This is a medium response to one Yemenite Sufi whose name is Al-Habeeb Ibn 'Ali Al-Jafri. In his most recent tape entitled ''The Objectives of a Female Believer and Her Example in Life'', he mentioned that the celebration of the Prophet's, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, birthday is permissible. He provided evidence from the Quran and the Sunnah (of the Prophet, sallalaahu 'alayhi wa salam) -as he claims- and he confused the ordinary listener with this evidence.
Author: Aadil ibn Ali ibn Ahmad Al-Fareedaan
Translators: Kessai El-Karim
Publisher: Islamic Propagation Office in Rabwah
An summarised text detailing the rules governing the Criticism of Hadeeth. From its introduction -'A hadith (pl. ahadith) is composed of two parts: the matn (text) and the isnad (chain of reporters). A text may seem to be logical and reasonable but it needs an authentic isnad with reliable reporters to be acceptable; 'Abdullah b. al-Mubarak (d. 181 AH) is reported to have said, "The isnad is part of the religion: had it not been for the isnad, whoever wished to would have said whatever he liked." During the lifetime of the Prophet (SAS) and after his death, his Companions (Sahabah) used to refer to him when quoting his sayings. The Successors (Tabi'un) followed suit; some of them used to quote the Prophet (SAS) through the Companions while others would omit the intermediate authority - such a hadith was known as mursal (loose). It was found that the missing link between the Successor and the Prophet (SAS) might be one person, i.e. a Companion, or two persons, the extra person being an older Successor who heard the hadith from the Companion.'
Author: Mahmood Al-Tahaan
A brief but nice booklet discussing Zakaah, those items and amounts upon which it is due, and where it is to be spent. Includes a few important fataawa related to Zakaah
Author: Abdul Aziz bin Abdullah bin Baz
Source: http://www.islamhouse.com/p/1269
Sahih Muslim includes sayings, doings and approvals of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) narrated by his companions. It is considered the third most authentic book in Islam after the Quran and "Sahih al-Bukhari". It covers almost all aspects of life.
Author: Muslim ibn al-Hajjaj ibn Muslim al-Qushairi an-Naisabori
Translators: AbdulHamid Siddiqui
Publisher: http://www.islamspirit.com - Islam Spirit Website
A comprehensive and scholarly look at the family unit in Islam, from its conception via marriage to rights and roles of the partners that make for a successful team. The learned author also squarely confronts more touching issues such as polygamy, modes of divorce, and social equality.
Author: Hammodah Abd al-Aati
Publisher: http://www.islamweb.net - Islam Web Website
A nice discussion of some important points needed by those callling to Islam
Source: http://www.islamhouse.com/p/1243