Fathwa, - Can a woman travelalone within her own city?

Question:
Is a woman allowed totravel within her own city without a mahramfor
any halal reason? An example would be going shopping alone. Or going
with a group of female friends to eat and spend time together outside
the home, like in a restaurant, or picnic area, without any male. I
have a friend, who recently became rather "harsh" throughher husband
(she has only been married 1 year). According to him and his
teachings, a woman cannot go anywhere without a mahram, even her own
city, unless there is a "need" like buying food so she won't starve.
Work, Education, having fun with friends is not considered a need. I
am Sunni Hanafi, and I would really like to know the Hanafi position
on this so I don't commit a wrong.
Answer:
In the Name of Allah, the Gracious, the Merciful.
Dear Sister,
I pray this message finds you in good health and faith.
It is not unlawful for a woman to leave her house. The restrictions on
women going out alone apply to women's travel. However, when a woman
stays within city limits, she is allowed to go out to take care of her
needs, provided that she has the permission ofher husband.
According to both the Hanafi and Shafi'i Schools, the husband may
prohibit his wife from leaving the house. Please see "Is it
permissible for a man to forbid his wife from working?" at
http://qa.sunnipath.com /issue_view.asp?HD=1& ID=2302&CATE=121for more
details. For the Shafi'i reference, please see Reliance of the
Traveller's chapter on marriage (m10.3). The basis for this
restriction is the hadith of the Prophet, Allah bless him and give him
peace, "It isnot permissible for a woman who believes in Allah and the
Last Day to allow someone into her husband's home if he is opposed, or
to go out if he is averse." (Bayhaqi)
As believing women, our primary responsibility is taking care of our
homesand families. Sacred Law has given men the responsibility of
providing for us. Thus, men are required to go out and earn for their
families. Women, on other hand, should avoidgoing out unnecessarily.
Allah Most High says,"And abide quietly in your homes, and do not
flaunt your charms as they used to flaunt them in the old days of
pagan ignorance;and be constant in prayer, and render the purifying
dues, and pay heed unto God and His Apostle... (Al-Ahzab, 33:33)
Having said that, it is alsoimportant to understand that Islam is
religion of balance and moderation.Husbands are not dicators, and are
not allowed to make their wives' lives miserable, nor to control their
everycoming and going. Husbands are encouraged to let their wives
visit relatives, seekknowledge, go to the masjid, and carry out their
obligations. Allah Most High says, And women shall have rights
similar to the rights against them, according to what is
equitable...(Al-Baqara, 2:228)
The basis for how husbands and wives should relate to each other is
the example of the Noble Prophet, Allah bless him and give him peace.
He was kind and loving to his wives and did not prevent them from
becoming fulfilled individuals. The Mothers of the Believers, may
Allah be pleased with them, were accomplished women who studied,
taught, worked, and participated in the life ofthe community. However,
they did so within the limits of Allah Most High.
Thus, it is important for husbands and wives to strike a balance. Yes,
a husband may prohibit his wife from leaving thehouse. But he should
only do so if it's in his wife's best interests, and not as a means of
controland domination. If he compels her to stay at home, he should
consider the following:
1. Is her supporting her on a proper level?
2. Is he providing her with warm, compassionate companionship?
3. Is he facilitating social interaction for her by allowing her
family to visit her?
4. Is he making sure that she has the ability to study her religion
from within the confines of the home?
Realistically speaking, it is difficult, if not impossible, for
Western Muslims to ensure the above requirements and keep their wives
at homeall the time.
Previous answers on SunniPath address the issue of women going to the
masjid and conclude that women in the West should be encouraged togo
to the masjid, particularly if that is the only way for them to seek
knowledge and enjoy the companionship of their Muslim sisters. In a
rigorously authenticated tradition, the Prophet, Allah bless him and
give him peace said, "Do not prohibit the female slaves of Allah from
going to the mosques of Allah. When the wife of one of you asks for
permission to go to the mosque, she should not be refused this
permission." (Bukhari and Muslim)

Islamic etiquette related to gatherings – I

We must pay attention to our gatherings and meetings, because they
have a major effect on us. If one were to take a quicklook at Muslim
gatherings today, he would find that it is nothing but a means of
people occupying themselves with life, each according to his interest
or field of work; this is aside from indulging in some prohibitions
and major sins, in some cases.
These get-togethers, which people have engrossed themselves in, have
hardened their hearts, against which Allaahhas warned us, when He
Almighty Says what means:"Thenwoe to those whose hearts are hardened
against the remembrance of Allaah. Those are in manifest error."]Quran
39: 22[ Indeed, this admonition necessitates that we determine the
reasons behind hard hearts.
Was this the way the Companionsconducted themselves in their
gatherings? Were these the topics and matters they engaged themselves
with? Surely not. We are not talking about declaring these assemblies
and the conversations that flow in them as prohibited, because people
may meet and talk to each other about different topics – this is fine
and permissible, because Islam did not forbid it. Rather, what we are
talking about is making this one's only concern and addressing nothing
else but life and worldly issues in them, tothe extent that not a
single verse or narration from the Prophetor even the recommended
supplication to conclude gatherings with, is heard being recited; in
effect, there is no mention of Allaah at all.
Undeniably, this is a dangerous and dispraised situation, given that
all said things are permissible. Yet, how will the case be if the
meetings involve prohibitions? How will it be if people are indulged
in major sins, such as backbiting and talebearing? Allaah Says what
means:"And do not spy or backbite each other. Would one of you like to
eat the flesh of his brother when dead?"]Quran 49: 12[ How will the
case be if the gatherings incorporate lies and mockery of others,
while the Prophetadvised:"Do not falsely accuse each other,"which is
done by lying and slandering, as the scholars commented.
Moreover, how will it be if the assemblies contain scorning the slaves
of Allaah and abusing one another, when Allaah Says what means:"O you
who have believed,let not a people ridicule]another[ people … And do
not insult one another and do not call each other by ]offensive[
nicknames. Wretched is the name]i.e. mention[ of disobedience after
]one's[ faith."]Quran 49: 11[ How will it be if the gatherings today
are full of sinning and insulting, although the Prophetsaid:"Two
persons insulting one another are like two devils who lie and fling
false accusations at eachother."
Indeed, how will the case be if the gatherings today are those
ofhypocrisy, flattery and formality, while the Prophetinformed us that
praising someone in his face is like beheading him, and, Allaah Says
what means:"…So do not claim yourselves to be pure…."]Quran 53: 32[
How will it be if some of the get-togethers today embrace ridicule of
Islam and those who are devoted to it and belittlement of the
Prophetscorning his way of dressing, character and manners?
Additionally, how will it be if these gatherings involve disparaging
Islamic rulings and laws? A person present in them may say: "You want
to take us back to dealing according to some law that declares: an eye
for an eye and a tooth for a tooth?" Verily, Allaah is glorified and
exalted above what they say.
Many of the Muslim assemblies today contain mockery of people,whether
concerning the way theytalk or a habit of theirs or the way they walk.
The Prophetsaid to'Aa'ishah:"I do not like that I should imitate
someone even if I am paid in return such-and-such )an amountof
money('',meaning that hewould never mention a person or mimic him as a
way of ridicule.The story behind this statement is that`Aa'ishahsaid
to the Prophet: "Such-and-such a thing of Safiyyahis sufficient for
you'', implying that she was a short woman. Thereupon, heremarked:"You
have indeed uttered a word which would pollute the )whole( sea if it
were mixed in it.''In view of this, how is the case with today's
expressions and statements which people exchange during their
gatherings?
Today, many of the Muslim assemblies involve prohibitions. For
example, one would find thattwo people converse privately in the
presence of a third, while the Messenger of Allaahcounseled:"When
three of you are together, two of you must not whisper )to each
other(, ignoring the third";then, herationalized that by adding:"…lest
the third should be grieved.''Despite this, secret conversations are a
disease that has permeated today's gatherings.
The way people sit in their gathering also includes prohibitions; for
instance, some men do not cover their'Awrah)i.e., parts of the body
which are illegal to be exposed to others Islamically, namely from the
navel down to the knees( or do not wear sufficient clothing under
their garment so that when one of them moves his thigh, it becomes
exposed. Yet, when reasoned with one of them)regarding this(, he would
reply: "Are we women that we need to cover up and have certain parts
as an 'Awrah?" This is in spite of the fact that the Prophetsaid to
one of the Companions:"OJurhud! Cover your thigh, for it is a part of
the 'Awrah."
Even in the way people eat and drink, one will come across prohibited
acts, such as eating and drinking using the left hand or neglecting to
mention the name of Allaah before starting. Furthermore, the way they
talk and argue also contradicts Islamic teachings, for they may raise
their voice, be harsh in theirtone of speech, interrupt each other and
youngsters may precede the elders in talking.
It is worthy to note that the meetings during which the nameof Allaah
is not mentioned or remembered, nor is the Prophetmentioned or
exalted; such meetings are subject to the warning in which the
Prophetsaid:"Whenever a group of people sit in a gathering in
whichthey do not remember Allaah, theExalted, nor supplicate for the
elevation of the rank of their Prophet, such a gathering will be a
cause of regret for them on the Day of Resurrection."In another
authentic narration, hewent on to say:"…even if they enter
Paradise",because they will perceive the reward they missed out on due
to not bringing up the name of Allaah and remembering Him, or exalting
the mention of the Prophetintheir gatherings in this life.
The Prophetalso said:"Those people who get up from a gathering in
which they have not remembered Allaah, will conclude it as if it has a
foul odor similar to that of a rotten carcassof a donkey and it will
be a cause of remorse for them )on the Day of Judgment(."Bring to mind
your gatherings to see whether or not the name of Allaah was brought
up and remembered andthe Prophetwas mentioned and exalted in them.

