Ad-Darooraat Tubeeh Al-Mahzooraat (Necessity knows no laws):

Dear brother, we spent the past few Khutab in tackling the topic of Ad-Darooraat Tubeeh Al-Mahzooraat and our discussion revolved around this true ruling which people misunderstood making its purpose contrary to the original one it is intended for. Accordingly, people have started to do unlawful things justifying them by this ruling. Nevertheless, there are conditions which justify using this ruling, and these conditions are mentioned in details in Islam, and according to these conditions man is allowed to resort to this ruling if he is threatened in his nutrition, getting medication, being under compulsion, having amnesia, being ignorant, in cases of prevailing ordeals, being in travel, being ill, in cases of being naturally invalid, in cases of self-defense, in Istihsan Al-Daroorah (legislative necessity), in Al-Maslahah Al-Mursalah (consists of considerations which secure a benefit or prevent harm but are in the meantime, harmonious with the objectives of the Shari'ah), in Al-Urf (customs and practices of a given society), in Sadd Adh-Dhara'ie and Fathaha (the closing of doors which could lead to corruption or sinful actions) and in Az-Zafar bil Haq (Enjoining the truth).

These are detailed topics which cannot be tackled in this short Khutbah, but I will discuss them in details every Sunday one after another, because Muslims are in dire need of understanding them. The right knowledge is the one of religion:

((O Ibn Umar, take care of your religion! Take care of your religion! It is only your flesh and blood. Take from those who are upright, and do not take from those who have swerved.))

[Al-Elal, by Ibn Abi Hatem]

(The rulings may change with the changing of space and time):

Dear brother, there is a minor topic derived from this major one, which is about the other party in the world who has taken Islam as their enemy. Since this party is unable to confront Islam face to face or to have a clear stance against it, it used twisted ways to fight Islam by inventing new principles and notions (which have nothing to do with Islam) to hit Islam in its core in order to destroy it from within, in order to fabricate a new religion (to replace Islam) and in order to waste Islam's value.

Among these devastating thoughts is the one about the flexibility of the rulings in Islam. The rule we would like to discuss goes as follows, "Islamic rulings are subject of changing as time passes." Though this rule is true, it has certain limits, and if these limits are exceeded, Muslims will be totally detached from the Method of Allah, and they will follow the method of the people of Kufr and sins. As a result a huge crack in the life of Muslims will be caused since the implementation of Islam will not go beyond Masajid, and it will no longer be applied in every detail of the Muslim's life such as his home, job, career, trading, store, activities, entertainments, happy occasions, sorrows and calamities, and instead Muslims will follow the method of the people of Kufr, sins and corruption in those aspects.
Dear brother, this is a very delicate topic, for the rule "Taghyur Al-Ahkam bi Taghayur Az-zaman wal Makan" is a true one. However, it has certain conditions without which such a rule will become a burden on the shoulder of Islam and Muslims, and so it will be the sh3er' means to destroy Islam and corrupt its Aqeeah.

It is out of question that situations and circumstances change according to the time, the place and the environment. Nevertheless there are Thawabit (constants) in man's life which are unchangeable and unaffected by the setting. These Thawabit are the reasons why man is Divinely Assigned, and they are the main cause of Shari'ah. This great religion (Islam) encompasses all the Thawabit in man's life in the religious texts which are Qat'iyat Ad-Dalalah (They are definitive texts which are clear and specific. They are biding upon every Muslim, and they are not open to Ijtihaad (personal judgement).), while Al- Mutaghayyirat (variables) are included in the religious texts which are Dhanniyat Ad-Dalalah (They are not definitive, so their rulings are open to analysis, commentary, interpretation and Ijtihaad.) Narrated Thawban, the Prophet, peace be upon him, said:

(("The people will soon summon one another to attack you from every horizon as people when eating invite sh3er to share their dish. We asked: Will that be because of our small numbers at that time? He replied: No, you will be numerous at that time: but you will be scum and rubbish like that carried down by a torrent, and Allah will take fear of you from the breasts of your enemy and last wahn (enervation) into your hearts. They asked: What is wahn (enervation). Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, replied: Love of life and dislike of death."))

