ISNA 2009 – Lawung – Trendy Islamic Clothing
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Thursday, July 30, 2009
Friday, July 17, 2009
My Sister- Must read story
*JazakhAllah Khair Hafeeza for posting this*
Asalamualaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakathu
by Muhammad Alshareef
* Mohammad Alshareef translated the following story from the book "Azzaman Alqaadim" and gave it as his final speech at the MYNA East Zone conference. It is a very moving story which had the entire audience in tears. I hope that inshallah it moves you like it did me.
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Her cheeks were worn and sunken, and her skin hugged her bones. That didn't stop her because you could never catch her not reciting Qur'an. She was always vigil in her personal prayer room that our father had set up for her. Bowing, prostrating, raising her hands in prayer, was the way she was from dawn to sunset and back again; boredom was for other people.
As for me, I craved nothing more than fashion magazines and novels. I treated myself to videos until the trips to the rental place became my trademark. It’s a saying that when something becomes habit, people tend to distinguish you by it. I was negligent in my responsibilities and my salah was characterized by laziness.
One night, after a long three hours of watching, I turned the video off. The adhan rose softly in the quiet night. I slipped peacefully into my blanket.
Her voice called me from her prayer room. "Yes? Would you like anything Noorah?" I asked.
With a sharp needle she popped my plans. "Don't sleep before you pray Fajr!"
Agghh! “There's still an hour before Fajr. That was only the first adhan,” I said.
With those loving pinches of hers, she called me closer. She was like that even before the fierce sickness shook her spirit and shut her in bed. "Hanan, can you come sit beside me."
I could never refuse any of her requests; you could touch the purity and sincerity in her. "Yes, Noorah?"
"Please sit here."
"Alright, I’m sitting. What's on your mind?"
With the sweetest mono voice she began reciting:
Every soul shall taste death and you will merely be repaid your earnings on the Day of Resurrection.
She stopped thoughtfully. Then she asked, "Do you believe in death?"
"Of course I do,” I replied.
"Do you believe that you shall be responsible for whatever you do, regardless of how small or large?"
"I do, but Allah is Forgiving and Merciful, and I’ve got a long life waiting for me."
"Stop it Hanan! Are you not afraid of death and its abruptness? Take a look at Hind. She was younger than you but she died in a car accident. Death is age-blind and your age could never be a measure of when you shall die."
The darkness of the room filled my skin with fear. "I'm scared of the dark and now you made me scared of death. How am I supposed to go to sleep now? Noorah, I thought you promised you'd go with us on vacation during the summer break."
Her voice broke and her heart quivered. "I might be going on a long trip this year Hanan, but somewhere else. All of our lives are in Allah’s hands and we all belong to Him."
My eyes welled and the tears slipped down both cheeks. I pondered my sisters grizzly sickness. The doctors had informed my father in private that there was not much hope Noorah was going to outlive the disease. She wasn't told, so I wondered who hinted to her. Or was it that she could sense the truth?
"What are you thinking about Hanan?" Her voice was sharp. "Do you think I am just saying this because I am sick? I hope not. In fact, I may live longer than people who are not sick. How long are you going to live Hanan? Perhaps twenty years? Maybe forty? Then what?" Through the dark she reached for my hand and squeezed gently. "There's no difference between us; we're all going to leave this world to live in Paradise or agonize in Hell. Listen to the words of Allah:
Anyone who is pushed away from the Fire and shown into Jannah will have triumphed.
I left my sister's room dazed, her words ringing in my ears: “May Allah guide you Hanan - don't forget your prayer.”
I heard pounding on my door at eight o'clock in the morning. I don't usually wake up at this time. There was crying and confusion. O Allah, what happened?
Noorah’s condition became critical after Fajr; they took her to the hospital immediately.
Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'oon.
There wasn't going to be any trips this summer. It was written that I would spend the summer at home.
It felt like an eternity had gone by when it was one o'clock in the afternoon. Mother phoned the hospital.
"Yes. You can come and see her now." Dad's voice had changed, and mother could sense something had gone deathly wrong. We left immediately.
Where was that avenue I used to travel and thought was so short? Why was it so very long now? Where was the cherished crowd and traffic that would give me a chance to gaze left and right? Everyone, just move out of our way!
Mother was shaking her head in her hands crying as she made du'a for her Noorah. We arrived at the hospital’s main entrance. One man was moaning, while another was involved in an accident. A third man’s eyes were iced. You couldn’t tell if he was dead or alive.
Noorah was in intensive care. We skipped stairs to her floor. The nurse approached us. "Let me take you to her."
As we walked down the aisles the nurse went on expressing how sweet of a girl Noorah was. She somewhat reassured Mother that Noorah’s condition had gotten better than what it was in the morning. "Sorry. No more than one visitor at a time,” the nurse said.
This was the intensive care unit. Past the flurry white robes, through the small window in the door, I caught my sister’s eyes. Mother was standing beside her. After about two minutes, mother came out unable to control her crying. "You may enter and say salaam to her on the condition that you do not speak too long," they told me. "Two minutes should be enough."
"How are you Noorah? You were fine last night sister, what happened?"
We held hands; she squeezed harmlessly. "Even now, alhamdulillah, I'm doing fine."
"Alhamdulillah...but...your hands are so cold."
I sat on her bedside and rested my fingers on her knee. She jerked it away. "Sorry, did I hurt you?"
"No, it is just that I remembered Allah's words.”
Waltafatul saaqu bil saaq (One leg will be wrapped to the other leg [in the death shroud]).
"Hanan pray for me. I may be meeting the first day of the Hereafter very soon. It’s a long journey and I haven't prepared enough good deeds in my suitcase."
A tear escaped my eye and ran down my cheek at her words. I cried and she joined me. The room blurred away and left us two sisters to cry together. Rivulets of tears splashed down on my sister’s palm, which I held with both hands. Dad was now becoming more worried about me. I've never cried like that before.
At home and upstairs in my room, I watched the sun pass away with a sorrowful day. Silence mingled in our corridors. One after another, my cousins came in my room. The visitors were many and all the voices from downstairs stirred together. Only one thing was clear at that point – Noorah had died!
I stopped distinguishing who came and who went. I couldn't remember what they said. O Allah, where was I? What was going on? I couldn't even cry anymore.
Later that week they told me what had happened. Dad had taken my hand to say goodbye to my sister for the last time. I had kissed Noorah's head.
I remember only one thing while seeing her spread on that bed – the bed that she was going to die on. I remembered the verse she recited:
One leg will be wrapped to the other leg (in the death shroud).
And I knew too well the truth of the next verse:
The drive on that day will be to your Lord (Allah)!
I tiptoed into her prayer room that night. Staring at the quiet dressers and silenced mirrors, I treasured the person that had shared my mother's stomach with me. Noorah was my twin sister.
I remembered who I had swapped sorrows with, who comforted my rainy days. I remembered who prayed for my guidance and who spent so many tears for many long nights telling me about death and accountability. May Allah save us all.
Tonight is Noorah's first night that she shall spend in her tomb. O Allah, have mercy on her and illumine her grave. This was her Qur'an and her prayer mat. And this was the spring, rose-colored dress that she told me she would hide until she got married; the dress she wanted to keep just for her husband.
I remembered my sister and cried over all the days that I had lost. I prayed to Allah to have mercy on me, accept me and forgive me. I prayed to Allah to keep her firm in her grave as she always liked to mention in her supplications.
At that moment, I stopped. I asked myself what if it was I who had died. Where would I be moving on to? Fear pressed me and the tears began all over again.
“Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar…” The first adhan rose softly from the masjid. It sounded so beautiful this time. I felt calm and relaxed as I repeated the mu’adhin’s call. I wrapped the shawl around my shoulders and stood to pray Fajr. I prayed as if it was my last prayer, a farewell prayer, just like Noorah had done yesterday. It had been her last Fajr.
Now, and in sha Allah for the rest of my life, if I awake in the morning I do not count on being alive by evening, and in the evening I do not count on being alive by morning. We are all going on Noorah's journey. What have we prepared for it?
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*Muhammad Alshareef's final speech at the 1999 MYNA East Zone Conference.
jazakillah sada qamar noor for finding this =]
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Are We Truly Believers?
By British Political Prisoner Babar Ahmad
“So do not weaken and do not grieve, for you will indeed be superior if you are truly believers.”
[Al-Quran 3:139]
This verse was revealed to the Messenger (SAS) by Allah The Almighty from above the Seven Heavens, soon after the Muslims suffered a defeat in the Battle of Uhud and returned to Al-Madinah dejected and downtrodden. It was revealed as an encouragement to the believers after a victory that was in their grasp, was snatched away from them and turned into a defeat. And why should the Companions (RA) not have felt devastated at this defeat? Seventy of the best human beings on Earth at the time were killed and countless others were injured. Even the Messenger (SAS) himself was seriously wounded until blood flowed from his face and he said in great anguish whilst wiping the blood from his noble cheeks: “Allah’s Wrath is Great upon the people who besmeared His Messenger’s face with blood.”
However, this defeat was only a temporary setback so that the believers could reflect upon the reasons for the defeat, described in successive verses of Surah Ale-Imran. The mistakes and sins of a few believers had deprived the whole army of victory.
When Umar bin Al-Khattab (RA) despatched the army of Saad bin Abi Waqqas (RA) to the Battle of Al-Qadisiyyah, he advised him: “Fear your sins more than you fear the enemy as your sins are more dangerous to you than your enemy. We Muslims are only victorious over our enemy because their sins outnumber ours, not for any other reason. If our sins were equal to those of our enemy, then they would defeat us due to their superior numbers and resources.”
And so Saad (RA) proceeded to fight the Persians and, sticking to the advice of his leader, he imprisoned the alcoholic Abu Mahjan Ath-Thaqafi lest his presence in the army delays the victory. Until, Abu Mahjan lamented in his shackles and composed verses of poetry that touched the wife of Saad (RA) to temporarily release him so that he could participate in the battle with his brothers. Abu Mahjan thus went out riding the horse of Saad (RA) (as Saad (RA) was bedridden with fever) and performed unmatched feats of valour before returning to his cell in the evening and wearing his shackles back by himself. This continued for three days until, when Saad (RA) found out about the heroics of Abu Mahjan, he untied his shackles with the words: “By Allah! I will never imprison you again for drinking alcohol!” Upon this, Abu Mahjan replied, “By Allah! I will never again touch alcohol after this day!” The army was victorious and Saad (RA) appointed the ascetic Companion Salman Al-Farsi (RA) as the new ruler of Persia, who lived on a meagre salary of one dirham per day.
Victory and defeat, gains and losses, and successes and setbacks are not decided by money, resources, numbers or skills. Rather, they are decided by the balance of obedience and disobedience of Allah The Exalted. The more we obey Allah, both individually and collectively, the more we hasten His Victory. The more we disobey Allah, the more we delay the arrival of His Victory. One Muslim’s sins can delay the victory for everyone. It is very easy to blame Bush and Blair, the ‘West’, the ‘kuffar’ or simply ‘them’ for all our woes and worries. But it is not so easy to look in the mirror and point the finger at ourselves.
