Story of an idolator

Abdul Wahid b. Zaid (mercy be upon him) whobelonged to a lineage of
saints said, "We were once sailing in a boat. A gush of wind blew away
our boat to an island where we saw a man busy adoring an idol. We
asked him what he was worshipping. He pointed towards the idol. We
said to him that this idol was made with his own hands.How could he
worship it? The God whom we worship creates all such things Himself,
and so deserves to be worshipped, alone." He then asked us, who do you
worship? We told him, "We worship the Great God (Allah) who lives in
the highest heaven. He alone controls the heavens and the earth. All
other creatures whether human or animaldepend on Him for their
sustenance." He further asked how we came to know about this Glorious
God. We replied, "He sent His final Messenger (Peacebe Upon him) to
the whole of mankind to teach them about His Greatness." He proceeded
to enquire "Let me know of the place where this Prophet of God is?" We
replied, "After the Prophethad completed his mission by conveying the
message of God he died and returned to his Lord". He continued to ask,
"Did this Messenger of God leave behind a thing for your guidance?" We
explained, "Yes, he left behind a Book (the Qur'an), which was
revealed by God. He askedto see the book. We offered him the Holy
Qur'an. He told us he was unable to read and so we recited a few
verses for him instead. During the course of its recital he repeatedly
wept until we stopped. He finally asserted, "This can only befrom
Allah, the Most High", and immediately confirmed his Faith in Allah
and His Messenger. We informed him about the duties of Islam and also
explained some verses of the Holy Qur'an.
After the late night prayerwe went to bed and the man continued to ask
questions. "Does Allah sleep at night? he wondered aloud as we
laycomfortably in our beds."Our Exalted God is Everliving and
Everlasting.He does not sleep or rest!"we exclaimed. On hearing this
he cried, "What disobedient slaves you are! Your Lord keeps awake,
whereas you sleep!" We were dumbstruck by his remark.
When we were about to return from this island, hebegged us to take him
with us to allow him to learn more. We agreed. On reaching the city of
'Aabadan, says Abdul Wahid, I said to my companions, "This man is our
brother, therefore we should provide him with some livelihood". Some
dirhams were offered to him but he refused to accept them and
exclaimed, "What is this?"We replied, "These are some dirhams for your
expenditure." He said, "It is enough that you have shown me the right
path. I was upon error and Allah guided me. I did not even worship him
yet He neither destroyed nor killed me. I am so gratefulto Him and
you.
After a few days, we weretold that he was about to breathe his last.
We went to see him and asked him if there was any need of his to be
satisfied. He said no and that he was happywith all that he had gained
from Allah. Abdul Wahid said, "I was all of a sudden, overcome by
sleep and hence slept there. While sleeping, I saw a very fertile
garden wherein was a very fine vault; a throne occupied by a very
beautiful girl, a beauty that I had never seen before. She said to me,
'By Allah, I returned him to His Lord quickly', By seeing her in such
a state I became very anxious. He added, ''WhenI woke up, the man had
passed away. We managed to bury him immediately.'' Again at night,
said Abdul Wahid; ''I witnessed the same garden, the same vault and
the same girl sitting besides the man who had died. She was reciting
the following Qur'anic verse, the translation of which is''And the
Angels visit them from each door and send them their compliments, glad
tidings for peace and safety against each kind of misfortune. All this
is the fruit of your contentment (and steadfastness for the religion
of Islam). There is therefore a good reward for you in the
Hereafter.''
This story of the idolator shows the Greatness of Allah and His Mercy
towards the man who previously worshipped idols. He sent the people to
the island as a means to guide the idolator and thus rewarded him a
magnificent reward in thehereafter.
''O Master of the world ! Whom Thou giveth to, nobody can withhold and
whom Thou giveth not, no one can confer upon him.''

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Commentary on the verse in which Allaah says: “Verily, Allaah will not change the (good) condition of a people aslong as they do not change their state (of goodness) themselves (by committing sins andby being ungrateful anddisobedient to Allaah)” [al

Commentary on the verse in which Allaah says: "Verily, Allaah will not
change the (good) condition of a people aslong as they do not change
their state (of goodness) themselves (by committing sins andby being
ungrateful anddisobedient to Allaah)" [al-Ra'd 13:11]
-
What is the meaning of the words of Allaah, may He be blessed and
exalted, in Soorat al-Ra'd (interpretation of the meaning): "Verily,
Allaah will not change the (good) condition of a people as long as
they do not change their state (of goodness) themselves (bycommitting
sins and by being ungrateful and disobedient to Allaah)" [al-Ra'd
13:11]?.
Praise be to Allaah.
This is an important verse which indicates that Allaah, may He be
blessed and exalted, in His perfect justice and wisdom does not change
the condition of the people from good to bad or from bad to good, from
ease to hardship or from hardshipto ease, unless they change their
condition themselves. So if they are in a state of righteousnessand
goodness and they change, Allaah will changethings for them with
punishment, calamities, hardship, drought, famine,disunity and other
kinds of punishments as appropriate requital. Allaah says
(interpretationof the meaning): "And your Lord is not at all unjust to
(His) slaves" [Fussilat 41:46].
Or He may give them respite and give them time so that they might
truen to the right path, but if they do not then they will be seized
unexpectedly, as He says (interpretation of the meaning): "So, when
they forgot (the warning) with which they had been reminded, We opened
for them the gates of every (pleasant) thing, until in the midst of
their enjoyment in that which they were given, all of a sudden, We
took them (inpunishment), and lo! Theywere plunged into destruction
with deep regrets and sorrows" [al-An'aam 6:44]., meaning despairing
of all goodness -- we seek refuge in Allaah from the punishment and
wrath of Allaah. Or they may be given respite until the Dayof
Resurrection, when their punishment will be more severe, as Allaah
says (interpretation of themeaning):
"Consider not that Allaah is unaware of that which the Zâlimûn
(polytheists, wrongdoers) do, but He gives them respite up to aDay
when the eyes will stare in horror"[Ibraaheem 14:42], meaning that
they are given respite until after death, and that will be a greater
and more severe punishment.
Or they may be in a state of evil and sin, then they repent to Allaah
and turn back to Him, and they regret their sins and adhere to
obedience, so Allaah changes their state of wretchedness, hardshipand
poverty to ease, unityand righteousness because of their good deeds
and their repentance to Allaah, mayHe be glorified and exalted. It
says in another verse (interpretation of the meaning): "That is so
because Allaah will never change a grace which He has bestowed on a
peopleuntil they change what is in their ownselves" [al-Anfaal 8:53].
This versetells us that if they are in a state of ease, comfort and
goodness, then they change and turn to sin, their situation will be
changed -- there is no power and no strength except with Allaah -- or
they may be given respite, as stated above. The opposite is also true:
if they were in a state of evil and sin, or disbelief and misguidance,
then they repent, regret their sin and adhere to obedience to Allaah,
Allaah will change their situation from bad to good; He will change
theirdisunity into unity and harmony; He will change their hardship to
ease, well being and plenty; He will change their situationfrom
draught, famine, , lack of water and so on torainfall, fertile land
and other kinds of goodness. End quote.

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Nothing, Only Love

He comes to you with barbs in his skin
and blood on his cheek.
He comes with eyes of loam and gold.
He comes to you again andagain,
as a youth and a man.
He has never forgotten you.
He comes with burns on his back
but standing straight,
hiding his scars and his shame,
wearing a half-thawed grin.
He has never stopped thanking you.
He comes with no answers,
with nothing, only love,
a heart like a sun,
and a soul like an African rain.
Will you open your arms to him
and hold him so tightly
that when you let go
he falls down laughing
happy to be alive,
happy to be a father and a man,
happy for you
and for the first time, yearsago
that he heard your voice
like the whisper
of a summer wind?

