From alias@listbox.com Sat May 10 13:13:44 1997
Date: 9 May 1997 19:06:34 -0000
From: alias@listbox.com
Reply to: ahad-owner@listbox.com
Cc: recipient list not shown: ;
Subject: AHAD:FAQ - Muharram 1418
Bismillah Walhamdulillah Was Salaatu Was Salaam 'ala Rasulillah
As-Salaam Alaikum Wa-Rahmatullahi Wa-Barakatuhu
AHAD - FAQ
============
Here is the FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) for the AHAD
(A Hadith A Day) mailing list. It is sent out once a month.
It not only contains questions but also definitions of
commonly used Islamic/Arabic terms. Both of these will be
updated as and when required.
If you have any questions that you can't find below, mail them to
ahad-owner@listbox.com.
This FAQ is mailed to the entire AHAD list once every
month. An HTML version of this FAQ shall appear on the
up-comming AHAD web site.
FAQ Maintainer: Azeem Iqbal Pirani
FAQ Last Updated on: 1st Muharram 1418 (9 May 1997)
- What is AHAD:
AHAD is an automated electronic mailing list that sends out an
authenticated Hadith (in english) everyday.
- Ok, AHAD stands for A Hadith A Day. Is AHAD an Arabic word
as well?
Yes, it means 'Only'. Al-Ahad (ie. the only) is also one of
the names, and attributes, of Allah.
- What are Ahadith (plural of Hadith):
Ahadith are the words and deeds of the Holy Prophet Muhammad,
sallallaahu 'alaihi wasallam (peace and Allah's blessings be
upon him).
- Who can subscribe to AHAD:
AHAD is open to both Muslims and Non-Muslims who wish to learn
more about Islam.
- Are the Ahadith authentic:
The Ahadith used will Insha'Allah (Allah willing) all be
authentic and will usually be taken from Saheeh Bukhari or
Saheeh Muslim. These are two of the most authentic sources
of Ahadith. Other sources may also be used. Either way the
source will always be mentioned at the end of the Hadith.
An authentic Hadith is one which can be correctly attributed
to the prophet Muhammad (sallallaahu 'alaihi wasallam).
- How can I subscribe, or unsubscribe from the list:
Just send a message to the following address:
majordomo@listbox.com
In the body have the following:
subscribe ahad [when subscribing]
or
unsubscribe ahad [when unsubscribing]
If you're having problems in doing so yourself, as a last
resort, you can ask the list owner to
do so for you.
- Who translates these Ahadith:
These Ahadith are taken directly from the English translations
of these collections (ie the collections of Bukhari and Muslim).
If we do happen to take a Hadith which is not from one of these
two then we will make sure the translation is done by people
learned in the Arabic language.
- Can I mail to AHAD:
AHAD is a *one* way list. Subscribers can't mail to the list
and hence it is not a discussion list.
- Will it cost me anything:
No. Subscription to the list is free. AHAD is a not-for-profit
mailing list. We do not advertise anything on our list nor do
we provide the addresses of our subscribers to advertisers. We
believe that everyone should receive what he or she wishes to.
The list is funded by a few brothers in Pakistan (may Allah
reward them).
- What is the size of each mail:
There is only one mail from AHAD each day. The size of the
daily message is at most 3 kilobytes but if the Hadith
is long, this may vary. Also, there may be some
Special AHAD Issues, or notices, occasionally.
- When will the daily Hadith be mailed:
We try to send out the daily Hadith by 2300 hrs Pakistan
Standard Time (i.e.1900 hrs GMT).
- What is the date stated before the Gregorian one:
That is the date according to the Islamic calendar (see below).
This is called the Hijriah calendar as it began with the
migration of the Prophet Muhammad (sallallaahu 'alaihi wasallam)
from Makkah to Madinah. This journey is known as the Hijrah and
took place in year 622 of the Gregorian calendar. This date may
vary from place to place as it depends on the actual sighting of
the moon.
- I don't understand something, who can I ask:
None of us here are scholars. What we can do for you is that
if you would send us the question you have then we can forward
it to the people of knowledge. We can not guarantee anything.
Just send the query to the following address:
ahad-owner@listbox.com
- I want to send you a secure message. How do I do that:
Use our PGP public key (given below) to send us your message.
