Facts  About  The  Prophets : Prophet Musa Alaihi Salam, Part -1.

 Prophet Ya'qub's emigration  To Egypt:

 Yousuf's Father  Ya'qub had emigration  to Egypt along with  his people , at the request of  Prophet Yousuf{ Alaihi Salam}. There they settled  and  lived  a peaceful  life . 

 In the course of time , Ya'qub And  his Son  Yousuf and Yousuf's Brothers  died. But their  descendants , Bani Israi'l- the children of Israi'l - as they were  called , had prospered  and increased . 

 As time ran on , things changed . The children of Israil  took to bad way  and they began  to neglect  their duty  towards  Allah. Their morals became  corrupt , they  abandoned  calling people to Allah and  their heats  were  set  on the passing  delights of the world . They feel  in the sight  of the people  of Egypt , they forgot  that they belonged  to   the House  of Yousuf {A- Salam}, the one time  kind  and just  ruler , who had  saved  the Egyptians  from dying  of famine .

 A new  Pharaoh:

 It was during  these  days  that a new  king - a new Pharaoh - came to the  throne  of  Egypt . he thought  that he was  a god . As a result , he believed  that he  could do  anything  he liked . He was  too  proud  of his  wonderful  country  with its  mighty  buildings  and strong  armies .

  Bani  Israi'l  treated  as foreigners :

 But one thing  annoyed  him  greatly . In a corner  of his mighty  kingdom  foreigners  where living .  They  were the children of Israi'l , of  the House of  Yaqub, {A - Salam}  who had  arrived  from  Canaan , long ago . They , therefore , were foreigners , and they  did  not belong  to Egypt , thought  Pharaoh . The  proud Pharaoh  cared  nothing  for them . As he  was  the king , he owned  most of the land  and  valuable . He had divided  his people  into groups .  At the top ., was Pharaoh  himself , his officials  and nobles ,  while  Bani Israi'l  were placed  on the lowest  rung , of society  and they were  deprived  of almost  all their human rights .

 Pharaoh  made  Bani Israi'l  into slaves  to toil all day , under  a blazing  sun , like  donkeys  and  beasts  of burden . They had to cut  out huge  blocks  of stones  during  the hottest  hour of the day  and king gave them nothing  but merely  a day's meal . The cruel  and arrogant  Pharaoh  hated    Bani Israi'l  more and  more  and he  called  upon  them to worship  and prostrate  themselves  before  him . The proud  Pharaoh  said : Does not the Kingdom  of Egypt  belong  to me ? Do not  you see  that  all these running  waters  flow at my feet? Can you not  them see that I am your  supreme  Lord ?.

 The Pharaoh  Slew  their  sons and kept  alive  their  daughters:

 The children of Israi'l , as they believed  in Allah  and His Messengers, refused   to worship him and this made  Pharaoh  furiously  angry . One day a magician  told  Pharaoh  that a baby  boy  would be born  among the people  of Israi'l ,Who would  grow  into a man  and drive  him out  of his land .

 Pharaoh was really worried . He became  wild with rage . He gave  orders to his  soldiers : You may kill  every baby  boy  that is born  among the people  of Bani Israi'l . Let only the baby  girls live ; Thus the king  hoped  to make  sure  tyhat no  baby boy was  permitted  to grow  up into  a man , who might  fight  against  him .Pharaoh 's orders  were  obeyed  and hundreds of  baby boys  were killed  like cats  and dogs  everyday.

 The birth of  Musa {A- Salam}:

 But Allah wished  that go occur  which  Pharaoh  had always  feared . A baby  boy was born  at Allah's command  to lead his people  away  from the hands  of Pharaoh . A baby was born  to rescue  the children  of Israi'l . A baby boy  was  born to lead them  into the light  from darkness . This boy was  Musa  bin  Imran {A_salam} . he was lovely  child  and his parents  felt they  must do something  to save him. They told  no one  of his birth , and they  warned  everyone  in the family  not to speak  of their  baby  son to anyone .

