When I started

When I started sharing this novel idea with Hindu, 

Muslim and Christian friends, without exception, their immediate reaction 

was one of mirth, they giggled and laughed. Most ofthem not realising that 

the joke was on them. The boot was on the other foot. Though the word 

"anus"is a very small word, only four letters in English, most people have 

not heard it. One is forced to use the colloquial substitute which I hesitate to 

reproduce here, nor will I use the sarne in public meetings because of 

people's hypersensitivity - because in the words ofAbdullah Yusuf Ali, people 

"HAD PERVERTED THEIR LANGUAGE ONCE BEAUTIFUL, INTO JARGONS OF 

EMPTY ELEGANCE AND UNMEANING FUTILITY." 

Therefore to ease the situation, in a round-about-way let us say that where 

you have an "input," you must allow for an "output." The one who eats, must 

have the call of nature - the toilet or the bush - and our primitive friend 

smelt the need, which he could never attribute to his Creator. Therefore, he 

called his God - ATNATU! 'The one without the excretory system or its 

tail end.

GOD EATS NOT!

This novel concept of God by primitive man, is not really altogether novel. 

God Almighty conveys the same truth to mankind, as in His Last and Final 

Revelation - The Holy Qur'an - but in a language so noble, so sublime, as 

befitting its Author. But because of its very finesse, and refined manner of 

expression we have overlooked the Message. We are commanded

CONCEPT FROM THE WEST

The Anglo/Saxon and the Teuton in their own and other allied European 

languages call their object of worship "GOD" or words of similar sound and 

import, i.e. 

The ancient Phoenicians called their God - ALLON - (not far from Allah if we 

could only hear it articulated), and the CanaanitesADO. The Israelites not 

only shared the word EL with the original people ofPalestine, but borrowed 

the name of their chief deity - ADO and turned it into ADONAI, and 

everywhere the four-letter word YHWH occured in their Holy Scriptures, they 

read "Adonai"instead of "Yahuwa."You will not fail to notice the 

resemblance between the Jewish Adonai and the heathen Adonis. ADONIS 

was a"beautiful godling loved by Venus" in the Greek pantheon. 

THE LATIN CONCEPT

In the Latin-dominated languages of Western Europe,where Latin had 

remained dominant in learning and diplomacy for centuries, the chief term 

used for God is DEUS: 

God

ALMOST ISLAMIC

ALMOST ISLAMIC

Now, compare the above verses with my free hand translation of what the 

Zulu actually said: 

Every African tribe, South of the Zambesi River, that is, in Southern Africa, 

have given different names to the Almighty - Tixo, Modimo, uNkulunkulu

etc., and each and every African language group will take pains to explain 

the same pure and holy concept as the Zulu. It is to the glory of the African

nations that though they had no written languages, and hence no written 

records, therefore not being able to recount the names of their respective 

prophets, yet not a single one of the tribes ever stooped down to 

worshipping idols or images of either of men or animals, until the White ma

first introduced his religion and gave the African his anthropomorphic 

concept of God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Ghost, 

and

THE CONCEPTS

In the religious terminology of the world, we will find that every "son of man" 

in his own way, in his own dialect, has given some beautiful attributive name 

for the Lord of the Heavens and the Earth. 

THE ZULU CONCEPT

In our own country, South Africa, the Zulus, a veryvirile and militant people 

- a nation akin to the Qureish of pre-Islamic Arabia- have given a name to 

God Almighty - uMVELINQANGI. This word when properlyarticulated in its 

own dialect, sounds identical to the Arabic word Walla-hu-gani,meaning - 

"And Allah is Rich"(Bounteous). It also sounds like "Allegany"of the Red 

Indians of North America (Remember their ALLEGANY

DEVOURING FIRE

Out of the encyclopaedia of 73 Books of the Roman Catholics and 66 Books 

of the Protestants called the "BIBLE",

2

endless number of quotations can be 

culled to fill a book larger than this publication to illustrate man's various 

imperfect descriptions of God. The above examples will suffice, I hope. 

In the realm of the spirit, no nation has had as much opportunities as the 

children of Israel. And despite repeated warnings to the effect that: 'THY 

GOD IS A JEALOUS GOD, HE SHALL HAVE NO OTHER GOD BEFORE HIM, 

NOT EVEN OF THE LIKENESS OF THE THINGS ON EARTH, OR IN THE 

HEAVENS ABOVE, OR IN THE WATERS BENEATH THE SEA . . .' (Exodus 20:3-

5), they took the golden calf for worship, and again and again reverted into 

idolatry. Nor is the bulk of Christendom any freer from this taint. Visit St. 

Paul's Cathedral in London, or St. Peter's Cathedral in Rome and

GOD NOT PARTIAL

GOD NOT PARTIAL

If God Almighty is not partial to His creatures with regard to material blessings 

like - fresh-air, rain, sunshine etc., why should He be partial in regard to His 

spiritual blessings (The Guidance of God)? He has not been partial! There is no 

nation or language group on earth who does not knowGod by some name. 

This knowledge was given by the Creator Himself through the lips of His 

chosen messengers. The names of a very few of thesemessengers we know, 

the rest have been lost or clouded in superstition.

Though all theology (knowledge of God) originated with God, mankind played 

fast and loose with those pure and holy concepts, adding frills and adornments 

where no embellishments was needed - it despoiled the language. In the 

BELIEF IN GOD UNIVERSAL

WHAT IS HIS NAME?

At the end of my public talk on the subject - "MUHUMMED(p.b.u.h.) the 

Natural Successor to CHRIST(p.b.u.h.)"

