Dought & clear, - When they need to write the Gregorian date.

Some of the offices of al-Muntada al-Islami are in countries which use
the Gregorian calendar. We use the Hijri calendar, but this causes us
problems when we deal with government departments which do not use the
Hijri calendar, or when drawing up budgets, paying salaries and
preparing financial reports for the appropriate departments in those
countries.
Praise be to Allaah.
There is nothing wrong with using both dates, so long as the Hijri
date is written first, followed by the equivalent Gregorian date. The
Hijri date is based on the lunar months, which are clear and can be
readily observed by anyone who has eyes to see, but the Gregorian
months do not have any clearly visible signs and can only be known
through calculations. Hence the Islamic sharee'ah uses the Arabic
months for the dates of fasting, Hajj, I'tikaaf and so on. Beginning
with the Hijri date is also a manifestation of the symbols and
features of Islam among those who do not know them. And Allaah knows
best.

Dought & clear, - Ruling on celebrating Valentine’s Day.

What is the ruling on Valentine's Day?.
Praise be to Allaah.
Firstly:
Valentine's Day is a jaahili Roman festival, which continued to be
celebrated until after the Romans became Christian. This festival
became connected with the saint known as Valentine who was sentenced
to death on 14 February 270 CE. The kuffaar still celebrate this
festival, during which immorality and evil are practised widely. For
more details on this celebration, please see: Celebrating Valentine's
Day .
Secondly:
It is not permissible for a Muslim to celebrate any of the festivals
of the kuffaar, because festivals come under the heading of shar'i
issues which are to be based on the sound texts.
Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:
Festivals are part of sharee'ah, clear way and rituals of which Allaah
says (interpretation of the meaning):
"To each among you, We have prescribed a law and a clear way"
[al-Maa'idah 5:48]
"For every nation We have ordained religious ceremonies which they must follow"
[al-Hajj 22:67]
-- such as the qiblah (direction faced in prayer), prayer and fasting.
There is no difference between their participating in the festival and
their participating in all other rituals. Joining in fully with the
festival is joining in with kufr, and joining in with some of its
minor issues is joining in with some of the branches of kufr. Indeed,
festivals are one of the most unique features that distinguish various
religions and among their most prominent symbols, so joining in with
them is joining in with the most characteristic and prominent symbols
of kufr. No doubt joining in with this may lead to complete kufr.
Partially joining in, at the very least, is disobedience and sin. This
was indicated by the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon
him) when he said: "Every people has its festival and this is our
festival." This is worse than joining them in wearing the zinaar (a
garment that was worn only by ahl al-dhimmah) and other
characteristics of theirs, for those characteristics are man-made and
are not part of their religion, rather the purpose behind them is
simply to distinguish between a Muslim and a kaafir. As for the
festival and its rituals, this is part of the religion which is cursed
along with its followers, so joining in with it is joining in with
something that is a cause of incurring the wrath and punishment of
Allaah. End quote fromIqtida' al-Siraat al-Mustaqeem(1/207).
He also said (may Allaah have mercy on him): It is not permissible for
the Muslims to imitate them in anything that is uniquely a part of
their festivals, whether it be food, clothing, bathing, lighting
fires, refraining from a regular habit, doing acts of worship or
anything else. It is not permissible to give a feast or to give gifts,
or to sell anything that will help them to do that for that purpose,
or to allow children and others to play games that are part of the
festivals, or to wear one's adornments.
To conclude: the Mulsims should not do any of their rituals at the
time of their festivals; rather the day of their festival should be
like any other day for the Muslims. The Muslims should not do anything
specific in imitation of them. End quote fromMajmoo
al-Fataawa(25/329).
Al-Haafiz al-Dhahabi (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: If the
Christians have a festival, and the Jews have a festival, it is only
for them, so no Muslim should join them in that, just as no Muslim
should join them in their religion or their direction of prayer. End
quote fromTashabbuh al-Khasees bi Ahl al-Khamees, published inMajallat
al-Hikmah(4/193)
The hadeeth to which Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah referred was
narrated by al-Bukhaari (952) and Muslim (892) from 'Aa'ishah (may
Allaah be pleased with her) who said: Abu Bakr came in and there were
two young girls of the Ansaar with me who were singing about what had
happened to the Ansaar on the day of Bu'aath. She said: And they were
not (professional) singing girls. Abu Bakr said: "Musical instruments
of the shaytaan in the house of the Messenger of Allaah (peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him)?!" and that was on the day of Eid.
The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)
said: "O Abu Bakr, every people has a festival and this is our
festival."
Abu Dawood (1134) narrated that Anas (may Allaah be pleased with him)
said: When the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be
upon him) came to Madeenah, they had two days when they would play. He
said: "What are these two days?" They said: "We used to play on these
days during the Jaahiliyyah." The Messenger of Allaah (peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "Allaah has given you instead
of them two days that are better than them: the day of al-Adha and the
day of al-Fitr." This hadeeth was classed as saheeh by al-Albaani
inSaheeh AbiDawood.
This indicates that festivals are among the characteristics by which
nations are distinguished, and it is not permissible to celebrate the
festivals of the ignorant and the mushrikeen (polytheists).
The scholars have issued fatwas stating that it is haraam to celebrate
Valentine's Day.
1 -Shaykh Ibn 'Uthaymeen (may Allaah have mercy on him) was asked:
In recent times the celebration of Valentine's Day has become
widespread, especially among female students. It is a Christian
festival where people dress completely in red, including clothes and
shoes, and they exchange red flowers. We hope that you can explain the
ruling on celebrating this festival, and what your advice is to
Muslims with regard to such matters; may Allaah bless you and take
care of you.
He replied:
Celebrating Valentine's Day is not permissible for a number of reasons.
1- It is an innovated festival for which there is no basis in Islam.
2- It promotes love and infatuation.
3- It calls for hearts to be preoccupied with foolish matters that
are contrary to the way of the righteous salaf (may Allaah be pleased
with them).
It is not permissible on this day to do any of the things that are
characteristic of this festival, whether that has to do with food,
drinks, clothing, exchanging gifts or anything else.
The Muslim should be proud of his religion and should not be a weak
character who follows every Tom, Dick and Harry. I ask Allaah to
protect the Muslims from all temptations, visible and invisible, and
to protect us and guide us.
End quote fromMajmoo' Fataawa al-Shaykh Ibn 'Uthaymeen(16/199)
2 - The Standing Committee was asked: Some people celebrate
Valentine's Day on the fourteenth of February every year. They
exchange gifts of red roses and wear red clothes and congratulate one
another. Some bakeries make red coloured sweets and draw hearts on
them, and some stores advertise products that are especially for this
day. What is your opinion on the following:
1- Celebrating this day
2- Buying things from the stores on this day
3- Storekeepers who are not celebrating it selling things that may
be given as gifts to people who are celebrating it?
They replied:
The clear evidence of the Qur'aan and Sunnah - and the consensus of
the early generations of this ummah - indicates that there are only
two festivals in Islam: Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha. Any other
festivals that have to do with a person, a group, an event or anything
else are innovated festivals, which it is not permissible for Muslims
to observe, approve of or express joy on those occasions, or to help
others to celebrate them in any way, because that is transgressing the
sacred limits of Allaah, and whoever transgresses the sacred limits of
Allaah has wronged himself. If the fabricated festival is also a
festival of the kuffaar, then the sin is even greater, because this is
imitating them and it is a kind of taking them as close friends, and
Allaah has forbidden the believers to imitate them and take them as
close friends in His Holy Book. And it is proven that the Prophet
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "Whoever imitates a
people is one of them." Valentine's Day comes under this heading
because it is an idolatrous Christian festival, so it is not
permissible for a Muslim who believes in Allaah and the Last Day to
observe it or approve of it or congratulate people on it. Rather he
has to ignore it and avoid it, in obedience to Allaah and His
Messenger, and so as to keep away from the causes that incur the wrath
and punishment of Allaah. It is also haraam for the Muslim to help
people to celebrate this or any other haraam festival by supplying any
kind of food or drink, or buying or selling or manufacturing or giving
or advertising etc., because all of that is cooperating in sin and
transgression and is disobedience towards Allaah and His Messenger
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him). Allaah says
(interpretation of the meaning):
"Help you one another in Al-Birr and At-Taqwa (virtue, righteousness
and piety); but do not help one another in sin and transgression. And
fear Allaah. Verily, Allaah is Severe in punishment"
[al-Maa'idah 5:2]
The Muslim must adhere to the Book of Allaah and the Sunnah in all his
affairs, especially at times of fitnah when evil is widespread. He
should be smart and avoid falling into the misguidance of those who
have earned Allaah's anger and who have gone astray, and the evildoers
who have no fear of Allaah and who do not have any pride in being
Muslims. The Muslim must turn to Allaah and seek His guidance and
remain steadfast in following it, for there is no Guide except Allaah
and no one can make a person steadfast but Him. And Allaah is the
source of strength. May Allaah send blessings and peace upon our
Prophet Muhammad and his family and companions. End quote.
3 - Shaykh Ibn Jibreen (may Allaah preserve him) was asked:
Among our young men and women it has become common to celebrate
Valentine's Day, which is named after a saint who is venerated by the
Christians, who celebrate it every year on February 14, when they
exchange gifts and red roses, and they wear red clothes. What is the
ruling on celebrating this day and exchanging gifts?
He replied:
Firstly: it is not permissible to celebrate these innovated festivals,
because it is an innovation for which there is no basis in Islam. It
comes under the heading of the hadeeth of 'Aa'ishah (may Allaah be
pleased with her), according to which the Prophet (peace and blessings
of Allaah be upon him) said: "Whoever introduces anything into this
matter of ours that is not part of it will have it rejected."
Secondly: it involves imitating the kuffaar and copying them by
venerating that which they venerate and respecting their festivals and
rituals, and imitating them in something that is part of their
religion. In the hadeeth it says: "Whoever imitates a people is one of
them."
Thirdly: it results in evils and haraam things such as wasting time,
singing, music, extravagance, unveiling, wanton display, men mixing
with women, women appearing before men other than their mahrams, and
other haraam things, or things that are a means that leads to
immorality. That cannot be excused by the claim that this is a kind of
entertainment and fun. The one who is sincere towards himself should
keep away from sin and the means that lead to it.
And he said:
Based on this, it is not permissible to sell these gifts and roses, if
it is known that the purchaser celebrates these festivals or will give
these things as gifts on those days, so that the seller will not be a
partner of the one who does those innovations. And Allaah knows best.