For more information on PGP, visit the PGP international
home page at: http://www.ifi.uio.no/~staalesc/PGP/
Our public PGP key is:
-----BEGIN PGP PUBLIC KEY BLOCK-----
Version: 2.6.3i
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- How many people receive AHAD:
The last time we checked, it was 2077.
- Are the AHAD Ahadith archived:
Not just yet. We hope to do so once we get some web space for
AHAD.
- How can I help AHAD:
You can help AHAD by:
- putting information about AHAD on your home page
(send a message to ahad-owner@listbox.com and we will
send it to you).
- sending out information about AHAD on mailing lists
local to your area.
- Telling your friends about AHAD and how to subscribe
to it.
- Does AHAD have a web site:
Not yet, but we are working on it and Insha'Allah it should
be up in the near future.
- So what are the months of the Islamic calendar:
The Hijriah Calender:
The current year is 1417. The Hijriah calender is
about 11 days shorter than the Gregorian calender. The
months change according the the sighting of the moon. An
Islamic month may be as short as 28 days or as long as 30
days (depending on the sighting of the moon) and thus
different areas may have different dates at a given time.
The months are (in order)
1 Muharram
2 Safar
3 Rabi-ul-Awwal
4 Rabi-ath-Thani
5 Jumada-ul-Awwal
6 Jumada-ath-Thani
7 Rajab
8 Sha'ban
9 Ramadan
10 Shawwal
11 Dhul-Qa'da
12 Dhul-Hijja
- What does this Arabic term mean:
Many times you will find that the words used will be in Arabic.
This may occur both in the text of the Hadith or in any of our
messages. The Quran and Sunnah are both in Arabic. Thus to
truly understand them we must read them in their original
language. Unfortunately as that is not possible at the present
time we will have to use the translation. The point is that
the translation will never truly equal the original. The
benefit of the supplications and other recitations will be
derived when they are recited in Arabic. As the purpose of
this list is to give people not only access to the authentic
knowledge of Islam but also to what it means, thus we will
provide the translation whenever necessary. Those terms and
phrases which are used very frequently will be defined in this
FAQ.
Bismillah Walhamdulillah Was Salaatu Was Salaam 'ala Rasulillah:
'In the name of Allah and all praise is for Allah and
blessings and peace upon the Messenger of Allah'.
As-Salaam Alaikum Wa-Rahmatullahi Wa-Barakatuhu:
'Peace be upon you, and Allah's mercy, and his blessings.'
Allah:
This term has no English equivalent. It is usually
translated as God.
Rasulillah:
Messenger of Allah. Used for the Prophet Muhammad
(sallallaahu 'alaihi wasallam).
Sahabah:
Companions of the Prophet Muhammad (sallallaahu 'alaihi
wasallam).
Subhana wa Ta'ala:
'Glorified and most high'. This is usually said after
saying Allah's name.
sallallaahu 'alaihi wasallam:
'Peace and Allah's blessings be upon him'. This is a
benediction used for the Prophet Muhammad (sallallaahu
'alaihi wasallam). This must be said.
Radhiallaho anha/anho/anhum:
'Allah is pleased with her/him/them'. This is mentioned
after mentioning the names of the Sahabah.
Insha'Allah:
'If Allah wills'.
Hadith:
A saying, action, or approval of the Prophet Muhammad
(sallallaahu 'alaihi wasallam). Plural is Ahadith.
Sunnah:
The way of life of the Prophet Muhammad (sallallaahu
'alaihi wasallam), consisting of his sayings, actions, and
silent approvals. The Sunnah is contained in the various
narrations of Ahadith.
Jannah:
'Paradise'
Rabb:
'Lord'. Used to refer to Allah.
Dua'a:
'Supplication'
Sawm:
Fasting
Tarawih:
Optional prayers offered after the Isha prayers on the
nights of Ramadan.
I'tikaf:
Seclusion in a mosque for the purpose of worshipping
Allah only. The one in this state is not permitted to
have sexual relations with his wife and is not allowed
to leave the mosque except for a very short period and
that is only for very urgent necessity, e.g. to answer
the call of nature.
Hajj:
Pilgrimage to Makkah
Jana'iz:
Funerals
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