1

at question time, a Christian 

Missionary posed the question: "What is His Name?"Meaning thereby as t

the name of God. I stood up to 

nswer. But before I opened my mouth, he spoke intothe mike, provided for 

uestioning, that he would answer his own question.I said, "You posed the 

uestion so the obligation is on me to reply to your question". He said, "Yes, 

ut I will answer the question." (Laughter in the audience). He was actually 

egging for an opportunity to be heard. Where else on earth would he get 

uch a large audience, and that at the Muslim's expense, to preach. I said, 

Carry on!" (Give him enough rope to hang himself).After some rambling, he 

oncluded that the name of God was "JESUS CHRIST!" 

 was not the time, at that meeting; nor is it expedient here to discuss the 

ubject fully - "IS JESUS GOD?"

1

It is enough, for the moment, to say that 

 the language of Moses, Jesus and Muhummed (Peacebe upon them all) 

he name of God Almighty is ALLAH! Proof will be provided in 

AlmightyAllahalso revealed

" And surely,We created you (yourfatherAdam) and then gave you shape (the

nobleshapeofahumanbeing),thenWetoldtheangels,"ProstratetoAdam",

and theyprostrated, exceptIblis, he refused to bethosewhoprostrate. 

Allah said: " Whatprevented you (O Iblis) that you didnotpostrate when I

commandedyou?" 

Iblissaid: " I am betterthan him (Adam),You created me from fire and him Y ou

created fromclay."

Allah said: " O Iblisget down from this(Paradise),itisnotforyou to be

arroganthere. Get outfor you areofthosehumiliated anddisgraced."

Iblissaid: " Allow me respite till the Day they are raised up (Day of

Resurrection)."

Allahsaid:" Youareofthoseallowed respite."

Iblis said: " BecauseYouhavesent meastray, surelyI will sitinwait against

them (human beings) on YourStraight Path.Then Iwillcome to them from

before them and behind them,from theirright and from theirleftandYou will

not find mostofthemas thankful ones (theywill notbedutiful to You)."

Allahsaid:" 

ProphetAdam

Informing the AngelsAboutAdam
AllahtheAlmightyrevealed:
"RememberwhenyourLord said to theangels:'Verily,Iam goingto place
mankindgenerationsaftergenerationson earth.'They said:'WillYouplace
therein those who willmake mischief therein and shed blood,while we glorify
You with praisesandthanks(exalted be You above allthat they associate with
You aspartners) and sanctify Y ou.'Allah said: 'I know that which you donot
know.'
Allah taught Adam all the namesof everything,then He showed them to the
angels andsaid:" TellMethenames oftheseifyouaretruthful." They(angels)
said:" GlorybetoYou, wehavenoknowledgeexceptwhat Youhavetaughtus.
Verily,itisYou,theAll-Knower,theAll-Wise." 
Hesaid:" O Adam!Inform them oftheirnames," andwhenhe hadinformed
them of theirnames,He said: " Did I nottellyou thatIknow the unseen in the
heavensandtheearth,andIknowwhatyou revealandwhatyou have been
hiding?"
RememberwhenWe said to theangels:" Prostrate yourselfbefore Adam"They
prostrated except Iblis,he refused andwasproud and wasone ofthe
disbelievers(disobedienttoAllah)."
We said: " O Adam!Dwell you and yourwife in the Paradise and bothof you
freely with pleasure and delight ofthingstherein aswherever youwillbutcome
not near this treeor youbothwill beoftheZalimeen (wrongdoers)."
Then the Satan made them sliptherefrom (the Paradise),andgotthem out from
thatin whichthey were.We said:" Getyou downallwith enmity between
yourselves. Onearth will bea dwelling placefor you andanenjoymentfor a
time." 

Then Adam received from hisLord Words.HisLord pardoned him (accepted his
repentance). VerilyHeis theOneWhoforgives (accepts repentance), themost
Merciful. 
We said:" Getdown allofyou fromthisplace (theParadise),then whenever
therecomes toyouGuidancefromMe, and whoever follows MyGuidancethere
shall be no fearon them,norshall they grieve. But those who disbelieve and
belieOur Ayah(proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, and signs and revelations,
etc)sucharethedwellersoftheFire,theyshallabidethereinforever." (Chapter
2:30-39, Qur'an). 

WHAT IS A MIRACLE?

I think it is necessary that we have a clear picture of what we mean by a miracle. Here are 
some definitions:- 
"An event that appears so inexplicable by the laws of nature, that it is held to be 
supernatural in origin or an act of God."
"A person, thing or event that excites admiring awe."
"An act beyond human power, an impossibility."
It is logical that greater the impossibility, greater the miracle. For example, should a 
person expire before our very eyes and is certified dead by a qualified medical man, yet 
later on a mystic or a saint commands the corpse to 'arise!', and to everybody's 
astonishment the person gets up and walks away, we would label that as a miracle. But if 
the resurrection of the dead took place after the corpse had been in the mortuary for three 
days, then we would acclaim this as a greater miracle. And if the dead was madeto arise 
from the grave, decades or centuries after the body had decomposed and rotted away, 
then in that case we would label it the greatest miracle of them all! 
A COMMON TRAIT
It has been a common trait of mankind since time immemorial that whenever a Guide
from God appeared to redirect their steps into the Will and Plan of God; they demanded 
supernatural proofs from these men of God, instead of accepting the Message on its 
merit. 
For example, when Jesus Christ (pbuh) began to preach to his people - "The Children of 
Israel" - to mend their ways and to refrain from mere legalistic formalism and imbibe the 
true spirit of the Laws and Commandments of God, his "people" demanded Miracles 
from him to prove his bona fides,
3
as recorded in the Christian Scriptures: 
Then certain of the scribes and the Pharisees answered, saying Master, we 
would have a SIGN (Miracle) from thee. But he answered and said unto them, 
"An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a SIGN (Miracle) and there 
shall no SIGN (Miracle) be given to it, But the SIGN (Miracle) of the Prophet 
Jonas: 
4
(Emphasis added)
Matthew 12:38-39 (Holy Bible)
Though on the face of it, Jesus (pbuh) refuses to pamper the Jews here, in actual fact, he 
did perform many miracles as we learn from the Gospel narratives.
 The holy Bible is full of supernatural events accredited to the Prophets from their Lord. 
In reality all those "signs"and "wonders"and "miracles"were acts of God, but since 
those miracles were worked through His human agents, we describe them as the Miracles 
of Prophets, i.e. Moses or Jesus (peace be upon them) by whose hands they were 
performed. 
QUIRK CONTINUES
Some six hundred years after the birth of Jesus Christ (pbuh), Muhummed (pbuh) the 
Messenger of God was born in Makkah in Arabia. When he proclaimed his Mission at the 
age of forty, his fellow countrymen, the MUSHRIKS
5
of Makkah made an identical 
request for Miracles, as had the Jews, from their promised Messiah. Text book style, it 
was as if the Arabs had taken a leaf from the Christian records. History has a habit of 
repeating itself! 

