Umrah Removing Poverty

Is it correct that there is a Hadith to the effect that performing Umrah removes sins and poverty?

A. A Hadeeth mentions that when Haj and Umrah are performed consecutively, poverty and sins are wiped out just as a furnace removes dirt from iron. (Ibni Maajah V2 P964).

Another Hadeeth mentions that sins committed between two Umrahs are wiped out by virtue of the two Umrahs. (Tirmidhi V3 P272).

Another Hadeeth mentions that the Hujjaaj and those who make Umrah are delegations of Allah. When they ask (from Allah), they receive. When they make Du'aa, they are answered. When they spend they are compensated. (Shu'abul Imaan V9 P141). We could not find a narration mentioning that Umrah alone (without Haj) removes poverty. The narration above mentions Umrah and Haj consecutively removes poverty.

Allah Ta'aala knows best.

Moulana Yusuf Laher
Checked and approved by: Mufti Siraj Desai

Hadith of Madinatul Ilm

Q: According to the Ulama of Ilm ul Hadith, what is the status of the authenticity of the famous hadith that is attributed to the Prophet sallallahu alaihi wa sallam: "I am the City of Knowledge and Ali is its gate?" I want to know what the opinion of the ulama of the Deoband is on the authenticity of this hadith.

A: Jazakallah for your interesting and important query. Regarding the hadith أنا مدينة العلم وعلي بابها
(I am the city of knowledge and Ali is its door) we have proof that this is an authentic hadith and not fabricated, as some have claimed. Here are the quotations:

1. Imam Haakim narrated this in his Mustadrak and termed it saheeh. It must be noted that Imam Haakim compiled the mustadrak for the sole purpose of recording those saheeh Ahaadith that are not found in Bukhari and Muslim. Tabarani also narrated this in Mu’jam Al Kabeer.

2. Though Bukhari, Tirmizhi, and Yayha in Mu’een disputed its authenticity, and some such as Abu Haatim and Yahya bin Sa’eed went on to totally negate the very origin of this hadith, other scholars have given opposite findings. Abu Sa’eed Alaa-ee and Hafiz Ibni Hajar said that this hadith is of the hasan category and is tenable proof because of the numerous chains through which it has been transmitted. Ibni Hajar Makki supported this view as well, and also quoted the authentication of Imam Haakim. He further states that those who brand this hadith as fabricated have erred.
Extracted from Al-Maqaasidul Hasanah and Kashful-Khifaa.

And Allah knows best

Mufti Siraj Desai

Status of Umar radhiallahu anhu

Q: I was reading Bukhari, and I find Umar radhiallahu anhu changed so many Sharia laws such as muta, poetry in Musjid, and he even changed taraweeh. Explain why we follow such a man?

A: Do you know of the virtues mentioned by Rasoolullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) about Hazrat Umar?

The hadith states: "The Haqq flows from the tongue of Umar" and "If there was to be a Prophet after me,it would have been Umar". These sayings of Our Rasool (alayhis salaam) prove that Umar had vast knowledge and vision. Hazrat Umar was responsible for setting up one of the most effective and comprehensive systems of government, based on Quran and Sunnah; a system that today even the kuffar are learning from.

Umar (radhiyallahu anhu) did not "change" any Shariah laws. You are highly mistaken when you say "he changed so many Shariah Laws". As for Muta, it was only allowed for a short while then banned, right in the time of Rasoolullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam). He prohibited poetry that was not in conformity to Shariah, so again he did not do anything different to what The Messenger of Allah had done. There are numerous hadith on maintaining the respect of the Musjid.

Regarding Taraweeh, here too, he changed nothing. Taraweeh was started by Allah's Messenger. All Umar did was to fix a number of Rakaats behind one Imam. This was accepted by all the Sahaaba so it was not just the vision of Umar alone. Even Hazrat Ali (radhiyallahu anhu) praised him and made dua for him when he saw people offering congregational Taraweeh in the Masaajid during the nights of Ramadaan.

Another hadith in Tirmizhi states: "Cling fast to my Sunnat and the sunnat of my rightly guided Caliphs after me." In this hadith it is clearly stated that Umar's sunnat has to be followed and is like the Sunnat of Allah's Messenger himself.

Why are you singling out Umar for this unwarranted criticism, when it was Hazrat Abubakr who compiled the Quran for the first time in book form, between two covers, and then Hazrat Uthman did the same. It was Hazrat Uthman who introduced the first athan of Jumu'ah outside the Musjid. These issues were not done by Allah's Messenger. So Umar is not alone in the introduction of important issues that affect the Ummat. If you start rejecting the practices and fatwas of the Sahaaba, you won't have any Deen left.

My advice to you is to stop reading Bukhari for you clearly don't understand the essence and reality of the ahadith in Bukhari. Rather go and sit in the company of a qualified Aalim and learn your Deen there. That will be safer and far easier.

Mufti Siraj Desai

Alqama bin Wa'il

Q: We have a dispute in our class of rijal and we would like your advice. Was 'Alqama bin Wa'il in his mother's womb when his father Wa'il bin Hujr died? Or was it Abdul Jabbar bin Wa'il who was in his mother's womb when his father (Wa'il bin Hujr) died?

A: There are both opinions in the Kitabs on this issue. The Riwaayat in Abu Dawood indicates the Abdul Jabbaar narrated from his father. Most Historians are of the opinion that Alqamah narrated from the father and not Abdul Jabbaar. Some say that he narrated from his father Mursalan. The stronger inclination is that Abdul Jabbaar was in the womb of the mother at the time of his father's death.

Allah Ta'aala knows best.

Check the following Kitabs:

1) At Ta'reekhul Kabeer

2) At Tabaqaatul Kubraa

3) Al Kaashif Fee Ma'rifati Man Lahu Riwaayatun Fil Kutubis Sittah

4) Tahdheebul Asmaa

5) Tahdheebut Tahdheeb

6) Thiqaat ibni Habbaan

7) Siyar A'alaamin Nubalaa'

Moulana Yusuf Laher
Checked and approved by: Mufti Siraj Desai

Hadith on Virtues of Giving up Disputes

Q: Please confirm whether this is a hadith or not: Narrated Abu Umamah radhiallahu anhu, Prophet Muhammad sallallahu alaihi wa sallam said: 1) I guarantee a home in Paradise for a person who gives up arguments and disputes even if he is on the truth. 2) And (I also guarantee) a home in the middle of Paradise for a person who gives up lying (false statements) even while joking. 3) And (I also guarantee) a home in the highest part of Paradise for a person who has a high standard of character.

A: Yes, this is an authentic hadith that appears in Tirmizhi, Nasaa-ee and many other famous books.