News - Asaram held for sexual assault on minor

Indore: Spiritual guru Asaram Babu was arrested here late Saturday
night by Jodhpur police over allegation of sexually assaulting a
16-year-oldgirl in his ashram, official sources said.
"He has been arrested," a senior police official told IANS.
Asaram was arrested after lengthy questioning in his ashram here,
sources said, adding that he would be taken to Jodhpur.
The 72-year-old has been booked under various sections of the
Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act and the Indian Penal
Code. Earlier, a look-out circular was also issued against him to
prevent any attempt by him to leave the country.
Earlier in the day, the victim's family started a 24-hour hunger
strike in Shahajahanpur in Uttar Pradesh demanding Asaram Bapu's
immediate arrest.
Later, talking to media, Ajay Lamba, the deputy commissioner of
police, Jodhpur, said they would question the guru. The team has
reached Indore and willexamine Asaram's medical report prepared by the
hospital.
Asaram Bapu's son, Narayan Sai, told reporters in Indore thathis
father was "not in hiding" but in hospital."Police are welcome to
question him anytime," he told reporters.
"He is innocent and no rape took place. He is not hiding and has been
admitted due to illhealth," he added, without naming the hospital
where the guru was hospitalised.
On Tuesday, Asaram Bapu was served notice at his ashram in Indore,
Madhya Pradesh, askinghim to appear before police in Jodhpur for
questioning before or on Aug 30. However, he sought more time and
played a cat-and-mousegame with police the whole of Friday.
Since early morning large number of Asaram's supporters gathered at
the spiritual guru's Bhopal and Indore ashrams, as news spread that he
could be in one of thesetwo places.
Fearing law and order breakdown, a large posse of policemen were
stationed at three ashrams of the guru, a Hindu preacher who was born
in Sindh province of Pakistan before his family migrated to near
Ahmedabad in Gujarat.
In Jodhpur, the religious preacher's supporters attacked mediapersons,
seriouslyinjuring two.
Asaram Bapu, who hit the headlines last December for his remarks that
the Delhi gang rape victim wouldhave been spared if only she had
addressed her assaulters as brothers, faced arrest after a 16-year-old
girl lodged a complaint with police Aug 20, accusing him of
sexuallyassaulting her at his Jodhpur ashram.
He has denied the charge with his son saying that the girl
was"mentally unstable".
Asaram Bapu has instead blamed Congress president Sonia Gandhi and her
son and party vice president Rahul Gandhi for his predicament.
306 comments

The original of the matter created in the brain: you must first read this to see the artistry of Allah!

A mighty waterfall tumbling down from on high, the boundless oceans
and the glorious, stunning mountains are all matchless works of Allah.
The stars, clouds, birds and fish are all His miracles. Most people
are in no doubt that a green forest that blossoms once again,grows and
flourishes in the spring is one of the beautiful and glorious works of
Allah.
Some people, however, regard skyscrapers, airplanes, laboratories and
computers rather differently. The fact that these are made and built
by human beings deceives them. They imagine that technology,
civilization, scientific and technical progress are independent of
Allah (Allah forbid) and forget that the human beings who are
instrumental in their coming into existence are also created by Him.
They fail to think that Allah, Who has made clouds the cause of rain
and the Sun the cause of light, has also made man the cause of
technology and civilization. They make the error of thinking that
human beings have a power independent of Allah (Allah forbid) and that
human beings invented the Internet, that human beings cause planes to
fly, that human beings invented the tea spoon or biro, that human
beings build space craft and that human beings discovered the forces
responsible for keeping planes aloft. They imagine that plasma TVs, CD
players, carpets, lampshades, cars and the products of advanced
technology all appeared as the result of human intelligence
andability.
They make a terrible error in not regarding these as the artistry of
Allah, and forget that He created them out of His mercy.
The fact is, however, that all these things, just like theseas, trees,
flowers, fruits, the Sun and the boundless mountains, are all works of
Allah. Allah in His mercy makes human beings the cause of all these
things listed above. Allah has given human beings the intelligence and
ability for this. Our Lord inspired them to discover these things. But
it is certain that Allah has the power to have created them with no
direct cause.
And everything we see is in fact CREATED "SPECIALLY FOR US" AND
"INDEPENDENT OF NATURAL CAUSES" as Allah's sublime artistry.
In order to understand this, we need to know that the matter we see
and touch is an image created inour brains, that it is specially
created for us, specially and moment by moment, and that we can never
have direct experience of the originals on the outside

Wonders of Creation:

