PRAYER TIMINGS Effective 04/1 0 MCA NOOR Fajr 5:40 5:40 Dhuhr 1:30 1:30 Asr 5:00 6:00 Maghrib Sunset Sunset Isha 9:20 9:20 Juma 1 1:20 1:20 Juma 2 2:00 2:00 Newsletter Juma 2 2:45 2:45 Published Weekly by the Muslim Community Association of San Francisco Bay Area

www.mcabayarea.org Sha’ban, 27 1442 AH Friday, April 09, 2021

Sheikh Lotfollah Mosque, Iran

AL-QURAN

And as for those who strive in Our path — We will surely guide them in Our ways. And Indeed, Allah is with those who are of service to others. Al Quran 29:70

HADITH

Narrated Salman ibn Amir: The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: When one of you is fasting, he should break his fast with dates; but if he cannot get any, then (he should break his fast) with water, for water is purifying. Sunan Abu Dawood Book 13 Hadith 2348

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2 54. Al-Mateen The Firm One The One with extreme Power which is un-interrupted and He does not get tired.

“And to Allah belong the best names, so invoke Him by them.” [Quran 7:180]

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6 7 Series on Companions of the Prophet (PBUH) Jafar ibn Abi Talib

In spite of his noble standing among the Quraysh, both and for their brethren in faith. They tried to you to request you to return them. They know Abu Talib, an uncle of the Prophet, was quite poor. to obstruct them from observing or performing best what trouble they have caused.” He had a large family and did not have enough the duties and rites of . They prevented The Negus looked towards his bishops who said: means to support them adequately. His poverty- them from tasting the full sweetness of worship “They speak the truth, O King. Their own people stricken situation became much worse when a undisturbed. The Quraysh waylaid them at every know them better and are better acquainted with severe drought hit the Arabian peninsula. The turn and severely restricted their freedom of what they have done. Send them back so that they drought destroyed vegetation and livestock and, movement. themselves might judge them.” it is said, people were driven to eat bones in the Jafar eventually went to the Prophet, peace be struggle for survival. The Negus was quite angry with this suggestion upon him, and sought permission for himself and and said: “No. By God, I won’t surrender them to It was during this time of drought, before his call a small group of the Sahabah, including his wife, anyone until I myself call them and question them to prophethood, that Muhammad said to his uncle, to make hijrah to the land of Abyssinia. With great about what they have been accused. If what these al Abbas: “Your brother, Abu Talib, has a large sadness, the Prophet gave his permission. It pained two men have said is true, then I will hand them family. People as you see have been afflicted by him that these pure and righteous souls should be over to you. If however it is not so, then I shall this severe drought and are facing starvation. Let forced to leave their homes and the familiar and protect them so long as they desire to remain us go to Abu Talib and take over responsibility cherished scenes and memories of their childhood under my protection.” for some of his family. It will take one of his sons and youth, not for any crime but only because and you can taken another and we will look after they said, “Our Lord is One. Allah is our Lord.” The Negus then summoned the Muslims to them.” meet him. Before going, they consulted with one The group of Muhajirin left Makkah bound for another as a group and agreed that Jafar ibn Abi “What you suggest is certainly righteous and the land of Abyssinia. Leading them was Jafar ibn Talib and no one else should speak on their behalf. commendable,” replied al-Abbas, and together Abi Talib. Soon they settled down in this new land they went to Abu Talib and said to him: “We want under the care and protection of the Negus, the In the court of the Negus, the bishops, dressed to ease some of the burden of your family until just and righteous ruler of Abyssinia. For the first in green surplises and impressive headgear, were such time as this distressing period has gone.” Abu time since they became Muslims, they savoured seated on his right and on his left. The Qurayshite Talib agreed. the taste of freedom and security and enjoyed the emissaries were also seated when the Muslims sweetness of worship undisturbed. entered and took their seats. The Negus turned to “If you allow me to keep Aqeel (one of his sons them and asked: older than Ali), then you may do whatever you like When the Quraysh learnt of the departure of the ,” he said. small group of Muslims and the peaceful life they “What is this religion which you have introduced enjoyed under the protection of the Negus, they for yourself and which has served to cut you off It was in this way that Muhammad took Ali into his from the religion of your people? You also did household and al-Abbas took Jafar into his. Jafar made plans to secure their extradition and their return to the great prison that was Makkah. They not enter my religion nor the religion of any other had a very close resemblance to the Prophet. It community.” is said there were five men from the Hashim clan sent two of their most formidable men, Amr ibn who resembled the Prophet so much, they were al-Aas and Abdullah ibn Abi Rabiah, to accomplish Jafar ibn Abi Talib then advanced and made a often mistaken for him. They were: Abu Sufyan this task and loaded them with valuable and much speech that was moving and eloquent and which ibn al-Harith and Qutham ibn al-Abbas both of sought after presents for the Negus and his is still one of the most compelling descriptions whom were cousins of his. As-Saib ibn Ubayd, the bishops. of Islam. the appeal of the noble Prophet and the grandfather of Imam ash Shafi: al-Hasan ibn Ali, In Abyssinia, the two Quraysh emissaries first condition of Makkan society at the time. He said: the grandson of the Prophet, who resembled him presented their girls to the bishops and to each “O King, we were a people in a state of ignorance most of all; and Jafar ibn Abi Talib. of them they said: “There are some wicked and immorality, worshipping idols and eating the flesh of dead animals, committing all sorts of Jafar stayed with his uncle, al-Abbas, until he was young people moving about freely in the King’s land. They have