Muharram/Islamic New Year

The Islamic year lasts for about 354 days and consists of 12 months.
Muharram is the first month and some Muslims mark the start of the
Islamic year on the first day of Muharram. Many Muslims fast during
daylight hours on the ninth and 10th or 10th and 11th days of the
month to mark the Day of Ashura (Yaumu-l 'Ashurah). This is the
anniversary of the death of Husayn ibn Ali, a grandson of the Prophet
Muhammed.
There may be some congestion around mosques on some days, particularly
in the evenings, during Muharram.
©i Stockphoto.com/PhilSig in
What do people do?
On the first day of Muharram, some groups of Muslims mark the first
day of the Islamic year and others begin observing the Commemoration
of Muharram. This marks the 10 days between the anniversaries of the
battle of Karbala (currently in Iraq) and the death of Husayn ibn Ali
in the year 680 CE.
The events of Muharram are commemorated in many ways in different
Islamic denominations and cultures. However, it is common for Muslims
to fast during the hours of daylight on the 10th day of the month,
known as the day of Ashura, and also on the ninth or 11th day. Mosques
may provide free meals (nazar) on these dates. In some countries,
other events also take place and Muslim communities in Australia,
Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States may
incorporate some aspect of these traditions when observing the
Commemoration of Muharram.
In Iraq, Shi'a Muslims, may make a pilgrimage to the Imam Husayn
Shrine, on the site of the grave of Husayn ibn Ali. In
Iran,taziya(ta'zieh) or Condolence Theater are performed. During
Muharram, these take the form of re-enactments of the battle of
Karbala. In south Asia, similar events are known as such
asmarsiya,nohaandsoaz,tabuikortabut. In Jamaica and Trinidad and
Tobago, they are known as Hosay or Hussay and are attended by people
from a variety of religions and cultures.
Shi'a Muslims, particularly those in Afghanistan, Bahrain, India,
Iraq, Lebanon and Pakistan, may take part in remembrance parades
ormatam(matham). Duringmatam, males gather in large groups on the
streets to take part in ritual chest beating. In some areas, some
participants also beat themselves withzanjir(metal chains fixed into
handles), but this practice is controversial and has been banned by
some civic and Islamic authorities.
Public life
The Islamic New Year is a public holiday in places such as (but not
exclusive to) India, Indonesia, Jordan, Malaysia, and the United Arab
Emirates. It is not a nationwide public holiday in countries such as
Australia, Canada, the United Kingdomor the United States. However,
Islamic businesses and organizations may have altered opening hours
and there may be some congestion around mosques, particularly in the
evening and at night.
Background
Muharram is the first month in the Islamic year and a time of mourning
and peace. It is forbidden for Muslims to fight during this month. A
number of important events in Islamic history have occurred during
this month. These include: the Battle of Karbala (currently in Iraq)
in the year 680 CE, which enabled Husayn ibn Ali, a grandson of the
Prophet Muhammed, and his army to enter the city on the first day of
the month; the restriction of Husayn ibn Ali's access to water on the
seventh day; and the death of Husayn ibn Ali and his clan (Ahl
al-Bayt) on the 10th day of the month. The Shi'a and Sunni
denominations of Islam attach different weights to these events and
mark them in different ways.

Muharram began in the evening ofSunday,November 3, 2013, and ends in the evening ofTuesday,December 3, 2013. Dates may vary.

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visit-http://aydnajimudeen.blogspot.com

Fathwa, - Questions on Covering: Grandfather, Step father, Non-Muslim Women

Question:
If I am a female, then do I have to wear hijab in front of the brother
of my maternal grandmother? Also, what about the brother of my
maternal grandfather?
If I am a male, then would the daughter of my paternal grandfather (by
his second wife, i.e. not the mother of my father but his step-mother)
be my mahram?
"The awra (nakedness) of a Muslim woman in front of non-Muslim women
is the same as that in front of strange (non-mahram) men. That means
that she cannot uncover her hair in front of them." Do the Ulama
mention any reason? What if the non-Muslim woman is old?
Answer:
Wa �alaykum al-salam
No, a female would not have to cover in front of the brother of her
maternal grandmother nor in front of the brother of her maternal
grandfather as both of these are the uncle of her mother. Qudri Basha
explained in his codification of Hanafi family law that a woman�s
mahrams (unmarriageable kin) include her own uncles as well as the
uncles of her parents or their parents and on up. [Qudri
Basha,al-Ahkamal-Shar�iyya fi al-Ahwal al-Shakhsiyya, article 22]
Yes, the daughter of one�s paternal grandfather from his second wife
would be one�s mahram. Ibn Nujaym mentions inal-Bahr
al-Ra�iqcommenting on the words of imam-al-Nasafi inKanz
al-Daqa�iqconcerning the unlawfulness of marrying one�s maternal and
paternal aunts that one�s aunts here also includes the daughters of
one�s grandparents and on up.
Concerning a woman�s having to cover fully in front of non Muslim
women, the opinion of the Hanafis, Malikis and the strongest opinion
of the Shafi�is is that it is incumbent on her to do so. The dalil
mentioned to support this opinion is verse 31 of sura al-Nur where
Allah most high states the various groups of people in front of whom
women do not have to cover themselves fully. Among the groups
mentioned is �their women� (nisa�ihinn). The fact that Allah
restricted it to a particular group of women by saying �their women�
instead of leaving it absolute as just �women� implies clearly that
not all women can be included and if one were to include non Muslim
women then there would be no benefit left to be drawn from the
restriction mentioned in the noble verse. This is the interpretation
for this verse that is transmitted from �Abdullah ibn �Abbas.
Furthermore, Al-Qadi Abu Bakr ibn al-�Arabi mentions in hisAhkam
al-Qur�anthat �Umar bin Khattab (May Allah be pleased with him) wrote
to Abu �Ubaida ibn al-Jarrah saying, �It has reached me that Muslim
women are entering the public bathhouses with women from the people of
the book. Forbid this.� Abu �Ubaida responded by publicly
announcing, �Any woman who enters the public bathhouse with no excuse
of illness or disease so that she may make herself white for the sake
of her husband then may Allah make her face black on the day when
faces are turned white.�
The opinion of the Hanbalis is that a non Muslim woman is just like a
Muslim woman whilst the other opinion of the Shafi�i school which is
deemed strong though not most correct is that a non Muslim woman may
see of a Muslim woman that which normally shows when working. So
there is a dispensation that can be taken in situations when fully
covering in front of other women is genuinely difficult.
And Allah knows best.
Sohail Hanif
From Ahkam al-Qur�an of Qadi Abu Bakr ibn al-�Arabi:الْمُسْتَثْنَى
التَّاسِعُ : قَوْلُهُ : { أَوْ نِسَائِهِنَّ } : وَفِيهِ قَوْلَانِ :
أَحَدُهُمَا : أَنَّهُ جَمِيعُ النِّسَاءِ . وَالثَّانِي : أَنَّهُ
نِسَاءُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ . فَأَمَّاأَهْلُ الذِّمَّةِفَلَا يَنْبَغِي أَنْ
تَكُونَ الْمُسْلِمَةُ مُبْدِيَةً لَهُنَّ زِينَتَهَا وَقَدْ كَتَبَ
عُمَرُ بْنُ الْخَطَّابِ إلَى أَبِي عُبَيْدَةَ بْنِ الْجَرَّاحِ :
أَمَّا بَعْدُ ، فَقَدْ بَلَغَنِي أَنَّ نِسَاءَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ
يَدْخُلْنَ الْحَمَّامَاتِ مَعَهُنَّ نِسَاءُ أَهْلِ الْكِتَابِ ،
فَامْنَعْ ذَلِكَ ، وَحُلْ دُونَهُ . ثُمَّ إنَّ أَبَا عُبَيْدَةَ قَامَ
فِي ذَلِكَ الْمَقَامَ مُمْتَثِلًا ، فَقَالَ : " أَيُّمَا امْرَأَةٍ
دَخَلَتْ الْحَمَّامَ مِنْ غَيْرِ عِلَّةٍ وَلَا سَقَمٍ تُرِيدُ
الْبَيَاضَ لِزَوْجِهَا فَسَوَّدَ اللَّهُ وَجْهَهَا يَوْمَ تَبْيَضُّ
الْوُجُوهُ " . وَالصَّحِيحُ عِنْدِي أَنَّ ذَلِكَ جَائِزٌ لِجَمِيعِ
النِّسَاءِ ، وَإِنَّمَا جَاءَ بِالضَّمِيرِ لِلِاتِّبَاعِ ، فَإِنَّهَا
آيَةُ الضَّمَائِرِ ؛ إذْ فِيهَا خَمْسٌ وَعِشْرُونَ ضَمِيرًا لَمْ
يَرَوْا فِي الْقُرْآنِ لَهَا نَظِيرًا ، فَجَاءَ هَذَا لِلِاتِّبَاعِ .
From the Mawsu�a al-Fiqhiyya:عورةالمرأة المسلمة بالنسبة للأجنبية
الكافرة : 4 - ذهب جمهور الفقهاء : ( الحنفية والمالكية وهو الأصح عند
الشافعية ) إلى أن المرأة الأجنبية الكافرة كالرجل الأجنبي بالنسبة
للمسلمة ، فلا يجوز أن تنظر إلى بدنها ، وليس للمسلمة أن تتجرد بين يديها
، لقوله تعالى : { ولا يبدين زينتهن إلا لبعولتهن أو آبائهن أو آباء
بعولتهن أو أبنائهن أو أبناء بعولتهن أو إخوانهن أو بني إخوانهن أو بني
أخواتهن أو نسائهن } أي النساء المسلمات فلو جاز نظر المرأة الكافرة لما
بقي للتخصيص فائدة ، وقد صح عن عمر رضي الله عنه الأمر بمنع الكتابيات من
دخول الحمام مع المسلمات . ومقابل الأصح عند الشافعية أنه يجوز أن ترى
الكافرة من المسلمة ما يبدو منها عند المهنة ، وفي رأي آخر عندهم أنه
يجوز أن ترى منها ما تراه المسلمة منها وذلك لاتحاد الجنس كالرجال .
والمذهب عند الحنابلة أنه لا فرق بين المسلمة والذمية ولا بين المسلم
والذمي في النظر ، وقال الإمام أحمد في رواية عنه : لا تنظر الكافرة إلى
الفرج من المسلمة ولا تكون قابلة لها . وفي رواية أخرى عنه أن المسلمة لا
تكشف قناعها عند الذمية ولا تدخل معها الحمام .
From the Mawsu�a al-Fiqhiyya:وقال الحنابلة : العجوز التي لا يشتهى
مثلها لا بأس بالنظر إلى ما يظهر منها غالبا ، لقوله تعالى : { والقواعد
من النساء اللاتي لا يرجون نكاحا } وفي معنى العجوز الشوهاء التي لا
تشتهى ، ومن ذهبت شهوته من الرجال لكبر أو عنة أو مرض لا يرجى برؤه
والخصي والشيخ والمخنث الذي لا شهوة له فحكمه حكم ذوي المحارم في النظر ،
لقوله تعالى : { أو التابعين غير أولي الإربة } . وعند الشافعية حكمه حكم
الأجنبي ، إذ يحرم عليه النظر حتى إلى الوجه والكفين عند خوف الفتنة .
وقال الحنفية والشافعية :ظهورالمرأة بالزينة للصغير الذي لم يظهر على
عورات النساء ، والذي لا يعرف العورة من غير العورة لا بأس به لقوله
تعالى : { أو الطفل الذين لم يظهروا على عورات النساء } ، وأما الذي يعرف
التمييز بين العورة وغيرها وقارب الحلم فلا يجوز لها إبداء زينتها له