The Ability to see the signs of Allah…
Say: "Praise be to Allah. He will show you His signs and you will
recognize them. Your Lord is notheedless of anything you do."(Surat
an-Naml: 93)
In the Qur'an, Allah invites people to reject blindly accepting the
beliefs and values society imposes on them and to ponder by pushing
aside all the prejudices, taboos and constraints on their minds.
Man must think on how he cameinto being, what is the purpose of his
life, why he will die and what awaits him after death. He must
question how he himself and the whole universe came into existence and
how they continue to exist. While doing this, he must relieve himself
of all constraints and prejudices.
By thinking, while isolating his conscience from all social,
ideological and psychological obligations, the person should
eventually perceive that the entire universe, including himself, is
created by a Superior Power. Even when he examines his own body or any
other thing in nature, he will see an impressive harmony, plan and
wisdom at work within its design.
At this point again, the Qur'an guides man. In the Qur'an, Allah
guides us as to what we should reflect on and investigate. With the
methods of reflection given in the Qur'an, he who has faith in Allah
will better perceive Allah's perfection, eternal wisdom, knowledge and
power in His creation. When a believing person starts to think in the
wayshown in the Qur'an, he soon realizes that the whole universe is a
sign of Allah's power and art, and that, "nature is a work of art, not
the artist itself". Everywork of art exhibits the exceptional skills
of the one whohas made it and conveys his messages.
In the Qur'an, people are summoned to contemplate numerous events and
objects that clearly testify to the existence and uniqueness of Allah
and His attributes. In the Qur'an, all these beings that bear witness
are designated as"signs", meaning "tested evidence, absolute knowledge
and expression of truth". Therefore, the signs of Allah comprise all
the beings in the universe that disclose and communicate the being and
attributes of Allah. Those who can observe and remember will see that
the entire universe is only composed of the signs of Allah.
This, indeed, is the responsibilityof mankind; to be able to see the
signs of Allah... Thus, such a person will come to know the Creator
Who created him and all other things, draw closer to Him, discover the
meaning of hisexistence and his life and so prosper.
Each thing, the breaths a humantakes, political and social
developments; the cosmic harmony in the universe, the atom, which is
one of the smallest pieces of matter, is each a sign of Allah and they
all operate under His control and knowledge, abiding by His laws.
Recognizing and knowing the signs of Allah calls for personal effort.
Everyone will recognize and know the signs of Allah in accordance with
his own wisdom and conscience.
Undoubtedly, some guidelines may also help. As the first step, one can
investigate certain points stressed in the Qur'an in order to acquire
the mentality that perceives the whole universe as an articulation of
thethings Allah created.
Allah's signs in nature are emphasized in Surat an-Nahl:
It is He Who sends down water from the sky. From it you drink and from
it come the shrubs among which you graze your herds. And by it He
makes crops grow for you and olives and dates and grapes and fruit of
every kind. There is certainly a sign in that for people who reflect.
He has made the night and the day subservient to you, and the Sun, the
Moon and the stars, all subject to His command. There are certainly
signs in that for people who use their intellect. And also the things
of varying colors He has created for you in the earth. There is
certainly a sign in that for people who pay heed. It is HeWho made the
sea subservient to you so that you can eat fresh flesh from it and
bring out from it ornaments to wear. And you see the ships cleaving
through itso that you can seek His bounty, and so that perhaps you may
show thanks. He cast firmly embedded mountains on the Earth so it
would not move under you, and rivers and pathways so that perhaps you
might be guided, and landmarks. And they are guided by the stars. Is
He Who creates like him who does not create? So will you not pay heed?
(Surat an-Nahl: 10-17)
Lives of the Prophets:
Allah Bestows Prophethood upon Abraham (as)
Prophets are special people whom Allah selected and endowed with
superior qualities.Their powerful faith, pleasing moral virtues,
superior character, and exemplary behavior always attracted those
around them, and eventually they were forced to move away from their
pagan and misguidedsocieties. One of the most important qualities
setting themapart is the fact that Allah revealed the truth to them.
As the Qur'an relates:
We have revealed to you, as We revealed to Noah and the prophets who
came after him. And We revealed to Abraham, Ishmael, Isaac, Jacob, the
descendents, Jesus, Job, Jonah, Aaron, and Solomon. And We gave David
the Psalm. Surat an-Nisa':163)
Allah's use of prophets to spreadHis revelation among their people was
a great blessing for humanity, for His revelation continues to show
people the way to the true path, teach them how to worship, describe
proper moral values, and makes His religion known to those people who
live after the time ofProphet Muhammad (saas)), the last prophet. Our
Lord informs us that He has revealed to the prophets how their
followers should behave and worship Him:
We made them leaders, guiding by Our command, and revealed to them how
to do good actions, perform prayer, and give alms. And they worshipped
Us. (Surat al-Anbiya':73)
Throughout their lives, the prophets sought to gain His good pleasure
and compassion, as well as His Paradise. Thus, they lived exemplary
lives by fully complying with His commands.
Allah bestowed prophethood, anhonorable position attained by His
chosen servants, upon Prophet Abraham (as) after a period of testing.
The Qur'an reveals this in the following verse:
Remember when Abraham was tested by his Lord with certain words, which
he carried out perfectly. He [Allah] said: "I will make you a model
for humanity." He [Abraham] asked:"And what of my descendents?" He
[Allah] replied: "My contract does not include the wrongdoers." (Surat
al-Baqara: 124)
As stated in this verse, Prophet Abraham (as) obeyed our Lord during
this test and perfectly fulfilled all of His commands. Just like
Prophet Abraham (as), all believers have the same responsibility. His
unconditional obedience to Allah and submission to His commands are
fine models for all believers.
Allah endowed Prophet Abraham (as) with prophethood at an early age
(Surah Ta Ha:60), and revealed the truth to him:
Or do they in fact envy other people for the bounty Allah has granted
them? We gave the family of Abraham the Book andWisdom, and We gave
them an immense kingdom. (Surat an-Nisa':54)
Evolution Deceit:
The "Intelligent Design" Distraction
In the United States in the second half of the 1980s, a theory known
as "intelligent design" was launched against the theory of evolution,
maintaining that all living things came into being not by chance—as
Darwinism maintains—but as the result of an "intelligent design."
However, the proponents of this movement do not openly state that it
is Allah, the Lord of the worlds, Who created all living things.
In describing the concept, Michael Behe, one of its most prominent
advocates, says, "The theory of intelligent design is not a
religiously based idea, even though devout people opposed to the
teaching of evolution cite it in their arguments…" (See "Design for
Living," New York Times, February 7, 2005.)
No Muslim Would Ever Say,"There Is Intelligent Design" Instead of
"Allah Created"!
There are also proponents of thetheory of "intelligent design" in
Turkey. Notably, however, in defending this theory, they seek to
imitate the style employed by their Western counterparts, and are
careful to avoid any reference to the name of Allah.
Instead of saying, "Allah created the entire universe and everything
in it, living and non-living" in their accounts, they resort to vague
expressionsalong the lines of "There is an intelligent design in the
universe"—creating the impression that they deliberately avoid
mentioning the name of Allah.
Of course, there is nothing strange in non-Muslims, atheists, or some
philosophers employing such a style.
However, it is unacceptable for anyone who claims to be a Muslim to
constantly avoid saying, "Allah created" and instead using terms such
as "A power created…" or "the work of intelligent design." That is an
approach no Muslim can adopt, because it means, "I do not wishto say
'Allah', I mean 'There is a power, and there is an intelligent
design'." And nothingin that is compatible with Islam and the Qur'an.
Avoiding saying "Allah created all things," and "Everything came into
being with Allah, the Lord of the worlds, saying 'Be!'," and merely
referring to "an intelligent design in the universe" can only be the
product of a mindset that lacks true faith in the existence of Allah.
Even children at primary school know that it is Allah, and
not"intelligent design," Who created the sky, gazelles, fish, lambs,
apples, bananas, grapes and oranges.
Who Else, Apart from Allah, Could Expressions Like "Intelligent
Design" and "An Intelligent Power" Refer To?
To put forward any claim of "intelligent design," while ignoring the
existence of Allah (He is surely beyond that) is exceedingly
irrational and illogical.
After a moment's reflection, anyone of normal intelligence and
possessed of a conscience will understand that if the perfection in
the universe appears to have been designed, then the Creator of that
perfection can be none other than Allah.
He will see that all entities in the universe, living or otherwise,
are manifestations of Allah's infinite wisdom, knowledge, might, and
creative artistry.
In consequence, he will say, "Allah exists; Allah created" rather
than "There is intelligent design," or "There exists an intelligent
power."
As we know, the pagans in pre-Islamic Mecca attached the names of
Allah to statues they carved out of stone and wood and took these as
their idols.
They maintained that these idols--to which they attached such names
as al-Lat, Manat and al-'Uzza--had created them, had provided for
them and had power to protect them. In short, they ascribed partners
to Allah by ascribing His attributes to them.
Today, similarly, some people are trying to turn others away from a
belief in Allah by imposing His superior attributes onto such
abstract concepts as "intelligent design" and "intelligent power."
This is virtually the same as adopting an idol by the name of
Intelligent Design.
The Qur'an tells us the following about this attitude of the pagans:
They are nothing but names which you yourselves have given, you and
your forefathers. Allah has sent down no authority for them. They are
following nothing but conjecture and what their own selves desire. And
that when guidance has reached them from their Lord! (Surat an-Najm:
23)
Freemasons, using the same logic, maintain in their writings that a
"total power" or "a consciousness" directs the universe, but what
they are referring to is definitely not Allah (Allah forbid).
Obviously, the "intelligent design" adherents are employing exactly
the same logic as that to be found in Masonic accounts.
Quick Grasp of Faith:
What is the concept of sincerity in the Qur'an?
"Sincerity", literally, has the meaning of being pure and
unadulterated. The concept of sincerity mentioned in the Qur'an
denotes turning to Allah in devoutness. A sincere believer devotes all
his deeds throughouthis entire life to seeking the pleasure of Allah
and expects his reward only from Him. He does not make devious
calculations orientated around the opinions of other people or trying
to find favor with them. Therefore all ofhis actions are sincere and
candid, such as would earn the pleasure of Allah.
A sincere person is honest first with Allah and then with
people;because he well knows that Allah hears and sees all things, and
that he will be judged in His presence and will be held responsible
for all of his deeds, words and thoughts. For this reason the
sincerity and candor of believers are among the mostsignificant signs
of the firmness of their faith.
Allah has made the sincere attitudes of the messengers, who always
sought to earn the good pleasure of Allah, an example for believers:
And remember Our servants Ibrahim, Ishaq and Ya'qub, men of true
strength and inner sight.We purified their sincerity through sincere
remembrance of the Abode. In Our eyes they are among the best of
chosen men. (Surah Sâd: 45-47)
Those who turn to Allah in sincerity are praised in the Qur'an. The
Qur'an heralds the good outcome of these people as follows:
Those who shun the worship of false deities and turn towards Allah
will have good news. So give good news to My servants. Those who
listen well to what issaid and follow the best of it, they are the
ones whom Allah has guided, they are the people of intelligence.
(Surat az-Zumar: 17-18)
The importance of deeds performed solely for Allah's sakeis mentioned
in the hadith below:
Allah accepts those deeds which were performed purely for His sake
and which were meant to seek His pleasure. (Abu Dawud)