Look at us and our pathetic state. We have abandoned Salah or we delay it or rush through it. We are too stingy to give Zakah, let alone optional charity. We prefer to go on holiday than to go for the obligatory Hajj. We drink alcohol, we use and supply drugs (Muslims are amongst the biggest suppliers of drugs in the world today), we cohabit outside wedlock, we steal, we cheat. We eat haram, earn haram and sell haram. We beat our wives and force our daughters into marriages then use Islam to justify it. We are quick to spend on fashion and luxuries but slow to spend on orphans and the needy. We fail to utter a single word, let alone raise a finger, when we see our fellow Muslims imprisoned , tortured, house-arrested, extradited or slain for fear of being ‘linked’ to them. We waste our lives watching television and playing computer games then complain that we don’t have enough time to become better Muslims. We are too addicted to music to find time to listen to or memorise the Quran. We are too busy in fun and games to fulfil our responsibilities as vicegerents on Allah’s Earth. And after all this (and more), we have the audacity to wonder why Allah’s Victory has not yet arrived. With our paltry state, we should more likely expect Allah’s Wrath and Punishment rather than His Victory.
Every sin we commit delays the arrival of Allah’s Victory. Every Salah we delay extends the incarceration of a captive at Guantanamo Bay. Every drug we take allows another Quran to be flushed down the toilet. Every hour we waste watching TV allows another Muslim to be kidnapped and extradited into the hands of savage beasts. Every time we gaze at something forbidden, we place an obstacle in the path of Allah’s Victory. A sin is not a ‘private matter between me and Allah’ but one sin can make the difference between victory and defeat. Every sin we commit is one more reason why Allah should not grant us relief, safety and victory.
Allah has made us a Promise in the aforementioned verse: “So do not weaken and do not grieve, for you will indeed be superior if you are truly believers.” He promises us relief, assistance, superiority and victory on the condition that we are true believers. If we suffer defeats today then it does not mean that Allah’s Promise is false. Instead, the question we must ask ourselves is: are we truly believers?
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Haia' (Islamic Modesty) - Get the REAL MEANING
*I originally got them from sis Sara, jazakhAllah Khair! Its amazingly useful!*
This is a lesson by Mr Amr Khaled (an Egyptian Preacher) BOUT Haiaa, it's so important now, tRY to read it till the end PLEASE :)
And please try to spread it :)
http://www.amrkhaled.net/acategories/categories24.html
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The manner that we’ll talk about today is “Islamic Modesty” or “al-Haia’”. Haia’ is always coupled with faith, the more of it we have the more faithful we are, and vice versa.
So, what is Haia’? And what does it mean when we say that this person has “Haia’”?
Haia’ is when your soul abstains from committing sins, transgressions or misdeeds. It is when your heart cannot tolerate sin because you can’t see your own soul being humiliated in front of Allah, in front of others or in front of yourself. It is when your soul becomes too dear to you, for all such ugliness.
This is the true Islamic modesty, like a passion that lifts your soul high above these base obscenities… How can I sin?? How can I steal?? How can I lie?? I can never do that because my soul is far too lofty for all that and I, myself, am far too noble for such things. I respect myself in front of Allah, in front of others and in front of myself.
The word Haia’ comes from “Hayah” which means “Life”. So when we say that a person has Haia’, it means that with every throb of the life inside him, he has abstained from obscenities and sins. That’s why there’s a firm relation between having Haia’ and between having a heart that’s beating with life. The more alive your heart is the more Haia’ you’ll have in you.
That’s why we always hear others saying things like, “The most vital are those who have more Haia’.” When the heart dies, nothing becomes obscene or ugly… and anything will be doable in that case.
* What’s the difference between shyness and Haia’?
Many people would mix both terms together, thinking that shyness or timidity is to have Haia’. They think that because they’re shy or timid, then they have Haia’, yet, as you will see, this is a misconception. To be shy is to be hesitant when facing someone who’s more learned than you, or when you’re placed under the limelight, or subjected to close scrutiny and hence you won’t be able to express yourself. In other words, shyness is a natural consequence of: cowardice, fear and a weak personality that doesn’t perceive its own true value.
Haia’ on the other hand is the exact opposite. With this trait in you, you’ll be appreciating yourself too much to stoop so low as to commit more sins. Someone is shy when he sees himself too small in his own eyes. But, someone has Haia’ when he goes high above such obscenities and refuses to humiliate his soul in front of Allah, in front of others and himself. As you can see the difference is so vast. This difference would give us more insight into many behaviors. For instance, you can’t leave what is rightfully yours and say, “I have Haia’”. This is not Haia’ because the latter is to abstain from ugliness. You abstain from insulting, you abstain from making passes at girls… etc.
*Some Ahadith for the Prophet (PBUH) about Haia’
It is narrated on the authority of Abu-Huraira that the Prophet (PBUH) said, “Iman has over seventy branches, and modesty is a branch of Iman.”
In other words, Iman (faith) has more than seventy aspects and modesty is one of these aspects. The strange thing is that the Prophet (PBUH) did not mention these seventy or more branches! He only mentioned Haia’, why? Because this particular trait will simultaneously lead you to the others. If you administer enough Haia’ you will consequently secure all your other proper manners in addition to these seventy or more branches.
Complete your Haia’ and you’ll complete your Iman.
Another wording for the Hadith: It is narrated on the authority of Abu-Huraira that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, “Faith has over seventy branches or over sixty branches, the most excellent of which is the declaration that there is no god but Allah, and the humblest of which is the, removal of what is injurious from the path; and modesty is the branch of faith.”
So the Prophet has actually affirmed the fact that Haia’ is a branch of Iman!
Scholars have tried to seek out these seventy or more branches. Ibn-Shayban said that most of them could be classified under branches reflecting on the heart, branches reflecting on the tongue and branches reflecting on the body.
Those reflecting on the heart are: Believing in Allah, his angels, his books, his messengers, the day of judgment, resurrection, raising the dead, the jannah, hellfire, fearing Allah, repentance, being self-satisfied and thanking Allah.
Those reflecting on the tongue are: abstaining from fowl language, learning and educating oneself, reading Qur’an, enjoining what is right and forbidding what is wrong, Dhikr and supplications to Allah.
Those reflecting on the body are: praying, fasting, Jihad, Hajj, Umrah, calling for Allah and Islam… etc.
Yet, with all this the Prophet has never mentioned but Haia’, because, as we said, it will automatically lead to all the others.
I can never reach the stage of “gratitude and kindness to parents” unless I have Haia’ from them. I can never repent unless I have Haia’ from Allah. I can never perform Umrah or Hajj unless I have Haia’ that keeps me from sinning and at the same time propels me to seek purgation. All manners, somehow, reflect on Haia’.
The Prophet (PBUH) said, “Haia’ and Iman are intertwined, if one is lacking the other one will follow”.
It is narrated on the authority of 'Imran B. Hussein that the Prophet (PBUH) said, “Modesty brings forth nothing but goodness.”
The Prophet (PBUH) said, “Haia’ comes from Iman and Iman leads to Paradise, whereas obscenity is from antipathy and antipathy leads to Hell”.
The Prophet (PBUH) said, “Once Allah wants to perish a servant, He would remove Haia’ from him. Once Haia’ is removed from him you’ll find him nothing but despicable. Once you find him despicable, honesty is removed from him. Once honesty is removed from him you’ll find him nothing but a treacherous person. Once you find him nothing but treacherous, mercy will be removed from him. Once mercy is removed from him you find him nothing but a damned and a cursed person.”
Don’t we meet such people as we go? Men or women, you’d be ashamed out of your wits from what they’re doing, as if they have no shame at all, then you look at their faces and you find them despicable. According to this Hadith, the first thing that was removed from them was Haia’.
In Malik’s Muwatta it has been mentioned, “Yahya related to me from Malik from Salama ibn Safwan ibn Salama az-Zuraqi that Zayd ibn Talha ibn Rukana, who attributed it to
the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, “The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, “‘Every Deen has an innate character. The character of Islam is modesty.’”
What does this Hadith mean? Does it mean that there’s no other innate character in Islam except Haia’? No, it means that the most magnificent character in Islam is Haia’.
The Prophet (PBUH) said, “Out of what has survived of the past sayings of all preceding Prophets we have this, “‘If you have no Haia’, then you can do as you wish’”.
*What does this saying mean? It carries two meanings:
1. A threat: Do what you wish and you’ll be punished.
2. Look at what you’re doing; are you ashamed of it in front of Allah, others and yourself? If you’re not, then go ahead and do whatever you’re doing. Nothing can deter you from committing sins.
*Patterns for “al-Haia’”
From the Qur’an and the stories of the Prophet’s companions (RA), and their Haia’:
* “Abu Sa'id Al-Khudri, may Allah be pleased with him, reported, “Allah's Messenger (PBUH) was more modest than the virgin girl behind her curtain on the day of wedding, and when he disliked anything, we recognized that from his face.”(10) Can you imagine how modest and shy a virgin would be on her wedding day, can you seek any better examples? Where’s your modesty? Do you become so red with shame, when you see indecency that you have to look away?
· In Malik’s Muwatta it has been mentioned, “Yahya related to me from Malik from ibn-Shihab from Salim ibn-Abdullah from Abdullah ibn-Umar that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, passed by a man who was chiding his brother about modesty. The Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, “‘Leave him. Modesty is part of Iman.’”(11)
* I present this Hadith to all my brothers and sisters here with us now. “Fatima Bint-Utba came to the Prophet (PBUH) to declare her Islam, Aisha (RA) was witnessing the incident when the Prophet (PBUH) asked Fatima to take the oath of fealty not to associate in worship any other thing whatsoever with Allah, not to steal and not to commit adultery… etc. At that last word the woman was so shy that she lowered her eyes and placed her hand on top of her head. The Prophet (PBUH) liked her Haia’ and Aisha (RA) told her, ‘take the oath Fatima, all the women have taken that oath’. So she took the oath.”(12) I just want you to compare this Hadith to what’s happening these days. Sometimes you’d turn red just listening to what girls say to each other. This lady felt so shy hearing just this word.
* Aisha (RA) said, “I used to go into my house, where the Prophet and Abu-Bakr were buried saying my husband and my father so I used to be free in what I was wearing. When Omar Ibn al-Khattab died and was buried next to them I felt too shy to be free about what I wore so I used to cover myself properly out of Haia’ from Omar, even though he was dead.”(13) Please compare this to what’s happening these days.
