Beauty All Around Us

Every Saturday I drive fromFresno, in the geographical center of
California, across the western side of the SanJoaquin Valley and up
into the mountains, to Casa de Fruta. It is such beautiful country,
SubhanAllah. The San Joaquin Valley is a part of California's great
Central Valley, a vast agricultural breadbasket that runs 450 miles
(720 km) from north to south.
Right now in March, the fields are on fire with orange poppies and
yellowmustard flowers. The almond trees have been blossoming for a
month, and the white petals fall to the ground like rain. On myway
home, I sometimes pull over and park under the almond trees. I have a
snack, listen to the radio, then get out and practice martial arts
moves beneaththe trees. When the irrigation pumps are running I use
the water to wash my face or perform wudu'.
The grapes are just coming up – the slender stems are like the idea of
a grape vine. Corn, cotton and lettuce are newly planted, and birds
with long white necks flock to the fields. The fields are full of huge
herds of white sheep and black cows, and our uniquelocal cows with a
large white stripe down the middle.
The green grass sweeps up into the mountains, where it becomes forest
and finally snow.
The years-long drought is over. The San Luis Reservoir is setting a
new high water mark. It is normally full of islands, butnow they have
all disappeared as the water isa solid sheet of deep blue from one
side to the other, with fingers of water stretching into
surroundingvalleys. I've never seen it so high. The Eastside Bypass,
which is a flood control channel and is normally dry as dust, is
running with water.
The San Joaquin River is running to the Pacific Ocean for the first
time in decades. In coming years the Chinook salmon may return to the
river, Insha'Allah. This is a type offish that swims upriver from the
sea. There has notbeen a Chinook run on the San Joaquin River since
the 1940′s.
The skies in this part of the Valley are huge, with vast expanses of
clouds sweeping the sky like ships. Late in the day, the sky is a
giant palette of blue, yellow, orange and red.
The world is amazing. Never think that beauty is gone from the world.
Openyour eyes and look at the majesty around you. All this was not
created in vain. It is a miracle, a blessing, and a sign pointing to
the Most Merciful God.
SubhanAllah, glory to Allah The Provider, The Creator, The One.
Sheep butt heads near a dried-up irrigation ditch in the Central Valley in 2009.
Lawrence's Goldfinch is native to the Central Valley
Central Valley farmland
Skies in the Central Valley are always dramatic.
Central Valley trees in bloom on a farm
Another beautiful sky in the Central Valley
A San Joaquin Valley orange grove. Oranges are a major crop here.


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Our Beautiful Earth’s True Colors! Incredible New Images of the Earth from Space

"And it is He who createdthe night and the day and the sun and the
moon; all [heavenly bodies] in an orbit are swimming." – Quran,
Al-Anbiyaa, 21:33
These spectacular images of the Earth are the most true-colour images
of the entire world released to date, according to Nasa scientists.
The images of the Indian Ocean and North America were produced by
researchers at Nasa's Goddard Space Flight Center using images from
the Terra satellite more than 700km (435 miles) above the Earth's
surface.
The Blue Marble series was pieced together from thousands of images
taken over many months by the satellite's remote-sensing device Modis,
of every square kilometre of the Earth's surface.
Allah's signs are all around us, and modern technologyreveals more
signs to us every day. Some of Allah's miracles are so small that we
can only see them with modern microscopes; whileothers are so great
that wecan only see them from thedistance of space, Subhan Allahu wa
bihamdihi , gloryto Allah and all praise to Him.
Click on the thumbnails to see the amazing full-size photos.
Earth from space, in true color. See India at center and Arabia and
Africa to the left.
Earth from space, in true color. See the North American continent in the center.

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Reaching for the light

Click on the image above and allow yourself a few minutes to do
nothing but gaze at it. Really think about what you are seeing.Isn't
it beautiful and astounding? SubhanAllah.
To me, the amazing thing is that it's a simple image of a small (some
might say insignificant) creature in Allah's universe. It's not a
big-budget film popping with special effects and designed to elicit a
canned emotional response, or a classic novel, or a grand symphony, or
a skilled musician playing a soul-stirring solo on a guitar.
It's just a capture of the light shining on a little flower that most
of us would probably pay no attention to if we walked past it.
Rather than insert my thoughts here, I would like to ask you:
What does this image do for you? What does it make you think? How
doesit make you feel?

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ADVISE :- ~ “Someone’s opinion ofyou does not have to become your reality.”

Don't blindly accept other people's negative judgments of you. Reject
their pessimism. Be strong, know yourself, and know that no one else
can define you. Other people's insults may hurt, but they don't define
you. Some people love to say "no", to tell youwhat you cannot do, to
tellyou why your dreams are impossible or impractical, to tell you
what a fool you are, to tell you not to bother trying. Such people
claim to be pragmatists and realists.
In reality, such people are poison. It is their opinions that are not
based in reality. It's their opinions that are founded in cowardice
and cynicism. Their opinions are inherently self-limiting. They have
locked themselves into prisons of the mind. They have taken the ships
of their dreams and smashed holes in the hulls before ever setting
sail. Because they have given up on their dreams, they want you to do
the same.
Either that, or they look at you and they see a bundle of
preconceptions. They seea stereotyped image created in their own
minds,someone who to them is the "wrong" race, or the "wrong"
religion, or has the "wrong" qualifications, and based on that they
willtry to tell you what's "wrong" with you, and to set roadblocks in
your path.
Don't let them define you. Don't let them tell you whoyou are, or what
you can orcannot do.
Mistakes and Appearances Do Not Define You
You are much more than just the sum of the mistakes you've made. Your
past mistakes are not brands of shame, but teachers, stimuli to change
and do better.
You also cannot be judged by the superficial circumstances of your
life: your nationality, race, age, the language you speak, your
favorite foods or colors, your birth date, your height or weight,
whether your lips are narrow or full, whether your hair is lustrous or
thin,whether you have six-pack abs or love handles. These things do
not define you.
For you pop culture fans out there, there's a scene inThe Matrix where
Neo is riding in a car, gazing out at the city, at all the places he
used to know. He says, "I used to eat there. Really good noodles. I
have these memories from my life. None of them happened. What does
that mean?" And Trinity replies, "That the matrix cannot tell you who
you are."
Free Your Soul
So what truly defines you? Two things: your beliefs, and your
character. What you believe, and how thosebeliefs manifest in the way
you act in the world, the way you respect yourself, the way you
maintain yourintegrity no matter what, the compassion and love that
you show to those lessfortunate, your courage, your talents, your
beautifuldreams. Your faith and modesty, sincerity, friendliness, work
ethic, hospitality, willingness to forgive.
These are the things that truly define a human being. No one can
dictate them to you, no one can give them or take them away. Only
Allah can guide you, and only you can choose what to do with that
guidance.
Abu Malik Al-Harith bin Asim Al-Ashari said that theMessenger of Allah
(peace be upon him) said:
"Purity is half of faith. Alhamdu-lillah [Praise be to Allah] fills
the scales, and Subhana-Allah [How far is Allah from every
imperfection] and Alhamdu-lillah [Praise be to Allah] fill that which
is between heaven and earth. Prayer is light; charity is a proof;
patience is illumination; and the Quran is an argument for or against
you. Everyone starts his day and is a vendor of hissoul, either
freeing it or bringing about its ruin."
You are the vendor of your own soul. You set your soulfree, so that
your spirit rises like the sun; or you ruin it, debasing yourself. You
shape your own character. You define yourself. No one else can tell
you who you are. No one else has the right.

