Ramadhaan – A Date with Dr. Zakir

 

(Episode 7)

 

Acts Recommended and Discouraged during Fasting

 

(Duration - 1 hour 2 minutes)

 

Yusuf Chambers: Dear Brothers and sisters in Islam and Humanity, Assalamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa barakatuh, may the peace, the mercy and blessings of Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala be on all of you. Welcome to the show ‘Ramadhaan- A Date with Dr Zakir’. I am your host Yusuf Chambers and today we will be discussing the topic ‘Acts Recommended and Discouraged during the Fasting’. 

Dr Zakir, Assalamualaikum!

 

Dr. Zakir: Walaikum Assalam Wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh!

 

Yusuf Chambers: How are you today??

 

Dr. Zakir: Alhumdulillah, Allah Barikfi, Alhumdulillah

 

Yusuf Chambers: MashaAllah, Alhumdulillah. This topic again, such an important one infact every 32 we will do, InshaAllah, will be very-very important.

 

Dr. Zakir: InshaAllah. 

 

Yusuf Chambers: Could you Dr. Zakir to start the proceedings simply tell our viewers what are the recommended acts during Ramadhaan?

 

Dr. Zakir: Alhamdulillah was salaatu was salaam ala rasoolillah wa ala aalihi wa ashaabihi wa ajma’een. Amaa Ba’ad

A’uzu billahi minash shaytan nir-rajeem,

Bismillah hirrahman nirraheem, 

Rabbish rahli Şadri Wa Yassir Li 'Amri Wa Ahlul Uqdatan Min Lisani Yafqahu Qawli.

 

Normally all the acts that are recommended during the normal days are also recommended during the month of Ramadhaan except those acts which break the fast but there are specific acts which have been recommended by the Prophet especially during the month of Ramadhaan and some acts and some acts are encouraged more during the month of Ramadhaan and there are many of them. I will try and list as many as I can. 

 

The first is having Suhoor, you should not neglect the Suhoor 

 

No. 2 is having Suhoor as late as possible just before the break of dawn. 

 

Third is having an early Iftaar, as early as possible just after sunset. 

 

The fourth is having dates and water when you break the fast.

 

Fifth is saying the recommended duas after you break the fast and 

 

The sixth is it is that when you break the fast it is preferable that you invite other people especially the poor people.

 

And these 6 InshaAllah we will discuss tomorrow. 

 

The other things which are recommended by the Prophet is 

 

No. 1 that you should do as many good deeds as possible during the month of Ramadhaan

No. 2 we should be more generous during the month of Ramadhaan 

 

No. 3 that if someone tries to provoke you, you should not get angry but you should sat “I am fasting, I am fasting” 

 

No.4 we should use the Siwaak i.e. the tooth stick 

 

No.5 that if possible we should perform Umrah during the month of Ramadhaan 

 

No. 6 we should try and acquire as much knowledge as possible, read the Qur’an along with the translation, you have to read the Hadith, read other Islamic books 

 

No. 7 we have to attend as many Islamic programmes as possible, lectures, seminars to increase our Islamic knowledge. 

 

No. 8 we should watch Islamic programmes may be on the video, watch Islamic cassettes, hear Islamic audiotapes of scholars so that we increase our knowledge

 

No. 9 we have to be happy throughout the day. We should not look gloomy

 

No. 10 we should do ‘Husne Suluk’ with other people

 

No. 11 we should be extra good to our family 

 

No. 12 we should do ‘Tafaqur’ that means ponder and think on it and 

 

No. 13 is that we should see to it that we try and forgive people’s faults 

 

And there are other acts which the Prophet also recommended which InshaAllah we will be dealing in detail in the other days. For example the Prophet said that wee should especially be careful that all our compulsory Salaah we should offer in congregation as far as possible in the Mosque. 

 

No. 2 is we should offer as much as Sunnah Salaah, as much as Nawafil.

 

No. 3 we should supplicate as much as possible to Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala 

 

No. 4 we should ask for forgiveness because this is the month of forgiveness

 

No. 5 we should recite as much Qur’an as possible 

 

No. 6 we should offer Taraweeh 

 

No. 7 we should especially in the last 10 days we should do 

Qiyaam ul Layl

 

No. 8 we should do I’tiqaaf in the last 10 days if possible and 

 

No. 9 we should give Zakaat if we have not given 

 

No. 10 is that we should do our own self improvement as much as possible 

 

No. 11 Seeking Layl Atul Qadr 

 

No. 12 is Islaah of the other Muslim brothers and 

 

No. 13 is Da’wah to the non-Muslims 

 

So these in short are the 32 topics which I have listed which are especially recommended in the month of Ramadhaan.

 

Yusuf Chambers: SubhanAllah! A lot of topics we’ve gotta get through, Dr. Zakir and I hope and I trust in Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) that we can get as much benefit out to the viewers and to ourselves…

 

Dr. Zakir: InshaAllah.

 

Yusuf Chambers: …first and foremost as well.

 

Dr. Zakir: InshaAllah.

 

Yusuf Chambers: and first 6 topics to be discussed tomorrow under the heading ‘Suhoor and Iftaar’ so that will be very interesting. Then we’ve got the last 13 topics which you have annunciated of course they would be discussed in the coming days from the 9th until the 22nd of Ramadhaan and the middle topics which you have discussed we will now take them on as importance right now. 

 

So Dr. Zakir the first topic we need to discuss today is how can one understand generosity in terms of Ramadhaan. What are the acts of generosity that you would recommend a Muslim to be involved in?

 

Dr. Zakir: A person should always be generous throughout his life but during Ramadhaan he should be more generous; it should reach its peak. And there are various ways a person ca be generous for example. One thing which normally people think about generosity is helping people with money but that is not the only act of generosity. That is one of the acts of generosity, helping someone you’re your money. 

 

The other act of generosity is if you share your knowledge, or if you guide someone, do Islaah of someone or do Da’wah to non-Muslims even this is generosity. You help him with your knowledge. 

