Acts of Worship, - Dought & clear, - * Should he focus on purifying his heart or on doing naafil acts?

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Which is more important – dealing with feelings and thoughts that Allaah dislikes, such as destructive envy, hatred, arrogance, showing off, thinking highly of one's deeds, hard-heartedness, etc., which form the evil that resides in the heart, or focusing on doing outward naafil deeds such as prayer, fasting and other acts of worship and fulfilling vows even though those other things are present in the heart? Please advise us, may Allaah reward you with good.
Praise be to Allaah.
Some of the acts mentioned are obligatory, and those which are obligatory should be given precedence, as Allaah says according to the hadeeth qudsi narrated from His Messenger (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him): “My slave does not draw near to Me with anything more loved by Me than the religious duties I have enjoined on him.” Then He says: “And My slave continues to draw near to Me with supererogatory works so that I shall love him.” Outward physical acts are not valid and acceptable unless they are accompanied by appropriate actions of the heart, because the heart is like the king and the physical faculties are like his troops. If the king is evil his troops will also be evil. Hence the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “In the body there is a piece of flesh: if it is sound the whole body will be sound and if it is corrupt then the whole body will be corrupt.” Similarly the (hidden) actions of the heart inevitably affect the (visible) physical actions. So precedence must be given to that which is more obligatory, whether it is called inward or outward. Perhaps things that are called inward may be more obligatory, such as refraining from destructive envy and arrogance, for that is more essential than observing naafil fasts. Or acts that are described as outward or physical may be better, such as qiyaam al-layl (praying at night), which is better than simply giving up some thoughts that may cross one's mind such as (non-destructive) jealousy, etc. Inward and outward deeds support one another, and prayer keeps one from doing evil actions and generates fear of Allaah, and has other important effects. It (prayer) is the best of good deeds and charity. And Allaah knows best.
Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah (may Allaah have mercy on him),Majmoo’ al-Fataawa, 6/381
So there is no separation between correcting what is inward and correcting what is outward or physical.
The outward acts of worship which a person performs with his physical faculties – if he does them for the sake of Allaah – will undoubtedly have an effect on his inward nature.
For example, the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Shall I not tell you of something that will take away the evil of the heart? Fasting three days of each month.” (Narrated by al-Nasaa’i, 2386; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani inSaheeh al-Nasaa’i, 2249). The evil of the heart refers to rancour, hatred and destructive envy.
One of the most important remedies for diseases of the heart is to study and ponder the texts which include warnings to the one who leaves these diseases to fester in his heart, such as the hadeeth in which the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “No one will enter Paradise who has an atom’s-weight of arrogance in his heart.” (Narrated by Muslim, 91).
And the hadeeth according to which Hell will say, “My share is the arrogant.” (Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 4850; Muslim, 2846)
And the hadeeth: “On the Day of Resurrection the arrogant will be gathered like ants in the form of men.” (Narrated by al-Tirmidhi, 2492; classed as hasan by al-Albaani inSaheeh al-Tirmidhi, 2025).
And the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “The disease of the nations who came before you has started to spread among you: destructive envy and hatred. These are the shavers. I do not mean that they shave hair but they shave away religious commitment. By the One in Whose hand is my soul, you will not enter Paradise until you believe, and you will not believe until you love one another. Shall I not tell you of something which if you do it, you will love one another. Spread (the greeting of) salaam amongst yourselves.” (Narrated by al-Tirmidhi, 2510; classed as hasan by al-Albaani inSaheeh al-Tirmidhi, 2038).
Whoever ponders with true insight such warnings about the diseases of the heart will undoubtedly strive to cleanse his heart thereof, and will seek help in doing so by doing outward physical acts, praying to his Lord to cleanse his heart of hatred, destructive envy, rancour and so on, as Allaah says, describing the prayer of the believers:
“and put not in our hearts any hatred against those who have believed”
[al-Hashr 59:10 – interpretation of the meaning]
And Allaah knows best. May Allaah send blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad.

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Acts of Worship, - Dought & clear, - * Showing off (riya) in worship

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Is there any chance of getting blessings from an act ruined by riyaa if one's intentions change to please Allaah after the thought of riyaa has already come? For example, I finish reciting Qu'raan, and the thought of riyaa enters my mind. If I immediately fight this thought with thinking about Allaah, can I still get blessings for my recitation, or is it completely ruined forever because of riyaa, given that the act is over and the riyaa thought came after it was already over?.
Praise be to Allaah.
Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen said:
Showing off may affect worship in three ways:
1 – When the basic motive for worship is to be seen by others, such as one who stands and prays so that people will see him, and so that they will praise him for his prayers. This invalidates the act of worship.
2 – When it is a factor that develops during the act of worship, i.e., if the worshipper is initially sincere in his intention towards Allaah, then the idea of showing off develops whilst he is doing it. In this case one of the following two scenarios must apply:
(i) There is no connection between the first part of his act of worship and the last part, so the first part is valid in all cases, and the last part is invalid.
For example: a man has one hundred riyals that he wants to give in charity, so he gives fifty of them in a sincere act of charity. Then the idea of showing off develops with regard to the remaining fifty. So the first was a sound and accepted act of charity, but the last fifty was an invalid act of charity because the sincerity was mixed with a desire to show off.
(ii) The first part of the act of worship is connected to the last part, in which case one of the following two scenarios must apply:
(a) He wards off the idea of showing off and does not give in to it, rather he turns away from it and hates it. This does not have any effect on him, because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Allaah has forgiven my ummah for what crosses their minds, so long as they do not act upon it or speak of it.”
(b) When he gives in to this idea of showing off and does not ward it off. In this case the entire act of worship becomes invalid, because the first part is connected to the last part. For example, he starts the prayer with a sincere intention towards Allaah, then the idea of showing off develops in the second rak’ah, so the entire prayer becomes invalid because the first part is connected to the last part.
3 – The idea of showing off develop after the act of worship has ended. This does not affect it or invalidate it, because it has been completed soundly, so if showing off occurs after that it does not affect it.
It is not showing off if a person feels happy that the people come to know about his worship, because this developed after he has finished the act of worship.
It is not showing off if a person feels happy because he has done an act of worship, because that is a sign of his faith. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Whoever feels happy because of his good deeds and sad because of his bad deeds, that is the believer.”
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) was asked about that and said: “That is the first glad tidings of the believer.”

