Salam :)
Recently, there has been a trend online amongst Muslims on Twitter and Facebook about the Perks of Being a Muslim. We found this to be quite brilliant because it reminds us and makes us proud of many different reasons why it is better to be a Muslim. Sometimes living in the west can be hard, especially when the media portrays the Muslim lifestyle and religion as being undesirable. Although we know it's not true, the comments can still hurt sometimes.
The Perks of Being a Muslim not only reminds us why Islam is the best religion in the world, but some comments even tell us why being a Muslim has its perks in the Western world. Comments from Muslims range from being funny, for example a Hijabi sister wrote, "Perks of Being a Muslim: I never have to worry about a bad hair day" and "Always being warm in the winter" to more thoughtful ones like "Knowing there is more to life than the Duniya" and "Knowing Someone is always there when no one else is".
We found a cute story online about a Perk of Being a Muslim from the FUNdamentalist Muslim Blog and thought we would share it with you guys http://bonsaisky.wordpress.com/2012/01/06/perks-of-being-a-muslim/
We hope you enjoy it and feel free to tell us what is your idea of a "Perk of Being a Muslim"in the comments section below :)
Showing posts with label muslims. Show all posts
Showing posts with label muslims. Show all posts
Friday, December 21, 2012
Thursday, December 6, 2012
Finals!
Finals? Stressed? Ask Allah for help!
After your prayers recite "Rabbi Zidni Ilman" 7 times to ask Allah to give you wisdom.
Recite "Rabi shrahli sadri wa ya sirli amri wah'lul ukdatan-minli sani, yafkahu qouli." to make your work easy
Below is a link with the Arabic verses so you can recite it more clearly :) May Allah (swt) grant us all knowledge and iman and make us all successful in our exams and tests! Ameen ♥
After your prayers recite "Rabbi Zidni Ilman" 7 times to ask Allah to give you wisdom.
Recite "Rabi shrahli sadri wa ya sirli amri wah'lul ukdatan-minli sani, yafkahu qouli." to make your work easy
for you and to remove impediments from your speech so others may understand you.
And Recite "Allah-huma ini as-aluka ailman nafi-a wa-aamalan mutaqabala wa rizqan tayaba" to ask Allah for knowledge and provisions which are pure and beneficial
And Recite "Allah-huma ini as-aluka ailman nafi-a wa-aamalan mutaqabala wa rizqan tayaba" to ask Allah for knowledge and provisions which are pure and beneficial
Below is a link with the Arabic verses so you can recite it more clearly :) May Allah (swt) grant us all knowledge and iman and make us all successful in our exams and tests! Ameen ♥
http://members.multimania.co.uk/AshrafS/Knowledgeduas.sana.htm
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
The great virtue of lowering the gaze
Allah, the Exalted said, "Say to the believing men that they should lower their gaze and guard their private parts; that will make for greater purity for them. Indeed Allah is well acquainted with all that they do." [an-Nur (24):30]
So Allah made purification and spiritual growth to be the outcome of lowering the gaze and guarding the private parts. It is for this reason that lowering ones gaze from (seeing) the prohibited things necessarily leads to three benefits that carry tremendous value and are of great significance.
The First: Experiencing the Delight and Sweetness of Faith
This delight and sweetness is far greater and more desirable that which might have been attained from the object that one lowered his gaze from for the sake of Allah. Indeed, "whosoever leaves something for the sake of Allah then Allah, the Mighty and Magnificent, will replace it with something better than it."[1]
The soul is a temptress and loves to look at beautiful forms and the eye is the guide of the heart. The heart commissions its guide to go and look to see what is there and when the eye informs it of a beautiful image it shudders out of love and desire for it. Frequently such inter-relations tire and wear down both the heart and the eye as is said:
When you sent your eye as a guide
For your heart one day, the object of sight fatigued you
For you saw one over whom you had no power
Neither a portion or in totality, instead you had to be patient.
Therefore when the sight is prevented from looking and investigating the heart finds relief from having to go through the arduous task of (vainly) seeking and desiring.
Whosoever lets his sight roam free will find that he is in a perpetual state of loss and anguish for sight gives birth to love (mahabbah) the starting point of which is the heart being devoted and dependant upon that which it beholds. This then intensifies to become fervent longing (sabubah) whereby the heart becomes totally dependant and devoted to the (object of its desire). Then this further intensifies and becomes infatuation (gharamah) which clings to the heart like the one seeking repayment of a debt clings firmly to the one who has to pay the debt. Then this intensifies and becomes passionate love (ishk) and this is a love that transgresses all bounds. Then this further intensifies and becomes crazed passion (shaghafa) and this is a love that encompasses every tiny part of the heart. Then this intensifies and becomes worshipful love (tatayyuma). Tatayyum means worship and it is said: tayyama Allah i.e. he worshipped Allah.
Hence the heart begins to worship that which is not correct for it to worship and the reason behind all of this was an illegal glance. The heart is now bound in chains whereas before it used to be the master, it is now imprisoned whereas before it was free. It has been oppressed by the eye and it complains to it upon which the eye replies: I am your guide and messenger and it was you who sent me in the first place!
All that has been mentioned applies to the heart that has relinquished the love of Allah and being sincere to Him for indeed the heart must have an object of love that it devotes itself to. Therefore when the heart does not love Allah Alone and does not take Him as its God then it must worship something else.
Allah said concerning Yusuf as-Siddiq (AS), "Thus (did We order) so that We might turn away from him all evil and indecent actions for he was one of Our sincere servants." [Yusuf (12): 24]
It was because the wife of al-Aziz was a polytheist that (the passionate love) entered her heart despite her being married. It was because Yusuf (AS) was sincere to Allah that he was saved from it despite his being a young man, unmarried and a servant.
