Weekly Classroom Themes – Secondary

Evils of Debate

In the Name of Allah; Most-Merciful, Most-Compassionate.

Imam al Ghazali writes in Ihya ulum al diin on the evils of debating and the negative impacts that debate can have on ones character.

The first of the evils outlined is that of envy and he quotes the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) who said that envy consumes good deeds like fire does wood. Envy is a result of debate as the process creates a victor and one who is overcome; naturally the process leads one away from seeking communal good and leads toward second evil: pride. The debater becomes haughty with regard to his opinions, ideas, ability and intellect. Debating leads people to view themselves as superior to others.

The text continues to outline the third evil of rancor, about which the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said that the believer is free from. The next evil is that of backbiting and gossip, either during, about or caused by debate. Debaters often refer to the words of the other person or even attacking the honour of his opponent debater. In some cases this may even lead to deceit and lying. The Imam includes spying and prying into private affairs as an evil aspect to debate as debaters try to uncover the faults of each other.

Those who engage in debate may even rejoice at the injury of others and feel depressed when a topic is lost. Therein he has lost the pursuit of seeking Truth and has taken a path to proving himself correct. Thereby truth may even be resisted, and to such an extent that it may be detested – may Allah protect us from that. Likewise, debate may turn a person in the other direction, to extreme flattery and praise, in order to earn favour. This, Imam al Ghazali writes, leads to hypocrisy as the debater wants nothing but to put oneself forward before people to gain their approval and their praise.

May Allah guide us all and protect us from such evils.

Questions: Is all debate evil? Explain.

Who is Imam al Ghazali?

How can we learn from this?

Can we implement this in our lives today? How? Give examples.

Group Assignment:

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  Split the class into two groups. Have one group write and perform a skit where a beneficial debate occurs. Have the other group write and perform a skit about a debate doesn’t accomplish anything, but leads only to feelings of pride for the winner and leads to backbiting/gossip or other evils for the loser of the debate.
  

Week 7

Best times for Du'a

In the Name of Allah; Most-Merciful, Most-Compassionate.

The Qur’an and Prophetic Sunnah specify times within which it is recommended to make supplications, I will inshaAllah briefly summarize some of these times and additional details may be sought in the text: Du’a by Yasir Qadhi (p. 120-136).

1. The Last third of the night: It is recorded that the Prophet (may Allah exalt his mention and protect him from every evil) said: “Our Lord – all Glory and Praise be to Him – comes in the last third of the night to the skies of this world, and He says: ‘Who is there that is making du’a, so that I can respond to him? Who is there that is asking Me, so that I can give him? Who is there that is seeking my forgiveness, so that I can forgive him?’” (Reported in al Bukhari #1145 and Muslim #758).

2. When the Adhan is called: It is recorded that the Prophet (may Allah exalt his mention and protect him from every evil) said: “Two are never rejected, or rarely rejected: the du’a during the call for prayer and the du’a during the calamity, when the two armies attack each other” (reported in ibn Majah and al Hakim). Anas ibn Malik also narrates that the Prophet (may Allah exalt his mention and protect him from every evil) said: “The du’a said between the adhan and the iqamah is not refused, therefore offer your du’as” (reported in Ahmad, abu Dawud and Tirmidhi).

3. In sujud: abu Hurayrah narrates that the Prophet (may Allah exalt his mention and protect him from every evil) said: “The closest any worshipper can be to his Lord is while he is in prostration, so increase your du’as in it” (reported in Muslim, abu Dawud and al Nasa’i).

4. After salah: It is recorded that the Prophet (may Allah exalt his mention and protect him from every evil) was asked by abu Umamah al Bahili “O Messenger of Allah. Which du’a is the most likely to be responded to?” He said: “In the last part of the night and after the obligatory prayers” (narrated in Tirmidhi).

5. An hour on Friday: It is recorded that the Prophet (may Allah exalt his mention and protect him from every evil) said: “On Friday, there is an hour during which, if any Muslim is standing in front of Allah in salat, and asking Allah for something good, he will be granted his request” (narrated in al Bukhari).

6. Before drinking Zam Zam water: It is recorded that the Prophet (may Allah exalt his mention and protect him from every evil) said: “The water of Zam Zam is for whatever it has been drunk for” (narrated in Ahmad and ibn Majah).

7. On the Day of Arafah: It is recorded that the Prophet (may Allah exalt his mention and protect him from every evil) said: “The best of all du’as is the one given on the Day of Arafah, and the best statement that I or any of the Prophets before me have said is: ‘There is no other deity worthy of worship, He is One, and He has no partners. To Him belongs the Dominion, to Him is given all Praise and He is aware of all things” (narrated in Tirmidhi).

8. When it rains: It is recorded that the Prophet (may Allah exalt his mention and protect him from every evil) said: “Two are the du’as that are never returned: the du’a made when prayer is being called and at the time of rainfall” (narrated in abu Dawud and al Hakim).

And Allah knows best.

Questions: Recall previous weeks, what prevents dua?

Do research and find out other times that are good to make du’a in?

Research and find a du’a of the Prophet, write one page about it.

What are the manners of making du’a?

Week 8