 

The other act of generosity is may be you many help with your physical strength in doing some work or may be lifting something even that’s act of generosity, any good deed is an act of generosity for example you may be in a position being in that position the job that you are doing you may be abler to help someone in fulfilling his need. Even that’s an act of generosity. So all these come under the acts of generosity and the Hadith of the Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam), it’s mentioned in 

 

Sahih Bukhari Vol. no. 1 in the Book of Revelation Hadith no. 5 

 

“It is said that Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam),he was the most generous of all the people and during the month of Ramadhaan his generosity used to reach the peak and archangel Gabriel used to visit him during the month of Ramadhaan and he used to Rehearse the Qur’an and it is said that Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), he was more generous than the strong uncontrollable wind. He was the peak of generosity” 

 

Further beloved Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam) said, its mentioned in the Hadith of 

 

Tirmidhi (Book of Tafseer) Hadith no. 3233 where it is said that 

 

“There will be rooms is paradise where you can see inside the room from the outside and you can see the outside from inside and these rooms will be prepared for those people who are generous and who help the poor people, those who fast regularly and those who pray at night”

 

So these are special rooms prepared for those people in paradise. 

Further there is a Hadith, Sahih Hadith mentioned in 

Ibn Majaah Hadith no. 1746 where our beloved Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam) said that

 

“Any person who feeds the person who has fasted, he will get the reward of the person who he has fed who has been fasting without diminishing the reward of the person who was fasting”

 

Therefore it shows that we should encourage people to feed other people all these are acts of generosity.

 

Yusuf Chambers: SubhanAllah I hope and pray that we can be as generous as Rasoolullah (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam) in this month.

 

Dr. Zakir: InshaAllah.

 

Yusuf Chambers: So Dr. Zakir the month of forgiveness, Ramadhaan is upon us and Allah has recommended to be forgiving one another during this month. Can you explain more about that? 

 

Dr. Zakir: This is a month of forgiveness and since we ask forgiveness from Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala), Allah has also recommended that we human beings, we should forgive others. And there are several verses in the Quran which have explained this in detail. If we read 

 

Surah Ale Imran ch. No. 3 verse no. 134, Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala says that

 

“We should forgive, Allah likes those who do good deeds”

 

That means those who forgive, Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala likes them. 

 

Allah says in Surah A’raaf ch. no. 7 verse no. 199 that 

 

“Hold to forgiveness and enjoin what is right and go away from those who are ignorant”

 

Furthermore Allah says in Surah Nur ch. no. 24 verse no. 22, Allah says that

 

“And you should forgive. Wouldn’t you want that Allah should forgive you. Allah is oft Forgiving and most Merciful.”

 

Allah says in Surah Taghaabun ch. no. 64 verse no. 14 that 

 

“Amongst your wives and children there are some who are your enemies but it will be better if you forgive them, you overlook their fault and you cover up their fault. Allah is oft Forgiving and most Merciful.”

 

So Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) is encouraging the Muslims and the believers that it is better if you forgive as many people as possible and Allah will forgive you. And we have the best examples in the Prophets of Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala). 

 

We have the example in the life of Prophet Yusuf (Alaihe Salaam) where we know, Prophet Yusuf (peace be upon him) that his step brothers they had planned against him and they wanted to kill him...but Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala saves him and later on he is made the governor of Egypt and when finally all the brothers are at his mercy, Allah says that he said 

 

It’s mentioned in the Quran in Surah Yusuf ch. no. 12 verse no. 92, he says that 

 

“Let no reproach be cast on you and Allah is the one to forgive, He is merciful” 

 

That means Yusuf (Alaihe Salaam), he forgives all his brothers and he says Allah is merciful. 

 

We have the best example of forgiveness in the last and final messenger Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam)

 

Yusuf Chambers: (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam)

 

Dr. Zakir: During Fatah Makkah, when the Mushriks, when the pagans of Makkah, they killed many of his relatives, they had killed his uncle, thy had killed many of the Sahabas but when finally he had victory over them he forgave all of them. 

 

And Allah says in the Quran in Surah Ahzaab ch. no. 33 verse no. 21 that 

 

“Verily in the Prophet you have the most beautiful pattern of conduct”

 

and Allah says in Surah Fussilat ch. no. 41 verse no. 3, Allah says that 

 

“Repel evil with good and you may never know the person in whose heart is hatred against you, you will find that he will become an intimate friend of yours” 

 

That means repel evil with what is good. That is the best.

 

And Allah repeats the message in Surah Shooraa ch. no. 42 verse no. 37, 

 

He speaks about those people that means the people of paradise

 

“Those are the people who avoid shameful deeds and avoid major sins and when they get angry, they forgive”

 

So there are various verses in the Quran in which Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) gives guidance to us human beings that we should forgive the other people.

 

Yusuf Chambers: JazakAllah khair, Dr. Zakir for that reminder regarding forgiving. Next question relates to anger. Dr. Zakir regarding anger management in the month of Ramadhaan people are fasting during the month of Ramadhaan, they are getting angry is there any excuse for a person getting angry in the month of Ramadhaan. Is it a valid excuse to say that “indeed we are fasting, we are entitled to get angry”?

 

Dr. Zakir: Infact it’s the opposite that a person while fasting, he should not get angry because

 

Allah says in the Quran in Surah Baqarah ch. no. 2 verse no. 183 that 

 

“Fasting has been prescribed to you as it was prescribed to the people who came before you so that you may learn self restraint”

 

It says “la allakum tattaqoon” so that you may learn self-control. So infact if you are fasting all the more reason you should not get angry it is the opposite. It can’t be a valid excuse that because I am hungry because I am tired, I can get angry. It is the opposite. And our beloved Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam) said, its mentioned in a Sahih Hadith of 

 

Sahih Bukhari Vol. no. 3 in the Book of Fasting Hadith no. 1904, our beloved Prophet said that 

 

“Fasting is a shield and you should not speak obscenely, you should not yell at anyone else and if someone abuses you or someone tries to provoke you or someone tries to make you angry, you should say “I am fasting, I am fasting”

 

And the same message is repeated also in 

 

Sahih Bukhari Vol no. 3 in the Book of Fasting Hadith no. 1894, our beloved Prophet said that

 

“Someone provokes you or makes you angry say “I am fasting, I am fasting” 

 

It’s further repeated even in Sahih Muslim in several places and our beloved Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam) said, its mentioned in 

 

Sahih Bukhari Vol. no. 8 in the Book of Manners Hadith no. 6114, our beloved Prophet said that 

 

“The strong person is not one who defeats another person with his strength. The stronger person is not one who overcomes another with his strength but the stronger person is one who when someone makes him angry, he forgives him, he does not get angry” 

 

So actually fasting shows us a way how to control ourselves and as you rightly said its somewhat like management on how to control your anger. 

