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Although it is sad that I can’t blog as much as I’d like to, my encounter with the honourable Sayyid Erdogan tonight has compelled me to post this live from Davos after he revived my faith in faith – my imān in imān itself. Strange phrase? Well, across perhaps 30-40 bodyguards when I shouted across to him in Arabic, “Jazākallāhu khayran for speaking the truth!” he turned around, and came through the crowd to give me a hug and say, “Hayyākallāh wa bārakallāhu feek!” My Turkish colleague then said to him, “May Allah be pleased with you for what you said!” to which he replied pointing to his heart, “My imān forced me to say it.”

What is all this about you ask? Please watch the full video below. You must watch all of it for you will learn many things about the Peace Process you didn’t know and you’ll understand the challenge we’re facing in the search for peace and stability today.

I was fortunate enough to meet Sayyid Erdogan at a dinner last year – I have just always found him to be a remarkable man wa lā nuzakkī ‘alallāhi ahad and I hope that Allah jalla wa ‘alā protects and guides him to that which is good. I don’t want to or need to get into a debate about Muslim leaders and all their kufr and all the rest of it. I just want to look for small pieces of good news and rays of light in these immense times of darkness.

I want to also make public that I went up to ‘Amr Moussa the Secretary of the Arab League afterwards, a controversial but most eloquent figure, and thanked him personally and told him that I would make du‘ā for him for his good intentions and deeds. One hopes that these efforts to try and make a little change in the world by such political leaders in such difficult times under the most intense of pressure might be a source of salvation for them. And us. Insha’Allah.

Finally, despite the well-known impotence of the UN on the international political stage and especially with respect to the Palestinian-Israel conflict, I would like to thank Ban Ki Moon for his honesty and sincerity by speaking the truth directly to Shimon Peres sitting next to him. And I think all of you should thank these folks too. So there you are. You heard it here. I’m out.

PS: I do indeed stand by the statement read out by Klaus Schwab at the end which we drafted early on today but I wish to make it clear that it was very specifically aimed at the WEF hierarchy – therefore I shall hopefully be soon releasing a more representative statement drafted by myself and which has been approved by a few friends and colleagues who share my feelings, from both religious and political circles.

I’m delighted to announce that the new Prophetic Guidance (PG) website is now officially up and running, wal-hamdulillāh.

We all hope that it will be a great resource for both Muslims and non-Muslims insha’Allah. It has a section about Islam for non-Muslims which is intended to be longer, deeper and more meaningful in contrast to the shorter, sharper messages that are sometimes more in vogue. Although still in its early stages, this area will continue to be worked upon as it is still a work-in-progress.

For the Muslims, you’ll find a large collection of articles with many more still be added. For the Arabic speakers amongst you, you’ll exclusively find all of the al-Hady al-Nabawy magazines as written by Shaykh Kehlan al-Jubury in high-quality pdf.

The jewel of the PG site is its Productions page with audio and video lectures of  speakers in the West that have been edited under the auspice of PG Productions in the last six years. We hope that many people will benefit from the material that has been made available, both learning-style lectures as well as focused reminders.

With over one hundred more hours of exclusive video still in the editing phase to be soon added, make sure to keep checking regularly for further updates.

The site is also meant to act as a community portal focusing on the North of England, outlining our activities as well as allowing you all to advertise your events in your own communities on the Events Page.

I and the rest of the teachers at PG are very grateful for the hard work from all the brothers and sisters behind the PG site with special mentions to Sabira Ali (Webmaster), Shazad Saleem (the Amir), Hakeem, Nasar, Mahmud, Abuzer and many more.

If any brothers or sisters feel they have good quality material they wish to contribute to the site, whether articles or multimedia, please send your request to info@propheticguidance.co.uk where it will then be vetted for its suitability on the site.

My final request would be for all readers to spread the news of the new PG site in all their forums, mailing lists and amongst their personal contacts. We would also appreciate any feedback/comments both here below or using the Contact Us page on the site.

Update: all those who have photographs of their events and activities, particularly those in the North West or with those who have some kind of mutual link to PG and/or their activities, please send them with a brief explanation to the above email address so that they can be included on the PG Gallery section.

