Should he focus on purifying his heart or ondoing naafil acts?

Which is more important – dealing with feelings and thoughts that
Allaah dislikes, such as destructive envy, hatred, arrogance, showing
off, thinking highly of one's deeds, hard-heartedness, etc., which
form the evil that resides in the heart, or focusing on doing outward
naafil deeds suchas prayer, fasting and other acts of worship and
fulfilling vows even though those other thingsare present in the
heart? Please advise us, may Allaah reward you with good.
Praise be to Allaah.
Some of the acts mentioned are obligatory,and those which are
obligatory should be given precedence, as Allaah says according to the
hadeeth qudsi narrated from His Messenger (peace and blessings of
Allaah be upon him): "My slave doesnot draw near to Me with anything
more loved by Me than the religious duties I have enjoined on him."
Then He says: "And My slave continues to draw near to Me with
supererogatory works so that I shall love him." Outward physical acts
are not valid and acceptable unless they are accompanied by
appropriate actions of theheart, because the heart islike the king and
the physical faculties are like his troops. If the king is evil his
troops will also beevil. Hence the Prophet (peace and blessings of
Allaah be upon him) said: "In the body there is a piece of flesh: if
it is soundthe whole body will be sound and if it is corrupt then the
whole body will be corrupt." Similarly the (hidden) actions of the
heart inevitably affect the (visible) physical actions. So precedence
must be given to that which is more obligatory, whether it is called
inward or outward. Perhaps things that are called inward may be more
obligatory, such as refraining from destructive envy and arrogance,
for that is more essential than observing naafil fasts. Or acts that
are described as outward or physical may be better, such as qiyaam
al-layl (praying at night), which is better than simply giving up some
thoughts that may cross one's mind such as (non-destructive) jealousy,
etc. Inward and outward deeds support one another, and prayer keeps
one from doing evilactions and generates fearof Allaah, and has other
important effects. It (prayer) is the best of good deeds and charity.
And Allaah knows best.
Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah (may Allaah have mercy on him), Majmoo'
al-Fataawa, 6/381
So there is no separation between correcting what is inward and
correcting what is outward or physical.
The outward acts of worship which a person performs with his
physicalfaculties – if he does themfor the sake of Allaah – will
undoubtedly have an effect on his inward nature.
For example, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)
said: "Shall I not tell you of something that will take away the evil
of the heart? Fasting three days of each month." (Narratedby
al-Nasaa'i, 2386; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh
al-Nasaa'i, 2249). The evil of the heart refers to rancour, hatred and
destructive envy.
One of the most important remedies for diseases of the heart is to
study and ponder the texts which include warnings to the one who
leaves these diseases to fester in his heart, such as the hadeeth in
which the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said:
"No one will enter Paradise who has an atom's-weight of arrogance in
his heart." (Narrated by Muslim, 91).
And the hadeeth according to which Hell will say, "My share is the
arrogant." (Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 4850; Muslim,2846)
And the hadeeth: "On the Day of Resurrection the arrogant will be
gathered like ants in the form of men." (Narrated by al-Tirmidhi,
2492; classed as hasan by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Tirmidhi, 2025).
And the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "The
disease of the nations who came before you has started to spread among
you: destructive envy and hatred. These are the shavers. I do not mean
that they shave hair but they shave away religiouscommitment. By the
One in Whose hand is my soul,you will not enter Paradise until you
believe,and you will not believe until you love one another. Shall I
not tell you of something which ifyou do it, you will love one
another. Spread (the greeting of) salaam amongst yourselves."
(Narrated by al-Tirmidhi, 2510; classed as hasan by al-Albaani in
Saheeh al-Tirmidhi, 2038).
Whoever ponders with true insight such warnings about the diseases of
the heart will undoubtedly strive to cleanse his heart thereof, and
will seek help in doing so by doing outward physical acts, praying to
his Lord to cleanse his heart of hatred, destructive envy, rancour and
so on, as Allaah says, describing theprayer of the believers:

--
- - - - - - -

3b] Zakaah al-Fitr By Dr. Abu Ameenah Bilal Philips Islamic Studies Vol. 1

3b]
6. RATE
The amount of Zakaah is the same for everyone regardless of their
different income brackets. The minimum amount is one Saa` (two
handfuls ) offood, grain or dried fruit for each member of the family.
This calculation is based on Ibn `Umar's report that the
Prophet(sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) made Zakaah al-Fitr compulsory
and payable by a Saa` of dried dates or a Saa` of barley.
The Sahaabee, Abu Sa`eed al-Khudree said, "In the Prophet's time, we
used togive it (Zakaah al-Fitr) as a Saa` of food, dried dates,
barley, raisins or dried cheese". [collected by al-Bukhaaree -
Arabic/English vol. 2, p. 340, no. 582]/

