2a] Islam at a Glance

2a]
and human relationships in all aspects.
Comprehensive teachings on which sound systems of social justice,
economics, politics, legislation, jurisprudence, law and international
relations can be built, are important contents of the Holy Qu'ran.
Hadith, the teachings, sayings, and actions of the Holy Prophet
Muhammad ( SAW ), meticulously reported and collected by his devoted
companions, explain and elaborate the Qu'ranic verses.
Concept of Worship:
Islam does not teach or accept mere Ritualism. It emphasises intention
and action. To worship God is to know Him and Love Him, to act upon
His laws in every aspect of life, to enjoin goodness and forbid evil
and oppression,to practice charity and justice and to serve Him
byserving mankind. Islam seeks to implant in man's heart the strongest
conviction that his every thought and action are with God, Who sees
him atall times and in all places.
The Qu'ran presents this concept in the following sublime manner:
"It is not righteousness that you turn your faces tothe East or the
West, but righteous is he who believes in God and the Last Day and the
Angels and the Book and the Prophets; and gives his wealth for the
love of Him to kinsfolk and to orphans and the needy and the wayfarer
and to those who ask, and to set slaves free; and observes proper
worship and pays the Zakat. And those who keeptheir treaty when they
make one, and are patient in tribulation and adversity and time of
stress. Such are those who are sincere. Such are the God fearing". (
Holy Qu'ran)
Islamic Way of Life:
Islam provides definite guidelines for all people tofollow in all
walks of life. The guidance it gives is comprehensive and includes the
social, economic, political, moral and spiritual aspects of life. The
Qu'ran reminds man of the purpose of life on earth, and his duties and
obligations towards himself, his kith and kin, his community, his
fellow human beings and his Creator. Man is given fundamental
guidelines about a purposeful life andthen he is left with the
challenge of human existence before him so that he might put these
high ideals into practice.
In Islam man is a wholesome, integrated unit and not a collection
offragmented, competitive parts.
Historic Perspective:
Muhammad ( SAW ) was born in the year 570 A.C. inMakkah in Arabia. He
cameof a noble Arab family. As soon as he started preaching Islam, he
and his followers were persecuted and had to facesevere hardships. He
was therefore commanded
to migrate to Medina, another city in Arabia.
During a short span of 23 years he was put to rest inthe city of
Medina. He left no wealth or property. He had lead a perfect life and
set an example for all human beings. His Biography illustrates in real
life, the meaning and implications of the Qu'ranic teachings.
Status of Women:
No discrimination is made on the basis of sex. But Islam makes one
realise that the spheres of potential capabilities and hence
responsibilities of men and women are equally important in themselves
but not exactlythe same.
The roles of men and women are complementary to each other.
Jihad:
Jihad ( meaning Struggle ) consists in exerting oneselfto the utmost
in order to personally follow the teachings of Islam. A Muslim
therefore, expends all the powers of body andsoul, his wealth,
possessions, and even life in the fight against the evilforces of the
world, in order that injustice, oppression, and contumacy are
annihilatedand God's just order is established.
Therefore to struggle in the path of Allah with the pen; speech; and
his swordis Jihad.
"What has happened to you ? why don't you fight in the way of God in
support of men, women, and children, whom finding helpless, they
haverepressed; and who pray,"Oh God ! liberate us from this habitation
which is ruled by Tyrants". ( Holy Qu'ran )
Islam has come to liberate man from the worship of man and establish
the worship of God./

2] Islam at a Glance

2]
Islam And Muslim:
Islam is an Arabic Word which means peace, purity, acceptance and
commitment. The religion of Islam is the complete acceptance of the
teachings and guidance of God ( Allah being his proper name ). i.e.
surrender to the Will of God.
A Muslim is one who accepts freely and willingly the supreme power of
God and strives for total reorganisation of his life according to
revealed teachings of God. He also works towards theestablishment of a
just and equitable social order which would totally reflectthe
guidance of God.
Continuity of Message:
Islam is not a new religion.It is, in essence, the same message and
guidance which God revealed to all His Prophets ( May his peace be
upon them all ).
"Say. We believe in God and that which was revealed to us and that
which was revealed to Abraham and Ishmael and Isaac and Jacob and the
tribes and that which was given to Moses and Jesus and to the Prophets
from their Lord: we make no distinction between any ofthem, and to Him
we submit. ( Holy Qu'ran ).
The message which was revealed to Muhammad ( May the Peace and
blessings of God be upon him ), the Last Prophet, is Islam in it's
comprehensive, complete and final form.
The 5 specific acts of Worship:
Every action which is donewith the awareness that it fulfils the will
of God is considered an act of worship in Islam. Nevertheless, the
specific acts of Worship, termed the pillars of Islam, provide the
framework of spiritual life.
They are the Following:
1. Shahada ( The declaration of Faith )
"I bear witness that there is none worthy of Worshipexcept God, and
that Muhammad is His servant and messenger"
The Prophethood of Muhammad ( SAW ) obliges the Muslims to follow his
exemplary life in every way.
2. Salah ( Prayers )
Prayers are prescribed five times a day as a duty towards God. They
strengthen and enliven the belief in God and inspire man to a higher
morality. They purify the heart and control temptation towards wrong
doing and evil. It should be stressed that while Allah does not need
our prayers we cannot survive without His blessings and guidance.
"O you who believe ! Seek help with patient perseverance and prayer,
for Allah is with those whopatiently persevere". ( Holy Qu'ran )
3. Sawm ( Fasting )
Fasting is observed once each year during the month of Ramadan. This
means abstention from food, drink and sexual intercourse from dawn to
sunset, and also from all evil intentions and desires.It teaches Love,
sincerity and devotion. It develops a sound social conscience,
patience, unselfishness and willpower. When we fast by choice, God
remembers our sufferings. He appreciates it all :)
4. Zakat ( Charity )
Zakat payment annually of2.5% of ones net savings as a purifying sum
to be spent on the poor and needy. Zakat implies that everything man
possesses belongs to God and therefore anyone in need has a share in
it.
5. Pilgrimage ( Hajj ) to theHoly City of Makkah:
Once in a lifetime providedone has the means to do so. Hajj implies
Man's temporary suspension of all worldly activities and his
realisation of himself as a naked soul in front of God alone.
Oneness of God:
Islam enjoins faith in the oneness and sovereignty of God, which makes
man aware of the meaningfulness of the Universe and of his place in
it. This belief frees him from all fears and superstitions by making
him conscious of the presence of Almighty God and of man's obligations
towards Him. Belief in One God requires that we look upon all humanity
as one family irrespective of colour, class, race, or territory, under
the Omnipotence of God the Creator and Nourisher of all.
Islam rejects the idea of a chosen people, making faith in God and
good action the only way to HEAVEN. Thus a direct relationship is
established with God. Open to all alike,without any intercessor.
Life After Death:
The world according to Islam, is a place of trial and man is being
judged in it. Man is accountable toAllah for all that he does herein.
Life on earthy will, one day, come to an end; and after that a new
worldwill be resurrected. It will be in this Life after Death that man
will be rewardedor punished for his deeds and misdeeds. God will judge
man on the day of Judgement and send him either to Heaven, a stage of
existence which leads tofurther blessings, or to Hell, a stage of
suffering and punishment.
Qu'ran And Hadith:
The Qu'ran is the last revealed Word of God and as such affirms and
completes the total process of revelation which has come from the
Divine, for the Guidance of the Human race. The Qu'ran is the basic
source of Islamic teachings and laws and deals with the bases of
creeds, morality, history of humanity, worship, knowledge, wisdom,
God-man relationship ( He is our Master, Creator, and Lord, we are his
servants ), and human relationships in all aspects. :->

