Amongst the Ummah there are many males, but few men

[AbuMubarak]

[Men of the Ummah] Battle of 'Ayn Jalut
Amongst the Ummah there are many males, but few men. The likes of the Sahabaa are extremely rare. The necessary morals and ideals which we should impart to the younger generation of shabaab, who is doing this? Who are the role models of our young ones?

Pokemon? Britney Spears? Eminem? Tupac? Mike Tyson? Shaq? Barbie? Seinfeld? Brat Spice or Smashing Pumpkins?

Or, do our young ones know who Khalid bin Waleed was? Do they know who Umar ibn Khattab? Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqas, Qa3qa3, Baraa' ibn Malik, Abu Dujanah, Salman alFarsi, Tariq bin Ziyad, Muhammad bin Qasim, Alp Arsalaan, Yusuf bin Tashfin, Mu3tasimaa, Salahuddeen Ayyubi, Muhammad Ghauri, Qutuz, or Muhammad al'Fatih?

Do they look up to the likes of Abdullah Azzam, Zubayr al-Madani, Commander Ibn al-Khattab? Do they know who the men of the Ummah are?

Excerpt from a book regarding the turning point of that battle. The battle itself was the turning point for the Mongols; after this defeat they retreated across the Muslim lands...

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Ayn Jalut

"...The fleeing non-Egyptians did not disorganize the Mamluke infantry behind them. Through the gaps left between the Mamluke regiments, the Syrian contingent rushed away from the terrible Mongol arrows. Seeing the enemy falter and run, Kitbuga ordered his whole host to charge the disorganised enemy. The Mongol charge was a mad, yelling, irresistable onslaught; the fleeing non-Egyptians suffered heavily. Kitbuga thought he had won the battle.

Then he had the first and last rude shock of his long military career. He found himself inextricably caught in a terrible trap.

When the non-Egyptians forming the front line wavered and fled, the Mamluke detachments on either flanks, based on and protected by the obstacles [Mt. Gibboa and Nehr Jalut], stood firm. And the second line, composed of the Mamluke infantry and commanded by Qutuz, withstood and stopped the Mongol charge which had naturally been slowed down, blocked by the mass of retreating Syrians. The Egyptian Mamlukes now formed a hollow square into which the whole Mongol cavalry had poured. Caught on three sides, crammed into a very limited space, the Mongols could neither move nor use their weapons effectively. The sheer weight of their numbers as well as the determined rage of Kitbuga would not let them retire. And into this mass of seething humanity and champing horse-flesh, the short Mamluke bows kept up an incessant rain of arrows. By bold and clever tactics, Qutuz was not only holding the Mongols within the killing range of his short bow but also had completely immobilized the most mobile troops of the Middle Ages.

The tables had been turned on the followers of Hulagu. And when the retreating Muslim Syrians saw that they were neither being killed nor pursued, they halted, gathered courage and returned to the battle forming a rough line behind the Mamlukes and started dealing with any desperate Mongol horsemen who could break through the narrow gaps between the Mamluke infantry regiments. After a fearful slaughter the Mongols finally turned and fled.

That was not the end of the fight. Throughout the hard-fought battle, Baybars and his corps of Bahri Mamluke cavalry had been waiting impatiently. Now he and his men were let loose.

Baybars was a hard-riding, hard-hitting, ruthless cavalry commander who thoughout a life packed with dangers would neither ask for nor give any quarter.

He first caught the Mongols against the Baysan marshes; thousands of Mongols who had taken refuge in the reeds, were burned out and killed. The fleeing Mongols were then caught against the River Jordan and many more perished.

But Baybars would not be Baybars if he had stopped there.

Emerging from the valley of the Jordan, he launched his cavalry on one of the longest and hottest pursuits in military history.

For three hundred miles he chased, hunted, and killed every Mongol he could find. Relentlessly he dug these sneaking murderers and robbers out of villages, hamlets, groves and fox-holes. Only those Mongols escaped who swam across the River Euphrates on inflatable skins. This ruthless demon of war, Baybars al-Banduqaari, was soon destined to become the bravest and most famous Mamluke king of Egypt.

...