The Second: The Illumination of the Heart, Clear Perception and Penetrating Insight
Ibn Shuja al-Kirmani said, "whosoever builds his outward form upon following the Sunnah, his internal form upon perpetual contemplation and awareness of Allah, he restrains his soul from following desires, he lowers his gaze from the forbidden things and he always eats the lawful things then his perception and insight shall never be wrong."
Allah mentioned the people of Lut and what they were afflicted with and then He went on to say,
"Indeed in this are signs for the Mutawassimin." [al-Hijr (15): 75]
The Mutwassimin are those who have clear perception and penetrating insight, those who are secure from looking at the unlawful and performing indecent acts.
Allah said after mentioning the verse concerning lowering the gaze,
"Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth." [an-Nur (24): 35]
The reason behind this is that the reward is of the same type as the action. So whosoever lowers his gaze from the unlawful for the sake of Allah, the Mighty and Magnificent, He will replace it with something better than it of the same type. So just as the servant restrained the light of his eye from falling upon the unlawful, Allah blesses the light of his sight and heart thereby making him perceive what he would not have seen and understood had he not lowered his gaze.
This is a matter that the person can physically sense in himself for the heart is like a mirror and the base desires are like rust upon it. When the mirror is polished and cleaned of the rust then it will reflect the realities (haqaaiq) as they actually are. However if it remains rusty then it will not reflect properly and therefore its knowledge and speech will arise from conjecture and doubt.
The Third: The Heart Becoming Strong, Firm and Courageous
Allah will give it the might of aid for its strength just as He gave it the might of clear proofs for its light. Hence the heart shall combine both of these factors and as a result, Shaytan shall flee from it. It is mentioned in the narration, "whosoever opposes his base desires, the Shaytan shall flee in terror from his shade."[2]
This is why the one who follows his base desires shall find in himself the ignominy of the soul, its being weak, feeble and contemptible. Indeed Allah places nobility for the one who obeys Him and disgrace for the one who disobeys Him,
"So do not lose heart nor fall into despair; for you must gain mastery if you are true in faith." [Ali Imran (3): 139]
"If any do seek for nobility and power then to Allah belongs all nobility and power." [Faatir (35): 10]
Meaning that whosoever seeks after disobedience and sin then Allah, the Might and Magnificent, will humiliate the one who disobeys Him.
Some of the salaf said, "the people seek nobility and power at the door of the Kings and they will not find it except through the obedience of Allah."
This is because the one who obeys Allah has taken Allah as his friend and protector and Allah will never humiliate the one who takes his Lord as friend and patron. In the Du`a Qunoot their occurs, "the one who You take as a friend is not humiliated and the one who You take as an enemy is not ennobled."[3]
Notes:
[1] Reported by Ahmad [5/363], al-Marwazi in "Zawaid az-Zuhd" [no. 412], an-Nasa'i in "al-Kubra" as mentioned in "Tuhfah al-Ashra" [11/199] from one of the Companions that the Messenger of Allah (SAW) said, "indeed you will not leave anything for the sake of Allah except that Allah will replace it with something better than it." The isnad is saheeh.
[2] This is not established as a hadeeth of the Prophet .
[3] Reported by Abu Dawood [Eng. Trans. 1/374 no. 1420], an-Nasa'i [3/248], at-Tirmidhi[no. 464], ibn Majah [no. 1178], ad-Darimi [1/311], Ahmad [1/199], ibn Khuzaymah [2/151] from al Hasan from Ali (RA).
The hadith is sahih. The isnad has been criticised by many, however none of the criticisms hold. Refer to: "Nasb ar-Rayah"[2/125] and "Talkhis al-Habi" [1/247]
Ibn Qayyim al Jawziyyah
Friday, August 12, 2011
Salah: Life's forgotten purpose
Yasmin Mogahed:
Man has taken many journeys throughout time. But there is one journey that nobody has ever taken.
Nobody—except one.
On a vehicle no man has ever ridden, through a path no soul has ever seen. To a place no creation has ever before set foot. It was the journey of one man to meet the Divine. It was the journey of Muhammad ﷺ, prophet of God, to the highest heaven.
It was al Israa wal Miraaj (the magnificent journey).
On that journey Allah took his beloved prophet ﷺ to the seventh heaven—a place not even angel Gibreel could enter. In the Prophet’s mission on earth, every instruction, every commandment was sent down through angel Gibreel. But, there was one commandment that was not. There was one commandment so important, that rather than sending angel Gibreel down with it, Allah brought the Prophet ﷺ up to Himself.
That commandment was salah (prayer). When the Prophet ﷺ was first given the command to pray, it was to be fifty times in a day. After asking Allah to make it easier, the commandment was eventually reduced to five times a day, with the reward of the fifty.
Reflecting upon this incident scholars have explained that the process of going from fifty to five was a deliberate one, intended to teach us the true place salah should hold in our lives. Imagine for a moment actually praying fifty times a day. Would we be able to do anything else but pray? No. And that’s the point. What greater way than that to illustrate our life’s true purpose? As if to say, salah is our real life; all the rest that we fill our day with…just motions.
And yet, we live as if it’s exactly the opposite. Salah is something we squeeze into our day, when we find time—if that. Our ‘lives’ don’t revolve around salah. Salah revolves around our ‘lives.’ If we’re in class, salah is an afterthought. If we’re at the mall, the Macy’s sale is more urgent. Something is seriously wrong when we put aside the very purpose of our existence in order to watch a basketball game.
