of the nation of Muhammad (peace be upon him) as is established in the Saheeh with a number of different wordings that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “the best of generations is the generation in which I have been sent, then those who follow them, then those who follow them.” [5] Allaah, the Glorious, has informed us that He is Pleased with the fore-runners and is Pleased with those who follow them in good saying,

“The fore-runners, the first to embrace Islaam of the Muhaajiroon and the Ansaar, and those who followed them in good. Allaah is well-pleased with them as they are well-pleased with Him. He has prepared for them Gardens under which rivers flow, to dwell therein forever. That is the supreme success.” [ Quran at-Tawbah (9): 100]

These fore-runners are those who gave the pledge of allegiance under the tree and they were the one who gave in charity from the beginning and they were the ones who fought (alongside the Messenger) in all the battles before the conquest of Hudaybiyyah. Allaah said,

“Not equal among you are those who spent and fought before the conquest (with those among you who did so after). Such are higher in degree than those who spent and fought afterwards. But to all Allaah has promised the best reward and Allaah is All-Aware of what you do.” [ Quran al-Hadeed (57): 10]

It is established in Saheeh Muslim that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “whosoever gave the pledge of allegiance under the tree shall not enter the Fire.” [6] In Saheeh Bukhaaree and Muslim from Jaabir that “the Messenger of Allaah (peace be upon him) said to us on the Day of Hudaybiyyah, ‘you are the best people on the face of the earth,’ and we numbered fourteen hundred and if I could see now I would show you the place under the Tree (where we gave our pledge of allegiance).” [7] It was these people and those who followed them that Allaah promised the best reward.

The way of the Companions of the Prophet (peace be upon him) was that they would worship Allaah Alone in the way they were commanded by their Prophet. Therefore the lawful was what he made to be lawful, the unlawful was what he prohibited and the religion comprised of only what he legislated. They prayed the five daily prayers at their correct times in congregation in the Mosques as they had been ordered to do so by Allaah. They fasted the month of Ramadaan, they performed the Hajj to the Ancient House, they gave in zakaah, they enjoined the good and forbade the evil and they performed Jihaad in the Way of Allaah. They worshipped Allaah through doing everything that their Prophet ordered them to do, they did not worship any save Allaah and they did not supplicate to anything else alongside Allaah – not anything in the heavens or the earth, not the Angels, the stars, the Prophets and those who resembled them most after them. Rather they knew that doing any of this was from associating partners with Allaah which Allaah and His Messenger had explicitly forbidden.

They did not supplicate to a created object, nor an Angel, or a Jinn, or a man be he a Prophet or other than a Prophet – neither at his grave nor in his absence. They did not seek help except with Allaah and they did not seek victory except with Allaah. They did not put their trust in anything other than Allaah and they did not supplicate to any created being be he absent or dead, neither did they seek succour and relief with him, they did not complain to him and they did not seek forgiveness, guidance or victory from him. Rather they sought all of this from Allaah Alone.

They did not do what the Christians used to do and seek intercession with the Angels or the Prophets and the righteous who have passed away at their graves or away from their graves. Not one of them called out saying, “O Jibreel, O Meekaa`eel intercede for me with Allaah,” just as they did not say, “O Ibraaheem, O Musaa, O `Eesaa, intercede for me with Allaah,” as was done by the Christians. Instead they knew that nothing is to be sought from the absent and the one who has died. They knew that the Angels do nothing except that which Allaah commanded them to do and they do not intercede except for the one with whom the Lord is Pleased. The same being true for the Prophets and the righteous. However it is possible to seek supplication or intercession from them during their lifetimes as the Companions used to so with the Prophet (peace be upon him) and as the creation will seek intercession from him on the Day of Judgement. Abundant peace and blessings be upon him.

Chapter Six
They used to pray the five daily prayers behind the Prophet (peace be upon him) and behind others from the Imaams. There used to be a mosque for every inhabitation of the Ansaar and they used to have an Imaam behind whom they prayed the prayers with the exception of Jumu`ah and `Eid which they prayed behind the Prophet (peace be upon him). These were the inhabitants of Madeenah. Madeenah was a large area having no defined boundary, rather it consisted of places dispersed over an area, each tribe had their own area with a Mosque, graveyard and homes that were used to differentiate between the area of another tribe. The title ‘Madeenah’ included all of this and the only people that were not included under this name were the Bedouin Arabs. Allaah said,

“Certain of the desert Arabs round about you are hypocrites as well as among the inhabitants of Madeenah.” [ Quran at-Tawbah (9): 101]

Those who tilled the land were from amongst the inhabitants of Madeenah and they were none other than the Ansaar. The living area of each tribe was called ‘home’ (daar) and the meaning of ‘home’ here referred to the tribe itself. The Prophet (peace be upon him) ordered that Mosques be built in each of these ‘homes’ and that they should be cleaned and scented.

In the authentic hadeeth there occurs, “Madeenah is sanctified between `Ayr and Thawr.” [ Quran8] Ayr is a mountain near Dhul Haleefah and its rear side resembles the back of an `ayr which is a donkey. Thawr is a small mountain near Uhud and it does not refer to Mount Thawr that is in Mecca. This hadeeth fooled some scholars into thinking that Madeenah constituted everything from `Ayr to Mount Thawr in Mecca. He (peace be upon him) said, “I sanctify whatsoever lies between its two mountains” [ Quran9] And the Arab said to him, “there is no family between the two mountains of Madeenah who is poorer than us.” [ Quran10]

Hence everything between its two mountains constitutes Madeenah and that is what lies between `Ayr and Thawr.