The battle of Ayn Jalut was one of the most decisive in history. The Mamluke victory saved Islam from the most dangerous threat it ever had to face. Had the Mongols penetrated into Egypt there would have been no great Muslim State left to the east of Morocco. Once established on the southern and eastern coasts of the Mediterranean, the Mongols would have come under more active influence of Christianity. Under the example of their many Christian princesses and Christian chiefs like Kitbuga, Christianity would most probably have triumphed in the very heart of Islamdom.

'Ayn Jalut meant the turn of the tide for Islam from a religious as well as a military point of view. The Mamlukes conquered Palestine, Syria, western Iraq and southern Anatolia.

And the Mongols, after sitting for a long time on the fence between Islam and Christianity, finally descended on the Muslim side of it and stayed there. The sons of the deadliest foes of Islam were destined to become its great champions..."

[AbuMubarak]

Assalam alaikum,

When the early Muslims gathered, they questioned whether to call people to
prayer with a bell, like the christians used, or with a horn, like the jews
did. When Umar suggested that a man pronounce the call to prayer, Bilal
climbed the Kaba and at the top of his voice, pronounced the call to pray
(adhzan).

Five times a day we hear echoing from the mosques of the world 'haya al
falah' - meaning, come to success. But do we understand what this success
implies?

The Arabic word Falah means 'success through cultivation' - i.e. success
which is a result of hard work, effort etc. A similar word is used in
Arabic, zakah, meaing 'cultivation by pruning' or 'causing to grow
straight'. Zakah is commonly used to refer to the 'poor-rate' which Muslims
are obliged to give.

Allah the Almighty has stated the obligation for zakah as frequently as
Allah the Almighty has stated the obligation for prayer. And most certainly
it is a duty of growth and cultivation by which success is generated.

Prophet Muhammad said that a tax will be taken from the rich and given to
the poor. In the early days there was great poverty. When the tax was
collected, the condition of the Muslim society became such that, through the
dispensation of zakah, they could not find anyone who needed financial aid.
The money collected was then spent on works to assist public benefit.

Most religions promise success in the hereafter for those people who follow
the faith's belief;often at the sacrifice of the life of this world. Those
who do not adhere to a religion, do not believe in the hereafter and so
focus instead on this world.

Islam, on the other hand, stresses the value and importance of success in
this world, as well as the hereafter. While the hereafter is the ultimate
target, the realised goal, when Islam speaks of sacrifice in this world, it
does not mean sacriice of success living in poverty, in misery, without the
benefits of knoweldge, wisdom or technology. Rather as Allah the Almighty is
the One with Wisdom, Allah has created that which is around us to help us.
To help us to recognise Allah, but more importantly, for us to find success-
materially as well as spiritually - in this world.

The saying of the wise is to prepare for this world as if we will live
forever and to prepare for the next world as if we will die tomorrow. We now
ask ourselves that Allah the Almighty Created us, humankind, so that we may
appreciate Allah. How then does our appreciation of Allah, generate success
in this world and the here after?

In Surah al-Israa (17) and Surah ar-Rum (30), Allah the Almighty says that
Allah created the day for us so that we may seek the bountry of Allah.
Counter-balancing Allah the Almighty refers to men for whom neither trade
nor merchandise will prevent them from prayers in Surah an-Nur (24). In
Surah an-Nahl (16) Allah the Almighty refers to the oceans which Allah has
created so that we may trade on them, to again seek Allah's bounty. In fact
in Surah al-Baqara (2), Allah the Almighty even permits people to seek
Allah's bounty during the pilgrimage season! How do we derive full benefit
from the bounty of Allah?

In Surah al Fatir (35) Allah the Almighty says, 'seek thus the bounty of
Allah so that you may be grateful'. This is the key to success, the key to
'falah'

Success in the Islamic context can be shown in two ways:

1. Material success - for which we have been given clear sanction by Allah
the Almighty to seek the wealth of this world

2. Spritual success - that is to be grateful to Allah the Almighty for all
that Allah has given us.

Gratitude requires recognising the position of Allah, as our Creator, and
our own position as the Creation of Allah. It helps us realise that even
when seeking the bounty of Allah we are in part fulfilling our religious
obligation as set out by Allah.

Success does not mean to have no wealth, or to have no say, or to live in
isolation - yes there are cases where this may be beneficial, or even
needed. Rather, generally, success is attained success through cultivation.
Just as a poor man does not become rich without effort, a believer will not
attain success in the hereafter, without effort, without cultivating the
character.

'haya al falah' - come to success.

And may Allah have mercy and guide us all, ameen.