 

Yusuf Chambers: SubhanAllah, well if we can control our anger while fasting, we can do it anytime, InshaAllah. Dr. Zakir, regarding something which is very beloved that is doing, performing the Umrah during the month of Ramadhaan. Any particular advice regarding that action generally?

 

Dr. Zakir: As far as the advantage of doing Umrah in the month of Ramadhaan our Prophet encouraged I and he told the Sahabas, he encouraged the Sahabas that you should do Umrah during the month of Ramadhaan. 

And our Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam) said its mentioned in 

 

Sahih Bukhari Vol. no. 3 in the Book of Umrah Hadith no. 1782 that

 

“Anyone who does Umrah in the month of Ramadhaan it is equivalent to Hajj”

 

That means if you perform Umrah in the month of Ramadhaan, any day of Ramadhaan whether starting, middle or end it is equivalent to performing Hajj 

 

Yusuf Chambers: Hmmm… well that’s a very good reason of course to do Umrah during this blessed month. Dr. Zakir many people have a misconception that using the Siwaak during the fast in Ramadhaan is discouraged. Could you just clarify this point please? 

 

Dr Zakir: There are many people who think that using Siwaak while you are fasting is discouraged. It is based on the Hadith. The same Hadith that I quoted earlier of 

 

Sahih Bukhari Vol. 3 in the Book of Fasting Hadith no. 1904 and 1894, Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam) said that

 

“By Allah in whose hand is my soul, the breath of a person who fasts is sweeter to Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) than the sent of musk” 

 

Now based on this people think that if you use Siwaak, the breath, the bad breath that normally comes from the person who fasts will not be there so Allah would not enjoy the breath and based on this, they think it is discouraged.

In fact we should realize that when a person is using the Siwaak, tooth stick, it does not stop the bad breath which normally comes when a person fasts because when you use the tooth stick, the Siwaak it normally massages the gums and if there are any food particles between the teeth like you have tooth brush, it is somewhat similar to that. 

 

The bad breath of fasting comes from the stomach because no food enters the stomach and that’s how it comes so no way does it contradict that. 

 

And furthermore our beloved Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam) said, its mentioned in 

 

Sahih Bukhari Vol. no. 2 (Book of Jummah) Hadith no. 887, the beloved Prophet said that if it wasn’t that 

 

“It wasn’t too difficult for my Ummah I would have made it compulsory to use the Siwaak before every prayer.” 

 

How Wudu is compulsory so the Prophet said if it wouldn’t have been difficult of the Ummah he would have made it compulsory to user the Siwaak every time before prayer. And that means it is a recommended act and if it wasn’t good for fasting, he would have mentioned it, like how he mentioned fore excessive sniffing of water. 

 

Hadith of Abu Dawud Vol. no. 2 (Book of Fasting) Hadith no. 2360 where our beloved Prophet said that

 

“Sniff water excessively through your nose while doing ablution except while fasting”

 

That means sniffing waster excessively is good but don’t do it while fasting because there are dangers it will go in to the throat and enter the stomach. 

 

So here too if it was a disadvantage the Prophet would have said that I would have told my Ummah to use the Siwaak except while fasting. So based on this we realize using Siwaak is a Sunnah, it is a recommended act, it is Mustahab and you should do it. And InshaAllah you will get your rewards. 

 

Yusuf Chambers: Dr. Zakir, how can a person seek knowledge during the blessed month of Ramadhaan?

 

Dr. Zakir: Seeking knowledge is a very good act especially in the month of Ramadhaan. There are various ways a person can seek knowledge besides reading the Qur’an which is a recommended thing during Ramadhaan. A person should even read the translation of the Quran, he should read the book of Hadith and as far as possible he should read the book which are Sahih, the books of authentic hadith. 

 

The best is the Kutubu Sitta, if you can read that there is nothing like it. That is Bukhari, Muslim, Sunan Tirmidhi, Sunan Abu Dawud, Sunan Nasai, Ibn Maajah these Kutubu Sitta are the best. 

 

If time doesn’t permit at least you should read the Sahih books of Hadith i.e. the Sahih Bukhari & Sahih Muslim. If time doesn’t permit at least you should read the Summarized version of Sahih Muslim or a summarized version of Sahih Bukhari or at least read the Mutafiq Alaih, the Hadith which are common between Bukhari and Muslim. 

 

He can read the book about the Seerah of the Prophet and the best book on the Seerah of the Prophet in English language is ‘Raheeqal Maqtoom’, ‘The Sealed Nectar’, which speaks about the biography of the Prophet. 

 

The other book on the Seerah of the Prophet is the book on Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam) by Tahia Al Ismail even that’s a good book. 

 

A person can acquire knowledge by attending programmes. He can go to any Islamic organizations, attend lectures, attend seminars this will increase his knowledge.  He can watch video cassettes or Islamic pictures or some programmes he can go on the internet, go to Islamic websites, go to authentic Islamic websites. So these are ways in which a person can acquire knowledge and this is a good way of spending your time during the month of Ramadhaan acquiring knowledge and surely you will be benefited and you will get a great deal of reward.

 

Yusuf Chambers: InshaAllah

 

Dr. Zakir: InshaAllah.

 

Yusuf Chambers: All of these books you mentioned of course are available in various languages around the world. there’s not really much excuse for somebody not to pick them up during the blessed month of Ramadhaan. Dr. Zakir, what is the term ‘Husne Suluk’ mean and what does it mean to be good to your family? 

 

Dr. Zakir: During the month of month of Ramadhaan normally people have another excuse because they are fasting and they seem to be tired, they seem to be as though they have been tronned. 

 

Prophet advised that you should look cheerful and happy. You should not look too sad. You should be cheerful & happy. And we should especially be good to your family and you should give more time to your family so that they get reward along with you.

 

As far as doing Husne Sulook with other people this is the month where besides the normal month, you  should be extra good to people, to your neighbors , to your friends also to your relatives, do good deeds, forgive the faults, be happy with them, be cheerful. And we should also do ‘Tafaqqur’, think and plan our day in Ramadhaan so that we get the maximum reward. 