The deceit that the human ability to think is the same as that of otherliving things

Unable to account for the human ability to think, Celal Sengor responded to a question on that subject with a superficial reply about animals also having the capacity. He claimed thatthe crow’s ability to extract food from a deepbowl or the way a monkey collects stones to protect itself against attackers is no different to the human ability to reason. But this is of course a huge deception. - Human beings are entities aware of their own existence, thatare capable of thinking and saying “I exist” and “What am I?” Because human beings have a soul. And every conscious and rational human being is aware that he bears a sublime soul. If someone is able to reason, he realizes that it is the soul bestowed on him by Allah that does all this so long as he rejoices, thinks, decides, judges, is happy or excited, or feels love, suffers, doubts, enjoys the taste of an apple, takes pleasure from music, builds planes or skyscrapers or even studies man himself in the laboratory. - Human beings with their souls were not created haphazardly.There is a reason for their presence in the world. They bear the soul of Allah and are tested in this world. They will be held responsible for everything they do and think. Contrary to what Darwinists maintain, there are no random events, chance or purposelessness in their lives. Everything is created by the will of Allah and all these thingsare a part of the test. In this life that will end with death, only the body will be left behind. The soul, on the other hand, will live forever in the Hereafter, the true life it inhabits. - Animals, on the other hand, are not aware of their own existence. They are unconscious entities thatcannot reason and are not aware why they exist. Many animals possess very superior characteristics created by Allah. These abilities in animals unaware of their own existence are specially created in order to see Allah’s matchless artistry. When a crow tries to extract food from a bottle or a monkey amasses a pile of stone to protect itself against enemies and survive, they are behaving in a way inspired in them by Allah. But no matter howmuch one may try, no matter how much time passes, those creatures will never be able to design a plane, perform a chemical experiment, write a book, stand up at a dais and lead a conference or examine their own cells under themicroscope in a laboratory.

Story, - The love that i never got

I met him online in orkut in summer holidays. He was married and has a
daughter too. But his married life was not good. He was about to
divorce his wife but he madly loved his daughter. He was very sad nd
needed support asa best friend i used to support him a lot, this
support when turned into love we both never newne fine day his health
got verry worst hetold me when he use to caught blood is coming from
his mouth i got veryscared and as his work was also not their, he had
no money to do check up so i sent him money to his account so that he
can do check up, it was very shocking to hear that he got blood
cancer!!!!
I was shattered to hear this. His parents had arranged some money but
was in need of 1lakh so i some how with the help of my jewla arranged
him money andhis mom was also happy to speak to me and doctors said
that he will be alright after a operation and i was suppose to go to
his place. They got him admitted and was about to give me his address
all of a sudden his mobile got switched off!. I didn'thave his mom's
no too i was very sad and broken i used to call him every day and
night hoping that his cell may be on but after one month his cell
switched on, to my surprise he said his parents has taken his cell and
was not ready to let him meet me as i am a Muslim and he a Hindu. So
he ran away from hospital and got a duplicate sim so that he could
contact me. Again happiness came in my lifebut again problem was that
he was not having money to ome and meet me. So again i arranged money
and sent to his account. But he said that his mom has banned his
account and after i put money into his account he came to no about it
after i put money into hisaccount.
By now i was bank corrupt cause what ever ihad i had given everything
to him, once i felt he cheated me then my heart said he cant cheat me.
After that he told me to tell my parentsabout us and promised me after
one month when he himself is able to arrange money he willcome and
take me from hear. But till now is cell isswitched off. Even today
icall to his cell with a hope that his cell may be on but in vain. I
think he has cheated me. Thanks to him i lost my belief in love..... I
hate my self...... I m gone i m half dead by him... He ruined my
life... He ruined everything