Fathwa, -

Question:
I think my brother is gay, and I say this because of the way he talks,
the way he does his hair, the kind of clothes that he wears and the
things that he is interested in. One time I used his USB and saw some
pornography on it, including anal intercourse, and I do not know
whether it was between two men, because I closed it quickly and erased
the file. I asked him about it and he said he did not know where it
came from, but in the end I found more in his room. I also checked his
personal computer and I found out that he visits gay websites in the
country where he is studying. My question is: do I have to advise him
and warn him about the bad consequences of this sin?
Answer:
Praise be to Allah.
Firstly:
Homosexuality, whether it is among men or women, is one of the most
abhorrent of immoral and evil actions that a person may commit, and is
one of the most shameful deeds in this world and in the hereafter. Ibn
al-Qayyim (may Allah have mercy on him) said concerning the one who
commits this act that he has committed so great an evil that there is
no hope that he will ever be reformed after that; it takes away all
his good deeds and removes all modesty and shyness, because after that
he will not feel shy before Allah or before His creation.
Indeed, Allah, may He be exalted, destroyed an entire town along with
its people, namely the town of the people of Loot, because of this
immoral action. See the answers to questions no. 10050, 38662and
20068.
What you must do for your brother is tell him of the shame in this
world and in the Hereafter that results from this evil, that it will
ruin his spiritual and worldly interests, and that he will become
insignificant to Allah and to other people if he persists in it. Warn
him of the consequences and the shar'i ruling on the one who does
that.
Then you have to block every means that makes it easy for him to do
this immoral action or that calls him to it. If you can move him from
the place where he is studying, where he began to find out about these
homosexual websites, then you should do so. If he is under your
guardianship and you are responsible for him, then you should prevent
him from doing that by all possible means. You should remember that
you are responsible for him so long as he is under your care and
authority.
In fact, even if this sinner was not your brother or you did not have
any authority over him, your duty would still be to strive by all
possible means to remove this evil that you see and prevent him from
doing it, and to advise him for the sake of Allah and warn him of
Allah's punishment.
Muslim narrated in his Saheeh (70) that Abu Sa'eed al-Khudri (may
Allah be pleased with him) said: I heard the Messenger of Allah
(blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) say: "Whoever among you
sees an evil action, then let him change it with his hand [by taking
action]; if he cannot, then with his tongue [by speaking out]; and if
he cannot, then with his heart – and that is the weakest of faith."
See also the answers to questions no. 52893and 39357
Secondly:
These signs that you see in your brother's appearance, namely his
clothes and outward appearance, and the way he speaks, are all evil
actions that lead to homosexuality and immorality, even if you do not
know that your brother has committed that action. So how about if he
were to exhibit signs indicating that he has committed that action?
It was narrated that Ibn 'Abbaas (may Allah be pleased with him) said:
The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) cursed
effeminate men and masculinised women and said: "Expel them from your
houses."
Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 5436
Al-Mubaarakfoori (may Allah have mercy on him) said:
That is, men who imitate women in appearance, clothing, using henna,
voice, speech and all their movements. Such actions are prohibited
because it comes under the heading of changing the creation of Allah.
An-Nawawi said:
Effeminate men are of two types. One type is those who were created
like that and are not trying to imitate the attitude of women and the
way they dress, speak and move. For such people, there is no blame,
sin, shame or punishment for them because they are excused.
The second type is those who deliberately imitate women in their
attitude and movements, and imitate the way they speak and dress.
These are the ones who the hadeeth says are cursed. End quote.
We ask Allah to make things easy for you and to set your brother's
affairs straight and help you to discipline him.
And Allah knows best.

