The story of Prophet Saalih – I

After the destruction of 'Aad, the people of Prophet Houd Thamood, the
people of Prophet Saalih succeeded them in power and glory. They, like
their predecessors, fell to idol-worshipping. As their material wealth
increased so, too, did their evil ways, while their virtue decreased.
Like the people of 'Aad, they erected huge buildings on the plains and
hewed beautiful homes out of the hills. Tyranny and oppression became
prevalent as evil men ruled the land.
Allaah, the Exalted, sent unto them His Prophet Saalih a man from
among them. His full name was Saalih Ibn Ubeid Ibn Maseh Ibn Ubeid Ibn
Hader Ibn Thamood Ibn Ather Ibn Eram, Ibn Noah (Nooh ). He called his
people to worship Allaah alone, and not to associate any partners with
Him. While some of them believed him, the majority of themdisbelieved
and harmed him by both words and deeds. Allaah Said in the Quran (what
means): "And to Thamood [We sent] their brother Saalih.He said, 'O my
people, worship Allaah; you have no deity other than Him...' " [Quran
11:61]
Prophet Saalih was known for his wisdom, purity and goodness and had
been greatly respected by his people before Allaah's revelationcame to
him. Almighty Allaah mentions what his people said to him in the
Quranic verses (which mean): "O Saalih, you were among us a man of
promise before this. Do you forbid us to worship what our fathers
worshipped? And indeed we are, about that to which you invite us, in
disquieting doubt." [Quran 11:62]
They merely wanted to worship the same gods as their fathers had, with
no reason, no proof, and no thought. The proof of Prophet Saalih's
message was evident, but despite this, it was obvious that most of his
people did not believe him. They doubted his words, thinking he was
charmed, and they saw that he would not stop preaching. Fearing that
his followers would increase in number, they tried to put him off by
assigning him an important task; to prove that he was a messenger of
Allaah by performing amiracle. They asked him to let a unique
she-camel emerge from the mountains.
Allaah Almighty granted Prophet Saalih this miracle and a huge, unique
she-camel appeared from the direction of the mountain. The Quranic
commentators said that the people of Thamood gathered on a certain day
at their meeting place, and prophet Saalih came and addressed them to
believe in Allaah,reminding them of the favors Allaah had grantedthem.
Then, pointing at a rock, they demanded: "Ask your Lord to make a
she-camel, which must be10 months pregnant, tall and attractive, issue
fromthe rock for us." Prophet Saalih replied: "Look now! If Allaah
sends you what you have requested, just as you have described, will
you believe in that which I have come to you with and have faith in
the message I have been sentwith?" They answered: "Yes." So he took a
vow from them on this, and then prayed to Allaah, The Almighty, to
grant their request. Allaah ordered the distant rock to split asunder,
to bring forth a great ten-month pregnant she-camel. When their eyes
set on it,they were amazed. They saw a great thing, a wonderful sight,
a dazzling power and clearevidence!
A number of Prophet Saalih's people believed, yet most of them
continued in their disbelief, stubbornness, and going astray. Allaah,
the Almighty, said in the Noble Quran (what means): "And We gave
Thamood the she-camel as a visible sign, but they wronged her." [Quran
17:59] And (what means): "And certainly did the companions of al-Hijr
(628) [i.e. the Thamood] deny the messengers." [Quran 15:80-81]
There are a number of accounts by Quranic commentators of this
she-camel and its miraculous nature. It wassaid that the she-camel was
miraculous because a rock in the mountain split open and it came forth
from it, followed byits young offspring. Otheraccounts said that the
she-camel used to drink all the water in the wells in one day, and no
other animals could approach the water. Still others claimed that the
she-camel produced milk sufficient for all the people to drink, on the
same day that it drank allthe water, leaving none for them.
At first, the people of Thamood were greatly surprised when the
she-camel emerged from the mountain rocks. It was a blessed beast, and
its milk sufficient for thousands of men, women and children. If
itslept in a place that placewas abandoned by other animals. Thus it
was obvious that is was not an ordinary she-camel, but one of Allaah's
signs.
Their hatred of Prophet Saalih turned towardsthe blessed she-camel and
became centered on it. A conspiracy started to be hatched against the
miraculous beast by the disbelievers, and they secretly plotted
against it.
Prophet Saalih feared that they might kill her, so he warned them
saying (what means): "And O my people, this is the she-camel of Allaah
— [she is] to you a sign. So let her feed upon Allaah's earth and do
not touch her with harm, or you will be taken by an impending
punishment. " [Quran 11:64]
For a while, Prophet Saalih's people let the camel graze and drink
freely, but in their hearts they hated it. However, the miraculous
appearance of the unique she-camel caused many to become his
followers, and they clungto their belief in Allaah.
The disbelievers now began complaining that this huge she-camel with
its unusual qualities drank most of the water and frightened their
cattle.
They laid a plot to kill thebeast, and sought the help of their women
folk to tempt the men to carryout their commands. A lady named Saduq
Bint Mahya, who was from a rich and noble family, offered herself to a
young man named Masrai Ibn Mahraj on condition that he hamstrings the
she-camel. Aneezah, an old woman, offered one of her daughters to a
young man, Qudaar Ibn Saluf, in return for killingthe she-camel.
Naturally, these young men were tempted and set about finding seven
others to assist them.

