15th night of Shabaan – Keeping our Heart Clean
Date: 4/03/2023
Duration: 20.41 min
Size: 8.89 MB
The Ramadhaan of Hadhrat Moulana Khaleel Ahmad Sahaaranpuri رَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ عَلَيْهِ
Taken from Akaabir ka Ramdhaan of Hadhrat Shaikh Zakariyya (rahmatullahi alayh)
Tahajjud
According to different times of the year, Hadhrat (rahmatullahi alayh) used to get up about two or three hours before sehri. He had sehri about half an hour before the time for which he took about fifteen to twenty minutes. Thus, he finished about fifteen minutes before Fajar. It was his habit to recite two paras in Tahajjud Salaah. Sometimes it was a bit more and sometimes a bit less, according to the time available.
After Fajar
Throughout the year after the Fajr Salaah, it was his habit to sit in his place and recite various wazeefaas. In the cold days of winter he did so after entering into the privacy of his own room while during the hot days he sat on a bed in the courtyard of the Madrasah until sunrise. He would sit in deep meditation.
Then from sunrise onwards, he busied himself with his lecturing on Bukhaari Shareef and Tirmzi Shareef. After 1335 Hijri he busied himself at this time with the writing of Bazlul Majhood (a commentary on Abu Dawood Shareef) till one o’clock in the Summer and until 12 o’clock, in the winter. Thereafter he would rest until Zuhr Salaah.
Awwaabeen
There was no difference in the number of rakaats performed as nafl after Maghrib compared to the rest of the year. However, in the manner of his performance there was a definite difference. Generally, he recited one and a quarter paras in Awwaabeen Salaah and during Ramadhaan it was those paras which he was to recite in Taraaweeh later in the evening. After Awwaabeen Salaah, Hadhrat (rahmatullahi alayh) used to return home to have his meal for which he took about twenty to twenty-five minutes, but he ate very little during this meal.
Taraaweeh
Hadhrat (rahmatullahi alayh) himself always led the Taraaweeh Salaah until about two years before he passed away. It was his fixed habit to finish the khatam of the Qur-aan Shareef on the evening of the 29th of Ramadhaan. In the first four nights, he recited one and a quarter paras and thereafter one para per a night.
When Hadhrat (rahmatullahi alayh)’s age went beyond seventy, it became increasingly difficult for him to continue doing so. He used to say, “When I go into ruku’ the thought comes into my mind that perhaps I will not be able to rise up again for the second rakaat. Then I take the courage and with difficulty I come up. In this manner, I finally complete twenty rakaats, fearing in every rakaat that I may collapse and fall down, and feeling all the time that rising up from sajdah to the standing position is tantamount to climbing a mountain.”
Hadhrat Shaikh Zakariyyah (rahmatullahi alayh) writes in Aap Beeti that, “On the boat en route to Hajj, Hadhrat (rahmatullahi alayh) suffered such dizziness that he could hardly lift his head from the pillow. The same was the case with me in spite of my comparatively youthful age. Apart from that there was a considerable amount of vomiting also. The bad smells of the boat, especially when it was being filled with petrol (diesel) caused one to become dizzy, nauseous and induced vomiting.
On the 29th Sha’baan he told me: “Bhai, what is to become of Taraaweeh?” I replied: “Hadhrat, I will perhaps be able to bear the dizziness and the turning of my head, but what will happen if during the Salaah I should start vomiting?” He replied: “That is all right. If you should vomit, then just go and perform wudhu again.” The boat was a small one and used to roll about a lot. In spite of the rolling about, which made standing up quite an ordeal, and in spite of dizziness and extreme weakness and exhaustion, Hadhrat (rahmatullahi alayh) performed Taraaweeh standing.
After Taraaweeh, Hadhrat (rahmatullahi alayh) used to rest for about fifteen to twenty minutes while some attendants massaged his legs. At this time there used to be some general conversation regarding the Qur-aan Shareef.
For example, someone may have mistakenly corrected him from behind or it may be concerning something which might have happened during Taraaweeh. Some minutes used to be spent on this in a light-hearted manner.
After Taraaweeh and after resting for a while, he used to go home, where for fifteen to twenty minutes he talked to his family members. Some of the women of the area also used to arrive at this time, and he used to advise them for a short while. Thereafter he went to sleep for about two and a half to three hours.
