Having been in Medina for so many years, Allah willed that the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) and the Companions would return back to Makkah. Thousands marched forth to perform hajj with the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) that year and in that congregation he made a very important address. This was to be known as the Farewell Hajj, this was his farewell to his companions, a farewell message to the believing ummah, and in this farewell he said: “I am leaving behind two memorable things, the Book of Allah and my sunnah, whoever abides by these will never go astray.”

Bismillah.

The study of hadeeth is one of the most noble sciences in Islam. The precision of this science, and the scholars who perfected it, is amazing and is not found in any other science–secular or Islamic. The sciences of hadeeth may be the most disputed science in Islam, simply because people do not understand the succinct process and scrutinization for only one narration to be accepted as authentic (saheeh). The Sunnah is the second source of legislation after the Qur’an, and Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) promised to protect the Sunnah:

Arafah: the main day of Hajj. The Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) said in one hadith: “Hajj IS Arafah.” [Sunan Abu Dawud, book 10, #1944] How true that is–if you go to Arafah, but miss everything else, your Hajj is sound; and if you do everything else, but miss Arafah, your Hajj is not valid.

How much more important can you get than that?

Arafah, the day when millions of poeple gather in one place at one time to praise and supplicate to Allah.

Bismillah.

Check out this hadith:

‏إِنَّ مِنْ أَفْضَلِ أَيَّامِكُمْ يَوْمَ الْجُمُعَةِ فَأَكْثِرُوا عَلَيَّ مِنْ الصَّلاَةِ فِيهِ

فَإِنَّ صَلاَتَكُمْ مَعْرُوضَةٌ عَلَيَّ قَالَ فَقَالُوا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ

وَكَيْفَ تُعْرَضُ صَلاَتُنَا عَلَيْكَ وَقَدْ أَرَمْتَ ‏- ‏قَالَ يَقُولُونَ بَلِيتَ

‏قَالَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى حَرَّمَ عَلَى الأَرْضِ أَجْسَادَ الأَنْبِيَاءِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِمْ

The Prophet (صلي الله عليه وسلم) said: “Surely, among the best of your days is Friday; so increase in (invoking Allah’s) salaat upon me during it, for your (invocations for Allah’s) Salaat (upon me) will be displayed to me.” So they (the companions, (رضي الله عنهم‏)) asked: “O Messenger of Allah! How will our (invocation for Allah’s) Salaat (upon you) be displayed to you when you have disintegrated (i.e. your body turned to dust in the grave)?” He replied, “Verily, Allaah (سبحانه وتعالى) has made forbidden for the earth (the consumption of) the bodies of the Prophets – may Allah’s Salaat be upon them.” [Sunan Abi Dawood #1531, graded Saheeh by Shaykh Albani]

Bismillah.

Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) says in the Qur’an,

Translation: It is He who has sent among the unlettered a Messenger from themselves reciting to them His verses and purifying them and teaching them the Book and wisdom although they were before in clear error. [Suratul Jumu’ah, verse 2]

Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) sent Rasulullah (صلى الله عليه و سلم) to do four things:

Take a look at the following picture. What do you see?

Most people will say they see the black dot. Not the whole field of white dots.

That’s people for you! Despite all the white dots around us–our health, wealth, youth, our household, our family, our fine clothing–we only see the black dots. That guy at work who’s always talking on the phone. That punk at school who keeps stealing your cookies. That drip-dripping tap that never stops.

Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) says in the first few verses of Surah Mu’minoon:

Translation: Successful are the Believers! Those who establish their salaah with khushoo. [Surah Mu’minoon, verses 1-2]

Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) carries on to mention many other characteristics of the believer in this surah–however, the thing to focus on, the thing to ponder about, is that the FIRST characteristic that Allah chooses to describe a believer by–a person who establishes the salaah.

The sciences of hadith, and its importance. What is “sunnah,” its importance, its authority in Islam, who were the scholars of hadith, their books, and what is the terminology of hadith.

Chain of Command is an AlMaghrib course taught by Abdul-Bary Yahya. This course is divided into two parts: first, the Muhadithoon, the Scholars of Hadith; and second, what is known as “Mustalah al-Hadith,” the terminology and categorization of hadith. Hadith sciences can undoubtedly be the most important science in Islam for one reason: all other sciences are based on it. Do you think our worship would be the same if we did not have the classifications of ahadith, from da’eef (weak) to saheeh (authentic)? How about fiqh? Aqeedah? Without the hadith of the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) and his sunnah we would be completely lost.

Rays of Faith is an AlMaghrib Institute course taught by Waleed Basyouni. Rays of Faith focuses on the pillars of Emaan: belief in the Angels, the Books, the Prophets, the Day of Judgment, and the Divine Decree (Qadr wa Qadaa’). This course will also go over the creation and realm of Jinns. These matters to us, are matters of the unseen but why is it so important? Because the most important characteristic of a believer is that they believe in the unseen (think of Suratul Baqarah, verse 3), so to believe in the unseen is the base of our eman.

Bismillah.

Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) says in Surah Al-e-Imran ayaat 31-32:

Translation: Say: If you should love Allah, then follow me (so) Allah will love you and forgive your sins. And Allah is Al-Ghafuwr (the All-Forgiving), Ar-Raheem (the All-Mericful). Say, Obey Allah and His Messenger. But if you turn away then indeed, Allah does not love the disbelievers. [Surah Al-e-Imran, verses 31-32]