Wonders of Creation: Different Vision Systems

For many sea-dwelling animals, seeing is extremely important
forhunting and defense. Accordingly, most of the sea-dwelling animals
are equipped with eyes perfectly designed for underwater.
Under water, the ability to see becomes more and more limited with
depth, especially after 30 meters. Organisms living at this depth,
however, have eyes created according to the given conditions.
Sea-dwelling animals, unlike land-dwelling animals, have spherical
lenses in perfect accordance with the needs of thedensity of the water
they inhabit.Compared to the wide elliptical eyes of land-dwelling
animals, this spherical structure is more serviceable for sight under
water;it is adjusted to see objects in close-up. When an object at a
greater distance is focused upon, the whole lens system is pulled
backwards by the help of a special muscle mechanism withinthe eye.
One other reason why the eyes ofthe fish are spherical is the
refraction of light in water. Because the eye is filled with a liquid
having almost the same density as water, no refraction occurs while an
image formed outside is reflected on the eye. Consequently, the eye
lens fully focuses the image of the outside object on the retina. The
fish, unlike human beings, sees very sharply in water.
Some animals like octopus have rather big eyes to compensate for the
poor light in the depths ofwater. Below 300 meters, big-eyed fish need
to capture the flashes of the surrounding organisms to notice them.
They have to be especially sensitive to the feeble blue light
penetrating into the water. For this reason, there are plenty of
sensitive blue cells in the retina of their eyes.
As is understood from these examples, every living being has
distinctive eyes specially designedto meet its particular needs. This
fact proves that they are all created just the way they have to be by
a Creator Who has eternal wisdom, knowledge and power.

Miracles of the Qur’an:

THE EARS ARE ACTIVE DURING SLEEP
So We sealed their ears [with sleep]in the cave for a number ofyears.
(Surat al-Kahf: 11)
The original Arabic of the phrase"We sealed their ears" in the Qur'an
is the verbdaraba. This bears the metaphorical meaning of "We have
made them sleep." Used in reference to the ears,darabameans
"preventing the ears from hearing." The fact that only the sense of
hearing is mentioned here is very significant.
According to recent scientific discoveries, the ear is the only
sensory organ active while a person is sleeping. This is why weneed an
alarm clock to wake up. The wisdom of the phrase "We sealed their
ears" is, in all probability, that Allah closed the hearing of the
young people in question, for which reason they remained asleep for
many years.
THE IMPORTANCE OF MOVEMENT IN SLEEP
You would have supposed them to be awake, whereas in fact theywere
asleep.We moved them to the right and to the left,and, at the
entrance, their dog stretched out its paws. If you had looked down and
seen them, you would have turned from them and run, and have been
filled with terror at the sight of them. (Surat al-Kahf: 18)
The above verse refers to the Companions of the Cave, who remained
asleep for hundreds of years. In addition, Allah also reveals that He
moved their bodies to the left and right. The wisdom of this was only
discovered in recent times.
People who remain lying down inthe same position for long periodof
time encounter serious health problems, such as circulation
difficulties, sores, and blood clotting in that part of the body in
contact with the surface on which they lie.
The resulting sores are known as"bed sores" or "pressure sores." Due
to the constant pressure on one part of the body when one is not
moving for a long period of time, the blood vessels become constricted
and can close altogether. As a result, the oxygen and other nutrients
carried by the blood fail to reach the skin, and the skin begins to
die. This leads to the appearance of sores on the body. Unless these
sores are treated, fat and muscles can also die.
These sores, which form under the skin or tissue, can assume serious
dimensions unless treated. If they become infected, they can even lead
to death. The healthiest thing to do, therefore, is to change the
position of the body every 15 minutes in order toreduce this pressure.
Patients who cannot move themselves therefore receive special care
andare moved every 2 hours by otherpeople. The fact that these medical
facts, only discovered in the last century, are referred to inthe
Qur'an is yet another of its miracles.

