Yusuf Circle Sheffield

The Pillars (S4) Is a Nafl Hajj superior to Sadaqah? According to the majority of scholars, the Nafl Hajj is superior. However a minority do mention that Sadaqah is superior. Another question people pose is can Hajj be performed with Haram wealth? Imam Ghazali (r.h) breaks down the process if one performs Hajj with Haram wealth. Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وتَعَالَى is The Most Merciful. Another whisper people get is that Hajj will make you lose your wealth. This is incorrect. In reality, it is the opposite. The Messenger ﷺ said: “If you perform the Hajj, you will be independent”.

The Pillars (S3) Umar رضي الله عنه: “Mount your saddles for Hajj, for indeed this is one of the two jihads”. The Messenger ﷺ was asked: “What is the best deed?”. He ﷺ replied: “Belief in Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وتَعَالَى, Jihad in the path of Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وتَعَالَى and an accepted Hajj”. The Messenger ﷺ made the dua: “O Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وتَعَالَى, forgive the Hujaaj and forgive those who the Hujaaj seek forgiveness for”. The signs of Hajj Mabroor: Good character. Feed and speak kindly to others, spread the Salaam and control your tongue.

The Pillars (S2) Abu Zharr رضي الله عنه asked the Messenger ﷺ which is the most rewarding fast? The Messenger ﷺ replied: “The fast of Ramadan. It has with Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وتَعَالَى an immense reward”. (The reward is so great that the Messenger ﷺ didn’t even mention it specifically here). The Messenger ﷺ: “Whoever fasts in the month of Ramadan, with Iman and expecting reward, his past and future sins will be forgiven”. Onto Charity: One must make sure he does not just simply give money. Abdullah Ibn Abaas رضي الله عنهم recited Surah [34:39] and said it refers to spending without extravagance and miserliness. A just measure must be met between your capacity and others’ needs.

The Pillars (S1) The Messenger ﷺ: “When you intend to pray, pray like the one who is about to depart from this world. Avoid saying things for which you’ll have to excuse yourself from tomorrow. Do not be eager to gain people’s possessions”. Most of us will not taste the sweetness of worship - this isn’t the end of everything however. There is immense goodness in continuing to worship even if we dislike it. Persevere, until it becomes a habit. The Messenger ﷺ: “Steadfastness is a treasure from the treasures of Paradise”.

The Sunnah (S2) An example of misguidance in these times is numerology. Abdullah Ibn Abaas رضي الله عنهم said whoever partakes in numerology, I don’t think he has any aql or any religious commitment. Abdullah Ibn Abaas رضي الله عنهم said whoever partakes in astrology (star signs etc) is doomed. The true scholars of the Sunnah, may Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وتَعَالَى preserve them, are human. Thus, they sometimes make mistakes. It is our duty to overlook this.

The Sunnah (S1) Whoever holds firm to the Sunnah during these times, receives the reward of 50 Companions! (رضي الله عنهم). The Messenger ﷺ: “Whoever gives life my to Sunnah, loves me. Whoever loves me will be with me in Paradise”. The Messenger ﷺ: “Whoever adheres to my Sunnah when my Ummah is corrupt, will have the reward of 100 martyrs”. The Messenger ﷺ: “That which I fear the most for my Ummah are the imams of misguidance”.

The Messenger ﷺ (S4) The priceless Sunnah: Imam Shafi (r.h) said: “Whenever I see a man from the people of Hadith, it is as if I see a Companion of the Messenger ﷺ”. Sa’eed Ibn Jubayr (r.h) once quoted a Hadith and a man said: “This contradicts the Qur’an!”. Sa’eed (r.h) replied: “I quote from the Messenger ﷺ and you argue about the Qur’an?”. He (r.h) also said that the Messenger ﷺ knew the Qur’an better than you, so how could you have found a contradiction? We need the Hadith more than we need food and drink, for the Hadith explain the Qur’an.

The Messenger ﷺ (S3) The Messenger ﷺ was given the strength of 40 men, each man being a man of Paradise. A man of Paradise has the strength of 100 men of this world, thus the Messenger ﷺ had the strength of 4,000 men. Ruqana رضي الله عنه was the previous undefeated wrestling champion of the Quraysh. The Messenger ﷺ beat him رضي الله عنه and invited him to Islam. The Archangels (a.s) were frequently seen around the Messenger ﷺ. Once whilst the Messenger ﷺ was praying he ﷺ smiled. The Companions رضي الله عنهم noticed and enquired. The Messenger ﷺ said that Mikaeel (a.s) smiled at him and he ﷺ smiled back.