--
- - - - - - -

3a] Zakaah al-Fitr By Dr. Abu Ameenah Bilal Philips Islamic Studies Vol. 1

3a]
Zakaah al-Fitr
By Dr. Abu Ameenah Bilal Philips
Islamic Studies Vol. 1
~
1. MEANING
Zakaah al-Fitr is often referred to as Sadaqah al-Fitr. The word Fitr
means the same as Iftaar, breaking a fast and it comes from the same
root word as Futoor which means breakfast. Thus, Islamically, Zakaah
al-Fitr is the name given to charity which is distributedat the end of
the fast of Ramadaan.
2. CLASSIFICATION
Sadaqah al-Fitr is a duty which is Waajib on every Muslim, whether
male or female, minor or adult as long as he/she has the means to do
so.
The proof that this form ofcharity is compulsory can be found in the
Sunnah whereby Ibn `Umar reported that the Prophet (sallallaahu
`alaihi wa sallam) made Zakaah al-Fitr compulsory on every slave,
freeman, male,female, young and old among the Muslims; one Saa` of
dried dates or one Saa` of barely. [collected by Bukhaaree -
Arabic/English, vol. 2, p. 339, no. 579]
The head of the householdmay pay the required amount for the other
members. Abu Sa'eed al-Khudree said, "On behalfof our young and old,
free men and slaves, we used to take out during Allaah's Messenger's
(sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) lifetime one Saa` of grain, cheese or
raisins". [collected by Muslim - English transl. vol.2, p. 469, no.
2155]
3. SIGNIFICANCE
The significant role played by Zakaah in the circulation of wealth
within the Islamic society is also played by the Sadaqah al-Fitr.
However, in the case of Sadaqah al-Fitr, each individual is required
to calculate how much charity is due from himself and his dependents
and go into the community in order to find those who deserve such
charity. Thus, Sadaqah al-Fitr plays a very important role in the
development of the bonds of community. The rich areobliged to come in
direct contact with the poor, and the poor are put in contactwith the
extremely poor. This contact between the various levels of society
helps to build real bonds of brotherhood and love within the Islamic
community and trains those who have, to be generous to those who do
not have.
4. PURPOSE
The main purpose of Zakaah al-Fitr is to providethose who fasted with
the means of making up for their errors during the month of fasting.
Zakaah al-Fitr also provides the poor with a means with which they can
celebrate the festival of breaking thefast (`Eed al-Fitr) along with
the rest of the Muslims.
Ibn Abbaas reported, "The Prophet (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) made
Zakaah al-Fitr compulsory so that those who fasted may be purified of
their idle deeds and shameful talk (committed during Ramadaan) and so
that thepoor may be fed. Whoevergives it before Salaah will have it
accepted as Zakaah,while he who gives it afterthe Salaah has given
Sadaqah." [collected by Abu Dawood - Eng. transl. vol. 2, p. 421, no.
1605 - rated Saheeh by Shaikh Naser Al-Albanee]
Hence, the goal of Sadaqahal-Fitr is the spiritual development of the
Believers. By making them give up some of their wealth, the believers
are taught the higher moral characteristics of generosity, compassion
(sympathy for the unfortunate), gratitude to God and the
righteousness.But, since Islaam does not neglect man's material need,
part of the goal of Zakaah al-Fitr is the economic well-being of the
poorer members of society.
5. CONDITIONS
Zakaah al-Fitr is only Waajib for a particular period of time. If one
misses the time period without a good reason, he has sinned and can
not make it up. This form of charity becomes obligatory from sunset on
the last day of fasting and remains obligatory until the beginning of
Salaah al-'Eed' (i.e. shortly after sunrise on the following day).
However, it can be paid prior to the above mentioned period, as many
of the Sahaabah (companions of the Prophet(sallallaahu 'alaihi wa
sallam) ) used to pay Sadaqah al-Fitr a couple days before the `Eed.
Naafi reported that the Prophet's companion Ibn `Umar used to give it
to those who would accept it and the people used to give it a day or
two beforethe `Eed. [collected by al-Bukhaaree - Arabic/English, Vol.
2, p.339, no. 579]
Ibn `Umar reported that the Prophet (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam)
order that it (Zakaah al-Fitr) be given before people go to make the
Salaah (al-'Eed).
And Ibn `Abbaas reported that the Prophet (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa
sallam) said, "Whoever gives it before the Salaah will have it
accepted as Zakaah, while he who gives it after the Salaah (will not,
for it will only be considered as) ordinary charity." Therefore, one
who forgets to pay this Zakaah al-Fitr on time should do so as soon as
possible even though it will not be counted as Zakaah al-Fitr. ...