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Acts of Worship, - Dought & clear, - * I want to be a devoted slave of Allaah … ten pointers

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My question is short. I want to enter Paradise, I want to strive to control my self (my nafs), I want to kiss my mother’s hand every day, I want to keep away from whims and desires and from the Shaytaan, I want Allaah to call me a devoted slave on the Day of Resurrection, in sha Allaah, I want to love my brothers, and I want my faith to keep increasing. What should I do?.
Praise be to Allaah.
We ask Allaah to make you steadfast in adhering to the truth, and to make your hopes come true, and to make you one of those who turn to Him and who know the truth, defend it and adhere to Islam.
The things you mention in your question indicate that you have a sound and pure nature, and a great desire to achieve great things and to give everyone his rights. These are great hopes that can be achieved through faith, as it was narrated that Sufyaan al-Thawri said: Faith is not wishes or pretence, rather it is what settles in the heart and is proven by actions.” So we will discuss the matter of faith and how important it is in becoming a devoted slave, pleasing and honouring one’s parents and achieving the victory of Paradise.
Whoever seeks to achieve great things has to stay up at night (worship).
Hence al-Fudayl said: “You hearts can never taste the sweetness of faith until they shun worldly pleasures.” And he also said, “If you cannot pray qiyaam at night and fast during the day, then know that you are deprived.”
The sincere believer has a heart like a burning coal, hence it was narrated by al-Haakim in hisMustadrakand al-Tabaraani in hisMu’jamwith a saheeh isnaad that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said, “Faith wears out in your heart as clothes wear out, so ask Allaah to renew the faith in your hearts.”
The believer’s heart may sometimes feel overwhelmed by clouds of sin. This was portrayed to us by the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) when he said: “There is no heart that does not have clouds like the clouds that cover the moon. When the cloud covers it, it is dark, and when the cloud moves away it shines.” Narrated by al-Tabaraani inal-Awsat, and classed as saheeh by al-Albaani. So the believer’s heart is sometimes covered with a cloud and its light is hidden, and it remains dark and lonely, but if he strives to increase his store of faith and seeks the help of Allaah, that cloud goes away and the light in his heart starts to shine again. Hence one of the salaf said: “It is part of a person’s smartness to c heck on his faith and be aware of what affects it.” It is also part of a person’s smartness “that he recognizes how the Shaytaan whispers to him.”
So he has to come back to faith. If you come back to faith and do as it requires, then you will achieve what you want. We will tell you of a basic principle which will let you know when faith is present and when it is not. Imam Ibn al-Jawzi said: “O you who are turned away, O you who are deprived of meeting your loved ones, if you want to know how you stand before the king, then look at how you are spending your time and what work you are assigned to do. How many people stand at the door of the king, but no one enters except the one whom he cares for. Not every heart is fit to draw close, not every heart can be filled with love, not every wind is like the morning breeze.”
If a person want to know how he stands before Allaah and how he stands in relation to His commands and prohibitions, let him look at himself and see what he is preoccupied with. If he is busy with da’wah and with saving people from the Fire, striving to attain Paradise, helping the weak and needy, honouring his parents, then let him rejoice in the fact that he is close to the King of kings, for Allaah does not help anyone to do good except those whom He loves.
But if he is has no interest in da’wah, dislikes the daa’iyahs and does not do good things, if he is preoccupied with this world and its gains, and with gossip and asking too many questions, whilst not doing much or following his whims and desires, let him know that he is far from Allaah and has been deprived of that which will bring him closer to Paradise, because Allaah says in His holy Book (interpretation of the meaning):
“Whoever desires the quick-passing (transitory enjoyment of this world), We readily grant him what We will for whom We like. Then, afterwards, We have appointed for him Hell; he will burn therein disgraced and rejected (far away from Allaah’s Mercy).
And whoever desires the Hereafter and strives for it, with the necessary effort due for it (i.e. does righteous deeds of Allaah’s obedience) while he is a believer (in the Oneness of Allaah Islamic Monotheism) — then such are the ones whose striving shall be appreciated, (thanked and rewarded by Allaah)”
[al-Isra’ 17:18-19]
My brother, if you want to have a high position in all kinds of good deeds, to be a devoted slave of Allaah and to honour your parents, and you are seeking Paradise, then you have to do the following:
1 – You have to revive the faith in your heart. Faith is what will bring the Muslim everything he seeks in this world and in the Hereafter. Faith is the key to all goodness and locks the door to all evil. The means of reviving and strengthening faith in one’s heart are many and varied, including doing a lot of acts of worship and righteous deeds.
2 – You must turn to your Lord sincerely, as it says in the report: “If My slave turns to me inwardly and outwardly, I will turn the hearts of My slaves to him with love and mercy.”
Allaah has made worship the ultimate aim and loftiest purpose of man:
“And I (Allaah) created not the jinn and mankind except that they should worship Me (Alone)”
[al-Dhaariyaat 51:56 – interpretation of the meaning)]
3 – You should always set your sights on the highest degrees, and make your goal in life to earn the pleasure of Allaah, and strive to attain the victory of Paradise, or to attain the highest Firdaws. You should strive as hard as you can to achieve these lofty aims.
4 – You should follow the example of historical Muslim figures such as the Sahaabah, Taabi’een and righteous forebears (the salaf).
5 – You should make the most of every minute, every moment and every heartbeat to use it in such a way as to increase your faith.
6 – You should try to keep company with righteous people, because the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said, “A man will follow the religion of his close friend, so let each one of you look at whom he befriends.” Narrated by Abu Dawood and al-Tirmidhi with a hasan isnaad. Good friends are one of the best means of helping you to obey Allaah and to avoid sin and error.
7 – Doing a lot of righteous deeds which will bring you happiness in this world and in the Hereafter.
8 – Praying qiyaam al-layl, making du’aa’ in the time just before dawn. The feet of the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) used to swell because of his desire to be a thankful slave, even though Allaah had forgiven his previous and future sins.
9 – Persisting in reading a portion of Qur’aan daily, and other dhikr that helps you to think and ponder the meanings of the Qur’aan.
10 – Striving to spread the word and make da’wah for the sake of Allaah, and working for Islam as much as possible.
If you want to reach the status of devoted slave for which you long, then be as Allaah commanded His Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him):
“Say (O Muhammad): Verily, my Salaah (prayer), my sacrifice, my living, and my dying are for Allaah, the Lord of the ‘Aalameen (mankind, jinn and all that exists)”
[al-An’aam 6:162]
Being a devoted slave of Allaah means declaring one’s devotion and belonging to the Lord, which can only be achieved by applying this aayah, so that we are for Allaah, the Lord of the Worlds, in all our affairs.
Being a devoted slave of Allaah can only be fully achieved in this manner; it can only be achieved by worshipping Allaah in the fullest sense of the word, which means making our living and dying, and all our movements, for Him alone. So we only speak that which is pleasing to Allaah; we only do that which is pleasing to Allaah; we focus our intention in these words and deeds only on Allaah. Worship should not be reduced to merely raising and lowering our heads at certain times, or giving a few pennies every once in a while, or fasting a few days each year, or moving our lips to say a few words and dhikrs.
Hence the deeds that lead to this status – of being a devoted slave – are innumerable and may take many shapes in all aspects of our lives and the places where we live. This is by the bounty of Allaah towards us and towards all people.
Just look, in every place where you find yourself and every moment that comes to you, for that which will please Him, and what you think He wants to see you doing, and do it. Then you will be a devoted slave.
Finally, we ask Allaah to accept righteous deeds from us and from you, and to gather us and you in His mercy with the Prophets, siddeeqs, martyrs and righteous, and those are the best of companions.

