Madani In'amaat: Fikr-e-Madinah, Glad Tidings and 18 Sunnahs of Sitting

How many Madani Inamaat for whom?

Madani In'amaat, in the form of a question, is a compilation of methods combining both Shari'ah and Tareeqah to be of aid in easily performing good deeds and saving oneself from sins in this troubled age. There are 72 Madani In'amaat for Islamic brothers, 63 for Islamic sisters, 92 for male students of the Deen, 83 for female students of the Deen, 40 for Madani children and 27 for special (deaf and dumb) Islamic brothers.

Countless Islamic brothers, Islamic sisters and students of the Deen act according to the Madani In'amaat and, whilst performing 'Fikr-e-Madinah' meaning to take account of one's own deeds, complete the chart in the pocket-sized booklet of Madani In'amaat before sleeping.

Having sincerely adopted these Madani In'amaat, obstacles in becoming pious and avoiding sins are, by the grace of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ, mostly removed, and through the blessings of this الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ عَزَّوَجَلَّ one develops steadfastness to act upon the Sunnah, detest sins and becomes concerned with the protection of one's faith.

Everyone, for the sake of becoming a practicing Muslim, should obtain the booklet of Madani In'amaat from any branch of Maktaba-tul-Madinah and, whilst performing Fikr-e-Madinah (self-accountability), fill out the given chart every day and submit it to the responsible person for your locality within the first ten days of every Madani (lunar) month according to the Hijri calendar.

Glad tidings for those who act upon the Madani In'amaat

The good fortune of those who complete the Madani In'amaat booklet can be judged from the following Madani parable:

It is the sworn account of an Islamic brother of Hyderabad (Bab-ul-Islam, Sindh) that, "In a night in the month of Rajab-ul-Murajjab 1426 AH, I was blessed with the vision of the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالَى عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّم whilst dreaming. His blessed lips moved into motion, and as petals of mercy began to spring from them, they formed into the words, 'Whoever punctually completes Fikr-e-Madinah this month as part of the Madani In'amaat, Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ will forgive him.'"

My dear Islamic brothers! To bring the Bayan to its conclusion, I wish to obtain the blessing of mentioning the virtue of the Sunnah and a few Sunnahs and Islamic manners. The Rasool of Rahmah صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالَى عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّم stated, "Whoever loved my Sunnah loved me, and whoever loves me will be with me in Jannah."

(Ibn 'Asakir, vol. 9, pp. 343)

Seenah tayri Sunnat ka Madinah banay Aqa

Jannat mayn parausi mujhay tum apna banana

18 Madani pearls relating to sitting down

1.     The Beloved Mustafa صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالَى عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّم said, "The people who remained seated for a long period of time and then departed without doing Zikrullah or reciting Salat upon the Beloved Nabi صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالَى عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّم suffered a loss. If Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ wishes, He may punish them, and if He wishes, He may forgive them."

(Al Mustadrak lil Haakim, vol. 3, pp. 180, Hadees 1869)

2.     Sayyiduna Ibn 'Umar رَضِيَ اللهُ تَعَالَى عَنْهُمَا has said, "I saw the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالَى عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّم sat in the pose of Ihtiba in the courtyard of the Holy Ka'bah."

(Sahih Bukhari, Vol. 4, pp. 180, Hadees 6272)

Ihtiba means to sit upon one's buttocks and raise both legs such that the shins are gathered within one's arms. This method of sitting is considered a form of humility.

(Bahar-e-Shari'at, vol. 3, pp. 432)

3.     Whilst doing so - but, whenever one sits one should ensure to cover the shape and outline of one's private parts. Thus, one should wrap a shawl from their knees to their feet for observing veil within veil. If one's Kurta is in accordance with the Sunnah, its lower portion can also fulfil this purpose.

4.     After performing Salat-ul-Fajr, the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالَى عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّم would remain seated cross-legged until the sun had risen considerably.

(Abu Dawood, vol. 4, pp. 345, Hadees 485)

5.     It is stated on page 67 of volume 1 of Jami' Karamat Awliya that Imam Yusuf Nabhaani رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالَى عَلَيْهِ would sit upon his calves (as we sit during Tashahhud in Salah).

