tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38701286389914836482024-03-13T11:19:06.811-07:00Muslim WorldWelcome to Muslim World.Its all anything about Islam and Muslim information. Never judge a religion by its people, but judge it by its scripture."With the name of Allah, The Most Compassionate, The Most Loving. Read (Muhammad) with the name of God who created mankind from clots of blood. Read, and God is Most Generous. God teaches us to write with pen, and teaches humankind everything not known to them."Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger35125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3870128638991483648.post-37464587361523117212008-06-04T21:08:00.000-07:002008-06-04T21:11:40.961-07:00Who is "Allah" and what is His nature?<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Georgia","serif";">The most fundamental belief that a Muslim has is that "There is only One God," the Creator, the Sustainer -- known in the Arabic language and by Muslims as <i>Allah</i>. Allah is not a foreign god, nor an idol. Arabic-speaking Christians use the same word for the Almighty.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Georgia","serif";">The fundamental pillar of faith in Islam is to declare that "there is no deity worthy of worship except the One True Almighty God" (in Arabic: <i>"La ilaha ill Allah"</i>).<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Georgia","serif";">In the Qur'an, we read that Allah is Compassionate and Merciful. He is Kind, Loving, and Wise. He is the Creator, the Sustainer, the Healer. He is the One who Guides, the One who Protects, the One who Forgives. There are traditionally ninety-nine names, or attributes, that Muslims use to describe Allah's nature.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Some non-Muslims mistakenly think that Allah is an "Arab god," a "moon god," or some sort of idol. Allah is the proper name of the One True God, in the Arabic language used by Muslims all over the world. Allah is a name that is neither feminine nor masculine, and it cannot be made plural (unlike god, gods, goddess, etc). Muslims believe that there is nothing in the heavens nor on earth that deserves worship except Allah, the One True Creator.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Islam is based on the concept of <i>Tawhid</i>, or Unity of God. Muslims are strictly monotheistic, and fiercely reject any attempt to make God visible or human. Islam rejects any form of idol worship, even if its intention is to get "closer" to God, and rejects the Trinity or any attempt to make God human.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5pt; text-align: center; line-height: normal;" align="center"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Georgia","serif";">"Say, 'He is Allah, the One;<br />Allah, the Eternal, Absolute;<br />He begets not, and neither is He begotten;<br />And there is nothing that can be compared to Him."<br />Qur'an 112:1-4<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><o:p> </o:p>In Muslim understanding, God is beyond our sight and understanding, yet at the same time "nearer to us than our jugular vein" (Qur'an 50:16). Muslims pray directly to God, with no intermediary, and seek guidance from Him alone, because "...Allah knows well the secrets of your hearts" (Qur'an 5:7).<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 5pt; text-align: center; line-height: normal;" align="center"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><o:p></o:p>"When My servants ask thee concerning Me,<br />I am indeed close (to them).<br />I respond to the prayer of every suppliant<br />when he calls on Me.<br />Let them also, with a will,<br />Listen to My call, and believe in Me,<br />that they may walk in the right way."<br />Qur'an 2:186<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><o:p> </o:p>In the Qur'an, people are asked to look around them for the signs of Allah in the natural world. The balance of the world, the rhythms of life, are "signs for those who would believe." The universe is in perfect order: the orbits of the planets, the cycles of life and death, the seasons of the year, the mountains and the rivers, the mysteries of the human body. This order and balance are not haphazard nor random. The world, and everything in it, has been created with a perfect plan, by the One who knows all.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Islam is a natural faith, a religion of responsibility, purpose, balance, discipline, and simplicity. To be a Muslim is to live your life remembering God and striving to follow His merciful guidance.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3870128638991483648.post-5953819171556751412008-04-20T08:01:00.000-07:002008-04-20T17:59:00.401-07:00Male Circumcision and Islam<h1 style="text-align: justify;font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></h1> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Assalamualaykum to all brothers and sister over the world, I'm so sorry because its take a long time to update this blog because of my commitment with other things which need my concern.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Georgia","serif";">This time, we will to know more about circumcision. Circumcision involves the removal of some or all of the foreskin from the penis. Specifically, the foreskin refers to the retractable double-layered fold of skin that covers the penis. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Many of those who are circumcised are done so while they are still infants, although there are a small percentage of those who are circumcised as adults. When an infant is circumcised, a small clamp called a Gompo Clamp is generally used, thereby ensuring that the <i>glans penis </i>is protected and that the bleeding is stopped quickly. After the foreskin has been securely clamped, a scalpel is then used to remove the part of the foreskin that is in the flat, or upper, part of the clamp. The procedure can take as little as a few minutes, and in order to protect the child from any unwanted injury or discomfort, a small dose of anesthesia is applied to the area. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Although historians generally disagree as to when the first circumcision took place, many believe that it originated in the Heliolithic culture some 15,000 years ago. Whether it branched off to different cultures or, conversely, arose in various cultures independently is also up for scholarly debate, but the Egyptians were the first to document the act. In the Jewish religion, the act of circumcision is performed in a ceremony known as a <i>bris, </i>where a figure known as a <i>mohel </i>performs the actual cutting of the foreskin. It usually takes place on the eighth day of the infant’s life unless.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Georgia","serif";">In Islam, circumcision is an integral part of the religion. The prescription of circumcision for Muslims is reported in several hadiths:<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: ‘The (characteristics of) the fitrah are five: circumcision, shaving the pubic hair, trimming the moustache, cutting the fingernails and plucking the armpit hairs" (Sahih al-Bukhari). Fitrah is defined as the natural state of man.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Georgia","serif";">The following words have been recorded in another hadith "get rid of the hair of disbeliefand perform circumcision" (Musnad Ahmad).<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Rasulullah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "Whoever accepts Islam should have his circumcision perfomed." (Talkhis al-Habir)<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Georgia","serif";">It has been reported in hadith that the recommended time for circumcision to be performed for a newborn baby is the seventh day. "The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) performed the Aqiqah of al-Hassan and al-Hussain and circumcised them on the 7th day." (Reported by al-Baihaqee & Tabaraanee). It is important however to remember that the timing is only a recommendation and it is still permissible to perform circumcision after the seventh day if for example the day has been missed.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Georgia","serif";">There are several scientific benefits of circumcision. For one thing, because the foreskin adds a larger surface area to the penis, the rate of infection can increase drastically, causing serious complications for people of all ages. Having it removed, however, drastically decreases the rate of infection. Moreover, during sexual intercourse, the foreskin and prepuce, which is the retractable piece of skin that covers the genitals, are prone to trauma, making it easier for harmful bacteria – such as the HIV virus, for instance – to enter the blood stream. Of course, as we all know, the HIV disease generally leads to AIDS which, at this point, is virtually incurable. Other proven medical benefits of circumcision include protection of the female partner against cancer of the cervix, protection against cancer of the penis and prevention of urinary tract infections.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Some argue that circumcision is extremely painful and, consequently, one should not have the procedure preformed. This, however, is untrue, as there are a number of different anesthetics that can be applied – and that are applied – during circumcision to curtail the pain that might be involved. Many doctors and researchers liken the foreskin to the pinky finger, arguing that, in the modern world, both have ceased to have any clearly defined, absolutely necessary functions. Because humans have the facilities to keep themselves clean, and usually do, the foreskin has lost its purpose and, instead of proving beneficial, has actually proven to be detrimental to many. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Georgia","serif";">For those who are older and desire circumcision, the pain is more pronounced and can last longer than those who undergo circumcision while infants. This is because, in an infant, the nerves in the region are not fully developed, whereas in the older, adult male, the nerves are much more functional, sensitive, and complex, making the pain much more intense. Skin cells also heal better and more efficiently when younger so that permanent damage does not take place. Scarring and complications are also less likely for an infant who undergoes circumcision.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Georgia","serif";">The procedure takes approximately an hour to an hour-and-a-half. It must be noted, however, that the hour to hour-and-a-half covers everything from the initial setup, cleansing, actual cutting of the foreskin, and clean up. The actual cutting does not take more than a few minutes. The aftercare for infants is generally very quick, with recovery rates as fast as a few days to a week. For older men, the procedure takes roughly the same time, although the aftercare takes much longer, up to a few weeks. During this time, men should refrain from having sexual intercourse ensuring that the penis heals correctly. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Georgia","serif";">It is important to note that not everyone should be circumcised. Those with blood clots, for example, should refrain from the surgery because the blood may not clot, possibly leading to serious complications and maybe even death. Those with immune deficiencies, and do not heal quickly or effectively, should stay away from any unnecessary surgery, including circumcision. Although the procedure is considered to be very safe, one should not put themselves in any unnecessary danger.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Georgia","serif";">In a study of 603 males under the age of 21, researches concluded that approximately 71.1% of the male population living in the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, and Canada is circumcised, while only 28.9% are not. Although a country-by-country analysis has yet to be done, James Badger, a sociologist, came to the conclusion that roughly 40% of the world’s population is circumcised. His breakdown looks as follows:<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Georgia","serif";">A). Countries with at least 75% of residents circumcised:<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Georgia","serif";">1. North and West Africa <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Georgia","serif";">2. Much of East Africa (including, Algeria, Cameroon, Chad, Dahomey, Egypt, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Kenya. Libya, Madagascar, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Northern Uganda, Upper Volta, Zaire)<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Georgia","serif";">3. Much of Islamic Asia and the Middle East (including, Afghanistan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Israel {not Muslim}, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Turkey, UAE, Yemen)<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Georgia","serif";">4. Tonga, Samoa, Canada, United States and Western Europe, Eastern Europe.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Georgia","serif";">B). Countries with 50-75% of residents circumcised: <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Georgia","serif";">1. The rest of Africa<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Georgia","serif";">2. Parts of Asia with Muslim majorities (i.e. India)<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Georgia","serif";">3. The Pacific Islands. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Georgia","serif";">C). Countries with less than 50%<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Georgia","serif";">1. Central and South America<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Georgia","serif";">2. Caribbean. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Using these figures, the worldwide circumcision rate is approximately 40%. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Georgia","serif";">For those interested in more information regarding circumcision, here are some informative sites to check out:<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Georgia","serif";">a. <a href="http://www.wikipedia.com/"><span style="color: blue;">www.wikipedia.com</span></a> – a lot of information, although some of it may not be completely accurate.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Georgia","serif";">b. http://www.circinfo.net<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Georgia","serif";">c.www.familydoctor.org/042.xml – medically sound information<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Georgia","serif";">d. <a href="http://www.aap.org/visit/circumcision.htm"><span style="color: blue;">www.aap.org/visit/circumcision.htm</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3870128638991483648.post-48636703966364817602007-11-16T04:45:00.000-08:002007-11-16T04:52:45.710-08:00The 99 Names and Attributes of Allah (God)<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >It is not possible for me to perfectly translate the names and attributes of Allah from their original Arabic into English. However, here are some fairly close explanations for your knowledge.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >Allah: </span></b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >He who has the Godhood which is the power to create the entities. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >Ar-Rahman: </span></b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >The One who has plenty of mercy for the believers and the blasphemers in this world and especially for the believers in the hereafter. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >Ar-Rahim: </span></b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >The One who has plenty of mercy for the believers. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >Al-Malik: </span></b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >The One with the complete Dominion, the One Whose Dominion is clear from imperfection. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >Al-Quddus: </span></b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >The One who is pure from any imperfection and clear from children and adversaries. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >As-Salam: </span></b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >The One who is free from every imperfection. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >Al-Mu'min: </span></b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >The One who witnessed for Himself that no one is God but Him. And He witnessed for His believers that they are truthful in their belief that no one is God but Him. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >Al-Muhaymin: </span></b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >The One who witnesses the saying and deeds of His creatures. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >Al-'Aziz: </span></b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >The Defeater who is not defeated. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >Al-Jabbar: </span></b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >The One that nothing happens in His Dominion except that which He willed. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >Al-Mutakabbir: </span></b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >The One who is clear from the attributes of the creatures and from resembling them. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >Al-Khaliq: </span></b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >The One who brings everything from non-existence to existence. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >Al-Bari': </span></b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >The Creator who has the Power to turn the entities. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >Al-Musawwir: </span></b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >The One who forms His creatures in different pictures. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >Al-Ghaffar: </span></b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >The One who forgives the sins of His slaves time and time again. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >Al-Qahhar: </span></b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >The Subduer who has the perfect Power and is not unable over anything. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >Al-Wahhab: </span></b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >The One who is Generous in giving plenty without any return. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >Ar-Razzaq: </span></b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >The One who gives everything that benefits whether Halal or Haram. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >Al-Fattah: </span></b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >The One who opens for His slaves the closed worldy and religious matters. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >Al-'Alim: </span></b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >The Knowledgeable; The One nothing is absent from His knowledge. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >Al-Qabid: </span></b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >The One who constricts the sustenance by His wisdom and expands and widens it with His Generosity and Mercy. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >Al-Basit: </span></b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >see above <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >Al-Khafid: </span></b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >The One who lowers whoever He willed by His Destruction and raises whoever He willed by His Endowment. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >Ar-Rafi': </span></b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >see above <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >Al-Mu'iz: </span></b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >He gives esteem to whoever He willed, hence there is no one to degrade Him; And He degradeswhoever He willed, hence there is no one to give Him esteem. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >Al-Muthil: </span></b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >see above <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >As-Sami': </span></b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >The One who Hears all things that are heard by His Eternal Hearing without an ear, instrument or organ. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >Al-Basir: </span></b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >The One who Sees all things that are seen by His Eternal Seeing without a pupil or any otherinstrument. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >Al-Hakam: </span></b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >He is the Ruler and His judgment is His Word. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >Al-'Adl: </span></b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >The One who is entitled to do what He does. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >Al-Latif: </span></b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >The One who is kind to His slaves and endows upon them. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >Al-Khabir: </span></b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >The One who knows the truth of things. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >Al-Halim: </span></b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >The One who delays the punishment for those who deserve it and then He might forgive them. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >Al-'Azim: </span></b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >The One deserving the attributes of Exaltment, Glory, Extolement,and Purity from all imperfection. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >Al-Ghafur: </span></b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >The One who forgives a lot. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >Ash-Shakur: </span></b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >The One who gives a lot of reward for a little obedience. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >Al-'Aliyy: </span></b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >The One who is clear from the attributes of the creatures. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >Al-Kabir: </span></b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >The One who is greater than everything in status. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >Al-Hafiz: </span></b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >The One who protects whatever and whoever He willed to protect. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >Al-Muqit: </span></b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >The One who has the Power. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >Al-Hasib: </span></b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >The One who gives the satisfaction. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >Aj-Jalil: </span></b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >The One who is attributed with greatness of Power and Glory of status. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >Al-Karim: </span></b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >The One who is clear from abjectness. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >Ar-Raqib: </span></b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >The One that nothing is absent from Him. Hence it's meaning is related to the attribute ofKnowledge. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >Al-Mujib: </span></b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >The One who answers the one in need if he asks Him and rescues the yearner if he calls upon Him. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >Al-Wasi': </span></b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >The Knowledgeable. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >Al-Hakim: </span></b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >The One who is correct in His doings. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >Al-Wadud: </span></b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >The One who loves His believing slaves and His believing slaves love Him. His love to His slavesis His Will to be merciful to them and praise them:Hence it's meaning is related to the attributes of the Will and Kalam (His attribute with which He orders and forbids and spoke to Muhammad and Mu sa -peace be upon them- . It is not a sound nor a language nor a letter). <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >Al-Majid: </span></b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >The One who is with perfect Power, High Status, Compassion, Generosity and Kindness. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >Al-Ba'ith: </span></b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >The One who resurrects His slaves after death for reward and/or punishment. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >Ash-Shahid: </span></b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >The One who nothing is absent from Him. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >Al-Haqq: </span></b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >The One who truly exists. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >Al-Wakil: </span></b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >The One who gives the satisfaction and is relied upon. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >Al-Qawiyy: </span></b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >The One with the complete Power. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >Al-Matin: </span></b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >The One with extreme Power which is un-interrupted and He does not get tired. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >Al-Waliyy: </span></b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >The Supporter. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >Al-Hamid: </span></b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >The praised One who deserves to be praised. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >Al-Muhsi: </span></b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >The One who the count of things are known to him. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >Al-Mubdi': </span></b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >The One who started the human being. That is, He created him. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >Al-Mu'id: </span></b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >The One who brings back the creatures after death. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >Al-Muhyi: </span></b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >The One who took out a living human from semen that does not have a soul. He gives life bygiving the souls back to the worn out bodies on the resurrection day and He makes the hearts alive by the light of knowledge. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >Al-Mumit: </span></b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >The One who renders the living dead. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >Al-Hayy: </span></b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >The One attributed with a life that is unlike our life and is not that of a combination of soul, fleshor blood. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >Al-Qayyum: </span></b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >The One who remains and does not end. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >Al-Wajid: </span></b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >The Rich who is never poor. Al-Wajd is Richness. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >Al-Majid: </span></b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >The One who is Majid. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >Al-Wahid: </span></b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >The One without a partner. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >As-Samad: </span></b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >The Master who is relied upon in matters and reverted to in ones needs. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >Al-Qadir: </span></b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >The One attributed with Power. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >Al-Muqtadir: </span></b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >The One with the perfect Power that nothing is withheld from Him. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >Al-Muqaddim: </span></b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >The One who puts things in their right places. He makes ahead what He wills and delays what He wills. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >Al-Mu'akhkhir: </span></b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >see above <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >Al-'Awwal: </span></b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >The One whose Existence is without a beginning. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >Al-'Akhir: </span></b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >The One whose Existence is without an end. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >Az-Zahir: </span></b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >The One that nothing is above Him and nothing is underneath Him, hence He exists without aplace. He, The Exalted, His Existence is obvious by proofs and He is clear from the delusions of attributesof bodies. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >Al-Batin: </span></b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >see above <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >Al-Wali: </span></b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >The One who owns things and manages them. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >Al-Muta'ali: </span></b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >The One who is clear from the attributes of the creation. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >Al-Barr: </span></b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >The One who is kind to His creatures, who covered them with His sustenance and specified however He willed among them by His support, protection, and special mercy. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >At-Tawwab: </span></b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >The One who grants repentance to whoever He willed among His creatures and accepts his repentance. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >Al-Muntaqim: </span></b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >The One who victoriously prevails over His enemies and punishes them for their sins. It maymean the One who destroys them. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >Al-'Afuww: </span></b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >The One with wide forgiveness. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >Ar-Ra'uf: </span></b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >The One with extreme Mercy. The Mercy of Allah is His will to endow upon whoever He willedamong His creatures. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >Malik Al-Mulk: </span></b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >The One who controls the Dominion and gives dominion to whoever He willed. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >Thul-Jalal wal-Ikram: </span></b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >The One who deserves to be Exalted and not denied. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >Al-Muqsit: </span></b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >The One who is Just in His judgment. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >Aj-Jami': </span></b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >The One who gathers the creatures on a day that there is no doubt about, that is the Day of Judgment. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >Al-Ghaniyy: </span></b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >The One who does not need the creation. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >Al-Mughni: </span></b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >The One who satisfies the necessities of the creatures. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >Al-Mani': </span></b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >The Supporter who protects and gives victory to His pious believers. Al-Mu'tiy The Withholder. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >Ad-Darr: </span></b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >The One who makes harm reach to whoever He willed and benefit to whoever He willed. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >An-Nafi': </span></b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >see above <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >An-Nur: </span></b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >The One who guides. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >Al-Hadi: </span></b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >The One whom with His Guidance His belivers were guided, and with His Guidance the living: beings have been guided to what is beneficial for them and protected from what is harmful to them. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >Al-Badi': </span></b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >The One who created the creation and formed it without any preceding example. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >Al-Baqi: </span></b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >The One that the state of non-existence is impossible for Him. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >Al-Warith: </span></b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >The One whose Existence remains. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >Ar-Rashid: </span></b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >The One who guides. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >As-Sabur: </span></b><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" >The One who does not quickly punish the sinners. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style=";font-family:Georgia;color:black;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3870128638991483648.post-83634014723756866862007-10-31T20:38:00.000-07:002007-10-31T23:43:43.487-07:00A Muslim Celebration<div style="text-align: justify;">Muslims have two major celebrations in the year. Both are called Eid. Eid Al-Fitr, or the Celebration of Breaking the Fast, marks the end of Ramadan. Ramadan is the month of fasting.<br />Eid Al-Fitr is the celebration that comes at the end of Ramadan. Ramadan is a month of fasting, every day from dawn until sunset. The Islamic Calendar follows the moon and so each year, the dates are shifted forwards by about eleven days in the normal calendar. Ramadan is the ninth month of the Muslim year, and is followed by Syawal. The first three days of Syawal are the Eid days.