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For children, - Rewards for taking full Responsibility

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What is one of the most boring and tiresome words ever? Like discipline, responsibility is one of those words you have probably heard so many times from authority figures that you have developed a bit of an allergy to it. Still, it's one of the most important things to grow and to feel good about your life. Without it as a foundation nothing else in any personal development book really works.
It's been said that the line between childhood and adulthood is crossed when we move from saying 'It got lost' to 'I lost it.' Indeed, being accountable, understanding and accepting the role our choices play in the things that happen are crucial signs of emotional and moral maturity. That's why responsibility is one of the main pillars of good character.
Many people have been refusing to grow up and avoiding the burdens implied in being accountable. Yes, responsibility sometimes requires us to do things that are unpleasant or even frightening. It asks us to carry our own weight, prepare and set goals and exercise the discipline to reach our aspirations.
But the benefits of accepting responsibility far outweigh the short-lived advantages of refusing to do so. No one makes his or her life better by avoiding responsibility. In fact, irresponsibility is a form of self-imposed servitude to circumstances and to other people.
People are always blaming their circumstances for what they are. I don't believe in circumstances. The people who get on in this world are the people who get up and look for the circumstances they want, and, if they can't find them, make them. - George Bernard Shaw
Man must cease attributing his problems to his environment and learn again to exercise his will - his personal responsibility in the realm of faith and morals. - Albert Schweitzer
Following incident illustrates blaming others and not taking full responsibility:
Bernard L. Brown, Jr., once worked in a hospital where a patient knocked over a cup of water, which spilled on the floor beside the patient's bed. The patient was afraid he might slip on the water if he got out of the bed, so he asked a nurse's aide to mop it up. The patient didn't know it, but the hospital policy said that small spills were the responsibility of the nurse's aides while large spills were to be mopped up by the hospital's housekeeping group.
The nurse's aide decided the spill was a large one and she called the housekeeping group. A housekeeper arrived and declared the spill a small one. An argument followed.
"It's not my responsibility," said the nurse's aide, "because it's a large puddle." The housekeeper did not agree. "Well, it's not mine," she said, "the puddle is too small."
The exasperated patient listened for a time, then took a pitcher of water from his night table and poured the whole thing on the floor. "Is that a big enough puddle now for you two to decide?" he asked. It was, and that was the end of the argument.
So, responsibility is about our ability to respond to circumstances and to choose the attitudes, actions and reactions that shape our lives. It is a concept of power that puts us in the driver's seat. The grand panorama of the potential of our lives can only be appreciated when we begin to be accountable and self-reliant.
If you want more control over your life and the pleasures, power of freedom and independence, all you have to do is be responsible. Responsible people not only depend on themselves, but show others that they can be depended on.

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Prayer, - Dought & clear, - * Stopping one’sprayer in cases of necessity

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Is it permissible to stop one’s prayer if the warning siren goes off in the case of an accident?
Praise be to Allaah.
If the accident is major and serious, then it is OK to stop one’s prayer; if it is a minor incident that can be dealt with after completing the prayer, then it is not permissible. The scholars said: it is obligatory to stop one's prayer in order to save a negligent person from a fatal accident. For example, if you are praying and you see a snake approaching a man who is sitting down and has not noticed it. If it is heading for him, you have to stop your prayer and tell him so that he will not be bitten, possibly fatally. Or if you see a blind man walking in front of you whilst you are praying, and he is heading towards a well, and you are afraid that he may fall into it, then you have to stop your prayer and save him from that fatal accident, even if this means stopping your prayer. The same applies in cases of fire, etc.
But if the siren goes off for a minor matter which can be dealt with after completing the prayer and it will not be too late if you complete the prayer first, then it is not permissible to stop your prayer before you have completed it, because this accident can be dealt with after completing the prayer, without anyone coming to further harm. And Allaah knows best.

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Prayer, - Dought & clear, - * Is it permissible to give salaams tosomeone who is praying?

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Is it permissible for a Muslim to give salaams to a Muslim when he is praying or he is making dhikr or du’aa’?
Praise be to Allaah.
Firstly, it is prescribed for a Muslim to initiate the greeting of salaam to his Muslim brother when he is praying, but the one who is praying should not return the salaams whilst praying, except by making a gesture in a manner that will maintain the validity of his prayer, because it was narrated that Ibn ‘Umar (may Allaah be pleased with him) said:
“I asked Bilaal, How did the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) return their salaam when they greeted him whilst he was praying? He said, With a gesture of his hand.”
(Narrated by Ahmad, 6/12; Abu Dawood, 1/569, no. 927; al-Tirmidhi, 2/204, no. 368; al-Bayhaqi, 2/262; also narrated by the five).
It was also narrated from him that Suhayb (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: “I passed by the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) whilst he was praying. I greeted him with salaam and he responded with a gesture.” And he said: I am not sure whether he said “a gesture with his fingers”.(Narrated by the five, apart from Ibn Maajah. Al-Tirmidhi said: both hadeeths are saheeh in my view).
It was reported that Umm Salamah (may Allaah be pleased with her) said: I heard the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) forbidding us to pray two rak’ahs after ‘Asr, then I saw him praying them when he prayed ‘Asr. She said, he entered and there were some women from Bani Haraam, from among the Ansaar, with me. He started to pray them [these two rak’ahs after ‘Asr], so I sent a young girl to him, and I told her, ‘Stand beside him and say to him, Umm Salamah is saying to you, O Messenger of Allaah, I heard you forbidding us to do these two rak’ahs and now I see you praying them. If he makes a gesture with his hand then leave him and go back.’ So the young girl did that and he made a gesture with his hand, so she left him and went back. When he finished praying, he said: ‘O daughter of Abu Umayyah, you asked about the two rak’ahs after ‘Asr. Some people from Banu ‘Abd al-Qays came to me and kept me from doing the two rak’ahs after Zuhr, and that is what these were.’”(Narrated by al-Bukhaari and Muslim).
These ahaadeeth indicate that it is prescribed to say salaams to a person whilst he is praying, and that he should respond to the greeting with a gesture, because this is what the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) approved of initiating the salaam, and he returned the greeting with a gesture only.
Secondly, it is prescribed for the Muslim to initiate the greeting to one who is engaged in making dhikr or du’aa’, because it was reported that Abu Waaqid al-Laythi (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: “Whilst the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) was sitting in the mosque and there were some people with him, three people came in. Two of them came to the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) and one went away. When they came up to the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), they greeted him with salaam. One of them found a space in the circle and sat down, and the other sat down behind him. The third one turned and went away. When the Messenger (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) had finished (his talk), he said: ‘Shall I tell you about these three people? One of them turned to Allaah so Allaah accepted him; the second felt shy so Allaah will feel shy (to punish him); and the third turned away so Allaah turned away from him.”(Narrated by Maalik in al-Muwatta’, 2/960; Ahmad, 5/219; al-Bukhaari, 1/24, 122; Muslim, 4/1713, no. 2176; al-Tirmidhi, 5/73, no. 2724; Abu Ya’laa, 3/33, no. 1445).
And inal-Saheehaynit is narrated from Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) that a Bedouin entered the mosque and prayed, but he did not do the rukoo’ and sujood properly. Then he came and greeted the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) with salaam. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) returned his greeting then said, “Go back and pray, for you have not prayed.”
And Allaah is the Source of strength. May Allaah bless our Prophet Muhammad and his family and companions, and grant them peace.