Yusuf Chambers: May Allah make it easy for us to be very –very good and righteous and good of character and follow Rasoolullah (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam), the best of character during this blessed month of Ramadhaan, Dr. Zakir. 

 

Now we move on to the second part of the show which is to discuss the discouraged acts. Can you now briefly outline the discussed the discouraged acts during fasting, during the last Ramadhaan?

 

Dr. Zakir: The acts which are discouraged can be divided into 3 categories.

 

The first is acts that are discouraged which are contrary to the Sunnah of fasting.

 

No. 2 acts which are discussed during the month of Ramadhaan which arte otherwise also prohibited 

 

No. 3 the other acts which are discouraged during the month of Ramadhaan.

 

Yusuf Chambers: Dr. Zakir could you just mention the acts which are discouraged ah… which are contrary to the Sunnah of fasting.

 

Dr. Zakir: The acts which are discouraged and contrary to the Sunnah besides the ones we said should be recommended I won’t repeat that, it’s just the opposite.

 

It is a person should not say the Niya aloud while fasting, 

the Niya it should not be said aloud.

 

No. 2 is a person should not eat excessively during Iftaar or in the night 

 

No. 3 a person should not get angry 

Point no. 4 is that people read the Taraweeh very fast, they rush through the Taraweeh and 

 

Point no. 5 is people socialize during I’tikaaf.

 

Yusuf Chambers: Which are the actions discouraged in Ramadhaan which are also prohibited otherwise? Could you say something about those actions? 

 

The actions which are normally prohibited and specifically during Ramadhaan also it’s prohibited it is 

 

Backbiting and slandering No. 1, one of the major sins. 

 

No. 2 is false speech and telling lies 

 

No. 3 is verbal abuse and swearing 

 

No. 4 is vulgar speech 

 

No. 5 is rumor mongering and gossiping

 

No. 6 is false action 

 

No. 7 is listening to unislamic songs and music 

 

No. 8 is watching unislamic programmes on the television 

and unislamic movies 

 

No. 9 is reading unislamic magazines and reading unislamic books 

 

No. 10 is going to unislamic websites.

 

No. 11 is wastage of food and 

 

No. 12 is extravagance and being spendthrift.

 

Yusuf Chambers: Dr. Zakir how do we admonish a person who does not guard his tongue while fasting in the month of Ramadhaan?

 

Dr. Zakir: Guarding the tongue is very important because many a times or most of the times the tongue can cause more damage to a person than whether it be physical torture or whatever it is. You know tongue. You are suppose to be careful of the tongue. 

 

And our beloved Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam) said and there ear various Sahih Hadith on this topic. If you read the Hadith of 

 

Musanaf Ibn Abi Shaibah Vol. no. 5 in the Book of manners Hadith no. 26490 

 

“Ibn Masood (may Allah be pleased with him), he says that by Allah there is nothing more deserving than the extended control of the tongue.”

 

And a similar message is given in the next Hadith of 

 

Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaibah Vol. no. 5 Book of Manners Hadith no. 26491 where 

 

“Hazrat Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) he says holding his tongue that this is the thing that has got me to this position” 

 

That means it was because of his tongue, that’s the reason he reached this position and there are many verses in the Quran where Allah says in 

 

Surah Qaaf ch. no. 50 verse no. 18 that 

 

“Not a word that you say which is not written by a sentinel without he noting it down”

That means every word that you say is being written down by an angel. 

 

Further it’s mentioned in the Quran in Surah Isra ach. No. 17 verse no. 53, Allah says that 

 

“Say to the believers that they should say things which are best and Satan many a times, he sows discord amongst the people, amongst the human beings and Satan to you is an avowed enemy” 

 

So Allah says and guides us in the Qur’an that you be careful when you use your tongue. 

 

And our beloved Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam) said, it’s a Hadith mentioned in 

 

Sahih Bukhari Vol. no. 8 (Book of Riqaaq) Hadith no. 6484 that our beloved Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam) said that 

 

“A Muslim to another Muslim, he should not harm him by his tongue or his hands” 

 

That a Muslim is a person who does not harm the other Muslim by his hand or by his tongue. 

 

And our beloved Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam) further said its mentioned in 

 

Sahih Bukhari Vol. no. 8 Hadith no. 6474 where our beloved Prophet said that 

 

“Anyone who can guarantee the safety that’s the chastity of what is between the two jaw bones, talking about the tongue and what is between the two legs talking about the private part, he will be guaranteed Paradise” 

 

The person who can guarantee the chastity, the safety of the tongue and the private part he will be guaranteed paradise. 

 

Our beloved Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam) further said its mentioned in 

 

Sahih Bukhari Vol. no. 8 Hadith no. 6475 that he said that 

 

“He who believes in Allah and the last day he should either speak what is good or he should keep quite”

 

That means when you open you tongue, speak good or keep quite 

 

And our Prophet also said as I mentioned in several Hadith of 

 

Sahih Bukhari Vol. no 3 Book of Fasting Hadith no. 1894 & Hadith no. 1904 that

 

“Fasting is a shield”

 

So fasting helps you to protect and helps you in self control and a person should guard his tongue that is the best for him. 

 

Yusuf Chambers: Indeed Dr. Zakir it seems like these are lessons that we need to take on board all of the time not just in Ramadhaan. The next important topic regards a person who commits falsehood. I want to know the ruling regarding a person who commits falsehood of the tongue while fasting in Ramadhaan?

 

Dr. Zakir: A person who says false things or lies during the month of Ramadhaan, as our beloved Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam) said, its mentioned in 

 

Sahih Bukhari Vol. no. 3 in the Book of Fasting Hadith no. 1903 that 

 

“A person who does not leave his false actions and false speech, Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) does not require him to leave his food and drink.” 

 

That means a person who keeps on lying and continues doing his false action and false tongue, Allah does not require to leave his food or drink indicating that…. that doesn’t mean the fast will break, if you fast, this is not of the things that break the fast. But the reward that you will get for fasting, it will be diminished and if you do a sin such as telling a lie, but natural, what you are going to get while fasting it will be diminished or may be it will nullify.

 

As our beloved Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam) also said its mentioned in Hadith of 

 

Ibn Maajah Vol. no. 3 Book of Fasting Hadith no. 1690 that 

 

“There are many people who fast who do not get any reward. It is as though they are fasting only for hunger.”

