Books, Prophet Muhammad ﷺ
Muhammad Sattaur
The Khasa’is: An Introduction to the Unique ...

The Khasa'is genre of literature revolves around the unique characteristics and distinctive features of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.

The term khasa'is is derived from the Arabic language, meaning "unique characteristics" or "distinctive features." This genre of literature aims to celebrate and elevate the status of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ by emphasizing his exceptional qualities and the special relationship he held with Allah. Khasa’is constitutes a significant part of Islamic scholarly tradition, as it focuses on the life, virtues, and miracles of the Prophet.

The Origins of the Khasa’is Genre

The Khasa'is literature emerged as a distinct genre in the early Islamic period, with scholars and theologians dedicating their works to exploring and narrating the extraordinary aspects of the Prophet's ﷺ life. These works often drew from various sources, including the Quran, Hadith, and historical accounts, to provide a comprehensive understanding of the Prophet's exemplary life ﷺ.

The Khasa’is: An Introduction to the Unique Characteristics of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ
Al-Ghazali
Patrick Bensen
A Guide to Zakat: Types of Zakat, Their ...

O beloved!

Know that giving zakat comprises one of the religion’s principal pillars, for the Prophet ﷺ said,

‘The foundations of Islam are five principles: the testimony of faith, prayer, zakat, fasting, and pilgrimage.’

Moreover, it is reported that,

‘Those who possess gold and silver, yet refuse to pay zakat, a piercing mark will be placed on their chests. And those who possess cattle, but fail to pay the requisite zakat, on the Day of Judgement, the quadrupeds will set upon and trample them endlessly.’

These reports are mentioned in the Sahihayn, therefore, those who possess wealth are impelled to gain knowledge of zakat for it comprises an obligation.

A Guide to Zakat: Types of Zakat, Their Conditions, Etiquettes, and Timing
Prophet Muhammad ﷺ
Patrick Bensen
A Guide to Salawat: Meanings, Rulings, Methods, ...

On the Meaning of Sending Prayers Upon Him ﷺ

Allah (Exalted is He) has said,

“Indeed, Allah and His Angels send prayers upon the Prophet. O you who be- lieve! Send prayers upon him and extend him a worthy salutation”

(al-Aḥzāb, 33:56).

Ibn ‘Abbas said,

“The meaning (of this verse) is that Allah and His Angels bless the Prophet ﷺ.”

It has also been said that it means,

“Indeed, Allah has mercy upon His Prophet ﷺ, and the Angels supplicate for him.”

Al-Mubrid said,

“The root meaning of ṣalāh (prayers) is to show mercy. Thus, (prayers) from Allah are mercy and prayers from the Angels are compassion and seeking for Allah to have mercy (on the person).”

A Guide to Salawat: Meanings, Rulings, Methods, and Benefits
Al-Ghazali
Patrick Bensen
A Guide to Fasting (Sawm): Its Obligations, ...

O beloved! Know that fasting is a pillar from the pillars of Islam. The Prophet ﷺ stated, ‘Allah ﷻ says: I grant from ten to seven hundred rewards in return for a good deed. But fasting is Mine, and I grant its recompense.’

And Allah ﷻ said:

إِنَّمَا يُوَفَّى ٱلصَّـٰبِرُونَ أَجْرَهُم بِغَيْرِ حِسَابٍۢ

'"...Only those who endure patiently will be given their reward without limit."'

(al-Zumar, 39:10)

Indeed, the reward of one who exercises patience over appetence shall surpass all limits. The Prophet ﷺ related, ‘Patience comprises one-half of faith, and fasting encompasses one-half of patience.’

A Guide to Fasting (Sawm): Its Obligations, Conditions, Prophetic Practices, and Realities
Al-Ghazali
Patrick Bensen
A Guide to Dhikr: Etiquettes, Virtues, ...

O beloved!

Know that the untainted purpose of worship is to remember the Truth ﷻ, since ritual worship comprises the pillar of religion, and its purpose is divine remembrance.

In the Holy Qur’an, Allah ﷻ says:

ٱتْلُ مَآ أُوحِىَ إِلَيْكَ مِنَ ٱلْكِتَـٰبِ وَأَقِمِ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ ۖ إِنَّ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ تَنْهَىٰ عَنِ ٱلْفَحْشَآءِ وَٱلْمُنكَرِ ۗ وَلَذِكْرُ ٱللَّهِ أَكْبَرُ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ مَا تَصْنَعُونَ

‘Recite what has been revealed to you of the Book and establish prayer. Indeed, [genuine] prayer should deter [one] from indecency and wickedness. The remembrance of Allah is [an] even greater [deterrent]. And Allah [fully] knows what you [all] do.’