Dought & clear, - Ruling on pledges of allegiance to one’s homeland.

What is the ruling on the call made by some who say that it is
obligatory to be loyal to one's homeland?
Praise be to Allaah.
What is obligatory is to be loyal to Allaah and His Messenger, in the
sense that one takes others as friends or enemies for the sake of
Allaah. His homeland may be not Islamic, so how can he be loyal to his
homeland? But if his homeland is Islamic, then he must love good for
it and strive to achieve that. But his loyalty must be to Allaah, so
that whoever is a Muslim and is obedient towards Allaah is his friend,
and whoever is opposed to the religion of Allaah is his enemy, even if
he is a member of his family or from the same country, and even if he
is his brother, uncle or father, etc. Friendship must be for the sake
of Allaah and enmity must be for the sake of Allaah. As far as a
person's homeland is concerned, he likes it if it is Islamic. He must
promote goodness in his homeland and strive for it to remain Islamic
and for its situation and its people to remain stable. This is what is
obligatory upon all Muslims. We ask Allaah to strengthen and guide us,
you and all the Muslims. May He make our intentions correct and our
deeds righteous. May Allaah bless our Prophet Muhammad and his family
and companions.

For children, - Islamic Jokes: Holy Prophet Muhammed (saw) and Old Woman(Islamic Humour)

Holy Prophet Muhammed (saw) smiled often and would make jokes with
members of his community. For example, An old woman came to our Holy
Prophet Muhammed (saw) and said: "O Messenger of Allah, pray to Allah
(Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala) that I will enter Paradise." Holy Prophet
Muhammed (saw) said jokingly, "O Mother of so-and-so, no old women
will enter Paradise." The old woman went away crying, after hearing
from Holy Prophet Muhammed (saw). Then Holy Prophet Muhammed (saw)
sent one of his companions to tell her that, she will enter Paradise
by becoming a young lady, because the Paradise is for only young
people.
Holy Prophet Muhammed (saw) said: "Do not laugh too much, for laughing
too much deadens the heart." At another place, Holy Prophet Muhammed
(saw) said: "If you knew what I know, you would laugh little and weep
much."
Imam Jafar as Sadiq (AS)said: Avoid incorrect jokes and humors, as it
is the cause of enmity and grudge. Also Imam Jafar as Sadiq (AS) said:
The believers laughter should be only a smile. At another place Imam
Jafar as Sadiq (AS) said: Beware of joking, because it causes rancor
and drives into malice. Joking is the lesser revilement.
Making Fun of People just for the sake of Laugh
Holy Prophet Muhammed (saw) said, "Woe to whoever lies while quoting
someone so that others laugh. Woe to him!"
Imam Jafar as Sadiq (as) said, Do not make fun of people since it will
ruin one's honor and dignity. The Prophet's companions used to gather
together and tell jokes until the following verse was revealed: "Has
not the Time arrived for the Believers that their hearts in all
humility should engage in the remembrance of Allah ..." (Noble Qur'an,
57:16) Then after Holy Prophet Muhammed (saw) recited this verse they
stopped their joking and vain talk.