[Abu Dawod, by Thawban]

Islam is a constant method evertime and everywhere:

Dear brother, first of all, the very first crystal clear fact regarding the constancy in Islam is that this religion has constant method and values which never change according to the change of time and space. On the other hand, Al-Mutaghayyirat in life have a certain Tashree' (legislation "Fiqh"), and these topics have been focused on by Islam as they are mentioned in the religious texts which are Dhanniyat Ad-Dalalah. The first constant Ayah which reflects the constancy of the Divine Method is the following:

﴾And the Word of your Lord has been fulfilled in truth and in justice. None can change His Words. And He is the All-Hearer, the All-Knower.﴿

[Al-An'am, 115]

The Word of Allah is the Revelation of the Quran.

﴾And the Word of your Lord has been fulfilled in truth and in justice. ﴿

Some scholars said regarding this Ayah, "Allah's Words are either a True Divine Reporting or a Divine Fair Order." Allah used two words to describe His Words; they are "in truth" and "in Justice" referring to the Divine Reporting in the first and to His Orders in the second.

﴾And the Word of your Lord has been fulfilled in truth and in justice. ﴿

Other scholars said, ""…and in justice" means that Allah is Just in His Judgment, and What He has Reported is the clear truth which is beyond doubt. Hence, whatever Allah orders falls within justice and Allah is the Only Just, whereas everything Allah forbids is but falsehood, for Allah forbids only that which includes corruption." The Almighty Allah says:

﴾He commands them for Al-Ma'ruf (i.e. Islamic Monotheism and all that Islam has ordained); and forbids them from Al-Munkar (i.e. disbelief, polytheism of all kinds, and all that Islam has forbidden); he allows them as lawful At-Taiyibat [(i.e. all good and lawful) as regards things, deeds, beliefs, persons, foods, etc.], and prohibits them as unlawful Al-Khaba'ith (i.e. all evil and unlawful as regards things, deeds, beliefs, persons, foods, etc.), he releases them from their heavy burdens (of Allah's Covenant), and from the fetters (bindings) that were upon them.﴿

[Al-A'raf, 157]

This is a crucial part of Muslim's Aqeedah (creed): Everything imposed upon us by Allah is the clear truth, and everything we are forbidden from is but falsehood.

Dear brother, pay attention to the meaning of the following Ayah:

﴾None can change His Words. ﴿

It means that no one can change the Judgment of the Almighty Allah neither in worldly life nor in the Hereafter.

﴾And He is the All-Hearer, the All-Knower.﴿

Allah hears whatever His servants say, and He knows all about their deeds and actions. This Ayah is a concise one, and it contains an inclusive description of the Words of Allah:

﴾And the Word of your Lord has been fulfilled in truth and in justice. None can change His Words. And He is the All-Hearer, the All-Knower.﴿

[Al-An'am, 115]

Man's Thawabit are required to fulfill the Divine Assignment to him:

Allah's Laws are but the truth, the certainty and the justice, and they are perfect constant and complete, so they cannot be replaced by any other law. What this Divine Shari'ah represents is the very opposite to heedlessness, doubts and falsehood which prevail in man-made laws and desires. Allah says:

﴾ And if you obey most of those on earth﴿

[Al-An'am, 116]

Man-made laws (which are based on fulfilling his desires) are but illusion and false thinking, so they have no grounds or constancy. One should believe that there are Thawabit which are beyond all changes that take place in the environments, places, times and different situations. Also, those very Thawabit are the reason behind the Divine Assignment to mankind, given the great Quran is a wise Tashree' for all mankind whenever and wherever.

One of the interpreters of the Noble Quran interpreted the following Ayah:

﴾And the Word of your Lord has been fulfilled in truth and in justice. None can change His Words. And He is the All-Hearer, the All-Knower.﴿

[Al-An'am, 115]

He said, "The Word of your Lord has been fulfilled in truth in whatever He has said and decreed, and fulfilled in justice in whatever He has ordained and imposed. This means that no one is allowed to give any personal opinion, thought, law, principle, value or frame reference with regard to Aqeedah issues, and no one is allowed to give any opinion, ruling, tradition or convention with regard to Shari'ah."

Islam has its own values decreed by Allah in His Noble Book (Quran):

Whatever crisis on earth is the effect of man's deviation from the Divine Straight Method, given man is created by His Creator to abide by this Divine Straight Method. Moreover, whatever deviation from the Divine Straight Method is resulted from a rooted ignorance which is considered man' fiercest enemy, and man takes whatever he ignores his enemy.

