The Virtue of Completing the Qur’an During Ramadan

March 10, 2026March 11, 2026 Salafi Knowledge Completing the Qur'an in Ramadan, Fatawa, Gabriel, Jibril, Khatmah, Qur'an, Ramadan, Reciting at Night, Reciting the Qur'an in Ramadan, Revising the Qur'an, Righteous Deeds, Salafiyyah, Studying at Night, Studying the Qur'an in Ramadan, Studying Together, The Salaf, The Salaf and Ramadan, The Salaf and the Qur'an, Uthaymin

Sh. ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz b. Bāz رَحِمَهُ اللهُ was asked whether it is possible to use the fact that Jibrīl عَلَيْهِ السَّلام studied the Qurʾān with the Prophet ﷺ during Ramaḍān, as evidence of the virtue of completing a recitation of the Qurʾān.

He replied:

“Studying [the Qurʾān] is derived from this and that it is recommended for the believer to study the Qurʾān with one who can benefit him, because the Messenger ﷺ studied it with Jibrāʾīl عَلَيْهِ السَّلام in order to benefit, for Jibrāʾīl is the one who comes from Allāh, the Majestic and Most High, and is the intermediary between Allāh and the Messengers. Jibrāʾīl must have benefitted the Prophet ﷺ with things from Allāh, the Majestic and Most High, in terms of proper recitation of the letters of the Qurʾān, and with respect to its meanings which Allāh intended.

If a person studies with someone who helps him to understand the Qurʾān, and one who helps him to recite its letters properly; this is something desired, just as the Prophet ﷺ studied with Jibrāʾīl. This does not mean Jibrāʾīl is better than the Prophet ﷺ, but rather that Jibrāʾīl is the messenger who came from Allāh and then conveys to the Messenger ﷺ what Allāh has commanded him with in terms of the Qurʾān, its words, and meanings. The Messenger ﷺ benefitted from Jibrāʾīl in this way – not that Jibrāʾīl is better than him, rather he is the best of mankind and better than the angels. However, studying contains much good for the Prophet ﷺ and the Ummah, because it is a study of what he brings from Allāh, and in order to benefit from what he brings from Allāh the Almighty and Majestic.

It contains another benefit: studying at night is better than the day because this studying (of the Qurʾān) occurred during the night, and it is known that the night is more conducive to the focusing of the heart and its presence, and there is more benefit than studying at daytime.

It also contains other benefits: the legality of studying and that it is a righteous deed even in other than Ramaḍān, because it contains benefit for both of them. If they are more than two, there is no harm in all of them benefitting from his brother, and encouraging him to recite, and motivating him, for he may not be motivated when sitting alone. However, if he is with a companion of his with whom he studies, or companions, that would be more encouraging and motivating for him, along with the tremendous benefits that occur between them, in terms of revision and perusal of what is difficult for them – all of that contains abundant goodness.

It is also possible to understand from this that recitation of the complete Qurʾān by the Imām in congregation during Ramaḍān is a type of this study, because in this way he benefits them with the entire Qurʾān. This is why Imām Aḥmad, may Allāh have mercy upon him, liked for the one who leads them in prayer to complete the Qurʾān with them. This is one of the practices of the Salaf in their love of hearing the entire Qurʾān. However, this does not necessitate rushing and not taking time in one’s recitation, nor striving for humility and tranquillity, rather striving for these matters is more deserving than observing the completion of the Qurʾān.”

Source: Majmūʿ Fatāwá wa Maqālāt Mutanawwiʿah (15: 324-326).

Is it the Sunnah to Recite Sūrah al-Kawthar at the Time of the Marriage Contract?

November 21, 2025 Salafi Knowledge 'Aqd al-Nikah, Bid'ah, Fatawa, Fatawa Nur 'ala al-Darb, Ibn Mas'ud, Innovations, Khutbat-ul-Haajah, Marriage, Marriage Contract, Nikah, Sermon of Need, Surah al-Kawthar, Uthaymin

Sh. al-ʿUthaymīn رَحِمَهُ اللهُ said:

“This is not from the Sunnah, the Sunnah in the sermon of the marriage is to read the Sermon of Ibn Masʿūd رضي الله عنه, and it is famous and known, and if one left it off there is no harm, but it is better to read it.”