[AbuMubarak]

The Muslim Ummah: Looking on the Bright Side


Fatwa Question Details
Name Mohammed - United States Title
The Muslim Ummah: Looking on the Bright Side
Question
As-Salaamu `Alaykum. I have heard the Hadith of Prophet Muhammed,
peace and blessings be upon him, when he said that nations will haunt
against us. Can we say that this thing is happening right now?
Date
1/Sep/2002
Mufti
Sheikh Yusuf Al-Qaradawi
Answer
Wa`alaykumu As-Salamu Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh.

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be
upon His Messenger.

Brother, we really appreciate your question, which is a sign of your
care about the affairs Muslim Ummah. May Allah please us all with the
victory of Islam!

Brother, first of all, we would like to mention the Hadith you
referred to in your question. The Prophet, peace and blessings be
upon him, said: "Nations are about to scheme against you in the same
way as greedy eaters vie with one another on the dining-table.' One
of the companions, may Allah be pleased with them all, asked: 'O
Messenger of Allah! Will that relate to being few in numbers?' The
Prophet said: 'No, but your huge number will be of little
effectiveness, and (Allah) will cast Al-Wahan in your hearts. They
said: O Messenger of Allah, what does Al-Wahan mean? He said, 'Your
hearts are strongly attached to life luxuries and you feel strong
aversion to death." (Reported by Ahmad and Abu-Dawud)

The previous Hadith is considered one of the miracles with which the
Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, was aided. The Hadith
refers to what will happen by the end of this world. In other words,
it shows the extent of the moral decay that will affect the Muslim
Ummah, and will encourage its enemies to haunt it, especially after
neglecting Allah's Commands and ignoring His Prophet's teachings

The miracles that Allah Almighty has granted His Prophets, peace and
blessings be upon them all, to help in delivering their messages, are
not only rules and regulations from which the Muslim Ummah can seek
guidance regarding what is lawful and what is prohibited. Rather,
They serve as a means of encouraging the Muslim to bear the
sufferings and tribulations of life with patience and perseverance,
keeping in mind that Allah will never forsake him.

The words of the Hadith show that the state of weakness facing the
Muslim Ummah nowadays is transitory.

Unfortunately, the Muslim Ummah's hands are tied, finding themselves
handicapped to put an end to the brutal massacres and mass killing of
Muslims in many places of the world, in addition to gross violation
of Muslim human rights.

The main reason behind all this can easily be ascribed to forsaking
the Islamic umbrella, which encompasses economy, mass media and
education, as well as politics.

Every member of Muslim Ummah has a share in this responsibility; it
is a collective one. We are together in the same boat and we have to
start rowing before it is too late.

Stressing the fact that, despite the sorry state of affairs of Muslim
Ummah now, there is a glimmer of hope lying in the future, we would
like to cite for you the following fatwa issued by the eminent Muslim
scholar Sheikh Yusuf Al-Qaradawi:

"Some scholars claim that the Doom is approaching and that the
darkness looms large and there are troubles on the horizon. Actually,
such premonitions bring benefits to none and make things get worse.
This leads to the belief that there is no hope for a change or reform
and that the coming days carry nothing but bad events. This is, in
fact, a very wrong way of thinking and it is plainly a pessimistic
approach to life. Muslims are to stick their mind to many glad
tidings of the coming victory of Islam, and they should have faith in
Allah that the coming days will be more bright and that there is
light at the end of the tunnel.

Thus, it is necessary for Muslims to derive from the following glad
tidings glimpse of light to fill their hearts with and let despair
vanish and fade away. Here are some of the glad tidings mentioned in
the Qur'an:

1-Almighty Allah says: "He it is who hath sent His messenger with the
guidance and the Religion of Truth, that He may cause it to prevail
over all religion, however much the idolaters may be averse." (At-
Tawbah: 33)

2-Almighty Allah also says: "Fain would they put out the light of
Allah with their mouths, but Allah will perfect His light however
much the disbelievers are averse." (As-Saff: 8)

In these verses, Almighty Allah makes it clear that at the end
sweeping victory and triumph will be for Islam and Allah's light will
cover all corners of the globe.

The Sunnah of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, is also a
record of many Hadiths that give glad tidings of the coming victory
of Islam. Here, we would like to cite some of these Hadiths:

1-In his Sahih, Imam Muslim recorded that Thawban quoted the Prophet,
peace and blessings upon him, as saying: "Almighty Allah has gathered
the earth for me so that I could see all its corners. My nation will
rule over all that which Almighty Allah has gathered for me."

