Prophet Ismail and hisMother

When Ismail (alayhis salam) was still a small baby, his father Ibrahim
(alayhis salam) took him and his mother, Hajra, to the site of the
Ka'ba. He gave them some dates and a goat skin full of water and left
them there. At that time no one lived at the Ka'ba, and there was no
water nearby. As Ibrahim (alayhis salam) was walking away, Ismail's
(alayhis salam) mother followed him, asking why she and her son were
being left in sucha desolate place. She askedseveral times but he
would not answer her. Finally, she asked if Allah had ordered him to
do thisand he replied that it was so. Upon hearing this, she accepted
Allah's will and returned to the site where Ibrahim (alayhis salam)
had left her.
As soon as Ibrahim (alayhis salam) was out of sight, he turned and
prayed to Allah to protect and provide for his family which he had
left out in the wilderness:
"O our Lord! I have made some of my offspring to dwell in a valley
without cultivation, by Thy Sacred House; In order, O our Lordthat
they may establish regular prayer ; So fill the hearts of some among
men with love towards them, and feed them with fruits; So that they
may give thanks." (al-Qur'an 14:37)
Ismail (alayhis salam) and his mother lived for some time on the
supply of water and dates, but finally the water began to give out,
and Ismail's (alayhis salam) mother could no longer produce sufficient
milk to nurse herbaby. The baby became agitated and near to death
because of his thirst. The mother could not bear to see her child
suffering, so she ran to the top of nearby Mt. Safa to see if she
could find someone to help her. When she could see no one, she ran
down the mountain and across the valley to Mt. Marwa. Seven times she
ran from one mountain to the other, looking in vain for assistance.
After the seventh time she heard a voice and she called out toit for
help. When she looked she saw an angel digging the earth with his heel
until water flowed forth. That place was the site of Zam-zam. She
carefully made a depression around the place where the water was
flowing, and filled herwaterbag with her hands. Then she was able to
drinkwater and nurse her baby. The angel told her not to be afraid,
that she and her son would be provided for.
Ismail (alayhis salam) and his mother continued to live at the Ka'ba
all by themselves for some time. One day some people of the Jurhum
tribe were passing through the valley. They didn't intend to stop,
because they knew that there had neverbeen any water in that valley.
But they saw a kindof bird which was known to frequent wet spots, so
they followed it to the spring of Zam-zam. There they found Ismail's
mothersitting by the water.
Ismail's (alayhis salam) mother was a very sociable person who
lovedthe company of others, so she readily agreed to their request to
stop there for a while, provided that they did not claim possession
ofthe water. Some of the people of Jurhum decided to settle
permanently by Zam-zam and sent for their families. Ismail (alayhis
salam) grew up with these people and learned to speak Arabic from
them. When he grewup, they urged him to marry one of their women.
You can read about Ismail and his mother in Sahih al-Bukhari IV:582-584.

6a] Turning off the cell phone during the Fridaykhutbah – does this come under the heading of idle action that invalidates the reward of Jumu’ah?

''Friday Prayers'' :-:->
6a]
2. He is enjoined to be quiet and refrain from speaking. It is
haraam for him to speak whilst the imam is delivering the khutbah, and
it is also haraam for him to move, fidget, touch the pebbles, draw
lines on the ground, or anything else of that nature.

6] Turning off the cell phone during the Fridaykhutbah – does this come under the heading of idle action that invalidates the reward of Jumu’ah?