· Aisha (RA) reported, “Allah's Messenger (PBUH) was lying in the bed in my abode with his thigh or his shank uncovered and Abu-Bakr sought permission to get in. He was granted permission and he conversed in the same very state (the Prophet's thigh or shank uncovered). Then 'Omar sought permission to get in and it was granted to him and he conversed in that very state. Then 'Othman sought permission to get in; Allah's Messenger (PBUH) sat down and he set right his clothes. Muhammad (one of the narrators) said, “I do not say that it happened on the same day.” He ('Othman) then entered and conversed and as he went out, Aisha said, “Abu-Bakr entered and you did not stir and did not observe much care (in arranging your clothes), then 'Omar entered and you did not stir and did not arrange your clothes, then 'Othman entered and you got up and set your clothes right, thereupon he said: Should I not show modesty to one whom even the Angels show modesty.”(14)
I wonder which one of you the Angels would show modesty to? Is it that man screeching with his car, turning his car cassette on so loud and making passes at the girls? Or is it that lady wearing tight pants, revealing her figure that you’d wonder how she ever managed to put it on, not that just but she also wears it with a tight and short top! Could these be the sons and the daughters of Othman, Fatima and Aisha? Are we that far from Haia’ to be named the followers of these virtuous companions?
When we talk about Haia’ we always think about the girls since we expect it more from them. Look at the girl with whom Musa (Moses) met at Surat al-Kasass, “So he watered (their flocks) for them, then he turned back to shade, and said: "My Lord! truly, I am in need of whatever good that You bestow on me! Then there came to him one of the two women, walking shyly. She said: "Verily, my father calls you that he may reward you for having watered (our flocks) for us." So when he came to him and narrated the story, he said: "Fear you not. You have escaped from the people who are Zâlimûn (polytheists, disbelievers, and wrong-doers).” (TMQ, 28:24-25)(15).
There have been two readings reported for this particular verse. The first reading talks about the way she walked (as above) and the second one combined “shyly” with “she said” to denote that she spoke shyly. If that meant anything it would mean that she was a token of shyness in every part of her. I wonder, are our girls so keen on the way they walk? Are they keen on the way they speak? Honestly I have to tell you that many girls have lost all trace of modesty and decency these days.
The most supreme degree of Haia’ is that which we show towards Allah. All sins, minor or major, from
men or from women, from kids or from adults, share one basic feature: Having no Haia’ from the fact that Allah sees you while committing your sin. If you realized completely that Allah sees you, you would never commit any sins.
For that reason sometimes a person would commit a major sin, but with the Haia’ he feels afterwards it becomes a minor sin and sometimes a person commits a minor sin but feels no Haia’ whatsoever and hence it turns into a major sin… If you advice him against it, he would just tell you, “it’s none of your business”. Allah says, “When it is said to him, "Fear Allah," he is led by arrogance to (more) crime…” (TMQ, 2:206).
* Can you see now why this particular trait is important? A sin is considered to be either major or minor by the amount of Haia’ you feel afterwards. Listen to what Ibn al-Qayem said here, “Your happiness with committing a sin is far more condemned by Allah, than the sin itself, because of your lack of Haia’”. So the fact that you’re happy with your sin is more intense than the sin itself.
You might commit sins in fear and with great Haia’ without any real enjoyment, that’s why Allah would undoubtedly help you to repent and ask His forgiveness and hence He would forgive you. On the other hand, others would go seeking sins, wishing them, plotting for them and when they fail, they become depressed and sad. All this depression and sadness will be placed in their credit of bad deeds on the Day of Judgment and they’ll be even heavier than the sins themselves. These people deserve it, since they had no Haia’ from Allah.
Also, caring to hide from the eyes of people while committing a sin is even more intense than the sin itself. Are you so afraid that people might see you while you’re not afraid from Allah?
One man went to “Ibrahim Bin Al-Adham” and said, “O, Imam, I would like to repent and permanently stop all the sins that I have been committing. Give me advice that would help me never to disobey Allah and would protect me during any moments of weakness”. The Imam answered, “If you want to disobey Allah, then do not disobey him on his land”. The man asked, “Then, where would I disobey Him?” The Imam said, “Outside His land”. The man asked, “How can I do that if Allah, the Glorious, is the Master of all the lands?” So, the Imam answered, “Do you not feel ashamed, then, to disobey Him on his Lands! If you still want to disobey Him, then at least stop eating of his bounties.” The man asked, “How can I survive if I do not eat of his bounties?” The Imam answered, “Do you not feel ashamed, then, to eat of His bounties and disobey Him! But if you still want to disobey Him, do that in a place where He cannot see you.” The man asked, “How can I do that and He is with us wherever we are?” The Imam answered, “Do you not feel ashamed, then to disobey Him while He is with you wherever you are! But if you still want to disobey Him, then tell the Angel of Death, if he comes to get your soul, to wait until you repent.” The man asked, “And who has any power over that?” The Imam answered, “So, the Angel of Death will get your soul while you are sinning. But if you still want to disobey Allah, then tell the Angels who are the keepers of the Hellfire, when they come to take you there, “I will not come with you”, if you can. Do you not feel ashamed?”
And I am addressing you: You eat of Allah’s bounties, and disobey Him on his land while He can see you, while you can very possibly die while sinning. You have no power to reject Death or to stop the Angels of Hellfire from taking you there. Do you not feel ashamed? Yet, if, after all this, you still want to disobey Allah, I would like to remind you of His great mercy on you and His great protection to you, hoping that this might make you feel ashamed for disobeying Him.
In the Hadith Qudsi (Sacred Hadith), the Prophet (PBUH) mentioned that Allah (SWT) said, “Myself, Mankind and Jinn are in a great serious state. I create them, then they worship other gods that they make for themselves; I bless them with my bounties, then they thank someone else for what I sent them; My Mercy descends to them while their evil deeds ascend to Me; I endear them with my gifts even though I have no need to any of them while they alienate themselves from Me with their sins even though they are desperate for my help. Whoever returns to Me, I accept him no matter how far he is; and whoever turns away from Me, I approach him and call on him. Whoever leaves a sin for my sake, I reward him with many gifts and whoever seeks to please Me, I seek to please him. Whoever acknowledges My Will and Power in whatever he does, I make the iron bend for his sake. My dear people are those who are with Me (i.e. whoever would like to be with Me, let him supplicate to Me and remember Me). Whoever thanks Me, I grant him more blessings; whoever obeys Me, I raise him and endear him more. Whoever disobeys Me, I keep the doors of My Mercy open for him; if he returns to Me, I bestow him with My Love since I love those who repent and purify themselves for My Sake. If he does not repent, I still treat him by putting them in hardship to purify him. Whoever favors Me over others, I favor them over others. I reward every single good deed ten times over or seven hundred times over to countless times over. I count every single bad deed as one unless the person repents and ask for My Forgiveness in which case I forgive even that one. I take into account any little good deed and I forgive even major sins. My Mercy supersedes My Anger; My Tolerance supersedes My Blame; My Forgiveness supersedes My Punishment as I am more merciful with My slaves than a mother with her child.”(16)
Do you not feel ashamed after all that you have just read? Do you still look with lust at someone who is unlawful to you? Do you still eat the food that Allah has forbidden you to eat? Do you still refuse to wear Hijab (Muslim head cover for women)? Do you still lie? Are you still dishonest? Do you still not observe Allah in all your deeds? Are you still not performing the ritual prayers as you should? Do you still not pay Zakat? Do still refuse to live for Allah’s sake?
In another Hadith the Prophet (PBUH) told us that Allah (SWT) said, “ O, Dawood (David), if those (people) who stay away from Me know how much I love them and long for their return, they would have rushed back to Me flying (i.e. unable to wait). If this is My Desire towards those people who are not on My Path, how much do you think is My Desire towards those people who are steadfast on My Path?” Glory be to Allah the One.
*How could you still persist on disobeying Allah instead of loving Him and trying to please Him?
“Abu Mu'sa reported Allah's Messenger (PBUH) as saying that Allah, the Exalted and Glorious, Stretches out His Hand during the night so that the people repent for the faults committed from dawn till dusk and He stretches out His Hand daring the day so that the people may repent for the faults committed from dusk to dawn.”(17) It is as if Allah is the one looking for you and calling you to return to Him.
If, after you learned all this about Allah’s Mercy, you still insist on not feeling ashamed of your sins, then how could you not, at least, show some Haia’ to Him with all the blessings and bounties he has bestowed on you? Allah is the one who created you as He said in Surat Qaf, “It was We Who created man, and We know what dark suggestions his soul makes to him: for We are nearer to him than (his) jugular vein.” (TMQ, 50:16). Allah is the one who created your eyes so you would see, your ears so you would hear, your heart which you are now using in keeping unlawful relationships and forgetting Him, He who bestowed these emotions and feelings on you. Allah is the one who created your brain which you are now using in taking the decision to disobey Him. Try to think of all these gifts as Allah instructed you in Surat Al-Infitar (The Cleaving), “O man! What has seduced thee from thy Lord Most Beneficent?- Him Who created thee. Fashioned thee in due proportion, and gave thee a just bias; In whatever Form He wills, does He put thee together.” (Qur’an, 8-6)
Allah instructed us again to think of his gifts in Surat Abasa (He Frowned), “Then let man look at his food, (and how We provide it): For that We pour forth water in abundance, And We split the earth in fragments, And produce therein corn, And Grapes and nutritious plants, And Olives and Dates, And enclosed Gardens, dense with lofty trees, And fruits and fodder, For use and convenience to you and your cattle. (TMQ, 80:24-32)
In order for you to learn Haia’ towards Allah, bring a paper and a pen and draw a line in the middle of it, then start to write Allah’s blessings in the first half (i.e. your eye-sight, hearing, hands, physical strength, emotions, feelings, beauty, ability to think, father and mother, Islam, …etc) and write in the second half your sins. Then, compare and think. I swear before Allah that the least thing that you can do then is to cry.
If you still cannot have Haia’ from Allah even though He is with you everywhere listening (to whatever you say) and looking (at whatever you do) as He said to Moses in Surat Taha, “He said: "Fear not: for I am with you: I hear and see (everything)” (TMQ, 20:46), then at least remember how submissive you will be before Allah on the Day of Judgment. Imagine how you will stand naked, weak and bare-footed, before Allah to be judged. You will be standing there holding your book (in which all your good and bad deeds are recorded). Many people are not even able to imagine this situation although it is closer to us than we think as the Prophet, (PBUH), said, “ The difference (in time) that is between my time and the Day of Judgment is as little as this (and he put two of his fingers close together).
Remember the shame you will feel before Allah as “there will be people on the Day of Judgment whose flesh will fall off their faces out of shame when their sins are presented before Allah” as Imam Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, said.
On that Day, an announcer will call us one by one: such person (your name), the son (or daughter) of such person (your parent’s name). Frightened and ashamed, that person will not be able to move but the Angels will know him from the state of terror that will show on him. Then the Angels will take him and place him before Allah who will address him as the Prophet (PBUH) told us in the Hadith, “My slave, have you become so arrogant as to disregard me? Did you not think that you will meet me today or did you forget that? My slave, were you not ashamed when I was looking at you while you were gazing at forbidden pleasures, while you were walking to forbidden places, and while you were touching forbidden things? My slave, did you take me so lightly? Have I been so unimportant to you? Did you keep your best attitude for the people and come to me only with the ugliness of your sins?”
