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Brothers and Sisters In Islam

ٱلسَّلَٰمُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَتُ ٱللَّٰهِ وَبَرَكَٰتُهُ

AGM and Eid lunch announcement

It is to inform you that we have brought AGM forward to Friday on 28th June at Isha time instead of Sunday 30th due to non-availability of members. Please note the changes and we will see you on Friday for AGM.

We have also postponed Eid lunch scheduled for coming Sunday.

We will announce new date in coming days Inshallah.

If you wish to have further information then kindly reach out to committee members.

Jazāk Allāhu Khayran

The board of Imams of Australia has announced Eid-ul-Azha on Sunday 16th June 2024.

Eid namaz will be performed at 08:30 am sharp at Musallah followed by Khutbah.

Please note that there is no parking at Musallah and we request that you park outside on the green or along the road.

Whilst visiting Musallah, please ensure to maintain the sanctity of the Musallah at all the time.

Notice of AGM and Eid Lunch

Warrnambool Islamic Society AGM will be held at 12 pm on Sunday 30th June 2024 followed by Dhuhar prayer and Eid Lunch.

Nominations for office bearers (president, general secretary and treasurer) of WIS committee are sought. Please send your nominations (proposed and seconded) to committee by 21st June 2024 along with a brief information as to why you wish to apply for the position, what values and expertise you will bring to committee and how you would help WIS achieve its objectives.

WIS is also looking representation from sisters and we encourage sisters to apply for the positions on the committee.

Please come along and bring your families. Please bring some food, preferably in 2 portions (one for brothers and one for sisters). Kindly avoid to bring any readymade foods as their halal authenticity is often difficult to confirm.

As-salamu-alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh Brothers and Sisters in Islam

We would like to keep you informed that the Jumu’ah time has been fixed to 12.30 pm (during the spring). We look forward to seeing all of our brothers and sisters in attendance.

JazakAllah

As-salamu alaykum Brothers and Sisters in Islam

This is a reminder that Musallah will be open for Iftar tonight. We will break our fast together and pray Maghrib and IshaAllah followed by Taraweeh prayers.

Please join us tonight and bring your families and some food to share.

We look forward to see all at Musallah tonight, Inshallah

JazakAllah

Blessed month of Ramadhan 1445H-2024 is upon us and we are looking forward to welcome it and benefits from the bounties of this holy month.

We are all excited here at Warrnambool Musallah and have exciting activities planned.

Musallah will open for regular Isha prayers followed by Taraweeh prayers each time instead of Maghrib prayers every night from the night of Monday 11^th March 2024 with 1^st day of fasting on 12^th March 2024 as per announcements by Australian National Imams Council.

We plan to have Iftar together every Saturday at Musallah, followed by Maghrib, Isha and Traweeh prayers. We encourage all of you to join in for Iftar and bring food to share with others.

We also intend to open Musallah for Fajr prayers every Saturday.

For Sahoor and Iftar, please follow timings on Athan app. We recommend you to please down the app if you have not already done it and set Warrnambool as your location.

Bothers from Jammat from Fawkner are planning to visit us towards the end of Holy month. We look forward to have them here.

We will announce program for Eid –u- Fitr prayers later on so watch the space.

Membership:

We plan to do a membership campaign which will start in 1^st week of Ramadhan. This will allow us to plan future developments at Musallah keeping in mind the needs to our local and wider communities. Please watch out on Musallah website, FB page and Whatsapp group for further details regarding membership.

Donations:

As you may all know that current Musallah place does not belong to us, hence we are aspiring to have our own place. We will not be able to achieve this without your help. We are requesting to donate generously during this blessed month when rewards are many folds for your acts.

We could do it whilst visiting the Musahhal using donation box or by donating online using Musallah bank details. We may wish to set regular donations by using direct debt facilities via your banks.

Zakat and Sadaqa-tul-fitr:

Please do not forget to pay you zakat and Sadaqa-tul-fitr obligations as soon as possible to help your brothers and sisters who in need.