The Messenger ﷺ (S2) Miracles were a common occurrence. A woman once brought her bald child (رضي الله عنهم) to the Messenger ﷺ. The Messenger ﷺ rubbed his blessed hand on the baby’s head and the baldness went. We were chosen to be in this Ummah. We must thank Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وتَعَالَى. Prophet Adam (a.s) said: “Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وتَعَالَى Has bestowed upon the ummah of Muhammad ﷺ four things which even I don’t have: 1). I had to repent in Makkah, they can repent anywhere. 2). When I slipped [Prophets (a.s) don’t sin] my clothing was stripped off me. When they sin, their clothing is not stripped off them. 3). Due to the slip, I was distanced from my wife (رضي الله عنها). When they sin, they are not distanced. 4). I was taken out of Paradise, they will not be taken out of Paradise”.

The Messenger ﷺ (S1) Aisha رضي الله عنها: “His (ﷺ) conduct was the Qur’an”. The Messenger ﷺ would say in the early days in the Makkan period: “Say La Ila Ha Il Allah, save yourselves. With this you’ll become sovereign over the Arabs. The Persians will become subject to you. If you don’t live to see it, you’ll still be the kings of Paradise”. The Makkans would mock the Sahaba رضي الله عنهم upon seeing them, saying: “The kings are coming!”. This is very relevant today. Muslims all around the world wonder how it’s possible we will be victorious, but nothing can alter Allah’s سُبْحَانَهُ وتَعَالَى Words. Be it Makkah ~1400 years ago, or today in 2026 - same game, different players. Whenever the Messenger ﷺ mounted an animal it would never urinate or defecate.

Allah’s سُبْحَانَهُ وتَعَالَى Mercy (S5) Surah [42:11]: “There is nothing like Him” (سُبْحَانَهُ وتَعَالَى). Sufyan at-Thawri (r.h) said The Best Judge to Judge us is Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وتَعَالَى. He’d (r.h) prefer to be judged by Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وتَعَالَى over his own father. Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وتَعَالَى is The Most Merciful, The Most Just. We love to the see creation: the full moon, the still night, the blooming flowers, the rays of sunshine scattered through the scenery - what then when we see The Creator? سُبْحَانَهُ وتَعَالَى. The residents of Paradise will see Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وتَعَالَى - may we be amongst these chosen souls. The Messenger ﷺ: “My Lord سُبْحَانَهُ وتَعَالَى educated me, and what a beautiful education He سُبْحَانَهُ وتَعَالَى gave”.

Allah’s سُبْحَانَهُ وتَعَالَى Mercy (S4) Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وتَعَالَى is Ash-Shakoor, Appreciative of even the little. He سُبْحَانَهُ وتَعَالَى accepts our works from us no matter how small. The Messenger ﷺ said whoever eats a meal or has a chilled drink and says ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّٰهِ, then Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وتَعَالَى will be pleased with him. Those who sincerely say: “La Ila Ha Il Allah” will show no fright at the time of death, nor in the grave nor on the last day. Such is the Mercy of our Lord سُبْحَانَهُ وتَعَالَى.

Allah’s سُبْحَانَهُ وتَعَالَى Mercy (S3) Do non Muslims receive rewards for their good deeds? Hakeem Ibn Hizaam رضي الله عنه asked the Messenger ﷺ if he would be rewarded for the good deeds he رضي الله عنه did in the days of jahilliya. The Messenger ﷺ said: “You became a Muslim along with the good deeds you had already done”. Imam as-Sindee (r.h) said the good deeds of disbelievers are held in suspension until they embrace Islam. If they don’t embrace Islam, the deeds are lost. Abdullah Ibn Abaas رضي الله عنهم recited Surah [57:28] and said the people of the book recieve 2x the rewards if they embrace Islam. Such is the Mercy of our Lord سُبْحَانَهُ وتَعَالَى. The believer is rewarded for his good deeds in this life and in the next, whereas the disbeliever is rewarded in this life only.

Allah’s سُبْحَانَهُ وتَعَالَى Mercy (S2) The highest level of patience you can bear is that when you’re struck with a calamity, you act like the day before it struck, I.e you remain unphased. May Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وتَعَالَى make us amongst this level. Sufyan Ibn Uyayna (r.h) mentions that what we dislike is better for us than what we like, for when we dislike something we make dua. Ease is a greater threat to progress than hardship. The Messenger ﷺ said Dua is the bone marrow of worship. He who does not make dua is arrogant. We are always in need of Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وتَعَالَى. We are tested by Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وتَعَالَى so that we may turn to Him سُبْحَانَهُ وتَعَالَى, so that our sins may be forgiven and so that our ranks are elevated. The best of us are tested the most. So Glad tidings, O you who shows patience through the storm!