And that is for those who even pray at all. There are those who have not only put aside their life’s purpose, they have abandoned it completely. What we often don’t realize about the abandonment of salah is this: No scholar has ever held the opinion that committing zina (fornication) makes you a disbeliever. No scholar has ever held the opinion that stealing, drinking or taking drugs makes you a disbeliever. No scholar has even claimed that murder makes you a non-Muslim. But, about salah, some scholars have said he who abandons it, is no longer Muslim. This is said based on ahadith such as this one: “The covenant between us and them is prayer, so if anyone abandons it, he has become a disbeliever.” [Ahmad]
Imagine an act so egregious that the Prophet ﷺ would speak about it is such a way. Consider for a moment what satan did wrong. He didn’t refuse to believe in Allah. He refused to make one sajdah. Just one. Imagine all the sajdahs we refuse to make.
Consider the seriousness of such a refusal. And yet, think how lightly we take the matter of salah. Salah is the first thing we will be asked about on the Day of Judgment, and yet it is the last thing that is on our mind. The Prophet ﷺ said: “The first thing which will be judged among a man’s deeds on the Day of Resurrection is the Prayer. If this is in good order then he will succeed and prosper but if it is defective then he will fail and will be a loser.” [Tirmidhi]
On that Day, the people of paradise will ask those who have entered Hell-fire, why they have entered it. And the Qur’an tells us exactly what their first response will be: ”What led you into Hell Fire? They will say: ‘We were not of those who prayed.’” (Qur’an, 74:42-43)
How many of us will be among those who say “we were not of those who prayed, or we were not of those who prayed on time, or we were not of those who made prayer any priority in our lives?” Why is it that if we’re in class or at work or fast asleep at the time of fajr and we need to use the restroom, we make time for that? In fact, the question almost sounds absurd. We don’t even consider it an option not to. And even if we were taking the most important exam of our lives, when we need to go, we will go. Why? Because the potentially mortifying consequences of not going, makes it a non-option.
There are many people who say they don’t have time to pray at work or school, or while they’re out. But how many have ever said they don’t have time to go to the bathroom, so while out, at work or school have opted instead to just wear Depends? How many of us just don’t feel like waking up at Fajr time if we need to use the bathroom, and choose instead to wet our bed? The truth is we’ll get out of bed, or leave class, or stop work, to use the bathroom, but not to pray.
It sounds comical, but the truth is we put the needs of our body above the needs of our soul. We feed our bodies, because if we didn’t, we’d die. But so many of us starve our souls, forgetting that if we are not praying our soul is dead. And ironically, the body that we tend to is only temporary, while the soul that we neglect is eternal.
Man has taken many journeys throughout time. But there is one journey that nobody has ever taken.
Nobody—except one.
On a vehicle no man has ever ridden, through a path no soul has ever seen. To a place no creation has ever before set foot. It was the journey of one man to meet the Divine. It was the journey of Muhammad ﷺ, prophet of God, to the highest heaven.
It was al Israa wal Miraaj (the magnificent journey).
On that journey Allah took his beloved prophet ﷺ to the seventh heaven—a place not even angel Gibreel could enter. In the Prophet’s mission on earth, every instruction, every commandment was sent down through angel Gibreel. But, there was one commandment that was not. There was one commandment so important, that rather than sending angel Gibreel down with it, Allah brought the Prophet ﷺ up to Himself.
That commandment was salah (prayer). When the Prophet ﷺ was first given the command to pray, it was to be fifty times in a day. After asking Allah to make it easier, the commandment was eventually reduced to five times a day, with the reward of the fifty.
Reflecting upon this incident scholars have explained that the process of going from fifty to five was a deliberate one, intended to teach us the true place salah should hold in our lives. Imagine for a moment actually praying fifty times a day. Would we be able to do anything else but pray? No. And that’s the point. What greater way than that to illustrate our life’s true purpose? As if to say, salah is our real life; all the rest that we fill our day with…just motions.
And yet, we live as if it’s exactly the opposite. Salah is something we squeeze into our day, when we find time—if that. Our ‘lives’ don’t revolve around salah. Salah revolves around our ‘lives.’ If we’re in class, salah is an afterthought. If we’re at the mall, the Macy’s sale is more urgent. Something is seriously wrong when we put aside the very purpose of our existence in order to watch a basketball game.
And that is for those who even pray at all. There are those who have not only put aside their life’s purpose, they have abandoned it completely. What we often don’t realize about the abandonment of salah is this: No scholar has ever held the opinion that committing zina (fornication) makes you a disbeliever. No scholar has ever held the opinion that stealing, drinking or taking drugs makes you a disbeliever. No scholar has even claimed that murder makes you a non-Muslim. But, about salah, some scholars have said he who abandons it, is no longer Muslim. This is said based on ahadith such as this one: “The covenant between us and them is prayer, so if anyone abandons it, he has become a disbeliever.” [Ahmad]
Imagine an act so egregious that the Prophet ﷺ would speak about it is such a way. Consider for a moment what satan did wrong. He didn’t refuse to believe in Allah. He refused to make one sajdah. Just one. Imagine all the sajdahs we refuse to make.
Consider the seriousness of such a refusal. And yet, think how lightly we take the matter of salah. Salah is the first thing we will be asked about on the Day of Judgment, and yet it is the last thing that is on our mind. The Prophet ﷺ said: “The first thing which will be judged among a man’s deeds on the Day of Resurrection is the Prayer. If this is in good order then he will succeed and prosper but if it is defective then he will fail and will be a loser.” [Tirmidhi]
On that Day, the people of paradise will ask those who have entered Hell-fire, why they have entered it. And the Qur’an tells us exactly what their first response will be: ”What led you into Hell Fire? They will say: ‘We were not of those who prayed.’” (Qur’an, 74:42-43)
How many of us will be among those who say “we were not of those who prayed, or we were not of those who prayed on time, or we were not of those who made prayer any priority in our lives?” Why is it that if we’re in class or at work or fast asleep at the time of fajr and we need to use the restroom, we make time for that? In fact, the question almost sounds absurd. We don’t even consider it an option not to. And even if we were taking the most important exam of our lives, when we need to go, we will go. Why? Because the potentially mortifying consequences of not going, makes it a non-option.