Story, - A Little Love Story

miracles really do come true, i think that we havebeen given some of
the most beautiful presents this world has to give. wehave the joy and
strengthand support of being true companions, and wehave all the
feelings and specials meanings that treasure brings, all the"KNOWING
WHY" and the"UNDERSTANDING WHEN" we have the sharing instilled in us
and a kind of caring that words can't describe. no matter how high the
walls may be between other people, there is an open door between us
that always leads to love, and a window that looks out upon a
beautiful view... amiracle keeps on coming true.
i am going to love him allmy life, through whatever comes along. the
feeling i have will stay strong and true, knowing that our tomorrows
hold so much promise for us.
I believe that i cannot change the past, but i most definitely can
make the future-My past relationship is not good.Now, I am blessed
with a second chance to life which has shown me that life is a gift
and i must cherish every moment of it, good, bad and indifferent. I
believe in fate and destiny and have always been in search of
something that i'm quite not sure exists...then he came.
The understanding of speechlessness is oh so real to me, for he have
been able to knock the wind from my ears. The thought of him has
consumed my every waking hour.
I have longed for so long for that someone who cares to take the time
to know me for who i am. A person who enjoys the company of another.
Onewho is satisfied with sitting in the sand and holding me while the
sunsets. One who can look into my eyes and know that my heart belongs
to him.
My emotions are true andwhen i FALL i fall hard. Myintentions are pure
and wish for the same in return. I am not looking for a short
relationship or a roll in the hay but a iam looking for a life timeof
Love. I am looking for someone who makes my tummy flutter by every
time i see or think of him.
I'm still not sure where this is going to go but i am more than
willing to take this Journey. My feelings are mutual as faras desire,
I have never tried a relationship younger than me anything, so
patience is what i will need to practice. practice perfection in
patience and understanding Until then....
I Am So in Love with Him, No one ever touched my life like this.
Ours story is a miracle and romantic and were starting to built a
strong and unbreakable foundation so i will writeagain to continue of
our story... oh wait guys i justwant you to know were accidentally met
in Fx one of passenger vehicle at metro manila, i will tellon my next
story from the start we met... see you

Fathwa, - She says someone called Al-Faarooq visits her heart to teach her Quran

Question
Hi I have a friend who is 19 years of age she is VERY religious and
inshallah will have memorized the whole Quran by the end of this year
Inshallah. She told me about some "man" called the farooq)الفاروق(
that comes to her not by image or by voice but by heart? As in Ican't
hear him if he talks she can only hear him in her heart and she said
hewon't come if she's on her period and he will only come if she reads
the morning and eveningduaas and he helps her memorize the Quran and
hadeeth and he told her he is not a jinn or a angel. She never lies
and her life is a very bad one where her dad comes in at night
sometimes and tries to touch her but shedoesn't allow it and she is
scared one day she won't be able to stop cuZshe has no where to go and
she has other bad things in her life that have happened where once
when she was five she was blind for a couple if years but then
regained her sight and this "farooq" came to herafter her protector )
her grandmother( died . He helps her with her problems and she tells
him everything and the only thing he wants fromher is for her to
spread islam that's it she is sunniof course so he is not trying to
spread the wrong word and she knows soooo much bec of him and I'm
confused bec I do believe her but I don't know can this be true? She
said he only goes to a person that he is sure can memorize the Quran
and learn about islam and he told her he does not know the futureso
not to ask him about itbut he can interpret her dreams and our dreams
too and he basically triedto lead her to the righteous way but she
CANNOT see him ever or hear his voice out loud only in her mind do
they talk? She tried to see if he would leave her aloneso for one year
she nevercalled for him and he did leave her alone so that means if
she does want him to leave he would but have u ever heard of a farooq
going to a religious person and helping them memorize the Quran with
beautiful terteel and spread the word of islam? Jazakom Allah khayr
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify
that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad,
is His Slave and Messenger.
There is no such man called the Faarooq who comes to those who are
religiously committed to help them. It is most likely that these are
illusions which that girl suffers from. We advise her to keep doing
good deeds, offer acts of worship, be keen on having the company of
good women, seeking the beneficial knowledge, and reciting recommended
Ruqyah and Athkaar. There is no harm if she visits a Muslim
psychiatrist.
If what she mentioned about her father is true, then she should beware
of him and avoid being in seclusion with him. Allaah Knows best.

Fathwa, - Marrying a woman whom one's father or sontouched with desire

Question
assalamualaikum,brother...my question is a bit confusing i guess..i
want to ask that if a person touches a girl with emotion,does the girl
become haram for the person's son to marry that girl?...and if the
father in law touched that daughter in law with no emotion before the
marriage of the son and the girl..can the son marry the girl?
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify
that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad,
is His Slave and Messenger.
If a man touches a woman with or without sexual desire, this does not
make her prohibited to his son or father for marriage. The woman only
becomes prohibited to a man )for marriage( ifhis son or father married
her. Prohibition takes effect upon concluding the marriage contract,
even if the marriage is not consummated.
For more benefit, kindly refer to Fatwa 83626.
Allaah Knows best.

Fathwa, - Thikr protects from evil of astrologers

Question
assalamualikum dear people please help me i did a mistake to visit a
page of one astrologer and i gave her my real information now i being
to know that she is one of big devils now i am afraid of her. is she
can do any thing bad for me?i try to remove every thing from there and
promise that i will never visit that page again but what is the
solution now i am feeling so much afraid please help me is she can do
any thing bad due the iblis and jins thatshe used to find the future
of people i dont belive her but please help me i am afraid of her..
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify
that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad,
is His Slave and Messenger.
We are not aware of any evidence that confirms the possibility of
causing harm to you. However, we ask Allaah to protect our dear sister
who repented sincerely and fortified herself with Athkaar and reported
supplications from the effect of that sin and the evil of magicians
and sorcerers; for whoever repents from sin is like the one who did
not sin as it was stated in the Hadeeth.
The Prophet, said: "Recite Soorah Al-Ikhlaas and Al-
Mu'awwithatayn)Soorah Al-Falaq and Soorah An-Naas( three times at dawn
and dusk. This will suffice you in all respects." ]At-Tirmithi,
An-Nasaa'i, Abu-Daawoodand Ibn Maajah[
Finally, it is worth noting that it is prohibited to ask astrologers
and soothsayers or believe what they say; for the Messenger of Allaah,
said: "Whoever goes to a soothsayer or fortuneteller and believes what
he says hasdisbelieved in that whichwas revealed to
Muhammad."]At-Tirmithi[
Allaah Knows best.