 

That means if you do such acts of false deeds or false actions your reward is not there as though you are just keeping yourself hungry or starving or dieting, the main purpose that you learn self restraint is defeated. 

 

Yusuf Chambers: May Allah encourage us and help us to perform righteous actions which we benefit from in this world and the hereafter, InshaAllah.

 

Dr. Zakir: InshaAllah. 

 

Yusuf Chambers: Next question, what are the dangers of backbiting and gossip mongering during the month of Ramadhaan?

 

Dr. Zakir: One of the major sins in Islam, it is slandering and backbiting. 

 

And Allah says in the Quran in Surah Humazah ch. no. 104 verse no. 1 

 

Waylun likulli humazatin lumaza

 

“Woe to every kind of backbiter and slanderer!”

 

That you have to woe to everyone who backbites and slanders. 

 

And Allah says in the Quran in Surah Hujuraat ch. no. 49 verse no. 12 that 

 

“Avoid suspicion because sometimes suspicion is a sin. Do not speak ill about anyone behind their back. Are you ready to eat the meat of your dead brother?”

 

And Allah continues and says that

 

“Nay! You’d abhor it.”

 

Here Allah gives an example of a person who backbites; it is as though he is eating his own brother.

 

Now eating the meat of your own brother is haraam and further it says eating dead meat, eating dead meat is also haraam. So if you backbite you are committing a double sin. Not only eating the meat of your brother, eating the flesh of your dead brother. 

 

So it is a very grave sin. And our beloved Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam) said, it’s mentioned in 

 

Sahih Muslim Vol. no. 4 (Book of Birr Was Silaah) Hadith no. 6265 where 

 

Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam) asks that Sahaba that “Do you know what is backbiting?” They say that “the Messenger of Allah knows the best” so Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam) says that “If a person speaks about somebody else behind his back which he would not have liked, that is called as backbiting.” 

 

Speaking about somebody behind his back which the person would not like is called as backbiting. So one of the Sahabas he asked that “O Prophet what if the thing I’ve spoken is the truth or the fault which is mentioned does exist in the person” so the Prophet said that “If what you’ve spoken is the truth and the fault does exist, it is called as backbiting otherwise it is called as slandering.”

 

So backbiting is a great sin. There’s another Sahih Hadith mentioned in 

 

Sunan Abu Dawud Vol. no. 3 in the Book of Manners Hadith no. 4857 where 

 

“Hazrat Aisha (May Allah be pleased with her) wife of the Prophet she speaks about Safiya and says that she is such a such thing meaning she’s short stature. The Prophet immediately says that “what you have said! If your words were mixed in the sea, it would spoil the full sea.” 

 

Further it’s mentioned in 

 

Sunan Abu Dawud Vol. No. 3 in the Book of Manners Hadith no. 4860, where it’s mentioned 

 

“Anas (May Allah be pleased with him) he says that Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam) said when he was taken up to heaven that he saw some people whose nails were made of copper and they were scratching their faces and their breast and when he asks that “who are these people?” So the reply was “These are the people who backbited.” 

 

Indicating that backbiting is a grave sin and it is one of the major sins which people should abstain from and many of us they do it unknowingly not realizing that it’s a grave sin we should abstain from it and the Prophet also said 

 

It’s mentioned in Sahih Bukhari Vol. No. 8 in the Book of Manners, Hadith no. 6056  

 

“A rumor-monger, he shall not enter Paradise”

 

So from these Hadith we come to know that we have to be careful, we should guard our tongue especially from backbiting and gossip mongering.

 

Yusuf Chambers: Dr. Zakir regarding other issues or other acts which are discouraged, which we have already covered, can we now mention other acts which are discouraged during the month of Ramadhaan?

 

Dr. Zakir: The other acts which are discouraged during the month of Ramadhaan is that many people they sleep the full day because they are awake in the night and they only get up for their Salaah and they go back. They convert the day into night and night into day which is not the purpose of Fasting.

 

No. 2, many people they are lazy and inactive during the day 

 

No. 3, many people kill their time during the day time with things like play game, amusement rather than doing things which are encouraged and Sunnah of the Prophet

No. 4, many of them they give Iftaar party rather to show off than to seek the pleasure of Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) 

 

No.5 many people, they ask the womenfolk in their house to cook a variety of dishes for Suhoor and for Iftaar thus making most of the women spend major portion of the time in the month of Ramadhaan in the kitchen rather than spending time in the worship of Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala)

 

The sixth mistake that people make is that they spend a lot of time in renovation of their house in the month of Ramadhaan trying to prepare for Eid rather than worshiping Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) 

 

The seventh thing that is discouraged is many people stay awake the full night and indulge in activities which are unproductive rather than worshipping Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala)

 

No. 8 is that many people, they spend time in excessive socializing after Taraweeh, After Qiyaam ul Layl 

 

No. 9 is many people spend time in shopping. They spend most part of their night in shopping 

 

No. 10 is that they spend excessive time in eating the full night

 

No. 11 is many of them, they spend the night loitering and roaming about rather than worshipping Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) 

 

And no. 12 is that many of them they spend the last Ahsara the last 10 days preparing for Eid rather than worshipping Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala)

 

So these acts should be discouraged.

 

Yusuf Chambers: May Allah encourage us to all in spending our time productively during the month of Ramadhaan. Dr. Zakir, why is it encouraged to acquire religious knowledge or Islamic knowledge during the blessed month of Ramadhaan?

 

Dr. Zakir: As far as acquiring knowledge is concerned the first guidance given by Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) in the Glorious Quran, it was not to offer Salaah, it was not the fast, it was not to perform Hajj but it was Iqra 

 

And Allah says in the Qur’an in Surah Iqra or Surah Alaq ch. No. 96 verse no. 1 

 

“Iqra BismiRabbikal Lazee Khalaq”

 

“Khalaqal Insaana Min Alaq”

 

Verse No. 1 and 2 which means

 

“Read, Recite! In the name of Thy Lord who has created. Who has crated the human being from something which clings, a leech like substance”

 

So the first guidance given to the humankind in the Glorious Quran was to Read. It doesn’t only say “Read” it says “Read in the Name of Thy Lord” that means reading is important, acquiring knowledge is important but acquiring knowledge of Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala), of our deen is the utmost important.

