The Beauty of ISlam*

Superstition is Shirk

2010-05-17T13:26:00.000-07:00

''What comes to you of good is from Allah, but what comes to you of evil, [O man], is from yourself'' (4:79)

A man leaves his house, on the way a black car crosses his path, he thinks this is a bad omen and therefore returns back home. Though this seems to be such a minor act, however in reality, it really mean that he thinks that the black cat has power and authority to change the man's fate. This is shirk because it mean that other then Allah the car also has control and authority over a man's life and to bring harm to him (Naauuzobillah).

Other common Superstitious Beliefs prevalent in our society are seeing someone disliked in the morning means the whole day will be full of bad luck, twitching eyes means bad luck and evil portent, Itching in tthe rigth palm means money will be acquired. If one shoes comes on top of the other, it means journey will be undertaken. Taking omens from colors, such as wearing black means illness will strike, or not wearing black clothes because black is the color of the cover of kaabah, not wearing green colored shoes due to respect because green is the color of the dome of Prophet's (s) Mosque.

Holding such beliefs not only led man to make halal things haram on himself but led him to associate fate and destiny with these things, which is not only great misguidance but a great sin "shirk" because no one other than Allah has the power and control over man's fate. and all the things from which good or bad portents are derived are nothing but creations of Allah who have no control over other creations.

Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said,

"taking omens is shirk; taking omens is shirk. He said it three times. Every one of us has some (superstition), but Allah removes it by trust (in Him)." (sunan abi dawood)

He also said, "A person who derived bad luck from something and refrained from doing what he was intending to do, he has committed shirk. The companions asked him whar would be its expiation, the Prophet replied "He should say
''O Allah this is no portent other then Your portent, no goodness other than Your goodness, and none worth of worship other than you'."(Musnad Ahmed)

Eid is a day of happiness but for who?

2008-10-19T09:17:00.000-07:00

By Asma bint Shameem

As he took his seat on Eid morning for prayer
he began to think..... he started to despair

The month of Ramadhaan just slipped away
A whole month that passed by as if only a day

He sat, going o'er the days that were no more
And the blessed nights that were gone for sure
Searching ...through the pages of his life....to find
any good deeds so as to console his restless mind

He knew there was not much for him to see
but he was hoping for something that just might be

He looked at his record of Qur'aanic recitation
But alas, there was not even one whole completion

His eyes filled with tears as it dawned upon him
Whatever little he read, was without comprehending

What good is that reading if he didn't understand?
How then could he follow Allaah's rules and Command?

He read like a parrot, without stopping to contemplate
O how he wasted this perfect chance to educate

With grief he turned to his record of giving and charity
but he realized how severely he lacked in generosity

He didn't give enough except for a just a little bit
Though Allaah has blessed him, he didn't part with it

Even the obligatory zakaat...such a big burden it seemed
I wish I had given more....how his aching heart screamed

Then sadly he turned to look at his daily fasting
It was simply a ritual.... there was no implementing

Though he controlled his hunger, he didn't control his tongue
He cursed, he swore.... he lashed out at all old 'n young

O how he looked at the haraam and listened to the forbidden
How could he forget...from Allaah there's nothing that's hidden

Even in the last ten nights, he made a half-hearted attempt
How he preferred his bed and its warm comfort instead!

Why didn't he exert himself...why didn't he do more?
Why did he succumb to temptation, is that what he is really here for?

As he looked around at all those around him
Smiling and happy with new clothes upon them

He thought to himself.... his clothes were new too
But that's not why they were happy, that much he knew

Then a question appeared in his mind.... a question so true
That surely, Eid is a day of happiness but for who?
Is it for those wearing new clothes or for those of you
Who strive hard in Ramadhaan as best as they can do

For those who do good deeds hoping for Allaah's Pleasure
And for those who are saved from His Torment and Displeasure

Big tears of distress rolled down his sorrowful eyes
He cried regretfully as he stifled his weary sighs

I wish I had done more....I wish I had been stronger
I wish I had worshipped Allaah each night a bit longer

I wish I had taken advantage of this great opportunity
to have my sins forgiven and a chance to earn felicity

With pain so severe it would split his inside
It broke his heart....as he realized

This beautiful month is gone and gone is its beauty
But he knows one can never despair of Allaah's Mercy

He knows even after all this, it's not too late
If he turns to Allaah He will never repudiate

He will not turn him back if he repents sincerely
He will forgive him even now after failing severely

I beg of your boundless Mercy.....please forgive me
You are the Most Beneficent...don't deprive me.

O Allaah I promise from now on I'll be good
I will do my best to please You as I should

I know I didn't do enough.....even close to what I should have
But whatever little I did, please accept it on my behalf.

"'Eid isn't happiness for those that wear new clothes, but it is for those whom Allah is pleased with of his slaves, and those that were rescued from the great torment."

Nine great benefits of reciting the Holy Quran

2008-08-10T16:27:00.000-07:00

In the name of Allah, the Most-Merciful, the All-Compassionate"

May the Peace and Blessings of Allah be Upon You

Indeed to reflect on Allah's verses is a form of worship that will draw one close to Allah Most High. This reflection is not a reckless and wandering one, rather it includes a study of the classical tafseer of the verses being pondered over, as this would fulfill Ibnul-Qayyim's great advice, "Such as reflecting over a book which a person has memorized and he expounds it so that he may understand what its author intends by it."

Indeed the Book of Allah is not a book like any other, it is the timeless Speech of Allah, not a created thing, the study guide for life and death and what comes after. Therefore it deserves a more careful study than anyone else's speech. It necessitates that its reader return to the early narrations of those who witnessed its revelation and heard its explanation by the one deputed by Allah to rehearse and explain His Words to humanity (sallallaahu `alaihi wa sallam). For if one would try to ponder over the meanings of the verses without having done this study, then surely the filth of the time that he lives in and his ignorance of the correct application and understanding that the early Muslims had would cause him to understand some things not intended by Allah Most High, and therefore he would go astray, thinking to be worshipping Allah. So every sincere Muslim who hopes to earn Allah's Love breciting and reflecting over Allah's Book, then let him hold tight to the meanings explained by the Prophet (sallallaahu `alaihi wa sallam), and those taught by the companions and their immediate followers, and the early scholars of Islam.

So dear brother and sister Muslim! Know that reciting and pondering over the Book of Allah, devoting your time regularly to its study and implementation has tremendous benefits in this life and the Next, so let us now look to just a few of them to attach ourselves more firmly to Allah's Majestic Words. Each benefit stands as enough of an encouragement to shun any laziness we have and dedicate ourselves to the Qur'an.

1 - Reading and reflecting over the Qur'an fulfils an Islamic duty.

Indeed the Prophet (sallallaahu `alaihi wa sallam) summarized this Religion with his statement: "The Religion is naseehah (sincerity)!" So then Tameem ibn Aws, may Allah be pleased with him, then said, "We asked, `To whom?'" He said: "To Allah, HIS BOOK, His Messenger, the leaders of the people, and their common folk." [Muslim] The sincerity that is due to the Book of Allah includes its regular recitation, learning the rules of tajweed and reciting it beautifully, learning about its tafseer and the reasons for its revelation, affirming that it is the Truth, the perfect Speech of Allah and not part of the creation, honoring it and defending it, abiding by the orders and prohibitions found in it, teaching it and calling to it. [See Jaami'ul-'Uloom wal-Hikam of Ibn Rajab Al-Hambalee] So by reading and reflecting over the Qur'an, one fulfills an obligation and is rewarded for that. Upon fulfilling this obligation, the Qur'an then becomes a proof for him on the Day of Judgment! And that is our second benefit we will take by embracing this Noble Book...

2 - The Qur'an will be a proof for us on the Day of Judgment.

This is due to the statement of the Messenger: "And the Qur'an is a proof for you or against you." [Muslim] So one of two things will occur with this proof, the Book of Allah. It will either be in your favor, a proof for you on the Day when you will need every single good deed, or it will be something standing against you, the very Speech of your Creator, a proof against you! Who could be saved from the terrors of that Day if Allah's own Speech is against him?!?! Think carefully, dear Muslim brother or sister, about your position with the Qur'an! Are you neglecting it, contradicting it, being heedless of its orders and prohibitions, are you thinking deeply over it?! Will it be on your side on the Day of Judgment.?! O Allah! We ask you, by Your Glorious Speech and the rest of your beautiful Names and Attributes, to make the Qur'an a proof for us! O Allah! Don't make the Qur'an a proof against us on that Day, and save us from the hellfire! For if Allah makes the Qur'an a proof in our favour on that Day, then it would also be an intercessor for us, when NO intercession will take place except by His Permission.

3 - The Qur'an will intercede for us on the Day of Judgment.

The proof: Aboo Umaamah relates that the Prophet (sallallaahu `alaihi wa sallam) said: "Read the Qur'an, for verily it will come on the Day of Standing as an intercessor for its companions." [Muslim]

4 - Your status in this life will be raised.

In Saheeh Muslim, we find a lovely story, about how a man from the people of Jannah, `Umar ibn Al-Khattaab, understood this principle. Some men came to question him during his khilaafah about the leadership of Makkah, they asked, "Who do you use to govern Makkah?" He said, "Ibn Abzaa." They asked, "And who is Ibn Abzaa?" Umar replied, "A freed slave from those we freed." They remarked, "You left a freed slave in charge of the people of the Valley (the noble tribes of the Quraysh)!?!?" So he answered them, "Verily he is a reader of the Book of Allah and is knowledgeable about the obligations of the Muslims. Haven't you heard the statement of your Messenger: "Verily Allah raises some people by this Book and lowers others by it."

5 - You will be from the best of the people.

`Uthmaan, may Allah be pleased with him, said that the Prophet (sallallaahu `alaihi wa sallam) said: "The best of you are the ones who learn the Qur'an and teach it to others" [Al-Bukhari]

6 - There are ten rewards for each letter you recite from the Qur'an.

As an authentic hadith in At-Tirmithee proves: "Whoever reads a letter from the Book of Allah, he will have a reward. And that reward will be multiplied by ten. I am not saying that "Alif, Laam, Meem" is a letter, rather I am saying that "Alif" is a letter, "laam" is a letter and "meem" is a letter." So increase your recitation of the Qur'an to gain these merits, and to gain the following merit as well.

7 - The reciters of the Qur'an will be in the company of the noble and obedient angels.

`Aa'ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, relates that the Prophet (sallallaahu `alaihi wa sallam) said: "Verily the one who recites the Qur'an beautifully, smoothly, and precisely, he will be in the company of the noble and obedient angels. And as for the one who recites with difficulty, stammering or stumbling through its verses, then he will have TWICE that reward." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim] So dear brother or sister Muslim, do not let the Shaytaan give you false excuses, such as "I am not an `Arab," or "Its not my language." This hadith is a firm proof against these whisperings. Dedicate yourself to the Book of Allah, whether you are an `Arab or not! The excuses have been eliminated and the pathway has been cleared for you to embrace the Book of Allah without holding back or offering excuses! And surely you will not hesitate to seek a teacher or a study circle for the Qur'an once you hear the last and perhaps greatest benefits of reading and contemplating over the Qur'an...

8 - Your position in Paradise is determined by the amount of Qur'an you memorize in this life!

`Abdullaah ibn `Amr ibn Al-'Aas heard the Prophet (sallallaahu `alaihi wa sallam) saying: "It will be said to the companion of the Qur'an: Read and elevate (through the levels of the Paradise) and beautify your voice as you used to do when you were in the dunyaa! For verily, your position in the Paradise will be at the last verse you recite!" [Aboo Daawood and At-Tirmithee, saheeh]

9 - The Qur'an will lead you to Paradise!

The Prophet said: "The Qur'an is an intercessor, something given permission to intercede, and it is rightfully believed in. Whoever puts it in front of him, it will lead him to Paradise; whoever puts it behind him, it will steer him to the Hellfire." [An authentic hadith found in At-Tabaraanee, on the authority of `Abdullaah ibn Mas'ood]

Know, dear brother or sister, that these nine benefits from the many benefits available can only be attained by a sincere commitment to the Book of Allah, not by a person's mere statement, "I love the Qur'an, it's beautiful." Rather the heart must be sincerely attached to Allah's Book and the limbs and tongue will follow in this attachment. You must know that we only mentioned a few of the numerous benefits of reading and reflecting over the Qur'an. There are many benefits that await your reading in the Qur'an and books of hadith, like the chapter of the Qur'an that will argue on your behalf in the grave, and that it is a physical healing, a source of rest and relaxation for your heart, among many other things. And Allah knows best. (Taken from Look 4 Islam)

Tips On How To Be A Successful Wife

2008-07-30T16:24:00.000-07:00

Be grateful to your husband. Remind yourself that it’s a tough world out there and your husband works very hard to provide for you. So whatever you do, don’t compare him to other men, unless it is favorably. Let him know that you appreciate his efforts, not just through your words, but also your actions.

Be sensitive to his moods, feelings and needs. For example, don’t start complaining or burden him with problems as soon as he comes home; rather, welcome him and make him feel good to be home.

Be cheerful and humorous, smile often, don’t feel shy to be affectionate with your husband and make him feel really happy to be around you. Express your love frequently and creatively, rather than waiting for him to do so first.

Make sure you serve him the foods he likes, remembering that variety is the spice of life. Try to eat together as this fosters companionship.

Dress up for your husband at home. Wear the colors and clothes that he likes to see you in and use makeup, perfume, jewelry - in short, whatever it takes to be attractive to him.
Do things together or at least allocate some time of the day to give him your undivided attention. Be sincere in appreciating him, show interest in his day, his activities, his thoughts and opinions. Give him advice and comfort him when needed.

Spend your husband’s money carefully and try to keep him informed of where his money is being spent. Remember not to spend large amounts of his money without his permission.
Show caring and concern for his relatives as this is a sure way of securing a place in his heart. Never object when he spends on them, as this is a source of abundance in provision and increase in life span.

Don’t fly into a rage when you have a difference of opinion or he criticizes you. Stay calm, control your tongue and don’t challenge your husband’s authority at that time. Use your wisdom, tactics and powers of persuasion later to try to explain your point of view.

Believe the best, not the worst about him. Be forgiving and accept apologies graciously rather than holding grudges and bringing up mistakes of the past.

Show respect for your husband by not divulging your private and confidential issues to others, or by complaining about him to people or discussing your marital problems with those who cannot help you.

Last, but not least, remember that your husband is the head of the family and as long as obedience to him does not entail any sin, it is your duty to obey him. Allah’s Messenger Sal Allahu Alayhi Wa Sallam said: “Any woman who dies and her husband is pleased with her, will enter Paradise.’’

Ten Tips on How To Be A Successful Husband

2008-07-30T16:22:00.000-07:00

By Muhammad Al Shareef

1. Dress up for your wife, look clean and smell good.When was the last time us men went shopping for designer pajamas? Just like the husband wants his wife to look nice for him, she also wants her husband to dress up for her too. Remember that Rasul Allah - sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam - would always start with Miswak when returning home and always loved the sweetest smells.

2. Use the cutest names for your wife. Rasul Allah - sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam - had nicknames for his wives, ones that they loved. Call your wife by the most beloved names to her, and avoid using names that hurt their feelings.

3. Don't treat her like a fly. We never think about a fly in our daily lives until it 'bugs' us. Similarly, a wife will do well all day - which brings no attention from the husband - until she does something to 'bug' him. Don't treat her like this; recognize all the good that she does and focus on that.

4. If you see wrong from your wife, try being silent and do not comment! This is one of the ways Rasul Allah - sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam - used when he would see something inappropriate from his wives - radi Allahu 'anhunn. It's a technique that few Muslim men have mastered.

5. Smile at your wife whenever you see her and embrace her often. Smiling is Sadaqah and your wife is not exempt from the Muslim Ummah. Imagine life with her constantly seeing you smiling. Remember also those Ahadith when Rasul Allah - sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam - would kiss his wife before leaving for Salah, even if he was fasting.

6. Thank her for all that she does for you. Then thank her again! Take for example a dinner at your house. She makes the food, cleans the home, and a dozen other tasks to prepare. And sometimes the only acknowledgement she receives is that there needed to be more salt in the soup. Don't let that be; thank her!

7. Ask her to write down the last ten things you did for her that made her happy. Then go and do them again. It may be hard to recognize what gives your wife pleasure. You don't have to play a guessing game, ask her and work on repeating those times in your life.

8. Don't belittle her desires. Comfort her. Sometimes the men may look down upon the requests of their wives. Rasul Allah - sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam set the example for us in an incident when Safiyyah - radi Allahu 'anha - was crying because, as she said, he had put her on a slow camel. He wiped her tears, comforted her, and brought her the camel.

9. Be humorous and Play games with your wife. Look at how Rasul Allah - SalAllahu alayhi wa sallam - would race his wife Aisha - radi Allahu 'anha - in the desert. When was the last time we did something like that?

10. Always remember the words of Allah's Messenger - SalAllahu alayhi wa sallam: "The best of you are those who treat their families the best. And I am the best amongst you to my family." Try to be the best!

25 Rules Of Being Close To Allah

2008-07-22T13:54:00.000-07:00

In the name of Allah most gracious most merciful

Assalaamu alaykum wa rahmatuallahi wa barakatuhu

1. Start off each day with 'adhkaar al-istiyqaadh' (waking up Supplications), thanking Allah for waking up in good shape.

2. Put Allah first in your life.

3. Broaden your horizons - learn 5 new verses from the Quran every day, travel to pray far in the mosque to brighten your day,take up a booklet having supplications and read them.

4. Pray Salaat Al-dhuhaa (after sunrise). 5. If someone says something mean ;to you, just shrug it off and dismiss it in a friendly, laidback manner, and pray that Allah shall forgive them.

6. When you get angry, remember Allah, and how short and worthless life is to waste in being Angry.

7. Remember that you can never have too many friends, but you can have few quality friends that help you fulfill the purpose of your creation (i.e. live for Allah).

8. When you're happy, try to share your happiness with others. Thank Allah for that, and pray its continuation.

9. When something bad or embarrassing happens to you, just think that it could always be worse, remember the reward of patience,and thank Allah that it's not worse than it is.

10. Do something extra of goodness once in a while, like feeding a poor person, or caressing an orphan's head.

11. Never stop believing that you can win Allah's love and thus work For it. Then you can win the love of Allah's slaves.

12. Spend some time thinking of Allah's amazing creation.

13. Always love those who love Allah unconditionally. This way you will ensure that you live for Him, love for Him, and hate for Him(those who are enemies of Him).

14. Find the righteous ways to express yourself, and if you think that what you are about to say shall cause no benefit, maintain silence (this is tough!!).

15. Every now and then, give yourself a break. Play sports, give time to your family, friends, but always remember Allah and watch that He is watching you.

16. Pray for blessing to come to those being lost, and pray to Allah to guide them to the right path.

17. Hug your parents, kiss their hands and heads and always obey but stop at Allah's orders.

18. Smile to everyone, for your smile makes a big difference to him or her and you are rewarded.

19. Forgive, forget and smile.

20. Tears are not for women only... tears are for all human beings with feelings remaining in them. Don't restrain your tears when remembering Allah.

21. When people criticize your actions and effort, revise your actions and see if they please Allah or no. If they do; then ignore and remember how the Prophet (SAAW) and the Sahaba were criticized, made fun of and even physically harmed, so have patience.

22. Read the Quran daily and try to have a schedule for completing it as much as you could. As you open the Quran daily, read with observing not just passing your eyes through the words.

23. Don't let popularity go to your head, for it never lasts and you may lose from it more than gain.

24. Never look down on anybody, for, to Allah, they may be better than you.

25. Send this to every person with the intention of having a healthy society living for Allah and pray..

Ten Minutes

2008-07-22T05:59:00.000-07:00

Assalaamu alaykum Warahamatulahi Wabarakatahu!

What Can You Do In Ten Minutes?
Abdul Malik Al-Qasim

Adapted from, "Madha taf`al fi `ashara daqa'iq

The Messenger of Allah, sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam, said,
"The best actions are continuous ones even if little..." [Muslim]

After I looked at my own state and the state of those who waste their time, I wanted to encourage our souls to obey and worship Allah `azza wa jall by compiling a list of some well-known actions that Allah `azza wa jall has honored us with and prepared a great reward for those who do them. This list is also a reminder of better utilizing our time and seizing the opportunity of every hour and making use of it. My goal in compiling the list is not to point out the actions as much as to show the necessity of organizing and planning and preserving one's time by investing it in something good.

First of all, let us talk about time, with which many are heedless and wasteful, and which importance only few recognize.

Time is like wealth, it requires our attention and care in both spending and managing. While it is possible to gather and store wealth, and even add to it, time, however, is in no way like that. For every minute that passes can never come back even if you were to spend all the wealth of this world.

So since time is preordained to be a specific period that can not be brought forward or delayed and since the value of it depends on what it is spent on, it is obligatory upon every human being to preserve time, be it little or long. One should use it in the best possible way and not be heedless about it.

In order to preserve one's time, one must reflect on how and where to spend it. The best way to spend time is in obeying Allah ta`ala. One will never regret time spent in such acts of obedience. The only regret would be that if one were not to take yet more provisions in terms of good actions. So set your goal, O brother or sister, make your intention sincere, beginning with a desire to preserve your time and beware of wasting any minute of it.
My noble brother and sister,

I selected the time span of ten minutes (for performing particular righteous actions listed in this book) due to ease of application, so that one starts with them until he or she engages in good all the time, by Allah's grace. In these actions there is conformity with the saying of the Messenger, sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam,

"The most beloved action to Allah is the most continuous, even if little." [Muslim]
Imam an-Nawawi, may Allah have mercy on him, said in relation to this hadeeth, "In it (the above hadeeth) is an exhortation to perform deeds regularly and continuously, and [an explanation] that a small deed done regularly is better than a great one that is interrupted. It is because by continuously doing a little of such actions as, [one's] obedience, remembrance, awareness of Allah, sincerity and dedication to the Creator, subhanahu wa ta`ala, the outcome accumulates and it is multiplied exceeding what is greater but interrupted."

The Messenger, sallalahu `alayhi wa sallam, spoke the truth. My dear brother or sister, I will give you an example of the blessing of utilizing ten minutes in righteousness. Glorifying Allah subanahu wa ta`ala by saying "Subhan Allah" a hundred times daily means that one will do so 36,500 times in a year. So take account of your soul, my brother or sister. You can only glorify Allah this much in a year if you are regular in performing tasbeeh and if you make good use of your time.

Similarly, if one reads the Qur'an for ten minutes regularly, one can finish reading it in full every two months. Is this how you do it? Ask yourself, do you complete recitation of the full Qur'an outside of Ramadan? And do not limit, my dear brother or sister, these special ten minutes, devoted to obedience, to be performed only once a day. Perhaps you will find the time after the morning prayer, or after the sunrise, or after the noon prayer, or before sleep.

