A Glimpse At An-Nawawi

“It is well known that he is from the most knowledgeable of scholars in the history of Islaam. I mean, if you were to take the ten most notable scholars of the Muslims throughout history, An-Nawawi would be one of them. He wrote a commentary on Saheeh Muslim, and he wrote his book “Al-Majmoo’ ” in fiqh, regarding which Ibn Katheer said, “Nothing was ever written to match its brilliance.” And yes, nothing was ever written like this book.

When you read anything by An-Nawawi, you feel as if you are a plant that is being watered, as he delves deeply into meanings and concepts. Add to this that he abstained from the worldly pleasures, he was a devout worshipper, he would enjoin what is good, and he would forbid what was wrong. He would stand up to the rulers in the peak of their power…

He came into conflict with Dhahir Baybras, the ruler of Sham and Egypt. Dhahir Baybras requested a fatwa from the scholars that money should be collected in order to prepare an army to fight the Tartars in 658H. When the Tartars occupied Baghdaad and advanced upon Palestine ad turned towards Sham, he requested a fatwa while the Tartars were in Palestine that money should be collected to purchase weapons.

Every single scholar issued a fatwa except for An-Nawawi. He said, “I will not provide you with such a fatwa.”

Dhahir asked, “Why not? I want to purchase arms for this struggle, and you refuse to issue a fatwa for it? The entire Ummah and religion will be exposed to loss.”

He replied, “Because you came to us as a slave who owned nothing, and I see that you now own gardens, servants, slave girls, silver, and gold. So, if you sell all of these things and still need money after that, I will issue the fatwa you seek.”

So Dhahir replied, “Leave Sham!”

And he left and went to a small village in Nawa (his hometown). The scholars came to Dhahir Baybras and said to him, “The scholars of Sham are nothing without Muhi Ad-Deen An-Nawawi.” He replied, “Bring him back.” They then went to An-Nawawi and said, “Come back O Muhi Ad-Deen.” An-Nawawi said, “By Allaah, I will not go back while Dhahir is in it.” And Allaah fulfilled his oath; Dhahir died a month later, and An-Nawawi returned to Sham.

This isAn-Nawawi, the devout worshipper, the scholar, the zaahid, the scholar of Usool, Fiqh and Hadeeth. Look at the blessing that is in his books… Look at the barakah; his book Al-Majmoo’ has provided much benefit, his book Riyaadh As-Saaliheen, his book of forty hadeeth, his book Al-Adhkaar – you can feel the barakah in his boks. No books have been written so widely distributed as the books of An-Nawawi.”

[Fee Dhilaal Soorah At-Tawbah, by Shaykh ‘Abdullaah ‘Azzaam, p.67-68]

Opportunities For Sisters To Study The Deen / Live In Saudi Arabia

Opportunities For Sisters To Study The Deen / Live In Saudi Arabia

***Please note that I have no contact/link with the universities. Please do not provide your e-mail address, telephone number or any other personal details. I am just a brother who has collected/gathered this information together so as to help those who wish to study the deen in an Islamic University by providing some information. Again, please do not provide any contact details to myself. Jazaak-Illaahu khaira.***

Also, when asking me a question, please keep speech to a minimum. No ‘lol’, no smiley faces, no excessive talking etc.  I’m a brother just like any other brother…  (Jazaak illaahu khaira) Excessive speech will be edited/deleted.

To proceed;

There are a few ways in which a sister can study the deen / live in Saudi Arabia. One way is by applying directly to the respected universities (if you already have a mahram there in saudi). For those who do not have any mahrams in saudi, then another way is to get your mahram (husband, brother, father, father-in-law, son etc.) to apply along with you. And finally, to live in Saudi can be done by your mahram (husband only) calling you over once he has his own place and is working there in the Kingdom.

I will discuss these below:

Studying The Deen In Saudi

Saudi has four main universities where the deen is taught at a high level.

– Islamic University of Madinah, (Madinah, Saudi Arabia)

– Umm Al-Qura University (Makkah, Saudi Arabia)

– Imam University (Riyadh, Saudi Arabia)

– Daar Al-Hadith (al-Khayriyyah) (Makkah, Saudi Arabia)

UPDATE: A full list of the Saudi Government Universities can be found on this page. Masha-Allaah there’s quite a lot of Universities in the Kingdom…

– Madinah University:

As for Madinah University, then there are no courses for sisters. Madinah University only caters for brothers and brothers only.

UPDATE: Madinah University May be planning to extend their University to also accept female students. They are making progress in terms of the sisters’ facilities, and we may see something more concrete next year – and Allah knows best. Not only does this open the door to sisters who want to apply, but also could potentially make it much easier for married students.

UPDATE: (31/03/10) With regards to sisters studying the deen in saudi while their husbands are students in Madeenah uni, the following can be considered:

“There are women teachers of course, but the male scholars have the most famous halaqaat (in Masjid Un-Nabawi), and they also teach the sisters.

There are basically two main types of women’s teaching which is done by men.

* At the Masjid An-Nabawi, the audio is transferred from the shaykh’s microphone and broadcast into a certain area of the women’s section (which is completely separate, unlike Makkah, which is partially separate). The women who want to learn from that shaykh sit in that certain place, so that they can hear the audio.