The Companions used to invoke prayers (salaah) and peace (salaam) upon the Prophet (peace be upon him) in their daily prayers as ordered by Allaah and His Messenger (peace be upon him) saying in their tashahhud, “peace be upon you O Prophet, and the Mercy of Allaah and His Blessings.” [11]

They used to invoke blessings upon him in the way that he (peace be upon him) taught them, for example their saying, “O Allaah send Your prayers upon Muhammad and upon the family of Muhammad just as You sent your prayers upon the family of Abraham, indeed you are the Praiseworthy, the Glorious. And send Your blessings upon Muhammad and the family of Muhammad just as you sent Your blessings upon the family of Abraham, indeed you are the Praiseworthy, the Glorious.” [12]

This hadeeth as also been reported with the wording, “just as You sent Your prayers upon Abraham” [13]

It has also been reported with the wording, “just as You sent Your prayers upon Abraham and the family of Abraham.” [14]

It is established from him (peace be upon him) in the Saheeh that he said, “whosoever invokes prayers upon me once, Allaah sends prayers upon him ten times.” [15]

A similar hadeeth is reported with regards to sending peace upon him that whosoever sends peace upon him once, Allaah sends peace upon him ten times. [16]

Therefore when they invoked prayers and peace upon him (peace be upon him), Allaah sent prayers and peace upon them (ten times).

This invocation of peace (salaam) [ Quransaid in the prayer and in the absence of the Prophet] was not of the type that the Prophet (peace be upon him) would reply to, rather the type of salaam that he replied to was when they met him and greeted him. As for the salaam said in the prayer then this was like the invocation of prayers (salaah) upon him in the prayer – it was Allaah who replied to them tenfold.

When the Allaah caused His Prophet (peace be upon him) to pass away the Companions continued upon what they were upon during his lifetime. They and the Taabi`een used to pray behind Abu Bakr, `Umar, `Uthmaan and `Alee in his (peace be upon him) Mosque just as they used to pray behind others. However these four led the prayers in his Mosque – Abu Bakr and `Umar until they died, `Uthmaan until he was besieged and `Alee before he moved to Iraq. The pledge of allegiance was given to these four in his Mosque and this is why Imaam Ahmad bin Hanbal said, “every pledge of allegiance that was given in Madeenah was for the Khilaafah upon the Prophetic way.”

They continued praying the five daily prayers and invoking salaah and salaam upon him in them. They used to supplicate to Allaah during the prayers and outside of the prayers knowing that this was sufficient for them and in fact sufficed them from anything else from those matters that the Prophet (peace be upon him) had not commanded or legislated.

When he (peace be upon him) died, he was buried in the room of Aa`ishah, in the same room in which he became ill. The rooms of his wives were to the east and to the rear of his Mosque, joining on to the Mosque. Allaah mentioned them in His saying,

“Those who call out to you from without the Inner Apartments, most of them lack understanding.” [ Quraan al-Hujuraat (49): 4]

These houses belonged to him and his wives. Allaah mentioned this in His sayings,

“O you who believe! Do not enter the houses of the Prophet until leave is given you.” [ Quran al-Ahzaab (33): 53]
“And stay quietly in your houses…” [ Quraan al-Ahzaab (33): 33]

In Two Saheehs from Aa`ishah (RA) that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said during the illness from which he died, “Allaah cursed the Jews and the Christians, they took the graves of their Prophets as Mosques.” [17] And via another route, “except that he feared that it would be taken as a Mosque.” [18]

Aa`ishah said, “had it not been for this his grave would have been raised but it was feared that it would be taken as a Mosque,” [19] the wording of Bukhaaree has, “except that I feared it would be taken as a Mosque.” [20]

In Saheeh Muslim from the hadeeth of Jundub bin Abdullaah that he heard the Prophet (peace be upon him) saying five days before he died, “I stand acquitted before Allaah that I should take a beloved friend (khaleel) from amongst you for indeed Allaah has taken me as His beloved friend just as He took Abraham as a beloved friend. If I had taken a beloved friend from my nation then I would have taken Abu Bakr. Indeed those who came before you took the graves of their Prophets and Righteous as Mosques, do not take graves as Mosques for indeed I forbid you from this.” [21]

In the Two Saheehs from Aa`ishah and ibn Abbaas that they said, “when the Messenger of Allaah (peace be upon him) was about to breathe his last he drew his sheet upon his face. When he felt uneasy he uncovered his face and said, ‘the curse of Allaah be upon the Jews and Christians, they took the graves of their Prophets as Mosques,’ warning from their practice.” [22]

In the Two Saheehs from Abu Hurayrah that the Messenger of Allaah (peace be upon him) said, “may Allaah destroy the Jews and Christians, they took the graves of their Prophets as Mosques.” [ Quran23]The wording of Muslim has, “Allaah cursed the Jews and Christians, they took the graves of their Prophets as Mosques.” [ Quran24]

In the Musnad and Saheeh Abee Haatim that he said, “from the worst of people are those upon whom the Hour will be established and those who took graves as Mosques.” [25]

In the Muwatta of Maalik that he (peace be upon him) said, “O Allaah do not make my grave an idol that is worshipped. The Anger of Allaah was severe upon a people who took the graves of their Prophets as Mosques.” [26]

In the Sunan of Abu Daawood and other from the Prophet (peace be upon him) that he said, “do not take my grave as a place of festivity and invoke prayers upon me wheresoever you may be for indeed they are conveyed to me.” [27]

In the Sunan of Sa`eed bin Mansoor that Abdullaah bin Hasan bin Hasan bin [ QuranAlee bin] Abee Taalib[28] – and he is from the most noble Hasans during the period of the tab`a taabi`een – that he peace be upon him a person frequenting the grave of the Prophet (peace be upon him) and said, “O person indeed the Messenger of Allaah said, “do not take my grave as a place of festivity and invoke prayers upon me wheresoever you may be for indeed they are conveyed to me.” You and a person in Andulus are equivalent with regards to this.” [29]

In the Sunan of Abu Daawood and others from Aws bin Aws ath-Thaqafee that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “frequent the salaah upon me on the day and night of Jumu`ah for indeed your salaah is presented to me.” They said, ‘O Messenger of Allaah how can our salaah be presented to you after you have passed away?’ He replied, “indeed Allaah has forbidden the earth from eating the flesh of the Prophets.” [30]

In an-Nasaa`ee and ibn Hibbaan and others from ibn Mas`ud from the Prophet (peace be upon him) that he said, “indeed Allaah has Angels roaming the earth who convey to me the salaam of my nation.” [31]

We have been informed that the salaah and salaam reaches him from near and far through his saying, “send salaah upon me from wheresoever you may be for indeed your salaah is conveyed to me,” and his saying, “do not take my grave as a place of festivity.” Similarly the salaam reaches him from near and far as in his saying, “indeed Allaah has Angels roaming the earth who convey to me the salaam of my nation.”