Likewise, if one manages to memorize only a single verse from the Book of Allah, `azza wa jall, every day, he or she will complete memorization the complete Qur'an in only eight years.
Most of the actions mentioned are performed with the tongue, so one is able to gain rewards at all times and in all situations. So whoever wants to strive in obedience to Allah, doors of good are open and one can make one's days and indeed all of one's life like the ten minutes. Abu Bakra, radhiallahu anhu, related that a person said:

"O Messenger of Allah, which people are the best?" He said, "Whose life is long and his actions good." He said, "And what people are the worst?" He said, "Whose life is long and his actions bad." [Muslim]

This is an opportunity for you, dear brother or sister. Ten minutes in which one can taste the sweetness of regularity of performing righteous actions and which can be a step towards managing one's time, until all of one's life becomes beneficial. Ten minutes that are in agreement with the saying of Allah `azza wa jall,

"And I have not created the Jinn or humans except to worship Me." [adh-Dhaariyaat (51):56]

Ibn ul-Qayyim, may Allah have mercy on him, said: "In conclusion, the servant, when he turns away from Allah and becomes preoccupied with sins (in this world), he loses days of his true life (in the hereafter). He will see the consequence of losing them the Day he says,

"He will say, 'Oh, I wish I had sent ahead [some good] for my life [i.e. true, everlasting life in the Hereafter].'" [al-Fajr (89):24]"

Some actions that can be done in ten minutes:

The forenoon prayer
Recitation of the Quran
Salawat on the Prophet, sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam
Praying Salat al-Janazah
Remembrance of Allah, `azza wa jall
Saying Subhan Allah, alhamdulillah and Laa ilaha ill Allah
Teaching children
Supplication
Taking account of oneself
Reading
Removal of others' difficulties and fulfillment of their needs
Preserving ties of kinship
Listening to da`wah tapes
Visiting believers for Allah's sake
Remembering Allah after the obligatory prayers
Making peace between people
Advising
Phoning relatives
Writing one's will
Giving charity
Reading traditions of the Prophet, sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam
Contemplating
Mailing da`wah information
Feeding the poor
Praying Salat al-Istikharah
Taking care of orphans
Serving one's family
Seeking knowledge
Ordering good
Making sajdah
Spreading Islamic knowledge
Calling to Allah
Giving Sadaqa jariyyah (charity that carries perpetual award)
Guiding and nurturing one's children
Repeating after the mu'adhdhin
Performing the night prayer

11 Ways to increase happiness in marriage

2008-07-20T05:50:00.000-07:00

11 ways to increase happiness in marriage! Not your usual run-of-the-mill Islamic marriage article. Masha'allah, it's well written and very practical. Go ahead and try a couple of them today, insha'allah....The young and excited bride-and-groom-to-be; ecstatic about the upcoming wedding and marriage and the joy that it will bring. Three to six months later, reality has set in and both spouses realize that marriage is no easy task, but one that takes a great deal of effort and patience. The following are tips for both wives and husbands, to help make the task a little less daunting, and to increase the many rewards that are possible in such a marvelous and complex relationship.

1. Enter the Marriage with the Right Intention and Renew this OftenBoth spouses should enter the marriage with the pure intention of pleasing Allah, subhanahu wa ta'ala, in order to receive His grace and blessings. The marriage itself then becomes an act of worship and one for which both spouses will be rewarded. Allah will be pleased with them and this will be the most critical element in ensuring peace, stability and happiness throughout the marital life. It is also important to realize that when an act of worship is continued over a long period of time, it becomes necessary to renew one's intention often to remain on the correct path and to obtain the most benefit.

2. Remember that Your Spouse is also Your Brother or Sister in Islam Too often Muslims treat other people outside the home with kindness and sincerity, but then behave in a very different manner when it comes to their own spouses. Muslims should always remember that one's spouse is also another brother or sister in Islam and that the rights and duties that apply to the general brotherhood (sisterhood) of Islam, should also form the basis of the marital relationship. Obviously, a spouse has rights beyond these, but there should be a clear understanding of the rights of brotherhood (sisterhood) and adherence to these principles.

3. Do Not Hold Unrealistic Expectations Before marriage, people often have unrealistic ideas about their spouse-to-be, expecting perfection in all aspects. This rarely, if ever, plays out in reality and can lead to unnecessary problems and concerns. We should recall that Allah, subhanahu wa ta'ala, created humans as imperfect beings, which means that many mistakes will be made throughout a lifetime. By turning the table and expecting imperfection, we will be pleasantly surprised and pleased when our spouse is much more than we ever hoped for. This, in turn, will lead to contentment within the marriage. 4. Emphasize the Best in Your Spouse Since no one is endowed with all of the best qualities, emphasis should be placed on the positive qualities that a spouse possesses. Encouragement, praise, and gratitude should be expressed on a regular basis, which will strengthen these qualities and be beneficial in developing others. An attempt should be made to overlook or ignore negative characteristics, as the Prophet, sallallahu alayhe wa sallam, said, "A believing man should not have any malice against a believing woman. He may dislike one characteristic in her, but may find another in her which is pleasing." (Muslim)

5. Be Your Mate's Best Friend Try to think of what a best friend means and be one to your spouse. This may mean sharing interests, experiences, dreams, failures and upsets. It may involve understanding a spouse's likes and dislikes and attempting to please him or her in any way possible. A best friend is also usually someone that can be confided to trusted, and relied upon. A spouse should be the kind of friend that one would want to keep throughout life

6. Spend Quality Time Together It is not enough to share meals, chores and small talk together. Spouses should also find time to focus on strengthening the relationship. Often couples get busy with their own separate tasks and forget about working on one of the most important elements in life. Quality time may be anything from having a quiet, profound conversation to going for a nice long nature walk, to sharing a special hobby or project. Both spouses should enjoy the particular option chosen and distractions should be kept to a minimum.

7. Express Feelings Often This is probably a very "Western" concept and one that some people may have difficulty fulfilling, but it is important to be open and honest about one's feelings, both positive and negative. The lines of communication should always be open and any concerns should be brought to the attention of the other spouse as soon as they arise. The rationale of this is that what begins as a simple concern may grow into a major problem if it is not addressed quickly and properly. The "silent treatment" has never been the remedy for anything.

8. Admit to Mistakes and ask for Forgiveness Just as we ask Allah to forgive us when we make mistakes, we should also do the same with our spouses. The stronger person is the one who can admit when he or she is wrong, request pardon from the other, and work hard to improve his/her aspects that are in need of change. When a person is unwilling to do this, there will be little growth and development in the marriage.

9. Never Bring up Mistakes of the Past It can be very hurting for another person to be reminded of past mistakes. In Islam, it is generally not recommended to dwell on the past. One may remember errors that were made so that they are not repeated, but this should not be done excessively. Certainly, as humans, we are not in the position to judge another person. Advice may be given, but not in a harmful manner.

10. Surprise Each Other at Times This may entail bringing home a small gift or flowers, preparing a special meal, dressing up and beautifying oneself (this is not only for women), or sending a secret note in a lunchbox. A little imagination will go a long way here. The idea is to spice up the marriage and avoid getting into a dull routine that may negatively affect the marriage

11. Have a Sense of Humour This particular aspect can go a long way in preventing arguments and brightening the atmosphere of the home. Life is a constant stream of challenges and tests, and to approach it in a light-hearted manner will help to make the journey smoother and more enjoyable. You may also find that your spouse enjoys this characteristic and looks forward to spending time with you because of it.

A Strong Woman vs A Woman of Strength‏

2008-07-10T16:14:00.000-07:00

A strong woman works out every day to keep her body in shape ...
but a woman of strength kneels in prayer to keep her soul in shape.

A strong woman isn't afraid of anything...
but a woman of strength shows courage in the midst of her fear of ALLAH

A strong woman won't let anyone get the best of her...
but a woman of strength gives the best of her own to everyone.

A strong woman makes mistakes and avoids the same in the future...
but a woman of strength realizes life's mistakes can also be Allah's blessings and capitalizes on them.

A strong woman walks sure footedly...
but a woman of strength knows Allah will catch her when she falls.

A strong woman wears the look of confidence on her face...
but a woman of strength wears grace.

A strong woman has faith that she is strong enough for the journey...
but a woman of strength has faith that it is in the journey that she will become strong.

Judaism

2008-07-03T14:43:00.000-07:00

Judaism is one of the important Semitic religions. Its followers are known as Jews and they believe in the prophetic mission of Prophet Moses (pbuh).

CONCEPT OF GOD IN JUDAISM:

(i) The following verse from the book of Deuteronomy contains an exhortation from Moses (pbuh):

"Shama Israelu Adonai Ila Hayno Adna Ikhad"
It is a Hebrew quotation which means:
"Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord"[The Bible, Deuteronomy 6:4]

The following verses are from the Book of Isaiah:

(ii) "I, even I, am the Lord; and beside me there is no saviour."[The Bible, Isaiah 43:11]
(iii) "I am Lord, and there is none else There is no God besides me."[The Bible, Isaiah 45 : 5]
(iv) "I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me."[The Bible, Isaiah 46:9]

Judaism condemns idol worship in the following verses:

"Thou shalt have no other gods before me."

"Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth."

"Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them; for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God."[The Bible, Exodus 20:3-5]

A similar message is repeated in the book of Deuteronomy:

"Thou shalt have none other gods before me."

"Thou shalt not make thee any graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that in the earth beneath, or that is in the water beneath the earth."

"Thou shalt not bow down thyself unto them, nor serve them; for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God."[The Bible, Deuteronomy 5:7-9]

In Judaism too, we find the same thread of monotheism, that is seen in other religions.

MUHAMMAD IN JEWISH SCRIPTURES (THE OLD TESTAMENT):

1) Muhammad (pbuh) prophesised in the book of Deuteronomy:

a) God Almighty speaks to Moses in Book of Deuteronomy chapter 18 verse 18:
"I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him."

b) Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) is like Moses (pbuh):

i) Both had a father and a mother.
ii) Both were married and had children.
iii) Both were accepted as Prophets by their people in their lifetime.
iv) Both besides being Prophets were also kings i.e. they could inflict capital punishment.
v) Both brought new laws and new regulations for their people.
vi) Both died a natural death.

c) Muhammad (pbuh) is from among the brethren of Moses (pbuh). Arabs are brethren of Jews.

Abraham (pbuh) had two sons: Ishmail and Isaac. The Arabs are the descendants of Ishmail (pbuh) and the Jews are the descendants of Isaac (pbuh).

d) Words in the mouth:

Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) was unlettered and whatever revelations he received from God Almighty he repeated it verbatim.
Deuteronomy (18:18):

"I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him."

2) Muhammad (pbuh) is prophesised in the book of Isaiah:
It is mentioned in the book of Isaiah chapter 29 verse 12:
"And the book is delivered to him that is not learned saying, ‘Read this, I pray thee’; and he saith, ‘I am not learned’.

"When Archangel Gabriel commanded Muhammad (pbuh) by saying ‘Iqra’, he replied "I am not learned".

3) Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) is mentioned by name in the Song of Solomon
chapter 5 verse 16:

"Hikko Mamittakim we kullo Muhammadim Zehdoodeh wa Zehrace Bayna Jerusalem."

"His mouth is most sweet: ye, he is altogether lovely. This is my beloved, and this is my friend, O daughter of Jerusalem."

All the prophecies mentioned in the Old Testament regarding Muhammad (pbuh) besides applying to the Jews also hold good for the Christians (H Q. 61:6).

EASY VS. DIFFICULT

2008-07-03T06:30:00.000-07:00

Easy is to get a place is someone's address book.·
Difficult is to get a place in someone's heart

Easy is to judge the mistakes of others·
Difficult is to recognize our own mistakes·

Easy is to talk without thinking·
Difficult is to refrain the tongue.

Easy is to hurt someone who loves us.
Difficult is to heal the wound...

Easy is to forgive others·
Difficult is to ask for forgiveness·

Easy is to set rules.
Difficult is to follow them...

Easy is to dream every night.
Difficult is to fight for a dream...

Easy is to show victory.
Difficult is to assume defeat with dignity...

Easy is to admire a full moon.
Difficult to see the other side...

Easy is to stumble with a stone.
Difficult is to get up...

Easy is to enjoy life every day.
Difficult to give its real value...

Easy is to promise something to someone.
Difficult is to fulfill that promise...

Easy is to say we love.
Difficult is to show it every day...

Easy is to criticize others.
Difficult is to improve oneself...

Easy is to make mistakes.
Difficult is to learn from them...

Easy is to weep for a lost love.
Difficult is to take care of it so not to lose it.

Easy is to think about improving.
Difficult is to stop thinking it and put it into action...

Easy is to think bad of others·
Difficult is to give them the benefit of the doubt...

Easy is to receive·
Difficult is to give·

Easy to read this·
Difficult to follow·

Easy is the path of Hell-fire·
Difficult is the path of Paradise·

Easy is keep the friendship with words·
Difficult is to keep it with meanings.

Zoroastrianism

2008-07-02T10:46:00.000-07:00

Zoroastrianism is an ancient Aryan religon which originated in Persia more that 2500 years ago. Though it has relatively few adherents, less than one hundred and thirty thousand in the whole world, it is one of the oldest religious. The Iranian Prophet Zoroaster was the founder of Zoroastrianism (also commonly known as Parsiism). The scared scripture of the Parsis is the Dasatir and Avesta.

God in Zoroastrianism is known as ‘Ahura Mazda’. ‘Ahura’ means ‘the Lord’ or 'The Master' and ‘Mazda’ means ‘the Wise’; hence ‘Ahura Mazda’ means ‘the Wise Lord’ or ‘the Wise God’. Ahura Mazda stands for God, in a strictly monotheistic sense.

Qualities of God according to the Dasatir:

According to the Dasatir, Ahura Mazda has the following qualities:
1.He is One.
2.He is without an origin or end.
3.He has no father or mother, wife or son.
4.He is without a body or form.
5.Nothing resembles Him.
6.Neither the eye can behold Him, nor the power of thinking can conceive Him.
7.He is above all that you can imagine.
8.He is nearer to you than your own self.

Qualities of God according to Avesta

According to the Avesta, the Gathas and the Yasna give various characteristics to Ahura Mazda such as:

Creator –

(Yasna 31:7 & 11), (Yasna 44:7), (Yasna 50:11), (Yasna 51:7)

Most Mighty – the Greatest

(Yasna 33:11), (Yasna 45:6)

Beneficent – Hudai.

(Yasna 33:11), (Yasna 48:3)

Bountiful – Spenta;

(Yasna 43:4,5,7,9,11,13,15), (Yasna 44:2), (Yasna 45:5), (Yasna 46:9), (Yasna 48:3)

Concept of God in Sikhism

2008-06-27T11:34:00.000-07:00

Sikhism is non-Semitic, Aryan, non-Vedic religion. Though not a major religion of the world, it is a branch or offshoot of Hinduism founded by Guru Nanak at the end of 15th century. It originated in the area of Pakistan and North West Indian called Punjab meaning the land of the five rivers. Guru Nanak was born in kshatiya (warrior caste) of a Hindu family but was strongly influenced by Islam and Muslims.

Definition of Sikh and Sikhism

The word “Sikh” is derived from the word ‘Sisya’ meaning disciple or follower. Sikhism is a religion of 10 Gurus, the first Guru being Guru Nanak and the 10th and the last being Guru Gobind Singh. The sacred book of Sikhism is Sri
Guru Granth also called Adi Granth sahib.

The Five-K's

Every Sikh is supposes to keep the five K's which also serve as his identity.

1.Kesh- uncut hair; which all Gurus kept

2.Khanga- comb; which all Gurus kept

3.Kada- metal or steel bangle; for strength and self restraint

4.Kirpan- dagger; for self defense

5.Kaccha- special knee length underwear or underdrawer for agility

Mulmantra: The Fundamental Creed of

The best definition that any Sikh can give regarding concept of God is Sikhism is quote the "Mul Mantra" - the fundamental creed of Sikhism, which occurs at the beginning of Guru Granth Sahib.

It is mentioned in Sri Guru Granth Sahib volume 1 Japuji, the first verse "There exsits but the one God, who is called the true the creator, free from fear and hate, immortal not begotten self-existant, Great and Compassionate".

Sikhism enjoins on its followers strict monotheism. It beleives in only One Supreme God who is, in the unmanliest form called 'Ek omkara'.

In the manifest form He is called as Omkara and has several attributes such as:

Kartar- The Creator

Sahib- The Lord

Akal- The Eternal

Sattanama- The Holy name

Parvardigar-The Cherisher

Rahim- The Benevolent

Karim-The Merciful

He is also called "Wahe Guru" - The One true God.

Besides Sikhism being strictly monotheistic, it does not beleive in Avataravada- the doctrine of incarnation.

Almighty God does not incarnate Himself in what is known as Avatara. Sikhism is Also stronghly against idol worship

Guru Nanak influenced by Kabir

Guru Nanak Influenced by the sayings of Sant Kabir so much that several chapters of shri Guru Nanak Sahib contain couplets of Sant kabir

One of the famous couplets of Sant Kabir is:

"Dukh mein sumirana sabh karein sukh mein karein na koye jo sukh mein sumirana karein to dukh kaye hoye"

(Everyone remembers God during trouble but no one remembers Him During peace and happiness. The one who remembers God during peace and happiness why should he have trouble?)

Compare this with the following verses of the Holy Quran:

"When some trouble touches man, he cries unto his Lord, turning to Him in repentence. But then He bestows a fovor upon him from himself, he forgets that for which he cried for before, and he sets up rivals to Allah" (Quran 39:8)

Smoking

2008-06-22T15:18:00.003-07:00

In Islam cleanliness and hygiene are emphasized to the extent that it has been considered a part of Iman (faith). It is very well known that a smoker's mouth is unclean and foul smelling "like a cigarette ash-tray."

Allah (SWT) says:
"And forbids them what is bad." The Qur'an, Surah Al-'Araf, 7: 157

"0 ye who believe! Intoxicants and gambling are an abomination of Satan's handiwork. Eschew such abominations that ye may prosper."
Al Ma'idah, 5: 93

The word intoxicant has three meanings (6):
(1) To induce, especially the effect of ingested alcohol.
(2) To stimulate or excite.
(3) To poison.

Except the first meaning the latter two are very well valid and both applicable to nicotine and caffeine. Smoking is nothing but a form of slow suicide.

The Qur'an says:
"And slay not the life which Allah hath forbidden..."
Surah, Al-Isra, 17: 33

"And make not your own hands contribute to your destruction." Surah, Al-Baqara, 2: 195
"Nor kill or destroy yourselves for verily Allah hath been to you most Merciful." Surah, An-Nisa, 4: 29

The Prophet of Allah (peace be upon him) has said:
"Nor be hurt or injure others." It is scientifically proven that the exhaled smoke of the smoker is hazardous to non-smokers around him.

The amount of money a smoker spends on cigarette smoking in a period of 30 years is calculated to be Two Hundred Thousand Dollars or more. All this money is simply wasted (not including the money spent on smoker's health care).

Allah (SWT) says: "But squander not your wealth in the manner of a spend thrift, verily spendthrifts are brothers of evils."
Surah, Al-Isra, 17: 26, 27

Body is polluted by smoking. Hence smokers cannot pray until they have cleansed themselves. According to the Qur'an:
"0 ye who believe! Draw not near unto prayer when you are drunken, till ye know that which ye utter, nor when you are polluted save when journeying upon the road, till you have bathed."
Surah, An-Nisa, 4: 43

The Christians consider the human body to be a sacred trust given to man by God because it contains the spirit breathed into it by God.

Even the Qur'an says
"So,when I have made him and have breathed unto him of My spirit, do ye fall down, prostrating yourselves unto him " Surah, Al-Hijr, 15: 29.

Hence the physical body should not be polluted or injured or destroyed in any way by smoking or taking of alcohol or any type of habit-forming drugs.

The following is presented as evidence to prove the adverse effects on human body by tobacco smoke; figure 1 shows the chemical structure of Benzo (a) pyrene which is one of the most potent carcinogens known to man to be present in the tobacco smoke. Table I shows a list of tumor-initiating agents present in the particulate phase of tobacco smoke. Tables 2 to 5 present the mortality ratios for coronary artery disease, lung cancer, and other diseases. Table 6 shows the adverse effects of smoking by pregnant women on themselves, their fetuses, and their children.

C 0 N C L U S 1 0 N
For the foregoing reasons and for reasons considered elsewhere smoking is Haram or unlawful in Islam, hence smoking should be discouraged and finally banned in all Islamic countries.
All smoking Muslims should give up this unhealthy and un-Islamic activity. The best way to give it up is to stop all smoking completely. Tapering off on the amount one smokes does not work for most people. It is not easy to quit suddenly, but it is presently the most successful way. There are many ways and techniques available for a serious minded person to give up smoking, which cannot be discussed here. For the Muslims who sincerely practice Islam and who submit themselves to the Will of Allah, this should not be a difficult task.

Fortress of the Muslim

2008-06-18T12:57:00.000-07:00

Invocations from the Quran & sunnah

http://www.islamawareness.net/Dua/Fortress/

Surely All praise is for Allah.

The Prophet (pbuh) said: "He who remembers the Lord and He who does not remeber his Lord, are like the living and the dead,"

Abdullah bin busr (a.r) said that a man asked the Prophet (pbuh). "O Messenger of Allah! verily, the sanctions of Islam have become too numerous for me (to perform them all). Inform me of something (simple) that I may always adhere to." Thr Prophet (pbuh) said, Let your tongue always be moist with remembrance of Allah.

plucking the eyebrows

2008-06-17T16:20:00.000-07:00

It was narrated from 'Abd-Allaah ibn Mas'ood
(may Allaah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said:
Allaah has cursed the woman who does tattoos and the one who has them donethe woman who plucks eyebrows (al-naamisah) and the one who has it done (al-mutanammisah) and the one who files her teeth for the purpose of beautyaltering the creation of Allaah
Narrated by Muslim
===
Evidence that tattooing, plucking the eyebrows
and filing the teeth is haraam

Question:What is the Islamic ruling on women reducing their eyebrows? Please quote the specific ahaadeeth if possible. Answer:Praise be to Allaah.

Firstly:
Allaah has forbidden women to remove any part of the hair of their eyebrows; this action is called al-namas in Arabic, and it is haraam because of the following evidence:

1 – Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
"They (all those who worship others than Allaah) invoke nothing but female deities besides Him (Allaah), and they invoke nothing but Shaytaan (Satan), a persistent rebel!
Allaah cursed him. And he [Shaytaan (Satan)] said: 'I will take an appointed portion of your slaves.

Verily, I will mislead them, and surely, I will arouse in them false desires; and certainly, I will order them to slit the ears of cattle, and indeed I will order them to change the nature created by Allaah.' And whoever takes Shaytaan (Satan) as a Wali (protector or helper) instead of Allaah, has surely, suffered a manifest loss"
[al-Nisa' 4:117-119]

The relevant point in this verse is that Iblees will tell people to change the creation of Allaah. Some of the mufassireen interpreted it by saying that what is meant here in this verse is tattooing, plucking the eyebrows and filing the teeth, as we shall see below.
Al-Qurtubi said in his commentary on this verse:

A group said what was meant by changing the creation of Allaah was tattooing and other things that are done for the purpose of beautification. This was stated by Ibn Mas'ood and al-Hasan.
Tafseer al-Qurtubi, 5/392

2 – It was narrated that 'Abd-Allaah said: "Allaah has cursed the women who do tattoos and those who ask for tattoos to be done, those who ask for their eyebrows to be plucked, and the women ask for their teeth to be filed for the purpose of beautification, changing the creation of Allaah." A woman from the tribe of Bani Asad whose name was Umm Ya'qoob heard of that and she came and said, "I have heard that you have cursed So and so and So and so." He said, "Why should I not curse those whom the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) cursed and who are mentioned in the Book of Allaah?' She said, "I have read what is between the two covers [of the Qur'aan], and I did not find anything in it like what you have said." He said, "If you have read it, have you not read that Allaah says,
'And whatsoever the Messenger (Muhammad) gives you, take it; and whatsoever he forbids you, abstain (from it)'
[al-Hashr 59:7]?"

She said, "Of course." He said, "He forbade that." She said, "I think your wife does it." He said, "Go and look." So she went and looked and she did not see what she was looking for. He said, "If she had been like that, she would not be with us."
Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 4604; Muslim, 2125

Al-Qurtubi said concerning the meaning of tattooing:
Tattooing is done on the hand; it involves piercing the back of the hand with a needle and filling it with kohl or another substance so that it changes colour. [Translator's note: this refers to the type of tattooing known at that time]
Tafseer al-Qurtubi, 5/392.