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Prayer, - Dought & clear, - * Wardingoff the insinuating whispers of the Shaytaan

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Sometimes the imaam recites a long soorah and my mind wanders unintentionally. What should I do? Is it permissible for me to repeat some aayahs of the Qur’aan or du’aa’s, or should I listen to the imaam’s reading?
Praise be to Allaah.
Push away the worldly thoughts that come to you whilst praying as much as you can, and listen to the imaam’s recitation and ponder the meanings of what he is reciting, so that you may benefit from it, avoid letting your thoughts wander and ward off the insinuating whispers of the Shaytaan. Recite al-Faatihah in both the silent and loud prayers (where the recitation is done silently or out loud), and recite another soorah or passage of the Qur’aan in the silent prayer, focusing on the meaning of the words. Perhaps by this means Allaah will help you to focus your mind and overcome this lack of concentration. It is also prescribed for you to seek refuge with Allaah from the accursed Shaytaan when you face too many insinuating whispers.
And Allaah is the source of strength. May Allaah bless our Prophet Muhammad and his family and companions, and grant them peace.

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For children, - Blaming others Stories

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Sometimes in life, we do come up with lame excuses, blinded by circumstances / challenges we face, but blaming others or making excuses for our behavior is a waste of time because no matter how much fault we find in others and regardless of how much we blame someone, it will not change us and most certainly not add to our growth or success. So read the following story to understand the blaming game.
Once there was a rich man who had a beautiful orchard with splendid figs. He appointed two watchmen for his orchard. One watchman was lame and the other one was blind.
One day the lame watchman said to the blind watchman: "I see splendid figs in the orchard. Come, I will ride on your shoulders, and we will take them and eat them."
So the lame watchman rode on the shoulders of the blind watchman, and they took the fig fruits and ate them.
Some time after, the owner of the orchard came and inquired, "Where are those splendid figs?" The lame watchman replied, "Have I feet to walk with?" The blind watchman replied, "Have I eyes to see with?"
What did the rich man do? He placed the lame watchman on the shoulders of the blind watchman and judged them together.
Now the thing that I call living is just being satisfied. With knowing I got no one left to blame.
Blame someone else for your fault story
One day when my son Scott was two years old, I heard him crying. I went into his room and my daughter Hannah, who was four, was there also. A plastic bat was lying on the floor.
"What happened to Scott?" I asked.
Hannah answered, "He hit his head."
"On what?"
She pointed toward the bat on the floor and said, "The bat."
"Where was the bat?"
Hannah said, "In my hand."
Blaming others also needs wisdom story
Once a ship got caught in a violent storm. It wreaked havoc and the waves cast its wrecks on the sands of the shore. Among them was a sailor who lay senseless on the beach. When he came to his senses, he cursed the sea saying, "The Sea is a cheat indeed. It attracts people with its cool and calm waters and once they are in its grip, it turns furious and destroys them."
Hearing his reproach, the sea felt pinched. But it didn't want to trouble the sailor anymore. So, it came to the sailor in form of a damsel.
"Who are you, O lovely lady?" asked the sailor.
"I am the sea and am as lovely as you see me now. You are blaming me for the wreck but it isn't just." Surprised, the sailor asked, "Who is just then?"
The sea urged, "The wreck was caused by the cruel winds that blew into gusts and gales over me and created stormy waves in my calm waters."
The sailor had nothing to say except feeling sorry for blaming the sea.
Almost all unhappiness in life comes from the tendency to blame someone else.

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Discover Islam, - * The beauty of Islam as seen by others

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American poet, critic and author Colonel Donald S. Rockwell writes: "The simplicity of Islam, the powerful appeal and the compelling atmosphere of its mosques, the earnestness of its faithful followers, the confidence inspiring realization of millions throughout the world who answer the five daily calls to prayer, these factors attracted me from the first.
But after I had determined to become a follower of Islam, I found many deeper reasons for confirming my decision. The mellow concept of life -- fruit of the combined course of action and contemplation, the wise counsel, the admonitions to charity and mercy of the Prophet,sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, )may Allaah exalt his mention(.
The broad humanitarianism, the pioneer declaration of women's rights, these and other factors of the teachings of the man of Makkah, were to me among the first obvious evidence of a practical religion so tersely and so aptly epitomized in the cryptic words of Prophet Muhammad,sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam:'Trust in God and tie your camel.'He gave us a religious system of normal action, not blind faith in the protection of an unseen force in spite of our own neglect, but confidence that if we do all things rightly and to the best of our ability, we may trust in what comes as the Will of God...
When I stood in the inspiring mosques of Istanbul, Damascus, Jerusalem, Cairo, Algiers, Tangier, Fez and other cities, I was conscious of a powerful reaction -- the potent uplift of Islam's simple appeal to the sense of higher things, unaided by elaborate trappings, ornamentation, figures, pictures, music and ceremonial ritual. The mosque is a place of quiet contemplation and self-effacement in the greater reality of the true God.
The democracy of Islam has always appealed to me. Potentate and pauper have the same rights on the floor of the mosque, on their knees in humble worship. There are no rented pews or special reserved seats.
The Muslim accepts no man as mediator between himself and his God. He goes direct to the invisible source of creation and life -- God -- without reliance on a saving formula of repentance of sins and belief in the power of a teacher to afford him salvation. The universal brotherhood of Islam, regardless of race, politics, color or country, has been brought home to me most keenly many times in my life, and this is another feature which drew me towards the Faith."
The baseless claim that Islam converted the peoples it had 'conquered by force' has also been refuted by prominent non-Muslims.
Mahatma Gandhi, for instance, writes inYoung Indian, 1924:
"I became more than ever convinced that it was not the sword that won a place for Islam in those days in the scheme of life. It was the rigid simplicity, the utter self-effacement of the Prophet,sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, the scrupulous regard for his pledges, his intense devotion to his friends and followers, his intrepidity, his absolute trust in God and his own mission. These and not the sword carried everything before them and surmounted every trouble."
James A. Michener writes in theReader's Digest, under the titleIslam: The Misunderstood Religion: "No other religion in history spread so rapidly as Islam. The West has widely believed that this surge of religion was made possible by the sword. But no modern scholar accepts that idea, and the Quran is explicit in support of the freedom of conscience."
Laurence E. Browne writes inThe Prospects of Islam: "Incidentally, these well-established facts dispose of the idea so widely fostered in Christian writings about the Muslims, that wherever they went, they forced people to accept Islam at the point of the sword."
De Lay O'Leany also writes inIslam at Crossroads, London, 1923, p. 8: "History makes it clear, however, that the legend of fanatical Muslims, sweeping through the world and forcing Islam at the point of the sword upon conquered races is one of the most fanatically absurd myths that historians have ever repeated."
It is worth mentioning here that it is absolutely wrong to judge Islam by the deteriorating condition of Muslims and the blatant corruption that pervades the Muslim world. What Islam preaches is one thing, and what so many Muslims nowadays practice is something else.
The only way whereby we do justice to Islam is to find out about its noble teachings, which are clearly set out at length in the Holy Quran and the Prophetic traditions. The famous popular singer, Cat Stevens, who later embraced Islam once observed: "It will be wrong to judge Islam in the light of the behavior of some bad Muslims who are always shown on the media.
It is like judging a car as a bad one if the driver is drunk and he bangs it into a wall. Islam guides all human beings in daily life -- in its spiritual, mental and physical dimensions. Nevertheless, we must find the sources of these instructions -- the Quran and the example of the Prophet,sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam.Then we can see the idea of Islam."
What is generally said about Islam in the media and in many academic circles can also give a wrong idea about it. As Maurice Bucaille put it: "The totally erroneous statements made about Islam in the West are sometimes the result of ignorance, and sometimes of systematic denigration.
The most serious of all the untruths told about it are, however, those dealing with facts, for while mistaken opinions are excusable, the presentation of facts running contrary to reality is not. It is disturbing to read blatant untruths in eminently respectable works written by authors whoa prioriare highly qualified."

