HUMANITY: Islamic Wisdom

Takfiris firmly believe that the end justifies the means. But Islam never approves of such actions as it never issues such fatwa and their beliefs are rejected by almost all prominent contemporary Islamic scholars. As an Islamic term jihad means "the struggle for God's sake." It is through jihad that every Muslim is required to defend his or her country against any foreign invader. In recent years the term has been widely misused in the media to describe bombings, suicide attacks, or any other sort of aggressive behaviour by extremists.

But what exactly is jihad and when does it become obligatory for Muslims? Islam prescribes war only in certain circumstances and only religious scholars know what the circumstances are. Religious leaders must issue a fatwa when the circumstances demand jihad. But jihad doesn't mean that anyone can pick up a weapon at will and take control of a place and kill people, or make suicide bomb attack thinking it's jihad. Jihad is prescribed under certain conditions and the fatwa must be endorsed by the majority of religious scholars, not by those with personal interests and biased attitudes.

There is no religious permission or convincing reason for suicide bomb attacks that take the lives of people, whether Muslims or non Muslims. These acts have root in Takfiri ideology. Takfiris are a group of extremists whose names and crimes are always in the news headlines and they're infamous for their extremely violent behaviour. But what is Takfiri and what do Takfiris do?

Most of the time they brand other Muslims as unbelievers or kafirs on the slightest thing which makes Takfiri style the worst one in the world of Islam. Takfirism followers seek to get to the origins of Islam based on their own facile and fallacious reading. A little knowledge is a dangerous thing and that's what Takfiris are suffering from.

O ye who believe! If an evil-liver bring you tidings, verify it, lest ye smite some folk in ignorance and afterward repent of what ye did. (The Noble Quran 49:6)

---

The Sri Lankan policy makers have taken a few steps back on an Islamic (Ethical) growth factor. Social justice precedes economic prosperity.

The Islamic Shariah is the prescription for social justice, economic prosperity and contentment.

Then if there comes to you guidance from Me, then whoever follows My Guidance shall neither go astray, nor fall into distress and misery (The Noble Quran 20:123)

And pay attention to His statement here: ‘then whoever follows My guidance’; because that which is necessary as it relates to the Noble Quran is following it, not just the mere recitation and properly pronouncing its letters. For this reason He said: ‘then whoever follows My guidance’ and following the guidance of the Book of Allah is a branch of understanding the Noble Quran and pondering over it.

(This is) a Scripture that We have revealed unto thee, full of blessing, that they may ponder its revelations, and that men of understanding may reflect. (The Noble Quran

---

Over 1,400 years ago, whenever a newborn child was brought to Prophet Muhammed (pbuh), he would chew a date until it was soft and then rub a piece of it onto the palate of the baby. This Sunnah (prophetic practice) is called Tahneek.

Today, BBC News has reported that medical researchers in New Zealand have proposed that - "A dose of sugar given as a gel rubbed into the inside of the cheek is a cheap and effective way to protect premature babies against brain damage"

This is one of the reasons why Muslims follow the Sunnah of the Messenger (pbuh) without questioning it. Science is only now discovering a tradition that was introduced 1,400 years ago in the deserts of Arabia. Islam in all its aspects has relevance today, tomorrow and forever.

Link to the article - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-24224206

---

It's inevitable, all extreme elements are on course to self destruction. The Muslims who take an extreme view beyond the call of the Noble Quran and the authentic Sunnah of the Prophet (PBUH) are known as Khawarijs.

Those who follow the true Message of Islam are known as MUSLIMS. Shia, Wahabi, Sufi, and some others are misnomers. In the Islamic history Shia, Wahabi, Sufi, and some others were mere Schools of Thought. All these Schools of Thought had only a perspective or an interpretation according to their understanding. Long after the Death of these Scholars; the followers created their own version with their political masters. Some of these groups have strayed away completely from the Core Values of Islam. While some others who identify themselves by any other than Muslim, will be representing these political entities and their leaders interest to control wealth and power. Some of these leaders will ties up with the Devil. Muslims have a specific purpose in Life on earth. Most of them know it and pursue to the best of their ability.

Muhammed Ibn Abdul Wahhab made every effort to purify Islam by returning Muslims to the original principles of Islam, as exemplified by the Salaf (Companions of the Prophet (PBUH) First and Second Generation in Arabia) and rejecting what was regarded as corruptions introduced by Bid'ah (Innovation of new practices) and Shirk (Attributing Partners). Although all Muslims pray to one God, Muhammed Ibn Abdul Wahhab was keen on emphasising that no intercession with God was possible without God's permission, which God only grants to whom He wills and only to benefit those whom He wills, certainly not the ones who invoke anything or anyone except Him, as these would never be forgiven.

And lo! this your religion is one religion and I am your Lord, so keep your duty unto Me. (The Noble Quran 22:52) But they (mankind) have broken their religion among them into sects, each sect rejoicing in its tenets. (The Noble Quran 22:53) So leave them in their error till a time. (The Noble Quran 22:54)

---

The mapping of the genetic code, known as DNA, is probably the most important scientific breakthrough of the new millennium. The DNA is composed of 4 elements hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, carbon, when put together in scientific terms which the language in which God created life. Carbon is what makes us physical and earthly beings. When carbon is replaced with nitrogen, we have all colourless, odorless, and invisible gases!

Mapping the chemical sequences for human DNA, the chemical “letters” that make up the recipe of human life; is a breakthrough that is expected to revolutionise the practice of medicine by paving the way for new drugs and medical therapies. This discovery has lasting physical and spiritual implications. A direct link can easily be found between the building blocks of life and the Creator of the universe. Mankind is fearfully and wonderfully made, with a hidden code within the cell of every life. This code is the alphabet of DNA that spells out the Creator’s name and man’s purpose.

Scientist discovered a “map” of four DNA bases that carry the ability to sustain life. These bases, known as chromosomes, are paired differently for each person. Human DNA contains 23 pairs of chromosomes, made up of hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, carbon, and their acidic counterparts. Encoded within these elements is an amazing blueprint of life that proves the Creator has put His own unique stamp upon every person.

Try viewing mankind as an ember from the burning bush. The human body is the container of a divine spark from God. Left alone, this spark will diminish and burn low through seeking pleasure in worldly desires. The false fulfillment of momentary happiness is a darkness that seeks to put out our fire. Each action of the flesh places another layer of darkness upon the light. These layers of darkness are called “sin”. Literally means to “miss the mark, loose focus, stray, miss the goal or path of right and duty, to incur guilt, incur penalty by sin, forfeit. While many people think that someone who sins is a “bad person, We all sin; we all miss the mark. That doesn’t make us bad people, we’re just off target! In truth, Sin is equivalent to “distance.” Our sins distance us from the Light within.

The Noble Quran is Allah's will for mankind and the blueprint for living. To experience life at its fullest, all one must do is read the Noble Quran and its the only path to purpose and way to life eternal.

---

Muslim population:

1. Afghanistan 100%

2. Albania 75%

3. Algeria 99%

4. Angola 25%

5. Argentina 2%

6. Australia 2.09%

7. Azerbaijan 93%

8. Bahrin 100%

9. Bangladesh 85%

10. Bhutan 5%

11. Brazil 0.6%

12. Burma 10%

13. Canada 1.48%

14. Central african republc 55%

15. China 11%

16. Egypt 94%

17. Ethopia 65%

18. Fiji 11%

19. France 7%

20. Georgia 11%

21. Germeny 3.4%

22. Greece 1.5%

23. Guinea 95%

24. Guyana 15%

25. Hongkong 1%

26. India 14%

27. Indonesia 95%

28. Iran 99%

29. Iraq 97%

30. Ocupied Palestine 14%

31. Italy 1%

32. Japan 1%

33. Jordan 95%

34. Kenya 30%

35. Kuwait 89%

36. Lebanon 70%

37. Libya 100%

38. Maldives 100%

39. Malaysia 52%

40. Mauritius 19.5%

41. Mayotte 99%

42. Nigeria 75%

43. Oman 100%

44. Pakistan 97%

45. Phillipines 14%

46. Qatar 100%

47. Romania 20%

48. Russia 18%

49. Saudi Arabia 100%

50. Singapore 17%

51. Somalia 100%

52. Sri lanka 9%

53. Sudan 85%

54. Syria 90%

55. Tazakistan 85%

56. Tanzania 65%

57. Thailand 14%

58. Tunisia 98%

59. Turkey 99.8%

60. UAE 96%

61. UK 2.5%

62. USA 3.75%

63. Uzbekistan 88%

64. Morocco 100%

Where the Prophets originated:

Adam (A.S) -

Nooh (A.S) - Jordan

Shoaib (A.S) - Syria

Saleh (A.S) - Lebanon

Ibrahim (A.S) - Palestine

Ismail (A.S) - Saudi Arabia

Yakoob (A.S) - Palestine

Ishak (A.S) - Palestine

Yusuf (A.S) - Palestine

Lut (A.S) - Iraq

Ayub (A.S) - Jordan

Hood (A.S) - Yemen

MUHAMMED (A.S) - Saudi Arabia

Ages of Prophets:

Adam (A.S) - 1000 Yrs

Nooh (A.S) - 950 Yrs

Shoaib (A.S) - 882 Yrs

Saleh (A.S) - 586 Yrs

Zakaria (A.S) - 207 Yrs

Ibrahim (A.S) - 195 Yrs

Sulaiman (A.S) - 150 Yrs

Ismail (A.S) - 137 Yrs

Yakoob (A.S) - 129 Yrs

Musa (A.S) - 125 Yrs

Ishak (A.S) - 120 Yrs

Harun (A.S) - 119 Yrs

Yusuf (A.S) - 110 Yrs

Isa (A.S) - 95 Yes

MUHAMMED (A.S) - 63 Yrs

---

We are trying to colonise / invade one another's minds and we are still trying to tell each other what to do and what to think. Can we, as humanity, get our act together fast enough to be able to change our collective demeanor fast enough.

But even when Buddha, Jesus and Muhammed came, they couldn't change the minds of the people. It is a big challenge because it is very comforting to remain in the same narrative. It is very safe not to challenge the status quo around you. Human beings have within them the capacity both to make peace and to make war. Is it possible to find a solution to the conflicts?

A lot of the time the conflicts that rage and continue in the world, whether conflicts around resources, between men and women, among religions, those conflicts are fueled by the negative in us which is encouraged when we demonise one another, when we do not see ourselves being able to share and have a common understanding.

The majority of the people are not willing to give up their comforts. There are always going to be people on the outside who are willing to do something but the real people who really matter, they're not interested and now we are talking about billions of people thinking like that in Asia, in China, in India. Everybody is dreaming of having a car and a television and a refrigerator... They're not thinking about going back to what they had before, which was very little and contentment.