Ibn Hajar said concerning the meaning of plucking the eyebrows:

The mutanammisah is the one who asks another to pluck her eyebrows, and the naamisah is the one who does it. Al-nimaas means removing the hair of the face with tweezers. It was said that the word nimaas refers specifically to removing hair from the eyebrows in order to reduce them or make them straight. Abu Dawood said in al-Sunan: al-naamisah is the one who plucks the eyebrows in order to reduce them.

Fath al-Baari, 10/377
It was said concerning the meaning of those who ask for their teeth to be filed (al-mutafallijaat)
This refers to one who asks for her teeth to be filed or who does that. Falj means making a gap between two teeth and tafalluj means making a gap between two attached things by means of filing or the like. This was usually done to the incisor and the eyetooth for the purpose of beautification. A woman might do this if her teeth were close together so that she would have gaps between her teeth, or an old woman might have do to make it look as if she were younger, because young women usually have gaps between their teeth that disappear as the woman gets older.
Fath al-Baari, 10/372

Al-Qurtubi said:
With regard to all of these matters, the ahaadeeth indicate that those who do them are cursed and that they are major sins. But there is some difference of scholarly opinion concerning the reason why they are forbidden. It was said that it is because it is a kind of deception, or because it is changing the creation of Allaah, as Ibn Mas'ood said. This is more correct, and it also includes the first meaning. And it was said that what is prohibited is what is permanent, because it is changing the creation of Allaah; with regard to what is not permanent, such as kohl and make-up, the scholars have permitted that.
Tafseer al-Qurtubi, 5/393.
See also question no. 13744.Islam Q&A
---
May Allaah bless our Prophet Muhammad and his family
and companions, and those who follow them in truth.

The Inevitable Reality

2008-06-17T04:27:00.000-07:00

69. al-Haqqah: The Inevitable

1 The Reality!

2 What is the Reality ?

3 Ah, what will convey unto thee what the reality is!

4 (The tribes of) Thamud and A'ad disbelieved in the judgment to come.

5 As for Thamud, they were destroyed by the lightning.

6 And as for A'ad, they were destroyed by a fierce roaring wind,

7 Which He imposed on them for seven long nights and eight long days so that thou mightest have seen men lying overthrown, as they were hollow trunks of palm- trees.

8 Canst thou (O Muhammad) see any remnant of them ?

9 And Pharaoh and those before him, and the communities that were destroyed, brought error,
10 And they disobeyed the messenger of their Lord, therefor did He grip them with a tightening grip.

11 Lo! when the waters rose, We carried you upon the ship

12 That We might make it a memorial for you, and that remembering ears (that heard the story) might remember.

13 And when the trumpet shall sound one blast

14 And the earth with the mountains shall be lifted up and crushed with one crash,

15 Then, on that day will the Event befall.

16 And the heaven will split asunder, for that day it will be frail.

17 And the angels will be on the sides thereof, and eight will uphold the Throne of thy Lord that day, above them.

18 On that day ye will be exposed; not a secret of you will be hidden.

19 Then, as for him who is given his record in his right hand, he will say: Take, read my book!
20 Surely I knew that I should have to meet my reckoning.

21 Then he will be in blissful state

22 In a high garden

23 Whereof the clusters are in easy reach.

24 (And it will be said unto those therein): Eat and drink at ease for that which ye sent on before you in past days.

25 But as for him who is given his record in his left hand, he will say: Oh, would that I had not been given my book

26 And knew not what my reckoning!

27 Oh, would that it had been death!

28 My wealth hath not availed me,

29 My power hath gone from me.

30 (It will be said): Take him and fetter him

31 And then expose him to hell-fire

32 And then insert him in a chain whereof the length is seventy cubits.

33 Lo! He used not to believe in Allah the Tremendous,

34 And urged not on the feeding of the wretched.

35 Therefor hath he no lover here this day,

36 Nor any food save filth

37 Which none but sinners eat.

38 But nay! I swear by all that ye see

39 And all that ye see not

40 That it is indeed the speech of an illustrious messenger.

41 It is not poet's speech - little is it that ye believe!

42 Nor diviner's speech - little is it that ye remember!

43 It is a revelation from the Lord of the Worlds.

44 And if he had invented false sayings concerning Us,

45 We assuredly had taken him by the right hand

46 And then severed his life-artery,

47 And not one of you could have held Us off from him.

48 And lo! it is a warrant unto those who ward off (evil).

49 And lo! We know that some among you will deny (it).

50 And lo! it is indeed an anguish for the disbelievers.

51 And lo! it is absolute truth.

52 So glorify the name of thy Tremendous Lord.

The meaning of love in Islam

2008-06-16T06:53:00.000-07:00

IT is so common that the meaning of love has been restricted in the modern age to the love relationship between a man and a woman. This is a very narrow-minded view of love. Islam has is own comprehensive view of love.

The first type of love that Islam calls for is the Love of Allah, praise be to Him. This love makes you avoid committing sins in order not to make whom you love, Allah, get angry with you. This love also urges you to contemplate all the different aspect of nature that usually lead you to have a deeper faith in the Creator who created all this beauty round us.

The second type of love is the love of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). This love also makes you follow the example of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) in all his dealings and manners. Also this love is an indication of the love of Allah as stated in the Holy Qur'an, "Say: 'If you do love Allah, Follow me: Allah will love you and forgive you your sins: For Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.'" Say: "Obey Allah and His Messenger: But if they turn back, Allah loves not those who reject Faith." (Qur'an, 3:31-32)

The third type of love is human love. It means that the Muslim has to love his other fellow men regardless of their ethnic, linguistic or cultural background. This includes love of neighbors, colleagues, relatives and even strangers. This type of love persuades the Muslim to help anybody whenever he can. There are numerous of Ahadith that exhort Muslims to help anybody who really needs help because such an altruistic act takes the Muslim one step closer to Allah.
The fourth type of love is the love between a man and a woman, but Islam organizes and regulates these lofty feelings within the framework of marriage because Islam views that marital love leads the couple to have a peaceful and happy family life, which is the core of the Muslim society.

In other words, this love is acceptable as long as it is within the framework of marriage and this is encouraged in a number of verses in the Holy Qur'an, "And among His signs is this, that He created for you wives from among yourselves, that you may find repose in them, and He has put affection and mercy between you: verily in that are indeed signs for those who reflect: (Qur'an, 30:21)

Allah's Pharmacy!

2008-06-16T06:08:00.001-07:00

A sliced Carrot looks like the human eye the pupil, iris and radiating lines look just like the human eye...and YES science now shows that carrots greatly enhance blood flow to and function of the eyes.

A Tomato has four chambers and is red. The heart is red and has four chambers. All of the research shows tomatoes are indeed pure heart and blood

Grapes hang in a cluster that has the shape of the heart. Each grape looks like a blood cell and all of the research today shows that grapes are also profound heart and blood vitalizing food .

A Walnut looks like a little brain, a left and right hemisphere,

upper cerebrums and lower cerebellums. Even the wrinkles or folds are on the nut just like the neo-cortex. We now know that walnuts help develop over 3 dozen neuron-transmitters for brain function.

Beans actually heal and help maintain kidney function and yes, they look exactly like the human kidneys

Grapefruits, Oranges, and other Citrus fruits look just like the mammary glands of the female and actually assist the health of the breasts and the movement of lymph in and out of the breasts .

Onions look like body cells. Today's research shows that onions help clear waste materials from all of the body cells They even produce tears which wash the epithelial layers of the eyes

Celery, Bok Choy, Rhubarb and more look just like bones. These foods specifically target bone strength. Bones are 23% sodium and these foods are 23% sodium. If you don't have enough sodium in your diet the body pulls it from the bones, making them weak. These foods replenish the skeletal needs of the bod

Eggplant, Avocadoes and Pears target the health and function of the womb and cervix of the female - they look just like these organs. Today's research shows that when a woman eats 1 avocado a week, it balances hormones, sheds unwanted birth weight and prevents cervical cancers. And how profound is this? .... It takes exactly 9 months to grow an avocado from blossom to ripened fruit. There are over 14,000 photolytic chemical constituents of nutrition in each one of these foods (modern science has only studied and named about 141 of them).

Figs are full of seeds and hang in twos when they grow. Figs increase the motility of male sperm and increase the numbers of Sperm cells to overcome male sterility.

Sweet Potatoes look like the pancreas and actually balance the glycemic index of diabetics

Olives assist the health and function of the ovaries

Carry me in ur hands....a touching story.

2008-06-09T14:54:00.000-07:00

Abu Hurairah narrated that Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said: "The believers who show the most perfect faith are those who have the best disposition and the best of you are those who are best to their wives."

When I got home that night as my wife Ameena served dinner, I held her hand and said, I've got something to tell you. She sat down and ate quietly. Again I observed the hurt in her eyes.
Suddenly I didn't know how to say it. But I had to let her know what I was thinking. I want a divorce. I raised the topic calmly. Ameena didn't seem to be annoyed by my words, instead she asked me softly, Ismail why? I avoided her question. This made her angry. She shouted at me, "you are not a man!"

That night, we didn't talk to each other. Ameena was weeping. I knew she wanted to find out what had happened to our marriage. But I could hardly give her a satisfactory answer; I had lost my heart to a lovely girl called Mary Anne. I didn't love Ameena anymore. I just pitied her!
With a deep sense of guilt, I drafted a divorce agreement which stated that she could own our house and the car. She glanced at it and then tore it to pieces. The woman who had spent ten years of her life with me had become a stranger. I felt sorry for her wasted time, resources and energy but I could not take back what I had said, for I loved Mary Anne so dearly.

Finally Ameena cried loudly in front of me, which was what I had expected to see. To me, her cry was actually a kind of release. The idea of divorce which had obsessed me for several weeks seemed to be firmer and clearer now.
The next day, I came back home very late and found her writing something at the table. I didn't have supper but went straight to sleep and fell fast asleep because I was tired after an eventful day with Mary Anne. When I woke up, she was still there at the table writing. I just did'nt care so I turned over and was asleep again.

In the morning she presented her divorce conditions: she didn't want anything from me, but needed a month's notice before the divorce. She requested that in that one month, we both struggle to live as normal a life as possible. Her reasons were simple: our son Ahmed had his exams in a month's time and she didn't want to disrupt him with our broken marriage.
This was agreeable to me. But she had something more, she asked me to recall how I had carried her into out bridal room on our wedding day. She requested that everyday for the month's duration I carry her out of our bedroom to the front door ever morning. I thought she was going crazy.

Just to make our last days together bearable I accepted her odd request. I told Mary Anne about my wife's divorce conditions. She laughed loudly and thought it was absurd. No matter what tricks she has, she has to face the divorce, she said scornfully. Ameena and I hadn't had any body contact since my divorce intention was explicitly expressed. So when I carried her out on the first day, we both appeared clumsy. Our son Ahmed clapped behind us, daddy is holding mummy in his arms. His words brought me a sense of pain. From the bedroom to the sitting room, then to the door, I walked over ten meters with her in my arms. She closed her eyes and said softly, don't tell Ahmed about the divorce. I nodded, feeling somewhat upset. I put her down outside the door. She went to wait for the bus to work. I drove alone to the office.
On the second day, both of us acted much more easily. She leaned on my chest.. I could smell the fragrance of her blouse. I realized that I hadn't looked at this woman carefully for a long time. I realized she was not young any more. There were fine wrinkles on her face, her hair was graying! Our marriage had taken its toll on her. For a minute I wondered what I had done to Ameena .

On the fourth day, when I lifted her up, I felt a sense of intimacy returning. This was the woman who had given ten years of her life to me. On the fifth and sixth day, I realized that our sense of intimacy was growing again. I didn't tell Mary Anne about this. It became easier to carry her as the month slipped by. Perhaps the everyday workout made me stronger.

She was choosing what to wear one morning. She tried on quite a few dresses but could not find a suitable one. Then she sighed, all my dresses have grown bigger. I suddenly realized that she had grown so thin, that was the reason why I could carry her more easily. Suddenly it hit me, .. she had buried so much pain and bitterness in her heart.

Subconsciously I reached out and touched her head. Our son Ahmed came in at the moment and said, Dad, it's time to carry mum out. To him, seeing his father carrying his mother out had become an essential part of his life. Ameena gestured to our son to come close and hugged him tightly. I turned my face away because I was afraid I might change my mind at this last minute. I then held her in my arms, walking from the bedroom, through the sitting room, to the hallway. Her hand surrounded my neck softly and naturally. I held her body tightly; it was just like our wedding day.

But her much lighter weight made me sad. On the last day, when I held her in my arms I could hardly move a step. Ahmed had gone to school. I held her tightly and said, I hadn't noticed that our life lacked intimacy.

I drove to office... jumped o ut of the car swiftly without locking the door. I was afraid any delay would make me change my mind... I walked upstairs. Mary Anne opened the door and I said to her, Sorry, Mary Anne, I do not want the divorce anymore.

She looked at me, astonished. Then touched my forehead. Do you have a fever? She said. I moved her hand off my head. Sorry, Mary Anne, I said, I won't divorce. My marriage life was boring probably because she and I didn't value the details of our lives, not because we didn't love each other any more. Now I realized that since I carried her into my home on our wedding day I am supposed to hold her until one of us departs this world.

Mary Anne seemed to suddenly wake up. She gave me a loud slap and then slammed the door and burst into tears. I walked downstairs and drove away. At the floral shop on the way, I ordered a bouquet of flowers for my wife. The sales girl asked me what to write on the card. I smiled and wrote: I will carry you out every morning until one of us leaves this world!
The small details of our lives are what really matter in a relationship. It is not the mansion, the car, the property, the bank balance that matters. These create an environment conducive for happiness but cannot give happiness in themselves. So find time to be your spouse's friend and do those little things for each other that build a relationship.

Allah says in the Qur'an:"Men are the supporters of women, because Allah has stowed on the one more than the other, and for what they have to provide (for them) from their sources. So the righteous women are obedient and protect in the absence of their husbands that which God ordains to be protected."(Qur'an 4:34)

Allah says in the Qur'an:"And the believing men and the believing women, they are the friends of each other, they enjoin good and forbid evil, and establish prayers, and pay the alms, and obey God and His Messenger, these, upon them God will have mercy, indeed, God is almighty, All-wise." (Qur'an 9:71)

Prophet[p.b.u.h] said, "The best of you is he who is the best to his family, and I am the best to my family"

Islam’s stress on seeking knowledge‏

2008-06-04T07:31:00.000-07:00

ISLAM gives due attention to bettering the skills of man. It encourages man to learn and never stop learning. Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said " Seeking knowledge is an individual obligation (on every Muslim man and woman)." He (peace be upon him) meant to say that a Muslim should be seeking knowledge from the cradle to the grave, that is, regardless of his age.

The Holy Qur'an stresses the importance of seeking knowledge in hundreds of places as seeking knowledge is among the things that raise man above the level of animals. The Qur'an also praises those who have knowledge as they fear Allah more than the common people "It is only those who have knowledge among His slaves that fear Allah." (Qur'an, 35:28) Not only that, it stresses that those who have knowledge can never be equated with those who do not: "Say: "Are those equal, those who know and those who know not? It is only those who are endued with understanding that receive admonition." (Qur'an, 39:9). This simply motivates all Muslims to seek knowledge because by so doing, they win Allah's approval Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) also encouraged learning foreign languages: he (peace be upon him) was reported to have said "Whoever learns a language of a people, s/he is safe from their guile."

Also it is noteworthy to mention that Islam also encouraged women to seek knowledge. In other words, it is an obligation for both genders to seek knowledge because this will lead to raise a successful Muslim family based on knowledge and understanding. It is also important to say that the woman is not a passive participant in the educational process for it is mentioned in several books of Fiqh that 'Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) used to teach women religious matters, especially those related to women's private life. Many of the matters concerning the Prophet's private life were explained to Muslims by her to encourage them to follow the example of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).

The Holy Qur'an and Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) address people using the plural form or the singular one with a plural connotation, that is, both men and women are obliged to seek knowledge because an enlightened mind is one of the most important traits of a good Muslim. Leaning in Islam has never been restricted to mental learning or book learning. In other words, Islam has always been concerned with having a healthy body. This is why, Omar Ibn Al Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) advised Muslims, "Teach your children how to swim, archery and horse riding."

Signs of Allah in nails

2008-06-03T16:04:00.000-07:00

Allah, may He be glorified, has created our nails with total perfection. Look at your nails right now and see the signs of Allah in them. If the nails were hard as the bones, then they would damage our skin when we scratch. At the same time, the nails are not so soft that we can't get rid of the itchy feeling when we scratch. Allah has made the nail in such a way that it doesn't damage our skin when we scratch and at the same time made it hard enough to get rid of the itchy feeling. Subhan Allah!

Signs of Allah in Honey bees

2008-06-03T15:58:00.000-07:00

The bactericide (bacteria-killing) property of honey is named "the inhibition effect". Experiments conducted on honey show that its bactericide properties increase twofold when diluted with water. It is very interesting to note that newly born bees in the colony are nourished with diluted honey by the bees responsible for their supervision - as if they know this feature of the honey.

When a flower has already been visited, the honeybee can understand that another bee has earlier consumed the nectar of that flower, and leave the flower immediately. This way, it saves both time and energy. Well, how does the bee understand, without checking the flower, that the nectar has earlier been consumed? This is made possible because the bees which visited the flower earlier marked it by leaving a drop on it with a special scent. Whenever a new bee looks in on the same flower, it smells the scent and understands that the flower is of no use and so goes on towards another flower. Thus, bees do not waste time on the same flower.

Honeybees are one of science's great mysteries because they have remained unchanged for 20 million years. That is a big blow to the evolutionists.

Sign of Allah in our eyes

2008-06-03T15:27:00.000-07:00

Our eyes are taking 10 pictures per second. So on a daily basis, the eyes are constantly taking 576,000 pictures if a person sleeps for 8 hours. Which camera in this world can continue to function for years and years without being electronically charged like the eyes? Indeed, the creations of Allah are something to think about.

In addition, an average eye blinks 12 times a minute. That's an amazing 11,520 blinks a day if a person sleeps for 8 hours. There are diseases which prevent a person from blinking by causing the eye lids not to open or close. The people suffering from such diseases trully understand the value of blinking. Let us thank Allah for allowing us to blink over 10,000 times a day without paying a dollar.

A Collection of Islamic Jokes

2008-06-01T10:19:00.000-07:00

Before you read these jokes, you might want to read a little bit about the conditions of joking in Islam.

Rules of Joking in IslamSome people joke too much and it becomes a habit for them. This is the opposite of the serious nature which is the characteristic of the believers. Joking is a break, a rest from ongoing seriousness and striving; it is a little relaxation for the soul. ‘Umar ibn ‘Abd al-‘Azeez (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: “Fear joking, for it is folly and generates grudges.”

Imaam al-Nawawi (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: “The kind of joking which is forbidden is that which is excessive and persistent, for it leads to too much laughter and hardening of the heart, it distracts from remembrance of Allaah, and it often leads to hurt feelings, generates hatred and causes people to lose respect and dignity. But whoever is safe from such dangers, then that which the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) used to do is permissible for him.”

Sa’d ibn Abi Waqqaas said: “Set a limit to your jokes, for going to extremes makes you lose respect and incites the foolish against you.”

The amount of joking should be like the amount of salt in one’s food. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Do not laugh too much, for laughing too much deadens the heart.” (Saheeh al-Jaami’, 7312)

Umar ibn al-Khattaab (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: “Whoever laughs too much or jokes too much loses respect, and whoever persists in doing something will be known for it.”

So beware of joking, for it “causes a person to lose face after he was thought of as respectable, and it brings him humiliation after esteem.”

A man said to Sufyaan ibn ‘Uyaynah (may Allaah be pleased with him), “Joking is not right, it is to be denounced.” He replied, “Rather it is Sunnah, but only for those who know how to do it and do it at the appropriate time.”

Nowadays, although the ummah needs to increase the love between its individual members and to relieve itself of boredom, it has gone too far with regard to relaxation, laughter and jokes. This has become a habit which fills their gatherings and wastes their time, so their lives are wasted and their newspapers are filled with jokes and trivia.

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “If you knew what I know, you would laugh little and weep much.” In Fath al-Baari it says: “What is meant by knowledge here has to do with the might of Allaah and His vengeance upon those who disobey Him, and the terrors that occur at death, in the grave and on the Day of Resurrection).

Muslim men and women have to be inclined to choose righteous and serious friends in their lives, who will help them to make good use of their time and strive for the sake of Allaah with seriousness and steadfastness, good and righteous people whose example they can follow. Bilaal ibn Sa’d said: “I saw them [the Sahaabah] jokingly pretending to fight over some goods, and laughing with one another, but when night came they were like monks.”

"Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) was asked, "Did the companions of the Prophet (peace and blessing of Allah be upon them) laugh? He said, "Yes, and the faith in their hearts was was like mountains,"

So you have to follow the example of such people who were knighte by day and monks (i.e., devoted worshippers) by night.

May Allaah keep us, you and our parents safe on the day of the Greatest Terror, those to whom the call will go out on that great Day:

"Enter Paradise, no fear shall be upon on you, nor shalla you grieve"
{7.49}

Obtained from www.islamisforyou.com

Wonders of Allah in Social System of Ants

2008-05-29T14:41:00.000-07:00

Ants live in colonies and a perfect division of labor exists amongst them. When we take a closer look at their systems, we shall also see that they have a pretty interesting social structure. It will also come to our attention that they are capable of sacrifice at a much higher level than humans are. One of the most interesting points is that - compared to humans - they do not know the concepts such as the rich-poor discrimination and the fight for power that are observed in our societies.

Many scientists, who for years have been doing extensive research on ants, have not been able to clarify the subject of their advanced social behavior. Caryle P. Haskins, Ph.D., the president of the Carnegie Institute at Washington has this to say:

After 60 years of observation and study, I still marvel at how sophisticated the ants' social behavior is. …The ants thus make a beautiful model for our use in studying the roots of animal behavior. (National Geographic, vol.165, no.6, p. 775)

Some colonies of ants are so extensive with respect to population and living area, that it is impossible to explain how they can form a perfect order over such a vast area. Therefore, it is not easy not to concur with Dr. Haskins.

As an example of these large colonies we can give the species of ant, called Formica Yessensis that lives on the Ishikari coast of Hokkaido. This ant colony lives in 45,000 interconnected nests over an area of 2.7 square kilometers. The colony, which is composed of approximately 1,080,000 queens and 306,000,000 workers, has been named the "Super colony" by the researchers. (Bert Hölldobler-Edward O.Wilson, The Ants, Harvard University Press, 1990, p. 1.) It has been discovered that all production tools and food are exchanged in an orderly fashion within the colony.

It is very hard to explain how the ants have maintained this order without any problems, considering the vast area they are living in. We must not forget that various security forces are needed for enforcing law and maintaining social order, even in a civilized country with a low population density. And there is an administrative staff leading and managing these units. Sometimes, it does not become possible to maintain the required order without problems despite all these intense efforts.

Yet in ant colonies there is no need felt for police, gendarmerie or guards. If we consider that actually the duty of the queens, whom we think of as the leaders of the colonies, is just to maintain the species, they do not have a leader or a governor. There is thus no hierarchy based on a chain of command amongst them. Then who is it that lays down this order and maintains its continuity?

The fact that ants can establish such a great and perfect order is proof that they are acting on the inspiration of a certain "supervisor". The verse below fully confirms that God is the master and supervisor of everything and that every living creature acts on His inspiration:

I have put my trust in God, my Lord and your Lord. There is no living being He does not hold by the forelock and inspect! My Lord is on a straight path. (Surah Hud: 56)

Wonders of Allah in butterflies !