So when every Muslim says in his prayer, “peace be upon you O Prophet, and the blessings and mercy of Allaah” then this reaches him (peace be upon him).

The Companions and the Taabi`een knew that this salaam was better and more virtuous then the salaam said to him (peace be upon him) at his grave to which he replied because the salaam said upon greeting is shared by the Muslims as occurs in the hadeeth, “there is not a person who passes by the grave of someone who he knew while alive except that Allaah returns his soul to him so that he may reply to the salaam.” [32]

However the salaam through which one worships in the prayer, which in fact one has been commanded to say in prayer, is answered by Allaah tenfold whereas this other type of salaam that is said is answered by him (peace be upon him) just as he would have answered during his lifetime.

All of the Companions used to send salaam upon him in every prayer and on some occasions used to go to him and extend the salaam to him. So the first salaam has been ordered by Allaah to be said in every prayer whereas the second type of salaam has only been legislated upon meeting him. The reward of the first type of salaam is greater because Allaah returns the salaam tenfold whereas only the Messenger answers the second type.

He also taught them to say upon entering the Mosque, “with the Name of Allaah, peace be upon the Messenger of Allaah, O Allaah forgive me my sins and open for me the gates of Your Mercy,” and upon leaving the Mosque to say, “with the Name of Allaah, peace be upon the Messenger of Allaah, and open for me the gates of Your Bounty.” [ 33]

Many people took the graves of their Prophets as places of festivities and as objects of worship and through them committed shirk with Allaah after their death whereas during their lifetimes it was impossible for any of them to commit shirk through them or to take them as lords (besides Allaah). This is why the Companions of the Messenger of Allaah (peace be upon him) and those who followed them strictly adhered to the tawheed with which Allaah sent His Messenger, they avoided all that he forbade them from such as shirk and the means of falling into it. They followed his command to prohibit people (from doing this) by his grave so that shirk would not occur through him. Therefore the performance of evil near him was prevented after his death just as it was prevented during his (peace be upon him) lifetime.

This is one of his excellent qualities and one of the excellent qualities of his nation for there is no Prophet after him and his nation cannot gather and unite upon misguidance. If his grave were to be raised then many ignorant people would desire to take it as a Mosque, an idol and a place of festivity. Instead he was buried in the room, hidden away from the people and therefore no one was able to commit shirk through him and neither to take him as an idol or perform any evil near his grave. Hence this situation became specific to him – not shared by anyone else (who was righteous for shirk was committed through them). This is because his Mosque was built upon taqwaa, and it is legislated to make a journey to it, and performing worship in it is of extra merit and there is no Mosque near the grave of any other to which it is legislated journey to, indeed many of those other Mosques have been built as a result of graves and this is prohibited, the Prophet (peace be upon him) warned his nation from this, cursing those who did it.

The Mosque of the Prophet (peace be upon him) was built upon taqwaa, and it is the best of Mosques after the Holy Mosque and it is said: rather it is the best of all Mosques. To perform prayer in it is better than a thousand prayers in any other Mosque (except the Holy Mosque) and journeying to it is legislated and recommended.

As for enacting the prohibited matters then this is not possible to be done by his grave. It is not possible for anyone to visit his grave and travel to it as it is possible for them to visit any other grave such that they can do whatever (prohibited matter) they desire. It is established in the Saheeh that he (peace be upon him) said, “do not sit on the graves and do not pray towards them.” [34] Also he forbade people from taking the graves as Mosques as has just preceded. The reason for all of this is because the basis for the shirk that occurred amongst the children of Aadam was by their committing shirk through the graves of their righteous. The first shirk that appeared was amongst the people of Nuh. Abdullaah bin Abbaas (RA) said, “between Aadam and Nuh were ten generations all of them upon Islaam.” [35]It is also established in the Saheeh that the people will say on the Day of Judgement (while asking for intercession), “O Nuh you are the first Messenger that Allaah sent to the inhabitants of the earth.” [36]

This is why Allaah did not mention a Messenger who came before Nuh and neither did He mention a nation that was destroyed before the nation of Nuh. Allaah said, while narrating his story,

“They said: ‘do not abandon your gods, abandon not Wadd, Suwa, Yaguth, Ya`uq and Nasr.’ They have already misled many; and do not increase the wrong-doers in anything save misguidance.” [ Quran Nuh (71): 23-24]

A group of the Salaf said, from amongst them Muhammad bin Ka`b al-Qardhee, “these were the names of a righteous people who lived some time between Aadam and Nuh. When they died they had a following who followed them and took to their way of worship. Then Iblees came to them and said, ‘if only you depicted forms for them then this would increase your eagerness to worship.’ They did this, then a people arose after them and Satan came to them and said, ‘indeed those who came before you used to worship them’ and so they worshipped them.” Reported by Abd bin Humaid in his tafseer from Muhammad bin Ka`b. [37]

This then was the beginning of the worship of statues and these statues were called by these names (mentioned in the verse) because these statues were made in the forms of those Muslims.

Bukhaaree mentions in his Saheeh from `Ataa from ibn Abbaas who said, “the idols that were worshipped by the People of Nuh also came to be worshipped by the Arab who came after. As for the idol Wadd, it was worshipped by the tribe of Kalb at Dawmatul Jandal. Suwa was the idol of Bani Hudhayl and Yaguth was the idol of the tribe of Muraad and then by Bani Ghutaif at al-Jurf near Saba. Ya`uq was the idol of Himyr.” [38]

…To Be Continued Insha’Allah

Footnotes
{1} Saheeh Muslim [Eng. Trans. 1/267 no.'s 1071-1075 ]
{2} Saheeh Bukhaaree [Eng. Trans. 4/434 no.'s 651,652], Saheeh Muslim [Eng. Trans. 4/1260 no.'s 5834-5836]

{3} Refer to ‘ad-Durr al-Manthoor’ [ 4/189-190]

{4}ibid.