story - A Clever King-Advice to the Youth

I will share with you a story which shows the clever decision of a
youth on how to live this life. This story is only an example.
There was a country long time ago where the people would change a king
every year. The person who would become the king had to agree to a
contract that hewill be sent to an island after his one year of being
a king. So, one king finished his term and it was time for him to go
to the island and live there. The people dressed him upin expensive
clothes and put him on an elephant and took him around the cities to
say goodbye to allthe people. This was the moment of sadness for all
the kings who ruled for one year. After saying goodbye, the people
took the king with a boat to theremote island and left him there. On
their way back, they discovered a ship thathad sunk just recently.
They saw a young man who survived by holding on to a floating piece of
wood. As they needed a new king, they picked up the young man and took
him to their country. They requested him to be a kingfor a year. First
he refused but later he agreed to be aking. People told him about all
the rules and regulations and that how he will be sent to an
islandafter one year.
After three days of being a king, he asked the ministers if they could
show him the island where all the other kings were sent. They agreed
and took him to the island.The island was covered with thick jungles
and sound of vicious animals were heard coming out of them. The king
went little bit inside to see how it was and discovered the dead
bodies of all the past kings. He understood that as soon as they were
left in the island, the animals came and killed them. The king then
went back to thecountry and requested the people to provide him with
100 strong workers. He was provided with 100 workers and he took
themto the island and told them to remove all the deadly animals and
to cut down all the trees. He would visit the island every month to
see how the work is progressing. Inthe first month, all the animals
were removed and many trees were cut down. In the second month, the
whole island was cleaned out. The king then told the workers to plant
gardens in various parts of the island. He also took with himself
useful animals like chickens, ducks, birds, goats, cows etc. In the
third month, he ordered the workers to build big houses and docking
stations for ships. Over the months, the island turned into a
beautiful place. The young king would wear simple clothes and spend
very little from his earnings. He sent all the earnings to theisland
for storage. Nine months have passed like this. The king called the
people and told them that"I know that I have to go the island after
one year, but I would like to go there right now." But the people
didn't agree to this and said that he have to wait for another 3
months to complete the year.
3 months passed and now it was a full year. The people dressed up the
young king and put him on an elephant to take him around the country
to say goodbye to others. However, this king is unusually happy to
leave the kingdom. People askedhim, "All the other kings would cry at
this moment and why are you laughing?" He replied,"Don't you know what
the wise people say? They say that when you came to this world as a
baby, you were crying and everyone was smiling. Live such a life that
when you are dieing, you will be smiling and everyone around you will
be crying. I have lived that life. While all the other kings were lost
into the luxuries of the kingdom, I always thoughtabout the future and
planned for it. I turned the deadly island into a beautiful abode for
me where I can stay peacefullly."
We should take a lesson from this story about how we should also live
our life. The life of this world isto prepare for the life hereafter.
In this life, we shouldn't get lost into the beautiful things of this
world and forget about what is to come in the afterlife. Rather, even
if weare kings, we should live a simple life like our belovedProphet
Muhammad (SAW)and save all our enjoyments for the hereafter. May Allah
make it easy for us all.
( Love for Muhammad PBUH is the basic teaching of Islam.)... Islam is
not terrorism nor backwordness, but Islam isteachings of
peace."Ashadunna La illaha illallahu Wa Ashadunna Muhammadan Wa
Rasuluhu." "I bear witness that there is no god, but Allah, and
Muhammad is His Last Messenger."

*1a] Why do we count the age of Islam from the beginning of the Hijrah and not from the beginning of the revelation and the call?

*1a]
Why do we count the age of Islam from the beginning of the Hijrah and
not from the beginning of the revelation and the call?
~
because remembering it would renew their grief. So therewas no choice
left except the Hijrah. And they choseto regard Muharram as the first
month of the year rather than Rabee' al-Awwal because the plan to
migrate started totake shape in Muharram. The oath of allegiance
(bay'ah) – that was the precursor to the Hijrah – had taken place
during Dhu'l-Hijjah, and the first new moon after the oath of
allegiance and the decision to migrate was that of Muharram. So it was
appropriate to make it the first month of the year. This is the best
explanation I have come across as to why the year starts with
Muharram.
Al-Haakim narrated that Sa'eed ibn al-Musayyab said: 'Umar assembled
thepeople and asked them what the first day of the calendar should be.
'Ali said: (It should start) fromthe day when the Messenger of Allah
(blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) migrated and left the
landof shirk. So 'Umar did that.End quote.
The one who says that the age of Islam started with the Hijrah is
referringto the calendar and what the people agreed upon of creating a
system so that people could know the dates of events and define the
times of contracts, the dates of visits by delegations, and the like.
This is somethingon which the people agreed during the caliphate of
'Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) and it has remained so up until
the present day. The start of this calendar marks, as 'Umar intended,
the establishment of the (Islamic) state, which onlybegan with the
Hijrah.
As for the beginning of Islam itself and people's awareness of it, we
do not need to point out thatthis took place before thattime. Indeed
the meaningof the word Islam in general includes the religion that
Allah approved for His slaves and with which He sent His Prophets and
Messengers. But this is notwhat we are discussing here.
We do not believe that anyone could imagine that Islam only began with
the Hijrah and ignorethe years of da'wah during which the Prophet
(blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) and those who were with
himin Makkah strove to establish the faith. No onewould say this.
And Allah knows best.