''Friday Prayers'' :-:->
6]
During the Friday khutbah, some brothers' cell phones ring whilst
thekhateeb is delivering the khutbah on the minbar, and some of them
have musical tones that are similar to the tunes of promiscuous songs.
Thosewhose cell phones ring turn them off during the khutbah. Is this
regarded as coming under the heading of idle action to which the
Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) referred in his
hadeeth? Does this mean that there is no Jumu'ah for the one who
engages in idle action, and that thereward of Jumu'ah becomes like the
reward for Zuhr only? We hope you can clarify this matter.
Praise be to Allaah.
Firstly:
Using musical tunes as thering tones for cell phones is an evil action
and is haraam, because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be
upon him) forbade all musical instruments. See the answer to question
no. 47407 .
The one who forgets to turn off his cell phone during the Friday
khutbahhas to turn it off if it rings,even if the ring tone is
permissible, because leaving it disturbs the khateeb and other
worshippers, and distractsthem from the obligation of listening to the
khateeb.
We hope that switching itoff does not come under the heading of idle
talk that is forbidden during the Friday khutbah, whichis referred to
in the question. This is mentioned in the words of the Prophet (peace
andblessings of Allaah be upon him), "but whoever touches the pebbles
has engaged in an idle action." Narrated by Muslim (857).
The hadeeth applies to the one who fiddles with something that
distracts him from listening to the khutbah, such as a cell phone, a
carpet and so on.
Al-Haafiz Ibn Hajar, in Fathal-Baari, commentary on hadeeth no (934),
narrated that the majorityof scholars said that the one who needs to
enjoin something good or forbid something bad at the time of the
khutbah may do so by gesturing.
Al-Nawawi said in Sharh Saheeh Muslim:
This hadeeth indicates that all kinds of speech are haraam during the
khutbah. … Rather the way to do it if one wants to tell someone else
not to speak is by gesturing to him to be quiet, if he will understand
it. End quote.
Based on this, then a slight movement that is done for a good reason
is acceptable and is not idle action, and there is nothing wrong with
doing it during the Friday khutbah.
Secondly:
The meaning of the Prophet's words, "There isno Jumu'ah for him",
concerning the one who engages in idle action during the Friday
khutbah, is that it will be recorded for him as Zuhr, and he will be
deprived ofthe reward for Jumu'ah prayer.
It was narrated from 'Abd-Allaah ibn 'Amr ibn al-'Aas (may Allaah be
pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be
upon him) said: "If a person engages in idle action or steps over
people's necks, it will be Zuhr for him." Narrated byAbu Dawood (347);
classed as hasan by al-Albaani in Saheeh Abi Dawood.
Al-Haafiz Ibn Hajar (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:
Al-Nadr ibn Shameel said: "you engaged in idle action" means: you lost
something of your reward; and it was said: you invalidated the
virtueof your Jumu'ah. And it was said: Your Jumu'ah became Zuhr.
I [Ibn Hajar] said: The comments of the scholars of [Arabic] language
are close in meaning, and the latter view is supported by what Abu
Dawood andIbn Khuzaymah narrated from 'Abd-Allaah ibn 'Amr in a
marfoo' hadeeth: "If aperson engages in idle action or steps over
people's necks, it will be Zuhr for him." Ibn Wahb –one of the
narrators – said: What it means is: Hisprayer is still valid but he is
deprived of the virtue of Jumu'ah. End quote.
Fath al-Baari (2/414).
Badr al-Deen al-'Ayni (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:
The words "it will be Zuhr for him" mean: his Jumu'ah will be Zuhr for
him, in the sense that the virtue that he would haveattained from
Jumu'ah will not be attained, because he failed to fulfil the
condition of this virtue. End quote.
Sharh Sunan Abi Dawood (2/169).
What those who come to Jumu'ah prayer should do is respect the symbols
of Allaah, which includes keeping the physical faculties still and
refraining from fidgeting, and keeping the tongue still and refraining
from talking, otherwise he has sinned and his Jumu'ah has become Zuhr.
Shaykh Saalih al-Fawzaan (may Allaah preserve him)said:
Undoubtedly the Muslim is enjoined during the khutbah to listen and
pay attention, and stop moving. He is enjoined to do two things:
1. Be silent and still, and refrain from moving or fidgeting.
:->

5a] Is it permissible for him to complete the purchase when he can hear the call to prayer?