There are many people who say they don’t have time to pray at work or school, or while they’re out. But how many have ever said they don’t have time to go to the bathroom, so while out, at work or school have opted instead to just wear Depends? How many of us just don’t feel like waking up at Fajr time if we need to use the bathroom, and choose instead to wet our bed? The truth is we’ll get out of bed, or leave class, or stop work, to use the bathroom, but not to pray.
It sounds comical, but the truth is we put the needs of our body above the needs of our soul. We feed our bodies, because if we didn’t, we’d die. But so many of us starve our souls, forgetting that if we are not praying our soul is dead. And ironically, the body that we tend to is only temporary, while the soul that we neglect is eternal.
Monday, August 8, 2011
The Muslims Belief
Messengers of Allah:
Allah has many messengers. The first messenger is Adam (as) and the last is Muhammad (pbuh). All messengers are created human beings and don’t have the divine qualities that Allah does. We believe that Allah ended all his messages with Muhammad’s message which was “Say O mankind, I am Allah’s messenger to you all. To him belongs the kingdom of the heavens and the earth; there is no god but He. He ordains life and death. So believe in Allah and his messenger, the unlettered prophet who believes in Allah and his words. Follow him so that you may be rightly guided”.
A beautiful composition by Lina Rahguzar,
Grade 8
Allah has many messengers. The first messenger is Adam (as) and the last is Muhammad (pbuh). All messengers are created human beings and don’t have the divine qualities that Allah does. We believe that Allah ended all his messages with Muhammad’s message which was “Say O mankind, I am Allah’s messenger to you all. To him belongs the kingdom of the heavens and the earth; there is no god but He. He ordains life and death. So believe in Allah and his messenger, the unlettered prophet who believes in Allah and his words. Follow him so that you may be rightly guided”.
A beautiful composition by Lina Rahguzar,
Grade 8
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Why do we fast?
Q: Why do Muslims fast?
A: There are 3 main reasons why a Muslim fasts during Ramadan.
1) Muslims fast during Ramadan, firstly, because it is the fourth pillar of Islam, and Allah (swt) ordered us to do so. "...fasting is prescribed for you (Muslims)..." (2:183) and " Ramadan is the month in which the Quran was sent down as a guide to humanity, and to provide clear signs for guidance and judgment. So whoever witnesses the month of Ramadan should fast through it..." (2:185).
By fasting, we get to feel they way the poor and hungry feel; it reminds us, when we forget, that our brothers and sisters go through this pain much too often, and so our hearts become softened, and we become more generous.
2) We learn to control ourselves - mentally and physically. Fasting is not limited to abstaining from food and drink - we also abstain from lying, foul language, sexual activity, medicine (unless it is necessary), etc. By keeping away from these things, we learn to control our desires. We learn to be in charge of our bodies rather than to let our bodies be in charge of us. Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) once remarked "Whoever does not give up lying and acting on lies during fasting, then Allah has no need of him giving up food and drink." - Bukhari
3) Fasting is healthy for the mind body and soul. When we stop over feeding our bodies, and fast, "our body initiates it's own healing mechanisms, and any ailment may show improvement." - allaboutfasting.com. We constantly over work our bodies by over eating - and just like when we get tired from over working all day then set aside small matters for another day - our body does like wise. Because it is estimated that 65% of the body's energy must be directed to the digestive organs after a heavy meal - fasting is like a vacation for our bodies! With the extra energy your body has, when it is not busy digesting a meal, it begins to heal and work on other areas of the body such as repairing cells and detoxing. Antiaging effects, weight loss, clear skin and clarity (of the mind and soul) are just some of the many benefits of fasting!
A: There are 3 main reasons why a Muslim fasts during Ramadan.
1) Muslims fast during Ramadan, firstly, because it is the fourth pillar of Islam, and Allah (swt) ordered us to do so. "...fasting is prescribed for you (Muslims)..." (2:183) and " Ramadan is the month in which the Quran was sent down as a guide to humanity, and to provide clear signs for guidance and judgment. So whoever witnesses the month of Ramadan should fast through it..." (2:185).
By fasting, we get to feel they way the poor and hungry feel; it reminds us, when we forget, that our brothers and sisters go through this pain much too often, and so our hearts become softened, and we become more generous.
2) We learn to control ourselves - mentally and physically. Fasting is not limited to abstaining from food and drink - we also abstain from lying, foul language, sexual activity, medicine (unless it is necessary), etc. By keeping away from these things, we learn to control our desires. We learn to be in charge of our bodies rather than to let our bodies be in charge of us. Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) once remarked "Whoever does not give up lying and acting on lies during fasting, then Allah has no need of him giving up food and drink." - Bukhari
3) Fasting is healthy for the mind body and soul. When we stop over feeding our bodies, and fast, "our body initiates it's own healing mechanisms, and any ailment may show improvement." - allaboutfasting.com. We constantly over work our bodies by over eating - and just like when we get tired from over working all day then set aside small matters for another day - our body does like wise. Because it is estimated that 65% of the body's energy must be directed to the digestive organs after a heavy meal - fasting is like a vacation for our bodies! With the extra energy your body has, when it is not busy digesting a meal, it begins to heal and work on other areas of the body such as repairing cells and detoxing. Antiaging effects, weight loss, clear skin and clarity (of the mind and soul) are just some of the many benefits of fasting!
Ramadan Dua's: Day 3
ALLAH, on this day, grant me wisdom and awareness, keep me away from foolishness and pretension, grant me a share in every blessing You send down, by You generosity, O the most Generous.