--
- - - - - - -

2a] Dividing Qiyaam al-layl into two parts during the last ten days of Ramadan

2a]
The qiyaam of Ramadaan is called Taraweeh because they used to have a
rest (yastareehoona) after every four rak'ahs because they used to
make the prayers lengthy.The reason why some people object to that is
that it is contrary to what is customary among the people of their
countries and most of the people nowadays; and because ofignorance of
the Sunnah and reports and of the practice of the Sahaabah, Taabi'oon
and the imams of Islam; and because of what some people think, that
our prayer during thelast ten days is a kind of salat al-ta'qeeb which
was regarded as makroohby some scholars, but thatis not in fact the
case, because ta'qeeb is a voluntary prayer offered in congregation
after finishing Taraweeh and Witr.
This is how all the fuqaha'defined ta'qeeb, as a voluntary prayer
offered in congregation after finishing Witr immediately after
Taraweeh. From these words it is clear that prayer offered in
congregation before Witr is not ta'qeeb. End quote.
Shaykh Saalih al-Fawzaan said in Ithaaf Ahl al-Eemaan bi Majaalis
Shahr Ramadaan:
In the last ten days of Ramadan, the Muslims increase their efforts in
worship, following the example of the Prophet (blessings and peace of
Allah be upon him) and seeking Laylat al-Qadr which is better than a
thousand months. Those who pray twenty-three rak'ahs at the beginning
of the month break it up during the last ten days, so they pray ten
rak'ahs at the beginning of the night, calling it Taraweeh, and they
pray ten at the end of the night, making them lengthy, and following
it with three rak'ahs of Witr, which they call qiyaam. This is a
variation in naming only. In fact all of it may be called Taraweeh or
it maybe called qiyaam. As for those who pray eleven or thirteen
rak'ahs at the beginning of the month, they add ten rak'ahs to that
during the last ten days, which they pray at the end of the night,
making it lengthy, makingthe most of the virtue of the last ten days
and increasing their efforts to do good. They have a precedent among
the Sahaabah and others whoprayed twenty-three rak'ahs, as stated
above. Thus they combine the two opinions: the opinionwhich favours
offering thirteen rak'ahs during the first twenty days and the opinion
which favoursoffering twenty-three during the last ten days.

--
- - - - - - -

3] Dividing Qiyaam al-layl into two parts during the last ten days of Ramadan

3]
I hope that you could tell me about the opinions of the scholars with
regard to the ruling on dividing Taraweeh prayers in the last ten days
of Ramadan into two parts: at the beginning of the night and at the
end, as is done in many mosques. Please also mention the evidenceif
possible.
Praise be to Allaah.
What is mustahabb during the nights of Ramadan is to spend them in
qiyaam, prayer and worship, and to single out the last ten nights for
extra worship and striving, seeking forgiveness and mercy and seeking
Laylat al-Qadr which is better than a thousand months.
Moreover, Taraaweeh prayer is regarded as a kind of Qiyaam al-layl
andthey call it Taraweeh because people take brief breaks between
rak'ahs. Hence the matter is broadin scope, and it is permissible for
a person to pray whatever he wants of rak'ahs, at whatever time of the
night he wants.
It says in al-Mawsoo'ah al-Fiqhiyyah (34/123):
There is no difference of opinion among the fuqaha' with regard to it
being Sunnah to pray during the nights of Ramadan (Qiyaam
al-layl),because the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon
him) said: "Whoever spends the nights of Ramadan in prayer, out of
faith and seeking the reward of Allah, his previous sins will be
forgiven."
The fuqaha' said: Taraweeh is the qiyaam (Qiyaam al-layl) of Ramadan.
Hence it is best to spend most of the night in it, because it is
Qiyaam al-layl. End quote.
What many imams do nowadays -- especially in the last ten days of
Ramadan -- leading the people in Taraweeh prayer immediately after
'Isha', then going back to the mosque in the last part of the night to
pray qiyaam, is something thatis prescribed and it is not forbidden.
There is no reason to suggest it is notallowed. What is required is to
strive hard in the lastten days according to one's ability. If a
person breaks up his night between prayer, resting, sleeping, and
reading Qur'aan, then he has donewell.
Shaykh 'Abd-Allaah Abaabateen said, as is narrated in al-Durar
al-Saniyyah (4/364):
In response to what somepeople do of objecting to the one who prays
more during the last ten days ofRamadan than he usually did in the
first twenty days, on the grounds that this is more than is usual and
is ignorance of the Sunnah and the practice of the Sahaabah, Taabi'een
and imams of Islam,
We say: There are hadeeths from the Prophet (blessings and peace of
Allah be upon him) which encourage praying Qiyaam al-layl during
Ramadan, and particularly emphasise it during the last ten days.
Once it becomes clear thatthere is no specific number of rak'ahs for
Taraweeh, and that the time for it according to allscholars is from
after the Sunnah of 'Isha' until the break of dawn, and that spending
the night in worship is a confirmed Sunnah, and that the Prophet
(blessings and peace of Allaah be upon him) prayed taraweeh for many
nights in congregation, then how can anyone object to the one who
prays more during the last ten nights than he did at the beginning of
the month? So during the last ten days, he prays at the beginning of
the night, as he did at the beginning ofthe month, or a little, or a
lot, without praying Witr, for the sake of those who are weak and want
to limit themselves to that; then after that he does more prayers in
congregation and calls all of it qiyaam or taraweeh.
Perhaps the one who objects to that is confusedby what many of the
fuqaha' say, that it is mustahabb for the imam not to pray more than
one includes than one khatmah (reading of the entire Qur'aan), unless
thepeople behind him prefer to do more than that. The reason they gave
for not doing more than one khatmah is the hardship that may be caused
for the people behind him, not because doing more than that is not
prescribedin sharee'ah. So from theirwording we may conclude that if
people behind him want to do more than one khatmah, that is good, as
was clearly stated in the words of the scholars.
As for what many of the common people say, calling what is done at the
beginning of the nightTaraweeh and the prayersoffered after that
qiyaam, this is what the uneducated people say. Rather all of it is
qiyaam and taraweeh.