EVE'S FAULT

The three religions agree on one basic fact: Both women and men are 
created by God, The Creator of  the whole universe. However, 
disagreement starts soon after the creation of the first man, Adam, and the 
first woman, Eve. The Judaeo-Christian conception of the creation of 
Adam and Eve is narrated in detail in Genesis 2:4-3:24. God prohibited 
both of them from eating the fruits ofthe forbidden tree. The serpent 
seduced Eve to eat from it and Eve, in turn, seduced Adam to eat with her. 
When God rebuked Adam for what he did, he put all the blame on Eve, 
&quotThe woman you put here with me --she gave me some fruit from the 
tree and I ate it."; Consequently, God said to Eve: "I will greatly increase 
your pains in childbearing; with pain you will give birth to children. Your 
desire will be for your husband and he will rule over you." To Adam He 
said: "Because you listened to your wifeand ate from the tree .... Cursed is 
the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat of it all the 
days of your life..." 
The Islamic conception of the first creation is found in several places in the 
Quran, for example: 
"O Adam dwell with your wife in the Garden and enjoy as you wish but 
approach not this tree or you run into harm and transgression. Then Satan 
whispered to them in order to reveal to them their shame that was hidden 
from them and he said: 'Your Lord only forbade you this tree lest you 
become angels or such beings as live forever.' And he swore to them both 
that he was their sincere adviser. So by deceit he brought them to their 
fall: when they tasted the tree their shame became manifest to them and 
they began to sew together the leaves of the Garden over their bodies. And 
their Lord called unto them: 'Did I not forbid you that tree and tell you that 
Satan was your avowed enemy?' They said: 'Our Lord we have wronged 
our own souls and if You forgive us not and bestow not upon us Your 
Mercy, we shall certainly be lost' " (Quran 7:19:23). 

WHAT IS IMAN

WHAT IS IMAN AND WHAT ARE ITS CHARACTERISTICS

One day the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) appeared before the public that a man came to him
and said: Prophet of Allah, (tell me) what is Iman. Uponthis he (the Holy Prophet) replied: That you affirm your faith in Allah, His
angels, His Books, His meeting, His Messengers and that you affirm your faith in the Resurrection hereafter. He (again) said:
Messenger of Allah, (tell me) what does al-Islam signify. He (the Holy Prophet) replied: Al-Islam signifies that you worship Allah and
do not associate anything with Him and you establish obligatory prayer and you pay the obligatory poor-rate (Zakat) and you observe
the fast of Ramadan. He (the inquirer) again said: Messenger of Allah, what does al-Ihsan imply ? He (the Holy Prophet) replied: That

you worship Allah as if you are seeing Him, and in case you fail to see Him, then observe prayer (with this idea in your mind) that (at
least) He is seeing you. He (the inquirer ) again said: Messenger of Allah, when would there be the hour (of Doom) ? He (the Holy
Prophet) replied: The one who is asked about it is no better informed than the inquirer. I, however, narrate some of its signs (and these
are): when the slave-girl will give birth to he master, when the naked, barefooted would become the chiefs of the people  -these are
some of the signs of (Doom). (Moreover) when the shepherds of the black (camels) would exult themselves in buildings, this is one of
the signs of (Doom). (Doom) is one of the five (happenings wrapped in the unseen) which no one knows but Allah. Then he (the
Messenger of Allah) recited (the verse) : "Verily Allah! with Him alone is the knowledge of the hour and He it is Who sends (down
the rain) and knows that which is in the wombs and no person knows whatsoever he shall earn tomorrow, and a person knows not in
whatsoever land he shall die. Verily Allah is Knowing, Aware . He (the narrator, Abu Huraira) said: Then the person turned back and
went away. The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said: Bring that man back to me. They (the Companions of the Holy
Prophet present there) went to bring him back, but they saw nothing there. Upon this the Messenger of Allah remarked : he was
Gabriel,who came to teach the people their religion.

This hadith is narrated to us on the authority of Muhammad b. 'Abdullah b. Numair, on the authority of Muhammad b. Bishr, on the
authority of Abd Hayyan al-Taymi with the exception that in this narration (instead of the words (Iza Waladat al'amah rabbaha), the
words are (Iza Waladat al'amah Ba'laha), i,e, when slave-girl gives birth to her master.