  Allah's  plane always work:

 For  three  months  they  strived  to keep  Musa {A- Salam} safely  hidden .  Then Musa's  mother became  afraid . the child was  growing  older , and day and    night  the cruel  soldiers  continued m their  mighty  searches . What could she do ?  But Allah  inspired  the mother  of Musa: Float  him into the  river . and have no  fear and  do not  grieve ; for we shall  restore  him  to you , and shall  make  him one of Our Massage - bearers .

 Obeying  Allah's  command ,  Musa's  mother  laid  Musa in a basket and floated  him on the river  Nile . But  she  was  still anxious .  She asked  her  daughter  to go  and stand  a little  way off to see  what  happened.

 That day Pharaoh  had come down  to the river  place  he watched  the waters  flow beneath  his feet and  this amused  him, His queen was  also by his side  look! she  cried ,  Do you see that strange  basket  floating  over there ? One of the servants  went down to the water  edge , lifted  the basket and  brought  it  to the queen. there lay smiling  a handsome  boy in the basket .

 This is one of the sons of bani Israi'l  and must be  slain, said  some of the  servants. But  the queen's  face  grew  tender  and  pitiful . She said : What a beautiful  baby! It is  a joy for  eyes! We cannot  let him to be  thrown into  the river . He may be of use to us  or we  my have  him for our own;

 Allah's  plans  always  work and  the king  had to say Yes .

 KHADIJAH{RADI  ALLAHU ANHA}- MOTHER OF THE  FAITHFUL.

 Khadijah { Radi Allahu Anha} was the daughter of  Khuwaylid  bin Asad . her mother  was  Fatima bint Zai'bah. Khadija had a sister  called Hala bint Khuwaylid  . Hala had a son  called  Abul As , who was  one of the important  men of Makkah  in wealth and  dignity .

 Khadijah- a tradeswoman  of Makkah:

 Khadijah {R} was a  widow  and being  a  tradeswoman  of  Makkah , ran a large  trade  of her own . her business  was so  thriving  that she used  to take men  to carry  things  to  Syria  for sale .

  She  had  heard  of the prophet's truthful  ways  and she knew  well that  Muhammad Peace be upon Him  was a man  of an  honest  character .One day she  called Him  to ask Him  to  go  to Syria  to sell her  goods. She promised  to pay him  more than  She paid  other . Muhammad peace be upon Him  agreed  and Maysarah , Khadijah's  slave  went with him to help . The Prophet  travelled  to Syria  and sold  everything he had  br0ught  and  bought  all that Khadijah had  asked Him  to  buy . On coming back to Makkah , Maysarah told  all about the trip  to Khadijah. He told her  how  gently  and honest  Muhammad peace be upon Him  had been. Khadijah was  gently  impressed  and she , who  had refused  the   offer  of marriage  from  many of the noblemen  of Makkah.  Offered  herself  in marriage  to the Prophet, and he married  her . This marriage took  place  in the year  596, some  fifteen  years before  the Quran began  to be sent down to the messenger  of Allah. The  Prophet was  twenty five  at the time  and Khadijah was forty .This marriage  meant a great  deal to the  Prophet  and  he did not  take  other wife  so long  as Khadijah {R} Lived .

 

 In time of  distress:

  For many years after  his Marriage , Muhammad  peace be upon him  used to spend  days  in the hilly  country  round  Makkah , sometimes  with his family  but  often  alone .

 Khadijah  stood by him in times of  distress , comforted  him and gave  the support  he needed . When the angle  Jibreel  came  to the Prophet  for the  first  time in the cave  on the  Mount  Hira, he was  greatly  shaken  by the  strange  experience . With his heart  trembling ; he returned  to Khadijah and said : Warp me up . Warp me up . What happened  to me ? Indeed , I was  afraid  I should have died , It was  Khadijah {R} who  comforted  him saying : No it will not be so, I swear by God , he will never  make  you sad. Foe indeed you  are kind to your relatives , you speak the truth, you are faithful  in trust, you spend your wealth in good works, you are  very hospitable , and  you help your fellow men; She  then took him to her cousin  called  Waraqah who was  a  well- read  old man. On hearing  everything  that had happened  Waraqah said : it is the angle  Jibreel that came  to you. You will be the prophet;

 The first woman to accept Islam :

 The  first woman  to accept Islam was Khadijah  {R} She was the first person  to accept  and believe as true  what the  Prophet had  brought  from Allah ,and she was the faithful  support  to the Prophet in Islam . The marriage  brought  great happiness  to both of them . Khadijah was  the  mother of all  the Prophet's  children  except Ibrahim, namely  al Qasim , after  whom the Messenger  of Allah was  known as Abul Qasim, Abdullah, Zaynab,  Umm Kulsum, Ruqayyah, and  Fatimah.May Allah be pleased  with them all .