May Allah accepts your efforts and prayers and bless you with his blessings and bounties.

Warrnambool Islamic Society committee

Summary of answer

Virtues of Ramadan include the following: 1- Allah has made fasting this month the fourth pillar of Islam. 2- Allah revealed the Quran in this month. 3- Allah has blessed Ramadan with Laylat al-Qadr . 4- In this month, Allah opens the gates of Paradise and closes the gates of Hell. 5-Every night Allah has people whom He redeems from the Fire. 6- Fasting Ramadan is a means of expiation for the sins committed since the previous Ramadan.

Praise be to Allah.

Ramadan is one of the twelve Arabic months. It is a month which is venerated in the Islamic religion, and it is distinguished from the other months by a number of characteristics and virtues, including the following: 

1- Allah has made fasting this month the fourth pillar of Islam , as He says (interpretation of the meaning): 

“The month of Ramadan in which was revealed the Quran, a guidance for mankind and clear proofs for the guidance and the criterion (between right and wrong). So whoever of you sights (the crescent on the first night of) the month (of Ramadan i.e. is present at his home), he must observe Sawm (fasts) that month…” [al-Baqarah 2:185]

And it was narrated in al-Sahihayn (al-Bukhari, 8; Muslim, 16) from the hadith of Ibn ‘Umar that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Islam is built on five (pillars): the testimony that there is no god except Allah and that Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) is the Messenger of Allah; establishing prayer; paying zakah; fasting Ramadan; and Hajj to the House (the Ka’bah).” 

2- Allah revealed the Quran in this month, as He says in the verse quoted above (interpretation of the meaning): 

“The month of Ramadan in which was revealed the Quran, a guidance for mankind and clear proofs for the guidance and the criterion (between right and wrong)…” [al-Baqarah 2:185]

And Allah says (interpretation of the meaning): 

“Verily, We have sent it (this Quran) down in the Night of Al-Qadr (Decree).” [al-Qadr 97:1]

3– Allah has made Laylat al-Qadr in this month, which is better than a thousand months, as Allah says (interpretation of the meaning): 

“Verily, We have sent it (this Quran) down in the Night of Al-Qadr (Decree). And what will make you know what the Night of Al-Qadr (Decree) is? The Night of Al-Qadr (Decree) is better than a thousand months (i.e. worshipping Allah in that night is better than worshipping Him a thousand months, i.e. 83 years and 4 months). Therein descend the angels and the Ruh [Jibreel (Gabriel)] by Allah’s Permission with all Decrees, (All that night), there is peace (and goodness from Allah to His believing slaves) until the appearance of dawn.” [al-Qadar 97:1-5] 

“We sent it (this Quran) down on a blessed night [(i.e. the Night of Al-Qadr) in the month of Ramadan — the 9th month of the Islamic calendar]. Verily, We are ever warning [mankind that Our Torment will reach those who disbelieve in Our Oneness of Lordship and in Our Oneness of worship].” [al-Dukhan 44:3]

Allah has blessed Ramadan with Laylat al-Qadr . Explaining the great status of this blessed night, Surat al-Qadr was revealed, and there are many ahadith which also speak of that, such as the hadith of Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) who said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “There has come to you Ramadan, a blessed month which Allah has enjoined you to fast, during which the gates of heaven are opened and the gates of Hell are closed, and the rebellious devils are chained up. In it there is a night which is better than a thousand months, and whoever is deprived of its goodness is indeed deprived.” (Narrated by al-Nasai, 2106; Ahmad, 8769, classed as sahih by al-Albani in Sahih al-Targhib, 999.)

And Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Whoever spends Laylat al-Qadr in prayer out of faith and in the hope of reward, will be forgiven his previous sins.” (Narrated by al-Bukhari, 1910; Muslim, 760)

4- Allah has made fasting Ramadan and spending its nights in prayer out of faith and in the hope of reward a means of forgiveness of sins, as was proven in al-Sahihayn (al-Bukhari, 2014; Muslim, 760) from the hadith of Abu Hurayrah according to which the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Whoever fasts Ramadan out of faith and in the hope of reward, his previous sins will be forgiven.” 