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THE STATUS OF WOMAN IN ISLAM

The Spiritual Aspect
-
The Qur'an provides clear-cut evidence that woman iscompletely equated
withman in the sight of God interms of her rights and
responsibilities. The Qur'anstates:
"Every soul will be (held) in pledge for its deeds" (Qur'an 74:38). It
also states:
...So their Lord accepted their prayers, (saying): I will not suffer
to be lost the work of any of you whether male or female. You proceed
one from another ...(Qur'an 3: 195).
Whoever works righteousness, man or woman, and has faith, verily to
him will We give a new life that is good andpure, and We will bestow
on such their reward according to the their actions. (Qur'an 16:97,
see also 4:124).
Woman according to the Qur'an is not blamed for Adam's first mistake.
Both were jointly wrong in theirdisobedience to God, both repented,
and both were forgiven. (Qur'an 2:36, 7:20 - 24). In one verse in fact
(20:121), Adam specifically, was blamed.
In terms of religious obligations, such as the Daily Prayers, Fasting,
Poor-due, and Pilgrimage, woman is no different from man. In some
cases indeed, woman has certainadvantages over man. For example, the
woman is exempted from the daily prayers and from fasting during her
menstrual periods and forty days after childbirth. She is also
exempted from fasting during her pregnancy and when she is nursing her
baby if there is any threat to her health or her baby's.If the missed
fasting is obligatory (during the month of Ramadan), she can make up
for the missed days whenever shecan. She does not have to make up for
the prayers missed for any of the above reasons. Although women can
and did go into the mosque during the days of the prophet and
thereafter attendance et the Friday congregational prayers is optional
for them while it is mandatory for men (on Friday).
This is clearly a tender touch of the Islamic teachings for they are
considerate of the fact thata woman may be nursing her baby or caring
for him,and thus may be unable togo out to the mosque at the time of
the prayers. They also take into account the physiological and
psychological changes associated with her natural female functions.
The Social Aspect
a) As a child and an adolescent
Despite the social acceptance of female infanticide among some Arabian
tribes, the Qur'an forbade this custom, and considered it a crime like
any other murder.
"And when the female (infant) buried alive - is questioned, for what
crimeshe was killed." (Qur'an 81:8-9).
Criticizing the attitudes of such parents who reject their female
children, the Qur'an states:
When news is brought to one of them, of (the Birth of) a female
(child), his facedarkens and he is filled with inward grief! With
shame does he hide himself from his people because of the bad news he
has had! Shall he retain her on (sufferance) and contempt, or bury her
in the dust? Ah! What an evil (choice) they decide on? (Qur'an 16:
58-59).
Far from saving the girl's life so that she may later suffer injustice
and inequality, Islam requires kind and just treatment forher. Among
the sayings of Prophet Muhammad (P.) inthis regard are the following:
Whosoever has a daughterand he does not bury her alive, does not
insult her, and does not favor his son over her, God will enter him
into Paradise. (Ibn Hanbal, No. 1957).
Whosoever supports two daughters till they mature,he and I will come
in the day of judgment as this (and he pointed with his two fingers
held together).
A similar Hadeeth deals in like manner with one who supports two
sisters. (Ibn-Hanbal, No. 2104).
The right of females to seek knowledge is not different from that of
males. Prophet Muhammad (P.) said:
"Seeking knowledge is mandatory for every Muslim". (AlBayhaqi). Muslim
as used here including both males and females.
b) As a wife:
The Qur'an clearly indicates that marriage is sharing between the two
halves of the society, and that its objectives, beside perpetuating
human life, are emotional well-being and spiritual harmony. Its bases
are love and mercy.
Among the most impressive verses in the Qur'an about marriage is the following.
"And among His signs is this: That He created mates for you from
yourselves that you may find rest, peace of mind in them, and He
ordained between you love and mercy. Lo, herein indeed are signs for
people who reflect." (Qur'an 30:2 1).
According to Islamic Law, women cannot be forced to marry anyone
without their consent.
Ibn Abbas reported that a girl came to the Messengerof God, Muhammad
(P.), and she reported that her father had forced her to marry without
her consent. The Messenger of God gave her the choice . . .(between
accepting the marriage or invalidating it). (Ibn Hanbal No. 2469)

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WOMEN'S LIBERATION THROUGH ISLAM

Today people think that women are liberated in the West and that the
women's liberation movement began in the 20th century. Actually, the
women's liberation movement was not begun by women but was revealed by
God to a man in the seventh century by the name of Muhammad (peace be
upon him), who is known as the last Prophet of Islam. The Qur'an and
the Traditions of the Prophet (Hadith or Sunnah) are the sources from
which every Muslim woman derives her rights and duties.
I. HUMAN RIGHTS
Islam, fourteen centuries ago, made women equallyaccountable to God in
glorifying and worshipping Him - setting no limits on her moral
progress. Also, Islam established a woman's equality in her humanity
with men. In the Qur'an, inthe first verse of the chapter entitled
"Women,"God says, "O mankind! Be careful of your duty to your Lord Who
created you from a single soul and from it its mate and from them both
have spread abroad a multitude of menand women. Be careful of your
duty toward Allah in Whom you claim (your rights) of one another,
andtowards the wombs (that bore you). Lo! Allah has been a Watcher
over you." (4:1) Since men and women both came from the same essence,
they areequal in their humanity. Women cannot be by nature evil (as
some religious believe) or then men would be evil also. Similarly,
neither gender can be superior because it would be a contradiction of
equality.
II. CIVIL RIGHTS
In Islam, a woman has the basic freedom of choice and expression based
on recognition of her individual personality. First, she is free to
choose her religion. The Qur'an states: "There is no compulsion in
religion. Right has been made distinct from error." (2:256) Women are
encouraged in Islam to contribute their opinions and ideas. There are
many traditions of the Prophet (pbuh) which indicate women would pose
questions directly to him and offer their opinions concerning
religion, economics and social matters. A Muslim woman chooses her
husband and keeps her name after marriage. A Muslim woman's testimony
is valid in legal disputes. In fact, in areas in which women are more
familiar, their evidence is conclusive.
III. SOCIAL RIGHTS
The Prophet (pbuh) said:"Seeking knowledge is a mandate for every
Muslim (male and female)." This includes knowledge of the Qur'an and
the Hadith as well as other knowledge. Men and women both have the
capacity for learning and understanding. Since it is also their
obligation to promote good behavior and condemn bad behavior in all
spheres of life, Muslim women must acquire the appropriate education
to perform this duty in accordance with their own natural talents and
interests. While maintenance of a home, providing support to her
husband, and bearing, raising and teaching of children are among the
first and very highly regarded roles for a woman, if she has the
skills to work outside the home for the good of the community, she may
do soas long as her family obligations are met. Islam recognizes and
fosters the natural differences between men and women despite their
equality. Some types of work are more suitable for men andother types
for women. This in no way diminishes either's effort nor its benefit.
God will reward both sexes equally for the value of their work, though
it may not necessarily be the same activity. Concerning motherhood,
the Prophet (pbuh) said: "Heaven lies under the feet of mothers." This
implies thatthe success of a society canbe traced to the mothers that
raised it. The first and greatest influence on a person comes from the
sense of security, affection,and training received fromthe mother.
Therefore, a woman having children must be educated and conscientious
in order to be a skillful parent.
IV. POLITICAL RIGHTS
A right given to Muslim women by God 1400 yearsago is the right to
vote. Onany public matter, a woman may voice her opinion and
participate in politics. One example, narrated in the Qur'an (60:12),
is that Muhammad(pbuh) is told that when the believing women come to
him and swear their allegiance to Islam, he must accept their oath.
This established the right of women to select their leader and
publicly declareso. Finally, Islam does not forbid a woman from
holding important positions in government. Abdur-Rahman Ibn Auf
consulted many women before he recommended Uthman Ibn Affan to be the
Caliph.
V. ECONOMIC RIGHTS
The Qur'an states: "By the creation of the male and female; Verily,
(the ends) ye strive for are diverse." (92:3-4) In these verses, God
declares that He created men and women to be different, with unique
roles, functions andskills.

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Who goes first?

Narrated Jabir bin 'Abdullah:
The Prophet collected every two martyrs of Uhud (in one grave) and
then he would ask,"Which of them knew the Quran more?" And if one of
them was pointed out for him as having more knowledge, he would put
him first in the Lahd. The Prophet said, "I will be a witness on these
on the Day of Resurrection." Thenhe ordered them to be buried with
their blood on their bodies and he didnot have them washed.
Source: Sahih Bukhari Volume 2, Book 23, Number 436.
At the time of Rasulullah (SAW), people were honoured according to the
knowledge of Islam but sadly today, people are honoured according to
the knowledge of this material world.
May Allah give us the ability to appreciate thosewho excel in the
knowledge of Islam.