  The prophet's affection  for Khadijahtul- Kubra:

 Our Prophet  Muhammad  peace be upon him  loved  Khadijah {R} dearly  It is the difficult  for us to imagine  how deeply  it must have  cut into the heart  of the Prophet . When he lost  her by  death. She had stood  by the Prophet  in all  his joys  and  sorrow for about  twenty five years .

 Muhammad Peace be upon Him  ever  retained  his affection  for Khadijahtul - Kubra. A Hadith  has  it  that Allah's  Messenger  had  given her  glad  tidings  of a jewelled  place in paradise . It was the  practice  of the Prophet  after  the death of Khadijah, that whenever  a sheep or goat would be  slaughtered , he would send pieces  of them as presents  to Khadijah's  female  friends .  The prophet would then praise  her and  say she was  so and so and  I had children by her .

 Once Ayesha  {R} asked  the prophet , Why  do you mention  that old  woman who  has long been dead ?The Prophet's look change  at this remark  and he said : She was the  one who believed  in me  when anyone  else  refused , she accepted  me as  Prophet  when others believed me , when people  denied  help, she  spent  her wealth for me;. A Hadith  has it :

 Khadijah, Fatimah bint Muhammad, Maryam the mother  of Isa , and  Asiyah , the  wife of  Pharaoh , where  the four  greatest of Women.

 Once  Hala bint Khuwaylid , the sister of  Khadijah, while  in Madinah  came  to see the Prophet. Her voice  very much resembled  that Khadijah's . When the  Prophet heard the  her calling . He was moved  with emotions . He spoke  out : O Allah, It is Hala bint Khuwaylid , Ayesha  {R} narrates :  I was  never so Jealous  of any one of the Prophet's wives  a iwas of  Khadijah, although I never saw her, Hala had accepted  Islam and she lived until after the  death of Khadijah.

 The  Necklace  of  Khadijah{R}.

 When the  prisoners  of the battle  of the Badr  were brought , Abul As  was also  among them . He was  son of Hala and had been married  to Zaynb {R}, the daughter  of  the  Prophet , at the suggestion  of Khadijah .Abul As  had still not accepted  Islam, when taken  prisoner . When the Makkans  sent to ransom  their captives , Zaynab also sent a some of Money  and with it  she  sent a  valuable  necklace  which Khadijah had  given her  on her marriage  to Abul As . The sight of the necklace  of  Khadijah  moved  the Prophet  with emotions . It brought him the memories  of her . He said : If you feel  you may allow  her captive  husband  to return  to her  along with  her money  and  the  necklace .  The People at once  agreed  and  Abul A's  was set free.

 In fact Khadijah  ,   Rdi Allahu Anha  was  the greatest of Women .

  The Coolness of my Eyes lies in Salah/Prayer.

 The Distinguishing  mark of a Muslim:

 Besides  beliefs ,  among  the  four  basic  duties  recognized   by  Islam , Salah  undoubtedly  occupies  the most important  position . The  importance  Salah may be  conceived  from the  facts  that the first duty  enjoined upon  the  Prophet  peace be upon Him , was  to offer  Salah . And further , the Holy Quran  frequently  uses  the phrase  observing  Salah  perfectly , which clearly  suggest  that Salah is the  most important   distinguishing  ark of a Muslim .

 Actions  Are  but  by  Intention :

 Earlier  in Grade  Five  we have  seen  that Deen Is  something  interpreted  to mean  religion , it does not  give its fullest  meaning . In fact the Deen embraces n all the aspects  of life  related  to the  beliefs  and  actions  of man ; both public  and private . Briefly  speaking  Deen  in Its  broadest sense  is the life  of a Muslim , Likewise , Ibadah - the worship - too has  a wider  meaning in Islam .