Protecting our Children from Lying - I

The doorbell rang in the house of the grandfather, and four-year-old
Fahd ran toopen the door. Soon, he returned running and jumping,
announcing thevisitor to his grandfather, "Grandpa! Shaykh Al
'Uthaymeen is waiting for you in the salon."
The grandfather smiled and asked inquiringly, "Who is it Fahd? Talk seriously."
Fahd said insistently, "By Allaah, grandpa, Shaykh Al 'Uthaymeen is
sitting inthe salon."
The grandfather went to receive his guest and returned soon to hold
back the mother of Fahd from punishing him saying, "Leave him
daughter, Fahd did not lie. The day before yesterday, he heard me
talking to you about Shaykh Al 'Uthaymeen, May Allaah have mercy upon
him, whom I described as a slim round-faced man, with large eyes and a
thick white beard. When Fahd saw my friend Hajj Husayn, who has come
tovisit us, with the same appearance, he imaginedthat it was Shaykh Al
'Uthaymeen!"
Dear parent,
Lying is one of the most disturbing challenges for the one assuming
the child's upbringing, when the liar is his child. Just
astruthfulness is the summit of good morals, lying is among the most
hateful bad morals and attributes and one should do his best not to
allow it be one of the characteristics of his children, as it is a
blameworthy attribute and a prohibited behavior rejected by noble
souls.
In spite of the great importance of truthfulness in building the
child's personality, the attribute of lying is a prevalent behavior
among many children.
The parent is more confused when he sees his child lying repeatedly in
different contexts and situations. The parent here faces a real
problem: Why does his child lie? How should he prevent him from lying?
What is considered lying in children?
In order to treat the child's lying, we should study each situation in
which he lies individually, and get acquainted with the real motive
for his lying, and whether it goes back to his desire to have a good
appearance and conceal his feeling of inferiority, or whether it is
due to the child's extensive imagination and his failure to remember
events well. We also should wonder: Is lying instinctive or an
acquiredcharacteristic? Are there different kinds of lying among
children? What causes a child to lie? Is there a way to prevent the
child from lying and how should we treat the liar?
Dear parent and mentor,
Here are the answers to all those questions. Let usexplore this
article, in order to convey our children to the shore of truthfulness,
where Allaah The Almighty commanded us to be, as He Says (what means):
} O you who have believed, fear Allaah and be with those who are true.
{ [Quran 9:119]
First of all, we like to know, in some detail, about the concept and
manifestations of lying.
In his definition of lying, Dr. Ahmad Az-Zu'bi, Professor of
psychotherapy, says, "Lying is to tell something untrue in word, deed
and behavior, with the intention to cheat and deceive another person
to get a particular benefit, or get rid of something unpleasant." He
adds, "Lying, in this sense, is an abnormal habit and attitude that is
acquired by the child from the environment in which he lives."
Lying is an acquired and not an instinctive or hereditary behavior:
The child is not born a liar. However, there are many causes which
lead him to lie. That finding is confirmed by both psychologists and
educationists who see that children are born with a pure disposition,
and learn, step by step, truthfulness and honesty from their
environment ifthose surrounding them observe truthfulness in their
words and promises. Nevertheless, if the child is brought up in an
environment where the people are deceitful, evasive and doubtful, he
is more likely to learn the same behavioral attitudes in facing his
life and achieving his goals.
When the child lives in anenvironment which does not help to direct
and train him in the attitudes of truthfulness, it becomes easier for
him to lie -- especially if he has the capability of speaking fluently
and hasa fertile imagination.
Those two faculties, in addition to his imitating those surrounding
him who resort to lying and fabricate lame excuses to get out of
different situations, train him to liefrom his early childhood until
it becomes familiar to him and a habit.
Based on that, lying is an acquired and learnt and is not instinctive
or a hereditary behavior and attribute.
On the other hand, children may lie at different levels, some stronger
and worse than others. Those include:
Hiding a part of the reality:
If lying is to tell something that is different from the reality or
the facts, children mayincline to conceal even a simple part of the
fact, for some purpose or benefit they like in their view. For
example, a child may narrate a certain event completely except a
simple part just for the sake of entertainment.
Complete concealment:
In this case, the child inclines to conceal the event entirely. A
typical example is the school certificate: many childrentake the
school certificate and return it once again to the class teacher
without showingit to their parents.
Adding something to reality:
Some children, especially those who are young, may like to add some
details to the event whenrelating it, for the sake ofembellishment,
modification, drawing the attention of others orthinking those details
may really happen. For example, when the child says to his mother, "
My father told me to go to the grocery store to buy a bottle of
mineral water for him" and this is a reality, then he adds, "And told
me to keep the change to buy some sweets for myself" and this addition
is a lie which did not take place.
Fabrication:
This is the worst and the most terrible level of lying, where the
child fabricates an illusory story from his own imagination for a
certain purpose. Unfortunately, the child may swear that his claim is
true.