Al-Bukhari (2008) and Muslim (174) also narrated from Abu Hurayrah that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Whoever spends the nights of Ramadan in prayer out of faith and in the hope of reward, his previous sins will be forgiven.” 

The Muslims are unanimously agreed that it is Sunnah to pray qiyam at night in Ramadan. Al-Nawawi said that what is meant by praying qiyam in Ramadan is to pray Tarawih, i.e., one achieves what is meant by qiyam by praying Tarawih. 

5- In this month, Allah opens the gates of Paradise and closes the gates of Hell , and chains up the devils, as is stated in al-Sahihayn (al-Bukhari, 1898; Muslim, 1079), from the hadith of Abu Hurayrah who said that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “When Ramadan comes, the gates of Paradise are opened and the gates of Hell are closed, and the devils are chained up.” 

6- Every night Allah has people whom He redeems from the Fire. Imam Ahmad (5/256) narrated from the hadith of Abu Umamah that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “At every breaking of the fast, Allah has people whom He redeems.” Al-Mundhiri said: there is nothing wrong with its isnad; and it was classed as sahih by al-Albani in Sahih al-Targhib, 987. 

Al-Bazzar (Kashf 962) narrated that Abu Sa’id said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Allah has people whom He redeems every day and night – i.e., in Ramadan – and every Muslim every day and night has a prayer that is answered.” 

7- Fasting Ramadan is a means of expiation for the sins committed since the previous Ramadan, so long as one avoids major sins. It was proven in Sahih Muslim (233) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “The five daily prayers, from one Jumu’ah to the next and from one Ramadan to the next are expiation for (sins committed) in between, so long as you avoid major sins.” 

8- Fasting in Ramadan is equivalent to fasting ten months, as is indicated by the hadith in Sahih Muslim (1164) narrated from Abu Ayyub al-Ansari: “Whoever fasts Ramadan then follows it with six days of Shawwal , it will be like fasting for a lifetime.”

Ahmad (21906) narrated that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Whoever fasts Ramadan, a month is like ten months, and fasting six days after al-Fitr will complete the year.” 

9- Whoever prays qiyam in Ramadan with the imam until he finishes, it will be recorded for him that he spent the whole night in prayer, because of the report narrated by Abu Dawud (1370) and others from the hadith of Abu Dharr (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Whoever prays qiyam with the imam until he finishes, it will be recorded for him that he spent the whole night in prayer.” (Classed as sahih by al-Albani in Salat al-Tarawih, p. 15)

10- ‘Umrah in Ramadan is equivalent to Hajj . Al-Bukhari (1782) and Muslim (1256) narrated that Ibn ‘Abbas said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said to a woman among the Ansar, “What kept you from doing Hajj with us?” She said, “We only had two camels that we used for bringing water.” So her husband and son had gone for Hajj on one camel, and he left the other for them to use for bringing water.” He said, “When Ramadan comes, go for ‘Umrah, for ‘Umrah in Ramadan is equivalent to Hajj.” According to a report narrated by Muslim, “… is equivalent to doing Hajj with me.” 

11- It is Sunnah to observe i’tikaf (retreat for the purpose of worship) in Ramadan, because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) always did that, as it was narrated in the hadith of ‘Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) used to spend the last ten days of Ramadan in i’tikaf until he passed away, then his wives observed i’tikaf after him.” Narrated by al-Bukhari, 1922; Muslim, 1172. 

12- It is mustahabb in the sense of being strongly recommended in Ramadan to study the Quran together and to read it a great deal. You may study the Quran together by reciting it to someone else and by having someone else recite it to you. The evidence that this is mustahabb is the fact that Jibril used to meet the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) every night in Ramadan and study the Quran with him. (Narrated by al-Bukhari, 6; Muslim, 2308)

Reading Quran is mustahabb in general, but more so in Ramadan. 