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Why do Muslims fast?

I live in England, and I often get asked by many non-muslims, why do
muslims fast? I know thatI should know this answer, but I do not know
what to say exactly.What should I give as an answer?.
Praise be to Allaah.
Firstly:
We Muslims fast the month of Ramadaan because Allaah has commanded us
to do so. Allaah says (interpretationof the meaning):
" O you who believe! Observing As-Sawm (the fasting) is prescribed for
you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may become
Al-Muttaqoon (pious)"
[al-Baqarah 2:183]
So we worship Allaah by doing this act of worship which is beloved to
Allaahand which He has enjoined upon us.
The believers hasten to obey the commands of Allaah and His Messenger
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), in obedience to His words
(interpretation of the meaning):
"The only saying of the faithful believers, when they are called to
Allaah (His Words, the Qur'aan) and His Messenger, to judge between
them, is that they say: 'We hear and we obey.' And such are the
successful (who will live forever in Paradise)"
[al-Noor 24:51]
"It is not for a believer, man or woman, when Allaah and His Messenger
have decreed a matter that they should have anyoption in their
decision. And whoever disobeys Allaah and His Messenger, he has indeed
strayed into a plain error"
[al-Ahzaab 33:36]
Secondly:
It is by His wisdom that Allaah has prescribed a variety of acts of
worship, so as to test people with regard to how they will obey all
these commands.Will they only choose to do that which suits them, or
will they do that whichpleases Allaah? If we think about the five acts
of worship: testimony of faith, prayer, zakaah, fasting and
pilgrimage, we will see that some of them are purely physical, some
are purely financial, some are both, so that themiser will become
distinctfrom the generous. For some people it may be easy for them to
pray onethousand rak'ahs but not to give a single dirham; for others
it may be easy to give a thousand dirhams but not to pray a single
rak'ahs. So Islam came to prescribe a variety of acts of worship so as
to determine who will follow in obedience to the command of Allaahand
who will follow only that which suits him.
Prayer, for example, is a purely physical action, butits prerequisites
require some expenditure, such asthe water for wudoo', andclothes to
cover the 'awrah. These are not partof the prayer but they are its
prerequisites.
Zakaah is purely financial, but physical actions are required to
fulfil this duty such as calculating one's wealth and transferring the
zakaah to the poor and needy. These are not part of zakaah but they
are its prerequisites.
Hajj involves spending wealth and physical action, except for the
people of Makkah who may not need money, butthe yare very few compared
with those wholive in Makkah.
Jihad for the sake of Allaah may require both money and physical
effort. A person may spend money for the sakeof Allaah and not fight,
or he may go and fight but not spend money.
Commands are of two types: commands to refrain from things that man is
inclined towards, and commands to spend that are precious.
Refraining from things that are loved includes fasting, and
expenditure of things that are loved includes zakaah. Wealth
issomething that is loved and no one spends the wealth that he loves
except for something thatis loved even more.
The same applies to refraining from things that are loved, for a
person may like to spend a thousand dirhams, but not fast a single
day, or vice versa.
Shaykh Ibn 'Uthaymeen, al-Sharh al-Mumti', 6/190.
Thirdly:
There is another great reason why fasting is prescribed, which has
been discussed in part in the answer to question no. 26862 .
Shaykh Ibn 'Uthaymeen was asked about the reason why fasting was enjoined?
He replied:
If we read the words of Allaah (interpretation of the meaning):
" O you who believe! Observing As-Sawm (the fasting) is prescribed for
you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may become
Al-Muttaqoon (pious)"
[al-Baqarah 2:183]
we will know the reason why fasting was prescribed, which is taqwa
(piety) and submission to Allaah. Taqwa means giving up haraam things,
and in general terms includes both doing what is commanded and
abstaining from what is forbidden. The Prophet (peace and blessings of
Allaah be upon him) said: "Whoever does not give up false speech and
actingupon it and offensive speech and behaviour, Allaah has no need
of his giving up his food and drink." Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 6057.
See also questions no. 37658 and 37989 .
Based on this, it is important for the one who is fasting to carry
outreligious duties and avoid haraam things in word and deed.

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Who goes first?

Narrated Jabir bin 'Abdullah:
The Prophet collected every two martyrs of Uhud (in one grave) and
then he would ask,"Which of them knew the Quran more?" And if one of
them was pointed out for him as having more knowledge, he would put
him first in the Lahd. The Prophet said, "I will be a witness on these
on the Day of Resurrection." Thenhe ordered them to be buried with
their blood on their bodies and he didnot have them washed.
Source: Sahih Bukhari Volume 2, Book 23, Number 436.
At the time of Rasulullah (SAW), people were honoured according to the
knowledge of Islam but sadly today, people are honoured according to
the knowledge of this material world.
May Allah give us the ability to appreciate thosewho excel in the
knowledge of Islam.

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Busy or Not

A brother was asked to give advice to some people in a gathering. He
said the following things about being punctual in offering Salah
(prayer). Heasked us if any day passedby when we were so busywith work
that we couldn't attend the call of nature (urinate, excrete etc). All
of us replied to the negative because we all had to relieve ourselves
no matter how busy we were. So, he said that in the same manner, no
day should pass by where we couldn't offer salah because of being
busy. Indeed, salah is more necessary for us than relieving ourselves.
May Allah give all of us the ability to offer salah inall conditions.
Ameen.

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good morning tips

We're not 2 close in distance. We're not 2 nearin miles. But text can
still touch our hearts n thoughts can bring us smiles. Good morning
U need a little inspiration to get going,a little smile to brighten up
and AMS from someone who cares to color ur day.. GOOD MORNING
ur soul came back from dreamland reunited with a sleeping senseless
piece of ur self slowly open ur eyes realist it's a brand new day. GM
The world does not need more mountains 2 climb,More seas to cross,or
more stars 2 shine, What the world needs is only more of U Gud Morning
somewhere out there beneath the pale moon light someone think in of u
some where out there where dreams come true. good Morning
welcome to new morningwith a smile on ur face,love in ur heart,good
thoughts in ur mind u willhave a wonderfull day,gud morning

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The clear truth

Once Bayazid Bustami (a renowned pious individual) was going on a
journey when a Christian accompanied him along. When it was time for
mid-day meal, Bayazid suggested to his companion that he shouldgo to
the village at hand and have food. The Christian said, "No, Bayazid
you are a godly person. Pray to God that He may furnish the food
here."
Bayazid offered two units of Nawafil in prayer and begged of Allah,
"My Lord!This man wants to test my religion. Please, protect its good
name so that I may not be put to shame. Kindly arrange for our food."
He had hardly finished his prayer when aperson appeared with four
loaves of bread and some curry. Both of them ate to their fill and
resumed their journey.
In the evening the Christian companion said that he would arrange
forthe supper. He also reaised his hands in prayers and at once
appeared a man with eight loaves of bread and double quantity of
curry. Bayazid was wonder-struck and asked him what he had prayed for.
The Christian replied that first he should be converted to Islam and
then he would disclose the detail of the prayer. Atthis, Bayazid
converted him to Islam.
The companion related that he had prayed like this: "O Lord! If Islam
is a true religion and you are kind to Bayazid, provide us with the
double quantity of food that we had at midday. So the response to my
prayer is obvious."
Source: Extracted from thebook "From Darkness to Light" written by
Prof. Gazi Ahmed who was converted to Islam from Hinduism by Prophet
Muhammad (SAW) through several dreams.

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Assalamu Alaikum - - 11.jul.wed

It's not easy to be strong when you are weak.
It's not easy to be patient when you are restless.
It's not easy to be happy when you are depressed.
But it's not hard to lift up your hands in supplication to Allah and
enliven your heart with HIS Remembrance!!
O ALLAH protect this ummah. Aameen.