The importance of intending to good works every day

A person of faith orders his whole life according to the Qur'an, and
strivesto apply carefully from day to day what he has read and learned
in its verses. In everything he does from the moment he gets up in the
morning until the time he falls asleep at night, he is intent on
thinking, speaking and acting according to the teachings of the
Qur'an. Allah shows us in the Qur'an that this dedication dominates
the whole life of a believer.
Say: "My prayer and my rites, my living and my dying, are for Allah
alone, the Lord of all the worlds."
(Surat al-An'am: 162)
From the moment a Muslim has faith, he has already made the
decision to spend every moment of his life to earn Allah's good
pleasure. From that moment on, he displays a great spiritual zeal
and effort in the material and spiritual sense. However, as an
inherent inclination, a Muslim never feels his faith to be at a
sufficient level, for until his last breath he has the opportunity
to deepen his faith at every moment of his life. For this reason
every day, every hour, every moment, he must once again make the
intention in his heart to deepen his faith, refresh it and be
committed to spending every moment of his life in engaging in good
deeds deserving Allah's consent.
The Believer Must Renew His Intention Every Day
At this very moment, as we are reading this article, we can
accordingly renew our intention. From this very moment, we can
intend to spend our time, use our opportunities, and put our
spiritual and physical power into use in a much more conscious,
attentive and sincere manner. We can assess every opportunity of
fulfilling any act of worship with great zeal. We can observe every
opportunity by which we can earn Allah's good pleasure and race
towards the good deeds. Without thinking, "I have already made
auspicious deeds, this is sufficient for today," or "Compared to
others around me I make much greater effort, and in any event, I am
better than them", we can make progress in order to gain Allah's
good pleasure.
What is mentioned here is a very different and distinctive state of
mind. No doubt a Muslim spends his every moment in compliance with
the morality of the Qur'an. However the demeanor of a person who
makes a conscious and decisive decision on this subject is very much
different, for the conscience of a person with such an intent is
very sensitive. He is keenly interested in what is happening
around him. He is more vigilant towards arduous works than anyone
else. He is the one that speaks the best words. He is more kind,
conciliatory and positive than everyone else. He is full of love and
compassion. He notices the needs of people before anyone else and
meets them. He always employs an appeasing and peaceful style. He
has a very different, positive mood that everyone notices right
away.
Believers Intend to Live by the Moral Values Revealed by Allah in
the Qur'an in the Finest Manner, 24 Hours a Day
No matter what the conditions, believers will not compromise in
showing superior behavior. Their values do not change; they always
conform to Allah's commands and recommendations. They take Allah's
Messenger Prophet Muhammad , may Allah bless him and grant him
peace, (saas) as their example whom Allah praises in the Qur'an in
these words:
Indeed you are truly vast in character (Surat al-Qalam: 4)
There is only one way to escape being lost in the endless punishment
of the Fire: living according to the Qur'an and the Sunnah, for by
means of these Allah grants to human beings "their glory". It saves
people from the ignorance in which they are sunk, their primitive
way of thinking, stressful environments, negative character traits,
baseless fears, perverse beliefs, and the torments of the Fire for
which all these things are the causes. In place of these they gain
understanding and wisdom, higher values, a sane environment filled
with peace of mind and, most importantly, life in the Garden filled
with endless blessings.
There is only one way to remove all the anxiety, battles, wars,
hostility, poverty, destitution and anger that fills the world:
living according to the teachings of the Qur'an and the Sunnah of
Muhammad, may Allah bless him and grant him peace (saas). There is no
other way for a person to obtain the happiness, well-being,
justice, love and peace that he desires.
Living according to the Qur'an and the Sunnah as a defense against
injustice, conflict, inequality, envy, war, unfairness, waste, fear,
bigotry, cruelty, violence, immorality and other such things is the
most basic solution for human beings in order for them to live at
ease, in peace, in happiness and justice.
Despite this, and because they have turned their backs on the
morality of true religion for the sake of small gains, worldly
profit and human weakness, some people inflict great harm on
themselves. For a human being to turn his back on the morality of the
Qur'an and Sunnah means that he will remain unaware of truths that
are vital for him to know. However, the resources that he and
transitory human beings like him have collected will not be enough
to survive in the situations and problems that they encounter in
the world. People like him will spend their whole lives in anxiety,
worry, stress, fear and adversity, with no solution to their
problems. And later, they will come to accept this situationas normal
and will spend the rest of their lives deceived, thinking that
their suffering is a "fact of life" when it is actually a
punishment for not living by the tenets of religious morality.
Believers who follow the values set by Allah in the Qur'an and make
them prevail over every moment of their lives will live in the best
way. Allah announces good tidings to these believers in the
following words:
It is not your wealth or your children that will bring you near to
Us, only in the case of people who believe and act rightly; such
people will have a double recompense for what they did. They will
be safe from all harm in the High Halls of Paradise. (Surah Saba':
37)
The believer experiencesthe positive effects of "once again renewing
his intention" every day. The goal of a believer who assumes this
morality is to be among the "the most beloved servants of Allah." For
this reason, once he fullyadopts this morality, he once again intends
to bemore sincere, more sensitive towards Allah's good pleasure, and
more scrupulous; this deepens his morality even more. This continues
until the end of his life; he never findshis efforts and auspicious
deeds to be sufficient. Consequently his faith, morality, personality
and attitudesprogress continuously and ultimately attains perfection.
In the Qur'an Allah informs us about the character of Muslims with
such traits as follows:
Such people are truly racing towards good things, and they are the
first to reach them. (Surat al-Muminun, 61)
By Allah's will, living according to the teaching of the Qur'an and
the Sunnah will enable people to develop a broad means of
understanding, superior intelligence, the ability to distinguish
right from wrong and the ability to consider a matter in depth.
These characteristics will ensure that the person who possesses
them will live every moment of his life in the ease that comes from
these advantages. A person who lives his life in submission to
Allah and according to the religious teachings will be totally
different from other people in how he behaves, sits and walks, in
his point of view and how he explains and interprets things, and in
the solutions he finds for the problems that confront him.