--
- - - - - - -

Does the one who startsto pray Taraweeh have to complete it?

If a Muslim starts to pray Taraweeh, does he have to complete it? Or
can he pray as much as he wants and then leave?.
Praise be to Allaah.
There is no doubt that Taraweeh is a Sunnah andis naafil; it is the
qiyaam of Ramadan. The same may be said of night prayers, Duha
(forenoon) prayer and the regular Sunnah prayers that are offered
along with the obligatory prayers. All of them are naafil, so he may
do them if he wants or not do them if he wants, but doing them is
better.
If he starts to pray Taraweeh with the imam and wants to leave
beforecompleting it, there is nothing wrong with that, but staying
with the imam until he finishes is better, and it will be recorded for
him as if he spent this night in prayer, because the Prophet
(blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: "Whoever prays qiyaam
with the imam until he finishes, Allah will record for him the qiyaam
of onenight." So if he stays with the imam until he completes it, he
will have attained the virtue of spending the whole night in prayer,
but if he leaves after praying some rak'ahs, there is nothing wrong
with that and no sin, because it is naafil. End quote.
Shaykh 'Abd al-Azeez ibn Baaz (may Allah have mercy on him)

--
- - - - - - -

--
- - - - - - -

Fatwa:-> Superiority of fasting Mondays and Thursdays to fasting al-Ayyaam al-Beed

My mother for a long timehas regularly fasted on Thursday and Monday
of every week, but now she wants to ask and find out whether this
action is better or should she fast three days of every month?.
Praise be to Allaah.
This action is better and brings a greater reward, and fasting three
days (of every month) is included in that. The Prophet (blessings and
peace of Allaah be upon him) used to fast on Mondays and Thursdays,
and he used tosay: "They are two days on which deeds are shown to
Allaah, may He be glorified, and I would like my deeds to be shown (to
Him) when I am fasting." and Allaah is the source of strength. End
quote.
Shaykh 'Abd al-'Azeez ibn Baaz (may Allaah have mercy on him).
Majmoo' Fataawa wa Maqaalaat Mutawwi'ah

--
- - - - - - -

Fatwa:-> He drank something after Fajr during a voluntary fast. Does he have to offer expiation?

He drank something after Fajr during a voluntary fast. Does he have to
offer expiation?
~
I fast every Monday and Thursday, a voluntary fast.It so happened that
one night I ate sahoor, and I went to sleep without drinking anything.
One hour after Fajr I got up, and I was very thirsty so I drank
something, then I fasted until night. Please note that I know that I
missed Fajr by an hour. Is this fast valid or not? If it is not, then
do I have to offer expiation?.
Praise be to Allaah.
The fast is not valid, because the fast must be from dawn until
sunset, because Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
"So now have sexual relations with them and seek that which Allaah has
ordained for you (offspring), and eat and drink until the white thread
(light) of dawn appears to you distinct from the black thread
(darkness of night), then complete your Sawm (fast) till the
nightfall"
[al-Baqarah 2:187].
Based on this, you will nothave the reward for this day that you
fasted, because it was not in accordance with sharee'ah, but there is
no sin on you for that, because it is permissible for a person to
break a supererogatory fast. You do not have to offer expiation
either. Expiationis not required for any fast, even an obligatory one,
except if a person has intercourse with his wife during the day in
Ramadan and they are among those who are obliged to fast. In that case
the expiation is obligatory upon him and on her if she did it
willingly, and the expiation is to free a slave; if that is not
possible, then it is to fast two consecutive months; if you cannot
fast, then it is to feed sixty poor persons. But if the husband and
wife were not obliged to fast, such as if they were travelling during
Ramadan and he had intercourse with her, then there is no sin on him
or on her, because it is permissible for the traveller to break the
fast.But they have to make upthat day when they come back from their
journey. Even if we assume that they were fasting on that day but they
were travelling, it is permissiblefor them to break the fast and then
have intercourse, and there is no sin on them for that, and they do
not have to offer expiation; rather they have to make up that day on
which they broke the fast. End quote.
Shaykh Muhammad ibn 'Uthaymeen (may Allaah have mercy on him)
Fataawa Noor 'ala al-Darb.