{5} A similar wording has been reported by Bukhaaree [Eng. Trans. 5/2 no. 3] and Muslim [Eng. Trans. 4/1345 no.'s 6150-6159]

{6} A similar wording has been reported by Muslim [Eng. Trans. 4/1332 no. 6090] and at-Tirmidhee [ 5/357]

{7} Reported by Bukhaaree [Eng. Trans. 5/337 no. 475] and a similar wording has been reported by Muslim [Eng. Trans. 3/1035 no. 4580]

{8} Reported by Bukhaaree [Eng. Trans. 3/56 no. 97] with similar wording and Muslim [Eng. Trans. 2/688 no. 3163]

{9} A similar wording is reported by Bukhaaree [Eng. Trans. 3/54 no. 93] and the wording given is that of Muslim [Eng. Trans. 2/686 no. 3153]

{10} Reported by Bukhaaree [Eng. Trans. 3/89 no.157] with the words ‘Ahwaj’ instead of ‘Afqar’ and Muslim [Eng. Trans. 2/540 no. 2457]

{11} Reported by Bukhaaree [Eng. Trans. 1/441 no. 794] and Muslim [Eng. Trans. 1/221 no. 793]

{12} Reported by Bukhaaree [Eng. Trans. 6/302 no. 320] and Muslim [Eng. Trans. 1/223 no.'s 803-808]

{13} Reported by Bukhaaree [Eng. Trans. 6/303 no. 321] and Muslim [Eng. Trans. 1/223 no. 807]

{14} Reported by Bukhaaree [Eng. Trans. 6/303 no. 322]

{15} Reported by Muslim [Eng. Trans. 1/224 no. 808]

{16} Reported by an-Nasaa`ee [ Quran3/44] with the wording, “no one sends peace upon you except that I send peace upon him ten times,” and it was declared hasan by al-Albaanee in ‘Saheeh an-Nasaa`ee’ [ Quran1/274]

{17} Reported by Bukhaaree [Eng. Trans. 2/267 no. 472] and Muslim [Eng. Trans. 1/268 no. 1079]

{18} Reported by Bukhaaree [Eng. Trans. 2/267 no. 472]

{19} A similar wording is reported by Muslim [Eng. Trans. 1/268 no. 1079]

{20} Reported by Bukhaaree [Eng. Trans. 2/232 no. 414]

{21} Reported by Muslim [Eng. Trans. 1/269 no. 1083]

{22} Reported by Bukhaaree [Eng. Trans. 1/255 no. 427] and Muslim [Eng. Trans. 1/269 no. 1082]

{23} Reported by Bukhaaree [Eng. Trans. 1/255 no. 428] and Muslim [Eng. Trans. 1/269 no. 1080]

{24} Reported by Muslim [Eng. Trans. 1/269 no. 1081]

{25} Ahmad [1/435] and Ahmad Shaakir said in his notes to the Musnad, “its isnaad is saheeh.”[Hadith 5/324]

{26} al-Muwatta [ 1/244]. Ahmad [f2/246] also reports the hadeeth from Abu Hurayrah with the words, “O Allaah do not make my grave an idol that is worshipped. Allaah cursed a people who took the graves of their Prophets as Mosques.” Ahmad Shaakir said in his notes upon the Musnad, “its isnaad is saheeh.” [ Hadith 13/86]

{27} Abu Daawood [Eng. Trans. 2/542 no. 2037] and it was declared saheeh by Al-Albaanee in Saheeh al-Jaami` [Hadith 2/1211]

{28} He is the noble, trustworthy and precise scholar. He died in the year 145H at the age of 75. Refer to ‘Taqreeb at-Tahdheeb’ [ Hadith no. 3292]

{29} Shaykh al-Islaam said in his book, ‘ar-Radd alaa al-Akhnaa`ee’ [pg. 93], “and Sa`eed also said – i.e. Sa`eed bin Mansoor – Abdul Azeez bin Muhammad reported to us that Suhail bin Abee Suhail said, ‘al-Hasan bin Hasan bin Alee bin Abee Taalib peace be upon him me at the grave and called to me from the house of Faatimah when it was close to the time of `Ishaa saying, “come to `Ishaa!” I replied, “I do not wish to.” He said, “why do I see you by the grave?” I said, “I sent my salaam upon the Prophet (peace be upon him).” He replied, “when you enter the Mosque then send your salaam upon him for the Messenger of Allaah (peace be upon him) said, “do not take my grave as a place of festivities and invoke prayers upon me wheresoever you may be for indeed they are conveyed to me.” Therefore you and a person in Andulus are equivalent (with regards to this).’

Qaadee Ismaa`eel bin Ishaaq reported this in his ‘Fadl as-Salaah `alaa an-Nabee (peace be upon him)’ without mentioning the addition, “you and a person in Andulus are equivalent (with regards to this).” This is because his opinion is that it is better for the one who is leaving or returning from a journey to send the salaam upon him from the side of the grave and that those outside of Madeenah send their salaams upon him when entering and leaving the Mosque and therefore the people of Madeenah have a ranking above those outside Madeenah with regard to this. As for al-Hasan bin al-Hasan and others then they did not differentiate between the inhabitants of Madeenah and those outside Madeenah and neither between the traveler and the resident.” Refer to ‘Fadl as-Salaah `alaa an-Nabee (peace be upon him)’ [no. 20, 30] of Qaadee Ismaa`eel bin Ishaaq.

Ibn Abee Shaybah [ Hadith 4/345] reported a similar wording without the addition, “you and a person…” and likewise Abdur Razzaaq [ Hadith 3/577] in his ‘Musannaf’.

{30} Reported by Abu Daawood [Eng. Trans. 1/269 no. 1042], ibn Maajah [Hadith 1/524], Ahmad [Hadith 4/2] and al-Haakim [Hadith 1/278] who said, ‘it is saheeh, meeting the criteria of Bukhaaree’ and adh-Dhahabee agreed.