13- It is mustahabb in Ramadan to offer iftar to those who are fasting , because of the hadith of Zayd ibn Khalid al-Juhani (may Allah be pleased with him) who said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Whoever gives iftar to one who is fasting will have a reward like his, without that detracting from the fasting person’s reward in the slightest.” (Narrated by al-Tirmidhi, 807; Ibn Majah, 1746; classed as sahih by al-Albani in Sahih al-Tirmidhi, 647.)  

And Allah knows best.

Source: https://islamqa.info/en/13480

What does Bismillah mean?

When one says “Bismillah ” when starting to do anything, what that means is, “I start this action accompanied by the name of Allah or seeking help through the name of Allah, seeking blessing thereby. Allah is God, the beloved and worshipped, to Whom hearts turn in love, veneration and obedience (worship). He is al-Rahman (the Most Gracious) Whose attribute is vast mercy; and al-Rahim (the Most Merciful) Who causes that mercy to reach His creation. 

It was said that what this means is: I start this action by mentioning the name of Allah. 

Ibn Jarir (may Allah have mercy on him) said: 

“Allah, may He be exalted and His name sanctified, taught His Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) proper manners by teaching him to mention His most beautiful names before all his actions. He commanded him to mention these attributes before starting to do anything, and made what He taught him a way for all people to follow before starting anything, words to be written at the beginning of their letters and books. The apparent meaning of these words indicates exactly what is meant by them, and it does not need to be spelled out.” 

There is something omitted in the phrase “Bismillah” when it said before starting to do something, which may be “I begin my action in the name of Allah,” such as saying, “In the name of Allah I read”, “In the name of Allah I write”, “In the name of Allah I ride”, and so on. Or, “My starting is in the name of Allah”, “My riding is in the name of Allah”, “My reading is in the name of Allah”, and so on.  It may be that blessing comes by saying the name of Allah first, and that also conveys the meaning of starting only in the name of Allah and not in the name of anyone else. 

The name of Allah is the greatest name and is so well known as to need no explanation; this is a name that belongs exclusively to the Creator and no one else. The correct view is that it is derived from the root ilah. He is God (ilah) which means that He is worshipped and is divine. 

Al-Rahman is one of the names of Allah that belong exclusively to Him. It means the One Who possesses vast mercy, because this form (fa’lan) is indicative of fullness and abundance. It is the most exclusive name of Allah after His name Allah, just as mercy is His most exclusive attribute. Hence this name (al-Rahman) often appears after the name Allah, as in the ayah (interpretation of the meaning): 

“Say (O Muhammad): Invoke Allah or invoke the Most Gracious [al-Rahman] (Allah)” [al-Isra 17:110]

Al-Rahim is also one of the names of Allah, and means the One Who causes His mercy to reach those whom He wills among His slaves.  

Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allah have mercy on him) said: 

“Al-Rahman refers to an attribute that is connected to Allah and is part of His Essence, and al-Rahim refers to a connection with the one to whom mercy is shown. The former is adjectival (referring to what He is) and the latter is verbal (referring to what He does). The former indicates that mercy is His attribute, and the latter indicates that He bestows His mercy upon His creation. If you want to understand this then ponder the meaning of these verses (interpretation of the meanings): 

“And He is Ever Most Merciful (Rahim) to the believers”[al-Ahzab 33:43]  

“Certainly, He is unto them full of kindness, Most Merciful (Rahim)” [al-Tawbah 9:117]

The word al-Rahman is never used in this context. So we know that the word Rahman means the One Whose attribute is mercy (rahmah), and al-Rahim is the One Who bestows His mercy.” (Badai’ al-Fawaid, 1/24) 

Saying the Basmalah when reading the Quran

The ruling on saying the Basmalah before reading Quran depends on the situation: 

• If it is at the beginning of a surah – apart from Surat Bara-ah (al-Tawbah) – then the majority of imams have stated that “it is mustahabb to recite the Basmalah at the beginning of each surah, in prayer or otherwise.