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Tazkiyah

Why Calamities and Destructions are Happenning to Muslims?
By: Mohamad Sharis Abdul Karim
Dear brothers, one question that may arise in our mind is why are
these calamities, and destructions happenning to muslims. Yes, indeed
the opressosrs are the wrong doers. They make destruction and kill
muslims and steal their properties. On the other side, it is worth for
us to look on ourselves so that we can improve our weaknesses. I would
like to recite one hadith…and I don't intend to elaborate on it. Let
us hear and we judge it ourselves.
The companion 'Abdullaah Ibn 'Abbaas r.a., narrated that the Prophet
sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam said: "Five matters result when five
things happen: If people break their covenant with Allaah,He will send
an enemy against them; If they rule by other than the Law of Allaah,
poverty will spread among them; If they become deceptive in
trade,Allaah will deprive them ofcrops and they will be struck with
famine; And if they withhold the payment of Zakaah, they will be
struck with drought." [At- Tabaraani]
In another narration he sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam said: "If they
break the covenant of Allaah andHis Messenger, Allaah will send an
external enemy against them who will seize some of their possessions;
If they do not rule by the Book of Allaah, nor attempt to implement
everything in it, Allaah willspread enmity among them."
Conversely, obeying Allaahand His Messenger sallallaahu 'alaihi wa
sallam is the source of victory. Allaah says "O you who have believed,
if you support Allaah, He will support you [by giving you victory]."
[Surah Muhammad Ayah 7]
Indeed, Allah give victory to those who deserve it. And most of the
times defeat comes from ourselves.
One night, Sa'd Ibn Abi Waqqaas, may Allaah be pleased with him, was
checking on his army during the battle of Qaadisiyyah. He passed by
the tent of one group of soldiers at night and foundthe men inside
praying Qiyaam, or voluntary night-prayer, and remarked: 'Victory
comes from such a tent' then he passed by another tent and found the
men inside sleeping and remarked: 'Defeat comes from such a tent.'
This was despite the fact that the men who were sleeping only missed a
recommended prayer and not an obligatory one;yet Sa'd considered
missing this recommendedact to be a reason for defeat.
Let us avoid destructions, disasters and humiliation. Muslims have
experienced to many appalling tragedyin their own land, It was Bosnia,
and now Palestine,and tomorrow we never know whose turn.
The Prophet sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam was once asked: "Would we be
punished by disasters which befall us while we have righteous people
amongst us?' he sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam replied: "Yes, if evil
becomes widespread." Allaah says clearly on this issue in al Quraan:
"And fear the Fitnah (affliction and trial, etc.) which affects not in
particular (only) those of you who do wrong (but it may afflict all
the goodand the bad people), andknow that Allâh is Severein
punishment" . [Surah Al-Anfaal Ayah 25]
Therefore, if Muslims truly wish for safety from destruction and given
victory, then they must change and improve what is in themselves as
Allaah says that which translates as:
"For each (person), there are angels in succession, before and behind
him. They guard him by the Command of Allâh. Verily! Allâh will not
change the good condition of a people as long as they do not change
their state of goodness themselves. But when Allâh wills a people's
punishment, there can be no turning back of it, and they will find
besides Him no protector." [Surah Ar-Ra'd Ayah 11]

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- - - - - - -

Easy way to change ourselves

There was a king long time ago and he had a vast kingdom. Though he
had tremendous amount of wealth, but he didn't have peace of heart. So
hedecided to be a good Muslim. He heard that there is a very pious man
who stays in a jungle and that many people go to visit him for advice.
The king decided to visit him for some advice also. When he got there,
he asked the pious man"How can I become pious like you?" The pious man
replied that remember death 40 times a day for 40 days. The king
thoughtthat it was very easy and he thanked him and left for his
palace. He remembered death 40 times a day for 40 days but no change
came to hislife. He was same as before.
The king became angry and called that pious manto his court. The king
told him that he is nothing buta liar and that he should be killed
before he fools other people. It was decided that he will be beheaded
the next day. But the Pious man had a request. He asked if he could
become the king fora day. He promised that after getting the command,
he will not kill the previous king or do any harm to him. So, the king
agreed and made thepious man the king for a day. As soon as the pious
man became the king, he went to the market and saw a man selling
peanuts. He told the soldiers to catch that manand bring him to the
palace. So, the peanut sales man was brought tothe court. The pious
man told the peanut sales manthat he will be killed tomorrow. The
peanut sales man became frightened and dropped all his peanuts. He
started crying and asked what he did. But the pious man said that he
will be killed tomorrow and locked up in jail for today.
Now, as the peanut sales man knew that he is going to die, he forgot
about everything else andstarted asking forgivenessfrom Allah. He
started praying and doing excessive dhikir (remembrance of Allah). The
Pious man ordered that the most beautiful prostitute in the city
should be brought and placed in the jail with peanut sales man. She
was brought and she asked the man to commit adultery with her. Now the
pious man brought the previous king and toldhim to watch. The peanut
sales man started yelling at the woman to get away because he is going
to die tomorrow and this evil deed will surely causehim problems with
Allah.
Then the pious man askedthe previous king if he understood what is
going on. The Pious man explained that when you really know that you
will die, then you will surely stay away from all evil deeds and
engage yourself into the worship of Allah. So, remembering death once
properly would be enough to change the life of a human being.
Ofcourse, the peanut salesman was released afterwards.

--
- - - - - - -

Being Muslim is My Biggest reward From (الله)

The Prophet Muhammad (Sal lal lahu alaihi wa sal lam), said "(There
are) two words which are dear to the Beneficent (Allah) and very light
(easy) for the tongue (to say), but very heavy in weight in the
balance. They are: 'Subhan Allah wa-bi hamdihi' and 'Subhan Allah
Al-'Azim.
سُبْحَانَ اللّهِ وَ بِحَمْدِهِ ، سُبْحَانَ اللّهِ الْعَظِيمِ -
SubhanAllahi wa biHamdihi, Subhan-Allahi 'l-`adheem
(Sahih Bukhari Volume 9, Book 93, Number 652: )
Whoever says "SubhanAllah wa bihamdihi" a hundred times during the
day, his sins are wiped away, even if they are like the foam of the
sea. [Sahih al-Bukhari;#7:168, Sahih Muslim;#4:2071]
Jabir RadhiallahuAnhu reported: The Prophet Muhammad (Sal lal lahu
alaihi wa sal lam) said,"For him who says: `Subhan-Allahi wa bi
hamdihi (Allah is free from imperfection, and I begin with praising
Him, and to Him),' a palm-tree will be planted in Jannah.''[At-Ti
rmidhi].
سُبْحَانَ اللّهِ وَ بِحَمْدِهِ - SubhanAllah wa biHamdihi (Glory be to
Allah and Praise Him). —

--
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1a] Hadeeth about the manwho will be commanded to be takento Hell, but he will turn to his Lord hoping that He would admit him to Paradise, and He will admit him to Paradise

1a] ' He will say: 'O Lord, are You making fun of me when You are the
Lord of the Worlds?'"
Ibn Mas'ood smiled and said: Why don't you ask me why I am smiling?
They said: Why are you smiling? He said: This is how the Messenger of
Allaah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) smiled and they
said:Why are you smiling, O Messenger of Allaah? He said: "Because the
Lord of the Worlds will smile when he says, 'are You making fun of me
when You are the Lord of the Worlds?' and will say: 'I am not making
fun of you, but I am Able to do whatever I will.'"
And Allah knows best.

--
- - - - - - -

1] Hadeeth about the manwho will be commanded to be takento Hell, but he will turn to his Lord hoping that He would admit him to Paradise, and He will admit him to Paradise