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153); font-weight: bold;">When it is</span><br /><br />This year, (2007) the first day of Eid was fell on October 3 in most countries and today its already on Syawal 22. The reason it differs from country to country is the calendar. It is a little bit complicated, but each month has either 29 or 30 days. On the 29th night of the month, people look for the new moon. If it is spotted, then he month has 29 days, and the next day is the start of a new month. If it is not spotted the month continues on for a 30th day, and then the new month starts. These days, astronomers can predict the months and phases of the moon very accurately, but it is still traditional for the moon to be spotted by someone. So, if the sky is overcast over an entire country, even if the moon is there, it can’t be seen and the month continues for one more day.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">What it is</span><br /><br />Eid Al-Fitr is all about celebrating the good things that we have received, God’s (Allah’s) bounty and our family and friends. Every household who can afford it must pay a form of tax or zakat in the days leading up to Eid. It is a very small amount, and is paid for each person in the family. Traditionally the tax was in the form of food, although most people now give the equivalent in money. The money or food is given to poor people and whom which need in eight categories, so that they can celebrate Eid, too. The tax is not collected by anyone, and no one is forced to pay it, but it is required as a religious act, and almost everyone pays.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153); font-weight: bold;">The Celebration</span><br /><br />Many people decorate their houses for Eid one or two week before Eid. This is rather an odd thing, since no one is sure when Eid is, until the last minute, and some of the preparation are put up very late on the last day of the month.<br /><br />Everyone has bought the new clothes for Eid in the month of Ramadan . The last few nights of Ramadan it is almost impossible to get into the shops, as everyone is buying their clothes. A complete outfit is normal, right down to the shoes, and even the headscarves for the women.<br />On the morning of Eid, everyone gets up very early to go to the prayers. These are special prayers, held only at Eid. They are held only in very big mosques, or in large open areas, such as football stadiums. They are held about 80 minutes after sunrise, so in the summer months it is very early.<br /><br />At the morning before the prayer Islam encourage its follower to eat minimum breakfast at their home. After the prayers some of go home waiting for their relative, neighbours and friends. And also some of them go out for visit. Then the celebrations really begin. It isn’t common for children to receive gifts. Instead they receive money. The money should be in the form of a brand new bank note or coins. The amount given is small, usually in the region of about $2 or $3, but still they get plenty. Everyone who visits the children, or everyone whom they visit, gives then the gift of money. In a large extended family, with lots of friends, the children can end up with a small fortune!<br /><br />Sometime around midmorning people start to go out visiting. They visit neighbors and friends in the morning. At each visit special cakes are eaten, and the children receive their money. The visits are very short as there are plenty to make. Dinner is spent with family. The traditional meal varies from country to country, the only standard thing being the special cakes. Each day of the holiday is spent with a different branch of the family, so that everyone gets visited. In the evening the visits start up again. This goes on for three days, but money is normally only given to the children on the first two days.<br /><br />In between visiting, people make trips out into the streets. Many streets have a sort of fair going, with eid music, kids' games and much more. Here some of the children get to spend their money. They buy candy, soft drinks, toys and rides. Everyone has great fun, and the children are always disappointed when it is over. The adults, on the other hand, are usually worn out and glad of the rest!<br /><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3870128638991483648.post-71895636509714463002007-10-03T22:22:00.000-07:002007-10-03T22:26:18.200-07:00Fasting is Good for Health<p style="font-family: georgia; text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:100%;">Fasting has its advantages from the point of view of health and hygiene. Islam wants a Muslim to be healthy, clean, alert, agile and energetic.</span></p><div style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> </div><p style="font-family: georgia; text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:100%;">"Fast to be healthy," had said the Prophet (s.a.w.). And physicians today acknowledge the many benefits of fasting that ensure health and the soundness of one's body and mind. Some of these positive points have a direct influence on psychology and physique of the fasting individual.</span></p><div style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> </div><p style="font-family: georgia; text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:100%;">Fasting has been found to be an effective treatment for psychological and emotional disorders. It helps a person to firm up his will, cultivate and refine his taste and manners, strengthen his conviction of doing good, avoid controversy, petulance and rashness, which all contribute towards a sane and healthy personality. Besides nurturing resistance and ability to face hardships and endurance, fasting reflects on outward physical appearance by cutting out gluttony and getting rid of excess fat. </span></p><div style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> </div><p style="font-family: georgia; text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:100%;">The benefits of fasting on health do not stop there but are instrumental in alleviating a number of physical diseases, including those of the digestive systems, such as chronic stomachache, inflammation of the colon, liver diseases, indigestion, and conditions such as obesity, arteriosclerosis, high blood pressure, asthma, diphtheria and many other maladies.</span></p><div style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> </div><p style="font-family: georgia; text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:100%;">A Swiss physician Dr. Barsilus noted that: The advantages of hunger as a remedy exceed those ingesting medicine several times.</span></p><div style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> </div><p style="font-family: georgia; text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:100%;">As readers are well aware, several physicians advise patients to skip meals, sometimes for a few days, before prescribing them a controlled diet.</span></p><div style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> </div><p style="font-family: georgia; text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:100%;">Generally speaking, fasting hastens the destruction of the decaying tissues of the body by means of hunger, and then builds new tissues through nutrition. This is why some scientists suggest that fasting should be regarded as an effective means of restoring youthfulness and longevity. However, Islam exempts from fasting sick and old people whose health is bound to deter.</span></p><div style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> </div><p style="font-family: georgia; text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:100%;">But fasting should have its regulations too, and not simply the inorderly skipping meals, that is bound to harm health and stamina, rather than improving them. Here again Islam provides the answer, and in order to realize the benefits of fasting, it recommends the late midnight meals called 'Sahur' (before the formal start of a fast) and the breaking of the fast at the time prescribed. Of course, to ensure good health one should abstain from gluttony after breaking fast.</span></p><div style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> </div><p style="font-family: georgia; text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:100%;"><b>The Glorious Month of Ramadan</b></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> </div><p style="font-family: georgia; text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">The holy month of Ramadan enjoys a special importance in the Islamic calendar. As the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.) said: "It is Allah's Own month." It is the chief of all months and the most glorious one. As we already know, 'Fasting' is one of the important pillars of Islam and it is the very month of Ramadan during which fasting has been made obligatory for all adults and sane Muslims. By fasting during Ramazan, a Muslim besides discharging an obligation imposed upon him by Allah, becomes entitled to great reward in the Hereafter. On the other hand, any lapse in the matter amounts to a great sin. Fasting is an article of worship, the knowledge about the performance or otherwise whereof rests only with Allah and the person concerned. Hence, it is Allah alone who will reward that person for it, on the Day of Judgement.</span></p><div style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> </div><p style="font-family: georgia; text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">The blessings of Ramadan are not limited to fasting alone, because the performance of all sorts of worship and good deeds during this month, is also a source of great Divine favor. The revelation of the Holy Qur'an commenced during this very month and it is therefore the duty of every Muslim to read and try to understand the meaning of the Holy Qur'an and thereby gain an insight into the Divine secrets enshrined therein. It brings peace and illumination to the mind and imparts purity to the soul.</span></p><div style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> </div><p style="font-family: georgia; text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Ramazan is the month of fasting, intensive prayer, sacrifice and Divine worship. Throughout this month a devout Muslim fasts during the day in the true sense of the word, that is, he had merely denies himself food and water, but as explained by the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.), exercises strict control over his tongue, eyes, ears, thoughts and deeds and does everything possible to seek the pleasure of Allah.</span></p><div style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> </div><p style="font-family: georgia; text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;">Devout supplications to Allah and repentance of one's sins during Ramadan are the sources of Divine blessings and mercy. Some nights, among the last ten nights of Ramadan, are called the 'Nights of Glory' (Laylat al-Qadr). These are the 19th, 21st, and 23rd nights. Muslims keep awake during these nights and offer special prayers. Even among these nights, the 23rd enjoys excellence over all the others. It is accompanied by great blessings, and the supplications made to Allah during this night are usually granted by Him.</span></p><div style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> <span style="font-family: georgia;font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" ><span style="">The holy month of Ramadan, besides being the month of worship and Divine blessings, carries a historical importance as well. As already mentioned above, the revelations of the Holy Qur'an commenced in this month. The epoch-making 'Battle of Badr' and the 'Conquest of Mecca' also took place during the holy month of Ramadan.</span></span> </div><p style="font-family: georgia; text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3870128638991483648.post-54156499615799890342007-09-20T21:59:00.000-07:002007-09-20T22:06:16.072-07:00Muslim and Masjid al-AqsaFor whom which still confuse about the difference between masjid al-Aqsa and Masjid Al-Qubbah al-Sakhrah at Baitul Muqaddis, Palestine, all of you are invite to see and <a href="http://bestwayoflife.blogspot.com">read here to know more.</a><br />Have a nice day to all.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3870128638991483648.post-42307278961648466852007-09-13T01:34:00.000-07:002007-09-14T10:22:44.263-07:00First Day of Ramadhan 1428 Hijriah<div style="text-align: justify;">Today is the first day of Ramadhan 1428 Hijriah. Ramadhan is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar. Muslims consider this whole month as a blessed month which already mention by al-Quran and Hadith of Prophet Muhammah (pbuh) . They fast during the days of this month and make special prayers at night which called Tarawih Pray. Islam also want and suggested the follower to give more charity and do extra righteous deeds also.<br /><br />Also, in this Holy Month, The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) received the first revelation of Al-Qur'an with Surah al-Alaq. Ramadhan is the month of celebration as well as the month of education to make our self more discipline and have a good self-control. Muslims always wait for the first day of Ramadhan to come. Its already came and hopefully we could be the best and give the best obligation to Almighty Allah.<br /><br />For all muslim brothers and sisters over the world " happy Ramadhan fasting" and hopefully Allah will bless all of us. Give the best of the best to Almighty Allah and also to all the muslim nation over the world.<br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3870128638991483648.post-14435693434282521032007-09-03T03:52:00.000-07:002007-09-03T03:59:19.680-07:00The Real al-Aqsa Mosque in Palestine<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_RDKx6uDn11c/Rtvo6K8pgGI/AAAAAAAAAEM/cHYRSL80Qg8/s1600-h/mosques+aqsa+n+dome+of+rock.jpeg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_RDKx6uDn11c/Rtvo6K8pgGI/AAAAAAAAAEM/cHYRSL80Qg8/s320/mosques+aqsa+n+dome+of+rock.jpeg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5105930688623378530" border="0" /></a>Prophet Solomon (peace be upon him) which in Arabic we called him as ‘Sulaiman', built a mosque, a long, long time ago, on Mt. Moriah in Jerusalem.<br /><p style="text-align: justify;">He dedicated it to the worship of Allah s.w.t. the One True God. Like his father, Prophet David(Dawood in Arabic) (peace be upon him) , he was a prophet and a messenger, calling all humanity to the worship of Allah s.w.t. and to establish piety on the earth.</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> Now, all these years later and its nowadays, there is some confusion about the site of the real al-Aqsa mosque. In the eastern part of Jerusalem is the Old city, a quadrangular area built on two hills. Within the wall there are four quarters. The Muslim quarter, on the east, contains the Haram al-Sharif, within which are the ‘Dome of the Rock' and the ‘Mosque of al Aqsa'. Both places are sacred sites for Muslims. However it is around the Mosque of Al Aqsa that the confusion lies.<br /><br />Whenever mention is made in the local or international media pertaining to Al Aqsa, a picture of the ‘Dome of the rock' will appear. These two mosques lie within a rather close proximity to each other but they bear little resemblance. All over the world, we can find pictures of the ‘Dome of the rock' under the heading ‘Al Aqsa' , to the point that people aren't really sure anymore, which is which.<br /><br />The difference however, is clear and simple. The ‘Dome of the rock' bears the sacred rock that Prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him) stood on when he went on the ascension to the Sidratul Muntaha, while Al Aqsa mosque lies on the site of the original mosque of Prophet Solomon (Sulaiman) (peace be upon him). Islam reveres both Jewish and Christian traditions, as these two religions belong to its traditions.<br /><br />Actually Al Aqsa Mosque was the original qiblat (The direction ofMuslim prayers), which was later changed during the time of Prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him) to the Ka'ba at Mecca al Mukarramah.<br /><br />The reason for the deliberate dispersion of false information is also clear and simple. By focusing attention on the ‘Dome of the rock' under the label of Al Aqsa, all the Muslim people all over the world will not know when the real Al Aqsa mosque finally disappears.<br /><br />Source - <a href="http://bestwayoflife.blogspot.com/">The Best Way Of Life</a><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3870128638991483648.post-90376205287649774432007-09-03T02:31:00.000-07:002007-09-03T02:48:35.244-07:00Becoming a Muslim<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: georgia;font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" >Accepting Islam as a way of life or become to be a Muslim is not only the declaration of the Islamic faith by recite syahadah but it also includes changing one's thinking, life style, behavior and also we will meet new friends. We need to turning the old habits into new habits except the positive habits which already accepted by Islam. We also will meeting new people and trying to understand where one fits in. </span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-family: georgia;font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" >All the events and experiences that a person faces before, during and after becoming a Muslim, come together to mould them into the person they are. The following are real life accounts of people's past and present circumstances that led to their final acceptance of Islam. </span><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3870128638991483648.post-54658055360154528312007-08-23T07:35:00.000-07:002007-08-23T07:41:15.172-07:00WHAT QUR'AN SAYS ABOUT MUSLIMS<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 0);font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">What is the statement in al-Quran about Muslims? This is the statement which was promised by Allah to All true Muslims</span><br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 0);font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:100%;" > </span><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 0);font-family:Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(51, 102, 0);"> <span style="color:black;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">"True believers are those whose hearts feel fear when Allah is mentioned, and their faith increases in strength when the revelations of Allah are recited to them, and who trust in their Lord. Who establish regular prayers and spend of that We have bestowed on them, such are indeed the true believers. For them are grades of honour and forgiveness from their Lord, and a bountiful provision will be made for them." </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">[The Holy Qur'an, Surah 8:2-4]</span></span></span></span><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3870128638991483648.post-66042781748071747742007-07-18T03:34:00.000-07:002007-07-22T06:36:27.167-07:00Muslim world and Fatwa<p class="MsoNormal" face="georgia" style="text-align: justify;">What is a Fatwa?