{31} Reported by an-Nasaa`ee [Hadith 2/43], ibn Hibbaan [ Hadith 2/134] and declared saheeh by al-Albaanee in ‘Saheeh al-Jaami’ [Hadith 1/434]

{32} A similar hadeeth is reported by al-Bayhaqee in ‘ash-Shu`ab’, ibn Abee ad-Dunya in ‘al-Quboor’, as-Saaboonee in ‘al-Mi`atayn’, ibn Abdul Barr in ‘al-Istidhkaar’ and ‘at-Tamheed’ and was declared saheeh by Abdul Haqq as mentioned by as-Suyutee in ‘Sharh as-Sudoor’ [pg. 84]. Ibn al-Qayyim mentioned that ibn Abdul Barr declared it saheeh in ‘ar-Ruh’ [pg. 8]

{33} Reported by ibn Maajah [1/253] and Ahmad [6/283]. The hadeeth was declared saheeh by al-Albaanee in ‘Saheeh ibn Maajah’ [1/128-129]

{34} Reported by Muslim [Hadith Eng. Trans. 2/460 no. 2121]

{35} Ibn Jareer reports a similar narration in his tafseer [Hadith 4/275] and al-Haakim [Hadith 2/546] who said that it was saheeh according to the conditions of Bukhaaree and Muslim and adh-Dhahabee agreed.

{36} Bukhaaree reports a similar hadeeth to this [ Eng. Trans. 6/198 no. 236] and Muslim [Eng. Trans.]

{37} Mentioned by as-Suyutee in ‘ad-Durr al-Munthoor’ [ Hadith 6/269]

{38} Reported by Bukhaaree [ Eng. Trans. 6/198 no. 236]. Al-Haafidh ibn Hajr al-Asqalaanee said in ‘Fath’ [6/83], ”

Well, it’s that time of year again, time for Thanksgiving and Black Friday, the two busiest days of my life. One day I spent cooking and eating the greatest food on Earth, then I have a midday nap and I get ready to stand out in the cold so that I can get amazing shopping deals.   Though, I have figure out a way to even get more off on my Black Friday sales.  My master plan this year is to get gift certificates that at a discount on sites like citydeals or others and then use them for payment on my items.  This is what I call a double bonus, a genius move on my part!  Even though, my plan was to point out ways to get used items… you can’t pass up a good way to get new items either.

Welcome to my beginners guide To BlueFTP.

This is a (hopefully) easy guide for those who may not know exactly what to do and some features of this app require root permissions so you have to have root access to learn hot to root please see my other posts.

Start Up:

Upon opening you may get two pop-ups depending on your use of this application and bluetooth settings.

These pop-ups are

- Ask to enable bluetooth (if not already enabled)
- Application change log (shows 3 times per update)

If you want to send or receive files via bluetooth you will need to click OK or click cancel if you only want to use BlueFTP as a stand-alone file manager.

Once you clicked that it will display a message saying enabling bluetooth layer wait for this message to disappear and the change log will then show once you have read that click the button below the writing (it may not say last time like seen in the screenshot below).

Once bluetooth is enabled you will get one of two screens depending on if you have root access or not.

If you dont have root you will get the following message

If you have root access you won’t get that message above instead you will get a few of these

These are call SU Permissions and will enable you to send and receive files and as i said above you will get about 2 or 3.

I recommend clicking always allow to prevent having to do it on every start-up.

Once your passed those pop-ups you will see an icon in the notification bar of your device which tells you bluetooth is enabled and ready to be used.

You have now completed the Start-Up process.

Settings:
I will now explain what the settings mean.

To acess these press menu and click more and select settings you will then see the following

Object Push Profile (OPP  for short) is the settings for recieving files here is what the ones above mean.

Enabled – This means its all set and ready to recieve files.

Start at boot – This means if you turn off your device when you switch it on again BlueFTP will start automatically.

Stop when close – This means when you close BlueFTP it will shut off recieving of files.

Show notifications – This will display messages inside your notfication bar to let you know when a file is recieved.

Show messages – This will display “flying” messages to let you know when a file is recieved.

See next screenshot for more

Alert on recieve – This will display directly on the screen to let you know when a file is recieved.

Destination folder – This is where you define where you want the recieved files to be saved to.

Concurrent connections – This is where you choose how many devices can send you stuff at the same time (max 7)

I will discuss the rest after the next screenshot

File Transfer Profile (FTP  for short) is the settings for sending files here is what the ones above mean.

Enabled – This means its all set and ready to send files.

Start at boot – This means if you turn off your device when you switch it on again BlueFTP will start automatically.

Stop when close – This means when you close BlueFTP it will shut off sending of files.

Show notifications – This will display messages inside your notfication bar to let you know when a file is sent.

Show messages – This will display “flying” messages to let you know when a file is sent.

See next screenshot for more

Alert on recieve – This will display directly on the screen to let you know when a file is recieved.

Alert on send – This will display directly on the screen to let you know when a file is sent.

Shared folder – This is where you define where you want the files you wish to share to come from.

Concurrent connections – This is where you choose how many devices you can send stuff to at the same time (max 7)

Sending:
Here is what the contact sending looks like

Just mark the contacts you wish to send and the following screen will show

This is where you either choose the device you want to send to or search for a new device (more info below)

I’m now going to explain how to send files by bluetooth, this method works for any files you wish to send.

First locate the folder with the file/s you wish to send and click the box/es of the file/s you wish to send so it will look like this

Once you have selected the files click menu and the screen should now look like this

Select send (it will display how many items you wish to send for example 6 items) and you will now get a screen like this

It will automatically search for new devices in your area (noramlly only effective as far as a average sized bedroom so ensure the user is close when trying to connect )

If you can’t find your friends device ensure they have a bluetooth capable handset and that there bluetooth is enabled on their device (refer to phone user manual of your friends device or contact you service provider with you friends phone make and model for more info)

Remember BlueFTP doesn’t give the device your sending to bluetooth

Receiving:

Exiting:

Whales On Stilts, by M. T. Anderson (who wrote some teen novels renowned for their scariness) is an uncommonly layered book, with some nice parody of nostalgia that the adults will find funny and some cheesy humor that I liked, even though I’m supposed to be more sophisticated than that. (Yes, the headline made me get it. I mean, whales on stilts?) You’ve got your typical shy heroine whose father works at ACME Inc. (Ok, so I forgot the name. It’s your typical stock workplace.) He, of course, is completely clueless to the fact that his boss is A WHALE and is planning to unleash an army of WHALES ON STILTS to take over the world. Spoiler alert. You couldn’t have guessed that, could you?