And with Allah jalla wa ‘alā belongs all success.

What is it?

It was a specific supplication performed by the Prophet (sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa-sallam) at times of difficulty, strife and/or war for the Muslim nation. It is called “Qunūt” because this supplication is only made during the standing position in one’s Salāh, similar to the other more well-known Du‘ā Qunūt’l-Witr.

What is its ruling?

It is a Sunnah Mu’akkadah, only at times of crisis for the Nation. Imām al-Nawawi said, “The correct and well-known position as per the majority of the scholars is that if some problem occurs then one performs the (Qunūt) al-Nāzilah, such as some crisis, a plague, etc… and when there is no crisis then it is not done.”

A tiny number of scholars even considered it an obligation such as narrated by Ibn ‘Abd’l-Barr from Yahya b. Sa‘īd.

It is narrated in Sahīh al-Bukhāri that the Prophet (sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa-sallam) supplicated against the tribe of Lahyān, Ri‘l, Dhakwān and ‘Usayyah after they treacherously murdered the seventy Qurrā’ sent from the Ansār to teach them the Qur’ān. Anas b. Mālik (radhy Allāhu ‘anhu) explained that the Prophet (sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa-sallam) was never seen to have grieved so much as he did at this and supplicated against them for a whole month in the Fajr prayer.

It is also authentically narrated by al-Bayhaqi (2/210) that ‘Umar (radhy Allāhu ‘anhu) did the same against his enemies from the Christians during the wars, in the Fajr prayer.

Thus it is a well established means for help against the enemies and oppressors of the Muslims and should be practised as much as possible.

Who should do it?

There are three main positions of the ‘Ulemā: that the Muslim leader should do it, that the Imāms of the Masājid should do it in the congregational prayers, and finally that every single person should do it themselves in their own prayers. The final position was narrated from Ibn Taymiyyah only.

What is agreed upon is that it should be in the obligatory prayers only, and in the absence of proper Muslim leaders of our countries then it should be the way of the Imāms of the Masājid to offer this supplication and for the rest of the community to attend and reply with “Amīn” as much as possible.

Which prayers should it be said in?

The various ahādīth and narrations from the Sahābah on the matter show that the Qunūt’l-Nāzilah was performed in all of the five daily prayers, other than the Jumu‘ah prayer – many scholars disliked that it should be done because of the lack of evidence therein and thus it is not practiced by the Muslims. As for the rest of the prayers then as Anas (radhy Allāhu ‘anhu) narrates in Bukhāri that it was done in both the Maghrib and Fajr prayers. Barā’ narrates the same in Sahīh Muslim.

So if one is to grade those prayers in which the narrations are most common, then the Fajr prayer is the most, then the Maghrib and ‘Ishā, then Dhuhr and the least is the ‘Asr prayer. Yet, it is not right to just insist on limiting the du‘ā to only one prayer but if there are logistical reasons for this then this is not a problem. The Ahnāf along with some of the other scholars restricted the du‘ā to the Fajr prayer only.

It is permissible to make this supplication both before and after the Rukū‘, although to do it after seems stronger.

What is the manner of the du‘ā?

The Qunūt’l-Nāzilah is a du‘ā similar to the Qunūt’l-Witr in that the Imām reads it out loudly with the followers saying “Amīn” behind him, except for some of the Ahnāf who prefer that one doesn’t say anything. The majority of the scholars followed the narration of Ibn ‘Abbās (radhy Allāhu ‘anhumā) as narrated with a good chain by Abu Dāwūd in his Sunan (1231) that:

قَنَتَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ شَهْرًا مُتَتَابِعًا فِي الظُّهْرِ وَالْعَصْرِ وَالْمَغْرِبِ وَالْعِشَاءِ وَصَلَاةِ الصُّبْحِ فِي دُبُرِ كُلِّ صَلَاةٍ إِذَا قَالَ سَمِعَ اللَّهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُ مِنْ الرَّكْعَةِ الْآخِرَةِ يَدْعُو عَلَى أَحْيَاءٍ مِنْ بَنِي سُلَيْمٍ عَلَى رِعْلٍ وَذَكْوَانَ وَعُصَيَّةَ وَيُؤَمِّنُ مَنْ خَلْفَهُ