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HADEES - ~ Hadeeth Qudsi Introduction

Hadeeth Qudsi. But what is Hadeeth Qudsi and how do they differ from
other Hadeeth? The following discussion is given in the introduction
to the book titled "Forty Hadeeth Qudsi" published by: Revival of
Islamic Heritage Society, Islamic Translation Center, P.O.Box 38130,
Aldahieh, Kuwait.
Hadeeth Qudsi are the sayings of the Prophet Muhammad (Peace and
Blessings of Allah be upon him) as revealed to him by the Almighty
Allah. Hadeeth Qudsi (orSacred Hadeeth) are so named because, unlike
the majority of Hadeeth which are Prophetic Hadeeth, their authority
(Sanad) is traced back not to the Prophet but to the Almighty.
Among the many definitions given by the early scholars to Sacred
Hadeeth is that of as-Sayyid ash-Sharif al-Jurjani (died in 816 A.H.)
in his lexicon At-Tarifat where he says: "A Sacred Hadeeth is, as to
the meaning, from Allah the Almighty; as to the wording, it is from
the messenger of Allah (PBUH). It is that which Allah the Almighty has
communicated to His Prophet through revelation orin dream, and he,
peace be upon him, has communicated it in his own words. Thus Qur'an
is superior to it because, besides being revealed, it is His wording."
Hadeeth Collection
Hadeeth Qudsi 1:
On the authority of Abu Hurayrah(may Allah be pleased with him), who
said that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said:
When Allah decreed the Creation He pledged Himself by writing in His
book which is laid down withHim: My mercy prevails over my wrath.
It was related by Muslim (also by al-Bukhari, an-Nasa'i and Ibn Majah).
Hadeeth Qudsi 2:
On the authority of Abu Hurayrah(may Allah be pleased with him), who
said that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said: Allah Almighty has said:
The son of Adam denied Me and he had no right to do so. And he reviled
Me and he had no right todo so. As for his denying Me, it is his
saying: He will not remake meas He made me at first (1) - and the
initial creation [of him] is no easier for Me than remaking him.As for
his reviling Me, it is his saying: Allah has taken to Himselfa son,
while I am the One, the Everlasting Refuge. I begot not nor was I
begotten, and there is none comparable to Me.
(1) i.e., bring me back to life after death.
It was related by al-Bukhari (also by an-Nasa'i).
Hadeeth Qudsi 3:
On the authority of Zayd ibn Khalid al-Juhaniyy (may Allah be pleased
with him), who said:
The Messenger of Allah (may the blessings and peace of Allah be upon
him) led the morning prayer for us at al-Hudaybiyah following rainfall
during the night. When the Prophet (may the blessings and peace of
Allah be upon him) finished, he faced the people and said to them: Do
you know what your Lord has said? They said: Allah and his Messenger
know best. He said: This morning one of my servants became a believer
in Me and one a disbeliever. As for him who said: We have been given
rain by virtue of Allah and His mercy, thatone is a believer in Me, a
disbeliever in the stars (2); and as for him who said: We have been
given rain by such-and-such a star, that one is a disbeliever in Me, a
believer in thestars.
(2) The pre-Islamic Arabs believed that rain was brought about by the
movement of stars. This Hadeeth draws attention to the fact that
whatever be the direct cause of such natural phenomena as rain, it is
Allah theAlmighty who is the Disposer of all things.
It is related by al-Bukhari (also byMalik and an-Nasa'i).
Hadeeth Qudsi 4:
On the authority of Abu Hurayrah(may Allah be pleased with him), who
said that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said: Allah said:
Sons of Adam inveigh against [the vicissitudes of] Time, and I am
Time, in My hand is the night and the day (1).
(1) As the Almighty is the Ordainer of all things, to inveigh aginst
misfortunes that are part of Time is tantamount to inveighing against
Him.
It was related by al-Bukhari (also by Muslim).
Hadeeth Qudsi 5:
On the authority of Abu Hurayrah(may Allah be pleased with him), who
said that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said: Allah (glorified and
exalted be He) said:
I am so self-sufficient that I am inno need of having an associate.
Thus he who does an action for someone else's sake as well as Mine
will have that action renounced by Me to him whom he associated with
Me.
It was related by Muslim (also by Ibn Majah).
Hadeeth Qudsi 6:
On the authority of Abu Hurayrah(may Allah be pleased with him), who
said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) say:
The first of people against whomjudgment will be pronounced on the Day
of Resurrection will be a man who died a martyr. He will be brought
and Allah will make known to him His favours and hewill recognize
them.....

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It was We Who created man, and We know what dark suggestions his nafs (self) makes to him: for We are nearer to him than (his)jugular vein,” (Al Qur'an 50:16). “And why the jugular? Whydoes Allah (swt) choose to mention this part of us? The jugular v

It was We Who created man, and We know what dark suggestions his nafs
(self) makes to him: for We are nearer to him than (his)jugular vein,"
(Al Qur'an 50:16).

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UK royal family's picture decorates Thames 2012-05-28 08:09:25 GMT 2012-05-28 16:09:25(Beijing Time) Xinhua English

A giant picture of Britain's Royal family is unveiled ona building
beside the RiverThames in celebration of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee
in London, Britain, May 27, 2012. Queen Elizabeth will mark her
Diamond Jubilee by travelling in a 1,000-boat regatta on the river on
June 3. (Xinhua/Bimal Gautam)
A giant picture of Britain's Royal family is unveiled ona building
beside the RiverThames in celebration of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee
in London, Britain, May 27, 2012. Queen Elizabeth will mark her
Diamond Jubilee by travelling in a 1,000-boat regatta on the river on
June 3. (Xinhua/Bimal Gautam)
A giant picture of Britain's Royal family is unveiled ona building
beside the RiverThames in celebration of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee
in London, Britain, May 27, 2012. Queen Elizabeth will mark her
Diamond Jubilee by travelling in a 1,000-boat regatta on the river on
June 3. (Xinhua/Bimal Gautam)
A giant picture of Britain's royal family was unveiled on a building
beside the River Thames in celebration of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee
in London, Britain, May 27, 2012.
Queen Elizabeth will mark her Diamond Jubilee by travelling in a
1,000-boat regatta on the river on June 3.

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Don’t ever settle for less than what’s right

"Prepare yourself for greatness, don't ever settle for less than
what's good, right, sound. Believe in the power of your prayers. Move
in the direction that you know you need to go, not the direction that
you want to go. Don't ever settle for less than what's good, right,
and sound – if we do, we will only be cheating ourselves. God hasgreat
things in store for you… patiently work towards making them happen!"

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Ramadan is over, but we are still Muslims

"Ramadan is over. Life goeson. But we are still Muslim, and Allah is
still our Lord. We still call to Allah even though we're not
surrounded by hundreds every night who are doing the same. We still
pray our salat because it's required of us inside of Ramadan and
outside of it. We hold on tight to this passion for seeking Allah's
great pleasure and we will fight for it if we feel it slipping.
We are not Ramadan Muslims, we are Real Muslims, and we act like it."

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A Gate in Paradise Called Ar-Rayyaan

The holy month of Ramadan is a time of sacrifice, purification,
worship, charity and forgiveness, all to bring us closer to our
Creator.
There are so many blessings and benefits to fasting in Ramadan. Some
are physical, some are spiritual, and some relate purely to our
aakhirah.
Among these blessings is the right to enter through Bab Ar-Rayyaan:
Narrated Sahl (ra) : The Prophet (sws – peace be upon him) said,
"Indeed, there is a gate in Paradise called Ar-Rayaan . On the Day of
Resurrection, those who fasted will enter it and none except them will
enter. It will be said, 'Where are those who used to fast?' They will
arise and none except them will enter it. After their entry, the gate
will be closed and none will enter it."
[Sahih Bukhari, Volume 3, Book 31, Number 120]
Many Muslims have heard this hadith, but most don't know the meaning
of this name, "Ar-Rayyaan" . In fact I was at the masjid recently for
a Ramadan class and I asked the Imam this question and he did not
know. So when I got home I looked it up: the linguistic meaning of
Ar-Rayyaan is something that is well-watered, and therefore lush,
succulent and beautiful…
Doesn't it sound lovely? I imagine it surrounded by water, maybe a
river, stream, or a waterfall… A tall and shining gate, beautifully
decorated, silver or golden… Allah knows best.
I want to walk through that gate, and I want the same for my daughter
Salma. At this moment, I want that more than anything else I can
imagine… if I achieve that, then I will have succeeded in life.
Fasting is a Key
Why should there be a gateway to Jannah only forthose who fast? What
is so special about fasting for only month every year, as opposed to
praying every day, or making the great effort of Hajj, or giving one's
hard-earned money in charity, or any other important Islamic deed?
Actually we know from various saheeh hadeeth (authentic narrations of
theProphet) that there are many gates to Jannah. Some will reward
people who perform specific actions, and according to the Prophet
(sws), certain individuals willed be called to all the gates, and may
enter from whichever they choose. SubhanAllah. This isa fascinating
subject in its own right. However, Bab Ar-Rayyaan has been mentioned
quite prominently in the narrations. It is clearly an important and
privileged gate.
Why is that?
Fasting is designed to put us into a state of hyper-awareness of
Allah. Hasan al-Basri said,
"By Allah, in the last twenty years, I have not said a word or taken
something with my hand or refrained to take something with my hand or
stepped forth or steppedback, except that I have thought before I have
doneany action, 'Does Allah love this action? Is Allah pleasedwith
this action?'"
This is how we should be when fasting. The fast is a highly personal
act of worship between the servant and the Creator. It'san invisible
act. When you pray or perform tawaaf, you can be seen by others, so
there is always the risk of one's intention being tainted by the
desire to be seen or admired. However, when we are fasting, no one can
look at us and know that we are fasting. Even in Ramadan, a person
could eat or drink secretly. It is an honor system. That is why Allah
said in a hadith qudsi, "Fasting is for Me and I reward it."
(al-Bukhari)