<o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family: georgia;"><span class="ghd"><o:p></o:p>Definition of <span style=""> </span></span>A fatwa is an Islamic religious ruling, a scholarly opinion on a matter of Islamic law.<o:p></o:p></p> <p style="text-align: justify; font-family: georgia;">A fatwa is just could issued by a recognized religious authority in Islam. But since there is no hierarchical priesthood or anything of the sort in Islam, a fatwa is not necessarily "binding" on the faithful. The people who pronounce these rulings are supposed to be knowledgeable, and base their rulings in knowledge and wisdom. They need to supply the evidence from Islamic sources for their opinions, and it is not uncommon for scholars to come to different conclusions regarding the same issue.<o:p></o:p></p> <p style="text-align: justify; font-family: georgia;">As Muslims, we look at the opinion, the reputation of the person giving it, the evidence given to support it, and then decide whether to follow it or not. When there are conflicting opinions issued by different scholars, we compare the evidence and then choose the opinion to which our God-given conscience guides us.</p> <h1><span style="font-weight: normal;font-family:Arial;font-size:12;" ><o:p> </o:p></span></h1>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3870128638991483648.post-85864906769486344852007-06-22T00:43:00.000-07:002007-07-18T03:39:23.002-07:00Fiqh of Islam<p style="text-align: justify;"><em></em><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">The Arabic word </span><em style="font-family: georgia;">fiqh</em><span style="font-family: georgia;"> means knowledge, understanding and comprehension. It refers to the legal rulings of the Muslim scholars, based on their knowledge of the</span><em style="font-family: georgia;"> shari`ah</em><span style="font-family: georgia;">; and as such is the third source of rulings. The science of </span><em style="font-family: georgia;">fiqh</em><span style="font-family: georgia;"> started in the second century after </span><em style="font-family: georgia;">Hijrah</em><span style="font-family: georgia;">, when the Islamic state expanded and faced several issues which were not explicitly covered in the Qur'an and </span><em style="font-family: georgia;">Sunnah</em><span style="font-family: georgia;"> of the Prophet (pbuh).</span><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Rulings based on the unanimity of Muslim scholars and direct analogy are binding. The four </span><em style="font-family: georgia;">Sunni</em> schools of thought, <em style="font-family: georgia;">Hanafi, Maliki, Shafi'i and Hanbali</em><span style="font-family:georgia;">, are identical in approximately 75% of their legal conclusions. Variances in the remaining questions are traceable to methodological differences in understanding or authentication of the primary textual evidence. Differing viewpoints sometimes exist even within a single school of thought.</span> <o:p></o:p></span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3870128638991483648.post-14217817447287112482007-06-18T00:43:00.000-07:002007-07-18T03:40:01.189-07:00Shari'ah in Muslim Life<p> </p><p style="text-align: justify; font-family: georgia;">The Arabic word <em>shari`ah</em> refers to the laws and way of life prescribed by Allah (SWT) for his servants. The <em>shari`ah</em> deals with the ideology and faith; behavior and manners; and practical daily matters. <em><b>"To each among you, we have prescribed a law and a clear way. (Qur 'an 5:48)</b></em> <st1:place st="on"><em>Shari</em></st1:place><em>`ah</em> includes the Qur'an and the <em>sunnah</em> of the Prophet (saas). The Qur'an is the direct word of Allah (SWT), and is the first most important source of guidance and rulings. The <em>Sunnah</em> of the Prophet (pbuh) is the second source of guidance and rulings. The <em>sunnah</em> is an inspiration from Allah (SWT), but relayed to us through the words and actions of the Prophet (pbuh), and his concurrence with others' actions. The <em>sunnah</em> confirmed the rulings of the Qur'an; detailed some of the concepts, laws and practical matters which are briefly stated in the Qur'an (e.g. definition of Islam, <em>Iman</em>, and<em> Ihsan</em>, details of pray, types of usury); and gave some rulings regarding matters not explicitly stated in the Qur'an (e.g. wearing silk clothes for men).<o:p></o:p></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><em style="font-family: georgia;">1-</em><em style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-style: normal;">Qur'an </span></em><em style="font-family: georgia;">- </em><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Ideology and faith, Behavior and manners</span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="font-family: georgia;" class="MsoNormal">Practical manners <o:p></o:p></p> <ul style="font-family: georgia;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="">Articles of worship <o:p></o:p></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="">Day-to-day activities <o:p></o:p></li></ul> <p style="font-family: georgia;">Pertaining to family, business,penal code, government,international law,economy and etc.<o:p></o:p></p> <p><em style="font-family: georgia;">2-Sunnah </em><em style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-style: normal;">of the prophet</span></em><em style="font-family: georgia;">- </em><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Sayings, Actions, Concurrence with others' actions, and the Characteristics of the Prophet Muhammad.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3870128638991483648.post-51279545862393195612007-06-09T17:30:00.000-07:002007-07-18T03:46:51.217-07:00The Sources of Islamic Law<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">The law in Islam is based upon these four main sources:<o:p></o:p></span></p> <h3><span style=";font-family:Georgia;font-size:100%;" >The Qur'an<o:p></o:p></span></h3> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p>All of Muslims believe the <a href="http://islam.about.com/od/quran/">Qur'an</a> to be the direct words of Allah, as revealed to and transmitted by the Prophet Muhammad. All sources of Islamic law must be in essential agreement with the Qur'an, the most fundamental source of Islamic knowledge. When the Qur'an itself does not speak directly or in detail about a certain subject, Muslims only then turn to alternative sources of Islamic law.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <h3><span style=";font-family:Georgia;font-size:100%;" >The Sunnah<o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-weight: normal;font-family:Georgia;font-size:100%;" ></span></h3><h3 style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-weight: normal;font-family:Georgia;font-size:100%;" >Sunnah</span><span style="font-weight: normal;font-family:Georgia;font-size:100%;" > is the traditions or known practices of the Prophet Muhammad, many of which have been recorded in the volumes of <a href="http://islam.about.com/od/hadith/">Hadith</a> literature. The resources include many things that he “said, did, or agreed to”<span style=""> </span>and he lived his life according to the Qur'an, putting the Qur'an into practice in his own life.<o:p></o:p></span></h3> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:100%;">During his lifetime, the Prophet's family and companions observed him and shared with others exactly what they had seen in his words and behaviors - i.e. how he performed ablutions, how he prayed, and how he performed many other acts of worship. People also asked the Prophet directly for rulings on various matters, and he would pronounce his judgment. All of these details were passed on and recorded, to be referred to in future legal rulings. Many issues concerning personal conduct, community and family relations, political matters, etc. were addressed during the time of the Prophet, decided by him, and recorded. The Sunnah can thus clarify details of what is stated generally in the Qur'an. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-size:100%;"><b style=""><span style="font-family:Georgia;"><o:p></o:p>Ijma' (consensus</span></b></span><span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:100%;">)</span><span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-family:Georgia;font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p>In some situations when Muslims have not been able to find a specific legal ruling in the Qur'an or Sunnah, the consensus of the community is sought (or at least the consensus of the legal scholars within the community). The Prophet Muhammad once said that his community (i.e. the Muslim community) would never agree on an error.</span></p> <h3 style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style=";font-family:Georgia;font-size:100%;" >Qiyas (analogy)<o:p></o:p></span></h3> <h3 style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"><span style="font-weight: normal;font-family:Georgia;font-size:100%;" >In cases when something new which needs a legal ruling, but has not been clearly addressed in the other sources, judges may use analogy, reasoning, and legal precedent to decide new case law but it still must follow the guide from Quran and Sunnah. <span style=""> </span>This is often the case when a general principle can be applied to new situations.<o:p></o:p></span></h3> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"></p><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="hw"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3870128638991483648.post-90553067033345825092007-05-29T07:10:00.000-07:002007-05-29T07:32:20.131-07:00Prophets of Islam<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: georgia;" class="pco">Why has God sent prophets? What is the<span style=""> </span>prophet’s task.<span style=""> </span><span style=""> </span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Islam teaches that God has sent prophets to humanity, in different times and places, to communicate His message. Since the beginning of time, God has sent His guidance through these chosen people. They were human beings who taught the people around them about faith in One Almighty God, and how to walk on the path of righteousness. Some prophets also revealed God's Word through the holy books of revelation.</span></span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <div style="text-align: justify; font-weight: bold;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-weight: bold;font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: justify; font-weight: bold;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;font-family:georgia;"><span class="pco" style="font-size:100%;">What message have the prophets brought to human beings? </span><span style="font-size:100%;">Muslims believe that all prophets gave guidance and instruction to their people about how to properly worship God and live their lives. Since God is One, His message has been one and the same throughout time. In essence, all prophets taught the message of Islam,</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span><span style="font-size:100%;">to find peace in our life through submission to the One Almighty Creator, to believe in God and to follow His guidance.<o:p></o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;font-family:georgia;"><span class="pco" style="font-size:100%;">What does the Allah says in Qur'an<span style=""> </span>about these prophets? </span><span style="font-size:100%;">"The Messenger believes in what has been revealed to him from his Lord, as do the men of faith. Each one of them believes in God, His angels, His books, and His Messengers. They say: “We make no distinction between one and another of His Messengers.' And they say: “We hear, and we obey. We seek Thy forgiveness, Our Lord, and to Thee is the end of all journeys.” (Al-Baqarah, 2:285)<o:p></o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;font-family:georgia;"><span class="pco" style="font-size:100%;">What prophets are named in the Qur'an? </span><span style="font-size:100%;">There are 25 prophets mentioned by name in the Qur'an, which all the Muslims must know </span><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span><span style="font-size:100%;">although</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span><span style="font-size:100%;">there were many more in different times and places. Among the 25</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span><span style="font-size:100%;">prophets that Muslims honor are:<o:p></o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><ol style="text-align: justify;" start="1" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Adam<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Idris (Enoch)<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Nuh (Noah)<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style=";font-family:georgia;color:black;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span>Hud<br /></li><li class="MsoNormal" style=";font-family:georgia;color:black;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span>Saleh<br /></li><li class="MsoNormal" style=";font-family:georgia;color:black;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><u><o:p></o:p></u></span>Ibrahim(Abraham)<br /></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Isma'il (Ismael)<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Ishaq (Isaac)<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Lut (<st1:place st="on">Lot</st1:place>)<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Ya'qub (Jacob)<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Yusuf (Joseph)<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Shu'aib<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Ayyub (Job) <o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Musa (Moses) <o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Harun (Aaron) <o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Dzulkifl (Ezekiel) <o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Dawud (David) <o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Sulaiman (Solomon) <o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Ilias (Elias) <o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">IlYasa (Elisha) <o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Yunus (Jonah) <o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Zakariyya (Zechariah) <o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Yahya (John)<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Isa (Jesus)<o:p></o:p></span></li><li class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">Muhammad </span></span><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" > </span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">(PBUH)</span></span><o:p></o:p></span></li></ol>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3870128638991483648.post-20396980507240579022007-05-18T10:25:00.000-07:002007-05-18T10:29:52.413-07:00Daily Life Of a Muslim<div class="pDsc"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="pCo"></span>While often seen as a radical or extreme religion, all the Muslims consider Islam to be the middle road. Muslims don't live life with complete disregard for God or religious matters, but nor do they neglect the world to devote themselves solely to worship and prayer. Muslims strike a balance by fulfilling the obligations of and enjoying this life, while always mindful of their duties to Allah and to others. These are the things:<br /></div><ul><li>Morals and manners</li><li>Business ethics</li><li>Modesty in dress and behavior</li><li>Dietary rules</li><li>Marriage</li><li>Care of children and elderly</li><li>Racism and prejudice</li><li>Relations with non-Muslims</li></ul></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3870128638991483648.post-76640696799977124112007-05-16T17:52:00.000-07:002007-05-16T17:56:46.021-07:00The knowledge of our God<h4 style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-weight: normal;font-size:12;" >How to acquire the know-ledge and belief in God, His attributes, His Law, and the Day of Judgment?<span style="color:black;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></h4> <p style="text-align: justify; font-family: georgia;">As a human being, we have already referred to countless manifestations of God around us and in our own selves, which bear witness to the fact that there is one and only one creator and Governor of this universe and it is He Who controls and directs it. These witnesses reflect the divine attributes of the creator: His great wisdom, His all-embracing knowledge, His omnipotence, His mercy, His all-sustaining power, His force major-in short, His attributes can be traced everywhere in His work. But man’s intellect and his capacity to attain knowledge have erred in observing and understanding them. These are all manifest and clear and our eyes are open to read what is writ large on the creation. But here men have erred.