Fathwa, -

Question:
I must say that I'm a revert, Alhamdullila, that I was raised as a
catholic and that I was very ungrateful to my Rabb before Islam. Since
I was a little kid I was mischievous and often committed sin. After
one particularly grave sin, and I asked Allah Subhana wa ta'ala (even
thought I was a kaaffir I prayed to Allah azza wa jalla and not Jesus,
peace be upon him) to have mercy on me, and I promised Him not to
marry if He forgave me. Now that I'm Muslim, Alhamdulillah, I protect
my chastity. I know the importance of marriage and the protection it
offers a sister, and I wish I could get married in the future to a
righteous brother (insha'Allah) so I could learn from him and also to
be a comfort for him. But I don't know if I'm excused of not
fulfilling my promise to Allah in this matter or if a woman who used
to be so wicked could aspire to marry a righteous man.
Answer:
Praise be to Allah.
The best thing we can do is start by focusing on the last part of your
question in this brief answer. That is where you wonder whether a
woman like you who had committed various kinds of sins and now wants
to marry a righteous man can do so. This is according to what you say.
We say to you that no one on the face of the earth can come between
you and sincere repentance to Allah, may He be glorified and exalted,
or prevent the mercy and forgiveness of Allah from reaching you, or
prevent His being pleased with the new direction you are taking.
Allah, may He be glorified and exalted, has told us in His holy Book
of everything that fills our hearts with reassurance and hope, as He
says (interpretation of the meaning):
"Say: O My slaves who have transgressed against themselves (by
committing evil deeds and sins)! Despair not of the Mercy of Allah,
verily Allah forgives all sins. Truly, He is Oft-Forgiving, Most
Merciful.
And turn in repentance and in obedience with true Faith (Islamic
Monotheism) to your Lord and submit to Him, (in Islam), before the
torment comes upon you, then you will not be helped.
And follow the best of that which is sent down to you from your Lord
(i.e. this Qur'an, do what it orders you to do and keep away from what
it forbids), before the torment comes on you suddenly while you
perceive not!
Lest a person should say: 'Alas, my grief that I was undutiful to
Allah (i.e. I have not done what Allah has ordered me to do), and I
was indeed among those who mocked (at the truth! i.e. La ilaha
ill-Allah (none has the right to be worshipped but Allah), the Quran,
and Muhammad SAW and at the faithful believers, etc.)'
Or (lest) he should say: 'If only Allah had guided me, I should indeed
have been among the Muttaqoon (pious and righteous persons).'
Or (lest) he should say when he sees the torment: 'If only I had
another chance (to return to the world) then I should indeed be among
the Muhsinoon (good-doers).'
Yes! Verily, there came to you My Aayaat (proofs, evidences, verses,
lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) and you denied them, and were proud
and were among the disbelievers.
And on the Day of Resurrection you will see those who lied against
Allah (i.e. attributed to Him sons, partners, etc.) their faces will
be black. Is there not in Hell an abode for the arrogant ones?
And Allah will deliver those who are the Muttaqoon (pious) to their
places of success (Paradise). Evil shall touch them not, nor shall
they grieve.
Allah is the Creator of all things, and He is the Wakeel (Trustee,
Disposer of affairs, Guardian, etc.) over all things."
[az-Zumar 39:53-62].
And our noble Messenger (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) has
told us a hadeeth that every Muslim should memorise and keep in mind
so that he might live in contentment, turning to his most generous
Lord, may He be glorified. The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah
be upon him) said: "Allah, may He be glorified and exalted, said: 'O
son of Adam, so long as you call upon Me and put your hope in Me, I
shall forgive you for what you have done, and I shall not mind. O son
of Adam, were your sins to reach the clouds of the sky and were you
then to ask forgiveness of Me, I would forgive you and I would not
mind. O son of Adam, were you to come to Me with an earthful of sins
earth and were you then to face Me, ascribing no partner to Me, I
would grant you forgiveness as great as it."
Narrated by at-Tirmidhi in as-Sunan, (3540. He said: (It is) hasan
ghareeb. It was classed as saheeh by Shaykh al-Albaani in Saheeh
at-Tirmidhi.
What we fear most for you is that the Shaytaan may try to remind you
of your past sins so that you might end up despairing of the mercy of
Allah, or that he might make you go back to that dark past.
Rather what you must do now is turn to your Lord, may He be glorified
and think positively of Him, with great hope of His bounty and
blessing to you. You should put the past behind you and enter the
world of Islam which encompasses lands and people with mercy and
compassion, as our Lord, may He be glorified and exalted, says
(interpretation of the meaning):
"Allah wishes to make clear (what is lawful and what is unlawful) to
you, and to show you the ways of those before you, and accept your
repentance, and Allah is All-Knower, All-Wise.
Allah wishes to accept your repentance, but those who follow their
lusts, wish that you (believers) should deviate tremendously away from
the Right Path.
Allah wishes to lighten (the burden) for you; and man was created weak."
[an-Nisa' 4:26-28].
You should understand that by becoming Muslim and by leaving behind
the deeds of jaahiliyyah (ignorance) and shirk (associating partners
with Allah), by giving up the sins of the past and repenting to your
Lord, may He be glorified and exalted, you have turned over a new leaf
before your Lord. Islam (becoming Muslim) erases everything that came
before it; all you have to do is keep that new leaf or new page clean
and not go back to those sins that have caused you so much grief and
that you now regret.
One of the signs of Allah's mercy to us is that He does not accept any
pledge or promise from us that is contrary to His laws. Refraining
from getting married in an attempt to draw closer to Him is not an act
of obedience or worship; rather it is contrary to His laws. The
Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) heard one of the
people say that he had chosen to be celibate and devote himself to
worship, and he had decided not to get married. But the Prophet
(blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: "By Allah, I am the
one who fears Allah the most among you and the one who the most aware
of Him, but I fast and I do not fast, I pray and I sleep, and I marry
women. Whoever turns away from my Sunnah is not of me. Narrated by
al-Bukhaari (5063), Muslim (1401). And it was narrated that Sa'd ibn
Abi Waqqaas (may Allah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of
Allah (sa) forbade 'Uthmaan ibn Maz'oon be celibate; if he had given
him permission to do that, we would have gotten ourselves castrated.
Narrated by al-Bukhaari (5073). Ibn Hajar said: What is meant by
celibacy here is to cut oneself off from marriage and what it brings
of physical pleasure in order to focus on worship. End quote from Fath
al-Baari, 9/118
Your refraining from getting married in order to focus on worshipping
Allah, may He be exalted, is not part of the religion of Islam; rather
it is part of the religion of jaahiliyyah (ignorance), or it is one of
the things that were abrogated of the laws of previous nations. If a
person swears an oath or makes a promise to Allah, may He be glorified
and exalted, that he will refrain from getting married as a means of
drawing closer to Him, his oath is invalid and his promise is idle
speech that carries no weight, whether he swore that oath before
becoming Muslim or afterwards. The Prophet (blessings and peace of
Allah be upon him) said: "Whoever swears an oath to commit an act of
disobedience, that oath does not count." Narrated by Abu Dawood in
as-Sunan (2191); classed as hasan by al-Albaani in Saheeh Abi Dawood.
It was also narrated from 'Aa'ishah (may Allah be pleased with her)
that the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said:
"Whoever makes a vow to do an act of obedience to Allah, let him do
it; whoever makes a vow to commit a sin Him, let him not do it."
Narrated by al-Bukhaari (6696).
We congratulate you on your becoming Muslim and we congratulate you
for having been guided to the straight path. We hope that you will
have a happy marriage to a righteous man, by Allah's leave. There is
no sin on you if you break the promise that you made to Allah, may He
be exalted, because it is a promise that is blameworthy in and of
itself, so you do not have to fulfil it; the expiation for that is
feeding ten poor persons, giving each one a meal based on the people's
staple food, or giving the equivalent value in cash.
And Allah knows best.

Stories of Prophets, - Prophet Yahya (PBUH)

Yahya(John the Baptist) was the son of Prophet Zakariyya (peace be
upon him). His birth was a miracle because. He was born of a barren
mother and an aged father. In the fagging part of life Prophet
Zakariya (peace be upon him) prayed to Allah to bless him with a son
who could prove to be a successful heir and preacher of the religion
of Allah. His prayer was promptly granted. The Holy Quran says:
"0' Zakariya! Lo! We bring you a glad tidings of a son whose name is
Yahya. We have given the same name to none before him.'' ( Surah 19:
Verse 7)
The Prophet Yahya (peace be upon him) was dedicated to the noble work
ofleading men to the path of salvation. He exhorted his people to have
unstinted faith in God. He moved among the humble and despised sofe
raiment. He was not arrogant. He spent most of his life in wilderness.
He was pure and devout. He was dutiful towards his parents. The Holy
Quran says:
"(And it was said unto his son) 0' John! Hold fast the scripture. And
We gave him wisdom when he was a child! And compassion from Our
presence and punity, and he was devout. And dutiful towards his
parents. And he was not arrogant, rebellious. Peace on him the day he
was born and the day he dies and the day he shall be raised alive.'' (
Surah 19: Verse 12-15)
The Prophet Yahya (peace be upon him) moved to the desert ofJudea. He
dressed himself in a robe made of camel hair. He ate simple food and
wild honey. His sermons were most impressive and people flocked to
hear his trumpet message. The whole of the Jordan valley wasbaptized
due to his preaching. The Prophet Yahya (peace be upon him) was the
precursor of Prophet Isa(Jesus Christ). He was his cousin and
contemporary as well. His fidelity to his mission as a preacher soon
deprived him of his liberty and subsequently his life.
The Roman Ruler Herod Antipas was the ruler of Galilee. He had an
adulterous relations with Herodias, the wife of his brother Herod
Philip. The Prophet Yahya (peace be upon him) reproached him for this
grave sin. Herod Antipas got annoyed and imprisoned him till his
execution. Once Herod Antipas arranged a grand feast. Herodias allowed
her daughter, Salome to dance.
The Ruler was fascinated with the performance of the dancing girl. He
declared that he would grant whatever Salome wanted. She immediately
made a demand for the head of Prophet Yahya (peace be upon him). Herod
was in a fix what to do. He had no alternative to adhere to his words.
So Prophet Yahya (peace be upon him) was beheaded at the instigation
of the mother of that girl with whom Herod was infatuated. His grave
is inUmayyah Mosque in Syria.

Stories of Prophets, - Prophet Shoaib (PBUH)

The People of Madian and Their Character
Long ago a nation colonized in the northern Arabia. This nation had an
ancestral link withMadian, the son of Prophet Ibrahim(peace be upon
him). The name of the habitation where he resided was also Madian. It
was a fertile land which produced rich crops. Most of the people had
adopted trade as their profession and earned a lot of money by fair or
foul means. They hankered after wealth from dawn to dusk. They used to
give short measures and weight to their customers. They
weredishonestanddeceitfulin their dealings.
In addition to malpractices in commerce and trade the People indulged
in theft, debauchery, fornication and numerous unlawful acts. The
abundance of wealth had made those people refractory and wayward. They
were not afraid of God even and did whatever they liked. They ignored
allmoral values. Allah sentShu'aib(Shoaib) for the reformation of His
people. The Holy Quran says:
"And unto Madian We sent their brother Shu'aib who said: O' my people!
serve Allah, you have no god save Him. There has come to you a
manifest sign from your Lord: then give good weight and measure, and
be not niggardly of your gifts to men and do not do evils in the earth
after it has been righted. That is better for you if you are
believers." ( Surah 7: Verse 85)
The Prophet Shu'aib Preaches and is Tortured
According to the research of Ibn Khaldun, the mother of Prophet
Shu'aib (peace be upon him) was the pious daughter of the Prophet
Lut(peace be upon him). His genealogy joins with Madian son of Prophet
Ibrahim(peace be upon him). The Prophet Shu'aib (peace be upon him)
was aneloquent orator. He had the surname ofKhatibul Anbiya(the
Preacher to the Prophets).
He advised the people to mend their ways and give up wrangling in evil
ways. The people turned a deaf ear to his advice and ridiculed him
whenever they had got an opportunity. They began to torture him. The
mischief makers used to sit in the way towards the residence of the
Prophet Shu'aib (peace be upon him) and threatened his visitors of
dire consequences. They disgraced those who followed him. He continued
preaching and warned the evil doers by saying:
"And sit not down in every path, threatening and turning from the path
of God those who believe in Him and craving to make it crooked.
Remember when you were few and He multiplied you; and see what was the
end of the evil doers. "
Some haughty chiefs of the Madian tribe threatened the Prophet Shu'aib
(peace be upon him) and his followers to be banished from that
locality. The Holy Quran affirms:
"Said the crowd of those who were big with pride amongst his people:
We Will surely turn you out, O' Shu'aib and those who believe with
thee from our village, or else you should return to our faith'' (
Surah 7: Verse 88)
The Prophet Shu'aib (peace be upon him) was not coerced by such
threats and went onconveying the messageof Allah. He reminded them of
dreadful calamities which befell upon the previous nations The Holy
Quran affirms:
"And, O' my people! let not the schism with me cause you to sin so
that there befall you that which befell the folk of Nuh? and the folk
of Hod and the folk of Salih and the folk of Lut are not far off from
you." ( Surah 11: Verse 89)
Visitation Befalls upon them
The people jocularly rejected the veracity and truth of the religion
of Allah. They tortured Prophet Shu'aib (peace be upon him) and his
followers bytransgressingall moral limits. When they did not give up
their obstinacy in doing evil actions,Allah destroyed themby
descendingdreadfulchastisementupon them. The Holy Quran says:
"And when Our Commandment came to pass, We saved Shu'aib and those who
believed with him by a mercy from Us, and the awful cry seized those
who did injustice and morning found them prostrate in their dwellings
As though they had not dwelt there. A far removal for Madian, even as
Thamud had been removed afar." ( Surah 11: Verses 94-95)
"But they denied him, so there came on them the retribution of the day
of gloom. LO! it was the retribution of an awful day." ( Surah 26:
Verse 189)
Death and Burial
After the perdition of that sinful nation. Prophet Shu'aib (peace be
upon him) settled in Hadramaut where he passed away after some time.
He was buried inShabannear theValley of Ibn 'ALI. The people came from
far and wide to visit his sacred grave.