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Ramadan Dua's: Day 2
ALLAH, on this day, take me closer towards Your pleasure, keep me away from Your anger and punishment, grant me the opportunity to recite Your verses (of the Qur'an), by Your mercy, O the most Merciful.
Monday, August 1, 2011
Ramadan Dua's: Day 1
ALLAH, on this day make my fasts the fasts of those who fast (sincerely), and my standing up in prayer of those who stand up in prayer (obediently), awaken me in it from the sleep of the heedless, and forgive me my sins , O God of the worlds, and forgive me, O one who forgives the sinners.
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Ramadan Kareem :)
Wishing you one month of Ramadan,
4 weeks of barakat,
30 days of forgiveness,
720 hours of guidance,
43200 minutes of purification,
... and 259200 seconds of noor!"
Ramadan Kareem to everyone! May Allah forgive us and our familes and keep us on the straight path always. Alhamdullilah Allah has blessed each of us with another year of Ramadan, so let's use it to our full advantage Inshallah :)
Inshallah we will try and update the blog as much as we can during this time.
Please forgive us for any of our mistakes and short comings, only Allah (swt) is perfect.
We hope that you may attain even once piece of knowledge from our blog Inshallah.
Salam,
Aasia and Aalia
Saturday, June 18, 2011
Unity in Islam
Unity is strength. In the words of Professor Maqsood Jafri, when grains of sand come together they form a vast desert and when drops of water come together, they become a boundless ocean. Alhamdulillah in a world of over 6.8 billion people, Islam is comprised of over 1.8 billion followers and is growing rapidly every day. Islam has believers all over the world, in every country, from every background, race and culture; but unfortunately the biggest problem that we see today within the Muslim community is unity.
The biggest goal of Islam is Unity – our teachings all surround unity – and if we are truly believers of Allah, we are supposed to be united. In the words of Prophet Muhammad (saw) The Muslim Ummah is like one whole body, if the eye is in pain the whole body is in pain, if the head is in pain the whole body is in pain, if the limbs are in pain, again, the whole body is in pain. Then why do we not feel pain for the flooding in Pakistan, for the bombings in Palestine, for the devastating reality of Afghanistan, for the massacres in Bosnia, or the more recent violent uprisings in Libya and around the Middle East. The Muslim Ummah is becoming full of disease and is slowly detaching from one another. We need to set aside our small differences and disputes and work together as one.
Allah made the believers as brothers so that they have mercy upon one another; so that they love one another; so that they help one another and support one another. This is how Muslims should be. In Surat Al Imran Ayah 103: Allah (swt) says: “And hold fast, all of you together, to the Rope of Allah (which is Islam) and be not divided among yourselves.” But there is division in Islam, whether it is in a more common form, like Sunnis and Shiites, sects like Sufi’s and Wahabi’s, or cultures from different countries.
In the last khutba of the Prophet Muhammad (saw); he reminded us of exactly this: All mankind is from Adam and Eve, an Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab nor a non-Arab has any superiority over an Arab; also a white has no superiority over black nor a black has any superiority over white except by piety and good action. Learn that every Muslim is a brother to every Muslim and that the Muslims constitute one brotherhood.
We need to remember that the outside world is attacking all Muslims. When they display an act of hatred, they don’t do it to just Sunnis, or just Shiites. They do it to all Muslims. So there they are, attacking us from the outside, while we are busy attacking each other from the inside. And to make things worse, we are clearly letting them know about it. Just look at the twitter, YouTube or face book pages of some Muslims, and you will see the kind of hatred I’m talking about -whether it’s between Sunni’s and Shiites, or Muslims of two different cultures. We need to stop fighting between ourselves and focus on more important things like fighting Islamophobia in the west.
The Unity of Muslim Ummah is not in celebrating Eid on same day throughout the World but rather it is in following the Quran and Sunnah of our beloved prophet Muhammad (saw). If each and every Muslim starts following the Commands of Allah (swt) and the prophet, from Quran and Hadith, then unity among Muslims will prevail by itself.
We want unity, but only if it is on our own terms. But, we have to think realistically – the world can’t work on a give and take basis all the time. As Muslims, we need to give freely without expecting anything in return. If you still can’t digest this notion then think of it in this sense: what you give will be returned to you, if not by the person you helped, surely Allah will return its double to you in this life or the next. And He guarantees this in Surat al Baqara ayat 261 when He says: “The likeness of those who spend their wealth in Allah's way is as the likeness of a grain of corn which grows seven ears, in every ear a hundred grains. Allah gives increase manifold to whom He will. And Allah is All-Sufficient for His creatures' needs”.
No matter how much you tell someone about Islam, they will not believe you if they don’t see you acting on your words. You say Islam is peaceful? Then act like a peaceful Muslim. It’s not that the text is not true, however, more people learn by seeing, than by reading. So when they see you acting like a good Muslim, they will love you and your religion. When they see you acting in a bad way, they not only will turn away from you, they will turn away from your religion. As much as we don’t like to admit it, this is true. And it is exactly what we don’t need if we want to fight negative stereotypes and bring out the truth about the beauty of Islam. So Inshallah it’s about time we start shaping up and fixing our problems from within to create a stable, healthy and united Ummah. We need to start today, with everyone, because the adults of today need to be an example for the children of tomorrow. In Surat al taubah, ayah 71 Allah says: “the believing men and women are awliyah (loyal) to one another”. So be the better person and make up with your friend if you are fighting, stop gossip as soon as it starts, kindle love in the hearts of others for Islam and be a good Muslim. As the Prophet Muhammad (saw) said, "None of you will have faith till he wishes for his (Muslim) brother what he likes for himself."