Man tends to strive for whatever brings him happiness and protects him from perils and dangers due to his nature and to his love to his existence, the perfection of his existence and the continuity of his existence. Thus, when he knows for certain that his safety and happiness are gained only through abiding by his Lord's Method, he will adhere himself to this obedience, because he is so keen on his safety, and he yearns for happiness.

The Islamic society is not the one which copes with the changes of life style and its materialistic constituents, given changing is something natural due to the passage of time. However, the Islamic society amid all that should not change its rulings and values. The non-Muslim countries adopt moral values for the agriculture society, the industrial society, the society which idealizes individuality and the society which idealizes the mass. Unlike these systems, Islam is an inclusive complete system which is applicable in all environments and times without being changed, for Islam is a constant Divine Method. Besides, Islam has its own values which are decreed by the Almighty Allah in His Noble Book (Quran), and these values are constant despite the changes in societies.

Think about it: Is not insulting the father a negative value in all societies? Is not insulting the mother a constant negative value in all societies wherever and whenever? Is not taking sh3er' money unlawfully a negative constant value in all societies? If you list all Thawabit in man's life, you will find out that they are so many, and you will realize that the wise Divine Method covers all these constant values.

Dear brother, after the wars in some societies, they encouraged producing babies even illegitimately, like Zina (fornication), and they even gave rewards to the woman who gave birth to a child regardless the affair through which she got pregnant. When the Divine Method is disregarded in life, the substitute man-made laws become very ridiculous.

Some countries in the furthest east legislated laws which forced families to give birth only to one child, and since people tend to favor males over females, these families started to strangle and kill every newborn female and register only the male newborns. Consequently, the male to female sex ratio in their population was 50 million males for only one female, so kidnapping gangs prevailed, and they started to kidnap females who were in the age of marriage. Hence, when people resort to man-made laws, the societies become imbalanced.

Whoever follows Allah's Guidance shall neither go astray, nor fall into distress:

Dear brother, the All-Knowing, the Ever-Wise, the All-Aware and the Ever-Merciful (i.e. Allah) is asking His creations, given Only Allah is All-Aware of them and of all those around them in the heavens and the earth, to resort to the constant Word of Allah and to His Firm Complete Method which fits their minds, souls, bodies and societies, and which guarantees, to them and to their Fitrah, justice and truthfulness in Aqeedah and Shari'ah as long as they live in this wordly life. Thus, there will be no doubts, lusts, ignorance, corruption, heedlessness, alteration or changing:

﴾And the Word of your Lord has been fulfilled in truth and in justice. None can change His Words. And He is the All-Hearer, the All-Knower.﴿

[Al-An'am, 115]

Dear brother, pay attention to these two Ayat:

﴾We said: "Get down all of you from this place (the Paradise), then whenever there comes to you Guidance from Me, and whoever follows My Guidance, there shall be no fear on them, nor shall they grieve.﴿

[Al-Baqarah, 38]

﴾ (Allah) said:"Get you down (from the Paradise to the earth), both of you, together, some of you are an enemy to some sh3er. Then if there comes to you guidance from Me, then whoever follows My Guidance shall neither go astray, nor fall into distress and misery.﴿

[Ta-Ha, 123]

If you follow the Guidance of Allah, you shall neither go astray, nor shall you fall into distress and misery. Furthermore, you will never regret anything in the past and will never fear anything in the future. Is there any true happiness other than this in the worldly life and in the Hereafter?

The Divine Assignment is in man's best interest:

Dear brother, let me remind you of this fact: the plotting, by which the westernized people try to devastate the basic Thawabit in Islam, is to change and alter this religion. As time passes, man's life changes, yet there are Thawabit in his life which are timeless and they are embraced by the religious texts that are Qat'iyat Ad-Dalalah, whereas Al-Mutaghayyirat in life are referred to in the religious texts which are Dhanniyat Ad-Dalalah (Ayat which are able to bear different opinions in their interpretation which will lead to different derivations in Tashree').