attacked the religion of their abomination and shameful deeds. breaking the ties a young man. Then he married Asma bint Umays, of kinship, treating guests badly and the strong a sister of Maymunah who was later to become a forefathers and caused disunity among their people. When we speak to the King about them, among us exploited the weak. “We remained in wife of the Prophet. After his marriage, Jafar went this state until Allah sent us a Prophet, one of to live on his own. He and his wife were among advise him to surrender them to us without his asking them about their religion. The respected our own people whose lineage, truthfulness, the first persons to accept Islam. He became a trustworthiness and integrity were well-known Muslim at the hands of Abu Bakr as-Siddiq, may leaders of their own people are more aware of them and know better what they believe.” to us. “He called us to worship Allah alone and to God be pleased with him. renounce the stones and the idols which we and The bishops agreed. our ancestors used to worship besides Allah. The young Jafar and his wife were devoted Amr and Abdullah then went to the Negus himself “He commanded us to speak the truth, to honor followers of Islam. They bore the harsh treatment and presented him with gifts which he greatly our promises, to be kind to our relations, to be and the persecution of the Quraysh with patience admired. They said to him: “O King, there is a helpful to our neighbors, to cease all forbidden and steadfastness because they both realized that group of evil persons from among our youth who acts, to abstain from bloodshed. to avoid the road to Paradise was strewn with. thorns and have escaped to your kingdom. They practice obscenities and false witness, not to appropriate paved with pain and hardship. a religion which neither we nor you know. They an orphan’s property nor slander chaste women. have forsaken our religion and have not entered into your religion. The respected leaders of their The Quraysh made life intolerable for them people - from among their own parents and “He ordered us to worship Allah alone and not to uncles. and from their own clans - have sent us 8 associate anything with him, to uphold Salat, to which will certainly fill his heart with anger and in the land of the Negus who proved to be most give and fast in the month of Ramadan. make him detest them” On the morrow, Amr went generous and kind to his guests. “We believed in him and what he brought to us to the Negus and said: Jafar and his wife Asma spent about ten years from Allah and we follow him in what he has asked “O King. these people to whom you have given in Abyssinia which became a second home for us to do and we keep away from what he forbade refuge and whom you protect say something them. There, Asma gave birth to three children us from doing. terrible about Jesus the son of Mary (that he is a whom they named Abdullah, Muhammad and Awn. “Thereupon, O King, our people attacked us, slave). Send for them and ask them what they say Their second child was possibly the first child in visited the severest punishment on us to make us about him.” the history of the Muslim Ummah to be given the renounce our religion and take us back to the old The Negus summoned the Muslims once more name Muhammad after the noble Prophet, may immorality and the worship of idols. and Jafar acted as their spokesman. The Negus put God bless him and grant him peace. “They oppressed us, made life intolerable for us the question: “What do you say about Jesus, the In the seventh year of the hijrah, Jafar and his and obstructed us from observing our religion. son of Mary?” family left Abyssinia with a group of Muslims So we left for your country, choosing you before “Regarding him, we only say what has been and headed for Madinah. When they arrived the anyone else, desiring your protection and hoping revealed to our Prophet ,” replied Jaffar. “And what Prophet was just returning from the successful to live in Justice and in peace m your midst.” is that?” enquired the Negus. conquest of Khaybar. He was so overjoyed at meeting Jafar that he said: “I do not know what fills The Negus was impressed and was eager to hear “Our Prophet says that Jesus is the servant of God me with more happiness, the conquest of Khaybar more. He asked Jafar: “Do you have with you and His Prophet. His spirit and His word which He or the coming of Jafar.” something of what your cast into Mary the Virgin.” Muslims in general and the poor among them Prophet brought concerning God?” “Yes,” replied The Negus was obviously excited by this reply and especially were just as happy with the return of Jafar. exclaimed: “By God, Jesus the son of Mary was Jafar as the Prophet was. Jafar quickly became “Then read it to me,” requested the Negus. Jafar, exactly as your Prophet has described him” known as a person who was much concerned in his rich, melodious voice recited for him the The bishops around the Negus grunted in disgust for the welfare of the poor and indigent. For this first portion of Surah Maryam which deals with the at what they had heard and were reprimanded by he was nicknamed, the “Father of the Poor”. Abu story of Jesus and his mother Mary. the Negus. He turned to the Muslims and said: Hurayrah said of him: “The best of men towards us indigent folk was Jafar ibn Abi Talib. He would On hearing the words of the Quran, the Negus “Go, for you are safe and secure. Whoever pass by us on his way home and give us whatever was moved to tears. To the Muslims, he said: obstructs you will pay for it and whoever opposes food he had. Even if his own food had run out, he “The message of your Prophet and that of Jesus you will be punished. For, by God, I would rather would send us a pot in which he had placed some came from the same source...” To Amr and his not have a mountain of gold than that anyone of butterfat and nothing more. We would open it and companion, he said:” Go. For, by God, I will never you should come to any harm.” lick it clean...” surrender them to you.” That, however, was not Turning to Amr and his companion, he instructed the end of the matter. The wily Amr made up his attendants: “Return their gifts to these two men. To be continued his mind to go to the King the following day “to I have no need of them.” Amr and his companion mention something about the Muslims belief left broken and frustrated. The Muslims stayed on