''Friday Prayers'' :-:->
5a]
To sum up: Jumu'ah cannot be compared with other prayers, but if he
avoids such situations so that he will not be distracted from praying
incongregation, that is better.
Whatever the case, if his buying and selling may distract him from
performing prayer in congregation, then it is haraam, but in some
casesthe prayer may be delayed, if the Imam is late, so a person may
buy or sell something on his way, and it may not affecthis attending
the prayer. But if he avoids that and adheres to what applies to
Jumu'ah, that will be more on the safe side, so it is like Jumu'ah
with regard to precautions.

And Allah knows best.

5] Is it permissible for him to complete the purchase when he can hear the call to prayer?

''Friday Prayers'' :-:->
5]
Sometimes when I'm in the market place and I amin a store and have
chosen something and amat the checkout, the call toprayer is given. Is
it permissible for me to complete the purchase or is that haraam?
Also, sometimes we are inthe car and the muezzin has already given the
call to prayer, and we stop at the grocery and my brother asks the
shopkeeper to sell him something. Does this also come under the
prohibition?.
Praise be to Allaah.
If that is the adhaan for Jumu'ah prayer that comes after the khateeb
has ascended the minbar, then it is haraam to buy and sell at that
time, because Allah says (interpretation of the meaning): "O you who
believe (Muslims)! When the call is proclaimed for the Salaah (prayer)
on Friday (Jumu'ah prayer), come to the remembrance of Allaah [Jumu'ah
religious talk (Khutbah) and Salaah (prayer)] and leave off business
(and every other thing). That is better for you if you did but know!"
[al-Jumu'ah 62:9].
The words "O you who believe (Muslims)! When the call is proclaimed
for the Salaah (prayer) on Friday (Jumu'ah prayer), come to the
remembrance of Allaah [Jumu'ah religious talk (Khutbah) and Salaah
(prayer)] and leave off business" mean: stop dealing with trade and
come and listen to the khutbah and perform Jumu'ah prayer in the
mosque with the imam. This means that it is haraam to buy and sell
after the second adhaan which comes when the khateeb sits on the
minbar, until the prayer ends, unless there is a case of necessity
which calls for buying or selling, such as buying water for the
purpose of purification or a garment to cover one's 'awrah for prayer.
End quote.
Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa'imah, 13/101-102
Shaykh Ibn 'Uthaymeen (may Allah have mercy onhim) said:
Buying and selling after the second call to Jumu'ahis haraam and also
invalid. Based on that, thetransaction is invalid, so itis not
permissible for the purchaser to dispose of what he has bought,
because he has not taken possession of it, and it is not permissible
for the seller to dispose of the money paid, because he has not taken
possession of it. This is a serious matter, because some people may
buy or sell after the second call to Jumu'ah, then take things on the
assumption that they now belong to them.End quote.
Al-Sharh al-Mumti', 8/52.
So it is not permissible to buy or sell after the second adhaan for
Jumu'ah, because what is required is to hasten to the mosque in order
to hear the khutbah and pray, and buying and selling distracts from
that.
But if that happens with regard to all the other prayers (Fajr, Zuhr,
'Asr, Maghrib and 'Isha'), there is nothing wrong with it, so long as
it does not distract one from praying in congregation and causeone to
miss it.
Allah says (interpretation of the meaning): "Men whom neither trade
nor sale (business) diverts from the remembrance of Allaah (with heart
and tongue) nor from performing As-Salât (Iqâmat-as-Salât) nor from
giving the Zakât. They fear a Day when hearts and eyes will be
overturned (out of the horror of the torment of the Day of
Resurrection)" [al-Noor 24:37].
Those are men who, even if they do business and sell and buy, there is
nothing haraam in that, but it should not distract them and make them
give precedence to that and prefer it over the remembrance of Allah,
establishing prayer and giving zakaah; rather theyshould make
obedience toAllah and worship of Him their ultimate aim, so whatever
keeps them from that, they should reject it.
End quote from Tafseer al-Sa'di, p. 569
Shaykh Ibn Baaz (may Allah have mercy on him) was asked: Is it haraam
tobuy and sell during the adhaan or after it? What about on Fridays?
He replied:
Allah says (interpretation of the meaning): "O you who believe
(Muslims)! When the call is proclaimed for the Salaah (prayer) on
Friday (Jumu'ah prayer)..." [al-Jumu'ah 62:9], so it is not permissible
to buy and sell or to rent or do any other kind of transaction; rather
peopleshould focus on Jumu'ah prayer and hasten to prayJumu'ah, and
not let anything else distract them.
With regard to other prayers, they may or may not come under the same
rulings as Jumu'ah, but to be on the safe side, one should not do
anything after the call to prayer, after the adhaan for Zuhr, 'Asr or
Maghrib, because that may distract him from praying in congregation.
So it is better to avoid that, unless it is some minor matter that
will not distract him, so perhaps there is nothing wrong with it,
because Allah, may He be glorified and exalted, only spoke about the
issue of Jumu'ah, because it is very important and it is obligatory to
attend it, and one misses out by missing it. So it is a serious matter
and is a weekly obligation.
:->