Stories of Prophets, - Prophet Salih (PBUH)

Salih was sent as a Prophet to theBani Thamudto rectify their depraved
people. The Thamudites were the descendants of Thamud, a grandson of
Sam. They lived inWadi al-Quraandal-HajrbetweenSyria and Hijaz. They
worshipped idols and thought them very powerful. They believed that
their idols provided them with food and rain, preserved them from all
dangers and restored them to health when they were ill.
This tribe flourished more than two centuries after Ad. Its people
werefamousfor their longevity and enormous bulk. They built
spaciousbuildingsin the caves of the mountains and attained
considerablepowers.
Slaughtering of She-Camel
TheProphet Salih (peace he upon him)was commissioned by Allah to
invite the tribe to the worship of One God but they turned a deaf ear
to his preaching. Whenever the Prophet Salih (peace be upon him) spoke
ill of their deities, they behaved impudently towards him.
At last they hatched a plan to put him to death. Allah fixed
ashe-camel as a signand warned them that if they slew her, they would
be overtaken by the chastisement from Allah. There is nothing strange
in fixing she-camel as a sign. It is an admitted fact that Ka'bah, a
constructed House, is one of thesigns of Allah. Whoso tries to destroy
it,perishes himself. Similarly she-camel was one of the signs of God.
The Prophet Salih (peace be upon him) demanded that she should be
allowed tograzein the pastures anddrinkwater from the springs. The
stubborn people slaughtered the she-camel provided by God while it was
grazing in the pastures.
Chastisements Befalls
When they were about to execute their final plan against Prophet Salih
(peace be upon him), they weredestroyed by Allah'spunishment.
Avisitationbefell them and they were exterminated by volcanic eruption
which showered stones upon them. The calamity which overtook the Bani
Thamud was very terrible.
Description in the Holy Quran
Some references regarding the Prophet Salih (peace be upon him) and
his people are as under:
"And to the Thamud We sent their brother Salih. He said: 0' my people:
Serve Allah. You have no god other than Him. Clear proof, indeed, has
come to you from your Lord. This is as Allah's she-camel for you, a
sign. Therefore, leave her alone to pasture on God's earth and do not
do her any harm. Otherwise painful chastisement will overtake you. And
remember when He made you successors after Ad and settled you in the
land. You made mansions on its plains and hew out houses in the
mountains; remember, therefore, Allah's benefits and do not act
corruptly in the land making mischief's. The Chiefs of those who
behaved proudly among his people said to those who were considered
weak, to those who believed from among them: Are you sure that Salih
is sent by his Lord ? They said: Surely, we are believers in what he
has been sent with. Those who were haughty said: Surely, we deny of
what you believe in. So they slew the she-camel and revolted against
their Lord's Commandments and they said: O' Salih! Bring us of what
you have threatened us with if you are one of the Apostles. Then the
earthquake overtook them so they became motionless bodies in their
abodes." ( Surah 7: Verses 73-78)

Women site, - Our Non-Muslim Relatives:Their Rights Upon us

When I reverted to Islam over 10 years ago, I received mixed reactions
from my friends and family. While attending my first family gathering
wearing Hijaab, I was eyed very curiously at first, but with time they
have come to accept my choice.
Now, no one even seems to notice much except for the occasional
complement on my choice of scarf. Most of my relatives accepted my new
faith kindly with respect and made efforts to accommodate me, and my
family. When holidays rolled around, my relatives would sometimes find
it difficult to purchase gifts for other children in the family while
"leaving mine out." When I patiently explained why it was important to
me that they respect my decision, they did just that. There were a
couple of times where my new faith was "challenged" )luring intense
discussions about religion, or world events, but we have all learned
to respect one another's choices and continue to love and support one
another as a family. In many ways, Islam helped me improve my family
relationships since I began taking seriously the instruction to
maintain family ties. Alhamdu Lillaah )praise be to Allaah(, it has
been a pretty easy transition.
Establishing boundaries
Even the most pleasant visit with non-family members can present
challenges and tests. Some things are easy to navigate, like avoiding
alcohol or dishes with non-halal meat at a family event. Others are
more difficult. One area that can be challenging is family gossip.
Many relatives delight in sharing family secrets when they come
together. It can be difficult to resist the urge to listen,
participate and comment about the juicy details of another's life, but
this is considered backbiting, and participating in it, is likewise
forbidden and should be avoided.
Spreading malicious gossip about others is condemned in the Quran;
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? You
would detest it. And fear Allaah; indeed, Allaah is Accepting of
repentance and Merciful.{]Quran 49:12[ If you are part of a family
whose favorite pastime is dishing on one another, you may have to get
creative when attempting to avoid this kind of activity. When you
notice that the conversation is taking a turn to gossip, try gently
steering the conversation to another topic instead.
Another challenge specific to women is the issue of Hijaab. Some
non-Muslim family members do not understand the purpose of Hijaab and
may try to discourage a Muslim relative from wearing it. Some Muslim
women recall being pressured to remove their scarves when running
simple errands, or while attending a large event with family and
friends because it was considered "embarrassing". This could be a real
conundrum for a revert who has her own struggle with the issue of
wearing Hijaab. This could be an opportunity to educate your family
about the benefits of Hijaab. Enlighten them to the fact that covering
has been an integral part of maintaining modesty in other religions as
well –including Christianity and Judaism. Ultimately, we seek to
please Allaah and have to make decisions that complement that goal.
Balancing religious obligations and family
Muslims can maintain their identity and religious obligations while
keeping family ties by beingpatient, compassionate and kind to
non-Muslim relatives even when they are critical, or negative:
Remain humble.Don't treat others as if you are superior to them. Be
polite. Accept invitations from family that are within religious
principles. This is an opportunity to strengthen family ties. Refuse
to be a part of bad behavior, or create dissention.
Be cheerful and pleasant to everyone.We all prefer the company of
someone pleasant and happy. A positive attitude is infectious. The
Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, was known for being cheerful,
smiling pleasantly to everyone. Anyone who spent time with him felt as
though he liked him or her best. Our families deserve to know that
feeling.
Show mercy to others.Allaah Says )what means(:}So by mercy from
Allaah, ]O Muhammad sallallaahu ''alayhi wa sallam[, you were lenient
with them. And if you had been rude ]in speech[ and harsh in heart,
they would have disbanded from about you. So pardon them and ask
forgiveness for them and consult them in the matter. And when you have
decided, then rely upon Allaah. Indeed, Allaah loves those who rely
]upon Him[.{]Quran 3:159[
Many Muslims with non-Muslim family members may be confronted with
challenges, but they should be considered as opportunities to grow,
increase in faith and ultimately earn the pleasure and rewards of
Allaah Almighty. When you are attempting to establish good habits and
find yourself surrounded by those whose principles are different from
yours, you must establish a delicate balance between monitoring your
own behavior, and allowing others the freedom to choose their behavior
and way of life. As long as their decisions do not directly affect
you, it may be best to let things go in the interest of maintaining
peace and harmony.
Allaah Almighty Says )what means(:}Say: O disbelievers, I worship not
what you worship, nor will you worship that which I worship. And I
shall not worship that which you are worshipping. Nor will you worship
that which I worship. To you be your religion, and to me my
religion.{]Quran 109:1-6[
For reverts, accepting Islam can be an exciting experience filled with
lots of change. Many new Muslims often place lots of pressure on
themselves to do everything "right," and may make drastic changes in
their lives. Some of these decisions may be necessary, but it is a
good idea to remember that Islam calls for moderation in all things.
Islam has turned many wayward lives around, bringing an end to
lifestyles that included drinking, drugs, promiscuity and even
criminal activity. Even though you may never hear it directly, some
non-Muslim families may be so impressed by the positive behavior of a
Muslim family member, that they may start holding a much higher regard
for Islam. We should always strive to exemplify the positive
characteristics of our faith. We have an opportunity to show our
non-Muslim family members the true, compassionate representation of a
Muslim. So give others the freedom to see the benefit of Islam for
themselves. Make time to visit and keep in touch with relatives.They
are the people closest to us in this life, and can be our greatest
allies and support.