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What to Say on Laylat al-Qadr, the Night of Power

The last ten nights of Ramadan are here. This is an amazing, powerful,
unique time. These days are the most spiritually charged days of the
year, more full of power than a great star or the mighty ocean. And
one of these days is Laylat al-Qadr, the Night of Power, equal to a
thousand months. Every prayer is magnified, every good deed is
multiplied exponentially.
What to say during Laylat al-Qadr? It is recommended to supplicate a
lot during this night. It is reported from 'Aisha (ra), that she said:
"OMessenger of ALLAH! What if I knew which night Lailatul-Qadr was,
then what should I say in it?" The Prophet (PBUH) said.- "Say.-
(Allahumma innaka 'affuwwun tuhibbul 'afwa fa'fu 'annee.)
"O ALLAH You are The One Who pardons greatly, and loves to pardon, so
pardon me."
[reported by at-Tirmithi]
I also wish to remind everyone that all difficulties pass, all
troublespass. Hard times don't last, but strong people do! Worry if
you must, but do not fear. Allah is with you. He is The Forgiving, The
Merciful, The Loving, and the Giver of Peace. Call upon Him,
especially during this blessed time. You have no idea how much your
worship at this special time is valued. Morethan any of us can count.
SubhanAllah.

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Allah First

Allah first, glorified and exalted be He. Not career, money, savings,
stocks, investments, 401K, IRA. Allah first. Not family, because we
cannot serve our families well unless weserve Allah first. Not
culture, nationality, "race", caste, tribe, clan, lineage, social
status (all of which are utterly meaningless).
Allah first. Not material, shopping, sales – people get up early for a
sale but can't wake up for Allah – smart phone, internet, computer.
Allah, Allah, Allah first. Not movies, shows, fake celebrities whoare
worshiped like idols. Not sports teams, city, school, neighborhood.
Only when we put Allah first can we stay that we have understood "Laa
ilahail-Allah" (there is no God but Allah) – this simple sentence and
testimony of faith, over which Prophets have been killed, believers
persecuted, and which has been so little understood even by Muslims.
This Laa ilaha il-Allah was the call of every Prophet and Messenger
from time immemorial. Allah says about it, "…and know thatLaa ilaaha
ill Allah (there is no deity worthy of worship but Allah)…" [Quran
47:19, 20:8, 3:18, 59:22-3]
And Abu Sa`eed al-Khudri said, that the Messenger of Allah (S) said:
"Moses (AS) said: 'O Lord! Teach me something that I can remember You
with and I can supplicate You with'. He (Allah Ta'ala) said:'Say 'Laa
ilaaha ill Allah', O Musaa'. He (Musaa) said: 'Allof your servants say
this'. He (Allah) said: 'If the sevenHeavens and those who dwell in
them other than Me and the seven Earths are put into one pan (of the
scale) and 'Laa ilaaha illAllaah' is put into the other; 'Laa ilaaha
ill Allah' would be heavier.'" [Ibn Hibbaan and Haakim]
Laa ilaha il-Allah is the stuffof legends. It is the calling card of
the Eternal Prime Mover. It has rights over us.It's a contract, an
oath, a promise to love Allah before the people, fear Allah more than
the people, and to ask ourselves in every situation, "What does
Allahwant me to do here?" It's avow to trust Allah before the people,
call upon Allah in times of hardship, thank Allah in times of plenty,
and know in our bones that our return is to Him.

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HEALTH - ~ Allergies

Allergies are caused by thebody's overzealous reaction to normally
harmless substances. Allergies can be triggered by pollen, animal
dander, mold, dust, and insect droppings, or by certain foods or
insect stings. Upper respiratory allergy symptoms include runny nose,
itchy eyes, coughing,wheezing, and sneezing. Up to 50 million people
in the U.S. have allergies.
*. What Is an Allergy?
*. How to Cope With Hay Fever or Allergic Rhinitis
*. Over-the-Counter Drugsfor Allergy Symptoms
Allergies Journey
Control Your Allergies,Don't Let Them Control You About one-third of
adults have nasal allergies and allthe misery—sniffling, sneezing,
watery eyes, anda stuffy nose—that go along with them. Find out the
most common triggersof allergic reactions, the best ways to treat your
symptoms, and how to avoid allergens to stop allergy misery before it
gets started.

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My wife lies to me and I’m afraid she put magic on me

I have been married for 13years and during this time my wife has lied
to me on many occassions. Often these lies have either beenthe result
of a hidden act that she committed or to conceal the acts of her
parents. I have, however always forgiven her and tried to reconcile
the marriage for the sake of my children.
Last year, I lost my job dueto a very trivial incident. Itwas after i
returned from Pakistan with my family. I spoke with a raki who recited
Quran over me, (according to the sunnah), and from my reaction he
ascertained that I had been fed sihr. He would not divulge the
identity of the person who had performed the sihr and gave me a
programme to follow which involved ruqyah and black seed oil.
When i informed my mother and wife of this, the first thing my wife
asked was: "Who did it?" I told her i did not know but she did not
give up and kept asking. She kept saying "He must have given you an
idea of who it was", but i advised her that he didn't.
Coincidentally, the day that i lost my job, my wife got her job. I
have been trying ever since to find a job and start a business and 9
months later, i still have no luck.
Spiritually, alhamdolillah, ifeel fine. I have always prayed five
times and have alhamdolillah maintained my ruqyah buti still seem to
have bad days where at maghrib time i feel particularly panicked and
aggravated especially around my wife.I am not sure whether thisis the
effect of sihr or whether the fact that i have been jobless for so
long is now affecting my mental state of mind.
I hate to suspect, knowingwhat a major sin it is and in my mind i feel
like the perpetrator of this sihr could be someone very close to me.
Would there be anyway offinding out who is responsible? and what cani
do about the way i feel around my wife. I try forget the past but it
keeps on haunting me andi have absolutely no trust in my wife
whatsoever due to past experiences and trust, as we all know, is the
very basis of a relationship. Whenever my wife returns from work, i
feel like biting her head off and find excuses to leave the house and
i feel depressed at home. I am rather confused and would welcome
advice from anyone.

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The Sin of Fornication and Adultery