--
- - - - - - -

2a] If I make it to Ramadhan, Allah will see what good I’ll do!!

2a]
These guys are my friends, and I spent with them what I spent with
them from time withno benefit in it, actually sometimes in what Allah
has prohibited…why are they smiling?! Are they laughing and smiling
because Ramadhan is over with or what? Or are they happy for letting
themselves follow their desires? Or because they have on new clothes,
or what? And he remembered at this moment something he heard in the
'Eid khutbah last year, "'Eid isn't happiness for those that wear new
clothes, but it isfor those whom Allah is pleased with of his
slaves,and those that were rescued from the great torment."
As he was going about asking himself these questions, he would look to
those righteous people,and he remembered whathe read in some books,
that the righteous people are happy with 'Eid because Allah has
completed His blessings on them by letting them live to see Ramadhan
and finish it, and they have hope that their Noble Lord will accept it
from them. And he remembered the words that the Imam of his mosque
said, the words which Imam Ibn Kathir used to say when Ramadhan came,
"Oh Allah let me reach Ramadhan peacefully with blesssings, and
makeRamadhan full of blessings and peace for me, and accept
Ramadhanfrom me peacefully with blessings."
My friend left the 'Eid prayer area, and made to himself a truthful
promise, and he swore and guaranteed, and he said to himself, "If
Allah Ta'ala allows me to live tothe upcoming Ramadhan, then He will
see what good I will do!! And I will experience the happiness that
these righteous people have experienced."
This, my beloved brother, feeling of repentance on being sinful, came
very fast while he was in the 'Eid prayer area, waiting for the prayer
to start, amongst the Muslims during 'EidulFitr last year. And it is a
certain feeling that every believer has felt in their heart, to do
good in this noble month and it has a great and high status with
Allah.
Days passed, and the month of Ramadhan returned, and he today has the
determination and firm will, with the permission of Allah, to make his
days and nights busy in this blessed month, as much as possible! And
another thing that made him gain determination besides just looking at
those around him, was that death took a person from his family, and
also a person that lived in his district died as well. Through all of
this he thanked Allah for allowing him to live until he reached this
day hoping that his Lord will accept from him this noble month, but
his heart is torn desiring this month…
Why does he not desire it and he hears about its great virtues? Is it
not themonth of Qu'ran, mercy, supplication, forgiveness and
acceptance? Why would he not desire this month when he heard
thesayings of the Prophet (SAW): "Whoever fasts Ramadhan with faith
and anticipation, his previous sins are forgiven."? "Whoever stands in
prayer in Ramadhan with faith and anticipation, his previous sins are
forgiven."? "Whoever worships in laylatulQadr with faith and
anticipation, his previous sins are forgiven."? Is this something
blameworthy?! And the one who is promising himthese rewards, is not
some satellite TV show, it is Muhammad (SAW).
Is he blameworthy for his desire of this month whenhe hears the words
of the Prophet (SAW): "Whenever Ramadhan begins, the gates of Paradise
are opened, the gates of Hell are closed, and the devils are chained."
Do not blame him, my loved ones, for he knows that the gates of
Paradise aren't opened and the gates of Hell aren't closed because of
the angels! Or because of the mountains! Or because of the trees! The
gates of Paradise are opened because of him and his believing brothers
the humans and the jinns. Yes! Because of him, out of all the creation
of the heavens and the earth! And the doors of Hell were closed
because of him. Should he be blamedbecause of his happiness and
excitement for this month?! Who will now blame him when he hearsthe
words of the Prophet (SAW): "Whoever reads the Qur'an then for every
letter will be 10 rewards."And they know that the Qur'an has
approximately 300,000 words, so that in one completion of the Qur'an
that equals 3 million good deeds!? And the bounty of Allah is much
greater than this, and we are not trying to count or calculate it, so
if the good deed is multiplied to 700 times, then who is able to count
this?!
So we ask Allah (ta'ala) and he is the most bountiful and generous, to
make us and our noble brother busy our lives with acts that are
pleasing to Him, and that our sins will not prevent us from His
blessings, and that we don't return to the worst of our actions.