The Messenger of Allah (sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa-sallam) made Qunūt for a continuous month in the Dhuhr, ‘Asr, Maghrib, ‘Ishā and Fajr prayer at the end of each prayer when he would say “Sami‘a-Allāhu liman Hamidah” after the final Raka‘ah, he would then supplicate against some of Banu Sulaym, Ri‘l, Dhakwān and Usayyah. Those behind who were following would say, “Amīn!”

The Imām should read the du‘ā out aloud whether the prayer itself is a “loud” prayer (i.e. Fajr) or a “silent” prayer (i.e. ‘Asr) as derived from the ahādīth of the Prophet (sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa-sallam) when he made du‘ā against his enemies.

Ibn Hajr said, “It seems apparent to me that the wisdom in the Qunūt’l-Nāzilah being legislated during the standing position as opposed to being in the Sujūd position despite the fact that the Sujūd is the place of response (to one’s du‘ā) as in the authentic narration “The closest one is to his Lord is when he is in prostration” as well as the fact that we are generally commanded to make supplication therein, is that the objective of the Qunūt’l-Nāzilah is for the follower (Musallī) to share in the du‘ā of the Imām, even if it just by saying “Amīn.” Thus, they reached consensus that it should be read out aloud.” (2/570, al-Fath)

The Imām and the followers should raise their hands in du‘ā during the Qunūt although some of the Ahnāf differed, wishing to follow the correct principle that all movement should be minimised as well as subsidiary supplications and raised voices during the du‘ā which is being performed in an obligatory congregational prayer.

Yet the narration of Anas (radhy Allāhu ‘anhu) collected by Imām Ahmed (11953) which has a hasan chain states, “I saw the Messenger of Allāh in the Fajr prayer with his hands raised up supplicating against them (the murderers).”

What is the wording of the du‘ā?

The wording of the du‘ā should be specific and to the point. It is not correct to use this du‘ā opportunity to make standard ad‘iyah as found in the normal Witr prayer or in the Jumu‘ah khutbah such as “Allahumma Ihdinā fī mun hadayta, wa ‘āfinā fī mun ‘āfayta…”. This is a very common mistake, along with Imams making long, beautiful and emotional home-made supplications that were not seen from those pure and special ones before us who were in a greater need than us and who achieved a more perfect response from Allah jalla wa ‘alā.

Rather what is narrated from the Prophet (sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa-sallam) are supplications specific and appropriate to the problem at hand. It is allowed to name and curse the enemies and attackers specifically as mentioned above in the narration of Bukhāri. It is recommended to not elongate the du‘ā but rather it is short and succinct and in following the Sunnah is complete success, as narrated by Imām Muslim when Anas (radhy Allāhu ‘anhu) was asked about the Qunūt, he replied, “Yes, a short and simple one (yasīr) after the Rukū‘”.

Thus, a few scholars even mentioned that the normal ending of this du‘ā with the sending of salāms upon the Messenger should be avoided so as to differentiate this unique Qunūt from the du‘ā of Witr. Likewise, one should be careful not to mix and match words that call upon Allah’s punishment and power and yet address Him jalla wa ‘alā as the Kind and Gentle.

It is permissible to utilise variant wordings against the enemy in our du‘ā, with using that which was once uttered by the Prophet (sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa-sallam) the best of all, but choosing that which is appropriate to the setting. An example as narrated in the Sahīh of Bukhāri (2744) would be:

اللَّهُمَّ مُنْزِلَ الْكِتَابِ وَمُجْرِيَ السَّحَابِ وَهَازِمَ الْأَحْزَابِ اهْزِمْهُمْ وَانْصُرْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ

O Allah! Revealer of the Book! Mover of the clouds! Destroyer of the Confederates! Destroy their enemies and support us against them!