We also have systems and structures that condone aggression and violence as long as it's sanctioned by the state and by the government. We have systems and structures that create and engender further and deeper separation and give it some kind of a platform for being reasonable rather than engendering and supporting deeper mutuality and oneness. And so until those systems and structures are also undermined and pulled apart then we will only see small shifts of change but not transformation.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZ96y_yOkI0

---

Jizya is collected from Non-Muslims as a form of tax for which Muslim Government Guarantees the protection of Non-Muslims property, their safety and if they are unable to do so they return the Jizya as there are several evidences in history where Muslims were unable to provide security so they return the Jizya. Jizyah, from this point of view, is not only a symbol of loyalty but it is also a contributory compensation for exemption from military, and that is why it is imposed only on males capable of military service.

What if a non Muslim is ready to join the Islamic Army? The obligation of paying the Jizyah is cancelled if the non Muslim joins the Islamic army and participates with the Muslims in defending the Islamic state.

This verdict was applied more than once in the Islamic history one example is the treaty between Muslims and the Christians of Jarjima where it was stated that they would support Muslims against their enemies and they would not have to pay the Jizyah.

Rules of Collecting the Jizyah in Islam:

It was collected once every lunar year.

It can be paid in cash or in goods except carrion and swine.

It must be collected as easy as possible

1. Umar Ibn Elkhattab told his Jizyah collectors: “Accept whatever is possible from those who are unable to pay the jizyah and help those who have become incapable , since we don’t want it from them for a year or two.”

For more information read this article

http://www.alsiraj.net/English/misc/nonmuslims/html/page20.html

---

Do we know what is Sunan al-Fitrah?

The Sunan al-Fitrah are:

Natural practices in tune with how Allah created human beings and urged them to follow. They are natural and innate.

They are also from the practice that was followed and taught by all the prophets. Allah commands us to follow the guidance of the prophets, Allah says in the Noble Quran: Those are they whom Allah guideth, so follow their guidance. Say (O Muhammed, unto mankind): I ask of you no fee for it. Lo! it is naught but a Reminder to (His) creatures. (the Noble Quran 6:90).

Complying with these practices ensure cleanliness of the body and purity from dirt and filth. They add honour to human beings and are listed in the following two hadiths of the Prophet (pbuh):

“Five are from the natural practices: circumcision, shaving the pubic hair, cutting the moustache short, clipping the nails, and shaving the armpit hairs.”

---

Hatred is a destructive emotion. It destroys within.

---

One of the sunnah of the Prophet (pbuh) is to feed the poor. There is a huge emotional difference between feeding the needy and giving money to the poor. Try it.

---

The Quran says to the Prophet Muhammed, God’s peace and blessings be upon him, “It is a mercy from your Lord that you are so gentle toward them. If you had been harsh and hard-hearted, people would have fled from your presence” (3:159). It is indeed the harshness and obstinacy of some overly zealous Muslims today, combined with the absence of mercy in their hearts, which is driving people out of Islam and deterring others from considering or even respecting it. They are conducting themselves based upon some misguided adherence to their understanding of Islam. They are uncertain in themselves, and so they feel threatened by anyone who might differ with them; through fanaticism, they attempt to protect themselves from doubt but result in only obscuring their view. Fanatics are blinded by the light of God as opposed to guided by it. The Prophet, God’s peace and blessings be upon him, warned of these people when he said, “Perish they who go to extremes.” We should try our utmost not to be one of them.

---

An excellent summary of the comparison between 'Here' and 'Here After'

---

SubhanAllah. The Miracle of The Noble Quran never ceases to amaze the timeless wisdom addressed to Humanity.

---

There is plenty of scientific evidence that Music corrupts the human mind and the soul. Those who spend their wealth in this 'Fahisha' should be prepared to face a severe accountability in the day of judgement. Music Mania - A destructive emotion implanted in the minds of people to deviate and corrupt and lead humanity astray. The Noble Quran's recitation is soothing to listen and drift into a state of bliss.

---

We need creative thinkers in this ummah, we need to train them to think outside of the box and to look at problems differently. We need people with vision, that are inspired by the transformative nature of this faith. I may be foolish enough to dream that, but I am a dreamer.

---

PLEASE TAKE FEW MINUTES AND READ THIS ITS AN EYE OPENER!! I am lying on the bed. My children, brothers and sisters are all sitting by my bedside. Some close friends too are standing and overlooking my face. Suddenly I start breathing with long breaths. Someone among the people sitting in the room. Everyone around repeats with the reciter. My breath starts to ease out. I am opening my eyes and looking at something. Angel of death has arrived. I am getting late for the eternal journey. My mouth has opened up. My brother is dropping some water into my mouth, it is perhaps the "Zam Zam" water which I had preserved for the very moment. Then everyone starts to recite, "Laa'ilaaha illallaaha Muhammadur Rasoolullaah". I have lost my vision. I have lost my tongue, I have even lost my sensation but I can still hear. I can hear my loved ones weeping in grief. I'm not dead yet but I am almost lifeless. Angel of death makes the final act and takes my soul out with an intensive jerk. I have now left this world. All my wealth, cars, properties, bank balances, contacts and connections are of no use now. My identity is my grave and I am being referred to as 'dead body'. My near ones are preparing my grave and some of them think it as inauspicious to keep the dead body inside the house for too long. The house which I myself built and lived in is shrinking in space for me. My bath is being prepared. I am taken out in the compound for the final bath. My bathroom fitted with expensive bath fittings is not for me now. I am being wrapped in the white cotton shroud. I am boxed in a wooden box for the travel to my grave. My expensive car is not for me now. For what then did I amass so many worthless things. Why did I lie to earn the useless wealth. It is of no use to me. Woe to me for I wasted my life in vain. I forgot that my last journey is near and certain. Why did I sin so much ? Oh! I have lost my game. Now stop imagining This is going to happen one day with you and me. So be prepared. Good deeds will make your journey and the life of the Hereafteru pleasant. Remember death. It is certain. It is so near. This world is just a short dream..... WAKE UP B4 ITS TOO LATE! A Beautiful Hadith Rasulullah (صل الله عليه وسلم) said: 'When a man dies and his relatives are busy in funeral, there stands an extremely handsome man by his head. When the dead body is shrouded, that man gets in between the shroud and the chest of the deceased. When after the burial, the people return home, 2 angels, Munkar and Nakeer(names of two special Angels), come in the grave and try to separate this handsome man so that they may be able to interrogate the dead man in privacy about his faith. But the handsome man says, 'He is my companion, he is my friend. I will not leave him alone in any case. If you are appointed for interrogation, do your job.. I cannot leave him until I get him admitted into Paradise '. Thereafter he turns to his dead companion and says, 'I am the Qur'a

A description of life after death.

---

Among the greatest cures to nervous and mental disorders, and even other illnesses of the body, is the firmness of the heart and its strength and lack of its being troubled and perturbed by illusions and imaginations brought about by evil thoughts. This is because whenever a person lets imaginations get the better of him, and allows his heart to be perturbed by negative effects like fear of illness, or anger and confusion over some painful situation, or anxiety over something bad happening or over the expected loss of cherished things, whenever he lets that happen, it will surely throw him into the den of grief, sorrow, and physical and mental illnesses, and a nervous breakdown whose terrible effects are well known to all.

Whenever a person relies and depends on Allah, and does NOT surrender his heart to illusions, and does not let evil imaginations get the better of him, and puts his trust in Allah, and has a confidence in His favour, grief and sorrow will vanish from his heart as a result of these actions, and many physical and mental illnesses will leave him, and his heart will experience such joy and tranquility that are beyond expression. How many a hospital is filled with sick people suffering from mental illusions and evil imaginations! How many strong person have these things shattered their hearts, to say nothing of the weak ones! The only one exempted is the one whom Allah has given well-being, and guided him to struggle with his self in acquiring useful and beneficial means of strengthening the heart and warding off worries from it. Allah, the Most High said:

يَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَىاللَّهِ فَهُوَ حَسْبُهُ

“And whoever puts his trust on Allaah, sufficient is Allaah for him.”

[Surat Aţ-Ţalāq 65:3]

Meaning that Allah is sufficient for him in ALL worries him concerning his religion and his worldly life.

---

Atheists believe in the chaos theory while Theists a Creator with precision and purpose.

Theists on the other hand use their moral conscience as well as their spiritual conscience to derive and to seek from Divine guidance (The Noble Quran). This concept of morality and spirituality are unique to Humans only. We do not find or detect these faculties in animals or attribute their origins to Animals.

To those of us who believe in God, the fact that we possess these faculties is itself a pointer that we have to use our moral conscience and our spirituality in seeking God, in seeking out the truth, and in seeking the answers to all the fundamental questions. God has provided us with the appropriate faculties or the tools to seek out the answers to these fundamental questions.

If one chooses to live in ignorance, (Chaos over Precision and purpose) So Be It.

Link to scientific facts https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HONF5YsqdUs

---

The Companions of the Prophet, God bless and grant him peace, were almost all converts, and not all of them were Arab. Salman was Aryan (now called Iranian), Bilal was black, and Suhaib was an Arab raised among the Byzantines. Our Prophet (pbuh) also dressed in a variety of styles; he wore Ethiopian shirts, Yemeni cloaks, Arabian lungis, and Byzantine garments. The Prophet ﷺ was already practicing global culture in the seventh century, knowing that his religion would be embraced by many cultures, just as he predicted.

---

The path of Allah is indeed arduous, and it would appear to one looking at it that treading it is too difficult for most of us. Let us set out first and then see how long we can last. God willing, a Divine wind will blow on our backs, our feet will become light and wondrous fellow wayfarers will show up with sustenance just when we thought we had none. Our success is by Allah, upon Him we place our trust and to Him do we return.

---

Islam is about restoration. It is about elevating people and pulling them up. It is a transformative force and a spiritual power that can take a degraded individual and turn him into a mover of mountains and leader of men.

When we look at the life of Malcolm X [d. February 21, 1965], we are looking at a life of struggle. We are looking at a life in pursuit of knowledge. He was a man who was open-minded to the truth and that continual growth did not stop at any point. His life and legacy was a struggle of human dignity.

---

Then exalted be Allah, the True King! And hasten not (O Muhammed) with the Quran are its revelation hath been perfected unto thee, and say: My Lord! Increase me in knowledge. (The Noble Quran 20:114)

Islam is rooted in the idea that knowledge is the most potent force on earth. The more one knows, the closer one gets to the One who knows all. Our Prophet, God bless and grant him peace, loved knowledge, and it is the only prayer the Quran commands him to supplicate [for increase] My Lord! Increase me in knowledge. (The Noble Quran 20:114)

---

This life of the world is but a pastime and a game. Lo! the home of the Hereafter - that is Life, if they but knew. (The Noble Quran 29:64)

How many generations have passed between us and Adam? Have we ever wondered about our own grandfathers and grandmothers, and those before them? They too, each and every one of them, lived their lives with similar hopes, dreams, aspirations, problems, sufferings, joys, marriages, births, deaths, disasters, and ups and downs as us. Yet, each one of them suffered the same inevitable death that is decreed to and upon mankind. And each and every one of them eventually faded into the anonymity of our past even as we live in the present.