Why aren't travellers mentioned in the hadeeth, “Jumu’ah prayer is an obligatory duty for every Muslim except four”?

''Friday Prayers'' :-:->
In a hadeeth of the Messenger (blessings and peace of Allah be upon
him) it says: "Jumu'ah prayer is an obligatory duty for every Muslim
except four." Why is it that travellers not included among those for
whom Jumu'ah prayer is waived in this hadeeth?.
Praise be to Allaah.
The hadeeth referred to inthe question was narratedfrom Taariq ibn
Shihaab (may Allah be pleased with him), that the Prophet (blessings
and peace of Allah be upon him) said: "Jumu'ah prayer is an obligatory
duty for every Muslim, to be offered in congregation, except four:a
slave who is owned, or woman, or a child, or one who is sick."
Narrated by Abu Dawood (1067). Al-Nawawi said in al-Majmoo' (4/483):
Its isnaad is saheeh according to the conditions of the two shaykhs
(al-Bukhaari and Muslim). Ibn Rajab said in Fath al-Baari (5/327): Its
isnaad is saheeh. Ibn Katheer said in Irshaad al-Faqeeh (1/190): Its
isnaad is jayyid. It was classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh
al-Jaami' (3111).
It was narrated from Ibn 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) that
the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: "The
traveller is not obliged to pray Jumu'ah." Al-Haafiz said in Buloogh
al-Maraam: Its isnaad is da'eef.
The exception of the traveller is also mentioned in a number
ofhadeeths, including the hadeeth of Abu Hurayrah, according to which
the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him), who said:
"There arefive for whom Jumu'ah is not obligatory: the woman, the
traveller, the slave, the child and the people of the wilderness."It
says in Majma' al-Zawaa'id: It was narrated by al-Tabaraani in
al-Awsat and its isnaad includes Ibraaheem ibn Hammaad, who was
classed as da'eef (weak) by al-Daaraqutni. Shaykh al-Albaani (may
Allah have mercy on him) said: (He is) da'eef jiddan (very weak).
It is no secret that the shar'i rulings should be derived from all of
the hadeeths that were narrated concerning this specific subject, and
they should not be derived from only one hadeeth whilst ignoring the
rest ofthe hadeeths.
The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) mentioned a
number, as we see in the hadeeth being asked about here, and
mentioning a number does not necessarily meanthat it is limited to
this number. The aim may have been to make it easier to remember this
hadeeth for those who heard it. A similar example is the words of the
Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him): "There are seven
whom Allah will shade with His shade on the Day when there will be no
shade but His…" By compiling all the hadeeths which speak of this
great matter ("Allah will shade them with His shade") it becomes clear
that there are more than 20 such categories, not only seven.
Al-San'aani said in Subul al-Salaam:
We can see from the hadeeths that Jumu'ah is not obligatory for six
people: children, as there is consensus that Jumu'ah is not obligatory
for them;slaves, as there is consensus on this matter except for
Dawood; women, and there is consensus that it is not obligatory for
them; sick people; travellers, who are not obliged to attend it; and
the sixth category, which is the people of thewilderness. End quote.
And Allah knows best.