Helpfully, she has some friends who just happen to have their own book series. Imagine that. They can help her thwart the evil WHALES ON STILTS. (Yes, I have to capitalize that every time.) These characters are great parody vehicles. I mean there’s your 50s era character who nobody cares about anymore, and the girl who fights paranormal creatures (Goosebumps, anyone?). This book is a parody of books, it’s an homage to books, but somehow it isn’t obviously derived from any books.

I love the fact that there are ironic nuggets in here that parents would like if they found themselves so bored that they started reading their kids’ books. Talk about being aware of your audience. This book is pretty genius.

As for the humor, I shouldn’t love it, but I do. There’s irony, there’s complete ridiculousness and there’s extreme cases of cluelessness. I never thought I’d write this, but it’s comparable to the Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy. Not nearly as wonderful, of course. But really, really good.

The characters are not regular, except for our “main” (Please! The other characters are worlds better!) character. She’s our stock believe-in-yourself-and-your-dreams-will-come-true girl. Why does there always have to be a moral? The Hitchhiker’s Guide didn’t have a moral. (Ok, so it did: Life Sucks or When The Vogons Destroy The World, Drink Plenty Of Beer.) The other two characters are nearly perfect captures of kids’ books’ heroes. They’re great characters.

Whales On Stilts is a great book that parodies kids’ books nicely. It has some great humor, but unfortunately, it also has a moral. I can never escape. Anyway, this book is good enough for 3 checks. Kids will like it and adults might like it. Read it.

Sometimes we all struggle to get motivated for a workout and could all do with a little inspirational kick every now and then, aside from caffeine, which usually works pretty well, music can really put a kick into your workout. Here I’ll list some good songs for you to exercise to on your iPod or any other mp3 device. Obviously you’ve all got different music tastes, some people could think of nothing more unbearable or non motivating than pulling up a Tiesto classic on their iPod, whereas I would much rather listen to that than some Slipknot headbanger, here’s a list of tunes I listen to and then some I’ve found using playlists.com.au, starting with my very own play-list, be warned, they are mostly dance tunes, so skip to the bottom if they don’t interest you!…….

My playlist
Darude – Feel the beat, Kernkraft – Zombie nation, Storm – Time to burn, Tenshi – Goureyella, Encore une Fois – Blunt edit, Spiller – Groovejet, Chicane – Offshore, You’re not alone, Riverside, Darude – Rush, Art of trance – Madagascar, 4 Sttrings – Diving, DJ Tiesto – Solarcoast, DJ Tiesto – Tranceport, Energy 52 – Cafe Del Mar, Scooter – No Fate, Paul Van Dyk – For an Angel, Faithless – God is a DJ, DJ Tiesto – Adagio For Strings.

Rock

Dance, Trance, House

Rap, RnB

Other Popular Workout Songs

Technorati Tags: good, songs, to, exercise, to, on, your, ipod, mp3, workout, tunes, dance, house, rap, rnb, tiesto

Great Quotable OneLiners And Cool Quote

What is originality? Undetected plagiarism

Inspirational One Liners

If wishes were horses beggars would ride

Inspirational Quotations

Rare gift! but oh what gift to fools avails!
Life is too short to stuff a mushroom

Coll Proverbs

Among them but not of them

Inspirational One Liners

Light is the task when many share the toil

The pen became a clarion

A poem is never finished only abandoned

You are at enmity with yourself

The highest result of education is tolerance

If you have a lemon make lemonade

I m not allowed to comment on lousy officiating

And spare the poet for his subject s sake

If it s worth doing it s worth doing badly.

Be smart but never show it

He mouths a sentence as curs mouth a bone

If I were two-faced would I be wearing this one?
dead in the water

The best policy is to declare victory and leave

Power is the ultimate aphrodisiac

Zeal then not charity became the guide

Who s to say what s right or wrong?
A eulogist of past times

A cheerful heart is good medicine

Famous Phrases

wisdom sayings

Inspirational Long Quotations And Cute Word

Precaution is better than cure

Famous One Liners

The end must justify the means

Popular Phrases

As shines the moon amid the lesser fires

Great Proverbs

Self Empowerment -Doc Childre

Nice One Liners

Work is love made visible

Often a noble face hides filthy ways

Don t overestimate the decency of the human race

Sped up my XT; ran it on 220v! Works greO?_

By words the mind is winged

Better a bare foote then none.
Sleep is death without the consequence

A child of those tears.
Our myriad-minded Shakespeare

In dog years I m dead

Politics is the art of the possible

To be adult is to be alone

Punishment is justice for the unjust

I could live a week on one good compliment

Confessed faults are half-mended

Hell is the wrath of God–His hate of sin

Our enemies will tell the rest with pleasure

He who awaits much can expect little

Sports do not build character. They reveal it

Cute Proverbs

short quotes

Nice Favorite Phrases And Cool Quote

Wherever you are – be all there

Coll Quotations

Tolerance is another word for indifference

Good Proverbs

Civilizations die from suicide not by murder

Famous Messages

Self Empowerment -Doc Childre

Great Phrases

stand up and salute the red white and blue

No Jesus – No Love.Know Jesus – Know Love

Procastination is the thief of Time

Ten thousand difficulties do not make one doubt

Marriage is a mistake every man should make

An empire is an immense egotism

Do sometimes sink with their own weights

The green retreats Of Academus

I am the toughest golfer mentally

While foulest fiends shun thy society

We can only hate the person whom we love

Bred in the lap of Republican Freedom

If this is living I d rather be dead

Power is the ultimate aphrodisiac

A bad forgery s the ultimate insult

Mistakes show us what we need to learn

Wisdom is scar tissue in disguise

Coll Proverbs

yearbook nice sayings

Cool People Quotations And Popular Saying

The times they are a-changing

Famous Proverbs

bread and butter play (football cliche)

Famous Phrases

Rare gift! but oh what gift to fools avails!
Life is too short to stuff a mushroom

Great Proverbs

Nobody s interested in sweetness and light

Good Words

Language is fossil poetry

Love without attachment is light

To live in hearts we leave behind Is not to die

I don t have a solution but I admire the problem

A root is a flower that disdains fame

Exclusive property is a theft against nature

Do sometimes sink with their own weights

The green retreats Of Academus

If it s worth doing it s worth doing badly.