Islamic etiquette related to gatherings – II

Verily, every get-together must include mentioning and thinking of
Allaah; do you hear a verse from the Quran, a Prophetic Hadeeth, a
religious advice, discussion revolving around an Islamic ruling or an
Islamic reminder in today's gatherings except for those upon whom
Allaah has mercy?
We must pay attention to this dangerous, negative trend – Muslims,
these days, actually fool themselves by hanging some Quranic verses or
Prophetic sayings on the walls. Some of these frames of verses are
nicely written and well-decorated and contain a command from Allaah to
His slaves to be pious or reminding that Allaah is All-Knowing of all
that they do and of all things, but they contradict what it says.
Likewise, some might hang a frame which displays the recommended
supplication to conclude gatherings with, yet they never utter it.
To what a low condition have we fallen nowadays to put up a verseor a
Hadeeth, then oppose it in our actions and words? What, then, is the
benefit behind hanging it? This is the reason why some scholars have
prohibited the hanging of verses and Prophetic Hadeeth on the wall, as
it is a way of mocking what is quoted in these frames.
Due to all this, some wise Muslims avoid gatherings of people or
conversing with them, saying: "Why should we sit with people when this
is their situation?" These people are doing the proper thing provided
that they are not capable of changing what goes on during these
meetings, because one must shun the places of sin. Alternatively, our
gatherings should become places to think of Allaah and bring up His
Name, in order to attain the promised reward that the Prophetspoke
about when he said:"Whenever a group of people gather and remember
Allaah and mention Him, then they separate,it will be said to them:
'You have beenforgiven'".Healso said:"Whenever a group of people
congregate and think of Allaah and talk about Him, then they disperse,
it will be said to them: 'Allaah has forgiven your sins andreplaced
your bad deeds with good ones'."These narrations arenot limited to
study circles in the mosque; rather they are applicable in the case of
any meeting.
One is delighted and proud to seesome people, when they sit in a
gathering, they start asking a person of knowledge amongst them,
things like: "Talk to us about such-and-such a verse. What does it
mean?", "What is the story of so-and-so Prophet?", and: "What is the
ruling regarding this issue?" These are the people whom the Prophethas
described as keys for good )i.e., initiators(, who prevent evil. Many
of them might not have knowledge, but they arekeen to learn and
increase their knowledge; they are dedicated tomaking their gatherings
righteous, by mentioning during them that which pleases Allaah. We ask
Allaah to increase the number of such people.
Assemblies have diseases that need to be rectified, so we must know
the etiquettes of gatherings and the manner in which to rectify them,
in order toattain the sought type of gathering.
The Prophethas mentioned many etiquettes, such as the following:
· Hesaid:"It is not permissible for a man to separatebetween two men
when sitting, except after their permission."Thus, one may not enter
into a meeting and sit in the middle of two people who are next to
each other unless he seeks their consent, or else, he should sit in
any other spot he can find.
· It is the Sunnah that one sits in the furthest place he can reach
and find an open spot in, and he may not make someone leave his place
or seat, so as to sit there. The Prophetsaid:"It is not allowed for a
man to get anotherman up from his spot to sit in hisplace."
· Sometimes one might be invited to a private get-together, in which
the conversations may consist of secrets of the host; it isnot
permissible for him to reveal their secrets or those of their family,
because the Prophetsaid:"Secrets )or personal issues( discussed during
gatherings must be kept concealed."
· Heis reported to have said:"The best assemblies are those which are
spacious."Hence, it is recommended to make the assembly area sizeable
for the guests as a way of expressing generosity, if a person can
afford to do so.
· Making room for each other during gatherings is a desirable thing,
especially when the place becomes full. Allaah Says what means:"O you
who have believed,when you are told, "Space yourselves" in assemblies,
then make space; Allaah will make space for you )i.e., in His mercy,
inParadise, or in everything good(."]Quran 58: 11[ When one's heart
has place for his brother, then hisgatherings will automatically
become spacious and people will make room for one another; otherwise,
if one does not harborsuch feelings towards his brother, he will not
make room for him, and even if he does makeroom, one will not be doing
it willingly.
· Saying the designated supplication before leaving an assembly.
Hesaid:"Whoever sits in a gathering and indulges in useless talk, but
before gettingup, he supplicates: 'Subhaanaka Allaahumma wa bi
hamdika, ash-hadu allaa ilaaha illaa Anta, astaghfiruka wa atoobu
ilayka )O Allaah! You are free from every imperfection; praise be to
You. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except You; I ask
YourPardon and turn to You in repentance(,' he will be forgiven)for
the sins he may have intentionally or unintentionally committed( in
thatassembly."
What can people want more thanthis? Islam gives one the chance to make
amends and grants him the opportunity to be forgiven for the sins
which he may have committed, by uttering these fewwords. Truly, the
forgiveness of Allaah is great, as He Says what means:"…Allaah is the
possessor of great bounty."]Quran: 62:4[
· It is narrated that whenever the Prophetmet one of his
Companionshe would not leave the meeting until the other man would be
the one who got up and left; and, when hemet a man who greeted him by
taking his hand, hewould give him his hand and not take it away until
the man himself let goof it.
· The Prophetwas very polite and courteous. Whenever his guest would
get up to leave, hewould get up with him to seehim off and shake his
hand. When, in a gathering, if a man wanted to whisper into his ear,
hewould listen until he finished what he desired to say. Undoubtedly,
hewas exceptionally well-mannered.
This is how our Prophetwas, the example whom we must follow and emulate.