To clarify the difference between the two, concepts, consider the example of giving a poor man in the suburb a sack of wheat (as Zakat) in order to be his supply in winter and from which he can make flour and bread, but if you give this same sack of wheat to someone who lives in the city, he will not be able to do anything with it. This difference is among Al-Mutaghayyirat, and concerning it, the scholars agreed to pay Zakat to the poor man (who lives in the city) with paper-money which equals its value as 'Ayn (tangible merchandise) if the 'Ayn Zakat is not useful to him. Thus, the ruling has changed but not Zakat. Accordingly, changes are taken into consideration in Shari'ah, but the constant values which are embraced by the Noble Quran and in the authenticated Prophetic Sunnah are not open to Ijtihaad.

Dear brother, this is Shari'ah, and it is described by a scholar (Ibn Al-Qayyim) as follows, "The Shari'ah in its entirety is justice, mercy and benefit. So any issue that leads from justice to injustice, or mercy to its opposite, or benefit to harm, then it is not from the Shari'ah, even if someone thought that it is [justifying it by thousands opinions and interpretations]."

If you track down every Divine Order (assignment) in the Noble Quran and in the Prophetic Sunnah, you will find that the purposes of most of these orders are mentioned. Imam Ash-Shafi'i said, "The Divine Assignments are in the best interest of the creations". Allah says:

﴾Take Sadaqah (alms) from their wealth in order to purify them and sanctify them with it, and invoke Allah for them. Verily! Your invocations are a source of security for them, and Allah is All-Hearer, All-Knower.﴿

[At-Taubah, 103]

Thus, purification and sanctifying are the purposes of paying Zakat.

﴾O you who believe! Observing As-Saum (the fasting) is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may become Al-Muttaqun (the pious).﴿

[Al-Baqarah, 183]

Fearing Allah is the purpose of observing Sawm.

﴾Reauthor (O Muhammad, peace be upon him) what has been revealed to you of the Book (the Qur'an), and perform As-Salat (Iqamat-as-Salat). Verily, As-Salat (the prayer) prevents from Al-Fahsha' (i.e. great sins of every kind, unlawful sexual intercourse, etc.) and Al-Munkar (i.e. disbelief, polytheism, and every kind of evil wicked deed, etc.) and the remembering (praising, etc.) of (you by) Allah (in front of the angels) is greater indeed [than your remembering (praising, etc.) Allah in prayers, etc.]. And Allah knows what you do.﴿

[Al-Ankabut, 45]

Preventing Fahsha' and Munkar is the purpose of Salah.

﴾Those who follow the Messenger, the Prophet who can neither read nor write (i.e.Muhammad, peace be upon him) whom they find written with them in the Taurat (Torah) (Deut, xviii, 15) and the Injeel (Gospel) (John xiv, 16), - he commands them for Al-Ma'ruf (i.e. Islamic Monotheism and all that Islam has ordained); and forbids them from Al-Munkar (i.e. disbelief, polytheism of all kinds, and all that Islam has forbidden); he allows them as lawful At-Taiyibat [(i.e. all good and lawful) as regards things, deeds, beliefs, persons, foods, etc.], and prohibits them as unlawful Al-Khaba'ith (i.e. all evil and unlawful as regards things, deeds, beliefs, persons, foods, etc.), he releases them from their heavy burdens (of Allah's Covenant), and from the fetters (bindings) that were upon them. So those who believe in him (Muhammad, peace be upon him), honour him, help him, and follow the light (the Qur'an) which has been sent down with him, it is they who will be successful.﴿

[Al-A'raf, 157]

Scholars tracked down all orders and bans in the Noble Quran, and they found out that most of them are in the best interest of mankind. This fact is irrefutable. Allah says:

﴾Messengers as bearers of good news as well as of warning in order that mankind should have no plea against Allah after the Messengers. And Allah is Ever All-Powerful, All-Wise.﴿

[An-Nisa', 165]

﴾And We have sent you (O Muhammad, peace be upon him) not but as a mercy for the 'Alamin (mankind, jinns and all that exists).﴿

[Al-Anbiya', 107]

Also, all punishments, which are attacked by the enemies of Islam, have a wise purpose, Allah says:

﴾And there is (a saving of) life for you in Al-Qisas (the Law of Equality in punishment), O men of understanding, that you may become Al-Muttaqun (the pious).﴿

[Al-Baqarah, 179]