-MYGA
The biggest goal of Islam is Unity – our teachings all surround unity – and if we are truly believers of Allah, we are supposed to be united. In the words of Prophet Muhammad (saw) The Muslim Ummah is like one whole body, if the eye is in pain the whole body is in pain, if the head is in pain the whole body is in pain, if the limbs are in pain, again, the whole body is in pain. Then why do we not feel pain for the flooding in Pakistan, for the bombings in Palestine, for the devastating reality of Afghanistan, for the massacres in Bosnia, or the more recent violent uprisings in Libya and around the Middle East. The Muslim Ummah is becoming full of disease and is slowly detaching from one another. We need to set aside our small differences and disputes and work together as one.
Allah made the believers as brothers so that they have mercy upon one another; so that they love one another; so that they help one another and support one another. This is how Muslims should be. In Surat Al Imran Ayah 103: Allah (swt) says: “And hold fast, all of you together, to the Rope of Allah (which is Islam) and be not divided among yourselves.” But there is division in Islam, whether it is in a more common form, like Sunnis and Shiites, sects like Sufi’s and Wahabi’s, or cultures from different countries.
In the last khutba of the Prophet Muhammad (saw); he reminded us of exactly this: All mankind is from Adam and Eve, an Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab nor a non-Arab has any superiority over an Arab; also a white has no superiority over black nor a black has any superiority over white except by piety and good action. Learn that every Muslim is a brother to every Muslim and that the Muslims constitute one brotherhood.
We need to remember that the outside world is attacking all Muslims. When they display an act of hatred, they don’t do it to just Sunnis, or just Shiites. They do it to all Muslims. So there they are, attacking us from the outside, while we are busy attacking each other from the inside. And to make things worse, we are clearly letting them know about it. Just look at the twitter, YouTube or face book pages of some Muslims, and you will see the kind of hatred I’m talking about -whether it’s between Sunni’s and Shiites, or Muslims of two different cultures. We need to stop fighting between ourselves and focus on more important things like fighting Islamophobia in the west.
The Unity of Muslim Ummah is not in celebrating Eid on same day throughout the World but rather it is in following the Quran and Sunnah of our beloved prophet Muhammad (saw). If each and every Muslim starts following the Commands of Allah (swt) and the prophet, from Quran and Hadith, then unity among Muslims will prevail by itself.
We want unity, but only if it is on our own terms. But, we have to think realistically – the world can’t work on a give and take basis all the time. As Muslims, we need to give freely without expecting anything in return. If you still can’t digest this notion then think of it in this sense: what you give will be returned to you, if not by the person you helped, surely Allah will return its double to you in this life or the next. And He guarantees this in Surat al Baqara ayat 261 when He says: “The likeness of those who spend their wealth in Allah's way is as the likeness of a grain of corn which grows seven ears, in every ear a hundred grains. Allah gives increase manifold to whom He will. And Allah is All-Sufficient for His creatures' needs”.
No matter how much you tell someone about Islam, they will not believe you if they don’t see you acting on your words. You say Islam is peaceful? Then act like a peaceful Muslim. It’s not that the text is not true, however, more people learn by seeing, than by reading. So when they see you acting like a good Muslim, they will love you and your religion. When they see you acting in a bad way, they not only will turn away from you, they will turn away from your religion. As much as we don’t like to admit it, this is true. And it is exactly what we don’t need if we want to fight negative stereotypes and bring out the truth about the beauty of Islam. So Inshallah it’s about time we start shaping up and fixing our problems from within to create a stable, healthy and united Ummah. We need to start today, with everyone, because the adults of today need to be an example for the children of tomorrow. In Surat al taubah, ayah 71 Allah says: “the believing men and women are awliyah (loyal) to one another”. So be the better person and make up with your friend if you are fighting, stop gossip as soon as it starts, kindle love in the hearts of others for Islam and be a good Muslim. As the Prophet Muhammad (saw) said, "None of you will have faith till he wishes for his (Muslim) brother what he likes for himself."
-MYGA
Monday, June 13, 2011
A brother like that ( or sister :))
Shuaib received a car from his brother as an Eid present. On Eid day when Shuaib came out of his house, a poor street child was walking around the shiny new car, admiring it. “Is this your car, Uncle?” he asked. Shuaib nodded. “My brother gave it to me for Eid.” The boy was astounded.
“You mean your brother gave it to you and it didn’t cost you nothing? Boy, I wish…” He hesitated. Of course Shuaib knew what he was going to wish for. He was going to wish he had a brother like that. But what the lad said jarred Shuaib all the way down to his heels. “I wish,” the boy went on, “that I could be a brother like that.” Shuaib looked at the boy in astonishment, then impulsively he added, “Would you like to take a ride in my automobile?” “Oh yes, I’d love that.”
After a short ride, the boy turned and with his eyes aglow, said, “Uncle, would you mind driving in front of my house?” Shuaib smiled a little. He thought he knew what the lad wanted. He wanted to show his neighbours that he could ride home in a cool car. But Shuaib was wrong again. “Will you stop where those two steps are?” the boy asked. He ran up the steps. Then in a little while Shuaib heard him coming back, but he was not coming fast. He was carrying his little crippled brother. He sat him down on the bottom step, then sort of squeezed up against him and pointed to the car.
“There it is, little brother, just like I told you upstairs. His brother gave it to him for Eid and it didn’t cost him a penny. And some day I’m gonna give you one just like it…then you can see for yourself all the pretty things in the shop windows that I’ve been trying to tell you about.”
Shuaib got out and lifted the boy to the front seat of his car. The shining-eyed older brother climbed in beside him and the three of them began a memorable ride. That Eid, Shuaib learned what the RasulAllah SAW meant when he had said: “Love for your brother what you love for yourself”.
islamicthinking.tumblr.net
“You mean your brother gave it to you and it didn’t cost you nothing? Boy, I wish…” He hesitated. Of course Shuaib knew what he was going to wish for. He was going to wish he had a brother like that. But what the lad said jarred Shuaib all the way down to his heels. “I wish,” the boy went on, “that I could be a brother like that.” Shuaib looked at the boy in astonishment, then impulsively he added, “Would you like to take a ride in my automobile?” “Oh yes, I’d love that.”