We've all heard of the seven deadly sins, but in reality their number
is not limited to seven. Abdullah ibn 'Abbas said: "Seventy is closer
to their number than seven". A major sin isone for which the
Quran/Sunnah prescribes apunishment in this life andin the next, or
that sin for which the sinner has incurred a curse by Allah or the
Messenger (sal-Allahu alayhi wa-sallam).
Fornication and Adultery will be discussed here and is one of the
major sins mentioned on this frightening list of seventy sins on:
http// www.themodernreligion.com/misc/hh/major_sins.htm
Each of the sins listed has attached to it seemingly smaller sins
which accumulate and lead to the bigger sin. Hence it makes complete
sense to understand that to indulge in the acts that lead to the major
sin are sin as well. So we should do our utmost to protect ourselves
from the paths that lead to the major sins.
***
I felt it was necessary to discuss this subject here asso many of the
questions submitted on IslamicAnswers.comare from people who have
fallen into zina and are now despairing and even contemplating
suicide. I have briefly touched upon:warning people about how easily
one can be lured towards zina, how to prevent oneself from falling
into zina, the dire consequences if one does fall and the concept of
Tawbah. This post has the following subheadings:
Part 1:
a) Seasons of sin - How a glance becomes despair
Part 2:
b) Why is Adultery/Fornication so attractive?
c) The million dollar question: How can we prevent ourselves from
giving into our base desires?
Part 3
d) Tame your wild horse before it tramples all over you!
d) There is way back through Sincere Tawbah
f) Conceal your sins, its an obligation!
g) There are blessings in following Allah's way
Seasons of sin - How a Glance becomes Despair
***
Summer Days - Flowers and Stars
The road to zina (fornication and adultery) starts with a look, a
glance, a sweet word, a tea, a coffee, a pizza, a shopping spree,
studying together all cosied up in the uni library...'Chill out, its
just innocent fun' (I hear you say). The shame and shyness left time
ago, so the rest starts to become a lot easier. Now the flirting,
touching, hugging, the 'I love you's and 'xxx's sent through email and
text messages, gradually turning from virtual to reality. Before you
know what's happening, your emotionshave taken over and all logic and
common sense have flown out the window along with the shame.
Allah? What, oh yeah, Allah and Islam, I'll think about that later,
I'm not doing anything wrong - I'm just chilling out with Yasin. Its a
cold drizzly day, and where you'd normally have to struggle out of
your warm bed for college or work, today youjump up, cos all you're
seeing are flowers and stars, all rosiness and glitter. Sound
familiar? Allah(swt)'s warning in theQuran Surah Al Isra, Verse 32,
bears little significancein our lives now: "And come not NEAR to
unlawful sexual intercourse. Verily, it is a faahishah (a great sin)
andan evil way."
Autumn - The Fall
This dizzy feeling of excitement or lust masquerading as love is oh
but a very short lived satisfaction. Girlfriend/boyfriend
relationships are major sins in Islam! Things do not "just happen."
One bad deed if not nipped in the bud, leads to another. You planted a
bad seed and instead of repelling it at the first stage, you allowed
it to become firmly planted and it began to flower. It was not
innocent fun, it was the beginning of a long line of sins leading to
zina and each of those seemingly 'minor' things were in fact not
small, they were 'major'. They were major, because each one stained
your heart with a small black dot, until eventually your whole heart
became covered with darkness.
Remember, Allah(swt) did not just say, 'Don't have unlawful sexual
intercourse, He(swt) warned us against even 'coming near' it! Because
you continued ignoring this, you were no longer able to see or hear
the light or truth, you became confused. Some of you hated doing
those bad things, but your goal had become only to please your
girlfriend/boyfriend. Some of you enjoyed sinning and became slave to
your lower desires. Either way, you became a slave to other than
Allah, thereby committing indirect shirk.
Some of you have now become compulsive liars too, as you sneak out the
door, telling your folks that you'll be studying in the library till
late; when in fact you're meeting your lover, and forgetting your
meeting with your Creator - Allah. When reminded about the punishments
for your sins,you put your fingers in your ears and continue
persevering in your wrongdoing. You allowed your emotions to rule your
soul.

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Dua in Islam

Dua is defined as any invocation or prayer addressed to Allah (SWT).
In our times, we find many reasons why people do not make Dua; we
forget, don't know how, orjust do not think it will be answered.
Fundamental tothis is the loss of dependence and trust upon Allah. As
Muslims there is something very wrong when we believe our Duas won't
be answered. We do not turn to Allah in our times of need and instead
put our trust, dependence and hopes on worldly things that we think
will help us.
Although these temporal things are the means through which our Duas
can be answered, the root of our being should be trained automatically
to turn to Allah and not anything or anyone else. Through Dua, we
strengthen our Imaan and our relationship with Allah, as well as
heighten our awareness of cause and effect that can help inspire and
motivate us to be closer to Islam in our lives.
We find many reassurances throughout the Quran for those who make Dua.
Allah the Exalted, has said: "And your Lord says: Pray untome: and I
will hear your prayer" (Quran 40:60), "Call upon your Lord Humbly and
in secret" (Quran 7:55), "When My servants question thee concerning
Me, I am indeed close (to them): I listen to the prayer of every
suppliant when hecalleth on Me" (Quran 2:186), "Is not He (best) who
listens to the (soul) distressed when it calls on Him, and who
relieves its suffering." (Quran 27:62)
Aisha radhiallaahu anha said, "No believer makes Dua and it is wasted.
Either it is granted here in this world or deposited forhim in the
Hereafter as long as he does not get frustrated."
In fact, it is even wrong to never make Dua,"Whosoever does not
supplicate to Allah, He will be angry with Him." [Saheeh
Jaami`as-Sagheer#2414]
Conditions for acceptance of Dua
1. A Hadith says "Ad-Du'aa Huwal-3ibaadah" , which means, "Dua is
worship." [Abu Dawud,at-Tirmidhi, Hasan Saheeh], Dua is Ibadah so
calling upon anyone other than Allah in one's Dua is Shirk. Thisis an
important condition of having one's Dua accepted; the Dua should be
directed to Allah alone.
2. A second condition would be sincerity or Hudoor alqalb , having the
heart present.
3. Also, one's food, drink, clothes and lifestyle should be Halal. One
should avoid unlawful, impious or forbidden sources or means of
livelihood.
4. Fourth, one cannot ask for something sinful or Haram. Dua should
not be made against family and property (i.e. to sever the ties of
kinship).
5. If one asks Allah to cursesomeone, it rises up to heaven and goes
to the person if they are deserving, if not it returns to the person
supplicating.
6. Patience is another condition. This perseverance in making Dua is
important. One should not say "Why hasn't Allah answered my Dua" or "I
have prayed and prayed so many times, but the same was not accepted"
and then become disappointed and give up praying. An example of this
is like a person who planted a seed or a sapling, and kept looking
after it and watering it and when itscomplete shape and height was
slow in coming, they left it and forgot about it.
7. Lastly one should have expectation, belief with certainty only
Allah can answer the Dua. Understanding dependence on Allah and asking
with absolute resolve and believing with certainty that one's Dua will
be answered is a also a condition of acceptance. One should not say "O
Allah do this...if you wish..." because one should appeal to Allah
with determination, for nobody can force Allah to do something against
his Will. If one fulfills these conditions, Allah will definitely
answer the Dua, avert some equivalent evil or give better in the
Hereafter.
We can and should make Dua in every condition, i.e. in hardship and in
prosperity. There are also some special times to make Dua where it is
more likely to be accepted.
Special times for dua:
1. When one is oppressed
2. Between the time of Athan and Iqama
3. At the time of the call forprayer
4. At the time of fighting when warriors are engaged with each other
5. When it is raining
6. When one is sick
7. The last third of the night
8. Ramadan (especially Lailatul Qadr)
9. After the Fard part of prayer\
10. When traveling
11. When breaking fast
12. In Sujood
13. Fridays, some say on Friday after Asr prayer
14. While drinking the water from the well of Zamzam
15. At the start of prayer (Dua of Istiftah)
16. When one begins the prayer, i.e. with "all praise be to Allah, the
Pure and the Blessed one"
17. While one recites al-Fatiha (which is a Dua)
18. When Ameen is said in the prayer (also relating to Fatiha)
19. At the time of raising the head after the Rukoo
20. In the last part of the prayer after conveying blessings unto the
Prophet (SAW)

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ISLAMIC ARTICLE :- ~ Understanding the Concept of Tawbah in Islam