Fathwa, - Re: The Fiqh of menstruation

Question:
I have recently heard many stories about what women can and can�t do
during the menstruation period. I have been told that when in
menstruation women are not allowed to take part inkhatams (are these
valid?!) and they can not touch anything Islamic i.e. books or
anything and they can not even touch the namaz mat. What is the
Islamic view on this? And what have these statements beenbased on?
Answer:
Assalamu Alaykum wa Rahmatullah,
Only touching and reciting the Qur�an, and ritual prayer (salat) are
prohibited during menstruation. These other matters are all permitted
(or, rather, recommended).
They can also listen and �read� the Qur�an without touching or pronouncing it.

Fathwa, - When do Women Make Ghusl?

Question:
When and how is a woman napak (impure), and in need of Ghusl?
Answer:
Wa Alaykum Assalam wa Rahmatullah wa Barakatuhu,
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful & Compassionate
�A purificatory bath is necessitated by:
a) sperm or female ejaculate that leaves its place of origin with
desire [f: whether actual or effective], even if it exits the body
without desire, even if without sexual intercourse;
b) the head of the penis entering either private part of a living
human being who is fit for sexual intercourse, even without any
release of sexual fluids��
c) The finding, on one�s clothes, of what looks like semen after
waking up from sleep or loss of consciousness.
d) Menses and post-natal bleeding (i.e. when they end)
[al-Hadiyya al-`Ala�iyya and Nur al-Idhah wa Najat al-Arwah ]
Wassalam,

Fathwa, - Can a woman have ''hayd'' while she is pregnant? (I mean that ifshe sees blood during her

Question:
Can a woman have ''hayd'' while she is pregnant? (I mean thatif she
sees blood during her pregnancy can she consider as Islamic hayd
although medically speaking it is abnormal bleeding?
Answer:
Walaikum assalam wa rahmatullah,
Any bleeding during pregnancy is considered irregular discharge
(istihada), and not menstrual (hayd). [Durr]
Wassalam,

