Getting Serious in the Last Ten Nights of Ramadan

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Ever Merciful…

There are two important narrations from our mother, the noble Companion, ‘Aa’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her), which every Muslim should keep in mind as the last ten nights of Ramadan approach:

إِذَا دَخَلَ الْعَشْرُ: أَحْيَا اللَّيْلَ، وَأَيْقَظَ أَهْلَهُ، وَجَدَّ وَشَدَّ الْمِئْزَرَ
“When the [last] ten [nights of Ramadan] began, he would stay up all night, wake his family, get [even more] serious, and tighten his lower garment.”

This hadeeth was collected by al-Bukhaaree (2024) and Muslim (1174).

In another authentic narration, she asked about what she should say if she were to reach Laylat al-Qadr, the Night of al-Qadr, and so the Messenger of Allah (may Allah raise his rank and grant him peace) told her to say: Continue reading

Responding to “Jazaak Allaahu Khayran” by Saying “Wa Antum fa Jazaakum Allaahu Khayran”

In the Name of Allaah…

The following message has been making its rounds in a number of email lists and message boards this year:

THE BEST REPLY TO THOSE WHO SAY “JAZAK’ALLAHU KHAIR”?

“Wa Antum fa Jazakumullahu khayran” which means “And you too, May Allah reward to with good.”

When Usayd ibn Hadayr رضي الله عنه said to the Prophet (sallahu alayhi wa salam): “O Messenger of Allah جزاك الله خيرا (Jazak’allahu khayran)!” The Prophet said: ” وَأَنْتُمْ فَجَزَاكُمُ اللَّهُ خَيْرًا (Wa Antum Fa Jazakumullahu khayran.. And you too, May Allah reward you too with good)!”

[Albaani has said that the Hadeeth is Saheeh in al-Saheeha 3096, al-Ta’leeqaatul hisaan al Saheeh ibn Hibbaan 6231]

I have responded (at least three times) with the following reply:

Take your knowledge from the scholars, not unqualified or unknown writers on the internet.

I read Shaykh Al-Albaanee’s discussion of the hadeeth (Saheehah #3096), which includes detailed mention of the defects of the hadeeth, and its not clear to me that the hadeeth is even acceptable. [This is updated below.] Nor did he say anything about this being a legislated response to “jazaak Allaahu khayran”.

Secondly, we don’t take just any conversation that the Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alayhe wa sallam) was engaged in and then derive legislated responses to phrases. If this hadeeth is authentic Continue reading