Tawbah is an Arabic words derived fromthe origin " Taaba" i.e.
returned back. Tawbah thus means turning back in repentance. It means
showing regret for the error and the sin one has got himself involved
in.
To have a clear view of theconcept of Tawbah and what it does mean,
read the following:
Repentance ( Tawbah ) means that one feels regret and filled with
remorse for his or her sins,turns to Allah with the intention to obey
Him. According to truth-seekingscholars, repentance signifies a
sincere effort to no longer oppose the Divine Essence in one's
feelings, thoughts, intentions, and acts, and to comply sincerely with
His commands and prohibitions. Repentance does not mean being
disgusted with what is bad or prohibited and thusno longer engaging in
it; rather, it means remainingaloof from whatever Allah hates and
prohibits, even if it seems agreeable to sense and reason.
Repentance is usually usedwith Nasuh , literally meaning pure,
sincere, reforming, improving, and repairing. Tawbah Nasuh (genuine
repentance) means a pure, sincere repentance that perfectly reforms
and improves the one who feels it. One who feels such a sincere,
heartfelt, and true remorse for the sin committed seeks to abandon it,
thereby setting a good example for others. The Quran points to this
when it mentions true repentance:" O you who believe! Turn to God in
true, sincere repentance." (At-Tahrim: 8).
There are three categories of repentance:
1-The repentance of those who cannot discern Divinetruths. Such people
are uneasy about their disobedience to Allah and, conscious of the
sinfulnessclouding their hearts, turn toward Allah in repentance
saying, for example: "I have fallen or committed a sin. Forgive me, or
I ask for Allah's forgiveness."
2-Those half-awakened to Divine truths beyond veils of material
existence, whofeel an inward pang of sinfulness and remorse right
after thinking or doing anything incompatible with the consciousness
of always being in Allah's presence, or after every instance of
heedlessness enveloping their hearts, and who immediately take refuge
in the mercy and favor of Allah. Such people are described in the
following Hadith:. "One who sincerely repents of his sin is as if he
had never committed it. When Allah loves one of His servants, his sins
do not harm him. Then he recited the verse: aAssuredly, Allah loves
the oft-repentant and those who always seek to purify themselves.'"
3-Those who live such a careful life that, their eyes sleep but their
hearts do not, their hearts are awake. Such people immediately discard
what-ever intervenes between Allah and their hearts and other
innermost faculties, and regain the consciousness of their relation to
the Light of Lights. They always manifest the meaning of:. "How
excellent a servant! Trulyhe was ever turning in contrition (to his
Lord)" (Sad:44).
Repentance means regaining one's essential purity after every
spiritual defilement, and engaging in frequent self-renewal.
The Stages of Repentance:
1-Feeling sincere remorse and regret.
2-Being frightened whenever one rememberspast sins.
3-Trying to eradicate injustice and support justice and right.
4-Reviewing one's responsibilities and performing obligations
previously neglected.
5-Reforming oneself by removing spiritual defects caused by deviation and error
6-Regretting and lamenting the times whenone did not mention or
remember Allah, or thank Him and reflect on His works. Such people are
always apprehensive and alert so that their thoughts and feelings are
not tainted by things that intervene between themselves and Allah.
(This last quality is particular to people distinguished by their
nearness to Allah.)
If one does not feel remorse, regret, and disgust for errors
committed, whether greator small; if one is not fearful or
apprehensive of falling back into sin at any time; and if one does not
take shelter in sincere servanthood to Allah in order to be freed from
deviation and error into which one has fallen by moving away from God,
any resulting repentance will be no more than a lie.
A Muslim should cry:
I'm sorry for the mistakes Imake.
And, I know of none that can be retrieved.
They're like the water overa dam.
To flow back, it cannot be achieved.
There are things I wish I had never said.
Now, I wish that I had bit my tongue instead.
To make another feel that pain,
For those thoughtless words, I am disdain.
Repentance is an oath of virtue, and holding steadfastly to it
requires strong willpower.

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QUR'AN AYATH EXPLANATION :- ~ Do You See it In Yourself?

One of Allah's names is Al-Wadood, The Most Loving, and this is
appropriate because a Creator must have love in order to create works
of beauty and power. Allah created you out of love. He created you
with intent. Hecreated you to succeed, notto fail, and He gave you all
the tools that you need to thrive. Open your eyes and see what a
miracle you are,what a thing of beauty, what a gift to the world. I
see that in every person I know. If I met you, I'm sureI would see the
miracle and beauty in you too. Do you see it in yourself?

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QUR'AN AYATH EXPLANATION :- ~ Remember that life is a gift, and a miracle, and a sign.

And the grazing livestock He has created for you; inthem is warmth and
[numerous] benefits, andfrom them you eat.
And for you in them is beauty when you bring them in [for the
evening],and when you send themout.
And they carry your loadsto a land you could not have reached except
withdifficulty to yourselves. Indeed, your Lord is Kind and Merciful.
And [He created] the horses, mules and donkeys for you to ride, and
[as] adornment. And He creates that which you do not know.
And upon Allah is the direction of the way, and among the various
paths are those deviating. And if He willed, He could have guided you
all.
It is He who sends down rain from the sky; from it is drink and from
it is foliage in which you pasture.
He causes to grow for you thereby the crops, olives, palm trees,
grapevines, and from all the fruits. Indeed in that is a sign for a
people who give thought.
And He has subjected for you the night and day and the sun and moon,
and the stars are subjected by His command. Indeed in thatare signs
for a people who reason.
And [He has subjected] whatever He multiplied for you on the earth of
varying colors. Indeed in that is a sign for a peoplewho remember.
And it is He who subjected the sea for you to eat from it tender meat,
and to extract fromit ornaments which you wear. And you see the ships
plowing through it,that you may seek of His bounty; and perhaps you
will be grateful.
And He has cast into the earth firmly set mountains, lest it shift
with you, and [made] rivers and roads, that youmay be guided, And
landmarks. And by the stars they are [also] guided.
Then is He who creates like one who does not create? So will you not bereminded?
And if you should count the favors of Allah, you could not enumerate
them. Indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.
Quran, Surat an-Nahl (The Bee), 16:5-18/

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A Peace That Sings

My soul breathes a breath it has never quite taken before
So crisp, so clean, so pure
And a giddy little grin will peak upon my lips
For no particular reason, just a peace within sings sodeep
And though the meaning of life's lesson is upon me now
I can't help but feel that I know nothing of anything, but to God I
remain, to GodI bow
Time and time again we search, we befriend but in the end there are
things that remain questionable
Should a friend really be sotextable?
Really, is there nothing elseto do other then keep us entertained
Twitter,or Facebook, Blackberry or Iphone, Google and Amazon E books
It's all the same really, friends too many
One or two may know me
But never have they given me this feeling I feel
This ease, this lightness upon my chest, this gushing goodness of
"man,God is Indeed The Best!"
Why? some may ask. Wasn't that a test?
Yes, but a test is only a question mark away from a reward
Will you submit to that which you cannot control? Or will your choice
be hard,and dramatic turmoil?
I resolve with, I need not fight if I have the angels fighting for me
I will not wander blindly when I have light making away clearly
I will not speak ill of what'smeant to be, when I have the All Knowing
watching over me
I will not be among the ungrateful, before I become alone just me and me
My life is a breath of fresh air for which I pray lasts until I return home
Though fears I have, it's not something any human can console
For words don't come when I try to speak it, just thoughts and only
God Knows the Meanings
So I stop here, Praising the All Knowing, The All Wise
Hoping for the best, fearingmy weaknesses and begging for success!

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ISLAMIC ARTICLE :- ~ Gratitude

How do we resist the onslaught of the season? How do we remember Allah?
The greatest tool in our toolbox is gratitude. By looking at what
we've been blessed with, our hearts become content. Socrates commented
that contentment is natural wealth, while luxury is artificial
poverty. Contentment does not mean complacency or passivity; it refers
to a stateof awareness of our blessings, and gratitude forthe smallest
to the greatestprovisions – the tiniest cellsin our bodies, to the
grand earth itself.
Let's become aware of what we have: the food onour plates, our ability
to see and hear, the love and health of our families, sanity,
intelligence, knowledge… these things are huge. When we open our eyes
and start to see, then we become content and happy, and we see how
meaningless are things are like big-screen TVs, the latest smartphone,
or another new dress.
Let's remember Allah the Eternal, and think of our aakhirah
(hereafter). While others are are hungering for more, let's be
grateful for what we have, and give.
Our local Muslim community center here in Fresno participates in
feeding the poor at soup kitchens; and is currently organizing a
winter blanket and coat drive for the homeless. I encourage every
Muslim community to do something similar. Get Muslim adults and
children involved in the process of giving, whether to needy Muslims
or non-Muslims.
It's liberating to ignore the sales and seasonal hype. When we abandon
the idea of acquiring goods, and instead focus on giving, we dump the
wholepropaganda machine on itshead. We change everything. While the
frantic buying of "stuff" makes us forget Allah, gratitude brings us
back to Him. That's why Allah brings together gratitude and
remembrance of Allah:
"So remember Me; I will remember you. And be grateful to Me and do notdeny Me."
- Quran, Surat Al-Baqarah, 2:152
Being grateful to Allah means that our hearts become filled with love
for Him; our bodies are obedient to Him; our tongues praise Him; we
receive His favors with humility; we thank Him for everything we have
received; and we use what He has given us for good. We could never
repay Allah. The least we can do is thank him.
By being grateful and separating ourselves from the consumerist
craziness, we set an example of how to live without avarice. We free
our spirits, remove a burden from our backs, andshine a light for
ourselves and others.

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What do Muslims pray for?