And our children and their children after us, they too will join this continuous chain and unbroken lineage, but after our own time has come to an end and the future for us becomes the present for them.

Take advantage of this life, before we too become unknown in the anonymity of our own descendant's past. For our descendants might not know us or our life's efforts, but Allah will take account of all, and He shall judge us for our deeds.

---

The Muslims believe there is no eternal salvation for those who ascribe partners to God. This is non negotiable as it is embedded / innate on the soul of every human being, referred as the covenant to God. Those who violate this covenant will nether find peace nor happiness in this short, limited life. Ascribing partners to God is the only sin which is unpardonable. This is so important that the Prophet (pbuh) spent the first 13 years of his life to instil the correct concept of 'There is none worthy of being worshipped except Allah and Muhammed (pbuh) is the messenger of Allah.' to his companions and followers. Islam is a way of life with Divine guidance with the option of the freedom to accept or reject. The choice is entirely up to the intellect of a person.

---

I am pleased with Allah as my Lord, Islam as my way of life and Muhammed peace be upon him as my Prophet.

---

What is our ultimate concern? It should be attaining Paradise and the Beatific Vision. We have to guard and protect this concern. This is something that takes tremendous effort and Divine help. Therefore, the Prophet, peace upon him, taught us to pray, “O God! Do not make this world our greatest concern or the extent of our knowledge.”

---

God says, "O Believers! Enter into Islam completely and do not follow the footsteps of Satan. He is unto you a clear enemy." (2:208)

Entering into Islam totally means two things. The first is to enter into it wholeheartedly with complete sincerity. The second is to accept all of its rulings, working to avoid picking and choosing based on our whims and preferences. To do otherwise, is to follow the footsteps of Satan. He rebelled against God based on the whimsical inclinations of his soul. This complete submission to God and His religion should in no place be more manifest than in the ritual prayer.

---

The entire western financial system is built on debt. Islamic finance and economy is the only solution to prosperity and social justice;

---

Where do you take your definition of LOVE from? Omayra Asad

It is not that Islam doesn't believe in love so Muslims don't celebrate Valentines Day and the likes. Rather, the concept of love is SO STRONG in Islam that it refuses to acknowledge anything that downgrades and cheapens this wonderful emotion.

The concept of love is SO WISE in Islam that it protects the dignity, honor and rights of both the man and the woman, and doesn't let one run away after 'having their bit of fun.'

The concept of love is SO SACRED in Islam that even feeding your wife a morsel of food is a rewarded, blessed deed. That being good to your husband can be a doorway to Paradise!

The concept of love is SO PRACTICAL in Islam that it is not dependant on gimmicks and commercial promotion. Rather, it is lived through honesty, gentleness and affection each day of the year, each moment of life.

Actually the concept of love is SO AMAZING in Islam that it doesn't end with this worldly life, rather it binds the hearts that love each other in His Obedience in this life and beyond! A story that perseveres in worldly life and then will enjoy permanent bliss in the hereafter.

And how shall it not be, when Islam is itself from Allah AL-WADOOD, Allah the Most Loving, the Source of all love, the Bestower of this wonderful gift!

There is no faith that advocates love more justly, more deeply than Islam. It celebrates it... wholly and eternally, and doesn't need the world to say when exactly and how exactly it should be expressed!

---

Islam is not an ideology, political or otherwise. It is a revelation from God that explains and reminds people of their duties toward their Creator in honouring and worshiping God with gratitude for the gift of life and all the concomitants of that gift, and of their duties toward their fellow creatures as unique and protected creations of God.

---

The Kharijites believed that the act of sinning is analogous to Kufr (disbelief) and that every grave sinner was regarded as a Kafir (disbeliever) unless they repent. With this argument, they denounced all the above some sahabah (companions) and even cursed and used abusive language against them. Ordinary Muslims were also declared disbelievers because first, they were not free of sin; secondly they regarded the above Sahaba (companions) as believers and considered them as religious leaders, even inferring Islamic jurisprudence from the Hadeeth narrated by them. Additionally, Kharijites believed that obedience to the caliph is binding as long as he is managing the affairs with justice and consultation, but if he deviates, then it becomes obligatory to confront him, demote him and even kill him. Regarding Islamic law, the Kharijites considered the Qur'an as the source for Islamic jurisprudence but regarding the other two sources (Hadith and Ijma) their concepts were different from ordinary Muslims.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NpiyHYkMVHA

---

Emotional - The Love for the Quran is Amazing. Allah's Messenger (sallAllahu `alaihi wasallam) said: If anyone recites the Qur'an and acts according to its contents, on the Day of Judgement his parents will be given to wear a crown whose light is better than the light of the sun in the dwellings of this world. May Allah swt crown his parents who brought him up with such a tarbiya!..barakAllah feek!

The Blind boy says:- I thank Allah for this gift upon me, He took my sight away from me. I Praise and Thank Allah for this mercy. In my prayer, I never ask Allah to give my sight back, because hopefully I might have a case in front of Allah on the Day of Judgement. So He may lighten on me a portion of the punishment when I stand in front of Him; afraid and shaking, and He will ask me, "What did you do with the Qur'an?" May Allah make us the people of Quran. Allahumma Ameen.

Please Share this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M-CrbFJqkPM

---

Guidance and happiness are two affairs which go hand in hand; thus whoever is guided then he is happy and whoever is misguided then he is miserable. Misery is the companion to misguidance which is not separated from it. Therefore whenever misguidance is found misery is found, and whenever guidance is found happiness is found.

Subhan'Allah!! This is an affair which the people perceive. Whoever is distant from Allah and His obedience and being upright upon His legislation and then he becomes guided, he will perceive in his heart a delight which was missing and a sweetness which was nonexistent and a joy which he was not aware of. When Allah honours him, and favours him with guidance he tastes the sweetness and experiences the joy of happiness, the coolness of the eyes, peace of mind, and tranquility of his soul; which he did not find before that.

Guidance and happiness are only obtained by the Book of Allah the Glorified and Exalted. And whoever seeks it from other than the Book of Allah the Exalted will not attain anything except loss and he will not attain anything except destruction and ruin in his worldly life and his afterlife.

He said: Go down hence, both of you, one of you a foe unto the other. But if there come unto you from Me a guidance, then whoso followeth My guidance, he will not go astray nor come to grief. (The Noble Quran 20:123)

And pay attention to His statement here: ‘then whoever follows My guidance’; because that which is necessary as it relates to the Noble Quran is following it, not just the mere recitation and properly pronouncing its letters. The Noble Quran was only sent down to be implemented not merely to pronounce its letters correctly while neglecting its guidelines. For this reason He said: ‘then whoever follows My guidance’. Thus that which results in happiness is following the guidance not merely memorizing the Noble Quran or memorizing the letters of the Noble Quran. And following the guidance of the Book of Allah is a branch of understanding the Noble Quran and pondering over it.

(This is) a Scripture that We have revealed unto thee, full of blessing, that they may ponder its revelations, and that men of understanding may reflect. (The Noble Quran 38:29)

Thus this is an affair which is necessary in order to attain happiness; reciting the Noble Quran, reflecting over its verses, working by it, and following its guidance.

---

A man went looking for the ideal woman to marry, and he found her. Yet, he did not get married. Someone asked him why, and he said: “Indeed, I found the ideal woman, but she was also searching for the ideal man!”

---

"Islam does not recognise geographical boundaries, nor does if acknowledge racial and blood differences, it considers all Muslims as one Ummah."

— Imam Hassan Al-Banna (rh)

---

ZamZam water level is around 10.6 feet below the surface. It is the miracle of Allah that when Zam Zam was pumped continuously...for more than 24 hours with a pumping rate of 8,000 liters per second, water level dropped to almost 44 feet below the surface,

BUT WHEN THE PUMPING WAS STOPPED,the level immediately elevated again to 13 feet after 11 minutes.

8,000 liters per second means that 8,000 x 60 = 480,000 liters per minute

480,000 liters per minutes means that 480,000 x 60 = 28.8 Million liters per hour

And 28.8 Million liters per hour means that 28,800,000 x 24 = 691.2 Million liters per day.

So they pumped 690 Millions liters of ZamZam in 24 hours, but it was re-supplied in 11 minutes only.

There are 2 miracles here, the first that ZamZam was re-filled immediately, & the second is that Allah Holds the extra-ordinarily powerful Aquifer for not throwing extra ZamZam out of the well, otherwise the world will SINK.

---

January is named after Janus, the Roman god of doors and gateways. He was commonly depicted in statues, carvings and paintings as a two headed man with one head facing forward and the other head facing backwards.

In 46BC Julius Caesar chose January 1st as the first day of the New Year as Janus symbolically represented the door to the New Year. Wild parties and orgies were held on the night before the New Year’s Day as a re-enactment of the chaos which Roman mythology depicted as preceding the cosmos or the ordered world whose organization was set by the gods. Furthermore, by that time, Janus had become, in practice, the highest god receiving the ritual sacrifices of Roman worshippers before the other gods, including the chief god, Jupiter.

Thus, in its essence the celebrations of the New Year on January 1st and New Year’s Eve, the night before, are a part and parcel of pagan religious rituals based on idolatrous beliefs in false gods. Consequently, it is completely Haraam (sinful and forbidden) for Muslims to participate in or adopt any of its related rituals, customs and symbols.

If a non-Muslim greets a Muslim, “Happy New Year”, the Muslim is not allowed to respond in a similar manner or say, “Same to you.” Instead, in order not to offend or hurt the feelings of non-Muslim friends or acquaintances, one may say instead, “Happy holiday.”

As for celebrating the New Year according to the Islamic calendar which begins with the month of Muharram, this is also not permissible from a number of perspectives. First and foremost, if one does so believing that it is pleasing to Allah to do so, thereby transforming it into an act of worship, it becomes a Bid‘ahor cursed innovation in the religion about which the Prophet (pbuh) said, “Every innovation in religion is misguidance and all misguidance leads to the Hellfire.” If one does so merely as a custom, it is still impermissible as it falls under the prohibition of imitation of pagan customs about which the Prophet (pbuh) said, “Whoever imitates a people becomes one of them.”

[1] Pope Gregory 13th who set the modern calendar, the Gregorian calendar, also officially fixed the first day of the year for Christian Europe as January 1st in 1582.

4 #Reasons Why Muslims Shouldn’t Celebrate New Year’s

1)It is technically inaccurate – & pagan

As Muslims, we have our own calendar that has been in constant use for 1400 years. Even though we may end up using the Gregorian calendar due to circumstances beyond our control, we know for a fact that Allāh has ordained the use of the lunar calendar for us in our worship – and therefore, by extension, our daily lives. According to our Hijri calendar (initiated by the great Sahaaba Umar ®), the new year actually begins on the first of Muharram. To learn more about it click here.

The Gregorian calendar (so called because it was developed by Pope Gregory) decided on the 1st of January as the New Year to celebrate the circumcision of Jesus. Its origin – like so many Western holidays – lies in the pagan Roman festivals associated with Janus – the two headed deity who symbolised change.