*1] Why do we count the age of Islam from the beginning of the Hijrah and not from the beginning of the revelation and the call?

*1]
I hope insha allah this question reaches u in good health. My question
is I have noticed when a non muslim asks about the age islam after
prophet hood we as Muslims answer only withthe years after hijrah, my
question is why do we always leave out the first 13 years of prophet
hood before hijrah. I know the year of Hijrah was a great year yet we
all know that prophet hood started 13 years before this so when
answering why dont we mention this like now we are 1433 AH yet when
answering why dont we say islam after prophet hood is 1446 adding the
13 years before the period. insha allah you can explain why we dont
add the first 13 years into our answer.
Praise be to Allaah.
No doubt the years that the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be
upon him) spent in Makkah before the Hijrah (migration to Madinah),
when he was calling people to the path of his Lord, enduring
persecution and patiently putting up with the annoyance and
accusations of the foolish, could is part of the age of Islam; indeed
they are among the greatest years of Islam because during this time
the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) was relying
completely upon his Lord, thinking positively of Him, and patiently
bearing persecution for His sake.
This is something that no wise person would doubt and no one would
deny it at all, whether he is Muslim or otherwise.
But the reason why the people adopted the Hijri calendar as a means of
defining the year in whicha particular event took place, which is
something that people need to do, is that this date is the one that
the Sahaabah unanimously agreed to take as the beginning of their
calendar. This decision was made at the time of 'Umar ibn al-Khattaab
(may Allah be pleased with him), because it is the actual date of the
founding of the Islamic state, when the Prophet (blessings and peace
of Allah be upon him) and migrated and settled in Madinah, and the
people gathered around him and supported him, and he built the mosque,
and other events that followed the Hijrah. So the features of the
Islamicstate began to develop and it took on a clear form
geographically, socially, militarily and politically. Before that the
Muslims did not have a state or any political system to unite them.
The Sahaabah (may Allah be pleased with them) reached a unanimous
decision in 16 AH – or, it was said, 17 AH or 18 AH – during 'Umar's
caliphate,to make the Islamic calendar begin with the year in which
the Hijrah occurred. That was because a case was referred to Ameer
al-Mu'mineen 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) concerning a
contract that one man had with another, saying that what he owed him
became due in Sha'baan.
'Umar said; Which Sha'baan? The Sha'baan ofthis year we are in now
orof last year or of next year? Then he summonedthe Sahaabah and
consulted them about adopting a calendar from which they could
determine when debts became due and the like.
Someone suggested adopting the Persian calendar, but he did not like
that. Someone else suggested adopting the Byzantine calendar, but he
did not like that. Others suggested dating itfrom the birth of the
Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him), or from
the beginning of his mission, or from his migration (Hijrah) or
fromhis death.
'Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) was inclined to choose the date
of the Hijrah becauseit is known when it occurred, and they agreedwith
him.
The point is that they made the beginning of the Islamic calendar the
year of the Hijrah, and they made the first monthof the Islamic year
Muharram, as was narrated from them. This is the view of the
majorityof imams, so that people could conduct their business on that
basis, with no confusion.
See: al-Bidaayah wa'n-Nihaayah, 3/251-253
Al-Bukhaari narrated in his Saheeh (3934) that Sahl ibn Sa'd said:
They did not start the calendar from the beginning of theProphet's
mission or from his death; they only started it from the time ofhis
arrival in Madinah.
Al-Haafiz Ibn Hajar (may Allah have mercy on him) said:
The incidents that are connected to the life of the Prophet (blessings
and peace of Allah be upon him) and that could have been taken as the
start of the calendar are four: his birth, the start of his mission,
his migration (Hijrah) and his death. They thought it was best to
start the calendar from the Hijrah, because in the case of his birth
and the start of his mission, there would be uncertainty with regard
to the exact year. As for the time of hisdeath, they chose not to use
it because remembering it would renew their grief. So therewas no
choice left except the Hijrah. :->