9 Obligation of Zakat and ratesA person who qualifies to pay Zakat is not eligible to receive. It is not permissible to pay Zakat to your husband , wife, parents , grandparents, and the children and grandchildren. Expenditure to Zakat fund is not permissible on the construction of mosque. It is preferable to pay Zakat to deserving relatives. The Zakat of every locality should be spent on the poor inhabitants of the same community except if there is a calamity in other parts of the country or the world. Any one who qualifies to receive Zakat, can be given it as assistance or a gift, without telling him that it is Zakat. Sound Vision Staff Writer Thus the rate of Zakat and the amount of All articles of household use and properties Nisab is dynamic with a given minimum, but given on rent are exempted from paying The payment of Zakat becomes obligatory Zakat. on every sane and mature Muslim and the maximum amount is left to the Ijma of Muslimah whenever there is an economic Ummah. Zakat money of a particular year could be activity resulting in the net increase in their Who is Deserving of Zakat spent during the same year in advance, could be given all at once or in installments. wealth. The Holy Quran describes the following eight The following are the categories of categories who are entitled to receive Zakat. The Collection of Zakat production. Profit, investments and savings 1. Fuqara: the people who have some money In the Islamic state, it is the responsibility of are subject to Zakat. but not enough to meet their needs. They live the state to collect and distribute Zakat. The The produce of land. (The rate is one tenth in a precarious circumstances but do not ask Quran says, “Take alms of their wealth and of the produce of the unirrigated and for help. make them pure and clean “ undeveloped land and one twentieth of the 2. Miskins: these are a very miserable people The Prophet says: I have been commanded produce of the irrigated and developed land.) who do not have anything forfood, clothing to collect zakat from the rich among you and Pure economic profit business. and shelter. The Khalifa Umar ibn al-Khattab distribute it to the poor among you. Inheritance, once for all. also included in them thosewho are fit to In case an Islamic society does not exist or in earn but do not have means to earning. a non-Islamic society, the local organization Cash, investments, food, merchandise, 3. Aamileen (Collectors of Zakat): the officials of the Muslims should make arrangements jewelry, gold and silver kept in the inventory for the collection and distribution of Zakat. for full one year and above the certain value engaged in the collection and distribution of defined as Nisab. Zakat are paid from the Zakat fund. Wherever such arrangements exist, every 4. Muallafat-ul-Qulub (Those whose hearts Muslim is?required to pay Zakat to this The rate of Zakat on each of the above organization and conform to the rates categories is different. are to be reconciled): this includes the new Muslims, to strengthen them in Islam, as well and the amount of Nisab decided by the The rate of Zakat and the amount of Nisab as those for whom it may be necessary to organization. can be decided by the Islamic State taking give Zakat to win their heart. Allah has made Zakat one of the pillars of into consideration the prevailing standard 5. Fir-riqab.(Emancipation of slaves): this Islam and has often mentioned it in the Quran of living and the risks and uncertainties of immediately after the Prayer, saying, “And different modes of productions. means the person who wants to free himself from the shackles of slavery should be given perform Prayer and give Alms “. For the articles in category four the rate of Zakat so that he can pay to this category The Prophet said, “Islam has been built on Zakat is two and half percent on the amount (those persons who are imprisoned for five [pillars]: testifying that there is no god but which is more than the Nisab. nonpayment of fines). Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger The Nisab for certain articles is as follows: 6.Al-Gharimeen: this means the people who of Allah, performing the prayers, paying the Silver; 200 or 21 ozs., Gold; 3 ozs., are in debt, which is more than the assets so Zakat, making the pilgrimage to the House that after paying the debt, their wealth that is (), and fasting in Ramadan” (Bukhari, Merchandise, jewelry etc. equal to 21 ozs. of Muslim). Silver. left is less than the Nisab. 7.Fi Sabeelillah (in the cause of Allah ): this is Allah has warned those who do not give If the individual items in category 4 do not Zakat that they will face dire consequence. come up to the Nisab but the combined value a common word used for all good deeds, but in the case of Zakat it means rendering help He says, “O you who believe! Verily, there of all the items is more than Nisab, Zakat is are many of the rabbis and the monks who obligatory. to an endeavor to serve Islam such as the propagation of Islam, , etc. devour the wealth of mankind in falsehood, It should be kept in mind that these rates of and hinder (them) from the way of Allah. Zakat are the minimum rates and the Muslims 8.Ibn-us-Sabil (the wayfarer): a traveler, if he is And those who hoard up gold and silver, and have been urged by Allah and the Prophet in need of money while traveling , is entitled spend it not in the Way of Allah-announce time and again to pay as much as they can to Zakat unto them a painful torment (Quran 9:34). after providing for their legitimate needs. Some Essential Points about Zakat