<o:p></o:p></p> <p style="text-align: justify; font-family: georgia;"><span style=""> </span>Some of them have declared that there are two gods others began to profess belief in trinity, and still others succumbed to polytheism. Some began nature-worship and others divided into multifarious deities: gods of rain, air, fair, death, etc. As such, although the manifestations of God were quite clear, human reason has faltered on various counts and failed to see the reality in its true perspective. It met deception after deception and resulted in nothing but confusion of thought. We hardly need dilate here on these errors of human judgment.<o:p></o:p></p> <p style="text-align: justify; font-family: georgia;">Similarly, with regard to life after death men have put forward many erroneous notions; for instance, that man is reduced to dust after death and will not rise to life again; or that man is subject to a process of continuous regeneration in this very world and is punished or rewarded in the oncoming cycles of life.<o:p></o:p></p> <p style="text-align: justify; font-family: georgia;">Even greater difficulty arises when we come to the question of the code of life. To formulate a complete and balanced code of life that should conform to God’s pleasure merely with the help of human reason, is an extremely difficult task. If a man is equipped with the highest faculties of reason and intellect and he possesses matchless wisdom and experience of many years of deliberation, even then the chances of his formulating right views on life and existence are not very promising. And even if, after a lifelong deliberation, he succeeds in that he will still lack in the confidence that he has really discovered the truth and adopted the right path.<o:p></o:p></p> <p style="text-align: justify; font-family: georgia;">Although the fullest and fairest test of man’s wisdom, reason, and knowledge might have been to leave him to his own resources without any external guidance so that he those who, through their own sagacious siftings and strivings, might have reached truth and righteousness would have won success and salvation, while those not reaching them would have failed. God, how- ever, spared His human creatures such a hard test. Through His grace and benevolence He raised for mankind men from among themselves to whom He imparted the true knowledge of His attributes, revealed to them His Law and the Right Code of Living, gave them the knowledge of the meaning and purpose of life and of the life after death and thus showed them the way by pursuing which man can achieve success and eternal bliss. <o:p></o:p></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">These chosen man are the Messengers of God-His prophets. God has communicated knowledge and wisdom to them by means of wahy (revelation), and the book containing the Divine communications is called the Book of God, or the word of God. Now the test of man’s Wisdom and intellect lies in this: does he recognize God's Messenger after thoroughly observing his pure and pious life and carefully studying his noble and</span><span style="font-family: georgia;"> </span><span style="font-family: georgia;">flawless teachings? The man who possesses right wisdom and sound common sense would verify truth and accept the instructions given by the Messenger of truth. If he denies the Messenger of God and his teachings, his denial would signify that he was devoid of the capacity to find out truth and righteousness. On account of this denial he would fail in his test. Such a man will never be able to discover the truth about God and His Law and the life after death.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3870128638991483648.post-51439093826464797052007-05-10T20:24:00.000-07:002007-05-16T18:27:33.195-07:00The Meaning of Muslim Faith<p style="text-align: justify;font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:10;">The Muslim "Faith" is what we have defined in the foregoing discussion as ‘Knowledge and belief’. The Arabic word Iman, which we have rendered in English as faith, literally means ‘to know’, ‘to believe’, and ‘to be convinced beyond the least shadow of doubt’. Faith, thus, is firm belief arising out of knowledge and conviction. And the man who knows and reposes unshakable belief in the unity of God, in His Attributes, in His Law and the Revealed Guidance, and in the Divine code of Reward and punishment is called Mukmin (faithful). This faith invariably leads man to a life of obedience and submission to the will of God. And one who lives this life of submission is known as Muslim.</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:10;">This should clearly bring home the fact that without faith (Iman) no man can be a true Muslim. It is the indispensable essential; rather, the very starting point, without which no beginning can be made. The relation of Islam to Iman is the same as of a tree to its seed. As a tree cannot sprout forth without its seed, in the same way it is not possible for a man, who has no belief to start with, to become a ‘Muslim’. On the other hand, just as it can happen that, in spite of sowing the seed, the tree may not grow for a multiple of reasons, or if it sprouts, its growth may be impaired or retarded, in the same way, a man may have faith, but due to a number of weaknesses, he may not become a true and staunch Muslim. Thus we find that faith is the starting point and leads man to the life of submission to God, and that a man cannot become a Muslim without faith. On the contrary, it is possible that a man may have faith but, because of the weakness of his will power, poor training, or bad company, he may not be living the life of a true Muslim. As such, from the viewpoint of Islam and Iman, all men may be classified into four categories:</span></p> <ol start="1" type="1" style="font-family:georgia;"><li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:10;">Those who have firm faith-a faith that makes them absolutely and whole-heartedly submit to God. They follow the way of God and devote themselves heart and soul to seek His pleasure by doing all that He likes and by avoiding all that He dislikes. In their devotion they are even more fervent that is the common man in pursuit of wealth and glory. Such men are true Muslim.</span></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:10;">Those who do have faith, who believe in God, His Law and the Day of Judgment, but whose faith is not deep and strong enough to make them totally submit to God. They are far below the rank of true Muslims deserve punishment for their defaults and misdeeds, but they are still a Muslim. They are defaulters and wrongdoers but not rebels. They acknowledge the Sovereign and His Law and, although they are violating the Law, they have not revolted against the Sovereign. They admit its supremacy and their own guilt. Thus they are guilty and deserve punishment, but Muslims they remain.</span><o:p></o:p></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:10;">Those who do not possess faith at all. These people refuse to acknowledge the sovereignty of God and are rebels. Even if their conduct is not bad and even if they are not spreading corruption and violence, they remain rebels and their apparent good deeds are of little value. Such men are like the outlaws. And as, even if any action of an outlaws is in consonance with the law of the land, he does not become a loyal and obedient citizen, in the same way the apparent good of those who revolt against God cannot compensate for the gravity of the real wrong, revolt, and disobedience.</span><o:p></o:p></li></ol> <span style="font-family: georgia;font-family:Verdana;font-size:10;" >Those who neither possess faith nor do good deeds. They spread disorder in the world and perpetrate all kinds of violence and oppression. They are the </span><span style=";font-family:Verdana;font-size:10;" ><span style="font-family: georgia;">worst of the people; for they are rebels as well as the wrongdoers and criminals</span>.</span> <p style="text-align: justify;font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:10;">The above classification of mankind clearly shows that the real success and salvation of man depends on Iman (faith). The life of obedience (Islam) takes its birth from the seed of Iman. This Islam of a person may be flawless or defective. But without Iman there can be no Islam. Where there is no Imaan there is no Islam.</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:10;">Where there is no Islam there is Kufr. Its form and nature may be different, but in any way it would be Kufr and nothing but Kufr.</span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3870128638991483648.post-82986605754721887142007-05-10T19:43:00.000-07:002007-05-16T18:00:56.044-07:00Muslim And Obedience to the GOD<p style="text-align: justify;font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:10;">ISLAM means obedience to the God. Muslim means follower which obey to the god.And it is a matter of common sense that this obedience cannot ensure in full measure unless man knows certain basic facts of live and reposes firm faith in them. What are those facts? And what are the primary essentials, which a man must know to fashion his life, in accordance with the <st1:street st="on"><st1:address st="on">Divine Way</st1:address></st1:street>?<br /></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:10;">First of all, we should have unshakable belief in the existence of God, for unless a man has a firm and unalloyed faith in God’s existence, how can he render obedience to Him?</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:10;">Then we must know the attributes of God. It is the knowledge of the attributes of God, which enables man to cultivate in him the nobles of human qualities and to fashion his life in virtue and godliness. If a man dose not know that there is one and only one God Who is the Creator, the ruler, and the Sustainer of the universe and there is none else to share with Him even a shred of the Divine power and authority, he may fall a prey to false god’s and offer his homage to them solicit their favor. But if he knows the divine attribute of tauhid (oneness of God), there is not the least possibility of his falling a prey to this illusion. Similarly, if a man knows that God is omnipresent and omniscient and He sees, hears, and knows everything that we do in public or in private-nay, even our unexpressed thoughts!-then how can he afford to be indulgent and disobedient to God? He will feel that he is under eternal vigil and will, therefore, behave in the most appropriate way. But he who is not aware of these attributes of God may be misled, because of his ignorance, into God’s disobedience. So is the case with all other attributes of God. the fact is that the qualities and attributes which a man must possess, if he wants to pursue the way of Islam, can be cultivated and developed only out of profound knowledge of the attributes of God. It is the knowledge of God’s attributes, which purifies a man’s mind and soul, his beliefs, morals, and actions. And a mere cursory acquaintance with or just an academic knowledge of these attributes is not sufficient for the task ahead-there must be an unflinching conviction firmly rooted in the mind and heart of man so that he may remain immune from insidious doubts and perversions.</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:10;">Moreover, we also must know in detail the way of living by following which one can seek the pleasure of God. Unless a man knows the likes and dislikes of God, how can he choose and adopt the one and reject the other? If a man has no knowledge of the Divine Law, how can he follow it? Thus the knowledge of the Divine Law and the Revealed code of Life is also extremely essential in this respect.</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:10;">But here, again, mere knowledge will not suffice. Man must have full confidence and conviction that it is the Divine Law and that his salvation lies in following this code alone. For knowledge without this conviction will fail to spur man to the Right Path and he may be lost in the blind alley of disobedience.</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:10;">Finally, we must also know the consequence of be-life and obedience and those of disbelief and disobedience. He must know what blessings would be showered upon him if he chooses God’s way and leads a life of purity, virtue, and obedience. And he must also know what evil and harrowing consequences would follow if he adopts the way of disobedience and revolt. Thus the knowledge of life after death is absolutely essential for this purpose. Man must have an unwavering belief in the fact that death does not mean the end of life; that there will be resurrection and he will be brought to the highest court of justice, to be presided over by God Himself; that on the Day of Judgment complete justice will prevail; and that good deeds will be rewarded and misdeeds punished. Everybody will get his due and there is no escape. This is bound to happen. This sense of responsibility and accountability is quite essential for the full-fledged obedience of the Law of God.</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:10;">A man who has no knowledge of the world to come may consider obedience and disobedience quite immaterial. He may think that the obedient and the disobedient will both meet a similar end: for, after death both will be reduced to mere dust. With this attitude of mind, how can he be expected to submit to all the inconveniences and troubles that are inextricably associated with the life of active obedience, and shun those sins the commission of which does not apparently bring to him any moral or material loss in this world? With this mental attitude a man cannot acknowledge and submit to God’s Law.</span></p> <p style="text-align: justify;font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:10;">Nor can a man, who lacks firm belief in the life hereafter and in the Divine Court of Judgment, remain firm and steadfast in the turbulent waters of life with its attraction or sin, crime and evil; for doubt and hesitancy rob a man of his will to action. You can remain firm in your behaviour only if you are firm in your beliefs. if you carry a wavering mind you cannot remain firm and steadfast. You can whole-heartedly follow a course only if you are sure of the benefits that will accrue to you by following it and of the losses and grievances that will engulf you if you disobey it. Thus, a profound know-ledge of the consequences of belief and disbelief and of the life after death is extremely necessary for canalizing life into God’s obedience.</span></p> <span style="font-family: georgia;font-family:Verdana;font-size:10;" >These are the essential facts which one must know if one wants to live the life of obedience.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3870128638991483648.post-88696788554952836382007-04-15T04:31:00.001-07:002007-05-16T18:13:26.253-07:00The Islamic Concept of Life<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">The main characteristic of Islam is that it makes no distinction between the spiritual and the secular in life. Its aim is to shape both individual lives as well as society as a whole in ways that will ensure that the </span><st1:place style="font-family: georgia;" st="on"><st1:placetype st="on">Kingdom</st1:placetype> of <st1:placename st="on"><i>Allah</i></st1:placename></st1:place><span style="font-family: georgia;"> may really be established on earth and that peace, contentment and well-being may fill the world. The Islamic way of life is thus based on a unique concept of man’s place in the universe. That is why it is necessary that, before we discuss the moral, social, political and economic systems of Islam, we should have a clear idea of what that concept is.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify; font-family: georgia;"><a style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);" name="Basic"><b>Basic Principles</b></a><o:p></o:p></p> <p style="text-align: justify; font-family: georgia;">1. <i>Allah</i>, who is the Creator, the Ruler and the Lord of the universe, has created man and provided him with a temporary home in that part of His vast kingdom which is the earth. He has endowed man with the faculties of thinking and understanding, and has given him the power to distinguish right from wrong. Man has also been invested with free will and the power to use the resources of the world however he likes. That is, man has a measure of autonomy, while being at the same time <i>Allah</i>’s representative on earth.<o:p></o:p></p> <p style="text-align: justify; font-family: georgia;">2. Before assigning to man this vicegerency (<i>Khilafat</i>), <i>Allah</i> made it clear to him that He alone as the Lord, the Ruler and the Deity. As such, the entire universe and all the creatures in it (including man) should submit to Him alone. Man must not think himself totally free and must realise that this earth is not his permanent abode. He has been created to live on it only for a probationary period and, in due course, he will return to his Lord, to be judged according to the way he has spent that period. The only right course for man is to acknowledge <i>Allah</i> as the only Lord, the Sustainer and the Deity, and to follow His guidance and His commands in all he does. His sole objective should be to merit the approval of <i>Allah</i>.<o:p></o:p></p> <p style="text-align: justify; font-family: georgia;">If man follows a course of righteousness and godliness (which he is <i>free</i> to choose and follow) he will be rewarded in this world and the next: in this world he will live a life of peace and contentment, and in the Hereafter he will qualify for the heaven of eternal bliss, <i>al-Jannah</i>. If he chooses to follow the course of godlessness and evil (which he is equally <i>free</i> to choose and follow), his life will be one of corruption and frustration in this world, and in the life to come he will face the prospect of that abode of pain and misery which is called Hell.