2). What exactly is there to celebrate?

Any celebration by Muslims needs to be put into context of the local and global situation of the Ummah. The two Eids amply do so by encouraging prayers, duaa for those suffering and alms to the needy. However, celebrating New Years does no such thing. It is a celebration that is completely cut off from the reality of the rest of the Ummah. The starvation in Somalia, the murder in Syria, the imprisonment of Gaza, the ethnic cleansing of Burma – celebrating New Year's is pretty much exactly the opposite of the “fever and wakefulness” that the Prophet (SAW) spoke about when he said we were like one body.

Salahuddin Ayyubi was once asked why he hardly ever smiled even though this was a sunnah of the Prophet (SAW.) He replied, “How can I smile when I know that masjid Al Aqsa is being defiled and the Muslims are suffering?!” That attitude, dear brothers and sisters, is why he liberated Jerusalem and why we're still debating on whether or not it is acceptable to send “Happy New Year” messages.

It usually involves un-Islamic practices

Let's be honest. When you picture New Year's Eve celebration, you don't picture people sitting in a segregated environment reading from the Qurʾān & Hadiths and reminding each other towards good as the clock strikes midnight. Instead, they are (and I know this is a generalisation) mixed gender events where people wear fashionable clothes, dance and sing songs, etc. It is necessarily an Islam free zone, not least because it has no basis or relationship to Islam.

It is against the spirit of Islam

I am well aware that there is a difference of opinion on this matter between scholars, and I respect that. However, there are a few points I'd make to that.

Firstly, the number of scholars who condone the celebration of New Years are in the absolute minority. Secondly, the scholars who do condone it almost never actually celebrate New Years themselves or with their families – at least not in public – showing that even though they may believe it acceptable, it is not preferable. Thirdly, many of them predicate their views based on a number of caveats – that it is no longer a pagan or Christian ritual, that it is good da‘wah to non-Muslims and that it not involve any un-Islamic element. Most of these caveats are difficult if not impossible to satisfy adequately.

This is meant to be a gentle reminder and not a harsh rebuke. It would be against the spirit of Islam to not show kindness and respect to non-Muslims. We are encouraged to be warm and welcoming, not least because it will attract others to our faith. But there are many ways to showcase our manners and act as ambassadors for our faith without having to adopt the celebrations of others. By adopting the celebrations of others, we are not harmlessly saying a few words or just enjoying ourselves. We are opening the door to disappearing within the dominant culture, to a future in which our children may have Muslim names, but are otherwise indistinguishable from non-Muslims in their habits, customs and appearances.

This issue occupied the minds of greater people than us – Uthman (R), Ali (R) and many other of the greatest Sahaaba. When the great assemblage of the companions of the Prophet (SAW) had discussed this issue at length, the matter was brought to a close by the wise words of Caliph Umar (R) that are as relevant today as they were then. He said, “The Hijrah has separated truth from falsehood, therefore, let it become the epoch of the era.”

Main Point :

A Muslim should not celebrate new year JazaKALLAH

---

It's a shame how Muslims can be duped easily. Some are caught up with this world so much that they would rather oblige pagan desire than to follow the authentic sunnah of the Prophet (PBUH) by completely refraining from innovation (Shirk) The choice is open; either to choose eternal bliss in exchange to the limited life on earth.

---

Those who follow the true Message of Islam are known as MUSLIMS. Wahabi, Sufi, Shia and some others are misnomers. In the Islamic history Wahabi, Sufi, Shia and some others were mere Schools of Thought. All these Schools of Thought had only a perspective or an interpretation according to their understanding. Long after the Death of these Scholars; the followers created their own version with their political masters. Some of these groups have strayed away completely from the Core Values of Islam. While some others who identify themselves by any other than Muslim, will be representing these political entities and their leaders interest to control wealth and power. Some of these leaders will tie up with the Devil. Muslims have a specific purpose in Life on earth. Most of them know it and pursue to the best of their ability. The term for those Muslim who deviate are KNOWN as THE KHAWARIJS.

The basic message of Islam is the same message of all the previous prophets (peace be upon all of them) worship God alone and avoid worshipping anything besides Him, whether it is a person, place or thing, directly or indirectly. This basic principle of Monotheism is contained in the opening chapter of the Quran, known as Surah al-Fathiha, verse 4: “You alone we worship and from you alone we do seek help.” In (4:37), Allah also said: “Worship Allah and do not associate partners with Him.” The last Prophet (PBUH) is reported to have said: Anyone who says: 'There is no god worthy of worship except Allah' and dies holding that belief sincerely will be eventually granted paradise.

---

A man reached 70 years of age and was affected by a disease which made him unable to urinate. The doctors told him that he needs an operation to cure the disease. He agreed to do the operation as the problem was giving him severe pain for days. When the operation was completed the doctor gave him a bill which covered all the costs. After looking at the bill, the man started crying. Upon seeing this, the doctor said "If the cost is too high then we could make some other arrangements for you." The old man replied, "I am not crying because of the money but I am crying because Allah let me urinate for 70 years and He never sent me a bill!"

Subhan'Allah! We rarely thank Allah for these things which are indeed great favours. Let us ask Allah to grant us the ability to recognise His bounties and thank Him often.

And He giveth you of all ye ask of Him, and if ye would count the bounty of Allah ye cannot reckon it. Lo! man is verily a wrong-doer, an ingrate. (The Noble Quran 34:34)

---

Islam promotes upbringing children to be courageous with no arrogance or disrespect. It was reported that Omer may Allah be pleased with him came across a group of young boys plying. When they saw this great Caliph, they all ran away except one. Out of curiosity, Omer approached him and asked him why he didn’t run like the others. The boy said: I haven’t done anything wrong to fear you and the road is not narrow to make way for you! Omer was impressed by the courage and politeness of this boy. No wonder, his father is Azzubair Ibn Alwwam, one of the ten heaven-bound comanions. His mother is Asma, the daughter of Abu Bakr and the sister of Aisha, my Allah be pleased with them all. He was Abdullah Ibn Azzubair. May Allah make our children like him!

---

It is never the sinner that one should hate, but only the sin; for the essence of all humanity is a soul created in submission to its Creator. Whether that soul acknowledges this on a conscious level or not is a matter of grace, and this understanding enables us to look at others with compassion.

---

Know that repentance is key, mindfulness of Allah is vast, and uprightness is the source of rectification. Meanwhile, a servant is never free of blunders, shortcomings or lassitude. Therefore, never be neglectful of repentance; never be remiss in your return to Allah; and never neglect acts that bring you closer to Allah. Indeed, any time you are remiss in fulfilling any of these three duties, still repent and return; anytime you err, hear and obey; anytime you fall short or burn out, do not give up.

---

Islam is defined as being ‘submitting to the Will of God, with peace; which is an expression of respect to all of humanity. In Islam, all human beings are entitled to dignity, regardless of who they are and what beliefs they hold; The Noble Quran declares that justice is Divine and should not be subject to prejudices, tribal biases, or subjective desires; In Islam, true faith is incompatible with compulsion; Islam has no mediator between God and humanity; hence, there is no divine clergy or hierarchy with any authority to act on behalf of God. Islam confirms and upholds the teachings of Abraham, Moses, Jesus, Mohammed; peace and blessings be upon them all. In Islam, no one has the right to claim they represent God or hold the absolute interpretation of His word nor His intent except Prophet Muhammed (pbuh) during his life time.’ Some Muslims may not practice it. However, this is the message of Islam in its essence.

Tariq Maeena

---

It has been said that the enemies that are waging a relentless war against our hearts are four: the ego, Satan, our whimsical desires, and the world itself. The most dangerous of these enemies is the ego. The soul in its unrefined, unconstrained, immature state is the ego. That it is the more dangerous than even Satan is illustrated by the fact that during Ramadan, Satan and his dupes are chained up. The Prophet, peace upon him, mentioned, “When Ramadan arrives the gates of Paradise are flung open, the gates of Hell are slammed shut, and the Satans are shackled.” However, there are people who engage in the most egregious sins during Ramadan. How could this be when Satan and his dupes are shackled? We are taught that those sins emanate from the ego.

---

Equality of Men and Women

The Quran makes it clear that Women and Men are equal in the eyes of God

One of the most misunderstood areas in Islam is that of the position of women in the religion. The general perception in the West is that Muslim women are subjugated and almost seen as property. While not all Muslims deal with women as inferior, this is unfortunately true in some segments of the Muslim world and this treatment is supposedly justified by the religion. However, when we look at the basis of the religion, the Quran, we see a very different picture. In the Quran God makes it very clear that men and women are equal.

[3:195] Their Lord responded to them: "I never fail to reward any worker among you for any work you do, be you male or female - you are equal to one another. Thus, those who immigrate, and get evicted from their homes, and are persecuted because of Me, and fight and get killed, I will surely remit their sins and admit them into gardens with flowing streams." Such is the reward from GOD. GOD possesses the ultimate reward.

[4:124] As for those who lead a righteous life, male or female, while believing, they enter Paradise; without the slightest injustice.

Guaranteed Happiness Now and Forever

[16:97] Anyone who works righteousness, male or female, while believing, we will surely grant them a happy life in this world, and we will surely pay them their full recompense (on the Day of Judgment) for their righteous works.

Equality of Men and Women

[33:35] The submitting men, the submitting women, the believing men, the believing women, the obedient men, the obedient women, the truthful men, the truthful women, the steadfast men, the steadfast women, the reverent men, the reverent women, the charitable men, the charitable women, the fasting men, the fasting women, the chaste men, the chaste women, and the men who commemorate GOD frequently, and the commemorating women; GOD has prepared for them forgiveness and a great recompense.

[40:40] Whoever commits a sin is requited for just that, and whoever works righteousness - male or female - while believing, these will enter Paradise wherein they receive provisions without any limits.

The Only Criterion For Distinguishing Among The People

[49:13] O people, we created you from the same male and female, and rendered you distinct peoples and tribes, that you may recognize one another. The best among you in the sight of GOD is the most righteous. GOD is Omniscient, Cognizant.

How is it that such clear verses can be ignored? Why are women treated so poorly in some Muslim communities? The answer lies in the fact that those communities take other sources besides the Quran as the basis of their religion. There are many Hadith that denigrate women. Also the pre-Islamic cultures of much of the Muslim world did not value women and had little use for them. The following verses demonstrate this fact:

When one of them gets a baby girl, his face becomes darkened with overwhelming grief. Ashamed, he hides from the people, because of the bad news given to him. He even ponders: should he keep the baby grudgingly, or bury her in the dust. Miserable indeed is their judgment.(16:58-59)

When one of them is given news (of a daughter) as they claimed for the Most Gracious, his face is darkened with misery and anger! (They say,) "What is good about an offspring that is brought up to be beautiful, and cannot help in war?" (43:17-18)

Such attitudes can still be seen among some Muslims. Contrast this with the attitude and practice of the prophet Muhammad himself as demonstrated by his willingness to debate with a woman about her husband:

GOD has heard the woman who debated with you about her husband, and complained to GOD. GOD heard everything the two of you discussed. GOD is Hearer, Seer. (58:1)

One does not debate with someone who is inferior, you simply tell him or her what to do. Muhammed (PBUH) also spoke with his wives as equals, though they were not always worthy of his trust:

The prophet had trusted some of his wives with a certain statement, then one of them spread it, and GOD let him know about it. He then informed his wife of part of the issue, and disregarded part. She asked him, "Who informed you of this?" He said, "I was informed by the Omniscient, Most Cognizant." (66:3)

It is clear from these verses that Muhammed (PBUH) dealt with women equitably, in spite of the culture that surrounded him. Thus, in his own life he demonstrated the equality of men and women just as he preached it from the Quran.