2-Ibn Hibban quoted the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, as
saying: "This matter (i.e. Islam) will spread to cover all area where
there is night and day. Allah will never leave a house in a rural
area or in urban community without its people being Muslims. Honor is
for those who embrace it (i.e. Islam) while disbelievers are doomed
to disgrace and humiliation."

This Hadith, along with many others, give us glad tidings that the
patch of the Muslim state will expand to cover the whole earth and
that the strength of this state will grow and become obvious to all.
This also denotes good news for the long-cherished hope of revival of
Muslims unity and rebirth of Islamic Caliphate.

Also, there are many other glad tidings in the reality of being a
Muslim, for any wise man knows that no falsehood is to remain
forever. Life has its ups and downs and days has their own
vicissitudes. After hardship comes ease and every cloud has a silver
lining. The bitter reality of the Muslim nation will come to an end,
and tomorrow will be definitely better than today.

The emergence of the Islamic awakening has breathed in the Muslim
nation a sense of confidence and hope in the future. Viewing this
awakening as a threat, the enemies of Islam have tried their utmost
to suppress it. However, it is Allah's will that the Muslim awakening
will endure all tribulation without being affected. Such movement is
worthy of leading the Muslim nation to utter victory once there are
leaders who are rightly guided by Almighty Allah and filled with
wisdom."

We plea to Allah Almighty to guide the Muslim Ummah back to the right
track. This is the only way we can find a place in the modern world
where non-Islamic systems impose distorted ideologies in the name of
civilization."

If you have any further comments, please don't hesitate to write
back!

May Allah guide you to the straight path, and guide you to that which
pleases Him, Amen.

Allah Almighty knows best.

[AbuMubarak]

[Nidaa]

In the year 654 AH Zu ALHijaa/1256, December, Holaku started his attack on the Islamic world. He worked his way to Baghdad; and in 9 Safar 656 AH/15 Feb,1258 Baghdad fell into the hands of the Moghuls. The killing and pillage and rape were terrible such that it was said the Euphrates turned black with ink from the books of the libraries of Baghdad then red with the blood of the Muslims. Holaku killed the Caliph of that time AlMotassim the last of the Abbasid Caliphs.
The people of Syria saw the mass destruction and were horrified they thought that these Moghuls were in fact Gog and Magog and the end of time was imminent. They surrendered unconditionally and so it was that they reached the red sea and looked next at Egypt.
Egypt at that time was ruled by the Mamelukes.at that time it was Ezz Eldin Aybek. These Mamelukes were not free, in their youth they had been bought by the Sultan from the money of the peoples treasury(BaitAlMal) and they had risen in power and consequence.
They called the people to Jihad and to fight for their land yet the people were reluctant.
The Head judge at that time was Sheikh Ezz ElDin Bin AbdAlSalam, he went to the Mamelukes and told them free yourselves from slavery otherwise you may not marry free women and you may not lead others into battle and you will have no rights as free men.
They asked him 'what would you have us do?' And he answered 'call in the slave markets and the price given for each one of you, you will pay; I will collect the money and put it in the treasury housefor the people.
They refused in anger but when they saw the danger they were in they finally agreed to sell themselves in the slave markets and so the strangest sight ever was beheld- the rulers of the land being sold as any slave.
Yet when they had unshackled themselves from the slavery of man they once again called the people to Jihad and to free the land of the Muslims and the Muslims went and thus was the battle of Ain Jalut.
I have always been especially fond of this story- when we too free ourselves from the bonds of slavery, when our every action is for God when we eat, drink, work, study for God, when the Mosquea fill with the youth of the Muslims in Fakr prayer all over the world; then will fear and dispair evaporate then will the signs of victory appear not just before our eyes but before the eyes of the world.

[Nidaa]

It was the river Tigris not the river Euphrates. I've had Israel too much on the brain lately!!!
Sorry.

[TalkAboutIslam]

It was the river Tigris not the river Euphrates. I've had Israel too much on the brain lately!!!

we do understand Nidaa.
The prophet said what means : whoever wakes up in the morning and does not think of his fellow brothers and sisters (muslims) is not one of them ......

that is we should care for each other. really.