Another narration in Bukhāri (762) states that he (sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa-sallam) said:

اللَّهُمَّ أَنْجِ الْوَلِيدَ بْنَ الْوَلِيدِ وَسَلَمَةَ بْنَ هِشَامٍ وَعَيَّاشَ بْنَ أَبِي رَبِيعَةَ وَالْمُسْتَضْعَفِينَ مِنْ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ اللَّهُمَّ اشْدُدْ وَطْأَتَكَ عَلَى مُضَرَ وَاجْعَلْهَا عَلَيْهِمْ سِنِينَ كَسِنِي يُوسُفَ

O Allah! Save Walīd b. al-Walīd, Salamah b. Hishām, Ayyāsh b. Abi Rabī‘ah and the weak ones from the Believers! O Allah! Destroy Mudhar and afflict them with years like the years of Yusuf!”

This key du‘ā edited for our scenario today would read:

اللَّهُمَّ أَنْجِ الْمُسْتَضْعَفِينَ مِنْ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ اللَّهُمَّ اشْدُدْ وَطْأَتَكَ عَلَى عدونا وَاجْعَلْهَا عَلَيْهِمْ سِنِينَ كَسِنِي يُوسُفَ

O Allah! Save the weak ones from the Believers! O Allah! Destroy our enemies and afflict them with years like the years of Yusuf!”

Reflect my brothers and sisters upon the fact that in this last narration of Bukhāri, the Prophet (sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa-sallam) resorted to the Qunūt’l-Nāzilah because three, yes just three of the early Muslims (al-Walīd b. al-Walīd the brother of Khālid b. al-Walīd, Salamah b. Hishām and Ayyāsh b. Abi Rabī‘ah may Allah be pleased with all of them) were trying to escape Makkah under the control of the Quraysh and make Hijrah to the Prophet (sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa-sallam) in Madīnah.

If such a supplication of sincerity and effort was done by the Prophet (sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa-sallam) for just these three Muslims and a few others amongst the weak in Makkah, what then do you think is upon us concerning the thousands of men, women and children who are having their blood spilt in defence of the Holy Land?!

Also, an important note about who the du‘ā is being directed against. Some commentators like to criticise when Muslims supplicate against entire people such as for example in our situation today saying something like “O Allah, destroy Israel! Destroy the Jews!” despite the fact that we know of course that Israel has many good people against the occupation and the fact that there are many peace-loving Jews who are against the Zionist terrorists that are causing such oppression and genocide in the Holy Land.

Although it is indeed better to be specific in one’s du‘ā, the Prophet (sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa-sallam) supplicated against Mudhar in this above narration of Bukhāri, which is basically encompassing not only the entire tribe of Quraysh of whom some were not involved against the Muslims but also subsidiary tribes such as Qays as well! Yet, as mentioned by Ibn Hajr in al-Fath (18/190), there is an assumed word (hadhf mudhāf) missing here i.e. “aggressive polytheists” so what the Prophet (sallallāhu ‘alayhi wa-sallam) actually meant was the “kuffār of Mudhar” yet he just restricted himself to saying Mudhar.

This proves that one can sometimes make general references in their du‘ā against their enemies but intend specific criminals and aggressors amongst them without necessarily having to specify them.

And Allah knows best.

May Allah jalla wa ‘alā give victory and patience to the Mujāhidīn resisting the forces of terror and occupation, both now during this immediate battle and then during the long war of resistance for many years to come against these Zionist criminal occupiers. May He jalla wa ‘alā accept our Shuhadā’ and accept all our supplications, amīn Yā Rabb’l-‘Ālamīn.

This Brutality Will Never Break Our Will To Be Free

For 18 months my people in Gaza have been under siege, incarcerated inside the world’s biggest prison, sealed off from land, air and sea, caged and starved, denied even medication for our sick. After the slow death policy came the bombardment. In this most densely populated of places, nothing has been spared Israel’s warplanes, from government buildings to homes, mosques, hospitals, schools and markets. More than 540 have been killed and thousands permanently maimed. A third are women and children. Whole families have been massacred, some while they slept.