1] How sound is this hadeeth: "A man will be headed towards Hell on
the Day of Resurrection, then he will turn around and Allah will say
to him: Why have you turned around? And he will say, after Allah
prompts him to give the answer that will save him: I was hoping that
You will admit me to Paradise. AndAllah will command that he be
admitted to Paradise"?.
Praise be to Allaah.
This is the meaning of a hadeeth that was narrated by Ibn al-Mubaarak
in az-Zuhd (409) and via him by Imam Ahmad in al-Musnad (22287) and
byIbn 'Abi'd-Dunya in Hasan az-Zann Billah (58). Ibn al-Mubaarak said:
Rishdeen ibn Sa'd informed us: Abu Haani' al-Khawlaani told us,
from'Amr ibn Maalik al-Janbi, that Faddalah ibn 'Ubayd and 'Ubaadah
ibn as-Saamit told him that the Messenger of Allah (blessings and
peace of Allah be upon him) said: "On the Day of Resurrection, when
Allah, may He be exalted, has finished judging mankind,there will be
two men leftwho will be commanded to be taken into Hell. One of them
will turn around and the Compeller (Allah, may He be exalted) will
say: Send him back. And they will send him back. He will say to him:
Why did you turn around? He will say: I was hoping thatYou would admit
me to Paradise. And it will be commanded to take him to Paradise. He
will say: Allah, may He be glorified and exalted, has given methat
which, if I were to feed the people of Paradise, that would not
detract at all from what I have." And whenever the Messenger of Allah
(blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) mentioned that, happiness
could be seen on his face.
Al-Haythami said in al-Majma', 10/698
It was narrated by Ahmadand its men were regarded as trustworthy
despite the weakness of some of them. End quote.
It narrators are trustworthy except Rishdeen ibn Sa'd who is da'eef.
See: Tahdheeb at-Tahdheeb, 3/240241; Mizaan al-I'tidaal, 2/49
A similar, more sound andclearer hadeeth was narrated by Muslim in his
Saheeh (187) from 'Abdullah ibn Mas'ood (may Allah be pleased with
him), according to which the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peaceof
Allah be upon him) said:
"The last one to enter Paradise will be a man who will walk once,
stumble once and be burned by the Fire once. When he gets past it, he
will turn to it and say, 'Blessed be the One Who has saved me from
you. Allaah has given me something that He has not given to the first
and the last.' A tree will be raised up for him, and he will say, 'O
Lord, bring me closer to this tree so that Imight shelter in its shade
and drink of its water.' Allaah, may He be glorified and exalted, will
say: 'O son of Adam, perhaps if I give you that, you will ask Me for
something else.' He will say, 'No, O Lord,' and he will promise that
he will not ask Him for anything else, and his Lord will excuse him
because he has seen something that he cannot help wanting. So he will
be brought near to it and he will shelter in its shade and drink of
its water. Then another tree will be raisedup for him that is more
beautiful than the first, and he will say: 'O Lord, bring me closer to
this tree so that I might drink of its water and shelter in its shade,
and I will not ask You for anything else.' He will say: 'O son of
Adam, did you not promise Me that you would not ask Me for anything
else?' He will say: 'Perhaps if I bring younear to it, you will ask Me
for something else.' He will promise that he will not ask Him for
anything else, and his Lord will excuse him because he has seen
something that he cannot help wanting. So he will be brought near to
it and he will shelter in its shade and drink of its water. Then
another tree will be raisedup for him at the gate of Paradise that is
more beautiful than the first two, and he will say: 'O Lord, bring me
closer to this tree so that I might shelter in its shade and drink of
its water, and I will not ask You for anything else.' He will say: 'O
son of Adam, did you not promise Me that you would not ask Me for
anything else?' he will say, 'No, O Lord, I will not ask You for
anything else.'His Lord will excuse him because he has seen something
that he cannothelp wanting. He will be brought close to it, and when
he draws close to it,he will hear the voices of the people of Paradise
and will say, 'O Lord, admit me therein.' He will say: 'O son of Adam,
what will make you stop asking? Will it please you if I give you the
world and as much again?' He will say: 'O Lord, are You making fun of
me when You are the Lord of the Worlds?'"

--
- - - - - - -

Like a dead goat

Jabir bin Abdullah reported that Allah's Apostle (may peace be upon
him) happened to walk through the market coming from the side of
'Aliya and the people were on both his sides. There he found a dead
lamb with very short ears.He took hold of his ear and said: Who
amongst you would like to have this for a dirham? They said: We do not
like to have it even for less than that as it is of no use to us. He
said: Do you wish to have it (free of any cost)? They said: By Allah,
even if it was alive (we would not have liked to possess that), for
there is defect in it as its ear is very short; now it is dead also.
Thereupon Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: By Allah,
this world is more insignificant in the eye of Allah as it (this dead
lamb) is in your eye. SahihMuslim Book 42, Number 7059.
Severe conditions come upon human beings so that they return back to
Allah. Dear friends, let us not wait for conditions to come upon us
also to remind us of Allah. The world that we admire is of no value at
all as we can see from this hadith. So let us turn to Allah and pray
for all the Muslims who are suffering in various parts of the world.If
Allah wanted, we could've been in their place right at this moment.

--
- - - - - - -

Healthy tips for DIABETICS~ (simple natural tips which can b followed easily)

1. Eat food at fixed hours.
2. Do not eat immediately after a workout.
3. Do not overeat.
4. If you are on insulin, make sure you have three
proper meals with light snacks in between.
5. Do not eat fast; masticate and munch yourfood well before you swallow.
6. Drink a lot of water that will help flush the toxins
off your system.
7. Make sure the gaps between your meals are
short.
8. Avoid fried foods and sweetmeats.
9. Include fresh vegetable salad in every meal.
10. Have at least 20 to 25 grams of raw onion daily.
11.Do atleast 1 hour exercise daily.
12. Add wheat bran to your wheatflour (50%
wheatflour + 50% wheat bran). This helps increase fibre in your diet.!!

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Mohammad Mertabanis a volunteer matchmaker who helps observant young Muslims searching for a modern path to marriage that stays true to Islam.

The one-line email that greeted Mohammad Mertaban came straight tothe point.
"Mertaban, find me a husband, k? I await your list of potential
suitors," wrote a woman who liveson the East Coast.
Mertaban was not surprised, although he knew the woman only slightly.
"If it comes from a brother or sister whom Idon't know very well, I
know that she would do it out of frustration, desperation or a strong
desire to get married," he explained later.
An information technology project manager who lives in Fullerton,
Mertaban, 30, has grown accustomed to urgent requests — by phone,
email and in person — since he began dabbling in matchmaking for
friends and acquaintances about eightyears ago. Those he helps are
observant young Muslims searching for a modern path to marriage that
stays true to Islam.
American Muslims regularly speak of a "marriage crisis" in their
communities, as growing numbers of Muslims reachtheir late 20s and
early 30s still single. Young religious Muslims tend to avoid
Western-style dating, but many also reject the ways of earlier
generations, in which potential spouses were introduced to one
anotherby family.
Traditionally, in South Asia and the Middle East, older women — often
called the "aunties" — and parents recommended matches by drawing upon
their extensive networks of family, friends and acquaintances.
Marriage criteria were typically limited to religion, ethnicity, jobs
and looks. But in the U.S., their little black books of contacts are
significantly thinner and many second-generation American Muslims see
such methodsas decidedly old-world.
So, many turn to young volunteer matchmakers like Mertaban, who have
connections in their hometowns, college circles and vast online
networks.
Muslims gather for the special Eid ul-Fitr morningprayer at the Los
Angeles Convention Center on August 30, 2011 in Los Angeles,
California.
"The aunties don't really know people very well and I think they're
just shooting in the dark," saidMertaban, whose parents emigrated from
Lebanon. "I think people have veered away from that."
Amir Mertaban, Mohammad's younger brother and a matchmaker as well,
said the goal was "to keep thisas close to Islam as possible. I'm
trying to get people hooked up, but we're trying to do this in a halal
(permissible) manner."
::
What is and isn't allowed is debated within the Muslim community. But
those who seek a matchmaker's help tend to steer clear of anything
resembling dating and to avoid meeting one another without a
chaperone. And even though they may see their parents' methods as too
traditional, they are still more comfortable seeking help from a
go-between than online matrimonial sites or singles' events held at
mosques under the guise of "networking."
Mertaban, who is lively with a quick laugh and a wide, almost
Joker-like smile, says he didn't choose to be a matchmaker but fell
into the role after he helped a number of friends.
He grew up in Diamond Bar and has lived in Los Angeles, Irvine and
Fullerton — where he is now a youth mentor at the area mosque —
whichhelped him establish a wide Southern California Muslim network.
In his senior year at UCLA, Mertaban was president of the campus'
Muslim Student Assn. and the following year he was president of
MSA-West, anumbrella group covering much of the West Coast. With
chapters at universities nationwide, ithas jokingly been called the
Muslim Singles Assn.
He was well-liked and known for making other students, especially
freshmen, feel welcome. Many turned to him for advice about their
problems.
"He's a leader… everybodytrusts Mohammad," said Lena Khan, 26, an
independent filmmaker who attended UCLA with Mertaban. "If you need
something at 2 a.m., you know Mohammad is happy to help you."
In a community that observes a certain level ofgender segregation,
Mertaban, because of his leadership roles, interacted regularly with
both men and women. Soon, students began asking him for help finding
potential mates.
His first attempt involved one of his best friends, of Palestinian
descent, and an Indian woman the man was interested in. It didn't
work, partly because of their different ethnicities — a cultural
lesson Mertaban now keeps in mind when suggesting pairings. He
organizes his lists of single men and women by nationality.
The "Single Sisters" directory on his laptop begins with a
28-year-oldAfghan woman and ends with a 25-year-old Syrian.