It is narrated on the authority of Abu Huraira that the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said: Ask me (about matters
pertaining to religion), but they (the Companions of the Holy Prophet) were too much overawed out of profound respect for him to ask
him (anything). In the meanwhile a man came there, and sat near his knees and said: Messenger of Allah, what al-lslam is?-to which
he (the Holy Prophet)replied: You must not associate anything with Allah, and establish prayer, pay the poor-rate (Zakat) and observe
(the fasts) of Ramadan. He said : You (have) told the truth. He (again) said: Messenger of  Allah, what al-Iman (the faith) is? He (the
Holy Prophet) said: That you affirm your faith in Allah, His angels, His Books, His meeting, His Apostles, and that you believe in
Resurrection and that you believe in Qadr (Divine Decree) in all its entirety, He(the inquirer) said: You (have) told the truth. He
(again) said: Messenger of Allah, what al -Ihsan is? Upon this he (the Holy Prophet) said: (Al-Ihsan implies) that you fear Allah as if
you are seeing Him, and though you see Him not, verily He is seeing y ou. He (the inquirer) said: You(have) told the truth. He (the
inquirer) said: When there would be the hour (of Doom)? (Upon this) he (the HolyProphet said:The one who is being asked about it is
no better informed than the inquirer himself. I,however,narrat e some of its signs (and these are):when you see a slave(woman)giving
birth to her master -that is one of the signs of (Doom); when you see barefooted, naked, deaf and dumb (ignorant and foolish persons)
as the rulers of the earth -that is one of the signs of the Doom. And when you see the shepherds of black camels exult in buildings  -
that is one of the signs of Doom. The (Doom) is one of the five things (wrapped) in the unseen. No one knows them except Allah.
Then(the Holy Prophet) recited (the folowingverse): "Verily Allah ! with Him alone is the knowledge of the hour and He it is Who
sends down the rain and knows that which is in the wombs and no person knows whatsoever he shall earn on morrow and a person
knows not in whatsoever land he shall die. Verily Allah is Knowing,Aware. He (the narrator, Abu Huraira) said: Then the person
stood up an (made his way). The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) said: Bring him back to me. He was searched for, but
they (the Companions of the Holy Prophet) could not find him. The Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) thereupon said: He
was Gabriel and he wanted to teach you (things pertaining to religion) when you did not ask (them yourselves). 

Satan3

One of the most heinous and vicious means that Satan uses to deceive his 
victims is to makethem doubt in what they believe in. When he finds that 
someone is following the Straight Path, thus abiding by Allah's 
commandments, he tries to make his target doubt in the validity of what 
he is doing. And because the majority of people are not true bel ievers, he 
whispers as he wonders if they will all go to Hell
The criterion here is not the behavior adopted by the majority or the 
minority. Good behavior, however, is manifested in doing what is right in 
the sight of Allah and His Messenger, for Allah says in the Holy Qur'an: 
"And most of mankind will not believe even if you desire it greatly."
(12: 103)
Na'eem Ibn Hammad is reported to have said: "A group of Muslims can 
constitute one community when they sincerely show obedience to Allah. 
But if such a group go astray, one should hold fast to what they used to 
do when they were sincere; and if one is left on his own striving hard to 
maintain his faith, he constitutes a whole community by himself because 
Allah is with him
Another weapon used by Satan isthat of fear. He tries to frighten the 
believers of being harmed by his followers and advocates. Allah says in 
the Holy Qur'an: "It is only Shaitan (Satan) that suggests to you the fear 
of his Auliya' [supporters and friends (polytheists, disbelievers in  the 
Oneness of Allah and in His Messenger Muhammad]; so fear them not, 
but fear Me, if you are (true) believers:"(3: 175)
Allah says in the Holy Qur'an:  "Shaitan (Satan) threatens you with 
poverty and orders you to commit Fahsha' (evil deeds, illegal sexual 
intercourse, sins)." (2:268). Therefore, one might say to himself: 'what 
chance is there of finding a lawful job if I quit that (unlawful) one? But' 

Allah says in the Holy Qur'an: "And whoever fears Allah and keeps his 
duty to Him, He will make a way for him to get out (of every difficulty). 
And he will provide him from (sources) he never could imagine."(65: 
2-3)
The same applies to those dealing in usury money; they claim that people 
around them are getting wealthier every day, and so they should keep up 
with them no matter what the means is. In this way, evil is dressed up in 
borrowed robes that hide its true nature
4- Factors that Make Satan's Job Easier
A-Ignorance: it is very difficult for Satan to approach those dedicated to 
learning
B-Lack of Faithfulness and Obedience: Allah says in the Holy Qur'an: 
"[Iblis (Satan)] said: 'By Your Might, then I will surely mislead them 
all, Except Your chosen slaves amongst them (i.e. faithful, obedient, 
true believers of Islamic Monotheism).' " (38: 82-83)
C-Not Taking Heed of Satan's Ways
5-Remedy
When causes become known, remedy is possible
1-Faith in Allah: Allah says in the Holy Qur'an: "Verily! He (Shaitan 
[Satan] has no power over those who believe and put their trust only in 
their Lord (Allah)." (16: 99)
2-Obtaining Islamic knowledge from the Right Sources
3-Taking refuge and shelter in Allah: Allah says in the Holy Qur'an: 
"And if an evil whisper comes to you from Shaitan (Satan), then seek 
refuge with Allah. Verily, He is All-Hearer, All-Knower."(7: 200). This 
can be done by reciting the last two chapters of the Holy Qur'an, namely 
Surat Al-Falaq (The Daybreak) and Surat An-Nas (mankind)

www.islamweb.net

Satan2

3- Ways of Approaching Mankind

Satan infusessuspicion and doubt in the hearts of Muslims, thus making 

them think badly of one another. The Prophet (salla Allahu alayhi wa 

sallam) is reported to have said:  "Satan has lost hope of ever getting 

worshipped by the righteous believers; however, he seeks  to provoke 

them against one another

Suspicion and doubt often lead to evil thinking, especially when 

amplified by Satan's whispering into one's heart. 'Um Al -Mu'mineen 

(Mother of Believers), Safiyya Bint Hayiyy (May Allah be pleased with 

her) is reportedto have said that one night when Allah's Messenger (salla 

Allahu alayhi wa sallam) retired to the mosque for devotion, I went to 

him. We talked and I wanted to go back home. He got up to escort me. 