4a] The story of the killing of ‘Asma bint Marwaan is false

4a]
A woman from Banu Khatamah wrote poetry lampooning the Prophet
(blessings and peace of Allah be upon him), and news of that reached
the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) and upset him.
He said: "Who will deal with her for me?" A man from among her people
said: I will, O Messenger of Allah!She was a seller of dates, so he
went to her and said to her: Do you have any dates? She said: Yes. So
she showed him some dates, and he said: I want something better than
this. So she went inside toshow him and he followed her and looked
right and left, but he did not see anything except a small table, and
he kept hitting her head with it until he killed her. Then he went to
the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) and said: O
Messenger of Allah,I have taken care of her for you. The Prophet
(blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: "The validity of what
you have done is something that no one could dispute."
This woman was 'Asma bint Marwaan.
This is an invalid isnaad and a fabricated report that was narrated by
Muhammad ibn al-Hajjaaj of whom al-Bukhaari said:His hadeeth is to be
rejected. Ibn Ma'een said: (He is) an evil liar. Ad-Daaraqutni said:
(He is)a liar; and on one occasion he said: He is nottrustworthy.
Mizaan al-I'tidaal, 3/509
Ibn 'Adiyy said: Muhammad ibn al-Hajjaaj fabricated the hadeeth about
the woman who used to lampoon the Messenger of Allah (blessings and
peace of Allah be upon him), according to which when she was killed he
(allegedly) said: "The validity of what you have done is something
that noone could dispute."
End quote from al-Mawdoo'aat by Ibn al-Jawzi 3/18
This hadeeth was also mentioned by Shaykh al-Albaani (may Allah have
mercy on him) in ad-Da'eefah (6013); he said it is fabricated
(mawdoo').
It was narrated by al-Waaqidi in al-Maghaazi(p. 173) and via him by
al-Qadaa'i (858): 'Abdullahibn al-Haarith told me, from his father,
that 'Asma bint Marwaan, fromBanu Umayyah ibn Zayd, was married to
Yazeed ibn Zayd ibn Hisn al-Khatmi. She used to revile the Prophet
(blessings and peace of Allah be upon him), criticise Islam and incite
people against the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him).
When news of what she said and her incitement of the people reached
'Umayr ibn 'Adiyyibn Kharashah ibn Umayyah al-Khatmi, he said: O
Allah, I make a vow to You that I shall killher if You grant a safe
return to Madinah to the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of
Allah be upon him) – as the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of
Allah be upon him) was inBadr at that time. When the Messenger of
Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) came back from Badr,
'Umayr ibn 'Adiyy came to her in the middle of the night and entered
upon her in her house when she had agroup of her children sleeping
around her, including an infant who was still being breastfed. He
reached out to touch her and found the infant whom she was
breastfeeding. He pushed the child aside then he plunged his sword
into her chest until it came outof her back. Then he wentout and
prayed Fajr with the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon
him) in Madinah. When the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be
upon him) finished praying, he looked at 'Umayr and said: Did you kill
the daughter of Marwaan? He said: Yes, may my father be sacrificed for
you, O Messenger of Allah.
'Umayr was afraid that the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be
upon him) would not approve of his killing her, so he said: Is there
any sinon me for that, O Messenger of Allah? He said: "The validity of
whatyou have done is something that no one could dispute." And this is
the first time I heard this phrase from the Prophet (blessings and
peace of Allah be upon him). 'Umayr said: The Prophet (blessings and
peace of Allah be upon him) turnedto those who were around him and
said: "If you want to see a man who supported Allah and His Messenger,
then look at 'Ubayr ibn 'Adiyy."
End quote.
This is a worthless isnaad. Imam Ahmad said concerning al-Waaqidi –
whose name was Muhammad ibn 'Umar ibnWaaqid – : He is a liar; he
alters hadeeths. Ibn Ma'een said: He is not trustworthy. On one
occasion he said: His hadeeth is not to be written down.
Al-Bukhaariand Abu Haatim said: He is matrook (rejected). Abu Haatim
and an-Nasaa'i said: He fabricates hadeeth. Ibn 'Adiyy said: His
hadeeths are odd and problematic. Ibn al-Madeeni said: al-Waaqidi
fabricates hadeeth.
Mizaan al-I'tidaal, 3/663
An-Nasaa'i said: The liars who are known for fabricating hadeeth are
four: Ibraaheem ibn Abi Yahya in Madinah, al-Waaqidi in Baghdad,
Muqaatil in Khorasan and Muhammad ibn Sa'eed in Syria.

And Allah knows best.

Islamic history and biography- Biography of the Prophet - 4] The story of the killing of ‘Asma bint Marwaan is false

4]
brother my question was about the death of Asmaabint Marwaan people
speaking against islam say that she was killed on the order of the
prophet in a very brutal way and this indicates according tosome about
the messenger of Allahs lust for power in yathrib It would be highly
appreciated if this topic is explained so that i can answer these
people how benevolent the messenger of Allah was
Praise be to Allah.
Firstly:
Allah, may He be exalted, has told us in His holy Book that He only
sent HisMessenger Muhammad (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him)
as a mercy to all people. Allah, may He be glorified, says
(interpretation of the meaning):
"And We have sent you (OMuhammad SAW) not but as a mercy for the
Alameen (mankind, jinns and all that exists)"
[al-Anbiya' 21:107].
The one who accepts this mercy and gives thanks for this grace will be
blessed in this world and in the Hereafter; the one who rejects it and
denies it will be a loser in this world and in the Hereafter.
End quote from Tafseer Ibn Katheer, 5/385
Al-Haakim narrated in al-Mustadrak (100) that Abu Hurayrah said: The
Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: "O
people, I am but a bestowed mercy." Classed as saheeh by al-Albaani
inSaheeh al-Jaami', 2345.
The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) is the one who
pardoned all of Quraysh, even though they had let him down, opposed
him, expelled him, waged war against him and incited the Arabs against
him. When he conquered Makkah, he pardoned them and did not punish
them or take revenge on them for their bad treatment.
He is the one who pardoned the Jewish woman who had poisoned the
mutton for him. al-Bukhaari (2617) and Muslim (5834) narrated from
Anas ibn Maalik (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Jewish woman
brought the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) some
poisoned mutton and he ate some of it. Then she was brought to him and
itwas said: Will you give us permission to execute her? He said: No.
'Aa'ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) said: The Messenger of Allah
(blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) never took revenge for his
own sake, unless one of the sacred limits of Allaah hadbeen
transgressed, then he would take revenge for the sake of Allaah.
Narrated by al-Bukhaari (6126) and Muslim (2327).
Al-Bukhaari (4838) narrated from 'Abdullah ibn 'Amr ibn al-'Aas (may
Allah be pleased with him) concerning this versein the Qur'aan – "O
Prophet (Muhammad SAW)! Verily, We have sent you as witness, and
abearer of glad tidings, anda warner" [al-Ahzaab 33:45] – that he
said: In the Torah it says: O Prophet! We have sent you as a witness
and as a bearer of glad tidings, a saviour to the unlettered. You are
My slave and My Messenger, and I have named you al-Mutawakkil(the one
who puts his trust solely in Allah). He is not coarse or uncouth,
shouting in the marketplace; he does not repay evil with evil,
ratherhe overlooks and forgives.
The reports that speak of his patience in putting up with annoyance,
and his forgiveness and tolerance,his not holding things against
people and his returning evil with good are innumerable. These people
only want to undermine the status of the Prophet (blessings and peace
of Allah be upon him) as a sign of their increase in kufr and because
of the jealousy, resentment and hatred they have in their hearts, and
because they hope and wish to extinguish the light of Allah. "But
Allah will complete His Light even though the disbelievers hate (it)."
[as-Saff 61:8].
It is proven that the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon
him) forbade the killing ofwomen. Abu Dawood (2669) narrated that
Rabaah ibn Rabee' said: We were with the Messenger of Allah (blessings
and peace of Allah be upon him) on a campaign, and he saw thepeople
gathered around something. He sent a manto find out what they were
looking at, and he came back and told him that it was a woman who had
been killed. He said: "Such a one could not have been a fighter."
Khaalid ibn al-Waleed wasleading the vanguard of the army, so he sent
a man to him and said: "TellKhaalid: Do not kill any woman or hired
worker."
Secondly:
As for the report about the slaying of 'Asma bint Marwaan that is
propagated by these liars,it is a fabricated report. It was narrated
by al-Qadaa'i in Musnad ash-Shihaab (856), al-Khateeb in at-Tareekh
(13/99), Ibn 'Asaakir in hisTareekh (51/244), and Ibn'Umar al-Harbi in
his Fawaa'id (50), all via Muhammad ibn al-Hajjaaj al-Lakhami Abu
Ibraaheem al-Waasiti from Mujaalid ibn Sa'eed from ash-Sha'bi from Ibn
'Abbaas, who said:
A woman from Banu Khatamah wrote poetry lampooning the Prophet
(blessings and peace of Allah be upon him), :->