2008-05-29T14:07:00.001-07:00

Look over the butterflies' wings in the picture on the left as if you were seeing them for the first time. Surely you will be filled with admiration for such an aesthetic display, a symmetry that is without the slightest flaw, the dazzling colors and patterns. Now think of a piece of cloth. Assume that it is a very beautiful piece of cloth of good quality that has been woven with the inspiration of these butterflies' patterns. What would you think if you saw such a piece of cloth in a shop-window? Probably, the existence of an artist, who has drawn the patterns of this cloth, taking the wings of a butterfly as an inspiration while drawing them, springs into your mind, and you appreciate his artistry. In this situation, you should also appreciate this fact: the artistry you admire doesn't belong to the person who draws the cloth pattern, taking butterflies as his example, but to Allah, Who is the originator of the patterns and colors of butterfly wings. The colorful wings of butterflies with their wonderfully varied patterns are magnificent manifestations of Allah's artistry in color. Just as a pattern on a piece of cloth does not come into being by chance, so is the color and pattern symmetry in the wings so perfect that they could not have come into being coincidentally.

Moreover, the splendid wings are not the only striking features of butterflies. The body design of butterflies is also perfect in every respect. The butterflies take in nourishment by sucking up nectar from flowers. Most butterflies have a long organ called a proboscis which they use to reach a liquid that is at some depth. A proboscis is a long tongue used to drink water or to suck up nectar from flowers. The butterfly rolls up its long tongue inwards when it isn't using it. This tongue can be three times the length of a butterfly's body when unrolled.

Like other insects, the butterflies also have a skeleton that covers the outer surface of their bodies. This outer or exoskeleton is composed of hard plates connected by soft tissue, looking like some sort of armor. The hard material is called "chitin." The formation of this layer comes about through a very interesting process. As is commonly known, caterpillars pass through a rather complex process called metamorphosis. The caterpillar first becomes a pupa and then turns into a butterfly. Throughout this process of metamorphosis, slight changes occur in the wings, antennae, legs and other body parts. Also, the cells in different key areas such as the flight muscles and wings re-organize themselves through every phase of metamorphosis. Furthermore, along with these changes, almost all systems in the body -the digestive system, excretory system, respiratory system etc.- go through a process of immense change.

This diversity in design that butterflies have, as much as their wings, belongs to Allah, the All-Powerful. Allah is the One Who bestows every creature with the characteristics it needs.

Types and Number of Prayers

2008-05-27T11:50:00.000-07:00

TYPES OF SALAT

a) Fard or obligatory Salat: Every believer is ordered by Allah to offer five obligatory prayers in a day. Failure to observe any one of the five obligatory prayers is a serious and punishable sin.

b) Nafl prayer This is a voluntary prayer which the Prophet (pbuh) observed before or after Fard at special and isolated occasions. It also includes those which he encouraged Muslims to pray. The Nafl prayer can be divided into three categories:

(i) Sunnat Muakkadah (compulsory). That is those which are emphasized by the holy Prophet (pbuh) and offered regularly by him before or after the Fard prayer but not praying this type of Salah doesnot invalidate (Fard)Obligatory Prayer

(ii) sunnat Ghair Muakkadah (optional). That is those offered only occasionally by Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).

(iii) Nafl Prayer (extra). This is an extra prayer. There is a reward for praying it an no sin for leaving it. It can be offered at any isolated instance according to the time and capacity of the believer. Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) encouraged the believers to pray Nafl to help make up for any minor omissions or other defects in the obligatory prayer.

NUMBER OF RAKAT FOR THE FIVE OBLIGATORY PRAYERS

(i) Fajr prayer: 2 Rakaat Sunnat Muakkadah, 2 Rakaat Fard

(ii) Dhuhr prayer: 2 or 4 Rakaat Sunnat Muakkadah , 4 Rakaat Fard, 2 Rakaat Sunnat Muakkadah and an unspecified number of Nafl as time and capacity allows.

Ibn Umar said "I prayed alone with Allah's Messenger (pbuh) 2 Rakaat before and 2 Rakaat after the Dhuhr prayer. (Bukhari and Muslim)

It is a familiar practice to offer 4 Rakaat Sunnat before Thuhr prayer, but this Hadith proves that 2 Rakaat Sunnat before the Thuhr prayer is also allowed.

(iii) Asr Prayer: 2 or 4 Rakaat Sunnat Ghair Muakkaadah , 4 Rakaat Fard.

Ali said, "Allah's Messenger (pbuh) used to pray 4 Rakaat before Asr prayer separating them with a salutation..." (Tirmidhi)

Another Hadith narrated by Ali says, Allah's Messenger (pbuh) used to pray two Rakaat before Asr prayer. (Abu Dawud)

(iv) Maghrib prayer.: 2 Rakat Nafl, 3 Rakat Fard, 2 Rakat Sunnat Muakadah and an unspecified number of Nafl as time and capacity allows.

Abdullah bin Mughaffal reported the Prophet ((pbuh) as saying, "Pray before the Maghrib prayer", adding when saying it the third time,

That was because he did not wish people to treat it as a compulsory Sunnat.

2 Rakaat Nafl after sunset and before the Maghrib prayer are allowed for those who wish to do so. For this the above Hadith is a sure proof. However, some people forbid this and others find it very strange if they see a person offer 2 Rakaat Nafl before Maghrib.

(v) Isha prayer: An unspecified number of Nafl Rakaat according to the time and capacity, 4 Rakaat Fard, 2 Rakaat Sunnat Muakkadah, unspecified number of Nafl as time and capacity allows and 3 Witr.

Some people insist very emphatically upon the offering of 4 Rakaat optional Sunnat before the Isha prayer but during our entire research we could not find a single proof, any practice or order from Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) or his companions to justify this claim. Certainly, it is allowed to pray Nafl while waiting for Jamaat.

Some people offer 2 Rakat Nafl after the Witr Prayer. However, there is an authentic Hadith which states that the Witr prayer should be offered after all the Nafl, which a person wishes to pray, have been offered. Ibn Umar reported that Allah's Messenger (pbuh) said "Make Witr as the last prayer of your night prayer." (mishkat)

Times of Salat

2008-05-27T11:20:00.000-07:00

Each Salat must be offered at or during its proper time.

No Salat can be offered before its time. There are five obligatory Salat in a day.

Fajr Prayer (Morning Prayer)

The time for the Fajr or the morning prayer starts at dawn and ends at sunrise.

Dhuhr Prayer (Early Afternoon Prayers)

The time for Dhuhr or the early afternoon prayer starts when the sun begins to decline from its zenith an and ends when the size of an object's shadow is equal to the size of the object.

Jaber bin Abdullah narrated: The angel Jibrael came to Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and said to him, "Stand up and pray Thuhr". So Allah's Messenger (pbuh) prayed Thuhr when the sun had declined from its zenith . Then the angel Jibrael came again at the time of Asr and said "Stand up and pray Asr". Then Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) prayed Asr when the shadow of everything was equal to itself. Then Jibrael came the next day to Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and said, (after praying 10 Salat with Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) in two consecutive days) that the time of Salat (prayer) is in between these two times.

Ahmad, Nasai, Tirmidhi and Bukhari remarked that this is the most authentic Hadith giving the times of prayer. We find that many books on Salat state the ending time of Dhuhr prayer and the starting time of Asr prayer when the shadow of something is twice itself. But this contradicts the above Hadith as on the first day Jibrael asked Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) to pray Asr when the shadow of everything was equal to itself. This means that was the end time of Dhuhr prayer. And we already know that all the Ulama of the Muslim Ummah(Scholars) agree unanimously that no Salat (prayer) can be offered before its time.

Asr Prayer

The time for Asr or late afternoon prayer starts when the shadow of something is equal to itself and ends just before sunset.
It is better to offer Asr prayer before the sun becomes yellow because even though it is allowed to offer the Salat (prayer) at this time the Prophet (pbuh) disliked Muslims to delay Asr prayer up to this time. He remarked that the Munafiq (hypocrite) offered his Salat (prayer) at this time.

Maghrib Prayer

The time for the Maghrib or the sunset prayer starts just after sunset and ends when twilight has disappeared. Isha Prayer
The time for Isha or night prayer starts from the disappearance of twilight and ends just before midnight.

It is preferable to offer this Salat (prayer) before midnight but it can be offered right up to the break of dawn.
Note: In countries where due to cloudy weather the sun is not always visible, it is advisable to follow printed calendars giving the accurate time of each Salat (prayer).

Forbidden times of Prayer

Uqbah bin Amir said, There were three times at which Allah's Messenger (pbuh) used to forbid us to pray or bury our dead:
(i) When the sun began to rise until it was fully up.
(ii) When the sun was at its height at midday till it passed the meridian.
(iii) When the sun drew near to setting till it had set. (Muslim)

Forbidden Times for Nafl Prayer (i) Abu Saeed AlKhudree reported Allah's Messenger (pbuh) as saying, No Salat is to be said after the Fajr prayer until the sun rises, or after the Asr Prayer until the sun sets. (Bukhair and Muslim)

Only Nafl prayer is forbidden at these times but a missed Fard prayer can be offered. Most of the Ulama of the Muslim Ummah allowed the offering of missed Fard prayer after Fajr and Asr because of the following Hadith:

Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said, Who has forgotten the prayer he should pray it whenever he remembers it. (Bukhari and Muslim)

(ii) A Nafl prayer cannot be offered once the Iqamat for Fard prayer has been said. Abu Hurairah narrated that Allah's Messenger (pbuh) said, When the Iqamat has been said, then, there is no Salat valid (Nafl or Sunnat ) except the Fard prayer for which the Iqamat was said. (Ahmad and Muslim)

It is seen in practice that many people continue with the Sunnat prayer even though the Iqamat has been said for the Fard prayer especially in the Fajr prayer. The feel that the 2 Raakat Sunnat of Fajr can only be offered before the Fard. This practice is against congregation philosophy, discipline of Jamaat, and a clear violation of Hadith. They should offer 2 Rakaat Sunnat of Fajr immediately after the Fard or after sunrise.

For Prayer Times for your City or Country please visit :http://www.islamicity.com/PrayerTimes/

Laziness is kin to Failure

2008-05-27T10:59:00.000-07:00

I urge you to keep busy, not to give in to laziness and idless. Rather, you should take care of your house and home library, and do your duties and your work, or pray, or read Quran or useful books, or listen to useful tapes, or sit with your neighbours and friends and talk to them about things that will bring them closer to Allah. Then you will find happiness and joy, by Allah's leave. And beware of giving in to idleness, for this will lead worries, anxiety, devilish whispers and doubt that nothing can relieve except hard work.

You should take care of your appearance, wear perfume at home, keep your house tidy, and meet your husband, children, siblings, relatives and friends looking cheerful, with a ready smile and an attitude of contentment.

Beware of sin for it leads to grief, especially the sins that are very common among women, such as forbidden glances, wanton adornment, being alone with non-mahram man, cursing, acknowledging his acts of kindness. These sins are very common among women, except for those on whom Allah and fear Him, for fear of Allah is what brings happiness and a clear conscience.

"When distress strikes and calamities come one after another, then say: La ilaa illallah,"

Place And Dress for Prayers (Salat)

2008-05-27T06:20:00.000-07:00

A Place for Prayers:A place or a building which is used for the purpose of worship and Salat is called a Masjid (mosque).
A Hadith tells us that

This means that wherever a Muslim might be, he can offer his Salat but the reward of a Salat offered in a mosque is far greater than that offered in an ordinary place. The following points should be noted when choosing a place for Salat:

(a) The place should be clean and pure. Salat in a dirty, filthy and impure place such as a rubbish tip, slaughter house, bathing place and a camel pen is forbidden.
(b) The place should be free from danger. The danger could be due to someone or something that may disturb the worshipper.
(c) A prayer place where the worshipper might hinder the movement of others should be avoided, e.g. busy pavements, public roadways etc.
(d) It is forbidden to pray on the roof of Baitullah (Kabah).
(e) It is forbidden to pray on top of or facing towards a grave.

DRESS FOR SALAT
Men
(i) The dress for men should be such that it covers from the navel to the knees at least.
(ii) The shoulders should not be left uncovered.
(iii) Salat can be prayed in one garment if it covers the body from the navel to the knees as well as the shoulders.(Bukhari and Muslim.)
If, however, the garment is not long enough to cover the shoulders then parts of the body between the navel and the knees should at least be covered.

Women
The dress of the woman should be such that it covers her whole body from head to foot leaving only the face and the hands uncovered. A Salat offered in transparent clothing is not valid. Also, tight-fitting clothing which shows the shape of the body should be avoided.

Ablution For Prayer - Wadhu

2008-05-27T05:19:00.000-07:00

The Holy Prophet (peace be on him) said,"WUDHU is the key to prayer as prayer is the key to Paradise. ISLAM lays extreme stress on cleanliness and "TAHARAT". As external actions have deep impact upon internal feelings, such as artificial crying makes a person sad as well as artificial laughter makes one happy so is cleanliness and ablution.Purified body lends to purity of mind, however, cleanliness which is ablution, or wudhu, has been made compulsory before each prayer and in certain cases even a full bath has been made obligatory before prayer.

PHILOSOPHY OF WUDHU
A Muslim is required to perform ablution (Wudhu) before Salat. Ablution prepares one mentally for Salat and it also helps concentration in prayer. It is essential to wash or moisturize these parts of the body to generate concentration because the dispersion of thoughts is due to the keenness of the body's five senses. The centers of the five senses are the eyes, ears, nose mouth, hands and feet. It has been proven from the expertise of neurologists that the chain of thought can be rerouted by cooling fingers of the hands and feet. They also say that concentration of thoughts can be achieved by cooling the nerv-ends. That is the Philosophy of Wudhu.

A Muslim stands before his Creator by cooling nerve-ends of his body with Wudhu water and concentrating all his thoughts for the worship of the All-Mighty.In Wudhu, we wash or moisturize the nerve-ends of the hands, feet, hair, mouth, nose and ears. All the main nerve-ends of the body are touched in Wudhu in one way or another. Perfect concentration of thoughts to create the proper worshipping atmosphere is thus attained. As we learn from everyday experience that a person who has fainted can be brought back to his consciousness by sprinkling water on his face, hands and feet which clearly proves our theory. That is why a Muslim is expected to achieve his external as well as internal consciousness by performing Wudhu.Cleanliness and dirt are not compatible. Allah is clean and whosoever loves Him must be clean, externally as well as internally. Prayer, which is contact with Allah, is therefore unacceptable unless the person, who wants to contact his Lord, is clean.

The Holy Prophet (peace be on him) said,"The prayer of a person who does "HADATH" (passes urine, stool or wind) is not accepted till he performs or repeats Wudhu, the ablution."Because the Muslim Ummah is expected to be the cleanest by performing ablution at least five times a day, the Holy Prophet (peace be on him) therefore, gave glad tidings that "On the day of Resurrection, my followers will be called "Ghurrul Muhajjaleen" the bright armed and bright faced, from the traces of ablution on them. Therefore, whosoever can increase the area of his radiance should try to do so by always performing ablution before the prayers. (Bukhari, Kitabul Wudhu).

MAKING INTENTION (NIYAH) FOR WUDU
Before starting the actions of Wudu it is necessary to make Niyah (intention). Make Niyah that the act of performing Wudu is for the purpose of purity only. Niyah should be made in the heart because it is an action of the heart and not of the tongue. Niyah by words is not approved by Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). Then start the Wudu by saying: Bismallah hir-rahma nir-raheem (In the name of Allah, the most gracious, the most merciful)

PERFORMANCE OF WUDHU
Step 1. Washing the hands three times up to the wrist; the right hand first and then the left and wash them in such a way that no spot is left dry;
Step 2. Rinsing and gargling the mouth three times;
Step 3. Washing the nose into three times;
Sept 4. Washing the face beginning from the forehead to the bottom of the chin, three times;
Step 5. Washing the forearms including the elbows three times;
Step 6. Wiping wet hands over the head from front down to the neck, then running the thumbs around the ears and wiping the inside;
Step 7. Wiping the neck with the back of wet hands;
Step 8. Washing the feet including the ankles three times. The right foot first and then the left unless socks are worn
In case if the socks are put on after an ABLUTION (WUDHU) is made, then during the next 24 hours, it is enough to pass wet fingers over them in making an ABLUTION instead of having to wash the feet each time, provided these have not been taken off during this period of time. If someone on journey, the traveler can make MASSAH i.e. passing wet fingers over socks up to three days.

The following things lapse or break the Wudhu
Answering the call of nature,
Passing the wind,
Sleeping or dozing off while leaning against a support,
Unconsciousness,,
InjuryDrawing blood,
Vomiting
and eating camels meat

SPECIAL FACILITIES IN WUDU (ABLUTION)
Rubbing the socks with wet hands instead of washing the feet is allowed, provided that the socks have been put on after performing an ablution, including washing the feet. This is allowed for 24 hours from the time of ablution, and for 3 days if the person in on a journey. After this time the feet must be washed. Similarly, if there is a wound in any parts of the body which has to be washed in ablution, and if washing that particular part is likely to cause harm, it is permissible to wipe the dressing of the wound with a wet hand.

Hadith:
Mughira bin Shubah said, Prophet (pbuh) performed ablution and wiped over his socks and his sandals. (Ahmad, Tirmidhi, Abu Dawud and Ibn Majah).Each detail of ablution has been performed by Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) once, twice or three times (except rubbing of head and cleaning of ears, i.e. actions 6 and 7 should only be done once.). Since all the above methods meet Prophet (pbuh)'s approval; we can perform ablution by doing the actions once, twice or three times; provided that no part has been left dry.

Amr bin Shuaib, quoting his father on the authority of his grand-father narrated that Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said, If anyone performs actions of ablution more than 3 times, he has done wrong, transgressed, and done wickedly.(Nasai and Ibn Majah)

DU'A AT THE END OF WUDU (ABLUTION)
Ash hadu an la ilaha illal lahu wah dahu la shareeka lahu wa ash hadu anna Muhammadan abduhu wa rasuluhu.
I testify that there is no deity except Allah alone. And I testify that Mohammed (pbuh) is His servant and Messenger.(Muslim)
Allahum maj alnee minat taw-wabeena waj alnee minal muta tahireen.O Allah make me among those who are penitent and make me among those who are purified.(Tirmidhi)

TAYAMMUM
In circumstances when water cannot be found, or just enough is available for drinking, or it is injurious to health: in such situations Tayammum (dry ablution) can be performed.The procedure below is given according to Quran and Hadith."

...And if you don't find any water, then take clean earth (or sand) and rub it on your face, and hands. Allah does not wish to put you in a difficulty, but he wants to make you clean, and to complete His favor unto you, so you should be grateful to Him." (5, 6)
(The permission to use sand for this purpose is allowed in the Quran.)

Procedure for Tayammum
1. Make Niyah in the heart.
2. Begin with the Name of Allah.
3. Strike palms of both hands on clean sand, dust or anything containing these, e.g. wall or stone, etc. then blow into the palms. Pass the palms of both hands over the face once and then rub your right hand with the left palm and left hand with the right palm. (Bukhari and Muslim).
4. Finish with the same Du'a as given at the end of ablution.
Note: Other procedures include the forearms and shoulders as well as armpits. These have been transmitted by reputable scholars but the most preferable and authentic is that given above.

Why do we pray?

2008-05-27T05:04:00.000-07:00

By Dr. Suhaib Hasan

After a long and hectic day at work, how difficult it is for a tired person to go out to the mosque and concentrate on his prayers to Allaah, the Almighty. Snuggled up in a warm and cozy bed, how difficult it is to get up at the call of the Mu`azzin: "Come to prayer! Come to success!

"The famous doctor and philosopher, Ibn Sina (Avicenna), recalls such a moment in his life. One cold and icy night, he and his slave were resting at an inn in a remote part of Khuraasaan. During the night, he felt thirsty, so he called to his slave to bring him some water. The slave had no desire to leave his warm bed, so he pretended not to hear Ibn Sina’s call. But finally, after repeated calls, he reluctantly got up and went to fetch the water. A little while later, the melodious sound of the azaan (call to prayer) filled the air. Ibn Sina began to think about the person calling the people to prayer. "My slave, ‘Abdullaah, he mused, has always respected me and admired me. He seizes any opportunity to lavish praise and affection on me, but tonight he preferred his own comfort to my needs. On the other hand, look at this Persian slave of Allaah: He left his warm bed to go out into the chilly night, he made ablution in the icy water of the stream, and then he ascended the high minaret of the mosque to glorify Him Whom he truly serves: "I bear witness that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah. I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allaah." Ibn Sina records: "I learned the essence of true love, that love which results in complete obedience." The love of Allaah demands total and unconditional obedience. Allaah, the Almighty says: { Say [oh, Muhammad!]: "If you love Allaah, follow me: Allaah will forgive you your sins, for Allaah is Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful } (Soorah 3:31)

Prayer: A Cry of the Inner Soul
His arrogance and pride have often led man to behave as an oppressor and a tyrant. Some men have been carried away by their own self-importance that they have even claimed divinity. Pharoah, the ruler of Egypt, was among those who announced: "I am your supreme Lord!" With his sense of greatness and pride, Pharoah subjugated the Israelites and made their lives wretched and miserable. But is man really as strong and great as his ego tells him?

The Qur'ân tells us the reality of man’s nature: { It is Allaah Who created you in a state of weakness, then gave you strength after weakness, then after strength, gave you weakness and a hoary head: He creates what He wills, and He is the All-knowing, the All-powerful } (Soorah 30:54)

Weakness in the beginning and weakness in the end: This is the essence of man. He is so weak and helpless at birth that his entire existence depends on his parents and his family. If he were to be abandoned in these first crucial years, he could not survive on his own. He needs a gentle and loving hand, not only in his infancy, but in his childhood and even in his teenage years. As this child enters the years of youth and independence, he begins to take control of his own life. He looks with pride at his strong physique, his handsome features and his many talents. He begins to despise those of lesser abilities, even scorning his parents, who exhausted their own health to nurture him. He becomes unjust and cruel, using his strength and vigor to dominate others. He thinks he is master, free to act as he wills. But does this youth, these good looks last forever? In only a few decades, he begins to lose his strength…his youth is replaced by old age.

Weakness in the beginning, weakness in the end." The message is clear: The real Master is Allaah. He Alone is Mighty, He Alone, is Great. He Alone is never tired, never needs rest, is never dependent upon anyone. Allaahu Akbar! - Allaah is the Greatest! In our everyday lives, we say a warm thank you for the small acts of kindness which others do for us. So what about thanking Allaah, Who, in His infinite Mercy, has provided for every single one of our needs. Just observe the beauty and perfection of the earth around you and fall down in gratitude to your Lord.

Prayer:
The Ascension for a Believer After the Messenger of Allaah was commissioned for Prophethood, the first thing he was commanded to do by Allaah was to pray. The angel Jibreel came to him and a spring of water gushed out of the rocks in front of them. Jibreel then showed Allaah’s Messenger how to make ablution. He then showed him how to offer prayers to Allaah. He began to pray two rak`ah twice a day, once in the morning and once in the evening. He then went home and showed his wife Khadijah what he had learnt from the angel Jibreel.