Maintaining Discipline in Worship

'Abdullaah would rise before Fajr (dawn) each morning and rush tothe
Mosque to offer the prayer. He would return to the Mosque for Maghrib
(sunset) and 'Ishaa' (evening) prayers as well. He readthe Quran
daily. He studied other Islamic books in his spare time. He spent much
of his free time with his family and took his role as the spiritual
leader in his home quite seriously .
Five years later, he found that he would go days, sometimes a whole
week without performing a single prayer. He no longer attends
congregational prayer at the Mosque—he didn't have time with his new
job. This new job involved his working closely in nightclub
establishments with people of questionable backgrounds. This resulted
in his becoming very secretive about many of his work activities; he
didn't even talk to his wife about them because he knew she would
disapprove. Work kept him busy all night and throughout the entire
weekend. Many of his new friends also worked with him and he began to
spend a great deal of his free time with them. Because of this, he
spent less time with his family. He had to sleep during theday in
order to be able to work each night.
His wife noticed a great change inhis demeanor. They had several
discussions about his work and how it was affecting him and his
relationship with Allaah Almighty. He agreed, and would begin the
process of searching for new work, but inevitably, chose to stay in
his current job. He soon found himself feeling very distanced from his
wife and children. Even though the money was abundant when he first
began, it was now barely paying the bills.
He felt his marriage crumbling beneath the years of neglect. He found
himself succumbing to depression over his circumstances, unmotivated
to initiate the things he knew he would have to do in order for his
life to change .
It is interesting to note that 'Abdullaah's life seemed much more
peaceful and balanced when he engaged in his regular religious duties,
and began to suffer significantly when he abandoned them .
Could this simply be a coincidence? Imaam Mohammad Baianouni of the
Islamic Center inRaleigh, North Carolina accuratelysums up situations
like this stating: "The regulation of a man's conduct within one
systemof life is one of the most important reasons of success
andstability. The absence of this regulation is one of the greatest
crises a man suffers from in his life. This happens when man is left
without guidance from Allaah, The Most High, or without proper
upbringing based on the Divine Guidance. Under these circumstances,
man's life becomes miserable on this earth and he will be amongst the
losers in the Hereafter".
A religion of discipline
It is only from the infinite wisdom and mercy of Allaah that we have
been given a system of belief that instructs and assists inguiding our
actions and behavior.By participating in the daily obligations of our
faith outlined in the Quran and the Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad we
are more likely to enjoy Allaah's bounty in this life, and reap the
rewards in the Hereafter. Allaah Almighty ordered all believers to be
disciplined in their worship, and not to disobey Him. In the Quran,
Allaah Says (what means) " So remain on a right course as you have
been commanded, [you]and those who have turned back with you [to
Allaah], and do not transgress. Indeed, He is Seeing of what you do. "
[Quran 11: 112]
The intensity of our faith changesthroughout our lives. There are
times when we are of strong faith, and times when we struggle. Many
brothers and sisters who proudly claim Islam as their religion
unintentionally find themselves "slipping" in their religious duties.
Seemingly overnight their lives go from pleasurable and carefree to
darkness and confusion. You maybegin to acknowledge that you have
landed in such a state because of the choices you made,but you are
lost as to how to go about changing things.
Being steadfast in our duties to Allaah Almighty is what keeps you
from languishing during yourdarker moments. Remember thatyour ultimate
return is to Him Almighty, so you must develop discipline and a
consistency in your daily routine to keep your faith from sinking.
Developing discipline
Recognizing your shortcomings isthe first step towards becoming more
disciplined. Allaah AlmightySays (what means): "…Indeed, Allaah will
not change the condition of a people until they change what is in
themselves..." [Quran 13: 11] When you decide to change for the sake
of Allaah Almighty, Allaah will help you change. Each one is
responsible for oneself and will be questioned accordingly on the Day
of Judgment, with no one to intercede on your behalf. You must make
the choice to live yourlife according to Allaah's Will on your own.
You will not benefit from being told about what you need to do and how
you need to change in order to have a more fulfilling life. You must
take an interest in making those changesfor yourself. Only then can
you reap the rewards. Think about the wives of the Prophets Noah and
Loot, may Allaah exalt their mention. Each Prophet tried
unsuccessfully to offer the best guidance to his wife, but
becausethere was no real interest on their part, it was said to each
of women (what means): "…Enter the Fire with those who enter!" [Quran
66: 10]
I have a good friend who was going through a very rough time.Her faith
was at an all time low. During several of our conversations, she
lamented thatAllaah Almighty was punishing her for not being a "good
Muslim." I asked her: "Why must Allaah be punishing you? Allaah puts
us through many tests and trials in this life to give us the chance to
know Him better." We debated back and forth about this for some time.
She was reallystuck in the debts of despair, andfound my comments
annoyingly optimistic. I reminded her that Allaah Almighty is also
Merciful and that this trial for her could be the wake up call she
needed to have an opportunity to renew and redeem her faith and become
closer to Him Almighty. Perhaps Allaah had to put her through such
difficulty to get her attention and give her a chance to make changes
.
There are many things you can doto establish discipline in your daily
life. Such consistency not only balances our faith, but all other
aspects of our lives as well :
Evaluate yourself regularly to make certain you are doing all that you
can spiritually.
Perform your daily prayers punctually each day.
Read the Quran regularly, with aneffort to truly understand what you
are reading.
Seek knowledge regularly, religious and other, through books,
CDs/tapes, classes and lectures.
Keep company with righteous people.
Have confidence in your faith and,more importantly, in Allaah Almighty.
Regularly spend some time alone in contemplation and worship.
Islam is a complete way of life. Asbelievers, we should desire the
discipline that allows us to regulate our lives and keep chaosaway. In
choosing this way of life,peace and contentment are your right.
Discipline comes as a resultof performing certain duties consistently.
Ask Allaah to help you to establish discipline in yourreligious
commitment and to be able to submit to all that pleases Him Almighty.

Jumma Prayers - , Khutbah al-Haajah

What is the Arabic, English transliteration and the English meaningof
khutbah al-Haajah. It is what the Imam says when the jumah starts. I
heard many speakers begin their talks with this and I would like to
learn it. Insha'allah
Praise be to Allaah.
A number of hadeeth scholars, such as Imaam al-Nisaa'i (may Allaah
have mercy on him), have reported Khutbah al-Haajah. Al-Nisaa'i
reported that 'Abd-Allaah ibn Mas'ood (may Allaah be pleased with him)
said: "The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) taught
us Khutbat al-Haajah: Al-hamdu Lillaahi nasta'eenahu wa nastaghfiruhu,
wa na'oodhu billaahi min shuroori anfusinaa wa sayi'aati a'maalinaa.
Manyahdih Illaahu falaa mudilla lahu wa man yudlil falaa haadiya
lahu.Wa ashhadu an laa ilaaha ill-Allaah wa ashhadu anna Muhammadan
'abduhu wa rasooluhu (Praise be to Allaah, we seek His help and His
forgiveness.We seek refuge with Allaah from the evil of our own souls
and from our bad deeds. Whomsoever Allaah guides will never be led
astray, and whomsoever Allaah leaves astray, no one can guide. I bear
witness that there is no god but Allaah, and I bear witness that
Muhammad is His slave and Messenger). Then herecited the following
three aayaat (interpretation of the meaning): 'Yaa ayyuha'lladheena
aamanu-ttaqu'Llaaha haqqa tuqaatihi wa laa tamootunna illaa wa antum
muslimoon (O youwho believe! Fear Allaah as He should be feared, and
die not except in a state of Islam (as Muslims) with complete
submission to Allaah.)' [Aal 'Imraan 3:102], 'Yaa ayyuha'n-naas uttaqu
rabbakum alladhi khalaqakum min nafsin waahidatin wa khalaqa minhaa
zawjahaa wa baththa minhumaa rijaalan katheeran wa nisaa'an
wa'ttaqu-Llaah alladhi tasaa'aloona bihiwa'l-arhaama inna Allaaha
kaana 'alaykum raqeeban (O mankind! Be dutiful to your Lord, Who
created you from a single person, and from him He created his wife,
and from them both He created many men and women, and fear Allaah
through Whom you demand your mutual (rights), and (do not cut the
relations of) the wombs (kinship) Surely, Allaah is Ever an
All-Watcher over you).' [al-Nisaa' 4:1], 'Yaa ayyahu'lladheena
aamanu-ttaqu'Llaaha waqooloo qawlan sadeedan (O you who believe! Keep
your duty to Allaah and fear Him, and speak (always) the truth).'
[al-Ahzaab 33:70]." (Sunan al-Nisaa'i: Kitaab al-Jumu'ah, Baab
kayfiyyah al-khutbah). The hadeeth scholar Shaykh Muhammad Naasir
al-Deen al-Albaanidevoted a chapter to it in which he compiled all its
isnaads and commented on it. And Allaah knows best.