--
- - - - - - -

2] If I make it to Ramadhan, Allah will see what good I’ll do!!

2]
A friend of mine took a seat in the place for 'Eid prayer, and he
began to talk to himself secretly, hewas going over the memories of an
entire month…an entire month passed, as if it was one day. As he sat,
he was going over these nights that have now left him, and the days
that were now gone. He tried to linkhimself with some of the people
that were around him, only to find the distance between them far…they
entered the "battlefield" in one day, actually one hour, but he
delayed and procrastinated, no, he actually slept, until they all
passed him. He tried tolook at them as closely as possible, but he was
unable. For indeed they passed him by a great distance, and won the
great big reward… My friend was searching through the "pages" of
hislife, through the actions that he did this past month, so that he
may find something to lift up his broken soul. He turnedto his record
of Qur'anic recitation, and could not find one completion of the Holy
Qur'an! And he would hear, not from the pious people of the past, but
from news of the pious people around him, even the youth, those that
finished reciting the Qur'an 5 times, even those that finished 6
times, actually those that finished the Qur'an 10 times!!
He tries to decrease his depression by turning to his record of
generosity and giving to those around him and those Muslims outside of
his country that are less fortunate, especially because he knows that
Allah has blessed Him with wealth. But he did not do as much as those
who were like him, from charity, prayer, and good deeds…a sigh…a short
silence…his charity and generosity were not proportionate to what
Allah gave him from wealth. The "beggar and the outcast" did not have
a share of his wealth in this month, except a smalltrivial amount.
Actually, there were those noble souls whom Allah Ta'ala saved from
stinginess, who had less money, but gave more…
He turned his face away from this "record" of his life, and he tried
to decrease his pain and sorrow by turning to another "record" hoping
to find himself ahead of others, even if in just one area. So he
turned to the "record" of the restrainingor fasting of his body parts.
Here his hands dropped, he remembered many nights where he allowed his
eyes, ears, and tongue to do dark things…
He remembered the gatherings when he and his friends would watch
television shows that would take a person off the road to Heaven in
thisblessed month, from supplication; to the doors of Hell is where
these outrageous shows would take a person. Movies and sitcoms that a
person with intellect would feel shame to watch--not to mention a
believer that is aware of his heart and actions-- in a month otherthan
Ramadhan. So how about the month of Mercyand Acceptance?!
And my friend remembered, while this pain and sorrow felt as if they
would split his insides, how much time he wasted watching theseworldly
sports and races, that made him too busy to worry about the races to
the hereafter. He remembered this and he was crying for this great
deception: How could he worry himself for these races which would have
one winner out of 500 or more, he would concentrate, time,
energy,money, and only 5,10,or even 100 people would win out of
millions of competitors! He remembered this and he would admonish
himself, how could he ignore the match for which the successful
outcome is guaranteed?! And which success is it? The prize for our
race is gardens, and the pleasure of the Merciful, and rivers, and
trees, and the "companions with beautiful, big, and lustrous eyes,
like unto Pearls well-guarded", and the success rate for the person
who is sincere andfollows, is 100%!! But, he loved the world in which
he overstepped his bounds, and chased after!!
As he was sitting in his place in the place for 'Eid prayer, he looked
and sawsome of his friends sitting and relaxing just as they were
during those Ramadhan nights. He saw them in the best of moods, with
nice clothes, and their smiles that they would give out everywhere.
And when helooked elsewhere, he saw some of the righteous slaves of
Allah, sitting in the front rows, he could see the happiness on
theirfaces. It was as if one of them --had he not been scared to
reveal his good deeds-- would say with his tongue," "Come you all!"
Read this my record!"…they wore new clothes just like his friends, but
what a difference between this smile and that smile, and what a
difference between those new clothes and those new clothes. Here his
feelings began to change, and he started to ask himself questions.