Allah’s سُبْحَانَهُ وتَعَالَى Mercy (S1) An agnostic once walked through a field which had watermelons growing. He sat under a cherry tree and said: “How can God exist if things are misplaced? Such a large tree that bears small fruits and such a small bush that bears large fruits”. [i.e the watermelons]. A cherry fell from the tree and hit his head. He then reflected and said: “God definitely exists”. Surah [56:72]: “Is it you who produce its trees, or is it We Who do so?”. The righteous show joy at the beginning of calamities, just as the normal person shows joy during times of ease. A smooth sea never made a seasoned sailor.

Abu Sufyaan Ibn Harb رضي الله عنه (S55) - Final session Abu Sufyaan رضي الله عنه was now in his 90s, he fell ill and passed away from this illness. At ~94 years old, in ~32 A.H, during Uthmaan’s رضي الله عنه caliphate, Abu Sufyaan رضي الله عنه passed away. (There is a difference regarding the exact year, the range is from 30-34 A.H. The strongest view is 32 A.H). Thus passed away the cousin and father in law of the Messenger ﷺ, the father of Umm Habeebah, Yazeed and Muawiya رضي الله عنهم, the one promised Paradise twice upon the loss of his sight, the shaykh and sayed of the Quraysh, the one who saw many miracles, the brave preacher on the plain of Yarmook, the blessed companion of the Messenger ﷺ: Abu Sufyaan Ibn Harb رضي الله عنه. Uthmaan رضي الله عنه performed his رضي الله عنه Janazah and Abu Sufyaan رضي الله عنه was buried in the blessed graveyard of al-Baqee.

Abu Sufyaan Ibn Harb رضي الله عنه (S54) The plague of Amwaas, 18 A.H: Abu Sufyaan رضي الله عنه was now ~80. His son Yazeed رضي الله عنهم was martyred here. Umar رضي الله عنه appointed Muawiya رضي الله عنه as the governor of Syria. Umar رضي الله عنه had great love and respect for Abu Sufyaan رضي الله عنه. Umar رضي الله عنه once summoned Abu Sufyaan رضي الله عنه and gave him a cushion to sit on. Umar رضي الله عنه said: “The Messenger ﷺ told us when a noble person comes to you, honour him”. When Umar رضي الله عنه was martyred, Abu Sufyaan رضي الله عنه was ~86 years old, making him 23 years older than Umar رضي الله عنهم.

Abu Sufyaan Ibn Harb رضي الله عنه (53) A fabricated report in the books of history accuses Abu Sufyaan رضي الله عنه and some other Makkans of cowardice and treachery. The truth is that Abu Sufyaan رضي الله عنه fought bravely and he encouraged his son Yazeed رضي الله عنهم to be steadfast. The Muslims fought defensively for the first 4 days. After this, there was a turning point and on the 6th day the Muslims were victorious. ~4,000 Muslims were martyred. ~70,000 Romans were killed. Thus, for every Muslim martyr, ~17-18 Romans were killed. Abu Sufyaan رضي الله عنه thus had lost both his blessed eyes. One during the lifetime of the Messenger ﷺ and one during the battle of Yarmook. Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وتَعَالَى has Said: “If I take away the eyesight of a slave of Mine and he shows patience and seeks My reward, I will reward him with nothing less than Paradise”. Abu Sufyaan رضي الله عنه thus now resided in Madinah. He رضي الله عنه was in his mid 70s.

Abu Sufyaan Ibn Harb رضي الله عنه (S52) On the 4th day, Abu Sufyaan’s رضي الله عنه name appears again: This day was known was the day of lost eyes, decapitated heads and severed hands. The Romans shot a large barrage of arrows at the Muslims. The arrows blocked out the sun. ~700 Muslims lost an eye. Abu Sufyaan رضي الله عنه was also struck, losing his remaining eye. Ikrimah, his son Amr and his uncle Haarith رضي الله عنهم were martyred at this battle. Many noble and courageous women also stepped forward to fight and defend, including Khawla and Umm Hakeem رضي الله عنهم.

Abu Sufyaan Ibn Harb رضي الله عنه (S51) Abu Sufyaan’s رضي الله عنه participation in the Battle of Yarmook, 14 A.H: It was during Umar’s رضي الله عنه reign that this battle took place. The main commander was Khalid Ibn al-Waleed رضي الله عنه. The Muslims were split into 4 battalions: The right was led by Amr Ibn al-Aas رضي الله عنه, the right middle by Shurahbeel Ibn Hasana رضي الله عنه, the left middle by Abu Ubaydah رضي الله عنه and the left by Yazeed Ibn Abu Sufyaan رضي الله عنهم. Abu Sufyaan fought behind his son رضي الله عنهم. Abu Sufyaan رضي الله عنه was in his mid 70’s here. There was ~1,000 companions رضي الله عنهم present at this battle, 100 were Badris رضي الله عنهم. The Battle lasted 6 days.