 

And Allah says in the Quran in 

 

Surah Mujaadilah ch. no. 58 verse no. 11, it says that 

 

“Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) has raised the rank of those people who believe and those who have been granted knowledge.”

 

Allah says in Surah Baqarah ch. no. 2 verse no. 269 that 

 

“Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) grants wisdom to whom He pleases. And to whoever He grants wisdom, He raises them in rank. And it is for those people who understand.”

 

And the beloved Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam), he also said, its mentioned in 

 

Sahih Bukhari Vol. no. 1 (Book of Knowledge) Hadith no. 71 that our beloved Prophet said that 

 

“Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) to whoever He wants to do good, he makes them advanced in the religious knowledge.”

 

That means He gives them religious knowledge. So whoever Allah wants to do a favour on, Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala gives him knowledge of the Deen.

Our beloved Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam) said, its mentioned in 

 

Sahih Muslim Vol. no. 3 (Book of Will) Hadith no. 4005, our beloved Prophet said that 

 

“The moment a person dies after he dies all his activities cease except for 3. Whatever good deeds he gets it ceases after a person dies except for 3.

A person who has done recurring charity,

A person who has given knowledge to other people and 

A person whose pious children pray for their parents after their death.” 

 

That means after a person dies all the good deeds cease except for 3. if a person has done some recurring charity, Sadqa-e-Jaariya. Has done some charity which keep on regularly rotating and helping people so that’s what Sadqa-e-Jaariya. The other is the knowledge that a person gives and after he gives the knowledge, he imparts the knowledge to somebody else and he keeps on utilizing that knowledge of Deen in helping humanity. That’s Sadqa-e-Jaariya. And the last is the pious children who pray for the deceased parents. Therefore knowledge is very important. 

 

And Allah also says in the Quran in 

 

Surah Nahl ch. no. 16 verse no. 43 and 

Surah Anbiya ch no. 21 verse no. 7 

 

fais-aloo ahlaz zikri in kuntum la ta’lamoon

 

That 

 

“If you do not know ask the person who possess the knowledge.”

 

So Allah says ask the knowledgeable people. So therefore a person who has knowledge has got a high degree and has chances to pass in the examination more and he will have a greater degree in the Aakhira. So that’s the reason acquiring knowledge is of utmost importance and especially in the month of Ramadhaan. If a person acquires knowledge the chances that he acquires the knowledge is higher and he can spread it to the others. 

 

Yusuf Chambers: Jazak Allah Khair for your answer. Backbiting of course is prohibited irrespective whether in Ramadhaan or outside Ramadhaan, however would a woman who complains to her husband about her mother in law, will she be considered as a person who has backbited? 

 

Dr. Zakir: Regarding back biting being haraam and it’s a major sin we discussed in the last episode and there are various Hadith and Quranic verses, its one of the major sins but as far as a wife complaining to the husband regarding the mother in law, but natural, she is speaking something about the mother in law which the mother in law would not like anyone speaking about her so it does come in the category of back biting. ‘Is it a sin’ is the question.

 

Such incidences where a person complains to someone and thinks and feels that once the complain is given to the person may be there is a correction in the action like a wife complains to the husband about the mother in law or the wife complaining to the husband about her son that he is doing so and so things which are wrong so the husband will correct being the father of the child or may be one of the two brothers is going and complaining to the father that my brother did so and so thing which is wrong. It’s speaking ill about him behind but that is so that the father can correct the brother. 

 

So these things have been permitted because the main reason while doing this thing should not be to mock at someone or should not be to belittle anyone but the main purpose should be that the person who the person is complaining about there should be correction in the act. 

 

And if you read the commentary of Imam An Nawawi as far as the Hadith of 

 

Sahih Muslim (Vol. no. 4 Book of Birr Was Silaah) which we discussed in the last episode Hadith no. 6265 in which the Prophet (peace be upon him), he said that 

 

“Do you know what is back biting? And the Sahabas said that “The messenger knows the best.” So the Prophet said that “If someone speaks about another person behind the back which he would not like that’s called as backbiting.” And the Sahaba asked “What if I am speaking about the person is true?” The Prophet said “Then it will be called as back biting, if it’s false it will be called as slandering.” 

 

So based on this the commentary of this Hadith according to Imam An Nawawi, he said that backbiting, Gheebat, in 6 conditions it’s permitted 

 

No. 1 he says is that if something is told to a ruler of the land or to a judge, complaining against the act of another human being who has done wrong to the person. May be he has stolen some wealth from you, taken your property away or has done injustice to you so if you go and complain to a ruler or to a judge against another human being, another Muslim this is permitted because you want the wrong to be undone. So in such cases Gheebah is permitted 

 

Category no. 2 that if you complain to someone who you feel that person has an influence on the person who has done evil act or a sin and you feel that he will stop doing that evil act, you are permitted. For example if you know of a friend who is very close to a person who has done an evil act or who has done a sin and if you tell that your friend has done so and so, so and so thing or is drinking alcohol and you feel that he has an influence on the other person and he can prevent him from doing the sin, its permitted to do Geebah.

 

So the question regarding the wife complaining to the husband either comes in the first category or in the second category. Either its an injustice done to the wife or may be the wife wants to tell the husband that you correct the mother in law. It may come in first 2 categories. 

 

The remaining 4 categories which Imam An Nawawi said that Geebah can be done 

 

The third is that if you are approaching a Mufti or a religious person for some religious advice so you may say that my father has done so and  so act or my wife has done so an so act and describe the act and ask him what should I do. Even in this case if you avoid naming the father or the mother or say in the third person that my friend’s father is doing so and so, it is preferable but in such cases while taking religious advice or a Fatwa for a particular act, it’s permissible.

 

The fourth category which Imam An Nawawi says that Geebat is permitted is that when you know of a narrator who is a liar and if he narrates any Hadith so it becomes incumbent on you to tell the people that he is a liar or his memory is weak because to protect the Shariya. Or for example if some one is selling a slave and if he knows that there are some bad habits in the slave or may be he does adultery so its compulsory that the person who is selling he should tell to the buyer that the slave has so and so faults or if a person asks you that he wants to marry another person and asks you how is the person so that becomes obligatory on you to tell the wrong points or the points which are not correct in that human being. Your intention here is not to belittle that human being, your intention here is not to degrade the person but your intention is to give the right information whether for marriage or for business in these cases this is the fourth category where Imam an Nawawi says it is permitted. 