We were walking side by side in the dark when two men sawus and 

recognized Allah's Messenger (salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam)

They walked away from us as fast as they could, but Allah's Messenger 

(salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam) stopped them and said: 'Wait you two, this 

is Safiyya Bint Hayiyy.' The two men said: 'Glory be to Allah, O 

Messenger!'. He (salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam) added: 'Verily, Satan 

runs into man's body as bloodstream does, and he might have cast evil 

thoughts into your minds "

A man walking side by side with a woman at night; a situation tha t could 

have incurred hasty judgments. But the Prophet (salla Allahu alayhi wa 

sallam) wanted to clarify the matter and remove any evil doubts that 

might have occurred to the two men, and so he stopped them and 

explained to them that he was escorting his wife home

This is a lesson that we all have to learn. We should not leave a doubtful 

matter unexplained so that there would be no room for facts being skewed 

or rumors being spread

Satan also provokes people against one another, filling them with hostile 

feelings. Sulayman Ibn Al -Sard (May Allah be pleased with him) 

narrated: "I was sitting with the Prophet (salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam) 

when we heard two men calling each other bad names. The Prophet (salla 

Allahu alayhi wa sallam) said: 'I know an invoca tion that, when uttered, 

can drive their anger away. This is to say 'I take refuge in Allah from the 

cursed Satan

One of Satan's strategies is to push the believer to extremes: either utter 

negligence or over zealousness. If he finds that his target is of the sort 

that looks for loopholes and excuses, he deals with him from that vantage. 

He strikes him with laziness and lethargy. He opens for him the door to 

subjective interpretations of stable rulings and commandments. He gives 

evil actions such pleasing names as to appeal to those who can be easily 

influenced. In this way, he dupes his victim, thus making him believe that 

forbidden things are lawful

And if he finds that his target is keen on performing his obligatory duties, 

he tries to convince him t o strive even harder. He convinces him that 

what he is doing is not enough and that his ambition is to be greater. He 

must work harder than the others do; he should not sleep when the others 

do; he should not break his fast at the assigned time. If the other wash 

their hands and face three times when doing ablutions, he should wash 

them seven times, and so on and so forth

There are those who commit sins, but they perform the five daily prayers 

regularly. They believe that they are thus observing the greate st pillar of 

Islam, which is looked at first thing on the Day of Reckoning, and so 

there is no harm in committing some sins, hoping that these can be 

forgiven

There are others who say that true religion is manifested in good conduct 

and behavior towards others. For them it is more important to be kind to 

people than to perform the obligatory duties ordained by Allah and His 

Messenger

It is also more important for them to have good intentions in the heart 

than to see them fulfilled in action

Postponing ordelaying things until later is one of the ways used by Satan 

when he approaches his victims. He puts hindrances, or so they appear, in 

their way in order to make them put off their religious duties indefinitely. 

For example, one might say 'I will return to Allah in repentance, but when 

I have finished school or when I have found a job ’

When someone feels that he has reached perfection or that he is far much 

better than others, this is definitely a false sentiment that has been infused 

in him by Satan. Thi s leads to self -admiration and vanity. The person 

affected usually has a patronizing look towards others. Such a person 

never admits that he can make mistakes

I have always noticed that this kind of person gives up learning when he 

makes the slightest error, especially during those sessions where the 

reciting of the Qur'an is taught. Instead of attending regularly in an 

attempt to correct the mistakes made, he absents himself altogether to 

avoid being exposed to embarrassment, and so he never finishes whathe 

has already started

When Satan fails to stimulate someone's vanity, he tries to persuade him 

that he would rather be humble. He keeps whispering into his mind that 

he is not so efficient for what he is planning to do, which has only been 

cut for big minds. This results in self -abasement when the person affected 

begins to abuse and underestimate his own abilities; and so he gets 

convinced that he is always wrong

Satan

1-Satan: Substantial Nature

What is Satan? This is a fundamental question in Islamic Faith. Some 
believe that the word 'Satan' refers to those scruples with which one can 
be obsessed; others claim that it denotes the so many microorganisms 
living around us. Others yet hold that it symbolizes evil
In the Islamic Faith , however, Satan is a member of the jinn that 
constitute a world of their own, created with the ability to obscure 
themselves from human sight. Allah says in the Holy Qur'an:  "And 
(remember) when We said to the angels: 'Prostrate yourselves unto 
Adam.' So they prostrated themselves except 'Iblis' (Satan). He was one 
of the jinn; he disobeyed the command of his Lord." (18: 50
We Muslims believe in the existence of the jinn, including Satan; and 
according to what the Prophet (salla Allahu alayhi wa sallam, m ay Allah 
exalt his mention) is reported to have said, every single human being does 
have an associate from among the jinn as well as one from among the 
angels. This can be inferred from the following Verses from the Holy 
Qur'an: "Say: 'I seek refuge with ( Allah) the Lord of mankind, the King 
of mankind, the Ilah (God) of mankind, from the evil of the whisperers 
(devil who whispers evil in the hearts of men) who withdraws (from his 
whispering in one's heart after one remembers Allah). Who whispers in 
the breasts of mankind. Of jinn and men."(114: 1-6)
Satan also multiplies, and thus has his own offspring. Allah says in the 
Holy Qur'an: "Will you then take him (Satan) and his offspring as 
protectors and helpers rather than Me while they are enemies to you?"
(18: 50)
In this way, Satan's offspring and followers are striving hard to seduce 
mankind and mislead them in worldly life



2-Satan: Approaching Mankind

Satan approaches mankind by stealthy degrees. His ultimate goal is to 
make men go astray in the sense that they eventually become disbelievers 
or at least polytheists. But if they prove to be stuck fast to their faith, he 
moves to tempt true believers into heterodoxy; that is making them 
innovate principles and deduce rulings that are alien to genuine Is lamic 
doctrines. If they still resist, he tries to make them err by committing 
major sins. When the believers are found to be unlikely to commit major 
sins, Satan never gives up, and begins to adorn the way leading to those 
seemingly less serious sins; tha t is by keeping them engaged in trivial 
matters. Finally, when Satan's efforts come to a 'blind alley', he attempts 
to make lawful 'recommended' deeds appear more inviting than 
'obligatory' duties
In his 'struggle' to take advantage of human weaknesses, S atan follows a 
step-by-step procedure against which we have been warned by Allah in 
the Holy Qur'an: "Eat of what Allah has provided for you, and follow 
not the footsteps of 'Shaitan' (Satan). Surely he is to you an open 
enemy."(6: 142)
The way Satan approaches his victims varies and adapts in accordance 
with their major interests and inclinations. He uses piety to attack the 
pious; scholarly disciplines to attack scholars; and ignorance to attack the 
ignorant