 A Hadith  Has it:  Actions Are  but  by Intention  and very man shall  have   but  that  which  he intended , It is true  that  a right  intentions  turns  pour work  into Ibadah. All duties  from the  highest  to the humblest   become  highly  rewarding  in the sight of  Allah  if they are  carried  out with  the right  intention  to seek  his Pleasure . It is true  that  right  intention sanctifies  work , rest ,  our joys  our sorrows  and the whole of  our life's  activities  but it should be  remembered  that  none of the whole  of the other duties  can ever replace  any of the basic  duties  prescribed  by Islam namely , Salah ,  the Zakah , feasting , in  the month  of Ramadan  and  the Hajj. During  the recent years some  so- called  scholars  are heard  arguing  that since  it is the intention  that counts ; it is alike  whether  you perform  Salah  or do you  office   duty honestly . This is not the  place  to go into  details . It will be , however , sufficient  to point  out  that  such interpretation  Of Islam   as the one  hinted  above  is very sorrowful  and extremely  dangerous .

 The Messenger  of Allah  peace  be upon him , is recorded  to have said : Islam  has been built  on five pillars : to confess  that there  is no God  but Allah , paying  the Zakah,  Making  the  pilgrimage  to the house , And the feasting  ion Ramadan . These  are  the pillars  of Islam . The precise  form  and manner  on which the  various , Ibadah; should be carried  out , are once  for all  revealed  by Allah  to His  Prophet peace be upon Him . 

 Every  attempt  to  present  them in form and  manner  other than taught  by the Prophet  is to try  to demolish  the very  structure  of Islam. And  as Muslims  it is our  foremost  duty to  condemn  all such attempts.

 The  value of  Salah:

 Salah is the pillar of Islam; it is the pillar of Faith .  Salah is the  heart of faith. It is recognized  by the Quran  as  the first  and the  foremost duty of a Muslim. 

 The  Quran says : I have  only created  the  jinn  and  the man that they may  serve me .

 Hence  it is the man's obligation  to serve  and worship Allah , it comes  within  him as  natural  inclination . The man  who offers Salah fulfils  the purposes  for his creation  and existence .

 

 Allah  says in the Holy Quran : { And establish regular  prayer  and do not be  of those  who associate  partners  to Allah}

 It comes  in another  place : says: { They are those  who if  we firmly  establish  them  on earth , remain  constant  in prayer , give the Zakah , and enjoin  the doing of  what is right  and forbid  the doing  of what is wrong : and with Allah  rests  the final  outcome of all  events }

 Salah is the saviour  of Faith; it is the condition  for salvation  in the Hereafter . Salah is  obligatory  on everyone : the rich and the  poor ,the sick and the healthy , the travelling  and those  in battle . No adult  is exempted  from offering  Salah .

 The Holy Quran speaks  high of those  who offer Salah  regularly  and perfectly  and  it severely  condemns  those who  omit  or relax  their  ptrayers.

  In Surah Mudassir - Allah says : { What  has brought  you into the  hell - fire ? They  will answer : we  were  not of those  who offered  Salah , and  neither did we feed the needy ; and we used  to  talk  faleshood  with vain  talkers , and we used  to deny the Day  of  Recompense , until it certainly  came upon us .

  SALAH IN  HADITH:

 A  Hadith has it :  Between  the servant  and disbelief  is the  omission  of Salah. In another place  it  comes : Between  the disbelief  and Iman is the  omission   of Salah .

 Prophet  Muhammad  peace be upon Him , is reported   to have  said ; Tell me  is  a  stream  flows at the of  anyone  of you  and he  bathes  in it  five times  a day , will any dirt be left on his body ? The companions  said : No dirt will be left,  So is the case  with  the five prayers . Allah removes  and Washes  away sins  on their  account.