Source: Fatāwá Nūr ʿalá al-Darb (10: 110, no. 5055).

Mentioning a Deceased Person by Name and the Evil Deeds He Used to Do

November 2, 2025 Salafi Knowledge Backbiting, Bukhari, Deceased in Islam, Fatawa, Fatawa Nur 'ala al-Darb, Funeral Rites, Hadith, How to Give Nasihah, Janazah, Mawta, Nasihah, Speaking Ill of the Dead, Sunnah, Talking About the Dead, Uthaymin

Sh. ʿUthaymīn, may Allāh have mercy upon him, was asked about mentioning individuals by name, the evil deeds they used to do, and how Allāh dealt with them, and whether that falls under backbiting.

He, may Allāh have mercy upon him, replied:

“Yes, mentioning the dead with respect to their evil deeds was prohibited by the Messenger, upon him be praise and protection, for he said, ‘Do not speak badly of the dead, for they have reached the result of what they have sent forth.’ [al-Bukhārī (1329)]. Rather, pardon and forgiveness is sought from Allāh for them, it may be that his supplication is answered for them, thereby Allāh forgives them and pardons them. As for mentioning their evil deeds, then they are to be mentioned in an unspecified manner, so it is said, for example, in warning against interest, ‘Have you not seen people who violated the prohibitions of Allāh and they engaged in dealing with interest, then they departed from this worldly life and none of their wealth was buried with them, rather they left it behind for others, thus the spoil is for others and the loss is for them?’ and what is similar to that by which the living can take heed, as for mentioning him specifically, then this is not permissible.”

Fatāwá Nūr ʿalá al-Darb (12: 487, no. 6679).

How Should a Muslim Hold Himself to Account?

October 11, 2025 Salafi Knowledge Fatawa, Fatawa Nur 'ala al-Darb, Holding Oneself to Account, Muhasabah, Muhasabat-ul-nafs, Self-improvement, Uthaymin

Sh. al-ʿUthaymīn رَحِمَهُ اللهُ was asked how a Muslim should hold himself to account. The Shaykh mentioned the following points:

He should reflect over:

What he did
What he failed to do
What he said
What he stayed silent about

For example:

Why didn’t you say the truth in such-and-such place?
Why didn’t you do this good deed in this situation?
You did this evil deed in such-and-such a place
You gave a false testimony in such-and-such a place

This is how one holds himself to account with respect to what he did and what he failed to do, in order to straighten any crookedness and remove any evil – this is the meaning of holding oneself to account.

Source: Fatāwá Nūr ʿalá al-Darb li Faḍīlat al-Shaykh al-ʿAllāmah Muḥammad b. Ṣāliḥ al-ʿUthaymīn, 12: 16, no. 6190.

Can She Make Up the Fast of ‘Ashura’ if She Missed it Due to Menstruation?

July 1, 2025 Salafi Knowledge 10 Muharram, Aashoora, Ashura, Day of 'Arafah, Fasting, Fatawa, Greeting the Masjid, Ha'id, islam, Making up a fast, Maxims, Menstruation, Muharram, Optional Deeds, Optional Fasting, Principles, Qa'idah, Qada', Qawa'id, Righteous Deeds, Siyam, Tahiyyat al-Masjid, Uthaymin

Sh. Muḥammad b. Ṣāliḥ al-ʿUthaymīn رَحِمَهُ اللهُ was asked:

If she is menstruating when ʿĀshūrāʾ comes, can she make up the fast?
Is there a guiding principle for which optional deeds can be made up, and which ones cannot?

The Shaykh رَحِمَهُ اللهُ replied:

“Optional deeds are of two types: a type which has a cause, and a type which does not have a cause.

The one which has a cause – it elapses along with the elapsing of the cause and is not made up. For example: the prayer for “greeting the masjid” (taḥiyyat al-masjid). If a man comes and sits down, and his sitting continues for a long time, and then he wants to pray taḥiyyat al-masjid, there is no taḥiyyat al-masjid because it is a prayer which has a cause, it is tied to a cause, so when it elapses so does its legality.