By: Abdullah Al-Khater

The benefits of fasting

(4) There is much wisdom and many benefits in fasting, which have to do 
with the taqwa mentioned by Allaah in the aayah (interpretation of the 
meaning): 
“… that you may become al-muttaqoon (the pious).” [al-Baqarah 2:183]

The interpretation of this is that if a person refrains from halaal things 
hoping to earn the pleasure of Allaah and out of fear of His punishment, it 
will be easier for him to refrain from doing haraam things.
If a person’s stomach is hungry, this will keep many of his other faculties 
from feeling hunger or desires; but if his stomach is satisfied, his tongue, 
eye, hand and private parts will start to feel hungry. Fasting leads to the 
defeat of Shaytaan; it controls desires and protects one’s faculties.
When the fasting person feels the pangs of hunger, he experiences how 
the poor feel, so he has compassion towards them and gives them 
something to ward off their hunger. Hearing about them is not the same 
as sharing their suffering, just as a rider does not understand the hardship 
of walking unless he gets down and walks.
Fasting trains the will to avoid desires and keep away from sin; it helps a 
person to overcome his own nature and to wean himself away from his 
habits. It also trains a person to get used to being organized and punctual, 
which will solve the problem that many people have of being 
disorganized, if only they realized.
Fasting is also a demonstration of the unity of the Muslims, as the ummah 
fasts and breaks its fast at the same time.
Fasting also provides a great opportunity for those who are calling others 
to Allaah. In this month many people come to the mosque who are 
coming for the first time, or who have not been to the mosque for a long 
time, and  their hearts are open, so we must make the most of this 
opportunity by preaching in a gentle manner, teaching appropriate lessons 
and speaking beneficial words, whilst co -operating in righteousness and 
good deeds. The dai’yah should not be so preoccupied with others that he 
forgets his own soul and becomes like a wick that lights the way for 
others while it is itself consumed.

Some aspects are obligatory (waajib) and others are recommended 
(mustahabb).
We should make sure that we eat and drink something at suhoor, and that 
we delay it until just before the adhaan of Fajr. The Prophet (peace and 
blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Have suhoor, for in suhoor there 
is blessing (barakah).” (Reported by al-Bukhaari, Fath, 4/139). “Suhoor is 
blessed food, and it involves being different from the people of the Book. 
What a good suhoor for the believer is dates.” (Reported by Abu 
Dawood, no. 2345; Saheeh al-Targheeb, 1/448).
Not delaying iftaar, because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah 
be upon him) said: “The people will be fine so long as they do not delay 
iftaar.” (Reported by al-Bukhaari, Fath, 4/198). 
Breaking one's fast in the manner described in the hadeeth narrated by 
Anas (may Allaah be pleased with him): “The Prophet (peace and 
blessings of Allaah be upon him) used to break his fast with fresh dates 
before praying; if fresh dates were not available, he would eat (dried) 
dates; if dried dates were not available, he would have a few sips of 
water.” (Reported by al-Tirmidhi, 3/79 and others. He said it is a ghareeb 
hasan hadeeth. Classed as saheeh in al-Irwa’, no. 922). 
After iftaar, reciting the words reported in the hadeeth narrated by Ibn 
‘Umar (may Allaah be pleased with them both), according to which the 
Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), when he broke his 
fast, would say: “Dhahaba al-zama’, wa’btallat al-‘urooq, wa thabat al
ajru in sha Allaah (Thirst is gone, veins are flowing again, and the reward 
is certain, in sha Allaah).” (Reported by Abu Dawood, 2/765; its isnaad 
wasclassed as hasan by al-Daaraqutni, 2/185). 
Keeping away from sin, because the Prophet (peace and blessings of 
Allaah be upon him) said: “When any of you is fasting, let him not 
commit sin…” (Reported by al-Bukhaari, al-Fath, no. 1904). The Prophet 

(peaceand blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Whoever does not 
stop speaking falsehood and acting in accordance with it, Allaah has no 
need of him giving up his food and drink.” (Al -Bukhaari, al-Fath, no. 
1903). The person who is fasting should avoid all ki nds of haraam 
actions, such as backbiting, obscenity and lies, otherwise his reward may 
all be lost. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: 
“It may be that a fasting person gets nothing from his fast except hunger.” 
(Reported by Ibn Maajah, 1/539; Saheeh al-Targheeb, 1/453).
Among the things that can destroy one’s hasanaat (good deeds) and bring 
sayi’aat (bad deeds) is allowing oneself to be distracted by quiz -shows, 
soap operas, movies and sports matches, idle gatherings, hanging about in 
the streets with evil people and time -wasters, driving around for no 
purpose, and crowding the streets and sidewalks, so that the months of 
tahajjud, dhikr and worship, for many people, becomes the month of 
sleeping in the day so as to avoid feeling  hungry, thus missing their 
prayers and the opportunity to pray them in congregation, then spending 
their nights in entertainment and indulging their desires. Some people 
even greet the month with feelings of annoyance, thinking only of the 
pleasures they will miss out on. In Ramadaan, some people travel to 
kaafir lands to enjoy a holiday! Even the mosques are not free from such 
evils as the appearance of women wearing makeup and perfume, and 
even the Sacred House of Allaah is not free of these ills. Some pe ople 
make the month a season for begging, even though they are not in need. 
Some of them entertain themselves with dangerous fireworks and the 
like, and some of them waste their time in the markets, wandering around 
the shops, or sewing and following fashi ons. Some of them put new 
products and new styles in their stores during the last ten days of the 
month, to keep people away from earning rewards and hasanaat.