Adoption in Islam

According to the Sharee'ah)Islamic law(, there is no legal adoption.
It is prohibited for a person to legally adopt a son or adaughter of
whom he is not the biological father. If a person adopts a son or
daughter, the Sharee'ah will not confer on the adopted person the
status or rights of a biological son or daughter. According to the
Quran, one cannot become a person's real son merely by virtueof a
declaration; Allaah Says)what means(:"...And He ]i.e., Allaah[ has not
made your claimed ]i.e., adopted[ sons your]true[ sons. That is
]merely[ your saying by your mouths, but Allaah says the truth, and He
guides to the ]right[ way. Call them ]i.e., the adopted children[ by
]the names of[ their fathers; it is more just in the sight of
Allaah.But if you do not know their fathers, they are your brothers in
religion…"]Quran 33: 4-5[
This shows that the declaration of adoption does not change realities,
alter facts, or make a stranger a relative, or an adoptedchild a son
or daughter. A mere verbal expression or figure of speech cannot make
the blood ofa man run through the veins of the adopted child, produce
natural feelings of affection found in normal parent-child
relationships, or transfer the genetic characteristics, or physical,
mental, or psychologicaltraits.
Justice is Respect for Others
The central notion of justice in the Sharee'ah is based on mutual
respect of one human being for another. The just society in Islam
means the society that secures and maintains respect for people and
their rights through various social arrangements that are in the
common interest and welfareof the general public. Islam viewsadoption
as a falsification of the natural order of society and reality. The
prohibition of legal adoption in Islam was ordained to protect the
rights of the adopted, adopter, biological parents, other individuals
affected by the adoption, and society as a whole.
Lineage and Legitimacy
The child is an extension of his father and the bearer of his
characteristics. He takes his nameand increases his progeny. Likewise,
the child in Islam also has the equally inalienable right to
legitimacy. The principle of legitimacy holds that every child shall
have a father and one fatheronly. This is why Allaah has ordained
marriage and has forbidden adultery, so that paternity may be
established without doubt or ambiguity and that the child may be
referred to his father, and the father to his sons and daughters.
Hence, adoption cannot be used in Islamto hide the illegitimacy or the
paternity of the child.
Inheritance
By adopting someone's child as one's own, the rightful and deserving
heirs to the property ofa man are deprived of their shares. Hence,
Islam has made it Haraam )forbidden( for a father to deprive his
natural children of inheritance. Allaah has established the
distribution of inheritance in order to give each eligible person his
or her share. In matters of inheritance, the Quran does not recognise
any claim except those based on relationship through blood and
marriage. The Quran stipulates)what means(:"And those who believed
after ]the initial emigration[ and emigrated and fought with you –
they are of you. But those of ]blood[ relationship are more entitled
]toinheritance[ in the decree of Allaah. Indeed, Allaah is knowing of
all things."]Quran 8:75[
Marital Relations
Taking a stranger into the family as one of its members and allowing
him to be in privacy with women who are non-mahram )i.e., non
marriageable relatives( to him is a deception, for the adopter's wife
is not the adopted son's realmother, nor is his daughter the boy's
sister, nor is his sister the boy's aunt, since all of them are
non-mahram to him and vice-versa for an adopted daughter. The Quran
has, thus, declared that only the wives of one's real sons, and not
the wives of any sons under one's care, are permanently forbidden in
marriage. This is according to the verse )which means(:"…The wives of
your sons who are from your ]own[ loins…"]Quran 4:23[
Accordingly, it is permissible for aman to marry the divorced wife of
any son under his care, since, in actuality, she has been the wife of
a 'stranger' who was not related by blood. Also, when the adopted
child's lineal identity or paternity is changed, it is quite possible
that the adopted child may, unknowingly, enter into incestuous
relationships by marrying close relatives of his natural parents;
also, his marital chances may, in general, become subject to
confusion.
Solidarity
If the adopted child were to receive a claim on the inheritanceof the
adopter, the real relatives may become rightfully angry feeling that
the adopted child hasreceived something that is not rightfully his,
depriving them of their full inheritance. This could lead to quarrels,
fights and the breaking of relations among relatives. Therefore,
adoption is not conducive to family solidarity and overall harmony and
peace, which are necessary for social stability.
Allowable Forms of 'Adoption' in Islam
Orphans:
This is a completely different form of adoption, which is not
prohibited by Islam - that is, when a man brings home an orphan and
wants to raise, educate, and treat him as his own child. In this case,
he protects, feeds, clothes, teaches, and loves the child as his own
without attributing the child to himself, nor does he give him or her
the rights which the Sharee'ah )Islamic Law( reserves for his natural
children. This is a meritorious and noteworthy act in Islam, and the
man who does it will be rewarded by being admitted toParadise. Prophet
Muhammadonce said:"I and the one who raises an orphan, will be like
these two inParadise)and he pointed his middle and index fingers("
There are also numerous Quranic verses that support the act of taking
care of orphans and enough cannot be said about how pleased Allaah is
with this noble and charitable act, see:]Quran: 2:220; 4:2; 4:6; 4:10;
4:127; 17:34[
Foundlings:
A foundling or abandoned child isalso regarded as an orphan, and one
may apply the term 'wayfarer' to him as well. In this case too, as in
that of orphans, the child's lineal identity must be unchanged and
parenthood to the natural parents should not bedenied. When the
parents of suchchildren are unknown, the children must be made
brethren in faith; See ]Quran: 33:4-5[, as cited at the beginning of
this article.
If a man is childless and wishes to benefit such a child )orphan
orfoundling( from his wealth, he may give him whatever he wants during
his lifetime.
Modern Forms of Adoption: Artificial Insemination
Islam safeguards lineage by prohibiting adultery and legal adoption.
In the same way it forbids artificial insemination if the donor of the
semen is other than the husband. Thus, Islam keeps the family line
clearly and unambiguously defined without any foreign element entering
intoit. That is why Muslim scholars unanimously consider artificial
insemination a despicable crime and a major great sin, to be
classified in the same category asadultery.
It is a more serious crime and detestable offence than adoption, for
the child born of such insemination incorporates in itself the result
of adoption - the introduction of an alien element into the lineage in
conjunction with the offence of adultery, which is abhorrent bothto
the divinely revealed laws and to upright human nature. By this action
the human being is degraded to the level of an animal, which has no
consciousness of the noble bondsof morality and lineage which exist
among the members of a human society.