Similar to that is what is apparent with the Day of ʿArafah and the Day of ʿĀshūrāʾ. If a person delays fasting the Day of ʿArafah and the Day of ʿĀshūrāʾ without an excuse, there is no doubt he does not make it up, and it will not benefit him if he did make it up, meaning: it will not benefit him in that being [a substitute for] the Day of ʿArafah and the Day of ʿĀshūrāʾ.

As for the case where it passes by a person while he is excused, such as the menstruating woman, the one experiencing post-natal bleeding, and the ill, then what is apparent is that it is not made up because this is specific to a specific day, the ruling of which elapses with the elapsing of that day.”

Source: Majmūʿ al-Fatāwá (20: 43, no. 399).

A Word on the Virtue of Fasting the Day of ‘Ashura’ by Sh. Muhammad b. Salih al-‘Uthaymin

July 1, 2025 Salafi Knowledge 10 Muharram, Aashoora, al-Madinah, allah, Day of Ashura, Expiation of Sins, Fasting, Fatawa, Gratitude, Hadith, islam, Jews, Letters, Muharram, Musa, Opposing Ahl al-Kitab, Opposing the Jews, Optional Fasting, Qur'an, religion, Righteous Deeds, Uthaymin, Virtue of Fasting, Yawm al-Ashura

In the Name of Allāh, the Most Merciful, the Giver of Special Mercy

All praise is due to Allāh the Most High and Most Great, the One Who is alone in creating and controlling, the One Who honoured His friends with His help, and humiliated His enemies through His forsaking [of them], so how excellent a Protector is our Lord, and how excellent a Helper is He.

I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allāh alone without any partners, to Him belong the Kingdom and praise, and He is, over all thing, completely capable. And I bear witness that Muḥammad is His slave and His Messenger; the bringer of glad tidings, the warner, and shining lantern, may the praise and protection of Allāh be upon him, his family, his Companions, and those who follow them in excellence until the Day of Recompense.

To proceed:

Indeed, in this month, the month of Muḥarram, was the salvation of Mūsá, may praise and protection be upon him, and his people from the enemy of Allāh – Pharaoh and his army. By Allāh it was a major blessing obligating gratitude towards Allāh the Almighty and Majestic. This is why, when the Prophet ﷺ arrived in al-Madīnah, and he found the Jews fasting the tenth day of this month, the Prophet ﷺ said, “I have more right to Mūsá than you”, thus he fasted it and commanded its fasting. He was asked about the virtue of fasting it and he said, “I hope in Allāh that it may expiate for (the sins of) the year that came before it.” After that he commanded contradicting the Jews by fasting the tenth and a day before it which is the ninth, or a day after it which is the eleventh.

Consequently, it is best to fast the tenth day and add to it a day before it, or a day after it. Adding the ninth day to it is better than the eleventh.

Thus, it is necessary for you, my Muslim brother, to fast the Day of ʿĀshūrāʾ, likewise the ninth day, in order to actualise contradicting the Jews which the Messenger of Allāh ﷺ commanded.

May Allāh facilitate success for me and you to be grateful for His blessings, and worship Him with excellence, and may He protect us from the evils of our souls through His care – indeed He is the Most Generous and Most Bountiful.

I have no objections to spreading it (i.e., this letter).

Written by Muḥammad al-Ṣāliḥ al-ʿUthaymīn 21/12/1409.

Source: Majmūʿ al-Fatāwá (20: 39-40).

The Best Day to Fast with the Day of ‘Ashura’

July 1, 2025July 1, 2025 Salafi Knowledge 10 Muharram, 11 Muharram, 9 Muharram, Aashoora, Deeds which expiate sins, Different ways to fast Ashura, Expiation of Sins, Fasting, Fatawa, Fatwa, Muharram, Righteous Deeds, The Day of 'Ashura', Uthaymin

Sh. Muḥammad b. Ṣāliḥ al-ʿUthaymīn رَحِمَهُ اللهُ said:

“The scholars say, regarding the fasting of the Day of ʿĀshūrāʾ, that it is either [fasted] on its own, or he fasts with it the 9^th, or he fasts with it the 11^th. There is a fourth mode: which is to fast the 9^th, 10^th, and 11^th – so it is three days of the month.

