Four Wives Story: Why a Woman can't marry morethan one Husband?

In a delightful report about how Imam Abu Hanifareceived his name
(his original name was Numan bin Thabit bin Zuta bin Mah), an account
of why the wife is forbidden to take morethan one husband is
recounted. 'Abu Hanifa' isan unusual name because it means 'the father
of Hanifah', and Hanifah was his daughter. It was not the custom in
those days to do this. Normally, the name would be 'the father of the
name of a son.' How this came about is quite edifying.
One day Imam Abu Hanifawas asked a question that, for the first time
in his illustrious career, he was unable to answer. The question was,
" Why were women forbidden to marry more than one husband at a
time?"
To make a long story short, Abu Hanifa's daughter said that she knew
the answer and would solve this questionif her father would make a
promise to her that if she succeeded in solving this problem, he would
then assure her a place inhistory. Abu Hanifa agreed.
So she gathered a group of women together and gave each of them a cup.
Then she brought in a large bowl of milk and asked each of them to dip
their cups in the milk and to fill their cups. They did so. She then
asked them to pour back the milk into the bowl. They did this too. She
then asked them to re-filltheir cups taking back only their own milk
that they had poured into the bowl.
This, obviously, was impossible to do. Hanifahhad clearly
demonstratedthe kind of predicament that would be created if a woman
had several husbands. With more than one husband, if she were to
become pregnant, she would have exceptional difficulties determining
who the actual father was? Identifying parentage and lineage would
then be insurmountable for the offspring. Imam Abu Hanifa was so
pleased with her answer that he took the name 'Abu Hanifa', 'the
father of Hanifah', so his daughter did indeed earn a place in
history.

Wonderful Stories of Islam: Be careful what you Plant(Anecdote Illustrating Real Life)

An emperor in the Far East was growing old andknew it was time to
choose his successor. Instead of choosing one of his assistants or his
children, he decided something different. He called young people in
the kingdom together one day. He said, "It is time for me to step
downand choose the next emperor. I have decided to choose one of you."
The kids were shocked! But the emperor continued. "I am going togive
each one of you a seed today. One very special seed. I want you to
plant the seed, water it and come back here after one year from today
with what you have grown from this one seed. I will then judge the
plants that you bring, and the one I choose will be the next emperor!"
One boy named Ling was there that day and he, like the others,
received a seed. He went home and excitedly told his mother the story.
She helped him get a pot andplanting soil, and he planted the seed and
watered it carefully. Every day he would water it and watch to seeif
it had grown. After about three weeks, some of the other youths began
to talk about their seeds and the plants that were beginning to grow.
Ling kept checking his seed, but nothing ever grew. 3 weeks, 4 weeks,
5 weeks went by. Still nothing. By now, others were talking about
their plants but Ling didn't have a plant, and he felt like a failure.
Six months went by, still nothing in Ling's pot. He just knew he had
killed his seed.
Everyone else had trees and tall plants, but he had nothing. Ling
didn't say anything to his friends, however. He just kept waiting for
his seed to grow.
A year finally went by and all the youths of the kingdom brought their
plants to the emperor forinspection. Ling told his mother that he
wasn't going to take an empty pot. But honest about what happened,
Ling felt sick to his stomach, but he knew his mother was right. He
took his empty pot to the palace. When Ling arrived, he was amazed at
the variety of plants grown by the other youths. They were beautiful
in all shapes and sizes. Ling put his empty pot on the floor and many
of the other kinds laughed at him. A few felt sorry for him andjust
said, "Hey nice try."
When the emperor arrived, he surveyed the room and greeted the young
people. Ling just tried to hide in the back."What great plants, trees
and flowers you have grown," said the emperor. "Today, one of you will
be appointed the next emperor!" All of a sudden, the emperor spotted
Ling at the back of the room with his empty pot. He ordered his guards
to bring him to the front. Ling was terrified. "The emperor knows I'm
a failure! Maybe he will have me killed!"
When Ling got to the front, the Emperor asked his name. "My name is
Ling," he replied. All the kids were laughing and making fun of him.
The emperor asked everyone to quiet down. He lookedat Ling, and then
announced to the crowd,"Behold your new emperor! His name is Ling!"
Ling couldn't believe it. Ling couldn't even grow his seed. How could
he be the new emperor? Then the emperor said, "One year ago today, I
gave everyone here a seed. I told you to take the seed,plant it, water
it, and bring it back to me today. But I gave you all boiled seeds,
which would not grow. All of you, except Ling, have brought me trees
and plants and flowers. Whenyou found that the seed would not grow,
you substituted another seed for the one I gave you. Ling was the only
one with the courage and honesty to bring me a pot with my seed in it.
Therefore, he is the one who will be the new emperor!"
If you plant honesty, you will reap trust.
If you plant goodness, you will reap friends.
If you plant humility, you will reap greatness.
If you plant perseverance, you will reap victory.
If you plant consideration, you will reap harmony.
If you plant hard work, you will reap success.
If you plant forgiveness, you will reap reconciliation.
If you plant openness, you will reap intimacy.
If you plant patience, youwill reap improvements.
If you plant faith, you willreap miracles.
But
If you plant dishonesty, you will reap distrust.
If you plant selfishness, you will reap loneliness.
If you plant pride, you will reap destruction.
If you plant envy, you willreap trouble.
If you plant laziness, you will reap stagnation.
If you plant bitterness, you will reap isolation.
If you plant greed, you will reap loss.
If you plant gossip, you will reap enemies.
If you plant worries, you will reap wrinkles.
If you plant sin, you will reap guilt.
So be careful what you plant now, It will determine what you will reap
tomorrow, The seeds you now scatter, Will make life worse or better,
your life or the ones who will come after. Yes, someday, you will
enjoy the fruits, or you will pay for the choices you plant today.
Honesty in Islam