--
- - - - - - -

1a] Ramadan 2012, The 14th Day

1a]
The consciousness apparent inthese cases though is, of course, of
Allah's infinite wisdom and knowledge. It is Allah Who created
thekidney cells, as well as themolecules discussed, and Who orders
them to accomplish their respective tasks. In the Qur'an, Allah
informs us that He constantly sends down "commands" to the beings He
created:
It is Allah Who created the seven heavens and of the Earth the same
number, the Command descending down through all of them, so that you
might know that Allah has power over all things and that Allah
encompasses all things in His knowledge. (Surat at-Talaq, 12)
Clearly, Allah, Who createdeverything in the universe, is surely able
to bring the dead to life. Of this fact, Allah states the following:
Do they not see that Allah-He Who created the heavens and the Earth
and was not wearied by creating them-has the power to bring the dead
to life? Yes indeed! He has power over all things. (Surat al-Ahqaf,
33)
A Response To The Claim That ''Nobody Would Be Upset If It Were Lions
Or Tigers, Rather Than Monkeys''
Some Darwinists maintainthat evolution is rejected as a matter of
pride and that the problem lies in the fictitious ancestor being a
monkey, and that there would be no problem if people were told "your
ancestors were lions or tigers." But that isa grave error.
There is in fact no unease or such state of affairs along those lines.
Darwinists are of course well aware of this. The greatest problem
facing evolution is THAT IT IS ANIDEOLOGY, A SUPERSTITIOUS, PAGAN
RELIGION BASED ON FALSEHOOD .
The problem facing evolution is that it is depicted as scientific,
DESPITE NOT BEING SUPPORTED BY ANY SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE. AND THE FACT
THAT IT IS A DECEPTION IMPOSED ON PEOPLE FOR THE LAST 150 YEARS BY
FALSE EVIDENCE AND FRAUD .
One of the greatest problems regarding evolution is that despite being
a complete and utter fraud, it is PROTECTED BY A DICTATORIAL REGIME
right across the world andimposed through force and pressure.
That human beings are chance entities descendedfrom animals, for which
reason IT REPRESENTS THE SOURCE OF ALL DICTATORIAL REGIMES, RACIST AND
SEPARATIST ACTIVITIES, WARS, SLAUGHTER AND BLOODTHIRSTY REGIMES .
Monkeys are not the problem, therefore. If Almighty Allah had revealed
that He had created us and other living things through evolution, and
if we were to see millions of pieces ofevidence for that, then wewould
definitely be the first and most determinedsupporters of that fact.
But the claim in question is just another Darwinist propaganda
technique. Efforts are being made to play down the great problems
facing Darwinism and to make people forget that Darwinism is the
gravest peril facing mankind. The fact is, however, that withall the
claims it makes, EVOLUTIONIS THE WORSTFRAUD IN HISTORY .
The Mahdi Will Definitely Appear
Even if only one day ofthe world remained, Allahwould extend that day
until he (the Mahdi ) takespower. (Al-Muttaqi al-Hindi, Al-Burhan fi
Alamat al-Mahdi, p. 10)
If it were the last day of life, Allah would prolong that day until He
sends a man (Mahdi) from the Family of my [Muhammad's] House. (Ibid.,
p. 10)
The Mahdi will come to my [Muhammad's] community… In his time, my
community will be blessed with a blessing the like of which has never
been seen before. He will cause much rain tofall, and the plants of
the ground will hold back nothing. ( Ibid., p. 9)
Even if only one night remained for the world, Allah would extend it,
so that one from my House would come and rule the world. His name
matches mine, and his father's name my father's name. Just as the
world was filled with cruelty, he will fill it with justice. (Ibid.,
p. 11)/