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Discover Islam, - * The future belongs to Islam

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All praise is due to Allaah. May His peace and blessings be upon Prophet Muhammad, his household and companions.
Brothers in faith! Be dutiful to Allaah, for that is the best provision and the surest way to salvation on the Day of Resurrection.
Fellow Muslims! Things turn upside-down when those who follow destructive and erroneous sects and beliefs falsely assume that theirs is the true faith and that the good ending and the future belongs exclusively to them. However, the fact that men of reason and understanding do not dispute, is that the future belongs to the religion of Islam; that it shall prevail over all other beliefs, for it is the only true religion that Allaah has perfected for His slaves, with which He has completed His favor upon them and which He has chosen for them as religion. He Says )what means(:
“This day I have perfected for you your religion and completed My favor upon you and have approved for you Islam as your religion.”]Quran 5:3[
No wonder then dear brothers, that Islam enjoys such a distinguished position. This is because it is a religion that is full of innumerable qualities.
The future belongs to Islam, for it is the religion with which Allaah raised the status of man and honored him. He informed us in His Speech, which is the most-truthful of all speech, that He created man with His two Hands, breathed of His soul in him and made the angels prostrate before him. He honored man by subjecting him to His worship Alone, for there is no deity worthy of worship except Him, glorified are His Names and Attributes. He honored him by subjecting all that is in heavens and earth to him and gave him innumerable other blessings.
The future belongs to Islam, because it is the only religion whose message is characterised by pure monotheism, which agrees with the laws of nature and sound opinion. It is through Islam that Allaah made lawful for His slaves all good and useful things and prohibited all filthy and harmful matters. Removed from this Ummah )Muslims( are the heavy burden and fetters that were upon those who came before them -- such as strictness in matters of religion; for example, the imposition of self-killing as an atonement for sin, cutting the part of the body used for committing an impure act, purifying a cloth by cutting off the place of filth with scissors, compulsory implementation of the law of equity in murder cases )with no option of paying blood money or pardon, whether the killing was intentional or accidental( and prohibition of taking war booty.
All the above restrictions were removed by Allaah from this Ummah by His Mercy. He Says )what means(:“Those who follow the Messenger, the unlettered Prophet, whom they find written ]i.e. mentioned[ in what they have of the Torah and the Gospel, who enjoins upon them what is right and forbids them what is wrong and makes lawful for them the good things and prohibits for them the evil, and relieves them of their burden and the shackles which were upon them. So they who have believed in him, honored him, supported him and followed the light which was sent down with him – it is those who will be successful.”]Quran 7:157[
The future belongs to Islam because in it, Allaah firmly laid the basis of a sound social system that is well-established like a firm structure. He established through Islam that unique society described by the Prophet sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, )may Allaah exalt his mention( in the most eloquent way thus:“The similitude of the believers in regard to mutual love, affection and mutual-compassion is that of one body; when any limb of it aches, the whole body shares the agony, sleeplessness and fever that arises from it.”]Al-Bukhaari and Muslim[
The future belongs to Islam because it is the religion by which Allaah firmly fixed the principles of justice among His creatures -- Muslims and non-Muslims; Arabs and non-Arabs; black and white; male and female; young and old. He prescribed for each group its rights and duties -- a quality that is non-existent in any of the man-made systems and ideologies that most people follow and respect. These ideologies are full of deficiencies and are restricted to a particular place and time or the personal or national interests of those who formulated them.
The future is for Islam, for it is the religion with which Allaah preserves people’s lives, properties, honor and minds. He prohibits all killing of life except for a just cause, forbids the defamation of a person’s honor, disallows all that could affect the soundness of people’s minds such as narcotics and intoxicants and forbids the usurpation of properties unjustly. All this Allaah does through Islam, in order to protect the social structure of this Ummah from disintegrating.
There is no wonder then that a great and honorable future belongs to this religion. No amount of deception from the enemies of Islam, or their increasing assaults on the Muslims with their cavalry, infantry and wealth, nor their oppression such as killing and expelling people from their lands -- as the Jews do today, can weaken the firm bonds of this religion or disrupt its structure. For, the future is for Islam and the Muslims Inshaa’ Allaah and the victory belongs to Allaah and His Messenger, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, and to the truthful and persevering Muslims -- those who know with certainty that victory comes with perseverance, relief comes after sorrow and that with every difficulty there is ease. Allaah Says )what means(:“They want to extinguish the light of Allaah with their mouths, but Allaah refuses except to perfect His light, although the disbelievers hate it.”]Quran 9: 32[.
Brothers in faith! If this Ummah wishes to attain the promised victory and be well-established on the land, it should truly practice Islam by giving Allaah His right of worship with all sincerity and completely abstain from associating anything with Him in acts of worship. It should implement His Law and submit to His Judgment in all matters and be pleased with that. It is then that the whole of humankind will have felicity -- and the rightly-guided leadership will become that of Islam, the religion of Allaah, the Omniscient, the All-Wise, the All-Knowing.