Not allowing oneself to be provoked, because the Prophet (peace and 
blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “If someone fights him or insults 
him, he should say, ‘I am fasting, I am fasting.’” (Reported by al 
Bukhaari and others. Al-Fath, no. 1894) One reason for this is to remind 
himself, and another reason is to remind his adversary. But anyone who 
looks at the conduct of many of those who fast will see something quite 
different. It is essential to exercise self -control and be calm, but we see 
the opposite among crazy drivers who speed up when they hear the 
adhaan for Maghrib.
(*) Not eating too much , because the Prophet (peace and blessings of 
Allaah be upon him) said: “The son of Adam fills no worse vessel than 
his stomach.” (Reported by al-Tirmidhi, no. 2380; he said, this is a hasan 
saheeh hadeeth). The wise person wants to eat to live, not live t o eat. The 
best type of food is that which is there to be used, not that which is there 
to be served. But people indulge in making all kinds of food (during 
Ramadaan) and treating food preparation as a virtual art form, so that 
housewives and servants spend all their time on making food, and this 
keeps them away from worship, and people spend far more on food 
during Ramadaan than they do ordinarily. Thus the month becomes the 
month of indigestion, fatness and gastric illness, where people eat like 
gluttons and drink like thirsty camels, and when they get up to pray 
Taraaweeh, they do so reluctantly, and some of them leave after the first 
two rak’ahs.

(*) Being generous by sharing knowledge, giving money, using one’s 
position of authority or physical strength to help others, and having a 
good attitude. Al-Bukhaari and Muslim reported that Ibn ‘Abbaas (may 
Allaah be pleased with him) said: “The Messenger of Allaah (peace and 
blessings of Allaah be upon him) was the most generous of people [in 
doing good], and he was most generous of all in Ramadaan when Jibreel 

met with him, and he used to meet him every night in Ramadaan and 
teach him the Qur’aan. The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of 
Allaah be upon him) was more generous in doing good than a blowing 
wind.” (Reported by al -Bukhaari, al-Fath, no. 6). How can people 
exchange generosity for stinginess and action for laziness, to the extent 
that they do not do their work properly and do not treat one another 
properly, and they use fasting as an excuse for all this.
Combining fasting with feeding the poor is one of the means of reaching 
Paradise, as the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) 
said: “In Paradise there are rooms whose outside can be seen from the 
inside and the inside can be seen f rom the outside. Allaah has prepared 
them for those who feed the poor, who are gentle in speech, who fast 
regularly and who pray at night when people are asleep.” (Reported by 
Ahmad 5/343; Ibn Khuzaymah, no. 2137. Al-Albaani said in his footnote, 
its isnaad is hasan because of other corroborating reports). The Prophet 
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Whoever gives food 
to a fasting person with which to break his fast, will have a reward equal 
to his, without it detracting in the slightest from the reward of the fasting 
person.” (Reported by al -Tirmidhi, 3/171; Saheeh al-Targheeb, 1/451). 
Shaykh al-Islam [Ibn Taymiyah] (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: 
“What is meant is that he should feed him until he is satisfied.” (Al 
Ikhtiyaaraat al-Fiqhiyyah, p. 109).
A number of the Salaf (may Allaah have mercy on them) preferred the 
poor over themselves when feeding them at the time of iftaar. Among 
these were ‘Abd -Allaah ibn ‘Umar, Maalik ibn Deenaar, Ahmad ibn 
Hanbal and others. ‘Abd-Allaah ibn ‘Umar would not break his fast 
unless there were orphans and poor people with him.

Definition of Siyaam (fasting)

(1) Siyaam in Arabic means abstaining; in Islam it means abstaining from 
things that break the fast, from dawn until sunset, having first made the 
intention (niyyah) to fast.
Ruling on fasting
(2) The ummah is agreed t hat fasting the month of Ramadaan is 
obligatory, the evidence for which is in the Qur’aan and Sunnah. Allaah 
says (interpretation of the meaning):
“O you who believe! Observing al-sawn (the fasting) is prescribed for 
you as it was prescribed for those befo re you, that you may become al 
muttaqoon (the pious).” [al-Baqarah 2:183]
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Islam is 
built on five [pillars]…” among which he mentioned fasting in 
Ramadaan. (Reported by al-Bukhaari, al-Fath, 1/49). Whoever breaks the 
fast during Ramadaan without a legitimate excuse has committed a 
serious major sin, The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon 
him) said, describing a dream that he had seen: “… until I was at the 
mountain, where I heard loudvoices. I asked, ‘What are these voices?’ 
They said, ‘This is the howling of the people of Hellfire.’ Then I was 
taken [to another place], and I saw people hanging from their hamstrings, 
with the corners of their mouths torn and dripping with blood. I said, 
‘Who are these?’ They said, ‘The people who broke their fast before it 