--
- - - - - - -

1] Ramadan 2012, The 14th Day

1]
He is Allah – there is no deity but Him. He is the Knower of the
Unseen and the Visible. He is theAll-Merciful, the Most Merciful. He
is Allah – there is no deity but Him. He is the King, the Most Pure,
the Perfect Peace, the Trustworthy, the Safe guarder, the Almighty,
the Compeller,the Supremely Great. Glory be to Allah above all they
associate with Him. He is Allah – the Creator, the Maker, the Giver of
Form. To Him belong the Most Beautiful Names. Everything in the
heavens and Earth glorifies Him. He is the Almighty, the All-Wise.
(Surat al-Hashr, 22-24)
One should beg one's Lord with a will and full devotion, for there is
nothing in the eye of Allah which He cannot grant. (Muslim)
Allah shapes events from inside and outside. But Hedoes not eliminate
the need for free will. That didnot happen in the time of the Prophet
Moses (pbuh).Nor of the Prophet Abraham (pbuh) nor of our Prophet
(saas). Peopleimagine these events will eliminate the need for free
will. But nothing to eliminate free will has ever happened. And nor
will it. Things are continuing in line with the test, insha'Allah. (A9
TV, April 11, 2012)
Allah Has Power Over Everything
Allah, the Creator of everything, is the sole possessor of all beings.
It is Allah Who heaps up theheavy clouds, heats and brightens the
Earth, variesthe direction of the winds,holds birds suspended up in
the sky, splits the seed, makes a man's heart beat,ordains
photosynthesis in plants, and keeps planets in their separate orbits.
People generally surmise that such phenomena occur according to "the
laws of physics," "gravity,""aerodynamics," or other physical factors;
however, there is one significant truth these people ignore:all such
physical laws were created by Allah. In fact, the only possessor of
power in the universe is Allah.
Allah rules all the systems at any moment in the universe, regardless
of whether we are aware of them, or if we are asleep, sitting,
walking. Each of the myriad of processes inthe universe, all essential
to our existence, is under Allah's control. Even our ability to just
take a small step forward depends onAllah's Creation in countless
minute details, including Earth's force of gravity, the structure of
the human skeleton, the nervous system and muscular system, the brain,
the heart, and even the rotation speed of the Earth.
Attributing the existence of the world and of the entire universe to
sheer coincidence is complete delusion. The exquisite order of the
Earth and theuniverse completely contradicts the possibility of
formation through coincidence, and is, rather,a clear sign of Allah's
infinite might. For instance, the Earth's orbit around the Sun
deviates only 2.8 mm in every 29 kms from the right path. If this
deviation were 0.3 mm longer or shorter, then living beings all
overthe Earth would either freeze or be scorched. While it is
virtually impossible for even a marble to revolve in the same orbit
without any deviation, the Earth accomplishes such a course despite
its giganticmass. As stated in the Qur'an, "...Allah has appointed a
measure for all things..." (Surat at-Talaq, 3). In effect, the
splendid order in the universe is maintained as a result of fantastic
systems that depend on highly delicateequilibriums.
Some people hold the perverted belief that Allah"created everything
and then left them on their own." However, any event, taking place in
any area of the universe, occurs solely by Allah's Will, and under His
control. It is stated in the Qur'an:
Do you not know that Allah knows everything in heaven and Earth? That
is in a Book. That iseasy for Allah. (Surat al-Hajj, 70)
Elaborate processes taking place in the bodies of living things are
impressive examples that help us to grasp Allah's might. For instance,
at every moment, your kidneys filter your blood and extricate those
harmful molecules to be excreted from the body. This screening and
elimination process, which can be carried out by a single kidney cell,
canonly be accomplished by agiant haemodialyser (artificial kidney). A
haemodialyser was consciously designed by scientists. A kidney,
however, does not sense, or have a decision-makingcentre, nor the
faculty of thought. In other words, an unconscious kidney cellcan
accomplish tasks that otherwise demand an elaborate thinking process.
It is possible to encounter millions of such examples in living
beings. Molecules,composed of unconscious matter, perform tasks so
remarkable they would otherwise suggest consciousness. ...

--
- - - - - - -

Why I chose Islam

I was raised in a house where we prayed every night and morning. We
were not taught set prayers but to pray from the heart. We went to
church every Sunday and were active participants inthe activities held
there.....
By the time I was in my late teens I was a missionary.
I always felt close to �God'and prayer was a way of life for me. Deep
in my mind, for I could never voice any doubts, I had some misgivings;
some things that didn't make sense to me but as a missionary I felt I
was calling to God, not to that particular church. I knew God, to be
the Infinitely Powerful Being Who had created all there is. I
couldrecognize a harmony and structure in all the nature around me,
yet I found anabsence of order wherever I looked aroundpeople. I
learned to love Jesus as a messenger of God but it seemed strangeto
me, that God would require a sacrifice in orderto forgive us. I
believed that God was above having any need. I felt I could
communicate with God as I was, without the necessity of an
intermediary because, again, God didn't need any help to hear what I
said.
One day I moved into a flat and met my neighbors who were Muslims. I
thought I would try out some missionary work on them.They listened to
me patiently and then I too, listened to them . They didn't try to
explain any complicated issues, they just read to me from the Qu'ran.
First they read in Arabic, then in English. It was Sura (Chapter)
Maryam. I listened in silence. The beautiful sound of the Arabic
recitation touched my heart and then the plain and direct language of
theEnglish translation struck a chord within. The beautiful story of
Prophet Jesus (peace be upon him)and his miracle birth to the virgin
Mary was a marvel of simplicity. God, or as I learned to call
Him,Allah s.w.t. had provided mankind with Prophets and Messengers
since the beginning of time. From Prophet Adam (peace be upon him),
Prophet Abraham, Prophet Moses, Prophet Jesus and Prophet Muhammad
(peace be upon them all) and many others. They were all sent with
God's message to disdain all worship except, worship of the One True
God and to submit to His Will. Suchis the meaning of Islam. A Muslim
is one who bows to the will of Allah s.w.t. refusing the worship of
anyone or anything else and seeking to establish piety on earth.

--
- - - - - - -

Bedouin's logic prove the existence of God

Once, a Bedouin was asked what made an unsophisticated man like him
believe in Allah.
Bedouin: "Do you see these marks in the sand?"
Man: "Yes."
Bedouin: "What do they tell you?"
Man: "A camel went by."
Bedouin: "Did you see the camel?"
Man: "No, but these footprints in the sand suggest that a camel made them."
Bedouin: "Do you see these mountains?"
Man: "Yes."
Bedouin: "They are indicative to me that Allahmade them."

--
- - - - - - -