Don't Complain, be Patient

Khabbaab ibn al-Aratt (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: "We
complained to the Messenger of Allaah (peaceand blessings of Allaah be
upon him) when he was reclining on his cloak in the shade of the
Ka'bah. We said to him: "Why do you not ask Allaah to help us (grant
us victory)? Why do you not pray to Allaah for us?" He said, "A man
from the people before you would be placed in a hole dug for him, then
they would bring a saw and cut his head in two, yet that would not
make him renounce his faith. They would use an iron comb to drag the
flesh andnerves from his bones, yet that would not make him renounce
his faith. By Allaah, this matter will be completed (i.e. Islam will
be perfected and will prevail) until a rider travelling from Sana' to
Hadramawt will fear nobody but Allaah or the attack of a wolf on his
sheep, but you are too impatient." Source: Sahih Bukhari.
The conditions of Muslims may go up and down but Islam will always
remain on top. We should never lose hope even during the most
difficult times as Allah is always in control. Surely, Allah helps
those who are patient.
( Love for Muhammad PBUH is the basic teaching of Islam.)... Islam is
not terrorism nor backwordness, but Islam isteachings of
peace."Ashadunna La illaha illallahu Wa Ashadunna Muhammadan Wa
Rasuluhu." "I bear witness that there is no god, but Allah, and
Muhammad is His Last Messenger."

Islamic Short Stories to increase Iman Allah Will Protect Me

Once Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was taking rest under a tree
when he was returning from an expedition and hung his sword from the
tree. A Non-Muslim person came quietly, took hold of the sword and,
addressing the Prophet said to him:"O Muhammad! now who will save you
from my hand?" The Prophet heard it, rose up from his seat and said:
"Allah will save me." Hearing the name of Allah, he was overawed and
the sword slipped from his hand. The Prophet rose up from his place,
took the sword into his hand and questioned him: "Now who will save
you from my hand?" He felt sorry and begged apology. The Prophet
forgave him. He was so impressed by this kindnessthat he embraced
Islam. He then went to his tribesmen and expressed that he never found
a manbetter than Muhammad (peace be upon him).
Source: "The Miracles of the Prophet" by Shaikh Ahmed S. Dehalvi; also
related in Bukhari and other sources with slight variations.
Related to the protection of the Prophet Muhammad, Allah has mentioned
in the Quran "OApostle! proclaim the message which has been sent to
you from your Lord. If you do not do it, you would not have fulfilled
and proclaimed this mission. And Allah willdefend you against men who
mean mischief. For Allah guides not those who reject faith." (Al
Quran5:67).
( Love for Muhammad PBUH is the basic teaching of Islam.)... Islam is
not terrorism nor backwordness, but Islam isteachings of
peace."Ashadunna La illaha illallahu Wa Ashadunna Muhammadan Wa
Rasuluhu." "I bear witness that there is no god, but Allah, and
Muhammad is His Last Messenger."