How will you respond when Allah asks you, “My slave, did I not bestow the gift of marriage on you? Did I not give you wealth? My slave, read your book.” And you take your book and start reading: you get to a good deed and your face brightens up, then you get to a bad deed and your face blackens, and you continue like this.
Would you believe that some people will not feel ashamed even on the Day of Judgment? Such a person will say to Allah: “I do not accept the testimony of any other person or the Angels; I do not even accept the testimony of this book.” Then, Allah will say, “So, what do you want?” That person will reply: “I only accept my own testimony.” Allah will say, “Yes, your own testimony will be good enough”. Then, Allah will seal this person’s mouth and He will order his eyesight, hearing, hands and feet to testify, as mentioned in Surat Ya-Sin: “That Day shall We set a seal on their mouths. But their hands will speak to Us, and their feet bear witness, to all that they did.” (TMQ, 83:65).
The same meaning is repeated in Surat Fussilat, “On the Day that the enemies of Allah will be gathered together to the Fire, they will be marched in ranks. At length, when they reach the (Fire), their hearing, their sight, and their skins will bear witness against them, as to (all) their deeds. They will say to their skins: "Why bear ye witness against us?" They will say: "Allah hath given us speech, He Who gives speech to everything: He created you for the first time, and unto Him were ye to return.” (TMQ, 41:19-21).
Imagine your own hands testifying to what you did with them; imagine your feet testifying to where you walked; imagine your heart testifying to what you wished! Will you be ashamed then? Then imagine Allah, with all his anger, telling you, “Go away you evil slave; my curse is on you and nothing will be accepted from you.”
*Have Haia’ from Allah before you hear these words when it will be too late.
Do you want to know how a good believer is treated on the Day of Judgment? The Prophet (PBUH) told us that Allah will command this person to come closer and closer to Him and He will cover him to conceal him from others and ask him, “Do you remember such and such sin? Do you remember such and such sin?” Until the person thinks that he is doomed but Allah, then says, “I did not disgrace or uncover you in the worldly life and today, I forgive you.”
Muslim scholars classified Haia’ from Allah into six types
1. Haia’ of the sinner: whoever commits a major sin, then feels ashamed as a result of this. Similar to Adam’s Haia’ when he ate of the forbidden tree and kept running in Paradise. Allah asked him, “Are you running away from me?” Adam replied, “No, Allah; I am running out of shame.” Did you ever experience this feeling after committing a major sin? Were you ever sleepless and kept running down the streets trying to find a poor person to give him the last couple of pounds in your pocket, hoping for Allah’s forgiveness? This is the sinner’s Haia’.
2. Haia’ of the person who feels that he is never doing enough: This feeling is experienced when someone realizes that, no matter how good his deeds are and no matter how steadfast he is on Allah’s path, he is still far from reaching the kind of worship that Allah deserves. This type of Haia’ is similar to that of the Angels; it continues even after hundreds of years of sincere worship to Allah. The Prophet (PBUH) said, “The heavens became so heavy (i.e. full) and they have every right to be as such since there isn’t a single spot as small as a footstep except with an Angel prostrating, kneeling or standing in prayers to Allah. And when the Day of Judgment comes, they will get up and say, “Glory be To Allah, we have not worshiped you as we should have, befitting your Glory.”
3. Haia’ of the slave: you have to understand that you are a slave to Allah, and this compels you to completely submit to him and follow his commandments. This is similar to the type of Haia’ of the Prophet, PBUH. One example to illustrate this is when Allah ordered the Kiblah (where a Muslim directs his face for prayers) to be towards Bait AL-Maqdis (The Qubba Mosque in Jerusalem) while the Prophet (PBUH) wished for it to be towards Al-Haram Mosque (the Sacred Mosque in Makkah). Nevertheless, his Haia’ kept him from calling Allah to change the direction. Allah acknowledged this in the Qur’an in Surat Al-Baqara (The Cow): “We see the turning of thy face (for guidance to the heavens: now Shall We turn thee to a Kiblah that shall please thee. Turn then Thy face in the direction of the sacred Mosque:” (TMQ, 2:144)
4. Haia’ of the grateful to Allah’s blessings: Again, the Prophet (PBUH) was an example of this type of Haia’ as expressed clearly in the following Hadith as he supplicated to Allah saying: “I could never thank You or describe Your kindness enough; You are as You described Yourself”. This Haia’ emerges from gratefulness of all the blessings Allah has bestowed on us regardless of the fact that we could never thank Him enough.
5. Haia’ out of love: If you love Allah so deeply, you would experience this type of Haia’ towards Him. Your eyes will overflow with tears, your heart will shake and all your body members will surrender to Him. This feeling could never be described; only the person whose love of Allah is so strong would know what it feels like. One touching supplication that the Prophet (PBUH) used to say is: “ O, Allah, bestow on me the ability to love You, love anyone who loves You and love everything that pleases You.”
6. Haia’ out of acknowledgment of Allah’s Glory and Power (the Master of the Worlds): This is similar to the Haia’ of Jibril “Gabriel” (PBUH) when he accompanied the Prophet (PBUH) in the Journey of Al-Isra’ and Al-Mi’raj(18). When they reached the seventh sky and approached Sidrat Al-Muntaha (the Lote tree of the utmost boundary beyond which no creation may pass), Jibril stopped. The Prophet (PBUH) turned towards Jibril who seemed to him like a worn rag (like a worn garment, indicating shyness and complete submissiveness) out of Haia’ to Allah. Jibril could not step any closer and he acknowledged Allah’s Glory and Power.
*Have you ever experienced any of these types of Haia’ that I just mentioned?
Muslim Scholars said: “Whoever shows Haia’ towards Allah rises to the level of “Awlia’ ” (righteous people whom Allah loves and protects).
I urge you to learn Haia’ towards Allah and observe the fact that He sees whatever you do and hears whatever you say.
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Lets Chat!
Asalaam walikum wa rahmatullah wa barakatuhu everyone,
I found this to be a subject that I think a lot of us (including myself) have trouble dealing with so I hope this bit of info will help us stay or get onto the right path inshAllah. I want to help set the record straight on this issue and inshAllah lessen any confusion on the issue or remove denial about the truth of the matter. So here we go...the issue of communicating with the opposite sex. Here's an actual question submitted to a Sheik on Islam QA.
My question is about the adab or the manner between a brother and sister?
I need clarifcation, are we allowed to give salam to sister who is not your muhram or talk to her as you talk to a brother, and how much you allowed to talk?
and what about the non-muhram who are cousine, for example the uncles daughter Am I allowed to give salam and talk to her, and how is her life?please provide for me daleel(proof) and what about marriage?
what allowed talk and salam, ( what is allowed and not) all these things!
because today people mixed between culture and deen, when you tell them about that they say you are bringing new religon!, even alot brothers who relgious don't know this, you may see salafy brother talking weetlgy to sister who were nikab and not his muhram,
Praise be to Allaah.
In brief, what the fuqaha’ have said about women’s voices is that they are not ‘awrah in and of themselves, and there is nothing wrong with listening to them when there is a need to do so, so they do not forbid listening to them, but certain conditions apply, as follows:
The woman should speak without elongating the words, making her voice soft, or raising her voice. It is haraam for a man to listen with enjoyment, for fear of fitnah (temptation).
The decisive factor for knowing what is haraam in the matter of women’s speaking is what is included in the aayah (interpretation of the meaning):
“O wives of the Prophet! You are not like any other women. If you keep your duty (to Allaah), then be not soft in speech, lest he in whose heart is a disease (of hypocrisy, or evil desire for adultery, etc.) should be moved with desire, but speak in an honourable manner.” [al-Ahzaab 33:32]
What is forbidden is being too soft in speech. It is obligatory for women to speak in an honourable manner, which means, as the mufassireen explained, that they should not make their voices soft when addressing men. In conclusion, what is required of the Muslim woman when she speaks to a non-mahram man is that she should adhere to what is mentioned in this aayah. She should refrain from what is forbidden and should fulfil her duties. She should speak only when necessary, and only about matters that are permissible and honourable, not evil. Between a woman and a non-mahram man there should be no intonation, gestures, chat, joking, flirting or playful talk, so that there will be no room for provocation of desires and doubts. Women are not prevented from talking to non-mahram men when it is necessary to do so, such as dealing directly with them when buying things or conducting any other financial transaction, because in such cases it is necessary for both parties to speak. A woman may also ask a scholar about some legal Islamic matter, or a man may ask a woman such questions, as is proven in various texts of the Qur’aan and Sunnah. Within the guidelines described above, there is nothing wrong with a woman speaking to a non-mahram man. It is also permissible for men to greet women with salaam and vice versa, according to the most correct opinion, but this greeting must be free of anything that may provoke desire in the person in whose heart is a disease, so as to be safe from fitnah and pay attention to the regulations outlined above.
If there is fear of fitnah being provoked by this greeting, then the woman should refrain from either initiating or returning the greeting, because warding off fitnah by neglecting the greeting is warding off mischief, and warding off mischief takes precedence over doing something useful. (See al-Mufassal fi Ahkaam al-Mar’ah by ‘Abd al-Kareem Zaydaan, vol 3/276). And Allaah knows best.
Islam Q&A
Sheikh Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid
I want to make clear that this ruling goes both ways; for men as well. Neither one should initiate casual conversation with the other. So please do not think that its acceptable for men to go up to females and chat with them, whether they are Muslim or not. I think this is also a big problem that our communities face with being "sexist" when condemning something. I've found men who shun the talking of women to men but themselves are always up in female's face as if they are talking to a brother. Men are not allowed to converse with men and women are not allowed to converse with men without a need. Lets define the word need. The defintion of need stated by Merriamwebster Dictionary goes as following:
- 1: necessary duty : obligation
- 2 a: a lack of something requisite, desirable, or useful b: a physiological or psychological requirement for the well-being of an organism
- 3: a condition requiring supply or relief4: lack of the means of subsistence : poverty
Now one may agree casual talking in person or on the phone is not permissible but may think that chatting online is permissible. So lets ask a scholar/ scholars about the ruling of chatting. The question and answer below are from Islamonline.net
Question: Dear scholars, As-Salamu `alaykum. I want to know if chatting online is haram (forbidden)? My chats, with the Muslim people only, are clean and there are no bad intention chats. Jazakum Allah khayran.
Answer: Wa `alaykum As-Salamu wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.
In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.
Dear brother in Islam, you have raised a very important question, which reflects a common trend nowadays among our youth and others, when the majority don't even bother to learn the restrictions that are dictated by religion to preserve morality in society. Thanks to the sophisticated means of modern communication, everyone finds himself tempted to try everything new in technology.