Tilaawat of the Qur-aan
During the Mubaarak month of Ramadhaan, Hadhrat Moulana Khaleel Ahmad Sahaaranpuri (rahmatullahi alayh) used to recite Qur-aan Shareef from after Ishraaq until eleven o’clock. After Zuhr Salaah, Hadhrat (rahmatullahi alayh) recited whatever he was to recite in Taraweeh that night to Hafiz Muhammad Hussain Ujrarwy. This was what Hafiz Saheb used to come to Saharanpur for.
Occasionally when for some reason or the other, Haafiz Saheb was absent and during his stay in Madinah Munawwarah, he used to make ‘dor’ with me (Hadhrat Shaikh Zakariyyah rahmatullahi alayh). After my return from Hajj and it was a time when his work on Bazlul Majhood had also been completed, he developed the habit of daily reciting one para to his wife. It was this para, which he was to recite in Awwaabeen Salaah that night and in Taraaweeh.
Hadhrat (rahmatullahi alayh) once said, “If my brain wishes, it may go and give in and if it wishes, it may stay working soundly, but under no circumstances shall the Word of Allah Ta’ala leave me.”
Apart from reading Qur-aan, the tasbeeh was always in his hands and his tongue all the time busy with zikr. If ever any of his mureeds had to ask something, he would reply to them.
I’itikaaf
Except for the last two or three years of his life when he had grown weak and was plagued by illness, I have never seen him not performing I’tikaaf in the last ten days of Ramadhaan.
Laylatul Bara’ah – 15 Night of Shabaan
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Rajab 1444 / February 2023
Saum – Fasting
Date: 25/02/2023
Duration: 23.46 min
Size: 10.5 MB
Hadhrat Uqbah bin Aamir (radiyallahu anhu) A brief biography
Hadhrat Uqbah bin Aamir explains the manner in which he accepted Islam.
He says; “When Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) came to Madinah Munawwarah, I was busy tending to my flock of goats. As soon as I received the news of his coming, I immediately left my flock and hastened to meet him.”
After taking bay’ah (pledge of allegiance) on the hands of Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam), Hadhrat Uqbah bin Aamir Al-Juhanee (radiyallahu anhu) returned to his flock on the outskirts of Madinah. Not long thereafter, the attraction to learn directly at the feet of Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) overpowered him and he gave up tending to goats. He moved into the city of Madinah, living in Masjidun Nabawi (sallallahu alayhi wasallam), in order to be close to Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam).
Uqbah (radiyallahu anhu) made a firm resolve to stay close and attach himself to the messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam), not knowing that a decade later, he would become one of the great scholars and conquerors of Islam. Uqbah (radiyallahu anhu) had an intense passion for seeking Deeni knowledge and he became a master in all the Islamic sciences. Allah Ta’ala had blessed him with a melodious voice with which he would recite the Qur-aan Shareef, leaving many listeners in tears.
Uqbah (radiyallahu anhu) participated alongside Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) in Uhud and all the succeeding battles. He was an extremely skilled archer who showed great courage in the conquest of Damascus. As a reward for his heroic achievements, the Ameer of the Muslim army, Hadhrat Abu Ubaydah bin Jarraah (radiyallahu anhu), gave him the task of conveying the glad-tidings of victory to Ameerul Mu’mineen, Umar bin Khattaab (radiyallahu anhu). He rode non-stop for eight days and nights, from one Friday to the next, until he reached Madinah Munawarah where he passed on the message of victory. He was also one of the generals who conquered Egypt and he governed Egypt for three years under the rule of Hadhrat Muaawiya (radiyallahu anhu). So great was his passion for Jihaad that he memorised all the Ahaadeeth pertaining to Jihaad and he used to recite it to the Muslims as a form of encouragement in the different expeditions. During his free time, he used to practise archery in preparation for battle.
When the time of his death drew near, Hadhrat Uqbah (radiyallahu anhu) called his sons and gave them his final wasiyyat (parting advice) saying, “My beloved sons, I forbid you from three things, so be sure to stay away from them. Never accept any Hadith of Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) without being sure of its authenticity. Never incur any debts, even if you are dressed in worn-out clothing. Do not compose poetry lest it distracts your hearts from the Qur-aan Majeed.” The only possessions which he left behind were seventy bows, each with a quiver and arrows. He had made a bequest that all of it should be used in the path of Allah.