Jumma Prayers - , It is incorrect to pray Dhuhr after Jumu’ah prayer

I heard from some imams that under the following situations we have to
pray another 4 rakat Fard zuhur prayer (noon prayer) after the 2rakat
Juma (Friday) prayer, is it true?
1. if we are far from Saudi Arabia or
2. if we are not staying in an Islamic Countryor
3. if we don't have any Islamic leader as ourgovernment in the country
Kindly answer my question, since I found that many old people they
follow these in our country, however, I didn't find any Hadith
relating to these things.
May Allah (s.w.t) bless you. Thank you.
Praise be to Allaah.
Praying four rak'ahs after Jumu'ah prayer is the opinion of some
Madhhabs, and has nothing to do with staying in Makkah or far away, or
being in an Islaamic country or not, or whether or not there is a
khaleefah. The existence or permission of a khaleefah is not a
condition for Friday prayers being obligatoryor valid, according to
Ahlal-Sunnah wa'l-Jamaa'ah. (Fataawaal-Lajnah al-Daa'imah, 8/187)
Having dealt with what you have heard from people who have no
knowledge, but who areunfortunately in the position of "imaams," as
you said, we move on to the basic issue of offering salaat al-dhuhr
after salaat al-jumu'ah. Our answer to this question is that the
truthis the opinion of the scholars, most of whom say that there is no
basis in sharee'ah for offeringdhuhr prayer after jumu'ah prayer if a
person has prayed jumu'ah. The one who misses jumu'ah or does not
attend it because it is not an obligation for him or her, such as
women, sick people or travellers, must pray dhuhr. It was never
reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)
or any of his Companions prayed dhuhr after praying jumu'ah. If he had
done so, there would be reports to that effect.
We ask Allaah to give you and us help and strength. May Allaah bless
our Prophet Muhammad .

Islamic Stories - , Hidden under the tongue - the story of two slaves

Once a king purchased 2 slaves. One of them was very handsome while
the other was very ugly.
The king asked the handsome slave to go and take a bath. While he was
away the king turned to the other slaveand said "Your companion has
given a very bad account of you,he said that you are a thief and of
bad character. Is this correct?"
The slave replied that hiscompanion was a handsome person, and his
exterior beauty must be reflected by inward beauty as well. He could
not believe that such a beautiful man could tell a lie. He therefore
said"If my companion has a bad opinion about me, there must certainly
be something wrong with me. I am afraid he must be correct."
The king observed that beauty was only an Allahgiven gift, and it did
not follow that a person who had a handsome face had a pure heart as
well.
The king was greatly impressed with the character and intelligence of
this slave.In the meantime, the first slave had returned from his
bath.
The king sent the secondslave (i.e. the ugly slave to have a bath) and
in his absence told the handsome slave that his fellow slave had given
a bad account of him. On hearing this, the slave burst into invectives
against his companion and said that he was a rascal and a liar.
The king thus came to the conclusion that the slave with a beautiful
face had no inner worth while the slave with an ugly face had much
inner worth.
The moral of the story is that beauty is only skin deep. All that
glitters is not gold. "Every man is hidden under his own tongue" The
tongue reveals the inner intelligence as well as inner vileness . "The
safety of a man lies in holding his tongue"
Rasulullaah (s.a.w.s) said:" He who is silent is successful!"

Islamic Stories - , What's the point of going to Jumah?

A Muslim wrote a letter to the editor of the Jammat newspaper and
complained that it made no sense to go to Mosque every Friday.
"I've gone for 30 years now," he wrote, "and in that time I have heard
something like 3,000 sermons. But for the life of me I can't remember
asingle one of them. So I think I'm wasting my time . . . and the
Imaam they are wasting theirs by giving sermons at all."
This started a real controversy in the"Letters to the Editor" column,
much to the dismay of the editor. It went on for weeks until someone
wrote this clincher:
"I've been married for 30 years now. In that time my wife has
cookedsome 32,000 meals. But for the life of me, I cannot recall what
the menu was for a single one of those meals. But I do know this: they
all nourished me and gave me the strength I needed to do my work. If
my wife had not given me those meals, I would be dead today."
No comments were made on the sermon contents anymore.
"The lips of the righteous nourish many .. ."