<o:p></o:p></p> <p style="text-align: justify; font-family: georgia;">3. After making this position clear, <i>Allah</i> set man on earth and provided the very first human beings (Adam and Eve) with guidance as to how they were to live. Thus man’s life on this earth did not start in utter darkness. From the beginning a bright torch of light was provided so that humanity could fulfill its glorious destiny. The very first man received revealed knowledge from <i>Allah</i> Himself, and was told the correct way to live. This code of life was Islam, the attitude of complete submission to Allah, the Creator of man and the whole universe. It was this religion which Adam, the first man, passed down to posterity.<o:p></o:p></p> <p style="text-align: justify; font-family: georgia;">But later generations gradually drifted away from the right path. Either they lost the original teachings through negligence or they deliberately adulterated and distorted them. They associated <i>Allah</i> with innumerable human beings, material objects and imaginary gods. <i>Shirk</i> (polytheism) became widespread. They mixed up the teachings of <i>Allah</i> with myths and strange philosophies and thus produced a jumble of religions and cults; and they discarded the God-given principles of personal and social morality, the <st1:place st="on">Shari</st1:place>‘ah.<o:p></o:p></p> <p style="text-align: justify; font-family: georgia;">4. Although man departed from the path of truth, disregarded or distorted the <st1:place st="on">Shari</st1:place>‘ah or even rejected the code of Divine guidance, <i>Allah</i> did not destroy them or <i>force</i> them to take the right course. Forced morality was not in keeping with the autonomy He had given to man. Instead, God <i><u>appointed</u></i> certain good people from among the human society itself to guide men to the right path. These men believed in <i>Allah</i>, and lived a life of obedience to Him. He honoured them by His revelations, giving them the knowledge of reality. Known as prophets, blessings and peace be on all of them, they were assigned the task of spreading <i>Allah</i>’s message among men.<o:p></o:p></p> <p style="text-align: justify; font-family: georgia;">5. Many thousands of these prophets were raised throughout the ages, in all lands and in all nations. All of them brought the same message, all of them advocated the same way of life, (<i>din</i>), that is, the way which was revealed to man on the first day of his existence. All of them had the same mission: they called men to Islam ¾ to submit to <i>Allah</i> alone, asked those who accepted the Divine law, and for putting an end to all deviations from the true path. Many people, however, refused to accept their guidance and many of those who did accept it gradually drifted away from their initial commitment.<o:p></o:p></p> <p style="text-align: justify; font-family: georgia;">6. Lastly, <i>Allah</i> raised the Prophet Muhammad, blessings and peace be on him, in <st1:place st="on">Arabia</st1:place> to complete the mission of the earlier prophets. The message of Muhammad, blessings and peace be on him, was for the whole of mankind. He presented anew the teachings of Islam in their pristine form and provided humanity once again with the Divine guidance which had been largely lost. He organised all those who accepted his message into one community (Ummah), charged with living in accordance with the teachings of Islam, with calling humanity to the path of righteousness and with establishing the supremacy of the world of <i>Allah</i> on earth. This guidance is enshrined in the Holy Qur’an.<o:p></o:p></p> <p style="text-align: justify; font-family: georgia;"><a style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);" name="Iman"><b>Man: Its Nature and Character</b></a><o:p></o:p></p> <p style="text-align: justify; font-family: georgia;">The Qur’an deals in many passages with man’s relationship to Allah and the concept of life which naturally follows from that relationship. Its message is epitomised in the following verse:<o:p></o:p></p> <p style="text-align: justify; font-family: georgia;">Verily Allah hath bought of the Believers their lives and their properties for the price that theirs shall be the <st1:place st="on">Paradise</st1:place>: so they fight in the way of Allah and slay and are slain. It (i.e. the promise of <st1:place st="on">Paradise</st1:place>) is a covenant which is binding on Him in the Torah and the Injil and the Qur’an. And who is more faithful unto his covenant than Allah? Rejoice then in your bargain that ye have made, for that is the supreme triumph. (al-Tawbah 9: 111)<o:p></o:p></p> <p style="text-align: justify; font-family: georgia;">In the above verse the nature of the relationship which comes into existence between man and <i>Allah</i> because of <i>Man</i> (the belief, trust and faith in <i>Allah</i>) is called a ‘bargain’. This means that <i>Man</i> in <i>Allah</i> is not a mere metaphysical concept; it is in the nature of a <i>contract</i> by which man barters his life and his possessions in exchange for the promise of <st1:place st="on">Paradise</st1:place> in the Hereafter. God as it were, purchases a Believer’s life and property and promises, in return, the reward of <st1:place st="on">Paradise</st1:place> in the life after death. This concept of a bargain and a covenant has important implications, and needs to be clearly understood.<o:p></o:p></p> <p style="text-align: justify; font-family: georgia;">Everything in this world belongs to <i>Allah</i>. As such, man’s life and wealth, which are part of this world, also belong to Him, because He has created them and has entrusted them to every man for his use. Looked at from this angle, the question of ‘selling’ or ‘buying’ may not seem to arise at all; <i>Allah</i> does not need to buy what is already His and man cannot sell what is not really his.<o:p></o:p></p> <p style="text-align: justify; font-family: georgia;">But there is one thing which has been conferred on man, and which <i>now</i> belongs fully to him, and that is <i>free</i> <i>will</i> which gives him freedom to choose between following or not following the path of <i>Allah</i>. This freedom of will and choice does not automatically make man the real owner of all the power and resources over which he has command, nor does it give him the right to use them just as he likes. Yet, because of this <i>free will</i>, he may, if he likes, consider himself free of all obligations to the Lord and independent of any higher authority. It is here that the question of <i>bargain</i> arises.<o:p></o:p></p> <p style="text-align: justify; font-family: georgia;">This bargain thus does not mean that <i>Allah</i> is purchasing something which belongs to man. Its real nature is this: all creation belongs to <i>Allah</i> but He bestowed certain things on man to be used by him on trust. <i>Allah</i> wants man to willingly and voluntarily acknowledge this. A person who voluntarily renounces his freedom to reject <i>Allah</i>’s supremacy and instead acknowledges His sovereignty, and, in so doing, ‘sells’ his ‘autonomy’ (which, too, is a gift from <i>Allah</i>) to <i>Allah</i>, will get in return <i>Allah</i>’s promise of eternal bliss in Paradise. A person who makes such a bargain is a Mu’min (Believer) and <i>Man</i> (faith) is the Islamic name for this contract; a person who chooses not to enter into this contract, or who, after making such a contract, does not keep to it, is a <i>Kafir</i>. The avoidance or abrogation of the contract is technically known as <i>Kufr</i>.<o:p></o:p></p> <p style="text-align: justify; font-family: georgia;">Such is the nature of the contract. Now let us briefly study its various aspects and stipulations.<o:p></o:p></p> <p style="text-align: justify; font-family: georgia;">1. <i>Allah</i> has set us to account for ourselves in two areas:<o:p></o:p></p> <p style="text-align: justify; font-family: georgia;">(a) He has left man free, but nonetheless wishes to see whether he will remain honest and loyal to Him, or whether he will rebel against his own Creator, whether he will behave nobly or start ‘playing such fantastic tricks as make the angels weep’.<o:p></o:p></p> <p style="text-align: justify; font-family: georgia;">(b) He wants to see whether man is prepared to have enough trust in <i>Allah</i> to offer his life and wealth in return for a promise about the next world.<o:p></o:p></p> <p style="text-align: justify; font-family: georgia;">2. It is a principle of Islamic law that <i>Man</i> consists in adherence to a certain set of doctrines and anyone who accepts those doctrines becomes a Mu’min. No one has the right to call such a man a disbeliever or drive him from the fold of Ummah, unless there is clear proof that faith has been abandoned. This is the legal position. But in the eyes of the Lord, <i>Man</i> is only valid when it entails complete surrender of one’s will and freedom of choice to the will of <i>Allah</i>. It is a state of thought and action, coming from the heart, wherein man submits himself fully to <i>Allah</i>, renouncing all claim to his own supremacy.<o:p></o:p></p> <p style="text-align: justify; font-family: georgia;">A man may recite the <i>Kalimah</i>, accept the contract and even offer Prayers and perform other acts of worship, but if in his heart he regards himself as the owner and the master of his physical and mental powers and of his moral and material resources, then, however much the people may look upon him as a Mu’min, in the eyes of <i>Allah</i> he will be a disbeliever. He will not really have entered into the bargain which the Qur’an says is the essence of <st1:state st="on"><st1:place st="on">Man.</st1:place></st1:state> If a man does not use his powers and resources in the way <i>Allah</i> has prescribed for him, using them instead in pursuits which <i>Allah</i> has forbidden, it is clear that either he has not pledged his life and property to <i>Allah</i>, or has nullified that pledge by his conduct.<o:p></o:p></p> <p style="text-align: justify; font-family: georgia;">3. This aspect of <i>Man</i> makes the Islamic way of life the very <i>opposite of</i> that of the non-Muslim. A Muslim, who has real faith in Allah, makes his entire life one of obedience and surrender to His will. He never behaves arrogantly or selfishly or as if he were master of his own destiny, save in moments of forgetfulness. And as soon as he becomes conscious of such a lapse, he will submit himself to his Lord and ask forgiveness for his error.<o:p></o:p></p> <p style="text-align: justify; font-family: georgia;">Similarly, a group of people or a society which consists of true Muslims can never break away from the Law of their Lord. Its political order, its social organizations, its culture, its economic policy, its legal system and its international strategy must all be in tune with the code of guidance revealed by Allah. Any unwitting contraventions must be corrected as soon as they are realized.<o:p></o:p></p> <p style="text-align: justify; font-family: georgia;">It is disbelievers who feel free from <i>Allah</i>’s guidance and behave as if they were their own master. Anyone who behaves like this, even though he may bear a name similar to that of a Muslim, is treading the path of the disbelievers.<o:p></o:p></p> <p style="text-align: justify; font-family: georgia;">4. The will of <i>Allah</i>, which it is obligatory for man to follow, is the one which <i>Allah</i> Himself has revealed for man’s guidance. It cannot be determined by man himself. <i>Allah</i> has Himself explained it clearly and there is no ambiguity about it. Therefore, if a society sticks honestly to its contract with Allah, it must shape its life in accordance with the Book of <i>Allah</i> and the Sunnah of the Prophet, blessings and peace be on him.<o:p></o:p></p> <p style="text-align: justify; font-family: georgia;">It is clear from the foregoing discussion why the payment of the ‘price’ has been postponed till the life after death. <st1:place st="on">Paradise</st1:place> is not the reward for the<i> mere profession</i> of the bargain, it is the reward for the faithful <i>execution</i> of it. Unless the behaviour of the ‘vendor’ complies with the terms of the contract he will not be entitled to the reward. The final act of the ‘sale’ can only be concluded after the last moment of the vendor’s earthly life.<o:p></o:p></p> <p style="text-align: justify; font-family: georgia;">There is another significant point which emerges from the study of the verse quoted above when it is read in its context in the Qur’an. In the verses preceding it, reference is made to the people who professed <i>Iman</i> and promised a life of obedience, but who, when the hour of trial came, proved unequal to the task. Some neglected the call of the hour and betrayed the cause. Others refused to sacrifice their lives and riches in the cause of <i>Allah</i>. The Qur’an, after criticising their insincerity, makes it clear that <i>Man</i> is a contract, a form of pledge between man and <i>Allah</i>. It does not consist in a mere profession of belief in <i>Allah</i>. It is an acknowledgment of the fact that Allah alone is our Lord, Sovereign and Ruler and that everything that man has, including his own life, belongs to Him and must be used in accordance with His directives. If a Muslim adopts a different course, he is insincere in his profession of faith. Only those who have <i>really</i> sold their lives and all that they possess to <i>Allah</i> and who follow His dictates in all spheres of activity can be called true Believers.<o:p></o:p></p> <p style="text-align: justify; font-family: georgia;"><a style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);" name="Scheme"><b>The Scheme of Life</b></a><o:p></o:p></p> <p style="text-align: justify; font-family: georgia;">In Islam, man’s entire individual and social life is an exercise in developing and strengthening his relationship with <i>Allah</i>. Man, the starting point of our religion, consists in the acceptance of this relationship by man’s intellect and will; Islam means submission to the will of <i>Allah</i> in all aspects of life. The Islamic code of conduct is known as the <st1:place st="on">Shari</st1:place>‘ah. Its sources are the Qur’an and the Sunnah of the Prophet, blessings and peace be on him. <o:p></o:p></p> <p style="text-align: justify; font-family: georgia;">The final Book of <i>Allah</i> and His final Messenger stand today as the repositories of this truth. Everyone who agrees that the concept of Reality stated by the Prophet, and the Holy Book is true, should step forward and surrender himself to the will of <i>Allah</i>. It is this submission which is called <i>Islam</i>, the result of <i>Man</i> in actual life. And those who of their own freewill accept <i>Allah</i> as their Sovereign, surrender to His Divine will and undertake to regulate their lives in accordance with His commandments, are called <i>Muslims</i>.<o:p></o:p></p> <p style="text-align: justify; font-family: georgia;">All those persons who thus surrender themselves are welded into a community and that is how the ‘Muslim society’ comes into being. It is an ideological society, radically different from those which are founded on the basis of race, colour or territory. It is the result of a deliberate choice, the outcome of a ‘contract’ which takes place between human beings and their Creator. Those who enter into this contract undertake to recognise <i>Allah</i> as their Sovereign, His guidance as supreme and His injunctions as absolute Law. They also undertake to accept, without question, His word as to what is good or evil, right or wrong, permissible or prohibited. In short, freedoms of the Islamic society are limited by the commandments of the Omniscient <i>Allah</i>. In other words, it is <i>Allah</i> and not man whose will is the primary source of Law in a Muslim society.<o:p></o:p></p> <p style="text-align: justify; font-family: georgia;">When such a society comes into existence, the Book and the Messenger prescribe for it a code of life called the <st1:place st="on">Shari</st1:place>‘ah and this society is bound to conform to it by virtue of the contract is has entered into. It is, therefore, inconceivable that a real Muslim society can deliberately adopt any other system of life than that based on the <st1:place st="on">Shari</st1:place>‘ah. If it does so, its contract is <i>ipso facto</i> broken and it becomes ‘un-Islamic’.<o:p></o:p></p> <p style="text-align: justify; font-family: georgia;">But we must clearly distinguish between the everyday sins of the individual and a deliberate revolt against the <st1:place st="on">Shari</st1:place>‘ah. The former may not mean a breaking up of the contract, while the latter most certainly would. The point that should be clearly understood is that if an Islamic society consciously resolves not to accept the Shari‘ah, and decides to enact its own constitution and laws or borrows them from any other source in disregard of the <st1:place st="on">Shari</st1:place>‘ah, such a society breaks its contract with <i>Allah</i> and forfeits its right to be called ‘Islamic’..<o:p></o:p></p> <p style="text-align: justify; font-family: georgia;"><a style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);" name="Objectives"><b>Objectives and Characteristics</b></a><b><o:p></o:p></b></p> <p style="text-align: justify; font-family: georgia;">The main objectives of the <st1:place st="on">Shari</st1:place>‘ah are to ensure that human life is based on <i>ma’rufat</i> (good) and to cleanse it of <i>munkarat</i> (evils). The term <i>ma’rufat</i> denotes all the qualities that have always been accepted as ‘good’ by the human conscience. Conversely, the world <i>munkarat </i>denotes all those qualities that have always been condemned by human nature as ‘evil’. In short, the <i>ma’rufat</i> are in harmony with human nature and the <i>munkarat</i> are against nature. The <st1:place st="on">Shari</st1:place>‘ah gives precise definitions of <i>ma’rufat</i> and <i>munkarat</i>, clearly indicating the standards of goodness for which individuals and society should aspire.