Women site, - It’s about time

Since the beginning of time, someone else has been controlling your
time, or rather your timeliness. When we were younger, our parents
determined when we got to school and how early or late we were. They
helped us to dress and get ready, and we were under their control.
Then, as we got older, we gained some of our own independence, but
then, many women get married and then their control over their time is
not their own again.
The hours in their day are not necessarily their own. Whether it is
reporting to work by a certain time, dropping kids off to school by a
certain time, or even preparing breakfast for yourself and hubby
before you and he go off to work, all this requires you to have
something done by a certain time. This requires punctuality.
One of the hardest habits in life to master seems to be punctuality.
Many of us can juggle all that life throws our way, from jobs, to
marriage, to kids, but when it comes to handling all of this in a
timely manner, some of us fall short. Most of us remember being late
to school as children, running around our homes looking for our
homework or our shoes. Asking our moms where we put our jackets. Why
were we always late? Then, we grew up and got to college or started
working and still made it just in the nick of time, barely there
before our boss could check the clock. Or we would slide into our
college desks just as the professor began to lecture or pass out the
test papers.
Why is that most of us are habitually late, not just for work or
school, but in many other aspects of our lives?
More importantly, what can we do as women of the house for our
families and for ourselves to break this cycle of perpetual
procrastination and everlasting tardiness?
Practicing punctuality in practically everything
In everything we do, from the moment we rise, we should practice
punctuality. Our priorities should incorporate timeliness and
reliability in all aspects of our daily activities. Actually, there is
probably little or nothing that doesn't require or could not benefit
from our promptness.
Performing Responsibilities with Regularity
This is the most common area of procrastination in that this is where
most of us are guilty. Sometimes, some of us develop over the years an
"I'll do it later" attitude and we begin to procrastinate in our
duties, from the small to the large ones. We begin to put off the
laundry until it accumulates and spills over the basket; we allow the
dishes to pile up in the sink and then get that sinking feeling in our
stomachs as we are elbow deep days later in greasy dishwater. We are
up late the night before a big test because we delay studying until
the last minute; we can actually put off –anything and everything –all
errands, all chores, all duties and responsibilities. But should we?
No, rather we should try to perform our duties as soon as possible.
This is best for us in many ways.
1. We can get accomplished what needs to be done and get on with our
other obligations.
2. We can do a better job by giving ourselves ample time.
3. We can set a good example for our families by showing them that we
take our responsibilities seriously. If they see that we
procrastinate, they may take that to mean neglect.
4. Promptness leads to consistency.
As the woman of the household, there are many responsibilities that
rest on our shoulders. If we can avoid procrastination, we prevent
that over-whelming burden of feeling as if we are always `falling
behind' in our housework, in our schoolwork, in our errands, in
everything that gets to be too much for us.
Punctuality in Worship
As Muslim women we cannot, however, let domestic responsibilities and
duties as wife, mother, and even student or professional prevent us
from worshipping Allaah punctually, at the right time and with the
right intentions. This specifically refers to, but is by no means
limited to, prayer. Performing our prayers at their appointed times
and with conviction is essential to living life in the best possible
way and setting the best example for our families.
One of the first things that we do in the morning and unquestionably
the most important activity of the day is prayer, which not only
benefits from punctuality but requires it. The Prophet, sallallaahu
'alayhi wa sallam, was asked "What deed is most beloved by Allaah?;
and he answered, "To offer each prayer as soon as it is due."
Punctuality in performing the prayer means that we drop the dishes
)not literally( to offer it when it is due, make sure to do it before
we pick up the kids from school if possible, make it at the office if
need be, make it at school; whenever its time is due, we must rise to
offer it.
The prayer is not the only form of worship that benefits from
punctuality: Duaa is a significant form of worship for which
punctuality and timeliness is integral. Forms of Duaa like the
Istikhaarah prayer and others for thankfulness and Tawbah should be
offered at the right time for maximum benefit. Similarly, paying
Zakaah is another form of worship for which timing could mean
everything, especially for those whom the charity could benefit. For
example, when we donate money at a fundraiser for a particular cause,
the amount of money that we give at that particular time is imperative
for that specific cause. We can make plans to give and donate, but if
we do not actually do it when it matters, it does not count. The key
is to do it and do it exactly when it can generate maximum benefit.
For those in need, timing is everything.
Reliability in Relationships
Timing is key for relationships as well as worship. However, for some
odd reason, people have the tendency to take relationships for
granted. We make them and then assume that they will last; that they
do not require any or much upkeep. As women though, we should know
that this is not true and to maintain healthy and happy relationships
with all who are close to us, we have to work at it regularly and
consistently. This means that we have to be one step ahead of crises.
Women know that emotions rage strong and can come between two people.
Therefore, it is imperative that we remain steadfast in our efforts to
maintain our relationships to the extent that we desire. In other
words, our relationships with our spouse, our parents, our children,
our friends, and anyone who means anything to us require effort. In
order for us to ensure that these relationships remain healthy, we
have to be punctual in handling issues as they arise. Think about your
most recent and significant disagreement you might have had with your
spouse or parent or child. If you might have dealt with it
immediately, could you have eliminated the problem or significantly
decreased the problem? Maybe you and a friend had a little
disagreement. You feel a bit annoyed and decide that it is better to
not bring it up again, but of course, you still feel upset about the
situation. You hesitate handling the situation immediately because you
feel that it might just `wash over' and that it will be forgiven and
forgotten soon enough. However, we all know that most women do not
function that way.
Many people have too strong of a memory to forget anything until it
has been worked through and talked through and true forgiveness has
been reached.
Sometimes, women have a tendency of ignoring sticky situations that
are emotionally charged; we are hesitant to deal with issues that
negatively affect our relationships. However, this is dangerous in
that it could prolong the inevitable and make a small problem worse.
As is the case with most situations, procrastination is not such a
great idea. On the contrary, punctuality is probably the best way to
abate any long term crises. This is one of the reasons the Prophet,
sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, gave so much advice against breaking
off ties. For example, he said,"There should be no breaking off of
ties, no turning away from one another, no hating one another, and no
envying one another. Be brothers )and sisters(, as Allaah has
commanded you."]Muslim[ Because anger may strike women )and of course
men( at times of emotional weakness, Islam allows three days as a
reasonable length of time during which anger may subside.
As difficult as it may seem, whether we are dealing with our chores,
our personal worship, or with our relationships, it is best for us to
deal with the situation as soon as possible and `nip it in the bud.'