 Mu'adh ibn Jabal , a companions of  the prophet says : I was  with the prophet  on a Journey . On day  as I rode beside Him  when  I asked : O Messenger  of Allah , Point out  something  to me  I may do  that may take me  to paradise  and keep me away  from the Hell . The prophet peace be  upon Him  said : You have  indeed  asked  about  something great , yet it can be achieved by those  for  whom  Allah  has made  it easy . Worship  Allah associating  no partner  to Him , offer  your  prayers  regularly , pat out of your wealth  what is due  to the poor , fast in the month of  Ramadan  and Go for Hajj . The prophet then said : Shall I not  mention  to you  the gates of Good? I said :  Yes  the  Prophet of Allah , please  do show me , He said : Fasting  is a shield  and  a means  of protection  of yourself , charity  removes your  errors  just as water puts out a burning  fire , and your offering  Salah in the late  hours  of the night  is the sign of your being  conscious  of Allah .

  The Prophet then Continued : Shall I not tell you  what the  heart of  of the matter is, its  backbone  and its  peak?, I said  :  Yes ,  Messenger of Allah , Please do ,  The heart  of  Islam  is to submit  to Allah , its backbone  is Salah , and its peak  is the  Jihad - to   strive  in the case  of Allah .

 Salah  offered  at its proper times  is the best thing  in the sight  of Allah . Salah  is to  the believer , what water is to the fish . The Prophet  peace be upon Him  used to say  the coolness  of my eyes  lies in Salah . Salah brings  comfort  to the heart ; it is the shelter  of a believer  and a source  of peace  and strength . It is  a strong  and  unbreakable  rope  stretched  out between  Allah and the believer.  It is the comfort of his soul  and a remedy  for his ills, remedy  that never  fails .

 Whenever  something  worried  the  Prophet  peace be upon  him , he  used to  turn  to Salah . If a  strong wind  blow , the holy prophet  would  go to the mosque  and  stay  there  praying  till the  wind  would stop . In fact   Salah  is the sign  and symbol  of Islam . 

 It is one of the most important  pillars of Islam. When A Muslim  offer Salah  sincerely  his sins fall off as the leaves of trees fall in autumn . Allah loves  those  who  offer Salah perfectly .  They  remain  in His  Shelter .

  Preparing for  Salah :

 After  hearing the Azan , start preparing  for  Salah , and see that you are clean  and free from  Najasah . Relieve  yourself  in the toilet  if need be , perform Wodhu  perfectly  and reach  the mosque  in time . Enter the  mosque  sending  salat - peace -to the  Prophet  and saying 

 Allah Hummaf Tahli Abwaaba Rahmatika .

 Respect  for Mosque : 

 The Arabic Word  for mosque   is Masjid , It means  a place  where  one  prostrates  oneself  or a  place  worship . The messenger Of Allah  is recorded  to have  said : 

 The whole of the earth  has been  made  a mosque  for me ,A Muslim may  therefore , offer Salah  anywhere  he likes . But  inspite  of this  the mosque plays  very significant  role in Islam . In truth  it is the center  of Muslim religions  life .

 The  mosque is the  Holy place  and should be treated  as such . Due respect  must be shown  to the  House  of  Allah and therefore  shouting   or talking  loudly  is strictly  prohibited . The mosque should be kept  clean  and no one , therefore , may enter  it with shoes on. Form  a habit  of reaching   the  mosque  in time  to be able to find  the Jammah   in Full . On enter  the mosque  offer two Rak'ahs  Nafilah  of Tahiyyatul - Masjid - to greet  the mosque . The Holy Prophet  is recorded  to have said :: When anyone  of you enters the mosque , he should  not sit  until he has offered  two Rak'ahs } Naafilah - in case  there is time for it }

 Is a person  however , join the Jamaah  directly  on entering  the mosque  or engages  himself  in offering  the Sunnah  Raak'ahs  before sitting  down, it  will  meet  the purpose .