Thus, it's very important for each Muslim to know where he stands and to always keep in mind that, as he is given full right to make use of any opportunity offered by modern technology, he is also required not to forget the duty he owes to Almighty Allah Who subjects to him all such avenues of comfort and prosperity. He must not deviate, whatsoever, from the teachings of his religion, in order to preserve his noble identity.
In response to the question in point, Sheikh Ahmad Kutty, a senior lecturer and Islamic scholar at the Islamic Institute of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, states:
Chatting with members of opposite sex, whether they are Muslims or non-Muslims, personally face to face, or on phone or chat lines all fall in the same category. The haram of it is haram, and the halal of it is halal.
Islam does not allow Muslims to be befriending members of opposite sex for the sake of companionship or for casual conversations; it has been forbidden because of its risks; it may entail isolation, lead to unlawful flirting, and engender unlawful thoughts, desires or lusts.
However, occasional, serious, business-like conversations with the members of the opposite sex are considered lawful, just as they are lawful when done face to face so long as one observes the Islamic ethics of interaction.
Islam teaches that as Muslims we must shun not only that which is clearly haram, but also everything that creates agitation or doubt or restlessness in our souls. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Sin is that which causes agitation in your heart or mind; whereas virtue is that which the heart is content and at peace about!” (Reported by Ahmad)
So engaging in unnecessary chatting may lead to unforeseen consequences. It may also engender doubts and suspicions in our minds as well in the minds of others. So we are best advised to shun them altogether in the first place in order to safeguard our religion and honor. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Halal is clear; haram is clear, but there are certain cases which are dubious or doubtful; whoever shuns them safeguards his religion and honor; whoever falls into them risks falling into haram like a shepherd who lets his herd graze around the forbidden territory, for it may thus encroach upon the forbidden territory!” (Reported by Al-Bukhari and Muslim).
Clearly any form of communication is not permissible if its is not for a need basis such as business, acquiring info and the alike for befriending the opposite sex is not even allowed. So how can one talk freely for no reason with the other if we're not suppose to have them as friends or associates (some are more clear to define people as being friends or associates). I'm not here to say that having a the opposite gender on your facebook is not permissble. I'm talking about the issue of chatting. I believe and I have some male "friends" on facebook who I do not chat with nor do they try to chat with me. There are some people who actually add others for the sake of gaining information whether its Islamic information, events, schooling or whatever without trying to really befriend them in getting to know them on a personal level. But LETS GET REAL! The majority of people who add the opposite gender, especially if you do know them from school or whatever, are not adding them just to read their notes and get updates on events. The majority of guys who add females want to talk to them, and not just on an islamic level and the same thing goes for females.
So whats the harm in chatting with the opposite sex? The harm is that one you get too involved with the person and form a relationship, this is something natural when casual talking with a person. Not all relationships are romantic relationships, but the most of the time one person of the two would like for it to lead to a romantic relationship. One may argue well we're just chatting, we can't really see each other. PLEASE DONT KID YOURSELF! If you and that person are attached to each other you will find a way to see each other or you'll get too emotionally attached that it becomes problematic for you if you not able to chat/talk with them. I know you all have a friend or have been in a situation where you become sad that you can't talk to that person and it becomes the focal point of the whole day; whining that you can't talk to them or what not. Chatting just leads (if you already have a spark of interest in the other, which is most likely the case) you to fantasize about the person and may lead you to take the step and actually go see them. Picturing them in your mind, and attaching their words to the image can really throw you for a loop. And fantasizing about the opposite sex is not good either for it can lead to other acts that are not permissible. Now I'm not saying that plutonic relationships can not exist, but in reality those type of relationships are outnumbered by people who do and/or want is to have a romantic relationship. Therefor Allah has prohibited us from conversing with the opposite gender without need. I The same reason for a lot of things that are prohibited, like the consuming of wine. Not everyone who drinks wine (alcohol) gets drunk, but people going overboard with it happens more often than seldom. In order to protect ourselves Allah just prohibits such for it has more negatives than positives both physically, mentally, and socially. So do yourself a favor and limit your chatting/talking/ texting or whatever with the opposite gender to a need basis for it can only help keep you away from falling into major sins inshAllah.
Again this is reminder for myself and for you. Peace out!
Monday, April 20, 2009
Lets get real about Fornication
*Original post by Sister Bint Halal
Living in a society in which people have accepted the un-islamic lifestyle as their way of life has brought immorality at every step. Modesty, shame and honour have no place in the western civilization. Today, Muslims too are increasingly banishing their modesty, regarding which the Holy Prophet (sallallahu aleihi wa sallam) said, “Modesty is a part of Iman.”
Amongst the most common of these evils is adultery and fornication. Commiting of adultery is from the category of major sins. The Shari’ah not only prohibits the ultimate evil of adultery, but BY ALL MEANS LEADING TO THIS EVIL ACT. Allah subhana wa ta’ala says in the Holy Qoran, “Do not come near to adultery, indeed it is a shameful deed and an evil way.” (17:32)
In the above verse all the means and ways which leads to adultery are prohibited. This verse is an eloquent expression of the prohibition of the ways and acts which are introductory to adultery.
Imam Bukhari (r.a.) has stated a Hadeeth on the authority of Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (radi Allahu anhu) that the Holy Prophet (sallallahu aleihi wa sallam) said,
“ The adultery of the eyes is evil looks.
The adultery of the tongue is lustful talk.
The adultery of the heart is the evil desire
and in the end the sexual organs testify all this or deny it.”
In another Hadith the Holy Prophet (sallallahu aleihi wa sallam) said, “The hands also commit adultery, their adultery is touching, the feet also commit adultery, their adultery is walking towards adultery, the mouth also commits adultery, its adultery is kissing.” (Abu Dawood, Muslim)
“A person who commits adultery does not commit it in the state of Imaan. A person who drinks alcohol does not drink it in the state of Imaan.” (Bukhari, Muslim, Abu Dawood, Nasai)
“When a person commits adultery, his Imaan comes out from him and it stays like an umbrella over his head; and when he stops committing adultery, his Imaan returns to him.” (Abu Dawood, Tirmidhi, Baihaqi)
The great Mufassir Sheikh Ata Ibn Abi Rabah under the Tafseer of the verse, “It (the Hell) has seven doors,” states, “The most severe of these doors, from the point of grief, heat, punishment and bad smell, is for those people who committed adultery after having knowledge (of it being a sin and Haraam).”
Detrimental Effects of Adultery and Fornication
Adultery/Fornication has six effects; of these three are experienced in this world and the other three in the Hereafter.
In this world:
1. Noor (light) vanishes from the faces of the adulterers.
2. It brings poverty and famine.
3. The life span is reduced.
In the Hereafter:
1. Allah ta’ala subjects the adulterers to His anger.
2. They will be subjected to a strict reckoning on the Day of Judgement.
3. They will be cast into Hell.
We are living in a society where temptations dominate every individual, and the protection is Taqwa (piety), and Taqwa is is acquired through obedience to Allah subhana wa ta’ala and His beloved Prophet (sallallahu aleihi wa sallam).
“Whoever gives me the guarantee of safeguarding his tongue and his private parts, I give him the guarantee of Paradise.” (Bukhari)
A person who fights the temptations of youth and fulfils the Commands of Allah ta’ala, he will be protected under the shade of Allah’s Throne (not meant literally) on the Day of Judgement.
Remedy from this Illness
“O groups of youths, whosoever amongst you has the means of getting married, should do so because it lowers the gaze and protects the private parts; and whosoever does not have the ability, should fast, for indeed, it is a protection for him.” (Bukhari)
May Allah subhana wa ta’ala safeguard us from all evils and resurrect us on the Day of Judgement amongst the followers of the Holy Prophet (sallallahu aleihi wa sallam) under His Throne. Ameen.
(taken from the article of Sheikh Muhammad Uthman Ghani)
So my fellow Muslims, Im going to break it down even more inshAllah. You know I always have to put my two cents in!
*Warning* I will speak the truth and not sugar coat it, because sugar coating just leads to lame excuses.
This needs to be made clear- any touching (touching that you do on purpose, not bumping into someone by mistake or such) is haram, point blank. There's this little joke that I heard about touching it goes something like this..."Looking leads to talking, talking leads to hugging, hugging leads to kissing, kissing leads to fore play, fore play leads ....you know the rest". I did not receive this joke from a Muslim, so that should be something for us Muslims to really think about since we are "suppose" to be the best of all followers of religions.
So do not think your getting away with anything just because you did not have "actual" sexual intercourse. Stop kidding yourself and saying "Oh we didn't do it do it, we just messed around." ITS THE SAME THING! Sorry I had to point this out due to the fact that there's plenty of people who think that the are not sinning or its not "that bad" because they did not " put the key in the key hole". Any touching is forbidden and it is all sinful. Do not let this society's standards of what is "bad" confuse or stray you away from what Allah subhana wa ta'la was made halal and haram. I understand that sometimes it can be confusing on what is allowed if were not educated in such matters and see those actions as a common thing especially amongst your fellow Muslims. But even if you see your fellow Muslims doing an action, ask yourself if you can tell your parents or anyone that you have respect for what you are doing. Ask yourself if you could be calm confessing to what those actions on the Day of Judgment; I think we all know the answer. So if you had to hide your actions then you know its wrong. And don't follow others in wrongful doing, because they won't be able to take the rap for you when it comes to reality of your sins.
Another reminder for us (myself and all of you): We have prohibitions for a reason, and wallah they are there to protect ourselves. When we don't follow what Allah subhan wa ta'la has prescribed for us we're just harming ourselves. You may not see the injuries immediately but they are going to come sooner or later. Some of us may get off with slight scars and others may have deep wounds from their sins. You have get these scars here in this dunya or you may pay for your sins in the here after. And all of you know that is far way better to pay for your sin here in this life than the next for its way too harsh for us to really grasp. So please do yourself a favor, stay away from sinful acts. You may think that what your doing is fun, and its not harming anyone else, but indeed you are. What you do influences others, point blank, whether you want to be a role model or not you are. People will look to you for advice, will look to you for what is acceptable, and etc. And quite frankly, this is why we have so much finta because people are following those in error and think that its acceptable when its not. It will become easier to do right when we put forth the effort to show others what is right. When you become better on the deen others will follow, and then before you know it you'll be surrounded by others who will make following the deen easier. Be the one to be the role model, take the first step, be the one to make a difference and please Allah!
May Allah continue to guide us on the right path. Ameen
P.S. Following the right path isn't that hard if you really want to achieve true happiness.
Living in a society in which people have accepted the un-islamic lifestyle as their way of life has brought immorality at every step. Modesty, shame and honour have no place in the western civilization. Today, Muslims too are increasingly banishing their modesty, regarding which the Holy Prophet (sallallahu aleihi wa sallam) said, “Modesty is a part of Iman.”
Amongst the most common of these evils is adultery and fornication. Commiting of adultery is from the category of major sins. The Shari’ah not only prohibits the ultimate evil of adultery, but BY ALL MEANS LEADING TO THIS EVIL ACT. Allah subhana wa ta’ala says in the Holy Qoran, “Do not come near to adultery, indeed it is a shameful deed and an evil way.” (17:32)
In the above verse all the means and ways which leads to adultery are prohibited. This verse is an eloquent expression of the prohibition of the ways and acts which are introductory to adultery.