This river of blood is being shed under lies and false pretexts. For six months we in Hamas observed the ceasefire. Israel broke it repeatedly from the start. Israel was required to open crossings to Gaza, and extend the truce to the West Bank. It proceeded to tighten its deadly siege of Gaza, repeatedly cutting electricity and water supplies. The collective punishment did not halt, but accelerated – as did the assassinations and killings. Thirty Gazans were killed by Israeli fire and hundreds of patients died as a direct effect of the siege during the so-called ceasefire. Israel enjoyed a period of calm. Our people did not.

When this broken truce neared its end, we expressed our readiness for a new comprehensive truce in return for lifting the blockade and opening all Gaza border crossings, including Rafah. Our calls fell on deaf ears. Yet still we would be willing to begin a new truce on these terms following the complete withdrawal of the invading forces from Gaza.

No rockets have ever been fired from the West Bank. But 50 died and hundreds more were injured there last year at Israel’s hands, while its expansionism proceeded relentlessly. We are meant to be content with shrinking scraps of territory, a handful of cantons at Israel’s mercy, enclosed by it from all sides.The truth is Israel seeks a one-sided ceasefire, observed by my people alone, in return for siege, starvation, bombardment, assassinations, incursions and colonial settlement. What Israel wants is a gratuitous ceasefire.

The logic of those who demand that we stop our resistance is absurd. They absolve the aggressor and occupier – armed with the deadliest weapons of death and destruction – of responsibility, while blaming the victim, prisoner and occupied. Our modest, home-made rockets are our cry of protest to the world. Israel and its American and European sponsors want us to be killed in silence. But die in silence we will not.

What is being visited on Gaza today was visited on Yasser Arafat before. When he refused to bow to Israel’s dictates, he was imprisoned in his Ramallah headquarters, surrounded by tanks for two years. When this failed to break his resolve, he was murdered by poisoning.

Gaza enters 2009 just as it did 2008: under Israeli fire. Between January and February of last year 140 Gazans died in air strikes. And just before it embarked on its failed military assault on Lebanon in July 2006, Israel rained thousands of shells on Gaza, killing 240. From Deir Yassin in 1948 to Gaza today, the list of Israel’s crimes is long. The justifications change, but the reality is the same: colonial occupation, oppression, and never-ending injustice. If this is the “free world” whose “values” Israel is defending, as its foreign minister Tzipi Livni alleges, then we want nothing to do with it.

Israel’s leaders remain in the grip of confusion, unable to set clear goals for the attacks – from ousting the legitimately elected Hamas government and destroying its infrastructure, to stopping the rockets. As they fail to break Gaza’s resistance the benchmark has been lowered. Now they speak of weakening Hamas and limiting the resistance. But they will achieve neither. Gaza’s people are more united than ever, determined not to be terrorised into submission. Our fighters, armed with the justice of their cause, have already caused many casualties among the occupation army and will fight on to defend their land and people. Nothing can defeat our will to be free.

Once again, Washington and Europe have opted to aid and abet the jailer, occupier and aggressor, and to condemn its victims. We hoped Barack Obama would break with George Bush’s disastrous legacy but his start is not encouraging. While he swiftly moved to denounce the Mumbai attacks, he remains tongue-tied after 10 days of slaughter in Gaza. But my people are not alone. Millions of freedom-loving men and women stand by its struggle for justice and liberation – witness daily protests against Israeli aggression, not only in the Arab and Islamic region, but worldwide.

Israel will no doubt wreak untold destruction, death and suffering in Gaza. But it will meet the same fate in Gaza as it did in Lebanon. We will not be broken by siege and bombardment, and will never surrender to occupation.

• Khalid Mish’al is the head of the Hamas political bureau

Despite what everyone might feel at this time of sadness as the continued oppression of Muslims continues, the Believers should never despair.