As culture affects the way women are perceived and treated in Muslim communities, it affects things in the Western world. It is significant that in the Bible God is referred to with the masculine pronoun and called Father. No wonder that in the West God is thought of as being masculine. This is not the case in the Quran, however. God is without gender in the Quran. Why should God have a gender when all He needs do is say “Be” and it is?

In Appendix Four of his translation Quran: The Final Testament, Dr. Rashad Khalifa indicates that perhaps one of the reasons God chose to reveal the Quran in Arabic is the very fact that “he” and “she” do not necessarily imply natural gender. This is similar to the use of pronouns in Spanish. Thus, though the masculine pronoun may be used to refer to the sun in Spanish as el sol, that in no way makes the sun a male. This same principle is true in Arabic.

And there is another more dramatic example of how the Quran demonstrates women’s equality in contrast to Biblical tradition. In the Quran it is clear that Adam and Eve are equally guilty for listening to Satan. The fall of mankind from the Garden of Eden is not blamed on Eve. This is shown more than once in the Quran (2:34-36, 7:19-22, 7:27). Here is just one example:

The devil whispered to them, in order to reveal their bodies, which were invisible to them. He said, "Your Lord did not forbid you from this tree, except to prevent you from becoming angels, and from attaining eternal existence." He swore to them, "I am giving you good advice." He thus duped them with lies. As soon as they tasted the tree, their bodies became visible to them, and they tried to cover themselves with the leaves of Paradise. Their Lord called upon them: "Did I not enjoin you from that tree, and warn you that the devil is your most ardent enemy?" (7:20-22)

Throughout these verses, God refers to both Adam and Eve as being tempted by and giving in to Satan. Thus we see that God makes it clear that men and women are equal. He directly tells us in verses, He shows us in examples from the Quran of His prophet, and He counteracts the cultural bias of language and tradition. For those who read the Quran there is no excuse—men and women are equal.

---

An Amazing Universe

When we look around us and even within us we are amazed at the many innumerable and wonderful systems and processes that keep everything in this world functioning. These amazing, countless and wonderful systems and processes can be observed by looking out to space, studying earth’s atmosphere, observing what is on land, what is below land and even what is within us.

The objects, the bodies, the systems the processes each one of them amazing, and the beauty of it all is that each of these are actually working together, we could even describe them as synchronized and working in concert.

In fact we would even observe that each of these is in need of each of the others. They are inter-related. Each one depending on the others, each one in their own way directing the others and even in a way each one energizing the others! Actually there are so many billions of such objects bodies systems and processes it is just impossible to describe them in mere words. But then everyone who has lived knows what I mean.

From the day we are born, as we gradually grow older our curiosity is aroused by all these phenomena around us. And since curiosity is hard coded into us, we cannot but help ask many questions. We find answers to some of these questions, but then to many others we just cannot fathom out ‘Why?’

Human beings right through the centuries have been seeking answers to these questions.

Two approaches to seeking

There are two approaches that are used; What are those two approaches?

The first is, where we look around, see the wondrous systems and processes working around us, observe, investigate and study these systems and then come to the conclusion or the theory that everything we see, every process and system around us is planned and created by miraculous design. We realise that everything simply everything is meticulously managed and is in the complete control of some great & majestic but hidden power. And that indescribable power is the one whom we refer to as GOD.

The second is where we look around see the wondrous systems and processes working around us, observe, investigate and study these systems and then come to the conclusion or the theory that everything around us is running on its own. There is no God.

They attribute everything to nature and explain the present circumstances as a continuously evolving process. This conclusion or theory is known as naturalism.

So the two approaches for seeking the answers are that of those who believe that everything happens through GOD and the other of those who believe that everything happens through nature, and that there is no evidence of God.

The Theists & the Atheists

The first group could be referred to as religionists. The second group could be referred to as atheists. There is one more group, a sort of an in-between grouping, who says ‘We cannot for sure say there is a God or that there isn’t. We have to be convinced’ This group is referred to as the agnostics.

To believe that there is a GOD and then to seek is actually more exciting, because this belief itself demands that in our learning we should seek out the rationale, the logic, the sequence and the objectives and purposes of everything.

So returning to the original question, from the day we are born as we gradually grow older we begin to ask many questions. We find answers to some of these questions and we just cannot fathom out the answers to others. That does not mean we give up.

Right through the history of civilization, Man has been seeking the answers to these questions.

What are these questions?

They are generally referred to as the fundamental questions of life.

The fundamental questions regarding life

There are 100s of them. Let me list out a few;

Who am I?

What am I doing on Earth?

Why am I alive?

What is the purpose of my life?

What happens when I die?

What was I or where was I before I was born?

Is there a God?

How did life begin?

And so on and so on.

There are 100’s of such questions and each question leads on to so many other questions.

When we analyze these questions we realise that what we are seeking for is what we could describe as the ‘Truth’

The answer we are seeking has to be a great truth.

It has to be a great enlightening truth. Otherwise it cannot be a satisfactory answer.

The 4 categories of ‘Truths’

Now truth itself can be categorized.

Let me describe 4 categories of truth.

1. Scientific Truth – This is probably the most established and easily understood type of truth. This type of truth is also referred to as empirical truth because it is based on evidence that can be measured.

2. The Time Referred or Historical Truth – This is based on documents or archeological evidence that can be used to prove that a particular event took place in the past.

3. Moral Truth – This is when we might know what is right or wrong but we are not necessarily able to prove it.

4. Spiritual Truth – This is where people believe in a particular religious authority and follow it.

Through their religious faith they discover the ‘real truth’, a truth that comes from God. Naturalists or those who deny the central role of God, depend heavily or almost exclusively on scientific and historical truths. They want tangible evidence. They want evidence that can be measured.

Those who base their seeking on the belief in one God depend more on moral truths and spiritual truths.

That is why I say that ‘To believe that there is a GOD and then to seek is actually more exciting’ because now in our seeking we use ‘the humaneness’ within us.

Naturalists are academic.They need hard facts, tangible evidence and measurable readings. They seek in the way machines could be programmed to seek. Religionists on the other hand use their moral conscience as well as their spiritual conscience to derive and to seek. This concept of morality and spirituality are unique to humans only. We do not find or detect these faculties in other animals.

Spirituality

Let me list out some points that would describe or explain to us what this spirituality really is;

1. It is our spirituality that generates our emotions such as love, hurt, anger, sadness and joy.

2. It is our spirituality that enables us to recognize and cherish special moments in our lives such as falling in love, encountering beauty and danger.

3. It is our spirituality that enables us to recognize value and appreciate relationships.

4. It is our spirituality that provides for us the feelings of awe, wonder and even mystery.

5. It is our spirituality that enables us to seek out the meaning in life

6. It is our spirituality that enables us to express our feelings in and for art, music, drama and literature.

7. It is our spirituality that provides for us those feelings of duty, responsibility towards others as well as valuing and caring for our environment.

8. Finally, it is our spirituality that drives and sustains the curiosity to explore important questions.

So in our search for the truths we have now accepted two important concepts;

The first concept is that there is a God who has created everything. God cannot be seen, but then everything we see surrounding us or even within us, the systems and processes working miraculously, are all impeccable and are all pointers or evidence of this most powerful most wise and most beneficial God.

The second concept is that in searching for the truths we need to utilize the concepts of morality and spirituality. But then just accepting these two concepts do not answer those questions. We have accepted that there is a God, but then that accepting does not provide for us the answers to the multifarious questions we ask about God. Similarly we have accepted that in seeking out the truths we would recognize and utilize the tools of morality and spirituality to discern truth form decorations or from false hood.

But then accepting these concepts does not magically deliver to us the many answers. So then what would be the next important step to seeking out the answers to the many fundamental questions?

The role or the functions of religions

This is the role or function played by religions. By accepting that there is a God and accepting that we must use our sense of morality and our spirituality

we have actually placed ourselves at the doorstep of religions. It is the religions that provide us the pointers that reinforce our belief in God along with all His attributes.

It is the religions that teaches us right morality

It is the religions that guide us to spirituality. Now when we make those statements, we can immediately sense a question that people are going to pose. This is a question that has been troubling me all my life. In fact I am sure many of you would say, ‘This question has been troubling us too. We just did not know how to ask and how to seek’

So I am really quite pleased that through our seeking we have now come to a juncture where we could ask and seek the answers to questions that were earlier ‘un-ask-able’.

What is that question?

It has to be explained. Let me explain the question through a list of points.

1. We say that we are seeking the truth.

2. By definition of the truth, there can be only one truth

3. Thus the answer that describes the truth can only be one answer

4. The truth cannot be a set of different answers to different people.

5. If it is a set of different answers to different people then it cannot be the truth.

6. Then why is it that different religions give different answers?

7. If religions explain the truth then every religion should be the same, if there are any differences it should be just cosmetic differences. These minor differences could be due to the geographical location that this religion was revealed in or due to the practices of the time it was revealed in.

However, other than for these minor, what I call cosmetic differences, the core truth of all true religions should be the same.

Why is it not so?

All global religions were introduced by the original leader of that religion.

For example;

Buddhism was introduced by Buddha.

The Religion of the Jews was introduced by Prophet Moses Christianity was introduced by Jesus Christ and Islam by Prophet Muhammed, peace and blessings be upon them all. Each of these original leaders presented teachings that satisfactorily answered the fundamental questions that people had always been asking.

People or those followers who listened to the teachings or the message espoused by these leaders were completely ‘wowed’ and their lives took on a dramatic turn. These followers of each original leader of each religion were well satisfied, both morally and spiritually that their quest for the truth had taken new meaning. They devoted the rest of their lives in fulfilling the now realised purposes of their lives and in delivering this message to others who were in turn thirsting for this knowledge.

But then today we do not see those scenes that describe the events, when the truth is explained. We do not see scenes where people say;

‘I have now, to my satisfaction discovered or realised the answers to many fundamental questions, and it is through this religion that I have been given direction’ We do not see or hear that.

What I see in modern day ‘Religions’

Let me describe what I now see in the different religions. In beliefs in rituals and in practices they are very diverse. Religions by definition would be the path to enlightenment, the path to knowledge, the path to guidance. The opposite of truth is falsehood. The words or the qualities associated with this

falsehood are dogmas, blind belief, cult behavior, irrationality, intolerance, false veneration, superstition, holier than thou attitudes and even terrorism in the name of religion or in the name of truth, and even sectarianism.