Imam Bukhari (r.a.) has stated a Hadeeth on the authority of Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (radi Allahu anhu) that the Holy Prophet (sallallahu aleihi wa sallam) said,
“ The adultery of the eyes is evil looks.
The adultery of the tongue is lustful talk.
The adultery of the heart is the evil desire
and in the end the sexual organs testify all this or deny it.”
In another Hadith the Holy Prophet (sallallahu aleihi wa sallam) said, “The hands also commit adultery, their adultery is touching, the feet also commit adultery, their adultery is walking towards adultery, the mouth also commits adultery, its adultery is kissing.” (Abu Dawood, Muslim)
“A person who commits adultery does not commit it in the state of Imaan. A person who drinks alcohol does not drink it in the state of Imaan.” (Bukhari, Muslim, Abu Dawood, Nasai)
“When a person commits adultery, his Imaan comes out from him and it stays like an umbrella over his head; and when he stops committing adultery, his Imaan returns to him.” (Abu Dawood, Tirmidhi, Baihaqi)
The great Mufassir Sheikh Ata Ibn Abi Rabah under the Tafseer of the verse, “It (the Hell) has seven doors,” states, “The most severe of these doors, from the point of grief, heat, punishment and bad smell, is for those people who committed adultery after having knowledge (of it being a sin and Haraam).”
Detrimental Effects of Adultery and Fornication
Adultery/Fornication has six effects; of these three are experienced in this world and the other three in the Hereafter.
In this world:
1. Noor (light) vanishes from the faces of the adulterers.
2. It brings poverty and famine.
3. The life span is reduced.
In the Hereafter:
1. Allah ta’ala subjects the adulterers to His anger.
2. They will be subjected to a strict reckoning on the Day of Judgement.
3. They will be cast into Hell.
We are living in a society where temptations dominate every individual, and the protection is Taqwa (piety), and Taqwa is is acquired through obedience to Allah subhana wa ta’ala and His beloved Prophet (sallallahu aleihi wa sallam).
“Whoever gives me the guarantee of safeguarding his tongue and his private parts, I give him the guarantee of Paradise.” (Bukhari)
A person who fights the temptations of youth and fulfils the Commands of Allah ta’ala, he will be protected under the shade of Allah’s Throne (not meant literally) on the Day of Judgement.
Remedy from this Illness
“O groups of youths, whosoever amongst you has the means of getting married, should do so because it lowers the gaze and protects the private parts; and whosoever does not have the ability, should fast, for indeed, it is a protection for him.” (Bukhari)
May Allah subhana wa ta’ala safeguard us from all evils and resurrect us on the Day of Judgement amongst the followers of the Holy Prophet (sallallahu aleihi wa sallam) under His Throne. Ameen.
(taken from the article of Sheikh Muhammad Uthman Ghani)
So my fellow Muslims, Im going to break it down even more inshAllah. You know I always have to put my two cents in!
*Warning* I will speak the truth and not sugar coat it, because sugar coating just leads to lame excuses.
This needs to be made clear- any touching (touching that you do on purpose, not bumping into someone by mistake or such) is haram, point blank. There's this little joke that I heard about touching it goes something like this..."Looking leads to talking, talking leads to hugging, hugging leads to kissing, kissing leads to fore play, fore play leads ....you know the rest". I did not receive this joke from a Muslim, so that should be something for us Muslims to really think about since we are "suppose" to be the best of all followers of religions.
So do not think your getting away with anything just because you did not have "actual" sexual intercourse. Stop kidding yourself and saying "Oh we didn't do it do it, we just messed around." ITS THE SAME THING! Sorry I had to point this out due to the fact that there's plenty of people who think that the are not sinning or its not "that bad" because they did not " put the key in the key hole". Any touching is forbidden and it is all sinful. Do not let this society's standards of what is "bad" confuse or stray you away from what Allah subhana wa ta'la was made halal and haram. I understand that sometimes it can be confusing on what is allowed if were not educated in such matters and see those actions as a common thing especially amongst your fellow Muslims. But even if you see your fellow Muslims doing an action, ask yourself if you can tell your parents or anyone that you have respect for what you are doing. Ask yourself if you could be calm confessing to what those actions on the Day of Judgment; I think we all know the answer. So if you had to hide your actions then you know its wrong. And don't follow others in wrongful doing, because they won't be able to take the rap for you when it comes to reality of your sins.
Another reminder for us (myself and all of you): We have prohibitions for a reason, and wallah they are there to protect ourselves. When we don't follow what Allah subhan wa ta'la has prescribed for us we're just harming ourselves. You may not see the injuries immediately but they are going to come sooner or later. Some of us may get off with slight scars and others may have deep wounds from their sins. You have get these scars here in this dunya or you may pay for your sins in the here after. And all of you know that is far way better to pay for your sin here in this life than the next for its way too harsh for us to really grasp. So please do yourself a favor, stay away from sinful acts. You may think that what your doing is fun, and its not harming anyone else, but indeed you are. What you do influences others, point blank, whether you want to be a role model or not you are. People will look to you for advice, will look to you for what is acceptable, and etc. And quite frankly, this is why we have so much finta because people are following those in error and think that its acceptable when its not. It will become easier to do right when we put forth the effort to show others what is right. When you become better on the deen others will follow, and then before you know it you'll be surrounded by others who will make following the deen easier. Be the one to be the role model, take the first step, be the one to make a difference and please Allah!
May Allah continue to guide us on the right path. Ameen
P.S. Following the right path isn't that hard if you really want to achieve true happiness.
Saturday, April 18, 2009
Good Sisters Vs. Bad Sisters
This is a repost with my two cents in it. I had to do it. **my input
1)HIJABI HOPEFULLs: These are the girls that dont yet wear hijab, jilbaab or niqaab but they are trying to cover up their body and hair but feel really bad about it because know its a big haram ,they respect and love the hijab, and one day hope to become one of us.
We have one thing to say to ya'll…Come Join Us on The Other Side…We promise Its better here
2)SUNNNI HIJABI's-: You've seen'em. The girls who wear correct Hijabi and jilbab, who understand hijab is not just a scarf covering the hair with tight or see through clothes, their hijab is very lose, not see through, not attention calling, no make up, they like Aishea rdhu, hate to be seen by other men and hate, to see other men that are haram for them, [MASHALLAH!]These are the girls love and wear hijab and jilbab and have that look that says to all men and all male strangers"'NO THANKS MATE IM SPECIAL"
"We have nothing but respect for the Fabulous Few. These Hijabis are rare …but then all great things are."
3) NIQAABI HIJABI simply the best!!!!!!!!!!!! modern day Aisha, Khadeejah and fatima's[rdhu] following the exact dress of the wive's of the prophet[pbuh] companions ,strong proud filled with mountains and mountains of self esteem because they are certain and sincere in tawheed and the hereafter
BAD SISTERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
4)ANTI HIJABIS: hates islam changed her named from Aisha to Asia, khadeejah to Clarie, fatima to faye, she drinks alcohol, smokes, swears, eats pork, shows cleavage,wears mini skirts, comits daily zina, celebrates, brithdays, christmas, divali, new year but not eid ,gives charity to christian aid, green peace but not zakat, hates hijab or niqaab or anything islamic
"May Allah guide us and you and us oh sister to be better"
5)CONVERTABLE HALF HIJABI's:- These lovely ladies are the ones caught in the Limbo between Hijab or No Hijab. "to be or not to be" is the question for these girls. With thier Hijab half on thier head and half off…u never know what they will do next! On the bright side though guys dont have to wonder what beauty is hiding beneath those hijabs cuz these half hijabis give everyone a sneak peak 24/7.
"We say to ya'll with nothing but frustration..MAKE UP UR MIND!"
6)CONFUSED NAKED WANNA BE MODEL HIJABI :- They cover their hair properly but show their neck, arms, feet and wear skintight jeans that clearly expose their thighs and behind with short sleeves, capris and the all famous low cut tops.
These girls give other Hijabis a bad name. You might spot one of these "Hijabis" in a group of Ahem! guy "friends". This group of too "friendly" Hijabis do everything a muslim let alone a Hijabi should NOT do.
"We hope none of u fit this description…if u do…we say to u with nothing but love…Respect the Hijab!"
7)HOLLYWOOD OR BOLLYWOOD HIJABI: wears correct clothing loads of haram lipstick, eyeliner, plucks her eyebrows, chisels her teeth, puts lots of haram perfume and wears hig heels alawys hoping to get approached by guys
"sister heres some coffe WAKE UP HIJAB IS TO TAKE ATTENTION AWAY FROM YOU ALLAHMUSTAN"
8)VERY LOUD HIJABI: wears proper hijab but is extremely loud in public and on public transport, always gossiping very loud on the phone or to the very loud hijabis with her, makes you wish you could hide in a shell when you see or hear her
non muslims look at them like "does there faith teach them to be so loud and unrespectable to others" ?
" shhhh sister turn the volume down"
So heres my take on this. I find this a little distasteful in the title of bad sisters. Who are you to call someone a bad sister just because she may not cover up properly? I know sisters who cover up properly and I know sisters who dont. I know a good handful of so called niqaabies who are pretty whorish to say the least. YESSS THEY ARE EVERYWHERE! So what advice are you going to give sisters living in Saudi or any other country where hijab and abaya is a must? Are you going to call them all good? NO! Because they have their share of "Gucci Man Freaky Girls"...the ones you do not want to take home to momma. Yes we should cover up properly (hijab- modest clothing which covers up everything except hands and face *some would exclude feet from having to be covered up). But calling a sister a "bad sister" just based on her clothing makes you in they wrong for doing so.
I will admit clothing can tell a lot about a person, but its not an accurate representation of a person by no means. I know plenty of non-hijabies who are modest than so called hijabies. Theres a lot of Muslims who do not know the correct practice of Islam due to they were never taught Islam properly, which isnt completely their fault for its natural to just follow what you see others do (like family and friends). A lot of culture does play into people's lives. Celebrating those holidays does not make a sister a bad sister for she may not know that in Islam they are not acceptable. Showing some of your hair does not make you a bad sister, in a lot of cultures showing some hair is acceptable, but not acceptable in Islam, and those sisters may not know that. The same goes for the so called "bollywood hijabies".
But I will admit sisters who dress revealing can not blame others for not prejudging them. Its how the world works. People will judge you based on how you look. Its not right but that the way it is. If your wearing tight clothes with your breast hanging out, do you really think people are going to look at you and say "ohh she looks like a respectful Muslim, mashAllah"? I highly doubt it, would you? Its not right for people to think you in in the negative way because of what you wear, but if it is not in accordance with Islam then how can you blame them? But it doesnt not give them the right to talk bad to or about you, all they have the right to do is TRY to guide you.