<o:p></o:p></p> <p style="text-align: justify; font-family: georgia;">It does not, however, limit itself to an inventory of good and evil deeds; rather, it lays down an entire scheme of life whose aim is to make sure that good flourishes and evils do not destroy or harm human life.<o:p></o:p></p> <p style="text-align: justify; font-family: georgia;">To achieve this, the <st1:place st="on">Shari</st1:place>‘ah has embraced in its scheme everything that encourages the growth of good and has recommended ways to remove obstacles that might prevent this growth. This process gives rise to a subsidiary series of <i>ma’rufat</i> consisting of ways of initiating and nurturing the good, and yet another set of <i>ma’rufat</i> consisting of prohibitions in relation to those things which act as impediments to good. Similarly, there is a subsidiary list of <i>munkarat</i> which might initiate or allow the growth of evil.<o:p></o:p></p> <p style="text-align: justify; font-family: georgia;">The <st1:place st="on">Shari</st1:place>‘ah shapes Islamic society in a way conducive to the unfettered growth of good, righteousness and truth in every sphere of human activity. At the same time it removes all the impediments along the path of goodness. And it attempts to eradicate corruption from its social scheme by prohibiting evil, by removing the causes of its appearance and growth, by closing the inlets through which it creeps into a society and by adopting deterrent measures to check its occurrence.<o:p></o:p></p> <p style="text-align: justify; font-family: georgia;"><a style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);" name="Marufat"><strong>Ma’rufat</strong></a><o:p></o:p></p> <p style="text-align: justify; font-family: georgia;">The <st1:place st="on">Shari</st1:place>‘ah divides <i>ma’rufat </i>into three categories: the mandatory (<i>fard</i> and <i>wajib</i>), the recommendatory (<i>mandub</i>) and the permissible (<i>mubah</i>).<o:p></o:p></p> <p style="text-align: justify; font-family: georgia;">The observance of the mandatory is obligatory on a Muslim society and the <st1:place st="on">Shari</st1:place>‘ah has given clear and binding directions about this. The recommendatory <i>ma’rufat</i> are those which the <st1:place st="on">Shari</st1:place>‘ah expects a Muslim society to observe and practise. Some of them have been very clearly demanded of us while others have been recommended by implication and inference from the sayings of the Prophet, blessings and peace be on him. Besides this, special arrangements have been made for the growth and encouragement of some of them in the scheme of life advocated by the <st1:place st="on">Shari</st1:place>‘ah. Others again have simply been recommended by the <st1:place st="on">Shari</st1:place>‘ah, leaving it to the society or to its more virtuous elements to look to promote them.<o:p></o:p></p> <p style="text-align: justify; font-family: georgia;">This leaves us with the permissible <i>ma’rufat</i>. Strictly speaking, according to the <st1:place st="on">Shari</st1:place>‘ah everything which has not been expressly prohibited is a permissible <i>ma’ruf</i>. Consequently, the sphere of permissible <i>ma’rufat</i> is very wide, so much so that except for the things specifically prohibited by the <st1:place st="on">Shari</st1:place>‘ah everything is permissible for a Muslim. And in this vast sphere we have been given freedom to legislate according to our own discretion to suit the requirements of our "time and its dictates."<o:p></o:p></p> <p style="text-align: justify; font-family: georgia;"><a style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);" name="Munkarat"><strong>Munkarat</strong></a><o:p></o:p></p> <p style="text-align: justify; font-family: georgia;">The <i>munkarat</i> (the things prohibited in Islam) have been grouped into two categories: things which have been prohibited absolutely (<i>haram</i>), and things which are simply undesirable (<i>makruh</i>).<o:p></o:p></p> <p style="text-align: justify; font-family: georgia;">Muslims have been enjoined by clear and mandatory injunctions to refrain totally from everything that has been declared <i>haram</i>. As for the <i>makruh</i>, the <st1:place st="on">Shari</st1:place>‘ah signifies its disapproval either expressly or by implication, giving an indication also as to the extent of such disapproval. For example, there are some <i>makruh</i> things bordering on <i>haram</i>, while others are closer to acts which are permissible. Moreover, in some cases, explicit measures have been prescribed by the <st1:place st="on">Shari</st1:place>‘ah for the prevention of <i>makruh</i> things, while in others such measures have been left to the discretion of the society or individual.<o:p></o:p></p> <p style="text-align: justify; font-family: georgia;"><a style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153);" name="Some"><strong>Some Other Characteristics</strong></a><o:p></o:p></p> <p style="text-align: justify; font-family: georgia;">The <st1:place st="on">Shari</st1:place>‘ah thus prescribes directives for the regulation of our individual as well as collective lives. These directives affect such varied subjects as religious rituals, personal character, morals, habits, family relationships, social and economic affairs, administration, the rights and duties of citizens, the judicial system, the laws of war and peace and international relations. They tell us what is good and bad; what is beneficial and useful and what is injurious and harmful; what are the virtues which we have to cultivate and encourage and what are the evils which we have to suppress and guard against; what is the sphere of our voluntary, personal and social action and what are its limits; and, finally, what methods we can adopt to establish a dynamic order of society and what methods we should avoid. The <st1:place st="on">Shari</st1:place>‘ah is a complete way of life and an all-embracing social order.<o:p></o:p></p> <p style="text-align: justify; font-family: georgia;">Another remarkable feature of the <st1:place st="on">Shari</st1:place>‘ah is that it is an organic whole. The entire way of life propounded by Islam is animated by the same spirit and hence any arbitrary division of the scheme is bound to affect the spirit as well as the structure of the Islamic order. In this respect, it might be compared to the human body. A leg separated from the body cannot be called one-eighth or one-sixth man, because after its separation from the body the leg cannot perform its function. Nor can it be placed in the body of some other animal with the aim of making it human to the extent of that limb. Likewise, we cannot form a correct judgment about the utility, efficiency and beauty of the hand, the eye or the nose of a human being outside the context of their place and function within the living body.<o:p></o:p></p> <p style="text-align: justify; font-family: georgia;">The same can be said about the scheme of life envisaged by the <st1:place st="on">Shari</st1:place>‘ah. Islam signifies a complete way of life which cannot be split up into separate parts. Consequently, it is neither appropriate to consider the different parts of the <st1:place st="on">Shari</st1:place>‘ah in isolation, nor to take any particular part and bracket it with any other ‘ism’. The <st1:place st="on">Shari</st1:place>‘ah can function smoothly only if one’s whole life is lived in accordance with it.<o:p></o:p></p> <p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family:Arial;"><br /><o:p></o:p></span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3870128638991483648.post-67380087080958510192007-04-05T03:56:00.000-07:002007-04-05T04:52:26.450-07:00THE MUSLIM's ATTITUDE REGARDING TRIALS IN THE LIGHT OF THE EVER-GLORIOUS QUR'AN AND PROPHETIC TRADITION<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">The word "fitnah" may denote supplication to Allah Almighty not to render our enemies overwhelm and have victory on us and not to lead us astray from the right and truth in our sayings and actions because, then, other people will contempt and deride our religion not seeing in us a good example or a straightforward conduct. One verse that referred to this meaning is: 'Moses said: " O my people! If ye do (really) believe in Allah, then in Him put your trust if ye submit (your will to His)". They said: "In Allah do we put out trust. Our Lord make us not a trial for those who practise oppression; and deliver us by Thy Mercy from those who reject (Thee)."' (<st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Surat</st1:City></st1:place> Yunus: 84- 86). <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">This verse means that Moses (peace be upon him) said to true believers in his people by way of ensuring their faith, after seeing oppression inflicted upon them: O people! If you truly believed in Allah and verily submitted yourselves to Him, then, on Him only depend and hold only to His side and care: Whoever depends on Allah and seeks His guidance, Allah always supports him and leads him to victory. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">The Qur'an then tells us that those true believers of the people of Moses (peace be upon him) answered him sserting their deep belief saying: "In Allah do we put out trust. Our Lord make us not a trial for those who practice oppression" meaning that in their reply to their prophet Moses (peace be upon him) they said that they depended on and trusted Allah alone in all their matters, so Allah Our Lord ! we are asking you not to place us in defeat weakness in front of those oppressors by giving them power over us because then, they would think they are on the right path and that we are deluded and following the wrong pathfor - in their allegations- if we were right they would not have power and be victorious over us. They added to this supplication another more explicit one seeking this hope in shunning away disbelievers and their mischief from them. They said: "and deliver us by Thy Mercy from those who reject (Thee)", meaning that Our Lord we do not only ask You not to make of us a trial for them, we further ask you to deliver us from their evil and from the mischief of disbelievers.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">We also ask you to give our ord supremacy over theirs. Imam Al-Shaukany (may Allah be pleased with him) said that the form of supplication they used to implore to Allah is an evidence that their concern about the supremacy of religion was greater than that their concern about their own safety. A similar form of supplication is the following verse: " Our Lord! Make us not a (test and) trial for the unbelievers, but forgive us,our Lord! For Thou art the Exalted in Might, the Wise." (Surat Al-Mumtahana: 5). This verse came after Allah Almighty told is about Abraham (peace be upon him), and his allies of true believers to disbelievers from his people: " we are clear of you and of whatever ye worship besides Allah: we have rejected You, and there has risen, between us and you, enmity and hatred for ever,- unless ye believe in Allah and Him Alone..." (<st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Surat</st1:place></st1:City> Al- Mumtahana: 4)<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">The supplication in the <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Surat</st1:place></st1:City> asserts this meaning of the word "fitnah", meaning "trial" and its past participle " maftuun" meaning " a person suffering a trial" or "under trial". Etymologically the verb "fatana" means to "melt silver". The meaning of the verse is a prayer to Allah by the believers not to render them under trial and torture by those disbelievers by giving them authority and power over them and then they would not be able to meet or forbear. Another possible interpretation for the verse is: Our Lord do not make a trial of us for your enemies and ours. If You would try us by making them torment us, they would think that they are on the right path and that we are deluded. They would proclaim that if we were right, they would not gain victory over us. Some of our scholars have another point of view regarding the meaning of this verse. They hold that "fitna" in this verse means turmoil and discordance among the Muslim group and that Muslims would be so corrupt that they are not fit to set an example for others in good deeds.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style="text-align: justify; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Accordingly the meaning would be: Our Lord do not let our words and actions be so bad as to make disbelievers loathe to convert to our religion. For, at that time, they would think that if our religion were true and sound its influence would have shown on its followers who should, by then, be so far from backwardness, disagreement and discordance. To sum it up, the word /fitna/ in this verse and in the above verse from Surat Yunus "Our Lord make us not a trial for those who practice oppression" bear two possible meanings: First, a supplication from believers not to render them a position of weakness or defeat in relation to disbelievers. Second, to protect them from wrongdoing, ill-sayings and any act that goes against good manners. This is because if they held grudges, conflicts and hatred towards each others and went astray from the right, justice and cooperation in charity and piety, people following religions other than Islam will despise them and loathe to follow their religion. They would rather think that if theirs were a true religion, they would not be in such a state. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <h3 style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><strong><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal;"><o:p> </o:p></span></strong></span></h3> <h3 style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><strong><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal;"><o:p> </o:p></span></strong></span></h3>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3870128638991483648.post-38929294835563605512007-03-20T02:57:00.000-07:002007-03-29T04:09:55.322-07:00MOSQUES AS INSTITUTIONS TO MUSLIM'S SPIRITUAL AND PHYSICAL GROWTH<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"> A balanced development of human spirituality is able to be portrayed as a living seed which fertilizes the entire value of Muslims' devotion towards the Creator. Clarifying on this matter, it is apparent that mosques are amongst the most important aspects in a Muslim's life. The significance of mosques has been revealed by Allah as something which is very important since the existence of human race on earth. Allah clarifies this in Ali Imran (3:96) denoting that mosques are the earliest construction made to fulfill human devotion rights towards Allah.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"> The prophet Muhammad (pbuh) further explained the importance of mosques to us by constructing the Quba Mosque. The mosque was built as soon as the prophet reached Madinah's periphery on his emigrate (Hijrah) journey. Prospering a mosque is a sign of piousness of a Muslim towards the Creator. This is clearly mentioned by Allah in At-Taubah (9:8) : "For those who prosper the mosques, they are indeed people who surrender in faith to Allah and the hereafter."</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"> A mosque is a symbol of educational institution, mental and physical development, gregariousness and nationalism of a Muslim. In other words, an Islamic country can be formed by the union of Muslims with the jamaah. Due to that, today's Muslim community must perceive further on the significance of mosques as an institution and furthermore initiate in its prosperity. A mosque's function is not solely for praying but is inclusive of the veins and heartbeats of its followers. If we observe the mosque in a narrow perception, as if it is just a prayer's place, it is worried that future generations would have an idea that Islam is just merely prayers, whereas Islam is actually life itself as a whole, inclusive of all aspects of it. </span><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"> The sophistication of a mosque doesn't root from the glitter of its lighting and the profound construction, but it can be remarkable and magnificent if it is prospered with good deeds (ibadah) and all Muslims' activities in it. To turn this into reality all of us must give and make time to be present at the mosque. </span><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">We don't need to wait for a free time before making the decision to attend the mosque. Time is of essence and it passes by, leaving us and will never return. Therefore the need to squeeze some time in attending the mosque is compulsory, parallel to the time we allot to other obligations. This is to be done without discrimination towards personal and educational background, skin colour, race and language because Islam is meant for all human race. We are not obliged to be at the mosque at all times, but the priority in prospering it should exist in our daily life schedule.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Among things which could be done by all Muslims from around the world is to turn a mosque into a "One Stop Centre", where Muslim community will be able to receive benefits from it. We can build budget hotels to cater the needs of stopping-by travelers without discriminating on their race and religion. Other than that we can build up grocery shops, textile and clothing boutiques, laundry services, automotive workshops, petrol pump stations and many others. The running of all these businesses should be based totally on Islamic philosophy and teachings from the organization, financial, administration and other aspects.