The Hellfire described

Allaah has warned us in His Book about the Hellfire and has informedus
about the different types of punishments it will have, to the extent
that one's heart splits due to fear. Allaah has informed us about its
torment due to His mercy,so that we would therefore fear and avoid it.
Listen to the verses in the Book of Allaah that address the
description of the Hellfire, perhaps it will be a reminder for you;
perhaps they will cause you to repent before it is too late - before
punishment strikes suddenly and you find nobody to support or aid you.
The Hellfire contains chains, as Allaah Says what means:"Indeed,
Wehave prepared for the disbelievers chains and shackles and a
blaze."]Quran 76: 4[
Allaah also Says what means:"…Indeed, We have prepared for the
wrongdoers a fire whosewalls will surround them.And if they call for
relief, they will be relieved withwater like murky oil, which scalds
]their[ faces.Wretched is the drink, and evil is the resting
place."]Quran 18: 29[
Allaah also Says what means:"And those who disbelieved will be
drivento Hell in groups until, when they reach it, its gates are
opened and its keepers will say: 'Did there not come to you messengers
from yourselves, reciting to you the verses of your Lord and warning
you of the meeting of this Day of yours?' They will say: 'Yes, but the
word ]i.e. decree[ of punishment has come into effect upon the
disbelievers.'"]Quran 39: 71[
Allaah also Says what means:"And for those who disbelieved in their
Lord is the punishment ofHell, and wretched is the destination. When
they are thrown into it, they hear from it a ]dreadful[ inhaling while
it boils up.It almost bursts with rage. Every time a company is thrown
into it, its keepers ask them: 'Did there not come to you a
warner?'"]Quran 67: 6-8[
In the Hellfire, punishment will be from all directions; Allaah Says
what means:"On the Day the punishment will cover them from above them
and from below their feet and it is said, 'Taste]the result of[
whatyou used to do.'"]Quran 29: 55[
Allaah also Says what means:"And the companions of the left— what are
the companionsof the left? ]They will be[ in scorching fire and
scalding water. And a shade of black smoke; neither cool nor
beneficial."]Quran 56: 41-44[
One form of punishment in the Hellfire is that people will be dragged
on their faces in it, as Allaah Says what means:"Indeed, the criminals
are in error and madness.The Day they are draggedinto the Fire on
their faces ]it will be said[, 'Taste the touch of Saqar)i.e.,
Hell(.'"]Quran 54: 47-48[
People are the fuel by which the Hellfire is heated and flamed; Allaah
Says what means:"O you who have believed, protect yourselves and your
families from a Fire whose fuel is people and stones, over which
are]appointed[ angels, harsh and severe; they do not disobey Allaah in
what Hecommands them but do what they are commanded."]Quran 66: 6[
Allaah also Says what means:"Indeed, it throws sparks ]as huge[ as a
fortress, as if they were yellowish ]black[ camels."]Quran 77: 32-33[
In the Hellfire, people's clothes will be made of fire; Allaah Says
what means:"And you will see the criminals that Day bound together in
shackles. Their garments of liquid pitch and their faces covered by
the Fire."]Quran 14: 49-50[
The punishment in the Hellfire is continuous; Allaah Says what
means:"Indeed, those who disbelieve in Our verses — We will drive them
into a fire. Every time their skins are roasted through We will
replace them with other skins so they may taste the punishment.
Indeed, Allaah is ever Exalted in Might and Wise."]Quran 4: 56[
Regarding people's drinkand food in Hell, Allaah Says what means:"Then
indeed you, O those astray ]who are[ deniers, will be eating from
trees of Zaqqoom. And filling with it your bellies. And drinking on
top of it from scalding water. And will drink as the drinkingof
thirsty camels. That is their accommodation on the Day of
Recompense."]Quran 56: 51-56[
Allaah also Says what means:"…And he will be given a drink of purulent
water. He will gulp it but will hardly ]be able to[ swallow it. And
death willcome to him from everywhere, but he is notto die. And before
him is a massive punishment."]Quran 14: 16-17[
Finally, the punishment of the Hellfire is never reduced, nor will its
dwellers ever die, as Allaah Says what means:"Indeed, the criminals
will be in the punishmentof Hell, abiding eternally. It will not be
allowed to subside for them, and they, therein, are in despair. And We
did not wrong them, but it was they who were the wrongdoers. And they
will call, 'O Maalik let your Lord put an end to us!" He will say,
"Indeed, you will remain.'"]Quran 43: 74-77[
There are also many prophetic narrations describing and addressing the
Hellfire; the following are some of them:
·Ibn Mas'oodreported: "The Messengerof Allaahsaid:'Hell willbe brought
on that Day)i.e., the Day of Resurrection( with seventy bridles; and
with every bridle will be seventy thousand angels, pulling
it.'"]Muslim[
·Abu Hurayrahreported: "The Prophetsaid:'Your fire )in this world( is
a part of the seventy parts of the fire ofHell',)meaning in its heat(.
It was said: 'O Messenger of Allaah! It would have been
enough,)meaning, if it was only as hot as the fire in this world, then
that would have been enough as a deterrent(.' Hesaid:'It was increased
sixty-nine times )or multiples(, each multiple being of the same
)degree( of heat.'"]Al-Bukhaari & Muslim[
·Abu Hurayrahreported: "We were oncein the company of the Messenger of
Allaahwhen we heard a loud bang. Thereupon, the Messenger of
Allaahasked:'Do you know what this )sound( is?' Wereplied: 'Allaah and
His Messenger know best.' Hesaid:'It is a stone which was thrown into
Hell seventy years ago, and has only now reached its bottom.'"]Muslim[
·Ibn 'Abbaasnarrated that the Prophetsaid:"If a drop from the tree of
Zaqqoom )i.e., a tree of Hell( were to fall onto this world, it
would)pollute and( destroy the lives of all the people of this
world."]An-Nasaa'i & At-Tirmithi[
·An-Nu'maan ibn Al-Basheernarrated that the Prophetsaid:"The least in
punishment among the people of Hellfire is one whose sandals or
shoelaces will be of fire, which will make his brain boil as a pot of
water boils. He willnot think that there is anyone being punished more
than him, but in fact, he will be the least in
punishment."]Al-Bukhaari & Muslim[
·Anas ibn Maalikreported: "The Messengerof Allaahsaid:'Among the
inmates of Hell will be a person who had led a very luxurious life in
this world will be brought on the Day of Resurrection and dipped in
the Hellfire, he will then be asked: `O son of Aadam! Did you ever
experience any comfort? Did you )ever( happen to have any luxury?' He
will reply: `I swear by Allaah, no my Lord.' Then, another person, who
hadexperienced extreme misery in the life of this world, will be
dipped inParadise. He will then be asked: `O son of Aadam! Did you
ever experience any misery? Did you ever encounter difficulty?' He
will reply: 'I swear by Allaah, no my Lord, I neither experienced
misery nor passed through hardship.'"]Muslim[ This means that the
dwellers of the Hellfire will completely forget any pleasures
theyenjoyed in this life, and the dwellers ofParadisewill completely
forget any type of hardship theyfaced in this life.
·Anas ibn Maalikreported: "The Messengerof Allaahsaid:"A man from the
dwellers of Hell will be asked on the Day of Resurrection: `If you
possessed all that is on earth, would you ransom yourself for it?` He
will reply: `Yes.` Then, he will be told )i.e., by Allaah(: `I
requested something far easier than this from you:I had taken a pledge
from you not to associatepartners with Me, but you insisted on
associating with Me.'"]Al-Bukhaari & Muslim[
·Jaabir ibn 'Abdullaahreported: "The Prophetsaid:'Allaah has taken a
pledge upon Himself to make everyone who consumes intoxicants drink
from Teenatul-Khabaal.'Hewas asked: `O Messenger of Allaah! What is
Teenatul-Khabaal?' Hereplied:'It is )a liquid( made of the sweat and
pus of the dwellers of Hell.'"]Muslim[
·The Prophetsaid:"The Jews and the Christians will be asked: `What do
you need?` They will reply: `Our Lord!We are thirsty so give us water
to drink.` They willthen be told: `Come along,' until they reach Hell,
which will be destroying itself, )i.e., some parts of it will eat up
others due to its intense heat( and they will be thrown into
it."]Al-Bukhaari & Muslim[ Imaam Al-Hasancommented on this narration
saying: "What do you think the condition will be of thosewho stood for
fifty thousand years without eating or drinking, until they almost
died of thirst and their stomachs burnt from hunger, and who were then
taken to Hell and given boiling drinks in red hot pots )to drink(?"
·Imaam Ibn Al-Jawzidescribed Hell saying: "It is an abode in which its
dwellers are deprived of joy; their faces are dark; they are beaten
with hooks that are stronger than steel; upon it are angels who are
harsh and tough; )the inhabitants of Hell( will be lying on fire and
drinking boiling water; they will be continuously in grief; they will
never leave Hell because it will be their eternal abode; they will cry
for having wasted their youth; their crying will be continuousand
increasing; their Creator is angered by them; they will be exposed in
front of others; what they collected in life will not benefit them;
they will see the evil consequencesof their sins; life will seem as if
it was a dream to them; their bodies will burn, but whenever they are
burnt out, they will be returned to their original form in order
forthem to taste more torture."

Dought & clear, - Can a person start fasting six days of Shawwaal when he still has days to make up from Ramadaan?

If a person fasts six days of Shawwaal after Ramadaan when he has not
yet completed the Ramadaan fast because he did not fast ten days of
Ramadaan for a legitimate reason will he have the same reward as a
person whofasted all of Ramadaan and followed it with six days of
Shawwaal, i.e. will he be like a person who fasted for a lifetime?
Please explain to us, may Allaah rewardyou with good.
Praise be to Allaah.
The precise rewards for the deeds which people do for the sake of
Allaah is something which is known only to Allaah. If a person seeks
the reward from Allaah and strives to obey Him, his reward will not be
lost, as Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
"We shall not make the reward of anyone who does his (righteous) deeds
in the most perfect manner to be lost." [al-Kahf 18:30].If someone has
missed some of the days of Ramadaan, he should fast them first, then
fast six days of Shawwaal, because he cannot follow the fast of
Ramadaan with six days of Shawwaal unless he has completed his
Ramadaan fast.
And Allaah is the source of strength. May Allaah bless our Prophet
Muhammad and his family and companions, and grant them peace.

Dought & clear, - It is not valid to combine making up missed Ramadaan fasts with fasting six days of Shawwaal with one intention

Is it permissible for me to fast the six days of Shawwaal with the
same intention as making up the days I did not fast in Ramadaan
because of menstruation?.
Praise be to Allaah.
That is not valid, becausefasting the six days of Shawwaal can only be
done after fasting Ramadaan in full.
Shaykh Ibn 'Uthaymeen said inFataawa al-Siyaam(438):
Whoever fasts the day of'Arafah, or the day of 'Ashoora', but still
owes days from Ramadaan, hisfast is valid, but if he intends to fast
this day to make up for a missed Ramadaan fast, he will have two
rewards: the reward for the day of 'Arafah or 'Ashoora' along with the
reward for making up the missed fast. This has to do with voluntary
fasts in general that are not connected to Ramadaan.With regard to
fasting the six days of Shawwaal, they are connected to Ramadaan and
can only done after making up missed Ramadaan fasts. If he fasts them
before making up missed Ramadaan fasts he will not attain that reward,
because the Prophet(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said:
"Whoever fasts Ramadaan then follows it with six days of Shawwaal, it
will be as ifhe fasted for a lifetime." It is well known that whoever
still owes days from Ramadaan is not regarded as having fasted
Ramadaan until he makes up the days hemissed.