Islam the religion of mercy

The Prophetonce kissed Al-Hasan bin 'Aliwhile Al-Aqra' bin Haabis was
in his presence. So Al-Aqra'said to him: "You kiss your children. I
swear by Allaah, I have ten children and I never kissed any one of
them!" So the Prophetsaid:"He who does not show mercy )to others( will
not be shown mercy )by Allaah(."
Verily, in Islam, mercy encompasses this world and the Hereafter, as
well as humankind, animals, birds and the surrounding habitats. Allaah
Says)what means(:"And My mercy encompasses every thing."]Quran7:156[
Allaah has ascribed Mercy to Himself and He has also describedHis
Prophets, may Allaah exalt their mention, and righteous servants as
being endowed with it. Allaah Says )what means(:"Muhammad is the
Messenger of Allaah and those who are with him are severe against the
disbelievers and merciful to one another."]Quran 48:29[
Allaah has made his sending forth of the Prophetas a mercy to all of
creation, as He Says )what means(:"And We havenot sent you )O
Muhammad( except as a mercy to the worlds."]Quran 21:107[ The
word"worlds" )'Aalameen( is general and includes the world of the
humans, the world of the Jinn, the world of the animals, the world of
the birds, as well as the nations found on land and in the sea.
Allaah has commanded that mercy be applied to every thing and in every
action. Thus, even when you slaughter a sacrificial animal, you show
mercy to it by saying 'Bismillaah' )In the name of Allaah( and by
sharpening yourknife )so that it will be a quick and painless death(.
The Prophetsaid:"Verily Allaah has prescribed Ihsaan )goodness( for
everything. So when you slaughter, then slaughter in a good manner,
and when you kill)in war(, then kill in a good manner. And let each of
you sharpen his blade and let him spare the animal he slaughters from
suffering."
It is reported that Allaah forgave a prostitute from the children
ofIsraelwho showed mercy to a dog that was dying from thirst. She
filled her shoe with water and then taking hold of the dog'smouth, she
gave it the water to drink. Allaah appreciated what she did and
forgave her sins.
Once our Prophetsaw that one of his Companions, may Allaah be pleased
with him, grabbed the chick of a lark, and itbegan screeching over the
heads of the Companions. So hesaid:"Who bereaved this )lark( of her
child? Return her children back to her!"
The more weak and poor a human being is, the more we are required to
show mercy to him and be gentle with him. This is why our Lord has
forbidden us from oppressing the orphan. Allaah Says )what
means(:"Therefore, treat not the orphan with oppression. And do not
repel the beggar."]Quran 93: 9-10[
The Prophetsaid:"The personthat looks after and supports the widow and
the needy one is like the Mujaahid )one who makes Jihaad( in the Cause
of Allaah." Hewould rub the head of the orphans and say:"I and the
guardian of an orphan will be likethis inParadise- and he gestured
with his index and middle finger."
Indeed the Prophetcommanded us to take care of the children, women and
the elders. Thus, in his last words to his Companionsand his nation
hesaid:"The prayer and what your right hands possess." "Take good care
of the women )i.e. wives(."And he said:"The best of you is the best to
his wives. And I am the best amongst you with my wives."
Mercy is something innate, whichAllaah has placed into the hearts of
His creatures, even the lions -- the most ferocious of beasts -- are
merciful to their children. Yet Allaah is more merciful to His
creation than a mother is to her child. It is reported that on the day
that Allaah created mercy, He created one hundred parts to it. He left
ninety-nine parts with Him, by which He will show mercy to His
servants on the Day of Judgment and sent down one single part of mercy
to earth, which humans and animals shareamongst themselves.
The Messenger of Allaahhas condemned the person that is void of any
mercy, and he condemned the one who breaks family ties. Hesaid:
"Kinship is connected to the Throne)'Arsh(. It says:'Whoever severs
me, then Allaah will break )away from( him. And whoever maintains me,
then Allaah will keep connected to him."
In another narration hesaid:"Verily, the kinship will be connected to
the Throne of the Most Merciful on the Day of Judgment. It will say:
'This is the place for the one who sought refuge in You from the
severing)of family ties(.' So Allaah will say to it: 'Will it please
you that I connect those who maintained you and that I cut off those
who severed you?' And it will say: 'I will be pleased )with that(, my
Lord.'"
The Prophetcondemned the oppressive leaders who do not show mercy to
their people, by saying: "The worst leaders are al-Hutamah."
Allaah has named Himself Ar-Rahmaan and Ar-Raheem, so he is the Most
Merciful of this world and the Hereafter )i.e. Ar-Rahmaan( and The
Bestower and giver of mercy )i.e. Ar-Raheem(. This is why He has
commanded it in every place and in every situation. A Muslim begins
his action by saying 'Bismillaahir-Rahmaanir-Raheem' )in the name of
Allaah, Most Merciful, the Giver of Mercy( so that Allaah can bless
him in his action. Every action that is void ofmercy has no blessing
in it, nor any good. If the servants of Allaah show mercy towards one
another, this is a cause for Allaah sending His mercy down on them.
The Prophetsaid:"The Most Merciful shows mercy to those who have mercy
on others. Show mercy to those on earth, and the One above the heaven
will show mercy to you."
O Allaah, have mercy on us above the earth and below the earth and on
the Day when our deeds will be presented to us. And cause us to be
merciful to one another just as the Companions of Your Prophetwere.
And have mercy on our dead ones andput those who have mercy from
amongst Your servants in charge over us, O Most Merciful!

Islam is your birthright -II

Muslims: The Moderate Nation:
The chief characteristic ofthe Islamic concept of lifeis that it does
not recognize a conflict or a separation between the spiritual and the
mundane. It does not recognize ritualism, secularism or materialism.
For a Muslim, all aspects of life, the spiritual and the material, the
State and the religion are interrelated, because everything belongs to
Allaah and Allaah alone. Islam provides definite guidelines for all
people to follow in all walks of life: individual, social, moral,
governmental, political, economic, spiritual and advocates moderation.
This is why the Quran calls the Muslims a "moderate nation."
Source of Islamic Teachings:
The Islamic way of life is based on the teachings of the Quran and the
Sunnah )traditions( of the Prophet Muhammad. The Quran is the basic
source of Islamic teaching and law. It is the word of Allaah revealed
to Prophet Muhammadby the angel Gabriel. The entire Quran was revealed
to Prophet Muhammadinparts over the 23-year period of his prophethood.
Whenever a portion of it was revealed, it was written by his faithful
scribesaccording to his instructions on palm leaves, parchments, bones
etc. Moreover, there were tens of thousands of the Prophet's
Companionswho committed the Quran to memory.
After the death of Prophet Muhammadthe first Caliph Abu Bakrordered
the collectionof the whole Quran in one volume. It was preserved until
the third Caliph 'Uthmaanprepared several copies and sent them to
different Muslim territories. From that time onwards )about 1400 years
ago(, the same version has been in use with identical words, order and
language, without a single additionor deletion. Briefly stated, the
Quran is the only remaining authenticDivine Revelation available to
humankind today that is distinguished by its clear historical
accounts, unquestionable accuracy,indisputable authenticity and
complete preservation in the exact language of its Revelation.
The Sunnah consists of the teachings, sayings and actions of Prophet
Muhammadmeticulously reported by his Companions. It explains and
elaborates the Quranic verses.
Islam Is The Religion of Equality:
There is no discrimination in Islam between people on the basis of
color, tribe, race, nationality, etc. since all humans descend from
one father and one mother: Aadamand Eve. Islam teaches that the
standard of distinction is righteousness. A verse of the Glorious
Quran reads)what means(:"Indeed, the most noble of you in the sight of
Allaah is the most righteous."]Quran 49: 13[
Islam Is Your Birthright:
Everybody is born in a state of Fitrah )the inclination to worship One
God i.e. pure Monotheism(. To accept Islam is not to turn one's back
on all the previous Messengers and Prophets, may Allaah exalt their
mention. In fact, it is a reversion to the original Monotheism in
which we are all created. As such, Islam is your "birthright."
However, the parents or the community converts the child to other
faiths or to atheism.
Criteria for Truth:
Are you following the correct belief system? Thecriteria for true
faith are listed as follows:
1. Rational Teachings: Man is a rational being, hence, he should use
both reason and intellect to distinguish truth from falsehood.
2. Perfection: Since Allaahis perfect, His Revelation must be perfect
without flaw and completely free of any contradiction or error.
3. Scientific: Since Divine Revelation is the absolutetruth, it can
always withstand the challenge of any kind of knowledge, including
human discoveries in the field of science.
4. Inimitable: True Revelation from Allaah is an infallible living
miracle that cannot be imitated by any being.
5. Worship of One God: True Revelation should teach the worship of One
God who has no partner, sharer, associate or helper in His Divinity
)i.e.,Creatorship, Lordship, Sovereignty or in any of His Divine
Attributes(.
6. Simple, Clear and Just: True Revelation must be simple, clear and
just in order to be readily understood by any one, because all humans
are equal in the sight of Allaah. His blessings are open to anyone who
has the will to obey Him.
To conclude, Islam is not a new religion. It is, in essence, the same
message and guidance, which Allaah revealed to all His Messengers, may
Allaah exalt their mention, but only reiterated in its comprehensive,
completeand final form. It is a continuation and culmination of all
the preceding Revelation, because as we know, their origin is one and
the same; A verse of the Glorious Quran reads)what means(:"This day I
have perfected for you your religion and completed My favor upon you,
and have approved for you Islam as religion."]Quran 5: 3[.
Since it is the final message from Allaah that culminates, supersedes
and seals all the previous religions, Islam makes it an obligation on
every person who clearly hears its Message to accept it and follow it.
Another verse of the Glorious Quran says )which means(:"And whoever
desiresother than Islam as religion – never will it be accepted from
him, and he, in the Hereafter, willbe among the losers."]Quran 3: 86[
Now, Allaah has shown you the right path and at the same time
conferred upon you freedom of choice and will, whether you accept the
message of Islam or not is up to you. May the light of truth shine in
our hearts and minds. May it lead us to peace and certitude in this
life and eternal bliss in the Hereafter.