This book fills a much-needed gap

has the cat got your tongue?
There s a sucker born every minute

Small Latin and less Greek

Diem perdidi I have lost a day
Wine makes all sorts of creatures at table

Keep your goals away from the trolls

Our enemies will tell the rest with pleasure

Sire I am my own Rudolph of Hapsburg

She just wore enough for modesty; no more!
More light!
I praise loudly I blame softly

Coll Messages

phrases sayings

Nice Long Phrases And Love Quotation

Criticism is an indirect form of self-boasting

Nice Words

Scratch a dog and you ll find a permanent job

Motivational Quotations

That s why I don t talk. Because I talk too much

Wise Quotes

I expect nothing. I fear no one. I am free

Popular Phrases

Language is fossil poetry

The only religion is kindness

You re the best Mom in the whole wide world!
The fool is always beginning to live

Half this game is ninety percent mental

By words the mind is winged

Two monologues do not make a dialogue

Honest hearts produce honest actions

Make ducks and drakes with shillings

I am the toughest golfer mentally

Happiness is not pleasure it s victory

Punishment is justice for the unjust

It takes a long time to understand nothing

The long arm of coincidence

Reborn Sappho wears monks saffron

Life is just part of the big picture

Man arrives as a novice at each age of his life

Never follow the crowd

Coll Words

famous quotes

Inspirational Quotable Quotations And Cute One Liner

Studious of ease and fond of humble things

Nice Words

You miss 100% of the shots you never take

Romantic Sayings

True or true? Yes or yes?

Great Quotes

Revolution is not a dinner party

Nice Phrases

When I was a shepherd on the plains of Assyria

It is said that gifts persuade even the gods

To live in hearts we leave behind Is not to die

A field becomes exhausted by constant tillage

Nor is heaven always at peace

Those who wish to sing always find a song

Individuality is freedom lived

going going gone

We always weaken whatever we exaggerate

A mistake is simply another way of doing things

Oh that the desert were my dwelling-place

Small Latin and less Greek

Let pride go afore shame will follow after

It is better to receive than to do an injury

A boy s will is the wind s will

Who dares nothing need hope for nothing

A wicked book cannot repent

Inspirational Messages

phrases sayings

Good Favorite OneLiners And Love One Liner

As certain as the Correggiosity of Correggio

Inspirational Proverbs

If wishes were horses beggars would ride

Meaningful One Liners

In oratory the will must predominate

Love Sayings

Intolerant only of intolerance

Motivational Phrases

Vows made in storms are forgotten in calms

It is said that gifts persuade even the gods

Architecture is frozen music.
The best way to fill time is to waste it

Platonic love is love from the neck up

Nor is heaven always at peace

Those who wish to sing always find a song

Instinct is the nose of the mind

Make ducks and drakes with shillings

The wisdom of our ancestors

Unhappy the land that is in need of heroes

Punishment is justice for the unjust

I could live a week on one good compliment

Angels fly because they take themselves lightly

The love of glory gives an immense stimulus

His hair stood upright like porcupine quills

Be Prepared

The brave find a home in every land.
God heals and the doctor takes the fee

Love Proverbs

wise graduation quotes

Romantic Favorite Phrases And Nice Proverb

Criticism is an indirect form of self-boasting

Inspirational Quotes

To make the plough go before the horse

Romantic One Liners

Rare gift! but oh what gift to fools avails!
Life is too short to stuff a mushroom

Wise Messages

Liars are always most disposed to swear.
Dreams are the touchstones of our character

Great Proverbs

stand up and salute the red white and blue

Smiled like yon knot of cowslips on a cliff

Praise undeserved is scandal in disguise

Platonic love is love from the neck up

Better a good heart than a fair face

SNAFU (situation normal all fucked up)

A mind quite vacant is a mind distressed

What s the good of it? for whose advantage

Their wants but few their wishes all confin d

Nothing happens unless first a dream

Who track the steps of Glory to the grave

Rebellion to tyrants is obedience to God

To be human means to feel inferior

Keep your goals away from the trolls

women: can t live with them can t kill them

Mistakes show us what we need to learn

To Rome for everything.
All diseases run into one old age

Love Proverbs

lovemsn quotes

Good Men Sayings And Cool One Liner

For I light my candle from their torches

Love Words

Save Gas Eat Beans!
midnight is where the day begins

Coll One Liners

Never spend your money before you have it

Wise Quotations

It is better to be faithful than famous

Motivational Phrases

To a boyling pot flies comes not.
Nothing dries sooner than a tear.
Touch a scientist and you touch a child

Experience is the teacher of fools.
They that know no evil will suspect none

Hills peep o er hills and Alps on Alps arise

Platonic love is love from the neck up

You cannot teach old dogs new tricks

Those who wish to sing always find a song

A mind quite vacant is a mind distressed

The green retreats Of Academus

the call of a loon across a quiet lake

Happiness is not pleasure it s victory

There is no future in time travel

On the other hand you have different fingers

To be human means to feel inferior

Power is the ultimate aphrodisiac

Would the cook were o my mind!
A crisis is a close encounter of the third kind

Who s to say what s right or wrong?
A eulogist of past times

Like trying to piss up a rope

Popular Sayings

sexy sayings

Popular Daily Phrases And Famous Quotation

As certain as the Correggiosity of Correggio

Inspirational Quotes

If wishes were horses beggars would ride

Coll Proverbs

That s why I don t talk. Because I talk too much

Popular One Liners

It ain t broke. Don t fix it

Coll Quotations

Light is the task when many share the toil

Flesh of thy flesh nor yet bone of thy bone

Good temper is an estate for life

Ten thousand difficulties do not make one doubt

A happy family is but an earlier heaven

Better a bare foote then none.
Sleep is death without the consequence

A mind quite vacant is a mind distressed

Look to the end of a long life

Familiar acts are beautiful through love

Abuse is the weapon of the vulgar

Cut Men s throats with whisperings

Small Latin and less Greek

Every one soon or late comes round by Rome

By low ambition and the thirst of praise

O my prophetic soul! My uncle

Who dares nothing need hope for nothing

Every man over forty is a scoundrel

Coll Phrases

short famous quotes

Motivational Amazing Phrases And Love One Liner

Studious of ease and fond of humble things

Good Quotations

To make the plough go before the horse

Meaningful Phrases

Rare gift! but oh what gift to fools avails!
Life is too short to stuff a mushroom