* In the Islamic institutions, colleges, etc. – They teach via one way video link, and the sisters have an audio link and a classroom assistant who manages the whole thing. The shaykh can hear their questions, but can’t see them, and they can both see and hear the shaykh. The classroom assistant is a woman who makes sure they all behave themselves. There is an amazing 3 year course which is taught in this manner by some of the major scholars in Madinah.

I know there are women who teach as well, and I’m sure there are some prominent people of knowledge amongst them, but they don’t have a really open role, and the major halaqaat are still taught by the male scholars.

Allah knows best.”

So if sisters can learn the Arabic language (which can also be done while they are there in Madeenah via private tuition) they can then “attend” the halaqahs by the noble shaykhs at Masjid An-Nabawi.

– Umm Al-Qura University:

As for Umm Al-Qura University, then sisters can apply here as they do cater for sisters. Sisters would, however, need to apply with their mahram or already have a mahram living in Makkah throughout her time there. Unlike the other three universities, Umm Al-Qura is not solely an Islamic University, it is just like any other university in Saudi Arabia, however one of its departments/faculties is Islamic Studies. The Arabic program is for two years and all classes maintain an Islamic environment where sisters can relax with their hijaab.

Like all universities listed above (excluding Daar Al-Hadith), the university pays it’s student a monthly stipend of roughly SR. 845 and also provides free hostels (accommodation) for it’s students. If a sister is there with her husband and wishes to live with him, then they can do so at their own expenditure, which will obviously be away from the main batch of hostels. If she wishes to stay in the universities hostel (which may be the case if she is there with her brother) then accommodation is free.

The tuition is likewise free, irrespective of where she stays. The students also get one free round-trip air ticket every summer holiday.

For more information, please visit this page.

– Imam University:

As for Imam University, then this also caters for sisters.

Al-Imam Muhammad Ibn Saud Islamic University does have a women’s section, unlike the Islamic University of Madinah which is a male-only University, but this section of the University does not offer scholarships to foreign women to study. The Arab women that do attend are either housed in their own dorms or remain with family members living in Riyadh.

* * *Awaiting for more info* * *

– Daar Al-Hadith:

As for Daar Al-Hadith, then unlike the above mentioned three universities this is not governmentally run. It also doesnt have a Arabic program which means students must already be fluent in Arabic. It only caters for sisters who are residing legally in Makkah, Saudi ‘Arabia, and show proof for their legal residence.

Best Option:

The best option for sisters would be to apply along with their mahrams to Umm Al-Qura University. However, if sisters wish to live in Saudi, then things are a bit different. Below is the information regarding that.

Living In Saudi

As for living in Saudi Arabia, then this seems to be a more easier option for sisters than it is for brothers. Brothers wishing to live in Saudi usually go on a teaching course (usually a TEFL or a CELTA) and apply for a job in Saudi Arabia. Sisters however can simply get their husbands to apply and then go over with them.

A Sister can likewise apply to a TEFL or CELTA course depending on her circumstance. As for a married sister, than it is better for her to get her husband to apply on one of the english teaching courses. Once he has passed the course, he can apply for a job in Saudi Arabia and call her over. If I’m not mistaken, she can go with him to live in Saudi Arabia from day one (unlike if her husband applies to one of the Saudi Universities and gets accepted, as this way he will have to apply once he is there, and this could be very difficult).

Princess Noora Bint Abdur-Rahman University Scholorship Program, Riyaadh, Saudi Arabia

Please visit: pnuproject.com for information on this university, as well as the Saudi Ministry of Higher Education page here.

Princess Noora Bint Abdur-Rahman University Scholorship Program,
Riyaadh, Saudi Arabia

(Looking for serious sisters uunder 30 years of age who are interested in learning Arabic and Islamic Studies)

Included:

Air fair, room and board, monthly stiffan, and
Sponsorship for husbands and/or mahrams

Fee:

$700-$1000 for processing and domestic affairs (VISAS)

All applicants will need to submit copies of passports, Highschool diplomas or ged birth certificate, and any college transcripts

All documenrs and fees for September 2010,

Admission must be submitted by Febuary 28, 2010

For admissions September 2011, all documents must be submitted by the end of March 2010 (NO EXCEPTIONS)

For further information please contact: Umm Maryam Rasheedah (Saudi Consultant) 011966535300346 Umimaryam20@msn.com OR Umm Muhammad Naimah, Ummnajimah@yahoo.com

Please visit: http://soyouwanttobeastudent.wordpress.com/2010/02/13/new-opportunity-for-sisters/

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Until Further Notice, No-One Should Apply To This, As It Is Possibly A Scam

I Will, However, Leave This On My Blog For A While So That Other People Who May Not Be Aware That This Is Fake, And Have Probably Come Across It Somewhere Else, Know Of This

************

Imam Muhammad Bin Saud Islamic University,

Al-Imaam University
Ar-Riyaadh, Saudi ‘Arabia

In the Name of Allaah, the All-Merciful…

OVERVIEW

Al-Imaam Muhammad bin Su’ood Islaamic University, or Al-Imaam University for short, opened with two colleges, the College of ‘Arabic Studies and the College of Islaamic Law in 1953 in Ar-Riyaadh. Since then, many colleges have been added, as well as branches in other cities. Similar to Al-Madeenah and Umm Al-Quraa, non-‘Arabic speakers have a chance to learn ‘Arabic here from the beginning in an ‘Arabic Language Institute designed specifically for them. They can then continue their studies in ‘Arabic or seek admission to one of the colleges.