Islam is your birthright - I

The Creation of man and the entire Universe is not a mere accident or
the product of chance. The entire Universe manifestsand points to the
realization of an All-Powerful Creator. Therefore, it is man's duty to
know his Creator, Allaah.
Indeed, Allaah )The Only True God( has told us about Himself through
the Divine guidance He sent to human beings. Humanity received this
Divine guidance through the Messengers, may Allaah exalt their
mention, who were chosen by Allaah to convey His message and to be
living examples for their people. These Messengers, may Allaah exalt
their mention, told man who his Creator is, the purpose of existence,
and what will happen to him after death. They all brought the same
message of Monotheism: the worship of Allaah alone. However, they
differed only in the canonical teachings that were presented to their
peoples.
Over a period, the earlier messages were distorted or lost by later
generations. As a result, the pure message was polluted with myths,
superstitions, idolatry and philosophical ideologies. However, Allaah,
the Compassionate, did not leave man straying. He sent Prophets, may
Allaahexalt their mention, to re-instate the original message and to
remind man of the right path. The last of those Prophetswas Prophet
Muhammad,, who presented Allaah's guidance in its final form: Islam,
for all times and for all people.
Islam is an Arabic word that denotes submission and obedience; as a
religion, Islam stands for complete submission andobedience to Allaah.
The other literal meaning of the word Islam is"peace", this signifies
that one can only achievereal peace of heart and mind, and peace in
society through submission and obedience to Allaah.
The Five Pillars of Islam
Worship in Islam is an all-inclusive term for all that Allaah loves --
private and public words and actions performed in accordance with His
teachings. Islam considers every virtuous action which is performed to
carry out the commandments of Allaah and in order to seek His
pleasure, an act of worship. The Five Pillars of Islam, stand as the
framework of the spiritual life of Islam. They include the following:
1. The Declaration of Monotheism
Monotheism is the cornerstone of Islam. A man joins the fold of Islam
by believing and declaring his submission to Monotheism: "There is
none worthy of worship but Allaah and Muhammad is His Messenger". It
is the acceptance or denial of this belief that differentiates a
Muslim from a non-Muslim.
2. Prayers
Every Muslim whose net annual savings are abovea certain specified
minimum must pay an annual amount of 2.5 percent of his wealth to the
poor and needy.Zakaahpurifies a Muslim's accrued wealth, fosters the
quality of sacrifice and rids him of selfishness and greed.Zakaahalso
helps reduce to resentment and envy between poor and rich members of
the society.
4. Fasting during the month of Ramadan
Muslims observe fasting once every year during the month of
Ramadan.They abstain from food, drink and sexual contact from dawn to
sunset. Fasting teaches sincerity and implants devotion. It develops a
sound social consciousness, patience, self-restraint, will-power and
an awareness of how the needy members of the society lead their lives.
It has been medically proved that fasting also helps to maintain good
health.
5.Hajj)Pilgrimage to Makkah(
Hajjis an act of worship, which is to be performedat least once in a
lifetime,if one can afford it both financially and physically.During
this time, Muslims meet from all corners of the world in a
congregation respondingto the call of Allaah. It demonstrates and
refreshes the belief that all Muslims are equal, irrespective of their
geographical, cultural or racial origins.
The Six Articles of Faith in Islam
The Muslim believes in the following articles of faith:
1. He believes inthe Oneness of God, Allaah, Supreme and
Eternal, Merciful and Compassionate, Creator and Provider of everything.
2. He believes inall Messengers of Allaah, may Allaah exalt their
mention, with no discrimination between them. Every nation had a
messenger )or more( sentby Allaah to convey His message, and to
exemplify it for his people or nation. The Quran mentions the names of
only twenty five of them and indicates that there have been many
others. Those twenty-five include Nooh)Noah(, Ibraaheem)Abraham(,
Ismaa'eel)Ishmael(, Ishaaq )Issac(, Yaaqoob )Jacob(, Moosaa)Moses(,
Daawood)David(, Sulaymaan)Solomon(, Yahya )John(, 'Eesaa )Jesus( and
finally, Muhammad,, may Allaah exalt their mention. Every Messenger
was sent to a specific nation, but Prophet Muhammad,, was sent for
mankind. This special status of Prophet Muhammad,as the seal and last
of all the Messengers puts the Muslim in the position, whereby
honoring Prophet Muhammad,, implies honoring all those Messengers who
came before him. There are numerous evidences or proofs that Prophet
Muhammad,, is an apostle of Allaah, mentioned in his biography. The
greatest is the Quran )the Word ofAllaah(, which could only have been
conveyed by aMessenger. The Biblical versions, even in their present
forms, clearly mention the advent of Prophet Muhammad,.]See Deut.
18:18, 18:15, 33:2-3, Isaiah 29:12, Songs of Solomon 5:16, John
16:12-14 and John 14:15-16.[
3. A Muslim believesin all the scriptures of Allaah, in their original
form. These scriptures contain the Divine message which the
Messengers, may Allaah exalt their mention, received to show their
respective peoples the right path of Allaah. In the Quran, a special
reference is madeto the books of Abraham)Suhuf(, to the Torah)Law( of
Moses, theZaboor)Psalms( of David and theInjeel)Gospel( of Jesus.
However, long before thebirth of Prophet Muhammad,, those revealed
books were corrupted or lost. Allaah revealed the Quran to Prophet
Muhammad,, as the final revelation and guidance for all humankind for
all times.
4. Muslims believe in theexistence of angelsas part of the unseen
world.Angels are purely spiritual beings whose nature requires no
food, drink or sleep; they perform specific duties assigned to them by
Allaah.
5. A Muslim believes inthe Day of Judgment. TheQuran teaches that life
is a test for man, to see whether he will follow the commands of
Allaah. Accordingly, one should prepare himself with good deeds for
the eternal life after death. People will be resurrected on the Day
ofJudgment to stand before Allaah for a just reckoning of their
worldly deeds and actions. People with good records will be generously
rewarded and warmly welcomed tothe Paradise of Allaah, while those
with bad records will be punished and cast into hell.
6. A Muslim believes thatwhatever happens in thisworld is ordered and
predestined by Allaah.Allaah is the Most Wise, sowhatever He does has
a meaningful purpose, although at times we may fail to understand it
fully.