Dua's - ,

When meeting another Muslim
-
Prophet (SAW)'s Prayers
When meeting another Muslim
Say:
السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمُ وَرَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ
"May peace and Allah's mercy be upon you".
The other Muslims reply
وَعَلَيْكُمُ السَّلَامُ وَرَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ
"May peace and Allah's blessing be on you as well".
If the words وَرَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ are not added in the greeting, then
the reply is valid but when the related words are increased, the
reward also increases. Once, a person entered the court of Prophet
Mohammad (SAW.) and said
السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ
Prophet Mohammad (SAW.) replied to the salaam and said that he had
received ten rewards. The another greeted
السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمُ وَرَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ
Prophet Mohammad (SAW.) replied to the salaam and said that he had
received twenty rewards. The another greeted
السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمُ وَرَحْمَةُ اللَّهِوَبَرَكَاتُهُ
Prophet Mohammad (SAW.) replied to the salaam and said that he had
received 30 rewards.Thereafter another person came and greetedand
السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمُ وَرَحْمَةُ اللَّهِوَبَرَكَاتُهُ وَمَغْفِرَتُهُ
Prophet Mohammad (SAW.) replied to the salaam and said that he had
received 40 rewards and stated that as a rule that the reward
increasesin this manner.
(Abu Dawood, Mishkat)
Return a greeting with atleast the same amount of words with which the
greeting one used. It is best that the amount of words is increased in
the reply.
Allah says:
فَحَيُّوا بِأَحْسَنَ مِنْهَا أَوْ
رُدُّوهَا*******************************************************
Returning Salaam
-
Prophet (SAW)'s Prayers
Returning Salaam
If a Muslim sends salaams to another, it should returned in this manner
وَعَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ وَرَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ
"On him be safety, Allah's mercy and blessings".
Reply to the person conveying the salaam on behalf of another
وَعَلَيْكَ وَعَلَيْهِ السَّلَامُ
"Safety be on you and him.
(Hinsul Hasin)
Muslim brethren should shake hands with salaams. Prophet Mohammad
(S.A.W.) stated that if two Muslimsmeet and shake hands, their minor
sins are forgiven before they part.
(Tirmidhi)
It is narrated by Abu Dawood that when Muslims shake hands on meeting,
praise Allah andmake dua for forgiveness, then they are forgiven.
(Mishkat)
*******************************************************
When sneezing
-
Prophet (SAW)'s Prayers
Dua when sneezing
Say:
الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ
"All praise is for Allah".
*******************************************************
When hearing someone sneeze
-
Prophet (SAW)'s Prayers
When hearing someone sneeze
Say to the one who sneezes:
يَرْحَمُكَ اللَّهُ
"May Allah have mercy onyou".
The person sneezing should then reply
يَهْدِيكُمُ اللَّهُ وَيُصْلِحُ بَالَكُمْ
"May Allah keep you on hidayat (guidance) and make proper your condition.
(Mishkat, Bukhari)
If the sneezing person is a woman, the reply is with a kasrah (zer) on the kaaf.
If the sneezing person dose not recite"Alhamdulillaah" then it is not
necessary to reply but if he does say so thenit is waajib reply.
If the sneezing person has flu or any other difficulty which results
in repeated sneezes then it is not necessary to reply after the third
time.
(Mishkat)
To regard the sneeze as abad omen: One should not take or see anything
as bad omen as it is stated as being Shirk in the hadith.
(Hisnul Hasin)*******************************************************

Today's Yahoo news-Supreme Court to rule today on wearing a niqab can be worn while testifying - OTTAWA - The Supreme Court of Canada rules this morning on whether a Muslim woman can wear a religious veil known as a niqab while testifying against two men she claims sexually assaulted her when she was a child. Due to a publication ban, the Toronto woman can only be identified as N.S. The woman accuses two relatives of sexually assaulting her over a four-year period that ended when she reached the age of 10. The two accused claim the Charter of Rights and Freedoms allows them toconfront their accuser and observe her facial expressions as she testifies. But the woman's lawyers say facial expressions can be misleading, and add that Islamic sexual assault victims will be leery about going to police if they’re barred from wearing a niqab while testifying in court. In a preliminary hearing in 2008, N.S. said she cannot show her face to any men who are not close relatives. When the judge ord

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Sarah: Abraham's First Wife - Biography

Sarah was the only woman of Ibrahim's people to believe in Allah. She
afterwards became his wife. She stood by her husband all the time when
calling his people to Allah. When Ibrahim realized that no other than
his wife and his nephew, Lut, was going to believe in his call, he
decided to immigrate to a city caller Ur and another called Haran and
then departedfor Palestine with them. After Palestine, Ibrahim (peace
be upon him) arrived in Egypt.
Abu Hurairah narrated that Ibrahim did not tell alie except on three
occasions: twice for the sake of Allah (Exalted andAlmighty) when he
said:"I am sick," when his people were holding a festival in honor of
their gods, Ibrahim excused himself by saying he was sick, (Ch 37:89
Quran) andwhen he said: "(I have not done this but) the bigidol has
done it." The third was while Ibrahim and Sarah were on a journey.
They passed through the territory of atyrant. Someone said to the
tyrant: "This man Ibrahim is accompanied by a very charming lady."So,
he sent for Ibrahim and asked him about Sarah saying "Who is this
lady?" Ibrahim said: "She is my sister." Ibrahim went to Sarah and
said"O Sarah! There are no believers on the surface of the earth
except you and me. This man asked me about you and I have told him
that you are my sister. Do not contradict my statement." The tyrant
then called Sarah, and when she went to him, he tried to take a hold
of her with his hand, with evil intentions, but his hand got stiff and
he was confounded. He asked Sarah: "Pray to Allah for me and I shall
not harm you." So Sarah asked Allah to cure him and he was cured. He
tried to take hold of her for the second time, but his handgot as
stiff as or stiffer than before and he was more comfounded. He again
requested Sarah:"Pray to Allah for me, andI will not harm you." Sarah
asked Allah to again, and he became all right. He then called one of
his guards who had brought her and said:"You have not brought me a
human being but have brought me a devil." The tyrant then gave Hajar
as a maid servant to Sarah. Ibrahim, gesturing with his hand, asked:
"What has happened?" Sarah replied: "Allah has spoiled the evil plot
of the infidel or immoral person and gave me Hajar for service."
Sarah had not born any children. Ibrahim had aged and his hair was
gray after many years spent in calling people toAllah. Sarah thought
she and Ibrahim were lonely because she could not have a child.
Therefore, she offered her husband her servant Hajar in marriage.
Hajar gave birth to her first son Ishmael (Isma'il) when Ibrahim was
an old man.
Time passed. One day Ibrahim was sitting outside his tent, three
angels descended to the earth. They came in human shapes and saluted
Ibrahim. Ibrahim arose and welcomed them. He took them inside his tent
thinking they were strangers and guests. He invited his guests to eat
and placed before them a sumptuousmeal of roasted calf. Theywere
angels and did not eat. The angels gave Sarah glad tidings of the
birth of a son, Isaac (Ishaq). She could hardly believe the news. As
a"barren old woman" the news seemed to her too good to be true. Allah
Almighty says:
There came Our messengers to Abraham with glad tidings. They said,
"Peace!" He answered, "Peace!" and hastened to entertain them with a
roasted calf. But when he saw their hands went not towards the (meal),
he felt some mistrust of them, and conceived a fear of them.They said:
"Fear not: We have been sent against the people of Lut." And his wife
was standing (there), and she laughed (either, because the Messengers
did not eat their food or for being glad for the destruction of the
people of Lut). But we gave her glad tidings of Isaac, and after him,
ofJacob. She said: "Alas for me! shall I bear a child, seeing I am an
old woman, and my husbandhere is an old man? That would indeed be a
wonderful thing!" They said: "Dost thou wonder at Allah's decree? The
grace of Allah and His blessings on you, O ye people of the house! for
He is indeed worthy of allpraise, full of all glory!" (Hud 11: 69-73)
And thus were Sarah and Ibrahim blessed with the miraculous birth of a
son in their old age.
Adapted from: Stories of the Prophets by Al-Imam Ibn Kathir