Tayammum )dry ablution(

Definition
In Arabic, the word Tayammum literally means an 'aim' or 'purpose.' In
Islamic Law, it refersto: 'Aiming for or seeking soil to wipe one's
face and hands with the intention of purification and preparing
oneself to pray, and so on."
Proof of its Legitimacy
This act of ritual cleansing is proven by the Quran, Sunnah)prophetic
tradition( and Ijmaa')consensus of Muslim scholars(. The Quran says
)what means(:"…And if you are ill or on a journey or one of you comes
from the place of relieving himself or you have contacted women ]i.e.,
had sexual intercourse[ and find no water, then seek clean earth and
wipe over your faces and your hands]with it[. Indeed, Allaah is ever
Pardoning and Forgiving."]Quran 4:43[
From the Sunnah, we have the Hadeeth )prophetic statement( related by
Abu Umaamahin which the Prophetsaid: "All of the earth has been made a
pure place of prayer for me and my nation. Whenever a person from my
nation wants to pray, hehas something with which to purify himself,
that is, the earth."]Ahmad[
Finally, there is a consensus that Tayammum forms a legitimate part of
the Sharee'ah )Islamic Law(, as it replaces ablution with water or
Ghusl )ritual bathing(, under specific circumstances.
A Blessing from Allaah
This form of ablution is viewed asa blessing from Allaah to the
Muslims. Jaabirrelated that the Prophetsaid: "I have beengiven five
things that were not given to anyone before me: I havebeen made
victorious due to fear of a distance of one month's journey; the earth
has been madea place of prayer for me and a source of purification -
wherever and whenever any member of mynation wants to pray, he may
pray; and the war booty has beenmade lawful to me, and this was not
lawful to anyone before me. Ihave been given permission to intercede.
Prophets before me used to be sent to their own people only, but I
have been sent to all of mankind." ]Al-Bukhaari &Muslim[
When to Make Tayammum
One is permitted to make Tayammum in any of the following cases:
1- If one cannot find water or theamount one finds is insufficient for ablution
'Imraan Ibn Husaynsaid: "Wewere with the Messenger of Allaahduring a
journey. Whenhe led the people in prayer, one man stayed apart.
Heasked him: "What prevented you from praying?" He replied: 'I need a
ritual bath )because of having a wet dream( and there is no water.'
The Messengersaid: 'Use the soil, for it is sufficient)i.e.
Tayammum(.''' ]Al-Bukhaari &Muslim[
2- If one is injured or ill
If one is in this condition and thinks that using water will worsen it
)he does not have to beabsolutely sure, but may base his assumption on
past experience or what a knowledgeable person has told him(, he may
perform Tayammum.
Jaabirsaid, "We were on a journey and one of us was injured. Later, he
had a wet dream. He asked his companions,'Can I perform Tayammum?'
Theysaid, 'No, not if you have water.' He performed Ghusl, which
caused him to die. When news of this came to the Messenger of Allaahhe
said: "They killed him! May Allaah kill them! Do you not ask if you do
not know? The remedy for ignorance is to ask. He could have performed
Tayammum and not dropped water on his wound, or wrapped it with
something, then wiped over the wrapping, and then washed the rest of
his body.""
3- If water is cold enough to physically harm the user
Tayammum is allowed when water is available but is too cold and cannot