For Allah to grant goodness both in this world and the Hereafter:
I seek refuge in Allah from the accursed satan-
" When a Messenger comes to them from Allah confirming what is with
them, a group of those who have been given the Book disdainfully toss
the Book of Allah behind their backs, just as if they did not know."
(Surat al-Baqara, 201)
What Does " Maruf " Mean?
Goodness, grant. Good tradition. The suitable and desired manner
according to the moral values of Islam.
How Should a Muslim Talk?
Talking with Wisdom
Talking with wisdom means a person makes the truest, the most
usefuland the most appropriate conversation possible. However, there
is no rule about talking with wisdom, and it has no connection with
the individual's level of intelligence, culture, state of education
or technical knowledge.
An individual who has wisdom would have no desire to sell oneself to
other people. He knows that Allah is the One Who will give him wisdom
and make him talk, and submits to Allah and in talking only seeks His
Approval. As always, he is aware that he is not in thesight of people,
but in the Sight of Allah and that his speech can only be effective
with His Will. He prays to Allah to make his words effective and wise.
In return for this sincerity, one's conscience inspires in the
individual the most beautiful words to say. In one verse, the
importance of talking with wisdom is revealed as such:
I seek refuge in Allah from the accursed satan-
" He gives wisdom to whoever He wills and hewho has been given wisdom
has been given great good… " (Surat al-Baqara, 269)
Being Determined in Worship
I seek refuge in Allah from the accursed satan-
" He is Lord of the heavens and the earth and everything in between
them, so worship Him and persevere in His worship. Do you know ofany
other with His Name?" (Surah Maryam, 65)
"Determination" is showing patience about something, stopping at
nothing to reach the goal, and fulfilling what needs to be done no
matter what by acting with steadfastness. Allah wants Muslims not only
to worship Him, but also to be determined about worship.
Worship means being a servant. Every behavior, action, conversation,
and attitude people do for the cause of Allah is an act of worship.
As performing the prayer five times a day is an important and
obligatory act of worship for a person, in the same way, overcoming
anger, saying a nice word, warning people, not to make an assumption
or not to be argumentative are also acts of worship. Therefore,
Allah's Command "to be determined about worship" is valid for both
factual prayers and good moral values.
However, while Muslims are commanded to be determined in the verses,
there is one more important point revealed. This is the explanations
revealing that Muslims' steadfastness will be tested. Almighty Allah
may test Muslims' steadfastness to live according to the morality of
religion both through events that appear to be negative and with
blessings such as prosperity, health, richnessor power. In short,
Muslims are tested with both difficulty and accommodation. However,in
both situations, sincere believers would experience no negative change
in their behaviors, and they live the morality of Islam in every
situation and environment with thesame determination.
What Does it Mean to Be Honorable Against Disbelievers?
I seek refuge in Allah from the accursed Satan-
" You who have faith! If any of you renounce your religion, Allah will
bring forward a people whom He loves and wholove Him, humble to the
believers , fierce to the disbelievers , who strive in the Way of
Allah and do not fear the blame of any censurer. That is the unbounded
favor of Allah which He gives to whoever He wills.… " (Surat
al-Ma'ida, 54)
Allah commanded believers to have a good morality and, no matter what
happens and what kind of an attitude they are faced with, never to
give up these good qualities. The life of disbelievers contains
completely opposite attitudes to the good moral values of believers.
When believers come across these attitudes of disbelievers, they do
not descend to their level, andinstead respond with an honorable
attitude. They never make concessions tothe Qur'an, in the face of
their behavior, and show astrong determination about this. They
respond to a bad word with a goodword, to arrogance with humility, to
injustice with justice and to ruthlessness with mercy.

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HEALTH - ~ How to Breathe EasierAt Home

Having a healthy home isn't necessarily about making every surface
spotless. (Phew!) But a bit of strategic cleaning protects you from
germs and toxins. In fact, concentrations of some pollutants can be
two to five times greater inside our homes than they are outdoors,
according to theEnvironmental Protection Agency—a worrisome
factconsidering we spend, on average, 90 percent of ourtime indoors.
What's more, ordinary objects like a dirty dish towel or neglected
houseplant "can provide just the right environmentfor harmful microbes
to grow," says Kelly Reynolds, PhD, associate professor of
environmental sciences at the University of Arizona in Tucson.
Fortunately, small changes, whether it's shaking out your welcome mat
or installing a water filter, can improvethe well-being of your
home—and everyone in it.Here, the most important moves to make.
Step up your doormat
About 60 percent of the dust in our home comes from outside—most of it
tracked in on the bottom of our shoes, research says. And those tiny
particles are made up of a combination of all sorts of icky things
like human skin, animal fur, food debris, lead, and even arsenic.
"Fortunately, using the right kind of doormats canhelp reduce dirt,
pesticides, pollen, and other pollutants in your home," says Oluremi
Aliyu,MD, assistant professor of medicine at the University of
Connecticut Health Center. Pick an abrasive one (it will grab more
gunk) made of synthetic fibers like nylon yarn or polypropylene.
Then don't forget to clean it: "Vacuum or shake out your mat once a
week," advises Linda Cobb, cleaning expert and author of Talking Dirty
with the Queen of Clean . Once a month, do a deep clean: Scrub it with
a scrubbrush and warm, soapy water, then hose it off.
Filter your tap water
Your home H2O can contain bacteria, chemicals, and other pollutants,
including heavy metals like lead. At least 74 million Americans in 42
states drink tap water containing chromium (a metal that in some forms
can cause cancer), a study from the Environmental Working Group
reveals.
And although chlorine is necessary to disinfect our water supply,
large amounts can damage healthy cells. The chlorine can also react
with other elements in water to form compounds that have been linked
to cancer, miscarriages, and birth defects. Long-term exposure to
water contaminants—via drinking or inhalation (such as in the steam
fromyour shower)—can also lead to blood, bone, and lung diseases,
notes Michael Roizen, MD, chairman of Cleveland Clinic's Wellness
Institute.
For extra peace of mind, invest in a water filter for your kitchen
faucet that is certified by the National Science Foundation (such as
Pur or Brita). In the shower, install a carbon filter to help remove
chlorine as well as metals that may leach out of pipes. Remember: "The
longer water has been sitting in the pipes, the higher the metal
content, so let it run for a few seconds before showering," Roizen
adds.

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Sheikh Nazim of Cyprus: The rising day belongs to Islam.The rising day belongs to the Just. Truth has come and falsehood has vanished. For this reason, don't be hopeless. Believers, give your hearts to Allah.