In number 6) the "CONFUSED NAKED WANNA BE MODEL HIJABI"...ummm...hello! You said it yourself, she's confused! How dare you call a sister a bad sister when you admit that shes confused? How can you call someone to the right path when you're just downing them because they are confused? How about helping cut down their confusion with giving dawah, PROPERLY! You can't get something positive from something that has a down right negative approach.
Being a good sister does not not solely revolve around wearing the hijab, because which many Muslims miss is that hijab is not just the way you dress but its a whole being: a way of life. So just because oh you throw on an abaya and head scarf does not make you a good sister if character is off point, not being modest; which I've seen a lot. None of us are perfect. Some may be better in practice than others, but that does not give you the right to label people. For you dont know whats going on in their lives or why they are doing what they are doing. So lets put some more emphasis on keeping up with our salaahs, how to treat others (behave), and the importance of educating ourselves(reading Quran, fiqh, hadiths, going to lectures, being at the masjid, and etc). Theres plenty of others things that we can focus on. Usually when those other things are in order the way of dressing will follow, because they usually have a better understanding of things.
If you want to give dawah, you have to give the facts and stop putting your input on calling people names. You'll get a far better reaction to it if you state what is hijab, how to wear it properly, why we should wear it, and the benefits of doing so; not naming calling and attacking people.
May Allah continue to guide us on the right path and not let a ounce of pride enter our hearts. Ameen
Half Date Drive
**Please donate anything you can, each dollar counts!**
Halfdate.com
DateDrive of Rabie A-thani 1430/April 2009
Type of DateDrive: Monetary & Awareness
Thanks to all who donated from Australia, Canada, India, Italy, UK, and US (CA, FL, IL, LA, MD, MI, OK, OR, PA, TX, VA) and thank you for all your duas from Bosnia to Indonesia
“Hey, lets do the card thing… i think it would be awesome for the kids to make cards for refugees” -Sister N.S
Drive Target:
1. Collecting $4,977 USD (rent about $750 + educational programs for $500)
2. Getting 70 support comments and dua, click here to post a pleasant word (Put, your city/state/country, so we feel the sense of one global family)
3. Getting 6 support letters/cards for kids and parents mail them to this address
Give generously like the Ansar in Madinah
O Allah, for you I give
Combined total of Paypal, Authorize.net, and offline
والذين تبوءوا الدار والإيمان من قبلهم يحبون من هاجر إليهم ولا يجدون في صدورهم حاجة مما أوتوا ويؤثرون على أنفسهم ولو كان بهم خصاصة ومن يوق شح نفسه فأولئك هم المفلحون
And those who, before them, had homes (in Al-Madinah) and had adopted the Faith, love those who emigrate to them, and have no jealousy in their breasts for that which they have been given (from the booty of Banî An-Nadîr), and give them (emigrants) preference over themselves, even though they were in need of that. And whosoever is saved from his own covetousness, such are they who will be the successful. (Al-Hashr 59:9)
To donate (online or by mail) click on “Donate Now”
Matching & Challenges:
1. Grow HalfDate: For every mailing list signup, HalfDate will donate $1 up to $200. Just join the mailing list and post a comment that you are participating in Alamaanah drive
2. Blog for a cause: For every blog post about helping refugees/Alamaanah, $5 will be donated up to $250
3. A pleasant word! For every comment or Dua about Sadaqah or refugees posted about helping refugees, $1 Canadian Dollar will be donated up to $100.
4. Matching Challenge: If 100 people each donates $5, I’ll match their donations ($500) - post in the comment
5. Unemployed & Broke Challenge: If an unemployed Muslim donates $20, we’ll double it up to ($500) - post in the comment
Write to these families
Al Amaanah, Inc.
8181 Fannin, Suite 337
Houston, TX, 77054
Or email tamra at halfdate and we will print/convey your email to Alamaanah volunteers.
Family #1 (Iraqi)
Single woman, lives on her own, doesn’t speak English. Wallahy she has been waiting all week for our visit, she hasn’t been here for long and doesn’t know that many ppl. Has no one to talk to, and thats her main problem, she wants to learn English so bad. I suggest some sisters make it a habit to visit her twice a week. Maybe get some dessert or something and just go spend some quality time with her. She will be having surgery in April so won’t be able to work this month until she gets the surgery and recovers. She also needs pocket money during this period until she starts working again. Please visit her, call her on the phone, make her know that she is not forgotten!
Family #2 (Iraqi)
Single woman living with her mom and she is the one that has to pay the bills, her mom is too old to work. She was in dire need of finding a job last week and alhamdulillah she just got one a couple of days ago. She hasn’t been working for a month though and her rent has to be paid before the end of the month!!! She also is planning to move closer to work because she takes 3 buses just to get there from where they live. So we promised to help her move, but rent still has to be paid for this month!!!
Family #3 (Iraqi)
A man in his mid 30s, can’t work because he has a lot of medical problems, needs help paying his electric bill (inshalla is in the process of being taken care of). He doesn’t speak English and therefore is isolated in this big world! We should start making it a habit to visit him every week too. He says he could use some furniture around the house so we need to go visit him and find out how can we help him more.
Family #4 (Iraqi)
The father used to work as a barber in Iraq, he had another job here but got laid off because of the economy. He said he is waiting on his papers to come from Iraq this week so that he can start working his normal job (cutting hair). He is having trouble paying the bills and rent till he starts working again.
Frequently Asked Questions:
* Can I give Zakah?
Yes, you can click here to give Zakah
* Can these brothers and sisters work?
Yes, they are looking for jobs and a few do have part-time jobs, but that’s only enough to pay for food, utilities, etc.
* What about government assistance?
Government rent assistance to refugee families cover only the first four months.
* I saw on TV that non-Muslims organizations (e.g. churches) are helping them?
Yes, there are other refugee service organizations. However, Al Amaanah provides unique services that Muslim families need, e.g. educational programs for their children.
* What is Al Amaanah?
Al Amaanah is refugee service organization based in Houston, Texas, USA. The word Amaanah means trust or duty, because Muslims believe that taking care of our brothers and sisters who happened to be refugees is an amaanah on everyone’s shoulders.
* What other services does Al Amaanah provide?
Other than financial support, our services include English classes, homework help for children, and physical and emotional support for many widows, injured, and disabled refugees.
For more information, visit http://www.alamaanah.com/
Interesting Facts
* All early donors are from Australia (Sun does rise from there :) )
* Smallest contribution is $1 (half a date :) )
* Biggest contribution so far is $250
Read more: HalfDate - Promoting Sadaqah with half a date or a pleasant word - http://halfdate.com/currentdrive/#ixzz0CQh8haC9
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Hadith and reminder of the Day
Rasulullah (Sallallahu alaihe wasallam) 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, two 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'an, which you used to read, sometimes in a loud voice and sometimes in a low voice. Do not worry. After the interrogation of Munkar and Naker, you will have no grief.' When the interrogation is over, the handsome man arranges for him from Al-Mala'ul A'laa (the angels in Heaven) silk bedding filled with musk.
Rasulullah (Sallallahu alaihe wasallam) said: 'On the Day of Judgement, before Allah, no other Intercessor will have a greater status than the Qur'an, neither a Prophet nor an angel.'
SAYINGS (HADITH) OF PROPHET MUHAMMAD (Sallallaahu alaihi wasallam)
The one who disdains prayers (Salat) will receive Fifteen punishments from Allah, Six punishments in this lifetime, Three while dying,Three in the grave & Three on the Day of Judgment.
THE SIX PUNISHMENTS OF LIFE :
1. Allah takes away blessings from his age (makes his life unfortunate)
2. Allah does not accept his plea (Dua's)
3. Allah erases the features of good people from his face.
4. He will be detested by all creatures on earth.
5. Allah does not reward him for his good deeds. (No thawab)
6. He will not be included in the Dua's of good people.
THE THREE PUNISHMENTS WHILE DYING :
1. He dies humiliated.
2. He dies hungry.
3. He dies thirsty. Even if he drinks the water of all seas he will still be thirsty.
THE THREE PUNISHMENTS IN THE GRAVE :
1. Allah tightens his grave until his chest ribs come over each other.
2. Allah pours on him fire with embers.
3. Allah sets on him a snake called 'the brave', 'the bold' which hits him from morning until afternoon for leaving Fajr prayer, from the afternoon until Asr for leaving Dhuhr prayer and so on. With each strike he sinks 70 yards under the ground.
1. Allah sends who would accompany him to hell pulling
him on the face.
2. Allah gives him an angry look that makes the flesh of his face fall down.
3. Allah judges him strictly and orders him to be
thrown in hell.
THOSE WHO DO NOT SAY THEIR PRAYERS OF:
FAJR : the glow of their face is taken away.
ZUHR : the blessing of their income is taken away.
ASR : the strength of their body is taken away.
MAGHRIB : they are not benefited by their children.
'ISHA : the peace of their sleep is taken away.
THE HOLY QUR'AN:
'Say Your Prayers Before Prayers For You Are
Said'.
Monday, March 2, 2009
Ready for the Next Life?
Asalamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakathuhu,
Praise be to Allah who said: “And for those who fears the time when they will be standing before their Lord, there shall be two gardens (in Paradise).” [Sûrah al-Rahmân: 46]
May Allah bestow His peace and blessings on His prophet who said: “If you knew what I know, you would laugh little and weep much". [Sahîh al-Bukhârî (4621, 6486, 7295) and Sahîh Muslim (2359)] And may Allah be pleased with the Companions who wept upon hearing this hadîth.
It is right for us to have fear of that day that we all have to face. That Day of Resurrection is a day of distress and deep regret. It is that long and ominous Day in which all humanity will stand before their Lord. On that day, fear will make the pregnant woman miscarry. People will be as if they are drunk but they shall not be drunk save that the severity of Allah’s punishment will make them that way. On that day, fear will make the hair on the heads of small children turn gray.
We should seriously start to prepare ourselves for that day, since it is the crossroads on the long journey of our existence. From there, we will head either to Paradise or to the Hellfire. Those who enter paradise will dwell there for all eternity in perpetual happiness and enjoyment, while those who go to Hell will face torture, and the denizens of Hell will find to their distress that they have eternal lives as well.
We must, however, have an optimistic outlook regarding our Lord. His mercy is truly vast for those who believe in Him and worship Him sincerely and it always takes precedence to His wrath. The Prophet (peace be upon him) has told us that Allah is more merciful to us than a devoted mother is to her newborn child. [Sahîh al-Bukhârî (5999) and Sahîh Muslim (2754)]
The fear that we have of the Day of Resurrection should motivate us to be more devoted in worship and more ready to engage in good deeds. We should pray and fast more often and renew our efforts to make pilgrimage. We should be good to our families and show kindness to our parents. There are many different ways to do good.
This same fear should help us to abstain from sinful acts and disobedience to Allah. This fear, then, will actually have a positive effect on us. It is not a negative fear that will make us inactive and despair of Allah’s mercy.