1a] Brotherhood in Islam

1a]
Thus, we can never find even a single person in this world who would
say that dispersion and disarray (of the society) are beneficial and
that unity and agreement areharmful and detrimental,since even the
smallest benefit that can come about through unity andagreement
returns back to the society.
It is through uniting small independent forces with one another that
under the shadow of such unity can great power and strength come about
which would be able to bring about numerous changes in the lives of
people.
The huge dams of the world that manifest themselves as blocking large
bodies of water areactually joining smaller bodies (of water) together
since these small individual rivers donot have the ability to produce
electricity, nor can they be beneficial forthe irrigation of crops.
However, when all of these small rivers join to make one major body of
water, then at this time they are able to produce thousands of
kilowatts of electricity and it is through this one large river that
thousands of hectares of land can be irrigated. Where do all ofthese
great bounties come from? They come about through the unity of small
drops of water that were once weak and did not possess the ability to
do anything ontheir own.
The power of the atom isclear to everyone. A single atom does not have
the power or abilityto do anything and is so small and insignificant
that even the most powerful microscopes cannot see what it looks like.
However when innumerable atoms join together, they produce such power
and energy that if just a few atomic bombs were to be detonated, the
civilization and life of mankind on this Earth, as we know it, would
be brought to an end. In thespan of a few minutes, the entire surface
of the Earth would be a mass offire with piles of ashes lingering
everywhere.
In the words of a poet:
The goal of union and coalition,
Is to gather the powers.
Since when drops of water gather,
Then they form a (powerful) river.
Nothing comes about from a drop (individual),
However the river (unity)runs strong.
Any benefit that can be imagined,
Comes about from that river (of unity).
A fish can never be seen,
In one single drop of water.
How is it then from the river,
Whales can come about.
A loaf of bread can neverbe made ,
From a single head of wheat,
But when gathered together and thrashed,
It brings out all of its prosperity.
It is impossible for individuals - one by one,
To take on a great task.
However, from uniting together,
Anything that is desired can be accomplished.
Unity and conciliation can be seen,
In the way that the ants gather together.
In the words of the Shaikh,
Glory is strong, captive and temporary.
However when separation occurs,
To a community that is together.
They become just like the stories,
Of the Sufis, the Sayyid and the Mullah.
Not only must the physical strength of the people be made use of with
everyone working towards one common goal, rather we must also seek
assistance through the intelligence and aptitude of the members of
society. Through taking advice, working together and accepting the
opinions of others, we must remove the monstrous difficulties that are
facing us.
The Noble Qur'an considers asking advice and (through this), changing
one's opinion as one of the characteristics of a person with true
faith and has said :
وَالَّذِينَ اسْتَجٌابُوا لِرِبِّهِمْ وَ أَقٌامُوا الصَّلٌوةَ وَ
أَمْرُهُمْ شُورَى بَيْنَهُمْ وَ مِمٌّا رَزَقْنٌاهُمْ يُنْفِقُونَ
"And those people who respond to the call of their Lord and who (also)
uphold the Salat and proceed in their activities through consultation
with one another and give out in charity of that which We have granted
to them."[21][58]
The same point mentioned in the above verse of the Qur'an can also be
seen in the poempreviously quoted and also in the following twolines
of poetry:
If mine and your intelligence were enough,
Then why has Allah commanded us to consult (one another)?
بدين دليل ((يد اللٌّه مع الجماعة)) سرود
كه با جماعت، دستى قوی يدى طولـى است
We must resonate with the proof that : 'The Hand of Allah is with the
Congregation'.
Since by being with the community, The strong hand has a longer reach.
What is the Basis and Source of Unity?
A majority of Sociologists state that :"The human being is a societal
animal and within his creation, he has been given a strong attraction
to living within a community." At this point, we must see that under
what factors and conditions does our societal life take form?
Some of today's Sociologists are of the firm belief that factors such
as : race, language, sharing a common history and country, blood-ties
and other elements make up the unity of nations. The society which is
brought about through these elements just mentionedis the same one
that the Legal Experts refer to as a Nation.....

1] Brotherhood in Islam

1]
The closest relationship and bond that can take place between two
people during the courseof their lifetime is that ofbrotherhood.
Although the relationship between a father and hischildren is much
stronger and powerful than the ties of brotherhood, however this
relationship (between a father and his child) is one in whichthe two
people are not on an equal level – from the point of view of time,
situation, characterand the level of respect (that they must show one
another), they are different.
The only relationship that is a complete manifestation of strong
unity, love and affection is the one that exists between two people
who are living on an equal plane in life and this is the relationship
ofbrotherhood and sisterhood.
This unbreakable relationship that has been brought about by creation
is constantly found in all environments and societies and is the
secret behind love, affection and closeness that exists between
individuals. It is because of this fact that the Qur'an invites
humanity to unite and come together under the principles of love and
affection and thus, has referred to the faithful believers of a
society as being brothers (and sisters) of one another.
For the first time in history, a community of people that numbered
hundreds of millions was brought together asbrothers of one another
and the following sentence was made theirslogan and motto :
إِنَّمٌا الْمُؤْمِنُونَ إِخْوَةٌ...
"Without doubt the believers are brothers of one another…"
You may ask yourself thisquestion that why has this circle of
relationship not been made wider and taken all of humanity into it as
brothers of one another, whereas (in this verse) the sphere of brothe
rhood is limited to only those who have true faith? The answer to
thisquestion is obvious and a cursory glance is sufficient for us to
understand the reason why this was not done.
This religious brotherhood is not a simple formality and that too of a
political nature such that all of humanity – whether or not they have
the qualities of brotherhood – should be classified and grouped
together asbrothers of one another. Rather, the purpose of making the
believers brothers of one another points to a series of noble societal
and ethical goals and responsibilities that takeshape within the
greatness of the Islamic brotherhood that the believers must manifest
to one another.
All of these responsibilities and goals have been mentioned in the
books of Ahadith and Jurisprudence in detail. Therefore, until unity
of thought and spirit towards one goal and belief is not established,
there can never be firm unity and association of individuals.
If one day, a group of people who are wavering (in belief) in their
hearts are seen uniting together under aseries of political issues and
trying to unite as brothers for a specific cause (other than that
ofreligion), then even the smallest thing would be able to break the
unity that was brought about through the mere agreement of thoughts,
spirits, difference of (personal benefits) and difference of
foundations, and would thus cause them to separate from one another.
A society whose axis or pivot is not based on (unity of) ideas and
beliefs and in which everyone acts as individuals will always rotate
upon various thoughts and ideologies opposed to one another and no
sort of unity or harmony will ever exist amongst those people. Only to
that level that unity and harmony protects their material interests
will they be able to lead a peaceful life. If one day a person who is
united with others sees that he is notin need of this form of unity
and feels that he has become successful inthe arena of his own life
and has reached his goals, then all of the relations that united
himwith others – which were all based on political motives – will be
turned into differences and disputes.
Never would a Muslim – one who has true faith in One Allah and the Day
of Judgement and who believes in the governance of justice and
equality and who deems it necessary to follow the noble moral traits
and the humanisticvirtues - be able to become the brother of an
atheist who does not believe in Allah (Glorifiedand Exalted is He) or
the Last Day and who feels that ethical teachings and traits are just
play-things and considers such teachingsas fables.
Unity under the Luminance of True Belief
If we have doubts and misgivings about every issue among the issues
within a society, or require that in order to acknowledge a specific
issue that we must carry out analysis and research and claim the need
to have proof (for these various issues), then we must not let these
(doubts and misgivings) creep into the discussion of unity and harmony
in the society.
Thus, :->

My Blessing, Congratulations and Good wishes.