Good Proverbs

It is better to be faithful than famous

Great Proverbs

Thou shouldst eat to live; not live to eat.
A woman s greatest power is her vulnerability

It is said that gifts persuade even the gods

Literature is the thought of thinking Souls

Here lies who born a man a grocer died.
Defence not defiance

A happy family is but an earlier heaven

He comes never late who comes repentant

Instinct is the nose of the mind

A child is a curly dimpled lunatic

Their wants but few their wishes all confin d

Be merry if you are wise.
From wine what sudden friendship springs?
it will be worse

We can only hate the person whom we love

Borrowed garments never fit well

Better an ounce of luck than a pound of gold

By low ambition and the thirst of praise

Cunning . . . is but the low mimic of wisdom

Jove thou regent of the skies

Never trust the advice of a man in difficulties

Love Quotes

famous quotes

Good Quotable Quotes And Cute Quotation

Studious of ease and fond of humble things

Love One Liners

Scratch a dog and you ll find a permanent job

Love Quotations

As shines the moon amid the lesser fires

Wise Proverbs

I expect nothing. I fear no one. I am free

Love Phrases

say that your main crop is the forest

Smiled like yon knot of cowslips on a cliff

Architecture is frozen music.
The best way to fill time is to waste it

Sped up my XT; ran it on 220v! Works greO?_

You cannot teach old dogs new tricks

It s the good loser who finally loses out

Don t tell me peace has broken out

Love lasteth long as the money endureth

Easy as shooting fish in a barrel

The point is that you can t be too greedy

Cut Men s throats with whisperings

And those who paint em truest praise em most

Complaint is the largest tribute Heaven receives

By low ambition and the thirst of praise

His hair stood upright like porcupine quills

Love is a game that two can play and both win

The brave find a home in every land.
God heals and the doctor takes the fee

Wise One Liners

high school graduation quotes

Motivational Amazing Quotes And Famous Word

All that I know I learned after I was thirty

Meaningful Words

The Lofty Gate of the Royal Tent

Nice Messages

In defeat unbeatable; in victory unbearable

Love Proverbs

The impossible is often the untried

Coll Proverbs

To a boyling pot flies comes not.
Nothing dries sooner than a tear.
Touch a scientist and you touch a child

Smiled like yon knot of cowslips on a cliff

In a gentle way you can shake the world

Responsibility educates

A happy family is but an earlier heaven

If you have a lemon make lemonade

God does not play dice

You cannot make a revolution with silk gloves

We always weaken whatever we exaggerate

Happiness is not pleasure it s victory

There is no future in time travel

It is a tempest in a tumbler of water

If this is living I d rather be dead

Are you having a Blond day?
A pint of sweat will save a gallon of blood

Acting is a matter of giving away secrets

Mistakes show us what we need to learn

A wicked book cannot repent

Great Messages

wise witty quotes

Cool Amazing OneLiners And Romantic Message

If little else the brain is an educational toy

Meaningful Quotations

A hard man is good to find

Romantic Sayings

Never spend your money before you have it

Love Messages

Liars are always most disposed to swear.
Dreams are the touchstones of our character

Great One Liners

Light is the task when many share the toil

March: Its stone Bloodstone

The sharp employ the sharp

Accurate information is a key part of motivation

You cannot teach old dogs new tricks

SNAFU (situation normal all fucked up)

Take a slow boat to china

And spare the poet for his subject s sake

Brevity is a great charm of eloquence

While foulest fiends shun thy society

Indolence is the sleep of the mind

And those who paint em truest praise em most

Confessed faults are half-mended

Keep your goals away from the trolls

Nothing is so good as it seems beforehand

He who awaits much can expect little

Like trying to piss up a rope

Wise Messages

great sayings

Popular Favorite Phrases And Famous Proverb

If little else the brain is an educational toy

Popular Phrases

The Lofty Gate of the Royal Tent

Nice Quotations

And hail their queen fair regent of the night

Love Phrases

Agreement exists in disagreement.
Debt is the worst poverty

Inspirational Proverbs

To a boyling pot flies comes not.
Nothing dries sooner than a tear.
Touch a scientist and you touch a child

I am ready any time. Do not keep me waiting

Architecture is frozen music.
The best way to fill time is to waste it

Platonic love is love from the neck up

Better a good heart than a fair face

At all times it is better to have a method

Man s extremity is God s opportunity

run with the hare hunt with the hounds

God never made His work for man to mend

Unhappy the land that is in need of heroes

Cut Men s throats with whisperings

If money could talk it would say goodbye

between the sword and the wall (Spanish)

Patience and Gentleness is Power. – Leigh Hunt
Desperate times call for desperate measures

His hair stood upright like porcupine quills

Be Prepared

Like trying to piss up a rope

Famous Words

memorable one liners

Cool Daily OneLiners And Great Word

Music is well said to be the speech of angels

Romantic Sayings

Scratch a dog and you ll find a permanent job

Meaningful Quotations

In defeat unbeatable; in victory unbearable

Motivational Words

Intolerant only of intolerance

Good Words

stand up and salute the red white and blue

No Jesus – No Love.Know Jesus – Know Love

Don t overestimate the decency of the human race

I don t have a solution but I admire the problem

A happy family is but an earlier heaven

A calm sea does not make a skilled sailor

Energy is equal to desire and purpose

And spare the poet for his subject s sake

Their wants but few their wishes all confin d

A mistake is simply another way of doing things

Seek simplicity and distrust it

Location location location

To be human means to feel inferior

Discourse the sweeter banquet of the mind

Words are dwarfs deeds are giants

Sire I am my own Rudolph of Hapsburg

We grow small trying to be great

Cute Quotes

sexy sayings