How could this be?

Surely this is not truth or even the way to truth? This is not enlightenment? How did this come about? And then none of the religions, as we understand today even attempt to give satisfying answers to very fundamental questions.

Let me describe a very fundamental question that has troubled me and I am sure is troubling many of us. Our problem is that we do not know how to voice this question and how to seek the answers, the answers that truly satisfy. Whilst describing the search for truth, as I mentioned earlier, we have accepted two important concepts.

What are they?

1. That there is a GOD

2. That we must use our moral conscience and our spiritual senses to seek out the truths.

Now every religion tells us about God.

When we accept that everything happens through the planning and designing of God then we also accept that everything has a purpose. So the Universe has a purpose, the Earth has a purpose, there is a purpose for life, there is a purpose for death and most importantly there is a purpose for my life.

One of the most important truths that I am searching for is the answer to the fundamental question,

‘Why am I alive?’

What happens ‘after death’?

Another important fundamental question is, ‘What happens after death?’

Both these are very reasonable questions that any human being who believes in God would ask. Now it is logical to believe that being good is a fundamental ingredient of life. The question we can ask here is how do you define good, or what are the criteria or the ingredients of this expected goodness. Now every religion also tells us that our life does not end with death, but that after death there is another life, and the condition of that other life depends on how we live this life.

So we are told that if we are good we would go to heaven and if we are evil, then we would go to hell. Now hell is not an uncomfortable room! The most horrible of punishments are doled out to the inmates of hell. In fact one of the punishments is that the hell dwellers would be eternally burnt. Now that is a terrible punishment.There are many factors in this punishment that makes us think, ‘that is not just’ That is very unfair.

A person lives on this earth for maybe 60 to 70 years. Then why should he be burnt in hell fire for forever and forever?

Is this not very unjust?

Is this not very unfair?

We have a sense of wrong and right. We agree that sometimes people who do wrong have to be punished. The punishments that we approve of are fines, imprisonment and death sentence. We would never dream of burning a person alive. Everybody would scream ‘unjust’ if someone was being burnt as a punishment.

Then we say that God is very just. We say that God is very merciful. We say that God is very forgiving. And then we also say that God is going to punish some people by sentencing them to hell die forever and forever.

What is this terrible thing that this person has done to deserve being sentenced to hellfire for forever and forever?

Surely these beliefs are very contradictory?

How could it be?

How could I accept this as one of the fundamental truths?

We cannot make it out.

Actually all religions explain this justice, and if we realize the criterion for this justice then we too would begin to realize ‘Oh, this is the sin that these people are committing’ We would recognize this sin and we too would agree that this sin is so terrible that this sinner has to be sentenced to Hellfire for forever and forever.

What is this sin?

What should we not learn through religions?

Religions do not teach us dogmas.

Religions do not teach us blind beliefs.

Religion teaches us through realization, through opening our senses, through rationally, logically and sensibly pursuing the instructions given to us by each of the original leaders of religions. If we say there is only one truth then it follows that all these messages all these instructions have to be similar and related. They have to be ‘pointers to’ they have to be ‘instructions to’ they have to be describing ‘the real and only truths’

The original leaders of all these true religions sought out and understood those truths.

Their sincere followers too sought out and understood those truths. Then why is it that we are unable to understand those truths? Why is it that we do not even have an inkling as to how we should even begin seeking out the answers to these fundamental questions and fundamental truths? Are we not following the same teachings? Or are we?

That would really be the next most important question we should seek an answer to before trying to seek out answers to the other fundamental questions.

The question;

‘Are we following the religion as instructed by the original leader of our religion?’

Important question isn’t it?

Let me now describe to you what I call a clue, which would open our eyes to the fact as to whether we are following our religion as instructed by the original leader of our religion. When we look around and observe the teachings of our religion or even of other religions we would gradually realize that each of our religions is actually being practiced in 3 models.

There are 3 versions of each religion

There is the religion of the scripture.

Then there is the religion of the preacher.

And finally we have the religion of the practitioner – that is you and me.

By name it is one religion.

But in fact it is actually 3 religions or 3 models of the same religion.

So we ask the question ‘What has happened, how did we end up with these three models?’

Initially there was the scripture which is the original message of the original leader of that religion. Then as time went on each generation whilst seeking out the answers began to write out their views. All these views, by whomsoever it has been written are all actually commentaries on the scripture. Generation by generation these commentaries were being built on. One built on the other. So we had writings or commentaries based on earlier commentaries, which in turn were based on earlier commentaries, which in turn were based on earlier commentaries and so on, ultimately ending with the scripture. But then as this process of building upon commentaries upon commentaries progressed, the message in the scriptures took on a new direction. Obviously these new developments obscured the pointers to the truth.

So today, because we prefer ‘the commentaries built on commentaries’ model to the ‘original scriptures’, we find that many of the concepts that should have been clear to us have now become obscure. That is why we follow a model of our religion that is now being described as a set of dogmas, blind belief, cult behavior, irrationality, intolerance, false veneration, superstition, holier than thou attitudes and even terrorism in the name of religion or in the name of truth, and even sectarianism.

What should we learn through religions?

It is through religion that we seek or learn the truth. But then have we not converted or transformed these religions from being the pointers or the way to the truth to an art of obscuring the truth? Remember that each of our religions is actually available in 3 models.

There is the religion of the scripture.

Then there is the religion of the preacher.

And finally we have the religion of the practitioner – that is you and me.

It is time we returned to the unencumbered, unfettered, un-obscured, readings or seeking’s as described only only only in the scriptures. Only then would we learn the truth. May Allah Ta’aalah guide us all and accept us all.

---

The true strength of a believer lies in the strength of his or her connection to Allah. That connection is in turn nurtured by our devotional acts. We must strive to engage in a consistent regimen of devotional acts if we are to see our connection to, and the depth of, our communion with God increase. This includes our prayer, fasting, zakah, supplication and invocations. Be consistent in conveying our obligatory prayers on time and try not to miss the highly encouraged voluntary prayers associated with them.

---

Shaykh Saleh Al Fowzan said:

The meaning of having knowledge here is that the person takes it from the scholars, they memorize it, and they understand it and they comprehend it. This is knowledge.

Knowledge is not that a person simply reads or freely reads, as some people say title it. This is not knowledge (this is not studying). Real knowledge is that the person takes it from the people of knowledge, and that they memorize, understand, and comprehend .This is the true (manner of) seeking of knowledge.

As for reading, skimming through books and reading them, this is not sufficient as studying. Even though there is some good present in it, it’s not sufficient. It’s not permissible that a person is only a student of books, as we see during our present time. Because if a person is self-taught (only reads books) then this is something which is very dangerous, this individual will bring about much evil because being self-taught is worse than the ignorant person. The individual who is ignorant he knows he’s ignorant and he stops at the limits. As for the who is self taught, this individual feels he is knowledgeable, and because of this , he makes haram which Allaah has made halal and he makes halal that which Allah has made haram. Likewise, this individual speaks about Allaah ‘Azza Wa Jal without knowledge, and this is a dangerous affair!

The Shaykh goes on to explain that knowledge is not only taken from books but, it is taken from the Ulemah. A person should not limit himself to taking from books; books are only a means. The reality of knowledge is that it’s taken from the scholars, generation after generations, but books are only a means of support and help. The true knowledge is taken from the scholars.

---

If the son of Adam dies, his actions cease except 3: A continuous charity, or knowledge which people benefit from, or a righteous son who supplicates for him. (Saheeh Muslim)

Indeed the continuous charity can possibly discontinue (due to funds depleting, etc.), and the righteous son may pass away. As for beneficial knowledge, its benefit will continue and not cease, and the person will continue to gain reward (after his death).

This is certainly one of the reasons why knowledge is more superior to other righteous deeds.

Source: At Ta’leek al Qaweem ‘ala Kitaab Iqtidaah al Siraltul Mustqeem pg. 22

Translator’s note: In addition to what was mentioned above we also gain the following benefits:

Knowledge which other people benefit from is a reason why other people (who are not related to the person responsible for teaching the knowledge) will supplicate for him in addition to the righteous son. If a Muslim dies, the norm is that only his family and friends will supplicate for him. In the case of a scholar, or person who has taught others, those who have benefitted from him will also supplicate for him after his death. It is for this reason why we still supplicate for the great Imam’s of the past; the likes of Imam al Bukhari رحمه الله, Imam Muslim رحمه الله, Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal رحمه الله and others. We also supplicate for the scholars of present days, the likes of Sheikh ‘Abdul ‘Azeez bin Baaz رحمه الله, Sheikh ‘Uthaymeen رحمه الله, Sheikh Al Albaani رحمه الله, Sheikh Muqbil رحمه الله and others. We even supplicate for Islamic teachers who have passed away in more recent times, the likes of Abu Uwais رحمه الله and Abu Talhah رحمه الله. Thus, it is clear how knowledge is more superior to other righteous deeds.

As it relates to the righteous son, it is also possible that the person’s son (or daughter) deviate from the straight path (no longer practices Islam), and consequently, their supplications are no longer accepted from them.

---

The manhaj (methodology) of the Salaf is to adhere to the Noble Quran and the authentic Sunnah as understood by the Salaf as-Salih.

The word Salaf is a shortened version of the word 'Salaf as-Salih', which means the 'Righteous Predecessors'.

It refers specifically to the first three generations of Islaam in which the Prophet Muhammed (صلى الله عليه وسلم) described as being the best generations of Muslims. The first, the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) and his Sahabah (companions). The second, the Tabi'een (the followers of the companions). The third, the Taba'at-Tabi'een (the followers of the followers of the companions).

Generally, this term refers to all those pious predecessors who followed the way of the Salaf and who have preceded us in time. This is the true manhaj of Ahl as-Sunnah wa al-Jama'ah.

Be a Salafee upon the path; upon the way of the Salaf as-Salih; the companions, may Allah be pleased with them, and those who followed their footsteps in all aspects of the religion; from At-Tawheed, acts of worship and the likes; distinguished by adherence to the narrations of Allah’s Messenger and implementing the Sunan upon ourself while abandoning disputing, argumentation and delving deep into theological rhetoric and that which brings about sins and hinders one from the legislation.

On the authority of Ibn ‘Abbaas, may Allah be pleased with him, who said: The Prophet (pbuh) said: “Let not fear of the people prevent one of you from speaking the truth if he knows it. Reported by Ahmad, Ibn Maajah, At-Tirmidhee, and Ibn Abee Ad-Dunyaa reported it within Al-Amr bil-Ma’roof wan-Nahy ‘Anil-Munkar

---

THE ISLAMIC METHOD OF SLAUGHTERING ANIMALS

The Islamic method of slaughtering animals, known as Zabiha has been the object of much criticism from a large number of people. Before I reply to the question, let me relate an incidence about a discussion between a Sikh and a Muslim regarding animal slaughter. one may consider the following points, which prove that the Zabiha method is not only humane but also scientifically the best.