--
- - - - - - -

The Reaction to the Khutba

Normally, two or three people will approach me after a Khutba to thank
and compliment me for it.This time, ten times more people came over,
appreciating what I had said, Alhamdu lillah. That'sone of the most
positive instances of feedback I've ever gotten in years of giving
Khutbas! Although I have yet to hear the response from the leadership
of the Masjid, this gives me hope that the community is ready for
change.
A few board members also spoke very positively about the points I
raised, including one of the founding members. The question is, who is
stopping the change?
Current Chicago Masjid Spaces for Women
In Chicago, I estimate thatin about ten percent of the Friday prayer
locations, there is proper space for sisters' participation. In these
places men and women are in the same location without a curtain or
wall separating them. In termsof the remaining 80 percent of mosques
that do have a space for women, these are often cramped and
inconvenient. By inconvenient, I mean that women cannot see the Imam
or do not know what is happening in the congregational prayer. In
about 10 percent of the Chicago-area mosques there are no spaces for
women.
One Muslim sister in the city related to me her experience after
visiting one of the largest mosques in Chicago that had an
inconvenient roomfor women. When she entered the women's area, a group
of sisters was standing in line, thinking prayer had started because
the recitation of the Quran could be heard. Taking Quran recitation as
a cue for congregational prayer,the sister joined the others in line.
After several minutes, when theman ended his recitation without
calling for the next step of prayer, Ruku, the women learned that
itwas not a prayer. Needless to say, the women were humiliated and
upset about this confusing situation. This isjust an example of the
practical problems this segregation in prayer places causes.
An additional problem in mosques where women cannot see the Imam is
the fact that the noise level often becomes unacceptable. This tends
to be because most men dump the responsibility for taking care of
their active children on their wives when they go to the men's section
of mosque. Also, since women can't see what's going on, they end up
talking to each other. Thisleads to the Imam asking women to "be quiet
please," furthering tension and exclusion.
When women are out of sight, it's also more likely that they will be
out of mind. That means their discourse and participation are ignored
on a Masjid and community level. Moreover, few women have easy access
to the Imam, which worsens the problem, since the Imam is the one man
who can make a significant difference in bringing women's issues and
problems to the attentionof other Muslim men in the community. This
perhaps explains why youdon't normally hear manyKhutbas on women's
challenges here in America or abroad.
Negative Dawa
The situation becomes worse when non- Muslimsvisit. They see there are
hardly any women present in the mosque. Or,if there are a few, they
areconfined to a small and less ceremonious corner. What kind of Dawa
is this? What kind of impression does this give in our current
context, where the battle against stereotypes is ten times harder than
it was pre-9/11 America? This visual impact is far greater and far
more lasting then tens of bookslauding the status of women in Islam.
Since Shahadah (witnessing) is the first pillar of Islam, this
obstacle to outreach must be dealt with.
Of course, women, unlike men, are given a choice by the Prophet to
pray at home or in the mosque. But the Prophet was categorical in
telling men "do not stop women from coming to the Masjid." Friday
prayers are also optional for women. But considering that Friday
sermons are the only Islamic educational opportunity available to most
women in the North America Muslim women should attend Friday prayers.
Thisis especially important because we do not yet have a widespread
tradition of female teachers, as is the case in the Muslim world. I am
pretty sure Caliph Omar would have encouraged Friday prayer attendance
by women if he was alive today in the United States,may God be pleased
with him.
Who is stopping womenfrom the Masjid
Knowing both of these Masjids, their volunteer leadership, and the
fact that women are on their boards, I don't think either of them
stops women from attending and participating. The firstMasjid's
president did make an announcement twice in front of me inviting women
to visit the new location to help determine the sisters' space.

--
- - - - - - -

The Importance of Making a Good Space for Women in the Masjid

Last Friday, I was all set togive a Khutba about the need for Muslims
to plan ahead on an individual and community level. My notes were
ready and I was in full "Khutba mode". But before sermontime, I
decided to change the topic completely — totalk about the exclusion of
Muslim women from the mosque and community life.
It wasn't an earth-shattering event that made me change the topic. It
was an email. Andit proved to be the proverbial straw that broke the
camel's back. It was one of five emails I received last week about
Islamic events with a clear"brothers only" statement. One notice for a
regional conference even stated categorically that there was no space
for women and children under 15 at the event.
But the emails were only part of the story. A week before, I had given
a Khutba in another, brand-new mosque in the heart of Chicago. After
the prayer, while in the elevator, I overheard four Muslim sisters
speaking angrily about their experience in the Masjid.
"If I wanted to watch TV, I'd stay home," said one of the women,
disgusted. I asked them what was wrong, and they told me how they
could only see the Imam through a TV system set up in the women's
section. Moreover, the space was inconvenient, uncomfortable and was
changed twice that day. This was despite the fact that months ago, the
leadership of this mosque had promised me that they would involve
sistersin decision-making about how the women's space would be set up.
The Khutba
I was speaking in Chicago's oldest mosque where the main prayer hall
accommodates about a thousand people. It has a small, curtained off
space in the corner for about 40 or so women. Due to the sensitive
nature of my topic, it did occur to me before the Khutba that I might
not be invited to give a Fridaysermon there in the future.
Nonetheless, I made the following points and asked these questions:
Who decides how women's space in the mosque is allocated and organized?
How many women sit on the Board of Directors of our mosques?
If women are part of the Board of Directors, are they elected, chosen
by women, selected by both men and women or are they simply the wives
of male board members?
I also reminded the audience that in the Prophet's mosque, women could
hear and see the Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings are upon him,
and later, the leaders of the Muslims (Khulafa) when they spoke from
the pulpit. Actually there are reports of interaction with the Prophet
when women raised questions. Caliph Omar even went back to give
another sermon to withdraw his opinion when a women from the audience
gave him critical feedback after his Khutba.
Moreover, when the Prophet felt that the women were too far away to
hear or he had specific points to make, hewould walk over to their
section and present a Khutba for them.
Examples from Islamic history
Women in early Islamic history were active not just as "mothers and
wives" but contributed as individual Muslim women in all aspects of
the community.
On a scholarly level, there was Aisha, may God be pleased with her.
She is credited with disseminating the knowledge of Islam and
information about almost all aspects of Islamic life. Today, nearly
half of the Islamic jurisprudence of the Hanafi school of thought
(which is followed by about 70 percent of the Muslim world) comes
through thestudents of Aisha alone.
On a political level, there was Umm Salama. During the signing of the
Treaty of Hudaibiya, when none of the Muslim men agreedto forego Hajj
due to the demands of the pagan Meccans, the Prophet consulted Umm
Salama. Her advice to him was to perform the rituals indicating that
they would not be performing the pilgrimage, and the Muslims would
follow. He heeded her advice, and as she suggested, the Muslims
accepted this.
After the death of the Prophet, one major issue was how to preserve
the authenticity of the Quran. Although the Quran had always been
committed to memory and writing, the written pages were scattered.
When a master copy was put together at the time of the first Khalifa,
Abu Bakr, that copy was not kept with him or any other Muslim man. It
was kept with a woman — Hafsa (may God be pleased with her).
Finally, in Madina during the leadership of Omar (may God be pleased
withhim) Al Shifa Bint Abdullah was made in charge of trade and
commerce in the city.
These are just a few examples of the dynamic role women played in
early Islamic history. But they are of no use if the inclusion of
Muslim women in the mosque and community is reflected only in theory.

--
- - - - - - -

Like a dead goat

Jabir bin Abdullah reported that Allah's Apostle (may peace be upon
him) happened to walk through the market coming from the side of
'Aliya and the people were on both his sides. There he found a dead
lamb with very short ears.He took hold of his ear and said: Who
amongst you would like to have this for a dirham? They said: We do not
like to have it even for less than that as it is of no use to us. He
said: Do you wish to have it (free of any cost)? They said: By Allah,
even if it was alive (we would not have liked to possess that), for
there is defect in it as its ear is very short; now it is dead also.
Thereupon Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: By Allah,
this world is more insignificant in the eye of Allah as it (this dead
lamb) is in your eye. SahihMuslim Book 42, Number 7059.
Severe conditions come upon human beings so that they return back to
Allah. Dear friends, let us not wait for conditions to come upon us
also to remind us of Allah. The world that we admire is of no value at
all as we can see from this hadith. So let us turn to Allah and pray
for all the Muslims who are suffering in various parts of the world.If
Allah wanted, we could've been in their place right at this moment.