Women site, - Maryam, the Mother of Jesus

As Muslims, we respect, honor and hold in high esteem Maryam, may
Allaah exalt her mention, the daughter of Imraan who was a chaste
virgin and is the best of the women of the world.
The Muslims respect and love her for many reasons, among which are the
following:
• Allaah Almighty praised her and described her as being pure and
chaste; Allaah Almighty Says )what means(:}And ]the example of[ Mary,
the daughter of 'Imraan, who guarded her chastity, so We blew into
]her garment[ through Our angel ]i.e. Gabriel[, and she believed in
the words of her Lord and His scriptures and was of the devoutly
obedient.{]Quran 66:12[ Indeed, Allaah Almighty mentioned her and
elaborated on the details of her story in many verses in the Quran.
• Allaah has chosen her as the best of the women of this world; Allaah
Says )what means(:})And ]mention[ when the angels said, "O Mary,
indeed Allaah has chosen you and purified you and chosen you above the
women of the worlds.{]Quran 3:42[
• Maryam, may Allaah exalt her mention, was brought up in a pious and
religious family like her mother, may Allaah be pleased with her, who
vowed to Allaah to dedicate what was in her womb to His Services and
to serve His Religion; Allaah Says )what means(:}]Mention, O
Muhammad[, when the wife of Imraan said, "My Lord, indeed I have
pledged to You what is in my womb, consecrated ]for Your service[, so
accept this from me. Indeed, You are the Hearing, the Knowing." But
when she delivered her, she said, "My Lord I have delivered a female."
And Allaah was most knowing of what she delivered, and the male is not
like the female. And I have named her Mary, and I seek refuge for her
in You and ]for[ her descendants from Satan, the expelled ]from the
mercy of Allaah[."{]Quran 3: 35-36[
Indeed, Allaah accepted the supplication of the mother of Maryam as He
appointed a Prophet to her care and service, who was the Prophet
Zechariah, may Allaah exalt his mention, so that she would be brought
up upon the Guidance of Allaah. Allaah Says )what means(:}So her Lord
accepted her with good acceptance and caused her to grow in a good
manner and put her in the care of Zechariah. Every time Zechariah
entered upon her in the prayer chamber, he found with her provision.
He said, "O Mary, from where is this ]coming[ to you?" She said, "It
is from Allaah. Indeed, Allaah provides for whom He wills without
account."{]Quran 3:37[
• Maryam, may Allaah exalt her mention, reached a status and an
honorable level that no other women has reached; the Prophet,
sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, mentioned this and clarified this in
many Ahadeeth. For instance, we cite the following:
-"Many men reached the level of perfection, but no woman reached such
a level except Maryam, the daughter of Imraan, and Asia, the wife of
Pharaoh."]Al-Bukhaari and Muslim[
-"The best of the women of her time was Maryam, daughter of Imraan,
and the best of the women of her time was Khadeejah, Bint
Khuwaylid."]Al-Bukhaari and Muslim[
-"The best of the women of paradise after Maryam Bint 'Imraan are:
Faatimah ]daughter of the Prophet[, Khadeejah ]Prophet's wife[ and
Asia the wife of Pharaoh."]As-Silsilah As-Saheehah[
-"The best of the women of the world are: "Maryam Bint 'Imraan,
Khadeejah Bint Khuwaylid, Faatimah Bint Muhammad, and Asia, the wife
of Pharaoh."]At-Tirmithi[
• All the Muslim nation agree that Maryam, may Allaah exalt her
mention, was of great honor and high status and they consider her as
an example regarding purity and chastity.
• A whole Chapter in the Quran was named after her name and she is the
only woman who has won this honor )as no other Chapter is named after
any other woman(, and Allaah elaborated in details the story of her
conceiving 'Eesa, may Allaah exalt his mention, and her giving birth
to him.
• Also, she is the only woman who was clearly mentioned by name in the
Quran whereas other women of honor and great status were only
mentioned by reference.
Indeed, her name was mentioned explicitly in the Quran 34 times in 32
verses, and it was mentioned 11 times without being linked to her son
'Eesa )Jesus(, may Allaah exalt his mention.
• Also, Maryam, may Allaah exalt her mention, was the one who was
given as an example – along with Asia Bint Muzaahim ]the wife of
Pharaoh[ –for the Muslim women, and for men as well. Allaah Says )what
means(:}And Allaah presents an example of those who believed: the wife
of Pharaoh, when she said, "My Lord, build for me near You a house in
Paradise and save me from Pharaoh and his deeds and save me from the
wrongdoing people." And ]the example of[ Mary, the daughter of
'Imraan, who guarded her chastity, so We blew into ]her garment[
through Our angel ]i.e. Gabriel[, and she believed in the words of her
Lord and His scriptures and was of the devoutly obedient.{]Quran
66:11-12[
• Maryam, may Allaah exalt her mention was known for her chastity and
virginity even after giving birth to 'Eesa )Jesus(, the Messenger of
Allaah, may Allaah exalt their mention. She sought refuge with Allaah
when the angel Jibreel )Gabriel( appeared to her in the form of a man
in all respects, as she said: Allaah Says ]on her tongue[ )what
means(:}She said: "Verily! I seek refuge with the Most Merciful )i.e.
Allaah( from you if you do fear Allaah"{]Quran 19:18[
• Allaah honored her by declaring her not guilty and by protecting her
honor and dignity with a great miracle as He made her son –'Eesa
)Jesus( –speak while he was still in the cradle in order to declare
her innocence and refute the accusation of the people of falsehood and
corruption. Indeed, Allaah mentioned in details the story how she
conceived her son and how she gave birth to him. Allaah Says )what
means(:}Then she brought him to her people, carrying him. They said,
'O Mary, you have certainly done a thing unprecedented. O sister of
Aaron, your father was not a man of evil, nor was your mother
unchaste." So she pointed to him. They said, "How can we speak to one
who is in the cradle a child?" ]Jesus[ said, "Indeed, I am the servant
of Allaah. He has given me the Scripture and made me a prophet. And He
has made me blessed wherever I am and has enjoined upon me prayer and
Zakaah as long as I remain alive. And ]made me[ dutiful to my mother,
and He has not made me a wretched tyrant. And peace is on me the day I
was born and the day I will die and the day I am raised alive." That
is Jesus, the son of Mary— the word of truth about which they are in
dispute. It is not ]befitting[ for Allaah to take a son; exalted is
He! When He decrees an affair, He only says to it, "Be," and it
is.{]Quran 19:27-35[
• Allaah selected her to be a pious believing mother for one of the
Prophets of great determination, who were the five great Prophets in
the history of mankind, may Allaah exalt their mention.
• She conceived 'Eesa )Jesus(, may Allaah exalt his mention, in an
unordinary human way, and in a miraculous manner as the angel Jibreel
)Gabriel( breathed into her womb and she became pregnant, and then she
gave birth to him.
• She was honored as Allaah attributed her great son to her; Jesus,
son of Mary, as he was mentioned being attributed to her in the Quran
23 times out of 34 times.
• Allaah honored her with a number of miracles before her pregnancy
and after she gave birth, such as the food which Allaah blessed her
with when there was nobody to give her food or when she was lacking
it. Allaah Says )what means(:}…and put her in the care of Zechariah.
Every time Zechariah entered upon her in the prayer chamber, he found
with her provision. He said, "O Mary, from where is this ]coming[ to
you?" She said, "It is from Allaah. Indeed, Allaah provides for whom
He wills without account."{]Quran 3:37[ Allaah also blessed her with
the stream and the palm tree, which Allaah created for her so that she
would eat and drink from them in the lonely place where she was so
that she will give birth far from the eyes of the people. Allaah Says
)what means(:}…But he called her from below her, "Do not grieve; your
Lord has provided beneath you a stream. And shake toward you the trunk
of the palm tree; it will drop upon you ripe, fresh dates. So eat and
drink and be contented…"{]Quran 19:24-26[
• She was strong in her religion. She endured much hardship and was
steadfast to the last second of hardship, especially when she became
pregnant, when she gave birth, and when she breastfed her son.
• Her name was widely spread among the Christians and the Muslims.
Indeed, many Muslims like naming their daughters Maryam, and her name
is absolutely the most wide-spread name for females around the world
and in the Christian world. Her name is especially spread among the
woman in Spanish speaking countries, such as the name of Mary
Augustine, and Mary Asunción, Mary Antoinette, Miriam, Mary Carmen,
and Mary Magdalene, Virginia, …etc.
Conclusion:
Maryam, may Allaah exalt her mention, is a role model for all Muslim
women because she maintained her impeccable character throughout her
life. Allaah raised her status and chose her from among the women of
the entire world. Indeed, many verses and many Ahadeeth clarified her
great status.
Allaah blessed her with some miracles, protected her and defended her
against any accusations and blasphemy. On the other hand, Maryam, may
Allaah exalt her mention, demonstrated her genuine devotion and
loyalty to Allaah through her impeccable virtue and behavior. She also
expressed her profound and genuine devotion to Him Almighty through
her determination, devotion, and unconditional surrender to His Will.
She placed all of her hope and trust only in Allaah.
As a result, Allaah supported her with His Grace and Help, and turned
all hardship into goodness and beauty.
She became pregnant and delivered her child all alone. She showed
patience and complete faith in Allaah and endured the accusations of
her people. Consequently, Allaah eased her burden, supported her, and
refuted any accusations against her.
Maryam, may Allaah exalt her mention, had a superior and honorable position.
As Muslims, we should honor her, defend her dignity and chastity, and
clarify to the people of the whole world the truth about her that she
is the best example for all women around the world to follow. She was
indeed the best woman ever in the whole world, may Allaah exalt her
mention.

Dought & clear, - The virtue of observing a lot of naafil fasts in the month of Muharram

Is it Sunnah to observe a lot of naafil [supererogatory] fasts in the
month of Muharram? Is there anything special about this month compared
with other months?.
Praise be to Allah
The month of Muharram is the first month of the Arabic year, and it is
one of the four sacred months of Allaah. Allaah says (interpretation
of the meaning):
"Verily, the number of months with Allaah is twelve months (in a
year), so was it ordained by Allaah on the Day when He created the
heavens and the earth; of them four are Sacred (i.e. the 1st, the 7th,
the 11th and the 12th months of the Islamic calendar). That is the
right religion, so wrong not yourselves therein"
[al-Tawbah 9:36]
al-Bukhaari (3167) and Muslim (1679) narrated from Abu Bakrah (may
Allaah be pleased with him) that the Prophet(peace and blessings of
Allaah be upon him) said: "The division of time has turned to its
original form which was current the day Allaah created the heavens and
earth. The year consists of twelve months of which four are sacred:
three consecutive months, Dhu'l-Qa'dah, Dhu'l-Hijjah and Muharram, and
Rajab of Mudar which comes between Jumada and Sha'baan."
It was proven from the Prophet(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon
him) that the best fasting after Ramadaan is fasting in the month of
Muharram. It was narrated that Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased
with him) said: The Messenger of Allaah(peace and blessings of Allaah
be upon him) said: "The best fasting after Ramadaan is the month of
Allaah Muharram, and the best prayer after the obligatory prayer is
prayer at night." Narrated by Muslim, 1163.
With regard to the phrase "the month of Allaah", mentioning the month
in conjunction with Allaah is a sign of its great status. Al-Qaari
said: it seems that what is meant is all of the month of Muharram.
But it was proven that the Prophet(peace and blessings of Allaah be
upon him) did not fast any month in full apart from Ramadaan, so this
hadeeth is to be understood as meaning that it is it is encouraged to
fast a lot in the month of Muharram, not to fast the whole month.
And Allaah knows best.

Dought & clear, - The wisdom behind the creation of dangerous animals.

What is The wisdom behind the creation of dangerous animals ?
Praise be to Allaah.
There are two aspects to the answer to this question: general and
specific. The general answer is that the Muslim believes that Allaah
is All-Wise and All-Knowing, and He does not create anything in vain;
all of His actions are based on Wisdom. If the wisdom behind any of
His actions is hidden from the believer, then he should still adhere
to this principle, and not think of his Lord in bad terms.
The specific answer is that the wisdom behind the creation of these
things is to manifest the perfect nature of Allaah's creation and
control of all things. Even though the created things are so many, He
provides for them all. He also tests people by means of these
(dangerous creatures), rewards those who are afflicted by them and
makes manifest the bravery of those who kill them. By creating them,
He tests His slaves' faith and certainty: the believer accepts the
matter and submits, whilst the doubter says, "What is the point of
Allaah creating this?!" He also demonstrates the weakness and
incapability of man, whereby he suffers pain and sickness because of a
creature which is far smaller than he is. One of the scholars was
asked about the wisdom behind the creation of flies. He said, so that
Allaah may humiliate the noses of the tyrants with them. Because of
the existence of harmful creatures, it becomes apparent how great is
the blessing in the creation of beneficial things, as it is said that
contrast with the opposite demonstrates the nature of things. The
study of medicine has demonstrated that many beneficial drugs are
derived from the venom of snakes and the like. Glory be to the One Who
has created benefits in things that to all outward appearances are
harmful. Moreover, many of these dangerous animals are food for other
creatures which are beneficial, and this forms the ecological cycle in
the environments where Allaah has created them.
But the Muslim has to believe that everything that Allaah does is
good, and that there is no pure evil in what He creates. In everything
that He creates there has to be some aspect of good, even if it is
hidden from us, as is the case with the creation of Iblees, who is the
head of evil. But there is wisdom and a purpose behind his creation,
for Allaah tests His creatures by means of him, to distinguish the
obedient from the disobedient, those who strive from those who are
negligent, the people of Paradise from the people of Hell.
We ask Allaah to bless us with strength of faith and understanding of
our religion. May Allaah bless our Prophet Muhammad and grant him
peace.