(1)• Islamic method of slaughtering animal Zakkaytum is a verb derived from the root word Zakah (to purify). Its infinitive is Tazkiyah which means purification. The Islamic mode of slaughtering ananimal requires the following conditions to be met:

(a)• The animal has to be slaughtered with a sharp object (knife) and in a fast way so that the pain of slaughter is minimised.

(b)• The ‘slaughtering’ is to be done by cutting the throat, windpipe and the blood vessels in the neck causing the animal’s death without cutting the spinal cord.

(c)• The blood has to be drained completely before the head is removed. The purpose is to drain out most of the blood which would serve as a good culture medium for micro organisms. The spinal cord must not be cut because the nerve fibres to the heart could be damaged during the process causing cardiac arrest, stagnating the blood in the blood vessels.

(2)• Blood is a good media of germs, bacteria, toxins, etc. Therefore the Muslim way of slaughtering is more hygienic as most of the blood containing germs, bacteria, toxins, etc. that are the cause of several diseases are eliminated.

(3)• Meat slaughtered by Islamic way remains fresh for a longer time due to deficiency of blood in the meat as compared to other methods of slaughtering.

(4)• Animal does not feel pain. The swift cutting of vessels of the neck disconnects the flow of blood to the nerve of the brain responsible for pain. Thus the animal does not feel pain. While dying, the animal struggles, writhers, shakes and kicks, not due to pain, but due to the contraction and relaxation of the muscles defecient in blood and due to the flow of blood out of the body.

---

Most people get married believing a myth that marriage is a beautiful box full of all the things they have longed for; Companionship, intimacy, friendship etc. The truth is, marriage at the start is an empty box, we must put something in before we can take anything out. There is no love in marriage, love is in people, and people put love in marriage. There is no romance in marriage, we have to infuse it into our marriage. A Muslim couple must learn the art, and form the habit of giving, loving, serving, praising, of keeping the box full. If we take out more than you we in, the box will be empty.

---

Repair all of those things we need for the journey to the Hereafter. Our tongue in order; Our prayer in order, stock up on night prayer, Quran recitation, and litanies. If our voluntary fast is like a rusty ship that has not been out on the water for a long while, tune up the engine, paint the hull, scrape off the barnacles and resume using that ship.

---

The attainment of health and happiness requires the right mental conditioning. Mental conditioning is not mere surface beliefs. It is something we think about constantly and it motivates and guides our life objectives. Thoughts must be aligned with health and healing. One must feel good and be motivated about working, saving and investing. One's neuro-patterns must be programmed for action and behaviour that lead to good health. One must have supportive mental patterns for healing and sustaining of good health.

The fastest way to happiness is to model after Prophet Muhammed (PBUH). Model what works. We do not have to re-invent the wheel. We do not have to start from scratch. We can replicate Prophet Muhammed (PBUH)and follow his authentic sunnah as understood by the Salafs.

---

We bow down in prostration to no one except ALLAH Alone!

We invoke no one else, except ALLAH Alone!

We fear no one else, except ALLAH Alone!

We ask no one for help, except ALLAH Alone!

Everything we have; our lives, our children, our health, our wealth, our guidance, etc. is from no one except ALLAH Alone!

We praise Allah, as all praise is due to ALLAH Alone!

We invoke Allah Alone, as He Alone deserves to be invoked!

We worship our Creator, our Sustainer, our Cherisher, our Provider, our Helper, our Protector, our Lord, and our Master, ALLAH Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala Alone!

We declare, that there is no worthy of worship except ALLAH Alone and we declare that Muhammad (pbuh) is His slave servant and the seal of His Messenger.

---

We should not exalt ourselves above others nor see ourselves as being too good to mingle with the poor and downtrodden masses. This is one of the beautiful aspects of our religion; it forces us to mingle with people from all social classes. In the congregational prayer we do not know, nor can we control if we are standing next to a prince or a pauper. The same is true of the Hajj. To ensure harmonious relations with the many types and classes of people that the religion facilitates us dealing with we should try our best to accommodate people and to meet them at their level. This is essential for us if we wish to be good ambassadors for Islam. However, in so doing we should avoid hypocrisy, being two-faced and engaging in unjustified compromises.

---

The scholars say: if you want to know your position at the side of Allah on the Day of Judgment, look at Allah’s status in your heart. Some of us put their wives ahead of everything, including their parents and claim they love them! Some value their friends, their cars, their jobs and their own whims and desires above Allah! Nothing of these things would ever last. It is a well-known fact: whoever loves something, he will be tortured by it. Yet, whoever loves Allah more than anything else, Allah would make him the happiest person in this life and in the hereafter. These blessed ten days are a good start to evaluate your love to Allah. They are the best days of the whole year. If Allah is on the top of your priority list, offer as many good deeds as you can and stay away from sins as much as possible. If you fail to do this in these beloved days, you are most likely bound to fail throughout the whole year. Now you shall know your position at the side of Allah. O Allah make up better than what people think of us, conceal what they don’t know of us and don’t burden us with what they say about us!

---

A human body can bear only 45 (units) of pain. But at the time of giving birth, a mother feels up to 57 (units) of pain... This is similar to 20 bones getting fractured, all at the same time!!

This just to tell us the extent to which a mother loves her child! 'Love your mother till the end of your life. The lady with whom you fight almost everyday, suffered so much pain just to give you a beautiful life! Allah accepts DUA of a mother.

---

Dear Parents

How do you expect kids to listen to you when this is what you let them grow up watching...

* Tarzan lives half naked,

* Cinderella comes home at midnight,

* Pinocchio lies all the time,

* Aladdin is the king of thieves,

* Batman drives at 200 mph,

* Romeo and Juliet commit suicide out of love,

* Harry Potter uses witchcraft,

* Mickey and Minnie are more than just friends,

* Sleeping Beauty is lazy,

* Dumbo gets drunk and hallucinates,

* Scooby Doo gives nightmares,

* and Snow White lives with 7 guys.

We shouldn't be surprised when they misbehave, they get it from their storybooks and cartoons you let them watch!

We should instead be teaching them stories like

* Abu Bakr (radiyAllahu Anhu)'s loyalty and undying service for his master,

* Umar ibn Khatthab (radiyAllahu Anhu)'s love for justice and tolerance,

* Uthman ibn Affan (radiyAllahu Anhu)'s level of shyness and modesty,

* Ali ibn Abi-Talib (radiyAllahu Anhu)'s show of courage and bravery,

* Khalid ibn Waleed (radiyAllahu Anhu)'s desire of combating evil,

* Fatima bint Muhammad (radiyAllahu Anha)'s love and respect to her father,

* Sallahuddin Al-Ayubi (rahimuhullah)'s conquest of "the promised land",

and much much more...

---

The testimony of our religion lies in our character. Are we patient when inflicted with adversity? Are we truthful in our dealings? Are we faithful in all of our relationships with Allah, with ourselves, and with our fellow humans? These are the types of questions we need to be asking; for they are the types of questions that push us towards the attainment of higher moral and ethical standards.

---

The basic message of Islam is the same message of all the previous prophets: worship God alone and avoid worshipping anything besides Him, whether it is a person, place or thing, directly or indirectly. This basic principle of Monotheism is contained in the opening chapter of the Quran, known as Soorat al-Fathiha, verse 4: “You alone we worship and from you alone we do seek help.” In (4:37), Allah also said: “Worship Allah and do not associate partners with Him.” Muhammed, the last Prophet (mercy and peace of Allah be upon him) is reported to have said: “Anyone who says: There is no god worthy of worship except Allah, and dies holding that belief will be granted paradise.”

---

One of the most corrupting influences in modern societies is music. Popular songs contain lyrics that openly encourage fornication, adultery, prostitution, vile and thuggish behavior, drug and alcohol consumption, devil worship and a plethora of other vices. As Muslims we should be in the forefront of efforts to turn back this scourge, which is rooted in the sinister exploitation of people’s lower desires for huge profits.

If we move beyond the overtly corrupting messages of such music, we find that most of our young people have been reduced to music consumers who spend countless hours listening to music—with no consideration as to the nature of the message. This destructive pattern of consumption wastes valuable time that could be used learning and memorizing the Qur’an, studying other aspects of sacred knowledge, arming oneself with the knowledge needed to help the Muslims compete in the modern world, or doing some constructive good for humanity at large.

The Prophet, peace upon him, mentioned, “There are two blessings that most people are cheated out of: their health and their spare time.” In our society there is nothing that cheats people out of their spare time like music, with the exception of television.

---

Interest based banks are our contemporary vampires. They suck the last fils of their victims. Complex debts of individuals have rocketed sky high. People borrow with interest through banks or credit cards to purchase what they need and what they don’t need. Our Prophet Muhammed (PBUH) told us that interest (Riba) is destined to demolish even if it is a lot. When the credit crunch showed its ugly face, all banks fell except the Islamic financing system. Islam came with a solution and among the best of solutions is interest free loans. Islam encourages Muslims to lend others and rewards it generously. The Prophet (PBUH) told us that whoever lends an amount of money twice, Allah will reward him as if he’s given it to charity once. So, you lend 10,000 Dirhams twice and you get it back and Allah rewards you as if you had given AED 10,000 to charity. Let us assume we gave money to someone and he failed to pay it back on the deadline and asked for another deadline. If we agree, Allah will reward us the full amount in charity; AED 10,000 in our good deeds’ record book. The astonishing thing is, if he failed again to meet the dead line and asked for more time and we agree, Allah will grant us for every day, the equivalent of that amount in sadaqah! This means that we$ are giving away in charity AED 10,000 daily until he gives it back to us. Allahu Akbar.

---

In France after picking groceries in the supermarket, a Niqabi sister stood in the line to pay.

After a few minutes, her turn came up at the checkout counter.

The checkout girl was a non-Hijaabi Arab Muslim girl, began to scan the items of the Niqabi sister one by one, and after a while looked at her with arrogance and said: ”We have many problems in this country & your Niqab is one of them!

We, ...immigrants, are here for trade and not to show our Deen or history! If you want to practice your Deen and wear Niqaab then go back to your Arab country and do whatever you want!!"

The Niqaabi sister stopped putting her grocery in the bag and lifted up her Niqaab…

The checkout girl was in total shock. The Niqabi girl who was blonde with blue eyes told her: "I am a French girl, not an Arab immigrant. This is my country and THIS IS MY ISLAM.

You born Muslims sold your Deen and we bought it from you!"

---

Shakespeare said, "Theres a tide in the affairs of men".

We have an opportunity to tell others about Islam. We have the tools, so we have to be creative. If we can't do it ourself, empower others who can. This is not to proselytize others, it is to teach.

Be pious people, be good people, don't cheat the system, be exemplars, use yur wealth for good. Life is short, we are growing old before our eyes, we need to work now to protect our children. Don't ignore the winds that are blowing. It is Allah (swt) that is waking us up and we'll have no-one to blame but ourselves. Empower ourself and one another.