Rejoicing at the coming of Ramadan

All praise is due to Allaah, Lord of the Worlds. We ask Him to Bestow
much of His Peace and Blessings upon our leader, Muhammadhis family
and Companions until the Day of Judgment.
The month of Ramadan occupies a refined status in the hearts of
Muslims who believe in the One and Only Lord, Allaah The Exalted,Lord
of the Worlds. For Muslims, Ramadan is of great sentimental and
spiritual value and emotionalsignificance. It is the best month of the
entire year. Ramadan is the month of mercy, forgiveness and
emancipation from Hellfire. In it, are the last ten nights and, in
them, the best night of the year )i.e. the Night of Al- Qadr(. Whoever
makes the most of this night )by worshipping Allaah The Exalted(, will
achieve a great deal of good and reward.
This blessed month is the month of joy and bliss )i.e. of obedience
and closeness to Allaah The Exalted(. In Ramadan, many of the basic
acts of worship are performed. It is the month of fasting, night
prayers, charity andother acts of worship.
Whenever the great, blessed and noble month of Ramadan approaches, the
hearts of believers look forward to witnessing it, are gladdened by
its coming and are overjoyed as itnears. The month of Ramadan is a
great blessing from Allaah The Exalted, not only in terms of its great
and abundant reward and emancipation from Hellfire, but also because
it abounds in priceless lessons. This value is only recognized by
those who realize the wisdom behind fasting, its benefits and deep
impact on the heart, soul, body and the society as a whole.
The month of Ramadan is distinguished from other months)as being the month of(:
1. Forgiveness:
Abu Hurayrah, May Allaah Be Pleased with him, reported that the
Messenger of Allaahsaid:"Whoever observes fasts during the month of
Ramadan out of sincere faith and hoping to attainthe rewards of
Allaah, then all hispast sins will be forgiven."]Al-Bukhaari and
Muslim[
This means that whoever fasts Ramadan out of faith and hope for the
reward only from Allaah The Exalted and not to be seen and admired by
people, his previous sins will be forgiven.
2. The gates of Paradise are opened and those of Hellfire are closed:
In the first night of this month, the gates of Paradise are opened and
those of Hellfire are closed. Abu Hurayrahreported that the Messenger
of Allaahsaid:"When it is the first night of Ramadan, devils and
rebellious jinn are chained, the gates of the Fire are locked and not
a single gate is opened. the gates of Paradise are opened and not a
single gate is closed. Then, a caller calls out: 'O seeker of
good,come forward, and O seeker of evil, desist. And there are many
whom Allaah Frees from Hellfire and this is in every night )of
Ramadan(."]At-Tirmithi[ ]Al-Albaani: Saheeh[
This Hadeeth underlines many virtues and merits of the month of Ramadan.
3. One of the greatest acts of worship is performed in Ramadan:
This is one of the main reasons behind rejoicing at the coming ofthis
month. Abu Hurayrahreported that the Messenger of Allaahsaid in a
Hadeeth Qudsi:"Allaah The Exalted Said: 'Every deed of the son of
Aadam is for himself except for fasting because it is for Me and I
Will Reward )him for( it … Fasting is a shield )from Hellfire and
committing sins(. If one of you is fasting, he should avoid sexual
relations with his wife and quarreling and, if someone should fight
with him, he should say, 'I am fasting'. By Him in Whose Hands my soul
is, the unpleasant smell from the mouth of a fasting person is better
in the Sight of Allaah than the smell of musk. There are two joyous
occasions for the fasting person, one at the time of breaking his fast
and the other when he meets his Lord, for thenhe will rejoice because
of his fasting."]Al-Bukhaari and Muslim[
4. The believer should rejoice at the coming of this month. And they
should rejoice at such glad tidings as Allaah The Exalted Has Prepared
so much )reward( for those who fast. Sahl, May Allaah Be Pleased with
him, reported that the Prophetsaid:"There is a gate in Paradise called
Ar-Rayyaan through which none will enter but those who used to observe
fasting. It will be said, 'Where are those who used to observe
fasting?' They will get upand none except them will enter through it.
After their entry, the gate will be closed and nobody will enter
through it."]Al-Bukhaari and Muslim[
My dear brother and sister,
The month of Ramadan creates a feeling of joy and delight in the
hearts of believers. The Messenger of Allaahsaid:"… There are two
joyous occasions for the fasting person; one at thetime of breaking
his fast and the other when he meets his Lord, for then he will
rejoice because of his fasting."]Muslim[. Ramadan is the optimal time
for Muslims to relish joy and delight. How could the believer not
rejoice at the coming of Ramadan when a gate of Paradise is opened for
him? How could a believer not rejoice at thecoming of Ramadan as he is
given a chance for his past and future sins to be forgiven? How could
a believer not rejoice at thecoming of Ramadan when he is given a
chance to be saved from Hellfire?
How could a believer not rejoice at the coming of Ramadan as thecaller
proclaims, "O seeker of good, come forward! Come forward in truth to
the Lord of allcreation and relish prosperity success and victory in
this worldly life and in the Hereafter"?There is no doubt that this is
the objective of each Muslim and the goal of all Muslims who believe
inthe One and Only True God.
How could a believer not rejoice at the coming of Ramadan nor
bepleased to have been endowed with such a divine gift, having been
granted a chance to escape Hellfire and winning the Pleasure of
Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds?
Lastly, we implore Allaah The Exalted to Bestow upon us the blessing
of witnessing this blessed month, Facilitate our fasting and prayers,
Accept our modest attempts to please Him)through good deeds and acts
of worship( and Pardon our numerous sins and misdeeds, forHe Is Able
and Competent to do that. He )Alone( Is Worthy )of thisplead( and Is
Able to bring this topass. We ask Him to Bestow much of His Peace and
Blessings upon our leader, Muhammadhis family and Companions until the
Day of Judgment. All praise is due to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds.