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Prayer, - Dought & clear, - * Should one kill snakes and scorpions whilst praying?

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If a man starts to pray, and this prayer is one of the obligatory prayers, and he sees a snake or scorpion in front of him, can he stop his prayer and kill that thing, or should he complete his prayer?
Praise be to Allaah.
Yes, he can stop his prayer and kill the snake or scorpion, because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Kill the two black ones during prayer, the snake and the scorpion.”
(Narrated by the authors of Sunan and classed as saheeh by Ibn Hibbaan).
If you can kill it whilst still praying, without moving more than what is regarded as acceptable, then this is OK and the prayer is still valid.
And Allaah is the source of strength. May Allaah bless our Prophet Muhammad and his family and companions, and grant them peace.

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Prayer, - Dought & clear, - * Answering the telephone whilst praying

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They were praying one of the prayers at home when the telephone started to ring, and it distracted them with its ringing for a long time. Is it permissible in such cases for the worshipper to take a few steps forwards or backwards and pick up the receiver and say “Allaahu akbar” or raise his voice in recitation so that the caller will know that he is praying – by analogy with (the hadeeth with speaks of) opening the door to one who knocks or raising his voice so that he can hear you?
Praise be to Allaah.
If the worshipper is in the position that you describe and the phone starts ringing, it is permissible for him to lift the receiver, even if he has to move a little way forward or back, or to the right or left, on the condition that he keeps facing the qiblah and he says ‘Subhaan Allaah’ so that the person who is calling will know (that he is praying). It was narrated inal-Saheehaynthat the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) used to pray whilst carrying his granddaughter Umaamah. When he did rukoo’, he would put her down, and when he stood up he would pick her up again. According to a report in Muslim, this was when he was leading the people in prayer in the mosque. (Narrated by Maalik, 1/170; al-Bukhaari, 1/487, inSutrat al-Musalli,Baab idha hamala jaariyatan sagheeratan ‘ala ‘unuqihi; Muslim, 543, inal-Masaajid,Baab jawaaz Hamal al-Subyaan; Abu Dawood, no. 917-920; al-Nasaa’i, 2/45).
Ahmad and others narrated that ‘Aa’ishah (may Allaah be pleased with her) said: “The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) was praying in his house with the door closed. I came (to the door) and he walked over and opened the door for me, then he went back to his place.” She mentioned that the door was in the direction of the Qiblah.(Narrated by Ahmad, 6/31; Abu Dawood, 922; al-Nasaa’i, 1/178; al-Tirmidhi, 2/497).
Al-Bukhaari and Muslim narrated that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Whoever notices something alarming whilst praying, then men should say ‘Subhaan Allaah’and women should clap their hands.”
And Allaah is the Source of strength. May Allaah bless our Prophet Muhammad and his family and companions, and grant them peace.

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Prayer, - Dought & clear, - * Ruling on rolling up sleeves during prayer

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Does rolling up the sleeves count as part of the tucking up (of clothes or hair) that is not allowed during prayer? If it is part of that tucking up, then is the ruling different if I start praying with my sleeves rolled up, i.e., I did not roll them up during the prayer – or is it the same thing?
It is not permissible to roll up the sleeves or to fold them up before the prayer or during the prayer so that they will not touch the ground when doing sujood, because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “I have been commanded to pray on seven bones and not to tuck up my hair or my clothes.”(Narrated by al-Bukhaari and Muslim).
And Allaah is the source of strength. May Allaah bless our Prophet Muhammad and his family and companions, and grant them peace.

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For children, - Stop blamingeveryone else for your problems

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Let's talk about blaming other people. Blaming other people for the reason why you don't have something will give all your power away to the other person. Your life is your responsibility. And it's only when you take full responsibility for your life is when you actually do something about it.
When you blame somebody, in effect, it actually means you expect somebody else to change your life situation. It means you are waiting for the other person to redeem you of your problems. It isn't their life though, it's your life.
If you think seriously about it, it's actually your fault that you are not happy, it's your fault for not taking those great opportunities and it's your fault for letting another person take advantage of you.
Your life is in direct response to the way how you treat yourself as a person. Everything you have in your life is a manifestation of how you treat yourself, NOT how somebody else treated you or what somebody else has done.
The reason why we blame others is because we become uncertain about our own capabilities and we become thwarted by our problems in life. We tend to come up with excuses to stay away from what we should be doing.
The truth is we don't like to admit when we are wrong and when we are caught; we like to shift the blame to someone or something else. If we are stopped for speeding we immediately offer an excuse, such as "I was going with the flow of traffic" (blaming someone else) or "I didn't see the sign noting the speed change" (blaming something else). We try to excuse our behavior and lessen the guilt and even the consequence of our sin.
Regardless of how much you blame others, it will not change your life; but the less you blame others, the more you will exercise greater intuition and greater judgment about what's really going on. It means you rely on yourself to determine your outcomes in life and break through adversity and this is a powerful thing!
Take full responsibility for your situation and discover how you can create success for yourself without giving away your power. Ask yourself the following questions: Am I in charge of my life outcomes? Can I personally make things better in this situation? How can I take responsibility to become better?
When you do this, you grow to feel more independent, increase determination and grow stronger as you find new ways to enhance stronger character traits. Fulfill your deepest needs and take responsibility for your outcomes that you want to manifest into your life - from now onwards, to your life success and powers.
Stop blaming and start claiming Responsibility for your results
Unsuccessful people blame external circumstances; successful people internalize responsibility for their results. This represents a new way of thinking; a paradigm shift that is necessary for your progress. Until this shift takes place the unsuccessful continue to get more and more of what they don't want, and comically it is never their fault. The following poem illustrates the above explanation.
When the other fellow takes a long time, he's slow.
When I take a long time, I'm thorough.
When the other fellow doesn't do it, he's lazy,
When I don't do it, I'm busy.
When the other fellow does something without being told, he's overstepping his bounds,
When I do it, that's initiative.
When the other fellow overlooks a rule of etiquette, he's rude,
When I skip a few rules, I'm original.
When the other fellow pleases the boss, he's an apple polisher,
When I please the boss, it's cooperation.
When the other fellow gets ahead, he's getting the breaks,
When I manage to get ahead, that's just the reward for hard work.
A man may fall many times but he won't be a failure until he says someone pushed him.