May Allah (swt) protect our home, our family, make our land safe. May Allah bring these leaders to an understanding so they leave people alone. May Allah give those in authority wisdom, may Allah make us people of the Qur'an, may He forgive all of our sins, restore peace and order, and make us leaders in our community. May He protect the people and make us callers to peace.

In the end, this world is a place of turmoil, may Allah (swt) make us people of the peace in the akhirah, Ameen.

---

“I was only sent to perfect noble character,” said Prophet Muhammed, (PBUH) declared as a “mercy to all the worlds.”

The Prophet Muhammed, (PBUH) was born into this world on solar month of April 9th, 570, A.D. in the lunar month of Rabi’a al-Awwal, Thursday 17, 54 B.H. The religion of the Arabs at the time was a hodge podge of superstition, divination and idolatry.

His overwhelming magnanimity of character led to a mass conversion among the citizens of Makkah. Even Abu Sufyan, his archenemy, embraced the religion of the Prophet. (PBUH)

In a period of twenty-three years Muhammed, (PBUH) had succeeded in uniting a feuding people trapped in cycles of violence into one people with a sense of destiny and a mission that would transform the world.

He elevated the low, and he lowered the elevated that they might meet in that middle place known as brotherhood. He infused in them a love of learning, unleashing a creative power that would lead to some of the most extraordinary scientific breakthroughs in human history.

Muslims feel so incredibly grateful and blessed to have come to know him and to learn from him. A day of our life has not gone by that we haven’t felt indebted to him for the wisdom he has given us in making sense of our life and our world.

Every day our love for Muhammed, (PBUH) increases. Like the vast majority of my fellow believers across the world and through times, he is, indeed, the Beloved—the Praised One.

---

Six year old boy decided one morning to make pancake for his parents. He found a big bowl and spoon; He pulled a chair to the counter, opened the cupboard and pulled out the heavy flour canister, spilling it on the floor.He scooped some of the flour into the bowl with his hands, mixed in most of a cup of milk and added some sugar, leaving a floury trail on the floor which by now had a few tracks left by his kitten. He was covered with flour and getting frustrated. He wanted this to be something very good for his parents, but it was getting very bad. He didn’t know what to do next, whether to put it all into the oven or on the stove, (and he didn’t know how the stove works!). Suddenly he saw his kitten licking from the bowl of mix and reached to push her away, knocking the egg carton to the floor. Frantically he tried to clean up all mess but slipped on the eggs, getting his pajamas white and sticky.And just then he saw Dad standing at the door. Big tears came in the boys eyes. All he did wanted to do was something good, but he did made a terrible mess. He was sure a scolding was coming, maybe even a spanking. But his father just watched him. Then, walking through the mess, he picked up his crying son, hugged him and loved him.

Moral of Story: That’s how Allah (SWT) deals with us. We try to do something good in life, but it turns into a mess. Our marriage gets all sticky or we insult a friend or we can’t stand our job or our health goes sour. Sometimes we just stand there in tears because we can’t think of anything else to do. That’s when Allah (SWT) picks us up and loves us and forgives us. But just because we might mess up, we can’t stop trying to “make pancakes” Sooner or later we will get it right, and then they will be glad to see that we atleast tried… ”Success is not permanent and failure is not final. So, never stop working after success and never stop trying after failure.”

---

Ibn Taimiyah said: you may see someone who happens to be the brightest and smartest of all, yet he can’t see the truth let alone follow it. At the same time, you may find someone who is not bright at all, yet he is guided to the light of Islam. This shows you that whoever depends on his wit and intellect, he will be misguided. That is why, I feel sorry for those atheists or agnostics who doubt the existence of Allah and the perfection of this universe. They chose not to be guided due to their arrogance and hence Allah didn’t guide them. Allah says: “Verily! You (O Muhammad) guide not whom you like, but Allah guides whom He wills. And He knows best those who are the guided.” Praise be to Allah for guiding us to the truth and may Allah make us steadfast on it till we die.

---

Muslims want courage and justice but they don't want temperance and prudence.

The four virtues relate to the four "humours" in the human body. Physical sickness is related to spiritual sickness and when these four are out of balance, spiritual and moral sickness occurs.

So when courage is the sole virtue, you no longer have prudence.You are acting courageously but imprudently and it's no longer courage but impetuousness. It appears as courage but it is not. A person who is morally incapable of controlling his appetite has incontinence and thus he cannot be prudent nor courageous because part of courage is to constrain oneself when it is appropriate. Imam al Ghazali says that courage is a mean between impetuousness and cowardice.

The same is true for incontinence. The person who has no appetite is not a temperate person but an impotent person and that's also a disease. Someone may have immense business acumen but uses it to accumulate massive amounts of wealth. That is not a prudent person but a crafty or clever person. Prudence is a mean between the extremes of stupidity and craftiness or what the Arabs call maakir. The maakir is the one who is afflicted with the same condition that has afflicted Iblis the maakir, the clever.

The interesting point to note about the four virtues is that you either take them all or you don't take them at all. It's a packaged deal.There is a strong argument among moral ethicists that justice is the result of the first three being in perfect balance.

---

To Muslims, the evidences of the existence of a Creator are beyond count. It is so obvious and so clear to anyone who is objective. However, there are few who may be bright and witty yet their intellect had failed them. The arrogant feel like they are on the top of a mountain, wondering how small and tiny others look, as if they were ants. The funny thing is that this is exactly how others perceive them; small and tiny! Allah says: “I shall turn away from My verses of the Qur'an those who behave arrogantly on the earth, without a right”. Allah asked two questions that puzzled all atheists: were you created by no one or did you create yourself? Don’t let your pride choke you and come back to your senses before it is too late.

---

On twitter, he has 15,000 followers. In What’s up, more than a thousand. On Facebook, he has 5,000 friends and a staggering 50,000 subscribers. At work, he has more than 200 colleagues. In real life, his contacts on the phone reach a thousand. In real calamities and times of hardship, he only has two people he can depend on. In his grave, he has no one with him except his deeds, good or bad and he is on his own.

---

Pain - there is some type of disquietude in the body to let us know it is not fulfilling its function. So if suddenly we have got the pain in our liver and the physician says we have got hepatitis. That pain is to let us know that the function has been disrupted.

The same is true for the soul. If we are not fulfilling our function, which is to worship Allah, testify to His oneness and to behave accordingly then we will be in pain and suffering until we come into accordance to the Will of Allah.

That is a gift from Allah in the same way that pain, signs and symptoms, are gifts for people so they can go to a physician and get well.

---

In Islam, we don’t have what is known today as the stage of “adolescence”. Nowhere in Islam would find any mentioning of this phase! A child, whether a male or female, once reaching the age of puberty, he or she becomes an adult. If you look in our history, you will find that boys from 14 to 18 fought battles and led armies. For example, the Prophet salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam sent an army led by Osama Ibn Zaid who was less than 18 years of age to fight the Byzantium Empire. Boys were allowed to fight with the Muslims if they exceeded 15 years. The Prophet salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam would sometimes admit boys who were a year younger when they would pin down older boys. People today make this phase an excuse and a justification for doing anything that is against Islam or morality. This has caused a major setback in how Muslims think and behave. In western societies, one can get away with murder if he is under 18. Rarely would you find a family that would support a 15-year-old boy in marrying a 12-year-old girl. This is a crime and rape in some countries but it is OK if they have a sexual relationship, as this is what normal kids do! Check the rate of abortion among schoolgirls at this age due to such freedom. Islam gives solutions to problems. Arrogance in the hearts of disbelievers blinds their sight and judgment, as they would never admit it!

---

When some people talk, they believe they add value when they do so, not knowing that they only expose their ignorance and arrogance. Men love to talk about marriage and women as it expresses their machismo. A man known of marrying many women said proudly once in a gathering: a woman is like a shoe, you change one every now and then. People thought that his statement was distasteful as they all have daughters and sisters. They turned to an elder who was sitting quietly asking him for his opinion. He addressed that man saying: this is true only if you look at yourself as a foot! However, if you consider yourself as a king, she can only then be your crown. This remains on your head as long as you reign! The Prophet salla Allahu alaihi wa sallam said: the best of you are those best to your wives.

---

When justice is tempered with mercy

An Indonesian judge by the name of Marzuki was sitting in judgment of an old lady who pleaded guilty of stealing some tapioca from a plantation. In her defense, she admitted to the judge that she was indeed guilty of the crime because she was poor and her son was sick while her grandchild was hungry.

The plantation manager insisted that she be punished as a deterrent to others. The judge going through the documents then looked up and said to the old lady, “I’m sorry but I cannot make any exception to the law and you must be punished.”

The old lady was fined Rp. 1 million (USD 100) and if she could not pay the fine then she will be jailed for 2 and a half years as demanded by the law. She wept as she could not pay the fine. The judge then took off his hat and put in Rp. 1 million into the hat and said “In the name of justice, I fine all who are in the court Rp. 50 thousand (USD 5.50) as dwellers of this city for letting a child to starve until her grandmother has to steal to feed her grandchild.

The registrar will now collect the fines from all present.” The court managed to collect Rp 3.5 million (USD 200) whereby once the fine was paid off, the rest was given to the old lady including the fine collected from the plantation manager.

---

In one day a human being breathes oxygen equivalent to three cylinders of oxygen. Each oxygen cylinder on an average costs $22.

So in a day one uses Oxygen worth $66 and for a full year it is $24,090. If we consider an average life span of 70 years; the costs of oxygen we use become a staggering sum of 1.68 Million Dollars.

And throughout our life this uninterruped supply of oxygen is derived free. In spite of receiving all this oxygen free of cost from God; we are still so ungrateful to him!!

There are so many gifts of God which we take for granted, that we don’t even take notice of it. List some blessings of God which we don’t even notice and take it for granted !!!

---

A British man came to Sheikh and asked: Why is it not permissible in Islam for women to shake hands with a man?

The Sheikh said: Can you shake hands with Queen Elizabeth?

British man said: Of course not, there are only certain people who can shake hands with Queen Elizabeth.

Sheikh replied: our women are queens and queens do not shake hands with strange men.

---

A Westerner asked the Sheikh: Why do your girls cover up their body and hair?

The Sheikh smiled and got two sweets, he opened the first one and kept the other one closed. He threw them both on the dirty floor and asked the Westerner: If I asked you to take one of the sweets which one will you choose?

The Westerner replied: The covered one.

The Sheikh said: that’s how we treat and respect our women.

---

Questioner: Can your Lord fit the entire universe into an egg without making the egg any bigger and the universe any smaller?

Sheikh: I would like you to look at the sky, and at that bird in the sky, and at that tree, and at all those people who have gathered around us and now look at me.

Questioner: I see them all.

Sheikh: If Allah can fit all of those things inside the tiny pupil of your eye, do you think that he cannot fit the universe into an egg?

HUMANITY

Tuesday 17 June 2014

Islamic Wisdom

No comments:

Post a Comment