From that time, the Prophet never went through a day without praying. Just before his migration to Madeenah, he was taken on a night journey to Jerusalem and then to the heavens (Mi`raaj). During this journey, Allaah, Almighty, ordered him to pray five times a day. This prayer was a gift given to every Believer to enable him to experience a spiritual ascension five times a day. The Prophet said: "The prayer is the Mi`raaj of the Believer." It gives every Muslim the chance to communicate with his Lord. During each prayer, the Muslim recites Soorah Al-Faatihah: This recitation is not a dull monologue by the Believer, but Allaah promises that it is a conversation between Him and the worshipper. The Messenger of Allaah e reported that Allaah, the Almighty says: ‘When my slave says in his prayer: "All praise is for Allaah, the Lord of the worlds," I say: "My slave has praised Me" When he says: "The Merciful, the Compassionate, Master of the Day of Judgement," I say: "My slave has glorified Me." When he says: "You Alone we worship and your Aid we seek," I say: "This is between Me and My slave." When he says: "Show us the Straight Path," I say: "This is for My slave, and I give My slave what he wants."

The Messenger of Allaah once said: "Prayer is the pillar of religion." (Narrated by Al-Baihaqi) He also informed us that Islaam is built upon five pillars, the second being to establish prayer five times a day. (Narrated by Al-Bukhaari) This makes the image very clear: Islaam is like a building supported by five columns; remove just one column and the entire building weakens. In the same way, when a person stops praying, his faith becomes weak, and the mildest blows can cause it to crumble. The prayer is so very important that the Prophet said: "Verily, between man and polytheism and disbelief is abandoning prayer." (Narrated by Muslim)

Allaah says, concerning the plight of the disbelievers on the Day of Judgement, that they will be asked by the Believers: { "What led you into the Hell-fire?" They will say: "We were not of those who prayed." } (Soorah 74:42-43). Allaah also says: { Successful indeed are the Believers, those who humble themselves in their prayers } (Soorah 23:1-2), and: { And those who guard [strictly] their worship, such will be the honoured ones in the Gardens [of Bliss] } (Soorah 70: 34-35).

Allaah has emphasized the need for humility and concentration in prayers. There is no doubt that Satan is the most bitter enemy of man; he always tries to disturb the Believer’s prayers. He (the worshipper) finds his mind suddenly engulfed with memories, problems, worries, work and his family… and he will often find himself wondering whether he has prayed three rak`ah or four. This is how Satan steals the prayer. Man was created only to worship Allaah. He says: { I created not the jinns and mankind except to worship me } (Soorah 51:56). Man is to live in this world as a worshipper of Allaah and prayer is the best for of worship. On the Day of Judgement, man will have to answer for his deeds. Allaah says: {Then shall you be questioned about the joy [you indulged in] } (Soorah 102:8)

(Abridged from: "Why Do We Pray?" by Dr. Suhaib Hasan)

The believing women and the disbelieving women are not equal

2008-05-25T05:52:00.000-07:00

The believing Women and the disbeleiving women are not equal

You can be happy if you examine one issue- the situation of the Muslim omen in the Muslim lands and the situation of the disbeleiving women in the lands of disbelief. The Muslim women in the Muslim land is a beleiving women who gives charity, fast, prays qiyam al layl (night prayers), observers hijab, obeys her husband, fears her Lord, is kind to her neighbours and is compassionate towards her children. So she is to be congratulated for her great reward, tranquility and contentment. The disbeleiving women in the lands of disbelief is a women who makes a wanton display of herself; she is ignorant and foolish, a mere fashion model, a cheap and worthless product on offer in all places. She has no value, honour or religion. Compare the two situations, and you will see that your are happiest, the most well off. Paise be to Allah, the Almighty.

{So do not become weak [against your enemy], nor be sad, and you will be superior[in victory] if you are indeed [true] believers.} (Quran 3: 139)

"All people will live, the one who lives in a palace and the one who lives in a hovel. But who is the one who is happy?"

Ethnicity of Muslims

2008-05-23T12:00:00.000-07:00

A Women Who Challenged Tyranny

2008-05-23T10:43:00.000-07:00

The past is gone and the hoped- for future is still unknown.

All you have is the present

Look ar the texts of Islam, the Quran and Sunnah. Allah, the Exalted, the Allmighty praises righteous and beleiving women. He says:

{And Allah has set forth an example for those who beleive: the wife of [firawn] pharaoh, when she said: My Lord! Build for me a home with yo in Paradise, and save me from the people who are Zalimun [Polytheist, wrongdoers and disbeleivers in Allah,}

[Quran 66:11]

Think abot how Allah made this women- Asiyah may Allah be pleased with her- a living example for beleiving men and women, a clear symbol for everyone who wants to be guided and follow the ways of Allah in life: How wise this women was, when she sought a home with the Lord and put that above her worldy interest. She freed herself from the control of the kafir (disbeleiver) tyrant Pharaoh and refused to live in his palace with his servants and courties, and with all it luxuries, She sought a better home that was more lasting more beautifull, with the Lord of the worlds, amidst gardens and rivers, in a seat of truth (i.e paradise), near the Omnipotent king ( Allah, the One, The All-blessed, the most high, the owner of Majesty and honour) (Quran 54:55)

She was great women whose ambition and sincerity led her to speak the word of truth and faith against her tyrant husband. She was tortured for the sake of Allah but she ultimately earned a home with the lord of the Worlds, and Allah the Exalted, made her an example for every beleiving men and women until the hour comes, and He praised her in His book recording her name and commendinf her deeds, and comdemning her husband who deviated from the right path on earth.

"Be optimistic, even if you are in the eye of the storm."

TEN THOUGHTS TO PONDER

2008-05-21T06:50:00.000-07:00

TEN THOUGHTS TO PONDER

Remember that your Lord forgives those who ask Him for forgiveness, and He accepts the repentance of those who repent, and he accepts those who come back to Him.
Show mercy to the weak and you will be happy; give to the needy and you will be well; do not bear grudges and you will be healthy.
Be optimistice, for Allah is with you, and the angels are praying for forgiveness for you, and paradise awaits you.
Wipe away your tears, think well of your Lord, and chase away your worries by remembering the blessings that Allah has bestowed upon you.
Do not think that this world is ever perfect for anyone. There is no one on the face of the earth who gets all that he want or is free from all kinds of distress
Be like a tall tree with high aims; if a stone is thrown at it, it simply lets its friuts drop.
Have you ever heard that grief brings back what has been lost, or that worry correct mistakes? so why grieve and worry then?
Do not expect trials and calamities, rather expect peace. safety and good health, If Allah wills.
Extinguish the flames of hatred from your heart by forgiving everyone who has ever hurt you.
Ghusl, wudu, siwak and being orgainzed are effective medicines for all kinds of distress and worry.

You can be the happiest Women in the World

2008-05-21T04:39:00.002-07:00

Welcome!

Welcome, O'devout, Allah fearing Women who prays and fast.
Welcome, O' wise, dignified women who observes Hijab.
Welcome, O' aware, well-read and educated women.
Welcome, O' Charitable, sincere, trusthworthy and loyal women.
Welcome, O' patient women who seeks reward from Allah repenting and turning Him.
Welcome, O' Women who remembers Allah and give thanks to Him and calls upon Him.
Welcome, O' women who follows the footseps of Asiyah, Maryam, Fatima, Ayesha and khadijah (peace be upon them).
Welcome, O' mother of heroes and producer of men.
Welcome, O' cherisher and guardian of values.
Welcome, O' women who heeds the scared limitts of Allah and keeps away from forbidden things.

YES!

Yes to your beautiful smile that sends a mesaage of warmth and friendiness to others.
Yes to your kind words that establish friendship as permitted in Islam and Dispel rancour.
Yes to acceptable charity that brings happiness to the poor and feeds the hungry.
Yes to sitting with the Quran reciting it, pondering its meanings and acting upon them, and repenting and seeking forgiveness
Yes to remembring Allah a great deal and praying for forgiveness, persisting in du'a and offering sincere repentence.
Yes to raising your children in islam, teaching them the sunnah and guiding them to that which is benefit them..
Yes to modesty and hijab as enjoined by Allah, which is the means of self-protection.
Yes to the friendship of good women who fear Allah, love islam and respect high values.
Yes to honouring one's parents, upholdinf the ties of kinship, honouring one's neighbours and caring orphans.
Yes to reading useful, interesting and beneficial books.

No!

No to wasting time in trivial pursuits, and love of revenge and futile arguments.
No to giving priority to money and accumulation of wealth over ones health, happiness, sleep, and peace of mind.
No to seeking out other peoples faults and backbiting about them, whilst forgetting one's own faults.
No to indulging in physical pleasure and giving in to every whim and desire.
No to wasting time with shallow people and spending hours in idle pursuits.
No to neglecting physical hygiene and cleanlines in the house, and being disorganized at home.
No to haram drinks, cigaretters, narghile("hookah pipes"), and all foul things.
No to thinking of past calamities and dwelling on past mistakes.
No to forgetting the hereafter and neglecting to stirve for it, and to being careless of what will happen in the hereafter.
No to wasting money on haram things, being extravagant with regard to permissible things, and falling short in acts of worship.

-Dr. 'A'id al Qarni (autor of "Dont be sad" and "You can be the happiest women in the world".)

What you do all day??

2008-05-20T13:13:00.000-07:00

Do you pray fajr (morning prayer) in the mosque in Jamaa`ah (gathering) every day?

Do you keep all prayers in the masjid in Jamaa`ah?

Did you read any portion of Allaah’s Book today?

Are you consistent in saying your thikr (words of remembrance) and praise of Allaah (T) and wird (regular daily dhikr) after every prayer?

Do you pray all the regular sunnah prayers (supererogatory prayers) before and after the fard prayers?

Were you humble and sincere in your prayers today, conscious of what you were reciting?

Did you reflect upon death and the grave?

Did you reflect upon the Last Day, its horrors and its perils?

Did you ask Allaah (three times) to let you into the Jennah?

For, Anas, radhiallahu `anhu, reported that the Messenger sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam said:
When someone asks Allaah (three times) to let him into the Jannah, the Jannah says: ‘O Allaah, let him into his Jannah?’ And when someone asks Allaah (three times) to shelter him from the Fire, the Fire says: ‘O Allaah, protect him from the Fire’.” [At-Tirmidhee, an-Nasaa’ee, and al-Haakim; Saheeh al-Jaami` by al-Albaanee no. 6275]

Did you ask Allaah (three times) to protect you from the Hellfire?

Did you read any of the hadeeth of the Prophet, sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam?

Did you consider keeping away from evil companions?

Did you try to avoid excessive laughing and joking?

Did you cry today for fear of Allaah?

Did you say the morning and evening thikr?

Did you seek forgiveness for your sins from Allaah for today?

Did you sincerely ask Allaah (ta`ala) for the Shahaadah (martyrdom) today?

For, the Messenger of Allaah, sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam, said: “Whoever asks Allaah (ta`ala) for the Shahaadah with sincerity, Allaah will grant him the rank of martyrs, even if he dies in bed.” [Muslim and others]

Did you supplicate to Allaah to keep your heart firm upon His Deen?

Did you take advantage of the answerable periods (those during which supplications are answerable) to ask of Allaah?

And put thy trust in Allah, and enough is Allah as a disposer of affairs.(Holy Qu'ran 33:3)

Causes of Gheebah

2008-05-18T12:27:00.000-07:00

Causes of Gheebah

Seeking victory for oneself, and the backbiters effort to releive the hatred that is in his chest for someone else. Therefore, he backbites him or slanders him.

Hatred and dislike others. Therefore, the backbiter mentions the errors of whomever he hates in order to satisfy the hatred he feels. This, is not from the characteristics of the believers.

Enviousness. The backbiter will be envious of somone whom the people praise and love. Therefore, the jealous backbiter, who is weak in his religion and intellect, will try to remove this favor. However, he finds no way of doing this except by backbiting him.

Agreeing with the company one associates with. Being courteous to friends, supporting them in their conversation and loving flattery and hypocrisy.

Characteristics of those who commit Gheebah

Whose who commit Gheebah have an awful stench. Jabir (a.r) narrated: We were with the Prophet (pbuh) when awful odor arose. He Said.
"Do you know what this odor is? It is the odor of those who commit Gheebah against the believers."

Those who commit Gheebah will be tormented in the Grave. The Prophet(pbuh) said,
"....these two are only being tormented because of Gheebah and (not being cautious about) urine.

Those who commit Gheebah have weak and cowardly personalities, because they cannot confront other people and they do not have the strenght to be direct. If they have were brave, they would have mentioned what was wrong with the person in their presence.

The Trade of the person who indulges in Gheebah os a losing trade, as he surrenders his goods to whomever he backbites in spite of himself. At the same time, it is a profit for the other (backbitten) party, as he acquires its reward in good deeds, thus making his Scale of deeds heavirt while he is unaware.

The faith of those who commit Gheebah is deficient, for the Prophet (pbuh) said,
" One of you will not attain faith untill he loves for his brother what he loves for himself."

Do you, Oyou who backbites others love for your believing brother what you love for yourself
when you backbite him?

The backbiter nullifies commanding good and forbidding evil. If we were truthful in our Islam and sincere in our actions, we would face whomever we see having some shortcoming and we would command the good and forbid the evil. If not, we nullify the goodness of this ummah ( The Muslim Nation

The Rulling of Gheebah

2008-05-17T15:39:00.000-07:00

The Ruling of Gheebah and the Evidences for the Ruling

Gheebah is one of the worst social ills that Muslims are required to avoid, for it is forbidden according to the consensus (ijmaan') of the Musilm scholars and is considered one of the major sins. Islam has forbidden Gheebah and Prohibited it due to what it contains of severing brotherly ties, spoiling relations of affection, sowing seeds of enmity and spreading faults. To further discourage Muslims from committing Gheebah, the Quran likens the person who practices it to one who eats the flesh of his dead brother. Allah said,

".....and neither backbiting one another. Would one of you like to eat the flesh of his dead brother? You would hate it." (49:12)

Therefore, he who criticizes his brother in his absence is like one who bites him and eats his flesh while he is dead, and unable to feel the pain of the bite or being eating. Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi said, in explaining this verse, " Gheebah is forbidden according to the consensus (of the scholars)." Also, Aisha (a.r) narrated, "I said to the Prophet, it suffices you regarding safiyaah that she is such and such- meaning short."
He said:
"You have uttered a word that if it was mixed with the water of the sea, it would spoil it." (sahih Abu dawood)

The One Who Listens to Backbiting is the Same as the One who Backbites

Listening to someone who practices Gheebah, showing amazement and delight at what he says, falls under the same rulling as Gheebah itself. This behavior increases the activity of whoever commits Gheebah and encourages him. It also contains a form of affiriminf his truthfulness. Consequently, when the listener accepts the words of backbiter and becomes pleased with his speech, he will have participated with him in committing Gheebah.

An- Nawawee said:
"Know that whoever hears gheebah beining committed against another Muslim is requried to reject it and chastise whoever is saying it. If cannot chastise that person with words he should forbid him with his hand. If he is unable to forbid the Gheebah with his hand or tongue, then he i required to leave that audience (where Gheebah is being committed). If one hears Gheebah being committed against his teacher, or other who have a right on him or those who are honorable and righteous, he is required to implement what we mentioned above even more vigorously". (Al-Athkaar: 294)

What is Required of Whoever Hears Gheebah being Committed Against His Muslim Brother

The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said:
"He who defends the honor of his brother in his absence, will have a right on Allah that He frees Him From Fire (sahih: Recoreded by Ahmad. see sahih Al-jaami, no 6240)

The Definition of Gheebah

2008-05-17T15:17:00.000-07:00

Al- Gheebah Backbiting & its evil Effects on Musilm Society

All praise is due to Allah, and may Allah's peace and blessing be on the Messenger of Allah, His Progeny Companions and those who followed him.

There is no doubt that Allah has bestowed tremedous bounties on mankind. Among the foremost of these bounties after Islam is the bounty of speaking with the tongue.

However, the tongue is a weapon that has two sharp edges . If it is used in the Obedience of Allah, such as reciting the Quran, enjoining righteousness, forbidding evil, helping the oppressed and other rigtheous acts, then this is required from every Muslim. They must also be thankful (To Allah) for this bounty.

However, if the tongue is used in the obedience of Satan, in dividing the Muslim community, lying, uttering falsehood, backbiting, spreading calumnies, breaching the honor of Muslims and other acts that Allah and His Messenger (pbuh) have forbidden, then this is forbidden for Musilm. This is among the harms of the tongue and one of the greatest harms to mankind.

It is easier for manking to aviod eating forbidden things, injustice, adultery, theft and alcohol comsumption, than controlling his tongue. This is why some men who are described as abstinent, religious worshippers of Allah, sometimes utter words that anger Allah, while being careless regarding the evil they are uttering. Also, a person may strive to stay away from lewdness and transgression, yet his tongue tears and slaughters the honor and reputation of the living, and even the deceased. They do not care about what they utter, and power and strenght come only from Allah.

Hence, due to the danger of the tongue's harms upon the individual, the society and the Islamic nation. we undertook the task of writing the treatise and something regarding this dangerous matter. Hopefully Allah will benefit the Muslim with it and success is from Allah.

The Definition of Gheebah

The Prophet (pbuh) explained the meaning of Gheebah (backbiting) in his saying

"Do you know what Al-Gheebaah is?

They said, "Allah and His messenger know best" He Said:

"Your mentioning your brother with what he hates."

It was asked, "what if that which i say is (really) in my brother? H said:

"If he (really) has in him what you say, you will commintting Gheebah against him, and if what you say is not (really) in him, you will be slandering him."

Therefore, "Gheebah" means to mention someone in his absence by an attribute or a characteristic that he has, which if he were present he would hate.

However, if the absent person is not as he was described then this is called buhtaan, meaning, lies and falsehood. which is worse than Gheebah.

Enough For You is Your Home

2008-05-16T15:52:00.000-07:00

The words ‘Isolation’ and ‘Seclusion’ have a special meaning in our religion: to stay away from evil and its perpetrators, and to keep those who are foolish at a distance. When you seclude yourself from evil in this manner, you will have a opportunity to reflect, to think, to graze in the meadows of enlightment.

When you isolate yourself from things that divert you from Allah’s obedience, you are giving yourself a dose of medicine, one that doctors of the heart have found to be a most potent cure. When you seclude yourself from evil and idleness, your brain is stimulated into action. The results are increases in faith, repentance, and remembrance of Allah, the Most Merciful.

However, some gatherings are not only recommended, but necessary: the congregational prayer, circles of learning, and all gatherings of righteousness. As for gatherings wherein frivolity and shallowness prevail, be wary of them. Take flight from such gatherings, weep over your wrong doing, hold your tongue, and be content within the boundaries of your home. My mixing with others based on foolish motives, you endanger the stability and soundness of your mind, for the people you indiscriminately mix with are likely to be experts at wasting time, masters at spreading lies, and skilled in spreading both trouble and mischief.

Allah says:“Had they marched out with you, they would have added to you nothing except disorder, and they would have hurried about in your midst (spreading corruption) and sowing sedition among you.” (Quran 9:47)

I advice you to fortify yourself to you purpose and isolate yourself in a room, except when you leave it to speak well or to do well. When you apply this advice, you will find that your heart has returned to you. So use your time well and save your life from being wasted. Hold your tongue from backbiting, free your heart from anxiety, and preserve your ears from profanity.

Is not He (Better than your gods), who responds to the distressed

2008-05-16T15:43:00.000-07:00

Allah says:“Is not He (better than your gods) who responds to the distressed one, when he calls Him.” (Quran 27:62)

From Whom do the weak and the oppressed seek victory? Who does everyone beseech? He is Allah. None had the right to be worshipped except Him.

Therefore it is most advisable for you and I to invoke Him during difficult times during times of both hardship and ease, to seek shelter with Him in difficult times, and to plead at His doorstep with tears of repentance; then will His help and relief quickly arrive.

Allah says:“Is not He (Better than you gods) who responds to the distressed one, when he calls Him...” (Quran 27:62)

He saves the one who is drowning, gives victory to the oppressed, guides the misguided, cures the sick, and provides relief to the afflicted.

Allah says:“And when they embark on a ship, they invoke Allah, making their Faith pure for Him only” (Quran 29:65)

As for the various supplications one makes to remove hardship, I refer you to the books of Sunnah, in them, you will learn prophetic supplications with which you can call to Allah, supplicate to Him, and seek His Aid. If you have found Him, then you have found everything. And If you lose your faith in Him, then you have lost everything. By supplicating to Him you are performing one of the highest forms of worship. If you are persistent and sincere in you supplication, you willl achieve freedom from worry and anxiety. All ropes are cut lose save His, and all doors are shut save His. His is near; He hears all and answer those who supplicate to Him.

Allah says:“Invoke Me (and ask Me for anything), I will respond to your (Invocation).”(Quran 40:60)

If you are living through affliction and pain, remember Allah, call out His name, and as Him, for help. Place your forehead on the ground an mention His Praises, so that you can obtain true freedom. Raise your hands in supplication, and ask of Him Constantly. Cling to His door, have good thoughts about Him, and wait for His help- you will then find true Happiness and success.

Verily, with Hardship, there is relief

2008-05-16T04:13:00.000-07:00

“Verily, with hardship, there is relief” (Quran 94:6)

Eating follows hunger, drinking follows thirst, sleep comes after restlessness, and health takes the place of sickness. The lost will find their way, the one in difficulty will find relief, and the day will follow the night.

Allah says:“Perhaps Allah may bring a victory or a decision according to His Will” (Quran 5:52)

Inform the night of coming morning, the light of which will permeate the mountains and valleys. Give to the afflicted tidings of a sudden relief that will reach them with the speed of light or with the blinking of an eye.

If you see that the desert extends for miles and miles, then know that beyond that distance are green meadows with plentiful shade. If you see the rope tighten and tighten, know that it will snap.

Tears are followed by a smile, fear is replaced by comfort, and anxiety is over thrown by serenity. When the fire was set for him, Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) (pbuh) did not feel its heat because of the help he received from his Lord.

Allah says:“We (Allah) said: ‘O’ fire! Be you coolness and safety for Ibrahim” (Quran 21:69)

The sea would not drown Prophet Moses (pbuh), because he uttered in confident, strong, and truthful manner:

“Nay, verily! With me is my Lord, He will guide me” (Quran 26:62)

The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) told Abu Baker (ra) in the cave that Allah was with them – then peace and tranquility descended upon them.

Those that are slaves of the moment see only misery and wretchedness. This is because they look only ar the wall and door of the room, whereas they should look beyond such barriers as are set before them.

Therefore do not despair: it is impossible for things to remain the same. The days and years rotate, the future is unseen, and everyday Allah has matters to bring forth. You know it not, but it may be that Allah will afterwards bring some new thing to pass. And verily, with Hardship there is a Relief. So don’t be sad :)

Pre-ordainment

2008-05-15T16:46:00.000-07:00

Allah says:“No calamity befalls on the earth or in yourselves but is inscribed in the Book of Decrees – before We bring it into existence” (Quran 57:22)

The pen has dried, the pages have been lifted: all events that shall come to pass have already been written.

Allah says:“Nothing shall ever happen to us except what Allah has ordained for us” (Quran 9:51)

Whatever has befallen you was not meant to escape you, and whatever has escaped you was not meant to befall you: if this belief were to be firmly ingrained in you heart then all hardship and difficulty would become ease and comfort.

The Prophet (pbuh) said:“Whoever Allah wishes good for, He inflicts him (with hardship)”.

For this reason, do not feel overly troubled if you are afflicted with sickness, the death of a son or a loss in wealth. Allah has decreed these matters to occur and the decisions are His, and His alone. When we truly have faith, we shall be rewarded well and our sins shall be atoned for.
For those that are afflicted with disasters, glad tidings await them: so remain patient and happy with you Lord.

Allah says:“He cannot be questioned as to what He does, while they will be questioned” (Quran 21:23)

You will never completely feel at ease until you firmly believe that Allah has already pre-ordained all matters. The pen has dried and with it has been written everything that will happen to you. Therefore do not feel remorse over that which is not in your hands. Do not think that you could have prevented these things, whether you wanted to or not.All that has been pre-ordained shall come to pass.