Story - , Moons Peak [FINISHED]- The Wolf Boy (chapter13)

A/N: I'm in the middle of editing this chapter, since I'm not quite
happywith it yet, but you can still read it ;D
***
I DON'T KNOW WHAT mademe follow the animal into the forest, or think
that it was a good idea todo so.
But I did. And I'd regretted it soon after once I noticed the open
calluses and bruises that were forming on my feet.
I hadn't realized my feet were killing me either, until now, which
serves me right for kicking my heels off earlier, and leaving my feet
vulnerable and bare.
In fact, I'd been so caughtup in finding Satchel, that I didn't think
to stop and take my luggage with me. I grimaced.
Great, now I look like I belong here.
Not only that, but this may be the only outfit I may have to wear for
therest of my life.
I patted my clothing down, hating the fact that they looked just as
bad as my feet as I noticed the brown splotches that now stained my
used-to-be-white button down jacket, and the rips on the knees from my
favorite jeans weren't there for fashion finesse either, since I'd
fallen over and tripped every sooften.
I look disgusting My thoughts scolded me. I sighed and moved
forward--limping slightly, casting away branches to avoid scratching my
face. God! Even my hands were growing callues.
Despite being the early morning, the tall pine trees allowed little to
no light at all.
So I could only make out the track, and the trees ahead of me. I
wrinkled my nose, following the strange musky scent that lingered in
my sinuses, and frowned.
Satchel's here? I scolded myself at the mere thought. Surely I didn't
know Satchel just by his scent.
Did I? No impossible.
I found my feet and I don't know what made me think he was near butthe
scent that I was smelling had something to do with him. I moved
gingerly toward the scent, and jumped when I heard a groan.
It was coming from the left of me.
I heard it again, but this time it sounded like a human cry. I frowned
and rushed forward, ignoring the pain in my feet.
"Hello? Is anybody there?!" I shouted. The groans were louder now as I
ran though the brush.
"Hello!" I shouted again, and I skidded to a halt when a figure
materialized from the clearing. I gasped.
It was a human boy lying on all fours, writhing uncontrollably on the ground.
The awful groans comingfrom his mouth sounded inhuman, and the fur
disappearing from his back made me blink continuously from the sight
of him. It looked like something was crawling under his skin.
Despite the fear emanating from me, I reluctantly stepped forward in
order to console him. I was vaguely aware of him being completely
naked, but that didn't seem to register, since I knew thisboy was
hurt.
It was impossible to see his face, because it was lowered in the dirt,
and his hair hung like a veil to hide his identity.
But that wasn't what made me fear this boy. No. It was the mutant way
his hands were formed, as if paws were molded to his arms. I blinked.
"Are you...are you okay?" I asked lamely. Of course he wasn't okay, but
I needed to know. He writhed again, and groaned loudly as the mutant
paws disappeared, changing back to human hands and feet. I wanted to
squeal at what was happening.
He didn't say anything as I pulled his hair away from his face, and
gasped. Covering my mouth.
"S-Satchel...?" I collapsed to the ground beside him, eyes bugging out.
"Oh. My. God. What happened to you?"
I held his hair away as hehurled. He was completely covered in dirt,
and a sheen of sweat glistened all over his body. I was horrified at
the sight of him.
As soon as he stopped vomiting. I took off my jacket to cover what
modesty he had left, and maneuvered him into therecovery position so
he was curled up facing me. I let his head lean in my lap for support.
"Who did this to you?" I whispered, running my hands over his face to
keep his hair out of his eyes. They were closed, so I kept cradling
him. Murmuring sweet nothings, to keep him from shaking.
"Will...y?"
"Shhhh. It's okay." I said, cradling him. Seeing a predatory animal
attack me was nothing compared to seeing Satchel like this.
In his vulnerable state I was terrified for him. His eyes finally
opened and pegged them on me. Light green eyes regarding me with what
looked like desolation. The sad state of them made me tear from his
gaze, as if they were saying 'don't look, go away' but his arms that
curled around my legs were holding me tight, begging me to stay.
"It's okay, you're safe with me." I murmured softly. He looked at me
with that oh so sad gaze.
"Didn't...want you...to seeme...like...this." He managed to choke between
heavy breaths. Ishook my head.
"Don't worry about what I think. As long as you're okay." I wasn't
sure whatI was thinking to be honest.
I found myself leaning down to kiss his forehead, not even realizing
I'd done it until after it.
His shakes calmed and hebegan to relax. We sat there in silence for
what felt like hours, just drinking in each others warmth. His mouth
twitched as he stared at me.
"You stayed." He said, after a while, and I was still holding him.
"Yeah. I guess, I didn't know I would miss home so much. Besides, I
couldn't quite detach myself from a certain someone." We shared a
'knowing' look and I smiled. His hand reached out to touch my hair.
He'd pulled a pine needleout of it.
"I thought New York was your home?" I smiled andshrugged. Liking that
he was Satchel again.
"Was. For a little while, but we all know this is my home...since I own it."
He sat up, and smiled when he saw my jacket, covering below his waist.
"You're sounding like theWilly I remember." He gotup to do something,
and I frowned when he held a pair of folded slacks in his hands. I
blushed, turning away so I could give him what little privacy he
could. Moments later he cleared his throat.
"It's okay, I'm decent." Hesaid, as I turned to meet his eyes again.
He wore those suspenders I'd grown accustomed to seeing him in, but
left hischest bare.
"You really think I'm the Willy you remember?" He nodded, and settled
backdown beside me. I was aware of his proximity again. I smiled.
"I want to be the Willy you remember. You makeme want to be her." He
leaned forward, brushingthe blonde strands out ofmy face, then smiled.
"You are her. You just choose to hide her, that'sall." His hands
cupped mycheeks, and I watched hiseyes roamed my face again, stopping
on my lips.
And I had the sudden urge to want to kiss him. Like I had wanted to in
the tree hut. His piercing gaze sent butterflies to my stomach,
begging to be free.
And as if answering my unspoken question, he leaned forward and
brushed his lips on mine to kiss me.
The soft touch barely registered, until I felt his tongue run over my
bottom lip. He tasted of pine, and salt and something sensational,
that urged me closer so I could have more.
I don't know how it happened, but one minute we were kissing, and the
next thing I knew, I was pinned down on the ground, while his body
loomed over me.
He was staring down at me, with those light green eyes, and my
heartalmost stopped when he licked me on the cheek. My eyebrows rose
at that,and he chuckled.
"I hope its not rude to lick a girl on the second date?" I froze. The
familiar words I'd once spoken with the wolf from earlier.
The paws, the fur, and the scent? My mind finallyregistered, and put
two and two together.
He crooked a smile, and I blinked it away with astonishment.
No it can't be. Satchel was not...that animal is not...
He frowned.
"What's wrong?" I blacked out and fainted from the mere thought
ofSatchel possibly being a wolf.
***
Feel free to tell me how bad this chapter was ;/