4a] Is it prescribed to do ghusl on Fridays for women?

''Friday Prayers'' :-:->
4a]
and because the aim is cleanliness, and they are all the same
withregard to that. It is not Sunnah for the one who does not intend
to attend,even if he is one of those who should attend Jumu'ah,
because of the meaning of the hadeeth and because the reason is no
longer present; and because of the hadeeth ofIbn 'Umar, according to
which the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said:
"Whoever comes to Jumu'ah, man or woman, let him do ghusl, and whoever
does not come to it, man or woman, doesnot have to do ghusl." Narrated
by al-Bayhaqi with this wording and with a saheeh isnaad. End quote.
And Allah knows best.

4] Is it prescribed to do ghusl on Fridays for women?

''Friday Prayers'' :-:->
4]
Is doing ghusl on Fridays is obligatory for women too?.
Praise be to Allaah.
Firstly:
Doing ghusl on Fridays is mustahabb, not obligatory, according to the
majority of fuqaha', although some of them were of the view that it is
obligatory.
Secondly:
This ghusl is prescribed for those who come to Jumu'ah prayers,
whether men or women, although it is men who are addressed in the
verse which tells them to attend the prayer, as Allaah says
(interpretationof the meaning):
"O you who believe (Muslims)! When the call is proclaimed for the
Salaah (prayer) on Friday (Jumu'ah prayer), come tothe remembrance of
Allaah [Jumu'ah religious talk (Khutbah) and Salaah (prayer)] and
leave off business (and every other thing). That is better for you if
you did but know!"
[al-Jumu'ah 62:9].
But if a woman attends Jumu'ah prayer, it is prescribed for her to do
ghusl for it and observe its etiquette.
Ibn Hibbaan wrote a chapter in his Saheeh entitled: It is mustahabb
for women to do ghusl forJumu'ah if they want to attend it. Then he
quoted the hadeeth of 'Uthmaan ibn Waaqid al-'Umari from Naafi' from
Ibn 'Umar, who said: The Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of
Allah be upon him) said: "Whoever comes to Jumu'ah, man or woman, let
him do ghusl."
The authenticity of the hadeeth is agreed upon, apart from the
additional words "man or woman". This additional material was narrated
by Ibn Khuzaymah, Ibn Hibbaan, and al-Bayhaqi in al-Sunan, and that
there was a difference of opinion as to whether it issaheeh or not.
It was classed as saheeh by al-Nawawi (may Allah have mercy on him) in
al-Majmoo' (4/405) and Ibn Mulaqqin in al-Badr al-Muneer (4/649).
Al-Haafiz Ibn Hajar (may Allah have mercy on him) said in al-Fath
(2/358): According to the report of 'Uthmaan ibn Waaqid from Naafi',
which is narrated by Abu 'Awaanah, Ibn Khuzaymahand Ibn Hibbaan in
their Saheehs with the wording, "Whoever comes to Jumu'ah, man
orwoman, let him do ghusl, and whoever does not come to it does not
have to do ghusl," its men are thiqaat (trustworthy). But al-Bazzaar
said: I am afraid that there is some wahm (weakness of memory) in
'Uthmaan ibn 'Aaqid.
What al-Bazzaar was afraid of, namely wahm (weak memory) of 'Uthmaan
ibn Waaqid, was stated with certainty by Abu Dawood, the author of
al-Sunan, may Allah have mercy on him.
Abu 'Ubayd al-Aajurri said:I asked Abu Dawood about him and he said:
Heis da'eef (weak). I said to Abu Dawood: 'Abbaas ibn Muhammad
narrated from Yahya ibn Ma'een that he is trustworthy. He said: He is
da'eef (weak). He narrated that the Prophet (blessings and peace of
Allah be upon him) said: "Whoever comes to Jumu'ah, man orwoman, let
him do ghusl.", but we do not know of anyone who saysthis apart from
him.
End quote from Tahdheebal-Kamaal, 19/505
Al-Albaani (may Allah have mercy on him) stated definitively that this
additional material is odd and he classed it as weak, as it says in
al-Silsilah al-Da'eefah (8/430).
What may support the view that women should do ghusl for Jumu'ah is
the reports narrated by Ibn Abi Shaybah in his Musannaf from 'Ubaydah
bint Naa'il who said: I heard Ibn 'Umar and the daughter of Sa'd ibn
Abi Waqqaas say: Whoever among you (women) comes to Jumu'ah, let her
do ghusl. Something similar was narrated fromTawoos, and it was
narrated from Shaqeeq that he used to tell his family, both men and
women, to do ghusl on Fridays. See al-Musannaf (2/9).
Doing ghusl for Jumu'ah makes sense, because it is cleanliness and
puts a stop to unpleasant odoursthat annoy other people present. Hence
women are asked to do that if they want to attend.
Al-Haafiz said in al-Fath: al-Zayn ibn al-Muneer said: And it was
narrated from Maalik that whoeverattends Jumu'ah apart from men, if
their attendance is to seek virtue, it is prescribed for them to do
ghusl and observe all the etiquettes of Jumu'ah, but if they attend on
the spur of the moment, then no.
End quote from al-Fath al-Baari.
Al-Nawawi (may Allah have mercy on him) said in al-Majmoo' (4/405):
Doing ghusl on Friday is Sunnah, not obligatory in the sense that not
doing it is a sin, and there is no difference of opinion among us
concerning that. With regard to the one for whom it is Sunnah, there
are four views, but the correct view that is supported by the text and
regard by theauthor and the majority as the correct view is the
following: It is Sunnah for everyone who wants to attend Jumu'ah, man,
woman, child, traveller, slave and others, because of the apparent
meaning of the hadeeth of Ibn 'Umar, and because the aim is
cleanliness, and they are all the same withregard to that.
:->

