What is the view of the Shariah with regarding monetary incentives to draw people in particular the youth towards the Masjid?

Answer

All these competitions and prizes doled out ostensibly to draw people to the Musjid are a mockery of the Deen and inspirations of Iblees. It is a method of riya, takabbur and pure nafsaaniyat. This mockery of Ibaadat is akin to kufr. There is absolutely no Ikhlaas in such 'ibaadat'. In some places in America to lure people, especially their youth drifting into atheism and barbarism, to the empty churches, they served hot dogs and coke as holy communion. These haraam 'ibaadat' competitions are worse than the hotdog-coke scheme of the Christian priests.

It is not permissible to participate in these haraam competitions which make a joke and mockery of Salaat which the Qur'aan describes as the "Greatest Thikr". The exceptionally low and degraded level of spiritual degeneration in which Muslims are wallowing can be adequately understood from this mockery of Salaat organized by Munaafiq rascals. Whereas ibaadat is a sombre exercise of meditating on Allah Ta'ala, these rascals have transformed it into a merrymaking stunt for winning stupid, haraam prizes. Their hallucinated objective for the shaitaani completion is waswasah urinated into their brains by Iblees.

The slightest contamination in niyyat corrupts the ibaadat which is rejected by Allah Ta'ala. Prizes for ibaadat? It is indeed shocking and unimaginable. But we are in the era which is in close proximity to Qiyaamah, hence the fitnah of the dunya is incremental by the day. The Hadith instructs us to constantly make dua for protection from the 'fitnah of the dunya and the athaab of the qabr'. Allah Ta'ala says in the Qur'aan Majeed:

"The life of this world is but play and amusement while the abode of the Aakhirat is best for those who have Taqwa (who fear Allah Ta'ala). What! Have you no intelligence?"

Today even ibaadat has been transformed into play and amusement based on Riya (show and ostentation). Those rubbishes who have devised this satanic scheme of 'ibaadat' competitions are in reality bereft of Imaan. In a dream a man saw a Buzrug. On asking of the Buzrug's condition in Barzakh, he replied:

"A meticulous reckoning of my a'maal (deeds) was taken. I was rewarded for the death of my cat because I had grieved. But, was not rewarded when my donkey had died because I was annoyed and a curse slipped from my mouth. A silk thread in my topi of which I was not even aware was recorded as an evil deed in my account.

The ibaadat which made me happy when people saw me engaging in it was not recorded among my good deeds." In other words, such ibaadat was nullified by the feeling of happiness which was tantamount to riya.

On hearing this, a Wali commented: "He is most fortunate for not being punished for such ibaadat." Now form your own conclusion regarding these shaitaani schemes of 'ibaadat competitions'.

Lack of concentration in Salaat is a spiritual ailment of epidemic proportions. Almost everyone suffers from this malady. Numerous people write seeking ways for gaining concentration in Salaat.

The mind of Insaan (the human being) is like a public road where all types of people, crooks, villains, robbers, the pious, fussaaq, fujjaar, kuffaar and animals abound. Mingling with all these elements in the public road is unavoidable. One simply has to continue walking without interfering with any elements on the road. That is, simply ignore the onslaught of the stray thoughts and continue with your Salaat. Insha- Allah, the incidence of wasaawis will gradually decrease. This advice is for the pious or for those who do not wilfully indulge in sin and futility.

As for the fussaaq and fujjaar, the first vital step is to abandon fisq and fujoor - flagrant sin and immorality. What must be expected when the mind is full of the filth ingested from the cell phone? The mind is oversaturated with haraam. The eyes are filled with haraam. The ears are filled with haraam. No restraint is placed on the eyes and on the tongue. The rights of people are violated. Haraam food has become a norm. Devouring carrion is a favourite dish. In brief, from morning to night the entire body indulges in sin and filth. How can one now expect to have concentration in Salaat?

Whatever a person does, says and thinks exercises its effects on the mind. If the mind is not purified, forget about concentration in Salaat. Abstention from all sin and futility is essential for concentration in Salaat.