--
- - - - - - -

Advice from Shaikh Sulaiman

Shaikh Sulaiman, a well known scholar from SouthAfrica, once visited
us and was asked to give some advice. He mentioned thatthe way
sweetness cannot be separated from honey, whiteness cannot be
separated from milk and fragrance cannot be separated from a flower,
the success of mankind cannot also be separated from following the
religion of Islam. Our totalsuccess is in Islam alone. Then he told us
to be mindful about keeping our duties to Allah. He gave an example
that assume India sends an ambassador to Canada forimproving
relationships between the two countries. Now, if this ambassador
becomes too busy with looking at the beautiful niagra falls and other
landmarks of Canada and forgets about his duties then what will happen
to him when he goes back to India? Yes, he will be fired from his job.
Similarly, if we also don't carry out our duties while we are sent to
this world then we will also not be appreciated in front of Allah on
the Day of Judgement when we return to Him. As a result, let us be
cautious about our responsibilities as being Muslims.

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A man argues that wine should be halal

A man came to Iyas Ibn Mu'awiyah, a Muslim judge famous for his
wisdom, and the following conversation took place between them:
Man: What is the Islamic ruling regarding wine?
Judge: It is Haram (Forbidden).
Man: How about water?
Judge: It is Halal (Permissible).
Man: How about dates and grapes?
Judge: They are Halal.
Man: Why is it that all these ingredients are Halal, and yet when you
combine them, they become Haram?
The judge looked at the man and said: If I hit you with this handful
of dirt, do you think it would hurt you?
Man: It would not.
Judge: How about if I hit you with this handful of straw?
Man: It would not hurt me.
Judge: How about a handful of water?
Man: It surely would not hurt me.
Judge: How about if I mix them, and let them dry to become a brick,
and then hit you with it, would it hurt you?
Man: It would hurt me and might even kill me!
Judge: The same reasoning applies to whatyou asked me!!

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NEWS - Rainstorms cause 65deaths in China 2012-07-10 00:00:58 GMT 2012-07-10 08:00:58(Beijing Time) Xinhua English

A man swims in Yangtze River in Wuhan, Central China's Hubei province,
July 9, 2012. The water level of Yangtze River rose after heavy rains.
[Photo/Xinhua]
~
Rainstorms have killed 65people and left 30 others missing in eight
provincial-level regions since June 28, the Ministryof Civil Affairs
said Monday.
The downpours have triggered floods and landslides that have affected
17.44 million people in Jiangsu, Anhui and Shandong provinces in East
China, Henan and Hubei provinces in CentralChina, Chongqing
Municipality and Sichuan province in Southwest China and Shaanxi
province in Northwest China, the ministry said, adding that 1.17
million people have been evacuated.
About 982,400 hectares of farmland have been affected by bad weathers
and about 66,000 houses have collapsed, the ministry said.
The ministry has sent three teams of experts and officials to aid in
reliefwork in affected regions, as well as shipped tents and quilts to
hard-hit Sichuan, the ministry said.
In another Monday report, the ministry said 465 people were killed and
97 missing in natural disasters in the first half of this year.
More than 113.36 million people were affected by natural disasters
during the period, the report said.
Floods, hail and landslideshad the greatest impact on people, followed
by droughts, earthquakes, snowstorms and typhoons, the report said.

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What is the right age to get children used to fasting?

What is the age at which children are obliged to fast? How can we
encourage them to fast and pray in the mosque, especially Taraweeh
prayer? Are there any simple religious ideas which can be used to fill
children's spare time in Ramadaan?.
Praise be to Allaah.
Firstly:
Fasting is not obligatory for young children, until they reach the age
of adolescence, because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be
upon him) said: "The penshave been lifted from three: from one who has
lost his mind until he comes back to his senses, from one who is
sleeping until he wakes up, and from a child until he reaches the age
of adolescence." Narrated byAbu Dawood, 4399; classed as saheeh by
al-Albaani in Saheeh Abi Dawood.
Nevertheless, children should be told to fast so that they can get
used to it, and because the good deeds that they do will berecorded
for them.
The age at which parents should start to teach theirchildren to fast
is the age at which they are able to fast, which will vary according
to each child's physical makeup. Some scholars have defined this as
being ten years of age.
Al-Kharqi said:
When a child is ten years old and is able to fast, he should start to do so.
Ibn Qudaamah said:
This means that he shouldbe made to fast and told to do so. And he
should be smacked if he does notdo it, so as to train him and make him
get used toit, just as he should be made to pray and told to do it.
Among those who were of the view that a child should be told to fast
when he becomes able to do it were 'Ata', al-Hasan, Ibn Sireen,
al-Zuhri, Qataadah and al-Shaafa'i.
Al-Awzaa'i said: If he is able to fast for three consecutive days
without interruption and without becoming weak, then he should be made
to fast Ramadaan. Ishaaq said: When (a child) reaches theage of twelve
I think that he should be made to fastso that he gets used to it.
The age of ten is more likely, because the Prophet (peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him) enjoined smacking children for not
praying at this age, and regarding fasting as beinglike prayer is
better, because they are close to one another, and because they are
both physical actions that are pillars of Islam. But fasting is
harder, so attention should be paid to when the child becomes able
forit, because some may be able to pray who are not yet able to fast.
End quote.
Al-Mughni, 4/412
This is what the companions of the Prophet (peace and blessings of
Allaah be upon him) did with their children; they would tell those who
were able to fast to do so, and if one ofthem wept because of hunger,
they would give him a toy to distract him, but it is not permissible
toforce them to fast if it willharm them in cases of physical weakness
or sickness.
Shaykh Ibn 'Uthaymeen said:
A young child should not be forced to fast until he has reached the
age of adolescence, but he may be told to fast if he is ableto do it,
so that he may get used to it and it will be easier for him after he
reaches puberty. The Sahaabah (may Allaah be pleased with them) –
whoare the best of this ummah – used to make their children fast when
they were young. End quote.
Majmoo' Fataawa al-Shaykh Ibn 'Uthaymeen, 19/28, 29
And the Shaykh (may Allaah have mercy on him) was asked:
My young son insists on fasting Ramadaan even though fasting is
harmful for him because he is so young and his health is not good.
Should I use force with him to make him break his fast?
He replied:
If he is young and has notyet reached puberty, he is not obliged to
fast, but if he is able to do it withouthardship, then he should be
told to do so. The Sahaabah (may Allaah be pleased with them) used to
make their children fast, and if the younger ones cried they would
give them toys to distract them. But if it is proven that it is
harmful to him, then he should be stopped from fasting. If Allaah has
forbidden us togive youngsters their wealth if there is the fear that
they may abuse it, then it is more appropriate that they be stopped
from doing something if there is the fear of physical harm. But that
should not be done by force, because that is not appropriate in
raising children. End quote.
Majmoo' Fataawa al-Shaykh Ibn 'Uthaymeen, 19/83
Secondly:
The parents can encourage their children to fast by giving them a gift
each day, or by exploiting the spirit of competition between them and
their peers or those who are younger than them. They can encourage
them to pray by taking them to pray in the mosques, especially if they
go out with their father and pray in different mosques each day....,

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He died and left behind a wife, three sons and five daughters

My father died and left us 25 million riyals. He has a wife, three
sons and five daughters. How should the estate be divided?.
Praise be to Allaah.
If a man dies and leaves behind a wife, three sons and five daughters,
and the heirs are limited to these people, then his estate is to be
divided as follows:
The wife gets one eighth, because there are descendants of the
deceased. Allah, may He be exalted, says (interpretation of the
meaning):
"but if you leave a child, they [wives] get an eighthof that which you
leave after payment of legacies that you may have bequeathed or debts"
[an-Nisa' 4:12].
The male and female children get the rest, with each male getting the
share of two females, because Allah, may He be exalted, says
(interpretation of the meaning):
"Allah commands you as regards your children's (inheritance); to the
male, a portion equal to that of two females"
[an-Nisa' 4:11].
So the common denominator in this issue is eight. So the wife gets one
eighth, which is one share. The remaining seven shares cannot to
bedivided according to the number of children. The correct way is to
divide it into 88 shares, of which the wife gets 11, each male gets 14
and each female gets 7.
The wife's share = the estate × 11 ÷ 88
= 25,000,000 × 11 ÷ 88 = 3,125,000
The share of each male = the estate × 14 ÷ 88
= 25,000,000 × 14 ÷ 88 = 3,977,272.70
The share of each female= the estate × 7 ÷ 88
= 25,000,000 × 7 ÷ 88 = 1,988,636.30
And Allah knows best.