6.     To sit upon one's calves is virtuous even besides Salah.

(Mirat, vol. 8, pp. 90)

7.     The Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالَى عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّم would normally sit facing the Qiblah.

(Ihya-ul-'Uloom, vol. 2, pp. 449)

8.     The Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالَى عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّم said, "The most noble of all gatherings is that in which people face the Qiblah."

(Tabarani, vol. 6, pp. 161)

9.     Sayyiduna 'Abdullah Bin Umar رَضِيَ اللهُ تَعَالَى عَنْهُمَا would often sit facing the Qiblah.

(Al-Maqasid-ul-Hasanah, pp. 88)

10. During a Bayan or whilst teaching, it is Sunnah for a Muballigh or teacher to sit with their back to the Qiblah, such that those who are learning from them are facing the Qiblah. 'Allamah Haafiz Sakhawi رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالَى عَلَيْهِ states, "The Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالَى عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّم would turn his back towards the Qiblah such that those he was teaching and sermonizing would be facing the Qiblah."

(Al-Maqasid-ul-Hasanah, pp. 88)

11. Sayyiduna Anas رَضِيَ اللهُ تَعَالَى عَنْهُ narrated that the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالَى عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّم was never seen sat with his legs outstretched in front of others.

(Tirmizi, vol. 4, pp. 221, Hadees 2498)

The word Rukbatayn (i.e. knees) is used in the blessed hadith. According to one position, this refers to the blessed feet, as Mufti Ahmad Yar Khan رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالَى عَلَيْهِ has written regarding this Hadees, "Meaning that the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالَى عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّم would never sit in a gathering with his legs outstretched and pointing his feet towards someone be it his children, wives or servants."

(Mirat, vol. 8, pp. 80)

12. Sayyiduna Imam-e-A'zam, Abu Hanifah رَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى عَلَيْهِ stated, "I have never stretched my legs in the direction of the house of my teacher Sayyiduna Hammad رَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى عَلَيْهِ out of respect for him. Though there are several streets between his house and mine, I have never pointed my feet in that direction."

(Manaqib Imam-e-A'zam, part 2, pp. 7)

13. To create space for a person newly arriving is Sunnah. The sixth Hadees on page 432 of volume 3 of Bahar-e-Shari'at states, "A person presented himself in the court of Rasulullah صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالَى عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّم whilst he صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالَى عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّم was in the Masjid, and the Holy Nabi صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالَى عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّم moved to create space for him. It was said, 'O Rasoolallah صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالَى عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّم there is also plenty of space (there is no need for you to trouble yourself to create space).' The Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالَى عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّم replied, 'It is the right of a Muslim that his brother creates space for him when he sees him.'"

(Shu'ab-ul-Iman, vol. 6, pp. 468, Hadees 8933)

14. The Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالَى عَلَيْهِ وَآلِهِ وَسَلَّم said, "When any of you is in shade and the shade then moves away, leaving him partially in the sunshine and partially in shade, then he should stand up from there."

(Abi Dawood, vol. 4, pp. 338, Hadees 4821)

15. A'la Hadrat, Imam Ahmad Raza Khan رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالَى عَلَيْهِ writes, "Refrain from sitting in the seat of your Murshid or teacher even in their absence."

(Fatwa Razawiyyah, vol. 24, pp. 369-424)

16. Whenever you attend an Ijtima' or a gathering, do not clamber over people to reach the front. Take a seat wherever you find space.

17. Whenever you sit down, take off your shoes, this will give your feet rest.

(Jami'-us-Sagheer, pp. 40, Hadees 554)

18. When you get free from a Majlis, recite [the following] Du'a three times, sins will be forgiven and the Islamic brother who recites this Du'a in the Majlis of goodness and the Majlis of Zikr, goodness will be stamped for him:

سُبْحَانَكَ اللَّهُمَّ وَبِحَمْدِكَ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ اسْتَغْفِرُكَ وَأَتُوْبُ إِلَيْكَ

Translation: You are Pure, O Allah, and all praise is for You. There is no Almighty except You. I seek forgiveness from You and I repent to You.

(Sunan Abi Dawood, vol. 4, pp. 347, Hadees 4857)