In Shaykh’s Company

by Mawlana Muhammad Chothia

“In order to perfect salaah internally, in terms of concentration and devotion, you should first concentrate on perfecting salaah externally, by ensuring all the postures are performed in accordance with the Sunnah method.”

by Abu Abdullah

Whilst performing Salaah it is desirable that one keeps concentration. However, some people do not fully understand this concept and become worried when they are not able to do this.

We are ordered by Allah to do those thing which are in our control, and those things which are beyond our control, then Allah neither will question us about this nor punish us for not having that.

In Salaah if thoughts come to our mind without us bringing them, then there is nothing wrong with this. Yes, if one brings these thoughts intentionally then he will be doing wrong. (more…)

by Hafeed Abdul Kader

Our Shaykh recently gave some advice on how to bring Salaatul Tahajjud into our lives. Shaykh said:
“It is related in a Hadeeth that when a person prays two Rakaah (units), of Tahajjud after the Ishaa salaah; then he is counted amongst those who spend the whole night in worship.
One method of doing this is that after the fardh of Ishaa, you pray two Rakaah of Sunnah. Next you pray two Rakaah of nafl with the intention of Tahajjud and then the Witr salaah.

When you go to bed, make an intention of waking up again [in the latter part of the night]. By doing this regularly there will come a time when Allah ta’alaa will give you the ability to wake up and read Tahajjud in the cream of the night [i.e. in the latter portion]. And remember;

 If you want something from Allah ta’alaa then wake up at night for Tahajjud and ask from Allah

by Abu Abdullah Ibne Ismail

Once Shaykh, whilst emphasising the importance of salaah and salaah with congregation said “Moulana Asad Madani sahib (may Allah increase his stages) was extremely punctual with his jama’at salaah. If he was to travel abroad he would make sure that even the flight times would be such in which the least namaaz with jama’at would be missed. And after landing in another country he would not allow any programme to be made in which travel arrangements would cause a jama’at to be missed, for example, if a journey was from Leicester to London (100 miles) he would ensure that the journey was made between salaah times [eg. zuhr & asr], so the jama’at times wouldn’t be jeopardised on the journey”.

By Muhammad Chothia

During the respected Shaykh’s lessons, important advices were given pertaining to certain aspects of Wudhoo which are normally overlooked.

“Wudhoo in itself is not thought of to be an act of worship. We think it is just a formality which will allows us to perform our Salaah. In reality our Salaah should start with our Wudhoo. From the moment we start our focus should be towards Allah and that we are preparing to stand in his court. Thereafter as we proceed to the Masjid, we should again have Allah in mind. When arriving in the Masjid we should ensure that we enter with the right foot first recited the prescribed duaa’s. If time permits two rakat of tahiyyatul Masjid should be perform and one should take up a place as close to the front as possible. Then sitting with complete humility one should wait for Salaah to commence. With the thought in mind that I will soon be standing in the court of my Lord, My Creator.
(more…)

by Abu Abdullah ibne Ismail

Shaykh mentioned in one of his lectures:

“When people change their lives for the better they become punctual on their fardh prayers, recitation of the Quraan etc. However there remains one obligation which Shaytaan makes even these people negligent of; that is fulfilling those duties which are outstanding and undischarged to Allah and his servants.

For example, one may have stolen some money, not paid back a debt, backbitted someone. By repenting to Allah his sin is now forgiven, however these duties still remain compulsory upon him.  Therefore, he will have to return the stolen money, repay the debts, and ask forgiveness from those who he had committed injustice against.

(more…)

by JM

The other night while delivering his seminar of Saheeh Al Bukhaari, the theme of Tahajjud Salaah came up. Shaykh encouraged the students to try to make it a habit of keeping vigil often; to wake up and worship Allah in the darkness of the night. He said that during the time of tahajjud a person gains a very special nearness to Allah Subhaanahu Wata’aalaa. Shaykh then quoted a beautiful saying of one of our pious predecessors. He said:

‘A persons own heart, with the heart of the Qur’aan i.e. Surah Yaaseen, with the heart of the night i.e. tahajjud salaah; what can one say when all of these are gathered at one time!’

May Allah grant us the guidance and ability to worship Him day and night. Aameen.