It is better for the one who wants to fast two days, that he fasts the 9^th and the 10^th.”

See: Majmūʿ al-Fatāwá (20: 35, no. 395).

What is the Intent of Allāh’s Statement, {It is only those who have knowledge among His slaves that fear Allāh} [Fāṭir (35): 28]? Sh. Ibn al-ʿUthaymīn رحمه الله

March 28, 2025 Salafi Knowledge Fatawa, Khashyah, Knowledge, Majmu al-Fatawa, Seeking knowledge, Surah Fatir, Tafsir, Uthaymeen, Uthaymin, Virtues of the Scholars, Virtues Seeking Knowledge

Sh. Ibn al-ʿUthaymīn رحمه الله replied:

“This verse contains a great sentence which is: restriction of reverential fear (خَشْيَة) of Allāh سبحانه وتعالى to the scholars.

Reverential fear is: fear coupled with veneration of the feared, i.e., it is fear that comes as a result of the greatness of the one feared. Allāh is the most deserving of being feared with reverence, and He is the most deserving of being venerated, and He is the most deserving of being feared. However, none has reverential fear of Him except one who is knowledgeable of the greatness, ultimate pride, ability, and honourable might that He possesses.

The scholars intended here (in this verse) are those knowledgeable of Allāh, His Names, His Attributes, and His signs. The intent is not the scholars of manufacturing and technology etc, for indeed those are scholars of the dunyá who know the apparent worldly life, and that is because reverential fear only comes from knowing the condition of the one feared, and it is known that knowledge of these crafts is not connected to the greatness of Allāh عز وجل for it is purely material, in contrast to knowledge of Allāh and His greatness, and so the people who are knowledgeable of this, they are the people who have reverential fear of Him.”

Source: Majmūʿ al-Fatāwá (26: 26).

I ask Allāh, the Almighty and Majestic, to grant us all reverential fear of Him.

Is it Better to Pray Night Prayer or Seek Knowledge?

March 7, 2025 Salafi Knowledge Abu Hurayrah, Fatawa, Fatwa, Imam Ahmad, Knowledge, Majmu al-Fatawa, Night Prayer, Prioritising good deeds, Purpose of seeking knowledge, Seeking knowledge, Talabul-Ilm, Uthaymeen, Uthaymin, When to Pray Witr, Which is Better - Night Prayer or Seeking Knowledge, Witr

Is it Better to Pray Night Prayer or Seek Knowledge?

Sh. al-ʿUthaymīn رَحِمَهُ اللهُ said, “Seeking knowledge is better than night prayer because seeking knowledge, as Imām Aḥmad said, nothing equals it for the one who corrects his intention, in that he intends through it to lift ignorance from himself and from others. Thus, if a person stays awake in the first part of the night to seek knowledge seeking the Face of Allāh, whether he be studying or teaching people, then indeed it is better than night prayer. If it is possible for him to combine both matters then that is better.

However, if the two matters clash with each other, seeking knowledge of the Sharīʿah is better and more deserving. This is why the Prophet ﷺ commanded Abū Hurayrah that he pray Witr before sleeping. The scholars say the reason for that is because Abū Hurayrah would memorise the aḥādīth of the Prophet ﷺ in the first part of the night and sleep in the latter part of the night, so the Prophet ﷺ directed him to pray Witr before he sleeps.”

Majmūʿ al-Fatāwá (14: 113, no. 751).

Is the Punishment of the Grave Lightened for the Deceased During Ramaḍān?

March 4, 2025 Salafi Knowledge al-Albani, Death, Deceased, Fatawa, Gates of Hell, Mayyit, Punishment in Islam, Punishment of the Grave, Ramadan, Virtues of Ramadan

Sh. al-Albānī (رحمه الله) was asked whether during the month of Ramaḍān, the punishment of the grave is lightened for the deceased:

“We do not have any clarification on this. Allāh knows best.”

The interjector then says, “The gates of the Fire are closed?”

The Shaykh replied:

“Yes, but this does not mean the punishment is lightened for the deceased; this requires a proof-text.”

Source: Jāmiʿ Turāth al-ʿAllāmah al-Albānī fī al-Fiqh (10: 117).