This should be done as a regular practice, and some of them considered that a reading of the whole Quran is incomplete if the Basmalah was not recited at the beginning of every surah apart from Bara-ah (al-Tawbah).” When Imam Ahmad (may Allah have mercy on him) was asked about reciting it at the beginning of every surah, he said, “Do not neglect it.” 

• If one is starting in the middle of a surah – which is the case asked about in the question – then the majority of scholars and Quran readers say that there is no reason why one should not start with it. 

It was said to Imam Ahmad, after he had said that it should not be omitted at the beginning of the surah, “What if a person starts reading part way through a surah?” He said, “There is nothing wrong [with saying the Basmalah].” Al-Abadi narrated that al-Shafi’i (may Allah have mercy on him) regarded it as mustahabb (to say the Basmalah, when starting to recite) part way through a surah.

The Quran readers said: It is certain that one should say the Basmalah if the ayah which will be read after saying it contains a pronoun that refers to Allah, such as the verses (interpretation of the meanings): 

“To Him (Alone) is referred the knowledge of the Hour” [Fussilat 41:47] 

“And it is He Who produces gardens” [al-An’am 6:141] because otherwise, if one recites these verses after seeking refuge with Allah from the Shaytan, the pronoun may appear to refer to the Shaytan which would convey an abhorrent meaning. 

• Reciting the Basmalah at the beginning of Surat Bara-ah (al-Tawbah); there is hardly any dispute among the scholars that doing this is makruh (disliked). 

Salih said concerning some issues that he narrated from his father Ahmad (may Allah have mercy on him): “I asked him about Surah al-Anfal and Surat al-Tawbah, whether it is permissible for a man to separate them by saying Bismillah al-Rahman al-Rahim. My father said: ‘With regard to the Quran, reference should be made to what the Companions of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) were agreed on; nothing should be added to or taken away from that.’”  

• Reciting it part way through Surat al-Bara-ah (al-Tawbah) . The Quran readers differed concerning that, as was narrated by Ibn Hajar al-Haythami in al-Fatawa al-Fiqhiyyah (1/52), and he said: “Among the leading Quran readers, al-Sakhawi said that there is no dispute that it is Sunnah to start with the Basmalah when one starts reading part way through this surah [al-Tawbah], as he differentiated between starting at the beginning and starting in the middle, but his explanation was facile and was refuted by al-Ja’bari from among the Quran readers. This is more likely (i.e., the view that it is makruh is more likely to be correct), because the reason why the Basmalah should not be recited at the beginning (of al-Tawbah) is that it came with the sword (i.e., the command to fight the kuffar) and it exposes the hypocrites and their foul deeds in a manner that is not unlike any other surah, and this theme is repeated throughout Surat al-Tawbah. Therefore it is not prescribed to recite the Basmalah even if one starts reciting part way through this surah, just as it is not prescribed at the beginning, for the reasons we have established.” 

See al-Adab al-Shar’iyyah by Ibn Muflih, 2/325; al-Mawsu’ah al-Fiqhiyyah, 13/253; al-Fatawa al-Fiqhiyyah al-Kubra, 1/52 

Meaning of ”Iqra bismi Rabbika”

With regard to the meaning of the words, “Iqra bismi Rabbika” (Read (or recite) in the name of your Lord – [al-‘Alaq 96:1 – interpretation of the meaning]), Imam Ibn Jarir (may Allah have mercy on him) said: “The interpretation of the words ‘Iqra bismi Rabbika’ is that they were addressed to Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), in other words, Read, O Muhammad, by mentioning the name of your Lord (Who created).” 

And Allah knows best

source: https://islamqa.info/en/answers/21722/what-is-the-meaning-of-the-basmalah