be heated, or there is no public bathroom available. 'Amr Ibn
Al-'Aasnarrated that he was once participating in a military
expedition. He had a wet dream during an extremely cold night, and was
afraid that if he performed Ghusl he would die. He prayed the morning
)Fajr( prayer with his companions. He then went to the Messenger of
Allaahto ask him about this. The Messengersaid: "O 'Amr! Did you pray
with your companions while you needed a ritual bath?" 'Amr said to the
Prophetthe verse )which means(:"…Do not kill yourselves]or one
another[. Indeed, Allaah is to you ever Merciful."]Quran 4:29[ The
Prophetsmiled at this and did not say anything.]Al-Bukhaari[
4- If water is nearby, but one cannot fetch it due to fear
If one fears for his life, family, wealth, ]for example, if an
enemy)beast or human( is nearby or if one is a prisoner, and so on[,
he may perform Tayammum. This is also allowed if there is water but
one lacks the proper means to get it, or if one fears some accusation
against him if he gets it.
5- If one is saving his water for later use
This could be for dough, cooking,or to remove an impurity that is not
pardonable. Imaam Ahmadsaid: "Many of the Companions performed
Tayammum to save their water for drinking." 'Alisaid: "A man who is
travelling and becomes unclean because of sexual intercourse, or a wet
dream, can perform Tayammum if he fears he will go thirsty. He should
perform Tayammum and not Ghusl." ]Ad-Daaraqutni[
6- If one can get water, but fears that the prayer will be over by the
time he gets it
He can perform Tayammum and pray, and does not need to repeat his
prayer )after he gets water(.
The Soil Used for Tayammum
It must be pure soil: this can be sand, stone, gypsum, and so on.
Allaah Almighty Says in the Quran)what means(:"…Perform Tayammum with
pure soil..."]Quran 5:6[ and all scholars of theArabic language agree
that 'soil')in Arabic( is whatever covers the earth, dirt or
otherwise.
How to Perform Tayammum
First, one must have the intention to perform ablution and purifying
himself, then he mentions Allaah's name, strikes the soil with his
hands, and wipes his face and hands up to the wrist, starting with the
right hand. Nothing is more authentic and clear than what
'Ammaarrelated. He said: "I once became sexually impure and had no
water, so I rolled in the dirt and prayed. This was mentioned to the
Prophetwho said:"This would have been enough for you," and he struck
the earth with his hands, blew in them andthen wiped his face and
hands with them."]Al-Bukhaari & Muslim[
This Hadeeth shows that one strike of the earth is sufficient, and one
only wipes the arms to the wrists. It is an act of Sunnah that one who
makes Tayammum with dirt should blow into his hands first and not make
his face dusty or dirty.
What Tayammum Makes Permissible
After performing Tayammum, one is pure and may perform any of the acts
requiring prior ritual purification, such as praying and touching the
Quran. He does not have to perform it during the time of prayer, and
he may pray as many prayers as he wishes)unless he nullifies it(,
exactly as it is the case with regular ablution. Abu Tharrreported
that the Prophetsaid: "The soil is a purifier for a Muslim, even if he
does not find water forten years. Then, if he finds water, that is, to
make ablution, and so on, it becomes incumbent upon him to use it."
]Ahmad & At-Tirmithi[