MASTURBA-

TION

Masturbation is akin to the shaitaan's practice of self-gratification which for him is natural, but absolutely and horribly unnatural, obscene and harmful, spiritually and physically for human beings. The following is narrated in the Hadith: "Allah Ta'ala has created a penis in the right thigh of Iblees and a vagina in his left thigh. In this manner does he gratify his lust. Then every day ten eggs emerge (from Iblees). From each egg seventy male and female shayaateen are born.

Those humans who indulge in selfgratification by way of the obscenity of masturbation should reflect on the Satanism they are emulating from Iblees. The indulger in this vile sin of masturbation is worse than Iblees. Selfgratification of lust is natural for Iblees since Allah Ta'ala has created him with the two organs, but for Insaan it is unnatural and satanic. On the Day of Qiyaamah, the masturbators will rise with their hands pregnant. They will be thoroughly disgraced in the multitudes of people.

ENTER WITH SALAAM

When entering your home, do so with the Masnoon Salaam if the inmates are present. If no one is present, then say:

(Salaam on us and on the pious servants of Allah.)

The Malaaikah in the house respond to the Salaam.

On the other hand, if you enter your home without Salaam, then the shaitaan whose name is Waasim, churns up mischief and strife among the housefolk. This mischief is the specific duty of the devil, Waasim.

Allah Ta'ala declares:

"And whatever strikes you of calamities - it is due to what YOUR own hands have earned (i.e. misdeeds); although He overlooks much." (42:30)

In Tafseer Ibn Abi Haatim it states regarding this verse:

"When it was revealed, Rasulullah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) said:

"By the one in whose Hands is the soul of Muhammad, there is no scratch from a twig, nor palpitation of a vein, nor a slip of the feet, except (that it occurs) due to a sin. And what Allah overlooks is more."

Allah Ta'ala states regarding these trials and calamities which are, in reality, "lesser" punishments:

"And verily, We will make them taste of the near lighter torment prior to the greater torment, in order that they may return (i.e. repent)" (32:21)

In the Tafseer of Ibn Katheer it is related that Hadhrat Ibn Abbas (radhiyallahu anhu) said regarding the aforementioned verse:

"The near torment means diseases and problems in this world, and the things that happen to its people as a test from Allah to His servants so that they will repent to Him."

In the Tafseer of at-Tabari, it is related that Ibn Abbas (radhiyallahu anhu) said regarding this "lesser punishment":

"The calamities of this Dunya, its diseases (both mental and physical), and its misfortunes (of all forms) with which Allah afflicts his servants UNTIL they repent."

These verses are general and apply to everyone, except the sinless (and virtually sinless) such as the Ambiya (alayhimus salaam) and Auliya (rahmatullahi alayh). The trials and tribulations of Ambiya (alayhimus salaam) and Auliya (rahmatullahi alayh), rather than cleansing their non-existent sins, serve to raise their ranks and also as an inspiration for their Ummah and future nations.

As for the rest of us who are sinful, we should reflect on the verses above, introspect, do Tawbah, and resolve sincerely to abstain from the sins which have caused trials and calamities to descend upon us.

Allah's Punishment is commensurate with the crime. The greater the crime, the greater the calamity.

Remember! Far far worse than sins is justification (Halaalization) of those sins, and even worse than justification of those sins is propagating your justification by which the doors are opened for others to also soothe their consciences while sinning. The trick of hiding behind scholars who legalize (Halaalize) doubtful matters does not work with this Divine Rule of calamities.

Humble yourself, repent and turn to Allah wholeheartedly, make proper amends (e.g. Rujoo'), adopt Taqwa (fear of Allah which leads one to abstain from all Haraam and doubtful matters), and you will experience first-hand the Help of Allah and Deliverance from Calamities as guaranteed by Allah Ta'ala:

"Whosoever adopts Taqwa of Allah, He will make a way out for him (from difficulties), and He (Allah) will provide for him from places he (the afflicted person) could never have imagined." (65:3)

It behoves a servant suffering from disease, tragedies, pain, and the like, to sincerely search within himself, introspect deeply, and seek to make amends immediately, especially for those sins for which he has thus far obstinately refused to acknowledge as sins, before his pain and suffering are multiplied manifold with the arrival of the Greater Torment.

"And verily, We will make them taste of the near lighter torment prior to the GREATER TORMENT... (32:21)

YOGA

EXERCISES?