Salaah
Salaah
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Rajab 1444 / February 2023
Saviour of Imaan and the fitna of the Time
Date: 11/02/2023
Duration: 23 min
Size: 10.2 MB
Valentine’s Day
Valentine’s Day
Al-Maktab Newsletter
Rajab 1444 / February 2023
Hadhrat Abdullah Al-Muzani radiallahu anhu
Hadhrat Abdullah Al-Muzani radiallahu anhu
In the mountain ranges of Warqaan which is located between Makkah Mukarramah and Madinah Munawwarah, there lived a tribe known as Muzainah. A baby boy was born to parents, from this tribe, who were extremely poor. They named him Abdul Uzza. Not long after his birth, his father passed away leaving behind the young child as an orphan. However, this boy had a paternal uncle who was extremely wealthy and had no children of his own. Therefore he took the innocent young child under his care and showered him with love and kindness as though it was his own child. The youngster grew up to be an adult of fine manners and beautiful conduct. These qualities made him even more beloved to his Uncle.
This young man only came to know about Islam when Nabi Sallallahu alayhi wa sallam made Hijrat (migrated) to Madinah Munawwarah. He was intrigued by this new Deen (Religion) and the final messenger of Allah Ta’ala. This spurred him on to gain whatever information possible regarding this ‘new Deen’. In a short period of time, Allah Ta’ala opened up his heart towards the beauty and perfection of Islam leading him to accept Islam without even setting his eyes on Nabi Sallallahu alayhi wa sallam. Initially he concealed his Islam and used to worship Allah Ta’ala in secrecy, away from the gazes of people. He had great hope that his uncle would also be guided to the beautiful Deen of Islam but it was not to be. Eventually, he could not contain himself anymore and openly proclaimed his belief in the Oneness of Allah and the risaalat (prophethood) of Nabi Muhammad Sallallahu alayhi wa sallam. The desire to meet Nabi Sallallahu alayhi wa sallam had consumed his heart and mind.
The news of his Islam caused his uncle to go into a fit of rage and he immediately threatened to withdraw all the privileges which he had afforded to the young man. This could not deter this fine lad as Imaan had penetrated deep into the recesses of his heart. He opted for the company of Rasullullah Sallallahu alayhi wa sallam and gave up everything. With only a coarse cloth covering his body, he headed towards the blessed city of Nabi Sallallahu alayhi wa sallam. The excitement and enthuaism grew within him as he approached Madinah Munawwarah. He reached Madinah Munawwarah at night and spent the evening in the Masjid. At the time of fajr salaah, he finally fulfilled his dream of seeing Nabi Sallallahu alayhi wa sallam.
After the Fajr salaah, Nabi Sallallahu alayhi wa sallam called him and asked him who he was and from where he had come. Thereafter Nabi Sallallahu alayhi wa sallam changed his name from Abdul Uzza to Abdullah. Abdullah radiallahu anhu then took up residence in the blessed city of Madinah Munawwarah in the company of Nabi Sallallahu alayhi wa sallam. The world had called him towards it but he chose to close his ears to its call and turned all his attention to the eternal life of the Aakhirah.
Abdullah radiallahu anhu, after migrating to Madinah, participated in all the battles which Nabi Sallallahu alayhi wa sallam had set out for. During the expedition of Tabuk, Abdullah radiallahu anhu asked Nabi Sallallahu alayhi wa sallam to make dua for him to blessed with matrydom. Nabi Sallallahu alayhi wa sallam made dua in his favour that he be hounoured with matrydom in such a way that he is protected from the sword of an enemy. Nabi Sallallahu alayhi wa sallam also explained to him that a person who falls ill and passes away through that illness will be considered a Shaheed (martyr) as well. Within a day after this dua, Abdullah radiallahu anhu developed a fever and passed on into the mercy of Allah Ta’ala.
He passed away as a muhajir (one who migrates) for the sake of Allah Ta’ala, A mujahid (warrior) in the path of Allah, in a strange land far away from his family and friends. The Sahaabah radiallahu anhum dug his Qabr (grave). Nabi Sallallahu alayhi wa sallam himself went down into his Qabr. Abu Bakr and Umar radiallahu anhuma passed his body to Nabi Sallallahu alayhi wa sallam who lowered him with his own Mubarak hands into the Qabr. Thereafter Nabi Sallallahu alayhi wa sallam made the following dua, “Oh Allah, indeed I was pleased with him, so you be pleased with him”
Abdullah bin Mas’ood radiallahu anhu stood by the graveside witnessing this amazing sight and said; “If only I was the inmate of this Qabr. By Allah! I wish I was in his place even though I had accepted Islam 15 years before him.” Allah Ta’ala surely recompensed him in the most beautiful of ways.
The Maktab
Date: 28/01/2023
Duration: 18.18 min
Size: 9.92 MB