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Welcome to Islam, - * The consistency between modern science and Quran -I

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The Quran is the last revelation and a proof, not only to the pagan Arabs 1400 years ago, but also to the scientists of today. Perhaps one of the most remarkable qualities of the Quran is the complete consistency between most of the discoveries of modern Science and the Quran.
One of the first Western scientists to make a serious study of this subject was Maurice Bucaille, who wrote a book called The Bible, The Quran and Science. In this book, he compared the statements concerning natural and scientific data in the Bible and the Quran. He concluded: "The Quran follows on from the two Revelations that preceded it and is not only free from contradictions in its narrations and the sign of the various human manipulations to be found in the Gospels; but provides a quality all of its own for those who examine it objectively and in the light of Science, i.e. its complete agreement with modern scientific data.
Furthermore, statements are found in the Quran )as has been shown( that are connected with Science, and yet it is unthinkable that a man in Muhammad’s time, could have been the author of them. Therefore, modern scientific knowledge allows us to understand certain verses of the Quran, which, until now, it has been impossible to interpret.
The comparison of several Biblical and Quranic narrations on the same subject shows the fundamental differences between the statements in the Bible, which are scientifically unacceptable, and declarations in the Quran which are in perfect agreement with modern data, for example, in the description of Creation and the Flood.
An extremely important complement to the Bible was found in the text of the Quran on the history of the Exodus, where the two texts were very much in agreement with archaeological findings, dating from the time of Moses.
There are major differences between the Quran and the Bible on other subjects, which serve to disprove all the unfounded allegations that Muhammad, is supposed to have copied the Bible to produce the text of the Quran.”
In view of the level of knowledge in Muhammad’s days, it is inconceivable that many of the statements in the Quran which are connected with Science could have been the work of a man. It is, moreover, perfectly legitimate, not only to regard the Quran as the expression of a Revelation, but also to award it a very special place, on the account of the guarantee of authenticity it provides. The presence of scientific statements in the Quran which, when studied today, appear as a challenge to explanation in human terms.”
Some statements involving data confirmed by modern Science are:
1. The Accurate Description of Embryonic and Fetal Development:
At the time of Prophet Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, )may Allaah exalt his mention(, prevalent theories included those of Aristotle, who thought that a child was formed by the congealing of menstrual blood, catalyzed by the male blood, as rennet does to cheese. In the 18thcentury CE, Hartsoeker claimed to have seen within the sperm a pre-formed human being through the primitive microscopes.
The Quran reflected none of these theories, describing the embryonic human development with detailed accuracy )which means(:"We created man from a quintessence of clay, We then placed him as a drop )Nutfah( in a place of rest firmly fixed, then we made the drop into an ‘Alaqah )leech-like structure( and then we changed the leech-like structure into a Mudghah, )chewed-like substance( and then We made out of that chewed-like substance bones; then We clothed the bones with flesh; then We caused him to grow and come into being and attain the definitive form. Blessed be Allaah, The Perfect Creator. After that, at length you will die. Again, on the Day of Judgment, you will be raised up."]Quran 23:12-16[
The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, further explained the meaning of ‘Nutfah’ as meaning both the male sperm and female ovum. The word ‘Alaqah has three meanings in Arabic:
1( A thing that clings
2( A blood clot
3( A leech-like thing.
All three accurately describe the first stage of the developing embryo. After the fertilization of the egg, a blastocyst develops, which has on its exterior villocites, which literally "cling" to the wall of the uterus. It then goes on to resemble a leech in both appearance and behavior and goes on to resemble a blood clot.
The next stage, when it becomes "chewed-like" substance, is also accurate. It is also true that the bones precede the development of muscle and flesh. The Prophetic traditions state:"When forty-two nights have passed over the conceptus, Allaah sends an Angel to it, who shapes it, makes its ears, eyes, skin, flesh and bones. Then he says: 'O Lord! Is it male or female?' And your Lord decides what He wishes and then the angel records it."]Al-Bukhaari[
This accurate information gives the correct time for the recognizable growth of the features described, and the sex of the fetus cannot be definitely determined until just after forty-two days.
This was not known until the invention of powerful microscopes only decades ago. Professor and Chairman of the Department of Anatomy at the University of Toronto, Canada, and author of The Developing Human, Keith Moore, who is considered one of the world’s leading embryologists, said concerning these statements in the Quran and authenticated hadeeth: "Until the 19th century CE, nothing was known about classifying the stages of human development. A system of staging human embryos was developed around the end of the 19th century CE based on alphabetical symbols.
During the 20th century CE, numerals were used to describe 23 stages of embryonic development. This system of numbering the stages is not easy to follow and a better system would be based on the morphological changes. In recent years, the study of the Quran has revealed another basis for the classification of the stages of the developing embryo, which is based on easily understood actions and changes in shape. It utilizes terms which were sent from God to Muhammad by the Angel Gabriel and recorded on the Quran… It is clear to me that these statements must have come to Muhammad from God because almost none of this knowledge was discovered until many centuries later. This proves to me that Muhammad must have been a Messenger of God.”

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Welcome to Islam, - * Quran as a miracle