Messenger of Allah (Peaceand blessings of Allah be upon him) and Loving Children

Once Messenger of Allah (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) was
on his way to someone's home; he saw Imam Hussain playing with boys.
Messenger of Allah (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) extended
his hands for little Imam Hussain to go up and played with him and
made him laugh in front of everybody; then he held him and gave him a
kiss.
Once a companion (Sahabi) visited the Messenger of Allah (Peace and
blessings of Allah be upon him), when he was engaged in caressing his
two grandchildren, Hasan and Hussain. Beingsurprised at this act, the
companion said:
"O Messenger of Allah (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him)! Do
you also caress children, Ihave ten children but I have never fondled
even one of them."
Thereupon the Messenger of Allah (Peaceand blessings of Allah be upon
him) raised his eyesand remarked: "It seems mercy and kindness has
left your heart."
Messenger of Allah (Peaceand blessings of Allah be upon him) says: "A
good act is written in the record of virtuous deeds for one who gives
a kiss to his child."
Messenger of Allah (Peaceand blessings of Allah be upon him) was very
kind to children and loved them very much. He used to carry them on
his shoulders. The children would become very happy and laugh.
Messenger of Allah (Peaceand blessings of Allah be upon him), too,
would become happy at the pure happiness and laughter of the children
and a smile would appear on his face.
Every time Messenger of Allah (Peace and blessings of Allah be upon
him) returned froma trip, children would be waiting for him and he
would hold some of themand ask his companions to hold others. When
Messenger of Allah (Peaceand blessings of Allah be upon him) leaves,
the children would be talking about how he held one to his chest and
another to his back and how he asked others to hold the rest.
Messenger of Allah (Peaceand blessings of Allah be upon him) used to
give his Salaam (greetings) to children and would tell his companions
(Sahaba): "I give my Salaam to children and respect them, and Muslims
shouldfollow my behavior and always be warm and loving with children."
Messenger of Allah (Peaceand blessings of Allah be upon him) used to
speak about children - boys andgirls - and Say: "O Muslims, O fathers
and mothers, O my followers, be kind and compassionate towards
children, for someone who is not kind to children has no place amongst
the Muslims."

Rights of Children in Islam:(Muslim Parenting, Muslim Parents)

Islam cares about childhood and Muslims regard children as gifts/trust
from Allah (SWT). Parents will be held responsible for this trust on
the Day of Judgement. Hence Islam pays particular attention to rights
of children and to the proper manner to raise them, so that they will
be equipped to face the difficulties of life. We must pay more
attention to the best interests of the children. All these principles
were mentioned in Noble Qur'an and Ahadith, which cares about the
rights of child even before he or she is born. Before getting married,
aman should choose the best possible woman to be his children's
mother.
Children have the right tobe fed, clothed and protected until they
reach adulthood. The child has the right to a good education and a
stable environment in which to grow up. Boys and girls, as well as
orphans, possess these rights in full. Nevertheless Allah (SWT) and
Holy Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) gave parent certain obligations to assure
children's rights.
Respect for human rights begins with the way that a community treats
its children. Children's rightscannot be separated from human rights
because children are the future generation. Taking care of the coming
generation by protecting their dignity and providing them theirneeds
is the most important thing for bringing up citizens best equipped to
serve the community.
On the other hand child abuse weakens a child's ability to study and
makes them nervous as they lose their sense of security. Many abused
children go on to commitcrimes and end up in prison. The family is the
most important unit for forming the community by bringing up the next
generation. So if there are problems in the home, children will be
affected and the whole family and community will suffer.
O you who believe! Save yourselves and your families from a fire whose
fuel is men and stones. Noble Qur'an, (66:6)
Parents are obligated notonly to see to their religious training,
propereducation but also training in sports and selfdefense of their
children.In addition, they must not show preference of sons and
suppression or negligence of daughters.
Messenger of Allah (Peaceand blessings of Allah be upon him) says:
"Observe justice in dealing with your children in the samemanner in
which you expect them to observe justice in being kind and good to
you."
Messenger of Allah (Peaceand blessings of Allah be upon him)
says:"Whoever goes to the bazaar and purchases a present for the
members of his family and brings itto them is like one who spends on
the needy. However he should prefer daughters to sons because whoever
pleaseshis daughter is like one who frees a slave from among the
descendants of Prophet Ismail (as)."
Relationship between Parents and Children in Islam:
"Your parents and your children, you know not which of them is the
nearer to you in usefulness; this is an ordinance from Allah: Surely
Allah is Knowing, Wise." Noble Qur'an (4:11)
The above verse from Noble Qur'an shows the Islamic attitude towards
the relationship between parentsand children. From infancy to
adulthood, it is unparalleled tender love and care of the parents
which brings the child from the stage of absolute weakness and
helplessness to perfect strength and independence.
Conversely, in old age a man becomes like a smallchild; the mind and
body turn so weak that Allah (SWT) says in Noble Qur'an: If We grant
long life to any, We cause him to be reversed in nature: Will they not
then understand? Noble Qur'an (36:68)
Messenger of Allah (Peaceand blessings of Allah be upon him) says:
"The parents are responsible with regard to their children in the same
manner in which the children are responsible with regard to their
parents."
Yesterday, your parents looked after you when you were too feeble to
look after yourself; today you must look after them.Could we ever dare
to think about leaving our parents after all they have done so much
for us? No entry into Jannah without parents being pleased.

The Region that Manages the Emotional Responses: “AMYGDALA”