My Blessing, Congratulations and Good wishes.
I wish you the best of everything
for not only in EID-UL-Fitrbut also
all the years ahead.*EID MUBARAK*
..........................
Eid days are meant to celebrate
the goals and the achievements
that make you happiest.
The ideals you beleive in,
the dream you love the best.
..........................
May the magic of dis EID
bring lots of happiness in your life
& may u celebrate it with
all your close friends
& may it fill your HEART with love
..........................
Eid bring Fun, Eid bring Happiness
Eid bring God Endless Blessings
Eid bring fresh love
EID MUBARAK to You withall best wishes.

Eid-ul-Fitr Dua

"O" Allah! Bless us in the day of our Eid and our fastbreaking and let
it be the best day that has passed over us. Imam Ali Zainul Abedeen
(PBUH) - Sahifa Al-Sajjadiyya
"O" the High and the Great [God]! "O" the Forgiving and the
Merciful[God]! You are the Great Lord like whom there is nothing. He
is the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing.This is the month that You have
exalted, honoured, glorified, and preferred over the other months; it
is the month whose fasting You have made obligatory on me; itis the
month of Ramadan in which You revealed theQur'an as a guidance for
people, as clear signs of guidance and as a means of separating the
right from the wrong. And You placed in it the Night of Destiny which
You have made better than a thousand months. So "O" the Lord who
favours others and none can oblige Him, favour me by releasing my soul
from the hell-fire... and admit me in the Heaven by Yourmercy. "O" the
Most Merciful of the Mercifuls.

1a] story Finding the Straight Path

1a]
"that's cool" and "that's really good to do that," one of Matt's
friends no longer respects his opinion on religion or international
politics. He believes Matt supports all those "like him."
When Matt's friend refers to those "like him," he's referring Osama
bin Ladenand his followers. September 11th, Matt says, "affected me
only in the mental sense." Being able to blend into a crowdof
European-Americans, Matt says, "Since I do not 'look like a Muslim' no
onewould think to say anything to me. Mentally though, I have a hard
time watching American news anyway. American news just seems to talk
about Islam like it is a foreign religion, and not that it is wrong,
but that it is a religion of foreign civilizations which are notas
advanced as Christian Europe/America." This view, which looks down
upon Islam, can be quite irritating to many, including Matt.
Despite the fact that September 11th has only affected Matt in
the"mental sense," he says,"Some Muslims in my school who I am friends
with have had to deal with some guff." Matt recognizes these
difficulties and offers some advice to his fellow young Muslims:
"Althoughit is not always easy, do not be afraid of what other people
think of you being [Muslim]. Anyone who thinks bad about a person on
the basis of religion is not worth your time. Try your best to be
aproud and upstanding example."
Although Matt may have accepted Islam, his life overall has not been
changed dramatically. Aside from going to the mosque, praying, and
reading the Qur'an, his daily events are pretty much the same. Islam,
though, has definitely affected his priorities. "I have found though,
that some things that used to seem important, like having certain
things or going to certain events, now seem like a second priority,
and I find that in general, since I became a Muslim it is very
difficult to get me feeling upset," says Matt.
Having such an easygoingpersonality and open mind, Matt doesn't expect
much out of life or peoplein general. When asked what his goals in
life are as a person and Muslim, he answers, "I would like to go to
college. I would like to go to the Garden (Jannah). My goal is to be
happy. I do not think that would require [many] things. I would like
to be successful in the world though so that I have the means to help
others."
Matt, understanding the power of Allah Subhana Wa Ta'ala, claims, "I
do not think that I or anyonecould accomplish very much of
significance without Allah." Understanding the importance of seeking
knowledge in Islam, the one thing Matt hopes to gain from Islam which
he has hasn't already is"continued knowledge. That is something Islam
can keep giving me until Idie," he says. "The only real challenge I
face is trying to live my life as faithfully as possible."/

1] Story - Finding the Straight Path

1]
Matt Lennox, a 16-year old American of Scottish-Irish descent, who was
raised in a nonreligious family, found himself amazed by what he
learned about Islam in hisfreshman history class. Fascinated by it
all, Matt continued to research Islam, along with many other religions
to educate himself further.
To his surprise, he found that Islamic theology has much in common
with the Christian and Jewish faiths. Growing up, Matt had always
known Christians and Jews had similar beliefs, but Islam, the world's
fastest growing religion, was practically alien of to him. However, as
Matt was introduced to Islam, he was interested in it and continued to
learn.
When asked "What interested you the most about Islam?" Matt answered
confidently,"The Qur'an." He says everything he read in the Qur'an
left him thinking,"Oh, man. Wow. I can't believe all this info that
seems so wise and correctis all in one book." Matt claims many things
in Christianity didn't make sense to him. Many of these aspects dealt
with the Trinity, Jesus as God, priests and churches. One of the main
things which bothered him was the idea that you had to be Christian to
be saved fromthe Hell-fire.
In Surah Baqara verse 111, it states, "And [the Christians and Jews]
say: 'None shall enter paradiseunless he be a Jew or a Christian.'"
Noticing this was true of Jews and Christians, Matt was somewhat
perplexed."How can only one type of people be right?" he questioned.
If this were accurate, then only peoplefrom one geographical region
would be right -- everyone else would be wrong.
After studying many different religions deeply, Matt understood this
could not be true. However, Matt was not just interested by the
Qur'an; he was fascinated by Malcolm X. "[He was] very, very smart,
and the reality is that he was also very, very honest [although] all
the people around him for the most part were not⦡mp;#8364;?His book,
his movie, everything he says is so true," says Matt.
Matt was not only drawn in by Malcolm X, but also by Cat Stevens. He
enjoyed and still enjoys Cat Stevens' previous music, such as "Peace
Train". Peace, knowledge, God, and going back to God were all
reoccurring themes in Stevens' music as Matt saw it. Intrigued by
this, Matt read the story of how Cat Stevens came to accept Islam,
becoming Yusuf Islam.
In the 60's and 70's, Cat Stevens was looking into different religions
and beliefs, but when he cameto Islam, it changed everything for him.
"He changed his whole life and everything and that's weird 'cause
people don't change their whole life when they're pop stars and
everything," says Matt. And many would agree with this. It seems quite
perplexing that a pop star that had everything he wanted would change
his whole life around. Perplexing as it is, it continues to happen
over and over again. Why? For one reason.
Matt explains: "Some people, even celebrities, find that there are so
many complications with spirituality, politics, economics, society and
philosophy in the"modern" world that when they find something so true,
simpleand natural as Islam, and they feel Allah's guidance towards
Him, they find a great sense of meaning."
Although Matt used to be a strong believer in evolution, he now
understands how advancements in science have affected people's belief
in God. Noticing the general lack of faith in God, Matt claims, "Most
people have given up on religion. As science progresses, people are
going to look at science and say 'Where's God?' People will drift
farther and farther away. " Matt's father, seeing evolution assimply a
theory, was keener on the idea of Mattbecoming Muslim, rather than
believing in evolution.
Being raised a Jehovah's Witness, Matt's father sawthe similarities
between Jehovah's Witness ideas and Islam, making it easier for him to
accept. His mother, fully supporting Matt, told him,"Whatever religion
you want to have is good." Surprisingly, both his mother and father
supported him and his interest in Islam. If it weren't for the
understanding of his family, and the good communication between them,
Matt's conversion toIslam would probably have been extremely
different. There are still a few obstacles, however. Matt's parents
may be supportive of him, but his father also believes Matt won't stay
Muslim his entire life. Hearing this, Matt laughs and says, "I
absolutely disagree."
Matt found an unexpectedsource of support in not only his parents, but
also his "new-age hippie" friends. Sitting around doing nothing, Matt
and his friends usually end up talking about anything and everything.
Before Matt accepted Islam, he talked about his interest in Islam when
the topic ofreligion came up. Although his friends' reactions were
mainly"that's cool" and "that's really good to do that," :->

