Part 2

In what follows, we discuss purification and cultivation further.

Purification (or tasfiyah) is required in regard to the sources of our Islamic knowledge, and in regard to our Islamic beliefs and practices.

A) PuriFyiNG Our SOURCES OF KNOWLEDGE

Wrong beliefs and practices deriving from weak reports have marred the beauty of Islam and prevented the Muslims’ advancement. Therefore, we must purify our knowledge from weak and fabricated narrations. This is an essential task that must precede any action, because good actions can only be based on a solid foundation that may be traced back to Allah’s authentic revelation.

Praising those who strive in purifying the Islamic knowledge, Allah’s Messenger (8) said:

Ais Oytty ASytec HS JS yo abel] Lie Joey dal Jusliy culled JLst, ogldl G4 <This knowiedge will be carried by the trustworthy individuals from every generation — they will expel

from it alterations of the excessive, falsehoods of the liars, and misinterpretations of the ignorant. *

2 Recorded by al-Bayhaqj, Ibn “Adiyy, and others from Abi Hurayrah, Ibn Mas‘tid, and other companions (5). It is verified to be hasan by al-Albant (Mishkat ulMasdabih no. 239).

Quest for Love & Mercy xvii Prelude

B) PURIFYING OUR BELIEFS

c) PURIFYING Our AcTIONS

We should also purify our actions so that they conform with authentic texts from the Quran and Sunnah, compliant with the understanding and practice of the sahdbah, and clean from human innovation (or bid‘ah). This is the only acceptable path of guidance, as Allah ($$)

1 AL-Bagarah 2:137. 2 The description “believers” here applies primarily to the sahabah (a).

Prelude xviii Quest for Love & Mercy

Cultivation (or tarbiyah) is to establish our beliefs and actions upon the purified knowledge. Cultivation goes hand-in-hand with purification.

A) BECOMING TRUE FOLLOWERS OF THE SALAF

The above discussion about purifying our beliefs and actions must extend to cultivating ourselves and our communities upon the purified teachings. If we do this, we can hope to be true followers of our great salaf — the sahdbah (a). Allah (88) praises both in the following:

St PBo Pa be - Le ee oo ee * joka oe Wfe poral Gaddl sass Ge etl bs ol Skate)

ea - we) “ich ite Ios ge il om th + gl Opal Sail GUS tach Tys Gals Set

This cultivation should bring back to Muslims the spirit of truthseeking — instead of stubborn and narrow-minded adherence to mathhabs (sects) and prejudiced loyalty to parties.

8) INVITING TO THE PURE RELIGION

We should educate and guide the Muslims toward the purified Islam, so as to implement its teachings and revel in its virtues and ethics. We should also invite the non-Muslims to the unadulterated truth of Islam.

Promoting this blessed guidance is a duty that every Muslim should cherish and support. Allah (@8) says:

Selene aay tee sate ee Ae Cape 2 eee Sys Gael GAS AST Ge AR cARCCIP)

V6 hae I MOG aUilT A et Sail ye

This is an obligation on every Muslim according to his ability, as Allah (8%) commands:

ey! le Lbs 5 Le adts 5 “all le Lf)

¥ sal dg Sal

This is the only way to attain Allah’s acceptance and achieve happiness and success. Allah (88) says:

And this is the way to establish true and honest compassion among Allah’s servants — compassion emanating from a strong unifying cause. Allah (88) says:

Vel ghae JIS WG Cad dil Joy Leet Sra)

C) PRESENTING THE ISLAMIC SOLUTION

Inviting to the Truth includes providing realistic Islamic solutions to contemporary problems. There is no doubt that Allah’s guidance is the only comprehensive way to resolving people’s problems at the individual and communal levels. Allah (88) says:

“The Muslim Family” is a series of books that presents detailed discussions relating to the family life, starting with courting and marriage, and extending into raising children according to Islam. Todate, this series consists of the following titles:

The Quest for Love & Mercy Regulations for Marriage & Wedding in Islam

Closer than a Garment 50 (ay 49 Te 95% eos ale 2 Marital Intimacy According to the Pure Sunnah Cod td eb re ot) os)

Rights and Obligations between the Spouses in Islam 2 7

Islimic Regulations for Newborns

The first three parts of this series, including this current book, deal with various aspects of marriage.

Marriage holds a position of perpetual significance because of the central role it plays in the human life. It is not surprising, therefore, that the scholars of Islam have discussed it in extensive writings through the ages.

Under the contemporary influence of non-Islamic cultures, many misconceptions have been introduced into various areas of Islim — spilling into issues of marriage, divorce, and other family-related matters.

Viewing the needs and concerns of the Muslims who are forced to live in such alien environments, we find that most Islamic writings on marriage are restricted in scope — having been written for different cultures and backgrounds.

Preface xxii Quest for Love & Mercy

This leaves quite a large gap that needs to be filled for the benefit of the English-speaking Muslims — which is what we attempt to fulfill in this 3-book set that covers various aspects of marriage according to the authentic Sunnah:

The first book discusses the importance and advantages of marriage, selecting a spouse, the courting process, the matriage contract, the wedding celebration, the walimah, and forbidden marriages. It provides a practical procedure for performing the marriage contract and includes a model marriage certificate.

The second book discusses the proper etiquettes of marital intimacy, forbidden acts of intimacy, the perils of zind, and birth control. It answers many frequently-asked questions about various acts of intimacy.

The third book discusses the rights and obligations of the two spouses. It includes brief biographies of the Mothers of the Believers, realistic pictures from the life of the Prophet (8) with his wives, and a complete discussion of the hadith of Umm Zar‘.

This series deals with marriage and other family issues in a practical approach, taking advantage of the author’s years of experience in the field of marriage and counseling. Each book serves as a complete handbook within its scope — providing reliable knowledge based on authentic evidence from Allah’s Book and His Messenger’s (8) Sunnah.

This is the first book in “the Muslim Family” series. It discusses all steps involved in establishing the marriage. This includes the importance and advantages of marriage, qualities to be sought in a spouse, the courting process, conditions and requirements for the marriage contract, etiquettes for marriage consummation, wedding celebration, and forbidden types of marriage. It also points out a large number of violations to Islam that are commonly committed by Muslims at every step of the marriage process.

Within its scope, this book thoroughly covers all issues that are conventionally discussed or inquired about — which makes it valuable as a reference and a textbook. At the same time, its simple presentation

Quest for Love & Mercy xxiii Preface

makes it easy to read and understand by the layman.

The first edition of this book was published five years ago (June 2000). While keeping the original content, this “revised edition” has the following main enhancements:

All praise and thanks are due to our Lord (88) who facilitated the completion of this work. May He further reward all the Muslims who helped and supported this effort in various ways. In particular, may Allah (8%) reward my shaykh and teacher, Muhammad Nasir ud-Din al-Albani whose works have benefited us in ways beyond description, my son ‘Abdullah who designed the original cover, Sundus al-As‘ad who proof-read the manuscript of the original edition, and my daughters who proofread the manuscript and provided valuable suggestions.

We ask Allah (88) to make this humble effort helpful and profitable to the Muslims, forgive our shortcomings, purify our work from hypocrisy and conceit, and accept it from us.

Vt sual (Oo Gul é i

LES ea eS os Ballad ae dT OD ££ abl al

same for my progeny. Our Lord! Answer my du‘@.

Our Lord, forgive us and all of the believers, and bestow Your peace and praise upon our Prophet Muhammad (8%).