Ramadan and victory

Allaah The Almighty Says)what means(:}The month of Ramadan ]is that[
in which was revealed the Quran, a guidance for thepeople and clear
proofs of guidance and criterion.{]Quran 2:185[
In Ramadan, the Quran was revealed to guide people. In Ramadan, the
Muslims were victorious on the day of Badr, Allaah bestowed upon them
the favor of the Conquest of Makkah, the Battle of 'Ayn Jaloot in
which the Muslims were overwhelmingly victorious over the Tatars, the
Conquest of Amorium between the Muslims under the leadership of
Al-Mu'tasimand the Romans after a woman sought the help of Al-Mu'tasim
and she cried out: 'O Mu'tasim!' When Al-Mu'tasim heard this, he
prepared an army and conquered Amorium.
In Ramadan, Noor Ad-Deen Zangi was victorious over the crusaders,
Baibars won Antioch back from the crusaders and the Muslims conquered
the city of Belgrade. Indeed, many victories were achieved in Ramadan.
Will we make Ramadan this year the gate of returning Islam to lead the
world once more; will we make it the beginning of a path that ends
with the honor and empowerment of Islam.
Dear loved ones for the sake of Allaah, Ramadan is a month when devils
are chained, the souls of the believers are elevated, the voice of
clear truth is raised and the Quran fills the ears of the lovers, the
throats of the worshippers and the hearts of the righteous. Ramadan is
an opportunity for a new beginning. It is an open gate for a wide road
of hope. It is a well-lit lamp to help us move togetherin the path of
empowerment and place our feet at the beginningof the bridge of clear
victory; thus proceed anddo not despair.
Know dear brother and sister that victory has paths. We can start
making the victory of thenation and we can achieve victory for
ourselves seeking the help of Allaah The Exalted. Let us consider
Ramadan a motive for achieving both victories; the victory of the
nation and our personal victory. The believer rejoices at the support
of Allaah andhe rejoices at achieving victory even if everyone is
defeated. Some peopleachieve victory in spite ofthe defeat of all
those who surround them and they achieve victory in the severest and
most difficult crises.
Consider this Hadeeth, Anas ibn Maalik, may Allaah Be Pleased with
him, narrated that when Haraam ibn Milhaan, his uncle, was stabbed on
the day of Bi'r Ma'oonah, he sprinkled his blood over his face and his
head this way and then said: "I have succeeded, by the Lord of the
Ka'bah." ]Al-Bukhaari[
Look at Haram and how he achieved personal victory in the severest
situations. What is apparent is that he lost everything by losing his
life as man has nothing which is more precious than his life and
losing it means losing everything. However, he won and accomplished
victory in his personal struggle; he won a seat of honor neara
Sovereign who is Perfect in Ability. So, let us pause with ourselves
and rely upon our Lord to achieve the victory with His will; even if
everybody is defeated and even in the hardest of situations.
When 'Ali, may Allaah Be Pleased with Him and may He Please him, was
stabbed and this also took place in Ramadan, he said: "I have
succeeded, by the Lord ofthe Ka'bah", after he sawthe blood pouring
from his head to cover his honored body.
What is apparent is the loss for Muslims as he was the ruler of
Muslims and the fourth rightly guided caliph. Nevertheless, he thought
of the matter differently; he calculated it in terms of profit and
loss. Indeed,the commodity of Allaah is precious; indeed the commodity
of Allaah is Paradise. Should we not buy it and pay the dowries of the
Hoor? Ramadan has come so head towards your Lord and Patron, say
farewell to the night of heedlessness and say welcome to the day of
victory.
To faith and with faith once more.