Activities to prepare us for the hereafter
The following activities are very helpful in helping a Muslim prepare for that dreadful day, “a day wherein they will be brought forth and nothing about them will be hidden from Allah.” [Sûrah Ghâfir: 16]
1. We should read the Qur’ân and contemplate its meanings. We should consider its rulings and appreciate the good that it promises us as well as the warnings that it gives us.
2. We should read about the life of the Prophet (peace be upon him). We should study how he conducted himself in obedience to Allah and how he abstained from overindulgence in worldly pleasures.
3. We should likewise read the biographies of the Companions and those who followed after them and look at how they strove to attain success in the Hereafter.
4. We should often contemplate the inevitability of death. We should be aware of the trials that follow in the grave and during the resurrection. We should visualize ourselves standing before Allah, the most scrupulous and just of judges. We should think about the bridge that we will have to cross in order to attain salvation, a bridge from which many will slip and fall to their destruction. We should think about the joy that will be experienced by the people of Paradise and the suffering and sorrow of the denizens of Hell.
We need to always keep in mind that death can come to us at any moment. How do we wish to meet our Lord? Do we wish to do so in a state of grace and obedience or would we like to do so while engaged in sin?
Ibn `Umar relates to us that the prophet (peace be upon him) once put his hand on his shoulder and said to him: “Be in the world as if you are a wayfarer or a stranger passing through.” Because of this, Ibn `Umar would often say: “When night falls, do not look forward to the dawn and when day breaks do not anticipate the night. Take full advantage of your health before you succumb to illness and of your life before death overtakes you.” [Sahîh al-Bukhârî (6416)]
5. We need to seriously study to acquire Islamic knowledge. When we acquire more knowledge of our religion, we become more aware of Allah and more God-fearing. Allah says: “The only people who fear Allah from among His servants are those who possess knowledge.”
6. We should keep company with pious people, especially those who have Islamic knowledge and those who are engaged in calling others to Islam. Likewise, we should avoid the company of sinful and unscrupulous people. Good company helps us to purify our hearts. We also find support in such people for our efforts to do what is right. Conversely, bad company hardens our heart. Immoral people encourage us to do immoral things. Also, when our hearts become hardened, we become far away from Allah and more attached to worldly things.
7. We should always keep in mind that this world is a transient place. Those who enjoy the pleasures of this world will not be able to take those pleasures with them. They have only their deeds to send before them. Allah says: “On the Day when every soul will find itself confronted with all that it has done of good and all that it has done of evil, and every soul will long that there might be a mighty space of distance between it and that evil. Allah bids you beware of Him. And Allah is full of pity for His servants.” [Sûrah Âl `Imrân: 30]
No matter how great this world may seem to us, it is in truth quite insignificant. No matter how enduring it may appear right now, it is as fleeting as a night that must end at another sunrise. Our worldly lives will come to an end at the grave.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “The life of this world compared to the Hereafter is as if one of you were to put his finger in the ocean and take it out again then compare the water that remains on his finger to the water that remains in the ocean.” [Sahîh Muslim (2858)]
8. Lastly, we must spend more time in sincere supplication to our Lord. We should ask Him to make the Hereafter dearer to us and to make us less fond of the world. We should beseech Him to grant us Paradise with all of its delights and to spare us His wrath. Truly, Allah hears and answers our prayers.
Source: Islamtoday.com
Dear Sinner from Shaytan
Note: This letter is for everyone of all Religions. If you are not Muslim you can substitute the words that fit to your religion.. Thanks
Dear,
Sinner
I saw you yesterday as you began your daily chores.
You awoke without praying Fajr ( morning prayer). As a matter of fact,
you didn't say Bismillah ( In the name of God) before your meals, or pray Isha( evening prayer) before going
to bed last night. You are so unthankful. I like that about you.
I cannot tell you how glad I am that you have not changed
your way of living. Fool! You are mine. Remember, you and I
have been going steady for years, and I still don't love you yet.
As a matter of fact, I hate you, because I hate God. I am only
using you to get even with God. He kicked me out of heaven,
and I'm going to use you as long as possible to pay him back.
You see, Fool, GOD LOVES YOU and HE has great plans
in store for you. But you have yielded your life to me and I'm
going to make your life a living hell. That way we'll be together twice.
This will really hurt God. Thanks to you. I'm really showing Him who's
boss in your life. With all of the good times we've had.....
We have been watching dirty movies, cursing people out,
partying, stealing, lying, hypocriting, fornicating, overeating,
telling dirty jokes, gossiping, backstabbing people,
disrespecting adults and those in leadership position,
NO respect for the masjid ( place of worship), bad attitudes:
SURELY you don't want to give all this up.
Come on, Fool, let's burn together forever. I've got some
hot plans for us. This is just a letter of appreciation from me
to you. I'd like to say "THANKS" for letting me use you for
most of your foolish life. You are so gullible. I laugh at you.
When you are tempted to sin, you give in. HA HA HA
You make me sick.
Sin is beginning to take its toll on your life.
You look 20 years older. I need new blood. So go ahead
and teach some children how to sin. All you have to do is smoke,
drink alcoholic beverages, cheat, gamble, gossip, fornicate,
and listen to and dance to the top 10 jams. Do all of this in the
presence of children and they will do it too. Kids are like that.
Well, Fool, I have to let you go for now. I'll be back in a couple of
seconds to tempt you again. If you were smart, you would run somewhere,
confess your sins, live for Allah with what little bit of life that you have
left. It's not my nature to warn anyone, but to be your age and still
sinning, it's becoming a bit ridiculous. Don't get me wrong, I still hate you......
IT'S JUST THAT YOU'D MAKE A BETTER FOOL FOR ALLAH.
HATE,
SATAN
P.S. - And if you really love me, you won't share this letter with anyone.
Really you are stupid. :). Allow some Quran in your life. Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Muslim woman defies male dominance
Muslim woman defies male dominance
By Farah El Alfy in Cairo, Egypt
AlJazeera.net
Amal Soliman, a 32-year-old Egyptian woman, has endured intimidation and ridicule in the year since she applied for a job as the Muslim world's first mazouna, or female marriage registrar, but she says her victory has been worth the fight.
In late September, Soliman, who holds a Masters degree in Islamic Sharia law, broke into what has until now been an exclusively males-only club.
However, the Committee of Egyptian Mazouns, an all-male organisation, challenged Soliman's application saying the job would be inappropriate for a woman and voiced their opinion in a statement issued by the committee.
A marriage officer presides over a wedding (or divorce) ceremony, recites verses from the Quran and signs the official certificates making the union legally binding.
Al Jazeera recently spoke with Soliman shortly after she conducted her first wedding ceremony on October 25.
Al Jazeera: Why did you decide to apply for a position that has traditionally – and for centuries – been a male vocation?
Soliman: In 2007 one of the two marriage officers of my neighbourhood passed away, leaving behind a job opportunity.
For three months everyone wondered who would be able to replace Al Hajj Abou Mesalam and right before the deadline (October 2007) for applying I rushed over to the civil court in Zagazig, the heart of rural Egypt, to give in my application.
I had been interested in pursuing a doctorate degree in Islamic studies but also maintaining a flexible job that would allow me to spend time with my three children.
Legally, there is no reason why a woman can't do the job, and the Mufti (Islamic scholar and interpreter of Islamic law) said it was religiously acceptable as it is only an administrative position.
In October 2007, my husband and I formally submitted an application to the local family court clerk for the post of marriage officer.
Was your application accepted?
Well, I took my husband with me because I was afraid I would be made fun of, which I was.
When I applied the man at the desk laughed openly at me and said that is was just not possible.
He imagined I would go home and forget about it, but instead I argued and told him that I had studied Sharia Law and I know it is an administrative job.
Though the clerk refused to accept my submission, I turned to Ibrahim Darwish, head of the local magistrate in Zagazig for his opinion.
Darwish was puzzled; he said there was no precedent for this situation so he did not know what to say. I took that as a sign that there was a small window of opportunity.
I then consulted Khaled el-Shalkamy, the head judge of Zagazig's family court.
I told him it was my right to be nominee as I was extremely qualified.
I told him just to accept me and let the other people involved in the selection process do the rest.
Were there no other applicants for the job?
Actually, I was in competition with 10 other candidates, all men, but none of them held post-graduate degrees in Sharia law like I did.
So el-Shalkamy accepted my application.
On February 25, I couldn't hold back my tears as I stood in front of the local court and was appointed as my district's new mazouna.
But the battle was half-won. I would not be able to begin work as a mazouna until Mamdouh Marei, the Egyptian minister of justice, formally signed off and authorised my appointment.
But many males did not accept the idea that a woman could hold what has been a man's job and you were targeted in the media.
The chairman of the Committee of Egyptian Mazouns, Muhammad Abou Ayeeta, said "the Ministry [of Justice] should refuse the appointment, because it is unacceptable that women would work in this occupation."
How did you deal with the backlash?
Well, at first my optimism slowly started to fade as I saw so much opposition. Some
columnists wrote that I was out to destroy tradition, that I was a threat to the religion and should be punished for pursuing the post.
But there were two main reasons for the opposition I faced. Firstly, it is simply rooted in male chauvinism. These people believe the woman's place is firmly in her house.
The other group was comprised of uneducated people who have developed an image of women's role in Islam from television; usually based on the words of a sheikh with a turban on his head.
Arguments made against me claimed that a woman couldn't perform marriages because of menstruation, as religion prevents women from praying or entering a mosque during her monthly cycle.
Others claimed that it was inappropriate for a woman to sit amongst men during the signing of the marriage certificates, which is traditionally predominately a male gathering where the marriage officer sits directly between the groom and his father-in-law.
Did no religious authority or group support you?
Well, four months after contacting the Ministry of Justice and receiving no word, I contacted the National Council for Women for a louder voice and stronger backing.
Both my opponents and proponents were beginning to wonder if I would ever receive the approval of the ministry of justice.
From the first moment that my papers where accepted as a nominee, the national press caught wind of this unusual event.
A journalist in Al Akhbar, one of Egypt's leading newspapers, heard about the situation, and helped launch my cause as a national debate.
Eventually the news went global. I think the media was a catalyst and made my appointment go through faster than it would have.
It made me happy to have so much international coverage … Sometimes when I'm sitting alone I wonder if I'm dreaming. What is going on? Did we really pull this off?
I'm happy not just for me; I had always wanted to show the world Egypt's developments with regards to women rights and gender equality.
But you did not get ministry approval until September 27; why did it take the ministry so long?
Of course I was happy and relieved, but more importantly I regained my confidence when the minister finally signed my appointment. I had slowly started to doubt myself up to that point.
However, I now believe that the minister had to be cautious, as this case was the first of its kind.
But laws are not religion. We can develop them.
On November 14, the United Arab Emirates followed in Egypt's footsteps and appointed Fatima Saeed Obeid Al Awani as a mazouna in the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department.
AlJazeera.net
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