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“(The righteous are those) who feed the poor, the orphan and the captive for the love of Allah . . .” [Al-Qur’an, 76:8]

Every year, and particularly in Ramadan, Hidaya Foundation distributes food to tens of thousands of families who are among the poorest in the world. Food distribution is done under the following projects: One Million Meals: Typically, a dry ration package consists of coarse rice (25-100kg based on size of family), lentils or chickpeas (10kg), cooking oil (5 liter), 8-12 bathing soap for hygiene purposes (150g each) and at times fresh produce from the area of distribution. A package to feed a family for a month can cost anywhere from $30 - $50, depending on the size of the family. Due to buying in bulk, it costs around 50 cents per meal. Sadaqah Meat (Sadaqah Sacrifice): Hidaya provides meat (protein) to families who normally can not afford it otherwise. You can give any amount towards this effort as a sadaqah. Generally, it costs $420 for ox/buffalo, $120 for goat/sheep, and $5 for fish, chicken, or rabbit. Fidya: Muslims who can’t fast due to old age or chronic illness should give fidya for each day of missed fasting in Ramadan [Al- Quran 2:184-185]. According to scholars, fidya can be based on the price of 1.5kg of various commodities such as rice, wheat, barley, raisins, dates, etc. In USA, based on the price of 1.5kg of rice, it is approximately $3.50 for each day of missed fast. However, one can give more since prices of different commodities would vary as some foods are more expensive than others.

Sadaqat-ul-Fitr (Zakat-ul-Fitr): Every Muslim required to pay Zakat must also pay Sadaqat-ul-Fitr (also called Zakat-ul- Fitr) during Ramadan and before Eid-ul-Fitr so the less fortunate Muslims can enjoy Eid. Currently, the suggested minimum cost for Sadaqat-ul-Fitr is approximately $7.00 per person based on the price of 1 Saa (approx. 3kg) of rice or wheat at local costs in USA. If one were to calculate based on the cost of raisins or dates for example, that cost would be more - so one can give more if they like and more poor would benefit.

Kaffara: The prescribed way of making amends for wrong actions is Kaffara, and can be given for many different kinds of wrong actions (such as intentionally breaking ones fast in Ramadan). There can be many different forms of expiation varying from the degree of the sin and the situation and capabilities of the person who did it. If one were to want to pay a kaffara for a wrong action, they may seek the advise of an imam on how they should perform or pay it. Hidaya distributes kaffara on behalf of donors by providing meals to the poor.

Hidaya Foundation is a non-profit 501(C)(3) charitable organization with Tax ID # 77-0502583