When children lie

Lying is the intentionally supplying of false information. Onthe other
hand, when a person says something that is untrue, that he actually
believes to be true, he has made a mistake. In this case, he may be
misguided or uninformed, but not lying.
A lot of what a child says begins in his imagination. He may imagine
an action and tell others about it as though it has actually taken
place. This is not considered lying in a deliberate sense. A child
will visualize, dream, hope and fantasize while still lacking the
cognitive and linguistic ability to distinguish between what is
imaginary and what is real. For this reason, he isnot taken as a liar,
but rather a child. We have to understand that fantasy is a normal
part of child development.
Although, it is also true that some children do intentionally tell
lies and conceal the truth. This could have several causes: fear of
power, craving for attention, or purely for entertainment.
Fear of Power:
A child who feels afraid or powerless may think that lying will gain
him the approval of others or cause him to escape punishment. This is
commonplace in homes where the parents are overly controllingand
negative. The child gets no approval or affirmation from the family,
and the only escape from what he perceives as prison, is to lie. This
immediately will bring tomind the teen years, where lying about what,
where, and with whom, are questions that are all subject to
fabrication. But, we should realize that a pattern of lying will have
been well established before adolescence if it is being used as an
escape tactic so we need to identify it in the earliest stages.
Attention:
Lying may help the child to acquire something that he could not
otherwise have. A child who is starved of attention will lie to draw
attention, particularly if he finds that his lies are accepted and
believed. This type of lying often manifests itself in social
interactions. No child wants to admit that he comes from a broken
home, or that his financial condition is below standard. The pressures
of our society force them to face the reality that we are not all
considered equal in the public eye. Other factors as well influence a
child, but peer pressure is a compelling force in a child's behavior.
Entertainment:
Intelligent children may lie in order to entertain themselves or
others by playing jokes. "Is your refrigerator running? You'd better
go catch it before it runs away." Much of modern humor is based in
exaggeration or stereotyping. What seems as harmless as childhood
practical jokes can later lead to more serious deceitful behavior?
What is most important for parents to realize is that it is partof
normal development for a child to lie. For most children thisis a
passing phase, a way of testing their limits, to see how far they can
go before being caught. When it happens, we should step back and try
to determine what the child's goal is. If we identify the cause, we
should be able to address those concerns, if any, and teach them
alternative ways of expressing themselves, in an effort to avoid them
developing a lifelong habit that will be difficult to control later.
If you notice your child telling lies, keep the following tips in
mind:
1.Do not be too lenient or too harsh with your child.Balance is
important, as being extreme in either direction could have grave
psychological and moral consequences even causing the child to become
an impulsive liar.
2. Do not reprimand your childto an extreme if you catch him
lying often.Never call him a liar, even if he does tell lies. One of
the main goals of parenting is to reach a point at which your child
knows right from wrong and is able to discipline himself. For thisto
work, in regard to lying, your child must feel that you trust himand
that you expect the best of him. This is the greatest motivation for
him to stop lying. This can be a symptom of lack of mutual respect in
the parent-child relationship. If the child feels that they have to
lie, they donot feel trusted or understood.
Lying is a way of avoiding the conflict between your perspectiveand
theirs. If you catch the child lying, give him a way to explain
himself that shows him you thinkwell of him: "Perhaps you forgot"or
"Maybe you did not pay attention." When the child is treated this way,
he will be ashamed to deceive those who trust him and will be
motivated to tell the truth.
3. If your child comes and confesses to a behavior that calls for
punishment and apologizes, itis best to forgive him.Praise his honesty
as a reward. This is very difficult to do, but if you react too
strongly, he will be fearful to admit his mistakes in the future. On
the other hand, if you react with kindness and appreciation for his
honesty, while reminding him of the seriousness of his mistake, he
will feel respected and trusted, which will have a much more
productive long-termoutcome for your relationship, Insha`Allaah.
4. The single most effective strategy for dealing with a child who
lies is to model truth and honesty.Your child should never hear you
lie in any way, shape or form. The following Hadeeth)Prophetic
narration( underlines the importance of this: "The Prophet of
Allaahsaw a mother calling for her child to come and get something.
The Prophetasked her what she would give her child and she told him.
Hetold her.'If you do not give it to him, you will have committed the
sin of lying.'"]AbuDaawood and Al-Bayhaqi[
While it is never pleasant to discover that you have been lied to, it
is a fact of life for many parents. Sometimes it is no more than a
passing phase, but how we deal with it could determine the outcome. As
with all aspects of life, the best way to teach yourchild is through
your own example. When you discover that the cashier gave you too much
change, let your child see you return the money. It is small,
seemingly insignificant actions and words that come together tobuild
your child's ideal. Your best tool is prevention, by being the best
Muslim you can use each andevery day investing in your relationship
with your child.

Dought and clear, - Repentance From Fornication After They are Married.

Supposing - and may Allah save us from such a thing that I sinned with
a woman and then we married. And after many a year we both repent.
What is requiredof us now?
Praise be to Allah.
So long as both of you are true in your repentance, it is required of
both of you to get married anew in the presence of a wali (legal
guardian of the woman) and two witnesses. But it is not necessary that
it be donein a court—rather, it willsuffice even if the
wholeproceeding takes place inside a house.

Dought and clear, - What to do With Forbidden Items After Repentance.