The delicate balance on earth

The earth is a living planet where many complex systems run perfectly
without stopping at all. When compared to other planets, it is evident
thatin all its aspects the earth is specially designed for human
life.Built on delicate balances, life prevails in every spot of this
planet,from the atmosphere to the depths of the earth.
Exploring only a few of the millions of these delicate balances would
be sufficient to show that the world we live inis specially designed
for us.
One of the most important balances in our planet is revealed in the
atmosphere that surrounds us. The atmosphere of the earth holds the
most appropriate gasses in the most appropriate ratio needed for the
survival not only of human beings, but also of all the living beings
on the earth.
The 77% nitrogen, 21% oxygen and 1% carbon dioxide as well as other
gasses readily available in the atmosphere represent the ideal figures
necessary for thesurvival of living beings. Oxygen, a gas that is
vital for living beings, helps food to be burned and converted into
energy in our bodies.
If the oxygen quantity inthe atmosphere were greater than 21%, the
cells in our body would soon start to suffer greatdamages. The
vegetation and hydrocarbon molecules needed for life would also be
destroyed. If this quantity were less, then this would cause
difficulties in our respiration, and the food we eat would not be
converted into energy. Therefore, the 21% oxygen in the atmosphere is
the most ideal quantity determined for life.
No less than oxygen, other gasses like nitrogen and carbon dioxide are
also arranged in the ideal quantity for the needs ofliving beings and
the continuity of life. The amount of nitrogen in the atmosphere has
the ideal ratio to balance the harmful and burningeffects of oxygen.
This ratio represents the most appropriate value required for
photosynthesis, which is essential for life's energysupply on the
earth. Moreover, the amount ofcarbon dioxide has the most appropriate
value that is needed to maintain the stability of the surface
temperature of the earth and to prevent heat loss especially at night
time. This gas, comprising 1% of the atmosphere, covers the earth like
a quilt and prevents the loss of heat to space. If this amount were
greater, the temperatureof the earth would increase excessively,
causing climatic instability and posing a serious threat against
living beings.
These proportions remain constant thanks to a perfect system. The
vegetation covering the earth converts carbon dioxide to oxygen,
producing 190 billion tons of oxygen every day. The proportion of
other gasses is always kept constant on the earth by the help of
interconnected complex systems. Life is thus sustained.
In addition to the establishment of the ideal gas mixture required for
life on the earth, the mechanisms needed to preserve and maintain this
order are created alongside with it. Any break in the balance, though
instantaneous, or any change in the ratios even for a very short time
period, would mean the total destruction of life. Yet, this does not
happen. The formation of these gasses in the atmosphere just in the
amount people need, and the constant preservation of these ratios
indicate a plannedcreation.
At the same time, the earth has the ideal size in terms of magnitude
topossess an atmosphere. If the mass of the earth were a little less,
then itsgravitational force would be insufficient and the atmosphere
would be dispersed in space. If its mass were a little greater, then
the gravitational force would be too much and the earth would absorb
all gasses in the atmosphere. There is an incredibly high number of
conditions required for the formation of an atmosphere such as the one
our world currently has and all of these conditions should exist
altogether to be able to talk of life.
The creation of these delicate proportions andbalances in the sky is
mentioned in the 7th verse of Surat ar-Rahman:
He erected heaven and established the balance. (Qur'an, 55:7)
The majority of people spend their lives withoutbeing aware of the
delicate balances and subtle adjustments in the gas composition of the
atmosphere, the distance of the world to the sun or the movements of
planets. They are ignorant of the great significance of these balances
and adjustments to their own lives. However, even a minor deviation in
any one of these arrangements would create very severe problems
regarding the existence and survival ofhumankind.
There are many other balances established on earth for the continuity of life:
For instance, if the surface gravity were stronger than its current
value, the atmosphere would retain too much ammonia and methane
gasses, which would mean the end of life. If itwere weaker, the
planet's atmosphere would lose too much water, and life on earth would
be impossible.
The thickness of the earth's crust constitutes another one of the
delicate balances in the earth. If the earth's crust were thicker, too
much oxygen would be transferred from the atmosphere to the crust and
this would have severe effects on human life.
If the opposite were true, that is, if the earth's crust were thinner,
volcanic and tectonic activity would be too great to permit life on
earth.
Another crucial balance for human life is the ozone level in the
atmosphere. If it were greater than its current value, the surface
temperatures would be too low. If it were less, surface temperatures
would be too high, and there would be too much ultraviolet radiation
at the surface.
In fact, the absence of even a single of these balances would set the
end to life on earth. However, Allah has created the universe with
infinite wisdom and power and designed the earth specially for human
life. Despite this fact, the majority of people lead their lives in
total ignorance of these events. In the Qur'an, Allah reminds people
of His blessings in the 13th verse of Surat al-Fatir:
(Allah) makes night merge into day and day merge into night, and Hehas
made the sun and moon subservient, each one running until a specified
time. That is Allah, your Lord. The Kingdom is His. Those you call on
besides Him have no power over even the smallest speck. (Qur'an,
35:13)
It is sufficient look at millions of dead planets in space in order to
understand that the delicate balances required for life on earth is
not a result of random coincidences. The conditions essential for life
are too complicated to have been formed 'on their own' and at random,
and these conditions arespecially created for life alone.
These balances we have briefly described so far are only a few of the
millions of intricate, interrelated balances and orders established so
that people can live inpeace and safety on the earth.
Examining only a part of the balances and harmony on the earth is
enough to comprehend the superior being of Allah and grasp the
existence of a planned creation in every detail of the universe. It is
no doubt impossible for a person or any other living being to build
such an enormous balance and order. Nor are the components of this
order such as atoms,elements, molecules, andgasses capable of
establishing an order based on such intricate and extremely delicate
calculations and measurements, and suchfine tunings. This is because
activities like planning, ordering, arranging, calculating, and
proportioning can only be realized by beings that possess wisdom,
knowledge andpower. The
Exalted Being Who orders, plans and balances the entire universe to be
fit for life of human beings on a planet like earth and Who sustains
it with dramatically delicate measures and balances is Allah, Who has
Infinite Wisdom, Knowledge andPower.
In the Qur'an, it is stated that those people who are able to realize
these facts are only 'people with intelligence':
In the creation of the heavens and the earth, and the alternation of
night and day, there are Signs for people with intelligence: those who
remember Allah, standing, sitting and lying on their sides, and
reflect on the creation ofthe heavens and the earth: "Our Lord, You
have not created this fornothing. Glory be to You!So safeguard us from
thepunishment of the Fire." (Qur'an, 3:190-191)