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">All of them should be open 24 hours per day due to their significance towards the humanity. If we look at mosques as equal in importance as all of our other needs, the mosque is definitely going to be prosper and beautiful. When we transfer the mosque into a "One Stop Centre" indirectly our lives will be surrounded by the institution of mosques. This will attach us to the mosque and seal us a closer relationship with Allah.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Everyone should be brought along to the mosque and perform all the practices and customs of the mosques, which some of us are never even aware of it before. Prayers and mosques educate us to co-operate without discriminating social standards, learn to admonish faulty leaders and adhere to rightful leaders, appreciate cleanliness, being humble, punctual and others. </span><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">After fulfilling the obligation towards prospering the mosque, we are further obliged to continue our daily jobs to earn a living which has been given by Allah on earth. The initiative to prosper the mosque should not be perceived lightly by us. It is meant to return the glorious moment of Muslims worldwide. Islam does not put aside non-Muslims needs, in fact it is done hand-in-hand. That's the best way to describe it. We will continue being as 'bubbles in the ocean' if we continue putting a distance away from the mosque. </span><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Mosque is a source of human integrity. The Quranic versus should be practiced and not just displayed for theory purposes. To make this happen into reality, we must prosper all mosques that are within our reach. All members in the community should make this into realization within their personal capacity. Without co-operation from all, this idea will just be a fruitless discussion. Therefore we must initiate it into our real lives so that we would be able to develop the Muslim community in all aspects of life. Due to this, a minimum of 2 hours daily should be allotted to attend the mosque, for the purpose of praying with jamaah and building a social relationship within the community.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">This proposal is open to all Muslims from all over the world. The utmost important criteria is "Lailahaillallah" in every Muslim hearts. Burning passion and resolution should be marked into the hearts of every Muslim souls worldwide and to be put into realization with actual physical movement. </span><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">With Allah's blessings, apart from our own initiatives, hopefully this proposal is able to be realized by all Muslim on earth. </span><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">For those who happened to read this note, please open up your mind, give a thought to its righteousness, seek for Allah's guidance and perform it without any procrastination. It is hoped that all of us would be blessed by Allah now and hereafter.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 36pt;"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" > </span><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" ><o:p></o:p></span><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" ><span style="font-family:georgia;">AMIN.</span></span></p><!-- Search Google --> <p class="MsoNormal"><!-- Search Google --></p> <p class="MsoNormal"></p><center><p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"></p><form method="get" action="http://www.google.com/custom" target="_top"><p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><!-- Search Google --></p> <p class="MsoNormal"></p><center><p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"></p><p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><!-- Search Google --></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><center></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><form method="get" action="http://www.google.com/custom" target="_top"></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><table bgcolor="#ffffff"></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><tr><td nowrap="nowrap" valign="top" align="left" height="32"></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://www.google.com/"></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><img src="http://www.google.com/logos/Logo_25wht.gif" border="0" alt="Google" align="middle" /></img></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><label for="sbi" style="display: none">Enter your search terms</label></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><input type="text" name="q" size="31" maxlength="255" value="" id="sbi"></input></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><label for="sbb" style="display: none">Submit search form</label></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><input type="submit" name="sa" value="Search" id="sbb"></input></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><input type="hidden" name="client" value="pub-1285709636361372"></input></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><input type="hidden" name="forid" value="1"></input></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><input type="hidden" name="channel" value="4167782032"></input></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><input type="hidden" name="ie" value="ISO-8859-1"></input></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><input type="hidden" name="oe" value="ISO-8859-1"></input></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><input type="hidden" name="cof" value="GALT:#008000;GL:1;DIV:#336699;VLC:663399;AH:center;BGC:FFFFFF;LBGC:336699;ALC:0000FF;LC:0000FF;T:000000;GFNT:0000FF;GIMP:0000FF;FORID:1"></input></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><input type="hidden" name="hl" value="en"></input></p> <p class="MsoNormal"></td></tr></table></p> <p class="MsoNormal"></form></p> <p class="MsoNormal"></center></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><!-- Search Google --></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p></center> <p class="MsoNormal"></p></form><p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><!-- Search Google --></p> <p class="MsoNormal"></p> <p class="MsoNormal"></p></center><p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><!-- Search Google --></p> <!-- Search Google -->Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3870128638991483648.post-3235522120523739442007-02-14T18:22:00.000-08:002007-02-14T18:26:15.634-08:00HUMAN CREATION<div style="text-align: justify;">The human body is the most complicated machine in the world. We see with it, hear with it, breathe with it, walk and run with it, and sense pleasure with it. Its bones, muscles, arteries, veins and internal organs are organized with marvellous design, and when we examine this design in detail we find even more amazing facts. Every part of the body, though each may seem to be so different from another, is made up of the same material: cells.<br /><br />"We created you, so why do you not confirm the truth? Have you thought about the sperm that you ejaculate? Is it you who create it or are We the Creator?" (Qur'an, 56: 57-59)<br /><br /></div><p style="text-align: justify;">Cells, each of which is one thousandth of a millimetre, are the structural units that form our body and everything in it. Some of these cells unite to form bones, others to form nerves, the liver, the inner layer of the stomach, the skin or the cornea of the eyeball. Each has the size and shape that exactly meet the requirement of that part of the body. </p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;">How and when did cells, which have such varied functions, come into being? </p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;">The answer to this question will take us into a process whose every moment is filled with mystery. All the approximately 100 trillion cells that make up your body today came from the division of one single cell. That single cell which had the same structure as all the cells in your body now, came from the union of your mother's egg cell and your father's sperm cell.</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;">In the Qur'an, God sometimes refers to the wonders of the earth and the sky, and sometimes to the mysteries of the creation of living things as various signs of His existence. One of the most important of these signs is His wondrous creation of human beings.</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;">In many verses, as a lesson to human beings, God advises them to turn and look at their own creation. He explains in detail how human beings come to be and what stages they pass through. In Sura 56, He tells of human creation:</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="AyetBoldAlnti">We created you, so why do you not confirm the truth? Have you thought about the sperm that you ejaculate? Is it you who create it or are We the Creator? (Qur'an, 56: 57-59) </p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;">The essence of a human being composed of 60-70 kilos of flesh and a mass of bones was originally contained in a drop of fluid. It is certainly a wonder that an intelligent, feeling human being with the faculties of speech and hearing and with a remarkably complex physical structure could come into existence from a drop of fluid. This development was certainly not the result of a random process or the operation of chance, but rather of a conscious process of Creation.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Allah Said:<br /></p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify;" class="AyetBoldAlnti">"We created man from the purest kind of clay; then made him a drop in a secure receptacle; then formed the drop into a clot and formed the clot into a lump and formed the lump into bones and clothed the bones in flesh; and then brought him into being as another creature. Blessed be God, the Best of Creators!" (Qur'an, 23: 12-14)</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3870128638991483648.post-58601031053484140542006-12-13T18:28:00.000-08:002006-12-13T18:32:50.861-08:00Muslim Good Character<div class="storyText" id="storyBody" style="font-size: 13px; font-family: arial,verdana,geneva,helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /> <p style="text-align: justify; font-family: georgia;">This includes suppressing one’s anger, and being gentle and humble. Allah Most High has said: <b style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">Surely, you are of tremendous nature</b><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">,</span> [68:4] and: <b style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">Those who suppress their anger, and forgive other people – assuredly, Allah loves those who do good</b>. [3:134]</p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: georgia;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify; font-family: georgia;">Bukhari and Muslim relate that `Abdallah ibn `Amr, radhiallahu `anhu, said, "The Messenger of Allah, sallallahu `alaihi wa sallam, was never immoderate or obscene. He used to say, ‘Among those who are most beloved to me are those who have the finest character.’"</p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: georgia;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify; font-family: georgia;">They also narrate that `Aa’isha, radhiallahu `anha, said, "Never was the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu `alaihi wa sallam, given the choice between two things without choosing the easier of them, as long as it entailed no sin. If it did entail sin, he was of all people the most remote from it. Never did he seek revenge for something done against himself; but when the sanctity of Allah was challenged, he would take vengeance for His sake alone."</p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: georgia;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify; font-family: georgia;">The meaning of good character is the inclination of the soul towards gentle and praiseworthy acts. This may take place in one’s personal actions for Allah Most High, or in actions which involve other people. In the former case, the slave of Allah has an open and welcoming heart for His commandments and prohibitions, and does what He has imposed on him happily and easily, and abstains from the things which He has forbidden him with full contentment, and without the least dissatisfaction. He likes to perform optional good acts, and abstains from many permitted things for the sake of Allah Most High whenever he decides that to abstain in that way would be closer to perfect slavehood to Him. This he does with a contented heart, and without feeling any resentment or hardship.<br /></p><p style="text-align: justify; font-family: georgia;">When he deals with other people, he is tolerant when claiming what is his right, and does not ask for anything which is not; but he discharges all the duties which he has towards others. When he falls ill or returns from a trip, and no-one visits him, or when he givse a greeting which is not returned, or when he is a guest but is not honoured, or intercedes but is not responded to, or does a good turn for which he is not thanked, or joins a group of people who do not make room for him to sit, or speaks and is not listened to, or asks permission of a friend to enter, and is not granted it, or proposes to a woman, and is not allowed to marry her, or ask for more time to repay a debt, but is not given more time, or asks for it to be reduced, but is not permitted this, and all similar cases, he does not grow angry, or seek to punish people, or feel within himself that he has been snubbed, or ignored; neither does he try to retaliate with the same treatment when able to do so, but instead tells himself that he does not mind any of these things, and responds to each one of them with something which is better, and closer to goodness and piety, and is more praiseworthy and pleasing.</p><p style="text-align: justify; font-family: georgia;"> He remembers to carry out his duties to others just as he remembers their duties towards himself, so that when one of his Muslim brethren falls ill he visits him, if he is asked to intercede, he does so, if he is asked for a respite in repaying a debt he agrees, and if someone needs assistance he gives it, and if someone asks for favourable terms in a sale, he consents, all without looking to see how the other person had dealt with him in the past, and to find out how other people behave. Instead, he makes "what is better" the imam of his soul, and obeys it completely.</p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: georgia;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify; font-family: georgia;">Good character may be something which a man is born with, or it may be acquired. However, it may only be acquired from someone who has it more firmly rooted in his nature than his own. It is well known that a man of sensible opinion can become even more sensible by keeping the company of intelligent and sensible people, and that a learned or a righteous man can learn even more by sitting with other people orf learning or righteousness; therefore it cannot be denied that a man of beautiful character may acquire an even more beautiful character by being with people whose characters are superior to his own.</p><div style="text-align: justify; font-family: georgia;"> </div><p style="text-align: justify; font-family: georgia;">And Allah gives success always now, and hereafter!</p><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3870128638991483648.post-4026483557481650862006-12-13T18:20:00.000-08:002006-12-13T18:24:54.748-08:00The Past and The Future of Life<div class="storyText" id="storyBody" style="font-size: 13px; font-family: arial,verdana,geneva,helvetica,sans-serif;">Assalamualaykum My Brothers and My Sisters everywhere,<br /><br /> <p style="text-align: justify;"> Your life in the present moment is in between the past and the future. So what has preceded can be rectified by tawbah (repentance), nadam (regret) and istighfar (seeking Allaah’s forgiveness). And this is something that will neither tire you, nor cause you to toil as you would with strenuous labour. Rather it is an action of the heart. Then as regards the future (then it can be corrected) by withholding yourself from sins. And this abandonment is merely the leaving of something and to be at ease from it. This also is not action of the limbs, which requires you to strive and toil.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"> Rather this is a firm resolve and intention of the heart – which will give rest to your body, heart and thoughts. So as for what has preceded, then you rectify it with repentance. And as for the future – then you rectify it with firm resolve and intention. Neither of these involves any hardship or exertion of the limbs. But then your attention must be directed to your life in the present - the time between two times. If you waste it, then you have wasted the opportunity to be of the fortunate and saved ones.<br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">If you look after it, having rectified the two times – what is before and after it, as we have said – then you will be successful and achieve rest, delight and ever-lasting bliss. However, looking after it is harder than that which comes before and after it, since guarding it involves keeping to that which is most befitting and beneficial for your soul, and that which will bring it success and well-being. </p><p> </p></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0