His Highness Sheikh Nazimal-Qubrusi was born in Larnaca, Cyprus, on
the 23 rd of April, 1922. The full name of this blessed person, known
as Sheikh Nazim al-Qubrusi, meaning Sheikh Nazim of Cyprus, is
actually Muhammad Nazim Adil al-Qubrusi al-Haqqani .
His maternal line goes back to Mawlana Jalaluddin Rumi, the founder of
the Mawlawiya Sufi Order. His father was one of the exceptional people
blessed with Islamic moral values.
His Highness Sheikh Nazim, who is known for always having a smiling
countenance and being very patient, spent his childhood with his
grandfather, an Islamic scholar in Cyprus at the time, and received
his basic Islamic education from him. This initial education was
instrumental in his being very gentle and fond of people, inviting
them to Allah's path with his joyfulface and pleasant conversation.
His Highness Sheikh Nazimbegan studying chemical engineering at the
Istanbul University Bayazitcampus in 1940. In 1944, he went to Tripoli
(Trablus, the second largest city in Lebanon), where he made the
acquaintance of the Mufti of Tripoli, Sheikh Munir al-Malik, one of
the Islamicscholars of his period. At the same time, he came toknow
Abdullah ad-Daghestani, a well-known Islamic scholar of the time, and
took part in his conversations. The education that His Highness Sheikh
Nazim received from his grandfather and from Abdullah ad-Daghestani
led to him coming to possess a profound knowledge of Islamic moral
values.
His Highness Sheikh Nazimthen embarked on European visits in 1974,
meeting and talking with people from any culture orfaith during those
years, and trying to introduce them to religious moral values.
He is loved by hundreds ofthousands of people all over the world, and
thousands are keen to benefit from his conversations. The reason why
he is so popular is that he elaborates on religious moral values in a
very sincere, warm and lively way, possesses enormous tolerance and
always approaches everyone with the love and fear of Allah with a
smiling and cheerful face.
Adnan Oktar: The Master Sheikh Nazım sent me his quilted turban.
Masha'allah. I received it yesterday. Masha'Allah. He is very blessed,
very sweet, very magnificent person, our Master Sheikh Nazim .
Insha'Allah I keep it withgreat respect insha'Allah.
Notice that in this worldthere is one Qutb al-Aqtab and a Qutb
al-Irshad. Hazrat Mahdi (pbuh) is the Qutb al-Irshad. In my opinion,
that is, if people have any conviction about myknowledge, Qutb
al-Aqtab is Sheikh Nazim.
AN EXCERPT FROM AN INTERVIEW MADE WITH SHEIKH NAZIM AL-QUBRUSI IN 1987
Allah ordered our brother Adnan isolation in prayer to manifest in
him in the way He manifested in Prophet Joseph (pbuh). We hope that
Mr. Adnan will have perfect services in the path of Allah in the
future.
His Highness Sheikh Nazim undertook his first trip to America in 1991,
visiting some 15 different states. There, he met Muslims, Christians,
Jews and members of other faiths,and told them of the moral values of
Islam.
His second trip to the US came in 1993, when he visited many cities
and towns, and took time to visit the mosques, churches and synagogues
in them. In this way, he was instrumental in bringing more than 10,000
people whom he met in North America to Islam in a very short period
of time .
In 1993 he opened the "Haqqani Convention and Retreat Center" in
Fenton in the state of Missouri, to hold seminars and dialogues.
Thousands of his students who had adopted his moral values as a role
model then traveled to other countriesto tell others what they had
learned from him. Thisfervent movement took the name of the Grand
Opening .
In 1996, His Highness Sheikh Nazim began his Far Eastern visits,
travelling to important cities in Brunei, Malaysia, Singapore, India,
Pakistan and Sri Lanka. He met witheminent figures in all the
countries he visited and was received by statesmen and leading
individuals in all of them.
By means of his knowledge, modesty, approach to other people and deep
devotion to Allah under all circumstances, he was welcomed with
affection and deep respect by everyone who saw him.
His Highness Sheikh Muhammad Nazim Adil al-Qubrusi currently welcomes
and addresses guests from all over the world who visit his home, which
is in the form of a madrassa in Lefke, Cyprus. Despite being 88 years
old, he still strives with esteemed efforts to encourage people to
live by the all-embracing moral values of the Qur'an all over the
world.

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HISTORY - ~ Hazrat Uthman (ra)

Hazrat Uthman (ra), one ofthe handful of people who first embraced
Islam, had been one of the closest people to our Prophet (saas)
throughouthis life. He was the son-in-law of our Prophet (saas) and
the third Caliph. Because he was twice honored with being the
son-in-law of our Prophet (saas), he was called "Thun-Nurayn"
(Zunnorain), meaning "the possessor of two lights." He participated in
all the struggles of our Prophet (saas) except for the Battleof Badr.
When Hazrat Uthman (ra) embraced Islam, he was subjected to torture by
the idolaters. When migration to Ethiopia was allowed, he became one
of the first immigrants to Ethiopia together with his wife
Mrs.Ruquayyah, our Prophet's (saas) daughter.
Hazrat Abu Bakr's (ra) communication of Islam became instrumental in
Hazrat Uthman's (ra) embracing Islam. He was one of the precious
companions of our Prophet (saas) who was exemplary to all Muslims with
his superior moral qualities and beautiful speech.
Apart from his refined andinfluential manner of speaking , he had an
extraordinarily retentive memory and he committed the Holy Qur'an to
memory. Having a very profound knowledge of hadith, he also made great
services to Islam by writing and recording the revelations.
Hazrat Uthman's (ra) spending in the way of Allah
Hazrat Uthman (ra), who was engaged in commercebefore converting to
Islam, was a wealthy and greatly respected merchant of his tribe. When
he was honored with Islam, he spent his entire wealth which Allah had
granted him for the spread of Islam and the welfare of Muslims.
In a time when there was a water shortage in Medina, he paid twenty
thousand dirhems, which was quite a sum of moneyfor that time, to buy
the Well of Ruma and donated it to the service of Muslims who were
paying for the water takenfrom this well. He was alsothe person who
met all the needs of the army, consisting of ten thousandMuslims, who
would participate in the expedition to Tabuk. This aside, in a time
when there was famine in Medina, Hazrat Uthman (ra) purchased a
hundred loads of wheat that arrived from Damascus by camel and
distributed them to the needy and thecompanions of our Prophet (saas)
in Medina.
Hazrat Uthman's (ra) Superior Services as a Caliphate
Following the martyrdom of Hazrat Umar (ra), HazratUthman (ra) was
chosen as Caliph by a committee. Because he was considered deserving
of this duty by the Islamic community, nobody objected to this
decision and everyone offered allegiance to him. Hazrat Uthman (ra) no
doubt rendered one of his most important services in spreading the
morality of Islam during his Caliphate by ordering the production of
multiple copies of the text of the Qur'an as it exists today, and
sending them to all the Muslim provinces. During the time of Hazrat
Uthman (ra), the copies of the Qur'an were produced,a copy was left in
Medina and others were sent to Mecca, Damascus, Kufa, Basra, Egypt and
other provinces. Due to this honorable and great service of Hazrat
Uthman (ra), he was given the name "Nashri al-Qur'an", meaning "the
one who spreads the Qur'an."
During his Caliphate, Hazrat Uthman (ra) achieved many other great
accomplishments, one of which was the establishment of the first
Muslim navy on the coasts of Syria that made its first expedition to
Cyprus. Following this first naval triumph, other expeditions were
made to other islands in the Mediterranean in the following years,
with great victories following these expeditions.
During his military expeditions both on land and sea, and as a
requisite of the morality of Islam, Hazrat Uthman (ra) alwaysassumed a
just and compassionate attitude. He observed the rights of the People
of the Book and treated them with compassion and justice.
During the conquest of Dabil (Dvin), which was an Armenian city during
the Caliphate of Hazrat Uthman (ra), he granted indemnity to the
Christians, Jews and zoroastrians living in the city and guaranteed
the protection of their sanctuaries.
The following letter whichHazrat Uthman (ra) wrote to the financial
and administrative authorities when he became the Caliph reveals his
understanding, which was in full conformity with the morality of the
Qur'an:
"Almighty Allah had created nothing for a vain purpose. He created
everything as right. Therefore He accepts nothing but the right. Take
whatever you take asright; and give those things you give away to the
needy. Be especially attentive to honesty. Conduct yourself honestly
and don't be the one violating it, for those violating it also
undertakes the sins of those coming later. Be attentive to be loyal;
do not violate the rights of the orphan and comply with the
conventions.

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A New Course for the World

The Quran was also a message that the time had come to change
humanity'smeandering course. Humanbeings all over the world had been
creating societies,customs and laws based onsuperstition. Some
societieswere based on artificial castes. Others were based on worship
of human beings, or worship of the dead, or cult-like religions, or
collections of taboos andmyths.
The revelation of the Quransignified the beginning of anew course for
the world, alighted path based on scholarship, science and
thesystematization of knowledge. The engines of this new period would
be literacy, scholarship, Tawheed (Oneness of God), and righteousness.
Human history, with its long and bleak stretches of ignorance and
suffering, like a vast desert with only a few small oases, was given a
permanent garden in the form of a book: the Quran.
A book is a garden in your pocket. It's natural, inspiring, and
life-changing. It's your ownpersonal haven. But only if you read it
and let it into your heart.