Dought & clear, - Can we do what wewant?.

I have some questions about Islam, could you explain them for me? Are
all of man's actions, such as birth, death, his day-to-day behaviour,
and all that he thinks about doing decreed by Allaah? Is our life
programmed by Allaah before we are born? Or do we have freedom of
choice and can we decide and do whatever we want, without that being
controlled by Allaah? In brief, do we do whatever we want or what
Allaah has created us to do?.
Praise be to Allaah.
It should be noted that some of our circumstances are forced on us,
and and we have no choice in it, such as the day when a person is
born, the colour of his skin and eyes, and when he will die. All of
these are matters over which people have no control, rather they
happen to them by force. Given that these are matters in which people
have no choice, they do not have anything to do with Paradise or Hell,
torment or blessing.
But some actions are the subject of choice, such as whether to believe
or disbelieve, or worldly matters such as choosing what to eat or
drink, and where to live.
There is nothing of that nature which is entirely outside the will and
decree of Allaah.
But how does that happen?
Belief in al-qadar (the divine will and decree) is one of the pillars
of faith. The Muslim's faith cannot be valid unless he accepts that
everything comes from Allaah. Allaah says (interpretation of the
meaning):
"Verily, We have created all things with Qadar (Divine Preordainments
of all things before their creation as written in the Book of
DecreesAl-Lawh Al-Mahfooz)"
[al-Qamar 54:49]
Indeed, the names of Allaah include al-Qaadir, al-Qadeer and
al-Muqtadir (which refer to His being All-Powerful).
The heart of the matter is that Allaah possesses the attributes of
knowledge, power and will.
Based on that, if people who do deeds want to do them, whether they
are sins or acts of obedience, then Allaah inevitably knows that,
indeed He knew that in eternity past, before He even created the
universe.
Then after He knew it, He wrote it with Him, then when they wanted to
do it, He willed that they should do so. If He did not will that, then
they would not do it. He is All-Powerful, and He is the Creator of
people's deeds because He is the Creator of the human beings who do
them.
So all the deeds of mankind are written with Allaah, because Allaah
has prior knowledge of them. This does not mean that Allaah compels
people to do what they do, rather they have freedom of choice with
regard to their deeds. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
"Verily, We showed him the way, whether he be grateful or ungrateful"
[al-Insaan 76:3]
But their actions are not compelled by Allaah, for Allaah does not
force His slaves to do anything.
Imaam Ibn Abi'l-'Izz al-Hanafi said concerning a similar matter:
If it is said, How can Allaah will something that He is not pleased
with and does not like? How can He will it and create it? How can His
will be reconciled with His hatred for it?
It should be said (in response) that this is the question which has
caused divisions among the people and has caused them to follow
different paths and opinions.
It should be noted that what is willed may be of two types: that which
is willed or wanted for itself, and that which is willed or wanted for
something else.
That which is willed or wanted for itself is that which is wanted and
loved for what it is and for the goodness it contains. So it comes
under the heading of aims and goals. That which is willed or wanted
for something else may not be what is wanted, but it serves a purpose;
it may not serve any purpose in and of itself, even though it may be a
means to attain that which he wants and is aiming for. So it may be
something that is disliked in and of itself, but he may seek it
because it serves a purpose and helps him reach what he wants. So in
this case he will have two opposing feelings, his dislike (of the
means) and his desire (for the end). There is no contradiction, as
these feelings are related to different things. This is like
unpleasant medicine which the one who takes it knows will cure him, or
like cutting off a wasted limb when he knows that will save the rest
of his body, or travelling a difficult route when he knows that it
will bring him to what he wants and loves. The wise man would rather
accept the disliked thing on the basis that he is likely to get good
results even though the ultimate end may not be quite certain. So how
about Allaah, from Whom nothing is hidden? He may dislike something
but it may not be against His will for it to exist, because it may be
a means to an end, and it may be a means to something that Allaah
likes. For example, Allaah created Iblees, who is the cause of the
corruption of religions, deeds, beliefs and human wills; but
nevertheless he is a means to a lot of things that Allaah likes, which
result from the creation of Iblees. For these things to exist is
dearer to Allaah than if they did not exist at all.

For children, - Make a difference: Teacher Mrs. Thompson and Teddy Stallard

As she stood in front of her 5th grade class on the very first day of
school, she told the children an untruth. Like most teachers, she
looked at her students and said that she loved them all the same.
However, that was impossible, because there in the front row, slumped
in his seat, was a little boy named Teddy Stallard.
Mrs. Thompson had watched Teddy the year before and noticed that he
did not play well with the other children, that his clothes were messy
and that he constantly needed a bath. In addition, Teddy could be
unpleasant.
It got to the point where Mrs. Thompson would actually take delight in
marking his papers with a broad red pen, making bold X's and then
putting a big "F" at the top of his papers.
At the school where Mrs. Thompson taught, she was required to review
each child's past records and she put Teddy's off until last. However,
when she reviewed his file, she was in for a surprise.
Teddy's first grade teacher wrote, "Teddy is a bright child with a
ready laugh. He does his work neatly and has good manners; he is a joy
to be around."
Teddy's second grade teacher wrote, "Teddy is an excellent student,
well liked by his classmates, but he is troubled because his mother
has a terminal illness and life at home must be a struggle."
Teddy's third grade teacher wrote, "His mother's death has been hard
on him. He tries to do his best, but his father doesn't show much
interest and his home life will soon affect him if some steps aren't
taken."
Teddy's fourth grade teacher wrote, "Teddy is withdrawn and doesn't
show much interest in school. He doesn't have many friends and he
sometimes sleeps in class."
By now, Mrs. Thompson realized the problem and she was ashamed of
herself. She felt even worse when her students brought her Christmas
presents, wrapped in beautiful ribbons and bright paper, except for
Teddy's. His present was clumsily wrapped in the heavy, brown paper
that he got from a grocery bag. Mrs. Thompson took pains to open it in
the middle of the other presents. Some of the children started to
laugh when she found a rhinestone bracelet with some of the stones
missing, and a bottle that was one-quarter full of perfume. But she
stifled the children's laughter when she exclaimed how pretty the
bracelet was, putting it on and dabbing some of the perfume on her
wrist.
Teddy Stallard stayed after school that day just long enough to say,
"Mrs. Thompson, today you smelled just like my Mom used to." After the
children left, she cried for at least an hour.
On that very day, she quit teaching reading, writing and arithmetic.
Instead, she began to teach children. Mrs. Thompson paid particular
attention to Teddy. As she worked with him, his mind seemed to come
alive. The more she encouraged him, the faster he responded. By the
end of the year, Teddy had become one of the smartest children in the
class and despite her lie that she would love all the children the
same, Teddy became one of her "teacher's pets."
A year later, she found a note under her door, from Teddy, telling her
that she was still the best teacher he ever had in his whole life.
Six years went by before she got another note from Teddy. He then
wrote that he had finished high school, third in his class, and she
was still the best teacher he ever had in life.
Four years after that, she got another letter, saying that while
things had been tough at times, he would stayed in school, had stuck
with it, and would soon graduate from college with the highest of
honors. He assured Mrs. Thompson that she was still the best and
favorite teacher he had ever had in his whole life.
Then four more years passed and yet another letter came. This time he
explained that after he got his bachelor's degree, he decided to go a
little further. The letter explained that she was still the best and
favorite teacher he ever had. But now his name was a little longer....
The letter was signed, Theodore F. Stallard, MD.
The story does not end there. You see, there was yet another letter
that spring. Teddy said he had met this girl and was going to be
married. He explained that his father had died a couple of years ago
and he was wondering if Mrs. Thompson might agree to sit at the
wedding in the place that was usually reserved for the mother of the
groom.
Of course, Mrs. Thompson did. And guess what? She wore that bracelet,
the one with several rhinestones missing. Moreover, she made sure she
was wearing the perfume that Teddy remembered his mother wearing on
their last Christmas together.
They hugged each other and Dr. Stallard whispered in Mrs. Thompson's
ear, "Thank you Mrs. Thompson for believing in me. Thank you so much
for making me feel important and showing me that I could make a
difference."
Mrs. Thompson, with tears in her eyes, whispered back. She said,
"Teddy, you have it all wrong. You were the one who taught me that I
could make a difference. I didn't know how to teach until I met you."
You can never tell what type of impact you may have on someone's life
by your actions or lack of action. Please consider this fact in your
venture through life, and just try to make a difference in someone
else's life today. Believe in Angels, and then return the favor by
being someone's Angel.
No work is insignificant. All labor that uplifts humanity has dignity
and importance and should be undertaken with painstaking excellence. -
Martin Luther King, Jr.
What we do for ourselves dies with us. What we do for others and the
world is and remains immortal.