According to the Federal statistics in USA in 1970, every 30 seconds a burglary, raping or a homicide took place, whereas the most recent statistics indicate that these crimes take place in a period that is even shorter than 30seconds. Hence, when Islam imposes a deterrent punishment against the thief (by cutting off his hand) the Muslim World might not carry out that punishment, because it is a deterrent punishment (namely punishing one or two thieves is enough to deter sh3er from stealing). Allah says:

﴾Let not pity withhold you in their case, in a punishment prescribed by Allah, if you believe in Allah and the Last Day. And let a party of the believers witness their punishment. (This punishment is for unmarried persons guilty of the above crime but if married persons commit it, the punishment is to stone them to death, according to Allah's Law).﴿

[An-Nur, 2]

In another Ayah, Allah says in concise wise words:

﴾And there is (a saving of) life for you in Al-Qisas (the Law of Equality in punishment), O men of understanding, that you may become Al-Muttaqun (the pious).﴿

[Al-Baqarah, 179]

When Allah's Laws are applied, there will be no devastating negatives in the society. A scholar asked Imam Ash-Shafi'i:

The hand receives five hundred Dinars
As a blood money when it is cut unintentionally,
but why is it chopped off for one-quarter of a Dinar?

He meant to say that this very hand if it is accidentally chopped off, its blood money will be 500 gold Dinars…

The hand receives five hundred Dinars
As a blood money when it is cut unintentionally,
but why is it chopped off for one-quarter of a Dinar?

Imam Ash-Shafi'i answered:

The honor of honesty made it valuable
While the humiliation of betrayal made it worthless
so comprehend the Divine Wisdom

When it is trustworthy it is valuable
But when it betrays it is humiliated

Allah's Perfection is Absolute:

Dear brother, Imam Ash-Shatibi, who was a beacon in Elm Al-Usool (the science of the principles of Islamic Jurisprudence), said, "Had the Shari'ah not been constant, it would have changed, and had it changed, Shari'ah would have been imbalanced, and it would have missed its absolute goodness"

Allah, may his Glory be glorified, describes His Character as follows:

﴾The Creator of the heavens and the earth. He has made for you mates from yourselves, and for the cattle (also) mates. By this means He creates you (in the wombs). There is nothing like unto Him, and He is the All-Hearer, the All-Seer.﴿

[Ash-Shura, 11]

Some scholars interpreted this Ayah as follows, "Allah's Perfection is Absolute, whereas man's perfection is proportional (not absolute)." In order to understand this concept, take for example the judge who will be considered just if he gives fair judgment in 99 cases out of 100 cases, whereas Our Lord, may His Glory be glorified, is Just in all His Judgments. Thus, His Just is Absolute, so are all His Attributes which reflect the Absolute Perfection. The Almighty Allah says:

﴾The Creator of the heavens and the earth. He has made for you mates from yourselves, and for the cattle (also) mates. By this means He creates you (in the wombs). There is nothing like unto Him, and He is the All-Hearer, the All-Seer.﴿

[Ash-Shura, 11]

Allah's Perfection is Absolute. Thus His Laws and Words reflect the Absolute Perfection, so is everything else which comes from the Almighty Allah, for they derive their perfection from His Absolute Perfect Divine Character. This is why our Lord, Glorified and Sublime be He, has completed Shari'ah in order to be the absolute perfect method when He says:

﴾This day, those who disbelieved have given up all hope of your religion, so fear them not, but fear Me. This day, I have perfected your religion for you, completed My Favour upon you, and have chosen for you Islam as your religion. But as for him who is forced by severe hunger, with no inclination to sin (such can eat these above-mentioned meats), then surely, Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.﴿

[Al-Ma'idah', 3]

He has completed it, and He told us that He has done so. Also, He made its Messenger (Muhammad, peace be upon him) infallible in person, whereas his Ummah (Muslims) are infallible as a group. Allah describes His Noble Book (Quran) in the following Ayah:

﴾ Falsehood cannot come to it from before it or behind it (it is) sent down by the All-Wise, Worthy of all praise (Allah)﴿

[Fussilat, 42]

He also says:

﴾ (This is) a Book, the Verses whereof are perfected (in every sphere of knowledge, etc.), and then explained in detail from One (Allah), Who is All-Wise and Well-Acquainted (with all things).﴿

[Hud, 1]

Allah says about his Noble Prophet, peace be upon him:

﴾ Never did We send a Messenger or a Prophet before you, but; when he did reauthor the revelation or narrated or spoke, Shaitan (Satan) threw (some falsehood) in it. But Allah abolishes that which Shaitan (Satan) throws in. Then Allah establishes His Revelations. And Allah is All-Knower, All-Wise﴿

[Al-Hajj, 52]

Scholars concluded from this Ayah that Allah the Almighty has protected the Prophetic Sunnah as He has protected the Quran. Protecting the Quran entails protecting Sunnah. It is like having a law which consists of 27 items, and it says in the last one that a new legislation will interpret these items in details. Do you think that we can protect this law if we ignore the last item of it? Of course, we cannot.

The Prophetic Sunnah is just the same, for it interprets the Quran. Hence, when Allah says that He will protect His Quran, this entails that He will protect His Prophet's Sunnah, given Allah orders us to abide by whatever His Prophet, peace be upon him, ordered and to refrain from whatever his Prophet, peace be upon him, forbade:

﴾What Allah gave as booty (Fai') to His Messenger (Muhammad) from the people of the townships, - it is for Allah, His Messenger (Muhammad), the kindred (of Messenger Muhammad), the orphans, Al-Masakin (the poor), and the wayfarer, in order that it may not become a fortune used by the rich among you. And whatsoever the Messenger (Muhammad) gives you, take it, and whatsoever he forbids you, abstain (from it), and fear Allah. Verily, Allah is Severe in punishment.﴿

[Al-Hashr, 7]

Shari'ah is Divinely protected from being changed or replaced:

Dear brother, the scholars agreed upon the continuity of the Divine Assignment to man till the Day of Resurrection. This was what Imam Al-Ghazali, may Allah have mercy on his soul, said. This continuity will never be maintained unless the Shari'ah keeps constant and has no modifications or chances. Otherwise, the Divine Assignment to mankind will be over, because we cannot be assigned to a changeable thing till the Day of Resurrection.

Our Master Umar Ibn Abdul Aziz, may Allah have mercy on his soul, said after he was appointed as Khaliphah, "O people, there is no Prophet after Muhammad, peace be upon him, there is no (Divine) Book after the Qur'an and there is no Ummah after your Ummah. Whatever Allah made lawful in His Book on the tongue of His Messenger, peace be upon him, is lawful till the Day of Resurrection; and whatever He made unlawful in His book on the tongue of His Messenger, peace be upon him, is unlawful till the Day of Resurrection. I swear by Allah that I am not a judge; however, I carry out what I was ordered to do. I am no innovator; however, I am a follower. I am no better than any one of you, but I am the one who is carrying the heaviest load amongst you; "No creature may be obeyed in what constitutes disobedience to the Creator"."

Dear brother, these were some texts from the Quran and Sunnah which tackled the constancy of the great Shari'ah, the one from the Creator of the universe, from the Divine Perfect Character and from the Absolute (in His perfection). This Method has been ordained on man to follow, and when people follow whatever for which Allah has sent down no authority in any land of this earth, they will go astray.

Dear brother, in the coming Khutbah Inshallah, I will talk about a relevant topic which is the inclusiveness and constancy of Shari'ah. May the Almighty Allah guide the true believers to the Right Path of their straight religion, and He may take their hands to know this Shari'ah which is but their safeguard against any problem they might face.

Dear brother, call yourselves to account before you are called to do so and weigh your deeds before they are weighed against you, and you should know that the Angel of Death reached sh3er and will reach us soon, so pay heed. The wise man is the one who calls himself to account (and refrains from doing evil deeds) and does noble deeds to benefit him after death; and the foolish person is the one who subdues himself to his temptations and desires and seeks from Allah the fulfillment of his vain desires.

***

The 2nd Khutbah:

Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds, and I testify that there is no deity worthy of worship but Allah Alone, the Guardian of the pious, and I testify that our Master Muhammad is his slave and Messenger, who is on an exalted standard of character. O Allah, send your peace and blessings on our Master Muhammad, his Folks and his Companions.

The benefits of gourd:

Dear brother, in Surat As-Saffaat, there is an Ayah in which Allah says:

﴾And We caused a plant of gourd to grow over him.﴿

[As-Saffaat, 146]

"Him" refers to our master Yunus, peace be upo0n him.