was the proper time to do so,’ i.e., before the time of iftaar.” (Saheeh al-
Targheeb, 1/420).
Al-Haafiz al-Dhahabi (may Allaah have mercy on him) said, “Among the 
believers it is well-established that whoever does not fast in Ramadaan 
without a valid excuse is worse than an adulterer or drunkard; they doubt 
whether he is even a Muslim at all, and they regard him as a heretic and 
profligate.” Shaykh al-Islam [Ibn Taymiyah] (may Allaah  have mercy on 
him) said: “If a person does not fast in Ramadaan knowing that it is 
haraam but making it halaal for himself to do so, kill him; and if he does 
it because he is immoral [but believes it is haraam], then punish him for 
not fasting.” (Majmoo’ al-Fataawa, 25/265).
The virtues of fasting
(3) The virtues of fasting are great indeed, and one of the things reported 
in the saheeh ahaadeeth is that Allaah has chosen fasting for Himself, and 
He will reward it and multiply the reward without measure, as He says [in 
the hadeeth qudsi]: “Except for fasting which is only for My sake, and I 
will reward him for it.” (al -Bukhaari, al-Fath, no. 1904; Saheeh al 
Targheeb, 1/407). Fasting has no equal (al -Nisaa'i, 4/165; Saheeh al
Targheeb, 1/413), and the du’aa’of the fasting person will not be refused 
(reported by al-Bayhaqi, 3/345; al-Silsilat al-Saheeh, 1797). The fasting 
person has two moments of joy: one when he breaks his fast and one 
when he meets his Lord and rejoices over his fasting (reported by 
Muslim, 2/807). Fasting will intercede for a person on the Day of 
Judgement, and will say, “O Lord, I prevented him from his food and 
physical desires during the day, so let me intercede for him.” (Reported 
by Ahmad, 2/174. Al-Haythami classed its isnaad as hasan in al-Majma’, 
3/181. See also Saheeh al-Targheeb, 1/411). The smell that comes from 
the mouth of a fasting person is better with Allaah than the scent of musk. 


(Muslim, 2/807). Fasting is a protection and a strong fortress that keeps a 
person safe from t he Fire. (Reported by Ahmad, 2/402; Saheeh al 
Targheeb, 1/411; Saheeh al-Jaami’, 3880). Whoever fasts one day for the 
sake of Allaah, Allaah will remove his face seventy years’ distance from 
the Fire. (Reported by Muslim, 2/808). Whoever fasts one day seek ing 
the pleasure of Allaah, if that is the last day of his life, he will enter 
Paradise. (Reported by Ahmad, 5/391; Saheeh al-Targheeb, 1/412). In 
Paradise there is a gate called al -Rayyaan, through those who fast will 
enter, and no one will enter it except them; when they have entered it will 
be locked, and no-one else will enter through it.” (al-Bukhaari, Fath, no. 
1797).
Ramadaan is a pillar of Islam; the Qur’aan was revealed in this month, 
and in it there is a night that is better than a thousand months . “When 
Ramadaan begins, the gates of Paradise are opened and the gates of Hell 
are closed, and the devils are put in chains.” (Reported by al -Bukhaari, al
Fath, no. 3277). Fasting Ramadaan is equivalent to fasting ten months 
(See Musnad Ahmad, 5/280; Saheeh al-Targheeb, 1/421). “Whoever fasts 
Ramadaan out of faith and with the hope of reward, all his previous sins 
will be forgiven.” (Reported by al-Bukhaari, Fath, no. 37). At the 
breaking of every fast, Allaah will choose people to free from Hellfire. 
(Reported by Ahmad, 5/256; Saheeh al-Targheeb, 1/419).

Matters Related to Fasting

By Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid
Contents
1. Introduction
2. Definition of Siyaam (fasting)
3. Ruling on fasting
4. The virtues of fasting
5. The benefits of fasting
6. Etiquette and Sunnah of fasting
7. What should be done during this great month
8. Some of the ahkaam (rulings) on fasting
9. How the onset of Ramadaan is determined
10. Who is obliged to fast?
11. Travellers
12. The sick
13. The elderly
14. Niyyah (intention) in fasting
15. When to start and stop fasting
16. Things that break the fast
17. Rulings onfasting for women
Introduction
Praise be to Allaah, we praise Him and seek His help and forgiveness.
We seek refuge with Allaah from the evil of our own selves and from our
evil deeds. Whomsoever Allaah guides cannot be misled, and
whomsoever He leaves astray cannot be guided. I bear witness that there
is no god except Allaah alone, with no partner or associate, and I bear
witness that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.
Allaah has blessed His slaves with certain seasons of goodness, in which
hasanaat (rewards for good deeds) are multiplied, sayi’aat (bad deeds) are
forgiven, people’s status is raised, the hearts of the believers turn to their
Master, those who purify themselves attain success and those who corrupt
themselves fail. Allaah has created His slaves to worship Him, as He says

(interpretation of the meaning): “And I (Allaah) created not the jinns and
humans except that they should worship Me (Alone).” [al -Dhaariyaat
51:56]
One of the greatest acts of worship is fasting, which Allaah has made
obligatory on His slaves, as He says (interpretation of the meaning):
“… Observing al -sawm (the fasting) is prescribed for you as it was
prescribed for those before you, that you may become al-muttaqoon (the
pious).” [al-Baqarah 2:183]
Allaah encourages His slaves to fast:
“… And that you fast, it is better for you, if only you know.” [al-Baqarah
2:184 –interpretation of the meaning]
He guides them to give thanks to Him for having made fasting obligatory
on them:
“… that you should magnify Allaah for having guided you so that you
may be grateful to Him.” [al -Baqarah 2:185 –interpretation of the
meaning]
He has made fasting dear to them, and has made it easy so that people do
not find it too hard to give up their habits and what they are used to.
Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“… for a fixed number of days…” [al-Baqarah 2:184]
He has mercy on them and keeps them away from difficulties and harm,
as He says (interpretation of the meaning:
“… but if any of you is ill or on a journey, the same number(should be
made up) from other days…” [al-Baqarah 2:184]
No wonder then, that in this month the hearts of the believers turn to their
Most Merciful Lord, fearing their Lord above them, and hoping to attain
His reward and the great victory (Paradise).
As the status of this act of worship is so high, it is essential to learn the
ahkaam (rulings) that have to do with the month of fasting so that the

Muslim will know what is obligatory, in order to do it, what is haraam, in
order to avoid it, and what is permi ssible, so that he need not subject
himself to hardship by depriving himself of it.
This book is a summary of the rulings, etiquette and Sunnah of fasting.
May Allaah make it of benefit to myself and my Muslim brothers. Praise
be to Allaah, Lord of the Worlds.