For children, - Moral stories about making a difference (Starfish Story)

We are by nature moral story tellers. Our brains are wired to tell
moral stories.
Think for a moment about how many moral stories you have already told
today: to your spouse or partner; to your children; to your
colleagues; or to your friends. Moral stories are the currency of our
lives; they are the measure of our days. We are nothing without our
moral stories, because moral stories encapsulate our fears, our
failures, our dreams, and our desires. We understand and make sense of
our own lives by telling moral stories about ourselves and others.
Moral stories are the touchstones for our emotions.
Moral stories have a way to connect and stay with us like nothing else
ever could. They tap into our inner feelings and make us part of it.
The reason why we remember moral stories is because they pull on our
emotional strings. They make us think and they make us feel. And it's
that feeling that helps us remember.
A moral story, not data or facts, shake us up and make us see other
points of view through characters we can identify with. And if a story
is really captivating, we continue to think about it, turning it over
in our minds, savoring it. Maybe we even begin to think about things a
little differently from the way we had thought about them before.
Moral stories have the power to move us emotionally; stir us
intellectually; and teach us, too.
The following moral stories about making a difference will never fail
to inspire us, regardless of how insignificant it may seem in the eyes
of others.
Once upon a time, while walking along a beach, an elderly wise man saw
someone in the distance leaning down, picking something up and
throwing it into the ocean.
As he got closer, he noticed that the figure was that of a young boy,
picking up starfish one by one and tossing each one gently back into
the water.
Elderly wise man came closer still and called out, "Good morning! May
I ask what it is that you are doing?"
The young boy paused, looked up and replied, "Throwing starfish back
into the ocean."
The elderly wise man smiled and said, "I must ask then, why are you
throwing starfish back into the ocean?"
To this, the young boy replied, "The sun is up and the tide is going
out. If I don't throw them in, they will die."
Upon hearing this, the elderly wise man commented, "But, young boy, do
you not realise that there are miles and miles of beach and there are
starfish all along every mile? You can't possibly make a difference!"
The young boy listened politely. Then he bent down, picked up another
starfish, threw it back into the ocean past the breaking waves and
said, "It made a difference for that one."
We often think we are too insignificant or too unimportant to make a
difference. We couldn't be further from the truth. So, can I encourage
you to take the time to do something that will make a difference to
someone else's life and it doesn't have to be much and they don't need
to know. Just take a moment, do something special, the universe will
know and that's enough.
I am only one; but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I
can do something; I will not refuse to do something I can do. - Helen
Keller
One is not born into the world to do everything but to do something.

Sex in Islam, - Sex, Society and Morality

This is another of the classic and seminal articles published byThe
Muslimmagazine in the sixties and seventies. This article was first
published in 1969.
Morality has become for so many people in the West and those who ape
them elsewhere, the only immoral thing. Once you defend or criticise
any action or behaviour on a moral basis, You run the risk of being
branded as unscientific, irrational, and intolerant.
Morality according to such a view is at best something that is
completely irrelevant to the material and spiritual well-being of
individuals and societies; at worst it is the one handicap that is
blocking the way of healthy progress of individuals and societies. And
this is more so especially as far as sexual morality is concerned.
For such people the best attitude towards any kind of sexual behaviour
is: stop talking nonsense about its being moral or immoral since these
descriptions are mere expressions of the speaker's subjective and
irrational attitude. And since any form of sexual behaviour is as good
as the other, the best civilised, scientific and tolerant attitude is
to let any one choose the form which he likes and not to impose on him
the form which happens to be the choice of another individual or
groups of individuals even if the latter were in the majority.
Suffice it to say that while the idea of planning is gaining grounds
in nearly every aspect of society, laissez-faire has established
itself as the best policy in matters sexual. Is morality, and in
particular sexual morality, such a superfluous and highly relative
matter that changes, without any harmful consequences, from place to
place, from age to age, and front one individual to the other?
It is my belief that this is a grossly mistaken view but I do not want
to enter here into a direct defence of morality. In fact, I think that
the best policy here is not to talk about 'morality' at all, but about
the harmful or useful consequences of adopting one or the other of the
many possible forms of sexual behaviour. And I hope that the criteria
in use for identifying a certain consequence as useful or harmful will
be acceptable to everyone irrespective of whether he is religious or
atheist, a defender of morality or a staunch enemy of such a concept.
We shall see however that the choice we finally settle on is the
behaviour we call moral. And it is called moral, and enjoined by Allah
not for any mysterious unknowable quality which they have but for
reasons similar to the ones which I shall mention. As Muslims we
believe that Allah enjoins us to do only what is good for us and avoid
only what is bad or harmful for us.
There seem to be four main types of sexual relations of which we
either have a society of pure homosexuals, an entirely promiscuous
society, a society in which no sexual relation exists except between
husband and wife or a laissez-faire society in which all these forms
are tolerated. Are there any rational and objective basis on which we
can choose among these types of societies?
Let us start with the easiest one to rule out. If men continue to be
moral then a society of pure homosexuals is a self-defeating one,
since it severs the enjoyment of sex from its reproductive function.
An entirely promiscuous society seems to many to be the best, and in
the long run the inevitable form of sexual relations. In such a
society sex, it is thought, ceases to be a problem, since here we
shall for the first time combine complete freedom with the deepest
enjoyment as well as the reproduction of children. This however is a
mere dream in which one does not see the facts as they are but as one
wants them to be. Here are some of the difficulties that beset such a
society.
Far from being the natural or ultimately the inevitable, and even if
man is viewed as a mere animal, this is a dream which shall never be
realised. This is because
"*the human animal is basically and biologically a pair-forming
species. As the emotional relationship develops between a pair of
potential mates it is aided and abetted by the sexual activities they
share. The pair formation function of sexual behaviour is so important
for our species that nowhere outside the pairing phase do sexual
activities regularly reach such a high intensity."
The facts are therefore against those who argue that man is basically
promiscuous.
"**it is true that in many cultures economic considerations have led
to gross distortion of the pair-forming pattern, but even where this
pattern's interference with officially planned 'pseudo- bonds' has
been most vigorously suppressed, with savage penalties and
punishments, it has always shown signs of reasserting itself. From
ancient times, young lovers who have known that the law may demand no
less than their lives if they are caught, have nevertheless found
themselves driven to take the risk. Such is the power of this
fundamental biological mechanism.
"***As a dream, a promiscuous society is one where everyone chooses
whoever he likes at whatever time he prefers. As a reality it is a
society in which sexual deprivation becomes the main problem. If it is
true that human beings tend naturally towards forming sexual pairs
then if x and y are such a pair and if z likes y he cannot have her
(or him) because y is already tied to x and because even if y agrees x
is sure to interfere. But why it can be asked, should z want y in
particular? Why not any other 'free' person. Well, sincerely because
such is human nature. Man is not indiscriminately attracted by every
woman that happens to be passing by.
The young and the beautiful are universally more attractive than the
ugly and the old. And then there are the personal tastes of voice,
form, culture, gesture etc., etc. And if a person fails to find the
mate of his liking, then even if he is physically satisfied, he is
emotionally deprived."
In such a society people are sure to be obsessed with sex, as the
search for the younger, the more beautiful, the what not becomes a
full time job. If time is a valuable asset then much of it is
unnecessarily wasted in such a society. And this leads inevitably and
naturally to the commercialisation of this human need, a
commercialisation which through advertisements, pictures, specialised
magazines, the employment of sexually attractive girls, and a hundred
other satanic devices, only increases the obsession with sex.
The natural outcome of this is a distortion of human values. I do not
mean by this anything metaphysical or mysterious. I only mean that in
such a society a person's worth will depend on the accident of his
being in a certain age or having a beautiful body. Girls are rewarded,
socially and materially and even 'crowned' not for anything they
achieved but for a thing they had at their hour of birth. By
implication the less beautiful girls are punished for no fault of
theirs. What a cruel society!
A promiscuous society is definitely a cruel one. Even in a normal
society, the feeling that one is getting older is somewhat annoying.
What if the older one becomes one loses not only one's vitality and
smartness, but even some of one's worth as a human being.
If many criminal tendencies both among the young and the old are
discovered to have their origins in broken homes and unstable
families, what is going to be the fate of that army of parentless
children which a promiscuous society produces? I cannot go here into
the detailed problems of the mass bringing-up of children.
These then are some examples of the consequences of living in an
entirely promiscuous society. Contemplating them one might say; well
no one ever seriously advocated this kind of society. All we stand for
is a society where every individual or group of individuals shall have
the freedom to lead the kind of sexual life which they prefer. In such
a mixed society married people will live side by side with promiscuous
individuals and homosexuals, each appreciating and respecting the
ideas and choices of the others and tolerating their behaviour. But
this will not do either.
Firstly because the bad consequences of homosexuality (with the
details of which I have not concerned myself) and promiscuity, will
not be eradicated by having those who practise them living among
married people. All the complications will be there but on a narrower
scale,
Secondly, if the consequences are admitted to be harmful why then
encourage and not lessen the factors responsible for them? And the
unfortunate fact is that tolerating homosexuality and promiscuity
means encouraging them and pushing more and more people to practise
them so much so that the inevitable result will be a promiscuous and
homosexual society with a minority of "eccentric" married people, who
shall not however be tolerated as the example of Lut's people shows.
"And Lut! (Remember) when he said unto his folk: Will ye commit
abomination such as no creature ever did before. "Lo! ye come with
lust unto men instead of women. Nay, but ye are wanton folk. "And the
answer of his people was only that they said (one to another): Turn
them out of your township. They are folk, forsooth, who keep
pure."(Surah 7:80-82)
By elimination then, and also by implication, the society with the
least evil and most good is a society of married people who do not
tolerate, but do their best to eradicate all the causes of
homosexuality and promiscuity. But the elaboration of this is the
topic of another article which I hope to write, insh'Allah.
REFERENCES:
* Desmond Morris, "The Human Zoo", p.83
** Ibid p.86
*** Ibid p.86