Our Almighty Lord created the human soul in various ways. Every
person has different tastes, different social relationships. Allah,
the sole owner of knowledge, created a special region 'amygdala'
in the brain, as a means to manage the emotions the human soul
feels.
The 'amygdala' region in our brains is responsible for the feelings
of fear, safety and building social relationships. It is an almond
shaped nuclei underneath the limbic circuit on the brain stem and
consists of interlinked structures. It has two lobes; right and
left. This region helps us catch the sensory signals around us and
help determine how to react to what and when.
The Amygdala in our Brain is the Source of Emotional Responses
Our Almighty Lord created us in such a way that 80% of the
information our brains get from the outside world comes through the
eyes. The lens focuses the image on the retina, and after it is
converted to electric impulses, it is sent to the brain through
optic nerves in a split second, which is one thousandth of a second
to be exact. The impulses coming from both eyes carry data as to
the features of the object one looks at. The brain then joins
together the two impulses from two eyes to make a single image. It
determines the shape, color and distance of the object. In other
words, it is not the eye that sees the objects but the brain itself.
The electric impulses sent by the eyes go to the primary visual
cortex at the back of the brain. This center is 2.5 mm thick and a
couple of centimeters wide. It has six layers of neurons which is
around one hundred million neurons (nerve cells). The impulses
first go to the fourth layer and after they are analyzed there,
they are sent to other layers. In this center, each neuron receives
impulses from thousands of neurons and sends back impulses to
thousands of other neurons.
The retina sends the electric impulses to the thalamus region of our
brain, while the brain determines the reaction to be given the
image. If the reaction is an emotional one, the amgydala, the
source of the emotion repertoire, will be consulted. If the data
coming from the retina has a high potential (shocking situations),
then some of the impulses sent to the thalamus will be channeled
directly to the amygdala and this triggers an emotional response.
The visual cortex no longer has any opportunity to figure out
what's going on and the only thing the cortex can do after that is
build the reactions dictated by the amygdala.
Man, with the soul he possesses, enjoys feelings like honor, love,
respect, friendship and honesty. Just like a cell on the tip of our
finger cannot have any feelings such as happiness or grief, the
neurons in the brain do not have such metaphysical talents either.
This is an obvious truth anyone could easily see even without any
scientific evidence. Our Almighty Lord said the following about the
soul in a Qur'anic verse:
"They will ask you about the Soul. Say: 'The Soul is my Lord's
concern. You have only been given a little knowledge.'." (Al-Isra',
85)
Can the source of individual behavior be the amgydala region in the
brain? Scientific research shows that the amygdala region in the
brain is responsible for individual behavior. When we are exposed to
a danger, the brain is bombarded with questions like, " Is this
something I hate? Will it hurt me? Is it something I'm scared of?'
and if the answer is yes, the amygdala reacts in the form of an
alarm which alerts the rest of the brain that there is a crisis.
The amgydala has a rich communication network with the rest of the
brain. In emergencies, it controls and guides a big part of the
brain. The elements in the limbic system are the experts of the
learning and remembering processes, while the amygdala is the
expert of emotional states.
It is a known fact that our emotional responses are managed by the
amygdala, but its functions are yet to be fully discovered.
Scientists are still trying to find answers to the following
questions:
- How does the brain differentiate between emotional situations and
know that it needs to send those impulses to the amgydala?
- Although the amygdala is mostly the same in all human beings, why
do people differ in the risks they take, in the things they fear or
in terms of their social preferences?
The scientists think that these differences have got to with a gene
called "Neurod2". Experiments with guinea pigs showed that when the
presence of this gene in the amygdala region is reduced, the
subjects experienced reduced feelings of fear and started taking
bigger risks. Humans also have this gene, but there are still some
questions that need to be answered.
Could the genes be the ones deciding if we will take risks or not,
or how many friends we will have or the hobbies we enjoy? In other
words, could it be that a small lump of flesh in our brains
determines our character and emotional choices? Surely, the answer
is no.
Then what really determines our emotions?
What would happen if we didn't have an Amygdala?
A young person who had his amygdala removed saw a big change in his
life because he is almost now emotionally blind.
Previously, he was an extroverted person, a very social type that
had many friends; now he is indifferent to his friends and
doesn't even recognize his own parents and chooses to live alone.
All his emotions were replaced by silence and indifference.
The source of our Individual Behavior is not the Amygdala, but the Soul
Our senses are built through electric impulses. Then is it the
brain and the amygdala that interprets all these impulses and turns
them into a friend, a beautiful flower, a breathtaking scenery, our
parents, or kids playing in the street?
Technically, it is true that the impulses are interpreted in the
brain. Materialists claim that we are nothing but the neurons in a
brain and that the world we live in is the result of the interaction
of the neurons. They claim that the entity that can think, laugh, be
happy, recognize others, is nothing more than a bundle of neurons,
in the words of the materialist, evolutionist physicist Francis
Crick, who discovered DNA. ( http://www.bbc.co.uk /radio4/reith2003
/lecture1.shtml) It's not important for a materialist how a person
thinks and how he makes something out of perceptions. Finding
answers to those questions is not important for the materialists,
because they have no explanation for them. For example, they want
to think of everything in terms of materialistic concepts. However,
that's a lie to keep people away from faith in Allah. It's not the
brain that creates the consciousness, it is the soul. The thing
that says ' I see the image inside the brain, or I hear the sounds
inside the brain' is the soul that Allah gives us. The materialist
state of mind, however, does not want this truth to come out. This
is the main reason behind the lie of the materialists: ' The mystery
of consciousness cannot be solved '. The existence of the soul, the
fact that Allah gives the soul to humans, destroys their
materialistic views and lies. No matter how much they try to avoid
the subject by using the word 'inexplicable', it is an open and
clear truth, that the reality of man - in other words, the thing
that can say 'I am me' - is the soul. Allah says in the Qur'an that
He first created the body of man and then ' breathed His Soul into
him' .
" When your Lord said to the angels, 'I am creating a human being
out of dried clay formed from fetid black mud. When I have formed
him and breathed My Spirit into him, fall down in prostration in
front of him!'" (Surat-Al-Hijr, 28 - 29)
One of the causes of autism is that there are less nerve cells in
the amygdala
The almond-shaped amygdala in the depths of the brain is an area
that helps us understand other people's feelings. The latest research
suggests that this region plays an important role in the feelings of
fear prevalent in autism. However, researchers also think that
this region is connected to various mental states.
For example, autistic people tend to shy away from social
relationships and fail to understand others' feelings. Research
has shown that people suffering from autism had less nerve cells
in their amygdala than normal people have. However, it is surely not
possible that a structure made up of fat, water and protein builds
the consciousness of a person, and makes him a thinking, loving,
reacting, fearing, rejoicing being. It is only the soul that can see
without an eye, that can hear without an ear, that can think without
a brain.

Strong plants that can withstand difficult conditions

Which plant can meet its water needs through its leaves in addition
to its roots?
How does the canary flower protect itself from the cold?
How do the plants survive draught?
Monteverde Cloud Forest
Our Lord created a perfect system to meet the water needs of the
plants. We all know that the plants absorb water from the soil
through its roots and sends this to its stem and leaves through its
xylem tubes. However, some plants are in higher altitudes,
practically living in the clouds, and therefore they have to use
their leaves to meet their water needs.
The rain forests in lower altitudes obtain their water needs from
daily rainfall. However, the trees living in the tropical climates,
the so-called clouds or the mist forests, use the moisture in the
air; in other words, the clouds, to meet their needs. This is
another perfect example of the sublime art of Creation by our Lord.
One of the most beautiful examples of such cloud forests are the
cloud forests of the Costa Rica mountains. In this forest, it is
usually foggy and humid, but despite that the soil itself is dry.
Therefore, the trees cannot get enough water from the soil.
However, the leaves in the clouds, which are always wet, easily get
the water they need. It is because our Lord created the leaves here
in such a special way so that they can easily absorb the moisture in
the air and take it to the branches and to the trunk. This special
system created by our Lord helps many other living things survive as
well. In this forest, at an altitude of 600 to 1800 meters, there
are more than 100 species of mammals, 400 bird species, 120
reptilian and amphibian species, and thousands of species of
insects. Almighty Allah, the Lord of the worlds, with all these
details, showcases the evidence of His existence and His sublime art
of creation. Allah creates whenever He wills, and in a unique way.
He has no partners in creation. This is explained as follows in the
Qur'an:
That is Allah, your Lord. There is no god but Him, the Creator of
everything. So worship Him. He is responsible for everything.
Eyesight cannot perceive Him but He perceives eyesight. He is the
All-Penetrating, the All-Aware. (Al-An'am 102-103)
Yareta
Yareta is a native plant of South America , occurring in the Puna
grasslands of the Andes in Peru , Bolivia , the north of Chile and
the west of Argentina at altitudes between 3,200 and 4,500 metres .
The most important thing about this flower, which is pollinated by
insects, is that they live for a very long time; there are some
specimens which are about 3,000 years old. They look like algea, but
when looked at more closely, one can see thousands of small flower
buds that stick together to look like one big pillow. It is also
known as the 'Andes pillow' and has flowers in different colors from
pink to lilac.
Pink Banana Plant
This banana species growing in North and East India, reaches a
height of 120 centimeters, and displays an amazing example of
Allah's beautiful color artistry. It has pink to orange flowers,
pinkish stalks and small, pink fruits. This plant can grow in
permeable, organically rich soils, in half shade. An interesting
thing about this plant is that it is highly resistant to cold. Even
if its body dries up due to excessive cold weather, its roots can
withstand up to -10 degrees celcius. Allah creates everything
flawlessly down to tiniest detail, and created this plant in such a
way that its every need is met. Allah has control over everything.
Allah knows about everything going on in the universe. Allah makes
that truth clear in the following verse:
"He directs the whole affair from heaven to earth...." (Surat As-Sajdah, 5)
There are some plants which manage to survive in very harsh
conditions, where human beings would never be able to do the same
in the absence of specialized tools. These plants not only
survive, they also have incredible measures to defend themselves
amazing the scientists and researchers alike. These miraculous
plants can survive despite the lack of warmth, water and minerals,
displaying yet another example of Almighty Allah's infinite wisdom
and creation art.
The drought-tolerant plants
Many plants in arid areas can store water. Each plant has different
techniques and places to store the water. These plants were created
in such a way that they can easily tolerate a lack of water. For
instance, The Pygmy cedar ( peucephyllum ) and the caper bush,
which can stay green even in the driest of conditions after
obtaining sufficient moisture during the night , are some of these
plants.
Many such trees and bushes have special leaves that can withstand
drought. For instance, some of them have needle or bouqet shaped
small leaves. This ensures that they have fewer surfaces that are
exposed to sunlight. Others have pores on only one part of their
leaves, mostly on the upper side. These pores ensure that water
loss is minimized due to evaporation when it is windy. Some leaves
have such pores on both sides; especially when it is foggy these
pores obtain moisture from the air.
The leaves of some plants such as Manzanita, are created so that they
stand upright. By the means of this special creation, the surface
is subjected to less sunlight and thus loses less water.
Paloverde , which has no leaves, photosynthesize with its body.
Having lots of leaves in a desert means more evaporation of water.
Therefore, Allah created all these plants with special features
that will make them resistant to harsh desert conditions. All
desert plants have special measures protecting them from high
temperatures. It is Allah, the Lord of all the worlds, that gave all
these plants the abilities they have to survive in their
enviornments.
Canary plant
Canary plants ( senecio vulgaris ) live on the heights of the Kenya
Mountains in Equador and are striking plants with flamboyant
flowers. In this region, where there is usually a thin layer of
frost on the soil at night, the slopes can often be seen covered
with this plant.
The leaves of this plant have a special substance that prevents the
tissues from being hurt from frost; thanks to this protective
substance, the thin layer of frost melts under sunlight and then the
body gets back its old shape.
With the sunlight the frost covering the plant starts to melt and
water starts evaporating through the pores. However, the canary
plant has to pump water back to the now empty pores to prevent its
leaves from drying out. There is another danger looming; with the
weather getting colder, the water channels begin to slowly freeze .
However, the lowest circle of leaves surrounding the stalk of the
canary flower begins to dry out during a certain period of the year.
However, unlike other plants, the dry leaves do not fall off;
instead, they hold on. Thus, these dry leaves act like a thick
shield for the plant guarding it from the cold weather. With this
wise method, the canary plant prevents the channels inside from
freezing and manages to send the water to the rest of the plant.
It is impossible for a soil-bound plant to build such a protective
measure on its own and insert the relevant data in its genes so that
its offspring can have the same trait, too. Allah created these
plants with His infinite beauty and art of creation.
All these examples show that it is Almighty Allah, the lord of the
worlds, Who gives the plants the information they need, Who shapes
them, and gives them the traits they need to survive despite the
difficult conditions. This truth is explained in a verse as
follows:
"Your god is Allah alone, there is no god but Him. He encompasses
all things in His knowledge.' (Surah Ta Ha 98)