Allah says:“Then whosoever wills let him believe, and whosoever wills, let him disbelieve.” (Quran 18:29)

Surrender yourself: believe in preordainment, before pangs of anger and regret overwhelm you. If you have done all that was in your power, and afterwards what you had been striving against still takes place, have firm faith that it was meant to be. Do not say,’ had I done such and such, such and such would have happened,’ rather say “This is a decree of Allah, and what He wishes, He does,”

Don’t Be Sad :)

Do not be a mimicker

2008-05-15T16:42:00.000-07:00

Do not transform yourself in to someone who you are not: do not mimic others. Many are those that feign to forget their own voices, movements, idiosyncrasies, and habits, in order to imitate others in their ways. Among the consequences of such behavior are artificiality, unhappiness, and a destruction of one’s entity.

From Adam to the last born baby, no two people are exactly the same in appearance. Why then should they be the same in mannerisms and tastes?

You are unique – none had been like you in the past and none shall be like you in the future. You are totally different from X or Y, so do not force upon yourself the blind following and imitation of others.Go forth according to your own nature and disposition,

Allah says:“Each (group of) people knew its own place for water.” Quran 2: 60“For every nation there is a direction to which they face, so hasten towards all that is good.” Quran 2:148

Be as you were created and do not change your voice or modify your walk. Cultivate your personality by following what is found in revelation, but do not render your existence void by imitating others and depriving yourself of your individuality.

Your tastes and preferences are specific to you and we want you to stay as you are, especially because that is the way you were created and that is how we know you to be.

The Prophet (PBUH) said:“And let no one among you be an imitator of others”

In terms of characteristics, people are like the world of trees and plants: sweet and sour, tall and short, and so on. Your beauty and value is in preserving your natural state. Our varied colors, languages, talents, and abilities are signs from our Creator, the Almighty, All Glorious, so do not disbelieve in them.

The Book of Manners

2008-05-14T14:37:00.000-07:00

All praise is to Allah; we praise Him, Seek His help, and ask for His forgiveness. We seek refuge in Allah from the evil of own selves and from the evil of our deeds.

The Book of Manners:

Compiled by: fu'ad ibn abdul-azeez

Translated in eng by: Faisal Shafiz, canada

My Purpose here is to summarize their works and present the manners they discussed in their book, this is easy to read and understand. And in keeping with that purpose, I have tried as much as possibe to avoid excessive detail.

Among the many good deeds that the Prophet(pbuh) guided us to and the evil that He warned us about are a set of manners that are comprehensive of worldy matters and religious matters, of worship and dealings- dealings with one's family, children, acquaintances, and stranges.

The Prophet (pbuh) said "The best among you is the best among you in manners"

The Manners Of Reciting The Quran, And Related Issues

Allah said: "And recite the Quran (aloud) in a slow (pleasent tone and style) [73:4]

The Prophet (pbup) said "The Best among you is he who learns the Quran and teaches it"

1) Strive To Be Sincere When You Learn And Recite The Quran

When you recite the Quran, you are performing an act of worship, for which you are seeking Allah's pleasure and reward.

This, as well as all other acts of worship, must be fullfilled two conditions- sincerity and Mutaaba'ah Following the Prophet(pbuh) in the way one performs the act of worship; otherwise, the deed performed is rejected)

An-Nawawee makes an important point, for some reciters of the Quran want to attract attention to themselves, desiring veneration from others- we ask Allah to keep us safe and healthy [from such diseases]. It should be enough for a reciter to know the punishment awaiting him if he recites the Quran so that people will praise him for his recitation.

2)Apply The Teaching Of The Qur'an

You apply the Quran's teaching by deeming lawful what it permits and deeming forbidden what it forbits; by avoiding what it prohibits and acting on its commands; by appling its clear verse and believing in its unclear verses; and by applying all of its laws precepts. A severe punishment awaits those who, despite being blessed by Allah with knowledge of the Quran, do no apply its teaching.

3) Consistenly Recite And Study The Qur'an

To be sure, if one who memorize the Quran does not revise it freguently and consistently, he will forget the portions he memorized, for Quran escapes quickly from the breast of men. And for this reason, we must study and recite it was freguently as possible.

Ibn Umar (r.a) reported that the Messenger of Allah (Pbuh) said, "The example of the companion of the Quran is that of an owner of a tried camel: if he is vigilant over it, he will hold onto his camel; if he release it, it will go away."

The Permissibility Of Reciting The Quran While One is Standing, Walking, Riding, Sitting, Or lying Down

The source of this rulling is found in the saying of Allah (swt)

"Those who remember Allah (always, and in prayers) Standing, Sitting, and down on their sides'' (Quran 3.191)

From the Sunnah also, we learn that the Prophet (pbuh) would recite the Quran in various positions- even when riding, resting on something.

From the fact the Prophet (pbuh) recited the Quran while he was riding on his mount, we infer that its is similarly permissible to recite the Quran when we are walking, for there is no significant difference between the two states as would make one deserving of a certain rulling and the other deserving of a different rulling.

7) Only The Purified May Touch The Quran

This rulling is based on the saying of Allah (swt)

"Which (that book with Allah) none can touch but the purified (i.e The Angels)(Quran 56.79)

Question: Is it permissible for one who is in state of impurity to hold the Quran via barrier, such as a piece of cloth of the cloth of one's garment

Answer: Yes, one may hold the Quran via a barrier, because in doing so, one is not physically touching the Quran.

Although it is permissible to carry the Quran in ones pocket, it is not permissible for one to carry it when one enters the toilet.

8) The Permissibility of Reciting The Quran From Memory For One Who Is In A Minor State Of Impurity

If one is junub, in a major state of impurity (this results, for instance, from engaging in sexual intercourse or having a wet dream and one contiunes to remain in this state until he takes a shower) it is categorically forbidden for him to recite the Quran which means that he maye neither touch the Quran and read it from directly nor recite it from memory.

Alee (a.r) said "The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) would recite the Quran to us, as long as he was not junub (in a major state of impurity)

But if one is in minor state of impurity (which results, for example. from sleeping, passing wind, defecating, or urinating), then it is permissible for him to at least recite the Quran from memory.

9)The Permissibility Of Reciting the Quran For Menstruating Women And Women Experiencing Post-natal Bleeding

There is no authentic Proof in which it is established that there two categories of women may not recite the Quran; nonetheless we know for sure that they may not touch the Quran

10) It Is Recommended to Clean One's Mouth With Siwaak before Reciting The Quran

One does this, showing goood manners to and veneration for Allah's speech. So if one intends to recite Allah's speech, he does well to clean his mouth and give it a goood smell with As-siwaak or with anything else though which cleanliness is achieved. This hadith of hudhaifah (a.r) indicates something to the effect of the said practice: "When the Prophet (pbuh) would wake up at night for tahajjud (late-night prayer) he would rub and clean his mouth with As-siwaak.

Question: It is common practice among many muslims to say " Sadqallahul- Adheem" (Allah, the All-mighty, has spoken the truth) immediately after they recite some of the Quran. Is there any proof to support this pracitc?

Answer: There is no proof, neither from the Quran nor from the sunnah, which indicates that one should always say "sadqallahul-Adheem" immediately after reciting the Quran. True this is now the practice of the majority, but the deeds of many are not proofs that show something to be true.

Allah says: "And most of mankind will not beleive even if you desire it eagerly"(Quran 12.103)

The Permanet Council For Scientific Researched (in saudi Arabia) issued the following rulling:

When one says "sadqallahul-Adheem", what he is saying is certainly the truth, but to say it regulary when one finishes reading the Quran is an innovation (bid'ah). Despite the fact that the Prophet (pbuh) and the rigthy-guided khaleefas recited the Quran often, no narration has come to us, as far as we know, to support the said practice. However, it is authentically established that the Prophet (pbuh) said: "Whoever introduces something into our mattar that is not from it, then it is rejected."

Repel boredom with work

2008-05-14T05:31:00.000-07:00

Those who have nothing to do with their lives are the same people who spend most of their time spreading rumors and falsehood, mainly because their minds are devoid of beneficial thoughts:

Allah says:“They are content to be with those (the women) who sit behind (at home). Their hearts are sealed up (from right guidance) to they understand not.” (Quran 9:87)

When you find yourself to be idle, prepare for depression and despair, because idleness allows your mind to wander in the past, the present, and the future, with all of their difficulties. Therefore, my sincere advice to you is to perform fruitful acts instead of being idle, for idleness is a slow and veiled form of suicide.

Idleness is like the show torture that is inflicted upon prisoners in China: they are placed under a tap, from which a drop of water falls only after every hour. During the period of waiting between drops, many of them lose their minds and are driven to insanity.

Being inactive means being negligent of one’s duties, Idleness is an expert thief and your mind is its victim.

Therefore get up now and say a prayer or read a book; praise your Lord, study, write, organize your library, fix something in your house, or benefit others so that you can put an end to you inactivity. I say this only because I sincerely wish for your betterment.Destroy boredom by working. When you apply this simple precept alone, you will have traveled at least fifty percent of the way towards happiness. Look at farmers, carpenters, and the bread – maker, and observe how, when they are working, they recite words as melodious as the singing of birds, because they are content. Afterwards observe yourself and how you toss and turn on your bed while wiping away your tears, always miserable, always torturing yourself.

Doing Good to others give confort to heart

2008-05-14T05:27:00.000-07:00

The first person who benefits from the act of charity is the benefactor himself, by seeing changes in himself and in his manners, by finding peace, by watching a smile form on the lips of another person.

If you find yourself to be difficulty or distress, show kindness to others, and you will be the first to find solace and comfort, give to the needy, defend the oppressed, help those in distress, and visit the sick: you will find that happiness surrounds you from all directions

An act of charity is like perfume-it benefits the user, the seller, and the buyer. Furthermore, the psychological benefits that one receives from helping others are indeed great. If you suffer from depression, an act of charity will have a more potent effect on your sickness than will the best available medicine.

Even when you smile upon meeting others, you are giving charity.

The prophet (pbuh) said:“Do not dismiss certain acts of kindness by deeming them to be significant, even if (such a act) is to meet your brother with a smiling face (for that is a deed which might weigh heavily in you scale of deeds).”

On the other hand, when you frown upon meeting others, you are displaying a sign of enmity, an act that is so detrimental to brotherhood that only Allah knows the full extent of its evil effects.

The Prophet (pbuh) informed us that the prostitute who once gave a handful of water to a dog was rewarded for that deed with Paradise, which is as wide as the heavens and the earth. This is because the Giver of rewards is Forgiving, Rich, and Worthy of Praise.

O’ you, who are threatened by misery, fear and grief, occupy yourself in the betterment of others. Help others in different ways through charity, hospitality, sympathy, and support. And in doing so, you will find all of the happiness that you desire.

Allah says:“He who spends his wealth for increase in self-purification, and has in his mind no favor from anyone for which a reward is expected in return; except only the desire to seek the Countenance of his Lord, the Most High.He surely will be pleased (When he enters Paradise) ( Quran 92:18-21)

Do not expect gratitude from anyone

2008-05-14T05:22:00.000-07:00

Allah, the Almighty, created His slaves so that they may worship and remember Him, and He provided sustenance for them so that they may be grateful to Him. Nevertheless, many have worshipped other than Him and the masses are thankful not to Him, but to others, because the characteristic of ingratitude is widespread among human beings. So do not be dismayed when you find that others forget you favors or disregard your kind acts. Some people might even despise you and make you an enemy for no other reason than that you have shown them kindness.

Allah says:“And they could not find any cause to bear a grudge, except that Allah and His Messenger had enriched them of His bounty” (Quran 9:74)

From among the ever repeating pages of history is a story of a father and his son; the former raised him, fed him, clothed him and taught him; he would stay up nights so that his son could sleep, stay hungry so that his son could eat, and he would toil so that his son could feel comfort. And when the son became older and stronger, he rewarded his father with disobedience, disrespect, and contempt

So be at peace if you are requited with ungratefulness for the good you have done, Rejoice in your knowledge that you will be rewarded from the One Who has unlimited treasures at His disposal,

This is not to say that you should refrain from performing acts of kindness towards others: the point is that you should be mentally prepared for ingratitude.

Perform acts of charity seeking Allah’s pleasure, because with this attitude you will assuredly be successful. The ungrateful person cannot really harm you: Praise Allah that that person is the transgressor and that you are the obedient servant. Also, remember that the hand that gives is better than the hand that receives.

Allah says:“We feed you seeking Allah’s countenance only. We wish for no reward, nor thanks from you” (Quran 76:9)

Many people are shocked at the nature of ingratitude in others, as though they had never come across this verse and others like it:

Allah says:“And when harm touches man, he invokes Us, lying down on his side, or sitting or standing. But then We have removed his harm from him, he passes on his way as if he had never invoked Us for a harm that touched him!”(Quran 10:12)

Hence do not be in a state of agitation if you give someone a pen as a gift and he uses it to satirize you, or if you give someone a walking stick to lean upon and he strikes you with it. As I pointed out earlier, most human beings are ungrateful to their Lord, so what treatment should you and I expect?

How to deal with bitter criticism

2008-05-12T15:16:00.000-07:00

Those who are ignorant have uttered curses at Allah, the Exalted, the Creator of all that exists, so what treatment should we, who are full of faults, expect from people. You will always have to face criticism, which in its onslaught is like an interminable war; it shows no sign of ending. As long as you shine, give, produce, and have an effect on others, then disapproval and condemnation will be your lot in life. Until you escape from people by finding a tunnel in the ground or a ladder leading to the sky, they will not desist from censuring you, from finding fault in your character. For that reason, as long as you are from the denizens of earth, expect to be hurt, to be insulted, and to be criticized.

And here is something you should contemplate; a person who is sitting on the ground does not fall, and people do not kick a dead dog. Therefore their anger toward you can be attributed to you surpassing them in righteousness, knowledge, manners, or wealth. In their eyes you are a transgressor whose wrongs cannot be atoned for-unless you abandon your talents and strip yourself of all praiseworthy qualities, so that you become stupid, worthless, and to them, innocuous. This result is exactly what they want for you.

So remain firm and patient when facing their insults and criticism. If you are wounded by their words and let them have an influence over you, you will have realized their hopes for them.

Instead, forgive them by showing then the most beautiful of manners. Turn away from them and do not feel distressed by their schemes. Their disapproval of you only increases you in worth and merit.

Verily, you will not be able to silence them, but you will be able to bury their criticisms by turning away from them and dismissing what they have to say.

Allah says:“Say: “Perish in our rage” (Quran 3:119)

In fact, you will be able to increase them in their rage by increasing your merits and developing your talents

If you desire to be accepted by all and loved by all, you desire the unattainable.

Leave the future Alone until it comes

2008-05-12T15:11:00.000-07:00

Allah Says:
“The Event (the Hour or the punishment of disbelievers and polytheists or the Islamic laws or commandments), ordained by Allah will come to pass, so seek not to hasten it.”(Quran 16:1)

Be not hasty and rushed for things that have yet to come to pass. Do you think it’s wise to pick fruits before they become ripe? Tomorrow is non existent, having no reality today, so why should you busy yourself with it? Why should you have apprehensions about future disasters? Why should you be engrossed by their thoughts, especially since you do not know whether you will even see tomorrow?

The Important thing to know is that tomorrow is from the world of the unseen, a bridge that we do not cross until it comes. Who knows, perhaps we might never reach the bridge, or the bridge might collapse before we reach it, or we may actually reach it and cross safely.

For us to be engrossed in expectations about the future is looked down upon in our religion since it leads to our having a long term attachment to this world, an attachment that the good believer shuns. Many people of this world are unduly fearful of future poverty, hunger, disease, and disaster: Such thinking is inspired by the Devil.

Allah says:“Satan threatens you with poverty and orders you to commit Fasha (Evil deeds, illegal sexual intercourse, sins etc), whereas Allah promises you Forgiveness from Himself and Bounty...” (Quran 2: 268)

Many are those who cry because they see themselves starving tomorrow, falling sick after a month, or because they fear that world will come to an end after a year. Someone who has no clue as to when he will die (which is all of us) should not busy himself with such thoughts.

Since you are absorbed in the toils of today, leave tomorrow until it comes, Beware of becoming unduly attached to future prospects in this world.

Today is all you have

2008-05-12T15:04:00.000-07:00

When you wake up in the morning, do not expect to see the evening – live as though today is all that you have, Yesterday has passed with its good and evil, while tomorrow has not yet arrived. Your life’s span is but one day, as if you were born in it and will die at the end of it. With this attitude, you will not be caught between and obsession over the past, with all its anxieties, and the hopes of the future, with all its uncertainty. Live for today: During this day you should pray with a wakeful heart, recite the Quran with understanding, and remember Allah with sincerity. In this day you should be balanced in your affairs, satisfied with your allotted portion, concerned with your appearance and health.

Organize the hours of the day, so that you make years out of minutes and months out of seconds. Seek forgiveness from your Lord, remember Him, Prepare for the final parting from this world, and live today happily and at peace. Be content with your sustenance, your wife, your children, your work, your house and your station in life.

Allah Says:“So hold that which I have given you and be of the grateful” (Quran 7:144)

Live today free from sorrow, bother, anger, jealousy, and malice. You must engrave onto your heart one phrase: Today is my only day. If you have eaten warm, fresh bread today, then what do yesterday’s dry, rotten bread and tomorrow’s anticipated bread matter?

If you are truthful with yourself and have a firm, solid resolve, you will undoubtedly convince yourself of the following:

Today is my last day to live. When you achieve this attitude, you will profit from every moment of your day, by developing your personality, expanding your abilities, and purifying your deeds. Then you say to yourself:

Today I shall be refined in my speech and will utter neither evil speech nor obscenity. Also, I shall not backbite.

Today I shall organize my house and my office. They will not be disorderly and chaotic, but organized and neat.

Today I will be particular about my bodily cleanliness and appearance. I will be meticulous in my neatness and balanced in walk, talk and actions.

Today I will strive to be obedient to my Lord, pray in the best manner possible, do more voluntary acts of righteousness, recite the Quran, and read beneficial books. I will plant goodness into my heart and extract from it the roots of evil – such as pride, jealousy, and hypocrisy.

Today I will try to help others – to visit the sick, to attend a funeral, to guide the one who is lost, and to feed the hungry. I will stand side by side with the oppressed and the weak. I will pay respect to the scholar, be merciful to the young, and reverent to the old.

O’ Past that has departed and is gone, I will not cry over you. You will not see me remembering you, not even for a moment, because you have traveled away from me never to return.

O’ Future, you are in the realm of the unseen, so I will not be obsessed by your dreams. I will not be preoccupied about what is to come because tomorrow is nothing and has not yet been created.

Today is my only day’ is one of the most important statements in the dictionary of happiness, for those who desire to live life in its fullest splendor and brilliance.

The Past is Gone Forever

2008-05-12T15:00:00.000-07:00

By brooding over the past and its tragedies, one exhibits a form of insanity – a kind of sickness that destroys resolve to live for the present moment. Those who have a firm purpose have filled away and forgotten occurrences of the past, which will never again see light, since they occupy such a dark place in the recesses of the mind. Episodes of the past are finished with; sadness cannot retrieve them, melancholy cannot make things right, and depression will never bring the past back to life. This is because the past is non existent.

Do not live in the nightmares of former times or under the shade if what you have missed. Save yourself from the ghostly apparition of the past. Do you think that you can return the sun to its place of rising, the baby to its mother’s womb, milk to the udder, or tears to the eye? By constantly dwelling on the past and its happenings, you place yourself in a very frightful and tragic state of mind.

Reading too much into the past is a waste of the present. When Allah mentioned the affairs of the previous nations,

He, the Exalted, said:“That was a nation who has passed away” Quran 2:134

Former days are gone and done with, and you benefit nothing by carrying out an autopsy over them, by turning back the wheel of history.

The person who lives in the past is like someone who tries to saw sawdust, Of Old, they used to say: “Do not remove the dead from the Graves.”

Our tragedy is that we are incapable of dealing with the present: neglecting our beautiful castles, we wail over dilapidated buildings. If every man and every jinn were to try jointly to bring the past back, they would certainly fail. Everything on earth marches forward, preparing for a new season – and so should you.

Ref: Don't Be Sad

Contemplate and be thankful

2008-05-12T14:54:00.000-07:00

I started reading a book called Don’t Be Sad by Aaidh ibn Abdullah Al Qarni, I found that book very interesting and helpful and thought of sharing some of the topics, maybe they would make a difference to my life and your lives in some way. InShaAllah

The author writes:

Contemplate and be thankful

Remember the favors of Allah upon you and how they surround you from above and below – indeed, from every direction.

Allah says:“And if you would count the graces of Allah, never could you be able to count them”(Quran - Chapter 14 Verse 34)

Health, safety, nourishment, clothing, air and water – these all point to the world being yours, yet you do not realize it. You possess all that life has to offer, yet remain ignorant.

Allah Says:“He has completed and perfected His graces upon you, (both) apparent (i.e. Islamic Monotheism, and the lawful pleasures of this world, including health, good looks etc) and hidden (i.e. one’s faith in Allah, guidance for doing righteous deeds and also the pleasures and delights of the Hereafter in Paradise etc)”(Quran Chapter 31 Verse 20 )

You have at your disposal two eyes, a tongue, lips, two hands, and two legs.

Allah Says:“Then which of the blessings of your Lord will you both (Jinn and men) deny?”Quran Chapter 55 Verse 13)

Can you picture yourself walking without a feet? Should you take it lightly that you slumber soundly while misery hinders the sleep of many? Should you forget that you fill yourself with both delicious dishes and cool water while the pleasure of good food and drink is impossible for some, due to sickness and disease? Consider the faculties of hearing and seeing with which you have been endowed. Look at your healthy skin and be grateful that you have been saved from diseases that attack it. Reflect on your powers of reasoning and remember those that suffer from mental ailments.Would you sell your ability to hear and see for the weight of Mount Uhud in gold, or your ability to speak for huge castles? You have been given abundant favors, yet you feign ignorance. Notwithstanding warm bread, cool water, easy sleep, and good health, you remain despondent and depressed; you think about what you do not have and are ungrateful for what you have been given. You are troubled by the loss of wealth, yet you have the key to happiness and many blessings, Contemplate and be Thankful;

Allah Says:“And also in your own selves (are signs), will you not then see?”(Quran – Chapter 51 Verse 21)

Reflect upon yourself, your family, your friends, and the entire world that is around you.

Allah says:“They recognize that grace of Allah, yet they deny it “(Quran Chapter 16 Verse 83)

Praying Fajr reflects how much you love Allah the Almighty

2008-05-08T06:03:00.000-07:00

The happiness of that guy was tremendous when a well-known company accepted him to work for it. He was over the moon as he was the only accepted candidate.

He signed the contract that implies that he should agree on respecting the company working hours, delivering weekly reports about his work and activities, and accepting to be punished for any delinquency.......

Soon later, the guy met his manager and said to him, "From tomorrow onwards, I will not come in time. And I will not deliver my weekly reports in time either; instead they will be delayed for a while. In spite of all that, I will not allow you to punish me, and you don't have the right to kick me out from work."

If we imagine such a situation, we will laugh at the behaviour of that guy. No-one will see him but an insane and a fool person. How come can someone want to take his rights whereas he is not committed to his own obligations?!

So, why most of us do the same strange action or even worse?(As we commit a worse sin against the Law of Allah the Almighty.) How can a sane person allow himself to enjoy all Allah's graces: such as food, drink, clothes and life pleasures; whereas he doesn't offer Allah the simplest obligatory He obligates him to do, viz. Praying?!And even if he prays, then he doesn't pray in time or he prays like a rooster (i.e. he prays too hastily and carelessly). He neither complies with his praying nor apprehends what he says.

