Correction: The Widow’s Period of Mourning (‘Iddah) and Her Prayer (No Connection)

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

In an audio clip uploaded to YouTube entitled, “The Concern of Giving Full Preference to the Kaafir Calendar,” (15 min., 35 sec.) I became confused about an issue and spoke incorrectly.

Discussing the harms of living by the Gregorian calendar, I mentioned the point of the ‘iddah (mourning period) of the widow – four months and ten days. After mentioning the difference of two or three additional days that would be mistakenly included within her ‘iddah by following the Gregorian calendar, I then erred by mentioning that she would begin making her prayers up a few days late, since she would not be praying during her ‘iddah.

This is clearly erroneous, as there is no connection between the mourning period and performing the prayer or leaving it. To be absolutely clear: Women leave their prayers during their menses, not during their ‘iddahs.

While I am personally very embarrassed about this error, it is my duty to correct it using my available resources. I hope that my brothers and sisters would help me by informing anyone who has uploaded it about this retraction. Then, it could be edited out (15:35 to 16 minutes), along with a reference to this article. If it cannot be edited, then at least let it be paired with the retraction.

May Allaah bless the sister who informed me of the mistake, and may Allaah bless all of those who help me to correct it.

And Allaah knows best.

Written by: Moosaa Richardson

AlMaghrib Institute and Kamal el-Mekki Still Using Magic Openly to Sell Tickets to their Events

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

After being exposed last year for using actual magic tricks (like levitation) to promote their expensive seminars and events, AlMaghrib Institute removed their official trailer called “Magic Tricks by Kamal el-Mekki”, not to repent, but to HIDE from criticism until the controversy died down. Their magician, “Shaykh” Kamal el-Mekki was exposed for promoting the magic of Criss Angel and Dynamo as perfectly halaal entertainment in events organized by Green Lane Masjid (Birmingham, UK), where he actually said:

I can show you every one of their tricks, how they do it, and every one of them has an explanation.

This was stated, word-for-word, in an interview conducted by Green Lane Masjid and uploaded on their official YouTube Channel. (Transcript)

Kamal el-Mekki boasts about how he knows all of the magic of some of the world's top illusionists, like Criss Angel and Dynamo.

Kamal el-Mekki claims to know all of the magic of some of the world’s top illusionists, like Criss Angel and Dynamo.

After this blatant promotion of magic reached the world and was exposed, Green Lane Masjid imam, Abu Usamah At-Thahabi, gave an entire Friday sermon against magic, accepting blame on behalf of the masjid’s administration for Continue reading

Shaykh al-Fowzaan Exposes the Plots to Defame Scholars by Calling Them “Madkhalees” and “Jaamees”

In the Name of Allaah, the Most Merciful, the Ever Merciful…

Shaykh Saalih ibn Fowzaan al-Fowzaan, one of today’s most widely respected scholars of Islaam – may Allaah preserve and protect him – , was asked about people who resort to name-calling with labels like “Madkhalees” and “Jaamees”, and he replied:

Stop these kinds of affairs and this name-calling. Do not insult each other with name-calling. Allaah, the Mighty and Most High, has commanded you:

ولا تنابزوا بالألقاب

Do not insult each other with name-calling! [49:11]

You are all brothers [addressing students al-Madeenah University], all of you are upon the same religion. You are all peers, and to Allaah is the praise. Drop these affairs, and show respect for the scholars. Respect the scholars! Whoever does not respect the scholars shall remain deprived of their knowledge. He will be deprived of being able to benefit from them.

Abandon this thing – the name-calling and speaking ill of the scholars – those who have virtue and status over the rest of the people which Allaah bestowed upon them:

يرفع الله الذين آمنوا منكم والذين أوتوا العلم درجات

“Allaah raises the believers among you and the people given knowledge many degrees.” [58:11]

The scholars have their status, they have their ranks that are to be respected. If the scholars are Continue reading