The selective nature of the nerve cells

• What is the resting potential of the neurons and how is it preserved?
• What is action potential and how are the signals transmitted?
The nerve cells, which are called the neurons, unlike other cells,
have axons and dendrites. The dendrites consist of many short
extensions and look like the roots of the cell. These extensions
receive signals from other neurons and the recipient cells and
convey it to the body of the cell. Axons, on the other hand, are
thin structures that arise from the cell body. One axon arises from
the cell body and they help carry the messages to the brain. These
neurons make a huge network of communication, all together.
Every cell membrane has an electrical charge and every neuron is
like a tiny biologic battery ready to discharge itself. And each
neuron is like a mini, biological battery ready to discharge its
energy. The ions are electric-charged molecules inside and outside
the nerve cells. This creates a difference in the voltage
throughout the cell membrane. In order for the the neurons to send
signals, minus 50 milivolt (one millivolt is one in one thousandth of
a volt) is needed at an average. 1 The signal is transmitted
through the axon. After every signal, potassium ions are exchanged
through the cell membrane. The neuron has to be recharged after
every signal. To do that, the neuron gets back the ions to reach
its potential value.
One neuron takes onethousandth of a second to send a signal. This
makes it possible to send a maximum of 1000 signals a second,
however generally only 300-400 signals are sent in one second. The
nerve cells have varying lengths in people 2 and the speed of
transmission is around 100-300 meters a second. 3
Prof. Peter Suckling, a neuroscientist at the Downstate Medicine
Center, explains his awe at the cell membrane:
"This thin cell memberane preserves the electric voltage more
efficiently than any other insulating material. This is a very high
insulating power. It has to be strong and at the same time, it is
very thin." 4
The fact that the nerve cells can signal each other through the
electricity produced in the cell membrane, the fact that they can
send messages and ensure that the body functions continue, is
something to be pondered upon. Furthermore, these electrical
signals find the right address and make sense to the recipient cell.
Every cell knows what the signal means and acts accordingly. This
is a miraculous incident that has to be thought about very
comprehensively. If it wasn't for this flawless system between the
cells, no living thing could survive. Then how did this system that
displays an amazing intelligence and engineering come about?
Surely, it is impossible to say that unconscious piles of atoms and
molecules came together to build the cells and led to this
amazingly engineered system between the cells. The existence of
such a conscious system proves us the existence of creation in the
living things. This incredible micro structure that left scientists
amazed, belongs to our Lord, the Creator of Everything:
"Is He who creates like him who does not create? So will you not
pay heed?" (An-Nahl, 17)
Neurons at rest
A nerve cell is at rest, when it is not communicating a signal.
However, this doesn't mean that the neuron is completely immobile.
It has to be ready to transmit signals that could be received from
the neighbors at any moment. A neuron that is at rest has to
polarized. This means that the liquid inside has to be negatively
charged compared to one outside. One nerve cell has an electric
potential of around 70 milivolts across the cell membrane. This is
called the membrane potential or the resting potential. Although
this might seem like a small amount, it means that it produces a
voltage that is equal to 1/20 of the energy in the battery of a
small flashlight and creates a potential for the electricity
production throughout the axon membrane.
Outside the axon, there are sodium and (Na+) chloride (Cl-) ions,
while inside, there are charged proteins and potassium (K+) ions.
The electrical imbalance between outside and inside of the cell,
creates the resting potential throughout the membrane. This
imbalance created by the charged ions, is obtained through the cell
membrane being semipermeable for different ions. Even if the
sodium, potassium and chlorine ions pass through the cell membrane,
the entrance of big molecules creating an electric potential, is
restricted.
However, semipermeability is not the only solution, as the
potassium ions inside the cell (K+) are always higher in number than
the sodium ions (Na+), while the sodium ions outside the cell
membrane (Na+) are always more than the potassium ions (K+). In
order to ensure the necessary ion balance, the intensity levels in
the nerve cell, has to be reverted.
The cell does this using a kind of ion pump. The sodium-potassium
pump is a big protein molecule that builds a channel in the cell
membrane. This pump gets its energy from the ATP (Adenosine-
5'-triphosphate: the cellular energy molecule that living things
directly use) and after sending the sodium (Na+) ions out, accepts
the potassium (K+) ions inside. Thus, it preserves the right ion
ratio inside and outside the cell. In every square micrometer of the
cell membrane, there are some 100–200 sodium-potassium pumps and
each of them sends out 200 sodium ions while accepting 130 potassium
ions inside.
Action potential and transmission of the signal
When a neuron is prompted by another neuron or the conditions, the
signal starts and right after this, the signal moves along the axon
and makes the cell membrane potential to be reverted. As there are
thousands of protein channels or gates on the neuron membrane
allowing the passage of the ions. These gates are usually closed.
When there is a signal, the sodium channels are opened and the
positive-charged sodium ions flow inside. This way, the inside of the
cell membrane has more positive charge and the resting potential is
reverted, which increases the cell membrane potential up to +50
milivolt. The reverting of these charges is called the 'action
potential'. During the action potential, the potassium gates are
opened and the positive charged potassium ions flow outside. This
re-balances the resting potential and the inside of the neuron
becomes negative charged while outside becomes positive charged.
A single electric signal triggers all this process. Therefore, we
can say that the transmission of the signals triggers a domino
effect. As each domino falls, the next one falls. After the signal
is sent, the dominos stand back and get ready for the next action
potential.
The molecular traffic between the nerve cells continues on a
constant basis. It is the ions and some proteins that tell this
traffic to move or to stop. It is surely impossible for unconscious
moelecules to build this amazing nervous system in our bodies and
then organize it perfectly. They have come together to serve a
single purpose within a system. This fascinating system in our
bodies is one of the manifestations of Allah's beautiful creation
and infinite control over everything.

jesuswillreturn -

Prophet Jesus (pbuh) Will Not Bring a New Religion
He will lead as you for 40 years according to the Book of your Lord
and the sunnah of your Apostle, and then die. (Sahih Muslim)
Jesus [pbuh] will not come to the people of Mohammed as a Prophet,but
to practice the religion of Mohammed… (Ibn Hajar al-Haythami, Al-Qawl
al-Mukhtasar fi `Alamat al-Mahdi al-Muntazar, p. 68)
Jesus (pbuh) will descendand will practice our Prophet's (may God
bless him and grant him peace) law. (Imam Rabbani, Letters of Rabbani,
vol. 2, p. 1309)
He will judge by the law of Mohammed, will adhere to a Prophet
eventhough he is one himself,and will belong to the people of
Mohammed… He will be the people of the Prophet, and he will be the
most devoted among them… (Muhammad ibn `Abd ar-Rasul Barzanji,
Al-Isha`ah li- -Ashrat as-Sa`ah, p. 243)
No Prophet shall come during the period between me [Mohammed] and
Jesus (pbuh). And Jesus [pbuh] shall descend. Recognize him when you
see him: A man of medium height and of a ruddy, fair complexion. He
will be dressed in two pieces of a yellow garment. The hair of his
head will appear as if water is trickling out of it, although his hair
will notbe wet. He will struggle for the cause of Islam... And Jesus
(pbuh) will make the Antichrist [Dajjal] ineffective. He will live on
this Earth for a period of 40 years and, at the end of this period,
will pass away. The Muslims will offer the funeral prayers of Jesus
[pbuh]. (Ibn Ahmad Hanbal, Musnad)