REQUIREMENTS FOR ADMISSION

To be considered for admission, applicants must be 25 years old or younger with a high school diploma (at least 80% average or better). Their application must include photographs, copies of passport, birth and health certifictes, high school transcripts and a copy of the diploma, all verified by the Saudi Embassy of their country. Also required are letters of recommendation from known Islaamic organizations or personalities

ESTIMATED COSTS AND LIVING EXPENSES

The school provides the students with a monthly salary of SR 845 (about $225), a round-trip plane ticket yearly, discounted meals, and free housing (for single students only). A single student should bring about $1,000 to get by initially. After that, the monthly salary is sufficient for single students living in the dormitory. Married students who have children should expect their living expenses to be $6,000 to $12,000 yearly, depending on their standard of living, number of children, etc.

CONTACT INFORMATION

We do not currently have an application available for downloading. Howeve you can write the school to request an application:

Imam Mohamed Bin Saud Islamic University (IMIU)
P.O. Box 5701
Riyaadh 11432
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Or you can call them at:
(01) 258-0000 (from America dial 011-966 first)

Or fax them at:
(01) 259-0271

Or contact a student at the university for additional information at

imam-univ@bakkah.net

For more information, please visit:

– http://www.bakkah.net/studying/imaamuniv.htm

– http://saudiuniversities.wordpress.com/category/al-imam-muhammad-ibn-saud-islamic-university-riyadh/

– Imam Universities official webpage: Arabic| English

Wassalaam o alaykum and all the best to see you succeed

The Sunnah Of Zhuhr Salaah

The Sunnah Of Zhuhr Salaah

[Extracted From Riyaadh Us-Saliheen]

{{Anything between these double-curved brackets are my words…}}

Chapter 195
The Excellence of Optional Prayers (Sunnah Mu’akkadah) along with the Obligatory Prayers

1097. Umm Habibah (May Allah be pleased with her) the Mother of the Believers reported: I heard the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) saying, “A house will be built in Jannah for every Muslim who offers twelve Rak`ah of optional Salat other than the obligatory Salat in a day and a night (to seek the Pleasure of Allah).”
[Muslim]

Commentary: Tatawwu` means to offer more Nawafil (optional prayers) on one’s own after performing the Faraid (obligatory prayers). Thus, this Hadith tells us the merits of optional prayers and holds promise of (Jannah) for those who make it a practice.

1098. Ibn `Umar (May Allah be pleased with them) reported: “I performed along with the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) two Rak`ah of optional prayers before Zuhr and two after the Zuhr (noon prayer), and two after the Friday prayer, and two after the Maghrib (evening) prayer, and two after the `Isha’ (night) prayer.”
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

Commentary: There are two kinds of Nawafil which are performed before or after the obligatory prayer. Firstly, the one which were performed by the Prophet (PBUH) more frequently. According to the present Hadith, their total comes to ten Rak`ah while in other Ahadith (1097) their total is twelve or fourteen Rak`ah. They are called Sunnah Mu’akkadah or As-Sunnan Ar-Rawatib That is, the Rak`ah which are proved from the saying and practice of the Prophet (PBUH) and which were performed by him usually. These are said to be Compulsory prayers.

Secondly, such Nawafil which were not performed by the Prophet (PBUH) regularly. These are called Sunnah Ghair Mu’akkadah and are said to be Optional prayers. In any case, Nawafil have great importance in creating a special link between the worshipper and Allah, and for this reason the believers do not neglect them. But their status in Shari`ah is of Nawafil the performing of which is rewarding and omission of which is not sinful. One thing that should be borne in mind in respect of As-Sunnan Ar-Rawatib or Mu’akkadah is that it is better to perform them at home. This was the usual practice of the Prophet (PBUH), and this is what he ordained the Muslims.

1099.`Abdullah bin Mughaffal (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, “There is a Salat (prayer) between every Adhan and Iqamah; there is a Salat between every Adhan and Iqamah.” (While saying the same for the) third time (he (PBUH) added), “It is for him who desires (to perform it).”
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

Commentary: The two Adhan here means Adhan and Iqamah, as has been elucidated by Imam An-Nawawi. That is, offering of two Rak`ah between Adhan and Iqamah is Mustahabb (desirable). It comes in the category of Ghair Ratiba or Ghair Mu’akkadah Nawafil. These Nawafil can be performed after the Adhan of every Salat before the congregation stands for the obligatory Salat.

{{And this is why you will see the people of the sunnah performing 2 raka’ahs before the 3 fard of maghrib (just after the adhaan and before the iqaama). If you’re in a masjid that does this, then glad tidings, for you have found the masjid that follows the sunnah!}}