Dought & clear, - (Times of Prayers) - The people in his mosque pray Fajr before the proper time; should he pray with them?.

We face a problem regarding Fajr prayer. People are confused here
about this matter what to do. We pray Fajrand leave the masjid while
it still is dark outside. Do we have to attend this congregation in
Fajr prayer? Or shall I pray athome when Fajr actual time comes?
Please answer my question because I am confused.
Praise be to Allaah.
Firstly:
The time for Fajr starts with the second dawn (the true dawn) which
isthe horizontal whitenessthat spreads along the horizon right and
left, and the time lasts until the sun rises.
In the answer to question no. 26763we discussed the mistake that many
people make by relying on timetables to define the time for Fajr, and
that most of these timetables do not give the proper time for the true
dawn. This has been stated by more than one of the scholars.
Contemporary scholars differed concerning the extent of this error.
Some of them said that itis no more than five minutes, and some said
that it is approximately thirty minutes.
We do not know what the situation is in your city, but the people of
each city should appoint a group of trustworthy scholars to find out
the time for Fajr and inform the people of it, and warn them against
following timetables if itis proven that they are wrong.
No one should claim thatthe prayer is being donebefore the time begins
unless he has proof, especially since finding out the actual time of
dawn is very difficult in cities and inhabited areas, because the
light of dawn is mixed with the lights of the city.
Shaykh Ibn 'Uthaymeen (may Allaah have mercy on him) was asked about a
congregation who did not know the time of Fajr and they prayed it
based on information from someone whom they trusted, but some of them
had doubts.
He replied: So long as they trust him and knowthat this man has
knowledge about the beginning of the time (for prayer), there is no
sin on them, because they did not know that they were praying before
the time began. Ifthey did not know and they accepted the word of this
man whom they trust, then there is no blame on them. But one should
take precautions so long as there is some doubt, and not pray until he
thinks it most likely or is certain, and he should alert the
congregation to that, and suggest to them to wait five minutes or ten
minutes, and that will not harm them, because waiting five or ten or
fifteen minutes is better than praying even one minute too early. End
quote fromFataawa al-Shaykh Ibn 'Uthaymeen, vol. 12, question no. 146.
Secondly:
You should advise the people in this mosque todelay the prayer until
they think it most likely that the time has begun, and if they respond
thenpraise be to Allaah.
But if they insist on whatthey are doing – and youthink that they are
praying before the time for prayer begins – then look for another
mosquethat starts the prayer later, so that your not praying Fajr in
the mosque will not make people think badly of you, and think that you
are sleeping and missingthe prayer, and so that you will not be
depriving yourself of thereward for going to the mosque, and so that
you will not become lazy about praying later on. Then go back home and
repeat the prayer with your family in congregation after the time
begins. This is whatShaykh al-Albaani (may Allaah have mercy on him)
advised when he was asked: Do you advise me to offer the obligatory
prayer of Fajr in the mosque or at home? [Because the people in the
mosque offered the Fajr prayer before dawn].
He replied:
I advise him to do two things together: He should go to the mosqueand
if they offer the obligatory prayer beforethe proper time, it will be
naafil for him. Then he should go back home and offer the obligatory
prayer on time, and in particular he should pray with his family. But
there is something that is more obligatory, but not everyone can
fulfil this obligation, which is alerting the people of the mosque to
this serious matter… end quote.
Silsilat al-Huda wa'l-Noortape no. 767, minute 32.
And Allaah knows best.

Dought & clear, - (Times of Prayers) - Difference in the timing of Fajr and Maghrib prayers in Bahrain and Dammam.

This question is regarding Ramadaan in Bahrain. I live in Dammam, and
it is known that the prayer times in both Dammam and Bahrain are the
same as they are very close to each other. This year I heard that Fajr
time in Bahrain is after its time in Dammam, and Maghrib time in
Bahrain is before its time in Dammam. I think, and Allah knows best,
that there is a mistake in the calendar. If this mistake in Bahrain,
does it mean that they have Suhoor after Fajr time, and break their
fast before sunset?.
Praise be to Allaah.
The time for Fajr prayer begins with the second dawn, which is the
white line that appears across the horizon right and left. This is the
true dawn. As for the false dawn, it is the vertical white lines in
the sky which appear from top to bottom, like sticks. This happens
approximately twenty minutes before the true dawn, and may be more or
less depending on theseason.
As for the time of Maghrib, it begins when the sun sets. There is
nothing wrong with following timetables, unless they are proven to be
mistaken.
Referring to the timetable of Umm al-Qura, it shows that thetime for
Fajr on 5 Ramadaan 1428 AH/16 September 2007 CE in Manama is 4:01
a.m., andthe time for Maghrib is 5:42 p.m.
The time for Fajr in Dammam is 4:03 a.m. and the time for Maghrib is 5:44 p.m.
It is the same throughout the month; the time for Fajr and Maghrib in
Bahrain is a few minutes ahead of the times in Dammam.
Perhaps you may consultthe body responsible for timetables in Bahrain,
tofind a reliable timetable and to find out whether what you have
heard about the time of Fajr being late this year is true.
And Allaah knows best.

Dought & clear, - (Times of Prayers) - Prayer and fasting of a prisoner who does not know anything about time.