Story - "The blessed month"

Wake up, wake up Hamad, his mother said. It's time for sahur.He woke
up, but when his mother was out of the sight he went back to sleep
again. His mother came into the room again,and he did the same
thingagain. His mother was angry now, so she decided not to wake him
up.
In the morning when he woke up for school, he hardly remembered
anything. The kitchen wasempty nobody was there.
His mother was feeding the chickens, since they don't have to fast.
Where is my breakfast? he asked his mother. There won't be anything to
eat until sunset. Why? he asked. Because IT'S RAMADAN, she said.Oh!Oh!
how comeI missed it, now he remembered everything. He went to school.
There everybody in his class did fast. He was sorry for himself.
Their teacher told them about Ramadan. His Islamic studies teacher
told them, that you shouldn't sleep too much in Ramadan. You should
finish one Quran at least. The door of heavens are open and the door
of hell will be closed in this blessed moth. The shaitanand other
devels are chained. They can't botheryou. So don't be lazy and pray as
much as you can.Make a lot of duas especially in the night of
power.Hamad raised his hand. Yes? the teacher asked. Which night is
the night of power? he said. Allah had hid this night in the last 10
nights, many scholar believes it's the 27th night and others say it
could be 29th; but nobody knows for sure which night it is the teacher
said. So it could be in 21st,23rd,25th,27th or 29th another student
asked. Yes, you are right, the teacher said. They were still
discussing whenthe bell rang.
When Hamad came home from school. He didn't even asked for food. He
made wudu and went to the Masjid.It was time for Asar.He read the
Quran when he came back.At Iftar he hardly ate anything.After dinner
he did his homework and went to the Masjid to prayIsha and Taravi with
his father.
Please wake me up for Sahur,I won't go back to sleep, I promise he
told his mother before going to bed.Insha Allah, his mother said.
He felt so much peace inside him.
(the end)

Stories - IF YOU JUST TELL THEM.

I was sitting in the kitchen. Sabi (our servant)was washing the dishes
&then she mop the floor. My Mom came in. Sabi why were you late
again?She yelled at her. My bus...... Sabi was going to say something,
when my Mom cut her off. That is not an excuse Sabi, she told her.
I had no idea what the excuse was. I decided to ask Sabi when my Mom
won't be around. It was time for Zuher. We all made wudo & went to
pray except Sabi. She was still working in the kitchen. I was shocked.
Because my Quran teachertold me," when it's time for salat you have to
stop whatever you're doing". And yet I notice she wasn't even covering
her hair, even in front of my father or uncle. Why? isn'tshe supposed
to? I asked myself. When I've been told from everybody you have to
cover your hair. (in front of nonmehrams) Wasn't my dad & uncle were
nonmehram for her?Now I really wanted to talk to her. Later that day
when my Mom went shopping I called her to my room. I told her to sit
down when she came in. Then asked her about it. I don't know how to
pray &nobody told me to cover. Do I have to? she asked me.
Yes, you do, I said.
She started to cry, I couldn't stop her she had to let those tears out.
I will teach you Sabi, don'tcry, I said. She rubbed her blue eyes. She
was so beautiful. You will? she asked. Yes, I answered.
That night I asked my parents to help her study after collage. My Mom
wasso mad. You little kiddy, how could you? they are our servents; if
they started to learn who are going to work for us? Youare forgetting
something Mom. I'm not a kid & Prophet Muhammad (SAW) teach her to be
nicewith our servants. And there's nothing wrong if they'll learn. I
see your point Aisha, my father said. Yes, you can teach her, my
father said. My Mom couldn't say anymore.
I started to teach her. I was amazed how fast she was learning.
She learned her salat in a month. Then I stared to teach her reading & writing.
She finished her 1st quranin a year. Now she was memorizing some
suras. She's so happy now. Now I see her covered from herhead to toe,
even in the hottest days.
One day my dad brought his friend's proposal for her. She was like,
how could I? My Mom asked her Mom. She was happy to hear it.
She got married in the next two weeks. I was happy for her.
Thank you Aisha,if you haven't teached me I couldn't have learn
anything. No Sabiha thankAllah. He had all planed, I just .....I did
nothing I couldn't say anything else.Now I could teach my daughters.
She was tellingme. I started to laugh & she joined me, too. I looked
at the sky & thought there was a big smile, too.
(the end)

Assalamu Alaikum - - 20.aug.mon

'' Eid Mubarak '' - to all our friends, subscribers and visitors!