jesuswillreturn -

The World Will Be at Peace
Like the cup fills with water, so will Earth fill with peace. There
will beno enmity left between any people. All hostility, fighting, and
envy will disappear. (Sahih Muslim)
The warriors will abandon their weight [weapons and kits]. (Sunan Ibn
Majah, vol. 10,p. 334)
The soldiers put down their weighs [their weapons, etc.].
(Olum-Kiyamet-Ahiret ve Ahirzaman Alametleri [Death-Doomsday-Hereafter
and The Signs of the End Times], p. 496)
Spite, mutual hatred, andjealousy against one another will certainly
disappear. (Sunan Abu Dawud)
No other [religion] will be accepted…, religion will be united.
Nothing and nobody but God will be worshipped. Since there will be no
one left to accept charity, it will be abandoned. Treasuresand
discoveries will be discovered. People, knowing the proximity of
Judgment Day, will no longer crave material wealth. And since there
will be no reasons for enmity and crossness, they will be no more...
Poisonous creatures will do away with their poison, and children will
play with scorpions and snakes. They will not harm the children. The
wolf will graze with the sheep and not harm them. The world will fill
with peace and contentment, and combat and fighting, warfare and
attacks, will disappear. The world's vegetation will be returned to
its state at Adam's [pbuh] time. One branch of grapes will satiate a
group of people, horses will be freed, and there will be no need for
oxen, because the fields will plant themselves... (Muhammad ibn `Abd
ar-Rasul Barzanji, Al-Isha`ah li Ashrat as-Sa`ah, pp. 242-43)
Jesus [pbuh] will live as a just judge, a fair imam, and leader among
my people. He will destroy the cross [of the Christians], kill the
pig, lift the jizyah tax, and abandon charity when no one desires more
sheep or camels. All enmity and hostility will cease, Earth's face
will belike a silver plate, and vegetation will be plentiful again,
just like at Adam's [pbuh] time. (Mukhtasar Tazkirah al-Qurtubi, p.
496)
After that, he will rule with justice, break the cross, kill swine,
abolish the jizya, and abandon charity. No tax collector will be after
sheep or camels. Enmity and hatred between people will cease.
Scorpions and snakes will not be poisonous, and even children will
play snakes without being bitten. The girl will try to chase away the
lion, but it will not harm the child. Wolves will be among sheep like
sheepdogs. The world will fill with religious unity like the cup fills
with water. Nobody but God will be worshipped. Nothing willbe left of
warfare and conflict. The rule of the Quraysh tribe will end, and
Earth's face will be like a silver plate. Vegetation will be plentiful
again like at Adam's [pbuh] time. One branch of grapes will satiate a
group of people. A pomegranate will satiate a group of people, the
price of an oxwill be small, and a few coins will buy a horse. Someone
asked: "Oh God's Messenger (may God bless him and grant him peace),
why will horses be cheap?" [He replied:] "As there will beno war,
there will be no demand." [It was asked:]"Why will oxen be so
expensive?" [He replied:]"Because all of the land will be arable and
oxen will be needed." (Sunan Ibn Majah)
Then he will live for 40 years. No one will die during his time.
People will say [go and graze] totheir sheep and animals, and they
will go. Even though they will pass through crops, they will not feed
off one ear of grain. Snakes and scorpions will not harm anyone, and
predators will stand by the doors and not hurt people... (Jalal ad-Din
as-Suyuti)
Jesus [pbuh] will kill the Dajjal. Then the Earth willbecome safe so
that lionsmay graze with camels; tigers with cows, wolves with sheep;
and so that children may play with snakes without being harmed. (Ibn
Ahmad Hanbal)

jesuswillreturn -

The Good News of the Golden Age
In many of his sayings, our Prophet (may God bless him and grant him
peace) draws attention to a period when Islam's morality will prevail,
when Prophet Jesus (pbuh) and the Mahdi will be on Earth, and the
Qur'an's moral values willprevail: The Golden Age. This period will be
very similar to the time of our Prophet (may God bless him and grant
him peace) and, since he usedthe characteristics of Paradise to depict
this period, it is called the Golden Age.
In the previous sections, we dealt with the suffering and hardship
that people will experience during the first phase of the End Times.
Just after these events, which are also the signs of Prophet Jesus'
(pbuh) coming, theGolden Age will come. This is great news for
everyone, for this period will be characterized by the abundance of
every type of goods and crops; the establishment of security, justice,
peace, and happiness; and the use of advanced technology for
humanity's comfort, ease,joy, and peace. No one will be in need, for
all goods and services will be available to meet their needs. Many
hadiths say that"weapons will be silenced," and thus herald a world
filled withpeace. In the Golden Age,enemy nations will become brothers
and sisters and re-establish peace, friendship, and love among their
leaders and peoples.
Technology will reach its peak, and people will receive its fullest
benefits. Medicine, agriculture, communication, transportation, and
industry will undergo remarkable development, and peoplewill
continuously witnessnew discoveries leading to further advances.
Overall, the pace of discovery will accelerate.
The arts will flourish, andthe broad horizons and deep thinking
granted by faith in God will advance all branches of art. Such a
spirit will enable people to produce glamorous works of music,
theater, and painting. According to one hadith, people will be so
content that they will spend their dayswith no idea as to how time
passes and how oneday turns into the next. They will pray to God to
prolong their lives in order to receive more benefits from these
graces. Another Prophetic hadith states:
… the younger ones wish they were grown-ups, while the adults wish
they were younger… The good become even more good, and the wicked ones
are treated well. (Al-Muttaqi al-Hindi, Al-Burhan fi `Alamat al-Mahdi
Akhir az-Zaman,p. 17)
Our Prophet (may God bless him and grant him peace) also gives the
following good news:
Unprecedented Abundance in the GoldenAge
There will be at the end of my people a khalifa who will apportion out
wealth, and he will not count it. (Olum-Kiyamet-Ahiret ve Ahirzaman
Alametleri [Death-Doomsday-Hereafter and the Signs of the End Times],
p. 433)
In the End Times there will be a khalifa [successor] who will
distribute wealth without even counting it.(Sahih Muslim)
The land will reveal the treasures within. (Ibn Hajar al-Haythami,
Al-Qawl al-Mukhtasar fi `Alamat al-Mahdi al-Muntazar, p. 45)
The land will turn like thesilver tray growing vegetation... (Sunan Ibn Majah)
The son of Mary [Jesus (pbuh)] will return and make the Antichrist
ineffective. Then you willlive for 40 years in prosperity. (Al-Muttaqi
al-Hindi, Al-Burhan fi `Alamat al-Mahdi Akhir az-Zaman, p. 90)
Everywhere food will cook in pots, unseen prosperity will dominate,and
material wealth will be disregarded. (Ibn Hajar al-Haythami, Al-Qawl
al-Mukhtasar fi `Alamat al-Mahdi al-Muntazar, p. 66)
The reason for Jesus [pbuh] to abandon charity is: There are no needy
poor people in want of charity left. (Sunan Ibn Majah, vol. 10,p. 339)
Even without the plough,the produce of wheat would multiply seven
hundred times, one mudd [a measure of wheat] becoming 700 mudd. (Jalal
ad-Din as-Suyuti)
Then the land will be toldto bring forth its fruit and restore its
blessing and, as a result thereof, there will grow [such a big]
pomegranate that a group of people [between 10 and 40 people] will be
able to eat it and seek shelter under its skin. Milk cows will give so
much milk that a whole party will be able to drink. And the milk given
by camels will be such [a large quantity]milk that the whole tribe
will be able to drink of it.And the sheep will give so much milk that
the whole family will be able to drink of that… (Sahih Muslim)
The High Cost of Living and Poverty Will End
... And wealth will be so abundant that no one will accept it. (Sahih Bukhari)
The Hour will not be established until wealth will be in abudance - so
abundant that a wealthy person will worry lest nobody accept his
Zakat, and whenever he will present it to someone, that person will
say, "I am not in need of it." (Sahih Bukhari)
Then will my Ummah be blessed, the number of animals will increase,
and the land will bear its fruits. (Ibn Hajar al-Haythami, Al-Qawl
al-Mukhtasar, p. 26)
Definitely possessions will be in abundance then, flowing like water.
Yet no one will [condescend] to take any(Mukhtasar Tazkirah
al-Qurtubi, p. 464.)