  Jama'ah- The congregation:

 Fard  services  of  Salah  should always  be offered  in Jama'ah  The holy Prophet  of Allah  severely condemned  those who did not  offer Salah  in Jama'ah . He is reported  to have  said : By  Him , Who holds  my life , i sometimes  feel like  asking as fire  to be made and  commanding  for Azan  to be sounded , and asking  someone  to lead  people  in Salah , then going  after  those  who  do not attend  the Jama'ah  and setting  their  houses  on fire ,  The Holy  prophet of Allah  is reported  to have said  that  whoever offers  Salah perfectly with Jama'ah   for forty  days, without missing the  first Takbir , he would be  kept  away  from two things 1} the hell - fire  and 2} hypocricy . To offer  Salah  with Jama'ah  is twenty  seven  times  more  rewarding  than Salah offered  alone . Foe what  he  performs  Wodhu  doing  well , and goes out  to the mosque , merely  for the love  of offering  Salah  Jama'ah , he does not take  a step forward  without  being  raised  a degree  and having  a sin forgiven  for it { MUSLIM}

 The  worst  stealing  is  stealing  from Salah:

 Salah is  one of the five pillars of Islam . A Muslim is known  by the way  he offers Salah . Tell me How  you perform Salah  and I will tell you  what are , To correct a common  English  saying . Once a man  entered  the Masjidun - Nabwi  after  the Prophet  peace be upon Him . He offered  Salah and walked  up to  the  Prophet and greeting Him . After returning  his greeting , the messenger  of Allah  said to him : Go back  and  offer  Salah  for you have not  offered it . This happened  thrice  till the man said : By Him , Who has sent  you with  the Truth ,. I cannot  offer Salah  in a way  better  than  this one . Kindly  instruct  me how  to do it .

  The  Prophet Said : Whenever  you stand for offering  Salah  pronounce  Takbir  and then  recite  from the Quran  and   then bow  yourself  till  you feel  at ease . Then stand up erect , then prostrate  yourself  to your satisfaction , then perform Julus  till you  feel at ease , and  do the same  in all your Salawat .

 You are aware  that taking  things  that belong to  others  is stealing  but the  worst  stealing  is stealing  from Salah . That means  not to carry  out its  acts  properly .

 Salah  and its conditions :

 There are certain  conditions  that control  the act  of Salah . These conditions  must be met  before  one  could  offer it . These  conditions  are  regarding :

1. Niyyah.

2. Taharah- purity  of the body , the clothes  and the place .

3. Covering  the  parts of  body .

4. Wodhu,

5. Facing the Qiblah,

6.And  performing it in proper time .

 No one may  pray  without  meeting  all these  conditions . 

 But while  these  requirements must be met ; before  starting  to offer  Salah; there are certain  essential  things  within  Salah  that must  be very  carefully  observed , They are in fact  the Pillars  of Salah and if any  of them  is missed  or carried  out  faultily , the Salah  will not be  complete . They are  as follows:

 The Pillars of Salah :

1. The  Takbiratul - Ihram:that  means  to enter  Salah  saying { Allah Hu AKBIR}. This is  called  the takbiratul - Ihram because  after its  pronouncement  all the activities  such as talking , answering  questions , eating  or drinking  are forbidden ;

2. Al- Qiyam,

3. Recitation  from  the  Quran : Allah Messenger is recorded  to have  said :

 He , who  did not  recite  Surah Al Fatihah  in his  Salah, did not  offer it .

  4. Rokou,

5. Sajtatayn;  the  two  Sajdahs,

6. Julus for  the  Tashahhud,

7. To follow  the  sequence  prescribed  for the  Salah.

 These  are  the pillars  of  Salah  and if  any  of these  acts  is missed  or  faultily  carried  out; the  Salah  will not be complete .

 Things  that annul  the  Salah:

 A person's  Salah is said  to be  annulled  in the following cases. That means  the  Salah will  become  invalid  if any  of the  following  things  take   place  during  the  offering  of  Salah  and  it  will  have  to be  repeated .

 These things  are  as  follows:

1.Laughing boisterously ,

2.Eating  or drinking  though  it may be a little .

3. Speaking  of matters  not related  to Salah, however ,involuntary  acts  such as sneezing , coughing  and belching  do not render  the Salah  invalid ,  But  to cough  unnecessarily  without   a genuine  reason  is bad .

4.  Making  movements  not related  to the acts of Salah .

5. Annulment  of  Wodhu,

6. Neglecting  any of the pillars  of Salah  such as  Rokou or Sajdah.

 Salah is  one of the most important  pillars of Islam . Offering Salah  regularly  deepens  our Faith . But Salah is  controlled  by certain  conditions . You should  remember  them , because  no one  may pray perfectly  without  meeting  theses  requirements.

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