The glorious world of electrons

Atoms, too small to be seen with the naked eye,are made up of a
nucleus and ELECTRONS revolving around that nucleus.
Since the proton constituting the nucleus is positively charged andthe
neutron is uncharged, the nucleus itself is always POSITIVELYCHARGED.
The electrons that revolve around the nucleus one million times per
second ARE ALWAYS NEGATIVELY CHARGED.
One of the most important characteristicsthat makes atoms so
magnificent is the endless revolution of theelectrons.
The electrons in the atom, that never cease to exist since the moment
of their creation, CONTINUE TO REVOLVE UNINTERRUPTEDLY AT THE SAME
SPEED , no matter how much time passes or what substance they are a
part of.
Every atom has a different number of electrons. For example, there is
just one electronin a hydrogen atom, twoin a helium atom and 92 in a
uranium atom.
These electrons revolve in seven separate orbits. In heavy atoms, some
100 electrons are distributed among theseseven orbits. Scores of
electrons revolve at an extraordinary speed in the same orbit, or even
cross between orbits. YETTHEY NEVER COLLIDE.
This is one of the most amazing aspects of electrons. Not one of
thehundred or so electrons in seven different orbits,revolving a
million timesa second, ever collides with another, goes off course or
slows down. Each maintains its glorious movement on its own path, in a
stunning harmony, and has done so since the creation of the universe.
There is another amazing point here. In order for electrons to have
different orbits they should have different masses, just like the
planets. But all electrons HAVE THE SAME MASS AND SIZE . It is as yet
unknown why the energy levels of these identical particles are
different and why they travel in different orbits.
Electrons assume their places in their orbits with a special command
and change places whennecessary in the same way. They are specially
protected, and thus never collide because they are under the sole
control of Almighty Allah,Who created and watches over them at every
moment.
Every atom created over the last 15 billion years maintains that same
wondrous order.
For 15 billion years, not a single electron has followed the wrong
orbit, changed speed or collided with another electron because every
electron is within the knowledge of our Lord and acts by His command.
That is why, in terms of knowledge and creation, everythingfrom giant
galaxies to the invisible world inside the atom are all one and the
same. They all came into being by our Lord Allah commanding them to
"Be!"
I seek refuge in Allah from the accursed satan:
Our Word to a thing when We desire it is just to say to it "Be!" and
it is. (Surat an-Nahl, 40)

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And Allah Knows the Best!

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Published by :->
M NajimudeeN Bsc- INDIA

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Jumma Prayer - , Replying Salaam to the Imam after he takes his place on the Mimbar

When the Imam gets on the minbar for the Khutbah as gives the salaam,
do the people reply of keep silent for fear of losing the rewardof the
Jumu'ah khutbah?
Jazakumullahu Khayran
As salaamu 'alaykum
al-hamdu lillaah.
If the Imam ascends the mimbar and greets the audience with the salaam
then the audience should respond. This would not be considered
frivolous discourse and would notviolate the silence required for
listening because the actual khutbah has not yet begun. Therefore,
until then, the audience can recite praises of Allaah and duaa', and
also repeat after the mu'athin who calls for prayer, which is timed
after the Imam has actually greeted the audience and has taken his
place on the mimbar.

Jumma Prayer - , One who dozes off during Friday prayer

What should one do if one feels oneself dozing off during Friday prayer?
If a person dozes while listening to the Friday sermon, it is
recommended for him tochange the place with the person next to him. In
doing this he should be careful not to speak; rather, he should use
some gestures (hand movements, etc.). The evidence for this is the
hadith narrated by Samrah who said: The Prophet (peace be upon him)
said: If one ofyou dozes during the Friday sermon, he shouldexchange
his position with the person sitting next to him.
(Al-Baihaqi, 3/238; Sahih Al-Jami' No. 812)
Another hadith has beennarrated by Ibn 'Umar who said: The Prophet
said: If one of you dozes in the mosque on Friday, he should move his
positionto another place.