Story, - I, the Liar

Hello to everyone here!!!
After some frequent visitson this website and after reading some
stories, I decided to finally share mine as well. It's about cheating,
but on my part.
I am 34 years old, married and have a beautiful girl.
My story began when I had decided to go abroad, because I wanted to
make some money and also because Iwas curious to why everyone wants to
travel around the world. So, I left for Italy with my sister and we
were relying on a friend of ours to help us find a job there.
We arranged to meet the above-mentioned friend named T. And at first,
I didn't pay too much attention when I saw him. Although, his height
made him impossible not to notice. So, after a few times meeting him I
realized how kind, smiling and easy going he was.
He had some problems with his wife, who he had left in Canada and kept
begging to come to Italy. Gradually, we reached a point in which I
began to like this man and started wanting him a 100 %.
I wasn't expecting anything besides sex. I was confused, in a foreign
country with a foreign language, with some people that I didn't
understand and with him; kind, caring and in love with me.
However, he quickly started dreaming about how we were going to create
our own life, how I was going to get a divorce, how much he loved me.
I wasn't feelingthe same way. I wanted to go back to Canada andback to
what I had left there; he was also acting weird after living without a
woman for so long.
And so, I couldn't handle this anymore, I kept thinking about my child
and I left for Canada. Then my pain started. I immediately felt the
lack of attention, affection, the spark in my sex life and we began
maintaining an endless phone relationship by writing secret text
messages in the middle of the night. "My love, amore, sweetheart."
The distance was making us want each other even more. This is when I
made all the mistakes than I did and I told him a bunch of lies. I was
telling him how I hated my husband and that I wanted a divorce. It
wasn't easy to live like this at all.
I was lying to the both of us. I changed, became frustrated and my
husband reacting to this didn't take long. There were constant
scandals that were making my child suffer when she heard them.
Everything was a complete mess.
T. was pushing me to leave and go to him and Icouldn't leave my child
and my husband. There was also something else that was more important
than everything.
I was not in love with T., even though I used to sayit back to him all
the timewhen he told me that he loved me. I didn't want a future with
a man that I didn't have strong feelings for. THIS KEPT GOING ON FOR 3
YEARS.
During this period we spent very little time physically together,
because this was only possible when he came back to Canada and I could
come up with an excuse. I did know that I had to put a stop to this
living hell that I had created myself.
Every night, I was full with regrets. I kept thinking how I did't
deserve neither one of them. I couldn't find the words to express my
desire to break it off withT. So, I left it to him to figure it out.
I didn't get a divorce. I continue living with this huge burden on my
shoulders which remained unshared. I made an attempt to meetwith T.
and to tell him how I felt, but it was another mistake, becausehe saw
it as a willingness to continue our relationship and to try to have a
life together one day.
I gave up and I stopped contacting him and so did he. I hope that he
hasfound his true love. Regardless, I still feel awful about it.
I messed up T.'s life with my lies and I ruined my family's balance
and trust. Nothing is the sameanymore.
So there it is, I shared my lie with you and I hope that someone might
understand how I feel, even though I am not a very good writer. I
don't know if I'll get a reply from any of you, but at least my story
can serve as an example.

Story, - I'm in love with my boss

Hi!
I've been plucking up courage to write to you for a long time but
today I decided to tell my story and probably to find somebody who can
give me a piece of advice or just listen to what I have to say.
The problem is that I'm inlove with my boss and I can't admit my
feelings to him. Everybody will think that this is just a pretext for
getting a promotion or for keeping my job. They can't understand that
thisis love actually. And what if he refuses me flatly? I will look
like an absolute fool. How will I look him in the eyes? I'll have to
quit my job although I really like it and need it.
I can feel that his attitudetowards me is different but sometimes he
acts in the same way with the others....
I don't know…. it's really hard for me to hide my love but it's even
harder to admit it.

Fathwa, - Different Types of Discharges

Question:
Different types of discharges
Answer:
Assalamu alaykum
In the name of Allah, the Inspirer of truth.
There is a difference of opinion among the scholars concerning
cervical mucus or vaginaldischarge. Since it comes from the cervix
which is thefarj dakhilin Arabic, According to Imam Abu Hanifa, it is
not impure and does not break the wudu' [if it is not discolored].
According to his two students, Imam Abu Yusuf and Imam Muhammad, it is
impure and will break the wudu'. Hence, there is a difference of
opinion.
Some of the later scholars based the rulings on the first view and
others based it on the second view.
If a women experiences excessive discharge, she could avail of the
first opinion which does not consider the discharge tobe impure, hence
she need not renew her wudu' each time it happens. However, if the
discharge is not that frequent, it would be preferred to wash up and
renew the wudu' due to the other more precautionary opinion.
Likewise, if a women is able to conveniently wash up, then it would be
preferable to do so, but in situations where itis difficult then she
can avail herself of the more lenient opinion.
This is all concerning the discharge which is not discolored. As for
the discharge which is discolored due to thrush or any other ailment,
or the discharge is due to excitement, they it will be considered
impure by all and nullify the wudu'. Hence, washing and renewing the
wudu' would be necessary.
As for ejaculatory fluid, 'Allama Ibn 'Abidin describes it as follows:
"Ifit is watery yellow then itis the ejaculatory fluid of women" (Radd
al-Muhtar1:111). It has also been reported to be milky in color and
ranging in its thickness and odor basedon a woman�s diet, overall
health and the phase she is experiencing within her menstrual cycle.
However, to conclude, any liquid released whenfeeling sexual pleasure
(and more conclusively upon orgasm), regardlessof its color or whether
ornot it runs down the leg, will be impure.
And Allah knows best.

Fathwa, - Is one allowed to write Qur'anic calligraphy writing whileon menstruation? &nbs

Question:
Is one allowed to writeQur'anic calligraphy writing while on menstruation?
Answer:
Walaikum assalam wa rahmatullah,
Yes, it is allowed to write Qur'anic verses when on one's period.
However, one cannot touch the Qur'anic verses themselves without a
barrier (such as a cloth). [Ibn Abidin,Radd al-Muhtar]
The rulings of menstruation are a test of our slavehood to Allah,as
many of the other rulings of the Shariah, and are an honoring from
Allah for those who say, O Lord, "We hear andwe obey!" [Qur'an, 2.285]
And Allah alone gives success.
Wassalam,

Fathwa, - How do we deal with depression during awomans menstrual cycle?

Question:
As salamaulaykum,
I am going through a difficult time in my life. Allah is testing me,
and I am patiently waiting for my du'as to be answered. At times of
purity, I am at peace because I can come to Allah. But during my
menstrual cycle, I am reduced to a state of drepression, self-pity,
tears... I don't know how to soothe myself. I can't pray, I can't read
the Qur'an, I can't enter a masjid.
It's a week of hell. What can I do to end my grief? It comes back
every month, and I can't deal with these feelings.
Answer:
In the Name of Allah, the Gracious, the Merciful.
Dear Sister,
I pray this message finds you in good health and spirits.
First off, if you are suffering from serious depression during your
menstrual cycle, it may be advisable to see an OB-GYN. Some women
experience mood swingsright before and during their menstrual cycles.
However, serious depression is not typical and should not be
overlooked.
The beauty of our way oflife is that the believer is never cut off
from her Lord, no matter what herstate. Even if a woman is
menstruating or experiencing postnatal bleeding, there are still ways
for her to strengthen her iman anddraw nearer to Allah Most High.
While you are menstruating, there are specific acts of worship, which
are prohibited. The reason for the prohibition is the lack of ritual
purity, and not a deficiency in you. There is no reason to be
depressed. It is not a punishment that you can't pray. Rather, it is a
mercy from Allah Most High that He has lifted these obligations from
women experiencing menstrual or postnatal bleeding, while at the same
time not taking anything away from them in terms of reward or good
deeds.
According to the Hanafi School, the acts of worship which you cannnot
do during your period (or postnatal bleeding) are as follows:
1. Prayer, whether obligatory or voluntary
2. Fasting, whether obligatory or voluntary
3. Sexual intercourse, although it is permitted for the husband and
wife to kiss, cuddle, and lay together, as long as the husband avoids
direct contact with the area between her navel and knee
4. Making tawaf (circumambulation of the Kaaba)
5. Entering a masjid
6. Touching the Qur'an
7. Reciting the Qur'an with the intention of recitation
These are the things you can't do. However, there are things you can
do to keep your connection to Allah Most High:
1. Listen to the Qur'an. Either have someone recite it to you, or
listen to a tape or cd.
2. The Hanafi School recommends that menstruating women make ablution
at the time of prayer, sit in a quiet place, and supplicate Allah.
Although the ablution does not lift the state of ritual impurity, it
still puts one in a good frameof mind.
3. Constant remembranceof Allah. Remember that the Prophet, Allah
bless him and give him peace, remembered Allah in all his states.
There is nothing preventing you from supplicating Allah and making
remembrance of Him (dhikr). Furthermore, even if the supplications
contain verses from the Qur'an, as many do, it is permitted to say
these supplications, provided that you do so with the intention of
remembrance, and not recitation.
4. Study Sacred Knowledge. It is permissible to handle books of tafsir
(Qur'an commentary), fiqh (Sacred Law), and hadith, provided that they
do not contain more Qur'anic text than commentary.
5. Listen to uplifting tapes and cds. There are many nice productions
to listen to, for example, Shaykh Hamza Yusuf's Purification of the
Heart. Since you're not praying,why not take the extra time to listen
to some of these?
6. Get a sisters' gatheringtogether. Even if you're not praying,
chances are someone else is. Have this sister recite Qur'an for you.
Being in good company lifts one's spirits.