I have repented. But in my possession are some forbidden things such
asmusical instruments, cassettes, films etc. Is it permissible for me
to sell them, particularly since they are worth a large amount?
Praise be to Allah.
Sale of such banned articles is not permissible in Islam. The Prophet
(peace be upon him) said: "When Allah forbids a thing then He forbids
its price (as well)." (i.e., its sale/purchase/trading.) [Abu Dawood,
and it is authentic] Also you know well that whomever you sell it to
will use it in a forbidden act; thus, it is not permissible for you to
sell it to him as Allah has prohibited this in commanding us (in
meaning): 'do not assist one another in sins and enmity'.
And no matter how much you lose in worldlywealth, have faith that what
is in store with Allah is worthier and longer lasting. He will
compensate you with Hisgrace, and His favor and His generosity.
And Allah knows best.

Dought and clear, - Repentance for Neglecting Acts of Worship.

I have neglected many rights of Allah in the past, such as prayers,
fasts, and zakah (payingpoor-due). Am I required to repeat themor
compensate for them?
Praise be to Allah.
As far as the five daily prayers are concerned, the preferred opinion
is that the repetition or compensation (or what is known as qadaa in
Arabic), is not obligatoryfor the reason that prayers are obligatory
ata particular time, and once that time has elapsed, there is no way
to offer them. However one ought to seek Allah'sforgiveness and offer
as many nawafil (voluntary prayers) as possible.
As for fasting-yes, if a person was a Muslim at the time they became
obligatory and he did not fast, then their performance is
required,accompanied by feedingof a poor Muslim for every day of fast
that was not observed duringprevious years. What is required is always
a day for a day-no more, no less.
Example 1: A person did not fast three days of Ramadan of the year
1400 A.H., and five days of Ramadan of the year 1401 A.H., all out of
negligence. He must now fast 8 days, and feed eight poor Muslims in
compensation.
Example 2: A girl reachedpuberty in the Ramadan of the year 1400 A.H.
but out of shame and modesty did not inform anyone of her
menstruation, and, rather, continued fastingsay for eight days of her
period. Thereafter, she repented. She would then be required to
redoeight days of fasting.
It may also be pointed out here that this is the predominant position.
A minority opinion is that the ruling for fasting is the same as that
for the prayers, i.e., there is no qadaa (making up) for fasting in
the case of a person who did not fast and did not have a valid reason
for not fasting.
As for he who did not offer the obligatory zakah, it is necessary for
a repentant to pay them for all previous unpaid years, for it is, from
one angle, Allah's right, while from another, the poor people's right.
(SeeMadaarij Al-Salikin for further details).
And Allah knows best.

Race each other to forgiveness from your Lord and a Garden as wide the heavens and the earth, prepared for the people who have taqwa. (Surah Al'Imran: 133)

Allah has created each person with a spirit that takes pleasure in and
yearns for the best and finest things in life, because those beautiful
things reflect the wonders of the Garden in the Unseen. From the first
moment that someone has begun to understand the meaningof life, a
person feels a constant desire to attain perfection. He is always in
search of the blessingsthat this life has to offer.But no matter how
strong his desire and no matter how hard he works to attain these good
things, he will never find the perfection he is looking for in the
world. This is because Allah has created the life of this world
imperfect and unfulfilling.
There are many reasons why Allah has created the world in this way. As
Allah tells us in the Qur'an, His creation is flawless. "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: 24)Our Lord's
power is infinite and He can create what He wants. Therefore, there is
a purpose in the defects of the world: Allah wants people to know that
the Garden exists and to work towards it with eagerness and sincerity.

Jannah: The Garden from the Qur'an and Hadith -

Introduction
-

In the life of this world, human beings are responsible for overcoming
the impulses and appetites of their nafs (selves) andliving their
lives to please Allah. To do this we have been given a very short
lifespan of sixty or seventy years on average. After the life of this
world is over, Allah has created an endless and perfect life for His
slaves who have won Hisfavour. In comparison tothat timeless
existence, life in this world lasts only as long as the blink of an
eye. The faithful slaves are those who have shown steadfastness and
determination in living according to the genuine knowledge of the
unity of Allah without association of partners to Him and in obedience
to Allah and His Messenger. They will obtain a great reward inthe
world to come: the eternal life of the Garden. Doubtless the favour,
mercy and love of our Lord for His slaves are a great joy for them.