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“A book is like a garden carried in the pocket.” – Arab proverb

A book in your pocket is like a secret treasure. It is amagical means
of transportation, a source of knowledge, a historical record, and a
treasure chestcontaining the knowledge of human minds and hearts, or
in the case of theQuran, the message of Allah to humanity.
You can take the book out of your pocket and lose yourself in it,
forgetting about all the worries of theworld, just as you can do ina
beautiful garden.
Fozia, a Muslim sister from the UK, points out that a book helps one
develop through acquiring knowledge, as a garden blossoms through the
growth of its flowers and creatures…
Making the Impossible Possible
Indeed, to carry a garden inone's pocket is impossible, but that's the
thing about books, they make the impossible possible. A family that
has been stuck in poverty for generations can break that cycle by
sending one child to highereducation. Someone who comes from the most
desperate circumstances can achieve the seemingly impossible and
become a doctor, engineer, or even President, all through the power of
education. The power of books.
That reminds me of a quote by Cesar Chavez, the famous campaigner for
farm workers' rights, who is now deceased. He said,
"Once social change begins,it cannot be reversed. You cannot uneducate
the person who has learned to read. You cannot humiliate the person
who feels pride.You cannot oppress the people who are not afraid
anymore. We have seen the future, and the future isours."
This process of social change that he describes starts with a book. It
starts with education. The ultimate Book is the Quran,and it is a
world-changing book. It brings light where there was darkness, and
changes human beings from the inside out.
The First Revelation of the Quran
Does anyone need proof that the processes of personal growth and
socialchange both start with books? Consider the first revealed verses
of the Quran itself, in Surah 96, Al-'Alaq:
1. Read in the name of your Lord Who created.
2. He created humankind from a clot.
3. Read and your Lord is Most Honorable,
4. Who taught (to write) with the pen
5. Taught the human being what he knew not.
The moment of the first revelation of the Quran to the Prophet
Muhammad (pbuh) was a moment of immense significance for all humanity,
possibly the most significant moment inhuman history. It follows that
the message is one of great significance as well.
What is this message of great significance, these first few profound
and powerful words?
Read, and write, and do it in the name of Allah.
Allah exalted and honored human beings by giving us knowledge, the
capacity to acquire more knowledge, and the tools to record andshare
our knowledge, whether verbally or in print. He commanded us tomake
use of these tools, and to do it in Allah's nameso that our motives
and methods remain pure, and so that the results will be beneficial to
humanity and not destructive or oppressive.
We are supposed to use our knowledge to create vaccines for diseases,
not to create deadly viruses forbiological warfare. We should use
nuclear power to generate clean energy, not to design bombs that can
destroy nations. We must use robotic technologies to create artificial
limbs for victims of war or accidents, or to explore the depths of the
sea, or to clear old minefields without loss of life, or to rescue
miners trapped deep underground… not to build hunter-killer drones
that destroy innocent human lives while the operator moves a joystick
a thousand miles away.
Knowledge must be employed "in the name ofyour Lord Who created," not
in the name of greed or vengeance.
This is especially importanttoday, when fantastically powerful
technologies are being developed every day.Supercomputers,
nanotechnology, genetic engineering, cloning, quantum physics… If
these technologies are not tempered with faith and wisdom, humanity
could unleash horrors on the world that will make previous wars and
genocides look like a bad case of the measles (no disrespect intended
to victims of past conflicts).
A New Course for the World
The Quran was also a message that the time had come to change
humanity'smeandering course. Humanbeings all over the world had been
creating societies,customs and laws based onsuperstition. Some
societieswere based on artificial castes. Others were based on worship
of human beings, or worship of the dead, or cult-like religions, or
collections of taboos andmyths.
The revelation of the Quransignified the beginning of anew course for
the world, alighted path based on scholarship, science and
thesystematization of knowledge. The engines of this new period would
be literacy, scholarship, Tawheed (Oneness of God), and righteousness.

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“Five minutes of health comfort the ill one.” – Bengali proverb.

In other words, a person who is ill would get comfort and relief from
justfive minutes of health.
This reminds me of my friend Hisham, who has an autoimmune disorder
and has been confined to a wheelchair for many years. He is the same
age as me, and we grew up riding our bicycles together. He was an avid
cyclist and even participated in a ride all theway across the United
States and back. In his twenties he was diagnosedwith MS, and his
health began to go downhill.
Recently a physical therapist has been workingwith him, and last week
hestood on his feet and took five steps for the first time in three
years, Alhamdulillah! He said he felt very tall, being on his feet
again. It was an inspiring moment for him…SubhanAllah. He literally
got comfort from "five minutes of health."
That's really something to think about, for those of uswho have our
health and fitness and take them for granted as if they were nothing.
We moan and complain about small things, while ignoring the huge
blessings in our lives. "Then which of the favors of your Lord will
you deny?" – Surat Ar-Rahman. Allah has givenus so much, so much.
And let me add that although I used my friend Hisham as an
illustration ofthe proverb, that does not mean that I pity him. He
also has many gifts, for example he is highly intelligent and
articulate, and he has accomplished a lot in his life. I am overjoyed
for him that he was able to stand again. Allahu Akbar!
Of course we must be grateful for every blessing, and thank Allah from
the bottom of our hearts. But it's important to understand that
gratitude is not just a feeling in the heart. It is expressed through
action.
*. Are you grateful for your healthy body? Then use itto bow down in prayer.
*. Are you grateful for the ability to see? Then look at that which is
beautiful and halal.
*. Grateful for the ability to speak? Then praise Allah, recite Quran
and spread the message of Islam.
*. Grateful that you are mentally and emotionallyhealthy? Then use
your gifts to do good in the world. Show love to those who are grief
stricken, and kindness to those in pain. Spend your money in Allah's
cause, don't hold on it it until it can do you no good!
That's why the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said, in the famous hadith
that we have all heard:
"Take benefit of five before five:
your youth before your old age,
your health before your sickness,
your wealth before your poverty,
your free-time before your preoccupation,
and your life before your death."
( Narrated by Ibn Abbas and reported by Al Hakim)
Right? He didn't only say, "be grateful," he said, "takebenefit"! That
means USE what you have been given,while you still can, before the end
of this brief life that is but a moment between a sleep and a sleep,
or a desert flower blooming and then fading away.
Glory to Allah the Most High.

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HEALTH - ~ Aspirin 'may prevent skin cancer'

An aspirin a day may protect against skin cancer, some experts believe.
People who take aspirin tablets or similar painkillers on a regular
basis cut their risk of developing skin cancer - including the most
deadly type - malignant melanoma - by about 15%,research suggests.
The work in the journal Cancer involved nearly 200,000 people in Denmark.
But experts say using sunscreen and avoiding toomuch sun are still the
best ways to prevent skin cancer.
Anti-cancer pill?
In the study, approximately 18,000 of the 200,000 participants had
been diagnosed with of one of three types of skin cancer - basal cell
carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, or the rarer but more dangerous
malignantmelanoma.
There is mounting evidence that aspirin does reduce the risk of some
cancers, but it's toosoon to say if this includes skin cancer"
Hazel Nunn
Head of health informationat Cancer Research UK
The researchers looked at the medical records of the individuals to
calculate how many had been prescribed non-steroidal anti-inflammatory
drugs (NSAIDs) such as aspirin, ibuprofen and naproxen over an
eight-year period.
Many were taking them forheart conditions or arthritis.
Those who were more frequently prescribed NSAIDs were less likely to
have skin cancer.
The higher the dose and the longer a person had been on the
medication, the greater the protective effect.
Individuals with more thantwo prescriptions for NSAIDs had a 15%
decreased risk for developing squamous cell carcinoma and a 13% lower
risk of malignant melanoma.
NSAIDs did not appear to lower the overall risk of basal cell
carcinoma - the most common and least aggressive type of skin cancer.
But they did cut therisk of basal cell carcinomasdeveloping on certain
partsof the body other than the head and neck.
Limitations
Aspirin
Also known as acetylsalicylic acid
Used for many years as a painkiller
Has an anti-inflammatory action
Low-dose (75mg) is already recommended for people with known
cardiovascular disease to prevent stroke and heart attack
Benefits for healthy people are still unclear
Can cause fatal internal bleeding, although this is relatively rare
The researchers from the University Hospital in Denmark say more
research is needed to confirm and further explaintheir findings.
Studies in animals suggest NSAIDs may block the growth of early
pre-cancerous skin lesions, but it is not yet clear if this is also
the case in humans.
Scientists already suspect that these drugs may protect against many
othercancers, including bowel cancer.
The researchers point out that although they found alink with
prescriptions theywere not able to monitor precisely how much of the
drug a person actually took. Also, people can buy drugs like aspirin
from a pharmacy without a prescription.
And they did not look at sun exposure - the root cause of skin cancer.
Experts say even if NSAIDs do offer some protection against skin
cancer, people still need to be sensible in the sun.
Hazel Nunn of Cancer Research UK said: "By far and away the best way
to reduce the risk of skin cancer is to enjoy the sun safely, and take
care to avoid sunburn.
"Sunburn's a clear sign thatyour skin's been damaged, and this damage
can build up over time and lead to skin cancer in the future. When the
sun's strong, use a combination of shade, clothes and at least SPF 15
sunscreen to protect your skin.
"There is mounting evidence that aspirin does reduce the risk of some
cancers, but it's too soon tosay if this includes skin cancer. Aspirin
can have serious side effects - so it's important to talk to a doctor
about the risks and benefits if you're thinking of taking it
regularly."

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