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Where Are the Answers?

"What am I going to do? Why is my life so messed up? Why can't I find
happiness? Why am I alone? Why do I feel stuck? Why do I have these
problems?'…
These questions only have meaning if we direct them to Allah. No one
else can answer them. Consider thewords of the Prophet Ya'qub
(alayhis-salam, peace be upon him) when his son Yusuf (as) was
secretly thrown into a wellby his brothers. They then reported to
their father that Yusuf had been killed by a wolf.
And he turned away from them and said, "Oh,my sorrow over Yusuf," and
his eyes became white from grief, and he fell into silent melancholy.
They said, "By Allah , youwill not cease remembering Yusuf untilyou
become fatally ill or become of those who perish."
He said, " I only complainof my suffering and my grief to Allah , and
I know from Allah that which you do not know.
- Quran, Surat Yusuf, 12:84-86
"I only complain of my suffering and my grief to Allah…"
When you feel stuck, whenyou feel that no one understands your
situation, when you're in pain and you can't even imagine a solution,
only Allah has the answers. Youcan't see a way forward, but He can.
You don't see your own worth, but He does. You can't figure out the
road to happiness, but He can show you.
I remember a night in Arizona when I was twenty six years old. I lay
on a cot in a small, frigid cell. There was snow outside and I had
only a thin blanket. As I often did,I put on all my clothing in layers
– three pants, three shirts, an army jacket and a pair of boots – and
still I kept waking up shivering and shaking. Yet, even more than the
physical discomfort, my spirit was tired. I had made mistakes in my
youth and had been locked up for almost five years. I had become hard
mentally and physically, but my heart was full of sorrow. I lay there
that night and I thought, "I have nothing in life. I haveaccomplished
nothing. I have no university degree, no wife, no children, and not
even my freedom."
That was a bad time. But I had my faith, and I used toweep to Allah,
asking Him to have mercy on me. I think I gave up on myself for a
while, but I never gave up on Allah. It would not even have occurred
to me to do so. I did cry to Him sometimes saying, "Why, Allah? Why?
Why am I here, suffering like this?" But it wasn't despair, only
confusion. In my heart I knew that He heard me and that an answer
would come.
Shortly after that I received a letter from the parole board granting
me early release. I had previously been told very clearly that I was
not eligible. It was entirely unexpected, and if you are familiar with
the Americanpenal system, miraculous. But for Allah, nothing is
impossible or even difficult.
Within a few months I wasfree. I found a job a week after my release,
and I excelled. I began writing, sitting at my desk every night after
work and disciplining myself to workon poetry, stories and articles.
Eventually I went back to school and began a new career, got married,
bought a beautiful house, and one day had a child…
What can I say except Alhamdulillah! SubhanAllah! What can I do except
weep in gratitude for these blessings that I did nothing to earn, but
were given to me by my Lord who loves me and cares about me, and wants
goodfor me. I am so deeply touched and moved by theway Allah has
answered my prayers from the depths of darkness. If I did anything to
merit His blessings, perhaps it was only that I directed my pleas to
Him. I knew that no one else could help me.
This is a very emotional post for me to write. I want every Muslim to
havethis sense of Allah as their friend, as someone who cares for them
deeply. I want to put that awareness into your heart like a gift.
When I was in that cell I used to pray the same dua'over and over,
begging Allah repeatedly. If I had made such pleas to a human being
they would have stopped hearing me long ago. When we're needy with
people it pushes them away, but when we're needy with Allah He comes
closer to us! He never tires of answering our need and forgiving us.
I know of many similar stories of people who havehit rock bottom and
have called upon Allah – or , noteven knowing "Allah" by that name,
have called to the Supreme Being, saying,"I know you hear me, tell me
what I need to do, show me the way!" – and then, like a circle of
sunlight piercing a cloud, something or someone comes into their lives
to show them the way forward.
When we're out of ideas, surrounded by problems, and feeling totally
alone… we're not alone . Allah is with us. If we pray sincerely and
strive, He willput light in our hearts and help us from directions
wedid not expect.

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poem Everything to Gain

I open to you like a door
on a spring morning.
Your voice is a sun song.
Your words are water and earth.
I hold your heart like a newborn.
I hang on
because I have everything to gain.

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Does she have to ask her husband who is travelling for permissionto travel with her family?

My sister is married having two children. Her husband is away from his
home living in another city with his parents for one month. It means
theirhouse is closed. During this absence she lives in my house with
my parents. We have houses in more than one city. We want to go with
my family to another city where is my house until her husband returned
back his home.
My question is, while my sister is living with us if suddenly we make
a program to go another city where my house is fora short period.
Did she require informing her husband and get permission?
Kindly request you to answer me according to shari'ah.
Praise be to Allaah.
The basic principle concerning a woman is that it is not permissible
for her to leave her husband's house without his permission. That is
part of obedience to her husband that her Lord hasenjoined upon her,
and part of her care and respect towards him, and part of treating one
another honourably.
That applies except in cases of necessity; she may go out if need be.
It says in Mataalib Ooli'n-Nuha (5/271): It is haraamfor the wife to
go out without her husband's permission or unnecessarily, such as
going to buy food if there is no one who can bring itto her. End
quote.
See also the answer to question no. 106150 .
As the husband is travelling and the wife (your sister) has her two
children with her, her being with you is better and safer for her. If
you travel and she goes with you, that is better for her than staying
on her own with her children in her husband's house with no one to
keep her company.So there is nothing wrongwith her travelling with you
without her husband's permission, unless he has told her not to
travel, in which case she should ask him for permission and not go out
without his permission, except in caseof necessity.
Ibn 'Uthaymeen (may Allah have mercy on him) was asked:
If a woman knows that her husband will allow her to go to her family
and relatives, is it permissible for her to go without his permission
in case of necessity?
He replied:
This depends on what sheknows of her husband's preference. In some
cases,the wife knows that the husband would give her permission to go
out to see her relatives in case ofnecessity, and in other cases the
wife knows thatthe husband does not want his wife to overstep the mark
with regard to what he has permitted. Soit depends on how the husband
is. But if he has told her not to go out for any need or reason other
than this specific purpose, then it is not permissible for her to go
out except for this specific purpose. End quote from Fataawa Noor 'ala
ad-Darb by Ibn 'Uthaymeen, 10/298
He was also asked:
What is the ruling on a woman who goes out without her husband's permission?
He replied:
If her husband is present it is not permissible for her to go out
except with his permission. If he is absent, she may go out solong as
he has not forbidden her to go out and said "Do not go out." If he has
told her not to go out, he has the right todo that. End quote.
Fataawa Noor 'ala ad-Darb by Ibn 'Uthaymeen, 10/298
And Allah knows best.

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Story of a Jinn

The well-known scholar Khateeb has stated on theauthority of Hadhrat
Jabir bin Abdullah who stated:"Once, we were travelling with the
Prophet (SAW). The Prophet was sitting under a tree for taking rest.
All of a sudden, therecame a snake near him, took his mouth near the
hole of his ear. After sometime, the Prophet took his mouth near its
ear and said something. On that, the snake vanished in such a way as
if the earth had swallowed it. We submitted to the Prophet that we
were very much frightened when you let itreach near your ear. The
Prophet told that it was an animal and in fact, it was a jinn who had
forgotten a few verses of such and such Surah and the jinns had sent
it to inquire about the same verses. Because of your presence, he came
changing its form to that of a snake and inquired about the verses
accordingly." Source: fromthe book "The Miracles of the Prophet" by
Ahmed Saeed.

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