According to our web site visitors survey in the arabic section of IslamWay.com that included more than 4000 persons:
14% of them never pray Fajr in its time
16% of them rarely pray Fajr in its time
33% of them often pray Fajr in its time
35% of them always pray Fajr in its time

Subhan Allah!! (*) We are not talking about jurisprudence about which scholars disagreed or even a Sunnah that one has a choice to do or not. We are talking about ABC Islam. We are talking about praying that Allah Almighty obligates on all Muslims - whatever their conditions are.

When Allah the Almighty ordered Muslims to pray He warned those who delay the prayer after its designated time, saying:
"So woe to the worshippers Who are neglectful Of their prayers" [Surat Al-ma'oon 107:4-5]

The interpreters said that what is meant by this verse is delaying prayer after its designated time.They also said : "woe" is a very deep sheer black valley in Hell. Don't we believe in Allah's Words?

A lot of Muslims nowadays neglect Fajr prayer as if they it was not there. That's why they pray it much later than its time. In addition, some of them pray it immediately before the Noon prayer. Others may never pray it even for compensation (Qaddaa). So why all this laziness against what Allah the Almighty deserves? Don't we proclaim that we love Allah the Almighty more than any thing else? Once one of us loves someone a true love, he will be willing to meet him. He may keep thinking of him most of the time. Once he has a date with him, he canNOT sleep until he meets the one he loves. So, do those lazy prayers who do not pray Fajr prayer really love Allah? Do they really respect His Orders? Are they willing to meet Him?.

Let's imagine that a multi-millionaire offered one of his employees $1000 every day, just on one condition, viz. the employee must call daily at his employer's house in the morning as to wake him up then leave. Such a simple task may take the employee 10 minutes only. This marvellously generous offer will be valid as long as the employee keeps awaking his employer regularly. On the other hand, this offer will be cancelled permanently, and the employee will be asked to return all the money he received, if he neglects to awake his employer once without an excuse.

So, if you, my Muslim brother, were that employee , will you neglect to call at your employer's house? Won't you carefully intend to wake up daily to get the one thousand dollar? Won't you - once you failed one morning - try with all means to prove that you were truly unable to wake up?.

Allah has the higher example, so what about you my dear brother towards your Lord, Allah the Almighty? He is the ONLY ONE who gives you your means of living and who bestowed you with every thing, whose blessings on you are utterly much more than millions of dollars daily. It is Him Who says:
"...if you try to count the blessings of Allah , you will fail...." [Surat Ibrahim: 14 :
34]

Doesn't this Lord, the The Most Merciful, the Most Generous deserve that you wake up for Him every morning at about 5.30 a.m. so as to thank Him just in 5 or 10 minutes for His great blessings and his generous favours?

The judgement against those who neglect praying Fajr Prayer in time: Allah the Almighty says:
"...for such prayers are enjoined on Believers at stated times." [Surat Annesaa: 4 :
103]

Islam is a comprehensive way of life… It is like an agreement between The Great Lord and His humble servant. According to this agreement, the servant commits to certain obligations before Allah. With respect to these obligations, Allah would grant the servant rights and privileges. It is insensible that you agree to this contract, then, soon afterwards, you do whatever you like and neglect whatever you do not like. Allah Almighty says in the Quran: " O ye who believe! Enter into Islam whole-heartedly; and follow not the footsteps of the Evil One; for he is to you an avowed enemy." [Surat Al-baqara: 2 : 208]The interpreters said: this means to accept Islam with all its legislation and rules. Allah got exasperated with the people of Israel when they performed what they liked from His religion and neglected the rest. That's why He addresses them saying: "…Then is it only a part of the Book that ye believe in, and do ye reject the rest? But what is the reward for those among you who behave like this but disgrace in this life? And on the Day of Judgment they shall be consigned to the most grievous penalty. For Allah is not unmindful of what ye do." [Surat Al-baqara: 2 : 85]
As far as one's punctuality on attending prayers is considered, The Prophet (peace be upon him) sees those who do not punctually attend Fajr (dawn) and Ishaa (night) Salat in congregation as being sheer hypocrites "Munafeqeen". So what do you think of those who do not pray Fajr at all, neither in congregation nor alone (at home)?

The Prophet (pbuh) said: "There is no prayer more difficult to attend for hypocrites than Fajr and Ishaa. And if they knew what's in them (i.e. the good reward - thawab) they would attend them even if they had to come crawling." (Narrated by Bukhari)

Allah Almighty mentions that He disavows whosoever neglects the obligatory Salat. Besides, The Prophet (pbuh) said: "Do not ever leave Salat on purpose because whoever does so then he is disavowed by Allah and His Messenger." (Narrated by Imam Ahmad)

So do you like, Oh Muslim brother and sister, for the closest one to you to disavow you? So how do you neglect the Salat and cause Allah to be disavow you?

Well....now what have I to do?

Every one us should set an alarm clock to wake him for Fajr Salat daily.

We should give Salat its status in our lives, and we should discipline our jobs according to the

Salat regular times. (Unfortunately, we simply do the opposite!)

We should sleep early and wake up for Fajr and then leave for work. Soon after Fajr, Allah distributes people's sustenance (Arzaq).

Each one of us should seek a good companionship that would call to wake him at Fajr Salat.

Moreover, they would help one another to adhere to such a good deed.

We should keep on saying our nightly Duaa (that we say just after before going to sleep) asking Allah to help us do our Salat.

To feel guilty if we missed a single obligatory Salat. Furthermore, we should vow never to repeat this big sin.

May Allah make us all be among those who truly love Him. May He give us sincerity in both words and deeds. (Amen) Finally, whatever is right in this article then it is a gift from Allah. And whatever mistakes or shortcomings then they are due to myself or Shytan (Satan).

** Written By:A member of the team work in IANA.
------------------------------------------

(*) Subhan Allah!!: This is an Islamic way of exclamation.

A Gift from Allah that will Change ur Life forever.....!

2008-05-07T14:17:00.000-07:00

What Allah Say us to do??

Tauheed- Laillaha illalha muhammadu rasoul Allah from the bottom of the heart.......

salat-25 mins from 24 hours

Fasting-30 days from 365 days

zakat- less then 5% from all our wealth

Hajj- Once in a life time...........

"He [Allah] has not laid upon you in religion any hardship."(22.78)

then why do people run away from islam and only long for worldy life.......make a pause think what are we doing.....? Are We really going on the rigth path and what have we gained from it??

do our family, friends n other people respect us for this.....?? and when any hardship comes upon us, We turn to Allah (swt) who is Merciful and when we happy we dont even Remember Him, Have you ever think how many days it has been gone and we dont even remembered Him.....

We dont even remembered the One who created Us and put in us life without Him we have never been here in this world...........

Just imagine.....The angel of Death is behind you and this is the last moment of your life, What will you do?? Ofcourse u'll ask Allah to Forgive you...but there will be no use because the time of repentence will end..u'll ask Allah to give you time so that you Can pray and do what he said....but there will be no use........

Here you are in your grave.... Questioning About salat (prayer) will start....

What will be Your answer???

No???

"I have Created not the jinn and mankind except that they should worship Me". (51:56)

The Prophet (p.b.u.h) said: "between a person and disbelief is the discarding of prayer"

Iman Nawawi said while explaing this hadith: The prayer is like a barrier between kufr(disbelief) and Islam, so whoever does not perform prayer he will enter in kufr (he will be a disbeliever).

Do you want to be a disbeliever?? Wake up...Theres no time

Say: Allahumamagh-firli warhamni wahdini....

O'Allah forgive me and have mercy on me and guide me...

BECAUSE

The Quran says: "Whomsoever Allah guides none can lead astray and whomsoever he leads astray none can guide"

So ask Allah (swt) to forgive you and Guide you...

Inshallah Allah will forgive us all, truly Allah is All-forgiving and All-merciful

We seek Help from Allah and depend upon him. There is neither nor power except with Allah, The All-mighty. O Allah, send prayers and salutions and blessing on Muhammad, His family and his companions (p.b.u.t.a). And All praise is to Allah, the lord of all that exits.

Remember there is no excuse for salat.

Funeral Rites in Islam

2008-05-07T12:53:00.000-07:00

Some excerpts taken from Abu Ameenah's book "Funeral rites in islam'.

Reading it, i realised that there are alot of misconceptions that are practiced amongst muslims. There are some rituals that take place that have no link to the sunnah of the Prohet Muhammed PBUH.

InshÁllah i hope this post proves to be a guidance and a source of knowledge.
May Allah guide us to become better muslims.

Some people read Surah Yasin at funerals. People and well wishers come in groups to sit and read the Quran and chapters of the Quran thinking that it will benefit the person who has died. Yet ponder for a moment - do we not know that only a few things will benefit a person who's soul has been taken?

Any good deed that a Muslim starts during his lifetime, and that is of renewed benefit and ongoing use for the Muslims, will continue to benefit him and augment his record of good deeds, even after his departure - as long as its benefits continue to reach others. Allaah subhanahu wa ta'ala says - "We record that (deeds) which they have put forward and their traces (that which they have left behind)." (Yaa-Seen 36:12)
Abu Hurayrah rahimahullaah reported that Allaah's Messenger sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam said: "When a human being dies, all of his deeds are terminated except for three types: an ongoing sadaqah, a knowledge (of Islaam) from which others benefit, and a righteous child who makes du'aa for him." (Muslim and others).

Abu Qataadah rahimahullaah reported that Allaah's Messenger sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam said: "Among the good deeds that continue to benefit a believer after death are: a knowledge that he taught and disseminated, a righteous child who lived after him, a Qur'aan book that he left as inheritance a masjid that he built, a house that he built for the two wayfarers, a stream that he ran, or a charity that he gave from his wealth during his healthy lifetime so that it would reach him (in rewards) after death." (Ibn Maajah and others. Verified hasan by al-Mundhiri and al-Albaanee). Commenting on this, al-Mundhiri rahimahullaah said: "Some scholars say that the deeds of a human being end with his death. However, since he had caused these things (which are mentioned in the above hadiths), such as the earning of a child, disseminating the knowledge among those who take it from him, compiling a book that remains after him, or establishing a sadaqah, the rewards of these things continue to reach him as long as they continue to exist." ('Awn al-Ma'bud, 8:86)
http://www.sunnahonline.com/ilm/aqeedah/0035.htm

Thus there is no evidence that people coming and reading the Quran will benefit the person who has died. Thus reading specific chapters has no basis either. To specify that Surah Yasin should be read for the dying and to believe that doing so has special value is considered bidah - a sinful innovation in religion since neither the Prophet PBUH nor his companions did it or recommended that it be done.
Based on the hadith of Umm Salamah:
Umm Salamah said "Allah's Messenger PBUH came in and found Abu Salamash eyes wide open. He closed them and said "Indeed when the soul is snatched the eyes follow it."Some people from his family began to scream so he said " Only pray for good for yourselves, for verily the angels say Amin [so be it].'to whatever you say ." He then prayed saying,

"Allahummagh-fir li Abi Salamah warfa'darajatahu fil-mahdiyin
O Allah, forgive Abu salamah and raise his level among the rightly guided

wakhlufhu fi áqibihi filghabirin
and let his remianing offspring be like him

waghfir laná walahú yá Rabbal- Álamin
Forgive us and forgive him O Lord of the worlds

wafsah lahu fi qabrihi wa nawwir lahu fih
and expand his grave and illuminate it for him

Facing the Qiblah [ before burial]
Turning the body of one who is dying so that he or she faces the qiblah [makkah] has no foundation in the practice of the Prophet and his Companions.The body should be turned to face Makkah when it is placed in the grave, according to the Prophet's instructions. However, at the time of dying , there were no such instructions [ i.e before burial - it was not a practice of the Prophet PBUH for the dead to be placed facing the Qiblah].Turning the body became a custom after the time of the Prophets Companions, but was objected to by the scholars of the time.

Wailing
The Prophet PBUH strictly forbade wailing and screaming and the hiring of mourners.Furthermore, he identfied such practices as acts of kufr [disbelief], because they indicate displeasure with what Allah has decreed. Emaan [ faith] includes the belief that Allah is the source of all good and that all of His actions are wise .

Preparing food by the family of the deceased
The obligation placed on the family of the dead prson to prepare food for gatherings is incorrect and so is organising gatherings at the home of the deceased family.Mourning for family and relatives in only for three days. For a widow it is four month and 10 days. Besides this there is no relevance of meeting after 40 days after the death of the person, as is practiced in amongst some people. Those presenr and the relatives of the deceased are allowed to cry for a maximum period of three days.

Ábdullah ibn Ja'far narrated that the Prophet delayed coming to visit Ja'fars family for three days after his death, then he came to them and said , " Do not cry fo rmy brother after today."
[Sunan Abu Dawud]

Imam ash'Shafi said "I dislike gatherings, even if there is no wailing or crying.
For it only renews the [familys feeling of] sorrow and puts burdens on their food supplies"

Imam Nawawi related that the leading scholars prohibited organized gatherings, based on its being and innovation.

Furthermore the Prophet PBUH explicitly instructed to relatives, friends and neighbours to send food to the bereaved famly.
T
his conludes this port for now inshÁllah will continue with some more issues involving funeral rites. May Allah guide us all to the straight path.Ameen

Christianity and islam According to the bible and the Quran

2008-05-06T13:35:00.000-07:00

A reglion should not be judged by the opinions and attitudes of its biased enemies. Neither should it be judged by the behaviour of some of its nominal followers because there are bad people among every religious group and making judgement based upon those people is misleading as they may be violationg their religion. A religion should rather be judged by its teachings as well as the effects of these teaching on its real followers.

God

Does God relax?

What The Bible says:

.....for in six days the Lord made the heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested and was refreshed, (exodus 31:17) (KJV)

...... on the seventh day He (god) rested from all his work Genesis (2:2)

What The Quran says:

And indees We created the heavens and earth and all between them in six days and nothing of fatigue touched Us....

We are best aware of what they say. And (o muhammad) are not the one to force them (to belief); but warn by the Quran who fears my threat. (Quran ,50:38-45)

God's Power

What the bible says:

Jocob Wrestles with God!!!

Then the man said,"Your name will no longer be jacob, but israel because you have Struggled with god and with men and have overcome." (Genesis 32:28)

What the Quran says:

They have not estimates Allah His Rightfull Estimate. Verily, Allah is All-Strong, All-Mighty. (Quran, 22:74)

Can God be Seen?

What the bible says:

So jacob called the plave peniel saying, 'it is because I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared.' (genesis 32.30)

Moses and Aaron Nadab and Abihu, and the seventy elders of israel went up and saw the God of isreal....(exodus 24.9,10)

Contradicting Verses From the bible

But, He (God) said: ' You cannot see my face, for no-one may see me and live. (Exodus 33.20)

No-one has ever seen God....(1 john 4.12)

What Quran says:

No Vision can grasp Him, but He graps all visions. (Quran 6.103)

Is God Unjust?

What the bible says:

Then know that God has wronged me and drawn his net around me. Though i cry, 'i have been wronged!' i get no response; though i call for help, there is no justice. (job 19.6,7)

What the Quran says:

Truly Allah wronges not mankins in aught, but the manking wrong themselves (Quran 14,42)

Does God have a Family?

What the bible says

...This is what the Lord says: Israel is my firstborn son.....(exodus 4.22)

(God married Jerusalem and his wife become a prostitute!)

......You adulterous wife! You pefer stranges to your own husband! (Ezekiel16:3-32)

What the Quran says

And to warn those (jews , chirstians, and pagans) who say:"Allah has begotten a son." No knowlegde have they of such thing , nor had their fathers........Perhaps you would kill yourself (O muhammad) in grief, over their footsteps, because they beleive not in this narration (Quran)(Quran , 18.4-6)

The Prophets

The Prophets Lot, Jacob, Moses, Aaron, David, Solomon, and Job (peace be upon them) were noble Messengers of Allah and are mentioned in both the Quran and bible. The belief in these Prophets is one of the six pillars of faith in Islam. Muslims have great respect for them and beleive in their truthfulness. While the Quran mentions them in a lot of paise, which they deserve, the bible accuses them of great sins, such as. Cheating, adultery, incest, betrayal, worshiping idols and blasphemy. The muslim is shocked at these fasle charges against the Prophets. If normal people do not commit these sins, how far the Prophets are from doing that!

Prophet Moses and Prophet Aaron (pbut)

What the bible says

On that same day the lord told Moses,..... this is because both of you broke faith with me in the presendce of the israelites at the waters of meribah kadesh in the desert of zin and because you did not uphols my holiness among the israelites (deuteronomy 32:48-51)

What the Quran says

And We gave them clear Scripture. And guided them to the right path. And we left for them (goodly remembrance) among the later generations. Peace be upon Moses and Aaron. Verily, thus do We reward the good-doers. Verily they were two of the Our believeing slaves. (Quran 37.117-112)

Prophet Lot (pbuh)

What the bible says

That night they got their father to drink wine, and the older daugther went in and lay with him. He was not aware of it when she lay down or when she got uo...so both of Lot's daughters became pregant by their father. (genesis 19.33-36)

What the Quran says

And Lot, We gave him right judegement and knowledge.... And We addmitted him to Our mercy; truly. He was of the rigtheous

And so on..... these charges are on all the prophets...

Prophet jesus (pbuh)

Although some verse in the bible say that prophet jesus (pbuh) was miraculously conceived from the holy spirt. many other verse say that Prophet jesus(pbuh) is the son of joseph and that he descended from Prophet David.

The Quran comfirms that Prophet jesus (pbuh) was born miraculaously without any male intervention. Prophet jesus (pbup) has no genealogy. He is neither the son of joseph nor the sone of david; he is the son of mary.

Women's Original sin

What the bible says

And Adam was not the one deceived;it was the women who was deceived and become sinner.(1 timothy 2;14)

What the Quran says

And he (satan) swore by Allah to them both (Adam and Eve) (saying): Verily.I am one of the sincere well-wishers for you both." so he misled them with deception .(Quran 7:21-22)

to be contiune............

A beautiful poem written by Hazrat Hassan Ibn Thabit (Radiallahu Anhu)

2008-05-06T12:54:00.000-07:00

When the enemies of Islam would use their poets to defame RasoolAllah (Sallallahu 'alaihi wa sallam), the Messenger of Allah would send forward his dear Hassan Ibn Thabit (Radiallahu Anhu) who would in his most beautiful words defend the honour of his Beloved (Sallallahu 'alaihi wa sallam)

Hazrat Hassan Ibn Thabit (Radiallahu Anhu) was one of the eldest companions, accepting Islam in his 60's, he went on to live till the age of about 120. The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu 'alaihi wa sallam) had so much love for Hazrat Hassan Ibn Thabit (Radiallahu Anhu) that he ordered for a Mimbar (pulpit) to be established for him, so he could stand upon it when delivering his poetry. The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu 'alaihi wa sallam) prayed for him saying that the Angel Gabriel (as) will support you as long as you defend Allah and His Prophet (Sallallahu 'alaihi wa sallam).
We read many poems and listen to many nasheed reciters, but Hazrat Hassan Ibn Thabit (Radiallahu Anhu) had the honour of being the first of them all. Whilst many of the naats/nasheeds these days are based upon what the poet has read or heard, the words of Hazrat Hassan Ibn Thabit's (Radiallahu Anhu) were a reflection of his blessed eyes, for his poetry is based upon what he himself has seen.

The poetry of Hazrat Hassan Ibn Thabit (Radiallahu Anhu) has become renown and loved throughout the Muslim world, memorised by thousands young and old and echoed from home to home, still spreading the love and defending the honour of the Beloved Prophet (Sallallahu 'alaihi wa sallam) 1400 years on.

Here is a beautiful couplet from one of his poems:
"I could not praise RasoolAllah (Sallallahu 'alaihi wa sallam) with my words; rather, my words were made praiseworthy by RasoolAllah (Sallallahu 'alaihi wa sallam)"

-unknown

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8dGlWpeD7g0

Watch ur self

Say your prayers before prayers for you are said.

2008-05-06T05:10:00.000-07:00

SAYINGS (HADITH) OF PROPHET MUHAMMAD (Sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam)The one who disdains prayers (Salat) will receive Fifteen punishments from Allah.

Six punishments in this lifetime

Three while dying

Three in the grave &

Three on the Day of Judgment.

THE SIX PUNISHMENTS OF LIFE :

1. Allah takes away blessings from his age (makes his life misfortunate)

2. Allah does not accept his plea (Dua's)

3. Allah erases the features of good people from his face.

4. He will be detested by all creatures on earth.

5. Allah does not reward him for his good deeds. (No thawab)

6. He will not be included in the Dua's of good people.

THE THREE PUNISHMENTS WHILE DYING :

1. He dies humiliated.

2. He dies hungry.

3. He dies thirsty. Even if he drinks the water of all seas he will still be thirsty.

THE THREE PUNISHMENTS IN THE GRAVE :

1. Allah tightens his grave until his chest ribs come over each other.

2. Allah pours on him fire with embers.

3. Allah sets on him a snake called 'the brave', 'the bold' which hits him from morning until afternoon for leaving Fajr prayer, from the afternoon until Asr for leaving Dhuhr prayer and so on. With each strike he sinks 70 yards under the ground.

THE THREE PUNISHMENTS ON THE DAY OF JUDGMENT :

1. Allah sends who would accompany him to hell pulling him on the face.

2. Allah gives him an angry look that makes the flesh of his face fall down.

3. Allah judges him strictly and orders him to be thrown in hell.

Note: If you get this copy, please make copies of it and distribute them among all Muslims. You will be earning a Reward as well as helping to show your brother the Right Path. May Allah give guidance to all of us.

AAMEEN!!

THOSE WHO DO NOT SAY THEIR PRAYERS OF:

FAJR : the glow of their face is taken away.ZUHR : the blessing of their income is taken away.

ASR : the strength of their body is taken away.

MAGHRIB : they are not benefited by their children.'

ISHA : the peace of their sleep is taken away.

THE HOLY QUR'AN:'Say Your Prayers Before Prayers For You Are Said'.

The Power of Du'a

2008-05-06T04:33:00.000-07:00

Dua is the most potent weapon of a believer. With it, we can never fail, without it, we can never succeed. Once Prophet Muhammad (Pbuh) passed by a group of people who were suffering from some affliction. "Why don't they make Dua (supplication) to Allah for protection," he said. With all the suffering and disasters Muslims are facing in various parts of the world, the question can be directed to all of us today.

It is not that we have forgotten Dua completely, we refer to it regularly. But our ideas and practice regarding Dua have become distorted. Often it is reduced to the level of a ritual. Generally it is considered when all our efforts have failed—an act of last resort. It is belittled through actions and sometimes even with words. Is it any wonder that today mostly a mention of Dua is meant to indicate the hopelessness of a situation?

What a tragedy, for Dua is the most potent weapon of a believer. It can change fate, while no action of ours ever can. It is the essence of Ibaadah or worship. With it, we can never fail, without it, we can never succeed. In the proper scheme of things, Dua should be the first and the last resort of the believer, with all his plans and actions coming in between.

Dua is conversation with Allah, our Creator, our Lord and Master, the All Knowing, the All Powerful. This act in itself is of extraordinary significance. It is the most uplifting, liberating, empowering, and transforming conversation a person can ever have. We turn to Him because we know that He alone can lift our sufferings and solve our problems. We feel relieved after describing our difficulties to our Creator. We feel empowered after having communicated with the All Mighty.