3a] Ruling on offering Jumu‘ah prayer in a church where there are images or statues

''Friday Prayers'' :-:->
3a]
The Standing Committee and Shaykh Ibn 'Uthaymeen (may Allah have mercy
on him) issued fatwas stating that it is makrooh to pray in a place in
which there are images, but the prayer is valid if that takes place.
In Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa'imah (5/377) [vol. 2] it says: What is the
ruling on praying in the house or room in which there are statues of
animals or humans for decoration?
Answer: It is haraam to keep images or statues and put them in houses,
because the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said
to'Ali (may Allah be pleased with him): "Do not leave any image
without erasing it or any built-up grave without levelling it." And
because he (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: "The
angels do not enter a house in which there is a dog or an image." It
is makrooh to pray in a room in which there are pictures hanging or
statues, especially if they are in front of the person when he faces
the qiblah. But the prayer is valid.
And Allah is the source of strength. May Allah send blessings and
peace upon our Prophet Muhammad and his family and Companions.
Standing Committee for Academic Research and Issuing Fatwas.
Bakr Abu Zayd, 'Abd al-'Azeez Aal al-Shaykh, Saalih al-Fawzaan,
'Abd-Allah ibn Ghadyaan, 'Abd al-Razzaaq 'Afeefi, 'Abd al-'Azeez ibn
'Abd-Allah ibn Baaz. End quote.
Shaykh Ibn 'Uthaymeen (may Allah have mercy onhim) said:… As for the
prayer, it is valid, but it is makrooh to pray in a place in which
there are images except in the case of necessity; if nothing else is
available, then there is nothing wrong with it. End quote.
To sum up:
1. There is nothing wrong with praying inside the church if it is
free of images and statues, whether that is Jumu'ah prayer or any
other prayer.
2. It is makrooh to pray in a church if there are images or
statues in it. If the Muslims need to pray there because there is no
other place available, and they cover these statues with something
that will conceal them, there is nothing wrong with it and it is not
makrooh.
And Allah knows best.