After a short ride, the boy turned and with his eyes aglow, said, “Uncle, would you mind driving in front of my house?” Shuaib smiled a little. He thought he knew what the lad wanted. He wanted to show his neighbours that he could ride home in a cool car. But Shuaib was wrong again. “Will you stop where those two steps are?” the boy asked. He ran up the steps. Then in a little while Shuaib heard him coming back, but he was not coming fast. He was carrying his little crippled brother. He sat him down on the bottom step, then sort of squeezed up against him and pointed to the car.
“There it is, little brother, just like I told you upstairs. His brother gave it to him for Eid and it didn’t cost him a penny. And some day I’m gonna give you one just like it…then you can see for yourself all the pretty things in the shop windows that I’ve been trying to tell you about.”
Shuaib got out and lifted the boy to the front seat of his car. The shining-eyed older brother climbed in beside him and the three of them began a memorable ride. That Eid, Shuaib learned what the RasulAllah SAW meant when he had said: “Love for your brother what you love for yourself”.
islamicthinking.tumblr.net
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Ta'leef Collective
Salam Sisters :)
One of my closest teachers and mentors in Islam sent me a link to this really cool website called Ta'leef Collective and it's basically an independant orginization that works to "provide the space, content and companionship necessary for a healthy understanding, embracement and realization of Islam". They help people who are looking into Islam and wishing to convert, as well as young Muslims who find it hard to practice Islam, practice and learn about Islam. They are "a collective of teachers, volunteers, and peers who understand firsthand the challenge of living as Muslims in the west and they strive to provide the necessary means to facilitate that reality."
So please check out their website at this link: Ta'leef Collective Website :) We hope you like it and you find it helpful.
Salam
One of my closest teachers and mentors in Islam sent me a link to this really cool website called Ta'leef Collective and it's basically an independant orginization that works to "provide the space, content and companionship necessary for a healthy understanding, embracement and realization of Islam". They help people who are looking into Islam and wishing to convert, as well as young Muslims who find it hard to practice Islam, practice and learn about Islam. They are "a collective of teachers, volunteers, and peers who understand firsthand the challenge of living as Muslims in the west and they strive to provide the necessary means to facilitate that reality."
So please check out their website at this link: Ta'leef Collective Website :) We hope you like it and you find it helpful.
Salam
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Over Spending
Many Muslim youth around Canada and around the world have trouble dealing with the temptation of overspending. In a hadith narrated by Al-Bukhari and Muslim, the Prophet (Peace be upon him) said, “Allah has prohibited three things: gossip, much questioning and wasting money.”
Overspending can lead to bankruptcy or debt and eventually you will not have enough money to meet your needs. We must recognize the difference between “need” and “want”. Ask yourself, do I really need this or do I simply want it? We should ask ourselves this question every time we attempt to spend money. If we are honest with ourselves, we can make a wise choice and follow through.
Here are four easy steps that will help to decrease overspending:
1) When shopping is necessary, make a list of the things you need to buy.
2) Don’t spend time in a place where it is easy to spend money. If we spend a lot of time at certain places such as malls, cafes and movie theaters, we may be drawn to spend more money. Instead of spending your free time at these places try and go to the park or visit your friends.
3) Give yourself strict income limits. If you have problems controlling your spending, try to create and stick to a weekly budget. Any extra money can be saved in your personal bank account.
4) Avoid impulse buying. If you see something that you would like to buy, try waiting a day before actually buying it. If you really want it, you will come back. This also gives you the chance to find other things that may be better in quality or price.
Keep in mind that spending money in and of itself is not bad, in fact, spending money can be good if we spend wisely. The Prophet commended money when he said, “It is very good that a righteous man has righteous money.” Instead of spending money on useless things, you can spend money on good things such as charity, buying gifts for parents or siblings or using it towards your education and personal development.
Next time you are out shopping with your friends and about to purchase something, stop and think: Is this something I really need?
Written by MAC Youth London's High School Sisters' Youth Group (SYG)
As seen in: MY Voice Online Magazine
Saturday, April 9, 2011
Monday, March 28, 2011
The Quran
If the whole of mankind and Jinn were to gather together to produce the like of this Qur'an, they could not produce the like thereof, even if they backed up each other with help and support. And We have explained to man, in this Qur'an, every kind of similitude: Yet the greater part of men refuse ( to receive it ) except with ingratitude. (Isra 88-89)
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Ayah: Perserverance
Verily, with every difficulty there is relief.
Verily, with every difficulty there is relief.
Qur'an 94:5-6
Our heart goes out to all our Libyan, Moroccan and Yemeni brothers and sisters as well as all the other Muslims striving for change.
May Allah protect them and guide them to victory
Verily, with every difficulty there is relief.
Qur'an 94:5-6
Our heart goes out to all our Libyan, Moroccan and Yemeni brothers and sisters as well as all the other Muslims striving for change.
May Allah protect them and guide them to victory
Thursday, January 6, 2011
My Hijab, My Choice!
A hijab is both the head covering traditionally worn by Muslim women and modest Muslim styles of dress in general. The Hijab, is considered to be an important aspect, of Islamic teachings, which many Muslim women adhere to across the world, The ways Muslim women wear the hijab’s, and the materials used, are often influenced by their cultural backgrounds, and personal preferences.