إِنَّ اللَّهَ اشْتَرَى مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ أَنْفُسَهُمْ وَأَمْوَالَهُمْ بِأَنَّ لَهُمُ الْجَنَّةَ يُقَاتِلُونَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ فَيَقْتُلُونَ وَيُقْتَلُونَ وَعْدًا عَلَيْهِ حَقًّا فِي التَّوْرَاةِ وَالْإِنْجِيلِ وَالْقُرْآَنِ وَمَنْ أَوْفَى بِعَهْدِهِ مِنَ اللَّهِ فَاسْتَبْشِرُوا بِبَيْعِكُمُ الَّذِي بَايَعْتُمْ بِهِ وَذَلِكَ هُوَ الْفَوْزُ الْعَظِيمُ

Indeed, Allah has bought from the Believers their lives and their wealth, in exchange of (a promise) that Paradise shall be theirs. They fight in the way of Allah, and kill and are killed, on which there is a true promise (as made) in the Torah and the Injīl and the Qur‘ān. And who can be more faithful to his covenant than Allah? So, rejoice in the deal you have made, and that is the great achievement. (Taubah, 111)

Alhamdulillah, by virtue of our īmān, we delight in the fact that all those in Gaza and indeed all other troubled areas who are killed are shuhadā’ and in fact our depression should really be for the rest of us who live in a state of sin and continue to earn the wrath of Allah jalla wa ‘alā for not fulfilling our various obligations, from hijāb to the five daily prayers at their required times to the neglecting of Jihād itself.

Sorting out all of our duties and recommended acts as Muslim communities around the world, whether it is the raising of the flag for legitimate Jihād or reviving the science of Inheritance or even going out for dinner with your Jewish and Christian colleagues as part and parcel of your da‘wah to your communities – it is only a complete practicing of Islam at all times that will get us out of the mess we find us in. It saved the Jewish nation before us under the banner of Mūsā (‘alayhis-salām) and it’ll save us now as well:

وَأَوْحَيْنَا إِلَى مُوسَى وَأَخِيهِ أَنْ تَبَوَّآَ لِقَوْمِكُمَا بِمِصْرَ بُيُوتًا وَاجْعَلُوا بُيُوتَكُمْ قِبْلَةً وَأَقِيمُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَبَشِّرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ

And We revealed to Mūsā and his brother: Have houses for your people in Egypt, and make your houses worship oriented, and establish Salāh, and give glad tidings to the Believers. (Yunus, 87)

One thing that mustn’t be forgotten in all of this is that the people of Gaza have been in much the same state for years and years, it’s just that we continue to be heedless of the realities of the world. Now only when the BBC has made it front-page do we start to pay extra passionate interest. The Palestinians have been continuously starved, attacked and martyred since the occupation began and Hamas as well as many normal Palestinian folk will actually accept the opportunity of at last physically facing the cursed oppressors face-to-face in combat as opposed to being destroyed by-proxy, as well as having the world’s attention re-focused on this mighty struggle. Sure, F-16s screaming overhead and increased civilian deaths make the situation more serious and disheartening, but this is why we have all been placed on the different corners of this Earth: to be put to trial in any which way that happens.

This is not a new war and it will not remain an old war – this will continue for many, many years to come.

The Muslims both in and out of Gaza should take comfort that Israeli plans will never succeed until they get rid of every single remaining Believer in the world, for it is that īmān in the hearts of those all over the planet that will resist this Zionist oppression and tyranny one way or the other.

وَلَا تَهِنُوا وَلَا تَحْزَنُوا وَأَنْتُمُ الْأَعْلَوْنَ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ مُؤْمِنِينَ

Do not lose heart and do not grieve, and you are the upper-most if you are Believers. (Ale-’Imran, 139)

And just as the suffering Palestinians continue to defend the Holy Land seeking the pleasure of Allah, don’t forget the other side of the coin: the existence of the Hell-Fire. Quite simply, it was created to burn people such as Bush, Weisglass, Cheney, Peres, Barak and many others for their heinous crimes against humanity for ever and ever.

So the next time you see more painful images of death and destruction, and then despair at your lack of ability to do something meaningful to stop these terrorists above other than make supplications, reform and give charity, take solace in the fact that divine justice is really what it’s all about. We all just need to hang around in this dunya until that court date comes and boy oh boy when it comes, there’ll be ‘fireworks’ alright…

To hell with political correctness and all other detractors reading this: sometimes a bit of raw emotional theological rhetoric is exactly what our hearts need to soothe them whilst we wait for that Final Day.