Project "Revive a Sunnah" Week 22

[Kemal Smajlovic]

Project "Revive a Sunnah"

Be sure to check out: http://project-revive-a-sunnah.blogspot.com/
To join the e-mail list, please visit: http://groups.google.com/group/project-revive-a-sunnah

March 6th, 2007 (17th of Safar 1428 AH)
Windsor, Ontario, Canada

In the name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate.
May peace and blessings be upon the Prophet (sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam), his family, and his companions.

  Week 22: March 2nd-9th 2007
(12th-19th of Safar 1428 AH)

Alhumdulillah, we all know that the greatest ayah (verse) in the Qur'an is Ayat al-Kursiy.  We also know that for one reason or another, we should recite this ayah after each Fardh prayer.   There are those who are always rushing and consequently fail to recite this ayah after the Fardh prayers.   Then there are those who recite this ayah after the Fardh prayers without knowing the reward.   Finally, there are those who recite this ayah after each Fardh prayer knowing and seeking the reward it carries.  Our goal for this week is to shift everyone into the third category, insha Allah.   So, what is the reward of reciting Ayat al-Kursiy after each Fardh prayer?  Let us take a look from the ahadith.

From the Ahadith:

It was narrated that Abu Umaamah said: "The Messenger of Allaah (sal Allahy alayhi wa sallam) said: "Whoever recites Aayat al-Kursiy immediately after each prescribed prayer, there will be nothing standing between him and his entering Paradise except death."  
[al-Nasaa'i, Ibn Hibbaan, and others]

Allahu Akbar!  If this doesn't entice you to recite Ayat al-Kursiy after each Fardh prayer, then I don't know what will.  The first time I heard this hadith, it sent shivers down my back.   Subhan Allah, the hadith is so strong; it really needs no commentary on my part to further encourage everyone.   

What is Project "Revive a Sunnah"?

Let's face the reality of today. There are many, many Sunnahs of the Prophet (sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam) which are not being practiced. This may be due to reasons such as negligence, laziness and/or ignorance. Project "Revive a Sunnah" is a project dedicated to bringing back the forgotten Sunnahs of the Prophet (sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam).

Why the Project "Revive a Sunnah"?

This question can be answered from two sources: Qur'an and Sunnah.
Firstly, Allah ('azza wa jall) says in the Qur'an:

1.
"…Help you one another in Al-Birr and At-Taqwa (virtue, righteousness and piety); but do not help one another in sin and transgression. And fear Allâh. Verily, Allâh is Severe in punishment." [5:2]

2.
"Say (O Muhammad (peace be upon him) to mankind): "If you (really) love Allâh then follow me ( i.e. accept Islâmic Monotheism, follow the Qur'ân and the Sunnah), Allâh will love you and forgive you your sins. And Allâh is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful." [3:31]

 

Secondly, from the Ahadith, it is reported that the Prophet (sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam) said:

"Whoever revives an aspect of my Sunnah that is forgotten after my death, he will have a reward equivalent to that of the people who follow him, without it detracting in the least from their reward." (Reported by al-Tirmidhi, 7/443; this is a hasan hadîth because of corroborating asânîd).

Hence, we start off by responding to Allah's ('azza wa jall) call. We do our utmost to follow the Sunnah of the Prophet (sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam). We obviously do this in order to earn the love of Allah ('azza wa jall). What a better way of doing so than helping each other to achieve this (solely for the sake of Allah ('azza wa jall)).

How does it work?

Initially, when this project was first launched, it was conducted solely via e-mail. Starting with Week 4, the project will be available on-line, so that a broader audience may participate. A blog entry will be posted each week. The entry will describe what the Sunnah is, provide evidence from the Sunnah, and shed light on how it can be implemented, insha Allah.  The project will still continue through e-mail (simultaneously to the blog).  If you are not receiving the weekly Project "Revive a Sunnah" e-mails and would like to, then please visit: http://groups.google.com/group/project-revive-a-sunnah

How can you participate?

You can be a part of this project in a number of different ways. Some of them include:

• nominating a "forgotten sunnah" to be focussed on for one week
• forwarding the Project "Revive a Sunnah" URL to your friends and family
• encouraging others to participate
• spreading the word

You are most welcome to direct any Feedback/Comments/Suggestions/Nominations to albo...@gmail.com

May Allah reward you all.
Praise be to Allah and may the blessings be upon the Prophet (sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam).

Wa Salaamu Alaykoum,

Kemal Smajlovic