(al-’Ankabut, 29:45)

Moreover, recitation of the Holy Qur’an counts among the most virtuous acts of worship, since it comprises the Speech of Allah ﷻ and serves as a reminder to the reciter. Indeed, the Holy Qur’an acts to revive the remembrance of the Truth ﷻ in the heart. Besides, fasting aims to rupture appetence in order to purify the heart from concerns with a particular appetite and render it a chamber of divine remembrance, since a heart preoccupied with worldly appetence can neither hope to gain such a lofty station nor undergo change through remembrance. Likewise, the purpose of the pilgrimage, which involves visitation of the House of Allah ﷻ, is to remember the Lord ﷻ of the House and to provoke a yearning in the heart by way of His ﷻ encounter.

A Guide to Dhikr: Etiquettes, Virtues, Realities, and Collected Supplications

surah al-kahf

Surah al-Kahf: An Introduction and Thematic Explanation

Surah al-Kahf: An Introduction and Thematic Explanation

Juz 15: “The Honoring of Mankind”

Ayat 1-26

Many of the previous surahs focused on stories of nations that rejected guidance. Here, in Surah al-Kahf, we find that Allah offers examples of various people who did follow guidance, and how it saved them from suffering the same fate as the disbelievers. This serves as yet another proof of the Qur’an being the true guidance that will lead to salvation, - as the first ten verses of the surah assert - just as Divine guidance of the past led the people mentioned in this surah to their salvation.

Allah begins this surah by relating to us the story of the People of the Cave. We learn that they were youth who realized that, if they wanted to follow Divine guidance, they would have to isolate themselves from the disbelieving people and their environment. Consequently, Allah used their lives as a sign for future believing generations, by giving them a miraculous life. Through this, he provided humanity with clear proof that He is the Creator and that the Resurrection is a reality.

Tafsir of Surah al-Kahf, Verses 101-110: The Last Ten Verses

Tafsir of Surah al-Kahf, Verses 101-110: The Last Ten Verses

The Real (Exalted is His Majesty) said, in rebuke of the aforementioned disbelievers:

“Do those who disbelieve deem” when they have turned away from My Remembrance, and after their eyes have been veiled from witnessing the evidences of My Oneness, “that they can take My slaves” such as the Angels, ‘Isa and ‘Uzayr, or the devils - because, in reality, they are also slaves - “as partners apart from Me?” In other words, do they deem that they can take them as objects of worship apart from Me? Those who disbelieve ally themselves with them through worship. Do they believe that this worship will benefit them? Or, do they believe that We will not punish them for that? Of course We will punish them for that.

Tafsir of Surah al-Kahf, Verses 83-101: The Story of Dhu'l Qarnayn

Tafsir of Surah al-Kahf, Verses 83-101: The Story of Dhu'l Qarnayn

Tafsir of Verses 83-88

Then, Allah mentioned the story of Dhu’l Qarnayn, who was asked about [by Quraysh when they tested the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace)] along with the spirit, and the People of the Cave. Allah said:

(83) And they ask you about Dhu’l Qarnayn. Say, I will recite to you a record of him. (84) Indeed, We established him in the earth and We gave him, for everything, a means (85) So, he followed a course (86) Until he reached the setting of the sun. He found it setting in a murky spring. And he found near it a people. We said, “O, Dhu’l Qarnayn! Either chastise them or adopt a charitable manner with them.” (87) He said, “As for he who does wrong, we will soon punish him. Then, he will be returned to his Lord and He will punish him with a terrible punishment. (88) As for he who believes and does good works, he will have a beautiful reward. And we will speak to him from our command with ease.”

“And they ask you about Dhu’l Qarnayn.” The Jews asked the Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) as a test. Or, the Qur’aysh ask you after having consulted the Jews. And “ask you” was expressed in the imperfect form to indicate that they were repeatedly asking these questions until the response came. And the Dhu’l Qarnayn that is mentioned is the greater Dhu’l Qarnayn, who lived at the time of Ibrahim (peace be upon him). And it has been said that he is the one who ruled in favor of Ibrahim (peace be upon him) when he sought mediation regarding the well of Sab’ in Sham. His name was Tabris. And it has been said that his name was Hardis.

Tafsir of Surah al-Kahf: The Story of Musa and al-Khidr

Tafsir of Surah al-Kahf: The Story of Musa and al-Khidr

The Real (Exalted is His Majesty) mentioned the story of the People of the Cave, in which there was also mentioned a gentle correction of the Messenger ﷺ. That gentle correction was His words “And do not say about anything…” (23) after the Prophet ﷺ had not conditioned his statement regarding the delay in revelation.

So, Allah mentioned also the story of Musa with Khidhr عليهم السلام, since the cause of that story was the Real’s gentle correction of Musa عليه السلام because he had not referred the knowledge to Allah when someone asked him, “Do you know of anyone more knowledgeable than you?”

And he replied, “No.”

So, the Real (Exalted is He) mentioned the story of them both as a consolation to our Prophet ﷺ through giving someone a share of the correction.