 

As far as the fifth category is concerned that if you know a person is doing a major sin openly like he is drinking openly or if he is cheating openly or if he is robbing openly so then you can tell the public at large that this person is a person who cheats or this is a person who robs or a person who does continuously Bid’a or there is a   religious person who you know who is giving Fatwa and you know that he is not a person who is truthful so here it’s permitted that that you can speak against the person.

 

And the sixth category is that while identifying a person if someone asks you for identification at that time to identify the person you may have to use a nick name which a person may not like. Like you may have to tell that a person who is short, person who is tall so here you are using these nick names to identify the person which the person may not like, mainly for identification. Here also if you can avoid this nick names for identification is the best but if you can’t avoid, you can do.

 

Imam An Nawawi has mentioned 6 categories in which Gheebat is permitted. 

 

Yusuf Chambers: Thank you, Dr. Zakir. Next question relates to a person. Says “if a person watches TV serials or news in which women are without their Hijaab will this invalidate the fast?”

 

As far as looking at a woman without Hijaab, staring at her, its not permitted in Islam whether during Ramadhaan or non-Ramadhaan, whether fasting or not fasting.

 

And Allah says in the Quran in Surah Noor ch. no. 24 verse no. 30

 

“Say to the believing mean that he should lower his gaze and guard his modesty” 

 

That means the moment he looks at a woman, any ashamed thought comes in his mind, if the woman is not in Hijaab, he should lower his gaze. So based on this verse of the Qur’an, it is haraam to look and stare at a woman and when you are watching television but natural when the woman comes on the screen not that you lower your gaze… almost all of them, they continue staring at the woman. 

 

That reminds me of an incidence that once I told my friend who was staring at a girl for a long time, I said what are you doing? It’s not allowed to stare in Islam. So he told me our beloved Prophet said that the first glance is forgiven, the second is prohibited, I have not completed half my glance. 

 

What did the Prophet mean? Did he mean that you can stare at a woman for 10 minutes without blinking and saying that your glance is not completed? What the Prophet meant was that if you accidentally look at a woman, do not look at her again to feast on her beauty and this is mentioned in the Hadith of our beloved Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam) of 

 

Sunan Abu Dawud (Vol. no. 2 Book of Nikaah) Hadith no. 2144 where Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam) tells to Hazrat Ali, (may Allah be pleased with him), that 

 

“Do not look at the woman again. The first glance it’s accepted but do not look at her again”

 

Same Hadith is repeated in 

Sunan Abu Dawud (Vol. no. 2 Book of Nikaah) Hadith no. 2143, the Prophet said that 

 

“Accidental glance is permitted but do not look at the woman again” 

 

So based on the verses of the Qur’an and the Hadith but natural watching television or watching any programme on the television or any movies in which the woman aren’t properly dressed, they aren’t doing the Hijaab and looking at them and staring at them and continually observing them is Haraam. 

 

And all the more in the month of Ramadhaan, it is more bad. The fast will not be invalidated but the rewards that the person will get will surely be diminished and if you continue it doesn’t only mean watching television even reading magazines even newspapers and today as we all know that most of the magazines, most of the newspapers, they have photographs of ladies who are not properly dressed, obscene photographs 

 

And that reminds me that previously may be 10-15 years back hardly any newspaper, the daily newspaper that you had, that you get in Bombay in India didn’t contain any photograph which is obscene but as time went on, you know, even the Indians are following the western culture and you find that almost all the newspapers, the daily newspapers they have photographs of ladies who are not properly dressed and some papers had photographs in the attached section. Now you have them in the front page also. 

 

So imagine reading these normally is wrong and Ramadhaan its all the more wrong, you are opening the paper, you are fasting and you see a lady who is not properly dressed up or she is wearing very little clothes, you know just to sell the paper. So all these things are prohibited normally also and all the more when you are fasting. 

 

Yusuf Chambers: SubhanAllah! Another question from one fo the viewers  the viewers. A viewer wants to know and he says during one of the Iftaar parties, I attended when a senior person entered the room many people stood people stood up to welcome him. Is this a permitted act? Many people say it isn’t. Is it a permitted act? 

 

Dr. Zakir: As far as standing up for someone to venerate him, it’s not permitted in Islam but if you stand up being the host to welcome some guest or if you want to stand up to welcome to shake his hand that is good manners. To stand up while shaking somebody’s hand or if you are the host and if guests are coming that’s perfectly fine. It’s a good act, its good manners, it’s a Sunnah. But standing at the door without greeting anyone, without shaking hands just for respect, just for veneration, that’s not permitted.  But if you are welcoming someone or if you are sitting in an office and someone comes, a guest comes and you’re shaking hands with him and then you stand up for shaking hands its for welcoming, it is considered as a good habit and it’s the Sunnah and there are various Hadith which speak about this. 

 

For example if you read the Hadith which is mentioned in 

 

Tirmidhi (Book of Manaaqib) Hadith no. 3872, it says that

 

“Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam), he used to stand up for Fatima and Fatima used to stand up for him”

 

It says Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam), he used to stand up for his daughter Fatima, (may Allah be pleased with her), and she used to do the same for her father Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam) indicating that standing up its not Haraam and it’s permitted. 

 

And furthermore there is a Hadith mentioned in 

Sahih Bukhari (Vol. no. 4 Book of Jihaad) Hadith no. 3043 where

 

“The Sahabas stood up on the command of Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam) when Saad ibn Maud, he came to give the judgment on Bani Khuraida”

 

That means the Prophet said that told the Sahabas to stand up and they stood up to welcome the other Sahaba. 

 

And further if you read in Sahih Bukhari (Vol. no.4 Book of Maghaazi) Hadith no. 4418 it says that 

 

“Talha, may Allah be pleased with him, he stood up and shook the hand of another Sahaba Kaab ibn Malik when he repented to Allah and Allah accepted his repentance” 

 

So here it shows that one Sahaba is standing in front of the Prophet, the Prophet was present there, to welcome the other Sahaba and he shook hands with him. So here  it says that for welcoming, for greeting for shaking hand if you stand up, its permitted, it’s a Sunnah, in fact its preferable, its encouraged. 