How can a person who is jailed in an underground room pray, while he
is chained, heedless aboutprayer times, and does not know that
Ramadanstarted?.
Praise be to Allaah.
Firstly:
We ask Allaah to grant all Muslim prisoners a rapid release, and to
grant them patience andconsolation by His bounty, and to fill their
hearts with peace and certainty of faith, and to make easy for the
Muslims a way of guidance whereby His close friends will be honoured
and His enemies will be humiliated.
Secondly:
The scholars have determined that prayer and fasting are not waived
for prisoners and detainees, and that what they must do is to try
their best to work out the right times. If theprisoner thinks it most
likely that the time for prayer has come, then he should pray, and if
hethinks it most likely that Ramadaan has come, then he should fast.
He can work out the times by noting the times when he is fed, or by
asking the guards and soon.
If he tries to work out the right time for praying and fasting, then
his worship will be valid and acceptable, whether he finds out later
on that he did it at the right time, or after it,or he does not find
out anything, because Allaahsays (interpretation of the meaning):
"Allaah burdens not a person beyond his scope"
[al-Baqarah 2:286]
"Allaah puts no burden on any person beyond what He has given him"
[al-Talaaq 65:7]
But if he finds out that he fasted on the days of Eid, he should make
them up, because fastingon the days of Eid is not valid.
But if he finds out later on that that he prayed or fasted before the
proper time, then he hasto repeat the fast or prayer.
It says inal-Mawsoo'ah al-Fiqhiyyah(28/84-85):
The majority of fuqaha' are of the view that if the months all seem to
be the same to a person, the fast of Ramadaan is not waived in his
case, rather it is still obligatory because he remains accountable and
the ruling still applies to him.
If he tries to work it out and he fasts, then one ofthe following five
scenarios must apply to him:
1 – The problem continues and he cannotfind out, so he does not know
whether he managed to fast at the time of Ramadaan or before it or
after it. In this case his fast is valid and he does not have to
repeat it, because he didhis best, and he is not required to do any
morethan that.
2 – The fast of the prisoner coincided with Ramadaan, so that is acceptable.
3 – If his fast happened to be after Ramadaan, that is also acceptable
according to the majority of fuqaha'.
4 – There are two possibilities with the fourth scenario:
(i)If he started fasting before Ramadaan, and he finds out about that
before Ramadaan comes, then he must fastwhen Ramadaan comes, and there
is no difference of opinion among the scholars concerning that.
(ii)If he started fasting before Ramadaan and he did not find out
about that until after it had finished. There are two opinions as to
whether this is acceptable:
(a)It is not acceptable for Ramadaan, rather he has to make it up.
This is the view of the Maalikis and Hanbalis.
(b)It is acceptable as Ramadaan, just as if the pilgrims are uncertain
ofthe day of 'Arafah and they observe the standing before the day.This
is the view of some of the Shaafa'is.
5 – If the fast of the prisoner coincides with one part of Ramadaan
and not the other; that which coincides with Ramadaan or comes after
it is acceptable, and that which comes before it is not acceptable.
End quote.
See:al-Majmoo'(3/72-73)andal-Mughni(3/96)
And Allaah knows best.

Moral Stories, - Perseverance, Persistenceand Determination in Islam - Never Give Up(Perseverance in Islam)

A man woke up early in order to pray the Fajr (Morning) prayer in the
Masjid (Mosque). He got dressed, made his Wudhu(ablution) and was on
hisway to the Masjid.
On his way to the Masjid, the man fell and his clothes got dirty. He
got up, brushed himself off, and headed back home. At home, he changed
his clothes, made his ablution, and was, again,on his way to the
Masjid. On his way to the Masjid, he fell again and at the same spot!
He, again, got up, brushed himself off and headed home. At home he,
once again, changed his clothes, made his ablution and was on his way
to the Masjid.
On his way to the Masjid, he met a man holding a lamp. He asked the
man of his identity and the man replied "I saw you fall twice on your
way to the Masjid, so I brought alamp so I can light your way." The
first man thanked him profoundly and the two were on their way to the
Masjid.
Once at the Masjid, the first man asked the man with the lamp to come
in and pray Fajr with him. The second man refused. The first man asked
him acouple more times and, again, the answer was the same. The first
man asked him why he did not wish to come in and pray.
The man replied "I am Shaitan (Satan)." The man was shocked at this
reply. Shaitan (Satan) went on to explain, "I saw you on your way to
the Masjid and it was I who made you fall. Whenyou went home, cleaned
yourself and went back on your way to the Masjid, Allah (SWT) forgave
all of your sins. I made you fall a second time, and even that did not
encourage you to stay home, but rather, you went back on your way to
the Masjid. Because of that, Allah (SWT) forgave all the sins of the
people of your household. I was afraid ifI made you fall one more
time, then Allah (SWT) will forgive the sins of the people of your
village, so I made sure that you reached the Masjid safely."
Moral:Do not let Shaitan (Satan) benefit from his actions. Do not put
off a good that you intended to do as you never know how much reward
you might receive from the hardships you encounter while trying to
achieve that good.

Moral Stories, - Persistent Determination:You are not inferior to anAnt - Never Give Up(Perseverance in Islam)

Tamerlane! Amir Timur was a great Mongolian King and great great
grandfather of Babur, the founder of the Mughal Dynastyin India. He
was one of the bravest and greatest warriors born in present
Uzbekistan. He had conquered nearly half of the world known at that
time. His courage was great. Amir Taimur, was someone who was so firm
and unfaltering in every predicament, that he did not cower from any
misfortune. He learntfrom an Ant not to loose courage. He tells his
own story as follows.
Once he was fighting a battle. He was defeated. He had to run away to
the mountains to save hislife. He hid himself in a safe place. Tired
and hungry he sat at one place quietly watching little things around
him. He noticed an Ant working. The Ant was carrying a grain of rice
much bigger than itself. With this load the Ant tried to climb up a
wall. The grain fell down. The Ant came down and liftedthe grain once
again. It started to climb the wall. Again the grain fell downand
again it went down to try. The Ant did not loose courage. It tried
again and again. The King tells us that the Ant tried thirty three
times until it succeeded in taking the grain up the wall. The King
learnt a lesson. Man looses courage. He was weak. He must grow strong.
I said to myself: O' Taimur! You are by no means inferior to an Ant.
Arise and get back to work. So heartened, he went about collecting
hisrun-away soldiers and officers. He rebuilt his army. He fought yet
another battle. He won. Thereafter, one success after another came to
him. He had learnt not to loose courage. He continued to battle until
he became a great King.
Constant effort is the key to success. Ants know their lesson. Men
have to learn. Never loose courage. Islam teaches true values of life.
It teaches human beings not to despair. Each one must try harder and
achieve greater results inlife.
Noble Qur'an teaches:"And that there is nothingfor man except what he
tried, His efforts shall be seen. And rewarded to fullest extent."
(Sura An-Najm 53:39-41)
Moral:Falling down is notdefeat...defeat is when you refuse to get up...