Hijab has undergone a tremendous transformation, and its popularity in the Muslim world has dramatically increased, over the last 10 years. More and more Muslim women have adopted the Hijab, after re-discovering their faith, and understanding the importance it holds, many women began to recognise, that their traditional dress, did not always follow the correct requirements of hijab, and have therefore adopted the full head and neck coverings, and were sometimes met with fierce opposition as some where banned from schools (Tunisia) Or from taking specific courses and jobs such as TV presenting (Egypt). Despite this the women continued to fight for their rights to follow their religious beliefs and be accepted in to society, and many Muslim women lead successful careers and have achieved their hopes and dreams, not inspite of hijab but because of it. The hijab is now fully welcomed, as well as encouraged in the Muslim world.
Similarly due to the popularisation of hijab in the east and the rise of more scholars many young Muslim women, feel further connected, to their faith, and difficulties in their lifestyles, e.g. recognising drinking, and partying has not been a fruitful lifestyle, has lead them to understand the reasons behind many of the teachings of their faith and investigate until they have come to the conclusion that Hijab is a definite requirement of their faith. It saddens many Muslim women, who have understood the liberating message behind a cloth which proclaims that similarly to men, women have the right to be judged on their thoughts, and ideas, not on their looks, has been met with such fierce opposition, in the western world, as the west claim to be champions of freedom and equality for women. However in an attempt to silence Muslim women, who adopt the Hijab some European countries, have risked going against their own constitutions by banning the hijab (France), whilst claiming to be a force fighting for the freedom of females. The sad and immediate assumption that women, who wear the hijab, are forced and have no voice of their own, or no thoughts about their lifestyle further burdens the Modern Muslim woman, as this contributes to resentment, and frustration, as well as mounting misunderstanding between multicultural societies.
Many Muslims believe in Modesty and self respect, and the hijab is a religious duty, which promises to fulfil those important ideals, and has become a beautiful way, for women to liberate themselves, from societies which demands of them to appear “sexy” and “hot” in order to be well rounded individuals. In the modern world today magazines and posters, encourage young women to be thin, and body image, is emphasised. The hijab represents freedom from these social norms, and in a world where many women are solely judged on their appearance hijab provides a haven, promising that they will be judged on intellect rather, than a beauty which is only skin deep.
Personally the hijab has been an enlightening experience for me, as I strived to fulfil a religious requirement by God, in an effort to be a better Muslim and in turn a better person , perfecting my religious beliefs, and aspiring to please my god and attain a heavenly reward in paradise through following Quranic requirements.
The Hijab, only represents, freedom, to me, freedom of Appearance, and freedom of Faith, as well as freedom from the sometimes cruel world of “fashion”.
By naz from Somalianarab.blogspot.com
Hijab has undergone a tremendous transformation, and its popularity in the Muslim world has dramatically increased, over the last 10 years. More and more Muslim women have adopted the Hijab, after re-discovering their faith, and understanding the importance it holds, many women began to recognise, that their traditional dress, did not always follow the correct requirements of hijab, and have therefore adopted the full head and neck coverings, and were sometimes met with fierce opposition as some where banned from schools (Tunisia) Or from taking specific courses and jobs such as TV presenting (Egypt). Despite this the women continued to fight for their rights to follow their religious beliefs and be accepted in to society, and many Muslim women lead successful careers and have achieved their hopes and dreams, not inspite of hijab but because of it. The hijab is now fully welcomed, as well as encouraged in the Muslim world.
Similarly due to the popularisation of hijab in the east and the rise of more scholars many young Muslim women, feel further connected, to their faith, and difficulties in their lifestyles, e.g. recognising drinking, and partying has not been a fruitful lifestyle, has lead them to understand the reasons behind many of the teachings of their faith and investigate until they have come to the conclusion that Hijab is a definite requirement of their faith. It saddens many Muslim women, who have understood the liberating message behind a cloth which proclaims that similarly to men, women have the right to be judged on their thoughts, and ideas, not on their looks, has been met with such fierce opposition, in the western world, as the west claim to be champions of freedom and equality for women. However in an attempt to silence Muslim women, who adopt the Hijab some European countries, have risked going against their own constitutions by banning the hijab (France), whilst claiming to be a force fighting for the freedom of females. The sad and immediate assumption that women, who wear the hijab, are forced and have no voice of their own, or no thoughts about their lifestyle further burdens the Modern Muslim woman, as this contributes to resentment, and frustration, as well as mounting misunderstanding between multicultural societies.
Many Muslims believe in Modesty and self respect, and the hijab is a religious duty, which promises to fulfil those important ideals, and has become a beautiful way, for women to liberate themselves, from societies which demands of them to appear “sexy” and “hot” in order to be well rounded individuals. In the modern world today magazines and posters, encourage young women to be thin, and body image, is emphasised. The hijab represents freedom from these social norms, and in a world where many women are solely judged on their appearance hijab provides a haven, promising that they will be judged on intellect rather, than a beauty which is only skin deep.
Personally the hijab has been an enlightening experience for me, as I strived to fulfil a religious requirement by God, in an effort to be a better Muslim and in turn a better person , perfecting my religious beliefs, and aspiring to please my god and attain a heavenly reward in paradise through following Quranic requirements.
The Hijab, only represents, freedom, to me, freedom of Appearance, and freedom of Faith, as well as freedom from the sometimes cruel world of “fashion”.
By naz from Somalianarab.blogspot.com
Friday, December 24, 2010
Hadith: Friday's
The Prophet (p.b.u.h) said, "Whoever takes a bath on Friday, purifies himself as much as he can, then uses his (hair) oil or perfumes himself with the scent of his house, then proceeds (for the Jumua prayer) and does not separate two persons sitting together (in the mosque), then prays as much as (Allah has) written for him and then remains silent while the Imam is delivering the Khutba, his sins in-between the present and the last Friday would be forgiven."
Sahih Al Bukhari 2:8
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