In every difficulty, our first action is Dua, as is our last. We ask Allah to show us the way to handle that difficulty; we seek His help in following the path He shows to us, we seek His aid in making our efforts successful. When we fall sick, we know that we cannot find the right doctor without His Will, that the best doctor may not be able to diagnose our condition without His Command. The best treatment plan will not succeed without His permission. We make Dua for all of these. We make Dua before we seek medical help, while we are receiving it and after it has been delivered. The same is true of all other difficulties we may encounter.

Dua is the essence of Ibaadah. A person engaged in Dua affirms his belief in Tauheed (monotheism) and shuns belief in all false gods. A person seriously and sincerely engaged in Dua understands exactly the relationship between himself and the Creator and affirms it through his actions. That is the essence of worship!

In Addition, such a person can never become arrogant or proud, a logical result of true worship. Dua is our most potent weapon in all struggles of life as well as in jihad in the battlefield. During the battle of Badr, Prophet Muhammad (Pbuh) stood up all night in prayer seeking Allah's help in the battle between unequal armies that would follow the next day. In the decisive battles against the crusaders, Sultan Salahuddin Ayyubi was busy day and night. His days were devoted to jihad. His nights were spent making Dua, crying, and seeking Allah's help.

We should make Dua at all times, not only during times of distress. We should ask for all of our needs: those related to this world as well as those related to the Hereafter. We should make Dua not only for ourselves, but also for our parents, brothers and sisters, spouses and children, relatives and friends, teachers and other benefactors, destitute and struggling Muslims everywhere. We should pray for them for the good in this world as well as in the Hereafter.

The Prophet (Pbuh) said: "The Dua of a Muslim for his brother (in Islam) in his absence is readily accepted. An angel is appointed to his side. Whenever he makes a beneficial Dua for his brother the appointed angel says, Aameen. And may you also be blessed with the same. [Muslim, Hadith 4914]

In the dark ages that we are living in today, everyday brings fresh news about atrocities committed against our brothers in Palestine, Kashmir, India, Afghanistan, Iraq, Chechnya, etc. And what do we do? We can continue to just feel frustrated and depressed. We can petition the determined perpetrators or a fictional "International Community." We can just forget all of this and move on to some other subject. Or we can stand up before Allah and pray for His help, who alone can help.Dua can change our life, our outlook, and our fate. It is the most potent weapon. But it works only for those who try sincerely and seriously to use it.

-Unknown

Questions and answer....

2008-05-04T13:42:00.000-07:00

All Praises are due to Allah. We praise Him and seek his help, and ask for His Forgiveness.
Question and answer are the effective way of teaching. It has been recognized since long ago, even the Prophet Muhammad (p.b.u.h) had adopted it to teach his Companions.

The Prophet of Allah (p.b.u.h) says:
'if Allah wants to do good to a person, He makes him comprehend the reglion (the understanding of the Quran and Sunnah).'

1.What is jihad (holy fighting) of women?

A. hajj and umrah (pilgrimage and lesser pilgrimage)

2. Can women practise any other type of jihad besides hajj and umarah?

A. Yes. they can do the other common types of jihad by money, commanding good and forbidding the vice, fighting satan by Allah's obedience and remembrance, offering water at war and curing the injured. Progating islam is also a jihad beside learing Quran and teaching it.

3.What is the best postition Islam pefers for women?

A. housewifes

4.Is masturbation allowed for women and men?

A. No

5. Are homosexuality and lesbianism allowed?

A. No

6. How looking will people be when they get up on the Day of Resurrection?

A. As they were born, naked and uncircumcized.

7.What are the best women professions according to islam?

A. teaching girls, nursing women medical jobs among women and working without coexistance.

8.Can one take a ring with a Holy name inscribed on it , into the water closet?

A. No

9. Can women dress like men or men dress like women?

A. No

10. Is a stepfather mahram

A. Yes

Jazak Allah khair.

p.s will post more question n answer soon.

keep on visting for updates. thankyou

'Poem by Me"

2008-04-27T06:06:00.001-07:00

I' Remember those days when my eman was weak

When my weak yaqeen in Allah (swt) would

lead me through only the bad

I' Remember those days when my du'a

was unsincere

when was absolutely everything on earth i would fear

When my heart was dirty and full of darkness

when this duniya was my only source of strength and might

What was wrong with my nafs

Why did it fall??

didnt i know that Allah(swt) chose what is best?

Didint i know that He(swt) hears our soul...

He hears our cry.......

HE sees as fall...........

He sees as sigh..........

Allah is Great..... Allah is Al-hakeem

His ways are 'Just' no mattar how dark it may seem.....

Hold my nafs, Hold on to it

Whenever it falls, bend down and restart

Let those tears fall and wipe the heart...

Remember my nafs the beauty of the promised Paradise,

You know its your dream to build there a house

Never get back to those days.....

that i still Remember and regret...!

-Sarah

"Then which of the blessings of your lord will you both (mankind and jinn) deny? (55:16)

Hijab is not a piece of cloth on your head. its the way of life

2008-04-26T16:23:00.000-07:00

Just because some of the sisters have their head covered, they think that the requirement of Hijaab is fulfilled. They don’t realize that wearing a Hijaab requires much more than just covering your head.

Actually, if you think about it, Hijaab is the way you talk…..the way you walk….the very way you carry yourself. In fact, Hijaab is an attitude in itself. Its a whole way of life.

Allaah says:“And say to the believing women to lower their gazes, and to guard their private parts, and not to display their beauty (zeenah) except what is apparent of it, and to extend their headcoverings (khimars) to cover their bosoms (jaybs), and not to display their beauty except to their husbands, or their fathers, or their husband's fathers, or their sons, or their husband's sons, or their brothers, or their brothers' sons, or their sisters' sons, or their womenfolk, or what their right hands rule (slaves), or the followers from the men who do not feel sexual desire, or the small children to whom the nakedness of women is not apparent, and not to strike their feet (on the ground) so as to make known what they hide of their adornments. And turn in repentance to Allah together, O you believers, in order that you are successful.” (Surat-un-Nur: 31).

Here are some of the more common issues in light of this verse about the Hijaab.

Well, my head is covered. What more do you want?If you look carefully at the ayah, it clearly states that the head covers (khumur) should be drawn over the neck slits (juyoob). Khumur is the plural of the Arabic word "khimar" which means a headcover. Juyoob is the plural of the Arabic word "jaiyb", which refers to the neck slit (of the dress). Yet, some sisters just cover their head with something, and think they are fulfilling the rights of Hijaab, although part of their hair or body is showing, or their whole neck and chest area are exposed. Actually, that was the way of the women of Jahilliyah. Al-Qurtubi said: "Women in those days used to cover their heads with the khimar, throwing its ends upon their backs. This left the neck and the upper part of the chest bare, along with the ears. Then Allah commanded them to cover those parts with the khimar."So secure the scarf well around your face, covering your neck/chest area, and keep those half sleeves and capri pants for your Mahrams

Sorry.…tight jeans and short shirt just don’t cut itYou can’t wear tight jeans and a short shirt with a piece of cloth on your head and think this is Hijaab. Nor can you wear anything else that is tight, describing the shape of the body in any way, even if it is long.

The Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) said:"In later (generations) of my ummah there will be women who will be dressed but naked. On top of their heads (what looks) like camel humps. They will not enter into paradise or (even) get a smell of it." (Muslim)

If it is see-through, its NOT HijaabYou CANNOT use chiffon or other see through material to cover your hair and body. Everything should be covered and the color of the skin underneath should not be visible.

The Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) once received a thick garment as a gift. He gave it to Osamah b. Zayd, who in turn gave it to his wife. When asked by the Prophet why he did not wear it, Osamah indicated that he gave it to his wife. The Prophet then said to Osamah "ask her to use a "gholalah" under it (the garment) for I fear that it (the garment) may describe the size of her bones." (Ahmad, Abi-Dawood) (The word gholalah in Arabic means a thick fabric worn under the dress to prevent it from describing the shape of the body).

The Hijaab shouldn’t attract attentionThe dress should not be such that it attracts men's attention to the woman's beauty. Allaah clearly states “not to display their beauty (zeenah).” Yet, Subhaan Allaah, some Hijaabi sisters are dressed in such a way that they attract more attention to themselves than they would if they didn’t wear Hijaab!! How could such zeenah be concealed if the dress is designed in a way that it attracts men's eyes to the woman? It beats the purpose of Hijaab.

Allaah tells us: “And stay in your houses, and do not display yourselves like that of the times of ignorance…” [al-Ahzaab:32]

What about make-up and perfume???

Wearing make up is also part of the zeenah that Allaah orders us NOT to display. So if your head and body are appropriately covered yet you are wearing bright red lipstick or dark eyeliner such that people confuse between you and a raccoon….uh sorry, that’s not Hijaab. And keep those nice fragrances for the home, between you and your husband. That’s part of Hijaab too, even if you are going to the Masjid.

The Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) said: “Any woman who puts on perfume and passes by people so that they can smell her fragrance, is an adulteress.” (al-Nasaa’i, Tirmidhi: hasan by Albaani)

Tinkling Jewelry and Jingling bracelets‘Loud’ and tinkling anything, be it jewelry, bracelets, clip-clopping shoes, little bells on clothes, you name it, if it jingles or makes noise, it is against the principles of Hijaab, because it attracts attention to the one wearing it. That is what is meant when Allaah orders us in the above verse…“not to strike their feet (on the ground) so as to make known what they hide of their adornments.”No laughing, joking, or hanging out with non-Mahrams Some sisters assume that since they are properly covered, its okay for them to sit around and talk, laugh, joke, etc. with the men, but that’s not right, even if he is ‘the Shaikh’.

Allaah says:". . . then be not soft in speech, lest he in whose heart is a disease should be moved with desire, but speak in an honorable manner." [al-Ahzaab:32]

So talk to them when there is a specific need, and in a manner that is not necessarily rude, yet it is polite but firm. Staring at the brothers or ‘checking them out’ is NOT HijaabAllaah orders us to “lower your gaze” in the above verse.

Why? Because a single ‘look’ can say more than a thousand words. So, even if you are properly covered, keep those eyes down, conduct yourself with ‘Hayaa’, and avoid ‘fitnah’.‘Chatting’ on the internet/phone is not part of Hijaab, either There is no such thing as “we’re just friends”.

Talking to non-Mahrams is wrong even if it is through the internet or telephone. There are too many stories of illegal relationships, fornications, broken homes, extra-marital affairs and runaway brides to even mention. That is why in Islam anything that leads to haraam is also haraam. Allaah says: “Do not (even) come close to fornication, for it is an indecency, and its way is evil.” (Surah Israa:32)Be careful, even in the way you walkRemember, you are not a runway model displaying the latest fashion. Walk with modesty and hayaa and you will be respected.

The Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) said: “There are two types of the people of Hell that I have not seen yet….women who are clothed yet naked, walking with an enticing gait…..” (Muslim).

Don’t shake hands with non-Mahrams. Its part of HijaabIt is not permissible to shake hands with a non-Mahram, because the Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) said: “For one of you to be stabbed in the head with an iron needle is better for him than to touch a woman who is not permissible for him.” (at-Tabaraani saheeh by al-Albaani).

And no, it is not rude to refuse to shake hands with non-Muslims. Simply politely explain that its part of your religion and they are very understanding.Stay away from the men’s areas

I see many sisters entering the Masjid from the men’s entrance, or standing idle in the hallways or where there is a chance of unnecessary mixing with the brothers. What for?

Don’t we have a separate entrance for ourselves? Why do you think Allaah ordained the Hijaab in the first place? To avoid fitnah, by reducing temptation and separating the genders.

“The Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) said to the women on his way out of the mosque when he saw men and women mixing together on their way home: ‘Give way (i.e., walk to the sides) as it is not appropriate for you to walk in the middle the road.’ Thereafter, women would walk so close to the wall that their dresses would get caught on it.” (Abu Dawood)

Hijaab is also to conceal your sister Although some sisters wear the Hijaab themselves, they forget that they cannot talk about another sister and her beauty in front of their own husbands, brothers, etc. Remember, part of your Hijaab is to cover your sisters ‘awrah’ as well.

The Prophet (Sal Allaahu Alaiyhi wa Sallam) said: “No woman should mix with a woman and describe her to her husband so that it is as if he can see her.” (Muslim)

May Allah guide us and bless us with the TRUE understanding of His Deen. Ameen

A Glimpse on the beauty of Islam

2008-04-26T12:43:00.001-07:00

Islam is a very simple religion with a very clear and simple set of beliefs and practices. It also a very easy religion.

The Quran says:
"He [Allah] has not laid upon you in religion any hardship"

The Prophet(p.b.u.h) says:
"This religion [of islam] is very easy, and whoever overburdens himself in this religion will not be able to contiune in the way. So you should not be Extremists but try to be near to Perfection...."(Al-bukhari)

Islam assures its followers that Allah will accept from them just such duty as they have ability to offer.

The Quran says:
"On no soul does Allah will place a burden greater than it can bear."

Complete way of life

Islam is an all-embracing way of life. It extends over the entire specturm of life showing how to conduct all humain activities in a sound and wholesome manner. Everybody can readily understand Quran and follow in the footsteps of the Prophet(p.b.u.h) to the best of his or her ability, assured by Allah that He will accept from each soul just such duty as it has the ability to offer.

When we read Quran or the prophetic traditions, we find instrctions in all aspects of life, political, social, economic, material, ethical national, and international. These instructions provide as with all the details needed to perform a certain act. The Prophetic traditions go as far as showing us all the steps we need to follow even how to use the toilet: supplictions upon entering it and leaving it, which hand to use in order to clean ourselves and so on. In a word of islam governs a Muslim's life in all its aspects. This is the reason why it is not a only religion but also a way of life....

Advantages Behind Religions Duties

Fair-minded researchers and objective observers acknowledge the face that all divine commands are beneficial to mankind and that all divine prohibitions are harmfull in one way or another. Islam calls to noblilty, truthfulness, chastity, justice, fulfilling the covenant, safeguarding trusts, displaying kindness to orpans and the poors, maintaining neighborliness, honoring the guest and enjoying the lawfull worldy pleasures in moderation. It calls to righteouness and piety, and forbids sin and transgression. In a word, it calls to all that brings about happiness and forbids all that is bound to tigger loss and ruin.

Islam provides a better alternatives for each and every thing it has decleared forbidden and unlawful

We shall briefly consider below some of the advantages and beauty of salat, [prayer] zakat, [obligatory charity] fasting, hajj, [pilgrimage] and jihad [fighting or struggling in Allah's way]

Salat [prayer]-- a Unique Spiritual Experience

Salat [prayer] is a great act of worship, which brings those who observe it closer to their creator. it is a unique spiritual experience where every muscle of the body joins the soul and mind in the worship and glorification of Allah. They begen it by saying 'Allahu Akbar' acknowledging that Allah is the greatest, Who Alone deserves to be excalted and worshipped. They then engage in praising Him in a manner suiting His Majesty. They devote themselves completely to him and totally submit to His Will, seeking His help to keep them on the straight path, that devout and the poius, and to graud them against the path of those who have gone astray and have thus earned his Wrath. When they reach the climax of worship during salat, and their hearts are deeply imbued with awe and revernce, they prostrate before him, placing the most honored part of the body on the floor, showing great submission and humility.

When they observe it regularly, they develop a strong desire to do righteous deeds.

Zakat [Obligatory charity]- an Unmatched Mode of Social financing

Next to salat [prayer] the zakat is the most important of the religious duties enjoined on the muslim. Zakat had myraid advantages and far-reaching effects in the muslim society. It is clear expression of affection towards the poor and needy, which helps satisfy their needs and settle their debts. When Zakat is paid in the precribed manner, it renders corrupt systems like commuisn and capitalism as unnecessary, letting peace and progress prevail.

The Quran Expressly enjoins that wealth should not be permitted to accumlate in a few hands and that is ought to be kept constantly in circulation in order that:

"....it may not become a fortune used by rich among you."(59:7)

Saum [fasting]- Helps develop a strong Personality and character

Fasting, or saum, is a unique moral and spiriual Islamic attribute. Its beauties and merits are limitless, this main reward behind fasting is to attain the noble status of taqwa, or peity or rigtheouness. Fasting helps the faithfull develop a strong personality and character. It also helps them develop the vitue of displaying affection towards the poor and the distressed; when one observes fasting and undergos the pangs of hunger, one actually remembers the condition and distress of the poor. It also reminds them of Allah's favor upon them when they experence hunger while fasting; this reminder prompts them to give thanks to Him for His endless bounties

The Prophet (p.b.u.h) says: "Ramadan is the month of patience and endurance."

Fasting is also a shield against many diseases. It provides one with both spiritual growth and physical fitness.

Besides all the above benefits it is also an act of worship that testifies to total submission and obediance to Allah. A part of the obligation attached to the islamic fast is that, apart from abstention from food, drink and sexual intercourse during the hours of fasting, a muslim must make special efforts attain higher standards of virtue and purity.

Hajj [Pilgrimage]- an Obligation with innumerale Merits

Hajj is another great obligation which has innumerable merits. Its creates for those who perform it an occaison to meet and know one another, to exchange views and compare experience and unite their efforts for the common good.

Hajj purifies the soul and the nutures such noble qualities as generosity, fortitude and modesty. Those who perform it are commaned to avoid all forms of wickedness and observe patience and perseverance.

The Quran says: The hajj is [in] the well-known months [ by the lunar year]. So whoever intends to perfom it therein, let there be no obsecenity, nor wickedness, now wrangling in the hajj." (2:197)

Hajj also provides a good occaision to travel in the land to fine out about its people and their customs ans traditions and also to discover the land of revelations where many Prophets and Messengers called to the worship of Allah alone. Hajj also reminds those who perform it of the day of Resurrection when all human beings will stand equal before the Lord of the worlds for judgment, barefoot, naked and uncircumcised .Hajj also opens our eyes to death and keeps our mind alert to it. For once we assume the state of ihram[ a state in which one is prohibited to practice certain deeds that are lawfull at times. The importance of remembering death is extremly great and very beneficail. Its benefits will eventually stand before Allah for reckoning.

The Quran says: Every soul shall have a taste of death, and only on the day of judgment shall you be paid your full recompense. Only he who is saved from the fire and admitted to the gearder will be succeeded. For the life of this world is but goods and chattels of deception.''(3:185)

Jihad [striving in the way of Allah] the only way to uproot injustice

Jinhad[ fighting or struggling] in the way of Allah has countless advantages. It serves to grant victory to Allah's religion and to His devote slaves.Its serves to raise mankind from the class of the animals, which are devoted of the faculty of intellect. Jihad also testifies to one's sincerity and safety from hypocrisy, as evidenced by the following hadith in which the Prophet(p.b.u.h) says: "whoever dies while he has never thought of fighting Jihad in Allah's way will die as a hypocrite (abu dawaud)

Perhaps it is apporpriate to mention here the fact that islam was not speard by the 'force of sword', as some orientalist and western writes claim. As a matter of fact , compulsion is incompatible with islam because Islam depends upon faith and self-dertemination and therefore would be meaningless if it is induced by force. Also supporting this is as if that Allah establishes truth and faslehood. while the Quran says: ''let there be no compulsion in religion: Truth stands out clear from faslehood"

Truth at every cost

"In the case of those who say, 'Our Lord is Allah', and further, stand straight and steadfast, the angles descent upon them [at the time of their death, saying:] 'fear not, nor grieve! but receive the gald tidings of the garden of bliss, which you have been promised, we are your friends and protectors in this life and in the hereafter: therein shall you have all that you desire; therein shall you have that you ask for" (41:30-31)

The Prophets's sincerce advice to his companion sufyan, son of Abdullah, also makes this idea clear

"Say: I believe in Allah', then remain steadfast,"

The Quran says: " O you who beleive! fear Allah and be with those who are truthfull"

Kindness to All

"Worship Allah and join none with him in worship, and show kindness to parents, kinsfolk, orphans, the poor, the neighbor who is near of kin, the neighbor who is a stranger, the companion by your side, the wayfarer, and those slaves whom your right hand possess." (4:36)

Being dutifull to Parents

"And you lord has decreed that you worship none but him, and that you be dutifull yo your parents. If one od them or both of them attain old age in your life, say not to them a word of disrespect, nor shout at them, but address them in terms of honor. And lower unto them the wing of the submission and humility through mercy, and say: My Lord bestow uopn them Your mercy as they did bring me uo when i was young." (17:23,24)

Respecting the Elderly and showing Affection towards the women and young

The Prophet (p.b.u.h) says: "There is none against us who does not show mercy towards the young ones and respect and honor the elderly." (at-tirmidhi)

Helping the Needy

The Prophet (p.b.u.h) says:"A Muslim is the brother of a muslim. He neither oppresses him, nor does he fail him. HE who relieves a muslim of an affliction, Allah will relieve him of the one the afflictions of the day of judgment. He who convers a muslim's faults, Allah will cover his own fau
lts on the day of judgement." (muslim)

Mercy towards the Animals

The Prophet (p.b.u.h) says: " A women was punished in hell on account of a car which she confined until death. She neither gave it to eat or to drink when she confined it, nor did she set it free so that it might eat the vermin of the earth." (Al -bukhari and muslim)

Strengthening One Another

The Quran says: "And hold fast, all togther, to the rope of Allah [i.e, this Quran] and be not divided.'' (3:103)

Forgiving others' offences

The Quran says: ''Let them forgive and pass over [the offence], do you not desire that Allah should forgive you?'' (24:22)

"Repel evil with that which is best" (23:96)

The Beauty of ISlam*

Superstition is Shirk

Eid is a day of happiness but for who?

Nine great benefits of reciting the Holy Quran

Tips On How To Be A Successful Wife

Ten Tips on How To Be A Successful Husband

25 Rules Of Being Close To Allah

Ten Minutes

11 Ways to increase happiness in marriage

A Strong Woman vs A Woman of Strength‏

Judaism

EASY VS. DIFFICULT

Zoroastrianism

Concept of God in Sikhism

Smoking

Fortress of the Muslim

plucking the eyebrows

The Inevitable Reality

The meaning of love in Islam

Allah's Pharmacy!

Carry me in ur hands....a touching story.

Islam’s stress on seeking knowledge‏

Signs of Allah in nails

Signs of Allah in Honey bees

Sign of Allah in our eyes

A Collection of Islamic Jokes

Wonders of Allah in Social System of Ants

Wonders of Allah in butterflies *!*

Types and Number of Prayers

Times of Salat

Laziness is kin to Failure

Place And Dress for Prayers (Salat)

Ablution For Prayer - Wadhu

Why do we pray?

The believing women and the disbelieving women are not equal

Ethnicity of Muslims

A Women Who Challenged Tyranny

TEN THOUGHTS TO PONDER

You can be the happiest Women in the World

What you do all day??

Causes of Gheebah

The Rulling of Gheebah

The Definition of Gheebah

Enough For You is Your Home

Is not He (Better than your gods), who responds to the distressed

Verily, with Hardship, there is relief

Pre-ordainment

Do not be a mimicker

The Book of Manners

Repel boredom with work

Doing Good to others give confort to heart

Do not expect gratitude from anyone

How to deal with bitter criticism

Leave the future Alone until it comes

Today is all you have

The Past is Gone Forever

Contemplate and be thankful

Praying Fajr reflects how much you love Allah the Almighty

A Gift from Allah that will Change ur Life forever.....!

Funeral Rites in Islam

Christianity and islam According to the bible and the Quran

A beautiful poem written by Hazrat Hassan Ibn Thabit (Radiallahu Anhu)

Say your prayers before prayers for you are said.

The Power of Du'a

Questions and answer....

'Poem by Me"

Hijab is not a piece of cloth on your head. its the way of life

A Glimpse on the beauty of Islam

Wonders of Allah in butterflies !