((Anas bin Maalik Radiya Allahu 'Anhu (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam (Allah's Messenger, peace be upon him, loved gourd (dubbaa-dodhi-kadu). Once food - was presented to Rasulullah Sallallahu'Alayhi Wasallam or he attended an invitation. (The narrator doubts on which occasion this took place) where gourd was served. I knew Rasulullah Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam loved it. I searched for pieces from the curry and presented it to him".))

[Agreed upon]

((Narrated Anas: I saw the Prophet (peace be upon him) being served with soup and containing gourd and cured meat, and I saw him picking and eating the pieces of gourd.))

[Agreed upon, by Anas Ibn Malik]

It is authenticated in Sunnah that Anas bin Maaik, Radiya Allahu 'Anhu, said:

(("A tailor once invited Rasululluh Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam. I also attended the invitation with Rasululluh Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam. He served Rasululluh Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam bread made of barley, and gravy with meat and gourd (dubba-dodhi) in it. I saw Rasululluh Sallallahu 'Alayhi Wasallam look for pieces of gourd from all sides of the plate. From that time I also began loving gourd".))

[Agreed upon]

((Abu Taloot also said, "I entered upon Anas bin Malik, Radiya Allahu 'Anhu, while he was eating Dubba'a and saying (referring to the Yaqteen tree), "You are a tree that is so dear to me because the Messenger of Allah (Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam) used to like eating you".))

[Agreed upon, by Abu Taloot]

((Narrated by the father of Hisham bin Urwah that Aishah, may Allah be pleased with her, said that Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, asked me, "Whenever you prepare a food, add a lot of Dubba'a (gourd) in the pot, because it strengthens a sad heart".))

[Tabaqat Ash-Shafi'iyah, by Aishah]

Ibn Kuthair said in interpreting the following Ayah:

﴾And We caused a plant of gourd to grow over him.﴿

[As-Saffaat, 146]

Gourd is a special plant, because it grows very quickly, and because of its shady leaves which are not approached by flies. Not to mention, it is a great source of nutrients. Ibn Al-Qayyim Al-Jawziyah said, "Gourd is cool and moist, and its water prevents from thirst." It heals headache, and it is considered a natural laxative, it is good for fevered patients and it is one of the most pleasant food and the quickest in digesting. Gourd is also rich with sugar according to recent medical research, and it also contains Vitamin A and B, iron, calcium, cucurbitacins and amino acids like leucine. Gourd does not irritate the stomach and it helps in the process of digestion. Moreover, it is also considered a tranquilizer, moisturizer, diuretic (it wastes the extra liquids in effusions and edemas). Furthermore, it is a disinfectant, as it destroys the bacteria in the urine, the respiratory system, chest and urinary system. It is also good for hemorrhoids, constipation and urine blockage.

Gourd is good in healing the weak body, indigestion, intestine inflammations, and it helps the people with heart diseases, insomnia and diabetes in addition to being useful in healing the diseases of the rectum. The golden rule goes as follows, "The best medication is the one made of food, and the best food is the one which is considered a medication." This is all about the gourd.

Supplication:

O Allah, we beseech You to show us the way of righteousness together with those to whom You showed it; and to give us good health together with those whom You have healed; and to be our Protector, as You are of those whom You protect; and to bless what You have bestowed on us; and to save us from the affliction that You have decreed –for You rule with justice and You are never judged.

O Allah, please lead us to do a good deed that would draw us closer to you; please make us do well in the Deen, which is our dignity, make us do well in our worldly life, in which we dwell and grant us safety on the Day of Judgment, for it is our Final Destination. O Allah, please supply our life with all good things and make our death a rest from every evil, O our Master, the Lord of all Worlds.

O Allah, make us desire what You have made lawful and reject what You have made unlawful, make us by Your benevolence independent of all sh3er and make our obedience to You turn us away from our disobedience. O Allah, let us not be oblivious to Your Planning; do not deprive us of Your Shield and do not make us forget Your Remembrance, O Lord of the World.

O Allah, by Your Benevolence and Mercy, raise high the word of Al-Haqq and this Deen, grant triumph to Islam, dignify Muslims and lead the rulers of Muslims to what pleases You, O Lord of the Worlds, as You are the only One Who is capable over His decreed and Who responds to our supplication.