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The Quran is truly a living miracle. Going deeper into it, one finds amazing characteristics from every perspective.
In Language
The Arabs of the 6thand 7thcenturies CE were masters of the Arabic language. Eloquence and rhetoric were their lifeblood. The liveliness that marked their gatherings, the gaiety of their fairs, and the virtues of which they boasted, all found expression through poetry and literature. They were so proud of their literary accomplishments that they disdainfully dubbed all the other peoples of the world as “’Ajam” or “Dumb.” It was in this atmosphere that there appeared on the scene an unlettered person, Muhammad, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, )may Allaah exalt his mention(. He presented before them an oration, and declared it to be the Word of Allaah, which claimed )what means(:
“If mankind and the jinn were to gather together to produce the like of this Quran, they could never produce the like thereof, even if they backed up one another.”]Quran 17:88[
Such a proclamation was an amazing thing. It came from a person who had never learned anything from the renowned poets and scholars of the time, had never recited even a single piece of poetry in their congregations, and never attended the company of soothsayers. And far from composing any poetry himself, he did not even remember the verses of other poets. This proclamation, repeated several times in the Quran, was therefore the greatest challenge to their literary expertise, and at the same time a fatal stab at their polytheist creed and beliefs. Following this, a hush fell over the whole galaxy of these stirring orators and fiery poets. Not a soul stepped forward to accept the challenge of producing the like of the Quran. They persecuted the Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, called him insane, a sorcerer, poet and soothsayer, but failed utterly in composing even a few sentences like the Quranic verses. To this day, the challenge has remained unmet, although throughout history and even in modern times, many people have made feeble attempts to do so.
In Prophecies
Among other things, the Quran contains prophecies of future events, many of which have come to pass. We reproduce here a discussion of one such prophecy, which was fulfilled within the lifetime of the Prophet Muhammad, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam.
While the Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, was still in Makkah, after having been entrusted with prophethood, and was being subjected to all sorts of persecutions by the Makkan idolaters, exactly at the same time the two great powers of Rome and Persia were involved in repeated wars. The Romans were beaten, vanquished and suffered a great loss in men and material. At last, the Romans were so utterly exhausted that, far from being in a position to launch a counter-attack, they could not even take a firm stand anywhere. This situation was a matter of jubilation for the pagans ofArabia, as they identified the Persians, being fire-worshippers, with themselves and the Romans, as “people of the Book,” with the Muslims. In their eyes, the dominance of the Persians, presaged their own victory and the defeat of the Muslims. It was under these circumstances that these initial verses of the chapter called Ar-Room )The Romans( were revealed )which mean(:
“…The Romans have been defeated, in the land close by. And after )this( defeat of theirs, they will soon be victorious within a few years. To Allaah belongs the command before and after and on that day the Believers will rejoice in Allaah’s help…”]Quran 30:2-4[
For those who were aware of the military situation concerning the Romans and Persians, this prediction was absolutely incredible. In fact, the Persians kept marching forward until they reached the city walls of the Roman capital,Constantinople. The renowned historian Edward Gibbon has commented on this prediction thus:
“When this prophecy was made, no prediction could be more unbelievable because the initial twelve years of Heraclius were evidently declaring an end to theRoman Empire.” ]Fall of the Roman Empire, v.5, p.73-74[
But exactly seven years after his first defeat, the Roman emperor sallied forth from the capital and inflicted crushing defeats on the Persians at several places, and after that the Roman armies were victorious everywhere.
Meanwhile, a large number of Muslims had migrated to Al-Madeenah and their wars with the idolaters of Makkah had already begun. The day on which 313 ill-equipped Muslims were decisively beating their enemy -- 1000 heavily armed Makkan warriors -- at the battlefield of Badr, came the news that the Romans had defeated the Persians. It was then realized that the Quranic verse, )which means(:“…on that day the Believers will rejoice in Allaah’s help”]Quran 30: 4-5[ was meant to denote the twin happiness of the Romans’ victory as well as their own victory at Badr.
In Science and History
Apart from prophecies, the Quran has pointed out many scientific and historical facts which were not only unknown at that time, but could not even be imagined given the development of civilization. Entire books have been written )by both Muslims and non-Muslims( confirming the correspondence of scientific discoveries to the truths expressed in the Quran. Again, we suffice here with two examples:
The Quran has stated that as Fir’awn )Pharaoh( was drowning in the sea he made a confession of faith orally, just to save his life. In response, Allaah Said )what means(:
“What! Now? And indeed before this you did rebel and were of the corrupt. So this day We shall rescue you with your body that you may be a sign to those who come after you.”]Quran 10: 91-92[
At the time of revelation of this verse, and even centuries afterwards, nobody knew that the body of Fir’awn had been preserved, but it has been discovered only recently and is preserved in a museum atCairo.
The Quran has stated )what means(:“And of everything We have created pairs that you may take heed.”]Quran 51: 49[
When this verse was revealed, the general concept was that male and female pairs existed only among human beings and animals or in some vegetation. However, with the advancement of science, the Quranic reality is becoming manifest that male and female pairs exist in everything. In some instances they are termed as male and female, and elsewhere as positive and negative, as electron and proton, or neutron and positron. In another verse, the Quran has also clarified that the occurrence in pairs in many other things is still unknown to people. It says )what means(:
“Glorified be He Who created pairs of all things which the earth grows, and of themselves )humans(, and of that which they know not.” ]Quran 36: 36[
A Miracle For Us!
Looking back through history, it has been observed that the prophets, may Allaah exalt their mention, were sent with miracles that reflected the society and knowledge of the people they were sent to. Thus, Moosaa )Moses(, may Allaah exalt his mention, was sent with a staff that truly turned into a snake, baffling the trickster magicians of the Pharaoh. ’Eesaa )Jesus(, may Allaah exalt his mention, was given the power to cure diseases and give life to the dead, astonishing the Jewish doctors who felt proud of their limited knowledge of healing, and who had begun to disregard and deny the supernatural powers of God.
Similarly, the Quran was an immediate miracle for the Arabs so many years ago, since it challenged and far surpassed the limits of their literary expression. Unlike the miracles of previous prophets, which were only applicable for a limited time, to this day the Quran -- the Final Testament given to the Last Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam -- is still a relevant miracle for humanity and will remain so as long as the world exists. We live in an age of science and technology, of knowledge, logic, and reason. Yet, in spite of all the human advancement in every sphere of life, the principles of the Quran have not been proven wrong nor have they become “out-of-date.” This is really the great miracle of the Quran, it has proven itself a timeless, universal message for humankind, relevant to every facet of our life — be it politics, economics, ethics, science, literature, arts or entertainment. In fact, even non-Muslim scholars have admitted that the entire “Western” civilization today, thriving from the “rebirth of humanity” )i.e. the “Renaissance”(, would not have been so, had it not been for the message brought by Muhammad, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam. As the celebrated English writer, Robert Briffault, says in The Making of Humanity:
“The ideas of freedom for all human beings, of human brotherhood, of the equality of all men before the law of democratic government, by consultation and universal suffrage, the ideas that inspired the French Revolution and the Declaration of Rights, that guided the framing of the American Constitution and inflamed the struggle for independence in the Latin-American countries were not inventions of the West. They find their ultimate inspiration and source in the Holy Quran. They are the quintessence of what the intelligentsia of medieval Europe acquired from Islam over a period of centuries through the various societies that developed inEuropein the wake of the Crusades in imitation of the brotherhood associations of Islam. It is highly probable that but for the Arabs, modern European civilization would never have arisen at all, it is absolutely certain that but for them, it would never have assumed that character which has enabled it to transcend all previous phases of evolution.”

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Menstruation and Post-Natal bleeding, - Dought& clear, - * She feels bad during her period

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I feel sometimes that I am not clean inside. I feel few days before my period starts that my blood is boiling inside my veins, and I feel like I want to cut myself off. About two years ago I stopped the bad habit of backbiting, since I stopped this sin I feel much more comfortable. But when the time for my period becomes close, I feel like my blood is boiling and I start repeating the past. My mother did this, my father did that, my sister is like this, and so on. When this happens I do not know how to stop it. This case of mine may stay for two days or more. Please guide me.
Praise be to Allaah.
Firstly:
We praise Allaah for guiding you to an understanding of the seriousness of backbiting and its evil, and for hastening to give it up. We ask Him to help you and make you steadfast in that.
Secondly:
It is well known that many women become depressed and anxious during their menses, especially at the beginning, and that a woman’s intellectual state is not normal during menses. Most women feel pain in their backs or lower abdomen, and for some of them the pain may be more than they can bear, so they use medicines and painkillers. See question no. 43028.
Undoubtedly what you are feeling is one of the effects of menstruation but all you have to do is be patient and seek reward, for nothing befalls a Muslim, not even anxiety and grief, but Allaah will expiate some of his sins thereby.
You should keep yourself busy with work, study etc that will benefit you, for free time makes worries worse.
There is nothing wrong with a menstruating woman reading Qur’aan without touching the Mus-haf, and that will distract her and make it easier for her.
And Allaah knows best.

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