 

At the same timewe have various other Hadith. If you read the Hadith of 

 

Sunan Abu Dawud (Vol. no. 3 Book of Manners) Hadith no. 5211 where it says that 

 

“When the Prophet entered leaning on his stick, the Sahabas stood up and the Prophet objected and said that Do you want to stand and give respect like the foreigners do?”

 

And another Hadith says in Tirmidhi Hadith (Book of Manners) no. 2754

 

“The Sahabas never stood up for the Prophet because they knew that the Prophet did not like them standing for him” 

 

So here seeing all these various Hadith we come to know that in different occasions, sometimes it’s permitted, sometimes it is Mustahab, sometimes it is it is Maqrooh, discouraged, sometimes it is haraam. 

 

And Shaikh bin Baaz when he was asked the Fatwa, may Allah have mercy on him,… 

 

Yusuf Chambers: Aameen

 

Dr. Zakir: …Raheemullah, when he was asked the Fatwa he categorized in 3 different categories, he said that if a person stands up for venerating someone else who is sitting down like the people did to the Persian King, it is haraam because the Prophet did not like it. And the Prophet said in a Hadith that when he was sitting and leading them in prayer and the Sahaba stood up, he said that 

 

“Don’t stand up when I am sitting, do not venerate me like the Persians did to their king”

 

So standing up for someone for respect or veneration when he is sitting down it is Haraam.

 

The second category is that when someone walks in, you stand up but don’t shake his hand, don’t wish him salaam and when he sits you sit or when he is leaving even you stand up without shaking his hand and without wishing him goodbye so this is Maqrooh. 

 

Well as I mentioned in several Hadith that the Sahabas did not stand up for the Prophet, the Prophet did not like it.

 

But the third category is that when you stand up for greeting someone, for welcoming someone when you shake hands with him, this is Mustahab, its encouraged, it is the Sunnah of the Prophet. 

 

So standing up for shaking somebody’s hand or welcoming someone and greeting him, this is Mustahab, it is good manners and Sunnah of the Prophet. So he is classified in three different categories. 

 

Yusuf Chambers: My final question fro today is regarding music. Many Muslims consider music to be allowed. Could you just confirm did the Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam) speak against Music?

 

Dr. Zakir: There is a great difference of opinion as far as  the Muslims are considered whether Music is allowed or not whether it is permitted or not but there is no verse in the Quran directly prohibiting music but there are indications.

 

Allah says in the Quran in Surah Luqman ch. no. 31 verse no. 6 says that 

 

“Among them there are those people who purchase idle tales without knowledge and without meaning and they mislead the people away from the path of Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) and they ridicule the path of Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) these are the people who receive a humiliating punishment” 

 

So based on this if you see the Tafseer, many of the Tafseer say that this idle tales without knowledge, without meaning refers to unislamic songs and the musical instruments, if you read the Tafseer. 

 

As far as the Prophet prohibiting music there are various Sahih Hadith. So if you read the Hadith of Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam) then there will be no doubt that there will be doubt whether its permitted or prohibited.  Our beloved Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam) said its mentioned in 

 

Sahih Bukhari Vol. no. 7 (Book of Drinks) Hadith no. 5590 the beloved Prophet said that 

 

“From among my followers there will be among my followers there will be some people who will make illicit sex i.e. adultery and fornication as well as wearing of silk, drinking intoxicants and using musical instruments as legal”

 

There will be among my people who will make some things which are illegal i.e. adultery, fornication, wearing of silk, having intoxicants and the playing of musical instruments as legal. 

 

Now this Hadith when it says that they will make certain things legal and we know that intoxicants is haraam, we know very well that adultery, fornication is haraam because it is mentioned along with these things which are forbidden, musical instruments are mentioned along with them, it indicates that the Prophet has prohibited them but some people will make it legal.

 

And we know there are some scholars who today do permit that playing of musical instruments is allowed. So this Hadith is very clear cut in saying that musical instruments are haraam. But there are other Sahih Hadith which do permit some musical instruments especially the Duff that’s tambourine. If you read the Hadith if our beloved Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam) of 

 

Sahih Bukhari Vol. no. 5 (Book of Maghaazi) Hadith no. 4001 where it is said that 

 

“Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam) after consummating his marriage, he came and sat outside along with one of the Sahabas when 2 small girls were playing the tambourine i.e. the Duff and they were praising that Sahaba, his father how he died in Jihaad and when they started praising the Prophet, he said don’t praise me you can say what you were saying earlier” 

 

Indicating that the Prophet did not prohibit them from playing the tambourine.

 

Furthermore there is a Hadith in 

 

Sahih Bukhari Vol. no. 2 Hadith no. 987 

 

where the Prophet while he was lying down this Hadith is narrated by Hazrat Aisha, (may Allah be pleased with her), she says that 

 

“Two small girls were playing the tambourine and they were singing when Hazrat Abu Bakr, (may Allah be pleased with him), the father of Hazrat Aisha, (may Allah be pleased with her), he comes and he says to them that Stop it! Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam) was sleeping on a cot, he tells to Hazrat Abu Bakr, (may Allah be pleased with him), that let them do it these are the days of Eid. Let them do it.”

 

Furthermore there is a Hadith in Tirmidhi Hadith no. 3690 where our beloved Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam), he says that 

 

“There was a person who approached the Prophet and tells him that I had vowed to Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) that if you come back victoriously I will sing and I will play the Duff, I will bang the tambourine. The Prophet said if you have vowed then do it, if you have not vowed then don’t do it.”

 

So these Hadith don’t indicate that musical instruments per se is haraam except for the duff i.e. the tambourine, the Prophet did permit it sometimes. 

 

Yusuf Chambers: Dr. Zakir, thank you very much for that answer, that final answer today. And this was very-very interesting and informative as usual a session regarding the topic ‘Ramadhaan – What is recommended and what is discouraged’ thank you very much, Dr. Zakir. JazakAllahu Khair.

 

Dr. Zakir: Wiya Kum!

 

Yusuf Chambers: Brothers and sisters I pray to Allah (Subhanahu wa Ta’ala) that you have understood and are ready to implement all suggestions have been made today. I certainly must take on board some of the advices that Dr. Zakir has given today. So please do join us at the same time tomorrow when we will be discussing ‘Suhoor Iftaar’ 

 

Assalamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuh!